Tag: tech

Tech Review – Toperson WiFi and Bluetooth 5G HD Home Portable Projector (YG421)

Projectors are popular and the market now caters for it rather well when it comes to choice and price however in the projector market it is really a get what you pay for sceen for the most and this is down to several things like Screen size, lumens and features, most projectors have got a built in store to download apps whereas this one does not but on another note it has features that others don’t so it is really down to the consumer and what they want to get from a projector.

OK so you might panic and wonder how this works with no store on board, most projectors have a store such as the Google store and the majority with have the Aptoide store which has the same and probably more in offerings for apps as I have found many apps will not work with Google on Projectors but the aforementioned store does all third party apps to work and they work well, I have both these instances at home on my projectors so I can see it from both sides here.

How does it work then

If you have a phone or tablet you can simply cast your device, ok so you may have to give up a phone to cast so if you had a spare phone about here is where to use it, it also has ports on the rear to support just about anything so PC or games consoles work with no problem at all it is a simple plug and play and that is it, you select what source from the home screen menu just like you would a standard tv these days and job done.

The Size

This is a big projector but not huge like some can it is portable and works with bluetooth and WiFi so it can be used anywhere and once you have a connection you simply connect and again plug in any console or connect any phone, it is that simple, this is on the larger size though but not that big it can’t be managed it is in the middle you could say when it comes to projector size, My main 4K projector would be considered small.

The picture

Ok so what you need to look out for in projectors is lumens, in tech speak that is the light emitted from the projector and how bright it is this is a key factor you may often also see ANSI lumens or Lux brightness, all this may confuse people and these terms can be used to fool people so do your homework, in this instance the terms used are in a good manner and it is a brighter screened experience than most at this price point which is good to say.

There is no auto focus or keystone here but you have two controls on the lens to do that and is a small price to pay for such caveats in fairness, the picture quality is rather good and again better than most of the chinese imports you tend to find or even some known brands you may find locally here in Ireland for up to 500 euro or so. You can get up to a 200 inch screen but 100-120 is for the best result.

Is it worth the money

Well to be fair and honest this one is. You can see the set up and samples below in the review so you do not have to struggle on setting up if you do decide to pick one up, there is screen brightness settings on board this which is omitted from many others at a higher price and certainly lower which gives it the advantage and given there is no store on board it works well with either your phone or consoles connected regardless and it is simple to use.

The sound

The sound is decent enough though this depends on the source and there may be some distortion at maxed out volume, you can listen to music too which is good. You can attach external speakers to really change the game which I would suggest anyway.

Features

  • ❤【Wireless & Bluetooth & Dolby Pro Support】Via 2.4G/5G WiFi connection, the Bluetooth projector can mirror movies/videos/photos/games from your iOS or Android device to big screen( No extra adapter needed). Based on Bluetooth CSR5.1 connection, the portable projector can wirelessly connect to external speakers or Bluetooth earphones/earbuds. Also the Dolby pro audio improves the acoustic fidelity of the movie projector for indoor or outdoor use.
  • ❤【Native 1080P FULL HD& 8500 Lux Brightness】Adopt the upgraded LCD 180 ANSI lumens or 8500 lux technology, Toperson YG421 native 1920 x 1080P HD projector with the true 1000:1 high contrast provides 90% higher brightness than other 1080P projectors. The outdoor projector particularly adopts multi-layer optical films and high-quality glass to reduce reflections and increase light transmission, thus allowing this portable HD projector to display sharper images without blurring.
  • ❤【Keystone & Zoom & Cooling System】 Via the zoom 75%-100%, Keystone ±15%, and 44”-140” inch display size(1.5-4.5m distance)(The best view screen size is 80-100″) makes the projector easier to adjust the screen get the best viewing angle and viewing size with correcting the keystone and adjusting the focus from this marvelous portable projector. Adopt the newest cooling system, the phone projector has a fast heat dissipation, making it cool down quickly even after a long-time use and less noise.
  • ❤【Multiple Devices Connection & Hi-fi Stereo Speaker】Equipped with 1*HDMI, 2* USB, AV, AUX, VGA ports, Toperson YG421 home theater video projector can properly compatible with Laptop, TV Box, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, PC,Tablets, external speakers,USB Flash Drive, Xbox, PS3, PS4, PS5, Media players, Smartphones, IPad, iPhone, Android smartphones, etc. With 3W stereo speakers, even without external speakers, the led projector is able to enjoy the music smoothly.

