SOUL Launches S-STORM MAX Speaker

The S-STORM MAX is packed with all the features you need for a durable yet portable music speaker. Rain or shine you can enjoy SOUL’s signature powerful Hi-Fi stereo sound. And it has a customizable LED mood light to suit your mood and color preference.

TAKE IT ANYWHERE 

Durable design and construction. Take  the S-STORM MAX anywhere, with its  IP66 dust and waterproof rating, it can  weather any storm or adventure.  

BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY Enjoy up to 15 hours of continuous fun  and music enjoyment.  

CUSTOMIZABLE MUSIC  

MOOD LIGHT  

We understand everyone is different, so  we designed a beautiful translucent  mood light ring for you to choose your  favorite color preference in any situation. The mood light allows the  S-STORM MAX to change colors with  the beat of your music + 7 color options  (Red, Violet, Blue, Teal, Green, Cool  green, Multi-color) or you can simply  turn if off.  

WIRELESS STEREO MODE  You can sync two S-STORM MAXs  together and enjoy extra powerful stereo  sound. Once they are paired, the audio  will be separated into two channels for  higher quality stereo sound. 

UNIVERSALLY PORTABLE  AND COMPATIBLE 

The S-STORM MAX is equipped with a  lanyard and carabiner for extra portability and security. It’s also engineered with 3 different input options  in case your connected bluetooth device  runs out of juice: Aux in, TF card, USB  drive slot. 

POWERFUL SOUND 

Powerful Hi-Fi stereo sound for all your  portable music needs. The S-STORM  MAX has two passive radiators for  ultimate bass enhancements.

Standby Time: 310 hours 

Playtime: Up to 15hrs (varies by  volume level and content) 

Charging Time: 4 hours 

Waterproof Level: IP66 water and  dustproof 

Battery: 7.4v 2000mAh Li-ion battery Driver Type: Dynamic & Passive radiator Maximum Output Power: 20W Product Weight: 720g 

Product Dimension: Ø83x 205H (mm) 

FULL REVIEW SOON

Order here 

2021 report – How much value does your phone depreciate every year. Check out who is losing the most value

Just like a new car starts to lose value the second you drive it out of the dealership, phones start to depreciate as soon as you take them out of the box – and some depreciate in value much faster than others.

musicMagpie’s Annual Phone Depreciation Report uses our own trade-in data to compare the values of the most popular phones from Apple, Samsung, Google, OnePlus and Huawei, for three years from the date the device was launched, creating a definitive guide to phone depreciation.

We’ve crunched the numbers to help you reduce the amount of money you lose from depreciation and help you make smarter choices for the environment too.

Of all the 5G phones released, the iPhone 12 Pro, one of Apple’s first 5G-enabled models, managed to retain its value the best in the six months after release, dropping by just 32%. Samsung’s first 5G-enabled phone release, the Samsung 10 5G, lost a higher 55% of its value in the first six months.

The 10 phones which held the most of their value at 12 months are all iPhones – making them the better investment for people who are likely to trade their device back in every year to upgrade.

The iPhone 11 has held onto its value the best, depreciating by 33% in the first 12 months. The iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 8 Plus take the 2nd and 3rd positions, losing 36% and 38% of their value respectively after 12 months.

The OnePlus 7T and the Samsung S7 Edge are the best performing non-Apple phones, losing 50% and 52% of their value in their first 12 months on sale.

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro was the worst performing phone in our 2021 report, losing a huge 87% of its value in the first year. The Huawei P20 and OnePlus 8 were the next worst performing phones, losing 84% and 83% of their value after just 12 months.

Apple’s worst performing model was the iPhone X, which lost 51% of its value 12 months after launch. The Samsung models which depreciated most in the first 12 months were Samsung Flip, which lost a substantial 83% of its value, and the Samsung Fold, which lost 75%.

 

FULL REPORT 

 

 

Enter gamigo’s House of Wonders for magical Christmas surprises

gamigo is happy to ring in the holiday season with the launch of a gift-giving Christmas event for all its players.

