Mark Holland, Author at Tech on the Go

The leading EPL broadcasters offer streaming via apps on laptop and mobile devices

It doesn’t matter whether you aren’t physically able to get to Goodison Park for games or if you don’t have the finances to commit to an Everton FC season ticket – it’s increasingly possible for Everton fans to follow their beloved Toffees online. Season tickets for supporters of teams in the English Premier League (EPL) have never been more expensive. It’s fast becoming akin to the cost of an all-inclusive week in the Maldives. Fortunately, Toffees fans can keep tabs on their progress from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to a growing number of legitimate live-streaming options.

Even fans who live overseas, as well as elsewhere in the UK away from Merseyside, can get legal access to online accounts and packages that give you unfettered access to Everton games whenever they are broadcast live on satellite TV—although that might not necessarily be a good thing for the Toffees’ faithful at the present time. It’s been a very difficult 2019/20 Premier League campaign so far for Toffees fans. Most leading football oddsmakers that give real prominence to the English Premier League have been slashing their prices on Everton falling into the relegation trapdoor for the first time in the history of the post-Premier League era.

Will Carlo Ancelotti put pride back into the Everton badge?

However, the recent headline arrival of former Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti, as the club’s new long-term manager has helped breathe new hope and inspiration into the fan base. If you’re equally inspired to get up to speed with Everton’s league games, here are some of the best live streaming options:

NOW TV’s Sky Sports Day Pass

If you don’t have a Sky Sports subscription, you can always opt for a live-streaming package that’s much more flexible. More importantly, its packages mean you only need to subscribe when Everton are on the telly! NOW TV’s Sky Sports Day Pass costs just £9.99 and gives you 24-hour access to all 11 Sky Sports channels, including Sky Sports Premier League. If Everton happen to be broadcasted twice in a week, you can always pay five pounds more for a seven-day Sky Sports Week Pass with NOW TV.

The BT Sport App

BT Sport has enjoyed official broadcasting rights for the EPL since 2013-14. It was the first legitimate competitor to Sky Sports, which has long been the leader in entertainment and technology since the EPL began in 1992. BT Sport has since secured rights for the Champions League, as well as the EPL. Everton may not be in the Champions League, but they are certainly still a big name in the EPL. You can download the BT Sport App to be used on gaming consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as well as on Apple TV and Samsung Smart TVs.

Amazon Prime’s Premier League

Amazon Prime may be better known for its next-day delivery service for goods and services, but the Prime Video package has recently included live-streamed EPL games for the first time. A host of games over the Christmas season have been made available to Amazon Prime members, which could be a cost-effective solution for Everton fans who are existing Amazon Prime customers.

The Premier League’s approach to prohibited streaming

It’s important for all football fans, not just Everton fans, to note that the EPL takes a very dim view of those using illegitimate streaming sites and subscriptions—especially those based in the UK. The Premier League’s authorised broadcasters are Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon only. In the 2019/20 EPL campaign, some 200 EPL games will be available for live streaming through these broadcasters, including several Everton fixtures, none of which are 15:00pm kick-offs, due to a so-called ‘closed period’ between 14:45pm and 17:15pm.

If you are thinking of seeking live streams of Everton games outside of these broadcasters, it’s not worth the risk of prosecution. The EPL has secured prosecutions and many civil injunctions in recent years, following a High Court ruling permitting British internet service providers (ISPs) to block servers caught streaming EPL games illegally.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

The world is currently in a state of panic and confusion caused by the coronavirus, which has engulfed China, turning one of the most powerful states on the globe into a no-go zone – but what does this mean for businesses that have heavy connections to eastern Asia? Travel restrictions have been put in place for many regions in China, with many cities being entirely closed in an attempt to control the outbreak and reduce the spread of the contagious disease. These travel restrictions could have a huge impact if your company relies on China for production, transport, or other pivotal services. The ability to stay in contact with your colleagues, clients, and customers in China without the danger of contracting the highly dangerous condition is vital – video conferencing can help you to bridge that gap to ensure that communication remains strong throughout this worrying time.

What Is Video Conferencing?

Video conferencing is a method of communicating using both video and audio to give an effective route to convey information that is far more engaging than an email, phone call, or instant messaging service. With video conferencing, you are able to converse just as you would if you were sat in the same room, but this time you’ll be able to do so from anywhere in the world. With the current travel bans hitting China, video conferencing is perhaps the most effective way to be able to chat to people who are otherwise inaccessible due to the ongoing situation surrounding the coronavirus, so it’s important that you have a video conferencing setup that’s primed and ready to go in an instant.

What Technology Do You Need For Video Conferencing?

In order to enable yourself to be able to video conference with people from across the globe, you need to ensure that you have a setup that’s capable of handling the demand that you’re looking to put on it. If it’s a 1-2-1 call that you’re intending to have, your collaborative technology does not have to be as complex as it would need to be for large conferences with multiple participants in various locations. Managing your own needs is an important step towards getting the right technology.

