Tag: tech

The best TV for watching sport: 2022 edition

The world cup is just around the corner, so what better time is there to buy the perfect smart TV to experience that pitch-side feel in your own home? 2022 has been a great year for televisions, but it’s tough to know much much you need to spend to get that next-level watching experience for your home.

Knowing the best 65-inch TVs UK wide, from OLED, QLED or standard LED is rarely simple to decipher, especially with so many options to choose from, so we’ve taken the hassle out of that job and chosen our three favourite TVs this year for enjoying your favourite sports in style.

Samsung BU8070 4K Crystal UHD Smart TV 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Crystal-UHD-Smart-Built/dp/B0B1VC85Y8/

At the much more affordable end of the TV spectrum, Samsung has knocked it out of the park in terms of value with the BU8070, which is simply perfect for catching up on your favourite sports this year.

Despite the second-to-none 3D surround sound with Object Tracking for full immersion, the most exciting feature of Samsung’s BU8070 is quite easily its excellent Crystal Processor, which precisely upscales live sports (or whatever else your watching) in real-time. That means there’s no blurring, no dull, low-quality playback, just sheer quality without fault.

All-in-all, we can’t fault this television, and at its price, it’s an absolute screamer.

 

Samsung Q60B QLED 4K Smart TV 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Inch-Q60B-QLED-Smart/dp/B09VH47GPX/

Samsung is well-known for making the most gorgeous displays at competitive prices, and the Q60B is no exception. Unlike our previous pick, this display harnesses the power of QLED technology, where nanocrystals are used to create a huge range of over a billion colours, all on one screen.

The result? Anything you watch, be it sports, films, shows, games – they all pop off the screen with proper true depth and vividness that can’t be topped.

Samsung rarely skimp out on great sound either, and the Q60B has that all-important Object Tracking built in, so the sounds of the stadium come alive, without the need for surround sound.

 

LG OLED C2 65” 4K Smart TV 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-OLED-C2-55-Smart/dp/B09W65BR8S/

Our final pick is easily our most expensive, but it’s also one of the best TVs of the year. LG’s C2 is an OLED TV, which unlike QLED tech, doesn’t use a backlight. The result? It’s got some of the best performance in any commercially available TV display ever made. Rapid response times, ultra-low input lag, and insane refresh rates mean that you’re never behind the action when you’re watching football, you’ll experience the action as its happening, no delay whatsoever.

And the display itself? It’s nothing short of stunning – the slick high contrast look of a proper OLED screen is simply beautiful, and puts any regular TV display to absolute shame.

Fairphone demand electronics industry needs to start paying living wages

It sounds like a no-brainer: Everyone working a normal job with normal hours should be able to afford food and shelter, regular meals and other basics such as medication and education for themselves and their family. The principle is, in fact, so fundamental that the United Nations recognised it in the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, confirming that “Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity”.

Unfortunately, even in some industrialized countries, this vision is still not reality. Current woes around inflation and rising prices are putting additional pressure on the poor, and aggravate existing inequalities. Globally speaking, however, the discrepancy could not be more striking. Especially in countries where most of the extraction, processing and production of our electronics take place, people find themselves working in mines under harsh circumstances, earning less than five dollars a day. People working on the production line spend up to 80 hours per week selling their labour just to survive. They are the hidden workforce behind the products in your hands.

It is therefore time for manufacturers in the electronics industry to start paying workers a living wage – regardless of where they are located. A living wage, mind you, not a “minimum wage”. Ideally, this distinction would not be necessary once legal minimum wages in production countries actually constituted a living wage. All too often, however, they do not. According to statistics by the International Labour Organization (ILO), nearly one in five workers globally earn too little to lift themselves and their families out of extreme poverty. When Fairphone conducted their own research, together with a local NGO in four regions in China in 2020, we found that a living wage would be up to three times the local legal minimum wage.

The impact of low wages can be detrimental, and is reflected in different symptoms and malpractices such as excessive overtime, malnutrition, lower education opportunities for children and, in extreme cases, might even encourage child labour.

The advantages are crystal clear. Checking in with workers who receive a living wage, they report to be more satisfied and happy with their work. A content workforce, in turn, leads to less turnover and lower expenses for training and recruiting while also ensuring stability in the value chain. Higher wages encourage consumption and boost a country’s economic system. Employees who are working excessive overtime, on the other hand, tend to be tired, less efficient, will make more mistakes and have more accidents. Most importantly, however, paying a living wage means treating people as people rather than as “human resources” and to respect their inalienable dignity.

