Category: Tech

Revolutionary Slimdown for #Windows10, @Auslogics Brand-New BoostSpeed 10 #Auslogics

Auslogics Software, an Australia-based publisher of expert-recommended computer maintenance, optimization and security tools, has announced the release of a new major version of Auslogics BoostSpeed. Version 10 comes with multiple usability and algorithm improvements and upgrades, many of them designed to make working with Microsoft’s newest operating system more convenient for everyone.

Since the release of Windows 10, many PC users around the world have complained about the OS having too much “filler” with promotional content taking up space, various data transmission options enabled by default and undermining user privacy, etc. Auslogics has been collecting user feedback and analyzing it to single out the annoyances that caused the most complaints. The company then worked on adding functionality in BoostSpeed to address those Windows 10 issues, while making it useful for PCs with other Windows versions as well.

 

BoostSpeed 10 comes with a brand-new Windows Slimmer tool that was created to help users get the most out of their Windows computers, especially those that run Windows 10. The tool lets users uninstall unneeded apps that take up disk space and produce unneeded load on system resources. It also offers users a simple way to remove or disable unneeded system components.

Version 10 also received a significant usability upgrade through simplified access to the program’s 18 additional tools. All of them can now be accessed from the main screen, so when a user opens the program, they instantly have everything they need to run maintenance, protect privacy and do advanced security or performance tweaking. The software suite includes tools to boost Internet connection speed, erase traces of credit card or other private information, recover accidentally deleted files, shred confidential documents, check hard drive status and fix errors, sort through personal files and applications, clear more disk space by erasing duplicates and other features.

“The new Windows Slimmer is the best diet pill for your Windows, created and tested by computer “physicians” with years of experience,” says Anna Lind, Auslogics PR representative. “Your operating system will take up less disk space, use less memory and CPU power, and as a result will run faster and more efficiently. Along with multiple other improvements, this new feature makes BoostSpeed even more effective for cleaning up, customizing and boosting any Windows PC.”

A free trial version of Auslogics BoostSpeed 10 is available from the publisher’s website at www.auslogics.com/en/software/boost-speed Special upgrade pricing is available for current users of older BoostSpeed versions.

 

#Garmin introduces the vívofit 4 activity tracker, Slimmer with an always-on colour display and 1+yr battery life

Garmin International Inc. has announced the vívofit 4, a daily activity tracker with an incredible 1+ year battery life – no charging necessary – and a sunlight-readable, always-on colour display. Designed for 24/7 wearability, the vívofit 4 is swim- and shower-safe and features a sleek, comfortable band. The vívofit 4 is ready to go right out of the box, and can be paired with a smartphone for additional features. Easy to set up and simple to operate, all that’s left is to put it on and go.

 

“An activity tracker is only as effective as how often you wear it, and this is where the vívofit 4 really shines – you can set it and forget it,” said Andrew Silver, EMEA Product Manager, Fitness. “It’s the ideal device for customers who want something reliable that they don’t need to hassle with or take off to recharge.”

Right out of the box, the vívofit 4 starts tracking steps and encourages users to stay active with a coloured move bar that fills up when a user has been stationary for too long. It also assigns daily step goals based on current activity levels, which automatically adjust to the user, gradually nudging them toward a healthier, more active lifestyle.

For those customers looking for more than just basic activity tracking, the vívofit 4 can be paired with a smartphone, adding even more functionality and options, such as tracking sleep, intensity minutes and more. Forget to start or stop a timed activity? Thanks to Move IQ, the vívofit 4 is able to detect changes in a user’s movement and automatically capture and classify activities such as walking, running, biking, swimming and using an elliptical.

Users can use the vívofit 4 as their everyday watch, complete with a countdown timer, stopwatch and multiple alarms. A weather widget gives a quick, illustrated look at the day’s weather. The vívofit 4 even includes Find My Phone for those who need a little extra help keeping track of their smartphone.

Through the Garmin Connect app, users can customize the vívofit 4 with various watch faces, colour themes and personalized text, such as an emergency contact or motivational phrase. Interchangeable accessory bands (sold separately) make it easy to switch up colours and styles to match any mood or outfit.

