This month I have been reviewing the LE03 Speaker from Braun Audio and I was very pleasantly surprised!
I have used quite a few smart speakers over the years, so when I received the Braun LE03 Speaker, I was intrigued to find out more. Out of the box, you can see that the speaker isn’t aimed at the smart assistant market as it is both high end and reassuringly weighty, but it also retains the smart speaker functionality with its minimalist design approach.
Braun Audio LE03
The speaker is controlled by either Google Voice (configured from your Android or iPhone), play pause, volume and ‘privacy’ button (which switches off the listening function). It can also be connected by Bluetooth pairing.
The speaker connects to the internet by WiFi, this pairing is set up by the Google Home app, which once set up, seamlessly sits alongside your other Google Devices ready to answer questions, play music or connect to Chromecast compatible TV’s. If you are looking for finer tuning, you can also install the Braun app which gives greater control.
Braun Audio LE03
Set up is very straightforward, and once up and running, I was happily playing my favourite tunes and my daughter was equally happy to ask Google plenty of questions. Everything works in a similar fashion to using Google Assistant on your phone or indeed Alexa.
For the audiophiles amongst you, the LE03 contains a custom-designed 3.5” ‘high-excursion fast-transient’ woofer with NdFe motor, a Full-range 1.5“ Balanced Mode Radiator drive unit, a Race track/quadratic 5” x 3” Customised passive radiator all powered by a Monolithic class-D power amplifier. (I did say this was for the audiophiles).
Braun Audio LE03
The speaker can also be paired with further LE range speakers to give you a full multiroom experience.
The sound quality was mind-blowing, the bass was there when you needed it and vocals were clear. It really is a very good system and probably warrants the price tag of £349
The Braun LE03 is really worth a look if you are on the hunt for a capable speaker and want to spend a little bit more for the added quality.
IoT, or the internet of things, has taken the world by storm. In 2018, the smart devices market value is estimated at a whopping $164 billion and will grow exponentially in the next few years.
Every discerning business owner might be wondering whether IoT is ideal for their business and what they stand to lose by not investing in it.
Well, here is all the information you need to decide whether to invest in IoT.
What Is the Internet of Things?
Simply put, IoT refers to all the devices that collect and transmit data over the internet. Also known as smart devices, these appliances help to make life more convenient for users.
For example, IoT devices include smart fridges that regulate temperature independently and smartwatches that double as health devices.
What Are the IoT Advantages for Business Owners?
IoT use is highly prominent in the personal sphere. However, the past few years have seen increased use of this technology in the corporate and manufacturing world. Some of the benefits that organisations enjoy by employing this technology include:
Lower Operational Costs
Smart devices can help businesses save a lot on their utilities. An innovative HVAC system, for instance, maintains a building’s temperature to a suitable degree. This minimises unnecessary heating or cooling that often leads to energy wastage. Over time, you will end up saving a substantial amount of money.
Additionally, you can use IoT devices to reduce your labour costs. For instance, voice assistants can competently accomplish most tasks that assistants do, like organising your calendars, connecting with customers on live chat video software and reminding you of when projects are due.
Offers More Convenience
IoT devices make life much easier for everyone at the office. Take a smart printer, for example. Rather than deal with disgruntled employees inconvenienced by a lack of ink in the printer, you can have smart printers that detect ink levels and inform you when you are running low.
Some devices even pinpoint issues as they arise, thus giving you ample time to rectify them. This can save your company a lot of inconvenience and worry.
Smart locks are yet another IoT device that offers incredible convenience. With them, you don’t need to carry keys around all day. Additionally, since you can use an app to open the door, it is easier to access buildings when you are in a hurry.
Improve Your Competitiveness
There is no denying that the IoT is the future of business. Therefore, a company that fails to take advantage of this new technology will lose its competitive edge in the coming decade.
For instance, in the manufacturing field, IoT for automation can tremendously improve a company’s efficiency. The more efficient an organisation is, the better it will be at handling its customer’s needs. This enables it to retain its current customers and attract new ones.
