Category: Tech

Quarantine Karaoke Popularity Surges During Coronavirus Crisis. #quarantinekaraoke #Singa

Singa, the app for singing, today revealed that its new customer sign-ups have increased 700% in the last week as people around the world #stayathome to observe isolation and social distancing rules during the coronavirus crisis. The surge in sign-ups shows that consumers are turning to music and choosing to sing during this troubling and uncertain time. This heart-warming phenomenon illustrating the importance of music and singing has also been shown through footage circulating online of people in lockdown singing from their balconies in Italy and elsewhere.

Singing can be a great way to spend free time while at home. Check out the ideas below and, for a limited time, you can try 30 days of free Singa Premium at https://get.singa.com/quarantinekaraoke/.

Entertainment for the Whole Household

Karaoke is a great way to entertain the household and provide a bit of light relief while stuck indoors. Whether you are in home isolation with family, housemates, other half, or fellow care home residents, singing together is a fun activity for everyone to get involved in! Simply use your smart TV OR open up the Singa app on a device and cast or share it with your TV to make the lyrics large enough for the whole household to see and sing along with.

Singa has over 80,000 songs to choose from – whether you want to sing the usual karaoke classics or brand new chart hits. Check out the ready-made playlists on Singa for suggestions of songs to sing together. The team has prepared ideas to get your karaoke session going, with Power Ballads, Current Pop Greats, Indie Pop Rockers, Movie Anthems, and many more.

Home Music Lessons

For children unable to attend school and their parents who are having to juggle homeschooling with all their other commitments, karaoke can be an ideal way for kids to lead their own music lessons and inject a little variety into new routines. Younger kids, in particular, may enjoy the selection of songs curated for them on Singa here: https://singa.com/uk/lists/OVXel.

Virtual Karaoke

With more and more people stuck at home during this crisis, group hangouts with video conferencing software are becoming incredibly popular. They allow you to stay in touch with others and seeing loved ones via video is almost as good as being there in person. The latest trend is to use this setup to host virtual karaoke sessions, which is a great way to have fun and spend time with friends and family. If you don’t want to host your own karaoke party you can join Singa who are running quarantine karaoke events on Instagram Live daily at https://www.instagram.com/singakaraoke/

Self-Care

It’s more important than ever to look after your mental health during this time of imposed isolation. Anything that people can do to make themselves feel calmer, less anxious and more sociable is to be encouraged. People are resilient, but we need to take time for ourselves.

Thankfully, singing releases feel-good endorphins and is a stress-reliever which lowers anxiety and makes us feel overall happier. Singing automatically makes us breathe deeper and longer, and encourages good posture and muscle tension – all things that will help lift our mood during these tough times! It’s also been proven that singing makes you concentrate, meaning it gives you and your mind a break from stresses and worries for a short time.

We’d recommend singing as a great way to lift your spirits. And if you don’t want to sing with others, you can always sing on your own!

For a limited time, 30 days of free Singa Premium is available at https://get.singa.com/quarantinekaraoke/ #quarantinekaraoke

Poly supercharges Microsoft Teams experience with UC headsets for smart, simple collaboration #Poly #MicrosoftTeams

Plantronics, Inc. (“Poly” – formerly Plantronics and Polycom) (NYSE: PLT), a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration, today announced Voyager 4245 Office, a new Bluetooth headset solution with a Microsoft Teams-enabled option, further adding to Poly’s broad portfolio of Teams-enabled headsets and devices.

Poly offers a breadth of solutions with 15 Microsoft Teams-certified headsets and personal speakerphone devices. Corded Teams-certified options, available and shipping now, include the Poly Blackwire 3300 Serieswhich delivers comfort on all-day calls with USB-C, USB-A and 3.5 mm connectivity options. For those who are looking for Teams-certified portable, personal speakerphones, Poly Calisto 3200 and Calisto 5300speakerphones are designed with 360-degree audio to help turn any environment into a professional sounding space, especially critical as employees increasingly work remotely or from home office environments.

