No Isolation – UK roll out of KOMP – A one button communication device designed for use by seniors. #KOMP

No Isolation (www.noisolation.com) is an Oslo-based start-up founded with the aim of reducing loneliness and involuntary social isolation through the creation and implementation of warm technology. Following the success of its first product, the AV1 telepresence robot, designed to tackle loneliness amongst children and young adults affected by long-term illness, the company has brought its second product, KOMP, to the UK. KOMP – a one button communication device, designed to connect seniors with their wider family unit – is currently used by more than 620 families in Norway.

 

For No Isolation, designing a product for seniors was a logical next step, following the  success of AV1 and the proven efficacy of using technology to reduce loneliness. According to Age UK, 3.6 million older people in the UK live alone, with 1.9 million reporting feeling ignored and invisible. Further, in 2017, Eurostat reported that 1.1 million seniors are in contact with relatives just once a month or less. This lack of contact is exacerbated by the fact that the primary mode of communication for the elderly remains offline, and is conducted via the phone.

Discussion amongst the No Isolation team found that the key issue with having phone calls as the main mode of communication with the elderly was the need to schedule the conversations in advance, without an immediate way of communicating in the interim. Modern day communication devices and social media mean that the younger generations are able to communicate instantly – messages, videos and voice notes can be exchanged within seconds. The No Isolation team wanted to take the most useful elements of social media and introduce them to the senior population, in a product that would be designed specifically for them.

 

No Isolation worked with seniors, families and designers to understand exactly what features KOMP needed to work for its target user. Modifying existing technology wasn’t an option – No Isolation learnt that being exposed to a new communication tool without prior experience could be frustrating and initial failures, discouraging. As such, KOMP was designed to allow users to seamlessly receive messages, images and calls, rendering pre-existing or learnt digital skills unnecessary.

By removing all usernames and passwords, KOMP is immediately easy to grasp, giving seniors a sense of mastery over a piece of technology. During the research stage, the team also learnt that a lot of seniors experience leathery and dry fingertips when they grow older, due to decreased blood flow, making it difficult for them to use a touchscreen. As such, one large, graspable button was added to ensure ease of use.

 

By combining these elements with a high resolution screen and quality speakers, KOMP was created, ensuring seamless communication within the family, while focusing on the needs of seniors. The screen is placed at the senior’s house, and family and friends can connect and share content through an app. When the KOMP is turned on, the user will receive the messages, video calls and pictures sent throughout the day.

 

Karen Dolva, co-founder and CEO of No Isolation comments: “As a company, our goal is to make sure no one has to suffer from loneliness. We know that many seniors live alone and would like to have more contact with their family and friends. With KOMP, we want to bring all of the most magical aspects of modern day communication tools into one device, in order to ensure seamless communication between all family members, across all generations. In my own experience of using KOMP with my grandfather, I found that I was able to share so many more meaningful moments with him – images of my new home that he wasn’t able to visit, a snap of me having lunch with colleagues, and many more. Using KOMP, he was able to be a part of everything I did, filling the time between our monthly visits with near constant communication. By creating KOMP, we want to ensure that seniors feel like they are an active part of their children’s and their grandchildren’s lives, and to stop them feeling lonely, even when they aren’t physically with their family.”

 

KOMP was first launched in Norway in December 2017, to an overwhelmingly positive response from users.  Now, more than 620 KOMPs are in active use, with an average of 7.2 people connected to each KOMP. To date, over 242,000 moments, encompassing photos, messages and video calls, had been shared through the device. In October 2018, KOMP won the NESTA Smart Ageing Prize, awarded to products and services using innovative digital technologies to support older people and allowing them to actively maintain their social life.