BUY 

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Konftel Expands Video Kit Portfolio With New ‘Conferencing Flavours’ For In Room PC-Based Market

Collaboration endpoint specialist Konftel has launched a series of video kits optimised for in room PC-based systems, to capture a wider choice of conferencing scenarios.

Konftel Attach is a range of five kits designed for Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms and more open-based solutions. The portfolio has been specifically adapted for in room systems such as from Lenovo and Dell. 

Konftel Attach presents a line-up of highly capable conference cameras and speakerphones, accompanied by a long USB cable (up to 10 m) for optimal audio placement. The kits work with all in room PC variants, for meeting rooms of all sizes, from focus to extra large, (when additional expansion microphones are used).

Konftel Product Manager, Torbjörn Karlsson, says the kits complement the company’s Bring Your Own Meeting concept to ensure a comprehensive choice of hardware options. 

“Whether users prefer to bring their own laptop to a meeting (with their own preferred app) or take advantage of a dedicated in room facility, where all the equipment is already in place, Konftel has dedicated solutions that bring each system to life.”

He added: “A typical in room solution has a main computer, which is controlled via a touch panel or wireless keyboard and mouse, connected to a display screen. Users can ‘add more flavour’ by combining a high quality Konftel camera and audio with a long audio cable, that maximises speakerphone placement.”

The Konftel Attach range comprises:

 

More conferencing flavours

Director of Global Sales, Tommy Edlund, says Konftel Attach creates more customer choice and provides channel partners with the opportunity to capture additional market share.

“Bring Your Own Meeting and our simple One Cable Connection hub is our video heritage and remains extremely popular but we recognise it’s important to offer the widest possible choice of set-up options.

“The in room sector is growing significantly and we expect the two distinct scenarios to eventually level off at around 50/50. The introduction of more conferencing ‘flavours’ represents a welcome expansion of our range and enables us to penetrate deeper into the market. It is already generating lots of interest and excitement.”

He concluded: “Konftel continues to innovate and move forward. All our products are Climate Neutral certified and we have some further new developments in the pipeline to help us remain at the forefront of the industry. More details will officially be announced soon.”

 

Restaurant technology platform Toast celebrates opening of new office in Dublin

Toast, Inc., the all-in-one digital platform built for restaurants, today celebrated the opening of its new office on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Toast CEO Chris Comparato and Senior Vice President of Engineering Robert McGarry were joined by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD, IDA Ireland, guests and Toast staff members to launch the new office and to welcome the news that the company is on track to create 100 jobs in 2022 across several functions including software development, sales and customer support.

Toast is a cloud-based, all-in-one digital technology platform purpose-built for the entire restaurant community. Toast provides a single platform of software as a service, or SaaS, products and financial technology solutions that give restaurants everything they need to run their business across point of sale, operations, digital ordering and delivery, marketing and loyalty, and team management. Headquartered in Boston, Toast was founded in 2012 and today employs over 3,000 people across the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and India. Toast established its first international technology and product development centre in Dublin in 2017. Toast has enjoyed a partnership with the Irish government through IDA Ireland, and Ireland continues to strategically contribute to the growth of the company’s talent base and innovation capabilities.

Welcoming the news Minister of State Damien English said “I am delighted to welcome this announcement from Toast, which will see the creation of 100 new jobs as part of their Irish expansion. I am happy to hear that the jobs will be in a range of areas including software development, sales and customer support. It shows that Ireland continues to be a location of choice for FDI thanks to the large pool of highly skilled workforce we have and can attract. The concept of a one stop shop for restaurants to manage all their digital needs shows great innovation and I’ve no doubt it will be welcomed by many companies in the industry. I wish Toast all the best with their new office in Dublin and with their future endeavours in Ireland.”

