Category: Tech

Irish #mytaxi drivers can avoid traffic congestion with new Google Maps navigation feature

Irish mytaxi drivers will now be able to avoid congestion and traffic jams more effectively with the introduction of mytaxi Navigation, built with Google Maps in the mytaxi Driver app.

From 12th December, Europe’s biggest taxi app is integrating Google Maps into its existing system, making mytaxi one of the first service providers in the world to go down this route with Google.

With the new release, Irish drivers will have an improved all-in-one package with supporting technical features that allows them to see the current traffic situation directly in the mytaxi app.

“Our aim in integrating Google Maps is to improve the user-experience and to make using mytaxi even more service-oriented and more intuitive for our drivers.  The passengers benefit from the update too as traffic jams and hold-ups can specifically be avoided at the beginning of the trip, without the driver first having to waste time searching for alternative routes in separate systems,“ said mytaxi’s chief product officer Johannes Mewes.

In addition to trips being allocated more appropriately due to more precise geolocation, mytaxi Navigation means the driver can now see the quickest and most direct route to the customer on the offer screen.  When the driver accepts the booking, they are directed to the destination by a blue line and are given precise details of the journey time – and a voice function and a general overview with a practical zoom are included too.

The mytaxi Driver App update with mytaxi Navigation is now available for all iOS and Android devices. If you have not downloaded it yet hit the store icons below to do so.

mytaxi is committed to supporting its drivers and increasing the size of its fleet to meet surging customer demand in Ireland. Over 12,000 drivers have been active on the mytaxi and Hailo apps since launch with over 700 of these drivers joining since September this year. In November 2017, despite customer demand being up more than 35% year over year – mytaxi improved their service levels nationwide.

Last month it announced a total of €1 million in incentives to the first 500 drivers who pass the NTA test needed to enter the taxi sector and drive for mytaxi.  As part of this initiative, drivers also receive free training for the SPSV test using the new mytaxi Manual, with the platform already helping drivers to pass the test.

Meaco launches range of motion detection heaters. #Tech #Heating #MotionDetection

Traditional heating works by setting the temperature by using a thermostat to maintain a room temperature, regardless of whether the room is used constantly or only occasionally.  A spare bedroom, children’s playroom, conservatory, office workspace or shed may have infrequent use, but in the colder weather still need warming up.

The new MeacoHeat Motion heaters with their unique motion detection sensors, can be used as stand-alone heaters for these spaces, as they will only switch on when a person walks into the room. When they leave the room they will switch off, saving money on heating bills as well as being kinder to the environment.

There are two models in the range available in either red, black or white, and their small stylish design means they will look good in any room in the house. MeacoHeat Motion use a safe PTC ceramic technology to offer fast start-up time with almost instant heat. A thermal cut out and tilt safety switch ensure that if they are accidentally knocked over that they switch off. A fan option means they can be used all year, adding warmth in the summer months on a chill day, but becoming a fan to cool a room in hotter weather.

The smaller model, 1.8kW has two outputs levels to save energy, a 1-7 hour off timer and a fan only mode for summer use.

The larger 2.0Kw adds oscillation to the specification to distribute the heat evenly through a 70° arc. A three level thermostat replaces the off timer to provide another level of control.

Safety-conscious, economical and stylish, MeacoHeat Motion heaters are perfect for filling in with some extra heat where it’s needed, or warming up a cold space fast.

MeacoHeat Motion 2.0kW Heater £99.99

MeacoHeat Motion 1.8kW Heater £79.99

Heaters

Amazon Echo VS. Google Home: Face-Off! (Infographic) #AmazonEcho #GoogleHome

Pretty popular toys these two but the Amazon Echo was the first to hit the market, but the Google Home is gaining ground. Hopefully the infographic will help you understand some more about the Assistants. Tane Clark from http://www.halfprice.com.au/ has created this infographic and sent it over for you to read and we hope you like it.

 

Urbanista launch “Milan” earphones and “NewYork” headphones both with ANC. #Ubranista

We have been testing out Urbanista products some time now and they are products that are not to be missed in fact we are the first in Ireland to bring you hands on reviews of their products which is tech named after cities check them out HERE 

TODAY THERE IS TWO NEW PRODUCTS TO CHECK OUT

The Milan neckband earphones

Swedish lifestyle brand, Urbanista has just launched a stylish new edition to its earphone range, Milan – sleek neckband earphones featuring Active Noise Cancellation up to 25 dB. Sitting comfortably around the neck, the neckband is discreet, fashionable and practical, and thanks to water and sweat resistance, the fun doesn’t have to stop in the rain or during a strenuous workout. Its light and flexible design means it’s also perfect for multitasking on the go whether you’re indoors or outdoors.

Milan are designed to make life in motion easier – they effortlessly connect to devices using Bluetooth and have a built-in microphone so users can enjoy completely hands-free calls. Control buttons on the neckband allow you to determine volume levels, switch ANC on and off and can even be used to activate voice assistants such as Siri.

