Author Archive: Gareth

Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.

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By May 14, 2017 Read More →

The SoundPEATS Q16 Unboxing

6106Mgbv59L._SX425_Here we take a look at a truely wireless headphone arrangement, the SoundPEATS Q16. These are Dual Wireless Earbuds with separate batteries, Bluetooth 4.2 and a dash of Sweatproofing for the Sporty types out there. The In-Ear Headset also features a Microphone and a Secure Fit to keep them in place during whilst active.

SoundPEATS Audio is a relatively new company (2010) that has a wide range of music listening products for in-ear, on-ear, sport and business use. Their latest product is the Q16 True Wireless Bluetooth 4.2 Earphone. It’s a pretty nice and compact piece of gear because it’s simply two parts (one for each ear). It really is “true wireless” because there’s no connecting wire between your earphones or the streaming device.

The ideal application for the Q16 Bluetooth Earphone is sport or daily workouts. It really works well for anyone who is constantly on the go and doesn’t want the annoyance of wires. They’re quite simple to put on (just slips over and in the ear) and connecting them to your Bluetooth device is easy. Once you get them adjusted in the ears and connected the noise isolation is great but without blocking all your ambient noise. This leaves you to enjoy your music or talk on the phone while still remaining aware of your surroundings. It’s all hands-free.

The Q16 True Wireless Bluetooth 4.2 Earphone by SoundPEATS charges easily with a split USB cable (included) and has a battery life of about 6 hours.

By May 13, 2017 Read More →

Rophie USB Type C to Micro USB Adapter

urlA handy little dongle that converts your old MicroUSB cables into USB Type-C cables with a copy of added benefits.

Practical Features: With USB Type C to Micro USB Adapter, you can sync, charge and transfer data from your USB-C devices by using your standard Micro-USB cable.Uses USB 2.0 protocol for max-speed Micro USB charging and fast data transfer (480 Mbps).

Perfect Compatibility: Compatible with the Type C devices such as OnePlus Two, Google Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, New Nokia N1 tablet, Lumia 950, Lumia 950XL, ChromeBook, MacBook, Google Pixel, Asus Zen AiO, Lenovo Zuk Z1 and other devices with USB C connector.

Safe Charging: This product has been professionally tested and inspected to meet USB Type-C Standards; the Adapter contains a 56k resistor which protects your devices from high levels of current that exceed the recommended limit.

Nice design: Designed and constructed with high-quality materials for maximum reliability and durability. Small, Smarter and convenient; Plug and unplug easily; Easy to carry when you go anywhere.

Rophie Warranty: Every item you ordered from Rophie comes with 18 Months Warranty & Life time support.

Grab one from Amazon for £5.25.

By May 12, 2017 Read More →

IMO Unveils Mobile Handset Line-Up for 2H 2017

handset-imo-s2-1IMO, the UK-based mobile manufacturer specialising in devices to keep users “Connected & Entertained Everywhere”, today announced its product line-up for the second half of 2017. Forthcoming devices include the IMO S2 and Q+ smartphones, successors to the popular IMO S and Q launched last year, and the IMO Dash – a new best-in-class 3G feature phone. As with previous IMO releases, the company’s emphasis is on providing the best value devices at prices accessible to everyone.

 

The IMO S2 promises to provide users with a full 4G smartphone experience at a fraction of the cost of those offered by other brands. At just 8.2mm thick and with a machined metal body, the S2 will feature a 5” HD display, finger print sensor and will launch on Android 7.0. The S2 will also feature a 13MP camera, with 16GB ROM and 2GB RAM. Sim-free pricing is expected to be around £130.

 

Building on the huge success of its predecessor, the IMO Q+ will be available in either a 3G or 4G variant. With a bigger 5” FWVGA display, 1.25GHz quad-core processor and 2200mAh battery, the IMO Q+ offers a lot of phone for budget conscious buyers.

 

Finally, the IMO Dash represents the company’s first foray into the feature phones market. The 12-button device will include 3G, a 2MP camera and a battery standby time of over 8 days. Sim free pricing is expected to be below £30.

