New Irish app aims revive the postcard #Postaselfie #Apps #Selfie

The mobile phone has become so powerful today it has replaced many things over the years and it is having an effect now on laptops and camera sales which are in decline some time and there is no sign of this slowing down as the mobile phone will continue to eat away at things we currently use today. You can look at that as being a bad thing and a good thing..

An effort to revive the old printed image format is also a thing today with Polaroid and FUJIFILM for examples with cameras on sale today but they have been re-designed for the digital age today and offer users to print off images but there is a cost behind it. When was the last time you sent a disposable camera or SD card into a shop to be processed and when did you last send a postcard though?

OK we can transfer our images to a laptop and that’s all grand and dandy or we can continue to post them on social media including your latest meal which being honest has got too annoying these days and everyone knows everything about everyone which I get but really we need to give it a rest and put the god dam phone away some more.

This new app is here for a similar reason and that is to revive the postcard.. When did you last send one?? I for one can’t remember and I bet a good deal of you don’t either.. Fear not though you can use your smartphone for this app not only to send images to family and friends but you can send a postcard too guys.. Aint that great!!! There is people out there that might still do and for the older folks that have no interest in powerful smartphones they love to recieve the humble postcard. Now is your chance to change things.

How does it work..

Post A Selfie couldn’t be easier to use. Simply take your photo or choose a photo from your library. Edit mode allows you to perfect your shot. Crop, customise or add a personalised message. Once you are happy, simply add the recipients address and send! The history tab keeps track of past postcards you have sent and you can even keep a record of your favorite shots.

OK so there is a cost but look at the brighter side..You dont have to go to a store to find a card, You dont have to settle for the postcards on offer in the said store, You dont have to queue in the store to pay for it. Also the cost involved. This app alows you to use your own images so you can customise it all by yourself from your mobile phone with no hassle and all done there and then without having to go looking eslewhere.. You can use it anywhere in the world too..

We have 10 FREE POSTCARDS to give away right now on Android head to our Twitter page and retweet and reply with #postaselfie and winner picked next FRIDAY.

Check it out and download HERE

Bluesound Unveils Gen 2i: the Next Generation of Streaming, High-Res Wireless Audio.

Bluesound, the leader in wireless, high-res, multi-room music systems, announced Bluesound Generation 2i (Gen 2i), building on the success of the brand’s previous platform. Gen 2i continues to strengthen the Bluesound line with dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Apple AirPlay 2 support, upgraded Bluetooth codecs, improved amplification and acoustics, and more, while maintaining value for consumers with minimal changes to retail pricing.

Bluesound’s new models are: NODE 2i (US$499 / £499 MSRP), POWERNODE 2i (US$799 / £799), VAULT 2i (US$1199 / £1099), PULSE 2i (US$799 / £749), PULSE MINI 2i (US$499 / £499), PULSE FLEX 2i (US$299 / £299), and PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i (US$799 / £799 in Black, US$899 / £899 in White). There are no changes being made to the PULSE SUB. As before, all Gen 2i models will be offered in a choice of Black or White finishes. All models are available now, with the exception of the PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i, which will follow in November.

All Bluesound models feature BluOS™, an award-winning, music management system that connects, organizes, and controls your music. Choose music from your favorite streaming service or from a music library connected to your home network. Bluesound integrates all these sources and sends the music to every room in the home. Featuring a family of dedicated multi-room, wireless streaming digital music players, Bluesound delivers a compelling high-resolution wireless digital music system with an audiophile-grade feature set.

New features common to all Bluesound Gen 2i models are as follows:

Apple AirPlay 2 Support

All Bluesound Gen 2i models are designed to support AirPlay 2, which will be delivered to Gen 2i owners via an upcoming software update.  With AirPlay 2, Gen 2i owners can stream just about any sound from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their Bluesound system — all in sync. Customers can stream music, books, and podcasts from their favorite Apps, or watch videos on their Apple device while streaming the audio through to their Gen 2i Player – imagine watching Netflix or YouTube on an iPad while filling the room with premium sound from a Bluesound system.

