Author Archive: Matt

More than 20 years in the IT industry. Blogging with a passion and thirst for new technology since 2005.

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By September 16, 2013 Read More →

Catch Them if You Can: Ink Out Impersonation & Identity Theft

Identity Theft Police in Miami found a car matching the description of one involved in a robbery. The suspect got out of the car and ran, but was ultimately caught and arrested. Now imagine if that robber was using your identity.

That’s the exact scenario former NFL running back Najeh Davenport faced earlier this month. The suspect turned out to be a man named Damian Coleman. He showed police Davenport’s driver’s license, and several media outlets, including NBC, initially reported Davenport had been arrested, only to learn later his identity had been stolen.

Posted in: Editorial
By September 15, 2013 Read More →

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 unboxing video

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 Last week I had my first meeting with the Lenovo as a member of the LNVO INSDRS program. As I blogged earlier, this was an opportunity for me to meet with fellow INSDRS and to get some hands on time with some interesting Lenovo products. Over the coming months I’ll be getting the opportunity to unbox and review many of the Lenovo products and I’m starting here this week with the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13.

The Yoga 13 was released late last year and is a laptop/tablet hybrid Ultrabook. Upon initial inspection the Yoga 13 looks just like any other laptop/Ultrabook. Sure it’s slim and light and has a discrete and attractive appearance but it’s not until you bend the hinged screen back past 180 degrees that you realise that this is something a bit different.

Folding the screen past the 180 degree mark feels so unnatural at first, years of laptop use just tells you that it’s so wrong! However, taking it past that point and all the way around to the 360 degree point reveals the Yoga 13 in it’s tablet format for large, 13.3 inch, touchscreen computing.

One neat thing about the IdeaPad Yoga 13 is that the screen can be positioned in several ways, from conventional laptop style to tablet and tent and stand modes in between. There’s good flexibility there and flipping the screen past the 180 degree point disables the keyboard and trackpad and puts you firmly in touchscreen mode.

In terms of specification there’s a range to choose from with Intel i3, i5 and i7 models, 4 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB SSD drives. All have a 13.3″ 1600×900 touchscreen display and weigh in at just 1.54kg.

We’ll have a more detailed review soon, once I have had time to use the Yoga 13 more extensively. This will be the first Windows PC that I have owned in quite some time so it may take a little getting used to! In the mean time we have the obligatory unboxing video for  you below.

Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
By September 14, 2013 Read More →

The Evolution of Video Gaming & TV Has Always Followed a Parallel Trajectory

video-games-evolution Microsoft’s recent announcement that it is set to release its shiny new, HD-ready Xbox One console on 22 November is merely the latest chapter in a long story of video gaming. What begun in 1967 with the world’s very first video console, the so-called ‘Brown Box‘, seems light years away from our modern day world of internet gaming, ultra HD TV and wireless controllers. It is an intriguing story that has taken on many forms over the years.

What is certainly clear is that the trajectories of video gaming and television evolution have always made for extremely happy bedfellows, major innovations such as the advent of ultra high definition TV coinciding almost precisely with similarly generation-defining changes in the gaming industry.

The aforementioned launch of the world’s very first games console coincided with the advent of colour TV the same year, two events that undoubtedly changed the course of home entertainment forever. The ability to record television onto videotapes was realised in the early 1970s, meaning mum and dad could record their favourite TV programs whilst the children played the new Atari Pong.

The 1980s was, arguably, the golden era of video gaming, Nintendo emerging as market leaders and revolutionising gaming forever with their original NES console. This came about at the same time as cable TV, a multi-channel approach that led the way towards on-demand TV and the viewing public’s appetite for crystal clear, ultra HD technology.

The following decade witnessed change and innovation on a grand scale. Video games progressed in earnest from a one-game-built-in type formula to having multi-game cartridges available to play on them. The 90s was the era of the PlayStation, Megadrive, Dreamcast and Nintendo 64. It all coincided wonderfully with the creation of CRT, or cathode ray tube, TV. It was this technology that begun to see television screens grow in size, changing the way both programme viewers and hardcore gamers experienced their respective mediums. The decade was bookended by the launch of the PS2, the first console to be able to play DVDs. It was the very same year that digital video recorders hit the market.

