Royole New Foldable Smartphone FlexPai 2 is at the Heart of 2020 Flexible Technology Strategy #Royole #FlexPai2

Royole Corporation, a leading innovator and pioneer of next-generation human-machine interface technologies and products such as fully flexible displays, fully flexible sensors, foldable smartphones and other smart devices, announces the global launch of the Royole FlexPai 2 smartphone. The successor to the world’s first smartphone with a fully flexible display, Royole FlexPai, FlexPai 2 has today been announced at the 2020 Royole Strategy and New Product Launch event and introduces upgrades in performance, design and user experience.

Utilizing Royole’s most advanced, the 3rd generation Cicada Wing® fully flexible display, FlexPai 2 brings new possibilities for human-machine interface and delivers the brightest, most color-rich screen of any foldable smartphone and with a response speed of just 0.4ms. Royole’s fully flexible display is extremely thin and light, like wings of the cicada, and is as smooth as a mirror. The display is super flexible and robust, having been folded over 1.8 million times during Certified Display Folding Reliability Tests by National Institute of Metrology, China. Another essential advancement is the use of Royole’s proprietary seamless and stepless 0-180o hinge constructed from aircraft grade materials that includes durable aluminum titanium alloy and liquid metal. This incredible piece of engineering allows for smooth positioning of the FlexPai 2 at any angle and for a truly gapless fold, reducing the thickness by 40% compared to the previous generation FlexPai. The structure of the hinge is stable and shockproof, providing the great protection for the screen. It has more than 200 precision components with 0.01 mm processing accuracy. The hinge technology holds around 200 patents and solved many issues seen in other foldable smartphones.

 

 

“Our vision at Royole Corporation is to continue to build a Flexible Planet, an ecosystem of products that have integrated flexible electronics and unlock new possibilities in how humans interact with the world. By introducing the FlexPai 2, we have combined a timeless and stylish design with the best of our technology to bring a smartphone that elevates the consumer’s day-to-day utility of a phone or tablet.” says Bill Liu, founder, chairman and CEO of Royole Corporation “From the release of the world’s first foldable smartphone with the original FlexPai in 2018, we have learned and improved upon our previous successes to create a product that prioritizes user experience, comfort and service. Our flexible electronics create new possibilities for unlimited interaction and the FlexPai 2 showcases this.”

As a pioneer of flexible electronics, Royole’s mission is to revolutionize the way people experience and interact with the world, bringing new possibilities with unlimited interaction. FlexPai 2 is a demonstration of the company’s vast knowledge and capabilities in this space and shows how the addition of fully flexible electronics can transform a device into a totally new way of communication and interaction. A smartphone for convenience and 7.8” tablet for entertainment or business, all in one stunning anodized aluminum device and for the price of a regular smartphone.

 

A powerful quad camera array ensures the Royole FlexPai 2 competes with the leading flagship smartphones in the market and thanks to its form, FlexPai 2 offers unique shooting modes depending on the subject and needs of the user. USB-C fast charging, 4500mHa battery, updated Water OS software, 5G dual-mode connectivity and the latest Snapdragon 865 processor complete the flagship specification and ensure incredible performance whether in tablet, table or smartphone use.

Royole FlexPai 2 is an incredible technical advancement compared to its predecessor and this is more than just in the specification. The premium anodized aluminum finish with nanostructure optical coating, slim bezels, stunning display and choice of three stylish colors ensure the FlexPai 2 will not look out of place in any setting. Accessories include a synthetic leather case and Royole RoPods true wireless earbuds complete the high-end package.

Royole proudly moves both flexible electronics and foldable phones to the next level with the FlexPai 2. It will be available in Cosmic Gray, Midnight Black and Sunrise Gold from September 22nd, 2020 for RMB 9988 (approx.$1,427) in China, making it the most affordable foldable smartphone in the market right now.

 

 

Founded in 2012, Royole Corporation has offices in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and California. For more information, please visit: www.royole.com.

CIVICA NI – Launch First Public Post-Lockdown Surveys on Accessing Public Services Online. #CIVICA

The first post COVID-19 public survey released by Civica, a global leader in software for public services, has reinforced that:

  • Almost half of Northern Irish adults (49%) say they want to use digital tech more frequently following lockdown
  • one third of citizens surveyed believe the public sector could make better use of digital technology to enhance their lives. 

Led by a national impetus for better digital technologies and reliable online services, the survey shows the ‘need to connect’ is now embedded. Public appetite for use of technology and online services has undergone a distinct shift and public sector organisations need to recognise and work with this change.