Poly’s portfolio of wireless Bluetooth headsets delivering high-quality, hands-free audio that are available today, with Microsoft Teams certified versions available to order in May 2020, include:

Today, the Poly Voyager 4245 Office joins this robust lineup of Microsoft Teams certified solutions. The Voyager 4245 Office instantly invokes your Teams application to enable employees to experience high levels of wireless freedom, comfort, and audio quality. This headset offers versatility with three different wearing styles in one package: on your ear, behind the head, or over the head. Designed for intensive phone users, the headset includes a swappable battery for unlimited talk time, three-way connectivity and a version with a dedicated Teams button. By connecting to deskphones, PCs, or mobile phones, the Voyager 4245 Office headset system enables a smooth transition from on-premises equipment to the cloud.

Voyager 4245 Office Teams and standard versions will be available in EMEA in May 2020.

“Now more than ever, the role that clear, intelligible voice communication plays in our work experiences is rapidly evolving,” said Christine Roberts, senior vice president and general manager enterprise headsets, Poly. “Poly’s high-quality audio integrated with Microsoft Teams enhances our ability to effortlessly communicate with our colleagues and customers around the world. The Voyager 4245 Office joins our comprehensive Teams-certified portfolio as part of our long-lasting partnership with Microsoft to enable user productivity from anywhere.”

With more than 44 million daily active users, Teams continues to enable organisations and individuals to remain productive and stay connected – no matter where they are. And a recent survey conducted by Frost and Sullivan of global IT decision makers found that 64% of organisations are already using Teams today, and an additional 32% are planning to deploy it over the next two years.

Poly will continue to enable Microsoft Teams users with its devices certified for Teams to propel seamless collaboration and communication worldwide.

To learn more about how Poly is innovating with Teams, please visit:

For more information on Poly solutions compatible with Microsoft, please visit:https://www.plantronics.com/us/en/solutions/microsoft

Hydrogen fuel cells are being dubbed the fuel of the future. So how does a hydrogen car work? #Motoring #Hydrogen

Hydrogen cars are being called the fuel of the future. So how do they work? 

Unlike gasoline-powered cars, hydrogen vehicles (H2) use hydrogen fuel to power the motor. This hydrogen fuel is produced through a REDOX process that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. 

Similar to a gas-powered car, hydrogen vehicles can be refueled in about 5 minutes and can travel 300-400 miles before they need to be refueled. Because the hydrogen cells emit only water and heat, driving a hydrogen vehicle eliminates concerns around air pollutants and greenhouse gases. 

Because hydrogen vehicles will need their own refueling stations, the biggest obstacle facing mass production is infrastructure. Despite these hesitations, major automobile manufacturers such as Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and Mercedes are investing big in the technology. By 2030, the U.S. plans to have 1 million hydrogen vehicles on the road.  

To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell stacks generate electricity, check out this visual from The Zebra below! 

https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/how-do-hydrogen-cars-work/

 

Smartbox Transforms Customer Experiences with Nutanix. #Nutanix #Smartbox #IT #Cloud #Retail

Nutanix , a leader in enterprise cloud computing, announced today that Smartbox Group, a leading European retailer of gift experiences, expanded its relationship with the company to support its digital modernization project. Smartbox leverages Nutanix software to modernize its IT infrastructure, streamline operations, and reduce costs in order to delight customers with tailored, real-time experiences.

 

A seamless omnichannel customer experience is now a must have for retailers, as customers expect online shopping experiences that draw from their digital behavior and are tailored to them. This requires real time data analysis, across multiple sources as well as a modern technology infrastructure that is automated, secure, supports the use of artificial intelligence, and, is most importantly, always available.

 

Providing gift boxes, gift experiences, and memories for clients across Europe, Smartbox serves 11 countries, distributing nearly 6.5 million gift experiences annually, as well as its unique brand of gift boxes to 10,000 major outlets through retail partners and online stores. The sheer scale of its operations and its many webstores demand constant uptime, scalability during seasonal peak times, flexibility in development, and tailored experiences to its customers.

 

“Our previous systems were just not able to support our business vision and something drastic had to be done if we were going to be able to continue to support our business expansion across Europe and ensure customer fulfilment,” said Paul Cash, Director IT Operations at Smartbox. “Nutanix, more than any other partner, has allowed us to get more out of our IT infrastructure, so it can add value to the business. Its solutions have enabled us to take back control of our environment and allowed us to focus on innovation first rather than maintaining a legacy infrastructure.”

