Reaffirming its commitment to make 2021 the year that widespread collaboration becomes a reality for everyone, ClearOne a global provider of audio and visual communications solutions, today announced that its COLLABORATE® Space lifetime subscription messaging app featuring world-class video and audio, as well as unlimited meeting time, is available for free here.
ClearOne’s COLLABORATE Space is a powerful collaboration tool that delivers a full suite of audio, video conferencing, web conferencing, and meeting tools in a persistent space from any device. COLLABORATE Space comes with everything needed to stay connected with your family, friends, and coworkers for one-on-one or group chats.
“The free version of COLLABORATE Space allows up to ten participants to meet for an unlimited amount of time,” ClearOne Chair & CEO Zee Hakimoglu said today. “Unlike other services that claim to be free, COLLABORATE Space does not limit the length of any audio or video call. What’s more, all messages are encrypted to ensure maximum security and we don’t trade personal data to third parties.”
Hakimoglu stressed that the COLLABORATE Space lifetime subscription with unlimited meeting time is free to everyone and is not tied to any other ClearOne purchase. “Yes, we offer paid, step-up package options to meet specific user needs, but for many individuals and companies the free version is going to be all that they ever need for quality online meetings. Why pay when you can collaborate for free?”
The free version of COLLABORATE Space also includes Instant Messaging, Screen Desktop Sharing and a CO2 savings report.
Basic and Pro versions of the app are also available for the monthly cost of $8.25 and $16.65 respectively with an annual subscription. An Enterprise on-premise version can be customized for larger organizations. Complete program and pricing details can be found here.
The UK and Ireland is has experienced a particularly cold spell with the return of the Beast from the East type weather with temperatures dropping as low as -17 degrees in some parts. With the fall in temperature, the combination of the cold weather and central heating also causes low humidity, creating dry air conditions in our homes. Chris Michael, MD at leading UK air treatment manufacturer Meaco, outlines the main signs of low humidity to look out for, and what to do about it.
Most people do not realise, but the development of a dry cough, sore throat, cracked lips, and itchy eyes are all signs of dry air in a home. Moisturisers will not stop dry air pulling moisture from your skin causing dryness and irritation. As well as being uncomfortable, this can lead to more complicated health problems particularly for those with respiratory conditions and allergies.
It’s not only the health of people that can be adversely affected from dry air. The fabric of a home can be damaged. Dry air can cause the sudden appearance of cracks in wooden furniture, which can also apply to valuable possessions such as antiques and musical instruments.
If you start to experience static shocks in the home, it is a sign that humidity is below 30%, a level which will start to feel uncomfortable. Wilting plants may also be a sign that there is not enough moisture in the air.
One solution is to introduce a humidifier to your home. A humidifier works by adding moisture to the air to help prevent these problems. A humidifier allows more moisture into a person’s airways so relieving a dry cough, and eases some of the symptoms caused by ‘flu or the common cold. It has been suggested that humidity levels above 40 percent* rapidly deactivate virus particles, making them much less likely to be infectious.
A humidifier can be used to complement your healthy skin and beauty regime, curbing some of the dryness and irritation that comes with cold weather. Many celebrities* around the word are turning to them to improve their complexions, and voices.
Some of the less well-known benefits of using a humidifier are that it can help with snoring. If the air is dry, a person’s airways are less likely to be sufficiently lubricated, leading to snoring. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve some symptoms.
Meaco has been dealing with regulating the level of moisture in the air since 1991, first in museums and art galleries and then in people’s homes, and recently launched the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier. It works by using ultrasonic micro-vibrations splitting the water into very small droplets that are fanned into the air, creating a pleasant, warm or cooled visible mist. It is this gentle mist that helps remedy the problems caused by dry air.
A HEPA filter removes physical allergens from the air and a charcoal filter removes odours. An inbuilt aroma diffuser allows a person to add a favourite essence to the air, while an ioniser keeps the air fresh. The water is cleaned by an ultraviolet lamp prior to humidification so ensuring the humidified air that is breathed in has been sterilised first. This unique combination of sterilisation of the water before humidification and the HEPA and charcoal cleaning the air, makes the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier well placed for providing a clean air solution for a wide range of users. Finally, having cleaned the air and softened and cleaned the water the mist spray can be ionised to help clean the air further.
Built to very high standards with a pleasing, simple digital display, the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier has a hard water filter to remove limescale and two directional nozzles to reduce the chances of condensation from forming in front of the humidifier. Low noise levels and a night mode helps you fall asleep peacefully, particularly useful for young children suffering from colds.
