Looking for a new Wi-Fi streaming well look no further than this affordable piece of kit that connects to all your favourite streaming apps and more and comes in at a really good price and upgrades your home system you can even use your smartphone too which for me is really handy as it is where all my music is stored. You can also use a USB key stored with music to make this kit even more useful and there is multiple ports to pick from and it will work with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth,
You can stream Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Napster, TuneIn, Internet Radio, iHeart Radio, QQ Music, QQ FM and not only that you can stream music from your devices library to if you wish which is excellent.
The S10 mini stereo receiver connects directly to your online streaming providers to play high quality audio, avoiding Bluetooth bottlenecks and compression so in short better audio and no lag latency noted.
Connectivity is another win on this device as there is plenty and it is easy to set up to and comes with a free app called 4Stream and you can see all this in action in the video review below.You can also add other Arylic wireless streaming devices to build a multiroom system, manage and control all your wireless audio devices in one app.
Connections
Airplay – Stream any audio directly from your iOS system.
Bluetooth – Play any sound from your smart devices and paired with their streaming devices.
Web Control – Quick web control without app, enjoy your preset content and personal radios in a sec.
Remote Control – local remote control without network.
4STREAM APP – Take full functionally control via our 4STREAM app with network, streaming your favorite sounds, multiroom control and other personalize settings, this app is simple to use with a nice UI and makes life easier.
New research by HelloFresh Ireland has found 42% of Irish women between the ages of 16 and 27 are unlikely to pursue a career in tech, citing too many barriers to entering a career in the industry. The world’s leading meal kit company and integrated food solutions group conducted a survey of 1,000 young people, in partnership with Kantar*, to understand how young people in Ireland perceive a career in the tech industry. HelloFresh recently launched in Ireland, marking the company’s 18th market launch as part of its global growth strategy.
The survey found one in five (19%) of young women felt discouraged from entering the tech sector because their gender put them at a disadvantage. Three in four women (76%) said the tech sector is dominated by men, and only 61% of men think the same way.
The women surveyed said there is a sense of prestige that comes from working in the tech industry thanks to its associated perks and benefits (61%), job prospects (65%) and opportunity to have a positive impact on society (27%). However, HelloFresh found that the majority of women (54%) don’t think their current skillset is suitable for the industry. In total, one in three (34%) women admitted that they didn’t know how to enter the field.
Role models were identified as an important factor in encouraging more women into the tech sector with 58% of respondents saying they would like to see better representation of women in tech leadership positions. Respondents also mentioned that access to training and scholarships (50%) and support to build skills (37%) would help them enter the sector. HelloFresh is in its second year of running a Women in Tech scholarship programme, which includes mentoring and financial support.
Annie Meininghaus, Senior Vice President of Product at HelloFresh, commented: “I’m not hugely surprised by the findings of this survey, with many women who have pursued tech having already faced these challenges. I enjoy being part of a company that recognises these struggles and actively supports women pursuing careers in technology. I’m looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of Women in Tech scholarship recipients, and further increasing the diversity in the tech sector.”
HelloFresh will re-launch the Women in Tech program this year and double the number of participants, offering more women the chance to step into a tech career from a non-tech background. The company has hired six women from different tech and coding bootcamps, who will work in Frontend and as Data Analyst interns in Berlin. In addition to the paid internship, the women are provided with a scholarship of 10,000 Euros each to support their educational and living costs. Each intern is assigned a woman mentor from HelloFresh’s tech team.
Suzi Filipowska, former Women in Tech scholarship participant and Frontend Engineer at HelloFresh: “Coming from a non tech background, it was daunting to change my career path, however through the Women in Tech scholarship at HelloFresh I was able to do so. Now, I’m continuing my career in tech as a junior engineer at HelloFresh, and I couldn’t be more happy to do so.”
With its Employee Resource Groups, including the Gender Equality Team, HelloFresh fosters a diverse and empowering working environment among their 21.000+ employees from 90+ nationalities. With a third of HelloFresh’s Germany-based technology team identifying as women, HelloFresh is far above the national average of only 17% of women working in tech. The company committed to the Women Empowerment Principles (WEP) established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women.
