The all new Nokia 2.1 has dropped into Tesco Mobile not long after they introduced the Nokia 8110 4G which is now their third Nokia device in their handset portfolio. The 2.1 which is following the naming scheme HMD GLOBAL are using is an upgrade to last years Nokia 2 so this might confuse some although Tesco never sold the Nokia 2 but its widely available for around €79.99
Key specs
5.5″ Display
8MP Rear Camera
8GB Internal Memory
Up to 128GB External Memory
4000mAh Battery
Vodafone also have listed the device coming in cheaper again at €99.99 which would be ideal for those on the network. The Nokia 2.1 does offer great value for money with a huge screen and a boastfull 4000 mAh battery life which will easily see you two days or average use.
The worst kept tech secret of late no doubt but something which we tend to avoid which is report on leaks for clickbait but the Google Pixel phones are finally official and guess what else?? You can purchase them in Ireland this time arguably the best phone last year what will they offer this time around and from owning the first iteration I was impressed by the device and look forward to the new devices which we will be reviewing soon and also there is no need to go hunting in the UK and using Virtual addresses to ship them in..
However the price is something else to take into consideration with the base model starting at €899 and going north after that will you be picking one up?? I for sure and looking forward to testing this device out…
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL are the new smartphones from Google, bringing you the best of Google in a phone, powered by AI to deliver more helpful, thoughtful and enjoyable experiences. That means a phone that answers for you when a telemarketer calls, a camera that uses AI to make sure you never miss the shot, and a more helpful visual and audio experience while charging, powered by the Google Assistant. Click here to read more about what Pixel phones can do.
The Pixel 3, with a 5.5” screen, is priced at €899 for the 64GB version and €959 for the 128GB version; meanwhile the larger Pixel 3 XL, which has a 6.3” screen, is priced at €999 for the 64 GBversion and €1099 for the 128GB version. Both sizes come in Just Black and Clearly White, and an additional Not Pink colour is available exclusively from the Google Store. Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XLare available for pre-order now and on sale and in store on 1 November from the Google Storeand Vodafone Ireland. Pixel USB-C earbuds come included with all models.
Also arriving in Ireland is the perfect accompaniment to the Pixel phones: the Pixel Stand. Much more than a wireless charger, the Pixel Stand transforms your Pixel phone into the perfect lifestyle assistant – click here for more info. Pixel Stand will be on sale for €79 in Clearly White and will be available on the Google Store only from 1st November,For all other Google product updates, check out the official Google Blog here.
Global audio specialist Brainwavz, established in 2008 with a focus on offering high quality products at competitive pricing, today announces the availability of its BLU 300 wireless sports earphones. The BLU 300 are the latest in the Brainwavz range of over 30 earphones and headphones and represent great value at £30.09 /$39.50, from www.brainwavzaudio.com
The newest addition to the Brainwavz BLU range following on from the success of its predecessors, the BLU 100 and BLU 200, the BLU 300 have been designed specifically with sports in mind. The earphones boast an angled earbud to ensure a snug fit in the ear canal when running or working out ensuring there is no risk of them falling out.
They are also water resistant to IPX7 rating so there are now no excuses to exercise whatever the weather. Whether you’ve worked up a sweat or caught in a downpour, users can rest assured that the BLU 300 will continue to function.
In addition to being the perfect exercise partner, the BLU 300 are equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 for superb audio quality and give a convenient 10 metre range from the listening device, allowing users to undertake all manner of physical exercises without having to worry about wires getting in their way.
Due to the thoughtful earbud design, the BLU 300’s are excellent for noise isolation, blocking out the world around to provide focus to those exercising. If users wish to take an important call, skip a song or turn the volume up or down, the earphones also feature in-line controls with simple and precise tactile buttons so there is no need to scramble around searching for a mobile.
For long runs or exercise sessions, the BLU 300 boast up to 8 hours of continuous audio playback, 250 hours of standby and can be fully charged in under 2 hrs. Enough battery life even for the walk home after the gym or work!
Brainwavz’s confidence in the build quality and performance of the BLU 300 is clearly shown as it will also be covered in a new premium warranty. Should the BLU 300 stop working for any reason (other than damages caused by a user) within the first 12 months after it was purchased, it will be replaced for a new unit.
Brainwavz continues to add to its following of loyal fans with its reputation for affordable audio products of great quality, value for money and superb after sales service. The BLU 300 wireless sports earphones hope to increase this fan base further in the UK.
