With more and more cars now coming with sat-nav built in as standard can we see these kind of accessories die off soon? Nope not for a while yet,With most of us now sporting smartphones we have sat-nav built in and an array of choices of apps to use such as HERE,Google and TomTom mapping apps and we are more custom to those today than what may come pre-installed in a vehicle or again standalone sat-nav units. I tend to ignore the standalone because the ones we can freely download and use are more than enough to get what we want be it directions or just searching for a business or address..
Accessories are a plenty too,some good and some not so good and again there is some awkward or cumbersome offerings out there to hold our device in our vehicles,The one we have tested out is from our friends at Mobile Fun and its from Olixar and its a one piece unit and simple,nothing complicated at all here to use or install..
The package
Features
About the product
Suction mount
Overview
Clip with rubber protection
In car view Horizontal
In car view verticle
1 / 8
Priced now at €16.49 this is a good solid unit and comes with a two year warranty which is good for piece of mind too. Having tested this out it has been solid and works well especially if two people are in the car it can swivel simply should you need to do something on the device,with seconds to install and excellent suction it is very secure and even after going over some ramps and pot-holes ( We have lots of them in Ireland) it failed to budge. Overall I found it solid,stable and it failed to loose the devices tested on it no matter which way I had it stored be it Horizontally of Vertically.. Installing and removing the device is what impressed me too,there was nothing to it,Its simple,affordable and effective.
Features
One hand’ super quick mounting and removal of your phone
This one is for the ladies.. Yes this new app just released called Spot On is a new app to track your period by Planned Parenthood.. There is plenty of these apps about and it also is argued you cant track a period,Sure what would I know about that but I have asked a few people and all suggest the same thing.. So ladies you can try this one out and see for yourself.. The app claims to tell you what’s up with your menstrual cycle, birth control and sexual health. The app is on iOS for now and soon will land on Android..
How is this app different?
All the information in Spot On comes directly from the world-class sex educators and healthcare providers at Planned Parenthood. When you use the app, you know you’re getting trustworthy, accurate support from a reliable source.
App features.
Track your period and your cycle, including:
• Your flow — from spotting to heavy to none at all.
• Your symptoms like fatigue, cramps, bloating, stomach aches, and more.
• Your activities like travel, exercise, eating junk, having sex, etc.
• Your moods — from feeling fabulous to feeling blah.
Track your birth control, including:
• Discreet birth control reminders.
• Personalized advice on what to do if you make a mistake with your method.
Get the help you need, when you need it:
• A sexual health history record at your fingertips and integrated into HealthKit. You can export your data at any time.
Most of us will always remember our favourite TV/Films and some of us claim to be buffs in this topic and often the case it could end as a conversation or worse again left with that name stuck in your head for the day. If you are one of these buffs here is a new app to get your memory in order,broke down into 5 categories you can select an area in which you think you are most knowledgeable on..
Description
The Dikoros Films Studios Quiz is a challenging and entertaining interactive app for smart phones and tablets that tests people’s knowledge of all things related to cinema and television. Featuring unusual and detailed trivia questions across a broad range of cinematic topics and subject matter, successfully completing each quiz is a matter of in-depth knowledge.
With a large database of challenging trivia sure to provide hours and hours of fun and entertainment, the Dikoros Films Studios Quiz app will stump even the most knowledgeable experts.
VR aka Virtual Reality is going to explode this year and to date content still lacks but this will change over the coming months with many manufacturers already showing us their offerings,some cheap some not so cheap,with cardboard viewers booming onto the scene it certainly helps people get an idea of what this technology has to offer but not so immersive as Samsung VR or HTC Vive for example.
You can now explore Belfast in VR with or without an app which is nice to see,other counties in Ireland and indeed worldwide really need to consider this,this can be used a selling point just as e-commerce which again is popular with consumers.Tourism is vital to many economies and here is one way to spread the word.
Belfast Go Explore app from the App Store and Google Play Store. The app is compatible with a range of phones but recommended phones are the iPhone 5 and 6 or Samsung Galaxy S5, S6 and S7 for the best user experience. The app is viewable with or without Google Cardboard or other virtual reality viewers.
What is on offer.
Experience a 360 virtual tour around the city’s top attractions including:
Titanic Belfast – the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience.
Crumlin Road Gaol – 19th century prison which has witnessed 150 years of imprisonment, conflict and executions.
