Tag: #tech

Tech Review – DriverGenius HB371 CompactFlash Card Reader with SD/microSD Slots

The DriverGenius HB371 3-In-1 CompactFlash Card Reader boasts an array of features designed to cater to your diverse data management needs. Equipped with three memory card slots, including CF, SD, and microSD, it allows you to read various types of storage cards simultaneously (please note that all three slots cannot read and write data at the same time due to hardware constraints). For photographers using Compact Flash cameras, the HB371 provides a convenient solution for quickly transferring high-resolution photos to your computer or other devices. In addition to CompactFlash support, this card reader also accommodates SD and microSD cards, making it a versatile choice for various media types.

Ideally this product is for those who need to access and transfer data on the move with minimal effort and this will also fit into your pocket or travel bag taking up minimal space, it serves multiple formats which are current today which makes it the right tool for those who require it at an affordable price. It is super fast and efficient with fast read and write speeds and simple to use on many formats.

Features

■ Idea for professionals in photography and video, video editors, everyday users, and mobile workers.
■ Compatible with CompactFlash (CF), SD, and microSD cards (Note: Not Simultaneous Read/Write). Universal Compatibility: With both USB Type-C and USB Type-A interfaces
■ USB 3.0 Speed and Back support USB2.0/1.1
■ Compatible with Windows 11, macOS 14, Linux, and more
■ Backed by a 3-year warranty | EAN – 5060955721097

 

BUY

Video Review

Tech Review – Wanbo-X2 Max projector

I have several projectors at home and love them all and are one of my favourite pieces of tech to review and enjoy watching my content on. Wanbo have sent us their latest on offer which is the Wanbo-X2 Max projector packed with features, the spec sheet looks good but it is all down to how it comes across for your viewing that counts and we will be taking a close look at this model, one of several the company has on offer at affordable prices.

With this projector you can do many things with and feel more immersed with the bigger picture so to speak and not only that you get big sound which is great, some projectors dish out poor sound but not this one it is loud and punchy with some nice bass in there no distortion or lag latency either noted during testing.

The picture though is what people like to know about these projectors and the picture is good on this no matter what you may use it for, it can be used for gaming watching movies and much more and you can of course cast from your device and hook up your laptop and consoles to see things in all their glory.

The quality is decent even on a darker wall I tried out and came out good overall we have native 1080p present and 450 ANSI which gives a brighter video to watch unlike 720p would in a projector. Some say you would need over 1000 lumens or ANSI to get a better picture which is a fair comment it all depends on how good you want the quality to be but as you will see in the video review below 450 is plenty for simple home use.

This projector has an AI image engine and auto focus and 4 points keystone correction again often left out from previous ones I have review at this price and it works well here and perfect if you have no idea spot to place or mount the projector you can still get the picture square on a wall even if not place directly in front of it.

How big you want the picture also depends on you and the closer the better quality which is obvious but there is three noted focal lengths or screen sizes from 50 120 inches which is ideal and of course you need to try out the 120 inch, if you have a white background of projector screen you will get better results too but this can be projected onto blinds or a darker wall and the picture comes through and not seeing pixels from the desired distance.

Wanbo-X2 specs

The UI is simple to use and navigate and there is tonnes of preloaded apps there is some restrictions as always with projectors but you can get around these easily enough with the know how or just ask someone who does. The noise is also not too loud as some can be from projectors and is tolerable when in use and if you turn your volume up like you should there will be no fan noise to worry about. To top it off you can also use this as a general music player/speaker by simply connecting your device and it has decently loud 2X5W speakers and finally Dual Band 6 Wi-Fi as mentioned above so no lag latency seen during my use so far.

One small gripe for me is the power cable is a bit on the short side.

Check the video review below for more.

BUY 

Video Review

Tech Review – AENO Premium Eco Smart LED Heater

It is coming in the Winter months now and it already has some reach for their electric blankets and turning on their heating which is what we do and no better time to check out a new Premium Eco Smart LED Heater from Aeno. This is the latest piece of tech for the home we have been testing out over the last while coming up to the Christmas Season.

