We have seen plenty of modular phones announced over the last few months which some dislike greatly and then we have some that do like them,these are designed to make the consumer decide what they want rather than you buy the standard product ready made for you and away you go,choice is something that does lack in the business to some extend but to be able to build your own device from the ground up could be the way forward and maybe even a standard in years to come,this is however is the first attempt to see a smartwatch step into this territory and looks promising..whats more attractive here they claim its also future-proof which will certainly make it appealing..
Check out the video below as it tells us how this will go forward..
It’s time that our smartwatches reflect our individuality. BLOCKS allows you to build a smartwatch that suits your lifestyle, with features that are customized to your needs.
The biggest benefit of BLOCKS over other smartwatches is that it is future-proof. We are forced to upgrade our phones every other year for incremental improvements. This short product cycle has been one of the major criticisms of smartwatches, because watches were always “meant to last”.
It’s simple: Why buy a whole new smartwatch when you can simply snap in a new feature? As technology evolves, so does BLOCKS. New Modules will be released continually, ensuring that you are connected with the latest tech as soon as it comes out. The future is modular.
This will be an open source project which means its not restricted which is brilliant,take the Apple watch for example or an Android watch,there is limitations,here with BLOCKS there is no limitations and the parts are hot swappable to which again is not seen on any current smartwatch,one super example we seen in the video is there is an option to swap out the battery,in the smartwatch world this is great as typically battery life stinks on your smatwatch and this is an easy simple task to do here with BLOCKS..
Grabbed your attention yet ? If so head over HERE for more and check it out..
This is something different and the No Phone has no specs no function AT ALL,you might be asking WFT am I doing with it then,The NoPhone came from a Kickstarter late last year and its designed to help people with nomophobia ie if you cant stop picking up your device hundreds of times a day,or feel the need to, yes i do this and its probably more of a habit than my liking for mobile phones but as I use and test many devices my love for mobiles has taken me into the habit of constantly picking my device up countless times a day and checking notifications,even though I wear smart-watches this is supposed to reduce the pick up count of my mobile but its not enough of a distraction to keep me away from my mobile devices..
Off the cuff we see that there is no expense spared here ANYWHERE from the packing right through and one thing the NO PHONE has going for it its indestructible,so you can drop it as many times as you like,hop it off a wall if someone annoys you and it will return as is with nothing damaged,also good for stress then….You can also nibble on the corners if you wish and you don’t need a case or screen protector,you see it has much going for it,more than you would think..For $10 and $15 for the selfie model its an inexpensive idea to aide you from bad habits and indestructible.
Look at this product like you would e- cigarettes for smokers if you will, it’s aimed at reducing your need constantly pick up your device but physically holding one, this gives you the feeling of a phone but does nothing and over a period of time hopefully reduce your need to constantly check your mobile.
Driver safety is always something that’s spoken of here in Ireland and in any other country to be honest and there is only so much the driver themselves can do to ensure of their safety and the safety of others,other than normal rules that apply to keep your car in check there is limits as to how far we can personally go much further to be safe.
Ok so we have already sat navs,mobile phones with apps and on screen displays and some cars have a projection of info which would display on your cars interior windscreen,this kind of technology is often expensive and its not a standard feature on cars but comes option or as standard vehicle dependent and costly.
HUDWAY GLASS is based on similar but reduces distraction because when we do use current sat navs or want to look at our dashboards this takes our eyes off the road and here is how this idea changes this.
HUDWAY have made a universal vehicle accessory that turns your smartphone into a Head-Up Display (HUD) bringing comfort and safety to drivers all over the world. We did it because we’re tired of waiting for others. Because we believe that automotive HUDs are safer than an instrument-panel display or a smartphone.
Marshmallow is the next update on Android which will be rolling out soon enough,but not all devices will get it,as with sim free devices from Motorola they will get it first including the Nexus 6 which is available in Ireland,We can also see that the entry level MOTO E models have been left out of this list.
2015 Moto X Pure Edition (3rd gen)
2015 Moto X Style (3rd gen)
2015 Moto X Play
2015 Moto G (3rd gen)
2014 Moto X Pure Edition in the US (2nd gen)
2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia2 (2nd gen)
2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE2 (2nd gen)
DROID Turbo
2014 Moto MAXX
2014 Moto Turbo
Nexus 6
Remember updates will vary by region so just because one part of the world sees it does not mean the everywhere is at same time, you can check the status HERE Some of the above devices are not available in Ireland but I have included them as many people import devices these days.