 

How KOMP works

When designing KOMP, No Isolation knew that they had to create a communication device that was simple to use and that was different to the tablets and computers currently available on the market. As such, KOMP’s key features include:

 

 

  • Ease of use – KOMP requires no prior digital experience. The user can receive text messages, images and video calls, with all commands performed through one, easily graspable, button. The user can decline incoming calls by turning the button to switch the KOMP off. Accepting a call requires no action from the user – the KOMP simply counts down from 10, after which the call begins automatically – offering two-way video and audio. Unlike other devices and tablets, KOMP has limited functionality, requiring no complex commands from the user – all the content, as well as device management, is done through the accompanying family app.

 

 

 

  • No touchscreen – Armed with the knowledge that many elderly people develop leathery fingers, KOMP has no touch screen and is operated by a single, easily graspable button.

 

 

 

  • Advanced screen and speakers – Accounting for the fact that many seniors are affected by reduced eyesight, with some experiencing vision loss by as much as 80%, one of KOMP’s key features is a high contrast, 17” ratio screen, which features large text and clear images, making all content easy to see. The device also includes sophisticated speakers, which produce crisp, high-quality sound, making it easier to hear and understand the person on the screen.

 

 

 

  • Customisable widgets – KOMP users can also benefit from integrated widgets – currently, users can view weather information and there is potential for future functionality, such as a clock and calendar function.  

 

 

Just like the device, the KOMP family app is intuitive to use:

 

 

  • Familiar interface – The family app has a similar layout to other messaging services, making it simple and straightforward to use.

 

 

 

  • Personal invitations and secure streaming – An unlimited number of invite-only members can share moments through the app, giving everyone in the family the ability to communicate with the user. Additionally, No Isolation only tracks metadata, and never shares data with third parties, meaning that all content is completely secure.

 

 

 

  • Group-chat capability – An interesting by-product of the KOMP app has been that it has encouraged closeness not only between the user and the family, but amongst all family members, across generations. The group-chat nature of the app means that all family members feel up-to-date with each other and more involved in one another’s lives.

 

 

KOMP is very easy to set up, relying on a WiFi connection in the home. However, if the senior does not have WiFi, a mobile broadband connection is also sufficient to start using the device. KOMP is now available to rent or buy in the UK, costing either £39/month (minimum 3 month contract subscription) with an up front rental fee of £99, or £75 monthly subscription for eight months, with an upfront cost of £299 to purchase in full.

The KOMP app is compatible with smartphones and tablets operating iOS (9.0 or later) and Android (4.4 or later).

Company Background

Founded in 2015 by Karen Dolva, Marius Aabel and Matias Doyle, No Isolation’s first product, AV1, was launched in 2016 and is currently helping close to 900 children and young adults across Europe. Partnered with the Norwegian Cancer Society, the University of Oslo, Swedish-Finnish telecom company Telia, and several high-profile Norwegian hospitals, No Isolation received its Seal of Excellence from the European Commission in 2016. Since its introduction to the UK market, No Isolation has become a leading voice on the topic of loneliness, being featured in the government’s loneliness strategy in the autumn of 2018. The company currently has a presence in the Nordics, UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

It’s time to smarten up our cities with technology by @rvhooijdonk #Tech #Smartcities

As the urban population continues to grow and cities become denser, this creates social, environmental, and economic concerns. Fortunately, addressing these challenges is easier with technology. Since living in the digital age has made our lives easier, cities across the world are deploying smart tech to improve infrastructure and services and provide their residents with a better quality of life.

 

Tackling traffic issues with sensor data

For instance, the city of York in the UK is using technology to improve its traffic system. In this medieval city, many roads suffer from traffic congestion and the city is constantly building new homes to respond to residents’ housing needs, which puts pressure on road infrastructure. All this forced UK’s Department for Transport to propose a solution and make York’s traffic more efficient. The solution consists of installing sensors along the A59 road. These sensors are designed to detect signals from drivers’ mobile phones and connected cars, gathering real-time information about their movement. All data is collected anonymously and shared only with city officials. This will enable York’s authorities to better understand traffic patterns in the city and help them to make better decisions. As a result, York’s roads will be “safer and [the] air cleaner”, explains Peter Dew, York’s executive member for transport.

