Tag: featured

X-mini unveil their latest range of audio devices at #CES2018 #Xmini

The Award winning brand, which first revolutionised the portable speaker market with its X-mini Capsule Speakers, will introduce four new products in addition to its existing range launched in June last year. These include hybrid speaker headphones, X-mini EVOLVE 2, portable 360° 3D surround sound speaker, X-mini™ INFINITI S, and portable waterproof speakers, X-mini XOUNDBAR W and X-mini  KAI X1 W.

The brand, which first burst onto the scene in 2007 with its iconic capsule speakers, revolutionised the industry with its designs, and kicked off an entire new product category globally called the portable speaker. It continues to do the same with products such as the hybrid speaker headphones X-mini EVOLVE series and the premium 360° 3D surround sound X-mini INFINITI series.

“There is an increasing consumption of music, and in a report released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, streaming growth has increased steadily between 2012 and 2016, with a 60.4% increase between 2015 and 2016. As such, audio manufacturers need to keep up with the consumer need of having music wherever and whenever they want,” states Ryan Lee, Co-founder of X-mini™. “As market leaders in innovative audio design and engineering, we strive to break new grounds constantly and provide our users with great audio solutions that meets their lifestyles.”
X-mini™ INFINITI S

The X-mini™ INFINITI S is a portable 360° 3D surround sound speaker. Housing four drivers, one dedicated subwoofer, and built-in DPAC and DSP audio technologies, the X-mini™ INFINITI S is designed to disperse immersive high quality sound in all directions. With a compact form-factor and a removable genuine leather strap, enjoy added portability with the X-mini™ INFINITI S. It also comes with a HDMI port, that allows the speaker to be connected to home entertainment devices for high definition audio, and is an alternative to soundbars on the market. The X-mini™ INFINITI S comes with built-in USB Type-C port for fast-charging. The X-mini™ INFINITI S will be available in Q3 2018, at a suggested retail price of US $399.

X-mini™ EVOLVE 2 

The second-generation X-mini™ EVOLVE 2 returns with improved design features. Dual Bluetooth and AUX-in connectivity provides added flexibility for constant music on-the-go. The versatile speaker headphones comes with a built-in swivel and leather ear pads with memory foam to improve noise isolation and give extra comfort. The hybrid speaker headphones features quad drivers, and a bass port for enhanced audio in speaker mode. The headset also includes aptX audio technology, for improved audio and video synchronisation over Bluetooth. The X-mini™ EVOLVE 2 will be available in Q2 2018, at a suggested retail price of US $149.

X-mini™ XOUNDBAR W 

The X-mini™ XOUNDBAR W comes in a slim, pocket-designed form factor, making it easy to slip into the pocket. Housing dual 36mm audio drivers, enjoy full-range stereo sound with the X-mini™ XOUNDBAR W. It is an IPX7 waterproof certified ultra portable Bluetooth speaker, which can submerge in water for up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The X-mini™ KAI X1 W also comes with a built-in camera mount, which can be fixed to a bicycle handle or tripod for a fuss-free outdoor audio experience. The X-mini™ XOUNDBAR W will be available in Q2 2018, at a suggested retail price of US $45.90.

 X-mini™ KAI X1 W  

The X-mini™ KAI X1 W comes with a large 50mm driver for quality sound beyond size. With an IPX7 waterproof certified rating, the portable speaker can be submerged underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. With an in-built camera mount, the X-mini™ KAI X1 W can be fixed to a bicycle handle or tripod for a fuss-free outdoor audio experience. The X-mini™ KAI X1 W will be available in Q2 2018, at a suggested retail price of US $54.90. 

MyFC showcases JAQ Hybrid and LAMINA Range Extender at #CES2018 #Motoring

Swedish fuel cell company myFC is present at the world’s largest consumer technology show, CES. The company will showcase the world’s smallest fuel cell charger, JAQ Hybrid, as well as its development of a range extender for electric cars.