The research is revealed in a new Civica Changing Landscape report, ‘Passing the tipping point for digital: the nudge effect of the pandemic’.

The report is based on key findings from senior leadership forums and two new sets of research from more than 2,000 citizens across Northern Ireland. It explores how public sector organisations throughout the region must recognise and capitalise on this digital momentum to re-shape the delivery of public services for the future.

The report also found: 

  • Almost half (46%) of surveyed citizens believe digital technologies can connect the community or improve the lives of citizens following the pandemic
  • 26% claim they trust government services more following the pandemic


Mark Owens, Managing Director at Civica Northern Ireland explained: “This is a comprehensive survey of attitudes to online engagement with public services. It shows that the government can respond in record time to deliver effective software such as the COVID-19 NI symptom tracker information app and recent track and trace version.

“But we cannot wait for a crisis to deepen before we recognise, we have the technology to give remote access to vital services such as GP appointments, manage socially distanced out-patient services or provide personalised benefits support. Plus, the public is clearly telling us that they want these services online and will use them.”

 

 

The report also calls for the Northern Ireland government to support affordable and reliable broadband, as well as fast tracking procurement of user-friendly government software and apps. This will make it easier, particularly for older people, to access the services they need online.

“Previous surveys showed slow progress in older generations embracing technology to access public services, but the current pandemic has shown a dramatic change in attitudes.

“Last year we brought together digital leaders in the public and private sectors to discuss how we could speed-up government and private sector collaboration. 

“Our public sector leaders agreed that more strategic digital programmes were crucial as digital communications are central to our lives. But to successfully lead these, we need collaboration, closer partnerships with digital suppliers and a procurement framework that puts the citizens’ needs above all else. 

 

“The challenge now is for public and private sector leaders in NI to continue to invest in initiatives designed to meet the growing demand in all areas of life. To support communities, people and employees on the difficult road ahead.” 

 

‘Passing the tipping point for digital: the nudge effect of the pandemic’ is the latest instalment in Civica’s Changing Landscape series of reports. 

To read more about the new report, please visit www.civica.co.uk/digital-ni-2020. 

Cowboy helps riders stay safe on the road with Crash Detection, an e-bike industry first. #ebike #cycling

Cowboy, the Belgium start-up with a vision to transform urban mobility, is using technology to reshape bike safety by introducing the industry’s first software designed to detect crashes and collisions – Crash Detection. Cowboy is putting rider safety at the very core of their mission to transform urban mobility and cities for the better with the new feature helping to protect over one million kilometers ridden by Cowboy users all over Europe every month.

Currently available in beta for a thousand users, the industry-first feature will be rolled out to all Cowboy 2 and Cowboy 3 riders by the end of September at no charge.

 

Using highly sensitive built-in sensors combined with GPS signal tracking, the bike communicates with the Cowboy app to detect a fall. If an accident occurs and the rider doesn’t confirm they’re fine within 60 seconds, Cowboy instantly alerts the rider’s emergency contacts (up to 2) to check in and offer help, while sharing the real-time rider position so they can be quickly located.

 

To provide riders with complete peace of mind, the Cowboy bike is also equipped with a SIM card that is completely independent from the phone and will work in every scenario, e.g. if the phone is damaged in a crash. This allows Cowboy to notify the emergency contact(s) without having to rely on the user’s phone.

Safety. At the core of Cowboy’s mission.

The Crash Detection feature was created as a result of a first-hand experience. Last year, Cowboy’s co-founder Tanguy Goretti had an accident with his bike. “The road was icy and visibility was limited”, Tanguy says. “I crashed after the first turn and glided for at least five meters. Luckily, there were people nearby to make sure I was okay and to help me and my bike off the street.” Thankfully, Tanguy’s accident only resulted in a few bruises and scratches, for him and his bike.

 

But walking away safely and relatively unharmed from a bike accident is not the case for everyone. “In Europe, most serious accidents occur just outside urban areas. In that scenario, you don’t always have someone to help and you might be left for a long time awaiting assistance. That’s how the idea for Crash Detection was born”, Tanguy who is responsible for the software development at the Brussels-based start-up further elaborates.

 

When done right, technology can have a huge impact on people’s lives and the safety of communities. Crash detection is Cowboy’s latest addition to an already comprehensive list of safety-first related features and innovations now available on the recently launched Cowboy 3 as well as previous versions of the bike:

 

  • Flashing brake light. The rear light flashes when you slow your speed so you’re more visible to the traffic behind you.