Combining understated Scandinavian style with true comfort, users can now enjoy music and phone calls without being disturbed thanks to the ANC function of Milan. ANC allows you to block out surrounding sounds such as noisy trains, the bustling of a city and chatter in the office. With a quick charge time of 2.5 hours, music lovers can enjoy Milan for up to eight hours with ANC on, and twelve hours with ANC off.

Milan is available to purchase now in black and white at https://uk.urbanista.com/, £119.

The Urbanista New York Headphones

New York. Keeping the uniquely classic Scandinavian style of the Seattle, New York also features Active Noise Cancellation up to 27 dB allowing users to enjoy their tunes without the disruption of background noise on their commute or in the office.

New York connects to devices through Bluetooth technology so music lovers are free to enjoy their crisp sound without any wires holding them down. The headphones’ impressive battery life means they can be used continuously for more than a day, at 25 hours with ANC switched off, and for 16 hours with ANC turned on – and they only take 2.5 hours to charge! ANC can effortlessly be switched on or off through a discreet button.

 

Unlike most wireless headphones, New York also comes with a complimentary cable – so if you do face the dreadful event of running out of battery, they’ve got you covered! Listeners can easily pause and play music, answer calls and activate voice assistant (e.g. Siri) through the headphones using iOS, Android and Windows devices.

 

Anders Andréen, CEO of Urbanista says: “Urbanista had an incredibly successful year with the Seattle wireless headphones receiving numerous 5* ratings and being nominated for three major industry awards. Seattle was recognized for value and we’re proud to offer users high quality at affordable prices. We have no doubt New York will be even more successful with its ANC offering – we can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with them!”

New York is available in XX stylish colours, Minimalistic style and individuality is at the forefront of the design but New York doesn’t fall short on comfort. Made with soft memory foam cushion that molds to the user’s ear and an adjustable, seamless headband, New York provides ultimate comfort. They’re also a practical choice with a folding feature that makes it easy to slip them into your handbag or rucksack on holiday or commute.

New York is available to purchase now on https://uk.urbanista.com/

Watch out for our reviews soon ..

True Wireless Audio Experience in Style – The New Soul ST-XS High Performance Earphones

US-American audio experts Soul Electronics present the new ST-XS in-ears: Compact and classic, true wireless Bluetooth earphones with auto pairing to mobile devices. Boasting two powerful 6mm dynamic neodymium drivers, the ST-XS are designed to deliver balanced deep low bass and clear mids and highs. We of course will be sharing our review in the coming weeks on these which certainly look really nice indeed and also we will be reviewing the Run Free Pro HD 

Their lightweight design, weighing only 4 grams each, ensures a secure and comfortable fit, while the sweat-proof design provides ultimate protection during daily outdoor activities – 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. The ST-XS are available in black, and retail for € 99.99 (RRP). Learn more about the variety of SOUL Electronics on https://www.soulelectronics.com/.

 

#RedBull and #Capcom team up with a “StreetFighter” special edition can. #Gaming

If you are a fan of one of the most loved fighting game Street Fighter this is something you need to check out. As a fan myself and sporting some OSTs and Special edtion gamings packs this will be welcome in my house..

Red Bull is celebrating Street Fighter’s 30th Anniversary with a range of limited edition character cans. Every can will give fans access to exclusive Street Fighter V costumes which can be used on PlayStation4 system, redeemable from now until 30 April 2018

Red Bull Energy Drink unveils its limited edition Street Fighter® can in honour of its 30th Anniversary. The unique release features beloved Street Fighter character Ryu – the main protagonist of the Street Fighter series, first appearing in the original Street Fighter (1987).

 As an iconic gaming title, Street Fighter has enraptured fans for 30 years, becoming an instant classic in the one-on-one fighting genre.  Live competition for the game has evolved from local arcade meet-ups to multi-day national events where Capcom partners with Red Bull to bring to life gaming tournaments like Red Bull Battle Grounds, and Red Bull Kumite.

 

Each Red Bull Street Fighter can features an unlock code under the tab that can be redeemed for in-game content for the Sony PlayStation game. In addition, a scan-to-unlock Snapchat code reveal unique Street Fighter filters tied to the specific character on the can. You can redeem multiple codes which will remain valid until April 2018.

For more information on the Red Bull Street Fighter cans, visit RedBull.ie/Streetfighter

 

 

Unboxing and Review – The Jabra Elite 25e wireless headphones. #JabraElite25e

I am a big fan of Jabra products and each time something new arrives they impress and this time around we have the all new Jabra Elite 25e which comes with many features.. I have not been the biggest fan of earbud type headphones but over the years they have improved and now they are something I use when training or just chilling at home..

The design here is a familiar one which is a wraparound band which is quite solid and robust and these are also IP54 rated which is welcome for those who would intend on using outdoors..

The controls present are also similar of old yet a bit stiffer to press but this is not all that bad and prevents accidental hits. The buttons are raised to make it easier to navigate blindly and features the usual options being power on/off which is the centre button and this also doubles as a play/pause button. Volume up and down are individual buttons which also act as forward and reverse tracks we are like I said before familiar with this and any Jabra fan coming from an older pair will easily settle in quick here.

