Our Nokia 7 Plus has just arrived in the Black Copper colour, Today is just a quick unboxing and tour of the device which we seen recently at the Irish launch event in both flavours and many seem to like the white ceramic version which is really nice. You can search the site for all details on availability of the Nokia 7 Plus in Ireland and stay tuned for more, One thing I have seen been asked quite often about this device and a radio on board,there is no radio folks. Any other questions in the meantime feel free to ask below or on social media.. Thanks…
Great news for Irish and Cork company, Metabolomic Diagnostics. Their preeclampsia screening test has won €2 million from EU Horizon 2020 SME funding. This is huge boost as one of only 3 companies in Ireland to get this funding. Enterprise Ireland have backed MD as well as other VCs.
Full statement below
Having been ranked among the top innovations in Europe, Metabolomic Diagnostics is set to receive €2 million in EU Funding under the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, which received a total of 1280 applications from all over Europe.
One of only 3 Irish companies to receive this funding, the Cork-based biotech company will use the award to commercialise its breakthrough product, PrePsia™. PrePsia™ is a simple blood test taken in early pregnancy, which can identify whether a woman may develop Preterm Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is one of the biggest risks that women face during a pregnancy, claiming the lives of 75,000 mothers and 500,000 babies annually; survivors of the disease have a lifelong increased risk of developing a range of health problems.
PrePsia™ has the potential to transform prenatal care by allowing clinicians to administer effective treatments early that can dramatically reduce the incidence of the disease thus improving pregnancy outcomes whilst lowering healthcare costs for treating the disease. The EU has clearly recognised the value of PrePsia™ which has worldwide applicability, with the award of this significant funding.
Charles Garvey, CEO of Metabolomic Diagnostics said, “This award will be used to accelerate our go-to-market strategy. We plan to market the product next year, and now with this support from EU, we believe that PrePsia™ has the potential to become part of pregnancy screening programs worldwide. The award is recognition by the European Union of the huge progress we have made to date and the enormous societal benefit that our innovative test will bring to expectant mothers and their babies all over the world.”
Metabolomic Diagnostics has previously been supported by the EU through FP7 funding, as well as private investors, SOSV, Enterprise Equity AIB Seed Capital Fund and Enterprise Ireland.
Sean Burke, Horizon 2020 National Delegate, Enterprise Ireland: “The success of Irish companies in winning significant Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funding has its foundation in Enterprise Ireland supports which are focused on nurturing and developing the innovative solutions and capabilities of our SMEs. This is an excellent win for the team at Metabolomic Diagnostics and we look forward to working closely with the company in the future.”
Magik Book uses patented tech to bridge physical and digital in a unique type of augmented reality
Magik Book, the first ever physical catalogue book that links to digital devices, has been launched by the Portugal-based startup of the same name. As Magik Book’s pages are turned, the smartphone or tablet responds with synchronized videos, animations, music, images, interactive models and more.
Aiming to replace standard paper catalogues, Magik Book is designed as a marketing tool for luxury products for use in showrooms, stores, at events, or to send to customers. The product is well-suited to car manufacturers, jewelers, hotel chains, and other high-end brands.
Magik Book is bound by a case which folds out into a stand, angling the device in the direction of the user and with the book itself laid flat. A custom-built app shows content tailored to each page of the book, offering an augmented reality experience with the physical object in the hands of the customer.
“Even in the digital age, people have strong relationships with real-life objects – not least books. That was the concept that drove the creation of Magik Book,” said Hugo Ribeiro, CEO and founder of Magik Book.
“Magik Book combines physical and digital, traditional and contemporary, setting itself apart as a marketing solution and offering brands a real opportunity to stand out in a crowded market. Integrating both elements makes for a more personal and memorable customer experience.”
Magik Book uses the company’s patented advanced magnetic field technology, which takes advantage of the compass and other sensors within digital devices. The tech requires no batteries or pairing, and is compatible across iOS and Android devices.
Apps are tailor-made to each client and can include media such as panoramic photos, interactive videos, or digital product modelling but can also facilitate sales, for example through a click-to-buy option or an email update registration.
