Category: #Reviews

#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..

Review – If you lost it you can find it with #TrackR bravo. If applied correctly. #GPS

Tracking has become a huge thing these days and has been a long time, It became a big thing in logistics with the placement of vehicles,and the same can be said within the security industry be it cash in transit vans or even regular van drivers its now become a standard not just purely for safety purposes but also to get a time stamp for a future stop or drop off point and also it is use with government bodies within their vehicles and yes people themselves do wear personal tracking devices I have tried and tested some myself but thats something we will not be discussing now.

When it comes to personal belongings there has been alternative options out there for many years but being a new technology as such to personal items via a standalone product they have been big,some stupidly big and made no sense then smaller ones came about with are small tidy and not so cumbersome and most importantly no so noticeable..  The first one come to mind is something Nokia brought us some years ago called the treasure tag,there was two of them the WS-2 and WS-10  which we reviewed back then…

 

This is when things got interesting for finding personal things like car keys,house keys a gym bag,handbag perhaps or whatever suited you best. The thing here is though they are noticeable and if someone did happen to steal or you just misplaced the item if this was seen some may not know what it was which is a good thing other would and would ditch it straight away,thats where this new product has a caveat as it got good promotion on the internet and for example people attach them to the underside of the saddles on their bike and a thief would just have to look and remove it, Concealing such items are a better idea lets just say the inner lining of a gym bag or purse and there is plenty of ways to conceal such an item such as TrackR which we are looking at today..

 

 

 

 

TrackR is a relatively new product on the market its much smaller and easy to conceal,if you have the brains to do it and not just stick it anywhere and will work even within your wallet depending on its size,this comes in a simple small package with plenty of instructions and the selling points clearly marked out on the reverse of the packaging,also we get a chin ring which personally i would ditch and a double sided sticky pad which again I would ditch,this is an item i would conceal with no need for anything else… Sadly there is no spare battery which would have been nice,but you can pick one handy enough at a car motor factors for example or even a watch shop..

So next thing now is to download the app to your device be it Android or iOS then you need to add a new TrackR device.. Pair the device,you will get an audio alert from the unit and register and your done,When you register you become par of the hundreds of thousands of TrackR members which is crowd sourced so if you loose and item and it becomes within 100ft. You will be notified of the items last know location…

 

 

When you are all paired up and registered you are good to go now all you need to do is select what you want to track,there is a default list then presented to you and you can chose what you want to assign the TrackR too..So I have assigned my wallet to the TrackR in this instance..One thing to point out here which is good if you forget your mobile phone you will be notified via TrackR this is called a separation alert. On your device you will be shown a map of your location and how many others are local and in my instance where I was testing the unit there was 758 users which seems rather impressive…

 

 

 

Does this work?? Well yes it does and even through a leather wallet stuffed with coins and so on which is comforting and I will add its not just dumped in a pocket I have carefully tore the stitching to place it behind the lining so its not there for anyone to pick it up and see the piece in a coin pocket which would be just discarded…

Now without sounding harsh I want you to watch the video below and then tell me what you think of the placement of the TrackR,be it only for advertising purposes this is 2016 I have worked in the security/personnel protection and reconnaissance business before and one thing I need to point out is DO NOT LET OTHERS SEE IT… Why you might ask, Well as I said its 2016 be it a case of criminality you can kiss your goods goodbye these guys are a step ahead  and will dispose of it immediately like I said before CONCEAL it do not flaunt it it defeats the purpose of having it…. Overall it is a great product that works flawlessly executed badly by how its advertised especially on the bag and bike as seen in the video..Perhaps that might sound harsh but as I have stated I have worked in areas where these would be highly effective due to its size they are ideal for many things yet alone personal goods…

Download the Android app HERE 

Download the iOS app HERE  

 

See more over at TrackR.com and you can purchase there and they are reasonably priced and if applied correctly ARE EFFECTIVE…

 

 

 

Review – Wraps wristband headphones CORE high fidelity. #wearyoursound #Wraps

This is now the third set of wristband headphones from wraps and each get better,given the last ones where a funky colour this time around there is some changes to the internals.. Also to note the packaging has changed slightly too and overall things have improved on both occasions. This time round we check out the wraps CORE high fidelity…

Packaging and presentation changed 

On opening the package,some slight changes inside, we are presented with the goods you can pretty much just put on your wrist immediately,depending on your wrist size,this will take the hassle out of wrapping them first time but its a simple process either way and no different than before,this is our third pair now and again wrapping them is a simple process and again it it a very handy idea too having your headphones on your wrist and not only that its fashion built in too so they the look good and even as I said in my previous review I did not think I would see myself wearing them but I have been and they are very convenient indeed…

