Archive for October, 2015

By October 7, 2015 Read More →

Low Power Wide Area Networks coming next year

picowanPicoWAN’s aim is to be the first LP-WAN (Low Power – Wide Area Network) RF network for connected objects, which will be collaborative, global, cross-border and available at a very low price. It will be launched in Europe from June 2016.

“PicoWAN is a project close to my heart. I have been deeply involved in the development and have even filed 3 patents,” announces Henri CROHAS, President of ARCHOS. “The potential is huge.”

A revolution in the Internet of Things

The key to this innovation is a unique wireless communications network protocol based on the use of pico-gateways, as opposed to rooftop concentrators and antennas, which come in the form of smart plugs connected to the internet via WiFi or Ethernet. Embedding a LoRa™ IC, the range of pico-gateways is potentially as long as the sophisticated antenna gears installed on rooftops by telcos. As a result of its low-cost and its easy installation inside buildings, the network can be densified at will and made fail–safe, penetrate very deep indoor resulting in a much higher QoS (Quality of Service).

A collaborative network at a very low price

The cost of a pico-gateway is some 100 times less than the cost of a rooftop installation. Instead of investing tens of million euros in infrastructure, PicoWAN will create a highly competitive LP-WAN thanks to the viral diffusion of very low-cost pico-gateways.

To ensure the deployment of a global network throughout Europe, PicoWAN plans to distribute up to 200,000 free pico-gateways by the end of 2016.

PicoWAN will offer a subscription plan starting at £0.50 pence per year, per connected object. Those who will deploy pico-gateway networks locally will receive up to 50% of the income resulting from the connections passing through their pico-gateways.

Optimal compatibility with connected objects

The software embedded in connected objects will be freely available to all developers and integrators developing on vertical or consumer markets, who can then set up their own IoT networks. This technology will facilitate the launch of multiple connected objects in all domains (health, agriculture, home automation, industry, and more), instantly supported by the PicoWAN network anywhere.

All LoRaWANTM objects can be made compatible with ease.

Join us at the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona in February 2016 for a demonstration of PicoWAN network.

By October 6, 2015 Read More →

A gorgeous AOC IPS displays with asymmetric stand

aocDisplay specialist AOC extends the range of its Style line displays with two new models, which are a feast for the eye even when turned off: the nearly borderless design of the AOC I2481FXH (23.8″ / 60.5 cm) and AOC I2781FH (27″ / 68.6 cm) combined with a unique asymmetric metal stand make them stand out from the crowd. But they really come into their own when switched on: their IPS panels ensure highest-grade colour fidelity, sharp contrasts and stunning details for simply brilliant images.

Unique, premium stylish design
The 23.8″ (60.5 cm) AOC I2481FXH and the 27″ (68.6 cm) AOC I2781FH make a bold design statement with their asymmetric metal stands, a feature unique to these AOC monitors. To add to their good looks, both feature ultra slim, nearly borderless frames: the bezel of the 23.8″ AOC I2481FXH is a mere 7.5 mm wide, whereas the 27″ I2781FH model’s is just 9.9 mm slim. This way, they are an appealing addition to any style-conscious user’s desktop.

Brilliant images, wide viewing angles
The two monitors impress even more when turned on: thanks to their IPS panels with the Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, users enjoy not just wide viewing angles of 178° but also brilliant images with highest-grade colour fidelity, impressive contrast and stunning detail. AOC’s Flicker FREE Technology regulates brightness without flickering to ensure a zero-flickering viewing experience with reduced eye strain even during longer periods in front of the monitor.

Versatile and practical
Thanks to two HDMI connectors and one VGA socket, both monitors can easily be connected to various devices including DVD players, game consoles or whatever fits the user’s lifestyle best. For comfortable listening without disturbing others, users can plug in their earphones right into the display’s headphone jack.

The AOC I2481FXH will be available October 2015; the AOC I2781FH will follow in December. Their MSRPs will be £139 and £199 respectively. As with all of its displays, AOC offers a 3-year warranty with on-site exchange service.

By October 6, 2015 Read More →

Wileyfox Swift Unboxing

vlcsnap-error452Wileyfox is a new name on the block and they are here to impress. The Swift delivers outstanding specifications at an incredible market beating price. 4G LTE connectivity, stunning picture quality from the 13MP rear camera and a quad core Snapdragon™ 410 processor brings this phone to the forefront of affordable smartphone technology.