 

With a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the retail industry, the Smartbox team invested in a hyperconverged environment that marries the best of its on-premise IT systems with public cloud services, to be more nimble and quickly adjust to customers’ needs. Its base requirements included the need for full visibility across all IT assets and services, advanced data analytics, the ability to control cloud usage, and scale out DevOps.

 

To support this shift, in the last 18 months Smartbox has adopted Nutanix AHV, which has both allowed it to reduce its datacenter footprint and provided it with enhanced flexibility. Additionally, the company has moved some elastic workloads, like its eCommerce storefront to AWS. The overall environment supports hybrid cloud computing, with seamless connectivity between its Nutanix-powered datacenter and its public cloud environment. The IT infrastructure now better caters to its development teams and is stable enough to run its web services and all core backend applications.

 

“Hybrid Cloud continues to gain momentum as organisations yearn for more flexibility and choice in preparation for moving to a multi-cloud operating model.  Dublin based Smartbox Group is taking advantage of our consumer grade software and methodologies which deliver simplicity, choice and security as it deploys Nutanix.

Smartbox was the first Nutanix customer in Europe and it took a leap of faith with us 8 years ago when we were a small company with a big vision.  Smartbox is the European leader in gift experiences and operates in 11 countries. Nutanix has helped Smartbox to achieve phenomenal growth through its software which includes a virtualisation platform with real-time analytics on multi-cloud cost and security for both on-premises and public clouds. Expanding our relationship with Smartbox is an exciting step in cementing Ireland at the forefront of the global cloud economy”, said, Fergal O’Sullivan, Country Manager & Regional Director at Nutanix.

 

Smartbox is also using Beam to keep public cloud costs in check – which at times was 15 to 20% higher than budgeted prior to the deployment. With Beam, the IT team can now utilize a cost based  model to show the department the actual footprint and cost and of running application environments and the IT they consume.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Additionally, Nutanix Era has helped Smartbox simplify databases and management solutions across many environments, while Prism Pro supports automated infrastructure management, all to drive more flexibility.

 

“Retailers need the flexibility to change the course of their business at a drop of a hat. Whether to cater for seasonal fluctuations, to scale up or down for a sale, or to add digital services – automation and adaptability are what stands between failure and success,” said Dom Poloniecki, General Manager, Sales, Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa region, Nutanix. “Smartbox has really got the mix between public and private cloud right, it not only understands the costs of its on- and off-premise infrastructure but is able to prove the value of IT to the business and ensure that each department is responsible for its own costs. Smartbox is not just keeping the lights on – it is delighting its customers and creating greater loyalty.”

 

Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage its Nutanix software investment tools to deliver self-provisioning of IT resources across the business. It is working to create an environment where its developers are able to spin up changes to its sites, add promotional offerings, and create new products, without having to wait for IT to approve requests. Smartbox believes this will allow it to more proactively act on business opportunities and more easily adapt to customers’ needs.

Tech to make working from home a happier and healthier experience. #Tech #WorkFromHome

With the majority of us now working remotely here is some ideas rounded up to make the home office more bearable. Whether it’s creating the optimal desk set up to help with productivity or suggestions of things to do during regular breaks to help keep you energised and focused, these tools should be considered.

Twelve South Curve

Price: £54.99

Available from: www.amazon.co.uk

Many people suffer from neck pain caused by poor posture and too many hours spent looking down at a screen. Having a good laptop stand like the Twelve South Curve will make working instantly more comfortable and healthier. Stylish with an improved ergonomic design, the Curve means users no longer have to hunch over and tilt their heads downwards towards a screen. They can elevate their MacBook to a more comfortable height, relieving neck and shoulder strain in the process. Whether you want to use your MacBook as a second screen or add a keyboard and mouse and use if more like a desktop, the Curve is the perfect option.

Groov-e Apollo  

See our review

Price: £29.99 Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

 

Having the right lighting when working can make all the difference. Not only can it reduce eye strain but it can boost productivity levels and invigorate you. The Groov-e Apollo is a stylish desk lamp packed with all the latest features to make work life easier. Not only is it a flexible lamp with three LED light modes, it also features wireless charging which means no more hunting around for chargers as users can simply place their mobile device on the base to charge instantly. What’s more users can connect to the Apollo via Bluetooth to hear their favourite tunes around the room using its 3W speaker. USB powered, users can take the Apollo and plug in wherever they are working.