Belfast City Hall – A centrepiece on Belfast’s skyline with a fascinating history and stunning architecture.
Murals – From political themes to local heroes, these colourful wall murals are an integral part of Belfast’s modern history.
Giant’s Causeway – A magnificent and mysterious geological formation, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
St George’s Market – One of the top indoor markets in the UK and Ireland, selling a range of fresh food, quality local arts, quirky crafts and unique antiques.
Botanic Gardens – The beautiful gardens are home to Belfast’s Victorian Palm House and Tropical Ravine.
See respective stores for more details there is plenty to see and there is also a chance to win a cardboard viewer too..
Blackberry now have some offers which might interest those looking for a new device in the coming days,News of apps to leave Blackberry OS like Facebook and WhatsApp should not be something to make it a deal breaker,Apps come and go and this does not make or break an OS,plus there is always alternative apps out there,people like to change too..
In this sale there is up to 30% off selected items and 20% off the Passport devices including the Silver edition which is still one of my favourite devices today..
The Blackberry Passport is dropped by around £80 which is not too bad at all..
Should you require some accessories there is up to 30% off in this department,From cases to charging and audio there is a good range to pick from so now is the time to make an addition should you need so… Sale ends on April 12th so there is plenty of time to check out what is on offer now..
Click HERE for the accessories department and take a look…. Enjoy the Easter Break folks..
In the first of our Samsung case reviews we have the Nillkin Sparkle leather case for the Samsung Galaxy S7 which was supplied to us from Mobile Fun.
The Nillkin case has a nice feel to it offering protection all round for the Galaxy S7 BUT not giving us any extra in bulk to the device,being a 5.1 inch device it will be large for some people. The case is also very light too which is great.The case offers easy access to all important ports on the device with none covered and also the speaker is also uncovered which will not have any sound muffled as some case do cover the speaker port even be in little.
IMAGE GALLERY
Front view standing
Bottom view
Right side/Power key
Case open/Volume toggles
The Nillkin package
Case fully open
Case closed smart screen
Inside branding
Font view standing
Left side/ Volume toggles
App
Camera/Flash and heart rate sensor
Back of case
Top View
2 / 14
The case also offers good protection around the camera and flash areas due to the minor hump in this area the device would be prone to scratches if left uncovered and place on any surface,this case eliminates this as you will see in the video and images. Also something to point out is the flap which covers the screen which has a nice velvet touch to it will also keep the screen in good shape not hindering the experience or scuffing the screen. With the smart display window the case is compatible with the sleep/wake function allowing the user to see content whilst the device is closed,also you can download an app which will be present with the card in the packaging and you simply scan the QR code and enter the code given on the card,this allows some more functionality of the smart window.User can decide regardless what content matters to them to have it there at a glance without having to open the case,the device will wake up once the cover is opened too..
VIDEO REVIEW
Features of the Nillkin leather sparkle case are…
View the time and caller ID
Provides all round protection without additional bulk
Durable leather-style construction offers premium protection
Food lovers – There is lots of them and they usually like to share their food photos on Instagram to show the world what they are having for dinner and more,Yes it can be a tad annoying but this app is something food lovers will like where they can share all things food amongst others within the app. This app will basically be a community of food lovers where you can talk food all day long,you can share tips,pictures and search hashtags on food types and even play in contests.
Description
(Not)Recipes for iOS is a new way to find—and share—cooking ideas and inspiration using photos. It’s the only app to tap into the smart, spontaneous cooking really happening in people’s homes—and show how it’s done. (Spoiler alert: Most of the time, they’re not using recipes.)
GET INSPIRED
See how a community of passionate home cooks eats well every day, through real-time snapshots with quick, helpful descriptions—not just of what they cooked for dinner, but how.
SHARE YOUR COOKING
Get encouragement and feedback from a like-minded community—where everyone is there for the food (not the cats or the sunsets), and wants to see what you had for dinner.