 

Smart traffic lights that can communicate with drivers

York’s project is still being tested, and if all goes according to plan, authorities in the UK will start implementing cutting-edge tech in other cities. The idea is to equip roads across the UK with traffic light systems that communicate with drivers. The same way road sensors in York communicate with drivers’ mobile phones, the smart traffic lights will interact with drivers. Here’s how. As the vehicle approaches, the traffic light will connect wirelessly to the drivers’ smartphone and advise them at which speed they should move to arrive when the light is green. This will help to minimise stop-and-go traffic, which is particularly evident during peak hours. Stop-and-go driving can not only cause a vehicle’s brakes to wear out, but also increase harmful emissions.

Photo by https://www.shutterstock.com/g/think+b

 

Similar technology will be installed in UK’s city of Milton Keynes. AI-based traffic lights developed by Vivacity Labs will monitor traffic and adjust lighting patterns accordingly. The system will be accompanied by 2,500 cameras installed across the city. While adjusting its lighting patterns, the system will give priority to cyclists, emergency vehicles, and buses. In case the camera detects a large number of cyclists or buses on the road, the system will provide a longer green light for them.

 

Real-time air pollution monitoring in Armidale

It’s clear that traffic is a significant contributor to air pollution, and we often don’t even realise how bad the air we breathe is. As the Guardian reveals, 95 per cent of the global population is exposed to unsafe air. To improve its air quality, the Australian city of Armidale installed air quality monitoring sensors. Due to its geographical position and the use of wood for heating during the winter months, Armidale’s air quality is very poor. And residents often fail to realise how dangerous it can be to their health. This forced the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to deploy Purple Air Sensors across the city to collect real-time data. Such data is accessible online, which allows residents to know when the air outside is bad, so they can reduce their exposure to air pollution and minimize the time they spend outdoors.

Photo by https://www.shutterstock.com/g/jamesteohart

How did smart tech help Chicago to reduce its gun violence rate?

Smart technology can also help cities fight against crime. Take Chicago as an example. In 2017, Chicago witnessed 650 murder cases, which is among the highest murder rates in the US. To make its residents feel safer, Chicago was forced to seek a solution. It didn’t take long before the city started using ShotSpotter technology. This system, attached to utility poles, relies on sensors and a camera to detect gunshots and automatically alert the police. Besides identifying the right location, ShotSpotter can also detect how many shots were fired and provide information about the weapon.

 

What makes this technology so appealing is that it can differentiate gunshots from fireworks. Sometimes people will call the police to report a gunshot incident, when in fact it was just kids playing with firecrackers. Moreover, ShotSpotter is better than traditional 911 calls, because people reporting gunshots often have difficulties describing the incident properly or fail to give the exact location, which only causes delays. And in situations like these, every second counts. According to Fox News, ShotSpotter can reduce police response time from eight minutes to 30 seconds. Chicago’s police department claims that the system led to a decrease of 43 per cent in shootings in the community area of Englewood. The system is used in two districts, but due to its success, the police will be adding this tech to six more districts by 2019.

 

Since everything around us is getting smarter, our cities should, too. Becoming a smart city might seem as a far-off dream, but the truth is that cities worldwide are investing in technology to improve traffic, monitor air quality, and reduce crime. Thanks to smart city technology, we can make our future safer and more enjoyable.

 

Richard van Hooijdonk

 

Author: Richard van Hooijdonk

International keynote speaker, trend watcher and futurist Richard van Hooijdonk offers inspiring lectures on how technology impacts the way we live, work and do business. Over 420,000 people have already attended his renowned inspiration sessions, in the Netherlands as well as abroad. He works together with RTL television and presents the weekly radio program ‘Mindshift’ on BNR news radio. Van Hooijdonk is also a guest lecturer at Nyenrode and Erasmus Universities.