For larger companies, we’d suggest getting a custom-designed video conferencing room set up – these can be tailored to meet all of your needs and create a vibe that suits your company. These rooms will have intelligent video and audio solutions that ensure all participants can see and hear everything that they need to, with the added capabilities for sharing and collaborating on documents on the shared screen also a possibility with the right technology in use.

How Does This Help To Solve Travel-Related Issues?

Video conferencing helps to alleviate travel-related issues such as those currently being seen in China by bypassing the need for physically meeting in person, instead giving you the option talk about whatever you need to from anywhere in the world. If travel is restricted for any reason, the ability to seamlessly chat without the complications and miscommunications caused by written messages is invaluable – it allows you to get things done without unnecessary communication barriers standing in the way.

By using video conferencing technology, you may be able to overcome the issues currently being posed by the coronavirus that is posing a serious threat to people across the globe. This could have the potential to cause huge impacts on business if there aren’t ways to maintain communication throughout this tricky time, which is why video conferencing is such an important tool to have at your disposal.

There are lots of different devices and platforms that can be used to enable video communication, from simple video calling facilities to feature heavy collaborative platforms that allow for click-share, file sharing, multi-person connectivity, and device projection just to name a few aspects! With all of these tools, travel restrictions should not pose a threat to your business but may give you the license and opportunity to trial new methods of communication that improve your business processes moving forward.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

We are beginning to see the gradual launch of the first 5G enabled phones. 5G has been in development since before the mass roll out of 4G and LTE technologies. Just like 4G before it, it promises to bring faster speeds, lower latency, and more bandwidth to our wireless communications.

What’s the Difference Between 4G and 5G?

5G is a better technology than 4G. It promises to be up to 100 times faster than 4G, delivering speeds as high as 100 GB/s in lab conditions. This will mean faster download and upload speeds to 5G enabled devices. It achieves this using a technology called Massive MIMO, which means multiple frequencies are used together to create multiple connections.

While the speeds will provide many benefits, the main difference between 4G and 5G is that the latter has a lower latency. This means that it will take less time for devices to communicate with each other. Gamers will be most familiar with latency as it is what causes lag in games.

So how will these differences benefit the end users?

The Internet of Things

There has been a lot of talk about big data and the Internet of Things for many years now. Connecting more devices to each other has been touted as a way to solve problems from traffic congestion to food shortages, but remains a theoretical concept in many areas.

5G will make the Internet of Things more practical as it provides more bandwidth and lower latency, both of which are important for sensors that need to provide instantaneous alerts to changes in their readings.

Big data is already used in several areas, including profiling customers to provide loyalty incentives and to assess risks in casinos. It is also used in online advertising and in streaming services like Netflix to make suggestions for new products or shows to customers to keep them engaged or spending for longer.

The Internet of Things has already begun entering the mainstream, with devices like Amazon’s Alexa, Hive Thermostats, and Ring Video Doorbells. However, they could also be used for betting management of cities, controlling traffic, turning off street lights when they’re not needed, and improving recycling rates. 5G will make these devices more practical and effective.

iphone with netflix streaming

Streaming

Streaming has become a major draw on internet bandwidth in recent years. Netflix alone consumes 15% of global internet traffic. However, there is a lot more than media companies want to do with streaming, and 5G could allow it.

Streaming 4K to a mobile device could become practical. 4K video streams require 7.2GB of data per hour, 720% more than HD video, requiring at least 25MB/s. However, this is not enough if you want your device to be doing other things at the same time, meaning 4K pushes the real-world capabilities of 4G already.

In addition, video game streaming, which would let players play games without having to download any content, is a concept still in development. This requires very low latency as a user’s input must be sent back to the server and it returns an updated video feed to reflect this, all instantaneously.

While it’s not yet certain how successful video game streaming will be, many believe 5G will be crucial in giving it a chance.

Medicine

Conducting surgery on patients can be very risky. Transporting these patients across a country or even internationally to be operated on can be even riskier. 5G may reduce these risks by allowing surgery to be conducted remotely.

The low latency means that a robot could be controlled elsewhere by a surgeon, allowing for them to make precise movements without the risk of lag. Ericsson and NeuroDigital Technologies are working with King’s College London to develop a VR system that lets doctors conduct remote surgery.

It uses a haptic feedback glove that can give the surgeon physical feedback when they touch the organs, just like if they were doing it in person.

There are many possibilities that 5G opens up, and these are only a few key possibilities. Ultimately, anything that can take advantage from low latency and high bandwidth could become possible in a 5G world.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Orderly, based in Derby, created a system that allows NHS workers to identify themselves online and request a Food Box Delivery (provided by Morrisons).

The technology, which was originally designed, built and implemented for Morrisons in just 6 days, now allows NHS workers to identify themselves online and request a Food Box Delivery (provided by Morrisons).

As an NHS worker, they are given priority and receive a next day delivery of essential supplies. The service began in early April, when NHS workers were under enormous strain, and is still being used today.