Robert McGarry, Senior Vice President of Engineering for Toast and leader of Toast Dublin office said “Toast originally chose to invest in Ireland largely for its concentration of high level technical capability; over the last several years, we’ve come to reap so many more benefits from our strategic investment here–ease of collaboration with other Toast teams, Irish hospitality, and more. We look forward to more fruitful days to come for Toast in Ireland.”

Commenting on the announcement Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland said “This expansion underlines the company’s commitment to Ireland. It builds on Ireland’s reputation as both an established software hub in Europe and as a strategic location of choice for driving international growth. I wish the team at Toast every success in the new office here in Ireland.”

The new Dublin office will include elements such as:

  • Spaces to facilitate open collaboration and socialisation, and flexible “neighborhoods” to support growth;
  • Top of the line technology to better connect our Toast employees whether at home or across the globe;
  • Reception design inspired by an open market; and
  • A community gathering area (cafeteria) designed to resemble a restaurant.

To learn more about current opportunities at Toast, visit the company’s careers site.

Tech Review – Jabra Engage 55 headset

The Jabra Engage 55 came in the usual style box with the features called out on the packaging.  The earphones are noticeably lighter than many predecessor units, while had the usual features in terms of headset flexibility adjustments and came with the typical Jabra charging stand.

Accessories

The Kit came with a carry case, cables, charging stand and a USB DECT adapter instead of a wireless base. You can see the unboxing here and walkthrough by Jim who has also tested this headset and finds it a “must have” piece of kit.

Setup:

The setup as described on the packaging is easy – plug in the supplied Link 400 adapter in the USB laptop port, turn on the power on the headset and are ready to go. Corporate laptops may need to have the USB port checked if locked down to facilitate access.

Jabra direct

Optional software may be downloaded to upgrade the firmware on the unit or additional features

Charging & battery life

The Earphones  come with approx.13 hours battery  which can be charged via the supplied charger holder or via the USB A charging cable supplied. (An audio warning is given in the event of low battery) During a call should be a low waring audio sound these earphones can be plugged into a laptop, or wall charger to ensure no drop in the call.

 Range:

The range as quoted by the Jabra is a staggering 150 Meters from your computer using the compact USB DECT Link 400 adapter.  To put this in perspective, UK football stadiums are typically 105 by 68 metres while Croke Park pitch covers an area 145m long by 88m wide. As per my test, this is measured by “Line of sight” (LIS), with no opticals blocking in the way from the laptop to the headset allowing clear conversation. This worked well in the back garden but as I tested in the front, with various walls, and barriers the range diminished quickly albeit the dect technology is far superior to Bluetooth as the DECT wireless range is 15 times the average range of Class 2 Bluetooth® device. (i.e., do not expect anything close to 150 Meters in a built-up area while may work in an open warehouse, or office plan type area). This will also diminish how many people are using the network.

Security.

In modern-day, most businesses train their staff on phishing,  vishing and the treats of using Wi-Fi in the local café in terms of hacking. The Jabra Engage 55 steps up this in terms of technology with the Secure Dect wireless adapter, which has additional FIPS military-grade 256-bit encryption algorithms, to prevent snooping and keep communication, and exchanges away from prying ears or technologies.

Audio quality.

This is one of the first areas many people ask, is the Audio, ok?

In essence, most of the teams/ video calls are not focused on the high and low frequencies of classical music but on the background, noise heard on the calls.  The Jabra comes with a great ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) Microphone that is designed to block out noises like a dog barking, or a lawn mower going in the background. This can easily be demonstrated when using a noisy keyboard, the sound of the keystrokes is dramatically reduced using this headset.  Surprising when listing to YouTube music etc the quality is good. The earphones ensure conversations are concise and clear while the microphone must be positioned correctly to ensure this quality. 

