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NuviCam LMT D By Garmin: Drive Safe

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The nuviCam LMT-D is a relatively hefty 6-inch sat-nav, the camera’s at one end, making it little bulkier at that point. Drivers and cyclists have increasingly been feeling the need to retain a record of their journeys for protection, so have been keeping cameras in their vehicles or on them.

NuviCam-LMT-D

The nuviCam sports two microSD card slots. One is the usual expansion port found on a sat-nav for installing custom maps, with the other dedicated to the dashboard camera. A 4GB card is included as standard for video recordings.

The camera can also allegedly provide collision and lane departure warnings, by detecting the road and car proximity. Nonetheless, this did not kick in through testing, and it did not seem safe to court danger just to try out the characteristics.

The nuviCam comes with a lifetime subscription to Digital Traffic. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that outside the UK and Northern Island, Digital Traffic is only available in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Norway. For other European countries, the nuviCam also receives standard RDS-TMC, which covers most of Europe apart from Portugal.

These include a Dash Cam app that allows you to view your recorded videos along with a live updating map showing where they were recorded, and more can be added.

There is also a panel on the right supplying access to favorites and recent destinations, also the full POI system. The underlying maps cover the whole of Europe, with lifetime updates available for free.

The current speed and direction can be found along the bottom, the next turning is at the top, and there is a right hand panel that can be configured with a variety of information, but will also display any traffic jams detected.

Conclusion

A sensible combination of sat-nav and dashboard camera, even though the resulting size could be an issue for some drivers.

C-HR By Toyota With New Concept: Preview The Future

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The new C-HR concept, on the other hand, is weird in a great way. Even better, it is headed for production and, it will be probably badged a Scion for the United States. That gives it free license to let its freak flag fly. Toyota is globally known for a lot of things, but whimsy and Outlandishness aren’t chief among them. Surely, the new Prius is weird, but not in a fun way.

Toyota-C-HR

According to Automotive blog, AutoLoud, There are a number of jarring details in the C-HR’s design by admitting an odd flat plane in the front bumper, headlamps mounted nearly at chest level, a deep swage line rising up before the rear fenders, and a dramatic waistline peak in the rear doors.

Bronze 5.1 is new incredible speaker which is the new entry level of Monitor Audio with outstanding bass functionality. The floating roof treatment and the L-shaped tail-lamps that shoot off the body like a pair of handles. Much is likely to change when we see the production-intent version, which Toyota says will happen at the 2016 Geneva auto show.

It is expected that the roof-line will be altered to accommodate taller passengers, while the greenhouse should also grow a bit so those same folks can actually see out.

The production version applies the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that underpins the 2017 Prius, a vehicle that is also making its auto-show debut in Frankfurt.

Not coincidentally, the C-HR concept also is a hybrid, says Toyota, even though the company did not say which, if any, of its power-train components are shared with the Prius. The future production model almost surely will be powered by a naturally aspirated 4 banger and will offer front & all wheel drive, as do all of its contenders.

It is worth noting that just a few steps away on the Frankfurt show floor, Nissan upped its own funkiness quotient by revealing the wild Gripz concept, a production version of which may debut in 2017 as a companion to the Juke.

Osmo iPad Accessory – Creative Starter Kit

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The pack contains a stand, camera reflector, a box of letter tiles and another set of colored tiles. It is easy to repack everything back into the sturdy box, repeatedly important for anything aimed squarely at the junior market.

iPad-Accessory

It offers up the color and shape for you to copy and, as you increase the difficulty level and progress, it’ll take away colors and individual shapes by making it quite a challenge far beyond it is 6 plus age guide, even though superb for collaborative sibling or parent play.

The collection of blue/red letter tiles are required for Words, a hangman-style game where a series of images are presented on screen and two players compete to identify them.

The gameplay becomes more tricky as you progress, plus there is a word learning part of the app for kids to brush up on their spelling too.

Additionally to choose from these outlines, you can use one of the images already on your iPad. Or, using the camera, take a picture and it’ll translate this into an outline for you to draw. With Osmo, self portraits are set to be the new selfies.

This is done by placing your letter tiles in the play area. Guess correctly and the word is partially spell on the screen and guess incorrectly and your letter is sent to the top and the amount of guesses you have left drops.

You supply the paper and pen and, when started, the game pumps out colored balls from the top of the screen in a constant drip. Your challenge is to redirect them onto targets by drawing lines on the paper, which are replicated on the screen for the balls to bounce off, or chutes for them to slide down.

Final Conclusion

Osmo is the bridge between real and digital worlds, you would likely raise an eyebrow at this near-pitch-perfect corporate marketing mumbo-jumbo. But it is a pretty accurate description, actually.

