Get your iPhone SE accessories from Twelve South. #iPhoneSE #TwelveSouth

The new iPhone SE goes on sale tomorrow, Friday April 24th. A new iPhone means new accessories so here is a selection from Twelve South, the company known for designing beautiful accessories exclusively for Apple products.

Journal for iPhone

£39.99

Available from Amazon UK or Twelvesouth.com

The Twelve South Journal is a stylish premium wallet case for iPhone made from full-grain leather that is not only used on the outside, but throughout the interior as well. Each case is stitched to perfection with features including card slots, an ID window and a pocket for cash and receipts. This folio case can also be folded into a hands-free display stand, perfect for watching Netflix on your phone or taking a video call.

A leather lined shell securely holds the iPhone whilst a hardback cover and a reinforced spine provides a shield against drops and dings. The leather wrapped shell is beveled to protect the screen in the event the folio opens if accidentally dropped. The Journal for iPhone comes in two colours – black or cognac.

HiRise Wireless

£79.99

Available from Amazon UK

The Twelve South HiRise Wireless is a 3-function beauty: a gorgeous upright desktop stand and wireless charger for your new iPhone SE, a wireless charging pad for AirPods and a USB-C portable wireless charger for travel, all in one beautiful package. Now users only need one wireless charger for both at home and on-the-go. The stand is made of heavy, polished metal for a solid luxurious feel, and the base of the stand is topped with soft leather to cushion the bottom of your phone.

PowerPic

£59.99

Available from Amazon UK

The Twelve South PowerPic is a wireless phone charger disguised as a picture frame. Just set any Qi-compatible phone like the new iPhone SE inside the frame to begin charging. Available in black or white, the PowerPic blends seamlessly into any home or office decor. With PowerPic, your favorite photograph will become your favorite phone charger.

PowerPic enables up to 10 watts for wireless fast charging and will charge through most popular phone cases up to 3mm thick, including Apple iPhone cases and the Twelve South Journal.

AWS Ground Station is now available in Ireland and EU. #AWS #Amazon #Data

AWS Ground Station is a fully managed service that provides you global access to your space workloads. AWS Ground Station enables you to downlink data and provide satellite commands across multiple regions quickly, easily, and cost-effectively without having to worry about building or managing their own ground station infrastructure. AWS Ground Station is available today in six AWS Regions around the world. To see a list of supported regions, please visit the Global Infrastructure Region Table webpage.

The recency of data is particularly critical when it comes to tracking and acting upon fast-moving conditions on Earth. This timeliness depends on frequent communications between ground stations and satellites, which can only be achieved with a large, global footprint of antennas maintaining frequent contact with orbiting satellites. The AWS Ground Station deployment in Ireland provides a second region in Europe to communicate with your satellite. Stockholm is the other AWS Region in the EU that offers AWS Ground Station.  

Customers can easily integrate their space workloads with other AWS services in real-time using Amazon’s low-latency, high-bandwidth global network. Customers can stream their satellite data to Amazon EC2 for real-time processing, store data in Amazon S3 for low cost archiving, flow data through Amazon Rekognition for imaging analysis, or apply AI/ML algorithms to satellite images with Amazon SageMaker. 

To learn more about AWS Ground Station, visit here. To get started with AWS Ground Station, visit the AWS Management console here.

House of Marley offering 25% off all day today. #EarthDay2020 #Tech

Today marks Earth Day 2020 and to celebrate, the House of Marley, the sustainable audio brand created by Bob Marley’s children, are offering 25% off all products on https://www.thehouseofmarley.co.uk/ for the whole day – just use discount code EARTH25 at check out.

The brand is built on the principles of superior quality, earth-friendliness and a commitment to global charitable causes. All House of Marley products are consciously crafted from mindfully sourced materials, including FSC certified woods, solid bamboo, consciously harvested cork, non-toxic silicone and Marley’s own signature blend of REWIND™ up-cycled fabrics made from organic cotton, reclaimed hemp and recycled plastic bottles.

In an effort to spread awareness of global reforestation needs and corporate social responsibility, House of Marley set up Project Marley, a charitable initiative contributing to the planting of trees through non-profit organisation, One Tree Planted. Through the Project Marley initiative, over 223,000 trees have been planted to date across the globe.

Meet Slim PDF Reader 2: PDF Viewing Re-imagined. #PDF #Reader #Documents

There is no shortage of free PDF readers and viewers you can use, but which one should you choose? 

One really successful representative of this category is Slim PDF Reader developed by Investintech.com Inc. 