IoT Concerns
Granted, IoT has its fair share of concerns. However, the most prominent one is the security risk the devices pose due to their susceptibility to hackers.
By and large, the pros of using IoT in your company far outweigh the cons. However, before you decide to invest in it, ensure that it will help you meet your company goals. If it will, do not hesitate to incorporate it into your entity.
Connecting to the internet securely at home is no longer a matter of just enabling your antivirus and firewall software. We no longer connect using our PCs. Instead, many devices are connected to our networks, including smartphones, TVs, smart assistants, streaming boxes, games consoles, and even lightbulbs. I even have internet-connected curtains!
PCs and Smartphones have additional security enabled, but once you start looking at these other devices, you soon find that there are limitations. Hence, a home network security solution out of the box is a welcome product.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if a box you could install on your network would help secure your internet connection before it even touches these devices? Well, it appears there are indeed such devices.
Enter the Bitdefender BOX, a device (or security hub) that protects all of our internet-connected devices from one single place. The BOX uses machine learning to pick up potential threats and filter unsafe data. It ensures that everything connected to your network is protected from intrusion as new threats are detected.
The Bitdefender BOX also includes software that you can install on your Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS devices. It works alongside the hub.
All of this is achieved by replacing your existing WiFi network with a new, highly secure version run from the hub. There is a short process where you will need to connect your devices to this new network. The most straightforward option I found was to disable my existing WiFi network on my ISP’s router and then click the hub via the Ethernet Port.
Suppose you have any network extensions such as a powerline ethernet connector. In that case, you also need to unplug this from your router and connect them to the Bitdefender BOX.
The app takes you through the process in a simple, step-by-step process, which is straightforward to follow. You should be able to keep it up and running. Further, it allows you to monitor threats and warnings moving forward efficiently. If you do get stuck, there is a free setup hotline that you can call 24 hours a day.
One of the things that caught my attention was the protection for younger internet users, including filtering and parental control. It includes ‘predator detection’ options which will come as a relief for parents of young children.
What Bitdefender is offering is not just a simple firewall for your home network. It is much more than a dedicated device protecting your home PCs and Laptops. It is also an IoT security platform protecting the smart devices that you might well have plugged in and forgotten.
The first year of updates is included in the price. However, you will need to subscribe after this to continue to receive updates.
Currently, the Bitdefender Box is priced at £129 and can be purchased directly from their website by clicking here.
So, I’m now the proud owner of a pair of ‘Smart Curtains’… Yes, you read that right! After a simple installation, our living room curtains can now be controlled by the flick of a screen gesture, a Google Home or Alexa command, temperature, a timed opening and closing or it can even be triggered (and charged) by light!
SwitchBot can be installed onto a range of curtain rails
All of this came courtesy of the SwitchBot Curtain, a nifty set of kit that allows me to all of the above and more!
SmitchBot Curtain is a motorised device that sits on your curtain rail or pole and simply moves your curtains open or closed upon your command or wishes. It can also integrate with an additional SwitchBot hub that connects it to other SwitchBot gadgets and talks to your favourite cloud assistants via the internet. This allows you to control your curtains remotely. More importantly, this allows this to happen via a schedule, so you can be away on holiday and your curtains can open and close deterring unwanted visitors and stopping your houseplants from scorching in the hot sun.
SwitchBot can be installed onto a range of curtain rails
All of this is achieved by (in my case) a pair of SwitchBot curtain, one for each side on the window, a pair of plug-in solar chargers which keep the batteries topped up (although you can do this with the included USB Type-C cables,
Set up was a breeze, I installed the SwitchBot app on my Android phone (iPhone app also available) and it took me through every single step without missing a beat! Within a couple of minutes, I was up and running. There were some simple steps to teach the devices when to stop and when opening and closing the curtains, but we were good to go after that!
Our curtain pole is extendable, so by design has two different sized poles connected, SwitchBot provides a nifty little adapter that allows the SwitchBot Curtain to easily move over this uneven without issue.
As well as using the app to close and open the curtains, you can also tug them gently in either direction, which will trigger then to do the rest, very useful if you forget that you don’t have to open and close them manually!