  • Puncture-resistant tires. All-rounder tires handle the load and the road.

  • Integrated front and rear lights. Be seen by others on the road, ever aware of your surroundings.

  • Hydraulic disc brakes. Ride fast and in control with hydraulic brakes that provide total stopping power the second you make contact.

 

Review – The Edifier GM3SE In-Ear Gaming Earphones. #Tech #Gaming #Edifier

This model came with a variety of accessories, including a travel pouch for the earphones. The initial view was the in-ear earphones are larger than many other used but a nice colour. Unusually the Omni-directional microphone can be removed as required allowing flexibility on the earphones.  The earphone came with a headphone/microphone splitter which allows the use on a Laptop, 

 

 

Accessories : Travel pouch, 1.3m cable length + extension for PC use,  and multiple Silicone replacement ear tips and wings of different sizes.

Product Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 12 cm.

  1. Boxed-product Weight: 150g.
  2. Driver unit: Ф10mm.
  3. Bass unit: Ф10mm.

 Compatible with –

PC, Android, IOS & PS4

 

Inline control  /Volume control

The Slider button has a multitude of options, from Pause/play, Answer/  hang-up calls, next track,  previous track reject a call,  voice assistance, volume up volume down. The volume slider takes time to get used to all the options, while can be a challenge to set the exact volume of the audio from the slider on occasions.

Overview

This model is unusual as a swiss army knife can be used as a mobile device used for its primary purpose of gaming, or for calls on your mobile or listening to music. This is still able to fit in your pocket when not in use.  The detachable microphone improved the quality reducing the back round noise. The earbuds have two microphones which allow the other Mic to be used when the boom mic is removed, Both microphones work independently with a good quality voice. Whether you’re gaming, making phone calls, the earbuds’ microphones perform well. The earphones are bulky but after a days use are light enough not to be noticed. The audio quality is good for the size of the earphones but lacks some of the higher frequency ranges on some games. This model has got lots of attention which may be down to the removal mic, with most thinking this was cool, Noise cancelling is not available but its light enough to carry around and used for gaming/laptop use with an excellent mic option.

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-Earphones-Earbuds-Detachable-Microphone-Black/dp/B07S24HRNQ

Price: £34.99

Review – STM Goods Myth 18L backpack. #TechBag #Travel #Tech

Travelling and a tech fan well this bag might just be the one to look at, I have been using bags from this company for some years now and they fit my daily usage perfectly. Optimal comfort is a key feature here with how this bag is designed and that it is with the arched back lined with good padding yet your cargo remains protected inside by way of slingtech which keeps the cargo off the ground no matter where and of course the extra padding and gapless corners so in essence the bags could be dropped and all remains fine.

There is no shortage of storage compartments here either and you get a sunglasses storage area lined to protect them so for carrying phones,tablets headphones,earbuds battery power banks you have a spot for them all including your laptop which would most likely be one of the most expensive items in your back all is in safe hands here and to top it off you have a cable ready system to connect items to powerbanks and still have easy fast access to the device charging.

Weight distribution is another factor worth noting ,there is a luggage pass-through built into the bag which will make it real secure and is integrated with the lumbar support of the back panel.

Features

  • AirPod pocket offers quick, easy access to your wireless headphones
  • Dedicated place to keep ear buds safely stowed, corralled, and untangled
  • TPU coated webbing handles with rivets ensures durability
  • Water repellent C6DWR coating applied to fabric
  • Air channel back panel system promotes air flow, keeps you cool and comfortable
  • Reverse coil zippers protect teeth, keep moisture and grunge out
  • Internal fleece lined sunglasses pocket

BUY 

 

Crysis Remastered Out Now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. #Crysis #Gaming

Crytek is pleased to announce that Crysis Remastered is out now for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The remaster of the seminal first-person shooter was developed and optimized in partnership with Saber Interactive, and follows the launch of Crysis Remastered for Nintendo Switch. Crysis Remastered is available as a digital release via the Epic Games Store, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, and the Nintendo eShop for USD 29.99 / EUR 29.99.

Players who buy the game within the first three weeks from launch on the Epic Games Store will also receive a Crysis soundtrack and wallpaper. Gamers who buy Crysis Remastered within the same period on the PlayStation Store will receive a Crysis Remastered PlayStation Theme as a launch bonus.