Groov-e Zen

Price: £54.99 Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

The Groov-e Zen Active Noise Cancelling headphones are perfect for those working from home and wanting to block out some of the ambient sound in order to concentrate. Whether it’s a partner working in the same space or kids playing in the next room, the Zen headphones will make it easier to work. With over 10-hours of wireless playback the Zen headphones are ideal for taking calls or listening to music when connected to a Bluetooth device.

Twelve South HiRise Wireless

Price: £79.99 Available from: www.amazon.co.uk

See our review

If you’re looking for a desktop charger to stay fully powered while working in the home office then the Twelve South HiRise Wireless is the perfect choice. Not only is it an upright desktop stand for mobile phones, keeping your device charged while holding it in position for Skype and FaceTime calls, messages and calendar alerts, it’s also a wireless charging pad for AirPods and a USB-C portable wireless charger for travel. All this in one stylish chrome and leather package.

Evernote

Price: From free – Available from: https://evernote.com

Evernote allows you to work from home easily offering users a number of packages to either work solo or collaborate with teams. Evernote lets users save notes, ideas, lists and reminders which can be accessed via app when needed. Evernote Business offers Spaces which allows for teams to manage projects, deadline, clients and meetings with ease.

Activ5

Price: £129.99

Available from: Amazon.co.uk, Harrods and Smartech Selfridges See our review

It’s not all about work when working from home, it’s also important to focus on mind and body health and take breaks throughout the day. Studies show that physical activity not only improves your physical health but your mental health and productivity as well. You could get outside and go for a walk or run, do a free online exercise or even use a device such as the Activ5 which can be used for five minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening for an effective workout.

Dubbed ‘a tiny gym in your pocket’ Activ5 is a portable fitness device that enables anyone with a smartphone to exercise anywhere, anytime.  Activ5 helps to:

-Tone and strengthen muscles with results showing that users can increase strength by 30% in just 6 weeks

-Personalise 100+ exercises to your fitness level, track progress and exercise while playing games

-Do full body isometric exercises and workouts – 5 minutes of isometric exercise can be the equivalent of 25-minutes of gym machine exercises

-Track results on the companion Activ5 app, available on iOS and Android

Senstroke

Price: £145

Available from: www.senstroke.com

There’s plenty of research that says we work better by taking short breaks in between bursts of activity. Rather than just grabbing a cup of tea and watching You Tube for 10 minutes why not play a musical instrument – it’s the perfect way to unwind.  Senstroke is the first connected solution that allows you to play drums anywhere. Perfect for seasoned drummers or even those who’ve never played before, simply attach the Senstroke Bluetooth sensors to the included drumsticks and begin playing on any surface – a desk, cushion or even on your knees.

The Senstroke app features a new learning mode that is perfect for beginners allowing them to have in-app lessons as they play with a drum track that scrolls across the screen to aid learning. Quick and easy to use, drummers can choose between a pre-configured drum layout to get going straight away or customise it to suit their needs.

First look at the Aukey DR01 dashcam. #Aukey #Dashcams #Motoring #Tech

We will be covering a range of motoring and home tech from Aukey in the coming weeks and today we take a look at their DRO1 budget dashcam which is affordable and simple to use with an easy set up which we go through in the video below. You get all the cables and fixtures provided in the box so no need to go shopping elsewhere bar a memory card which I think all manufacturers should included which I always say on any dashcam product.

 

Today we unbox and go through the setup menu and show you what is involved and what you get for your money and in a few weeks time we will have a full review alongside some other products for the motorist Aukey have sent us over giving us good value to kit out your vehicle which will not break the bank, Also check out their other products and reviews on our site which include headphones and true wireless earbuds and stay tuned for more.

