Sandberg launches intelligent Motion Tracking Phone Mount in the UK

April 6, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Danish mobile accessories brand, Sandberg A/S, is pleased to introduce its Motion Tracking Phone Mount. An intelligent phone mount with motion tracking AI that follows the user in any direction as they move, it is a great accessory for work, fitness and social media. The Sandberg Motion Tracking Phone Mount is available for £64.99 from Amazon and Sandberg.

Sandberg launches intelligent Motion Tracking Phone Mount in the UK

The mount provides users with the ability to record or view content or meetings in a more convenient way. Featuring a 360-degree tracking rotation, the mount automatically tracks the movement of the user through motion tracking AI to ensure that the best view is always given – ideal for those who record content for social media, take part in online fitness classes, attend online meetings or presentations or simply video call friends or family.

With an embedded and rechargeable battery that provides up to 8 hours of use, it provides users with more than enough time to record or stream anything without the need for wires or a power outlet. From taking part in exercise classes in the garden and being able to view instructions easily as the user moves around to presenting in an online meeting inside, there will be enough battery to cover any activity and it can be used anywhere. With no app needed and a universal fit for phones between 4cm and 8.5cm, as well as a tripod mount, it is convenient and able to be used by most smartphone owners.

Sandberg is so sure of the quality of this product that they provide 5 years warranty and it is double quality tested to ensure it is up to its high standards and provides users with a great quality product for an affordable price.

The Sandberg Motion Tracking Phone Mount is available from Amazon and Sandberg for £64.99.

Games Consoles, Gaming

Gaming Can Be A Lot Of Fun, But You Need To Manage It Well

April 4, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Gaming and tech go hand in hand. Without tech, there would be no gaming, and then there would be no gamers, and that would be really sad. We all love something in this world, some of us just love tech and gaming more than others! Gaming can provide a short term escape from reality, entertainment and a number of other things, which is why so many people enjoy it. However, you still need to be managing this to the best of your ability, which means remaining vigilant. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to manage your gaming, ensuring that things don’t go too far. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Watch What You’re Spending

One of the things that you are going to need to do is watch what you are spending on gaming and tech as a whole. You can’t go too far and start spending money that was supposed to be allocated elsewhere just because you wanted a new game, a new piece of equipment, or even something in a game. If you’re using an online platform like space casino, we recommend setting a deposit limit on this, as at least this is something that you can physically control unlike other games and gaming sites out there.

In-app purchases are often where a lot of games make their money. They show you little ads of things that you then want, or they will make it so that there are certain things you can only have if you pay for them. This then escalates and you want things that are costing you 20 or 30 at a time, but you don’t even realise. Try to keep the in-app purchases to a minimum as much as you can to watch what you’re spending.

Do Research Into Consoles Before You Purchase

If you are going to be purchasing a new console, then you need to do your research before you do this. Whether you are looking into purchasing a Nintendo Switch, an XBOX, PlayStation or a PC, you need to know as much as you can gather about them before you make a choice. We know that there are some people out there who purchase entire consoles simply because there are one or two games that are exclusive to that brand. This is not a good enough reason to buy an expensive console, so you really need to think this through before you go ahead and purchase one.

Look at all of the specifications, take a look at factors such as how many games you want to play are released on that platform, and then compare them to all the other consoles available. This will give you the best idea as to which one is going to be most suitable for you, helping you to make the right choice.

Keep is Reasonable

When we say keep it reasonable, we are talking about how much time you are spending on your games, as well as how much money you are spending on the games and tech. Don’t forget that the equipment such as headsets and controllers all count as money that you have spent on gaming, and this needs to be managed. Other than that though, a lot of people who find their love of gaming growing will spend increasing amounts of time on their consoles, games, or other pieces of technology. You have to be careful with this as it can slowly become more than you are realising.

If you have spare time, then there is nothing wrong with spending this time playing your games. However, if you are getting to the point where you are actively avoiding things to play the games that you love, then this is where the signs of you developing an issue are starting. Should it be the case that you start finding yourself in the position where you are spending more time online than you are in the real world, something needs to be done about this as soon as possible. You cannot continue this way, as it can become dangerous to your health and mental wellbeing.