The BLU 300 are available to purchase for $39.50/£30.09 on the Brainwavz website HERE
New Micro Suede Earpads
Brainwavz is also launching its latest, super soft Micro Suede material for both oval and XL round headphones. The earpads have a universal fit for use with either oval or large over the ear headphone models from many different manufacturers such as Beyerdynamic, Massdrop, AKG, Audio Technica, Monoprice, Hifiman and many more.
The new earpads are pure indulgence, providing Brainwavz softest and most comfortable pads to date, designed to give extra relief for longer extended use. On the inside sits a layer of hi-grade memory foam padding, giving un-matched support, superior isolation, longer pad life and more comfort than ever before.
Brainwavz believes these are best after-market pads available, giving headphone enthusiasts the chance to treat their cans to a little memory foam upgrade for the ultimate over-ear experience.
The micro suede oval earpads here with pricing starting at £22.47/$29.50
In a male-dominated sector, female business professionals are to further their education to at least undergraduate degree level to climb the ladder in top organisations, according to a closer look at the Forbes Billionaires 2018 List.
Three of Forbes’ top ten female billionaires are MBA-educated, compared to none of the top ten male billionaires.
50% of males studied an engineering discipline before embarking on their entrepreneurial careers, while 40% of females chose to study business or economics.
All of the top ten female billionaires inherited their wealth, while seven of the top ten males built their business from scratch.
Investigating the correlation between business acumen and higher education, the study delves into the secrets behind financial triumph and whether business savviness is something you are simply born with or learn with experience. Women entrepreneurs, it appears, continue in the education system for longer than their male counterparts in order to progress in their careers – Four out of the top ten male billionaires left education before degree level, in contrast to three of the ten female billionaires continuing to MBA level.
While the Forbes’ list would suggest that a University education is essential for career success – 70% of the top 20 billionaires have a degree – this represents just a fraction of the business world as a whole.
Hiscox spoke to members of the Hiscox Business Club[1] – a group of successful small-to-medium business owners based in York – for their thoughts on the value of higher education and the state of the education system today. All respondents have completed a degree and while the majority see benefits in the university experience, only 50% believe it helped with their business, while the other 50% feel they gained no applicable knowledge. None of those interviewed felt that returning to higher education would benefit their business.
Paul Ward, Director of Telo Group, a property development company based in East Riding, suggests that business acumen is innate: “You can’t teach that entrepreneurial drive needed for business success. But if a person has it within them, it can be encouraged, nurtured and coaxed out.”
In a similar vein, Mark Bewick, Creative Director of hospitality marketing agency NIMA, doesn’t see a university education as a prerequisite to succeeding in business: “Running your own business is such a unique experience and not something that education can really prepare you for. Sure, you can gain the necessary qualifications and skills, but that’s just a small part of the journey.”
In contrast, Stuart Priest, Director of Circus Skills York CIC, has no regrets about staying in the education system: “Going to university when I came from a working-class family and when only 5% of the school population could go felt like a huge privilege. My working life has continued to be an education.”
Microsoft celebrated the start of EU Code Week with the launch of the ‘CoderDojo Champion Training Programme’ which aims to give an extra 5,000 young people the opportunity to develop their digital skills by forging the next generation of Dojo trainers.
EU Code Week is an annual, grassroots initiative supported by the European Commission aimed at encouraging young people to try coding and improve their digital skills. Microsoft has been a supporter of EU Code Week since its launch in 2013. To mark EU Code Week, the Microsoft CoderDojo Club will also be hosting a special evening for all its members in Microsoft’s DreamSpace the company’s bespoke innovation and education hub.
MICROSOFT EU CODE WEEK: Pictured at left is Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland; and Giustina Mizzoni, Executive Director, CoderDojo in Microsoft to celebrate the start of EU Code Week. Pic:Naoise Culhane.
Commenting at the launch of the programme, Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland said: “At Microsoft, we are committed to ensuring that every young person – no matter where they live or what their background may be – has the digital skills to achieve more. To realise this ambition, we have developed a long-term relationship with the team at CoderDojo and supported them on a number of key initiatives including Hour of Code, Coolest Projects and CoderDojo Girls Initiative.
The emphasis is always on supporting the growth of CoderDojo in Ireland but also inspiring more young people to join a Dojos and in recent years a particular focus to attract more girls. Despite the growing number of Dojos run by incredible volunteers right around the country, there are still many young people, including girls and those in disadvantaged areas, that have yet to experience how technology can open up a world of opportunities.