Hearing Safety

This is an area often forgotten which maybe become more apparent in years to come as many users try to turn the volume to max and use earphones for full-day use. This is   similar to builders using high power tools. in the past now suffering from hearing loss, The Jabra brand came with a  SafeToneTM 2.0, in hearing protection which consists of PeakStop™ prevents sudden loud audio spikes and IntelliTone™ 2.0 limits overall audio exposure. This type of technology should be mandatory for the future to ensure we are not damaging our future generation’s hearing,

Niggles,

If using the hybrid model to travel to the office, you have to carry a dongle and a spare USB A lead, this is a step backwards from the C charger lead as used in most newer Android phones.  This is to facilitate the docking station which works if the unit is placed in a stationary environment,  Jabra would do well to replace the supplied USB A cable with the modern USB C Cable.

These earphones are not compatible with smartphones coming  with no Bluetooth option which means the dongle has to be plugged into the laptop at all times which is another part of the laptop when on the move,  ( should you require a  Bluetooth option possible look toward the  Engage 75 or Jabra Evolve 2 75  which has multimode allowing 2  Bluetooth  devices connected at the same time, https://techbuzzireland.com/2021/12/08/tech-review-jabra-evolve-2-75/

Warranty

This comes with a 2-year warranty with the option to replace the battery if required at a later stage. This is great to see on a quality product.

Conclusion:

The Jabra Engage 55   is a headset that out of the box works well with no technical setup required while has advanced options for the firmware via the free Jabra direct software. The key features in terms of being lightweight, excellent range and call security are inbuilt also. This has the often-forgotten hearing safety built-in without any deterioration to the audio of the unit. ANC works well to reduce unwanted back noise to ensure superior quality calls. There are slight personal niggles on the cables supplied but just personal choice and do not affect the operation of the unit. Again, the unit is not designed for Bluetooth products, but Jabra has many other products that work in this area. The future proof in terms of the option to upgrade the firmware and, warranty, battery replacement is excellent.

The Jabra Engage 55   delivers on quality, power, range, and security with ANC to ensure an immense user experience effortless from a trusted brand.

 

https://www.emea.jabra.com/business/office-headsets/jabra-engage/jabra-engage-55

VIdeo review

Dell launches a new wave of Inspiron PCs designed to keep you connected to what matters most

Dell today unveiled the new Inspiron family – with 13-inch, 14-inch and 16-inch sizes available – providing an immersive experience while streaming videos, browsing social media, creating content or connecting with friends and family around the world.

“We live in a world where people – especially the younger generations – want to creatively and easily connect with friends, families and the rest of the world – all with the click of a button while showcasing their personalities,” said Kevin Terwilliger, vice president, Inspiron and Vostro, Client Product Group, Dell Technologies. “This is what inspired our latest Inspiron portfolio, all while keeping productivity and quality at the forefront of our products so individual expression flows freely.”

 Meet the New Inspiron Plus

Designed to provide extra performance to power passions, the new Inspiron Plus laptops are built for those who want to bring their creative projects to life and share with others.

The Inspiron 16 Plus, presented in a Dark Green color, is a powerful laptop that features the latest 12th Gen Intel® Core™ H-series processors and optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, which allows for quick photo and video editing. When configured with a GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, it provides access to a powerful suite of NVIDIA Studio tools including Broadcast and Canvas apps. Load and switch between apps effortlessly with the new 4800 MHz DDR5 memory, which has 1.5x more bandwidth than the previous generation of 3200 DDR4 memory. And with a 15% increase in the area of air outlet vents over the previous generation, the laptop can circulate out more air, keeping it running fast and smooth.

The Inspiron 16 Plus has a larger 16:10 aspect ratio active area with up to a 3k resolution display, allowing consumers to see more content while working and playing. Video chats get even better with Inspiron’s latest technologies. The built-in FHD webcam with temporal noise reduction and wide dynamic range work together for crisp detail. Dual microphones capture voices distinctly, while echo cancellation and AI-based noise reduction cuts down on background noise. And a mechanical camera privacy shutter provides peace of mind.

Inspiron 16 Plus levels up viewers’ front-of-screen experience with Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®. With Dolby Vision, take full advantage of HDR content’s superior dynamic range with infinitely deep blacks and dazzling brights. Entertainment recorded with Dolby Atmos allows you to experience sound exactly the way the artist wanted. Quad speakers, two of which are up-firing and two are down-firing, provide loud, clear, and unmuffled audio.