This heater can be placed on the ground or wall/ceiling mounted so there is choice and does not have to be a fixed heater, today most people tend to use portable heaters and this is certainly portable and not only that it does no look like a heater at first glance, it literally takes two minutes to set up on its legs if you are leaving it on the floor and the job is done and you can still move it around the house should you wish to do so.

The design is quite nice it is thin 11mm to be exact and light and looks like a wide monitor PC screen when you first take it out and set it up, there is controls on the sides but you have an app to do other changes and set things up to your needs which is handy and we take a look at this in the video review below.

One of the standout features of AENO Smart Heaters is their ability to SMART Mode when it is needed to maintain a configurable comfortable temperature without loss of electricity to the air. All models of AENO heaters are more efficient than other types of heaters and heating methods (convectional heating, air conditioning, floor heating, central heating). The heating is done through infrared rather than convection.

The AENO app – techbuzzireland

Quickly and effectively uses the whole 700+ Watts of power without wasting heat and money. Panel temperature can be changed through the application from 120 degrees Celcius to 60 degrees Celcius change the range of temperatures from 700W+ to 150W+. It cost me about 8 euro a week to run.

It is twice as efficient as a conventional heater. Once the room is heated to a set temperature, the heater automatically switches off, not wasting electricity, while upkeeping the room temperature (in SMART Mode). Upkeeping the room temperature is always cheaper. You can save energy and money and stay warm for the entire heating season. Traditionally the portable heaters you find in electrical stores today are not very economical on your electricity bill and don’t tend to be too expensive and this is the reason why so if you want to save money and have a stylish looking heater spending the extra money pays off in the long run.

Finally being able to control this with an app you can have your room heated before you get home a the tap of a button if you have not set a timer which in the Winter months is a win and checking my costings on my meter vs this it does save money and does not have to be left on all day and you are total control.

Aeno Premium Eco Smart Heater | 240-AGH0004S | Black

Features and benefits

The perfect combination of fast heating and energy savings

  • Safe for children and animals Fall/Tilt sensor – auto power-off if fallen and notification to APP
  • WIFI Compatiable with IOS and Android – Set up wintin 1 minute
  • Efficiency – 100% uniform distribution of heat in the room, and as a result, energy saving
  • Infrared + convection heating method – Heat the Room up to 30 m3
  • Eco packaging and Eco friendly materials – safe, natural, durable AND only 11mm in width
  • Low power consumption – 160 Watt-hours to 700+ Watt per hours – Adjustable panel temperature 60 °C – 120 °C
  • Ambient Room temperature sensor in cable Provide a more precise room temperature reading for more comfort
  • Smart Control – AENO Mobile application – time setting, room heating temperature selection

The AENO Smart Heaters are available from Harvey Norman

https://www.harveynorman.ie/small-appliances/heating-and-cooling/heaters/aeno-premium-eco-smart-heater-240-agh0004s-black.html

Video Review

Tech Review – XbotGo AI tracking sports gimbal

The XbotGo AI Sports Gimbal is a versatile tool designed to effortlessly capture and live stream team sports like soccer, basketball, and football. Ideal for sports enthusiasts and parents eager to record their children’s games or practices, this gimbal ensures you won’t miss a moment of the action. In tandem with this we also use their T4 tripod which proved super beneficial and stable compared to others including the one I use to catch the product in action on a windy day so I would advise getting this as well as the gimbal for better results.

The gimbal is not like other per se but could be used however the structure and set up is familiar like others and gimbal users will have no time at all getting going it takes about 5 minutes to get set up and running on site and you let the product do all the work for you which is what I like most.

There is some parameters to fill in depending on the sport or if used in single use like we tested in as there is no sports activities on now with the holidays it proved beneficial and just works all the time.

There is some controls on the product too should you need to adjust things somewhat and again simple to follow there is a shutter key on the rear which doubles as a volume key on iPhone, there is a joystick and mode button too for your convenience.

To get set up you need to get the balance right on your phone and when you open the arm you will need to set the device right on it to get the best results and once set each time you turn it on it will automatically set up, you can easily toggle between modes and then just let the AI tracking do its job it is quite impressive again it is ideal for those in the sports industry to monitor individuals or team work and you just sit back and check the results later.