It wasn’t until the turn of the 21st century that HD TV truly took off. Microsoft’s original Xbox set the precedent for high quality graphics that appeared crystal clear on this exciting new television technology. LED-based HD TV followed soon after, unleashed on the world at the same time as the Xbox 360 and PS3, both consoles capable of internet gaming and the very first for truly HD graphics capability.

The worlds of TV and gaming truly merged for the very first time in 2007 when Apple launched ‘Apple TV’ and several years later Microsoft got in on the act by allowing 360 users the option of streaming films using Netflix.

And so we arrive in the present day, with the Xbox One about to be released. Times, oh they have changed. LG’s 84″ ultra HD TV has been reinventing how we both watch TV and experience video games for several months now, but understandably this kind of technology is available for a price.

What trajectory the worlds of gaming and TV take from here are anybody’s guess, but what’s certain is that one day current technologies that still seem almost unthinkable now will appear somewhat obsolete.

Posted in: Editorial
By September 13, 2013 Read More →

Your Business is at Risk With These 4 Office Technologies

Cyber Security More than 10 billion wireless devices connect to the Internet. An additional 30 billion are anticipated to enter the market in the next seven years, according to Allied Business Intelligence, Inc. (ABI) research. Keep in mind workplaces are becoming smarter by using wireless technologies, such as “Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Cellular, and RFID.” Wireless technologies also expose vulnerabilities to hackers and security threats. Keep reading to learn how to safeguard your high-tech office gadgets from cyber crime.

1. Appliances & Automated Systems

Smart appliances, thermostats and automated systems can be remotely controlled from a smartphone or computer. You can set the break room coffee pot to brew from home, lock the doors from another room or turn the lights on before you arrive. Appliances also learn how to run more efficiently by tracking and storing patterns of use. For example, the Whirlpool® Smart Side-by-Side Refrigerator with 6th Sense LiveT technology features an Energy Advisor that tracks refrigerator energy use.

Information stored in these appliances can be a gold mine for a criminal. Times of low energy signifies an empty office. A criminal can hack in to your system and walk in through the front door. Safeguard your smart office from being compromised with a firewall installation that securely guards technologies plugged into your network.

Many manufacturers actively research software security and identify weaknesses that aren’t in compliance with security standards. A manufacturer sets its own security guidelines. Read your user manuals for security information and stay up-to-date on security trends and upgrades.

2. Digital Machines

Your digital copier, scanner or fax machine stores images and puts personal information at risk. Check that your machine has security software installed. If you operate older models, you might need to encrypt or overwrite data. Physically destroy the old copier’s hard drive before disposing the machine. Depending on the type of information your business uses and stores, you might be legally obligated to instate an information disposal program. Look into automating these machines through a cloud or software, such as mfax.io.

3. Security Alarm System

Alarm systems hardwired directly to authorities is practically ancient. Today, security systems connect to the Internet. Although the office is monitored 24/7, the entire system can be at risk – criminals can simply shut down the system before breaking in. Prevent compromised security by researching your options and different system’s specifications. An unbiased resource that compares different security systems can be found at securitycompanies.com. You can compare local companies to national companies and system features that will best meet your office needs.

4. Smartphones

In 2012, 289,874 Internet crime reports were filed, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. A smartphone, tablet, or iPad stores personal information and connects to the Internet, which can threaten security. In today’s digital age, staying informed about legal aspects of technology is as important as understanding the technology itself. This is especially true for those who find themselves entangled in legal issues related to computer crimes. The state of New Jersey, known for its detailed legal processes, demands a high level of expertise from attorneys in this field. For a comprehensive understanding and expert guidance, consider visiting your go-to source for legal advice and support. Also, these devices are small and can be lost or stolen easily.

Use the security code feature on all your smartphones. Tell employees to use precaution when downloading apps, just like downloading a file onto a desktop computer. Install all available patches for your phone. Phone patches are similar to software updates for your computer’s operating system. Patches contain security updates that safeguard your phone and its stored information. During phone upgrades, responsibly discard the mobile devices to prevent data from reaching the wrong hands. For more information on securing your company’s network, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Business Security Center.