 

Featuring:

  • Cyanogen OS 12.1 (based on Lollipop 5.1.1.)
  • 13MP primary camera, 
  • 5MP front camera,
  • a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 8916, 
  • 16GB ROM +
  • 2GB RAM, 
  • Expandable memory up to 32GB, 
  • Dual SIM functionality,
  • 4G LTE, 
  • 5″ HD Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 IPS Display

Cyanogen OS is used in place of a typical flavour of Android to incease customization, privacy & security, and enhanced experiences. 

Posted in: Phones, Videos/Unboxings
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By October 6, 2015 Read More →

Inateck Sweatproof Running Waist Pack Belt with Expandable Storage Pocket

vlcsnap-error432Inateck produce a number of products acorss the market. This is probably not technically classed as a gadget however it would hold your gadgetry whilst on the go in an attempt to be a low profile as possible. Is the Inateck running belt worth looking at to keep your personals together whilst taking on a marathon Gareth attempts to have a look.

You can pick one up here for £11.99:

 

By October 5, 2015 Read More →

Whats new on Netflix and Amazon Prime 28th Sept – 4 Oct?

TWoAP 4x5Gareth takes a light-hearted look at what new TV shows, movies and documentaries debuted over the last week on both Netflix and Amazon Prime. 

By October 5, 2015 Read More →

Win a trip to BlizzCon with Gigabyte

blizz

Are you a gamer and into Heroes of the Storm? Gigabyte are currently running  a bit of a competition. Buy a particular 100 series motherboard and you could be entered into a draw to win some goodies and the BlizzCon 2015 Grand Prize, a trip to Anaheim, California to attend BlizzCon itself. A pretty tidy prize. Here is the press release below:

 

GIGABYTE,  a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards is proud to announce that the first round of winners has been chosen for its ongoing GIGABYTE Heroes of the Storm Sweepstakes.

On top of the thousands of instant winners of the Kerrigan Hero and Succubus Skin for Heroes of the Storm™, 10 lucky new GIGABYTE users registered their eligible 100 series motherboards at the event page and are now walking away with one of the following; a Z170X-Gaming 3 motherboard, a Aivia Krypton mouse or a Force H3 headset. The entire list of winners is available on our site. Congratulations to all!

“GIGABYTE is very excited to be this year’s official motherboard sponsor of BlizzCon 2015,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “We love gaming, and we will continue to provide new technologies and features to support the gaming community to make the gaming experience even more enjoyable.”

GIGABYTE would like to remind everyone that they still have a chance to join the GIGABYTE Heroes of the Storm Sweepstakes, to be eligible to win the grand prize that includes; one roundtrip flight to Anaheim, CA to attend BlizzCon® 2015, hotel accommodations for three nights and one exclusive BlizzCon® badge. Hurry up, you have only until October 4th 2015 to register, as the winner will be picked the next day!

How to participate

To get your chance at some great hardware, in-game skins and the Blizzcon® 2015 Grand Prize, you must buy a select GIGABYTE 100 series motherboard and register on our event page. It is as simple as that! All participants who register their eligible motherboard will be instantly notified if they win Heroes of the Storm™ Kerrigan Hero and Succubus skin and will be automatically entered into the monthly lucky draw, prizes include motherboards, mice, and headsets. Monthly Draws will be held on October 5th, November 5th, December 7th, 2015 and January 5th, 2016. Winners will be announced shortly after.

Good luck to all!

For more information about the GIGABYTE Heroes of the Storm Sweepstakes event, go to:

http://event.gigabyte.com/HEROES/

For more information about GIGABYTE, please visit:

http://uk.gigabyte.com/

By October 5, 2015 Read More →

Olixar Qi-Tone Unboxing

vlcsnap-error358Mobilefun have sent  a Olixar Qi-Tone Alarm Clock Bluetooth Qi Charging Speaker with the dark wood finish.

Technical Specifications

  • Dimensions: 250 x 90 x 75 mm
  • Qi: Yes (WPC 1.1)
  • Bluetooth: V2.1 + EDR
  • Input: 5V, 1.5A
  • Power: 5W
  • Speaker Frequency: 60HZ – 20KHZ
  • Speaker Driver: Stereo, 1.5inch, 4Ohm, 3W

Perhaps in the unboxing I come across as not terribly impressed by the Plixir clock, however over the last week of using it I have actually grown somewhat fond of the retro-esq time piece.

This is a device that requires very little attention yet subliminally you are using it a awful lot. I have never had a desire to know the temperature at any time, living in Northern Ireland we are either “baltic” or just warm enough to be a little uncomfortable. There is no inbetween. However, having it there I have begun to observe just when the temperature changes to Baltic from warm. That’s started to take my interest. I see it sitting at 21℃ and take note. I will look again when it is baltic and we see 19℃, 20℃ is indistinguishable from 21℃.