Porsche Withstands Downfall in China Car Market.

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Porsche holds up against China’s faltering car market. Despite the subdued mood, the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer delivered 4,821 vehicles to the region in August.

4,821 delivered vehicles to China in August – an increase of 17.2 per cent compared to the same month last year. In July 2015, Porsche had already gained ground with a growth of 6.2 per cent despite the Chinese automotive economy cooling down. From January to August 2015, Porsche achieved an increase in deliveries of almost 38 per cent in China. The number of vehicles delivered world-wide rose in August 2015 by just under 20 per cent to 17,893 compared to the same month last year. During the course of the year, world-wide deliveries totalled 152,610 vehicles. This means a rise of 27.4 per cent.

The downswing in automobile sale in China comes as no surprise for Porsche. “The country is on the path to normality. We are expecting further growth. But the end of high dynamic growth has been reached for the time being,” says Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. “China is and remains a key market for Porsche. Just as important for us are the USA and Europe.” In August 2015, 5,008 new cars were handed over to customers in the United States. This means a growth of a good ten per cent compared with the same month last year. In August, the USA were the most successful single market in the world for Porsche.

However, the markets in Germany and in particular Europe in general brightened up the rising uncertainties about China’s economic future. In the holiday month of August 2015, Porsche delivered 13.6 per cent (1,808 units) more sports cars in Germany and 35.7 per cent more vehicles (4,679 units) in Europe compared with the same month last year.

Qualitative Growth is the barometer

Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing, remains cautiously optimistic. “We are pursuing our aims prudently and with all the necessary respect in view of the highly volatile global economy. For us this means that qualitative growth is the barometer of our success, not only the registration figures. Our focus is definitely on ROI and employment.” And here the company is right on track.

Porsche is profiting from its attractive model mix more than ever before. Without a doubt, the growth driver is the Macan. The youngest member of the product family was top of the list at 6,571 vehicles delivered in August 2015. But also the Cayman(+31 per cent) and the Cayenne (+32 per cent) achieved upward growth figures.

Porsche is pinning high hopes on the new 911, which will celebrate its world première at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA) next week. Maier: “We will continue our product offensive consequently.”

Consumption data:

Porsche model series 911: Combined fuel consumption: 12,7 – 8,2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions: 296-191 g/km

Porsche model series Cayman: Combined fuel consumption: 10,3-7,9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions: 238-183 g/km

Porsche model series Cayenne: Combined fuel consumption: 11,5 – 6,6 l/100 km; CO2 emissions: 267-173 g/km

Porsche model series Macan: Combined fuel consumption: 9,2 – 6,1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions: 216 – 159 g/km

Save Money & Boost Efficiency With a Hosted PBX Service

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There’s a growing number of businesses cutting the cord these days, making their move to a cloud phone system. Here’s the inside story that explains why Hosted VoIP phone system usage is skyrocketing, for business users located around the globe.

Save on Hardware Expenses

Hosted PBX services eliminate three different kinds of phone hardware expenses. And these expenses can really add up for a business in the long run, especially when they have phone hardware at multiple locations.

First and foremost, you will no longer have a need for phone hardware, like telephone servers, the dedicated space they use, or the extra cooling and backup power requirements that come with the territory, once you move to a Hosted PBX phone system.

Second, you will no longer have the burden of expensive on-site visits for service technicians at one or multiple locations, to install, repair or replace telephone equipment, like copper wire and phone jacks, once you move to a Hosted PBX phone system.

Third, your business will no longer have to pay for expensive hardware upgrades, to expand the number of lines or the available features on your business phone system, like you currently do, with your existing phone system.

With a Hosted PBX phone system, all maintenance and upgrades are included in the price of your monthly bill, and you can easily add lines and extensions using self-service administrative tools.

Increase Your Mobility

Your business also gains tons of flexibility by moving to a Hosted VoIP phone system. Members of your team can make and receive calls through your company’s Virtual PBX, over any Internet connection, allowing them to work virtually anywhere.

This is something that can’t be done with an on-premise PBX that’s bound to one location. Your company has the ultimate freedom in its communications, when using a Hosted PBX service, with the ability to route calls to employees located anywhere on the globe.

This is sometimes referred to as “The Virtual Office”, since an organization’s workers can all stay connected on the same communications system, without the need to be physically present at the same location.

This is especially helpful for any organization with a large mobile workforce, like sales people who are frequently out of the office. Customers can call the main number for your business, and still reach a sales representative, even when they are on the go, thanks to features like call find-me/call follow-me, that Hosted PBX platforms support.

