Review – Netgear Alro Pro 2 HD security camera,Doorbell, Chime & App. #Security #Tech #Arlo #ArloPro2 #Netgear #CCTV

Over the last while we have been testing the new ArloPro 2 homekit and security in the home inside and out is something we should all take seriously and with the availability of affordable kits like this which does not require professional installation there is no excuse not to have something as simple as this in your home or on a premises.

This is simple to set up as mentioned above and you are giving help within the app which is also great compared to others out there. For the bell you can simply swap out your existing bell which should have two wires that can be attached easily to the Arlo bell the only things need changing is the chime setting and there is a switch inside the bell to pick from depending if mechanical or chime within the app you can also change to tone which is great and this is all shown in the video below and if you get stuck along the way feel free to ask. After that it is a matter of fixing the new bell to the wall and for me my existing screws matched the Arlo bell so it was simple.

For the chime itself you just plug it in and the same applies to the base station which just has to be connected to your existing router at home all the tools and cables are in the package so there is no need to get the toolbox out unless your doorbell fitting is different to the existing one and a new small hole drilled or if you need to mount the camera externally.

The app is really easy to use be it for live feeds, or looking back on footage and image capture within the live feed itself again the app is full of tutorials to help you along the way should you run into issues, I had one issue when setting up and it was just locating the devices individually it took some time but eventually found the Bell and Chime after a few minutes but the Camera was almost instant.

The great thing with this camera too is the ability to have it inside or out and place it basically everywhere I have some examples of shots below,inside under low light and normal daytime light and of course outside and the clarity is excellent after all its 1080p. One thing though I would suggest if installing outside is put it out of reach of the scrotes that do be out there as they would just take it off the wall and also ensure your Doorbell is fixed well too as some would have great enjoyment of ripping it off the wall if not secured enough. Overall the whole package on show here synced up well and I have had no issues as yet and the delay time is minimal though your WiFi connection could play a part if there is some delay as in Ireland WiFi is patchy and some areas.

There is one thing I would only suggest looking at is the option to turn the notifications off within the app on the start page as when you are home depending what way you have set it up you will get continuous notifications which get annoying. If I had the 2/3 camera set up you might notice the same but you can disarm the system inside the app they should bring it to the home screen after login just like the Alarm signal is for example, this again would depend on your security preferences but since I have one camera I can move it at my leisure which is not too bad as I have placed a fixed screw for where I would use it but overall if you have the 2 camera set up or more you are guaranteed to be protected with high class security and most importantly footage or any criminals who enter your premises or home. The Arlo Pro2 is a higher priced model than some out there and others we have tried but its worth it.

APP SCREENSHOTS

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Features

1080p HDWatch and record crisp HD video in more detail than ever before.

Motion and Sound DetectionGet instant notifications sent to your smartphone or email.

2-Way AudioListen in and talk through the camera from your smartphone.

Night VisionTurns on automatically in low light so you can see clearly, even in the dark.

Free Cloud StorageKeep a rolling 7 days of motion and sound-triggered recordings for free.

Local Backup StorageConnect a USB drive to the base station to store captured footage.

Smart Security SirenEmbedded in the base station, the 100+ decibel smart security siren can be controlled from anywhere.

Plays Well With OthersWorks with Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, SmartThings & Stringify.

130° Viewing AngleWide-angle PIR motion sensor makes sure no movement slips through without notice.

 

 

In the video I go through the app in detail and show how this camera works with the app in several setups, Any questions feel free to ask or if you need any help if you purchase or already have one.

BUY HERE

YOU CAN HELP – Staying Alive.. Know where your nearest AED (Defibrillator) is. #Apps #Health #Emergency #AED

We all know someone or perhaps seeing someone who has had a heart attack and at a time like this every second counts to intervene. The AED is now becoming a more prominent sight around the country and I have noticed this myself of late with them being more accessible and visible and companies having them on their premises.

But just say you bump into someone going into cardiac arrest and you do not know where the nearest AED is until a First responder arrives to perform CPR? OK we do have situations when someone would know CPR but its not always the case.. This app can help and you can also help to by placing your AED on the map be it in your local hometown or community or business.

Staying Alive provides defibrillator mapping and citizen responders management. The App is available in 18 languages and maps over 120.000 defibrillators worldwide. There was talk of such an app a year or two ago here in Ireland but I have not yet seen it,this subject was recently on the radio too on knowing how to perform CPR and having some knowledge of your nearest AED. This app is crowdfunded so you can play your part and add one to the map.

Features

– AED location : locate the 10 closest AEDs near you or in a specific address, through the use of a live database that is updated each time you launch the application.