MICROSOFT EU CODE WEEK: Pictured from left Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland;Giustina Mizzoni, Executive Director,CoderDojo;Luca Roviaro; and Amy Hallahan in Microsoft to celebrate the start of EU Code Week. .Pic:Naoise Culhane.
“That is why to celebrate EU Code Week 2018 we have committed to training 250 youth workers to start their own dojos, reaching and enabling 5,000 young people in underserved areas throughout Ireland to develop their own digital skills. Through the CoderDojo Champion Training Programme, they will be provided with the training, supports and above all confidence to pass on their passion for technology to the next generation. I would encourage any youth leader interested, to sign-up for the free, one-day workshops today”
Giustina Mizzoni, Executive Director, CoderDojo said: “We are delighted to have worked with Microsoft to create a dedicated, CIPD-approved curriculum that primarily focuses on equipping youth workers with the digital confidence to start their own dojo. Many youth leaders have incredible skills in working with young people, but they can sometimes lack the confidence to deliver opportunities in digital literacy to others. Microsoft’s support for the CoderDojo Champion Training Programme will help us to bridge that gap. We will help youth workers to plan ways to integrate coding into existing youth programmes and teach coding skills to they can become the champion trainers of the future.”
The ‘CoderDojo Champion Training Programme’ is being rolled out in a number of locations across Ireland including the Cork Migrant Centre, Kilkenny Bank of Ireland Workbench, Wexford FDYS, Blanchardstown Library, Creative Zone, Boole Library, UCC, Maynooth University, Inishowen Development Partnership, Shannon Library, Carlow IT. Before its launch, the programme had been piloted with 30 participants.
For those youth leaders and organisations looking to get involved, check out the upcoming training dates and locations at https://coderdojo.com/youthworktraining.
Lifesize®, a global innovator of video collaboration and meeting productivity solutions, is further enabling the growing number of Apple enterprise users to easily share their screen and present content using the new Apple AirPlay integration for Lifesize Share.
With the new integration, Mac, iPhone and iPad users can now share their screen at work just as easily as they can at home with an Apple TV. The AirPlay integration adds to the simple, browser-based sharing and convenient, ultrasonic pairing capabilities Windows, Mac, iOS and Android users already experience when using Lifesize Share.
“As more Apple devices penetrate the enterprise, having a wireless sharing device compatible with Apple AirPlay is a smart investment for businesses,” said Rob Arnold, Principal Analyst with Frost & Sullivan. “Enabling employees with easy-to-use, effective meeting solutions that are interoperable with multiple devices and operating systems will boost productivity and create a collaborative environment that impacts revenue over the long term.”
“We recognise that people like to collaborate and communicate in different ways, which has long fuelled our approach to interoperability,” said Craig Malloy, CEO of Lifesize. “Adding native Apple AirPlay integration to Lifesize Share brings a whole new level of ease and effortlessness to make meetings even more productive and valuable for employees.”
Lifesize Share eliminates the complexity and clutter of cords and dongles by allowing any laptop, tablet or smartphone to painlessly connect and present content. From sharing a laptop screen to playing full-motion videos to driving a presentation directly from a mobile phone, Lifesize Share modernises how businesses wirelessly present both in the meeting room and on digital signage screens.
Leading stylus manufacturer, Adonit, is broadening its range and appeal with the UK launch of the Adonit Photogrip; a multi-use phone grip to transform a smartphone so it can be used just like a camera. The Photogrip can also be converted into a mini tripod and is accompanied by a Bluetooth shutter and camera remote to create the perfect group shot.
As smart phones get bigger, better and more slim-lined, users are seeking tools to ensure they can still use the basic applications expected of all mobile phones, including doubling as a camera. The Adonit Photogrip has multiple uses for a pain-free photo-taking process and makes photographers out of all smart phone users as it offers the following:
One hand operation: Users can comfortably hold their phone out in front of them with one hand to perfect that selfie with ease thanks to the grooved grip mark, avoiding any accidental slips and resulting cracked screen.
Self-standing mode: Photogrip can be positioned upright for self-standing portrait mode, allowing users to FaceTime, live stream on Instagram, view recipes in the kitchen and watch videos with friends.
Bluetooth shutter remote: The detachable Bluetooth shutter remote can be used up to 10 metres from the phone whether it be on the Photogrip’s mini tripod or self-standing mode. With no timer required, users can simply click the remote when they are ready.