FEATURES
• Dive deep into cooking topics you care about via hashtags like #cocktails and #breadbaking
• Scroll through a complete real-time feed, or a featured list curated by Food52’s editors
• Upload your own (Not)Recipes, with as much or as little detail as you like
• See ingredients automatically detected and displayed in mini-grocery lists
• Gussy up your photos with filters inspired by food personalities like Julia Child and Mario Batali—that make even your quickest, most dimly lit shots look great
• Comment and reply—ask cooks questions about a technique or ingredient, or offer words of encouragement or your own ideas for riffing
• Favorite (Not)Recipe ideas to cook from later
• Play along in weekly contests on inspiring themes: what to do with a boatload of zucchini, the dinner you cook when you don’t feel like cooking, not sad desk lunches
Electric vehicle are still a slow burner here in Ireland still but nonetheless people are buying them,for me range is still an issue and something that would be on peoples minds using them especially on a long trip,Electric vehicles though will continue to grow in the coming years but not as fast as other countries where they are rampant.
Thankfully there is some ways to keep an eye on things and plan ahead with some apps for our mobiles and one such app is called PlugShare which also allows users to submit feedback and tips within the app and you can also upload photos,this way people can be kept up to date with news and information about the locations and also leave tips for what surrounds the area so you can make plans whilst the car is being topped up..
PlugShare state
The largest community of EV drivers in the world, PlugShare users have contributed over 100,000 station reviews and 30,000 photos to make driving electric easier than ever before.
App features
★ Locate public charging stations for your electric vehicle.
★ View PlugScore™ station ratings, real-time availability, photos, and descriptions.
★ Check out reviews and tips from other PlugSharers.
★ Filter for chargers compatible with your electric vehicle.
★ Add new charging stations as you discover them.
★ Coordinate with others when you need to top off.
Next in our Jabra range up for testing is the Jabra Sport pace wireless headset,These are the ideal headsets to have for jogging or training and much more secure than the typical in-ear offering we are more custom too although there is plenty now coming on stream and have done so over the last few months. These also lightweight and rather comfortable to wear and do not get tangled as standard earphones would,nor do you need to worry about your headphone jack leave your device due to the wireless experience as opposed to plugging earphones into a mobile or iPod..
First check out the image gallery of the product below then head to the unboxing after.
Right side - Indicated with blue
Left side - Indicated
Micro USB port
Indicator Light
Indicator light on for connectivity purposes
Control unit,Volume/Multifuction button and mic
Microphone and Jabra branding
Fitclip
Contents
The package itself
Sports button
3 / 11
The Jabra Sports Pace come in Three colours which are Red,Blue and Yellow and weight just 22 grammes,they also charge quite quickly too and are sweat and weather resistant with an IP54 rating and also shockproof,Quick charging here will give you 60 mins life with just a 15 minute charge,Talk time is roughly 5 hours and has a standby time of 5 days.. For more product info and purchase see Jabra UK
My thoughts.
These to begin with these are not my typical choice of listening tool but over two weeks of use I came to like them and thats down to their weight and design,after a few minutes you forget they are there in fact,As far as sound goes they do the job better than some I have tried out in stores where the option to try earphones are available such as PC World for example. They are robust too which is good and can take a knock,if you drop them there is nothing to worry about,Im the kind of person that likes overheads and them being bulky and depending on the make dropping them can inflict damage with these you wont.
Pairing up to other devices is a simple task and you get a nice audible alert as you do with most of Jabra products (from what I have tried) This is something I like even though it may seem nothing to some,the Jabra sport life app however took some time to pair up with my phone for some reason but when I got it going it worked fine,you can select your activity on the app be it running.cycling or walking and then select time goals calorie burn goals or create interval training. Selecting music to listen to is plentiful you can choose from anything installed on your device and off you go it is good to see that third party app integration is present here.The sports button which is built in is also neat which begins when you activate it and it gives you a countdown to begin,the app tracks everything from GPS co-ordinates and distance and seemed to be accurate enough on my usage,Voice coaching is excellent too, The Multifunction button is handy to use although for me the buttons where too small and I found them a problem to begin with but I got shovel hands so this is not something to take in too much.
Battery life was fine but you would not get a full day,this would vary by person to be fair and it does have quick charge so that can be forgiven,professional athletes for example would need to charge daily whereas the average gym goers or joggers would be fine for a few hours. The only gripes I had was volume level,Personally I like it loud,very loud but they done the job only indoors I did see the real effect of how good the sound was,using outdoors was different and the experience was doused due to street noise etc. The distance on the cable between each side could have been a tad longer but then again I have a 19.5 inch neck so on this its down to the person more so than the product.
For the price they are good,solid,fit like a charm and look good,easy to use,set up and maintain..For this style of buds I am not custom to they impressed me which is a good thing coming from me and I wear them quite a bit now due to the fact you forge they are there after a few minutes.