Try To Work On Your Social Skills

There are a lot of games out there that allow you to socialise and interact with other people. Generally, this is in games where you need to play as a team, so you sign in online and play with random strangers. From there though, who knows what could happen? You could become fast friends, talking and playing with each other whenever you both have time, and this can help you to develop your social skills. If you are finding a way to do this, then gaming can be massively beneficial to you.

The fact that you end up talking to so many people that you don’t know as well is also helpful for social development. Talking to strangers in a safe environment can be really good for you. However, we cannot stress enough that you should not be giving out your personal information, especially if you are under the age of 18.

Pull Away If You’re Getting Addicted

If you start to notice signs that you are addicted to gaming, then you need to start to pull away from this and immerse yourself in the real world. This means that you need to put the consoles away, you can even sell them if you want to as you will get a fair amount for the tech that you have accumulated, and you need to get outside in the real world. Go for a walk in the park, go on a date, climb a mountain, just do something that doesn’t involve sitting in front of a computer screen for a little while.

Signs that you are becoming addicted to gaming include, but are not limited to things like constantly thinking about gaming, using every ounce of spare time you have, and even time you don’t to play, spending excessive amounts of money on games, cancelling prior arrangements to play the game and so many more.

There’s More Online Than Just Gaming

The final thing that we want to say is that there is more to the online and tech world than just gaming. If you can get this into gaming, then there is no reason that you can’t do this with other things that are similar but not necessarily the same. There is so much more out there that you can explore, and if you take to the internet, there will be plenty of people happy to show you some of these awesome things.

Internet Security

6 Tips to Keep Your Personal Information Safe on the Internet

March 31, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

The Internet has fundamentally changed how we communicate, learn, work, and play. While this has been a helpful tool for increasing access and opportunities for everyone, it has also given rise to cybercrimes such as identity theft, stalking, harassment, and more. In order to stay safe and private online, it’s important to understand how the Internet works and what you can do to protect your personal information and privacy.

Set up Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are the most important part of staying private online. A stolen password allows people to access your account even if you’ve locked it with a passcode or PIN. Make sure each password is different and unique. You can use websites that secure your passwords and make them more difficult to steal.

Secure Your Device

Your device, whether it be your phone, laptop, or personal computer, is the gateway to your personal information. If your device is old or damaged, then scammers are more likely to hack into it and access your accounts. Make sure your device is up-to-date, has a strong operating system, and has been updated with the latest security patches.

Public Wi-Fi

When using public Wi-Fi, assume that everything you do is public. This includes what you search for, who you talk to, and any browser history you create. Public Wi-Fi is unsecured, meaning that anyone can log onto it with a password. This is common in coffee shops, malls, and other public places. Avoid sharing sensitive information such as logins, passwords, and emails while you are on public Wi-Fi.

Turn On Incognito Mode

Many browsers have incognito mode. This means that none of your search history or login information will be saved. Use this feature when you are entering private information into websites or in public.

Don’t Share Personal Data

One of the best ways to maintain privacy on the Internet is to not share personal data with anyone. This includes not using pictures of you or your real name on social media accounts.

When sharing photos online, be careful with who you share them with. Make sure that the people you share photos with are not also sharing photos of you. When giving out personal information such as phone numbers, make sure that you’re giving it to people you trust. If you are not sure whether you are about to participate in a scam, take steps to assure you are keeping your information safe first!

Seek Professional Help

Today’s Internet is complicated and dangerous. Often, the best thing you can do to make sure all of your devices are secured and your information is protected is find data protection services UK. With the help of a professional, you will be able to make sure that all of your devices are updated to the newest security benefits so that your information is as safe as possible!

It can be difficult to keep your information protected in today’s world. However, with these tips, it becomes simple and easy to make sure you are safe on the Internet!

Electric Car, Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles

Why Electric Cars Are For More Than Just Driving

March 30, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Electric vehicles have a lot of perks. They are good for the environment and they are good for your wallet. There are also a lot of other perks that come along with electric vehicles aside from the fact that they are changing the world for the better. Here are the reasons why switching to an electric car is a good idea beyond battling climate change.