Build quality is great, these will last and take a few dives and the charging port is underneath the neckband for additional protection from the elements even though its got a cover on it. The band is flexible enough to maneuver around your neck but I would be carefull not to overdo it just in case. There is a one touch digital assistant key which is there for Siri or Google Now for those who like to use these virtual assistants,something I don’t use that much in fairness but it worked well anytime I tried it out on my Android device..

The ear buds this time round are different from previous versions with a vertical pointed bud rather than horizontal which you will see clearly illustrated on the box when you remove the contents they do somehow fit well although it took me a minute to adjust and after that the sound is well sealed they fit snug and call and music quality is great and when listening to music they played all highs,lows and mids pretty crisp and clear and I had no distortion even at max given they are not as loud as some others out there they did a great job.

I like the new design and the colour in particular it all complements each other well and one thing here again present with Jabra is the voice commands which has also improved from the robotic type madam,this time around she sounds more human and on set-up she says “go ahead and connect me”.. Setting up was easy as always is with Jabra and there is nice start-up and close down sounds here which are futuristic sounding..

Overall I was happy with them and the only complaint was the can hop up and down on your neck when doing excessive exercise but if you have a jacket or heavy top on you can’t feel it,these also come with magnetic buds which stick together when not in use which is cool and can be left on rather than taking them off which is what I prefer as there is no protective case to put them in they sit comfortably around the neck whilst sitting down at home or in the office.. Battery life here is also as good as quoted by Jabra which is around 18 hours I have only charged fully once and still have power on tap a few days later.

SPECS

  • Certifications Bluetooth® 4.1, CE, FCC, IC, GOST, RoHS, REACH, IP54
  • Compatibility The Jabra Elite 25e is compatible with other Bluetooth devices with Bluetooth 1.1 (or higher)
  • Talk and music time Up to 18 hours
  • Standby time Up to 22 days
  • Charging time Approximately 2 hours
  • Wearing style Neckband wearing style: H 157 x W 141 x D 35 mm (H 5.6 x W 5.6 x D 1.4 in)
  • Weight 48 g with metal weight
  • Dimensions L 48.3 x W 17.9 x H 23 mm (L 1.9 x W 0.7 x H 0.9 in)
  • Features – Call vibration alert, magnetic in-ear headphones, voice button, answer/end call, reject call, voice dialling*, last number redial*, volume control, track control, play/pause music, voice guidance
  • What’s in the box? Jabra Elite 25e , 2 sets of extra EarGels (S, L), 1 USB cable, 1 Quick Start Guide, 1 warranty leaflet, 1 warning leaflet, 1 registration leaflet
  • Warranty One-year limited warranty

BUY HERE

 

New Bands and App Adventures for Your vívofit jr. #Garmin #Disney #Marvel #Kids

Picked up a vívofit jr recently or plan to do so these new app adventures might just make your mind up if you dont have one already a really great idea for the kids… Not only is there new bands there is new apps to boot..

The adventure continues when you purchase vívofit jr. 2 bands. Choose from Disney Minnie Mouse, Marvel Avengers and Star Warsdesigns that let you and your kiddo gain access to a whole new world of exclusive themed app adventures. These new bands are compatible with your original vívofit jr activity tracker.

DISNEY MINI MOUSE BAND

Unlock Mickey’s Birthday Surprise: A Disney Adventure in the app by purchasing one of the Disney Minnie Mouse bands. Kids advance in the story by meeting their daily activity goals. See more HERE 

MARVEL AVENGERS BAND

Unlock Ultron’s Revenge: A Marvel Avengers Mission in the app by purchasing one of the Marvel Avengers bands. Kids advance in the superhero story by meeting their daily activity goals. See more

STAR WARS BAND

Unlock BB-8’s Adventure: A Star Wars story in the app by purchasing any of the Star Wars bands. Kids advance in the story by meeting their daily activity goals. See more HERE 

 

@SOULElectronics Presents Run Free Pro HD In-Ears with Interchangeable Ear Lock System

No matter if professionals or occasional sportsmen, athletes all around the globe know what it’s like, the in-ears won’t fit properly and drop out of the ear – at the latest when sweat comes into play. SOUL Electronics has recognized this issue and now presents a stylish solution.

The SOUL RUN FREE PRO HD headphones with a patented ear-lock system.  The housing of these wireless Bluetooth in-ears can be extended by a clip attachment and, combined with the four different tip sizes, individually adapt to the anatomical conditions of the wearers.

Housing 2 powerful Balanced-Armature drivers, these only 15 g light headphones deliver an impressive audio experience – but besides that, the focus is clearly on comfort and functionality. Thanks to their Wind Noise Reduction the clear and pumping sound transmitted by Bluetooth 4.0 is not affected by strong wind noises – for instance during jogging or cycling. The robust neck cable which significantly increases the visibility by its reflecting outer shell ensures a high level of security during workout outdoors.

The SOUL RUN FREE PRO HD in-ears are water and sweat resistant due to their special Nano-coating. Along with up to 12 hours of battery life, this means extended workout sessions without annoying interruptions, whether indoors or outdoors. Or in other words: Powerful, comfortable headphone sound – no excuses, no compromises.

See more at https://www.soulelectronics.com/