The most common method of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) used today is accomplished via low to high-frequency (30 kHz to 30 MHz) time-varying magnetic fields. This may also be referred to as ‘inductive WPT’ or ‘magnetic field WPT’. Wireless chargers operate far below the radio frequencies which are present all around us. Unlike high-energy (ionizing) radiation, electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) in the non-ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum cannot damage DNA or cells directly.
At the frequencies used for wireless EV charging, magnetic fields are impervious to air, water, ice, concrete, wood, plastics, and other common non-metallic materials. They pass through these objects and the human body without any interaction or causing any harm whatsoever. This also allows for hermetically sealed designs that are safer and more robust than are possible with contact-based or wired charging. A wireless system also minimizes the risk of electrocution and trip hazard. The latest report from IDTechEx includes detailed coverage of the standards and safety features around wireless EV charging systems.
Shielding is important for the safe operation of wireless EV chargers. The following problems may occur without shielding: the magnetic field may interfere with the EV or other objects, cause battery heating, and circulate current in metallic parts. There are two basic methods for shielding against low to medium-frequency magnetic sources, which includes the use of ferrites to provide magnetic flux directionality and aluminum plates to minimize field leakage. IDTechEx research interviewed various players in the industry and found that shielding is mainly added under the transmitter pad and above the receiver pad. The report finds that instead of radiating EMF, players are recycling the magnetic field and containing it within the pads because it is resonant, highly coupled, and shaped.
Foreign Object Detection (FOD)
The safety of wireless EV chargers is further enhanced by using foreign object detection (FOD) and living object protection (LOP) systems. These systems identify any metallic objects between the transmitting and receiving pad and can suspend power transfer. This is important as metal items, even small objects such as paper clips or coins may heat up and pose a burn risk. FOD can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, capacitive sensors in the pad can be used to monitor the performance of the coils. A metal object on the pad changes the capacitance, allowing its presence to be detected. That does not necessarily detect organic objects, such as an animal on the pad in a garage, though. Optical sensors around the edge of the plate using infrared LEDs and photodiode detectors or even Lidar can be used to detect both metal and organic objects on the pad and switch off the charging process if an obstruction is detected.
Categories of FOD methods used in wireless EV charging systems. Source: IDTechEx
IDTechEx research finds that it is important for players to be mindful of interoperability, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and safety from the early stages of the development process. Knowing the requirements and standards in place is essential to ensuring that products are compliant and that product redesign and testing time and the cost is minimized. The report “Wireless Charging Market for Electric Vehicles 2023-2033: Technology, Players and Forecasts” provides insights on the industry R&D status along with the outlook for future developments.
Loewe, the audio-visual pioneer founded in 1923, has announced a commercial partnership with Select Tech Group to stock the prestigious brand’s We.HEAR range and klang mr series of high-quality speakers. With 28 stores across UK and Ireland, Loewe’s premium audio products are now available both in-store and online at the region’s largest reseller of Apple products.
Expanding Loewe’s platform in the region, the partnership continues the heritage AV brand’s growth after re-entering the UK market in 2021. The Loewe product range has similarly increased, introducing the We by Loewe range and additional bild and klang products as well as the high-end Loewe iconic TV, set for sale later in 2023.
The partnership connects two reputable organisations whose values of innovation and long-lasting quality are closely aligned. Select aims to inspire a wider community to discover the power of Apple products by working closely with customers, educational institutions and businesses to reach the most cost-effective solutions.
Alan Whyte, Managing Director at Loewe UK, commented: “Apple is synonymous with aspirational luxury, and high performance. As the biggest Apple Premium Reseller in Western Europe with 28 stores across UK and Ireland, we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Select Tech Group.“
“They are providing Loewe with a unique platform to get our brand in front of a huge group of discerning consumers. At store level, their teams are extremely knowledgeable, and focus on giving exemplary customer service. Couple that with beautiful store environments in keeping with the Apple brand, our audio products are given the best possible chance to shine.”