“Precisely a year ago, at CES 2017, we launched the world’s smallest fuel cell, LAMINA. Now we’re back with our first product on the LAMINA platform, JAQ Hybrid. The LAMINA cell is of course also at the heart of the range extender for electric cars we’re now developing,” says Björn Westerholm, CEO of myFC.

JAQ Hybrid is the world’s smallest fuel cell charger, able to both produce and store energy thanks to the coexistence of battery and fuel cell. It can be charged using myFC’s patented, green fuel, based on salt and water, as well as through a regular power outlet. Its promise is infinite power in your pocket, ending the experience of depleted smartphone batteries.

LAMINA Rex is a range extender for electric cars, currently under development by myFC. Built on the same LAMINA cell as the JAQ Hybrid, it may as much as double the range of a medium-sized electric car. MyFC aims to have a prototype of LAMINA Rex ready during 2018.

Review – The Nextbase Duo HD Twin Cam dashcam. #motoring #daschcams #nextbase

The Nextbase Duo HD cam is unique in a dash cam as comes with dual cameras with rotatable lenses for any angle front or back. This allows monitoring the road both ahead and behind at once. The accessories supplied are compatible with the complete range of dash cams.

See more detailed images during post.

This dash cam can ensure, if you witness a bad driver / accident on the road, in the front or back, this is recorded. The lens is unique as it can rotate to have both lens looking forward or to the side as required.  The unit has a brushed aluminium front and solid, hardwearing plastic.

Features:

  • Dual Cameras with 180° Lens Rotation

Dual lens design allows viewing in any direction, the wide-angle lens to the front and zoom lens to the rear.

  • 2.7″ LCD Colour Screen

LCD screen for ease of use and viewing the playback of recorded videos and photos.

  • Powered GPS Mount

Supplied with an Easy-fit powered mount, which allows the Dash Cam to be fitted and removed quickly and easily. The car power cable can remain in place, connected to the mount.

  • GPS Logger

GPS co-ordinates, date and time are recorded, the journey can then be viewed using the supplied software.

  • Windows & Mac playback software. The software is also available to download from www.nextbase.co.uk
  • Wi-Fi Connectivity

Connect your smartphone or tablet device to the Dash Cam; can be used to Start/Stop recording or to view or download files from the Dash Cam.

  • G Sensor / File Protection

In the event of an impact the device will automatically ‘protect’ the recording, stopping the file from being over-written. This can also be performed manually, by pressing the ‘protect’ button. Individual files can also be ‘protected’ when viewed within playback mode.

  • Parking Mode

The Dash Cam will power on automatically and make a protected recording, when physical movement of your vehicle is detected.

 

Click & Go GPS Magnetic Mounting:

The mounting as supplied with the dash cam is excellent allowing the power to be connected directly. The dash cam can then be removed from the bracket with one hand without touching any cables, the bracket is fitted with suction mount with built-in GPS receiver.

1 / 6

 

Setup involves:

Insert an SD card, press a few set up instructions, plug in the (Extra-long) 12V cigarette lighter power cable, and suction mount on to the vehicles and you’re ready to record.  The Nextbase has Automatic Start / Stop Technology which when the vehicle ignition is turned on, it starts to record automatically. Once the SD card is full of videos, rather than stopping, it is designed to overwrite the oldest file to the newest one. The time and date are automatically set upon the camera from satellite data, based on the country. Setup takes minutes.

 

There are 3 modes of camera operation – Video, Photo and Playback.

  • Video Mode: The default mode when the camera is turned on, for video recording.
  • Photo Mode: Allows you to take still photographs from the Wide-Angle lens camera.
  • Playback mode: Allows you to view recorded videos or photographs upon the dash cam’s LCD screen.
2 / 8

 

Play back:

Playback can be done via the 2.7″ LCD screen via the menu.  Files of approx. 245 MB for 3-minute clips as .mov clips, or 2.4 hours are stored on a 32 GB SD card.  They can be played on computers by many video players or use the Nextbase software (CD supplied) via Wi-Fi or download. File name ending with FR for the front camera and RE for rear camera. The Nextbase Duo HD does not come with an SD card, but cards can be purchased, e.g. Nextbase 32 GB microSD card (which can be used in all Nextbase dash cams), Generic SD cards can be used but would recommend using a good quality microSD card.

