The Taotronics BH-47 are an affordable pair of headphones that come in at around 50 euro with all the mods and cons you would expect to find. They come in a cheap box and packaging but most people discard of this anyway once opened depending on the quality though that might differ I tend to keep all mine but that is just me.
These are foldable which is great for transportation but do not come with a carry case which is a small gripe considering most do come with a bag of some description but you can use one if you have an old set of cans lying around. When it comes to comfort these are light with decent padded cups and headband and they do isolate much of the outside noise but with the ANC on board this fixes that.
Sound values are well balanced on these but not loud,loud as in how I like my music but for the average user these will be fine and you will be happy with the sound experience given there is no app to facilitate an equalizer but you can download a third party app if you wish or use one on your device if there is one present.
My usual test run on these with Spotify, You tube and stored music was a crisp and clear experience and the ANC makes it all the better, The buttons are placed on one side which is also how I like it and not separated between the two cups and the buttons are tactile and raised high enough for an easy to navigate experience without the need to remove them to know where you’re at.
Volume was the only caveat I had with these really but as mentioned it is my choice of how I listen to music I also would like to see these in more colours but for the price you pay here to get ANC and a great sound experience overall you cant really complain with the cost.
As autonomous technology becomes more advanced, many retailers are exploring how self-driving vehicles can be used to optimise their logistics operations. Find out more about how the ecommerce sector could benefit from delivery drone technology in the infographic below from 2Flow.
McKinsey predict that in the future up to 80% of all items will be delivered by self-driving vehicles and drones. Drones in particular present an attractive option for retailers. While delivery drones have yet to become mainstream, we are already seeing major players within the ecommerce industry experimenting with this technology.
For example, in 2015 Amazon launched the Prime Air which aimed to deliver goods by drone within 30 minutes to customers in a handful of locations around the world. According to Amazon’s own estimations, the increased distribution efficiency resulting from the use of drones could bring about cost savings of up to 80% for last-mile shipping alone.
Proponents of cargo drone technology say that it could help improve delivery logistics in a major way. Some propose that drones could be used alongside traditional road haulage to cover the last mile of each delivery. This alone could drastically reduce the travel time for last-mile delivery thereby boosting efficiency, saving time and slashing costs.
One example of this is UPS who are experimenting with placing mini-helipads on the top of their vans. According to the company’s own projections, eliminating just a single mile from the routes of each of their 66,000 delivery drivers could save up to $50 million.
However, a few critical issues still remain that need to be resolved before delivery drones become commonplace. The law represents the biggest obstacle, as air space restrictions are greatly limiting where drones can currently travel. What’s more, short battery life means that drones can currently only handle small journeys with small loads.
For more information about delivery drones, take a look at the infographic below.
Activbody, aspiring to make the world healthier by creating fitness and health technologies designed to make exercise fun and convenient, announces its UK launch of Activ5.
A fitness innovation ideal for everyone from working professionals who sit all day, to travellers, over 60s, busy mums or simply those who find it challenging to fit in daily activity, Activ5 by Activbody allows anyone with a smartphone to exercise anywhere while coaching, tracking and entertaining them.
The sleek and portable handheld device guides users through short burst workouts to keep them active throughout the day, providing full-body toning from both sitting and standing positions, all while tracking results on the companion Activ5 App, which is available on iOS and Android operating systems. Activ5 features more than 100 unique workouts that are fast and fun, and measures data such as strength, strength increases, precision and other personal metrics.
“Most of us sit way too much. We all want to be more fit, but for many of us it’s nearly impossible to carve out time to get to the gym,” said Activbody CEO, Dan Stevenson. “Activ5 exercises are discrete and static, so you can work out at your desk, while watching TV or on a plane, making the powerful health-transforming benefits of isometric fitness available to you anytime, anywhere. Best of all, we’ve turned fitness into a game. Our suite of mobile casual games allows you to control the action through muscle force, so it feels more like you’re playing than doing a strenuous workout. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and years of hardware and software development, we’re thrilled to finally share this industry game-changer with the world.”
With a durable design that measures more than 200 lbs. of force, Activ5 helps users increase strength by as much as 5 percent per week, and effectively tones and strengthens muscles through short, 5-minute workouts a few times a day. The Activ5 App personalises workouts to each user’s fitness level, tracks progress and allows users to exercise while playing games designed by independent gaming studios. Activ5 has a 6-month battery life and is Bluetooth®-enabled.