Magik Book blurs the line between traditional marketing methods and more modern marketing technology, also known as martech. The latter is worth an estimated $34bn.
The company also today announces the launch of an online platform – the Magik Book Creator – on which small to medium-sized businesses can design their own catalogue and upload digital content to synchronize to each page. The tool will enable brands to custom-build their own Magik Book experience and will allow for smaller orders.
With 4K video and 4 waterproof/shockproof protection launching in July for €449.99 the FT7 LUMIX is one to watch and also comes in several colours, orange, blue and black.
Announcement below.
The Lumix FT7 is waterproof (up to 31m / 102ft), shockproof (to 2m/6.6ft), freeze proof (to -10°C), dustproof and pressure resistant (to 100kg/220lbf) making it the perfect rugged companion for all your extreme experiences.
With a 20.4-megapixel high-sensitivity sensor which is joined by a 28mm wide angle 4.6x (28-128mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, the FT7 also features Power O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilisation) to help keep your shots steady even during rocky activities.
New for the FT7 is a 0.2-inch 1,170k-dot equivalent Live View Finder for composing your images when screen use is impractical. Use the LVF to compose your shots in strong sunlight, with the added bonus of saving and extending battery life in harsh conditions – such as the cold. Meanwhile, the 3.0-inch rear monitor boasts the highest-in-class 1,040k-dot resolution and uses tough, tempered-glass.
Never miss an opportunity with full-resolution high-speed burst shooting at 10fps*, which is coupled with Light Speed AF. What’s more, all your incredible exploits can be captured in stunningly smooth, high-resolution 4K Video. When 10fps isn’t enough, use 4K Photo to grab even fleeting moments by shooting at 30fps in 8-megapixel equivalent resolution, extracting the best frame from a 4K burst to save as a photo.
When you want to share the thrills and spills with those back at home, you can do that easily with Wi-Fi connectivity giving you the option to upload your photos and videos to Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and more. Images can also be GPS geo-tagged to ensure you always remember exactly where your adventures took place. Don’t worry about running out of juice while on the go, as the FT7 supports USB charging for instant power from battery packs when wall charging is out of bounds.
For something extra special, take advantage of special modes such as time-lapse shooting, 22 creative filters and panorama mode, which can capture both horizontal and vertical images. The FT7 can even help with your night-time escapades, such as rock climbing or cave walking, as it can be used as a torch light, without the camera function being activated.
Other super-handy tools on board the FT7 include a compass and altimeter – making it ideal for a huge range of outdoor activities, including fishing, camping, diving, snorkelling, surfing, snowboarding, skiing and mountain climbing. This is a camera that is ready to capture the moments when you’d normally have to leave your other devices behind.
It’s not just thrill-seekers that will appreciate the FT7 – use it on your beach holidays, ensuring all those special memories are captured by a camera which isn’t fazed by sand, water and anything else you and your family want to chuck at it.
Sony has changed its design in the new Xperia XZ2 family to what they call “Ambient flow” instead of the “Loop Surface” design from previous Xperia’s like the XZ1 Series. I liked the old design but the new design gives the phone a more curved rear surface allowing it to fit in your hand more naturally. I did find the phone slippy so its worth getting a case for the phone. It feels very premium and solid with the metal frame and Corning Gorilla Glass5 making it look very sleek. It took me around a day to get used to the placement of the rear fingerprint scanner as on the previous Xperia’s it was on the side of the phone. Its great Sony has kept the dedicated camera button as it has on other Xperia’s, on the side is the power button and volume rocker, which were both easily used when the phone is in your hand.
I didn’t think that the phone would fit so well in the hand as it does as it weights 198g and its thickness 11.1mm but it feels comfortable in the hand. On the top of the phone is a microphone and a tray for the Nano Sim Card and Micro SD, its handy that no pin is needed to remove the tray, there is also a LED for notifications above the screen. At the bottom is another microphone and the USB-C port as there is no headphone jack Sony have bundled and USB-C headphone adapter in the box. The Xperia XZ2 is rated for IP65/68 so its water-resistant and dust-proof, so no need to worry about getting it wet in the odd shower of rain we get in Ireland.