– Reporting of new AED.
You can post new defibrillators and now even edit existing ones.

– Citizen Responders network: If you are trained to CPR you can register through the App as a Citizen Responder. You can then be notified by the EMS in case of cardiac arrest near you to provide CPR. Staying Alive First Responder technology works in France, Belgium and Switzerland so far.

– The reminding of CPR gesture with video illustration of the survival chain “Call, Start CPR, Shock and wait for help”

– A practical guide on the use of Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

– An “Emergency” mode that will help you to make the right things in the right order. The new emergency mode detects automatically the local number depending on you location.

Download the app below on Android and iOS

 

 

TCS Launches Official App for 2019 Virgin Money @LondonMarathon⁩ #ThisRun #TCS #ThanksaBillion

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, has launched the official app for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, with several key new features.

TCS, the Official Technology Partner for the Virgin Money London Marathon, has developed the official mobile app for the fourth year in a row. The app – downloaded by a record breaking 360,000 users last year – is the definitive one-stop shop of information on the event, including the course map, start times, results, expo info, and transportation.

This year, it’s better than ever with all the features that runners and spectators need to get the most out of the marathon experience. The most popular feature of the app is the in-built tracking system that now allows spectators to track an unlimited number of runners, so they can follow all their friends, family and favourite celebrities at the same time. TCS has also made it easier than ever for runners to hit their donation goals, with a new in-app donation button. Simply search for your runner in the tracking page, click on their icon, and hit the donate button to be taken directly to their Virgin Money Giving page.

The interactive course map shows runner progress, with live updates every five kilometres so fans can get to the best viewing points throughout the race and cheer their runners. Additionally, the spectator guide includes multiple points of interest, from knowing the locations of toilets, First Aid points and water stations, to finding the best pubs along the route, key landmarks and meeting points or transport information.

The Virgin Money London Marathon App can be downloaded from the iOS App store and Google Play Store, by searching ‘Virgin Money London Marathon’ or ‘London Marathon’. The app is part of the #ThisRun campaign by TCS, which celebrates all runners and the multitude of reasons why they’re running the marathon, whether for a loved one, a good cause or as a personal challenge.

“TCS is committed to bringing digital innovation in everything it does. As the Official Technology Partner for the Virgin Money London Marathon, we’re delighted to strive for ever better performance and new features that will enhance the experience for this iconic race. It is a momentous day both for the participants and the great number of supporters that follow the event in London and across the globe,” said Shankar Narayanan, Country Head, TCS UK and Ireland.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director, London Marathon Events, said, “We’re proud to be leading the way and embracing technology to improve the Virgin Money London Marathon each and every year. Our new and improved Official Race App will give our participants, their supporters and spectators the best possible service and help us to say #ThanksaBillion to everyone who has supported us since the first race back in 1981.”

Find and follow your marathon heroes and donate to their cause with the official 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon App. To download the app, visit the Apple app store or Google Play.

Huge boost for Dublin communities as 15 local charities share in €1M #GoogleImpactChallenge Dublin fund.

Non-profit organisations and social enterprises are the unsung heroes making Greater Dublin a better place for all its citizens, and today Google recognised their contribution by awarding a total of €1 million in grants to 15 organisations who are making a difference and have ambitious plans to do more.

 Last month, 15 organisations were selected to receive €50,000 funding for their programmes (see Editors’ Note below for full list). A panel of judges was then tasked with choosing four recipients to have their funding doubled to €100,000, with a fifth organisation selected by an online public vote. The five winners were announced at a gala event held at The Foundry in Google last night.


Huge boost for Dublin communities as 15 local charities share in €1M Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin fund
Five grants of €100,000 and ten grants of €50,000
awarded to local Dublin community initiatives
Pictured are winners of the “People’s Choice Award” Sile Maguire, Mark O’Doherty both from Down Syndrome Ireland with Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland. Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

The four organisations chosen by the panel of judges to receive €100,000 each from the Google.org Impact Challenge are:

  • A Lust for Life, a new, innovative platform to share creative mental health content
  • Citywise Education, which provides educational support to young people in underserved communities
  • Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which removes barriers to accessing support for those who have experienced sexual violence
  • SeniorLine, a peer-to-peer IT education and drop-in facility for older people

Down Syndrome Ireland, which helps adults with Down Syndrome to secure meaningful paid employment, won the “People’s Choice Award” in a close-run online poll which saw a total of over 38,000 votes cast.

Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland commented, “The five months since we launched the Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin have been really awe-inspiring. We received over 150 entries from all corners of the county and from every imaginable community initiative, and it was really heartening to see so much energy and enthusiasm being invested into local and grassroots projects.