Given these benefits, the price for implementing a living wage in our supply chain is ridiculously low. For Fairphone, it currently amounts to 2 USD per smartphone we sell – less than your average cup of coffee. And scaling and adopting this model is not rocket science, either: For many industries including electronics, researchers, organisations, think tanks, and industry pioneers have already done the legwork, and are sharing their instructions online for free – accounting for the cost of living and other geographical differences per place of production. Fairphone, too, has published a guide on paying living wages, laying out nine steps towards ​​paying product prices that include a living wage. It is high time more companies took leadership in this area. Out of the 17 sustainable development goals that the United Nations have set for 2030, two – SDG 1 on poverty reduction and SDG 8 on inclusive and sustainable growth – can be directly impacted by bridging the gap between minimum wage and living wage.

Yet despite the obvious benefits for employers, hoping that we will get there with voluntary commitments only is utopian. In most countries, even the existence of minimum wages is the result of decades of fierce union and workers’ rights movements that ultimately resulted in mandatory laws. It is time for the European Union to follow suit and to incorporate a true living wage into the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Over 60 companies and NGOs have already joined our call to ensure this. On the consumer side, Fairphone is currently collecting signatures for a petition to the European Union. The industry needs to realize that the issue goes far beyond their annual balance sheet. Inequality is a threat to global stability. Low wages are a violation of human rights. It is time for manufacturers to accept their responsibility.

Skullcandy SLYR gaming headphones – First Look

Earlier this month Skullcandy launched a trio of value-packed headsets for all skill levels. Offering compatibility across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile, the all-new SLYR, SLYR Pro and PLYR Multi-Platform Gaming Headsets were purpose built for gamers, delivering rich, detailed sound, crystal-clear communications and all-day comfort.

Today we have the SLYR headphones in for review and we will take a quick tour of the latest headset on offer from the company which is now back in the gaming business. Presented in some nice packaging the new headset is very light and comfortable out of the box with simple controls to use and looks the part for gaming, any questions feel free to ask whilst we test them out. The collection is rolling out now at Skullcandy.com, starting at $59.99 MSRP for SLYR and ranging to $129.99 MSRP for PLYR.

SLYR Multi-Platform Wired Gaming Headset – £59.99 MSRP

  • Skullcandy Supreme Sound – Unique audio-tuning process enables users to maximise the depth and detail of each sound

  • Bi-Directional Mic – Improves voice pickup for enhanced communications

  • Mute & Volume Control – Easy-to-reach, on-board controls enable gamers to quickly mute and adjust volume without gameplay interference

  • Durable, Lightweight Design – Constructed from tough, lightweight materials including head-conforming memory-foam ear cushions wrapped in moisture wicking and breathable material

Video

Amazon processing centre officially opens in Dublin

The Amazon fulfilment centre in Dublin received a visit today from Leo Varadkar TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new facility.

The Tánaiste also unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the new 630,000 square foot fulfilment centre.

During his visit, the Tánaiste who was accompanied by Emer Higgins TD, toured the fulfilment centre in Baldonnell Business Park, met with some of the team working at the site and followed the journey of a parcel to see first-hand what happens when a customer clicks ‘buy’ on the Amazon website.

The Dublin centre, which opened in August, is Amazon’s first fulfilment centre in Ireland. It provides faster delivery for customers across the country, including one-day delivery on hundreds of thousands of items.

The centre has created 500 new jobs across a wide range of roles, including engineers, HR and IT professionals through to health & safety and finance specialists and operations managers as well as employees who perform the crucial role of picking, packing and shipping customer orders.

Amazon Dublin Warehouse Ireland

The fulfilment centre tour, led by General Manager Darragh Kelly, also provided the Tánaiste with an insight into the many career development programmes and opportunities for employees at Amazon, including the Amazon Career Choice programme.

Amazon Career Choice is an innovative programme which pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand fields, up to €12,000 over four years, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.

 Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “The opening of Amazon’s first fulfilment centre in Ireland has created 500 new jobs, and is a really important investment in our country. There are jobs available at all level including many high-skilled jobs in engineering and IT among others. This investment indicates a strong commitment to Ireland by Amazon. It was great to meet the enthusiastic team in person and to see at first-hand how orders are fulfilled for customers across the country.”

 Amazon Dublin fulfilment centre General Manager Darragh Kelly said: “It was great to welcome Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for a tour of our new fulfilment centre in Dublin. It was a pleasure to introduce him to our fantastic team who process orders for customers in Ireland. I hope the Tánaiste enjoyed his visit and I look forward to welcoming him back to our fulfilment centre in the future.”

Amazon also provides opportunities to improve existing skills or learn new ones through internal career progression opportunities such as cross-training, transferring to a different department and promotion into a managerial role.

Amazon provides competitive pay, excellent benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment for its employees. Amazon pays all full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees in Ireland a minimum of €13.50 per hour. Employees are also offered a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection and an employee discount as well as a company pension plan.