Power Your Home

One major perk to getting an electric car is the fact that you can use your car to power your home. There are chargers that go from vehicle to home in order for your car battery to supply electricity to your home. It is a way that a lot of people are saving money on energy costs. Some supermarkets allow you to charge your car for free and you can then go home and plug your house into your car in order to source your power from your vehicle.

You are basically powering your house for free and saving hundreds if not thousands of pounds a year in bills.

Get a Tax Credit

A lot of governments around the world are providing a tax credit to those who switch to an electric car. In some places, governments are offering to pay a driver’s down payment as an incentive to switch to electric. In all, some buyers are saving thousands of dollars on their car and are getting it for cheaper than the sticker price.

Federal governments have been giving electric car drivers refunds on the installation of electric car chargers. When filing their yearly taxes, drivers have been able to get an ample tax refund because they have switched to electric.

No Maintenance

Since electric cars run on a battery, there is no engine. In place of an engine in the front of the car there is another trunk where you can store more items. The lack of engine means that there is no need for maintenance. There is no oil to change, fan belts to fix, or transmission to worry about. These reasons are very high-cost saving decisions to get you to switch.

Most car batteries for electric vehicles last about ten years before they need to be replaced or start to have difficulty holding their charge. That’s ten years of virtually no car maintenance to worry about.

Electric Cars Are Safer

Due to the construction of electric cars, they are safer for passengers. Because of the need to keep a safe distance between those riding in the car and the battery, electric cars have an aluminum plate around the battery that protects passengers in the event of a collision. Also, because the car has a massive battery and no engine, the risk of an explosion or anything flammable occuring in an accident is virtually eliminated keeping everyone in the vehicle more safe than if they were riding in a gas-powered vehicle.

Conclusion

With so many non-environmental reasons for switching to an electric vehicle, the choice to switch is a pretty one easy to make.

Batteries, Press Release, Smart Devices, Smart Phone

Battery Start-Up Theion Unveils Crystal Battery for all Mobile Applications

March 29, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Theion, a global battery manufacturer of lithium-sulphur cathode technology, today announced the appointment of Dr Ulrich Ehmes as CEO and the upcoming commercial availability of its Crystal Battery for applications, beginning with the aerospace sector. Dr Ehmes, who has a long track record of industrialising battery production at companies like Swiss-listed lithium-ion battery company Leclanché, will lead the commercialisation of Theion’s innovative lithium-sulphur cathode technology, which is targeting triple the range and usage time compared to conventional lithium-ion cells.

Theion’s battery innovation is based on sulphur – a material available In abundance without harmful mining (a byproduct of industrial processes). Sulphur replaces cathode materials with high processing cost and high metal content like nickel and cobalt. As a result, sulphur is not only 99% cheaper to source than the cathode materials, used in existing state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, but Theion’s battery cells also require 90% less energy to produce – from raw material to finished cell.

Under the leadership of Dr Ehmes, Theion will leverage his decade-long experience in the battery manufacturing sector to scale production. Dr Ehmes also serves on the Board of major battery research clusters funded by the German Ministry of Research and Education and is a member of European and German battery associations.

“I joined Theion because I am convinced that selecting the right battery active materials and processing these materials in a way that best leverages the material’s storage property, will disrupt the battery industry to another level,” said Dr Ulrich Ehmes, Theion CEO. “With 16 patents pending, our process innovations are scalable, and will bring a new dimension of mobility, range, usage time and sustainability.”

Theion’s patented production process extends the cycle life of batteries by combining sulphur’s crystal material properties with carbon nanotubes and a proprietary solid electrolyte. The company will be shipping material later this year, firstly to aerospace customers, as part of the qualification stage, then to aircraft, air taxis, drones, mobile phones and laptops, before servicing the electric flight and automotive sectors in 2024.

Battery Start-Up Theion Unveils Crystal Battery for all Mobile Applications

“We are using mother nature’s crystals under the guidance of our patented processes to unlock sulphur’s full potential as an energy carrier,” said Marek Slavik, Theion co-founder and CTO. “Its wide abundance around the world is crucial to the material cost. The design of our highly energy-efficient manufacturing processes makes our Crystal Batteries fully sustainable.”