Our curtains run on a pole, however, SwitchBot is also available for I Rail and U Rail fittings in either white or black, basically suiting most tastes. The device also sits neatly behind our curtains, so you don’t actually see them at all. Out of sight, out of mind!
Also available in black
So now, the Gadget-Household are smart-curtain enabled, giving one more thing for Alexa to do and hopefully improving our lives just a little bit more.
SwitchBot is available on Amazon at the link below, keep an eye out for upcoming Prime Day deals which are listed below!!
SwitchBot’s hero product and a bestseller on Amazon, the SwitchBot Curtain is a small wireless robot that makes any curtains motorized and smart with a 30-second installation. After attaching to your curtain, you can open and close it with your smartphone. Or, just set a schedule to automatically open or close the curtain. For any type of curtain rail – no matter if it’s Rod, U rail track, or I Rail track, SwitchBotCurtain can always fit. Make sure to measure the dimensions of your curtain rails, so it can work smoothly on your curtains.
SwitchBot Bot lets you retrofit all existing appliances or light switches in your home, instead of replacing them. It mechanically turns device switches ON/OFF working as a robotic finger. There’s a 5-second installation, tape it right next to a rocker switch or button with a 3M sticker. No swapping, no tools required. Easy App operation. With SwitchBot Hub Plus/Mini (only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi), control your SwitchBot Bot remotely from anywhere and enable voice control. Works well with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and IFTTT.
SwitchBot Meter is a sensor that monitors your environment reliably and around the clock. Manage the temperature and humidity in the most accurate way. The Meter maintains the most recent 36 days of data while you are away. With SwitchBot Hub Plus/Mini (only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi), unlimited data could be stored on the SwitchBot cloud.
The SwitchBot Hub Mini connects and streamlines the control of your SwitchBot products/ most household devices, including your TV, air conditioner and anything else that would usually be controlled by a remote. Easy set up in the SwitchBot App. With “Smart learning” mode, it can mimic your existing remote control in 5 seconds. USB-powered and portable, you can take & place it everywhere.
Compatible with the SwitchBot Curtain and SwitchBot Bot, this device lets you turn the products ON/OFF at the press of a button. For example, the concave button can be used for switching the SwitchBot Curtain ON/OFF and the convex button can be used for switching the SwitchBot Bot ON/OFF.
The SwitchBot Solar Panel is a charger for the SwitchBot Curtain. Once plugged into the SwitchBot Curtain, you will never have to recharge again. Works with U/Rod/I SwitchBot Curtain models.
Don’t forget, we are an Amazon affiliate, so may earn a small commission through our links
Your website is a key feature of your business, so it’s vital that you can channel sufficient time and effort into each page to ensure that it meets or even surpasses the users expectations. Failing to achieve a quality website could leave your brand behind, as modern society now focuses heavily on e-commerce and online activity. Luckily, it needn’t be as difficult as you might expect to improve your website, as there are several simple tips and tricks that you can make the most of to take your online platform to new heights in no time at all. So, if you would like to find out more, then simply read on!
How To Take Your Website To New Heights
The Aesthetic Of Your Website Matters
The way that you choose to present your website contributes massively towards its overall success, as the design and theme that you choose for each page will reflect on your brand and service as a whole. Putting little to no effort into the presentation of your website will encourage users to believe that the same lack of effort is applied to your products and services, even if this couldn’t be further than the truth. There’s no time like the present to upgrade your online platforms aesthetic, so start off by establishing a set colour scheme and layout that you can utilise throughout your entire website. When choosing a colour scheme, try not not to go overboard – it’s best to stick with two to three colours at most, as any more than this can make it extremely overpowering. Pick one specific font that you can use throughout your website, as using more than one font can look messy and unprofessional. Make the most of headers to get important messages and information across to readers, such as page names, slogans and more, keeping content text much smaller so as not to overwhelm. Steer clear of excessive patterns, too many pictures and other features that can encourage a feeling of clutter and chaos, capping your images to 2 or 3 per page – this will also help to reduce the total loading time that it takes for your website to power up in a user’s browser, so it’s a win-win. Aim to avoid any low quality videos or pictures that are pixelated or not true to their original colour, as it’s best to have nothing then to have something unattractive and unprofessional. It’s a good idea to take a look at a few other successful websites in your industry to see which styles and aesthetics really work for your target audience, as you may spot certain details that you wish to recreate in your own platform. Never straight copy from any other brand, as you may find yourselves in serious trouble.