Sources

https://www.richardvanhooijdonk.com/en/blog/smart-roads-will-spell-big-things-for-the-future-of-driving/

https://thetrendsnext.com/smart-cities-and-smart-governance-go-hand-in-hand/

https://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/5528255/live-air-quality-sensors-installed-across-the-city/

Farrell, Nick,

https://fudzilla.com/news/43684-milton-keynes-gets-ai-based-traffic-lights.

Finn, Matt,

https://www.foxnews.com/us/shotspotter-technology-makes-dent-in-chicagos-crime-but-raises-privacy-concerns.

Harvey, Fiona,

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/17/more-than-95-of-worlds-population-breathe-dangerous-air-major-study-finds.

https://www.itravelyork.info/news/yorks-hi-tech-approach-to-tackle-congestion

 

Koeske, Zak,

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-calumet-city-shotspotter-st-0404-20180403-story.html.

 

Marshall, Francesca,

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/22/smart-traffic-lights-always-turn-green-trialled-britains-roads/.

 

Owano, Nancy,

https://techxplore.com/news/2018-05-traffic-tech-uk-cars-leverage.html.

 

Parsons, Rob,

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/connected-city-sensors-take-data-from-cars-and-drivers-in-york-to-help-traffic-run-smoothly-1-9117907.

 

http://www.armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au/news/news-2018/live-air-quality-sensors-installed-across-the-city

93% of UK Parents Believe Toddlers Are Spending Too Much Time In Front Of Screens

A recent study has revealed that 93% of parents, of children aged 2-5 years old, believe toddlers of this age group are spending too much time in front of electronic devices.Being honest I would say we are not far behind here in Ireland and with us adults one can only imagine..

The data, by Kiddi Caru, also shows that 60% of this group have given their toddlers a tablet, with over half (57%) being just 3 years old and under.

When asked what their child uses the devices for, TV shows came out on top with 79% of toddlers using screens to watch their favourite shows. 59% use the devices to play games, the same number who use them for educational apps, and 50% for watching films.

More worryingly though, 29% of UK parents admitted they do not have screen time limits for their toddlers.

Losing Touch With Nature

When parents were questioned about the amount of outdoor time their child gets, weather permitting, 31% said they get 3 hours or less weekly outdoor time.

This is surprisingly little considering the same percentage (31%) get 2-3 hours of screen time per day, with 11% getting over 4 hours daily. If spread out evenly over the week this works out to be only 25 minutes per day.

According to the NHS physical activity guidelines for under 5s, toddlers should be physically active for at least 3 hours per day. And although this includes indoor play, it can be assumed that, for some, indoor time is being monopolised by screens.

When given a list of outdoor activities it was revealed 44% of toddlers have never held a bug, 36% haven’t collected sticks, 35% have yet to dig in mud and 30% haven’t fed ducks, all arguably priceless childhood experiences that introduce little ones to nature and wildlife.

These figures could suggest the next generation are at risk of losing touch with nature and wildlife, which is concerning in a time where conservation and being environmentally conscious is crucial.

Benefits of Outdoor Play

Outdoor play not only introduces young children to nature, it also has further developmental and health benefits, such as exposure to vitamin D and helping develop gross and fine motor skills.

Fiona Blackwell, Quality Care and Education Director at Kiddi Caru, said “Being outdoors supports children’s wellbeing. Often children are calmer and happier and more likely to engage in the learning process. Being outdoors gives the opportunity to ‘burn off’ excess energy, which in turn aids appetite and helps children to sleep better.

“Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and children do not benefit just during the summer months but in the winter during day light hours, meaning there is every reason to get outdoors in whatever weather. After all there is no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing.”

Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries and Preschools are a child care group with nurseries based in the midlands and south of England. They currently have over 40 nurseries that offer exceptional care and support to babies and children from newborn to 5-years-old.