Mobile Ireland is Ireland’s premium smartphone and tablet accessory supplier. Their products look to provide you with high quality gadgets that allow you to get more out of your technology and they have kindly sent us the UAG case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 to check out and share our thoughts.
Mobile Ireland wants to be at the forefront of where technology and the outdoors meet. Get more benefit and power from your smartphone or tablet. We have you covered whether you are hiking Ireland, travelling abroad on a holiday or are looking to add an accessory to your collection.
Here is what we think of the UAG case for the Samsung Galaxy S5
Presentation
Most people have a thing for presentation no matter what the product is and personally for me it is not vital but it helps,as it stands case can come in a nice box or perhaps just thrown into a cheap plastic bag with a sticker on it,this is not the case here as its presented in a decent box with plenty of information about the product..
What is inside the box..
Not much and what would you expect,we get the case,A screen protector and and some instructions on how to fit the screen protector would need steady hands and the case simply clips on to your device in a matter of seconds so overall its a simple process to get your device protected with the contents..
What is it like on the device.
Does not add much bulk to be fair and feels good in hand and the design is quite nice too,we shall go around the case now and see how it fairs out in access to ports and how well your device will be protected..
On the top we are covered,with the screen protector that comes with it its a good addition to have rather than seeking one in a separate purchase,its a mixed bag these days as to how your case arrives and what else you get with it,some offer a stylus,cloth,screen protector or all in.There is a nice lip going around the top so the screen is below surface and device can be placed flat on table without fear of getting scratched,the rear of the case have several raised rubberised notches protecting its own if you will and colour dependent this might be ideal for you,there is nicely designed corners to giving extra protection for drops and typically its a corner that hits the ground first so you are covered here.
The left and right side are similar in design and looks but keeping those areas protected to the max with all keys covered with good travel on the keys themselves,there was no sign of loosing functionality and the keys worked fine,on some case that are similar you would often find them stiff,this was not a problem here and there is raised ridges both sides to give grip and extra support..
Ports and connectivity points are well covered with obstruction or nagging with cables being inserted or removed,this is important some cases can leave users with little space to move and some dislike that experience,there is no flaps on this case again this is a matter of preference,for me I like this as fumbling with flaps is annoying yet it gives more protection but then again with constant moving these flaps would tend to eventually fall off,there was no interference at all with headphones and Micro USB cable and the infra red beam also left unaffected,nor did I experience any loss of sound or clarity with mic holes etc..
Although the case has a small lip its does not get in the way of the home button and sensors on top of the front facing side of the devices and the screen protector does meet up with case so all in all the front is covered,you might have a tempered glass protector on device already but this again has no effect with the case aligning itself on the device.
Overall these UAG cases are good and have a good feel to them and very robust and look well to boot,for the money these are worth it,some people prefer gel cases or cases in this form again that’s a matter of ones preference,personally I like the gel case but would have no issue using one of these either as they do not bulk out your device like some cases can,so I would recommend one of these anytime to anyone..
Check out the UAG case over at Mobile Ireland right here and check out the full range of goodies they have to offer,thanks again to John for getting in touch and sending us out this case to check out and share our thoughts.
Stay tuned for a chance to win a new case for your iPhone 6 on Monday thanks to Mobile Ireland.
Facebook just like Twitter are always looking to improve things and with Twitter thinking of removing the 140 character limit Facebook announce new features today for mobile..
With the new update you can make your profile picture a GIF and set temporary images that will change over a period of time which is quite nice. You can simply now add short looping videos that will show up on visiting someone’s Facebook page..
Facebook say on their blog
Today we’re starting to test the next step in an obvious evolution of profiles: profile videos. Soon, you’ll be able to film a short, looping video clip that will play for anyone who visits your profile. Profile videos will let show a part of yourself you couldn’t before, and add a new dimension to your profile.
We’re not ignoring profile pictures either; we’ve also built some new features that will help you better let your personality shine through your profile picture. As part of that effort, we’ve started to roll out the ability to set a temporary version of your profile picture that reverts back to your previous profile picture at a specified time.
On profile controls they are now making life a bit easier to change things and showcase your profile they are now adding a space up top which you can curate yourself and you can add up to 5 featured images too so this is a nice touch and you also have control of who sees what..Our Facebook page will be launching soon so stay tuned for that….