“Our aim was to meet the expectations of the Crysis community and celebrate their passion for the franchise,” said Steffen Halbig, Project Lead. “Naturally, we are thrilled to invite players to suit up and experience Crysis, upgraded and remastered to take advantage of today’s hardware and advances in CRYENGINE.”

 

 

Crysis Remastered features the all-action, sandbox single-player gameplay from the acclaimed shooter, upgraded with remastered graphics, including high-quality textures, improved art assets, and more. For the first time this console generation, Crytek’s software-based ray tracing comes to PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. On PC, CRYENGINE’s hardware-agnostic technology brings ray tracing to a wide-range of contemporary GPUs. Additionally Crysis Remastered supports hardware-based ray tracing using NVIDIA’s VKRay Vulkan extension on launch and NVIDIA® DLSS technology will be added soon, for NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX GPU and Nvidia Graphics cards.

In Crysis Remastered, players face down an alien invasion, armed with a powerful Nanosuit which provides strength, armor, speed, and cloaking abilities. Gamers choose their own path as they fight through the open world of Crysis, destroying obstacles, driving vehicles, and using a huge armory of modular weaponry to dominate enemies on ever-changing battlefields.

Almost Half of adults in Ireland have broken COVID-19 local restrictions. #Covid19 #Level3 #WearAMask

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces findings from a new nationwide survey which showed that during COVID-19 restrictions, 44% of adults in Ireland travelled outside the imposed 2km, 5km or 20km restricted travel radius for reasons other than essential journeys. Alongside this I myself have observed we seem to be forgetting there is a virus out there and mask wearing is also now becoming less visible and we need to take a long hard look at ourselves.

As further lockdown restrictions are mooted by government, the survey of more than 1,000 adults in Ireland – conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Esri Ireland – discovered that the top three non-essential reasons for people breaching local travel restrictions were to meet family members (17%); get more exercise (16%); and gain access to a wider choice of shops (14%).

In terms of overseas travel, the survey found that almost two-thirds (64%) of people in Ireland postponed or cancelled holidays abroad in 2020, with nearly a quarter (22%) opting for ‘staycations’ around the country in place of their original plans. It was also found that despite the impact of the coronavirus, respondents aged under 25 were twice as likely as those over 25 to still travel abroad in 2020 as planned.

Esri Ireland commissioned the independent research to better understand how people in Ireland are navigating the new realities of life during the pandemic. The survey highlighted new means of keeping up to date with COVID-19 developments, with 62% of the public using online mapping resources to view updates about COVID-19 and 93% of these finding maps a helpful way of staying informed about the virus.

Looking to future methods of managing and planning for other unexpected events or pandemics, the majority of respondents agree that geography and science will play an important role. 55% of respondents believe that geography and science lessons are more important following the outbreak of COVID-19. Having been removed as a core Junior Certificate subject in 2018, 59% believe that geography should be reinstated as a mandatory subject for Junior Certificate students.

 

Paul Synnott, Managing Director, Esri Ireland

 

Paul Synnott, managing director, Esri Ireland, said: “Our day-to-day lives have been dramatically impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus and this survey sheds some light on how the Irish public has collectively approached the imposed travel restrictions. Location, place and geography play a key role in terms of containing localised outbreaks, limiting the spread of the virus across borders and helping the public to understand and visualise these restrictions.

“It’s reassuring to see the majority of people recognise the importance of geography and science in modern education. Geographic knowledge empowers us to think critically, see the big picture and solve problems. Mapping and geography are essential for today’s policy-makers requiring detailed and accurate information to manage this crisis, but also for tomorrow’s leaders seeking to build a stronger public health policy and enact the changes that our world needs to address future challenges.”

Twelve South announces new Curve Riser stand for iMac and external monitors. #iMac #Apple #TwelveSouth

Twelve South, a leading designer of Apple accessories, today introduces the handsome and practical Curve Riser stand for iMacs and external monitors.

 

Curve Riser’s minimalist design, which features a matte-black finish and sleek curves, takes inspiration from the original Curve — Twelve South’s exclusive desktop stand — to offer users a co-ordinated, stylish dual-screen setup.

 

Curve Riser can also be used independently of the Curve for iMac, iMac Pro or any monitor with a base width up to ten inches, to add a touch of style and storage to any modern office or home office.

 

To keep desks clutter free, Curve Riser features an integrated shelf which provides an invaluable storage solution. The shelf conveniently has ventilation, so it can safely accommodate hard drives, Mac minis and other gadgets. Alternatively, it can be used to store possessions such as keys and mobile phones.