They have used the their findings to create a post that contains the data as well as giving suggestions of outdoor activities suitable for this age group, and activity sheets to go with them. You can find it here: https://www.kiddicaru.com/news/general-news/get-outside-and-play-10th-may-2019/

Smart Beds: What Are They And Do You Need One? #SmartBeds #Sleep #Tech

Depending on your sleeping needs, you might be interested in purchasing a smart bed. Generally, these differ immensely from regular beds, coming with a multitude of features all designed to help you sleep better at night.

Smart beds can do many things: adjust the temperature of the bed, change the firmness level, provide a soothing massage, and much, much more. These models typically cost more than traditional mattresses, but their benefits could very much outweigh the cost depending on your needs.

Deciding if one is right for you can be a bit of a hassle, with so many options to choose from so many different sleep preferences and requirements … where do you start? Hopefully, this guide will help you decide if one is right for you.

What are the main benefits of a smart bed?

You might be wondering what smart beds can do for you that your regular mattress can’t already. This is a valid question because this is still a relatively new technology, which many might have qualms about if they’ve never tried it before.

Sleep tracking technology

Some smart beds have the added feature of being able to track all kinds of relevant information about your sleep health and patterns with included sleep tracking technology. This can include heart rate monitoring, when you toss and turn, your breathing rate, the total amount of time you spent sleeping, how deep you slept, and so on.

This can help tremendously with helping you to track just how much or how little sleep you’re getting, which can make a huge difference in your overall well-being. For example, with a smart bed, you’d be able to have a ready set of information about your sleep that you can give to a doctor for a potentially easier diagnosis, as they’d have more exact knowledge of how you sleep at night, instead of relying on your own recollection. 

Image source

This can also be a handy feature in telling you if you sleep too hot or cold, allowing you to make adjustments to your room temperature for better sleep. A good place to shop for some really cool beds is mattressnut.

Temperature regulation

Another feature that could help aid in sleep is the temperature regulation features often included in a smart bed. These can track temperatures and either warm you up with onboard heating capabilities when you’re too hot, or keep the heat at bay with cooling technology. This will depending on which model you get, but it should be standard feature of many.

Be sure to do your research, as some smart beds will perform better than others.

This might save you from having to adjust the thermostat of your house, which could come in handy if you’re living with multiple people who have different sleeping/temperature needs, potentially saving you some money in the long run.

Added smart connectivity

Many also come integrated with apps or other smart home internet devices, meaning you could possibly control your bed through other smart devices like your phone, giving you greater control over your mattress. Want your bed to be nice and warm before you get home? Program it from far away with the push of a button.

You can also adjust the firmness levels of a smart bed, usually, allowing you to customize your sleep to a level of comfort you may not have received from other traditional mattresses. And with added control comes potentially better sleep, which could be great for working off sleep debt and other forms of sleep deprivation.

This could also be a good option if you tend to share your bed a lot or require different settings from time to time, as you can adjust your smart bed on the fly and set the firmness to whichever setting you like, a feature unavailable to most traditional mattresses.

Are there drawbacks to getting one?

As we’ve said before, smart beds tend to be more expensive than traditional mattresses, which might be a problem if price is a concern. Check into the features included with yours and make sure that it’s right for you, as sometimes you may not be able to utilize a feature to the fullest extent.

The added technology might also make things a bit more complicated to those who aren’t so used to more modern types of bedding, potentially creating more confusion.

Conclusion

Smart beds can be a great fit for your home and might offer you better control over your sleep over traditional mattresses, depending on your needs. They can potentially offer you a better diagnosis of sleep problems and help you achieve more comfort during sleep.

These could give you more convenience in the long run and allow you to sleep more soundly. If this sounds like it could be right for you, then you should consider purchasing one.