With everyone spending more and more time in front of their screens, it is essential to keep your eyes comfortable. The Inspiron Plus series comes equipped with ComfortView Plus hardware, a low blue light solution that reduces harmful blue light emissions without sacrificing true-to-life color. Coupled with dimming technology that reduces flicker, extended screen time is easy on your eyes. Additionally, there is plenty of space for navigation with a roomy touchpad, that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Edge-to-edge material stretches across the palm rest and touchpad for a modern and smooth work surface.

The Inspiron 14 Plus is a new member of the Inspiron family, designed to meet the needs of those who want an Inspiron Plus but prefer a smaller form factor. The Inspiron 14 Plus comes in light (Platinum Silver – available only in China) and dark (Dark Green) and provides impressive performance in a mobile design, allowing for connectivity on the go. Select configurations of both the Inspiron 14 Plus and Inspiron 16 Plus are Intel® Evo™ certified.

 Inspiron 13, 14 & 16 and Inspiron 2-in-1

Inspiron laptops and 2-in-1s provide fast and smooth performance for everyday needs, whether it’s checking email, posting on social media, or streaming music and movies. The experience is customizable, making it easy to pick and choose the features that are most important, with optional colors, fingerprint readers, backlit keyboards, and more.

The new Inspiron family is powered by Windows 11 and includes more options to meet customers’ diverse needs, with 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors or AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series processors with AMD Radeon™ Graphics. The Inspiron family also provides a choice of color options – Platinum Silver, Pebble Green or Light Pink (check models for specifics).

The new portfolio has an immersive front-of-screen experience, with products featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio and 4-sided narrow borders for more viewing room.  Panels start at FHD+ resolution and offer DC dimming and low blue light solutions such as optional ComfortView Plus hardware, helping ensure comfort even when viewing the screen for extended periods.

Aiming to keep family and friends close, the new features allow for even more connectivity. Products are equipped with a built-in FHD webcam and dual microphones with noise reduction technology.

And for added flexibility, the new Inspiron 14 2-in-1 features a 14% larger touchpad, providing extra room for navigation. An optional active pen offers a natural and accurate writing experience with no pairing required.

In line with Dell’s 2030 Goals, the company incorporates environmentally-friendly solutions, materials, and packaging. The new Inspiron laptops and 2-in-1s feature and 100% low volatile organic compound (VOC) waterborne paint on all painted parts. Our laptop and 2-in-1 packaging components are comprised of up to 90% recycled materials.

Services

Software, support and services are available for all new Inspiron PCs, with Premium Support Plus option available on Inspiron Plus. There is also the option to upgrade to Dell Migrate.

  • Dell Premium Support Plus offers support features under one comprehensive plan, including 24X7 phone support, automated issues detection, virus removal and automated PC optimization. Repairs for accidental damage and onsite support following remote diagnosis are also included.
  • Dell Migrate makes it easier than ever to move the hard to replace data, photos, personal records and important files to your new Dell PC. Bring your whole digital life with you using our simple, automated tool.

 

Product pricing & availability

  • The new Inspiron line is available in Ireland today, with pricing available on the Dell website here.

 

 

 

 

Leading Computer Security Experts In Irish First As World-Renowned Conference Heads To Dublin #FIRSTCON22

The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) has chosen the island of Ireland for the first time as the destination for its 34th Annual Conference, entitled ‘Neart Le Chéile: Strength Together’ in the Convention Centre, Dublin, from June 26 to July 1, 2022.

Over 1,000 people from six continents will participate, as the not-for-profit aims to deliver worldwide coordination and cooperation among computer security and incident response teams.

From Tonga to Tanzania, Greece to Guatemala, Australia to America, the participants from nearly 80 countries are the leading lights in their field. From governments, academia, and businesses, all have a critical agenda as cyber security issues continue to rapidly increase worldwide, and global coordination is now vital to make the internet safe for everyone.