Posted in: Editorial
By September 11, 2013 Read More →

Joining LNVO INSDRS

LNVO INSDRS logo red If you’ve been following me on Twitter lately you may have spotted a few tweets from me about Lenovo. Several weeks ago Lenovo invited me to join their exclusive community of influencers, the LNVO INSDRS. There are just 20 of us that are part of this program.

Last night our group of INSDRS met for the first time at an event in London where we we all introduced to the current range of Lenovo products including the Yoga Ultrabook, Android Tablets, Thinkpads and Horizon Table PC.

Over the coming months we’ll be getting our hands on a variety of Lenovo products to review. We’ll be able to share exclusive content, be covering events and generally getting close to the action with Lenovo.

We’ll be starting out with a look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 Convertible Ultrabook, which will be my first time getting my hands on a touchscreen Windows 8 device. Watch this space!

I’ll leave you with one interesting fact about Lenovo: Lenovo Laptops are the only laptops certified for use on the International Space Station!

Posted in: News
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By September 11, 2013 Read More →

The Apple Conversation

listen-1-rv5 With all of the buzz from Apple’s latest press event last night the Salesforce Radian6 team have been analysing online conversation that kicked off post-event.

In a nutshell, the findings suggest that while Apple is branching out into the slightly lower tier market with the iPhone 5C, the company’s alignment with premium is still its strongest asset, with its higher tier handset and availability in gold generating the most positive interactions online.

Apple in demand

  • Over 3,500 posts appeared requesting details to a live stream of the event
  • Posts including the Apple event hashtag were 76.6% positive
  • Over 431,000 mentions of Apple between the 10th and 11th September globally
  • Over 26,700 mentions of Apple between the 10th and 11th in the UK alone
  • Sentiment of UK posts was 67.8% positive
  • Overall, most negative posts were tied to price
  • Conversation peaked during the first hour of the press conference, which generated over 70,000 posts that hour alone
  • iPhone 5S garnered just under 40,000 more mentions than its more cost effective brother, the iPhone 5C
  • The upcoming launch of iOS7 created the most overall buzz during the event, generating over 33,000 online mentions
  • The release of the iPhone 5S in gold was the second most mentioned feature, resulting in over 4,600 posts

The competition

Top three most mentioned smartphone brands in conjunction with the launch were:

  • Samsung
  • Nokia
  • HTC

* Both Samsung and HTC were drawn into comparisons over functionality and price

Nokia’s social media hijacking also brought it into the mix, with Nokia suggesting the colourful iPhone 5C designed was inspired by its Lumia range: https://twitter.com/nokia_uk/status/377483408043036672/photo/1

Thanks to Salesforce Radian6 team for sharing this insight with us. Salesforce Radian6 is a product which is part of the Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Editorial
By September 10, 2013 Read More →

Sony Xperia Z Ultra now available on Three

Sony_Xperia_Z_Ultra4_small With Sony’s largest HD smartphone screen yet, at 6.4″, the lightweight Sony XperiaT Z Ultra smartphone on Three is perfect for those that want to enjoy entertainment on the move and is available now from Three stores.

The Sony XperiaT Z Ultra is 4G ready and when Three rolls out its 4G network, a simple, free software upgrade will mean the speedier technology will be available to customers at no extra cost.

Three is offering the Sony XperiaT Z Ultra with an upfront cost of £99 on a 24 month contract plan. Choose from £34 a month for the Ultimate Internet 500 or £36 a month for the Ultimate Internet 1000 which are both available with all-you-can-eat data. Otherwise for £38 a month you can opt for The One Plan that includes all-you-can-eat-data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: “The Sony XperiaT Z Ultra is an exciting addition to our growing range of 4G Ready devices. Its stunning screen and suitability for watching movies or playing games means you can make full use of Three’s all-you-can-eat data plans and enjoy an immersive entertainment experience without being tied to your living room.”

The hardwearing device is dust resistant and *waterproof and you can even write or draw on the screen using any stylus or pencil allowing you to watch, read, write and play anytime and anywhere.
The Sony XperiaT Z Ultra will also be available to order online from October 18 at www.three.co.uk.