SJCAM Launch New SJ9 Series,Waterproof cameras are the first action cameras on the market with wireless charging

SJCAM, the action camera manufacturer who eased its way in to the market with the release of the SJ4000, is pleased to announce the launch of its new SJ9 Series. Consisting of 2 models – the SJ9 Strike and SJ9 Max, both the new cameras feature some impressive specifications.
The most powerful SJCAM cameras to date, the SJ9 Strike and SJ9 Max are the perfect companions to any adventures you have planned – both above and below water. With a 2.33” touch screen display and 1300mAH battery on both models, the new cameras also introduce the below features:

Waterproof
Leave the waterproof case behind – the new SJ9 models are both waterproof up to 10m deep without any housing. The sleek new design and waterproofing make both cameras perfect for any underwater adventures.

Supersmooth Gyro Stabilization
Capture every moment in crisp, clear detail thanks to the supersmooth gyro stabilization. Make shaky images a thing of the past – both the SJ9 Strike and SJ9 Max give you the capability to make vibrant, sharp videos. The SJ9 Strike boasts a six-axis Gyroscope, whilst the SJ9 Max includes a three-axis Gyroscope.

Livestream
Show adventures as they happen with the new Live Stream feature. Simply use the SJCAM app to select streaming with either Facebook or YouTube, choose the WiFi network and start streaming!

Wireless Charging
Charging your camera becomes a breeze with the new SJ9 Strike and SJ9 Max. Say goodbye to cables and hello to simple, hassle free charging!

Impressive specifications
The SJ9 Strike model also features the best components from previous SJCAM models. The super powerful Amabarella H22S85 chipset and the Sony_IMX377 image sensor means it can record 4K at 60fps and even 240fps at 1080p. These high specifications also mean the timelapse can be used with intervals up to 30 minutes, slow up footage of up 8x, digital zoom and much more.
Let your passion for adventure guide you – the new SJ9 are ready to go wherever you choose!

Pricing and Availability:
The new SJ9 Max and SJ9 Strike are available for pre order now. Approximate pricing will be:
:: SJ9 Strike – RRP £209
:: SJ9 Max – RRP £159
For more information and to pre order visit https://sjcam.com/product/sj9/

First look at the all new Jabra Elite 85h #Jabra #JabraElite85h #Tech #Headphones

As most of you know I am huge Jabra fan and I have been waiting on these ones since they got announced and now they are finally here. The 85h is set to take on the likes of Sony and Bose QCs which I have tried out for a bit but they never arrived,still waiting on the Sony MX3 but on initial testing these are certainly giving them a run for their money but I will test for a while longer for a more conclusive review later on but let’s just say for now..WOW..

Any questions in the interim hit me up and check out the unboxing below.

Key features of the Jabra Elite 85h:

  • SmartSound: Audio that automatically adapts to your surroundings
  • One-click access: Voice Assistant access at the push of a button
  • Four colour variations: Black, Titanium Black, Gold Beige and Navy
  • Battery: Up to 36-hour battery with ANC activated and 41 hours without ANC
  • Microphones: 8 microphones in total. 6 dedicated for calls, 4 for ANC and 2 hybrid mics for both calls and ANC.
  • Speakers: 40 mm custom-engineered speakers
  • Durability: Unique IP52 dust and rain resistance, backed by a 2-year warranty against water and dust

First look and unboxing. The Jabra Elite Active 45e earphones. #Jabra #JabraEliteActive45e #earphones

The Jabra Elite Active 45e have arrived alongside the 85h which you can see HERE, The 45e are aimed at the sports minded folk and offer a secure fit which is vital for fitness activities which is popular and hard to find earbuds that stay put, We will be testing these out over the coming weeks and tell you what we think so stay tuned and any questions hit us up below or on our social.