NHS workers are able to use the service and quickly have food and household deliveries
waiting for them at home, or using a click and collect service at a number of hospital pick up locations.

Without the technology, many NHS workers would have to wait much longer for deliveries as supermarkets are overwhelmed with delivery requests.

Orderly’s technology is used to identify NHS key workers and in the prioritisation of picking, packing and dispatching their delivery boxes. It also integrates payments processing, couriering and reporting.

Peter Evans, CEO of Orderly said:

“We are thrilled to help ensure that NHS workers get the basic supplies they need, quickly and with certainty. We know that agile technology can make a real difference to people’s lives, especially in these uncertain times, and we’re very proud to be making a tangible difference to the thousands of NHS heroes as they help see us through the crisis”.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Slot machines are among the most popular gambling games on the planet. These games enjoy massive following from fans and their popularity is only going to grow further. Now, despite their popularity, many of the slots enthusiasts have never really had to bother with finding out about the technology that powers these amazing games. In a way this is a representation of just how good the slot developers have gotten – the front end, which is by all means what is meant for the players, has gotten so good that most players do not get distracted with the complex mechanisms pushing the back-end.

Still, for anyone who is interested in finding out, the technology that powers the slots games that we know and love is very interesting, to say the least. There is a lot to learn from how slot machines work and we are going to dive into all that juicy stuff in this article.

In case you are concerned about the use of a lot of techie jargon, that is not what we plan to do. We intend to make every bit of the detail included here as easy to comprehend or understand as possible. So, how about we get down to it?

Where We Are From: Looking Back at the Classic Mechanical Slots

The very first slot machine was built by Charles August Fey back in 1894. The Bavarian immigrant and American mechanic’s invention formed the backbone of the slots industry as we know it today. Naturally, given the state of technology that existed at the time the slot machine was mechanical in nature.

Players pulled a lever or handle and watched the reels spin. In case any of the players was lucky enough to line up a given set of symbols, they received a payout from the slot machine. Again, due to the nature of the gaming space at the time, the rewards that the machines paid out included such things as packs of cigarettes, chewing gum, or candy. Pretty minimalistic, right. Things changed a short while later and the machines began paying out cash instead – this was a highly welcomed improvement that propelled the popularity of the slot machines even further.

Mechanical slots machines remained a fan-favourite choice for many people as they become more accessible as more casinos added them. This would go on for decades. As a matter of fact, there are still a few of them scattered around. Finding them will, of course, be quite a feat but if you do, that will be your chance to get a feel of the classic gameplay as it was intended by its creator.

Where We Are At: Modern Retail and Online Slots

Slot machines have involved immensely since they were invented back in the late 1800s. Today, the classical mechanical slot machines that were used for a better part of the 20th century have been replaced by digital machines. The core aspects of the game have remained pretty much the same – the reels and levers exist with players receiving payouts for landing matching symbols. Still, perhaps the most monumental change would be the Random Number Generator (RNG) which essentially changed the entire gambling industry and not just slots.

As you may already know, gambling is all about luck and therefore randomness plays a huge role in digital or computerized gambling environments. This is where RNGs come in. They are simply algorithms that are designed to generate different outcomes or results. Every modern slot machine uses an RNG. In fact, this advancement is what set the stage for the next big leap – online slots.

Online gambling has existed for almost as long as the internet has existed and slots were among the first casino games to debut in that space. Slots developers have leveraged the power of various kinds of technologies to deliver on amazing reel-spinning experiences. Even players not on GamStop can enjoy a ton of great slot titles with mind-blowing graphics, smooth animations, and even very immersive sound effects. Their developers use the latest 3D modeling graphics and programming languages to give players the best possible imitation of the classic slot machine.

To make it even better, online gaming has made it possible for developers to come up with hundreds or even up to thousands of outstanding twists. These are inspired by such things as pop culture, fairy tales, films, and even comic books. Some come with extra features that are intended to add even more value to the gaming experience. You will certainly find something that tickles your fancy regardless of your personal tastes or preferences. Moreover, slots can now also be pooled which means that the very lucky players may walk away with life-changing sums of money with nothing but a laptop and stable connection.

Does it get any better than that? Well, apparently it should.

Where We Are Headed: Slots and the Casino of the Future

If the past two decades or so have been anything to go by, the gambling industry is very dynamic and its openness when it comes to embracing newer technologies plays a huge part in this. The casino of the future is already in development with early versions of their offerings already available for players to try out.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are poised to be a huge part of this future. Just like other casino games, slots will not be exempted from this. Players will just have as much fun with slots as they will all other offerings presented by the futuristic casinos that we are really looking forward to.

One notable development that is specific to slots is the move towards skill-based online video slots. Lots of people already play slots and therefore the addition of the element of skill to it would be insanely attractive to even more gamers. All these are still in the early stages of conception which means that more refinement and tweaking is still needed in order to bring them closer to perfection. Meanwhile, we can enjoy what we have now.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

The Apple Watch is the most sought-after smartwatch of its time. There has been a lot of improvement since it’s initial unveiling in September 2014 and what started as a timepiece fashion accessory has moved onto a connected device in its own right.