Always Test Before Publication
Whenever you decide to adapt or upgrade your web pages, no matter how small the changes are, you must perform sufficient testing before publishing your site on the web. Failing to test your website could cause your customers to fall victim to all manner of different issues that affect their experience overall, and these issues could have easily been avoided if you were to take the time to test thoroughly. Exploring several different forms of usability testing will be of real benefit for your brand, as this will help you to identify any design or programming flaws that can impact upon the look, feel and quality of your website as a whole. Be sure to outsource a large percentage of testing as this will give you a totally different viewpoint – asking your staff to test their own work will likely keep errors under wraps, so requesting that those who have never navigated around your site take part in testing is the most effective decision that you can make. Test features such as browser loading times, presentation, ease of use, and accessibility, whilst using every button and option to see whether they truly operate as they should. Consider using different methods to access your website such as a smartphone or a laptop, as well as several internet browsers – you may find that your website appears unique in each and every option, and this should be addressed immediately to keep up appearances and remain a trustworthy source.
Make It Interactive To Improve Customer Service
One big stumbling block that can have a dire impact on your brand as a whole is your online customer service, as it can often feel impossible to try and meet the needs of your clients without even seeing them face to face. Adapting your service in order to abide by the limitations of the world wide web can be tricky, as it’s such an impersonal and anonymous experience that’s terribly difficult to improve! However, making your website interactive can be a brilliantly effective way to improve your customer service, as adding a point of contact will break down the walls between you and the rest of the world. You wouldn’t open your doors to a brick and mortar store without having at least one member of staff on the floor to meet customer needs, so why are hosting a business website without having a single option to get in touch? Many successful websites make use of an interactive chat message feature that pops up automatically on a user’s screen – you can personalize the message to suit your unique brand, but something along the lines of ‘i’m here to help – send a message if you have any questions’ is absolutely ideal. It can be hard to achieve respectable levels of customer service when you cannot even see or hear your clients, but chatting to them virtually can really help to break the barrier between your business and your target audience.
Taking your website to a whole new level has never been so simple when you can take the time to make the most of the brilliant tips and tricks that have been carefully detailed above. There’s no time like the present to boost your online brand, so what are you waiting for?
The start of the pandemic has seen a sudden surge in home-based work and, almost simultaneously, a sharp increase in cybersecurity attacks. For businesses of all sizes, cyber incidents became a top concern around the world. Experts estimate that the worldwide cost of cybercrime will rise to $6 trillion by the end of 2021. It goes with saying: the pandemic has caused major disruption in the workplace and the security around the workplace.
Additionally, hackers have seized the unique opportunity to create pandemic-related scams, capitalising on pandemic anxiety and fear. Some hackers targeted stolen information from individuals and companies by creating a global map of COVID-19 cases with malware embedded inside it. Others targeted work-from-home individuals with brutal cyberattacks and phishing content, gaining protection to confidential files, work and home networks. Yet, as cybercriminals doubled their efforts, businesses and their teams rapidly learned to identify vulnerabilities and suspicious content. But cyber vulnerabilities can come in different shapes, some of which may be unexpected. Here are the most surprising things that can put remote workers’ data at risk.
An unsafe backpack
Do remote workers still work from home? Recent surveys reveal that people are looking for new work environments, such as co-working spaces and their local coffee shops. Thankfully, many employees are familiar with the dangers of public connections. Therefore, many have been adding a VPN to their work routine. However, what they have not considered is the role their laptop bag plays. Indeed, a secure backpack makes it difficult for thieves on public transport to gain advantage of the crowd. Theft-proof backwards design means that nobody can access the content of the bag when you’re carrying it. Laptops, smartphones and other personal devices are unlikely to end in the wrong hand.