  • 【Clear Video Capture】: The DR01 backs you up in any road incident. Sony Exmor Sensor captures super-sharp 1080p video (and optional in-car audio) with 170° field of view and also performs well for nighttime driving
  • 【Emergency Recording & Loop Recording】: Emergency Recording automatically captures unexpected driving incidents and protects the recordings. Loop Recording allows continuous use by writing over old, unneeded footage.
  • 【Extreme Temperature Operation】: Powered by the included dual-port USB car charger and internal supercapacitor. The supercapacitor has greater heat & cold endurance and longer lifetime than standard battery technology
  • 【Easy Mounting】: Easily and securely mount to your windshield in seconds with the included suction cup or double-sided 3M pad
  • 【Package Contents】: AUKEY DR01 Dashboard Camera, Dual-Port USB Car Charger, USB Mini-B Power Cable (4m/4.37yd), Sticker Mount, Three 3M Stickers, Six Cable Clips, User Manual, 45-Day Money Back Guarantee and 24-Month Warranty Card

BUY HERE 

Get cleaner air with a HEPA air purifier from Meaco. #Air #Meaco #Viruses

We are living in surreal times. As we move into spring we see the start of suffering caused from a variety of seasonal allergies, and the added risk of the airborne transmission of viruses.

Chris Michael, Director of Meaco, a leading UK air purifier manufacturer, advises the use of an air purifier to help reduce the misery caused from allergies, and to help support overall wellness as families spend more time indoors and in close proximity

There is a lot of talk about why people should use a HEPA air purifier for health benefits. Air pollution caused by a range of pollutants can be detrimental to health. The very young and elderly are particularly vulnerable. Pollution is most obvious in large cities, along busy roads and in industrial areas but there are also many sources of pollutants that we bring into our own home.  Smoking, faulty boilers, chemicals given off by new furniture, perfumes, air fresheners and candles, paints and cleaning products, all commonly known as VOCs (Volatile organic compounds), dust mites that live in our beds, mould spores, and dander from family pets can all trigger allergic reactions. At this time of year there is also pollen from a range of plants that can trigger asthma and cause discomfort. On top of this we also have to contend with airborne viruses.

The Government is urging people to work from home where possible, and with uncertainty about future directives, it is likely that more of us will be confined to the home.

So why should you use an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter? An air purifier works by removing allergens from the air. A True HEPA filter has been made to strict international regulations, and traps most bacteria, pathogens, microbial spores, pollens, and some virus particles. Capturing harmful particles and circulating clean air throughout a room, will help in keeping people healthy so their immune system is a tiny bit stronger to fight off any viruses. People should not rely on an air purifier to protect them from the coronavirus, as air purifiers have not been designed or tested to that level. Instead, they should follow the latest government guidelines to protect themselves.  But if families are going to spend more time indoors and in close proximity then using an air purifier will help the family’s general health and will provide protection from VOCs that are common in the home and airborne pollutants from outside.

One filter removes dust, another deals with particles such as dust mites and pollen. A charcoal filter eliminates smells, and an ultraviolet system (UVC) will destroy bacteria. Finally, an ioniser is said to encourage dust particles to stick together and fall to the ground or into the air purifier. Air filters are an important part in managing airborne allergens, and for serious sufferers, can make life a lot more bearable, particularly if used in the bedroom.

Meaco’s research has shown that air purifier selection often goes wrong as people do not match the allergy to the filter required, or they buy an air purifier that is too small for their room and it cannot clean the air efficiently.  The only way to reliably remove pollutants from the air is by circulating the entire volume of air in a room several times an hour, ensuring particles will enter the airflow of a filter, and the air will become cleaner. To select the correct one, you need to know what you’re allergic to and the cubic air volume of the room you want to clean. This would be calculated from the height, width and depth of the room in metres.

Make sure that the air purifier can actually remove what you are allergic to from the air and make sure that it can clean your air volume three times an hour for a mild allergy, five times an hour if you are on medication and eight times an hour if your allergy is serious.  Let the air purifier run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Put it on high fan speed when you are not in the room and turn it down to one of the quieter fan speeds when you are in the room.

Meaco has developed a next generation air purification range that includes the  MeacoClean  CA-HEPA 119×5 and  MeacoClean CA-HEPA 47×5),both ‘state of the art,’ offering a bespoke air purification experience to suit the allergy and room size.  Both have an Allergy UK seal of approval.

The MeacoClean range is a more advanced than many standard air purifiers. Meaco uses True HEPA filters, to provide a high standard of air cleaning, as part of a multistage filtration package, along with activated charcoal which helps to remove odours and VOCs from the air. It has a PCO (Photocatalytic Oxidation) system which is the most advanced ant-bacterial/virus system to date. PCO technology speeds up the reaction time to help kill bacteria and viruses. Another advantage of the MeacoClean is that the multiple filters cover the vast majority of allergens.