Dedicated to providing an unparalleled in-store and online customer experience, Select invests over 10,000 training hours per year.
Jason Smith, Group Retail Director at Select Tech Group, added: “I have always held luxury heritage brands in high regard. With 100 years of history, their handmade in Germany ethos, and emphasis on sustainable, high-quality materials, Loewe hits all the markers of the ideal companion brand for the Select customer.
The We.Hear speaker range, in particular, makes Loewe more accessible than ever, and reflects the true essence of the curated audio line up at Select; innovative, unparalleled and unique. We look forward to continued growth in this exciting partnership.”
Loewe We.HEAR 1 is currently available at Select in-store and online for £99 while the We.HEAR 2 is priced at £159. The Loewe klang mr1 is on sale for £349 while the mr3 and mr5 are listed for £549 and £649.
Looking for a small pocketable light for the house or travel look no further than one the latest products from ZHIYUN which is the FIVERAY M40 pocket fill light is all you will need, this can be anywhere be it at home in the office or like me who stays in hotels quite often and does reviews there where the lighting in general is terrible in rooms most of the time with dim lights to give you some kind of brightness which to be fair I understand.
This is well built and robust and simple to use to which makes even more a product that should be on your radar if you are in the market for such, there is a port to charge via USB-C and this is covered by a swivel type cover that also protects the two wheels to control the brightness and colour temperature and there is 4 LED lights on one side to give you a status of the charge.
This is about the size of an old styled camera and looks like one in some instances and has fans all round to let the heat out and you can see the vents throughout the product and has a nice bit of heft to it too but again will fit in a pocket or travel tech bag which is what I tend to use not taking up much space. As I do travel a lot I keep things to a minimal and this certainly will be a perfect edition to my bag now filling a void that was always an issue but not only that this makes any working space super bright and you can control it to your needs without the need for additional stands and so on and this also can be mounted on a tripod or existing bar or light stand that suits. Check out the video below for more.
The palm-sized ZHIYUN M40 360° fill light epitomises simplicity and utility. Based on the attitude-control algorithm applied on gimbals, DynaVort technology enables better heat dispersion, allows for smaller fans, and therefore, a compact device without compromising on its 40W power. Products of a similar size currently only give 5-13W of power. Weighing only 320g, it fits neatly in pockets, looks stylish and is the ultra portable illumination companion for videographers, whether amateur or professional.
Features
【Tiny but Professional】With a palm size and only 320g that fits well in pockets and looks chic on your desk, providing 360° fill light with 40W peak illuminance.
【14000 Lux, Ultra-Bright】Embedded with 176 LED chips that bring an incredible peak illuminance of 14000 lux, M40 rivals the key light provided by bigger equipment.
【Dual Wheels Design】Precise dimming of color temperature and brightness is available via two separate wheels. Offer adjustable dual color temperature ranging from 2700 to 6200k that enables power output peaks at 40W with no strobes.
【Simplified Setup】The adjustable stand of M40 extends possibilities for various occasions, while two 1/4″ screw holes allow the M40 to be mounted on a tripod or light stand.
【Adaptive Charging Technology】M40 supports a 50W PD fast charge protocol that allows real-time charging.
Overall this is a powerful simple to use effective product which is now part of one of my home set-ups..
In time for this Valentine’s Day, HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, shares new research[1] revealing that food and tech are the items we are most willing to share with a romantic partner, with food topping the list at 58% (Joey Tribbiani should take notes) followed by a phone charger at 48%.
It comes as no surprise that the majority of people (65%) are more likely to share essential and everyday items with loved ones due to the cost-of-living crisis. This rises to 74% for millennials who are the most likely to share overall and drops to 45% for baby boomers who are the least likely to share. Even 9% of millennials would share their toothbrush. Baby boomers would also sooner share with their family, with 60% saying so.
It looks like hogging the covers is a bigger bugbear between couples than taking a charger, as people are more willing to share a phone charger than their duvet, at 48% and 35% respectively. Interestingly, tablets enter the top three items people are most willing to share with their children (26%), before sharing a tablet with family (25%) and a romantic partner (22%).