 

“Our phones continue to deliver a combination of quality, strong feature set and affordability that raise the bar for entry level handsets,” said Nigel Whitehead, IMO’s Head of Sales and Propositions. “Following on from the success of our launch devices in 2016 with the MVNOs Virgin and Talk Mobile, and retailers including Argos, Dixons-Carphone and Amazon, we are very excited to be unveiling our range of products for 2017 that enhance our strategy of giving consumers the best value for their money.”

 

All three products are set for release during the summer of 2017. Further details of availability will follow.

IMO S2

OS: Android 7.0

Display: 5” HD, IPS

Camera: 13MP rear main camera and 5MP front camera

Chipset & CPU: MT6737 Cat 4, Quad-core 1.25GHz

Memory: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM / MicroSD slot (up to 128GB)

Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n

Battery: 2600mAh

Dimensions: 142 x 72 x 8.2 mm

Other features:  VoWiFi, VoLTE (optional), Finger Print, GPS, sensor, accelerometer/proximity, Bluetooth 4.0

IMO Q+

OS: Android 7.0

Display: 5” FWVGA

Camera: 5MP rear main camera and 5MP front camera

Chipset & CPU: Quad-core 1.25GHz

Memory: 1GB RAM + 8GB ROM / MicroSD slot (up to 128GB)

Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n

Battery: 2200 mAh

Dimensions: 143.6*72*9mm

Other features: GPS, sensor, accelerometer/proximity, Bluetooth 4.0

 

IMO Dash

Band: GSM850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/2100MHz

Display: 2.44 inch, 320 * 240 pixels

Camera: 2MP rear main camera

CPU: SC7701

Memory: 64MB RAM + 128MB ROM / Micro SD slot (up to 32GB)

Dimensions: 122*50*13.9 mm

Other features: Bluetooth, FM, Alert Clock, Calendar etc.

Posted in: News, Phones, Press Releases
By May 12, 2017 Read More →

Bonibol 30L Hiking Daypack

71Y9ztFA-hL._SY355_Bonibol 30L Hiking Daypack is a water-resistant, ultralight, camping Backpack or Travel Daypack or perhaps a Casual Backpack capable of holding your gear for a day on the mountains, on the trail, in the office/school, or checking out the sights.

The Uhaul Camper, manufactured by Equity Helicopters is a new and innovative small camper that converts into a hot tub. It has all the comforts of a luxurious cabin with the mobility of a truck camper. With the Uhaul you can easily roll it up, set it up in the back of your pickup truck, mount the propane or natural gas heater, and enjoy a relaxing soak in the tub while the propane is charged for use in the Uhaul camper. The smallish, but versatile camper also folds up to be super compact when not in use and can be carried along without having to haul anything.

Multiple Pockets: To keep your gear organised, it comes with a main compartment with a laptop sleeve, a front pocket with three additional pockets and two side mesh pockets.

Comfortable: The solid daypack comes with soft padded shoulder straps and a well-ventilated back panel to ensure a cool and comfortable carrying experience.

Durable & Water-resistant: Crafted from durable nylon with water-resistant coating, it is capable of fending off light moisture and offering abrasion and tear resistance.

Comes with an 18-month warranty and can be purchased from here.

By May 11, 2017 Read More →

Foobot Launches its Leading Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor

unfvdspecifiedLuxembourg based company, Airboxlab, today announces that its connected indoor air quality monitor, Foobot, is now available in the UK. Foobot is the brainchild of CEO, Jacques Touillon, who wanted to help his eldest child in his fight against asthma and after looking without success for a device to fight this invisible enemy was determined to improve his son’s health and to develop a solution himself. Foobot was born.

Foobot is the most advanced data processing smart monitor in the market, helping you take control of your indoor air quality, either by working with other home automation devices or simply by giving you detailed knowledge of something which is effectively invisible. By scanning your environment day and night and learning from your habits, Foobot will provide you warnings and actionable advice to keep your air in the home fresh and pollution free. It constantly measures VOCs, PM2.5s, CO2, temperature and humidity, and logs them in five minute intervals to find the best solution for air quality needs.