Go-Pro have announced a cheap alternative to its current range making the unit more affordable for those who wish to venture into film making on the go.The new unit sports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and is also waterproof.It also weighs just 4.3 ounces which is very light and its also sporting an 8MP camera.It will be available from October 4th at selected retailers costing just $199.
The HERO+ is waterproof and mountable as well as compatible with GoPro’s vast array of mounts and accessories. It captures stunning 1080p60 and 720p60 video and 8MP single, Time Lapse and Burst photos with the same impressive image quality that GoPro has become famous for. HERO+ most notably features Wi-Fi which allows it to connect with GoPro’s mobile app and benefit from convenient tools such as a Trim & Share feature that allows the user to quickly create and share short video clips across leading social media channels.
Features
Stunning and immersive 1080p60 and 720p60 video
8MP photos with Single, Time Lapse and 5 Photos-per-Second Burst modes
Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connect to GoPro App and Smart Remote
Rugged, durable and waterproof to 131’ (40m)
Integrated camera + housing design
QuikCapture enables power-up and recording start with the press of a single button
HiLight Tag lets you mark key moments while recording
SuperView™ captures the world’s most immersive wide-angle field of view
Auto Low Light mode intelligently adjusts frame rates for optimal low-light performance
Built-in microphone
Wearable and Mountable, Compatible with GoPro’s vast array of mounts and accessories
Yesterday we where the first to bring you the good news of the new Windows Phone app for Ulster Bank which was something that had been asked for,for over two years and the same can be said for other banks here in Ireland along with other big companies who have just ignored Windows Phone for the last few years,we have been use to the robotic scripted responses over and over again,and the nudge to use the mobile site (which they all do say) and it looks like the end of the road for Ryanair and Windows Phone users.
Over the last few weeks I decided to reignite the flame with Ryanair and ask them again about the app,this however took two weeks to get a final answer today which was short and blunt as you can see below..’The company also did state once before they where working on an App but was over a year ago and now seems fruitless.
@jimboireland We are not working on the Windows Phone app. Thanks. JS
This story goes back a long way like the Ulster Bank app and others,take Bank Of Ireland for instance.. who are said to be working on an app for Windows Phone users .But this goes back further than that
Ryanair did bring a boarding pass app to its customers and again it was for just Android and iOS users,given that this time was when Windows Phone was starting to see some movement it obviously did not cut it cost wise due to the market share,Today market share has dropped from its peek estimated 12/14% and there is no sign of it improving just yet anyway.Ryanair again said the following back then and the full article on that is HERE the poll back then spoke volumes.
With the recent Ulster Bank app one has to wonder is there some hope down the road for the banking sector to get their eyes open to Windows Phone users as there is plenty here to warrant an app for its users and the same applies to our Airlines too which are shy in this department and it does not just apply to us Irish,Most Windows Phone users though have moved on to another OS due to the shortage of apps,local apps in particular and unless that changes the uptake of Windows Phone will remain poor and fall,there is much more main stream apps though that before be it from the companies themselves or third party devs who do a good job to fill the void,even at that we run into stumbling blocks snapchat being one of them who go out of their way to ensure it cant be published..
We live in an busy environment these days and food is a must and often the case we have no time to eat out yet alone organise that to happen,thankfully now we have some new companies in Ireland offering to do the hard work,some of which have been featured here over the last 12 months,Say hello to Marvin.ie who also offers this service whilst you relax..When you join you also get a tasty 25% discount to boot so what have you got to loose.,Just use the word TV at checkout and you can order from several locations across Ireland.Better again they offer a loyalty cards for its customers and when you eat your way through 10 meals you get one free..
Another good thing on offer here is that they have an App,we love apps in Ireland and its on iOS and the Android app launches this week and its free of course.
There is some terms and conditions to watch for.
Discount applies only to orders made on Marvin.ie & Marvin.ie Apps
* Restricted to new customers only
* Some restaurants will require minimum order values
* Delivery area restrictions may apply
* Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
* Excludes cash orders
* Expires midnight 30/11/2015
The App features are as follows
* Find takeaways across the nation
* Collect stamps & earn FREE meals
* Automated address finder
* Filter restaurants based on food types, offers and delivery fees
* Sort restaurants by distance, reviews or delivery time
* Search for specific restaurants
* Order easily from the restaurants menus
* Pay by credit card, PayPal or Bitcoin