AirPlay 2 also gives users more options for control, including using Siri voice assistance. Once you add your Gen 2i Player to the Apple Home App on your iPhone or iPad, Apple Music subscribers can use their iOS device or HomePod to say things like: “Hey Siri, play smooth jazz in the Living Room” or “Hey Siri, turn it up in the Kitchen.”

By grouping a Gen 2i Player with older Bluesound Players in the BluOS App, existing customers can add AirPlay 2 compatibility to their entire BluOS system.

AirPlay 2 will be available for Gen 2i Players in an upcoming software release.

TWO-WAY BLUETOOTH

Gen 2i contains Bluesound’s most advanced take on Bluetooth to date – two-way Bluetooth, featuring both Receive and Transmit functionality. Receive capability allows users to wirelessly stream from their device to a Bluesound Player just like they’re used to doing with Gen 2. The Transmit capability means the user can now use their Bluesound Gen 2i Player as a source, sending what they are listening to via Bluetooth to a pair of wireless headphones. One exception: Bluesound PULSE FLEX 2i only supports the Receive functionality via Bluetooth.

aptX HD BLUETOOTH 

While Bluesound has improved the Bluetooth connectivity in Gen 2i, engineers also made sure that audio quality improvements are part of the Gen 2i Bluetooth story. The advanced Qualcomm CSR8675 chip used in these new products also supports aptX HD Bluetooth wireless audio. aptX HD is an enhanced codec that supports 24-bit audio over Bluetooth and has been engineered to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in lower background noise. With the ability to support streams up to 24bit/48kHz, a customer streaming from an aptX HD compatible device to a Gen 2i Player is actually able to listen to better-than-CD quality, wirelessly. It all fits into the Bluesound story – modern wireless convenience without sacrificing quality. Note that the PULSE FLEX 2i only supports aptX Bluetooth.

DUAL-BAND WI-FI 

Bluesound has also upgraded the Wi-Fi chipset technology in its Bluesound Players to the latest and greatest Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band offering. Best-in-class products deserve best-in-class connection; with the new Wi-Fi chip onboard, Gen 2i owners can take advantage of the less noisy 5 GHz band if needed. This results in faster connection times and fewer interruptions from other network traffic.

PULSE FAMILY AMPLIFICATION

Who doesn’t like more power? All-new, custom-designed digital amplifiers in Bluesound’s  PULSE 2i and PULSE MINI 2i effectively double the available power used to drive these speakers. The difference is dramatic with improved bass response and more powerful sonic soundscapes as the new norm in Gen 2i.

New driver configurations in the PULSE 2i, PULSE MINI 2i, and PULSE FLEX 2i complement the upgraded amplification; the PULSE 2i and PULSE MINI 2i in particular now function as true stereo speakers.

Users also have better control over their audio settings with the PULSE 2i and PULSE MINI 2i. Popular DSP settings like Wide Mode, Late Night, and Dialog, much-loved and much-used in the Bluesound PULSE SOUNDBAR, are now available to these updated Gen 2i speakers.

The innovative mix of amp upgrades, driver re-configurations, and updated DSP settings breathes fresh life into the PULSE speaker lineup and reflects Bluesound’s commitment to creating the best wireless, multi-room home audio experience available.

The POWERNODE 2i now features two TOSLINK/3.5mm Optical and Analog inputs while the PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i now includes HDMI (ARC and eARC). These provide improved connectivity and flexibility.

“Ever since Bluesound’s exciting debut five years ago, we have listened to the marketplace and worked hard to make significant improvements throughout the line.” explained Matt Simmonds, Bluesound’s Product Manager. “Gen 2i represents another leap forward with major technological enhancements that make this generation of Bluesound products even more compelling. Best of all, Gen 2i is compatible with existing Bluesound systems.”

