Kids love to play games and there is never enough,my daughter checks the store every day,with my observation of course and she is always adding or deleting games on her Lumia 625,its very hard to keep her happy at times and i find most of the time kids go by the thumbnail photo and point to it and request it,however its always worth noting you should always read up some more on the game prior to downloading.
Mash&Co is a multimedia episodic app for pre-school kids and families ,parents can monitor their kids performance with this app and watch their skills grow too.
The app has animated digital novels,cartoon series and mini games which is quite cool all this in one application.There is a multi touch UI which is colourful and fun so all can get involved and its also safe along with a stimulating environment.
Features
Interactive animated tales – Animated series of Mash and Periwinkle who are the characters, Mini Games ,Various chapters of animated tales which children can interact and progress which progresses stimulation,creativity and attention. Also non verbal language ensures all kids around the world can play and get involved. The first three contents are free in this version so there will be add ons to buy,you can put this game in the Kids Corner of your Lumia device too..
The Game is free to download and is 16MB you can download it right HERE
YouTube is a very popular platform to watch videos,music and all sorts and i spend some time on it myself but all is not always as it seems there in the real world just like any other platform.However there is a new You Tube for kids app now where it will be a safe environment for kids and parents can monitor their activity and set time limits for them too which is a good idea.
The App will be only on Android on release, It will feature videos, channels and playlists targeted specifically at youngsters, including “Thomas the Tank Engine,” “National Geographic Kids” and “Reading Rainbow,” while cutting out less kid-friendly or distracting elements on YouTube, including user comments and cruder videos..
In every household its safe to say there is at least one charger for the majority its much more now with an average household having more than one mobile device in the house. We tend to leave them in overnight or never plug them out from the socket.
Its always best to use original products,ie official OEMs and not cheap ones we can buy elsewhere on the internet to save money,they might be fine in general but its worth noting that sticking with original is the best. Most shops (bricks and mortar,retail) do offer generic which are fine. Always check the voltage and amperage.Most if not all modern phones,tablets today will stop charging when the device is charged once you use the correct charger.
In an article not to long ago from the daily mail it shows that fires are on the increase in the UK too,we don’t really see much here but its something to think about after todays news where the Dublin Fire Brigade had to put out a fire in a Dublin home to overheating.
So as Dublin Fire Brigade says “BEWARE” don’t become too complacent folks.. Well done to the folks at Dublin Fire Brigade.
The Nokia 215 is the latest series 30 handset from Microsoft offering an internet ready handset thats in a candybar form which is available in single and dual sim.
The Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual-SIMDual-SIM are targeted towards the first time mobile phone users, with good smooth looks and great build quality, which will surely remind us of Nokia. These will be launched in three vibrant colours – Green, Black and White.
Being a true Internet- ready device, Nokia 215 & Nokia 215 Dual-SIM comes pre-installed with Facebook and Messenger with instant notifications keeping you connected with friends and family while you’ll be able to check your friends’ news feeds and update your status. These devices also have Opera Mini Browser and Bing Search installed letting you browse website and search content on the web.
However the price is higher than the estimated launch price and as usual early adopters will be fleeced by online sellers which is nothing new to be honest but its always best to shop around.
Amazon UK have the 215 priced at £32.79 which converts to roughly €44.36 plus shipping costs this is nearly double the price quoted at announcement. You can buy it HERE from Amazon.
Irish Online seller phonesonline.ie also have the 215 listed on their website priced higher again,priced at €59.99 If interested you can purchase it HERE
Amazon france also have it listed but its not worth the mention as Amazon.de have it much cheaper listed at a much more realistic price as seen below,you can pick it up HERE if you are interested and they ship to Ireland and the UK,if you encounter shipping issues you can also use Parcel Motel to get hold of it.
Lets make no mistake the iPhone 6 is popular so is the 6 plus,but its not for me,moving on customising phones is still a big business and now the iPhone 6 has got a coat in gold,this seems to becoming popular once again with other brands having done so already making them a limited edition hoping it will fetch more sales it will work for some and not for others,paying the extra bucks for a coat of gold is really a niche market.
Goldgenie has made a bespoke outfit for the iPhone 6 and of course it will probably sell well for those that can afford,Apple fans are quite loyal and for those who have the cash to splash will be the ones who will buy this.