 

In addition to its style and storage benefits, Curve Riser is designed with ergonomics in mind. Users no longer have to endure neck strain when working for long periods, as the stand elevates monitors by 4.25inches to offer a comfortable, eye-level viewing height.

 

Andrew Green, founder & designer at Twelve South comments; “Home offices have unquestionably become more important than ever this year and we believe that a comfortable, harmonious working space is vital to productivity and creativity. We designed the Curve Riser not only to look fantastic, but to offer key features including ergonomic benefits and storage solutions to improve the home working experience.”

 

The Curve Riser is available now for £79.99 at Amazon.co.uk.

Review – The Creative SXFI Gamer headphones. #Gaming #Tech #SXFI #Headphones

The Creative SXFI GAMER initial opening was a delight, bright colors with the full specification visible on the box, in terms of contents, compatible, technical specification. On opening the box clear instructions and read me first was visible, with a variety of accessories. The headband was made of a  steel frame what is synthetic Leatherette which was comfortable. large buttons were visible on the headset with a large volume dial for payback. a great feature with the inclusion of a USB C cable with the USB C to  A adapter. The earpads were larger then I would normally expect from a gaming headset.  This does not come with a Bluetooth option as a setup for wired connectivity only. It requires a USB input and has a 3.5mm audio input.

 

 

Features:

1.Headband

Synthetic Leatherette

Steel frame

  1. RGB Rings Light button

Toggle button to turn earcup lighting ON -> Rainbow (alternating colours) -> OFF

  1. CommanderMic

Uni-directional

Noise-canceling mic

SXFI InPerson microphone technology (distinguish chat over game audio)

  1. Super X-Fi button

Press button to toggle audio profiles

OFF -> Super X-Fi mode -> Battle mode (gaming) -> OFF

  1. Volume Control Dial

Controls the playback volume

  1. Mic Mute button

Press button to toggle Mic Mute ON/OFF

Mic Mute ON (flashing red LED on CommanderMic) -> Mic Monitoring disabled

Mic Monitoring enabled by default (solid red LED on CommanderMic)

  1. Headphone jack

4-pole analog jack

Super X-Fi disabled (passive mode without USB Type C connection)

  1. USB Type C port

Supports direct Android device connection

Supports desktop computers like PC/Mac

Supports gaming consoles like PS4 and Nintendo Switch

 

Technical Specification

Headphone

  • Driver: 50 mm Neodymium magnet
  • Frequency response: 20–20,000 Hz
  • Impedance: 32Ω
  • Sensitivity: 114 dB / mW @ 1 kHz
  • USB input: 5V

Microphone

  • Type: Unidirectional noise-reduction
  • Frequency response: 100–16,000 Hz
  • Impedance: < 2.2 kΩ
  • Sensitivity: -42 dB @ 1 kHz

Compliance markings are located on the surface upon removal of ear cup cushion

which can be removed by hand.

 

 

 

SXFI App

The app was downloaded for a  Samsung S8 phone and also tested on S10. The app had the option to experience magical  Audio reality ( This was a bit of creatives marketing team getting carried away )  this allowed the personalization to perform a head mapping inclusive of the ears which allowed the app to adjust the sound to individual requirement. The app allows you to play content that is loaded on the phone. Unfortunately this worked it was noted traditional calls the earphones worked for the S10 but did not for the S8. This would have been expected to be similar for both models for calls made and received. ( a slight personal gripe )

 

 

Overall

The audio experience cannot be faulted. The over the ear covered the complete ear resulting in excellent noise canceling with the Mic superior to most microphones used.  When playing 8D audio the overall experience was superior to many headphones tested. As a gaming earphone, the app was of little use but the audio, when used the  SXFI button on the headset for specific games, was a noticeable difference. (  Creative use computer software for the SXFI button to enhance the audio)

A slight niggle, when used as multipurpose headphones connected to a phone, was observed ( Albeit the instruction do not market this for this propose)

The RGB lighting had a soft tone with the option to adjust/turn off as required, this stood out in terms of the packaging colors and the colors to include the red light to ensure the mic was faced the correct direction. The design in terms of comfort is excellent with a superior mic and an overall great base when combined with other Creative products. The tailoring of the audio experience is remarkable with no outside interference to hear via the Mic or earphones, An overall and well-considered headphones from packaging, quality, and overall audio experience.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holography-Technology-Detachable-ClearComms-Microphone/dp/B07L83RMPJ