Theion is backed by Lukasz Gadowski, CEO of Team Global, a technology holding company investing in and starting frontier technology companies. With a successful track record that includes Delivery Hero, and recent investments into Volocopter, Zapata and AutoFlight, Theion’s addition to the portfolio is highly synergetic.

“At a time when industry demand for batteries is surging, but materials cost and sustainable sourcing are experiencing volatility, Theion’s breakthrough is ideally timed,” Lukasz Gadowski, founder and CEO of Team Global, and principal investor. “Theion’s Crystal Battery is perfect for all mobility applications, while being massively sustainable, and is targeting to extend the use time of handheld devices, the driving range of electric cars, and the safe flight time of eVTOL applications and electric aircraft by a factor of three. When in full production, it has the potential to replace every battery in every mobility device on earth.”

Headquartered in Berlin, Theion operates three locations within the city, specializing in cell design, prototyping and testing. Theion is expanding by adding manufacturing facilities to accelerate its mass production roadmap, beginning in Berlin. Locations for later Giga-Factories are not determined yet but will be located close to the customers. Thus, production sites are envisioned In Europe, Asia and the USA.

Press Release, TV

Mitchell & Brown’s Parent Group Celebrates 25 Years in Business

March 28, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

The team behind Mitchell & Brown – the UK’s favourite TV brand, hosted a special celebration this month to mark 25 years of the TVD Group – the TV brand’s parent company.

Employees from the TVD Group and several suppliers attended the 25-year celebration for the company, which was hosted by Worsley Golf Club, close to the group’s HQ in Bolton, Lancashire.

The TVD Group has seen huge success over the past 25 years, including a whopping £242 million turnover, over 200,000 completed installations, and over one million total products sold. A significant part of the group’s recent success has been the launch in 2016 of the Mitchell & Brown TV brand.

Developed to give retailers a trusted, local brand of high-quality TVs to sell, all backed by an unrivalled 7-year guarantee, Mitchell & Brown has rapidly become a firm High Street favourite and the UK’s best loved domestic TV supplier.

The TVD celebration event was an opportunity to unite everyone involved in TVD Group’s success and thank them for being part of the journey. On the night there was live music, a buffet, and a speech by Director Matthew Brown.

Matthew thanked the team and suppliers for their efforts over the years and acknowledged all the people who couldn’t be there, including his late father Jim Brown who he founded the company with alongside brother Dan.

Born in 1996, the TVD Group started with a shop in Leigh, and has now become a leading UK provider in audio-visual solutions on both commercial and domestic fronts.

From humble beginnings running electronics store ‘TV and Video Direct’, Dan and Matthew Brown have considerably grown the business over the past 25 years. They now operate six divisions within the TVD Group – TVD Technology Solutions, TVD B2B, TVC Outdoor, Mitchell & Brown, MySign Digital Screen Solutions and Retail & Online.

Dan Brown, Director of Operations, said: “We’ve come a long way since 1996 and my brother and I couldn’t be prouder of the success we have achieved with the help of our expert team and fantastic suppliers.

“It was important for us to acknowledge everyone’s hard work and we hope the event lived up to expectations – everyone certainly seemed to have a good time!

“We are looking forward to building this family business into the next quarter of a century.”

Gadget Man, Press Release, Technology

New tech solution will address the ‘cocktail party problem’

March 25, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Leading listening tech provider, Nuance Hearing, has launched a state-of-the-art directional microphone to help address the ‘cocktail party problem’.
The ‘cocktail party problem’ – an inability to understand speech in a noisy environment – can affect up to 41 per cent of adults, according to research.
The Voice Selector Converse uses built-in microphones and an advanced algorithm to track the source of sounds, allowing the user to easily focus on a conversation and tune out background noise.
In tests, users were able to understand speech on average three times better than without the product.

Nuance Hearing - New tech solution will address the 'cocktail party problem' — Nuance Hearing – New tech solution will address the ‘cocktail party problem’

Nuance Hearing, a leading global provider of focused listening technology, has launched a new device that provides powerful relief from auditory distraction and background noise.