“Dublin has been very good to us in the last 15 years, so we have been very mindful of supporting local projects as much as possible, and the Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin is the latest in a long line of these endeavours. We’re now looking forward to working with all of the winners and helping them use their funds in the best possible way to realise their goals.”

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring said; “It has been wonderful to be part of the judging panel and to have the opportunity to recognise just some of the voluntary organisations and social enterprises who are contributing to our city. We had a tough time selecting the groups to receive double the funding, but the five charities named today – including one chosen by the general public – represent some of the most pressing issues and underserved communities in Ireland, covering mental health, disadvantaged community education, special needs and older people”.

The Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin judging panel included: The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring; Senator Lynn Ruane; Mary Rose Burke; CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce; Bernard Brogan, Dublin GAA legend; Roisin Ingle, Journalist; Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community; and the Head of Google Ireland, Fionnuala Meehan.

For more information visit g.co/DublinChallenge.


Huge boost for Dublin communities as 15 local charities share in €1M Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin fund
Five grants of €100,000 and ten grants of €50,000
awarded to local Dublin community initiatives
Pictured are winners of the “People’s Choice Award” Sile Maguire, Mark O’Doherty both from Down Syndrome Ireland with Stuart McLaughlin, Google.org Senior Regional Manager, EMEA.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

The fifteen organisations to receive funding from the Google.org Dublin Impact Challenge  are:

Winners of €100,000 in funding:

  • A Lust for Life is creating a new, innovative platform to share creative mental health content
  • Citywise Education is providing educational support to young people in underserved communities
  • Down Syndrome Ireland Down Syndrome Ireland is helping adults with Down syndrome to secure meaningful paid employment
  • Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. The DRCC is removing barriers to accessing support for those who have experienced sexual violence
  • Senior Line  is offering peer-to-peer IT education and drop-in facility for older people

Winners of €50,000 in funding:

  • An Cosán Virtual Community College.  An Cosán is harnessing the power of technology to grow and innovate community education
  • Music Generation Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Infinite Music is a music performance programme for young people with special educational needs
  • Irish Females in Technology (I-FITs). I-FITs is a Tech Apprenticeship Programme for unemployed females from Dublin’s ‘Silicon Docks’ area
  • GiveBack.ie. GiveBack.ie is technology that empowers individuals to break the cycle of homelessness
  • THEATREclub. THEATREclub wants to affect a shift in Dubliners’ view of addiction using audience activist groups
  • Irish Youth Foundation ‘Next Step’ is supporting students in the transition from primary to secondary level school
  • Peter McVerry Trust Peter McVerry Trust is establishing a culinary training program for people experiencing homelessness
  • Dublin City Farm and Ecology Centre St. Anne’s City Farm is a sustainable farm that promotes education and multiculturalism
  • Teen-Turn Teen-Turn is changing how girls from underrepresented communities identify with STEM careers
  • Young Social Innovators  YSI is empowering Ireland’s most disadvantaged youth to address local issues using robotics and STEM

 

Students get on board with Smarter Travel and win awards! #NTA #Transport #Cycling

Students from third level colleges around the country were awarded in the Light House Cinema for running events, developing and designing projects and creating videos, animations, radio ads and graphics for the National Transport Authority’s Smarter Travel Campus Awards 2019. The entries produced by students, promote ‘smarter’ modes of transport; particularly walking, cycling, public transport and carpooling.

“We are delighted to see students from a variety of disciplines from campuses around the country developing projects and multimedia pieces to promote, facilitate and enable sustainable transport options. We were also very impressed by the standard of the entries, as were the judges.” Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority.

The winners in the Events & Health Management category were Luke O’Driscoll, William Horan, Christopher Asmus & Kate McMahon, University of Limerick.

Students Chris Britton, Dylan Flynn and Dara Darcy from Limerick Institute of Technology picked up the top prize for their Audio & Animation entries, and received very positive feedback from the judges, including Steven Maher from Windmill Lane. Students Ruth Barnes, Mark Bergin & Edward Hannon, also from Limerick Institute of Technology, won the best Video category.

The Graphic Design & Illustration category winners were Dion Breen & Didi Delaney, Limerick College of Further Education. Winners of the Engineering & Innovation – Technology category were Taidhg Treacy, Sean Callaghan, Caoimhe McDonnell & Katelyn Gallagher, Dublin City University and the award for the best Engineering & Innovation – Design went to Peter Healy, Vaibhav Sethi, Samarth Naresh, Luke O’Higgins & Patrick Devaney, Trinity College Dublin.