The Apple Watch now supports its own data connection and also has its own App Store, which provides a wide range of great and useful apps suited for the Apple Watch specifically.

From productivity to meditation applications, I take a look at the five best Apple Watch apps that will improve your experience with your Apple Watch.

Five Best Apple Watch Apps

1.) Peloton (Free with in-app purchases)

This app is named after a bike race term and initially invented to follow a known high-priced exercise bike however Peloton is not all about the art of cycling. It can also guide users in running, high-intensity training, yoga, and even meditation provided by its instructed learning sessions. Some of its features include progress tracking, music playback, and streamed video classes. With the Apple Watch, it can display heart rate tracking, distance and pace metrics, and other statistics that you need during the workout routine.

best apple watch apps - peleton

>> Peleton Apple UK App

2.) Headspace (Free with in-app purchases)

This app is great for people who are easily stressed or busy throughout the day. Headspace can help you feel calmer and induce mindfulness by taking a break from all the hustle. This Apple Watch app will serve as a coach and reminder that will urge you to do particular stuff and focus your attention and time with it. One of its amazing qualities is the SOS mode which is designed to instantly help you to elevate stress and problems.

best apple watch apps - headspace

>> Headspace Apple UK App

3.) NapBot (Free with in-app purchases)

NapBot is a sleep tracker that automatically records and tracks your sleep and also monitors the surrounding noises during your sleep. It will help you identify different factors that may affect your sleep. To unlock the two main features, Sleep History and Sleep Trends, you will need to subscribe to NapBot. Sleep History will show you the overview of all your sleeping time while the Sleep Trends will help you recognise any pattern that is affecting the quality of your sleep.

best apple watch apps - napbot

>> NapBot Apple UK App

4.) Audible (Free)

The Amazon-owned audio-books, Audible, is now available in Apple Watch. With its wide variety of audio-books, famous narrators, and the amazing quality are now accessible in your Apple Watch, and with its advantage, to the size and app functionality, you will surely enjoy using Audible. You can transfer audio-books to your Watch or just synchronise from your iPhone for your convenience.

best apple watch apps - audible

>> Audible Apple UK App

5.) Things 3 (£9.99/AU$14.99/£$.99)

Things have been one of the to-do applications on iOS and it is now available on Apple Watch as a standalone app. You can use it directly or synchronise your application with Things Cloud to save and run your notes across any platform instantly. It is minimal and serves its purpose well enough to give all the information that you need at any time of the day.

best apple watch apps - things3

>> Things3 Apple UK App

>> See more of our articles on the Apple Watch

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

The internet has come to stay and has become an integral part of college life. Social networks can impact you both positively and negatively by either turning you into an academic wizard or an angry, materialistic addict.

These problems do not mean that the internet or social media have no benefits; the issue is not realizing what you are doing or analyzing the impact it can have on you, your loved ones and your country. That is why many people see social media as a tool for personal development when used in the right way and a tool for self-destruction if misused.

Rules Are No Longer Important

Going into detail on the influence of social networks will make you understand their impact on students and how you can stay safe on the internet.

In many instances, you will find that teenagers play online games but do not care to follow the rules put in place by the creators. Parents do not always keep track of what the kids do or try to keep an open communication link with their children.

Naturally, children cannot do without interacting with others, and the only outlet they can find is online. Reading and studying can be annoying sometimes, and social media is one of the things teenagers use to get away from a stressful and dreary day. Posting pictures and commenting on their friends’ posts can be more exciting than books.

Pleasures Over Learning

Many activities take place on Facebook and Twitter because most teens see it as the fastest and easiest way to connect with friends. They use these platforms to chat for fun and pleasure and have no time to engage in online activities that can develop their skills or increase their knowledge. Some kids find the time to watch other people’s profiles, send friend requests to strangers and anonymously send love messages to kids of the opposite sex.

Teenagers and students get lost in the virtual world and can engage in negative activities while online, which they don’t usually do in real life. The pleasures they derive online make them lose all sense of responsibility and reason. Fake profiles, impersonation, and hidden intentions are some of the crimes committed online by students who have become obsessed with social media.

It is no wonder that some anti-government political figures and violent groups use videos and radical ideologies to influence the minds of teenagers. Some religious and deadly sects recruit unsuspecting and ignorant teenagers through social media to join their sinister cause. These groups aim to incite violence and destroy the peaceful coexistence of races, ethnic groups, and religions.

The result is to create an unstable and problem-ridden society where fear and insecurity reign supreme.

Young Minds Are Easily Corrupted

People with bad intentions believe that it is easy to get young people through social media channels. To achieve their aim, they create tweets and Facebook posts in such a way that some young people who have been dreaming of going for wild adventures are easily influenced and enticed to sign up for the contract. These are wrong ways to use the internet, and, sadly, they go on in our society.