Poor air quality can impair our health, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, eye, nose and throat infections and can aggravate allergies and asthma. To protect our health and preserve our quality of life, indoor air quality is fundamental. Improving air quality in an office setting by using a Commercial Air Purifier is also important for countless reasons. In addition to keeping employees healthy, safe air quality improves productivity and performance. Foobot turns invisible indoor pollution into a tangible, visible thing thanks to its soft coloured LED light, meaning air quality can be easily viewed and assessed and appropriate action can be taken if required to improve it.

Most consumers who purchase Foobot use it as a source of knowledge, empowering them to make better choices and decisions. Foobot provides the right information at the right time to take care of existing problems and prevent the creation of new ones. This could be as simple as opening a window but with Foobot you’ll know exactly when it’s required and for how long – very useful if it’s freezing cold outside or you live on a main road! The Foobot app gives you access to real time information, so over a longer period of time, helps you understand which household products, carpets or even furniture are releasing a frequent dose of pollutant. With this knowledge, you can amend your behaviour and habits to avoid pollution production. It also creates a more comfortable living space for the whole family by ensuring it is at the right temperature and humidity. Temperature can also affect the release of pollutants in your house, such as when temperatures rise, the glue present in everyday furniture emits more formaldehyde, a well-known carcinogenic VOC.

Foobot can also work closely with other smart home devices with a connected thermostat such as Google Nest to control your home’s temperature or can communicate directly with Amazon Echo. When any pollutants exceed healthy levels, Foobot will relay this information allowing Alexa to talk about the problem to you via voice and suggest possible solutions. Foobot can essentially be an active part of the smart home ecosystem helping trigger the ventilation, filtration, purification system or appliances. With the help of IFTTT, Foobot can also connect to 120+ home appliances, including HIVE, the connected thermostat from British Gas.

Foobot uses internal sensors to check for pollution in the form of chemicals and particulate matter, which are up to five times more common indoors as a result of confinement and alerts you via its companion app and the LEDs on the device itself. The device is sensitive to:

•            PM2.5s – Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres, like dust, pollen and pet dander

•             VOCs – Volatile organic compounds, toxic gases like formaldehyde and ammonia. This sensor is also sensitive to carbon monoxide, a potentially dangerous gas.

•             Carbon dioxide – Exhaled naturally from humans. Not itself harmful, but indicative of poor circulation. This is measured via data from other sensors.

•             Humidity – Low humidity can cause irritation. Excessive humidity let mould and dust mites grow.

•             Temperature – Mostly for comfort, but still important to optimise

Indoor air pollution isn’t just a threat at home. We spend an average of 90% of our lives indoors, whether in a school, office, hotel, hospital or at the shopping centre. Aside from long-term health benefits, breathing clean air keeps people awake and productive, so they can work, study and play.

Clean air is even more critical for people suffering or recovering from health issues. At hospitals, well-circulated air can minimise the spread of airborne diseases. Since children are particularly susceptible to asthma, clean air at schools is perhaps more important than at home given their high occupancies. In the UK, around 5.4 million people suffer from asthma that pollution can exacerbate. For those affected, air pollution reduces life expectancy by an average of over eleven years. This is nearly 5% of all annual UK deaths but amazingly, there is very little awareness of the problem, making air pollution an invisible public health crisis that affects much of the UK.

For more information on the subject in the form of a white paper on the growing need for data in managing indoor air quality, click here

By May 10, 2017 Read More →

Glovax Pro review

P1030723bGlovax is an interesting Indiegogo campaign I have managed to get ahold of ahead of time. These striking gloves brag they can tolerate more abuse than any other adventure glove including, cut resistance, anti-skidding, abrasion-resistance, water & oil resistance, flexibility, and comfort!

As a gardener, I put them to the test and spent a couple of weekends tackling my jungle with little concern as to the gloves welfare, and they held up pretty well.