Adam Ferguson, Head of Product Marketing at HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, said: “It’s unsurprising that tech such as phones chargers are commonly shared items given their everyday use. Tablets in particular are made with shareability in mind, just like the Nokia T21, ideal for the whole family – whether it’s for work, learning or play, it’s made to adapt. Multiple years of software upgrades on smart devices also means that they can be shared for longer or passed down when you are looking to upgrade.”
A new name is aiming to shake up the video conferencing sector with plans to enter the UK market as part of a major global expansion programme.
Boom Collaboration was born in 2020 by founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett, in a bid to disrupt the sector and stand out from the crowd – creating high performance, high value advanced products.
The ambitious Texas-based business has quickly developed an extensive conferencing portfolio and operates in 20 countries, with plans to extend to 30 more, as well as the UK. Many new product innovations are in the pipeline too, along with the development of a Boom training academy.
“Through these interesting, challenging and evolving times, from lockdowns to hybrid working, conferencing has been at the fulcrum of dramatic changes in daily and working life; how people interact and communicate, almost from anywhere,” Hörnkvist explained.
“We might still be a relatively new kid on the block but we’ve already made big strides forward with much more to come. Over the last few years we’ve been laying strong foundations for sustained growth so that Boom can really start to boom in the UK and beyond!”
Missing piece of the puzzle
Boom Collaboration aims to help plug a knowledge gap in certain areas of the market, from audio and video technology to meeting etiquette.
“We work across all sectors of the industry from AV integrators to traditional telephony resellers and accredited partners such as Zoom and Barco. We’re completely agnostic though and sales continue to rise by around 45% year-on-year.
“There’s definitely a knowledge gap due to the fast transition of people working from home and an explosion in software-based solutions such as Teams and Zoom. We aim to be the piece that’s missing in the sector.”
Hörnkvist added: “Our goal is to emphasise the vital role hardware plays to improve the meeting experience. We are a trusted advisor about the best end points to drive the end user experience. It’s about matching the right equipment to the right rooms and helping organisations to transition at whatever stage of the journey they are on.
“Many resellers used to sell traditional telephone systems then IP handsets but now cloud-based full unified comms systems are taking over with video at their heart. So resellers have to adapt to maintain their revenue streams and that’s where we come in with our knowledge and expertise.
“Our forthcoming Boom Academy will teach not just how to connect multiple cameras and different systems but showcase our domain overarching knowledge. It’s about giving something back. We recognise some resellers will have to learn quickly or they are out of the game. This is where we can help a lot who have come from the traditional ‘voice’ space. Live demos, meeting room design overviews and how to embrace the latest trends, for example.”
Disruptive force
Co-founder Hulett agrees with the importance of building long term relationships. “We are young and fresh with new ideas, backed by years of personal experience that already makes us experts in this field. We are not afraid to stand out, be bold, brave and loud and do things a little differently.
A disrupter to take on the field.” Hulett concluded: “The Boom support team offers both pre and post sales support, available for the life of a product. All Boom products come with a standard three-year warranty with an optional five-year Boom care plan for complete peace of mind.
“We recognise quality makes a huge difference. It really matters. That’s why we went straight into 4K picture resolution for example. 4K is the future. It’s about continually raising the game and raising the bar.
“Equally we want to show personality, fun and passion. It’s not just about making money but helping our customers, building a good organisation and enjoying what we do. We are continually learning and evolving.
“We are young with lots of ambition to grow. We have agility, like to be different and the future is bright. We want to bring in dedicated in-house R&D and product teams and continue to build our distribution network all over the world. I’d say we are at a tipping point to accelerate much further forward, based on sustained, controlled growth. 2023 will be a big and exciting year for us in the UK and around the world.”
The Creative Zen Air earbuds are the latest on offer from the brand and pack more than expected for the price which is great for the consumer and this is now becoming a common trend in the the earbuds and headphones department and of course welcome news and we have been testing these for a while now and it is time to take a look and see what you get for your money.