SCREEN The Xperia XZ2 has a Full HD+ 1080p IPS LCD HDR screen with a 18:9 aspect ratio and increased its screen size to 5.7 inches from the previous Xperia XZ1 so that 13% larger (2160 x 1080 pixels which gives a pixel density of 424 ppi), you can watch HDR video content from YouTube. Again Sony bring their Bravia Television technology to their Xperia devices to improve the screens display with TRILUMINOS and X-Reality features as well as being able to convert non-HDR content to near HDR. The screen gave quiet good viewing angles and even in direct sunlight the screen was viewable without any problems, theres plenty of options in the Display settings like White balance and Colour gamut and contrast allowing you to tweak the display to the way you like. Sony had also added a neat feature called Night Light which cuts down on blue light so it should make it easier to fall asleep at night. AUDIO Sony brings plenty of their audio tech to the Xperia XZ2 like DSEE HX, LDAC Hi-Res Audio, ClearAudio+ and S-Force Front Surround Sound. It also has something Sony call Dynamic Vibration System which gives the Xperia XZ2 a rumble feedback like you would find in a PlayStation controller when there is audio playing either in music or watching movies or games. I found the feature most useful when playing games as it adds to the overall gameplay. As I mentioned above Sony have followed other phone makes and have removed the headphone jack so you will need to use the included adapter if using wired headphones, it’s a pity the Xperia XZ2 doesn’t support wired digital noise cancelling headphones like the MDR-NC31EM or MDR-NC750. The Xperia XZ2 Stereo speakers which Sony say are 20% louder compared to the Xperia XZ1 and the Stereo Speakers are definitely a step up in loudness.
CAMERA The Xperia XZ1 and XZ2 have a 19Mp Motion Eye single-lens cameras, but Sony has made some enhancements in the Xperia XZ2 with its new image signal processor which Sony developed with Qualcomm. The rear camera is 25 mm wide with Sony G Lens F2.0 with laser aufofocus. Like all Xperia’s when you open the camera app its default mode is the Superior Auto mode which tries to automatically recognize the scene the camera is looking at and apply the correct settings for it. There is a manual mode when you can change settings like ISO, White Balance, Exposure, Shutter Speed and Auto Focus. I found the Auto mode quite good at quickly selecting the correct scene when opening the camera app and taking good quality photos, it gave good color reproduction and keeps the images sharp in the situations that I used the camera. The Camera apps section where you can have AR effects in your photos, or ‘Bokeh’ app which puts the subject in focus and background out of focus. For videos there are plenty of options on how you want to record your videos, like color and brightness, Video resolution, Object tracking and Steadyshot. I found Steadyshot very good at keeping the video smooth even when your moving.
The Xperia XZ2 can record in 4K HDR, the videos recorded with these settings did keep a lot of detail and color compared to videos recorded in HD. The Xperia XZ2 supports Full HD slow motion video recording at 960fps, in practice I found it a bit tricky to get slow motion videos, as it does take a bit of practice.Xperia XZ2 Slow Motion
BATTERY The Xperia XZ2 made some improvements in the battery department increasing its capacity to 3180mAh (compared to 2700 mAh in the Xperia XZ1). The Xperia XZ2 also supports Qi Wireless charging (Qi Mid 9w) as well as Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. As we keep our smartphones for longer now Sony have a feature called Battery Care which learns you charging routine and instead of charging the phone quickly it slow charges the phone which increases the lifespan of the phones battery. I was getting 2 days of usage from a full charge with “Stamina mode” enabled. PERFORMANCE The Xperia XZ2 runs Android Oreo 8.0 out of the box, while I used the phone it was very smooth as its running Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 with 4GB of RAM and 64 internal storage. I had no issues when switching between different apps. Sony has a light skin on Android so they should be quick enough to release patches as they are following Googles A/B (Seamless) System Updates. Bluetooth 5.0 is supported. They also have carried on their 3D creator app from the Xperia XZ1 which allows you to create 3D scans and make avatarsfrom them it’s a pretty nifty app. Aligning with the PlayStation brand the Xperia XZ2 allows PS4 Remote Play so you can connect to your PS4 in your home, you also get a 12 month free PlayStation plus subscription included with the Xperia XZ2 which is a nice extra. Full Specs – https://www.sonymobile.com/ie/products/phones/xperia-xz2/ Available to buy:- From Vodafone :- from Free on Billpay http://shop.vodafone.ie/shop/phones/sony-xperia-xz2-bill-pay-black And on Prepay 649€ http://shop.vodafone.ie/shop/phones/sony-xperia-xz2-pay-as-you-go-black From Eir :- from 149€ on billpay https://www.eir.ie/store/mobile/phones/bill-pay/sony-xperia-xz2/
The Chipolo tracker comes in several styles, Two look like a large coins with a striking colour, approx. 1.5 inches in diameter and 0.23 inches thick and the other is a credit card type style which is really convenient for wallets of all sizes, The circular ones fit on to a keyring with a normal set of keys. The units are sealed water-resistant up to IP5 standards, (not suitable to submerge in water). The units felt strong and able to withstand a knock or two. The Chipolo models tested are all clickable, which can be heard pressing.