Lecturers were also awarded for bringing projects to promote smarter modes of transport into their graded coursework. Winners of the Lecturers Award 2019 were Nora Ni Fhlatharta & Roisin Crowley, Limerick Institute of Technology (Multimedia), Jenny O’Connor, Waterford Institute of Technology (Health & Event Management) & Gareth Bennett, Trinity College Dublin (Engineering).

The Smarter Travel Campus Awards are organised by the Smarter Travel Campus programme of the National Transport Authority. This was the fifth year of the awards. It was open to third level institutions in Ireland who are partners of the Smarter Travel Campus programme.

View the winners list HERE 

Unboxing and Review – The Edifier BH-880 High fidelity stereo headphones. #Audio #Edifier #Headphones #Tech

The Edifier BH-880 are a wired headset that offers style comfort and quality sound and come in at around €160 which for what you get is not bad at all. Edifier has yet to let me down with the audio experience from what I have tested so far and we have more to come from Edifier this month too and I look forward to it as always.

The headphones are really comfortable to wear but this is a wired experience which for me is not really an issue as I have countless pairs of such and wireless and there remains an argument to which is better. What you get here is a really nice clean design with alloy hinges and really nice fitting closed back cans which isolate much of the outside noise,they do not have ANC but do a great job and are ideal for the home but you could wear outdoors.

I tend to wear mine indoors and leave the earbuds for outdoors and you can plug these into an existing system via the adaptor provider which is where you will get great benefit watching movies or streaming. The sound from these is best described as balanced well all round however not as loud as I would like but thats my personal taste. You wont be disappointed with how they sound regardless

From using these on my home system and via music on my phone,Spotify and You Tube which is what I do on a daily basis the sound was crisp and clear across all sound stages and genres though bass lacked to my liking but you can fix that with an EQ on your phone to get a better result. The comfort level is brilliant and these do not clamp on your head yet just sit nicely and therefore no sweating with the leather padding that’s around the cups and headband which for long periods of use is ideal.

For the package you get you can’t go wrong if its comfort and a great build you are after  here with the alloy joints which will last longer than your typically plastic affair, In the box you get the required cables and fittings alongside a velvet carry case which is a nice touch. The only thing to watch for here is if you have fitted cases is the headphone jack might not reach all the way in with the design of the jack but having said that these are top notch but its something to keep in mind you can see in the image gallery. Watch the video for more..

BUY HERE 

Guest Post. 3 Super Tips to Rank Your Mobile Apps in the SERPs. #Apps #SEO #SERPs

When Google rolls out the algorithms, you feel apprehensive. Whether your site will be rewarded or penalized, you keep asking yourself. You all know about Google’s Mobilegeddon update and its implications. However, the update was beneficial for people and an essential step. It meant that only websites but also mobile apps featured in the search engine result pages (SERPs). Today, you will find 3.8 million Android apps and another 2 million in the Apple app store. Then, ranking your app in the SERPs is not as simple as it sounds.

According to an article published on https://www.huffingtonpost.com, you need at least 5,000-10,000 downloads in a short span of time before your app ranks in the SERPs. Now, that means you need to generate enough traffic for the app. When you have just launched your app, you need to market and optimize the same for the SERPs. It will take some time, and will not happen overnight. You need to attract users through SEO, PPC, cross channel collaboration, and email marketing. Whatever strategy you implement, it should work to bear results. You need to attract as many visitors to your mobile app. That is the mantra. Here are three cool tips for ranking your mobile app in Google’s search pages:

  1. Use the right keywords

You use targeted keywords to optimize your website. The same rule holds when it comes to your mobile app. Why should it be any different? The primary search terms will tell users what your app is about and add value to it. Make sure you use the ideal keywords to convey signals to Google or other search engines and prompt app store triggers. Did you know that Google Play included a feature, of late, that broke down organic search data and displaying the number of app installations for each keyword? These details are not available for every developer.

You will also need to perform conventional keyword research to figure out the best search terms for your mobile app. Take some time out of your busy schedule and study more about SEO and mobile apps. You will find loads of information on the internet. You will need to use the keyword planner tool from Google to determine low competition search terms and high traffic. Besides keyword planner, you can also use other search tools. Make a list of the keywords; use them in the title, description, subtitle, and related fields.

Your job does not end here. You will need to monitor your app’s search term position and search traffic through Monitor Backlinks. If you are using the right SEO tactics, your app will rank at the top of the SERPs. Never clutter your title and description with search terms because that will not give you positive results. Make sure you employ all the best practices to help your mobile app rank higher in the search pages.