Another benefit to this is the option to live stream which again is excellent for local league matches and so on or a school team sports for example and overall an ideal product that is not expensive to get the job done for those into sports and again I would advise getting their tripods for optimal results which are smooth ones at that and does not jerk freeze or go off track. Check the video for more below to see what is in the app and how it works.

Key features include:

  • Hands-free recording of team sports.
  • User-friendly app for intuitive control.
  • Advanced auto-tracking utilizing pose and motion tracking technology.
  • Superior image stabilization for clear, uninterrupted footage.
  • Compact, foldable design for easy portability.
  • Intelligent shooting modes, including panoramic shots with up to 340° coverage.
  • No subscription or hidden fees.
  • Compatible with both Android and iOS; available on Google Play and the App Store.
  • Recommended accessories: The T1 tripod (3.77ft) for basketball, and the T4 tripod (13ft) for soccer (football).
  • Compatible Remote Control – sold separately

BUY

Video Review

Boom Celebrates A Record Year To Remember

Boom Collaboration, a new name that officially entered the UK video conferencing market in 2023, has enjoyed a year of record growth and expansion – as it plots a multi-million-pound pathway to become a bigger industry name.

Formed in 2020, Boom has developed a growing global footprint, spanning hardware solutions for all types of meeting rooms. The Texas-based company is headed by founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett and now operates in over 30 countries where revenues rose by almost 40% during the last 12 months.

A device leaves one of its four worldwide logistics hubs on average every 60 seconds of each working day.

Fire

Boom’s platform agnostic portfolio encompasses video bars, all-in-one solutions, high performance cameras plus a multi-camera mixing desk controller – available from UK distributor Westcoast. A forthcoming HALO video bar, new MAGNA Pro high performance camera, GOJO multi-camera controller and ZYGO user-friendly connectivity hub are being tipped to fire further sales success throughout 2024, alongside complete meeting room ‘in a box’ kits.

The new Boom MAGNA Pro high performance 4K camera

Recent distribution partnerships span the UK, France, Germany and the Baltics, as Boom continues to extend its reach across Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

“It’s a fast moving industry that never stands still and we keep moving forward too,” explained Hörnkvist as he celebrated a record revenue rise of 38% compared to 2022.

Cornerstone

Hulett highlighted: “A lot of what we’ve been focusing on over the last couple of years is introducing ourselves to the market, highlighting how we are not only a viable but an innovative and interesting partner that stands out from the crowd across all meeting spaces. 

“We’ve built the business by listening to our customers and identifying what they need and what they were lacking. Being attentive and creating quick solutions. This is one of the cornerstones of who we are what we will continue to be.”

Starting the company in the middle of a global pandemic wasn’t quite planned that way, she added. “It’s not always been easy but in general we’ve been very well received and are very excited about what the future holds.”

Boom Collaboration Founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett.

Hörnkvist concluded: “Relationships are growing and will become even stronger across the UK and beyond. We’re now seen as a serious international player with a strong platform to reach new heights of success. 2024 is a massive year for us as we enter an exciting new phase of development.

“Controlled sustainable growth across all four corners of the globe is set to continue.

An expanding and dynamic team together with new product innovations underpin our aggressive growth ambitions.

“We have exciting plans and are determined to remain the friendly face of video conferencing, based on a personal touch and a passion for long lasting partnerships through the distribution channel. Boom is set to become bigger and even better in the UK throughout 2024.”

Tech Review – Twinkly Candies Candles HD smart lights

The festive season is well and truly here and we have a range of tech for the home indoors and outdoors to brighten things up and show off to your neighbours and it is already heating up on the street here but I have some cool lights here for both inside and out to let them step back and enjoy.

Twinkly has been in my home now some years and this year we are taking the festive approach with real tech this time and whats more these can be controlled via an app on your smartphone be it Android or iOS with cool designs and colours which will get the neighbours talking.

First up is their new Candies candles. they come in a few styles and we picked the candle shaped version, you can also get pearls, stars and hearts. There is a cable colour choice too which is clear Green or Black, we picked the clear cable.