Within the newly redesigned Garmin Connect, a free online community, it is easier than ever to get an at-a-glance look at important stats like steps and sleep. Users can filter and customize their data so that they are only seeing what is most relevant. Users can connect with friends and family to motivate one another, join challenges, engage in friendly competitions and more. And speaking of competitions, vívofit 4 users with children who own vívofit jr. 2 devices can compete against one another using the Toe-to-Toe timed step competition feature to determine who is clearing the table that night. The vívofit 4 will periodically sync with Garmin Connect throughout the day.

The vívofit 4 is available in White (S/M), Black Speckled (S/M) and Black (S/M and L) for a suggested retail price of £69.99/ €79.99. Interchangeable accessory bands are available in a Speckled Merlot and Speckled Navy combo pack (S/M) for £27.99/ €30.99. Accessory bands in Speckled Black (S/M), White (S/M) and Black (S/M and L) are available for individual purchase for a suggested retail price of £17.99/ €19.99.

Follow at facebook.co.uk/garmin, twitter.co.uk/garmin, or youtube.co.uk/garmin

What’s in store for enterprise messaging in 2018? #AI #AR #VR & #IoT top of the list.

The past few years have been transformative for enterprise messaging. Organizations across the world are embracing team communication and collaboration platforms such as Flock and realizing efficiency gains.  Flock’s CEO Bhavin Turakhia shares his predictions for the year ahead.

Plus, with distributed teams becoming more common, enterprise messengers have become virtual meeting grounds and office spaces for teams everywhere. And with the launch and availability of APIs for almost every service, it’s become much more easier for enterprises to use and customize messaging apps. Bots have also become a key component of messaging platforms – both for personal use and in the enterprise.

All this however, is just the preamble to the sea of change that is upon us. I see the year ahead bringing in even more changes and improvements to the way we communicate and work together.

New technologies – AI, AR, VR and IoT

New technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and the internet of things promise to usher in new ways of communication in the workplace. Meetings in a virtual room, AI-enabled data analysis within messaging platforms, bots that do more than send notifications, and IoT-based automatic attendance systems – the potential is unlimited.

Customer-centric development

A side-effect of the Uber-isation of apps and services is that customer retention is more important now than ever. Product development is now shifting towards a customer-led approach, where customer feedback is key to the development of new features. Companies are spending more effort on enabling customer success to retain users. This is a trend that will continue to influence the enterprise messaging space in 2018 and beyond. Put simply, customer-centric enterprise messengers are more likely to succeed.

Third-party integrations

Efficiency is a magic word for any enterprise, and one of the ways enterprise messengers are increasing efficiency is by integrating third-party apps and services within the messaging tool. This saves customers the hassle of switching between multiple apps at work, and gives them time that can be put to better use. For example, one of the most popular apps in Flock is Shared To-Dos, which allows users to create and assign tasks to team members, and track their completion. It’s really a simple idea that reduces the usual runaround between a company’s messaging and task management tools, and gives users time to do more.

Custom integrations for enterprises are going to be bigger and better in 2018, giving users more out-of-the-box functionality in their enterprise messaging tools.

Process and workflow automation

SOPs are the daily drivers of almost every function in a business. Consider the processes we follow for expense reimbursements, or for hiring and induction – there is a certain method to the madness, and these processes often require repetitive human intervention at multiple stages. Process and workflow automation aims to solve the problem of repetitive human effort in such use cases.

Enterprise communication platforms that can integrate with existing HR and Finance systems, and automate some processes will lead to jumps in efficiency and productivity for the entire organization.

The adoption of AI and a host of technologies such as AR, VR and IoT, customer-centric development, better third-party integrations and process/workflow automation are key trends to look out for. I expect them to make a big difference to the evolution of enterprise messaging, leading to better communication and collaboration in the workplace.

Ultimately, the best enterprise messengers will adopt these new technologies, making life simpler for teams working on the next great thing.