  1. Gather positive ratings from users

When it comes to star ratings or reviews, they help in sending trust signals to Google. You can learn more about how to achieve better mobile app ranking by visiting sites like scholarship link building service or similar ones. Did you know that Google also checks user reviews for search terms? Yes, it does. Therefore, genuine, natural and positive reviews will result in increased downloads. Always pay heed to ratings and reviews for better app ranking in the SERPs. However, you need to work a little hard to inspire positive reviews.

Improve your mobile app based on user ratings. Say, for instance, you have a restaurant booking app. People use it to order food online from the comfort of their homes. Then, if your app has navigation issues, payment failures, and code errors, users will leave bad remarks and uninstall your mobile app. Therefore, always design a seamless and user-friendly app for triggering positive ratings and reviews. If any user posts negative feedback, take it with a pinch of salt without feeling bad about it. Based on the reviews, you should try improving the future versions of the app. This way, the users who posted negative comments will change their ratings for the better.

  1. Improve the app’s CTR

If you are not improving your app’s click-through-rate, you are missing important downloads. People will not download your app in such a case. As far as CTR is concerned, it sends a powerful signal to Apple app store and Google Play showing that your app is useful, relevant, and worth listing. You might be wondering how to boost the CTR. Well, it is simple. Hire an experienced copywriter to compose smart, crisp copy for your mobile app. You will also need a designer to improve the images for your app. The CTR must be clear and enhanced for better ranking in the SERPs.

When it comes to copy, it should focus on the best five features of the app that will make users’ lives simpler. The point is how to benefit the end-users. Make sure you break up the content with lists and visuals. Keep the language short, simple, and easy to understand. The paragraphs need to be short and not walls of text. People scan content and will turn off if they have to read chunks of information for understanding what your app is all about. When you have optimized the product page, perform A/B testing to determine which components boost the CTR. If you are new to it, read and learn more about mobile apps, copy, visuals, and related elements that help your app rank higher in the SERPs. It will not happen overnight. If you follow the right steps, your app will experience multiple downloads and attract positive reviews.

Conclusion

Now that you know about these smart tips, start building killer apps that users will love to download. With more downloads and enhanced app features, your mobile app will rank top in the search pages. Google will reward your app with better rankings. Though this is not a comprehensive list, these hacks will prove beneficial if you follow them religiously.

Social Profiles of Barrack –

The 2019 Digital Trends Small and medium businesses need to focus on. #Business #Digital

For a businesses the phrase ‘going digital’ no longer only means getting a website done and doing some Google and Facebook ads. It has gone far beyond that and in coming years it will evolve much more than anticipated. Digitalisation is at peak. People are readily embracing the digital devices and technology which is shifting their focus from traditional media towards digital media. Hence it becomes extremely important for SMBs to keep up the pace with technology and leverage the power of digitalisation to grow their business.

As of now large business owners have the capacity to try and commission latest digital tactics to grow business but what do SMBs do? They should wisely choose their digital strategy from the sea of digital techniques which claim to grow businesses. To help you out Maiden Stride have compiled an infographic of the tried and tested digital trends that SMBs can follow to grow their business cleverly.

Rent electric cars in Dublin with @UFODriveTweets #Motoring #Evs #Tech #Apps #UFODrive

I was once on the fence with electric cars but currently looking for a new motor and I am leaning towards a Tesla (Electric cars range anxiety is less now) or another guzzler be it a Petrol or Diesel and the same issue is the same for many others and here is one thing to help you asides being able to rent an electric vehicle. You can hire cars from this app for a nominal fee which can allow you to try out an electric car for an entire day or a few days which is a great idea to give you some idea of what you are dealing with.

Let’s face it in most cases test drives are not a real way to actually test your car before you buy it and I am one of those that “try before you buy” and if I can’t I move elsewhere. Might seem pedantic but if I am about to drop big money on a new motor i don’t want a spin around the block for a quick sale and a thank you very much then a pat on the back..

OK this is not what this app is really intended for but it is something to think about aside renting an electric car in the first place. There is multiple car rental apps already here in Ireland (Go CAR being one of the popular choices that have drivers do what they like and park where they like and I have seen more clamped than driving sometimes,another matter for another day but something I had to point out giving them a decent mention too)and the Electric car is one that is being pushed much more of late due to efficiency but they do cost more on the offset but in the long term save you buckets of cash with less maintenance work and service time..

You can download the app now on Android and iOS or check the website and the cars on offer right now are quite tasty too with the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model 3, Jaguar I-Pace, Hyundai Kona and Nissan Leaf. I know what I will be renting soon for a day or two..Lets hope this expands nationwide but we do have a huge issue with charging points in Ireland in general which hopefully changes pretty quick. Have they come in at the right time with this idea?? Read their story HERE