The presentation is nice and inside the box you get two separate bundles of candies wrapped up to make life a bit easy as you have 2X 19.6 ft of cable to deal with so there is plenty to get creative with, you do not have to have them on the tree as the box suggests but you can create designs or wrap around current items in your home and so on.

With 16 million colours, you can unleash your full creativity using the free Twinkly app available on iOS and Android. The Twinkly app is also compatible with voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. Thanks to Twinkly’s exclusive mapping function, you can completely customise your lighting effects to your heart’s desire and instantaneously transform any living space into a playful canvas of beautiful, radiant colours and ambiance.

Setting up is simple and takes a few minutes once you have planned how you are going to execute you grand design or put on your Christmas Tree. You have a USB-C plug which is great and there is a control on the plug for the simpler things that changes the colours and how they operate but the app is where it is all at.

The APP

Features

  • Multicolour RGB LEDs: Choose from pearl, candle, star or heart-shaped Candies. Great as mood lighting in the living room, for your kids’ bedroom, for gaming, or as Christmas decoration
  • Unleash your Creativity: Enjoy a variety of ready-to-play customisable effects or craft your unique light show by choosing from 16 million colours with the Twinkly App for the ultimate decorative lighting
  • Gaming Integrations: Perfect for content creators, gamers and streamers. Compatible with the Homey app, Razer Chroma RGB and OMEN Light Studio for the ultimate gaming experience
  • USB-C Powered: Versatile indoor use, perfect for cosy nights in, festive celebrations or streaming setups – without ever running out of battery
  • Smart Home Device: Switch lights on and off, dim them or apply timers with the Twinkly app and use Twinkly Music (sold separately) to sync music with your lights. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit

BUY 

Video Review

Tech Review – Creative Live! Meet 4K

The Creative Live! Meet is a 4K UHD  conference Webcam with an auto-tracking camera speakerphone with AI Technology inbuilt,  This comprehensive kit has touch buttons on the top of the speaker and houses 4 pairs of ultra-sensitive omnidirectional microphones. With a wide-angle field of view (FOV) of up to 115°, this conference speaker exudes solidity, weighing 734g and providing a stable presence on any table.

The touch buttons on the unit allows adjustment of camera angles, zoom, and focus, while volume control and mic muting can be effortlessly managed by tapping the top panel of the Creative Live! Meet 4K. Additionally, the kit includes a remote control, offering convenient access to the main features, with the most common functions prominently located on the front of the remote and the top of the conference speaker. The package also includes in the packaging a QR code linking to the website with all the key features and performance controls

Contents:

1 x Creative Live! Meet 4K

1 x USB-C to USB-A cable

1 x Quick Start Guide

1 x Remote Control*

1 x Power Adapter

* Batteries not included

 

Specification

 

Overview

Remote

 

Setup:

The setup is plug-and-play, requiring no additional driver installation, and only necessitates a power supply cable plugged into the Creative Live! Meet 4K and a USB 2.0 connection to a laptop running on Windows or macOS platforms. During testing on an MS Teams call, the kit excelled in terms of audio from the mic, with the 5W speakers delivering impressive sound. The clear and physically large buttons on the device facilitated easy operation, with the unit’s color changing to red when switched off. However, there were occasional discrepancies in color changes when muting or turning off the camera within the Teams app, leading to a less favorable experience in multi-user calls. The on-screen display provides clear text indications, although it defaults to mirror mode when viewed by the user, but displays correctly for the other call participants The creative app was downloaded to the laptop and tested with very few features adapted to the review.

The AI function when enabled worked well in terms of this following the presenter’s head around even when moved from one site to the other side of a room up to 115°. The 7X digital zoom worked via the remote control allowing one to focus on eg a particular area in the room.

Additional features in terms of hand gestures, allowing the trigger specific actions by gesturing in front of the Creative Live! Meet 4K!