The larger MeacoClean CA-HEPA 119×5 has one of the highest CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) scores in Europe and is suitable for rooms from 74 to 198m³ depending on how severe the allergy is, while the smaller MeacoClean CA-HEPA 47X5 works in rooms between 29 and 78m³.

Here are some other ways to help stay healthy

  1. See your doctor before the season starts so that you have your medication right before the allergies start.
  2. Get used to checking the pollen count on a daily basis so that you can plan your day.
  3. Avoid drying clothes outside when the count is high as the pollen with stick to the clothes.
  4. Plan outdoor activities after any rain as the pollen count is lower after a shower.
  5. When you come home change your clothes so that you are not wearing clothes with pollen indoors and allowing the pollen to spread around the house.
  6. Spring clean the house so you are not sneezing and suffering whilst disturbing dust.
  7. Clean mould in the bathroom regularly to avoid the spread of mould spores.
  8. Ensure you have good ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen to remove excess moisture to avoid damp.
  9. Lower damp levels mean less mould spores and dust mites, if necessary look to buy a dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels.
  10. Make your bedroom an allergy free haven where you can rest and get a good night’s sleep.  Air purifiers provide a solution that can provide relief from these allergens.

See  Meaco for more

Nokia introduces new Wi-Fi 6 mesh router and technology innovations to deliver ultimate gigabit experience in a 5G world. #Nokia #5G #WiFi

Nokia today announced it is adding a new Wi-Fi 6 Beacon to its whole-home WiFi portfolio, helping operators to deliver a powerful user experience. Providing a high-capacity, high-performance in-home solution, the new Beacon 6 uses Wi-Fi 6 to deliver 40 percent faster speeds than previous Wi-Fi generations.

 To further enhance the in-home experience, Nokia is also adding low-latency technology built on Nokia Bell Labs innovations to its Wi-Fi portfolio. Drastically improving residential Wi-Fi networks, the Nokia Beacon 6 provides operators with an easy to install solution that can support low-latency applications such as gaming and gigabit speeds essential for creating a seamless end-to-end 5G experience.
 

Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight said: “The benefits of 5G are going to change user experiences and customers’ expectations. The blend of the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, low latency performance and in-home Wi-Fi mesh solutions linked to 5G will allow operators to deliver a seamless communications platform for next generation applications and solutions.”

 

Currently more than 25 percent of homes globally are connected to a Wi-Fi network and there are about 5 billion Wi-Fi-connected devices in the home including home computing, smart TVs and smart home devices. To cope with this growth, operators and end-users are investing in devices that support Wi-Fi 6, a new Wi-Fi standard that improves speed by at least four times in dense areas and reduces latency by 75 percent.

 

The Beacon 6 is the first Nokia WiFi device to showcase several new technologies working seamlessly together. This includes:

  • Support for Wi-Fi 6 which improves the overall speed, performance and latency of a Wi-Fi network with OFDMA, a modulation scheme used in 5G that allows the access point to talk to more devices at once.
  • The Beacon 6 introduces Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh3 and is fully interoperable with 3rd party Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh products for easy install. Nokia’s new mesh controller capabilities ensure the best Wi-Fi performance is achieved in the home by managing channel selection and adding advanced interference capabilities that are unique in the market.
  • Nokia Bell Labs low-latency innovations including PI24 algorithm (available 2H20) that consistently improves latency even in congested environments. With PI2, latency is reduced from hundreds of milliseconds to 20 milliseconds which can be further reduced to <5 milliseconds when paired with L4S in the core network. L4S is currently being standardized by the IETF5 and builds on Bell Labs innovations that eliminate jitters and delays that can impact the user experience in low-latency applications like gaming and virtual reality.

The introduction of Nokia’s Beacon 6 and new low-latency innovations will play an important role in helping operators deliver a powerful 5G user experience at home. With Nokia’s Beacon 6, operators can leverage the speed and performance of Wi-Fi 6 to seamlessly off-load 5G mobile traffic to the Wi-Fi network, allowing end users connected to a 5G wireless network to go from the car into the home without any disruptions. This is critical for operators looking to free up expensive 5G spectrum for higher ARPU use cases like Industry 4.0 and IoT.