BluOS 3.0

All BluOS users, including Bluesound users, will receive a prompt to update their Players and their app on October 1, 2018. Updating to BluOS 3.0, all BluOS users will gain access to new music services like SOUNDMACHINE and Taihe Music Zone (China only) and an easier guided set-up process. As well, the release will include the plumbing for BluOS’s first voice integration, Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, with the corresponding library of skills to launch soon.

BluOS 3.0 also contains specific support for Gen 2i features like two-way Bluetooth with aptX HD, and enhanced audio EQ settings including wide mode and deep bass. Software updates to support AirPlay 2 will come in a later release.

Key Features of Bluesound Gen 2i:

1. AirPlay 2 Support (coming soon via software update)
2. Two-Way Bluetooth
3. aptX HD Bluetooth
4. Dual Band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
5. PULSE Family Amplification – more power and enhanced driver complement
6. Addition of HDMI ARC/eARC in the PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i

Further Information: 
Follow Bluesound on: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Nokia 8110 4G lands on Tesco Mobile. #Nokia #8110 #Ireland

The Nokia 8110 4G has just landed on Tesco Mobile for €79.99 The 8110 is the refreshed matrix phone if you will and has some features to keep you going but without the fuss of full access to social media and so on and it also has a smaller screen a camera just in case you happen to see something.

Key features

  • 2.4″ Display
  • 2MP Rear Camera
  • 4GB Internal Memory
  • Up to 32GB External Memory
  • 1500mAh Battery

Like the 3310 this device cuts out latest options available on smartphones today and will keep you off your phone and actually interact with people face to face.It does has a catchy look and with the possibility of whats app coming soon it might be just enough to replace your current handset and you can once again enjoy life without your head buried in a screen all day.

BUY HERE

 

Unboxing and first look – The August SWB200 smart health and fitness tracker. #health #tech #fitness

When it comes to fitness trackers there is an array of them out there but when it comes to features and price there is some limitations, Smartwatches can do all the things a fitness tracker can do but their inflated prices do them no justice and people are buying fitness trackers these days and today there is a new one on the market priced very well. Check out the unboxing below before we take it for a test run and if you have any questions in the meantime feel free to ask below or on all or social channels listed above and below.

 

August International, a UK based consumer electronics company with a vision to inspire smart innovation, today announced the launch of the SWB200 smart activity tracker. Packed full of features, this sleek, app-enabled wristband accurately tracks a user’s daily activity including steps, distance, heart rate, blood oxygen and calories burnt. It also monitors sleep, providing information on quality, duration as well as the stages of sleep, all for £54.95.  BUY HERE http://www.augustint.com/en/productmsg-292-326.html

Review – Groov-e DJ Style kids wireless headphones. #kids #headphones

When it comes to kids there is not much headphones on sale targeted just at kids, Mostly on offer is a generic set of earphones or headphones which is often bland. Groov-e however have created a pair for kids which is a great idea and not expensive either.

These are a simple design and built tough enough to last and have eye-catching colours with a silver trim on the outer side of the cup. The slider extensions are a simple execution to keep things simple as kids being kids anything more advanced would be an overkill here. The two toned Blue version we have has nice soft leather cups and don’t clamp onto your head making them comfortable for kids and long periods of use.

Build quality is robust and as I mentioned earlier its all kept simple with not having more expensive mechanisms in place here for movement on the cups and slider arrangement.  These are durable and also easy to maintain and a quick  wipe of a damp cloth will wipe away any marks they might pick up.

Sound is not bad considered their target and price-point. Given these are targeted at kids I did expect poor sound but was pleased to say it’s not bad at all and my child who is almost 10 reports the same and loves to wear these. From my own initial listening my ears are more trained to pick up the usual genres lows.mids and highs and they are OK but for kids they would not see a difference here although my daughter has a habit and privilege of trying out all my headphones she thinks they sound great and gives me the thumbs she knows the difference between woeful and good but looking at a bigger picture would all kids like them??