 

Key features:

  • 6.4 inch Full HD TriluminosT display to maximise the viewing experience in stunning clarity
  • Thin and lightweight
  • *Waterproof and dust resistant
  • 8MP HDR camera with Exmor RS sensor
Posted in: News
By September 9, 2013 Read More →

Sports Fans Go Mobile

MobileSport If you have a mobile phone or an iPad or other connected device, you must have used it to check on the progress of your team online. There are a number of great apps that you can get on your phone that can help you keep up to date with all the latest goings on from the world of your favourite sport. If you are a lover of sports betting, you should also take advantage of the bet £10 get 30 offers of any of your favourite sports to bet. Or consider the best free NCAAB picks and enjoy this bet until you win.

Sports fans who can’t watch the game, match or tournament would do well to download the BBC iPlayer Radio app. Unlike the BBC Sports app which is little more than a mobile-friendly version of the website, you can use this app to listen to sporting events such as the Ashes lives on your mobile on Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra while you work or while you are on the move. The app is easy to use, and you can programme in alerts so you don’t miss your favourite games. It’s a handy tool for keeping track of live action, making it useful for those interested in sports betting at เว็บแทงบอล คืนค่าคอมสูงสุด UFABET as well.

If you don’t subscribe to Sky but want to see some of the games, then the Sky Sports TV app is for you. The app itself is free and you can subscribe to the sky sports channels, including the four Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports News and Sky News for only £4.99 per month plus VAT. You’ll have to watch over a WiFi connection to make sure you don’t rack up some really high bills though.

If it’s the thrills and spills of Formula One for you, then the F1 2013 Timing app is the one. At £19.99 the price is quite high, but if you are a dedicated fan then this app is totally worth it. There’s so much more information to see from 3D driver tracking which lets you see who is where on the track. Additionally, there are also lap times, info on the cars and tyres, control messages, text commentary live and more.

When it comes to betting on your favourite sports, there is a move from the bookies to the computer, and now with the increase in the number of people using mobile phones, onto mobile. You can check all the latest odds at Freebets.org on your tablet or phone while you watch the game and download the appropriate app that will get you the biggest payout.

With apps from William Hill, Betfred and all of the other bookies, you can be sure that you will be able to place your bets and win big.

If you love sports and betting on them on platforms like UFABET ผู้นำการพนันกีฬาออนไลน์, but struggle to find people to watch them with, you should download Fanatic. This social sports app lets you find out where you can watch your favourite team, and lets you chat with fellow fans and arrange meetups in venues showing the match.

Posted in: Editorial
By September 2, 2013 Read More →

Gaming on the Move

Best_tablets Online gaming has become increasingly popular. It was announced this week that Android and iOS games are generating four times the revenue of dedicated handheld consoles.

A report by IDC, a research firm, and analytics company App Annie has shown that despite the belief that people won’t spend money on games in the Google play store, the sales of games for Android devices was more than that of both Sony and Nintendo combined for their specialised handheld game consoles. In fact, the game sales on iOS and Android stores combined was a huge four times the amount spent for games on devices such as 3DS, DS/DSi, PS Vita and PSP.

Why has online gaming become so popular? The rise in the number of people playing games on their phones and other devices had led to an explosion in people playing games online. It’s so easy to start playing online casino games when you are sitting on the train on your commute to work, or playing a racing game when there’s nothing on TV from the comfort of your sofa. You can สำรวจโลกของ UFABET, which is the most trusted online casino.

New models of mobile phone are getting better and better, with bigger screens, faster connections and more processing power. There is more electronic processing power in a modern smart phone that they moon mission of 1969 had in their whole ship. Imagine!

The Samsung Galaxy s4 is one of the bets handsets for gaming on the market right now. It has a HD screen and the colours are crisp and sharp. This means that the screen doesn’t look distorted or warped when you have the screen close to your eyes. The touch sensitivity is high and you can even play games in touchless mode.

Another option is the HTC One, with its 4.7″ screen and quad core Snapdragon processor. The sound quality is incredible with this handset, with no tinny sounds coming from these Beats Audio endorsed speakers.

The iPhone 5 is another good choice for gaming, as the selection of games in the app store is huge. However, the screen is not as big on the iPhone which can be an issue for some people. The graphics look great and the phone is deft in handling complex processes when playing games. The device is also a good size for handheld gaming, longer yet lighter than previous models.