Warranty and Niggles:

The Creative Live! Meet 4K is backed by a 2-year limited hardware warranty for EU countries and a 1-year limited hardware warranty for non-EU countries. However, some minor niggles were encountered, such as issues with the user guide QR code and the absence of batteries in the remote, which detracted slightly from the overall experience. Additionally, discrepancies in color changes and default mirror text mode were observed, albeit without significant impact on the unit’s functionality or call quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Creative Live! Meet 4K offers an array of impressive features, including a responsive camera, clear buttons, and remote indications of call status. The AI capabilities add an extra dimension with gesture control, while the auto-tracking feature and excellent audio from the 4 built-in omnidirectional microphones, coupled with the depth of the speaker audio, provide a compelling conferencing experience. The 4K UHD resolution, powered by the Sony STARVIS IMX415 CMOS Imaging Sensor, delivers a premium video experience, further enhancing the unit’s appeal. Despite minor setup nuances, the remote’s responsiveness and effective zoom functionality make the Creative Live! Meet 4K a solid choice for those seeking a feature-rich conference solution

BUY

Video Review

SIMOEFFI Upgraded RGB Gaming Headphones Stand

The SIMOEFFI Upgraded RGB Gaming Headphones Stand, Headset Stand with 3.5mm AUX and 2 USB Charging Ports, Headphone Holder with 10 Light Modes and Memory Feature for Gamers PC Earphone Accessories Desk is a product that is ideal for gamers and more, I come across many headphones stands during the year and this one offers that bit more than others I have seen and tested over the years and if your are into RGB lights this perhaps is the one for you to check out. 

There is 10 light modes on this which works via touch control so you are in control and there is many effects too such as 3 RGB colour modes and pure breath modes giving you some extra ambience in your gaming set up or environment.

You also get 2 USB ports and 1 Aux Port meaning plug and play and kept simple you also get a 3.5mm Aux port which connects to a keyboard, also you can connect and charge your phones and compatible devices which makes it an all in one stand for everyone who has the tech required to suit the product.

The assembly is a simple process coming in three parts and takes seconds to set up and again an ideal situation and no messing with tools etc.

❤️【10 RGB Lighting Mode & Touch Control】The RGB Gaming Headphones Stand provides 10 lighting effect modes, contains 3 RGB color changing modes, and 7 pure breath modes: red, green, blue, purple, light blue, yellow, and white creating a fantastic gaming atmosphere. You can DIY lighting modes in different scenes by touching the button to change the color mode.
  • ❤️【With Memory Feature & More Stable】Upgraded RGB headset holder with memory feature. The headset stand will not be initialized and will remember the color mode before closing. Headset stand RGB adds iron to the headset stand base, RGB headset stand weighs 7 ounces, and stands more stably on the desktop, With 4 non-slip rubber bases, providing good stability and wear resistance.
  • ❤️【2 USB Ports & 1 AUX Port】 Plug and Play – No drivers required, The RGB Gaming Stand has 2 USB 2.0 ports and a 3.5mm Aux port. USB port can be connected to the keyboard, U disk, mouse, and data transmission, Headphone stand aux port can realize audio synchronous transmission and provide full-range stereo.RGB headphone stand can also charge your iPhone, iPad, earphones, and other devices.

❤️【Easy Installation & Portable Design】 Assemble 3 parts together in 30 seconds, then you can get a stylish and beautiful headphone holder, suitable for all brand headphone sizes, Headphone stands RGB is convenient to place or display the headphones when not in use and keep your desk organized, and the soft protective rubber on the top prevents scratches or damage to the headset.
  • ❤️【Universal Compatibility & After-Sales Service】Plug and play, No driver needed, The gamer headset stand is compatible with WinXP/7/8/10, Linux, Mac, and other operating systems. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, We’re willing to provide you with friendly and 100% satisfying services. Headphone holder is also the best gifts for sons, boys, men, husbands, and boyfriends.

BUY 

Dell Technologies Storage Advancements Accelerate AI and Generative AI Strategies

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) is helping customers achieve faster AI and generative AI (GenAI) performance with new enterprise data storage advancements and validation with the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD AI infrastructure.