Then again there is the the large, friendly time placement, basic alarm function and uncomplicated, old fashioned interface. This is genuinely refreshing to just set things manually and not have to rely on sporadic bluetooth connections, fiddling with NFC or internet radio. I now realise I am just pointing niceties that clock radios have had for the last 40 years and it’s welcome here. A device not trying to be more than it needs to be.

The addition of Qi wireless charging is the modern age being injected in just the right amount. A practical use of Qi charging combined with the old. The charge rate does not matter and it’s entirely unobtrusive implementation. The same with Bluetooth, it just works and doesn’t try to be clever with it.

Speaker quality is perfectly acceptable for what this is. You are not going to be hosting parties with it, in saying that it might actually surprise you, yet it will easily handle calls and a little background music as you get ready for said party.

Two USBs on the back assist in the charging of peripherals without Qi, a smartwatch and tablet. You won’t have to dig down the back of the night stand for charge cables anymore. I was not able to playback an MP3 off a memory stick however that sort of method is probably long dead. Just to cover other bits and pieces that stream there is a 3.5mm AUX thrown in for the completest.

From afar the clock looks quite elegant however up close the finish does look like the vinyl wrap is stuck on, which it is and takes away from the over all appeal. I will also say that the price does seem a little steep at £100.00 and that is the a major downfall of the Qi-Tone.

If this is your thing then drop over to Mobilefun from more information

 

By October 5, 2015 Read More →

EasyAcc USB desk fan Unboxing

CaptureEasyAcc have sent over a fan! It’s an old fashioned fan powered by USB and it’s really quire nice. There isn’t a lot to say about this one suffice to say if you are looking for a desk fan, have a free USB on the computer then EasyAcc’s offering is something to consider. I am using it a lot more than I thought I would.

A fan, for £10.99 and it’s great. You can purchase one here

 

By October 1, 2015 Read More →

KitSound trio look stunning in Rose Gold

It is no secret that the gorgeous metal rose gold is taking the world by storm at the moment, especially in the fashion and audio world. We’ve seen it on the catwalks, Apple have chosen it as one of their limited edition colours, and people all around the world are choosing the precious metal for their wedding rings.

The rose gold trend has even extended to audio accessories, which means that you will be able to bring in hints of rose gold both into your outfits and into your home without going too overboard. There is no quicker way to kill a trend than to use it too much, and we love rose gold specifically because it doesn’t overpower everything else that you are wearing.

Here are the three top rose gold audio products that we are totally in love with right now:

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This is the KitSound Boombar 2 in rose gold, an incredible speaker that has 10 Watts of power and up to ten hours of play time. You can either connect your device with the 3.5 mm cable or Bluetooth, and you can even use it as your hands free if you receive a call. This speaker looks fantastic in your home, and we love it.

RRP: £80.00

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Sometimes less is more, and that is definitely proved by the KitSound Manhattan Headphones in rose gold. The delicate inclusion of the metal means that the headphones are never going to scream at anyone – instead, they are all about class and elegance. They are also packed with fabulous audio technology, with eighteen hours of play time and Bluetooth connectivity so you are not all tangled up with wires.

RRP: £34.99

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Last but by no means least we have the KitSound Pocket Hive in rose gold. This speaker will be appearing in a winter issue of GQ, and it is easy to see why so many people are loving this. This speaker is only a couple of inches high, and comes with a hard shell carry case so it is incredibly portable. The passive bass radiator has been configured to maximise the depth and richness of sound, and the rose gold grill brings a twist to what is a well loved design.

RRP: £40.00

By October 1, 2015 Read More →

One slight problem with the Chromecast Audio

CQFeXYQWgAQggBt-350x200Google launched its colourful new update to the Chromecast yesterday, not one but two different devices. One of the new additions a lot of folks were getting excited about was that music streaming giant Spotify is finally supporting Chromecast. However, after explaining a more about the service today, Spotify say owners users the new Chromecast will be able to ‘cast music directly’ from a phone or tablet right away. The cloud this silver lining is wrapped around is only Spotify Premium subscribers will be able to send content to Chromecast Audio. I’m sure this will only effect a smaller percentage of Spotify users, and perhaps will help Google keep their Play Music as via option of Chromecast users in the future. However there are a fair few out there that will be a little glum about this stipulation.

First-gen Chromecast will need to wait for a firmware update enabling Spotify support first from Google. This is expected in the coming weeks.

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