Skullcandy Inc., the original lifestyle audio brand, is unveiling exciting new additions to their most popular product family.
Skullcandy’s best-selling product line, Hesh, is getting upgraded this season, expanding the family line by introducing two new headphones this winter. Hesh ANC will tout the addition of Active Noise Canceling technology. For fans who are not ready to make the jump to Active Noise Canceling quite yet, Hesh Evo offers a headphone with a more refined sound and a full host of must-have features. Each product comes enabled with Tile™, eliminating the fear of ever losing your device.
“Skullcandy products are always made with our fans in mind as we look to infuse new technologies in our headphones and earbuds,” said Jeff Hutchings, Skullcandy Chief Product Officer “When it came to Hesh, we listened — giving our most popular line the upgrades that customers have been wanting. We stand behind building quality products for every experience. Hesh ANC and Hesh Evo do just that!”
The new additions to the Hesh line come jam-packed with all the features you know and love, including Bluetooth® wireless technology; call, track and volume control; and durability. They offer refined acoustics and a flat-folding, collapsible design, continuing with the tradition of being headphones that fit in seamlessly with real life.
With more people working from home and attending school remotely, Skullcandy’s newest headphone, Hesh ANC is making ANC technology accessible to everyone at an unbelievable price point. Hesh ANC is built for the long haul with listening time up to 22 hours with ANC on and Rapid Charge, getting 3 hours of battery with just a 10-minute charge. And when you need to be aware of your surroundings, Hesh ANC features an ambient mode that deactivates Active Noise Cancelling while still allowing you to hear your sound. Hesh ANC will be available for £119.99 in True Black. Available in select retailers and at https://www.skullcandy.co.uk/hesh-anc-wireless-headphones on February 17th.
For a perfectly simple experience, Hesh Evo has all the features you care about and none of the ones you don’t with premium sound refined over four generations. The headphones boast up to 36 hours of battery life and Rapid Charge for 3 hours of listening time in just 10 minutes. The Hesh Evo has an audio experience that will blow you away, with tech that is simple to use, plus a travel case for portability. Hesh Evo will be available in True Black and ‘92 Blue for £89.99. Available in select retailers and at https://www.skullcandy.co.uk/hesh-evo-wireless-headphones on February 17th.
The acclaimed Konftel 800 hybrid conference phone has been officially certified to work seamlessly across key Atos Unify communication platforms – broadening its appeal to an even wider audience.
The flagship device has been fully tested to be compatible with the latest Atos Unify OpenScape 4000 V10 hybrid UC platform, Atos Unify OpenScape Voice V10 and Atos Unify OpenScape Business V3 solutions.
“The Atos Unify portfolio is one of the world’s leading names in unified communications and collaboration. We are proud and delighted the Konftel 800 meets Atos Unify’s exacting standards following rigorous testing,” says Torbjörn Karlsson, Product Manager at Konftel.
“Our strategy is to optimise and certify our products to ensure complete compatibility so users can connect and collaborate seamlessly. As an Atos Unify Advanced Technology Partner, Konftel has access to tools, documentation and test environments we use to exceed the highest demands of Atos customers for convenient meeting room solutions.”
The Konftel 800 offers ‘best in class’ performance and design. The hybrid device acts as a flexible and powerful device for communication and collaboration services, whether in the cloud, on premise or in hybrid environments. It connects via SIP, USB and Bluetooth.
Leading analysts Frost & Sullivan have recognized the Konftel 800 with a Product Leadership Award, highlighting how effortlessly the conference phone delivers outstanding sound in video solutions for medium to realty large meeting rooms. In addition the Konftel 800 has earned a Red Dot design award.
“Meeting room communications technologies like the Konftel 800 will become essential to bringing together hybrid workforces that have built up over the course of the early 2020’s. The Konftel 800 is an ideal solution to support the Atos range of Digital Workplace Collaboration and Communications technologies in meeting rooms,” said Mark Smith, Head of Marketing and Communications, Atos Unify. “We’re excited to see vendors like Konftel bring their technology leadership together with Atos’s leading design and delivery skills in the meeting rooms space.”
Poly (NYSE: PLT), today announced the new Poly Rove DECT IP phone is the first and only phone solution to exclusively feature built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection. Microban is a global leader in antimicrobial technology, and when combined with Poly’s new wireless phone system, gives you the confidence you need to collaborate in high-touch work settings and in the most critical of conversations.