Features:
Chipolo Smart Keyring Bluetooth
Water resistant Up to IP5 standards
Loudest 100db ring, Chipolo Card 95db
15 months battery life, Chipolo card 12 months
Setup:
The setup is straightforward, download the Chipolo app available for Android and iOS devices (the QR code can be scanned and download directly). Configuration is standard asking a few basic questions on the setup. Note: The App may reduce the battery performance of your phone, as it requires location and Bluetooth to be turned on.
THE APP
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The Chipolo is attached to your key for example (except the chipolo card) to ensure if you lose / misplace your keys in a Bluetooth range of your phone, they can be found. If the keys are lost, using the app the Chipolo the unit can ring with a sound. Alternatively, if you lose your phone, you can press the Chipolo to have your phone ring (within Bluetooth range). If your keys are lost outside of Bluetooth range they can be found via the Lost & Found Chipolo Community.
They can search for your belongings through the anonymous Lost & Found network. The unit can be marked as lost, (via the Chipolo app) which sends anonymous signal to the community. When one of the Chipolo community members passes by your lost item, their phone will record your lost Chipolo’s new location. An anonymous notification of your Chipolo’s new location is sent to the Chipolo app on your phone and to your email.
The battery lifetime is 1 year – 15 months which is not replaceable while Chipolo offer discounted renewal program to replace the Chipolo. In the event your Chipolo battery is dead / lost etc, the Chipolo Support follow up to ensure this is communicated to you, which is a real positive.
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Hello TechBuzz,
Your Chipolo Application has been offline for the past 48 hours, therefore the last known location of your belongings cannot update. If you did this on purpose, please ignore this e-mail.
Please note that in case of lost valuables we won’t be able to help you find them
To fix this, please make sure that your Chipolo Application is running and that your phone is online. Take a look at our knowledge base and/or contact our support for more information. We are online 24/7 to help.
If you don’t want to receive e-mails about your Chipolo Application status, please contact us via support and we will turn them off for you.
If you have a habit of losing your keys, wallet handbag or other personal valuables then the cost of this item is minimal as compared to the hassle to replace personal items.
If you’ve ever had a parking ticket, been towed or even just been late because you couldn’t find a space, you’ll know that parking can be stressful – and expensive. That’s changing – thanks to a pioneering new app from Down Under called Kerb, which has already solved a lot of parking problems for thousands Australian and New Zealanders.
So how does it work? It’s a bit like ‘Airbnb for Parking’: homeowners or businesses can rent out their spare spaces to make extra cash – and drivers can use the app to park more easily AND more cheaply. But unlike Airbnb, councils love Kerb because it reduces congestion and environmental impact by getting cars off roads, makes use of existing infrastructure – and means more money for locals to spend in the economy.
A Kerb parking space will save the average commuter anywhere between €10 and €40 a day, depending on where they park. Those who park with Kerb use the extra cash on anything from house deposits to holidays, or their kids’ school or university fees. The app isn’t just for parking cars either – Kerb is also for renting and leasing spaces for motorbikes, boats, trucks – even helicopters…
You might be thinking you’ve heard of parking apps before. And you’d be right, but Kerb is different. That’s because it also offers a car park management solution – Kerb Bays – which lets churches and schools use their car park to fundraise, allows universities and shopping malls to better manage their parking, and businesses put their car parking spaces to work and generate extra cash. Residential committees even use Kerb to monitor visitor parking spaces and manage the allocation of parking spaces in apartment buildings.