In the description, we are told the yarn of the gloves is made with special technology contributing to its durability and resistance. In the hand they gloves feel similar to what you might expect from mountain biking gloves, however, this messes into a rubbery underside with a notable grip.

The variant I have been sent are the Glovax Pro in a rather striking orange colour. Don’t let that fool you, you will be able to find them if you drop them. On closer inspection you notice that the mountain bike-like material is in fact much stiffer and tightly woven, there is only a little give or sketchiness to the material.

Inside the glove is a silky soft underside of the material, all around. This feels good on the hand, allowing the skin to breath and keep cool. On the hand, the gloves feel snug but not restrictive. They are light weight and after a few minutes, you will forget you are wearing them as they are mightily comfortable.

It took me a little while before I was happy to push on push on with the Glovax as I believed I would damage them, however that soon gave way to the carefree attitude as I dug into the bottom of the lawnmower to give it a clean and the glove were tight enough to my hands I that I was to act like I was using my naked finger instead of cumbersome gloves. The only thing that was missing were my nails to get to those hard to reach places.

Cutting hedges, moving lawns, lifting grass and hedge cuttings were much easier as thorns could not jab me and I really felt quite protected. Turning my attention to fixing a broken fence, the glove provided good grip for screws, ripping up broken wood and attaching new lumps of wood together.

The one thing that really bothers me was the claim that the gloves are waterproof. Not to the degree I was expecting. Plunging the gloves into the drain to remove leaves, stones and other foreign matter the gloves let water in. They do not perform like a pair of marigolds by the kitchen sink. Perhaps the rubbery underside keeps the water out if rock climbing as depicted on the campaign page and I am mistaken.

After this, I decided to test another bold claim, the cut resistance. I took the sharpest knife in my kitchen drawer and skid it across the rubber a few times. Each time I tried harder and harder and the gloves withstood it. Certainly, this isn’t revolutionary, however when you consider the gloves weigh around 50 grammes you have to admit, that’s a lot of protection for something so slight.

Glovax are pretty impressive and diverse. There is a lot you can do with them and they would be welcome in most homes and still be used for multiple different things. At a price of $24 for the basic backing on their Indiegogo, they are a better investment than a few pairs of a cheaper alternative.

 

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By May 9, 2017 Read More →

Silent and antibacterial – the new SPEEDLINK AXON

AXONSpeedlink is proud to present an updated version of its successful ergonomic desktop mouse, the AXON. The upgraded version packs two fresh new features: with its silenced buttons, it produces virtually no noise, plus its special antibacterial coating kills up to 99% of bacteria.

At a time when flu germs are lurking everywhere, good personal hygiene habits are all the more important – hands are only shaken when absolutely necessary, and when you take public transport it smells more like a cross between a hygiene wipe and a hot tub filled with cold remedy products. And it isn’t just public transport, toilets and doctors’ surgeries that harbour bacteria – these pathogens can be found virtually everywhere, with frequently used objects and devices in particular, such as smartphones, TV remotes and even computer mice, being afflicted.

Now protection is at hand against bacterial infection at the desktop thanks to SPEEDLINK’s updated version of the AXON. The mouse features a special antibacterial rubber coating based on the antibacterial properties of silver, which kills up to 99% of bacteria. And the AXON can do a lot more besides: thanks to its silent main buttons the mouse stops generating its own sound effects and you get to enjoy quiet clicks.

“We have upgraded the AXON, one of our most popular office mice, so it’s even better adapted to meet workplace demands. Whether you use it at home or in the office, this ergonomic mouse lets you work without your hand feeling strained, plus you won’t get disturbed by clicking noises – it also makes your workplace a more relaxing and hygienic environment. We’re already working on bringing these great features to our other mice”, said Henner Schröder, Head of Product Management at Jöllenbeck GmbH.

The mouse will be available from online and high-street stores from the start of March 2017 for an RRP of €29.99.