Christmas Gifts from @SOULElectronics offer Style, Sportiness and Simply an Impressive Sound

We have been testing out some of SOUL Electronics goods over the last two weeks and reviews go live this week and we are impressed with them and not only this the price point here is really competitive in this market and it is crowded but this means choice.  Watch out for our thoughts this week..

SOUL Electronics is one of the world leaders in consumer electronics with a focus on high-quality headphones and Bluetooth speakers that combine powerful sound with stylish design and perfect features for daily workout – at fair prices.

Within the scope of the development of these products, SOUL has also worked closely with famous athletes and musicians, such as Hip-hop legend and Grammy winner Ludacris, sprint superstar Usain Bolt and German NBA legionnaire Dennis Schröder. SOUL headphones are also perfect for those who are looking for a spontaneous Christmas gift and are among others available on Amazon.co.uk and HMV.co.uk.

X-Shock Pure Wireless In-Ears

Weighing only 6 grams each, these in-ears are ergonomically designed and boast a sweat- and waterproof outer shell. Thanks to their Bluetooth 4.2. technology the X-Shock earphones have a range of up to 10 meters. The mobile charging station also offers convincing performance: It not only charges the X-Shock in-ears in 1.5 hours, but also serves as a power bank for the smartphone. In combination with the integrated remote control for easily answering incoming calls, the X-Shock in-ears provide ultimate comfort and flexibility – in the office as well as during workout in the gym or jogging in the park.

X-TRA Over-Ears

Sound meets comfort meets functionality with the SOUL X-TRA headphones: These sports over-ears use LED lights for better visibility for those who like to exercise outdoors, especially in dark winter nights. They weigh less than 200 grams, have removable and washable ear pods to keep them hygienic and are lightweight enough to sit over the user’s ear comfortably during activity.

 Prime Wireless In-Ears

These earphones are rather a fashion accessory, since a handy magnetic clip allows them to transition conveniently into a necklace that is perfect for all-day wear. They are made of high density metal, providing a distinct weight and texture for a more premium look and feel. Despite their compact size, these in-ears boast advanced drivers for warm, deep low bass and clear mids and highs. The Prime Wireless come in a stylish leather carrying case and feature 6 hours battery life, a mic for hands free calls and a remote for volume and playlist control.

RUN FREE PRO HD Bluetooth Earphones

The secure fit of these wireless in-ears can be individually adjusted thanks to the interchangeable ear lock system. They are water and sweat resistant due to their special Nano-coating, and their Wind Noise Reduction function maintains the clear and pumping Bluetooth 4.0 sound without being affected by strong wind noises – for instance during jogging or cycling. Along with up to 12 hours of battery life, this means extended workout sessions in- or outdoors.

 

 ST-XS True Wireless Earphones

Boasting two powerful 6mm dynamic neodymium drivers, these sweat-proof and only 4 grams light Bluetooth in-ears deliver balanced deep low bass and clear mids and highs. Their sweat-proof design ensures a secure and comfortable fit without any wires and hence without any interruptions. Offering up to 10 hours of playtime, the ST-XS also come with a charging carrying case that delivers four full charges – perfect for extensive workout or just for relaxed music entertainment on Christmas holidays.

Play the @libertygames Remote-Control Arcade Claw Machine via Webcam #Gaming #Arcade

From Monday the 18th to Friday the 22nd of December Liberty Games are giving money to a great charity, but they need you to help them. Its simple free and can be done from your home or office..

They have hooked up an arcade claw machine to the internet with a Raspberry Pi. With a simple control interface and a livestreaming webcam, you can play it right now, wherever you are.

And it’s for a great cause. For every toy successfully grabbed and placed in the prize box, they will make a donation to St Mungo’s, a London homeless charity.

To play the game, view the prizes and find out the technical details of how they did it head over HERE

Festive hacks: How to nail working from home this Christmas. #Christmas #Work

As Christmas is nearly upon us, and with the “working from home” culture on the rise, Flock has compiled some top tips for those planning to work from the comfort of their home over the Christmas break.