Not using tech support to its full extend
We get it. Sometimes, you accidentally press the wrong button or pick the wrong option, and things can go out of control. This is especially frequent when downloading important documentation or using new tools without proper understanding. More people don’t realise that IT supportprofessionals can help read between the lines and keep your data protected. Ultimately, the biggest vulnerability for your laptop is not the network or the digital solution; it’s the user. We are prone to make mistakes, so it’s helpful to gain tech guidance when needed.
Long working hours
Working remotely tends to increase the average working day by up to two hours. The pandemic has boosted the UK’s reputation for being the “unpaid overtime capital of Europe” to new records. Unfortunately, working longer hours is no productivity miracle. It’s the opposite. The long-hours culture affects productivity, concentration and creativity, making overworked employees more likely to make mistakes. Phishing emails and scams can become believable communication when you’re too tired to think clearly.
An unexpected compliment
Working from home can be tiring and stressful. Many employees agree that they’re having frustrating days when they feel that nobody is noticing their efforts. When you are isolated from your team, you could be more vulnerable to flattery. A scammer who pays a compliment, either on the phone or via email, is more likely to gain someone’s trust.
Tackling cybersecurity threats further in a post-pandemic environment requires a deep understanding of human psychology. Criminals act when they see an opportunity, which means it’s essential for business and professionals to maintain a strong approach to their work routine.
I’m currently in the process of a big 3D Printing project for a special gift. It’s a bit of a mammoth undertaking, but when complete, should be really lovely. More about the project later!
I’m cleaning my 3d printer bed with Prosan Alcohol Spray which is a 100% Isopropanol / Isopropyl Spray which is working out brilliantly!
In the meantime, experience the joy of 10 hours of Failure of 4.5 hours 3D Printing!
Preview of Chessboard in TinkercadEpisode 5 – Layout on 3d PrinterEpisode 5 – Layout on 3d Printer (Sliced ready)
Most people would pack their laptop if they were going on a long trip – especially for business. But relatively few would think of bringing their printer along for the ride. That’s just plain weird.
However, things are changing in the printer market. Like so many electronics, technology is miniaturizing them, and we’re now getting to the point where you can fit them in your pocket – seriously.
These funny little devices are called portable printers and they function just the same way as their bigger brothers. There’s just one crucial difference – you’re the one who has to manually control them. The concept is a little weird. But somehow it works.
Basically, you start off with a piece of plain paper lying on your desk. You then take the portable printer in your hand and then carefully drag it from left to right across the page, being careful to line everything up correctly. It requires a bit of skill, but once you get the hang of it, the results are almost miraculous. It lets you turn your hotel room into a bona fide office space, not just somewhere to ping off emails.
So what portable all-in-one printer devices are on the market? And how good are they for graphic design? Find out more below.
Brother P-Touch Cube
Brother is one of the biggest brands in the printer space and offers products in practically every niche. And now it has a portable printer it’s marketing as a label printer called the P-Touch Cube.
The way it works is pretty simple. Inside the printer, there’s a reel of stickers. When you want to print something, the roll extends and the printer head starts printing out your chosen design on the sticker. Once it finishes, it then pushes the completed print through a hole at the front, ready for you to tear off.
Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer
The Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer is a product that makes a lot of sense – especially coming from a brand like Canon which also makes cameras.
Canon knows that when people go on vacation, they want both digital and physical photos. In the past, they had three options:
Go to a print shop
Use a low-quality Polaroid
Wait until they get home to print out their snaps on their home printer
None of these options is ideal, which is why Canon introduced the Ivy Mini. This cute device is small enough to take on vacation but large enough to print out your favourite holiday scenes.
REINER Speed-i-Jet 798 HandHeld Inkjet Printer
Perhaps the strangest product of the bunch is the retro Reiner Speed-i-Jet 798. This is essentially a handheld device for right-handed users that fits in the hand a little like a pen but will print out digital fonts perfectly.
Reiner says that the device operates silently and runs on two AA batteries.