Google’s Maddie Stone delves into the unknown during the conference, focusing on 0-day exploits used in-the-wild. A security researcher on Google Project Zero, she will disclose crucial insights and learnings from previously detected 0-day attacks – which occur when a cyber attacker abuses a vulnerability that was totally unknown – to help delegates defend organisations and society in future incidents.

The five-day event will explore various themes with contributors from industry and academia, from notable organisations such as the World Economic Forum, National Police Agency from Japan, Amnesty International, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity.

Other notable discussions on the agenda include the preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, analysis of the SolarWinds supply chain compromise, and lessons learned from supporting national responses to COVID-19.

Brian Honan, CEO, BH Consulting and FIRST Annual Conference Programme Chair, commented: “Dublin, and Ireland, is a perfect setting to host leading experts in this area with the cyber security sector on a significant growth trajectory on the island. The recent State of Cyber Security Sector in Ireland 2022 report states that by 2030 the industry will be worth €2.5 bn GVA – an increase of €1.4 bn from 2021 – employing over 17,000 people.

“This conference is critical for the global community of incident responders and security teams. After two years of pandemic uncertainty, we can all come together in person once more to tackle cyber security issues in a united fashion to create a fix and ensure organisations can continue to operate with limited disruption. Our theme, ‘Neart Le Chéile: Strength Together’, is exactly how we, as experts, will beat the criminals and keep people safe from cyber security attacks going forward.”

Chris Gibson, CEO, FIRST added: “The conference program this year is both intuitive and timely, with our keynoters’ covering topics across the full spectrum of computer security – from the practical to the emotional.

“As a membership organisation, we work to ensure that our Annual Conference brings as much value as possible. Over the five days, our goal is to inspire and empower participants to take new thinking and tools back with them to their everyday roles as they continue to defend people across the globe against cyber-attacks.”

Cyber specialists must work together to tackle online crime, as many instances do not occur in isolation, or just in one geographical area. FIRST provides the unique platform for everyone to unite and work towards a safer cyber community for all.

At the FIRST Conference participants will share goals, ideas, and information on how to improve global computer security, with delegates learning the latest security strategies in incident management, increasing their knowledge and technical insight about security problems and solutions, and gaining insights into analysing network vulnerabilities.

Alongside numerous talks and panel discussions, the conference also features Lightning Talks, a Vendor Showcase and Exhibits, and networking opportunities. The full program can be accessed here https://www.first.org/conference/2022/program.

Featured sponsors of the 2022 event include: AWS, SentinelOne, Uptycs, ENISA, Torq, Palo Alto Networks, Tines, LinkedIn, Amazon, Ericsson, OTRS, Mandiant, Group-IB, Conceal, Joe Security, Fortinet, DomainTools, ThreatRay, Intezer, Recorded Future, Cybereason and Google.

Also in attendance are many exhibitors including Arctic Security, Bank of America, CTM360, Thinkst Canary, NRD Cyber Security, EclecticIQ, Intel 471, Semperis, VMRay, Quarkslab and Mitiga.

Complimentary media spaces are available at the conference, please contact us for further details and with any interview requests.

Tech Review – Creative Zen Hybrid wireless headphones with ANC

The Creative Zen Hybrid wireless headphones are the latest pair of cans on offer from the company and affordable, with a matt white finish they look clean and one could argue a bit more expensive than they are and if you missed out on the introductory offer you have really lost out here it must be said. These come well presented in a small box and details clearly visible to their feature set. You can see the full unboxing below if you missed it before we reviewed them.

These cans are not huge nor heavy and ideal for long term use be it for music or gaming and podcasts, and so on, either way will enjoy them an with access to their super app SXFI you can control and customise even more adding to the value for money here, having tested other headphones in the past headphones combined with the app is a win win for most.

The headphones are very comfortable and light which is important as these can be used not only for music but gaming and more the controls are all one one side which again I like and these controls are slightly raised and easy to navigate and you have a handy ANC button at your disposal too, no creaks noted during use and no sweating of the cups but on long term use like several hours depending on the humidity there was slight sweating, nothing like what I have come across before though.