Isometric exercise is a type of low-impact strength training where the angle of the joints and muscle length do not change during contraction – for example a plank. Scientific research has proven that isometric exercise is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to build strength, accelerate fat burning and tone the body, in fact, five minutes of isometric exercise can be equivalent to 25 minutes of gym-machine exercises, Studies show the benefits of isometrics include: increased energy, lowered blood pressure, weight loss, boosted endurance, reduced pain, as well as bad habit relief (such as smoking), among others. Medical studies have further revealed that fractionalised exercise can deliver all the results of longer workouts while contributing to heart health, overall well-being and reducing the risk of disease, such as diabetes.
Activ5 is available from Amazon, Ryman Stationery, Dixons Travel and Smartech, Selfridges for £119.95
We are long time fans of Jabra here and love their products and always look forward to what is new and test them out and they never disappoint, However there is always one issue I have and many others and that is sharing music with others or your other half, Thankfully Jabra include the airplane headphone jack that allows two pairs to be shared individually at one time but that’s just not good enough we want to share together the same pair of headphones at the same time and Jabra have come up with a new idea to solve sharing your headphones once and for all and they are called the Earbud(dy)
Jabra today announces the launch of the Jabra Earbud(dy)TM, the world’s first shared headphone. Engineered for shared music moments, the headphones come with an ultra-light headband that extends seamlessly to accommodate the perfect fit for every pair of buddies, so you’ll never have to enjoy another music moment alone.
The Jabra Earbud(dy)TM comes with a unique Buddy mode that promises a shared music experience that is tailored to suit each person’s preferences. Accessible via the Jabra app, the Buddy mode offers music personalisation that promises a tailored sound experience so you can listen to your music just the way you like it. Like your bass a bit louder than your buddy? No problem! Your music experience can be easily personalised using the easy-to-use music equaliser – without having any impact on your buddy’s music experience.
Fans of voice command will be thrilled to know that with just one touch, the Jabra Earbud(dy)TM can connect to dual voice assistance apps. This smart interaction feature allows users to connect seamlessly to two smartphones at once, so you can still hear from your favourite voice command on your device while also sharing magical music moments with your buddy.
The Jabra Earbud(dy)TM boasts a long-lasting battery that can keep the music-sharing going for up to 15 hours. With just 20 minutes of quick charge, the headphones can add another 5 hours of listening time to your day. Whether you are sitting at a café people-watching with your buddy or enjoying a relaxing lie-down at the park in the sun, the long-lasting battery ensures the music never stops!
“Whether it’s lovers, family or friends, music has always brought people together and that was the feeling we wanted to capture with the Jabra Earbud(dy)”, Claus Fonnesbech, Senior Director at Jabra commented.
“Shared music experiences are magical and something that everyone relates to. The Jabra Earbud(dy) ensures a personalised experience every time so your music is tailored to your needs – even if it’s shared with someone. With summer just around the corner, there is no better time to buddy up and create wonderful music experiences with those that mean the most to you!”, he added.
Features and specifications:
Engineered for shared music moments
Smart interaction with dual voice assistance
Extendable ultra-light headband for the perfect fit
Waterproof to accommodate any weather
Long-lasting battery up to 15 hours
One-touch Buddy mode and music personalisation via the Jabra app
Pricing and availability:
Jabra Earbud(dy) – available at selected retailers only on 1 April 2019, MSRP £159.00. See more
Irish virtual/ augmented reality (VR/AR) software firm, Immersive VR Education has announced that its new historical experience Raid on the Ruhr will release on Steam on the 29th March 2019, for PC and VR.
Set in 1943 amid the RAF’s bombing campaign on Germany’s industrial centres, Raid on the Ruhr allows players to fly, shoot and bomb their way through the Ruhr Valley, in this retelling of the real mission that helped inspire the Star Wars trench run.
Bobby Greaney, Director, Immersive VR Education, commented in the launch,
“We wanted to give players the feeling of just how dangerous and daring this mission was. These airmen took an enormous bomber and flew below radar, some of them skimming water and flying under the treeline. Many crashed before getting to the target, and these were among the most highly skilled pilots in the world at the time.”
A large amount of research went into the project. Throughout the game, radio snippets tell you the fate of several crews on the mission.
“133 airmen took off from Scampton,” said Bobby Greaney, “53 never returned on the night, and many more didn’t survive the war. Nowadays, there’s only one Dambuster still living. It’s more important than ever that this story isn’t forgotten”.
The game/experience features several modes – Story, Infinite and Cinematic. Story mode retells the mission’s final approach on the Mohne Dam, with the player taking on the role of the crew of Lancaster Bomber AJ-J (“J for Johnny”). Gameplay alternates between the pilot, rear gunner, and bomber as they desperately try to stay alive and complete their objective.
The game/experience also features a Cinematic mode, for those interested in purely the historical side of the mission, or more casual users of VR, while two infinite modes allow the player to compete on leader boards to try to stay alive for as long as possible, flying or shooting their way through Nazi Germany.