Slim PDF reader is acclaimed as the most lightweight, minimalist PDF viewer ideal for basic PDF viewing that takes only a couple of MB on your computer, though it lacks some advanced functions.  

Now, the well-known free PDF reader has received a major update. Version 2.0 keeps its small footprint (15.1MB) while adding some powerful new features and functionalities to its toolbox. 

Let’s find out what this updated free PDF reader has to offer.

The New & Intuitive UI

Slim PDF Reader has gotten a new modern, and simplified UI that allows for a clear and streamlined PDF viewing and handling. 

If the user interface looks familiar, it’s because it’s inherited from its older sibling Able2Extract Professional, an all-in-one PDF solution we already had the pleasure of showcasing here.  

Once you run the program, you’re welcomed by a nicely designed Start Page that provides you with quick and easy access to your recently viewed documents. 

Besides being able to access the most recent files you opened, you can also adjust the UI scaling, and switch between the default light and new dark UI theme

On top of looking modern and stylish, the new dark theme uses a colour palette that doesn’t hurt the eyes as much as the default theme, making it the  perfect choice for working in low light conditions. 

The Start Page also hosts a promo banner where you can download a free trial of the above mentioned Able2Extract Professional. 

PDF Viewing & Navigation

Slim PDF Reader provides you with different ways to view your PDF content using various options from the main toolbar, side panels, and viewing options nested in the footer toolbar. 

You can use the footer viewing options to: 

  • Switch between pages, or go to a specific page in the document
  • Rotate the pages by 90 degrees in the chosen direction
  • Zoom in and out or use one of preset viewing options
  • Set a single page or a two page viewing mode
  • Search through the document for specific keywords
  • Switch between the light and dark UI theme

The left side panel enables easy access to thumbnails, bookmarks, and attachments. 

 

Also, note that you can open more than one PDF, and easily jump back and forth between the documents in the navigation bar. 

Content Extraction Tools 

As a rule, PDF content cannot be easily changed. For instance, you can’t edit PDF text or convert it to another file format without using advanced PDF tools. 

However, Slim PDF Reader offers some basic, yet useful content extraction functionalities with the Copy and Snapshot tools

If you need to extract a specific portion of text from your PDF and import it into MS Word for editing, you can select the text using the Selection tool, click on the Copy button, and finally paste the text in MS Word. 

Likewise, if you want to create an image of a specific graphic or other content, use the Selection and Snapshot tools to get the job done.  

Advanced Review Tools 

Besides the basic functionalities like printing, filling out forms, and editing document information, Slim PDF Reader offers some advanced tools not found in regular PDF viewing programs. 

In order to markup and review your PDF content, you can use one of 10 distinct annotation options:

  1. Sticky Notes
  2. Underline
  3. Highlighter
  4. Stamp
  5. Caret
  6. Squiggly Line
  7. Strikethrough
  8. Attachment
  9. Link
  10. Watermark

 

Adding annotations to PDF is quick and easy. You simply select one of the annotation tools from the right side panel and place it where you want it on the page.  From there, you can customize the appearance of the markup and leave comments that are visible in the sidebar. 

That isn’t where the advanced features end, though. Slim PDF Reader is also equipped with digital signature verification capabilities. If you receive a PDF that has a digital signature attached to it, you can validate the signature and display its ownership info in the Digital Signatures tab.

The Verdict

Slim PDF Reader is a fast and resource-saving tool that opens and displays PDF documents in no time. The free PDF reader offers diverse viewing options and impressive productivity tools packed inside a modern UI. 

The new UI, cross-platform support, powerful toolbox, and small size make Slim PDF Reader a natural alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader and other well-known PDF readers. 

You can get it completely free from the developers website here

Convert PDF to Excel Online without an Email. #PDF #Excel #Documents

What can you do when you receive a neatly formatted PDF table that you need to edit or reuse in Microsoft Excel? You can always retype it manually in Excel, of course, but that’s so time consuming. Especially if we are talking about a complex data table with multiple rows and columns. 

The right way to tackle this problem is to use a PDF to Excel converter: an application that will help you to export your PDF tables to spreadsheets. If you want to perform your conversions without much hassle and without installing anything on your computer, your go-to solution would be an online PDF to Excel conversion service. 

 

Online PDF converters, even free ones, are easily found on the Internet, but the trouble is that most require that you create an account with your email address and, in some cases, provide other personal and identifiable information. If you’d like to keep your email address to yourself, head to PDFtoExcel.com and get your PDF table converted to formatted Excel spreadsheets without registration and hassle. 