Looks nice,some may think different and Gold is a thing for some but can the price be justified for covering your phone in it ?
The Gold attribute does suit some devices quite well and some devices it makes them look the opposite,as mentioned though its not a mass market appeal nor its it meant to be,these bespoke devices are for those who like the finer things in life and can splash out.
The cost is… Well €3,565 for the 64GB version,and if you fancy the 128GB model its €3,834 you can also decide on white and black on the front facia.
You also get a nice highly finished box too and free shipping worldwide,there is a limited number of these been made which is 99 so if you have the cash away you go. Head over to GoldGenie.Apparently it will give you good fortune too..
So a phone has arrived which is not something i usually dabble with,in the past i have done so but over the last 2/3 years no,but of late Blackberry has had some nice devices and one that grabbed my attention along with many others its the new passport.
On first seeing it on the web i was like,what in the name of god but over time it settled on me and i kind of said “this is certainly interesting” its different,i like different,its almost square,it began to get my interest even more and having seen some pals on twitter talk about it and eventually delving in and getting one i said “hey” enough i want one of these,i did scoff it at the start but the kind folk over at Blackberry sent one over after i reached out and i thank them so much for it. Now that its in my hands my opinion has changed ALOT. Briefly i did see one out at a meeting at RTE and even then i was interested in it,this is what inspired me more to go and get..
The presentation.
What else is inside.
Opened box.
Bottom of device.
The camera area.
Back of device.
Top of device.
Left side view.
Top view.
Right side view.
2 / 10
So its a slab to say the least,its how i like my phones,i like big phones,owning the likes of the Nexus 6 ,Note 4 and Edge and a Lumia 1320 this is in line with my comfort zone,anything smaller and its a no go area,having said that i do have plenty of smaller phones but not in this form factor,this is the qwerty phone i’ve been waiting for in one sense,the keyboard placement is taking a bit to get use to but im getting there.
The Passport comes well equipped inside as well as outside,we have 3GB RAM which is impressive,we have 32GB on board storage and can be expanded up to 128GB via micro sd,there is a nice 13MP snapper on the back with OIS and flash and the front facing camera is just 2MP,there is full HD1080p recording at 70 fps. A 3,450mAh battery is also on board which is non removeable this should see you the day no problem,we also have stereo speakers which sound quite good and the 3 row touch enabled qwerty keyboard which is quite nice and intuitive.
Build quality is excellent it feels solid in hand and robust with a nice soft back where the BlackBerry logo is embedded ,the screen is big and gives a sharp display at 4.5you will have ample amount of viewing pleasure. First thoughts so far is quite good,originally i scoffed the phone but its grown on me and i have to say so far im impressed with initial use and setting it up i hope it will continue to keep me impressed over the coming days and will have my final thoughts jotted down in our final review.
Blackberry 10 OS 10.3.1 is now rolling out for current users of their smartphones,since yesterday we have joined this group and we can confirm we have the update here too..
The update adds quite many new features and from the press release below all will be explained.
Press Release
Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, announced that BlackBerry® 10 OS version 10.3.1 will begin rolling out globally today for in-market BlackBerry 10 devices, including the BlackBerry® Passport, Z30, Z3, Z10, Q10, and Q5, as well as the Porsche Design P’9983 and P’9982 smartphones from BlackBerry®.
Once downloaded, users will gain access to incredible new enhancements, including BlackBerry® Blend, BlackBerry® Assistant, battery boosting technology, plus improvements to the BlackBerry® Hub, calendar, camera, multimedia and more. This latest version also introduces dual app stores, offering access to hundreds of thousands of apps through the BlackBerry® World® storefront and the Amazon Appstore.
BlackBerry 10 OS 10.3.1 offers a fresh look that incorporates updated icons and an instant action bar so that each user’s most commonly accessed functions are in the center of their screen. With this operating system update, users gain access to powerful features, including:
BlackBerry Blend – BlackBerry Blend brings messaging and content that is on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet. Get instant message notifications, read and respond to your work and personal email, BBM™ and text messages, and access your documents, calendar, contacts and media in real time on whatever device you are on, powered by your BlackBerry. BlackBerry Blend works across multiple operating systems including Mac, Windows®, iOS and Android™.*
Dual app storefronts, offering hundreds of thousands of apps:
BlackBerry World – BlackBerry World showcases essential business and productivity apps for professionals looking to drive efficient communications and collaboration.