A Hosted PBX system can also make it easier to provide customer service or support outside of your normal business hours, since calls can be easily routed to different phones that an employee uses, at different times, based on the rules that you set. This is yet another way that Hosted PBX exceeds the capabilities of a traditional PBX system.

Streamline Communications

A Hosted VoIP phone system allows your business to run more smoothly, by enabling a large communications network outside of the boundaries of a physical office. This allows your business to streamline its operation in several ways.

  • Eliminate Office Desk Phones – if all of your workers already own a mobile phone or tablet device and primarily work from home or on the go, you may never need to invest in phone equipment like desktop handsets at the office.
  • Eliminate Company Supplied Mobile Devices – Your workers can make and receive business calls using the mobile devices that they already own, through your Virtual PBX system, eliminating the hassle of carrying different phones for work and personal use. The ability for your workers to BYOD “bring their own device” means that your business can also eliminate the expense of supplying mobile phones to employees, as well as the monthly bills that go along with them.
  • Enables Unified Messaging – Because hosted phone systems work over the Internet, they can easily connect to other messaging systems that you company uses, like email. This interconnectivity means that your workers can access their voice messages, email messages and text messages from anywhere, using a single device, which leads to more productivity for your business.

But it goes even further than that. Hosted PBX also enables Unified Communications, facilitating highly sophisticated communication for your workers, which is impossible with a traditional PBX system. For example, your team members can launch virtual meetings, including voice calls, instant messaging, video, live document editing and desktop sharing, all at the same time, when your Hosted PBX is connected to a Unified Communications application like Microsoft Skype For Business.

As you can see, Broadconnect’s Hosted VoIP phone system offers many different rewards to the people and companies who use them, making traditional PBX systems a less popular option for many businesses today. Contact one of our hosted phone consultants, to learn more about the benefits your business can expect, when switching to a phone system in the cloud.

Solo 3DR – Terrific Quadcopter

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The Solo has a more purposeful and almost military, look about it. It is roughly the same size as a DJI Phantom 3 and also has self-tightening props which are quick to unscrew for easier transport. 3DR is not a well-known name in quadcopter circles in the UK at least. The company’s first consumer drone is the Solo and we have flown it.

Solo-3DR

Smart Shots & Flying Performance

The killer specialty, though, is Smart Shots. Tap the button at the bottom-left corner of the app and you get a choice of Cable Cam, Orbit, Selfie and Follow.  It will smoothly move the camera between the direction it was facing at the start to the exact framing at the finish, including changing the tilt angle. This produces stunningly smooth footage that is necessarily impossible to capture when flying manually.

With cable cam, you fly to a start point and press the controller’s A button. Then you fly to a finish point and hit B to record that too. Then you press the play button and the Solo will fly in a straight line as if it was on a cable to the start point. This means the Solo will hover where it is, but turn to face you at all times. You could use this, for instance, at a racetrack or any location where you want the drone to stay in one place but keep track of you as you move around.

For all Smart Shots, you can use the satellite map view to check for obstacles it has no built-in obstacle avoidance, or to make it easier to position the Solo.

Designing

The controller takes certain cues from gamepads and has large, easy to use buttons including an obvious ‘FLY’ button which launches the bird into the air when held down and a ‘return to home’ button that brings the Solo back to you, which is handy if you lose sight of it.

The 5200-mAh battery clips into the top of the craft and lasts up to 25 minutes, or 20 if you are using a gimbal and GoPro camera. The latter two components are optional extras, sadly, so if you do not already own a Hero 3, 3+ or 4, you will have to budget for one.

This means that as well as being able to see a high quality video feed on your iOS or Android device, you also have full control over the GoPro’s settings remotely. So if you want to change the resolution, field of view or anything else while flying, you can.

Specifications

Flight time: 20 mins (25 without gimbal)
Battery: 14.8V, 5200mAh
Spare Battery cost: £140
Controller Battery: 7.2V, 2600mAh (4 hours’ use)
Claimed Range: 0.5 miles (400ft ceiling per CAA rules)
Camera Res: GoPro optional (works with Hero 3, 3+, 4)
Stills Res: Depenent on GoPro
Weight: 1.5kg (1.8kg with gimbal)

Assessment

The Solo is a fantastic tool for capturing stunning aerial shots that would otherwise be impossible even for experienced quadcopter pilots. The price, though, will be a barrier for a lot of people. A Phantom 3 Advanced, for instance, costs considerably less than the basic Solo yet comes with a great camera and gimbal.