Unboxing the Creative Zen Hybrid

The headphones are fine without the app but may sound a bit hollow for some however once you download their app the game changes completely for me and I am a huge fan and as mentioned had the pleasure to test this app out several times, the app is on preview during my testing and did a good job and can only get better and I may come back again later with another review when full access is granted but even as is it does a decent job.

In the app you can skip/reverse play/pause and adjust the treble and bass and also customise presets if you like so you have plenty to mess with for now, the sound quality is great and with the extra bass and treble to play with for me this is good if you are a bass fan you are going to like it, for gaming they are also great, music and movies again great with good direction no overlapping and good highs lows and mids with no lag latency noted either.

For the money you cant really complain the battery life is also good at this price and you get 5 hours of playback with a 5 minute charge and this is noteworthy here, In real life testing the battery life would hit around 35 hours for me maxing out the lot which is what I tend to do and have them at max volume which is not good for the ears but when I have headphones on and when testing I do not want to know what else is going on but you have ambient mode at your disposal too which is no common in most headphones and ideal for catching those things you might want to hear going on.

Calls where also fine on these and clear both ends which is great should you need to take any and overall for the money here the clean design that look well with that matt finish you can’t expect more however the price to performance ratio is getting better these days and it is a crowded market but with Creative being a well established brand and great products and of course their SXFI app it does give more than most for the money here.

See the video review below for more insights.

Key Features of Creative Zen Hybrid

  • Hybrid ANC (feedforward and feedback mics on each earcup)

  • Ambient Mode

  • Battery life – up to 37 hours (ANC turned off), up to 27 hours (ANC turned on)

  • Up to 5 hours of playback with only 5 minutes of charging

  • 40 mm Neodymium drivers

  • Foldable design, with carry pouch included

  • SXFI READY

Pricing and Availability

Creative Zen Hybrid is priced at £ 99.99 and is available at the Creative online store.

For more information, visit creative.com/ZenHybrid.

Video Review

First Look – Sony LinkBuds

People have been asking now we can answer, the New Sony LinkBuds have landed for review and we look forward to testing the latest from Sony out over the next week or two for a full hands on review. These have been knocking around a few weeks now so we will quickly unbox today and if you have any questions feel free to ask in the interim,, Sony also recently announced the LinkBuds S so you can read some more about those HERE and if you want to read up on the LinkBuds you can here and we will speak to you soon with a real hands on review.

On first looking at the packaging you can see the theme here with where things are going and that is small, one of the smallest earbuds I have seen but not the smallest and this makes it interesting on how much tech you can pack inside and how they will sound and with Sony being at the top of the game with Headphones we look forward to seeing how these perform.

Video Link

WBA OpenRoaming Enables Dublin’s Smart City Vision with Seamless, Secure, High-Performance Wi-Fi #WorldWiFiday

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and City of Dublin today announced a successful proof-of-concept trial of OpenRoaming™ in Dublin, Ireland. Initially deployed at Bernardo Square, Dame Street and the City Council’s Amphitheatre, WBA OpenRoaming enables residents and visitors to log in only once and then maintain seamless connectivity as their smartphones, tablets and other Wi-Fi devices automatically switch between different public Wi-Fi hotspots. The success of the trial will pave the way for a larger city-wide deployment. 

Dublin is a high growth city. It currently has a population in the Greater Dublin Area of around 2.02 million and is anticipated to grow to 2.2 million by 2031. It houses 30% of the country’s working population and attracts over 6.6 million overseas visitors a year.  It is anticipated that OpenRoaming will be initially rolled out on over 150 AP’s across Dublin city. 

Now available at over 1 million hotspots worldwide, WBA OpenRoaming frees users from the need to constantly re-register or re-enter log-in credentials — all while maintaining enterprise-grade security and privacy. The WBA OpenRoaming standard also enables enterprises, device OEMs, service providers and others to provide performance guarantees and — with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E— a carrier-grade experience as users roam between different public Wi-Fi venues.