There is a few changes,cosmetic (Metal housing instead of plastic) and internally,the headphone jack and buds themselves and then the sound.Also some slight change to the cable compared to the last instalment but overall this remains much the same even down to the overall length… See images below for those changes…

 

I am no sound expert but these sounded much better than the last two pair I have tried out and this is due to the material used this time around and its paid off in volumes,pun intended.. I did notice better volume level and testing them on a wide range of tones and videos compared to old they are much better much clearer and very crisp indeed and no sign of distortion when at full volume,which I prefer to listen to my music,overall I was impressed with the difference,there is a difference in price but its worth it, If you have previously owned a pair and a fan then you need to hear them to see for yourself… The build quality too is improved with the external build,Given that this build and the last builds are light and would survive plenty of drops regardless though the new CORE model would be extra tough on the housing… When it comes to calls and handling and other functions all is same as before and worked fine only difference is better clarity.The additional noise isolation tips that come this time are also a welcome addition..

 

 

Styled in the latest smartphone / tablet ‘Space Grey’ colour matched with a black faux leather bracelet.

Featuring upgraded Titanium speakers that are expertly tuned to resonate clear, high-fidelity sound throughout the audio spectrum.

Also included is a set of Noise Isolating Foam Tips for a superior fit that blocks out unwanted background noise.

Last but not least, a universal one button microphone lets you play or pause your music and answer calls on the go!

  • Black Coloured Faux Leather
  • Space Grey Coloured Tips and Connector
  • Built-in Headset Microphone
  • Includes S, M & L Silicon Tips
  • 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response
  • 10mm Dynamic Speakers
  • 3.5mm Gold Plated Jack
  • 80dB/1mW Sensitivity
  • 16 Ohms Impedance

BUY HERE  

 

 

 

My Kingdom Books – Worlds first #AugmentedReality book based on your childs name. #AR #Books

I have never been a huge fan of reading books.. Not that I cant read its just finding the time to do so but there is plenty around the house as my 8 Year Old daughter likes to read and also likes to colour and draw things which at times i find myself embroiled in.. She has books that play tunes when you open a page or the front cover which at this time of year we see more of them and then there is the pop up books we are all custom too… Technology has moved on and when My Kingdom Books got in touch with me I was intrigued to say the least at their product they wanted me to try out. A book with Augmented Reality……… I said give me that,this is something new and something that looked good on paper..Turns out this is the first of its kind and after testing it out I am impressed and I am sure you kids will be too…

 

THE BOOK 

Front
Back

 

So.. The package arrived.. An A4 page book sideways if you will with a nice heavy textured cover and back and the pages inside are not cheap either,nice heavy pages that will last, and I was like…Hmm how does this work.. Then there was an introductory slip telling me I need to download an app… So I started waving my phone at the pages  and nothing was happening.. Perhaps just worn out,its been busy here and we still are it dawned on me.. I first looked through the entire book to get a glimpse of the story and then said to myself “lets give this a try” I was still at this point wondering what possibly could happen here but once I open the app and filled in the information which is simple.. You just add your childs name then pick the male or female cartoon character face and then the magic begins.  Given I have used apps in the past with Augmented reality such as say City Lens” for example which is an app that when you hold your device up in the air in a street it will give you information on your screen and another app such as flight radar offers the same experience but to planes in the sky. Quite useful if thats your thing.. This however is something you will enjoy,especially if you have not dabbled with the technology before and your kids will simply love this. With my child who is surrounded with technology was not expecting what she seen and need I say no more she was hooked…

 

 

So what happens then… Well simply as I mentioned you get the app fill in the deets and then point it at the page.. This in effect brings the book to life to put it simply.. Wait till you try it but we have a demo video below to check out..So press “Start” and point at the page on the right with your camera and,you will be instructed to do so should you have issues anyway. Watch the page come to live with characters pop up on your phones screen and more..The story is read out aloud for you so you let the book tell the story via your mobile phone and watch the Augmented Reality before your eyes,it will simply use your camera to create a 3 dimensional image on your mobile phone,You will need to be in a bright space for this to have the best effect and from here on it is a repeat process page by page. The book is personalised so when you insert the child’s name its custom to your child throughout the experience. Having tried this on a few devices as it was passed around,the bigger the screen the better to get the full extent of the animation..

 

 

When you get to the end of the book you will have a challenge to colour in the last page, This then finishes off with the option to colour in the last page and with a subsequent app you can see some more… Check out the video below and the links you need are required….Once again we would like to thanks the guys for sending this over for us to check it… We can safely say its highly recommended….

See mykingdomsbooks.com for more.

Download the My Kingdoms Books app on Android  HERE and iOS HERE 

Download Live Colour HERE