Nextbase Duo HD features built in Wi-Fi, allows downloading / share footage onto your mobile phone or tablet using the Nextbase Cam Viewer app (available on IOS & Android).  This footage can be shared to Social media / insurance firms or the police.

Compare

Taxi drivers often use dash cams but use these to face backwards to their passengers to record anti-social behaviour. This has the result should an accident happen outside the vehicle they have no record of this. The choice is not should a professional driver use a dash cam, rather which make and model for their budget or their requirements.

The Nextbase Duo HD has recording at full 1080p HD on each rotatable lens for enhanced picture quality day and night. This is suitable for most vehicles & drivers whether professional or your average driver (while the budget may exclude some average drivers use.).  The front lens has a 140° wide angle lens which allows recording of the entire road with the option on the 50m zoom to cover the rear or turn to the side as required.

If this dash cam is used to reduce your insurance premium, catch poor drivers for social media, improve your own driver, this cam has the quality, GPS co-ordinates, date and time recorded to ensure there is no question of the authentication of the footage.

3 / 12

If you are looking for a quality dash cam that stands out for the rest with the unique dual cameras, to record both front and back in full 1080p HD then there is no comparison with this product. Once this dash cam is used, other brands / models look inferior in comparison. A front-runner from Nextbase.

http://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams/dash-cams/nextbase-duo-hd-dash-cam  £169

https://www.nextbase.co.uk/dash-cams/front-and-rear-hd-dash-cam/  RRP: £199.99

VIDEO FOOTAGE

Jabra launches Third Generation true wireless earbuds. #Elite45e & #Elite65t #CES2018

To kick start 2018, Jabra have introduced the Elite franchise, a family of headphones and earbuds designed for high quality sound that provides the best combined voice and music experience. At CES, Jabra is showcasing three new products; the Elite 45e, Elite 65t and Elite Active 65t. With the latest research showing that daily usage of headphones by frequent users focuses on calls (58% of each user’s day), music (53%) and voice control (35%), the headphones are engineered to offer the best voice experience and music quality. The franchise is on offer in a range of wearing styles including true wireless, neckband, soft neckband and headband.

In addition to the best-in-class voice and music experience, the new Elite products also come with the security of a two-year warranty against dust and water ingress (two years for the Elite Active 65t also including sweat ingress). While users will experience the great voice and music experience that Elite products offer, they will also be able to choose the wearing style that suits them best. The Elite family includes true wireless and soft neckband variants with the suffix letter signifying the styles clearly using ‘e’ for earbud and ‘t’ for true wireless.

 

Alexa integration

For those who prefer using voice commands, the new products allow voice support for all major voice services, now including Amazon Alexa on-the-go. Jabra will be among the first movers to enable this mobile feature, providing customers with access to Alexa directly from the earbuds. With Alexa, you can ask to play music, hear the news, check weather, control smart home devices, and much more. Elite 65t delivers a 4-microphone array and superior sound.

While delivering a market-leading voice and music experience and durability, each of the Elite products Jabra is presenting at this year’s CES also has its own specific features:

Elite 45e: Engineered for the best voice and music experience. The Elite 45e is for users who want the best combined voice and music experience in a headset with a discreet design and a great fit. This soft neckband (with memory wire) headset has a lightweight form factor and a unique box microphone solution that delivers the clearest voice communication on any stereo wireless headphone.

 

 

Elite 65t: Engineered for the best true wireless voice and music experience. The Elite 65t is a third generation true wireless earbud aimed at those who want the best voice and music experience without wires. It is engineered to ensure a stable wireless connection and best call and voice quality. The 65t includes one-touch access to Siri, and Google Now, new integration for Amazon Alexa on-the-go and has up to 15 hours of battery life (with cradle).