The trial, initiated by Dublin City Council’s Smart Dublin programme and supported by the WBA and Virgin Media, also involved participation from CommScope and represents a key a milestone toward achieving Dublin’s smart city goals, which include:

 

  • Providing communities, residents and businesses with seamless access to services online, as well as high-quality connectivity
  • Giving tourists and other visitors free, secure, high-performance Wi-Fi access. Once they arrive and log on to an OpenRoaming-enabled hotspot, their device is automatically authenticated for use every time it switches to another OpenRoaming-enabled hotspot. This convenience makes it easier for them to find what they need, such as restaurant recommendations, transit schedules, directions and more.
  • This seamless, secure experience ensures that they have the broadband connectivity they need for interactive immersive learning, research, hybrid study and more.

 

Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: “Wi-Fi is the foundation for smart cities. This successful proof-of-concept trial shows that that the City of Dublin and its residents, businesses and visitors all can depend on the WBA OpenRoaming standard to ensure that they always have convenient access to seamless, secure, carrier-grade Wi-Fi connectivity.” 

Jamie Cudden, Smart City Lead, for the City of Dublin, said: “Dublin is at the forefront of a digital transformation that is serving as a model for other municipalities across Ireland and the world. Collaborations like this are key to the delivery of convenient, reliable and ubiquitous connectivity which is critical for achieving our smart city goals such as closing the digital divide and ensuring that government is responsive to the needs of citizens and businesses. This successful trial of WBA OpenRoaming is a milestone toward achieving all those goals.”

Bart Giordano, SVP Ruckus Networks, CommScope, said: ““As a founding partner in the OpenRoaming framework, we are pleased to announce with the WBA the successful launch of the OpenRoaming initiative and network for the City of Dublin.  OpenRoaming brings the promise of seamless and secure connectivity to users and IoT devices all over the world.  The core elements of OpenRoaming are in line with those of the Ruckus Network portfolio: cloud federation, cybersecurity, policy and automation.  We look forward to expanding the City of Dublin’s network and capabilities and supporting OpenRoaming deployments worldwide. “

Aidan Darcy, VP Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media Ireland said: “It’s fantastic to be working with Dublin City Council on such an important initiative. Given the fact that we are the official provider of both the Wi-Fi and broadband infrastructure, we are able to offer cutting-edge broadband speeds and an exceptional Wi-Fi experience for residents and tourists availing of the new Dublin City Wi-Fi Zones. We’re passionate about connecting communities and, with this new initiative, we really feel we’ll be creating connections for good.”

Launched in May 2020, WBA OpenRoaming is now in Release 3, which will make the business and commercial aspects of roaming easier than ever before and importantly, cut back on hundreds of hours of legal and administrative time when establishing roaming settlement agreements.

 

World Wi-Fi Day – 20th June 2022

This announcement comes just before World Wi-Fi Day (an annual WBA initiative), a global platform to recognize and celebrate the significant role Wi-Fi is playing in getting cities and communities around the world connected. 

It is a unique opportunity to reflect on how we can reduce digital poverty through innovative projects that will connect the unconnected. 

About the Wireless Broadband Alliance

Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is the global organization that connects people with the latest Wi-Fi initiatives. Founded in 2003, the vision of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is to drive seamless, interoperable service experiences via Wi-Fi within the global wireless ecosystem. WBA’s mission is to enable collaboration between service providers, technology companies, cities, regulators and organizations to achieve that vision. WBA’s membership is comprised of major operators, identity providers and leading technology companies across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision. 

WBA undertakes programs and activities to address business and technical issues, as well as opportunities, for member companies. WBA work areas include standards development, industry guidelines, trials, certification and advocacy. Its key programs include NextGen Wi-Fi, OpenRoaming, 5G, IoT, Testing & Interoperability and Policy & Regulatory Affairs, with member-led Work Groups dedicated to resolving standards and technical issues to promote end-to-end services and accelerate business opportunities. 

The WBA Board includes Airties, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Broadcom, BT, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Deutsche Telekom AG, Google, Intel and Viasat.  For the complete list of current WBA members, click here.

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