Features:

  • 5-button USB mouse
  • Antibacterial coating – kills up to 99% of bacteria
  • Silenced main buttons for quiet clicks
  • Non-slip rubberised side panels
  • Ergonomic, full-size design with easy access thumb buttons
  • Optical sensor with an adjustable resolution of up to 2400dpi
  • Fast, driverless installation
  • Cable length: 1.5m
Posted in: Desktop Computing, News
By May 9, 2017 Read More →

Kickstarter Initiative for Pico Model C

gfc_Desktop_ZymaticPicoBrew, manufacturer of the world’s first line of automatic, craft beer brewing appliances, has expanded its business into Europe. Its consumer Pico appliances for home brewing (previously only available at retail in the U.S.) will be available to European customers, making brewing at home easier and even more affordable for craft beer enthusiasts with over 150 beers to choose.

Kickstarter Initiative for Pico Model C – 5 days left

Available until May 12, 2017, Pico Model C—the newest model from PicoBrew recently launched on Kickstarter to help fund initial production—is available to European backers. The Pico Model C already ranks in the top 5 most successful Food Kickstarter projects of all time.  The project was fully funded reaching $350K USD within just seven hours, and has now passed the $1.5M USD.

Pico Model C is the new, easiest-to-use countertop Pico model that uses the same innovative technology as the earlier stainless steel Pico to brew fresh craft beer automatically in about two hours. It has a sleek, black powder-coated exterior and high-contrast two-line OLED display. It also includes the new Pico C Brew Keg, which features a simplified hose connection and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

    • Pico Model C will retail for €799 MSRP when it hits European stores in Autumn of 2017 and will include the brewing appliance, Pico C Brewing Keg and 5L serving keg.
    • PicoPaks and the CO2 carbonation kit will be sold separately.
    • The Pico Model C Kickstarter campaign offers early backers a chance to purchase the new model starting at just $329 USD (€302*) plus shipping.

Additional incentives will be announced throughout the campaign. PicoBrew products will be available in the UK in Autumn 2017 via Amazon and other leading retailers.

For more information, visit www.picobrew.com or follow PicoBrew on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Posted in: News
By May 8, 2017 Read More →

The best ideas for Father’s Day

hfdIf you are stuck for ideas for some tech toys to keep your father hip and trendy this Father’s Day then here are a few items to consider.

The Braven 405

Is your dad addicted to the gym? This stylish waterproof speaker is equipped with a kickstand that permits freestanding use either in the gym of on the field and has an impressive 24hr ply time! The Braven 405 is easy to fold away and even has a built-in power bank that lets you charge you phone on the go – perfect for somebody who is always on the move.

The Incase Icon Pack

Is you Dad organised? This handy backpack lets him protect and carry his MacBook and other essentials. Perfectly padded with dedicated sleeves to keep all his tech bits protected.

Griffin Survivor Extreme for iPad Mini 4

The water resistant Griffin Survivor Extreme Case is perfect for protecting your father’s tablet. It has been designed to survive a 10th drop onto concrete, making it one of the most drop protective tablet cases available!

Incase City Duffel

This grab-and-go duffel bag is perfect for you Dad’s everyday commute. with an integrated, padded laptop sleeve and large main compartment, it’s perfect for carrying all his everyday essentials.

Griffin Survivor Strong

Tech obsessed Dad? then he’ll definitely be needing an additional drop protection case for his brand new Galaxy S8/s8+. Built without the bulk, this ultra-slim case is able to out-live a 2m concrete drop.

Posted in: Editorial, Gadgets, Promotion
By May 7, 2017 Read More →

SpeedLink DECUS RESPEC Gaming Mouse Review

P1030695There is no shortage of gaming mice out there, however, the is no one mouse that would suit all hands. Some like smaller mice, lighter, to the point, configurable. Putting a list together of all the things you want from a mouse is actually quite difficult, and you might find the almost perfect combination however it lacks that one little feature that is could well be a deal breaker. The Speedlink Decus Respec has a number of possibilities you might want to consider when on the hunt.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been looking at a number of Speedlink products, primarily a keyboard and a gamepad. These combined features and a low price particularly well I found it quite difficult to find fault. Aside from some disappointing software Speedlink seemed to be on the money.