Elite Active 65t: Engineered for active users who want a true wireless voice and music experience while working out. The Jabra Elite Active 65t is for those who want the features of the Elite 65t, while being able to use the earbuds in a sports or training setting. The earbuds have enhanced grip, through special coating, integrated accelerometer for tracking features and IP56 sweat, water and dust certification. The Elite Active 65t has five hours of listening time on one charge with two additional charges in the cradle.

 

“By introducing the Elite franchise, we have demonstrated to headphone users that we understand their needs and that we are fully committed to providing the best voice and music headphone solutions. Our new Elite franchise accommodates three levels of technology in sound, microphone and voice interaction capabilities, different endurance levels, and both true wireless earbud and neckband solutions,” said René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Jabra. “With the Elite family, we now offer headsets for every choice of wearing style, use case and price point.”  

Key features of the Elite franchise:

  • The best voice experience: unique, market-leading microphone technology ensures the best calls and voice interactions on the market. Plus support for all major voice virtual assistants including new integration with Amazon Alexa-on-the-go
  • Personalised music experience: users can adapt their sound to suit their personal preferences with the Jabra Sound app
  • Biggest choice of wearing styles: true wireless, neckband, soft neckband, headband – always the best voice, music and calls
  • Unbeatable durability: two-year life proof warranty against water and dust ingress**, two-year warranty for Active & Sport variants against sweat and dust

Find out more about the new Jabra Elite family at: www.jabra.com/elite

Availability

The Jabra Elite 65t will be available from mid-January in selected retailers at a MSRP GBP 149,99

The Jabra Elite Active 65t will become available early April in selected retailers at a MSRP GBP 169,99

The Jabra Elite Active 45e will become available early April in selected retailers at a MSRP at GBP 89,99

Novi gives Expert Electrical the edge with €200,000 IT upgrade. #Novi #ExpertElectric

Naas-based managed service provider Novi has completed a significant upgrade of electrical retailer Expert Electrical’s IT infrastructure. The work will contribute to protecting Expert’s systems from cybercrime while improving performance and reliability. The deal is worth €200,000.

Expert Electrical is Ireland’s largest electrical retailer, specialising in computers, smart devices and home appliances. Since launching in Ireland Expert has undergone rapid expansion and now boasts a network of 67 stores nationwide.

 

Pictured at the announcement that proactive managed serivce provider Novi has completed a €200,000 upgrade of electrical retailer Expert Electricals IT infrastructure are (L-R): George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi and Kate Tierney, financial controller, Expert Electrical.

 

Every Expert Electrical store houses many hundreds of Internet of Things (IoT) capable devices such as smart TVs, games consoles and other connected appliances, which need to remain connected to the internet to download the latest updates. This left the retailer’s systems vulnerable to intrusion from cybercriminals. Further exposing Expert to the risk of a data breach was the fact that it had not upgraded its IT infrastructure in a number of years.

To reduce its risk profile, Expert chose to work with a managed service provider to upgrade its infrastructure and WiFi networks. Having consulted with a number of providers, Expert selected Novi to conduct an assessment of its IT infrastructure. Novi found that Expert’s systems were based on legacy architecture and opted to combine these systems and move them to a virtualised environment.

Novi then implemented AirGap, its off-site data recovery service. This provides Expert with business continuity back-up and ensures against data compromise or loss in the event of a cyber incident or data breach. Following this, Novi installed separate Wi-Fi networks to maximise security. IoT-enabled smart devices now remain connected to one network, while Expert’s employees and point of sale systems use a distinct network. This setup makes it much more difficult for cybercriminals to access Expert’s systems. Expert’s new Wi-Fi networks also facilitated the implementation of an advanced retail analytics platform that will provide an overview of store footfall, allowing the retailer to assess the effectiveness of its marketing campaigns.