With Christmas around the corner, most employees will be looking forward to a break from the office. While some will be busy wrapping presents (and fretting over cooking the turkey perfectly!) new research shows that 70% of people will be using this time at home to catch up and get ahead for the next year

#1: Know your team

You may be working with a skeleton team over Christmas. So, if you’re working from home, ensure you know who’s working and when. Make sure you have their contact details and working dates, and if possible, add them on your work’s instant messaging app for quick and easy communication.

#2: Plan your time

For many of us, working from home seems like the perfect opportunity to get our heads down and tick items off our to-do lists. But in reality, the lack of a structured work day and other distractions (read excitable children, day-time TV, and pile of laundry) may make this less feasible. To stay on track, plan your time, or even set appointments in your online calendar to make it easier to stay on track.

#3: Follow the 5-minute rule

This tip is super simple. If you have a task that you know will take less than five minutes, make the most of being away from immediate distractions that are in abundance at the office (e.g., your colleagues or the biscuit tin) and get it done now!

#4: Take a break

From time to time, all of us are tempted to work through our lunch breaks. But studies show that letting work eat into your lunch time is counter-productive, and that scheduling a break will instead improve your work quality and ability to concentrate!

#5: Schedule meetings

Coordinating and setting up a meeting can be tough, and this becomes so much more difficult if you’re not working from the office! But with most modern work messenger apps such as Flock, scheduling meetings even when working remotely has been made far easier. You can easily schedule an efficient video or voice call, ultimately cutting the time wasted on all the back and forth that can occur via email. Scheduling meetings also adds an element of structure to your day. So, if your skeleton team is spread across geographical locations, you can schedule a quick daily stand up via a video call.

#6: Ensure you have the right tools

Do you get anxious about transparency, access to work documents, and being a part of work-related discussions? Don’t worry, the fear of missing out is real! Research shows that nearly half of us  find it hard to relax when we don’t have access to work emails. That’s why it’s important to choose tech tools that help you stay connected even on the go. If you’re keen to stay online, make sure you download your messaging app to your phone so that you can monitor activity and have files at your fingertips while you’re out and about during your Christmas break.

SOUL Electronics Presents Brand New X-Shock Pure Wireless Earphones #earphones

We have several reviews coming up from SOUL Electronics but today there is another new product to market which is the all new X-Shock Pure Wireless Earphones. 

The SOUL X-Shock in-ears are the latest innovation by US-American audio experts SOUL Electronics. These “true wireless” earphones offer maximum flexibility – designed for people who don’t want to compromise on music entertainment and head for complete freedom of movement.

Highest Sound Quality via Bluetooth 4.2

SOUL developed these earphones together with a team of sound engineers and professional athletes. Weighing only 6 Gramm each, these in-ears are ergonomically designed and boast a sweat- and waterproof outer shell with innovative double injection technology – for a powerful sound any time and any place. Thanks to their Bluetooth 4.2. technology the X-Shock earphones have a range of up to 10 meters. The gold-plated internal antennas enable an instant auto pairing and an excellent Bluetooth connection with a mobile device and, together with the integrated remote control for easily answering incoming calls, do provide ultimate comfort and flexibility – in the office as well as during workout in the gym or jogging in the park.

 

Up to 54 Hours of Music Thanks to the Mobile Charging Station

The mobile charging station also offers convincing performance: It not only charges the X-Shock in-ears in 1.5 hours, but also serves as a power bank for the smartphone. The charging station “loads” the earphones a total of 18 times before it has to be recharged. Since the X-Shock headphones themselves have a battery life of over 3 hours, this means a total of at least 54 hours of music enjoyment – with just one loaded charging station.

The new X-Shock true wireless in-ears are available now at GBP 149,99 on Amazon UK. In addition, SOUL will be launching an X-Shock special edition in March 2018 with integrated LED lights in the earplugs for better visibility and more safety during outdoor workouts in the dark.

PlayLink for PS4 – New exciting range of games that’s transforming #social gatherings. #Gaming

PlayLink for PS4 – is an exciting new way to play games with family and friends, which combines your smartphone with your PS4 console, without the need for multiple controllers. There’s a range of PlayLink games available to suit all occasion and skill levels, so whether its the office party or Christmas Day celebrations.