Well then yes most kids would not have access to as many as my child to be fair and kids will certainly enjoy them and will be pleased with overall feel,look and comfort and simplicity here.There is 3 buttons on one side which keeps things simple which is good and these buttons are raised making navigation easy.

The great thing built into these headphones are the option to share. We have an extra 3.5mm headphone port for another person to join in on what you are listening to which is really a good idea especially for kids who share the same interest in music and whatever the owner might be watching or tuned into on their tablet or phone.

BUY HERE

 

Review – The Groov-e Elite Wireless headphones with ANC. #Headphones #Tech

I have been reviewing Groov-e products some time now and they make really good products at affordable prices for all ages including kids which is a nice touch.  Today we will be checking out the Elite wireless with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)

Out of the box alongside the presentation these looked and felt good in the hand with simple controls to use too and also a very good carry case which some manufacturers today still seem to leave out not matter what price-point they fall under.

Design and Build.

These are built rather well and as a whole very comfortable to wear too even for long periods. With solid joints these should last some time as these areas are typically weak areas depending on how they are executed in which in the Elites case is good.There is a nice leather band underneath the headband itself which gives you more comfort for long-term use, the sliding mechanisms on both sides are again robust and lock into place pretty well and will not shift as you move around. The leather cups are really comfortable too and isolate much of the noise without even having to use the ANC but of course the ANC is a must have feature these days and just tops it off by muting outside noise altogether.

Functions and controls.

All placed again on one side which is preferable which is the left with a big square button on the outer ear for ANC which you really can’t miss and I like this idea as having the ANC alongside other buttons which is a case we see quite often the idea of having it placed on the outside here is a better option and leaves all the other dedicated buttons to on their own and less fumbling about.

The Groov-e Elite Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling take your audio experience to another level. Featuring 40mm Neodymium drivers for premium sound, crystal-clear audio is supported by Active Noise Cancelling, which will block out external noise and give you an immersive experience. Even with brilliant sound and ANC, you don’t have to compromise on flexibility as these on-ear headphones also offer over 10 hours of wireless playback. Just connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device and go! The combination of high frequency drivers and acoustic engineering allow for crystal clear sound wherever you are.

The skip pause and play buttons all work well and are easy to navigate with tactile buttons raise high enough and after a few minutes use you will be fine navigating these blindly. The power key here is the centre key of the trio and you also get womans voice telling you of your status here which does not sound too robotic, The ANC button changes colour from Green to Blue or a mixture of both which looks cool. The MIC,USB and 3.5 MM headphone jack is also present on the same side and as I said it keeps everything simple.

Sound and call quality.

Sound here is actually again better than I would expect at this pricepoint its great, its loud clear and really good bass which they call “Super Bass” and it dleivers, All genres lows,mids and highs where good and again phone calls crisp and clearat both ends so I was well pleased in this department really impressed for its price point.

Overall I cant fault these headphones however the only thing with some headphones with long term use or excessive use which I fall under they will tend to sweat sometimes but again this is a factor that would surround you be it the temperature or your activity with these on but it was not as frequent as some headphones with leather pads would be, Other than that I can certainly recommened these without hesitation with what you get for the money.

BUY HERE 

 

 

 

Infographic. Happy Birthday Google. #Google #Infographic #GoogleIs20

Here’s a scan for the development privileged insights of one of the world’s most energizing youthful organizations — an organization from which each organization can learn.

Google’s story is a recognizable one: Two Stanford doctoral understudies, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, built up an arrangement of calculations that in 1998 started a good lord jump in Web-seek execution. Essentially, they transformed pursuit into a fame challenge. Notwithstanding checking an expression’s appearance on a Web page, as different motors did, it evaluated significance by tallying the number and significance of different pages that connected to that page.