 

The whole process takes virtually a few clicks:

 

 

  • Upload your PDF file for conversion to Excel. You can choose one of three available ways to upload your file.

 

          

  1. Click the grey “Upload” button on the homepage and browse for the PDF stored on your hard drive. 
  2. Simply drag and drop the selected files into the conversion interface.
  3. Import files from your Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive

 

2) The moment your files are uploaded to the website, the conversion starts automatically. 

 

The conversion process is generally fast – your file can be converted in a matter of seconds. However, note that the conversion speed depends on the size and complexity of the file being converted and on how busy the servers are at the moment. 

 

As soon as your file has been converted, you will notice the red Free Download button. Click on that button and save your Excel spreadsheet on your computer. Open the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and start editing it immediately.

Voila! You have converted PDF to Excel online for free, without any prompt to sign up with your email or leave any other personal information. One more important thing is that all files uploaded to the PDFtoExcel’s website are accessed only by software agents and will be removed from the servers without trace in up to 6 hours. 

 

In addition to being free, anonymous and secure, PDFtoExcel.com offers further benefits to their users:

 

  1. Unlimited conversions: Convert any number of PDF files to Excel for free anonymously.
  2. OCR: Extract content and data from scanned PDFs to Excel as well. 
  3. No size limits: the app will convert the entire document, regardless of its size or complexity. 

 

Not bad for an online freebie, right? Go ahead and give it a try!

 

Review – CLCKR Phone stand and grip. #CLCKR #Tech

Phone cases are a must in my book and rightly so especially when you have an expensive device and there is plenty to pick from in all shapes and sizes however having a case with additional functionality is another matter and this product from CLCKR is one to look out for, Given there is similar ideas out there like attachments you can add to your phone which CLCKR also does this idea incorporates both making it an all in one kit to not only make using your device more safe but it ads more to it than that by protecting it and being able to use it in portrait or landscape mode without having the remove the case itself and is a neat idea.

As you can see this gives you more functionality than you would get from your typical mobile phone case and makes life that bit easier and will still fully protect your device, check out the video below for more and you can see the full range over at https://www.clckr.com/eu/

Review – Sades Snowwolf Multiplatform gaming headset. #Gaming #Tech #Sades

Gaming headphones as I have said are in a league of their own and they are getting better and the cost to performance ratio is coming down too and this pair fits into this bracket nicely and they also look cool. Mostly white and plastic with silver accents likes screws and joints they blend well together and have a real techie look to them.

These are really comfortable tooand can be worn for long periods of time as they are really light. There is two controls on the headset one for the volume in the form of a wheel and a mute switch. Given these are cabled in this instants this is fine as they can be moved across devices simply as they are not USB A they are 3.5mm with extra cables for audio inputs in the box. The mic is removable which is something you do not see too often and in most cases they fold and look silly being used for headphones outside gaming so this is a bonus here and they sound great across all devices that I have tested on including mobile phones which is good. Whats more you even get some ear muffs that are so soft and comfortable in the box should you need them.

Testing on PS4,XBox PC and mobile they have a good sound and a nice tone of bass to and users will not be let down by the quality here at all,there is sound leakage however but the likes of this headset would be used indoors mostly in a gaming environment and others will more than likely have a headset on anyway, If you are gaming online they work a treat too and great quality is to be heard on the mic.

The build quality is good and robust and comfort level is great and the only issue I would have is the cable that is hanging out but this is down to the user on how they treat their headphones and if you have a spare case at home you could perhaps use that to store them when not in use, Overall for the price you get a great looking headset that is robust and can be used on more than one device which I find annoying and some manufacturers still insist on making gaming headsets for console use only being the PS4 or Xbox alone. The multiplatform approach is the way to go and this company have delivered a great product overall. I would like to see more colours but this Snow White has dawned on me and also a move away from the standard Black colours we tend to see too much of.

BUY HERE 

First look at the Edifier TWS NB true wireless with ANC #Edifier #TrueWireless

Edifier recently announced their all new true wireless earbuds the TWS NB with ANC and they have just landed here in house, Also recently announced was their new range of colours in their TWS1 which we also have and stay tuned for a review on both soon.

The latest TWS NB are offering their latest technology including ANC which will be interesting to check out too alongside aptx and ambient mode so I look forward to checking these out of the next few weeks, if you have any questions in the interim feel free to ask.