The Voice Selector Converse helps overcome challenging hearing situations for those who struggle with the ‘cocktail party problem’, offering a tech solution to understand conversations in a crowded room, without the need for hearing aids.

Using cutting-edge beamforming technology, eight built-in microphones track the source of sounds, reducing the level of background noise and enabling the user to focus on the dominant voice. The result is a world-leading directivity index (the relative reduction of overall noise in relation to the target sound) of 15dB in real-time performance, which compares to an industry-standard of 4-5dB. This improvement helps the listener to focus, effortlessly tuning out the sounds that do not matter and tuning into the ones that do.

In audiology testing, users were able to understand speech on average three times better than without the product.

Ori Goren, CEO of Nuance Hearing, said: “Since 2015, we have been delivering powerful and advanced hearing solutions that deliver optimum performance. We know that many people in the UK are suffering in silence, unable to feel comfortable or enjoy conversing in busy environments, and are proud to have launched an innovative tech solution to help combat this. Through innovative technological solutions, we are passionate about improving the quality of life for a diverse group of people, making every environment more accessible and helping ensure personal success and empowerment.”

New research* suggests that 41 percent of all UK adults admit to having the ‘cocktail party problem’ where they struggle to understand speech in a noisy environment. Over a third (36 percent) said noisy environments caused them stress and anxiety and 60 percent of those with hearing problems said they would be open to trying out tech to help them hear in a busy environment.

The Voice Selector Converse has unique auto-steering technology which picks up the dominant speaker, even when they are moving about. Alternatively, the user can manually switch between speakers when conversing a group.

It also captures, processes, and plays audio at a record speed of six milliseconds (0.006 seconds). It’s a multifunctional device and can be used as a table microphone or remote microphone – ideal for most scenarios where background noise can be an issue.

Hearing loss currently affects 12 million people in the UK. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 5 people worldwide live with hearing loss, expected to rise to 1 in 4 by 2050. Unaddressed hearing loss can have a devastating impact on people’s ability to communicate, study and earn a living. It can also impact on people’s mental health and their ability to sustain relationships¹and has recently been associated with a faster degree of cognitive decline. On average, people wait ten years before getting help for hearing loss. The ‘cocktail party problem’ where people have difficulty understanding speech in noisy situations can often be the first sign of a hearing loss.

Franki Oliver, audiology specialist, RNID, said:“While it might not seem obvious at first, having difficulty understanding speech in background noise is usually one of the early signs of hearing loss. The ‘cocktail party problem’ is the name used to describe the brain’s inability to filter out background noise and tune into what someone is saying in a busy environment. Most people with hearing loss experience difficulty in these situations.

“It’s important to check your hearing if you start to notice difficulty in background noise, feel that people mumble, or you ask people to repeat themselves. It’s second nature for people to have their eyes checked regularly but we don’t have the same attitude towards getting our hearing checked yet. The sooner hearing loss is identified, the earlier someone can start benefiting from life-changing hearing devices. Hearing loss can also be linked to conditions such as dementia so early intervention is vital.”

Glowforge

Glowforge Pro – Making a new Website header graphic using the Glowforge Pro

Video March 16, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

So I’ve been testing a Glowforge Pro for the last few weeks.

It’s absolutely outstanding technology and I’m really loving it.

I’ve made so many different items using this device, such as boxes, wallets, key fobs, phone stands, acrylic signs, all kinds of stuff It really is amazing.

It does require a bit of imagination and the ability to design stuff, but you can also use the Glowforge library of images as well if you want to.

So what I wanted to do was create a new graphic heading for The Gadget Man website, but by making this heading using a laser cutter, scan it and then I’ll import it into the website as the new heading.

Watch the video below to find out how I went about it, you can see the resulting graphic at the top of the page!

Full review coming soon!

A selection of leather items I’ve made.

Broadband, Helpful Articles, Helpful Guides, Useful Articles

4 Benefits You Gain From Having Fast Broadband

February 24, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

If you’ve been on your broadband deal for a long time, you might be wondering what it is exactly that you’re missing out on by not having a new and fast broadband package. There’s plenty to be gained from fast broadband, and it’s becoming the new standard for households that rely on technology often. If you’re not using your TV or the internet in your home, then you’ve little to gain from upgrading your broadband, but for those who are often online – a fast broadband package has every benefit for you to gain.