The team at Amazon’s new Dublin fulfilment centre marked the site’s opening by donating €20,000 to four Irish family support charities.

Donations of €5,000 were made to Cliona’s Foundation, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and Barretstown by the charity committee at the new Amazon fulfilment centre as part of the company’s community support programme.

Anyone can find out more about what it’s like to work at an Amazon fulfilment centre by signing up for a tour at amazonfctours.com.

Urbanista launches the Urbanista Austin

Stylish and compact Urbanista Austin produces a powerful sound combined with eye-catching new colours that complete any look. The small true wireless earbuds are available in two new colours, Lavender Purple and Lake Green, and in the classic Pure White and Midnight Black colourways. Designed for life in motion, Austin lets you enjoy wireless audio wherever you go – the earbuds are protected against splashing water and designed for comfortable everyday use. Urbanista Austin is your new go-to audio companion for any occasion, whether it’s for listening to podcasts on the go or needing a boost from your favourite music for your morning walk.

Features

IPX4 – 20HRs playtime – Touch Controls – Bluetooth 5.0

BUY

 

Almost one-third of people share where they live on dating apps

Dating apps have seen a surge in users in recent years as people use online platforms to meet potential partners. But often cybercriminals pose as possible matches for nefarious reasons, putting many online daters’ identities, and safety, at risk.

To find out the potential consequences of using dating apps, TechRobot has analysed 180 profiles across Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge to reveal how much information people share on their dating profiles.

  • Online daters share the most information on Bumble (37%) with 55% of profiles sharing where they live.

  • 100% of women share enough information on their dating profiles for their social media accounts to be found, increasing their chances of catfishing attempts.

  • 28% of homosexual profiles share where they live compared to just 19% of heterosexual profiles, increasing the risk of blackmail and stalking crimes.

Bumble users share enough information for strangers to have a deep insight into their online and offline lives

TechRobot’s study found that people share the most personal information on their Bumble profiles. 98% share photos of themselves and all profiles share their first name and live location and there’s no option to hide this information. 90% of all Bumble profiles also share their personal interests and hobbies, 55% share where they live, 28% share job titles, and 20% of Bumble profiles also share their Instagram handle. This is more than enough information for someone to have an insight into what online daters are doing throughout their day, and where they are, increasing the risk of stalking.

Women share 33% of all possible data points on their dating profiles – more information than their male counterparts

The research also found that women share an average of 33% of possible data points across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge compared to men who share 31%. Men are more likely to share information on their status, education level and work-life- 39% of men share their job title, 36% the languages they speak, 19% their employer, and 33% their education level. Women, on the other hand, tend to share information that makes them seem more physically attractive – 98% share their age, 96% share photos of what they look like and 26% share their Instagram handle. With women sharing more information on their physical appearance the risk of them being impersonated by a catfish is exacerbated and the information that men share about their job title and employer means they are more likely to be victims to blackmail attempts. Cybercriminals often offer inducements for monetary gain and use sensitive information such as an individual’s workplace to leverage this.

Data point

Percentage of male dating app profiles across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge that share information on this data point (%)

Percentage of female dating app profiles across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge that share information on this data point (%)

Age

91

98

Job title

39

37

Languages spoken

36

38

Education level

33

30

Employment/ Company

19

11

Instagram handle

11

26

Lesbian women share 33% of all possible data points on their dating profiles, the most of all researched sexualities

When comparing dating profiles based on sexuality TechRobot found homosexual online daters are more likely to share sensitive information with potential matches than straight users do. 28% of homosexual profiles share where they live compared to just 19% of heterosexual profiles and 98% of lesbian and gay dating profiles share what they look like, compared to 93% of straight profiles. Lesbian women were also found to share the most information on their profiles of all the groups researched and they share the most on Bumble- 42% of all possible data points. 44% of lesbian profiles share where they live, and 36% their job title. Collectively, this means lesbian women are providing strangers on dating apps with a huge insight into their personal lives which could heighten their risk of being stalked, or even harassed.

Using different photos across social media profiles can reduce online daters’ vulnerability

Users can take steps to protect their privacy and safety when online dating. Lasse Walstad recommends using unique images on dating profiles – “Using reverse image searching on Google, people will be able to find out your social accounts and any other places that your photos are posted giving them potential access to a large amount of personal information. Using images that you have not used on your other social accounts will ensure that you can reduce the chances of your other accounts, such as Instagram and Facebook, being less likely to be found.” This will reduce online daters’ chances of being catfished and victims of stalking crimes.

Whilst the amount of personal information we share on our dating profiles is dependent on the app, gender, and sexual orientation, all profiles expose enough information to offer strangers a huge insight into their lives. This puts online daters’ identity, and safety, at risk and exacerbates their chances of being victims of crimes like blackmail, stalking, catfishing or harassment.