Main Features:

 

  • Advanced ANC Technology. Industry-leading Feed-Forward Active Noise Cancellation technology from AMS that offers you true freedom from background noise with enhanced audio quality.
  • Superior Sound Quality. Φ13mm large graphene diaphragm delivers a much deeper and punchy bass with the rich details of sound reserved, which makes TWS NB be distinguished from others.
  • Up to 33-Hour of Playback. Enjoy up to 5-hour ANC playback and 15 hours with the charging case, thanks to Qualcomm’s ultra-low-power architecture. With ANC off, you can enjoy 33-hour playtime.
  • Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm CVC and aptX Technology: Enjoy fast transmission and clear calls within 10m(33ft), thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX audio and Laser Direct Structuring antenna.
  • Ambient Sound Mode: ANC technology gets you fully immersed in the music, while ambient sound mode keeps you informed from the outside world. (Note: Control it by the button or “Edifier Connect” app)

BUY HERE 

Irish Med-Tech Launches COVID-19 Triage Solution to Free Up GP Time and Protect Patients. #Flow #FullHealthMedical

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing challenges faced by GPs across the country, Irish med-tech, Full Health Medical, has developed a new clinically-driven patient empowerment solution, “Flow”, to create  a safer and more efficient manner for GPs to treat patients and to free up procedural and administration time by up to 75%

Full Health Medical is a software platform designed and driven by doctors to streamline patient care, freeing up doctor’s time and resources and facilitating preventative medicine. Over the past three weeks, the company’s technology has been repurposed to help specifically with the COVID-19 pandemic. Flow now has a triage element that enables doctors and other healthcare professionals to complete COVID-19 screening before they proceed in assessing patients coming to them with other conditions.

Flow – How it works in brief:

  • Flow is set up on the GPs IT system
  • Prior to consultation, the GP will send a password & login to the patient, with a link which will direct them to the relevant section of the platform
  • For example, the COVID-19 section will assist the GP in asking the patient a series of questions
  • Based on the answers, the GP can make a determination on whether or not a face to face consultation is safe or if it should take place by video, or over the phone
  • Following the consultation, a personalised report is automatically generated by the software and communicates the GP’s assessment to the patient, along with next steps and other health guidance

Dr Ann Shortt, Emergency Medicine consultant, GP and Co-founder of Full Health Medical, who is currently working with COVID-19 patients in Mayo General Hospital, spoke of their innovation,

We’ve accelerated our own telehealth capabilities since the pandemic started and now more than ever Full Health Medical’s comprehensive patient-centric tool kit can bring real and quantifiable benefits to both patients and doctors in primary care.

While GPs around the country have increased their use of video calls in order to service their patients, the volume of work involved and the challenges brought about by social distancing to every day practice has highlighted an obvious need for a more extensive patient communications tool that goes beyond just video calls.

We have already had expressions of interest from over 100 GPs and while the new product is free to GPs for April, the ongoing cost is being kept at just €22 per month per physician for the duration of the pandemic”.

Flow uses smart data analytics to enable GPs to deliver streamlined medical services to patients. The consultation system enables instant generation of personalised, evidence-based medical reports which explain, in easily understandable language, which tests were performed and what actions the patient needs to undertake with minimal clerical input from the GP at the point of care. In a nutshell, Flow process satisfies the modern medical patient’s need for information whilst drastically reducing medical professional resource time, activities and costs.

Dr Anne Marie McGinley of the Weir Family Practice in Bandon Cork, will be using the system for most GP consultations for the remainder of the pandemic and sees a long-term role for the software also,

The COVID-19 component of the product allows patients to list their symptoms and risk factors prior to a virtual consultation via the platform with their GP.  A personalised report is automatically generated by the software and communicates the GP’s assessment to the patient along with next steps.  Using Full Health Medical’s platform, GPs can screen patients digitally before conducting face-to-face assessments, both saving them time and reducing the spread of COVID-19.”

Dr Brian Higgins, a Galway-based GP, says that while the whole world is rightly focused on COVID-19, GPs still have patients with serious health conditions to manage,

In our practice, we have been using Full Health Medical’s existing technology successfully for the past three years and see its obvious potential for expansion to manage a broader patient population”.

 

Dr Shortt went on to say,

The Irish health system is overburdened and under resourced. Accessing healthcare is difficult and understanding it is even more of a challenge, but some of these challenges can be solved with efficient smart technology.

We believe that many of healthcare’s issues are rooted in communication, not medicine. Too often, patients leave the surgery with incomplete or poorly understood knowledge. With our system, each patient is given a unique login and password to the GP portal we provide for each practice when the report is ready, they are automatically mailed a link to access

This new software mitigates against the COVID-19 risk. It will also make it much easier for people to understand the medical data presented which increases the likelihood of behavioural change to ultimately, help avoid chronic diseases in the long run.”