Kerb leaser, Dee Marshman says, “I have founded KERB to be an awesome way to make use of my car space when I’m not parking my car there! The app is user-friendly and makes the whole process super-easy. The staff at KERB have great communication, too! There’s no downside to using KERB and I recommend it to all of my friends!”
Kerb launched in October 2016 and is live across Australia, New Zealand and will be rolling out in 16 languages later this year. “We’re really excited about the benefits that Kerb is going to have for Irish users”, says co-founder Rob Brown. “The app allows you to list an entire car park up in minutes, and each individual bay can be customised by availability, price and vehicle type.”
If you’re envious of your neighbours paying off their mortgage earlier or going on great holidays because they list their home on Airbnb – this could be your easier, greener way to cash in on the sharing economy!
Kerb was launched in 2016 by Rob Brown (one of Australia most prominent marketers), and Matt Salmon (a highly regarded technologist and app developer).
Kerb allows leasers to list an entire car park up in minutes: each individual bay can be customised by availability, price and vehicle type.
Currently leasers approve booking requests. With Kerb Bays, leasers have the option to apply instant book to all your bays.
If leasers prefer long-term users in some car parks, they have the option for the user to pay by the week as a direct debit. The user is then provided to give notice to end the lease.
Kerb allows leasers to add their own terms to the app, which the user must accept when they click to book.
Registration is collected on all bookings – other documents can be collected if required.
Car park access – provided boom gates or doors are online, Kerb should be able to trigger them open via a button on the app which appears to the user when they book. There are other devices like GSM openers which can also be integrated with.
Kerb is happy to provide signage for any bays listed on Kerb, free of charge.
Kerb will be available around the world and is already in Australia, New Zealand, and just arrived in the UK and Ireland.
This product is marketed as “aims to provide innovative products that assist consumers with their daily household chores, leading to a more comfortable and enjoyable life.” The robotic vacuum cleaner looks solid, surrounded by a soft bumper with rugged wheels. The unit came with a variety of accessories; side brush, remote control, water reservoir.
Box Contains:
1x Floor cleaning robot DEEBOT OZMO 610, 1x OZMO water tank, 2x Washable and reusable microfiber cleaning cloths, 4x Side brushes, 2x Dust filter, 1x Direct suction attachment, 1x Manual, 1x Cleaning tools, 1x Charging dock.
Features:
Smart Cleaning Path with less missing
OZMO mopping system for superior cleaning
V-shaped main brush for more lifting
Selective cleaning modes for various messes
App Control DEEBOT, anytime, anywhere
Stair Safety Technology
Auto Start at One Touch
Specifications:
Noise Level: The noise level, 65 dB is too loud to have running in the same room if you are sleeping but when the unit was used downstairs during the night with the doors closed the sound was not heard.
Battery Charging:
The DM88-BYD, 3000mAH battery gives 110 minutes of run time on a full charge. This takes approx. 4 hours to fully recharge. There is the option to have the unit return to the charging dock via the remote, alternative when the units battery power gets low, DEEBOT automatically returns to its docking station, by itself. The location is memorised, and cleaning continues from where it left off. There does not appear at present an option to purchase a replacement battery (which may be required after 3 / 4 years use).
Mopping System:
The Ecovacs Deebot OZMO 610 robot vacuum has a reservoir that holds 300 milliliters of water, which is managed by a smart water pump that prevents leaks from occurring. There is small suite of sensors to ensure that the vacuum mop mode only runs on hard floors, and it keeps the microfiber mop pad from becoming saturated and subsequently ineffective. There is a smart cleaning pad with interchangeable suction inlet, allowing different floor type cleaned.