There is nothing wrong with the use of technology and the internet. Technology has brought about artificial intelligence and the awesome power of the internet of things. The problem comes when there is a lack of discipline and adherence to the rules and regulations guiding content usage.

Teenager using mobile phone

The solution to these problems is to find ways to check cyber crimes and other internet abuses. With this, the internet will be an educative and informative tool that will aid in promoting peace, and a platform for the acquisition of knowledge and development of relevant skills.

Embracing Positivity

Students should learn to embrace the positive aspects of social media. When used positively, social media can make life better for everyone, especially students. Students can make use of social media to fast track the learning process by writing complex assignments with professional essay services and using the internet as a reliable source of research materials. Students can share ideas remotely from any location without having to meet in person using social media platforms.

They can hold online classes and share videos, voice notes, and pictures on the move without meeting or having to gather at a location.

Tutors can share lecture materials, take assignments; give out instructions to their students using social media, and without meeting with their students. Tutors can fix online revision classes and hold a series of discussions with their students remotely.

With the help of social media platforms, students from different countries, cultural background, and geographical locations can meet up and hold classes remotely. All these are possible because of the invention of social media.

If students can ignore the vices associated with the social media and focus on the productive returns of using this invention, there will be lesser worries about social media and more productive results of the design.

Students can use the platform to meet up and connect with friends and acquaintances. The purpose of the invention is to help students develop their socializing skills. The platform has more to offer and will be beneficiary If put to good use.

Therefore, students should be encouraged to embrace the positive aspects of social media rather than face severe restrictions from using the platform. This piece will go a long way to help see this assertion.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Listen to any sort of business advertisement on your TV and you will find that their number always begins with 0800. Having this sort of marketing telephone number is any business owner’s dream. If you have a business, and are looking for a personalised telephone number, getting an 0800 number may encourage more customers to engage with your brand. Read on to learn exactly why.

Free Phoneline

When your customers ring up your business number, it can leave them feeling annoyed and frustrated if they are being charged for making the call to you. However, ringing an 0800 number does not charge the customer for calling you. This means that 0800 numbers can be extremely powerful, as the caller knows that they are not being forced to pay for any calls made to your brand. This means a 0800 number can be used as an extremely powerful marketing tool. Planet-numbers.co.uk can provide 0800 phone numbers that can give your customers the freedom to call you whenever they want without any potential charges.

Non-Geographical

No one likes being cold-called by businesses that could live in a completely different city to their own. These sorts of calls can lead a customer to think that someone may be trying to scam them. This will lead them to start treating your call as a “nuisance call”. By purchasing a 0800 number, you look like you are a regional business. 0800 numbers are non-geographic numbers, meaning that you will not be judged for contacting clients in a different location. As you have not tied yourself to a location, this may lead more customers to feel comfortable about talking to you.

Memorable Numbers

The very number 0800 has a bit of a catchy ring to it – just add a few additional memorable numbers and you will find that customers will always be ringing in. This sort of catchy jingle is known as sonic branding. If you have any sort of marketing campaign, PR experts may want to include a song with your advertisement, such as for the number, so that customers remember it. Hastings Direct or Coca Cola are excellent examples of how effective sonic branding can work. If you have an 0800 number, make sure to get some marketing experts on your side to make sure you can show it off to your new customers.

Remote Work

As 0800 numbers are virtual numbers, this means that you can easily set them up for any sort of landlines or mobiles without your customers realising it. This means that if you work from home or need to travel around the country, you can still speak to clients and take up calls. This means that you don’t need to be tethered to your office and can accept calls at any time.

Relocation

Let’s say that you’re expanding or relocating your business to a different area of the country. Normally, it would take up a lot of time to speak to the appropriate authorities to disconnect your line and get it set up elsewhere. But with a 0800 number, your phone calls can travel with you. That means that even when you’re moving from one area to another, your business does not have to stop.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

There seems to be an abundance of hackers, malware threats, phishing emails, and various scams happening online these days. Therefore, it is more important than ever to make sure that you and your personal information are safe and that it stays that way. Whenever you download, upload, use an app, turn on location services, or basically do anything at all online, your activity is logged in one form or another and you are potentially vulnerable to attacks.

That is why it is important to know what measures you can take to stay safe on the internet. Because let’s face it, most people are online these days and especially the younger generation are quite well-versed in internet security. Even though most internet users know not to respond to scam emails from an imaginary Nigerian prince, there are still many things to consider when securing your devices and personal information on the internet.

Everything is available at the touch of a button and there are apps for pretty much all your earthly needs. You can get weather apps, or mobile apps for playing games on the go; there are travel apps, which let you know if your train is going to be late, and there are apps for ordering dinner or finding the nearest restaurant with a cuisine of your choice. The possibilities are endless and while these features certainly have made our lives that much easier, it is important to remember that all these apps require some level of personal information about us. Every time you share your personal information with an app you are sharing it with second or third parties and it becomes out of your control. That is why companies like Apple are constantly updating their security and markets like the casino industry are now taking extra steps to secure their users’ privacy and personal data. This includes using facial recognition and adding additional methods of verification but there are plenty of things you can do as well to protect your information.