The Poly Rove Family, including Poly Rove 30 and Poly Rove 40 phones, are designed to stay cleaner longer and come with Microban’s antimicrobial technologybuilt-infor a 99% cleaner phone surface. As warehouses and shift floors around the world continue to open, this technology not only actively helps fight the growth of product damaging bacteria, it also offers antimicrobial protection without affecting the appearance, functions or durability of Poly’s devices. The antimicrobial technology is integrated during manufacturing, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and germs for the lifespan of the device. This means complete defence against bacteria on Poly Rove phones integrated with Microban in high-touch workplaces.
“Microban is incredibly proud to partner with Poly to bring to market phones and conferencing devices that feature our patented antimicrobial protection,” said Michael Ruby, vice president of global built-in business at Microban. “With Microban’s ‘always on’ technology now incorporated into Poly’s most popular pro-grade solutions; we’re delivering product protection that empowers Poly customers all around the world.”
Poly Rove Family
Poly Rove devices are designed to outfit critical and essential workplaces for the ultimate confidence in collaboration and communication. Poly Rove devices can be taken on the move, even in the largest facilities, and can be scaled to support up to 1,000 handsets. In addition to exclusively featuring Microban technology, Poly Rove phones are ruggedized with an IP65 rating to be dust-proof and water-resistant, making them tough enough for industries like healthcare, manufacturing and retail where employees often share phone handsets throughout the day. With the Poly Rove R8 DECT repeater, you’ll maintain DECT encryption without sacrificing security when you need to move about and talk at a greater range.
Poly Rove phone systems come with Poly’s pro-grade audio with HD voice and enhanced background noise suppression for premium call clarity. Programmable line keys and a large display screen provide easy navigation so no one misses a critical call, whether from a warehouse floor or an emergency room.
“According to our research, businesses across industries are looking for ways to improve their workplace and employees rated antimicrobial treatment as the most necessary feature among a list of safe-office solutions,” said Irwin Lazar, president and principal analyst, Metrigy. “We expect to see demand for these types of features will only increase.”
“Our partnership with Microban is a prime example of our commitment to prioritising the well-being of our customers and employees in every workplace, including our own,” said John Lamarque, vice president and general manager of voice collaboration and professional headset business unit, Poly. “By combining Microban’s product protection with Poly’s expertise in wireless DECT security and audio, our customers and employees can feel confident while using our devices as they get back to work in warehouses, retail centre’s, and hospitals around the world.”
For seamless management of devices for IT, Poly’s cloud-based device management software, provides a central, secure portal for IT professionals to stage, deploy and manage devices from anywhere. This cloud management software is available through select service providers (some services sold separately).
For more information on Poly Rove device pricing, availability and for additional details on the exclusive partnership with Microban, please visit: Poly Rove and Poly Performance + Microban Protection.
Team17 and Ghost Town Games have today announced that Overcooked! All You Can Eat will be coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam, and Xbox One on 23rd March. First launched on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation5 in 2020, Overcooked! All You Can Eat plates up all 200 + levels from both games, including all DLC, seven new levels, and a brand-new assist mode, fully remade in up to 4K, and running at a smooth 60fps (30 frames per second on Nintendo Switch). Cross-platform multiplayer will also be made available for chefs playing on all platforms in a free post-launch update.
Not only do players get three new and exclusive chefs, they can also choose from the entire back catalogue of over 80 calamitous chefs, each enjoying at least one brand-new alternate skin variant. For a limited time only, The Muppet’s Swedish Chef is available to download for free for all Overcooked! All You Can Eat players.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat also includes new accessibility options and an assist mode, which adds the option to increase level times; boost scores awarded for each meal; lengthen recipe times, and the ability to turn off order expiration. The accessibility options include colour-blind friendly chef indicators, a scalable user interface and the ability to enable dyslexia friendly text.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat Key Features:
Every mouthful: Includes every piece of Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 content, remastered and available in 60 frames per second in up to 4K resolution
Multiple multiplayer courses: Levels originally from Overcooked! are playable with online multiplayer support for the very first time, with every Overcooked! All You Can Eat kitchen also featuring cross-play functionality in a post-launch update
Exclusive new kitchens & cooks: New levels, new chefs, and additional skins for every single chef – all exclusive to Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Trophies/Achievements: Brand new trophy and achievement sets for players to unlock
Cooking for all: Accessibility options and a new assist mode opens the game to more players than ever before
Overcooked! All You Can Eat will be available digitally on all platforms for £30/$40/€40 and will also be launching physically on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on the 23rd March.