Like its internet searcher, Google is an organization overbuilt to be more grounded than it must be. Its lavishness of ability permits it vital adaptability — the capacity to analyze, to attempt numerous things without a moment’s delay. “Adaptability is costly,” says Craig Silverstein, a 30-year-old specialist who dropped his quest for a Stanford PhD to wind up Google’s first worker. “In any case, we feel that adaptability gives you a superior item. Is it accurate to say that we are correct? I believe we’re correct. More imperative, that is the kind of organization I need to work for.”

What’s more, the kind of organization that each organization can gain from. What takes after, at that point, is our push to “google” Google: to look for the development insider facts of one of the world’s most energizing development organizations. Like the rationale of the internet searcher itself, our hunt was profound and vote based.

Therefore, here is an infographic presents by Fullestop where we can see all about GOOGLE and also wishes a very Happy Birthday to GOOGLE.

Review – Rocketbook Everlast – Your digital notebook. #Tech #Digital #Notebook

This initial view of this looks like a standard notebook with a pen. This comes with 32 pages to write different types of notes. At first glance, this looks like a typical A4 diary, nothing special spiral notebook.  The first page has 7 different categories which are organized to create images in specific folders, this allows you to write/draw on the sheets, then using an app, an image is taken of the text which is then electronically stored as a PDF or Jpeg.

 

Features:

  • Erase with a Damp Cloth – Use Everlast with pens, highlighters, and markers from the Pilot FriXion line. Wipe pages with a damp cloth, and watch them erase
  • Environment-Friendly – Quit wasting paper and throwing away old notebooks. Everlast is endlessly reusable—the last notebook you’ll ever need.
  • Blast to Eight Hot Apps – Rocketbook is integrated with all the cloud storage services you already use.
  • Always in Airplane Mode – Power up your Rocketbook anywhere, even where other electronics have to be powered down.
  • No Whiteboard Required – Share notes and sketches with colleagues even if they weren’t in the meeting, or even if there was no meeting at all.
  • Organized – Students, engineers, designers, managers use Rocketbook to be more organized, creative and productive.

Practical use:

The Rocketbook System allows standard writing on one of the 32 pages. Once the text/artwork etc is completed, one of the 7 symbols at the bottom of the page can be marked. A standard smartphone using the App (iPhone 6 was used on this review) allows a digital image of the page to display on the smartphone. This image was scanned automatically via the phone camera via the app. The iPhone was held above the Rocketbook, with the pages manually turned over and scanned automatically.

1 / 8

The app used machine vision to search and scan the page (There’s was no need to push a button). To scan the text/ art the app distinguishes the symbol marked (one of 8 symbols) and sends the image direct to the pre-set folder in a variety of locations.  The Rocketbook allows integration to a variety of products, Google Docs, Dropbox, iCloud, Evernote, email and more using the quick to setup app.

The App:

The Rocketbook app has got good feedback with 4.4 out of 5 for over 2000 feedback. The setup on the iPhone was standard with no issues. The Rocketbook app allowed writing in a traditional paper and pen notebook, then with the use of a smartphone digitizing all notes and sending them to the chosen destination. The Rocketbook app allows integration to a variety of products. The app requires setting a destination for each symbol, which can be Email, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, Slack, Box, and iCloud.

If you have an apple watch, you can create a picture/text on the Rocketbook and store this as your Apple watch face. There is a variety of these types of options on the app.