Further security measures included the installation of a high-performance Fortinet Firewall cluster to facilitate network segmentation. In the event of a cyber-attack or data breach this will enable Expert to isolate its core systems from any affected devices.

Pictured at the announcement that proactive managed serivce provider Novi has completed a €200,000 upgrade of electrical retailer Expert Electricals IT infrastructure are (L-R): Kate Tierney, financial controller, Expert Electrical and George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi.

Finally, Novi implemented sophisticated monitoring platforms to protect Expert Electrical from threats going forward. Novi CyberView will present Expert’s team with cybersecurity activity in a user friendly format, while its vulnerability management solution will monitor and report on known vulnerabilities and provide a mechanism for the application of security patches and updates

Kate Tierney, financial controller, Expert Electrical, said: “Prior to working with Novi we were concerned about the reliability of our IT infrastructure and our vulnerability to an attack by cybercriminals. However, this project has eased all of our concerns. We now have a secure, reliable and high-performance setup that ensures that we remain up and running at all times and which will serve our needs for years to come.

“Novi’s AirGap platform will keep our data secure in the event of a cyber-attack, and its monitoring services will protect us from emerging threats. As well as this, our new Wi-Fi network and the implementation of advanced retail analytics will measure changes in store traffic following the roll-out of marketing campaigns, helping us to see what works, and what doesn’t. This will allow us to tailor campaigns for maximum effectiveness going forward, giving us the edge on our competitors.”

George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi, said: “As Ireland’s leading electrical retailer, Expert Electrical wanted to lead by example when it came to its own IT systems and processes. However, the company was reliant on an outdated IT infrastructure that put it at risk of experiencing a data breach or significant downtime.

“Novi designed and implemented an all-new IT infrastructure for Expert, providing it with a reliable and secure framework on which to do business. Expert also now receives a scheduled weekly site visit from one of our engineers to monitor any potential issues and help the company to maintain a high-performance infrastructure. With over 15 years’ experience in helping companies to avail of the most advanced IT solutions, Novi was uniquely placed to steer Expert Electrical through this complex project and install an IT foundation that will enable it to continue to grow and develop its business.”

Review – The VRSE BATMAN VR Game. Another failed product. #VR #VirtualReality

I am not even going to go into this in too much depth because the same problem is persistent here yet again with tonnes of complaints on Amazon and the App stores and all i can say if you have one that works you are very lucky indeed and just like the VR offering I have missed out on games which I really was looking forward to getting stuck into and so where some of my families kids too however this is not going to happened even after three replacements nothing works full stop. I just took out the controller before I wasted my time and yours to see if this worked but nope..

Once again you can see the complaints and details over  HERE and its consistent once more but we will show you what you get in the package and what the game is supposed to do below but until we hear back from the company we can do no more and hope to get working units very soon its in their own interest to remedy this big problem and does not bode well with people being left unanswered at at,they (  http://www.vrse-vr.com/) really need to get their finger out . Another example below of the pairing not happening but then a PIN box pops up but nothing of the sort came up on any of our devices used in testing.

 

What is the game about then anyway?

Step into Batman’s dark reality, determined to thwart The Joker’s latest evil scheme. The fate of Gotham City rests in your hands as you sharpen your skills at Wayne Tech. Ready or not, it’s time to stalk your enemies through dark streets. Use the game’s batarang to take some henchmen down, or drop in close for intense hand-to-hand combat through the Batman-themed controller. Do you have what it takes to become Batman and save the city?

 

 

Unboxing and Review. VRSE Jurassic World VR.  A risky purchase. #VirtualReality

As a fan of VR it has lost growth over the last year but hopefully things will change this year but with the focus more so on AI and machine learning I dont get my hopes up but there is still a keen interest in VR and over the Christmas period I have seen plenty with VR headsets with in my circle of friends and family and being purchased in stores. Argos have sent us this Jurassic World pack to try out which for me is nice as I do happen to like the movie franchise so it will be interesting to see how it complements the films.