“Storage performance is a critical factor for successful AI and generative AI outcomes,” said Arthur Lewis, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “Customers are relying on us to continually push the boundaries of storage innovation, including removing data access bottlenecks that limit the throughput and scalability of compute-intensive applications. We are addressing these needs by delivering fast, efficient and secure access to data and turning it into a proverbial goldmine of AI and GenAI possibilities.”

Addressing the need for high performance and efficiency for AI storage

New advancements from Dell PowerScale, the world’s most flexible,1 secure2 and efficient3 scale-out file storage system, address increasing customer demands for higher AI and GenAI performance.

Now, with PowerScale OneFS software enhancements, companies can prepare, train, fine-tune and inference AI models more quickly. With new PowerScale all-flash storage systems, based on latest generation Dell PowerEdge servers, customers will see up to a 2X performance increase for streaming reads and writes. 4

“We make an engineering change every 17 minutes, a speed unachievable without a powerful IT infrastructure that underpins all of our processes,” said Dan Keyworth, director of business technology, McLaren Racing. “Thanks to Dell PowerScale, we’re equipped to leverage cutting-edge AI applications, combining high-performance storage with computing capabilities to create a winning formula for success.”

PowerScale will offer a new smart scale-out capability to improve single compute node performance for enhanced GPU utilization, leading to faster storage throughput for AI training, checkpointing and inferencing.

“Dell continues to design its file and object storage solutions with the customer in mind, allowing them to modernize their infrastructure with an AI-ready foundation to support the most intensive workloads, such as generative AI,” said Scott Sinclair, practice director, Enterprise Strategy Group. “With PowerScale’s latest performance advances, customers can improve AI model training and fine-tuning to make better business decisions based on their data wherever it resides with increased speed and accuracy.”

Dell PowerScale undergoes validation for NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD 

Through Dell’s collaboration with NVIDIA, customers will be able to take advantage of a validated combination of NVIDIA DGX systems, Dell PowerScale storage and NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand and Spectrum Ethernet networking to achieve faster and more efficient AI storage. Dell’s solution is expected to be the first ethernet storage solution validated on NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD.

With Dell PowerScale becoming validated for NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, NVIDIA’s turnkey data center AI infrastructure solution, customers will be able to confidently accelerate their AI and GenAI initiatives with Dell’s industry-leading network-attached storage.NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD includes the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform to provide a full-stack, secure and stable AI supercomputing solution.

Bringing AI to data wherever it resides

With nearly 87% of companies embracing multicloud strategies,6 Dell is giving customers the freedom to process data wherever it makes the most sense for them – on premises, at the edge or in public clouds.

Dell APEX File Storage for Microsoft Azure, the latest addition to the Dell APEX Storage for Public Cloud portfolio, delivers enterprise-class file performance and management capabilities in Microsoft Azure. Customers will be able to easily meet the needs of performance-intensive AI and machine learning applications like Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Vision.

Dell APEX File Storage in AWS and Azure allows customers to take advantage of cloud-native AI and GenAI workflows on data in public clouds or on premises with improved data access and movement. For example, through Dell’s expanding Databricks collaboration, customers can choose from a variety of large language models (LLMs) and use libraries from Databricks MosaicML to retrain a foundational model with their proprietary data stored in Dell APEX File Storage, offering flexibility across multicloud environments.

The Databricks collaboration builds on Dell’s data management ecosystem partnerships to help customers accelerate AI and analytics efforts.  Additionally, with Dell’s planned open, modern data lakehouse, customers can extract insights from data wherever it resides with the integration of Starburst’s analytics software with Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell PowerScale, Dell ECS and Dell ObjectScale file and object storage systems.

 Availability

  • The Dell PowerScale OneFS software enhancements will be globally available this month.
  • Next-generation all-flash Dell PowerScale systems and new smart scale-out feature will be globally available in the first half of 2024.
  • Dell PowerScale is being validated with NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, with expected completion in the first quarter of 2024.
  • Dell APEX for File Storage for Microsoft Azure will be globally available in the first half of 2024.
  • Dell APEX for File Storage integration with Databricks and MosaicML is available in AWS today and in Microsoft Azure in the first half of 2024.
  • The Dell open, modern data lakehouse solution will be globally available in the first half of 2024.