Amazon Appstore – The Amazon Appstore is the place to download popular Android apps and games including favorites like Candy Crush Saga, Pinterest, Kindle and Cut the Rope 2.
BlackBerry Assistant – The BlackBerry Assistant is BlackBerry’s first digital assistant and can be used with voice and text commands to help users manage work and personal email, contacts, calendar and other native BlackBerry 10 applications. It’s the only smartphone assistant on the market today that can access both personal and work content in your work perimeter. BlackBerry Assistant intelligently determines how to respond to you based on how you interact with it – if you type, it responds silently, if you speak, it speaks back and if you activate over Bluetooth, it speaks back with additional context because it assumes you might not have access to the screen.
BlackBerry Hub with Instant Actions – The one place to manage all your conversations – email, texts, BBM, phone calls, social media and more – just got better. The new instant actions feature allows you to quickly organize and action your inbox without having to go into each individual message or calendar invite. Toggle the read status and file, flag or delete an email message with a single tap. When you’re composing an email, you can now transfer the conversation to a voice call, SMS or meeting invite.
Right side view.
Time Saving Keyboard Shortcuts – Keyboard shortcuts are back for BlackBerry 10 smartphones with a physical QWERTY keyboard including the BlackBerry Q5, Q10, Passport and the Porsche Design P’9983 smartphone from BlackBerry. As you once could on your beloved BlackBerry® Bold and as you can on the recently launched BlackBerry® Classic, you can now make use of nearly every letter in the physical keyboard and give it an action like Speed Dial for a contact, or use them to launch your most-used apps. For example, from the Hub press “T” to get to the top of your inbox or “B” to get to the bottom to make short work of getting through your messages.
More Battery Power – You can now boost your battery life by up to 15 percent by customizing your Power Saving Profile. Quickly select the applications and functions you would like to restrict or remain active to conserve power.
New Camera Functions – The upgraded camera software automatically recommends modes and settings, including HDR when sharp contrast is detected and an enhanced Time Shift mode when faces are detected. Now you have the option to store your Time Shift captures and edit them into the perfect photo whenever you want. Get the whole picture by capturing a panorama. Our new camera also brings your most common modes and actions to the forefront – you’ll never need to switch between your camera and video recorder again. You can even record video and take pictures at the same time.
More Ways to Edit, Create, Sort and Listen to Media – Enjoy your media the way it was meant to sound, with 17 preset equalizer options for both music and video. With 10.3.1, you now have the ability to “Favorite” songs, photos or videos so they are always at your fingertips. With the new slow motion video edit feature and built in Story Maker, it’s never been easier to master your media and share it with the world.
A Calendar that Works for You – The new Meeting Mode option will automatically set your phone to quiet mode for the duration of your meeting, and then turn notifications back on when it’s over. Plus, a new weekly agenda view allows you to see your events and tasks for the selected week or month.
BBM® Meetings – BBM Meetings offers business users a new way to work smarter and be more productive from any Android, iPhone, BlackBerry 10 smartphone or Windows PC or Mac.** It combines a mobile-optimized user experience that allows on-the-go professionals to schedule, host and participate in meetings anywhere you have an internet connection. All at a fraction of the cost of other leading collaboration solutions.
Microsoft have made the Wireless display adapter available for people to buy in Ireland along with other select markets,its a similar idea to the HD-10 which we have been using since last December but this might suit others more so than the HD-10.
Whether you’re playing a movie for movie night or sharing photos from your last trip, the Wireless Display Adapter makes it easy to share. Just plug in the adapter, pair your devices, and you’re ready to send all of your multimedia content from your phone, tablet or laptop to the big screen—all wirelessly.
This adapter takes the pain out of sharing during meetings. Everyone on your team can quickly share their content without ever having to pass around an HDMI cord. Need to work on something else while you project? No problem, just extend your screen and you can get other stuff done while you share.
Miracast is a wireless technology that supports 1080p video quality and 5.1 surround sound streaming between mobile devices and large displays. There’s no restriction to what you can share with Miracast as long as all devices are Miracast-enabled, and this adapter works with both Windows and Android.