Let’s have a look at how you can secure your personal data online.

Securing your personal information

mac laptop working side on — There are some relatively easy steps you can take to keep your information safe.

Even though it might seem like there are too many things to consider and it can be hard to know where to start, when you want to learn about staying safe online and how to make your personal data more secure then there are actually some really easy steps you can take right away.

The first thing you can quite easily do to increase your internet security is to have a look at your passwords. You want to make sure that you have strong individual and complex passwords that are unique as well. Try to refrain from using personal information such as birthdates and names in your passwords. Use a password manager to help you remember your different passwords for different accounts and change your passwords every few months.

Be smart about what you log into, sign up for, and click on. Scam giveaways or contests that just ask for your phone number or email to get in touch with you should be avoided. The same goes for phoney websites and emails. If you click onto a website that doesn’t look completely legitimate then just log out again.

Phishing emails can be a bit harder to detect because they very often look legitimate. Sometimes they even mimic emails that you might actually receive such as information from your bank or insurance company. If you are ever unsure about whether or not an email is really from your bank, insurance or phone company then call them up. Call up your bank and ask them if the email really came from them and remember: your bank, phone company, insurance company, etc, would never ask you to disclose or share personal information or data in an insecure email.

Be careful what you share on social media. Make sure your Facebook account is as private as possible, stay up to date on the privacy settings, and do not share things such as when you are going to be out of town or on holiday. Also, make sure you do not share personal things like your address, phone number, bank details etc. That goes for pictures as well; do not share pictures or screen shots that contain personal details.

Do not get complacent. Keep your security measures up to date, update your social media privacy settings, and change your passwords often.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

As we grow older, it becomes more obvious that change in every sphere of life is constant and should be embraced. If we take a look at our past, we can see that humanity gained a lot thanks to the changes that have occurred throughout the years.

However, there are still people who are doing their best to resist change because they fear everything new and different. Unfortunately for them, this can only result in stagnation since change brings a lot of benefits with it.

Luckily, people from the casino industry belong to the group that is open-minded and aware of the fact that change means improvement by all means. That’s why they are constantly working on improving their game selection and the quality of games, as well as creating new content to retain their players’ attention.

Mobile Gambling

Modern society can be easily labelled as smartphone-addicted. We use our phones from the moment we open our eyes until we go to bed at night. That’s why it’s no surprise that online gambling lovers prayed for online casinos to create smartphone apps.

Online casino operators listened to punters’ wishes, which is why the majority of them today have adjusted their sites for smartphone screens. To make access even easier for the users, they started working on apps as well, and the trend is developing fast.

In case you haven’t come across any mobile gambling apps so far, you can find some of the best ones here.

Online Security

Another thing that bothers the players when it comes to online gambling is safety and security. Online casinos are well aware of this matter and regularly update their security systems to earn the trust of their punters.

To make sure that no one can hack another person’s account, they’ve recently made some changes regarding the login process. The idea is to replace the current way of logging in with your username and password with a fingerprint or even a voice recognition system.

This will be especially useful to mobile users since mobile devices get stolen easily. Of course, it would be wise to get yourself acquainted with internet security in general. You can check out this article to find out the most important things about it.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Casinos

Virtual reality is slowly making its way into the everyday life of more and more people, and the casino revolution seems to be eager to include this feature into their front rows. This will most certainly create a boom for the casino industry as it will make it more engaging and definitely more fun.

It will help the online casino industry because it will enable the players to see each other during the game. Since people were thrilled with the introduction of online dealers, you can imagine how they will feel when VR offers them an even more realistic experience. Players will actually be able to see the reactions and facial expressions of others, which, you must admit, plays an important role in, for example, a game of poker.

There is also augmented reality technology set to create a full mobile gambling experience with a 360-degree system by using holograms. With this innovation, the players will have a feeling they are in a land-based casino while, in reality, they could be sitting at their dining table.

We know that this new technology might still sound unbelievable, which is why we have prepared a guide that will tell you all about it.

New Payment Options

One of the things that have to be mentioned concerns payment options for casino deposits and withdrawals. Since good old credit cards leave traces, which bothers a lot of people, casinos are trying to make improvements in this field too.

It can be said that this problem has been successfully solved with different kinds of e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. Many casinos have partnered up with e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller so that players can play their favourite games without feeling that someone is watching their every move.

Another option is to use cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin for your gambling activities. If you choose to make a deposit using this option, you won’t be required to provide any financial statements whatsoever.

At the moment, it might look like there is nothing else that could be done to improve the casino industry, but we shouldn’t be so sure about that. We thought so a century ago as well, but as long as technology advances, the casino industry will certainly follow.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

NOW TV’s Sky Sports Day Pass

The BT Sport App

Amazon Prime’s Premier League

The Premier League’s approach to prohibited streaming

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

What Is Video Conferencing?