4 Benefits You Gain From Having Fast Broadband
**Easier working from home**

In the past few years, we’ve seen more and more people working from home, and it’s becoming quite common practice for many previously office jobs. Of course, there are still those that would prefer to attend the workplace, but working from home has proven more than comfortable for many people. Without fast broadband, working from home can take even more time than it needs to. Being hindered by slow internet speeds is not something you want, and if you spend a lot of time browsing, downloading, and uploading while you’re working – you’re going to feel the effects of a slow internet speed.

Great for the family

Households with more than one person can be quite straining on your internet allowance, and without a fast internet package, you’re not going to be getting the full potential of your broadband. Having too many people on a slow internet speed and bandwidth is going to cause everyone else’s in the house to be slow too. Homes with a lot of phones, computers, consoles, or TVs can be very intensive, and even apps like Netflix can disrupt the internet causing everything to lag and slow down. If you often experience buffering or pauses mid-way through what you’re watching on TV, this is why.

More technology

Homes with slow broadband packages can’t support many pieces of tech that are connected to the internet. Because of this, you might be put off buying newer pieces of technology. The slowness and waiting around that you get from older packages can be tedious, and no one would want more of that for even more money. If you want to see some of the best deals available, you should check out this full fibre 500 broadband package – a broadband deal that won’t ever let you down.

Never miss out

When you’re trying to catch things live, it can be difficult to get a steady stream as a result of slow broadband. For those of you who enjoy watching live sports games, then this is something that you should be concerned about. Having your TV slow down for even a few moments can cause you to miss something crucial, which isn’t necessary to deal with.

Even if your package is old, most providers often update their packages with the prices. That means that you’re not always going to have to pay more for an updated deal. Old deals tend to remain at their price until you change it to a newer one.

Helpful Articles, Helpful Guides, Money

The Factors that Impact your Credit Score

January 31, 2022 Matt Porter Leave a comment

There was good news in the UK last year from a financial perspective, as the average credit score on these shores increased by five points despite an uncertain and challenging economic climate.

A credit score provides a numerical expression based on a level analysis of an individual’s credit files, based on past payment history and a variety of alternative factors.

This ultimately determines the creditworthiness of an individual in the eyes of lenders. But what are the top five factors that impact your credit score? Here’s a brief breakdown!

Payment History: Over time, you’ll build a credit history through recurring repayments in the form of rent, mortgage, car repayments, debt or other types of finance. Such payments can have a positive or negative impact on your score over time, with missed or late payments (or defaulted accounts) causing significant issues that may prevent further credit applications.
The Amounts Owed: Next up is the total amount of money owed in unsecured debt, which also reveals your total credit usage across outstanding cards, loans and balances. This is calculated simply by dividing the total revolving credit you’re currently using by the total of all limits, and using more than 30% of your available credit is negative in the eyes of lenders.
Credit History Length: This is a lesser-known factor, and one that refers to how long you’ve held credit accounts. This comprises 15% of your final FICO score, including the age of your oldest account, the age of the newest addition and the average age across the board. In general terms, the longer your credit history, the higher your average credit score.
Your Unique Credit Mix: Those individuals with the very best credit scores tend to boast a diverse range of credit accounts, including a car loan, credit card mortgage and a student loan. Other products can be included, of course, while a meld of secured and unsecured loans may also help to create a viable mix. Lenders definitely consider the various types of accounts held when creating their scoring models, and your overall credit mix accounts for 10% of your FICO score.
Your Access and Use of New Credit: Bad credit can become something of a trap, as while creating a recent history of positive transactions enables you to improve your score over time, it can be hard to open new accounts with a bad score. The good news is that you can use so-called “bad credit” products to help build and enhance your credit score, including specialist cards and loans. Of course, having too many accounts or applications can damage your score, so you’ll need to be selective when choosing viable products.

Matt Porter, The Gadget Man – AI, Technology News and Reviews