Starting December 1 through December 31, gamigo players will be able to get a wonderful gift in gamigo’s Advent calendar or participate in a raffle. Every day, a new surprise will wait for them when they return to the House of Wonders website. gamigo’s Santa will put the presents in the doors of the Advent calendar for players to unwrap every day at 10am CET. From in-game items to hardware raffles, Santa has thought of everything to fulfill everyone’s wishes.

But that’s not the end of gamigo’s Christmas celebrations – players can also open Wonder Boxes! Each of these boxes will contain one of the most desired in-game items for the participating games. Since Santa and his elves can only carry a limited number of boxes each day, players can return the following day for a new sleigh-load full of Wonder Boxes.

Is there more? Of course! If players log in to their favorite gamigo games for at least 30 minutes per day between December 1 and December 31, they will then be able to enter a giveaway to win a comfy and stylish gaming chair from Nitro Concepts.

On December 17 and 30 at 7pm CET, gamigo’s elves have prepared something special for the players – special Santa streams where Santa and his elves will bring cheer, merriment, and tons of gifts.

Come and join gamigo’s gift-giving Christmas season and be magically surprised!

Website: http://houseofwonders.gamigo.com/

Elktry iPhone iPad dual USB – C fast charger review

Need something affordable and cheaper than what Apple have to offer with faster charging well this wall plug might be up your street which allows you to charge two devices at once and at faster speeds than the standard 5w brick you get from Apple and it also costs less.

This is also ideal for travelling and it will also charge other devices so if like me you sport two phones on the go this is great so you can charge an ipad airpods and more or if with a partner you can charge both devices at one time which is handy you will need an extra cable though to do so that is not in the box. For me it is a product that makes sense as I carry an iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 6 so it works really well in that respect.

Dual-Port Design with USB-C and USB-A frees you from messy chargers with various interfaces. Elktry 20W fast charger will quickly charge 2 devices at the same time to minimize waiting time. Measuring only 0.98 x 1.69 x 1.96 inches, which is the appropriate choice for business trip or travel. The USB C to lightning cable even after over 20,000 twist tests, no damage from frequent bending, which is sturdy and durable for daily use.

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Video Link

Get a 10% discount by using the code HCIFOT8T

 

 

Starting your own business in Ireland: What you need to know about payments

The idea of starting your own business can emanate a gamut of emotions in a person. These emotions are usually a mix of excitement and nervousness. You are digging deep to think of stellar ideas that can turn your start-up into a goldmine. Next in line, you would want your business model to be different from the crowd. Moreover, that idea should add value to someone’s life, and it should be called productive. Yet one of the most important factors which a business should never overlook is its payment gateway. How well is their payment infrastructure developed? Are credit card machines built with the latest technology integration? 

Why is a coherent payment solution important for businesses? 

If a venture possesses a robust payment gateway, then it would already keep the customers happy. Since a latent payment solution looks like a hustle for customers shopping from a store. 

This ineffective payment settlement system is more time-consuming and stressful for customers. 

 

Thus, they will hunt for stores and restaurants which can provide them with a seamless gateway. Thus, digital transformation should be adopted by merchants extensively to derive an edge against competitors. This transformation in businesses is via the newest technology in their payment solution. 

Building the business foundation 

When starting your own business a rock-solid payment infrastructure withering away customer’s hassles is incumbent. Some of the advancements to be incorporated by a business are:

Mobile Point of Sale  

The point of sale should be supported by mPOS technology. This liberates the stores from accepting in-store payments only. On top of this, payments-on-go will be the most desirable benefit rendered to the customers. Therefore, they will be able to initiate payments because the portability offered is unmatchable. Vendors can easily carry this handy instrument for accepting payments. Along with flexibility, these mPOS offer faster payment processing and faster-enhanced efficiency as well.  

E-wallets is the next big thing   

Exceptional flexibility proffered to the customers during the check-out process will always work in a business’s favor. Since the customers will not crib standing in long queues just to make the payment. This is why the concept of e-wallets is highly preferred because it eases the process of making payments. Our tech-savvy generation would always feel attracted towards efficient technical advancements. Thus, the use of Google and Apple pay has been on a surge. Since it has rendered impeccable convenience to the customer, plus the user interface has been comprehensible. QR code scanning has been another game-changer that eases the payment processing procedure.  