Jabra Elite Active 45e key features:

  • Comfortable and secure fit with Earwings and Earhooks that hold firm when you move
  • Voice assistant-enabled with one-touch access to Amazon Alexa, Siri® or Google Assistant™
  • IP67-rated waterproof durability with 2-year sweat and dust warranty**
  • Run safely with an earbud designed to keep you aware of the surroundings
  • Make calls on the move with 2-microphone call technology for superior call experience
  • Choose your favourite colour from Mint, Navy or Black
  • Boost your day with 9 hours battery on a single charge
  • Personalise your device with the Jabra Sound+ app

BUY HERE – https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-45e

Review – The Jam “Hang Around” Bluetooth speaker #Tech #Jam #Bluetooth

Just like earbuds and headphones there is no shortage of bluetooth speakers here and today we are going to check out the Jam “Hang Around” bluetooth speaker. The main question is as always how good does it sound well you can find out that below in the video review.

The speaker is trendy looking and on the bright side which is nice, I prefer this stand outish look over the industrial design which has become all to common with such and this one will certainly stand out.

On the base there is 4 rubber stoppers to keep it still although when full max the speaker began to move this though shows how powerful it is when at max volume and it will certainly fill a room.

This compact speaker has up to 20 hours of playtime with its 30-metre Bluetooth range. Rugged and waterproof, the Hang Around is perfect to kick back, relax and listen to your favourite tunes, even in the bathroom. The amazing dual drivers and bespoke dual passive bass radiators pack an awesome punch for its size. Better still, pair it with another Hang Around for a fuller stereo sound.

With easy to use controls and ease of use this is a must have for your picnic or trip to the beach,Build quality here is also excellent and this will take a few knocks too.. Check out the video review below for more..

Available from: uk.jamaudio.com, Argos, Amazon

Review – The Jam Audio “Live True” wireless earbuds. #truewireless #earbuds #Audio

The Jam Audio “Live True” Wireless earbuds are a set of earbuds that are on the cheap and look trendy given they have a different take on the current trend with fabric coated buds housed in plastic rather that the total plastic or metal housed in ears. They also offer some more than some other offerings at this price range which is now 50 euros at the time of press but fall short on some aspects but overall they are quite good and can be easily considered if it is your first pair or true wireless earbuds.

These look different as mentioned and are not the type that look silly in your ears but stick out a small bit but this is not an issue for me. They come in a really cool carry case and not only that you can charge your mobile phone up on the go should you run low on juice which is an excellent idea and the case is not that big either compared to many others out there and this I like.

These are also IPX3 rated which is sufficient for many average users yet some come with no rating at all so there are on the mark there giving these a rating You can expect 3 hours of play from a single charge and get an extra 10 charges from the case which is ideal for those on long commutes and as mentioned you also get the benefit to charge your smartphone on the go which lets be honest is still a thing these days.

Functionality here is great and they are easy to use, Once removed from the box these sync together unlike others that require a seperate sync for each side which is annoying and here is where some folk run into problems but this will not be one here. Once you turn on your bluetooth on your device just find the Live True and pair and you are good to go you will also hear a tone when connected and when you power off…

You can connect one at a time if you wish for a mono experience if you will this is ideal for people that want to hear their surroundings whilst listening to tunes or the radio and for those who perhaps might be out walking or cycling where you do need your wits about you.

Where they fall short is you cant skip a track you can just play and pause and when you take a call they only work on one side being the left this might be a caveat for some but the price point here is what you look at, You can listen to music on either side alone and you can only hear calls on one side being the left so it does not take calls with both plugged in. To activate your voice assistants be it Alexa or Google for example you just double tap either side. Calls on these where fine and clear both ends for my time of use so this is another good point to considering it was just one side that takes them.

Overall they are not a bad pair of true wireless for the money with their different look and they sound quite good with all music genres and it was a pleasant experince and even a bit louder than some I have tested which I like they however are not bass deep but if you have an EQ on your device you can modify the sound, There is no app here either which many others have not implemented and perhaps should look into going forward but at this price point I would not be too concerned there is third party apps out there if your phone does not come equipped with one.

Available from: uk.jamaudio.com, Argos

BUY HERE