4 Tips for Picking a Smartphone That Meets Your Needs

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Trying to decide which phone to buy can feel like an exhausting process these days. There are so many phones in the marketplace that you may experience analysis paralysis. There’s great news, though: Any phone you buy these days should satisfy all your needs. All you must do is determine precisely what those needs are. Here are four tips for picking a smartphone that meets your needs.

Pick Your Ecosystem

In the early days of smartphones, the iPhone set the pace in the industry. Its revolutionary features such as touch typing, swiping, and video conferencing were lightyears ahead of the competition. Once Google entered the smartphone industry with their Android ecosystem, the situation grew more complex.

Now, you must decide which operating software suits your needs. Generally, the best choice is to stay with what you already have to avoid purchasing new apps. If you already have an Android phone, buy another one with the same OS. If you’ve previously purchased iPhones, you should stick with them. If you’ve never purchased a smartphone before, don’t worry. A third of Americans are in this situation. You’ll have more options since you’re not committed to an ecosystem yet.

Choose Your Carrier

Before you pick your phone, think about how you’re likely to use it. Will you be making a lot of calls? Are any of those calls international? Do you text more than you talk on the phone? How much will you use the internet for broadband-intensive services such as streaming live video.

Even if you don’t use services such as Netflix and Vudu on your phone yet, you should allow for the possibility that you might in the future. Mobile data usage increased 59 percent year over year primarily due to the increase in bandwidth needs for streaming video.

Why does this matter? Some carriers have stricter bandwidth limits than others. One service might entitle you to more texts and international calls than another, while the third provides the most bandwidth for video consumption. Prioritize your needs and then find the carrier that will provide you the best monthly rate. Once you know where you’ll pay your monthly bills, that company’s smartphone selection identifies your choices for your new device.

Splurge for the Phone

Even though basic devices will satisfy most of your needs, don’t fixate on the price tag when you choose. Many new smartphones offer improved features that you don’t even realize you want until you have them. The latest products from industry leaders, like the Samsung Galaxy S6, include amazing screen quality, comfortable design, and easy typing.

The last thing you want to do when you spend hundreds of dollars on a phone is have it aggravate you. Companies know which of their devices are better. They price those units based on their quality. You’re going to spend hundreds of hours with your phone. Think about larger price tags in terms of costing less than a dollar per hour of usage. In those terms, a more expensive phone is worth the extra money if you like it more.

Test It Out

Since it’s such an important investment, take the time to test your phone in the store. You may feel the temptation to buy one online due to its price. Even if you’re considering that, however, you should still find a local retailer in your area that carries the product. They’ll have a trial unit activated that you can use as if it were your own.

Take the same steps as above. Think about how you’ll use your phone then try everything on your list. Make sure that there are no issues with anything of it. Even a seemingly insignificant factor such as hand comfort becomes a major issue after hundreds of hours of use. If you question the phone’s responsiveness, its screen quality, or its selfie clarity now, it won’t get better over time. Once you’ve picked your favorite in the store, it’s a simple matter of finding the price you like on the product and the contract after that.

Finding the right smartphone is one of the most important decisions in your everyday life. Your ability to pick wisely will provide you with countless hours of enjoyment. Simply follow the steps above to find the perfect device to satisfy all your needs.

HVFE2150L By Black & Decker – Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

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Black & Decker is the Company who has revealed “HVFE2150L cordless vacuum cleaner,” which is the company’s entry-level bag-less stick vacuum with ORA Optimized Runtime and Airflow technology. For versatile, cleaning abilities the HVFE2150L can be used as a handheld cleaner, ideal for small jobs or taking out to the car, with its extension tube to retroflex a cylinder cleaner or with the supplied turbo-brush head for more serious upright-style floor cleaning duties.

HVFE2150L

Cleaning Ability

The HVFE2150L surely packs a fair bit of suction for a lightweight cleaner. Yet, in spite of this low mass, with the handle placed towards the back of the machine, it fees rather unbalanced in the hand and more unwieldy than its weight would suggest.

The HVFE2150L really comes into its own in upright mode, where it feels much more comfortable in the hand, it is well balanced and highly maneuverable. We nipped around a carpeted room in quick time using a gentle turn of the wrist to steer around obstacles.

Hold it at the very back of the curved handle to clean at arm height, desktops and sofa backs for example, and it will rotate forward unless you have a firm grip. Similarly, clip on the extension tube and it takes a fair hoist to raise it to head height to clean a high picture rail, for instance.

While this model does feel like it packs good suction through the small hand-held nozzle, a fair bit of that power seems dispersed by the wide floor-head, articulating neck and tubes. It is surely enough suck to quickly pick up surface dirt, but you will not get a deep down clean or be replacing your home’s main cleaner with this B&D model.