NFC enabled credit card machines

The era of contactless has been skyrocketing, thus card readers should impanel RFID technology. In this way, the effortless Near Field Communications product can be easily optimized by businesses. Therefore card readers used by businesses have to match up to the latest standards prevailing in the market. These card readers should support contactless payment solutions. Moreover, they should have an EMV compliant system i.e., these card readers support Euro, MasterCard, and Visa. NFC-enabled transactions will render more convenience to the clients and ease the workload of merchants too.

White Christmas with Full Colours: Protecting Your Devices in a Stylish and Cool Way

When the leaves in the trees start to fall, and the weather becomes colder, it can only mean one thing: the Christmas season is coming. People start writing their Christmas lists and thinking of what to get to their loved ones (and yourself, why not?). No matter what smartphone Santa leaves under the tree, from the new iPhone 13 to the innovate Samsung Galaxy Z Series, keep them protected in the most stylish way with a brand new ITSKINS case.

The choice for the trendsetters 

For your loved ones expecting the new iPhone 13 Pro Max this Christmas, a SUPREME // PRISM case is the perfect fit. Don’t be fooled by its clean and sleek look: this case brings serious protection to your mobile devices. With HEXOTEX shock absorption technology and 4 layers protection, this case delivers military-grade 4.5 meters drop protection and includes IMPACTHANE, a built-in microbial defence that protects from germs and microbes.

And if you want to also give your little pup the gift of spending quality time and walking around with you, this HYBRID // SLING case is the choice to make both of you happy. It’s ideal when you want to go hands-free but in a cool way. The included strap attaches to your phone case through four available corner loops.

Flip, Fold, Snap, Clack: for those who think out of the box 

If Santa’s reindeers have a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G or Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G smartphones for you friend or family, make sure they’ll keep them safe with the best out of this world protection. 

Help them keep their long-awaited phone remain intact from drops up to 3m with ITSKINS HYBRID//CLEAR and HYBRID//SOLID models, available in different colours to match their personal style (black, lavender, light green, white and olive green).

But don’t forget about keeping your accessories safe

The best gifts often come in the smallest packages. Luckily, ITSKINS has some fantastic stocking fillers this year that will surely go down a treat with your friends and family!

Keep the music flowing with ITSKINS new cases for the brand new Apple Airpods 3 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. There’s several sleek models to choose from, including FERONABIO//TERRA, the first 100% compostable eco-friendly case, with antimicrobial defence and advance shock absorbing technology. 

— Check out ITSKINS for more cases for Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Google, and many others —

Tech Review – Atom Studios iPhone 13 Pro split silicone case

Atom Studios who just launched a range of accessories on Three UK sent us over one of their phone cases to check out and the good news is they will be launching here in Ireland soon too and the case we checked out is the split silicone case for the iPhone 13 Pro and it is a dual tone coloured case and looks and feels good too and stands out, this case also gives you extra grip and your phone can be placed face or rear down and the camera lens is also protected, the keys also work great and overall this makes an excellent case to look at and they also have some other really nice designs to pick from.

The Split Silicone iPhone Cases contain a combination of infinitely recyclable anodised aluminium and sand-based silicone, offering a stylish and sustainable alternative to plastic. The materials were chosen for their durability — they’re built to last for the life cycle of a phone. The silicone part of the case is soft to the touch while the aluminium has a premium, slim appearance resulting in a distinctive look.

The full range of products can be found and purchased via AtomStudios.com or Amazon

Video Link

Tech Review – Sades spirits gaming headphones

Sades spirits are a simple plug and play option pair of gaming headphones that just keeps things simple, there is no app no set up and little controls to be worried about which just makes life nice and easy, they a made from plastic and have soft cups for the ears which makes them ideal for long periods of use.

They have the familiar ratchet style extension arms both sides and the controls or lack thereof are all kept simple on one side to and this might draw up the question on how they sound with just two controls on the headset to adjust. One control is a wheel which adjusts the volume and the other is a mic control and both found on the left earcup.