PowerA – an industry-leading developer of high-quality, licensed gaming peripherals – is proud to announce that the new Enhanced Wireless Controller and Protection Case for the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite – Pikachu 025 are now available. Commemorate 25 years of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises by taking home a controller that harkens back to the series’ roots. You can catch both the stylised case and Enhanced Wireless Nintendo Switch controller right now in at Argos for £39.99. Find additional EU retailers here.
This officially licensed controller from PowerA elevates your play across Nintendo Switch games featuring motion controls, mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons and Bluetooth® 5.0 technology for wireless play. With up to 30 hours of gameplay from the internal rechargeable battery, the Enhanced Wireless Controller gives you the edge you need in competitive play as well as flexibility and comfort during long, relaxed gaming sessions.
To go alongside the Enhanced Wireless Controller, PowerA’s officially licensed Nintendo Switch protective case is the ideal accessory to keep your console and games safe. On the outside, a sturdy outer shell and durable zippers make sure any damage to your valuables will be avoided, while the moulded interior and felt lining keeps your screen from scratching.
Both of these products come with unique and playful designs, including an eye-catching black and yellow colour scheme with series favourite Pikachu prominently featured on both case and controller. Labelled “025” to commemorate Pikachu’s place in the Pokédex, these PowerA products are a must have for anyone with a place in their heart for classic Pokémon titles.
Bank of Ireland debit card spending analysis for January has revealed a steep decline in consumer spending activity, as the spike witnessed before and during the Christmas period declined significantly. Some issues I have noted is the lack of transparency with stores here online and from contacting around ten Irish retail stores here asking about where their products shipped from they did not respond be it on social media or email which does not bode well with any customer when now is the time for them to be up front and honest and try capitalise on their web shops here. I am one to support the shop local initiative however this is dwindling by the day and I will make my purchase elsewhere online outside Ireland.
Whilst charitable donations rose steeply in the final month of 2020, these levels suffered at the beginning of 2021, with a 53% month on month drop. Purchases of sporting apparel in January fell by 66% even though the first month of a new year is often seen as the best time to kick-start a fitness programme.
January spending trends also revealed that the fizz has gone out of spending on beer, wine and liquor as shoppers bought less of these items at the beginning of 2021, with a 57% drop recorded. This was in stark contrast to December as people stocked up for the Christmas festivities, with spending on beer, wine and liquors rising sharply.
Elsewhere the tightening of belts remained constant across the wider retail sector in January, with spending on clothes dropping a massive 70%, spending in hardware stores falling over a third month on month (-37%), while consumers appeared to be satisfied with their December purchases of electronic and software items as spending levels in this area dropped by 24%.
Commenting on these debit card spending patterns, Ger Thompson, Head of Current Account Banking at Bank of Ireland said: “January saw the majority of people ease back on their spending, which was to be expected after the series of spending spikes we witnessed across various retail sectors in the run up to Christmas. Notably in January we saw a drop of 41% in retail spending, including falls in purchases of sporting equipment and electrical equipment.
In addition and perhaps not surprisingly, we also saw “social” spending half in the month of January – with fast food outlets witnessing a spending decrease of 34%, restaurant spend down over 60% and pubs suffering a massive fall off in purchases (88%) as the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions really hit home.
The hope amongst consumers must be that the current restrictions will be eased in the coming months and that some sense of normality can resume. Spending on memberships only dipped by 17% in January, which is a low figure relative to the drops we’ve seen elsewhere. So it is clear that plenty of people still retain hope in this early stage of 2021 that they will resume the sports or social activities they enjoy sooner rather than later.”
Bank of Ireland debit card transactions – January 2021 versus December 2020
Sades, manufacturer of quality gaming peripherals is pleased to announce the release of their new headset – the A2. Capable of connecting to a variety of devices, the new A2 from Sades is the ultimate companion for your gaming – no matter what console you favour.
The swivel-to-mute microphone is uni-directional which reduces ambient noise for excellent voice clarity, especially when playing in teams and the microphone flexibility means it can be adjusted to suit you and the game being played.
With a simple yet trendy design that features ergonomic oval earcups to maximize the ear space for improved comfort and balanced acoustics, the A2 will be the perfect companion for long gaming sessions. The easy to use, on ear controls make on-the-fly adjustments without distracting you from the game, whilst the braided cable improves wire longevity.
Compatible with the PS4 / PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobiles, you can rely on the Sades A2 to enhance your gaming sessions.
Features:
Simple design
Multi-platform compatibility
Uni-directional mic for clearer voice pickup
Breathable and comfortable oval earmuffs
Adjustable headband
The Sades A2 is available in 2 colours from www.amazon.co.uk for £25.99. Watch out for our review soon..