The HVFE2150L on stairs, we plumped for a mix of a first pass using the tube and floor-head and then a second pass into corners and crevices as a hand held. For surface dust and dirt, it picked up well and any residual dirt in corners and at edges was quickly dispatched on a second pass in handheld mode.

Accessories & Designing

The HVFE2150L is a handheld cleaner with bag-less cyclone technology. It promises to be light, compact and convenient, and can be left on charge ensuring it is always ready to go for quick clean ups. here is a small foam exhaust filter that is fully washable, ensuring there are no consumable running costs. The ORA technology characteristics three individual chambers climaxing in 12 air-cyclone chambers to remove ever smaller dust particles.

The handheld section characteristics a pullout plastic tube, extending the reach by about 12cm, and a small clip on dusting brush. Nonetheless, it’s the larger add-ons that really expand the HVFE2150L’s scope. Flip back the brush and you can attach the main turbo-brush floor-head, turning the whole ensemble into a compact and light upright cleaner.

The beater bar itself is motorized, adding a little weight where you want it at floor level, and air-channels have been designed into the head to get suction to the carpet edge

Decision

The HVFE2150L turned in a respectable pet hair cleaning functionality, and solid decent value cordless cleaner.

Driving Courses: Why It’s About More Than Ticket Dismissal

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Virtually everyone who drives has gotten a ticket at some point. Even if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid getting a ticket, you’ve maybe seen advertising for defensive driving courses. Could such a course help you become a better driver?

Ticket Dismissal

One of the main reasons that people sign up for driving courses is because they have gotten a ticket. When you agree to do a driving course, you may be able to keep your driving record from becoming too affected by the ticket. Another great advantage is being able to avoid an increase in your insurance rates, which could go up significantly.

Out-of-Practice Drivers

Sometimes, people stop driving temporarily during a period of illness or while recovering from an injury. While they may retain their driver’s license during their illness, they might need to refresh themselves on the basic defensive skills required while driving. A course that covers these defensive skills, especially one that you can take online, will probably help you feel more confident about being out on the road.

Older Drivers or Disabled Drivers

Getting older or having a disability doesn’t always mean you have to stop driving, but you should take some extra precautions. You will stay safer on the road is brushing up on your defensive skills. If you live alone and must drive yourself, or live in an area with a lot of traffic, such skills are essential.

Drivers Relocating to Bigger, Busier Cities

Many drivers from suburban or rural areas who relocate to bigger metropolitan areas feel overwhelmed at the prospect of driving in heavy traffic. However, giving yourself a refresher on your basic defensive skills you need to use while driving will help you with your sense of confidence. A lot of big city driving skills have to do with being fully aware of your situation and an increased number of possible hazards.

An online course that helps you utilize your defensive driver skills can make a major difference in your life. Regardless of whether you’re trying to maintain a good driving record or are facing some new driving challenge, these courses are quite convenient. You’ll feel that your efforts have paid off.

Microsoft Office 2016 For Mac – A Strong Upgrade

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Ms Office have started life on the Apple Mac before it came ever to Windows, but for many users of Mac it feels like that was the last time we ever had anything ‘Officey’ before our Windows-using brethren. The interface across Mac, Windows and mobile, a boon to productivity if you regularly work across different platforms.

Office-2016-For-Mac

Compatibility & Collaboration

Windows compatibility for documents has been significantly amended, with more Excel functions and PowerPoint transitions making it to the Mac version from Windows, but be warned that, problematically, there are still disparities. Microsoft touts its new Task Pane, but honestly it has done slightly more than dock the floating Toolbox from earlier versions fine, but not worth so much hype.

Finally, that at the moment you can only get Office for the Mac as part of Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription package. Redmond is not saying why, but one interpretation is that it has keen to sign as many people up to Office 365 as it can.

Collaboration and co-authoring tools are welcome, though they are sub-par compared to the office suites from Google and even Apple when working together on a Word document, say, both parties have to save their changes before they appear on the other’s screen.

Modern Mac

Microsoft has finally embraced some modern Mac developments multi-touch gestures for zooming and panning, native full-screen there are more which it has not bothered with.  OS X is doing version specifically is not supported either; there is version available through OneDrive, but it is clunkier.

That is hardly disastrous, and it may be coming in an update, but it is frustrating to see Microsoft still dragging its heels over enforcing exciting new capabilities of the Apple world.

Decision

This is a superb office suite, and we welcome what has happened on and under the surface, even if some of the areas for further amendment are glaringly obvious.