Whatever you decide, you can be sure that you will spend hours playing games on your new handset. For more mobile games, check out android4fun.

Posted in: Editorial
By August 28, 2013 Read More →

EE 4G Hits 100 Town Milestone

ee EE, the UK’s first 4G network, has surpassed the 100 town milestone, with 10 new places covered this month. 4G from EE is now available to businesses and consumers in a total of 105 towns and cities across the UK, covering 60% of the population just ten months after launch.

The full press release from EE follows:

 

SUPERFAST 4G FROM EE HITS 100 TOWN MILESTONE    

· Accrington named the 100th UK town to be covered by a superfast 4G mobile network – footballing legend Ian Rush marks the switch on of the superfast service at the Storefirst Stadium, Accrington Stanley’s home ground

· EE also turns on superfast mobile internet in nine other towns this month – Ashford, Bicester, Colchester, Guildford, Milton Keynes, Redhill, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Woking

· 4G from EE now available to businesses and consumers in a total of 105 towns and cities across the UK, covering 60% of the population just ten months after launch

· EE also switches on double speed 4G in a further five towns – Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton

Wednesday 28 August, 2013 – EE, the UK’s most advanced digital communications company, today announced that 4G is now available in more than 100 towns and cities across the UK, with ten new places covered this month. Accrington, in Lancashire, is officially named the 100th town in the UK to benefit from superfast mobile internet.

To celebrate this milestone, footballing legend Ian Rush – who helped give the town’s football club Accrington Stanley national recognition when he featured in the famous 1980s Milk Marketing Board ad – visited the town on behalf of EE to mark the switch on of superfast 4GEE.

Rush was in Accrington to present the manager of Accrington Stanley, James Beattie, with 4G from EE for the club, as EE’s coverage of the town will include Accrington Stanley’s home ground, The Storefirst Stadium. The switch-on of the superfast 4G technology, which will be installed for free in the team’s club house, coincides with Accrington’s league cup game against Cardiff City and EE is to sponsor the match ball to further mark the occasion.

Ian Rush commented: “It’s great to see that Accrington is grabbing headlines again – this time for being the 100th town in the UK to get superfast 4G from EE. It’s fantastic to be part of the big 4G switch on, and we’ll all be raising a glass of milk at the Accrington Stanley clubhouse to celebrate!”

Steven Day, Chief of Brand and Communications, EE, said: “Our 4G network is just ten months old and we’re delighted to have reached the 100 milestone so quickly.  With Accrington named as our 100th 4G town we wanted to take this opportunity to have some fun celebrating the fantastic efforts of our network team. We’re all about connecting people and football legend Ian Rush is intrinsically connected to Accrington thanks to the 1980s Milk Board ad which can be still be enjoyed today online and streamed without any annoying buffering on your mobile thanks to 4G!”

Today’s launch strengthens EE’s position as the biggest 4G network in the UK, helping more people around the country access the latest mobile technology.

4GEE is also being switched on this month in Ashford, Bicester, Colchester, Guildford, Milton Keynes, Redhill, Sevenoaks, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Woking, taking the number of towns and cities covered to 105. 4G from EE now covers the homes and businesses of 60% of the UK population.

EE’s double speed 4G roll out continues…

In addition EE is upgrading already existing 4G networks to offer double speed 4G across a number of towns with average speeds of 24-30Mbps.  More businesses and consumers will benefit from double speed which kicks off today in Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Double speed 4G from EE is now available in 20 towns and cities across the UK.

Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive Officer, EE said: “The key to a successful 4G launch is making the service available in as many places as possible – the more people use 4G, the more they want 4G.  We have built amazing momentum with one of the fastest 4G roll outs in the world, a strong range of devices, great content offers and compelling pricing.”

EE 4G mobile customers have instant web access while on the move, so they can download large files quicker than ever, watch live TV on mobiles without buffering and play live multiplayer games on the go. Consumers and businesses have access to the UK’s widest range of 4G mobile handsets, tablets and dongles.

For more information, please visit www.ee.co.uk.

Posted in: News
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