Edit photos: Photogrip allows users to immediately edit their photos and boomerangs before sharing with friends on social media with the mini precision stylus included.
Jasper Li, CTO for Adonit comments,“It’s great to see the extension of our phone accessories range as we move beyond stylus’s and offer a great option for those looking to get the perfect shot using their smart phone. The Photogrip has multiple uses and is one of the first offering a stand, everyday handgrip for peace of mind as well as the tools to take portrait shots and edit swiftly for ultimate shareability.”
The Adonit Photogrip is compatible with iOS 5.0 and above and Android v4.3 and above. The Bluetooth connection requires v3.0 and the device will work with any phone from a minimum size of 4.5″. In addition, the Photogrip includes a carry pouch, neck strap and features a charge capacity of up to 20 hours, with the allowance to snap up to 72,000 photos.
The Adonit Photogrip is available from Amazon and Adonit for £44.99
We check out the NUU G3 Smartphone Tudia LINN case today. This case is just like any other case bar the one that came with the device which offered no front protection at all where the Tudia LINN fixes all that. Offering protection all around the device with a nice lip around the entire front of screen your device is protected to the max.
Offering all round protection is important without bulking out your phone too much and this case provides it all with a great grip all round and good lip on the front of the device which enables you to put the device face down with no issues. The keys too also work well and they are labelled to boot..
Check out the video below..This case should last you some time depending on the individual it aslo comes in Black but the Blue complements the phone well…
The Benq ScreenBar e-Reading lamp is a horizontal LED lamp that sits on top of any monitor and lights up the area in front.The Benq ScreenBar e-Reading lamp felt strong and sturdy with the patented clip heavier and stronger than expected while visually appealing. The Benq ScreenBar is made up of a aluminum tube. The tube clips into a counter-weight mount, which then sits on top of your monitor. The entire tube rotates a few degrees and you can also shift the angle by moving the mount on the monitor a bit.
Key Features:
Auto Dimming
Space Saving Design
Screen Glare Free
USB Powered
Mood Lighting
Dimensions:
Weight 531 g
Product Dimensions 53 x 44 x 35 cm
Setup:
The setup is minimal, there was is no need for tape or screws, The Benq ScreenBar e-Reading lamp was hung on the back of the TV using the supplied counter-weight mount on the back of the lamp. This has a micro-USB port for power, this was connected to a USB socket, (cable was supplied) The LED was connected via the USB port which tales very little power. The 4 main buttons on the tube worked easily with minimum fuss. Once connected, the built-in ambient light sensor automatically illuminates to 500 lux which advised, is the ambient light source.
A specially designed clip makes the attachment onto monitors easy and stable. No need for screws or tape that damage monitors. The clip fits any monitor with thickness from 0.4” to 1.2” (1 to 3 cm). The patented clip features space saving, no Lamp base and more desk space.
Overview:
The units touch and weight look like a premium quality product. The Screen Bar has an automatic dimmer and asymmetric optical design, this can illuminate the working space with USB power, avoiding reflectively glare off your monitor screen. The ambient light sensor automatically illuminates to 500 lumens as it detects the surrounding brightness and then supplements it with just the right amount of light. This worked close to the light for reading but not practical for reading in a larger room. The light has a high level of technology build into the LED, allowing eight colours choices. The warm light lets you relax and replenishes your energy. The cool light allows you to concentrate and boosts work efficiency.
This technology includes Remove Eye Strain, Non-flickering LED lighting, Auto-Dimming, Hue Adjustment Features, No Screen Glare or Flicker and No Blue Light Hazard, with my favorite Touch Sensitive Control. The BenQ ScreenBar e-Reading LED Task Lamp can be hung on monitors to save space, matte black USB powered office lamp with eye-care. This light is ideal for those who want a light in the room but don’t want the room lights turned on fully, the build quality is strong, sturdy and unobtrusive on the top of a TV or monitor. The setup and controls are simple to use.
This is a light which looks cool, works as a light with lots of technology in the background, this is not going to excite anyone but does what it supported to do. This solves some basic problems with a traditional light, limited space, another plug socket required. The Benq team seems to have looked at traditional lights, found the annoying features and designed a lamp to minimise these defects. There are less expensive lights out there but if the technology from BenQ does what it states in terms of your eyes this alone is a feature work getting.