Wireless is the way to go when gaming end of story and this goes for control pads and so on but even more so these days Headphones. I do a bit of gaming but nothing heavy like true gamers but when I do I like to have the right equipment at hand and these headphones deliver here on all aspects.
Comfort is a priority as well as sound and with these headphones they pass the test easily making them great for long term usage as many gamers do. An hour or two is enough for me and during my testing period these deliver on comfort,quality and sound and the sound is excellent all round giving you an immersive experience throughout and easy to use controls..
The headphones have a matte finish yet robust all round and no creaking and the comfort is simply great and cover the ears which is how I like it personally. Using the mic is also great and the noise cancelling is excellent when in use and its all done by a simple swivel operation which keeps it out of your way when not in use. The music repro is good and plenty aloud but I have heard louder but thats my personal taste and the same applies to my headphones or earbuds I use and I just like loud.
Connection is simple with a small dongle which you can plug into your PS4 or Laptop and the same applies to audio should you be using your laptop for gaming or even You Tube the sound is good,crisp and clear and overall all sound reproduced quite well. When connected to PC for example you will get an indicator on screen to state the volume level which is adjusted by the wheel on the right which goes from 0-100, The control is solid and not loose moving but firm giving you precise control.
Battery life is on par with the manufacturers claims of around 17 hours which is quite good considering other offerings out there even by normal music aimed headsets and earbuds so you will have plenty of time without the need to be worrying about recharging. When it comes to range you will be fine in your house at it allows a range of around 12 metres which is at the lower end of distance by today’s standards but this is more than adequate for most households and again how one is set up.
Overall for the price you pay here you cant really complain in short and you get a robust comfortable great sounding headset simple to set up which also simply rests around your neck when not in use and there is no need to remove them for a break either.
I am kinda new to tech like this but I will keep it easy and it is a must have kit to have if you are not using such. For me I use mobile phones to do all my You Tube videos and not one to sport a huge set up so I used it from my Mobile phone with the only caveat being it must support USB OTG.
If you are new to You Tube, streaming videos or podcasts, this is all you will need I have plans to do podcasts and streaming later this year but my review now is based on mobile usage as I have phones with the requirements to work This will work on both Android and IOS platforms so you are good to go with a simple set up that wont be difficult to use.
First off it is simple to set up you will need you USB OTG adapter to connect to your phone and I used an Android device so there is not much too it. You then will need some headphones,the better the quality the better especially for your benefit as the sound is just remarkable as if you where sitting in a live radio studio doing a talk show. Once these are all connected you are good to go and start streaming or recording whichever the case maybe.
There is software you can use on your PC too and you can use with popular formats such as Audacity and Garageband. Like I say this is not my scene just yet but I will be now going this direction and will have more to say when I start testing it out on such platforms. You can see more then with the Sherpa software and become custom on its workings.
Basically it is a plug and play set-up depending on how good you want recordings to be as you can edit afterwards if you like via the likes of Audacity which is said to be one of the best and easiest to use and of course free…If like me you use your smartphone you can hear the difference just as well but probably more beneficial to the user rather than the Audience and the sound is really good.
With two settings on the back you have choice of where to pick up your sound from be it cardiod or omnidirectional. Cardiod is the best option for quality sound directly speaking into as this picks up everything as using the omnidirecitonal setting would give you more than you bargained for.. On the front we have a simple button to turn the volume up or down and on the rear as mentioned above the sound direction and underneath is where you insert your headphones and power cable and there is a thread mount if you have an existing set up or want to make one it is all very simple..
Asides the ease of use it also looks well and is compact compared to the previous model which most of that hang around You Tube for example would see, It is the go to mic for most people and many tech bloggers I know.. There is a little weight to it but thats not a bad thing and its supported with rubber footing so it will stay put on a flat surface but as mentioned you can remove the casing and use a mount if you want to go that direction.
I can only recommend the Yeti Nano if you have not got one of the older models however there is some shortcomings by looking at the two but this is not really an issue and most from what I see like this too due to its size and its also portable to carry with you on tech expos and the likes.
Minister John Halligan T.D. launched the National IP Protocol 2019 in Dublin today. The Protocol, which is in its third edition, is produced and managed by Knowledge Transfer Ireland on behalf of the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation. It provides a practical, best practice framework for businesses, from start-ups and SMEs to large multi-nationals and entrepreneurs to access and utilise Irish research to drive economic growth.
The Protocol sets a benchmark for good practice in the commercialisation of valuable intellectual property all around the country, on terms that are fair to researchers and business alike, and in ways that are predictable and consistent from one negotiation to the next.