PlayLink allows an entire group to get involved in multiplayer – tilting, tapping, shouting and singing – using their very own smartphone or tablet. Simply download the free supporting game app to your smartphone or tablet, connect to your PS4 via WiFi and you’re good to go.

 

PlayLink is the latest innovation exclusive to PS4, allowing players to use their smartphones and tablets without the need for multiple controllers. PlayLink games are designed to be played in a group setting, encouraging a truly fun and immersive multiplayer experience.

PlayLink brings more players into the games and allows for social gaming that everyone can enjoy. PlayLink games turn your smartphone or tablet into a versatile controller. Players can interact using their smart phone or tablet in unique ways with each title – tilt, tap, shake, swipe, sing and shout in this varied range of games, which are not only easy to jump into but also challenging enough for some serious game nights.

The collection of PlayLink games vary from gritty crime thrillers to quick-fire quizzes. Simply download the free companion app to your smartphone or tablet and ensure your PS4 hooked up to a TV and you are ready to play.

With party season around the corner, these new PlayLink games are just the thing to liven up your parties, or break out during family gatherings. There’s a game to suit all occasions and can be enjoyed by all skill levels and ages – (as the PEGI ratings allow).

That’s You! is an audacious comedy quiz which challenges up to six friends to get personal and find out what you really think about each other. Featuring over 1,000 varied questions, participants can reveal their daring side by taking part in doodle challenges and snapping selfies.

Hidden Agenda is a narrative-driven adventure that drops participants right into the centre of this chilling detective thriller, which is rife with moral dilemmas that may determine life or death. Up to six participants can join in to make tough decisions about how the story unfolds, but one participant will have a hidden agenda…

Frantics is an arcade-style game where up to four participants face off in a variety of challenges. Bluff, battle, negotiate and co-operate your way to victory, but beware – mischievous host The Fox is also on hand to stir things up.

Singstar Celebration – Whether it’s your birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or even just a Saturday night – SingStar Celebration is the perfect playlist to any party, with up to eight players able to join in the fun. Use your SingStar mic or combine your smartphone to start belting out your favorite party classics.

PlayLink for PS4 games start from €19.99 RRP each and available from stockists nationwide.

Irish Entrepreneurs Partner with Global Brands to Launch App that Rewards You for Waking Up

Two young Irish entrepreneurs have just released an alarm clock app that gives you brand discounts and rewards for waking up. FirstUp was featured back in MAY this year

The app, called FirstUp, has partnership deals with Benefit Makeup, Unilever, Maxol, Electric Ireland and Ambr Eyewear, with rewards ranging from free coffee to beauty treatments for using the FirstUp alarm.

FirstUp was co-founded by Ruaidhri Finnegan and Dan Moriarty (28) pictured above.

Over 11,000 Irish people registered for the official launch after a trial version of the app was released with Pieta House for their annual Darkness into Light event last May, making it one of the most anticipated Irish apps of the year.

Ruaidhri Finnegan said: “For most people, waking up early isn’t  optional, and getting out of your warm bed can be tough. We wanted to build an alarm clock app that looks and sounds great, while giving people a reward incentive to help them have the best and most productive start to the day.”

Dan Moriarty said: “We’re trying to develop an alarm clock that can actively aid our users in having a positive morning; whether that be through the sense of accomplishment in earning a reward, reading the morning news through FirstUp or just not having to listen to that same harsh annoying alarm tone again!”

Head of Marketing for Benefit Cosmetics, Lou Bennett, said:

“FirstUp is a unique and innovative way for us to reward our Benefit customers. We’re delighted to be working with the FirstUp team, and to see how we can make mornings better for the busy, modern girl.”

Head of Marketing for Maxol, Caroline Burton commented:

“In these cold and dark winter months, we wanted to show our appreciation for all our Maxol customers by making their wake up routine that little bit easier. FirstUp is an exciting project, and we look forward to seeing how we can help our customers have a great and energising start to the day.” 

FirstUp is available to download from the Google and App store now.

Apple App store – https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/firstup/id1210013319?mt=8

Google Play store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.firstup.android