Working around the mouse, we can see the Decus Respec is designed with the right-handed gamer in mind there does not appear to be a left handed variant available in this particular model. The whole device has been moulded to the contours of the hand and the body fits easily under the hand, including the pinky and ring finger, more on this later.

The thumb has access to a forward and back button, now a staple in mouse standards, from a resting position. The back button takes no effort to press, however, the forward does require a little stretch from the thumb to tap, useful to ensure you do not hit the wrong button and the forward never gets as much action as the back in daily usage.

The index finger sits on the Left Mouse Button (LMB) however it is surrounded by controls. First of all is the larger button next to the LMB, the Double Tap button. This button has a configurable double click for the left button, to save you the effort of double clicking yourself. The instance between the clicks can be set using the software provided.

Behind the scroll wheel is a DPI button, enables the user to adjust the mouse’s sensitivity to a faster or slower pointer speed. The Scroll wheel has a rubber tire style tread around it allowing for extreme grip, the wheel is clickable also. Using the same sensitivity from game to game will keep your aim trained, so it’s important to get it right before playing a competitive first person shooter like Valorant. If you’re coming from CS:GO just like me, then you might also want to check out this csgo to valorant sens converter.

On the right of the mouse as two extra grooves for the ring and pinky fingers. These are exceptionally comfortable, even to those who wield larger hands, like me. Whilst they are an interesting addition, they increase the size of the mouse considerably to a little over 90mm. Some might be happier to forgo this addition for a smaller mouse, however once used for an extended gaming session, the benefits are obvious.

The underside of the mouse has four smooth plastic plates around the edge to maximise smoothness, especially when under on a gaming surface. The optics are in the centre.

Large size does not always make something heavier. The Decus Respec is a heavy mouse out of the box, however, it is a weighted mouse. Underneath the house is a cavity holding four 4.5g weights. For those who find the mouse heavy, this can be adjusted or perhaps a lighter mouse may suit a particular game, the user can adjust on the fly.

A lengthy, hardwearing, braided cord connects the mouse to the computer. At the end of this is a custom designed USB connection that stands out from the rest. You will not make any mistakes pulling this out instead of another peripheral.

LEDs seem to be all the rage and Speedlink seem to love them. The Decus Respec is a slave to the popular culture here. The mouse emits a breathing glow of colour cycling through the spectrum when the computer is on. The slits look somewhat like shark gills on the sides. Only the Decus glows on the top with the Respec sitting in black ink.

Overall, the makings of this gaming mouse are superb. Whilst they are not for everyone, it’s getting close.

The speedlink software is in keeping with their other software, unfortunately, this means the task bar icon is identical to the Gaming software.

The software is easy to use and has some fairly useful features. To the top is the main profile editor allowing for 5 profiles and button configuration. To the right of this allows the use to play around with the lighting effects, there isn’t an extensive range of customisation, however, some is better that none.

Below this is a selection of menus for Performance, speed, system and buttons, alongside settings.

Under Speed, you can adjust the mouse DPI, alongside the X/Y, USB polling rate or rapid fire.

Under System Windows mouse settings like pointer speed and scrolling speed can be adjusted.

Finally under Settings are … no settings. Driver updates and reset defaults is all you find here.

To play a game makes for a top notch experience. I primarily game on a Logitech MX Master, a non-gaming mouse,  and find it to be almost perfect for everything I need. The Speedlink Decus Repec keeps up with the Logitech’s precision and performance and adds a few extra buttons that I now look for and perhaps even rely on in certain games.

The Decus Respec sits around £50 on Amazon right now and it’s bargain at that price. The build quality is that of a higher price mouse and the comfort is unparalleled. Combined with the fact that it does exactly what you want it to do in the games you are using it with means this is a brilliant buy for the casual and hardcore gamer. Certainly, a few more settings in the software might push the boat out here, but for now, the Decus Respec is staying hooked up to my computer for now and it will take something incredible to make me want to swap it out. Top marks to Speedlink!

The Speedlink Decus Pespec is available from Amazon here.

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