Calop E-Mark
Another brand doing something similar is Calop. Its device is more like a regular computer mouse than a pen, but the effect is the same. You drag it across the page to create your print.
Leading value-for-money digital lifestyle accessories brand, Trust Electronics Ltd, is pleased to introduce its high-quality Taxon 2K QHD webcam into the UK market with autofocus, dual microphones and a privacy filter. The Taxon is available now on Amazon for £69.99.
The Taxon is built to deliver pixel-clear video and disturbance-free audio, so there is no need to worry about anything other than managing meetings or connecting with friends. Two integrated microphones pick up voices clearly and video captured in QHD resolution (2560×1440) with 30 frames per second. With additional support for 720p HD and 1080p Full HD, the Taxon can be used with any device.
Thanks to its wide-angle glass lens, the Taxon is well suited to making group calls and is compatible with all major video-conference software, such as Skype, Teams and Zoom. The 80-degree angle covers a wider area than a standard lens, so more than one person can fit in the video frame without needing to move or adjust the camera position. The webcam also has built-in autofocus, so it automatically pans to the person speaking.
Perfect peace of mind can be guaranteed with the ‘Taxon’s’ privacy filter, where users can be assured that privacy is safeguarded from hackers at all times by simply sliding the filter over the camera so nothing is visible.
Thanks to its wide-angle glass lens, the Taxon is well suited to making group calls and is compatible with all major video-conference software, such as Skype, Teams and Zoom. The 80-degree angle covers a wider area than a standard lens, so more than one person can fit in the video frame without needing to move or adjust the camera position. The webcam also has built-in autofocus, so it automatically pans to the person speaking.
Perfect peace of mind can be guaranteed with ‘the Taxon’s’ privacy filter, where users can be assured that privacy is safeguarded from hackers at all times by simply sliding the filter over the camera so nothing is visible.
If you’re tech savvy and you live games then you’ll love what we have on offer in today’s post.
What if you could combine all your favorite things, be intellectually stimulated, and earn money – no need to go to work, right?
In the post below we give you some of the top platforms for earning money online by playing games you love. Read on for more info.
DREAM 11
The game of football manager is known and loved the world over because it is a fully immersive experience. It puts football fans in the driving seat and allows them to imagine they are successfully running their favorite football club. But it’s so immersive it can enveloped your life
That’s why it’s such a great idea to earn some money while you play them. It means all those hours are not completely wasted, even if you do win a cup or two. The Dream 11 platform lets you do just that.
PAYTM FIRST GAMES
There are two types of people in the world. Those who love the latest games, and those who love the ones that never go out of fashion. While there are opportunities to earn money with the former, the latter has been largely neglected – until now.
With the Paytm First Gaming Platform you can play all of the old games you love and earn cash at the same time. This cash is in the form of Rs and subject to Income tax rules in some cases. However, many games are not – check it out.
QUREKA
Just as some people prefer older more traditional games like Tic Tac Toe and Ludo, others prefer to be cognitively challenged. They like TV game shows that test their general knowledge along with their speed and accuracy. These folks also love the gaming experience.
If you have good general knowledge and like to play games like TV shows where you can earn some cash, check out the Queka platform. You will find all your favorite games here and more. Put yourself in the hot seat and see how far you get.
8 BALL POOL
There are some notable connections between Britain and American, Forex Tradingis an excellent example as the GBP/USD exchange was once kinked by an underwater cable – you can’t get more connected than that. There are also notable differences though, like the styles of pool.
Still, when you play pool online at 8 Ball Pool, everyone’s on the same page, or table! 8 Ball Pool allows you to automatically different versions of the game. You can play solo or challenge friends. Enter competitions to win cash prizes.
POKERBAAZI
The game of poker doesn’t need any introduction. Everyone knows that you can win money at poker if you can play, and sometimes, even if you can’t. No wonder online poker has become one of the best tech savvy ways to earn money online.
The site called Pokerbaazi was originally set up in India in 2014 as a poker startup business. It is now the most popular online poker site in India and well known around the globe. There are some exciting chances to win good money on this poker site.
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