You can view the full study here.

How Can You Protect Your Privacy When Gambling Online?

Gambling online is a common way to play games and earn money. However, protecting your privacy is extremely important when gambling online. You want to make sure you are only using secure platforms and that your money is protected.

Use a VPN When Online

One of the most common ways to protect your privacy is by using a VPN when gaming online. VPNs hide your IP address which makes it harder for hackers to hack into your computer and find your information. 

Keep in mind though that not all online casinos allow VPNs since casinos are regulated to only allow players from certain states or regions.

Keep Your Password Strong

When using online casinos, you have to first make an account with the website. Make sure you are using a strong and unique password. Never use the same password for all your online casino accounts. 

You should also never give your password to anyone. For extra security, make sure you change the password every few months to protect against hackers.

Use E-Wallet Payment Methods

You will need to add payment methods to your casino account to begin gambling and playing the casino games. The safest payment method you can have is by adding methods through an e-wallet. 

E-wallets do not show the card number to the provider, so hackers will not be able to see the card number even if they somehow hack into the casino’s platform.

Try Casinos That Accept Cryptocurrency

There are many casinos that accept cryptocurrency as gambling with cryptocurrency has become very popular over the past few years. These casinos protect your money since you are directly using your bank account or a credit card. 

Red Dog Casino is a great platform to gamble responsibly. They have a wide range of games that you can all play with cryptocurrency. They also have extremely efficient customer support which you can contact if you happen to have a chance with your payment method.

Only Use Casinos With Top Security Levels

Before using any online casino, make sure you verify their security levels. The ways they secure your information are usually listed on their website. You can always contact their support team if you want more information. 

You should also make sure to read reviews. Most online casinos have reviews online where you can see what other customers are saying. If you see any reviews that mention poor security or identity theft, make sure you use another casino. 

Most online casinos are safe as long as the platform is taking the right security measures. When you know your information is secure, you can spend more time enjoying the games and less time worrying.

Don’t Rely on Private Browsing Tabs

Many people are under the impression that using a private browsing tab is enough to keep their information secure but this is not the case. However, private tabs only clear the cookies and history of the computer. 

However, they are not as good as password-protected browsers. You can use a private tab along with other security measures, but do not rely on it alone.

Authorised Casinos Only

If you are using an authorised casino and following the safety tips above, it’s very hard for a hacker to get your information. If you notice that your banking information or your account has been compromised, you need to cancel it right away so the hacker does not have access to more of your money. 

You can also contact the online casino and let them know there has been a breach in security so they can notify others.

Tech Review – Pixel 7 chalk case

We have a range of cases coming for the Google Pixel 7 and we start off today with a case from Google which is the Chalk case which matches our device nicely. Clean and simple this case does a good job all round and works with wireless charging.

The case will give you additional grip and also has a lip on the top which protects the screen, the lens area on the rear is also protected but I can see dust building up in the corners, we will see over the next few days how that goes. The keys which are aluminium work fine and match the buttons on the device too and same for the logo on the rear. The case is made with over 30% recycled plastics which is nice and keeps things greener. Check the video for more below.

Check out the Pixel Watch first look and Pixel 7 first look, full reviews soon when we spend some real time with both devices.

BUY 

Video review

 

Jabra Connect 5t – First look and unboxing

Only recently Jabra announced their latest product the connect 5t and we now have them here in the hand, the design language here is familiar which is fine and looks fine inside their product portfolio. The great thing here is you get a wireless charging pad with your earbuds which is certainly a first for me to see in the massive collection of earbuds I own and will make life easier, not only that you can charge as normal with USB-C.

The Connect 5t, based on the recently announced Elite 5 earbuds, lets you stay connected to two devices at once, like a laptop and a smartphone, with its Bluetooth Multipoint feature. For Android or Windows users, the Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair will connect the earbuds in seconds, allowing effortless switching and manoeuvring. With Spotify Tap playback, all the music the user could ever wish for is accessible on tap.

Features

  • 6-mic technology – Clear calls for virtual meetings
  • Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation – Blocks out surrounding noise for better concentration
  • Smart connectivity options – Connect to two devices at one time with the Bluetooth Multipoint connection and enjoy Google Fast Pair and/or Microsoft Swift Pair to be connected in seconds. Spotify Tap gives easy on tap access to music
  • Up to 7 hours battery, 28 hours with the case – All-day work calls. Wireless charging pad included
  • 6mm speakers – Ensures rich, satisfying sounds in and out of office hours
  • Hands-free voice assistants – Google Assistant* and Alexa built-in for hands-free assistance on-the-go
  • Wireless charging pad included

BUY

Video