What Technology Do You Need For Video Conferencing?

How Does This Help To Solve Travel-Related Issues?

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

What’s the Difference Between 4G and 5G?

So how will these differences benefit the end users?

The Internet of Things

iphone with netflix streaming

Streaming

While it’s not yet certain how successful video game streaming will be, many believe 5G will be crucial in giving it a chance.

Medicine

It uses a haptic feedback glove that can give the surgeon physical feedback when they touch the organs, just like if they were doing it in person.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Orderly, based in Derby, created a system that allows NHS workers to identify themselves online and request a Food Box Delivery (provided by Morrisons).

NHS workers are able to use the service and quickly have food and household deliveries
waiting for them at home, or using a click and collect service at a number of hospital pick up locations.

Without the technology, many NHS workers would have to wait much longer for deliveries as supermarkets are overwhelmed with delivery requests.

Peter Evans, CEO of Orderly said:

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Where We Are From: Looking Back at the Classic Mechanical Slots

Where We Are At: Modern Retail and Online Slots

Does it get any better than that? Well, apparently it should.

Where We Are Headed: Slots and the Casino of the Future

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

The Apple Watch now supports its own data connection and also has its own App Store, which provides a wide range of great and useful apps suited for the Apple Watch specifically.

From productivity to meditation applications, I take a look at the five best Apple Watch apps that will improve your experience with your Apple Watch.

Five Best Apple Watch Apps

1.) Peloton (Free with in-app purchases)

best apple watch apps - peleton

>> Peleton Apple UK App

2.) Headspace (Free with in-app purchases)

best apple watch apps - headspace

>> Headspace Apple UK App

3.) NapBot (Free with in-app purchases)

best apple watch apps - napbot

>> NapBot Apple UK App

4.) Audible (Free)

best apple watch apps - audible

>> Audible Apple UK App

5.) Things 3 (£9.99/AU$14.99/£$.99)

best apple watch apps - things3

>> Things3 Apple UK App

>> See more of our articles on the Apple Watch

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

Data breaches are becoming more common nowadays, which is why businesses are searching for more methods of digital protection.

While you might be able to implement top of the line security to keep your servers and computer systems safe, have you thought about emails? They are crucial for every business, and might even be the primary source of communication.

Will it hurt your company if someone got access to your or any of your employees’ business emails? If the answer is yes, then try to find ways to secure email immediately.

The easiest and cheapest way to secure emails is through encryption. It is a method of translating data to a code that is only readable by the people who possess a certain kind of a key.

Now, let’s get into the four benefits of using email encryption software to secure your data.

Encrypting Is Cost-Effective

Every business looks into ways to cut costs and increase their profits in every little area of their organisation. However, some things are necessary for business, and you need to invest money to make your organisation secure and prosperous.

While you will need to spend some money to get the Zivver email encryption software, it is incredibly cheap. When you think of the benefits, its costs are next to nothing.

Allows You to Protect Your Remote Employees

Remote employees can be very beneficial for a business because they are generally cheaper to have on board. Sometimes companies don’t even give them full benefits.

That is why you might be employing a few remote workers yourself.

However, your data is not secure with them because it is stored on their personal devices. That means you have no control over how it’s accessed or shared.

If you start encrypting the data, then you and your employees can be safer.

Encrypting Can Increase Customer Trust

Encryption is not a mandatory requirement for many companies, and they avoid anything they can to save every dollar. However, you can try to encrypt your emails and data to gain your consumers’ trust.

The reason is that most people are more aware of online privacy and security now more than they were a few years ago. To attract more consumers to your business, you could advertise the encryption initiative your company is taking and get a more competitive advantage in your industry.

Avoid Getting Fined

Many industries have regulations that they need to follow while working in certain parts of the world. These are mostly related to online communication.

If your company has business in Europe or has European consumers and partners, then you might need to have encryption software to protect your emails.

For instance, HIPAA insists that all the confidential data is properly encrypted, or else they will fine the companies. Even if a portable device or a drive is stolen, then they will still fine the business. The reason is that encryption makes the stolen data useless and unreadable.

Hope you enjoyed our look at four benefits of using email encryption software to secure your data, if you have any other suggestions leave them in the comments.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

With the advancement of technology and the continued busy lifestyles that much of the population live on a daily basis, it is no surprise that streaming has become even more popular as of late, especially in the sports sphere.

Naturally, the recent global pandemic threw everything normal up into the air and created a problem amongst sports fans, as many did not know what to do with themselves as they found they had a lot more time on their hands.

Established streaming services led the way

If anything, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime thrived with the extra time that many people had because they were out of work as it perhaps opened up the world of streaming in one sense to those that may not have experienced it and now want to experience it with their sports offerings.

Netflix LA HQ

However, with the return of sport and with it all seemingly coming back at the same time, there is now an offering so great, that streaming it is simply the only way that it is possible to witness as much of the action as possible and fill the void that one may have felt over the last few months. For those that have missed it greatly, for example keen bettors, there are a number of great free bets at BookiesReviews that can give punters the action they have missed.