The DEEBOT- 0zmo 610 can manoeuvre to conquer difficult locations between chairs / tables / stair drops with ease using multiple sensors that distinguishes the dangers. The heavy-duty wheels can climb 0.6-inch thresholds. The unit has a bumper rail with infrared anti-collision sensors to avoid obstacles. The stair safety technology has anti-drop sensors to clean around stairs without the risk of falling. This unit is low enough to clean under some sofas, which in the past had to be manually pulled out, cleaned, washed and then pushed back in place.
The Brand:
ECOVACS ROBOTICS has been around since before 2006 refocusing on research and development, design, manufacture and the sales of robotic home appliances. Their R&D team has over 100 engineers and specialists hold 345 trademarks and over 1,000 patents in China and overseas.
Warranty: One-year manufacturer’s warranty, this is one gripe with this unit as the build quality and design should affirm a 3-year warranty within Europe, rather than a 1 year.
Compare models:
Setup – first use.
The unit requires minimum knowledge to setup; this required a few accessories fitted to the unit (a quick start guide supplied). This unit has an auto start, one touch of a button and simple start button which allows you to instantly start the clean. Press once, then DEEBOT immediately gets to work. The unit can also be controlled via the supplied remote,
3 – Edge cleaning mode (Clean the edges and corners in a room)
App – Programming the Robot
The Deebot can be programmed weekly to clean multiple times per day at specific times using the Ecovacs app. The Ecovacs app has got 2.5 out of 5 stars. The main reasons for dropping stars is “App invasive permissions / lack of push notification” (to tell you if the vacuum needs assistance). The app allows control of the DEEBOT, anytime, anywhere ensuring when you return from home the house has been cleaned in advance.
Maintenance:
The maintenance on the unit is basic and requires no technical knowledge. The brushes can be removed. Removal of the reservoir, cleaning cloth, etc. are easy to remove and clean under a tap as required. The Ecovacs accessories are freely available on Amazon at reasonable prices (except the battery).
Industry Norm:
Any of the main manufacturers that currently do a SWOT analysis on the market should see this versatile technology as the key threat to their business. This technology only used for a week, leaves traditional vacuum cleaners in the dust. This technology is not a ‘should I get one or not?’ question, it’s what model I should get? You would still need a basic vacuum cleaner for stairs, cobwebs on the ceiling, dust on the skirting board, etc. (The ECOVACS ROBOTICS DEEBOT R98 would work for all areas). The features of this technology can still be done manually, while the same can be said for a dishwasher, but why waste time and energy doing work that can be automated.
This robotic vacuum cleaner is like using Sky+, satellite navigation or VR glasses for the first time – WOW. The DEEBOT- 0zmo 610 works and it’s hard to go back to traditional methods once used.
The DEEBOT- 0zmo 610 does what the marketing team states; ‘provide innovative products that assist consumers with their daily household chores, leading to a more comfortable and enjoyable life’. Does it clean as well as a traditional cleaner / mop & bucket? This works and makes life easier and unless the floors are tested with a microscope I found no issues on DEEBOT- OZMO 610 cleaning ability. This is a major thumbs up for this product and a product / technology highly recommended.
There is plenty of weather apps out there today and we have covered many over the last two years here and I always like to see something new, WeatherKit is an updated version of the App called Aerium which we featured before by Indie Dev Raul, Check it out below the app is available on both the Android and iOS platforms. It has a really nice minimalistic design and looks great.
Features
5-day forecast During our beta, we heard lots of voices saying that we should support at least 5 days of weather forecast. To do so, we invested heavily into how we can make that experience as seamless as possible and our whole team is stoked with the result. Did someone say hourly forecasts? They’re next.
· RainAlert We love RainAlert only because sometimes it’s invisible. It was designed to only get in your way when you need it more.
· Subscriptions To provide you with the best weather data, we’re using the best weather API’s available – and boy, they’re not cheap. We’re a small indie team committed to this project and to the people using it, without turning a profit. In all fairness, we’d love to push the limits on the affordability and in this update, we added multiple Pro subscriptions. You can subscribe to our monthly or yearly plan, or get the best deal available and buy the lifetime in-app purchase.
· Interface & Experience We updated the on boarding alongside with the interface for a better user experience. You’ll notice major changes to the swipe-up weather card, both in smoothness and content. It’s a small redesign with a focus on accessibility.