 

“Nokia’s new Beacon 6 will play a fundamental role in helping operators significantly enhance residential Wi-Fi and for the first time, deliver a true 5G experience across the network,” said Sandra Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia.  “By leveraging the power of Wi-Fi 6, Nokia’s new Beacon 6 can help establish a significantly faster and more powerful Wi-Fi network in the home that will forever change the game for operators and end users alike. Whether it’s a home, work or public environment, the ability to seamlessly offload from mobile 5G to Wi-Fi 6 will enable operators to accelerate 5G rollouts, reduce costs and ultimately ensure a consistent, premium 5G end-users experience is achieved.”

 

“New Zealand already has some of the fastest internet connectivity in the world thanks to the strong customer uptake of the FTTH Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) program,” said JB Rousselot, Chorus New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are building on this fantastic progress with the launch of our 10G GPON services under the product banner of HyperFibre and are excited about the role that WiFi6 will play in enhancing the customers experience.  Lab testing of the Beacon 6 on our fibre network has demonstrated that we can take wireless speeds beyond a gig.  This new technology provides a way for our fantastic fibre asset to play a meaningful part in New Zealanders 5G wireless experiences.”

 

Manfrotto Announces The Chicago Collection – The New Collection of Premium Photography Backpacks

Vitec Imaging Solutions, world leader in the photography and videography, imaging equipment and accessories industry brings you Chicago, the new collection of premium photography backpacks: outstanding performance and premium design built to serve dynamic urban creatives as they live their best city life.

 

The Manfrotto Chicago collection consists of two photography backpacks and is the most desirable yet. The philosophy behind this assortment is to combine exclusive quality materials, ultra-stylish design, and exceptional technical features. Chicago is a multi-purpose, modular system devised to fulfil the needs of today’s most energetic promising city-based photographers.

 

If you’re an image-making mover and shaker or content creator and you love using the coolest, most powerful and versatile gear, including full frame mirrorless cameras, premium laptop, handheld gimbal or drone, the Chicago collection is for you: it’s a photography bag designed to stay with you throughout your day to day experiences of life in the city, on the most epic photo and video shoots, and on to exciting weekend getaways.

You’ll love the carefully selected materials and design details that make this pack built to last: Kevlar® yarn fabric on the bottom part of the bag for extreme protection and durability, coated fabric with matte finish, Duraflex® buckles and YKK zippers. Moreover, external fabric is treated to make it water repellent and a rain cover is also supplied in case of extreme weather conditions.

 

Both the Chicago camera backpack Medium and Small models feature a removable photo insert that enables a switch from 100% photography to 100% lifestyle in an instant. The internal camera unit slips out and works perfectly as a shoulder bag when only photography gear is needed. The packs feature symmetric dual-access organizer pockets, so you always know where to find your gear. And when you need a handy day pack that looks as cool as you are, simply remove the camera unit and convert to a city travel bag.

The Manfrotto Chicago camera backpack Medium and Small hold a full-frame mirrorless or DSLR camera with standard zoom lens attached. On top of this, the Medium holds 3-4 extra lenses, whereas the Small fits 2-3 additional lenses, depending on size.

 

Both models have a top compartment designed for personal gear. They also fit a DJI OSMO Mobile in a dedicated gimbal pocket on one of the double-sided flaps. Moreover, the Chicago Medium also features a media organizer pouch designed to keep your essentials media accessories to hand, including SD cards, cables and adapters.

 

A separate laptop compartment on the back of the packs’ main compartments store a 14’’ laptop in the Small, and 15’’ laptop in the Medium.

For your peace of mind, both models feature the Manfrotto Slim-Tech Protection System, which offers the benefit of more space for gear along with uncompromising protection from shock inside the bag, thanks to a slimmer, high-performance divider system. You can always have your trusty tripod with you thanks to the versatile tripod holder, designed to hold a tripod horizontally across the front or under the pack, or vertically on the front of the pack. Slip anything you need easy access to into the double-sided external stretch pockets on both sides.

 

The Manfrotto Chicago camera backpack small is available for £182.95,

 

The Manfrotto Chicago camera backpack medium is available for £213.45.

 

For more information see www.manfrotto.co.uk