First up these come in a neat case that comes with wireless charging not seen at this price and you get around 18 hours in total with the case which is decent considering their size, they fit well too giving a good seal leaving a great audio experience all round and you have access to the SXFI app to which changes the game here if you have not already experienced what this app can provide which we have discussed any times here.
The earbuds come with 10 mm Neodymium drivers, which packs a punch and we go through the app in the video review below and all the features on board and how to control the earbuds which is a simple process and they work really well as a whole and nothing complicated here. You do get ANC on board which is decent and of course for those who want to hear their surroundings you get ambient mode.
You also get Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a certified IPX4 sweatproof rating here so these are for everyone be in the indoor person or sports and certainly those who commute on a daily basis, there is no sound leakage or lag latency either and make quite the pair of earbuds that are cost effective and certainly should be on your list if you are hunting for a new pair.
Creative Zen Air will support upcoming SXFI READY devices (e.g. smart TVs, PCs and mobile devices) that come built-in with the award-winning Super X-Fi Spatial Holography technology that allows users to enjoy SXFI Spatial Holography that recreates a multi-speaker system soundstage within the headphones. Users can download the SXFI App to preview this technology on local content on their phones.
Pricing and Availability
Creative Zen Air is priced at £39.99 and is available at Creative.com.
Want an easy piece of kit to protect your home garage or shed well this is it and cost effective too with no expertise to set-up required at all and a ten year battery life the X-Sense heat alarm is where it is at. This can be placed literally anywhere in the home garage or shed and you will have peace of mind and if you have part of their ecosystem even better.
You just need to drill two small holes and use the fittings provided or you can use adhesive pads which is better in my view which is what we did to save drilling any holes and again can be moved elsewhere is required, then you attach the base then screw on the main unit clockwise and the job is done it literally cant be any easier.
There is no access to the app here which is my only issue unless you have more of their product range so if the alarm does go off you would need to be nearby or perhaps a neighbour could let you know as it is a loud siren at 85db. After that it is just leave it sit there and do its job and we have tested several times to ensure it does work and it does every time and it is seen in the video review below. As we had only one unit to test we had to base our review on that alone but if you have several if one goes off they all will sound of their alarms which is a good thing.
X-sense Link
Notifications
10 Year battery
All house coverage
Features
Class A1 Heat Alarm for Fast Fire Detection: This heat alarm is equipped with an ultra-sensitive NTC thermistor that accurately detects a sudden rise in temperature or static temperatures between 129°F (54°C) and 149°F (65°C); it is not triggered by smoke, dust or cooking fumes, saving you from the nuisance of constantly having to turn off alarms
Wide Coverage & Comprehensive Home Protection: By interconnecting it to up to other 24 X-Sense Link+ series alarms, you can create a wireless home safety network throughout your entire house; when one alarm is triggered, all devices will sound an alarm, giving an early alert to everyone in the home
Compliant with Scottish Regulations: CE-marked and powered by a sealed battery with a 10-year lifespan, this heat alarm is designed to be wirelessly interlinked with our X-Sense Link+ series which includes smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and combination alarms, making it suitable for any home in Scotland
10-Year Lithium Battery: In addition to being tamper-proof, this alarm’s built-in 10-year sealed lithium battery has a low power consumption, saving you the trouble of having to regularly change the battery; your home will be protected 24/7 with the X-Sense heat alarm, even in case of a power outage
Loud 85 dB Sound: During a fire, this heat alarm will deliver an 85 dB alarm tone within a distance of 10 feet (3 m), loud enough to be heard by anyone in your family, giving you more time to either put out the fire or escape to safety
Large Test/Silence Button: This alarm’s Test/Silence button allows you to silence any non-threatening alarms or low battery warnings and test the unit’s functionality; it can also be operated by the X-Sense remote control (sold separately) without the need for a ladder to actually press the button on the unit
Easy Installation and Setup: This interconnected heat alarm requires no wiring and can be installed on any wall or ceiling in a few minutes, simply by using adhesive pads (not included) or the accessories provided; ideal for areas where standard smoke alarms cannot be installed, such as attics, garages, kitchens, basements and more