If this does not suit check out the HD-10 which we use and find it very efficient and flawless our review can be seen here
If you want to buy the adapter its going to cost €69.99 and you can buy it on the Microsoft Store – Direct link.
Today we bring to you a new startup which is working on to keep your cables well organized with their simple yet very effective product. Confused?? We spoke to Erin, Head Marketing Team from Cloop ™ today, a project by two brothers from Milan, who took time thinking and developing a product which would keep you organized while you travel or do your daily exercise taking care of the cables for you. The word Cloop stands for neat, small, tangle-free and that’s what this new product is going to do. Read on to find what is it exactly that I’m talking about.
Who are you guys?
Cloop ™ was founded by two brothers, engineers who reside in Milan, Italy. Their backgrounds are in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with Business Administration and Masters in Product Design.
How did Cloop Band come up?
Started the Cloop project as a creative solution for a common daily problem they faced while traveling frequently for their current job positions, these brothers were struck with the idea of Cloop Band.
What is Cloop Band?
Cloop is a new ideal cable management solution for earbuds, cell phone chargers and USB cables. Cloop is a cable companion band that helps keep your cables untangled while in transport and use.
What are the capabilies of Cloop Band?
It features an elastic silicone band, along with two strong Neodymium magnets in the ends that provide a quick locking and release mechanism. Additionally, Cloop features a cable passage to keep it in place and readily available to use at your convenience.
Who is the team Cloop?
Engineers and product design specialists. Marketing team led by Erin Corral-Holmes from Kickstartup.
What are the future plans & product line?
Cloop is planning to create a bigger band for bigger and and bulkier cables. Also, a sleek metallic base for desktop use. We will be looking to target the product on specific niche markets and applications, that can benefit from the Cloop operative benefits, such as in hospitals for telemetry and alike cords.
When can we expect the Cloop Band prototype and the availability for the masses?
We have multiple prototype versions available. We create in the U.S. our own molds using 3D printing. We also have done multiple prototype versions from the factories in China to perfect the product and ensure good quality. Cloop will be available on KICKSTARTER in April 2015.
What is the expected pricing for the Cloop Band?
We are targeting to launch in Kickstarter with two packages of three and five bands and three different colors: red, white and black. We are planning to offer the package of 3 bands for $15 including shipping and the package of 5 bands for $20 including shipping.
How is Cloop Band different from other substutes in market?
Current available substitutes are that disposable cable ties as taught by the current state of art created at least three new problems:
a problem of waste;
a problem of being impractical; and
a problem of being too simple such that there is a loss in functionality.
Cloop Band material, specification and dimension:
1 x Syntactic rubber band of dimension: 2.13×0.22×0.14″
Two terminal magnetic ends that are covered in silicone. This protects the magnets from the environment and your accessories from damage(being scratched etc).
Also, protecting the magnets with a soft silicone cover, does not diminish the magnetic closure strength.
What will the base of the Cloop Band do for the consumer?
Cloop’s base can be attached to the wall, or desk
Cloop’s base has a sleek design that looks great in plain view, on your desk, counter or sidetable
Cloop’s base keeps cables out of the way
Unkempt cables can be a safety hazard
The Cloop base holds your cables securely
The Cloop base is both attractive and fully functional
Whats special about Cloop design?
Silicone material provides flexibility and stability
Neodymium magnets make Cloop easy to snap shut, and easy to open
Cloop provides a snug fit, that will not allow cords or cables to slide
Roll the cable into the bundle and close Cloop
Durable design makes Cloop reusable
Cloop’s versatility means it can handle a wide variety of small to medium sized cables and accessories
There are other solutions out there for cable management, but there isn’t anything like Cloop as far as design and quality
Cloop is built for quality, and provides the simplicity you’re looking for.
Cloop can either be used stationary, or for portability
Magnetic ends are encased in silicone to protect them from the environment
Magnets are strong enough to securely hold your cables and cords in place, and the clasp will not “open” when storing or on the move.
We are very impressed with the Band by Cloop called the Cloop Band and would definitely love it taking care of wire chaos on our desks at office and we wish the while team all the best for the future. If you want to get alert of when Cloop launches on Kickstarter, you can sign up here and Cloop will email you when they are live or follow them on Twitter.
Let us know what do you think of this simple yet very handy good looking product in the comments below or tweet us using #techbuzzireland.