2 / 9

Note:

  1. This is not recommended for a lefthander, this is due to the smudges of the text when writing from right to left.
  2. Don’t leave the text on any page for over a month, as this may leave the text difficult to remove.
  3. The Pilot Frixion pen range can be purchased in most stationary shops, (a little bit more expensive than your typical pens but can be under €5).  These pens can write on a normal sheet as a pen and erase as required like a typical pen. I have used these pens for over 5 years removing the need for tipp-ex correction fluid.
  4. This may sound strange but if the notebook is left in a hot environment like a car in the sun the writing may seem faded, as at 60 degrees Celsius the writing disappears due to the ink, the notebook can be put into the freezer to cool down and the text returns, something from Bond! (but works)

Conclusion:

This is a product changing from Analogue to digital with ease in organizing handwriting/art via a standard looking spiral notebook and smartphone. The Rocketbook features advise that the text/ art can be scanned and forgotten, – This does what it states on the packaging The Rocketbook is like a notebook, well-built and sturdy, writing is standard (except for left-handed persons). The book is easy to clean but requires cleaning via a damp cloth (included).  The smartphone via the app detects pages and stores them in chosen destinations in an appropriate format.  This can integrate into a variety of products via the app including Google Docs, Dropbox, iCloud, Evernote, Slack, OneNote, and Email.

If this could convert the handwriting to text on your laptop, this would be the number one product of the year.  This has practical applications whether as a student, engineer, designer, or managers minutes, which can be organized easily and stored. This is an interesting technology bringing handwritten notes/pictures into the digital area stored and organized easily.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocketbook-Everlast-Reusable-Notebook-Journal/dp/B071Y3MSRK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1533766173&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=rocketbook+everlast&psc=1

Price:     £34.99

Review – Garmin 55 Plus dashcam. #Garmin #Dashcams #Motoring #Tech

The Garmin 55 plus is the latest installment from Garmin which brings us much the same as previous iterations offering a simple UI easy to install unit and good footage all caught on a not so attention seeking piece in your car window.

Features

  • Small and inconspicuous when mounted on windscreen
  • High-quality 3.7MP camera with 1440p video capture that works well in bright and in low-light conditions
  • Advanced driver alerts include forward collision and lane departure, Go Alert, red light and speed camera warnings
  • Includes lifetime safety camera updates
  • Incident detection (G sensor) automatically saves footage of incidents on impact
  • GPS records location, direction, speed, date and time to show exactly where and when incidents occurred, plus built-in Wi-Fi for wireless video sync
  • Voice control allows you to start/stop recording, take a still picture or start/stop the Travelapse photo capture feature
  • Quick and secure magnetic mount, easy to stow and go

UNBOXING

If you are going to invest in a car invest in something like this and if you are buying a new car ignore the bullshit 360 external view from your internal screen which is not worth a flying hoot should you be in a car crash this is not the selling point in cars alongside Wi-Fi which is a lame atttempt for mobile operators to get you in on another bill most of us have mobile phones which are Wi-Fi hotspots by default.

Setting up is simple as before and as I had part of it already there it was even easier so for those moving on to it will be happy, You get a sticky pad with a magnet two come in the box should you make a haimes of the first job as they are hard to move and re fixing them is pointless as they simply wont stick again. You also get a generous cigarette charger which should be a thing of the past now and we should be looking at USB options and USB-C in the units themselves.

 

The UI here is the same as before and the same changes still need to be applied some safety features are a bit sensitive and create false negatives especially the voice commands which pick up soundbites from conversation in-car or on the phone and also your radio or CD/Media player taking up valuable space on your memory card.  I have done a video on this and the UI before which is in-depth.

The unit itself is also again small and will not draw attention to your car and can be placed cleverly depending on your car windows angle there is still today some idiots who smash car windows to nick your dascham but this one will not draw attention and I like that idea.

All that matters here with these really being short is how the footage looks and it does a great job with no fishbowl effect with 1440p its great I have already garnered much attention with some clips taken which are on my you tube channel.. The footage is good crisp and clear even looking in at a distance.

The price on this is what might put some off but for gods sake it’s a worthy investment. Most of the sub  €100 dashcams on sale now at discount stores are piles of dirt your footage is crap your card gets corrupted and build quality is lame so go spend the extra money shut up moaning and you will one day thank me for it.

HALFORDS    CURRYS/PC WORLD