The IP Protocol has been a reference point for business and research communities since it was first produced by the Department in 2012. This new Protocol is an update to the previous IP Protocol published in 2016. Recognising the significant numbers of spin-out companies coming out of research performing organisations around the country, the new Protocol includes a dedicated section on best practice in the formation of spin-out companies. It also includes a summary of the issues relating to state aid in the commercialisation of research.
Minister John Halligan T.D. launched the National IP Protocol 2019 today. Pictured are (L-R): Director of Knowledge Transfer Ireland, Dr. Alison Campbell and Minister John Halligan T.D. The Protocol, produced by Knowledge Transfer Ireland on behalf of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, provides a practical best practice framework for businesses to access and use ground-breaking, public Irish research to drive economic growth. The new Protocol builds on previous content around collaborative research and licensing and it includes dedicated sections on best practice in the formation of spin-out companies and on state aid in the commercialisation of research. Picture by SON Photographic
Commenting, Minister Halligan, Minister of State at the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills said;
“The commercialisation of public research to drive innovation and Ireland’s economic competitiveness is a key pillar of the Government’s innovation strategy,Innovation 2020. While investment in research performing organisations the length and breadth of the country is critical, it must go hand in hand with an effective strategy to put that research into the hands of businesses for the benefit of the Irish economy and society. The National IP Protocol is a key element of that strategy.
“In today’s climate, more than ever, it is vital that we harness the considerable abilities of Ireland’s researchers, so as to give businesses the best possible competitive edge on the European and global stage.”
Commenting, Alison Campbell, Director of Knowledge Transfer Ireland said;
“I am delighted to welcome the publication of the new IP Protocol. The new section on spin-out company formation developed in consultation with people operating at the coal-face is particularly welcome and was drafted to address a gap in the framework. The range of practical tools produced by Knowledge Transfer Ireland that are referenced throughout the Protocol and its associated Resource Guide have been expanded. The aim of these tools is to provide relevant resources that demystify knowledge transfer and allow commercialisation and collaboration to flourish, while protecting the interests of all parties and freeing up researchers and businesses to get on with the business of innovating.”
The National IP Protocol 2019 comprises two documents:
1. the policy document which sets out the framework underpinning research collaboration and access to intellectual property from state-funded research.
2. the resource guide which provides an overview of the national IP management guidelines and links to a wealth of resources and template documents that support these guidelines. It also provides an overview of the knowledge transfer structures in Ireland and the kinds of agreements that can be used to formalise research-industry engagements and spin-out company-related contracts.
The Protocol is the product of an extensive consultative process facilitated by Knowledge Transfer Ireland with representatives from industry, investors, entrepreneurs, agencies and research organisations to ensure that Government policy supports all types of enterprises engaging with publicly-funded research in Ireland.
Mini PCs are becoming more and more popular. While the small, fast computers were mostly to be found on the desks of offices and agencies not long ago, there has been a shift towards more home-use in the last couple of years. The reasons are obvious: Mini PCs are space-saving, affordable and offer high-performance – such as the NEO N42C-4 from MINIX.
Desktops or so-called Mini PCs are enjoying a constant growth in popularity and, according to a study by British trade analyst CONTEXT, were able to increase their sales figures substantially, especially in German-speaking countries – in Germany in Q1 2018 by around 37 percent[1]. MINIX is one of the market leaders in the field of Mini PCs and Media Hubs and, as part of this trend, is presenting its most powerful Mini PC: the NEO N42C-4.
The NEO N42C-4 offers the full performance and functionality of a desktop computer in a compact, stylish case, but can be taken anywhere due to its light weight and convenient dimensions. This Mini PC allows up to three displays to be connected via HDMI, Mini DisplayPort and USB-C outputs. The NEO N42C-4 comes with 32GB of eMMC internal memory and 4GB of DDR3L memory – but both the memory and RAM can be expanded via the 2280 M.2 slot (SATA 6.0Gbps) and a pair of SODIMM (Dual Channel Support) slots, depending on your needs. The 2280-M.2 slot (SATA 6.0 Gbps) offers an optional memory expansion up to 512 GB, while each the two SODIMM ports supports up to 8 GB of DDR3L memory.
The NEO N42C-4 offers various connection options: Three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, USB-C, Optical S/PDIF, 3.5 mm audio jack, 802.11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 4.1. Its built-in USB-C port ensures ultra-fast data transfer, video display up to 4K @ 60Hz and power supply. The active cooling solution guarantees an extremely low background noise and ensures safe and stable performance even during long periods of operation.
Another convenient aspect: The NEO-N42C-4 can be easily attached to the back of a modern monitor thanks to the included fixture, thus creating even more space and clarity on the desk. The NEO N42C-4 Mini PC is available at Amazon.co.uk at a RRP of £249.90.
More information about the complete MINIX portfolio is available at www.minix.com.hk/en.