The headset is light and comes in many colours too which for gamers is a win as there is no RGB lighting effects going on here at all so having the options from a big colour range will have to do the job here, The headband is comfortable which again is ideal for long periods and ideal being such a light headset.

Sades Spirits gaming headset techuzzireland

Sound is fine which is what we all want to know, it will not win awards for the lack of features however being a simple plug and play you can adjust settings on your console of choice and work from there, there is 50mm speakers inside and overall they do a good job and users will be happy especially if you are a first time customer and want to try out such headphones for your set up at home. The mic works well too and is adjustable and clear both ends when gaming. The headset can be used on phones with a headphone jack and works well here too so if you have a console or phone you game on they get the job done.

Overall it is a great cost effective headset on the cheap and is fairly robust and ideal for kids more so and the range of colors available makes good for the consumer for choice. From my testing on mobile phone, PS5 Switch and Xbox one they do a good job.

Suitable for all 3.5mm interface devices. Support PS4 / XBOX ONE ( 2015 Version ) / Laptop / Mobile Devices / VR / Switch. The Y-cable(Adapter cable) is ready for connecting the PC.

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Unboxing Video

 

 

The History of the Season Pass

Season passes are a novel form of game monetization that have been around in various forms for some time, but have risen in prominence thanks to their association with immensely popular battle royale style games such as PUBG and Fortnite. The basic premise of a season pass follows the real world concept of a sporting season ticket, and gives gamers open access to time bound events and activities in a game’s world. These frequently run for about 3 months before expiring, at which point a new season pass must be redeemed. With each season, developers offer fresh content, features and customisation options to incentivise renewal. This method of monetization is very effective as it means a game can continue earning revenue long past its initial release date. The concept has a long running association with DLC (downloadable content packs) release and can be seen as a refinement and serialisation of them. 

Monetization models

The season pass is but one of the many game monetization models that has been in the ascendancy with the rise and proliferation of smartphone gaming. In this space, season passes rub shoulders alongside a range of diverse game monetization strategies. These range from those seen on iGaming platforms, where promotional offers on online variants remain attractive to new and returning patrons, to the well known freemium model that has maintained primacy in the app store for over a decade.

History and development

Early prominent uses of the season pass model included 2011’s L.A. Noire, by GTA developers Rockstar Games. This paved the way for major developers such as EA to begin offering season passes for their league franchise games under their sub-brand, EA Sports. Season passes experienced a renewal of interest around the mid 2010s when a new type of free-to-play game became popular among gamers. These games, following the template laid out by PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), are built around battle royale gameplay wherein a large number of players, sometimes in excess of 100, battle it out on a single large map to a last-man-standing rule-set. 

These games, of which Fortnite is now the most popular, attracted players due to their free-to-play status. These games all offer customization features and additional game-mechanics that can only be purchased once players pay for the current season pass (sometimes called a battle pass). By letting gamers invest time and energy into a game, they are statistically far more likely to want to invest monetarily over the long run, especially if this lets them display their identification with the game’s community to other players. 

Impact

By offering season passes as a doorway into letting people acquire DLC microtransactions, Fortnite has earned over $9 billion since its release in 2017. Other major game developers are rapidly following suit, with Activision launching a battle royale free-to-play version of its Call of Duty franchise in Call of Duty: Warzone, an enterprise that has already generated nearly $500 million in revenue since its 2020 release date. Japanese developers Square Enix, the company behind the long running and immensely popular RPG series Final Fantasy, recently launched Final Fantasy: VII — The First Soldier, their own take on a battle pass style massively multiplayer arena game. 343 Studios, the developers working on Halo: Infinite have also announced, following a long running open beta of its multiplayer mode, that it will be available as a free-to-play add-on to the main game, and will use its own version of a battle pass.

Changing landscape

Where this trend will end is hard to see at this point, as news that a major iterative title like Halo: Infinite, set to be the new Xbox Series X/S’s de facto flagship game, will be using a free-to-play season pass for its multiplayer will increase the likelihood that this will become commonplace among major console games. All of this points to a change in the way games are made, marketed and consumed by the industry. This is reflective of the sector coming to terms with the rise of massive multiplayer gaming, and in exploring the best way to monetize this shift into the future.