UNBOXING 

To begin with its a well presented package with plenty of information at hand on the box and nicely illustrated also inside everything is well secured with cardboard compartments so this will keep things as is during transport of the product it will remain secure. Inside you get a generic VR headset which we have covered before a remote control that requires 2 X AAA batteries not included, a cloth, instructions and a baton which the controller fits into and easy to set up you will also require small philips screwdriver to open the battery compartment.

 

 

You then will need to download the app and check for compatibility which is for most smartphones both on Android and iOS the list provided on the box is not extensive by any means but covers popular branded handsets, We have tried to test this on a Nokia 8,Samsung S8 and S8 Plus smart phone and others not listed but again this may not have been available at time of printing the package, Any decent Android phone should run this app but anything under the  €100 mark may have issues with it as from testing some VR apps in the past such devices could not even load the app or find it in the store.

APP DOWNLOADS

What is the game about.. Escape from Isla Nublar

Return to Isla Nublar for an intense Jurassic World VR gaming adventure. Use the game-themed motion controller to fend off hungry Velociraptors in the jungle or hold off a pursuing T-Rex as you speed towards the Visitor’s Center. Can you complete your mission and make it to the rendezvous point, or will you be devoured by the island’s most dangerous predators?

Set-Up

Once you have installed your batteries and app you may begin.. You will need Bluetooth turned on and will be told so if not to proceed. But here is where it came to an abrupt halt big time disappointment..

Having read up on reviews the same consistent problem came up with no answer nor a reply from them on their app store or Amazon where a raft of reviews come in the same. Even since my own response on Amazon there has been more complaints of the same issue and NO RESPONSE not even on Twitter where I did request some form of feedback.

https://twitter.com/techbuzzireland/status/946069967073574912

Hugely disappointed with the lack of support and seeing the amount of complaints and the app has not been updated since September either so be it a control issue or app issue it needs to be addressed immediately . And all of a sudden a stack of reviews are now missing from Amazon including mine and the product has suddenly gone out of stock in some regions There is however some reviews saying all is well but that its in the minority , I would really want to test this in store before handing out your hard earned cash no matter where in the world you buy it..

 

 

 

 

Leanne Coyle wants to raise mental health awareness with Instagram. #smileforme2018

Leanne Coyle is a 21 year old girl from Cavan, hoping to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. In an attempt to raise mental health awareness and to make 2018 a happier year, She has created a new Instagram page to showcase the positivity of a person’s smile. Mixing her love for photography and people together to hopefully gather up 365 different smiles, one for every day of 2018.

Leanne tells us:  Having worked in retail for the last six years, even when I think the day can’t get any worse, it’s always the smiles that make the day much better.

#smileforme2018 Instagram Page

Leanne also says: I will be travelling all around Ireland gathering pictures so I could be anywhere at anytime. Please feel free to follow my Instagram page and follow the journey of smiling strangers throughout the year. Here’s to a happier, more positive year. #smileforme2018

Follow Leanne and #smileforme2018  HERE

Update. Now also on FACEBOOK 

 

More disounts on the scales. Nokia Body+ smart scale gets price cut. #NokiaHealth

There is a few discounts now avaialable from Nokia health if you are looking to get a proper tech scales and only yesterday there was a discount on the entry level model which can be bought for a very cheap price, See more on that HERE 

The Nokia Body+ smart scale,has now now 20% off until Jan 20th which gives you some time to think.

Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale

– Full body composition analysis: Monitors weight (kg, lb., st lb.), body fat & water percentage, plus muscle & bone mass

– Automatic synchronization: Data from every weigh-in appears in the Nokia Health Mate app automatically via Wi-Fi

– Nutrition tracking: Set a weight goal and manage your daily calorie budget

– Daily weather forecast: Step on your scale to enjoy a localized weather report

– Multi-user friendly: Recognizes up to 8 users with independent sync

See the deal HERE