What are the reasons as to why sports streaming may have increased in popularity?

Indeed, the viral pandemic is not the sole reason as to why the streaming of sports has become even more popular now, however it was certainly a reason and one that will likely change the way fans watch their favourite teams and sports moving in the future.

What are some of the other reasons as to why streaming sports has become so popular?

Mobile connectivity and usage

Mobile devices and tablets are part of everyday life and have become one of the most important items that a person has in their lives. It has all their important contact details, all their emails, some have their bank details whereas some also contain health and passport records. Therefore, these mobile devices have essentially replaced wallets and have become as important as sets of keys.

With devices as powerful as these, and the fact that they are taken almost everywhere a person goes, the rise of streaming sports on the accessory is one that was always going to grow steadily. With the accessibility that they offer, compared to a traditional TV screen, it is easy for sports fans to be able to watch where and when they want, rather than having to tune-in in a certain location and remain in one place for the duration of an event.

Overall cost

The cost of having a subscription for sports broadcasters can be extremely high for some and many can sometimes find it difficult to afford every single sports package that is available. With some companies offering a scaled-down approach and providing customers with the option to stream the content at a fraction of the price, it is hardly a surprise that many have turned to this particular method.

With recessions having hit the world hard in certain countries, it is a no-brainer for many to look for cheaper alternatives to try and save costs, especially when sporting events can be a hugely expensive necessity for some.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

aloe-vera-pisauikan-N29JXkNO1xI-unsplash

Clean air is very important to our health, it is considered to be a basic human right. Although we can’t do much when it comes to the air we breathe outside our homes, we can change the air inside it and get rid of different germs and toxins that can cause health issues and discomfort. There are several different things you can do to purify the air in your home, and one of the most popular and convenient things to do is use green technology to get some air purifying plants.

What are air purifying plants?

Air purifying plants are different houseplants that can absorb different toxins from the air inside our living space. Spaces with little or no airflow are considered to be the worst when it comes to the toxins in the air, and getting these plants can change your lifestyle completely. Besides being good for the air inside our homes, houseplants can also relieve stress, help us concentrate, increase productivity and memory.

Some experts recommend two or three plants for every 100 square feet. However, if you have any pets or small children, make sure to ask your local greenhouse staff which of these plants won’t hurt them. If you’re considering getting some air purifying plants to get rid of toxins, bacteria, and germs from your home, but you’re not sure where to start, here is the list of very popular, and easy to maintain houseplants.

Spider plants

Spider plants are also known as air plants and they are a great addition to any home or office. They grow very fast and some of them can have small white flowers. These plants are not demanding and require watering two to three times a week and the best thing of all – they are non-toxic.

Dracaenas

The Dracaenas plant can be found in different shapes, colours, and sizes. They look extremely pretty in any home and they are good for all of us that forget to water our plants – too much water means the death of this plant. However, they like damp soil so you’ll still need to water it from time to time. This plant is toxic, so think about if it’s the best choice for your home.

Aloe Vera

This plant is more popular than ever, for multiple reasons. It is considered to be an air purifying plant as well as a plant that has many other benefits. Aloe Vera loves sunny spots, it is not very demanding and you can use the gel in the leaves for different health issues, such as for calming a rash or a burn.

Demand for the air purifying plants is higher than ever before and for a good reason. If you’re thinking about getting some of these houseplants, don’t hesitate. They can be a great addition to your home and your health.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...

It’s fair to say that gaming has been one of the big winners when it comes to the global pandemic. As the world has closed down, millions worldwide have sought solace in online gaming.

It’s been the escape we’ve all been craving, and it’s led to revenue almost across the board soaring. But while it’s been generally positive for the industry, there are some genres of games that have really gone to the next level during the lockdown.

Gaming during lockdown. Below you’ll find the games which have thrived during the lockdown and how they’ve maintained a steady level of growth as we now begin to see the world open its doors once again…

Puzzle

There are over two billion smartphone owners in the world, and the beauty of puzzles is that they appeal to all generations.

According to reports there were 38 million puzzle games downloads during March, with 36 million in April, compared to just 25 million in February of this year.

Games such as Candy Crush and Ludo King have been hugely popular, alongside the likes of Words With Friends, which has helped increase Zynga’s profits during the pandemic significantly.

The brand have seen its stock rise by two thirds this year already and recorded record bookings of $518million in the second quarter of the year.

Puzzles have been a large part of that and continue to prove popular thanks to their quick and simple nature, alongside the widespread appeal.

Casino

Casino games have also welcomed a solid number of new players, and what’s more existing players have also ventured into new verticals.

Online slots has been a big winner during lockdown, largely due to the huge variation of games on offer, the number of sites and the fact that, like puzzles, they’re simple to play.

They’re quick to play and the bonus rounds have proven particularly popular in encouraging people to return again and again.

Slots such as Mega Moolah and Rainbow Riches are particular popular with players and again the beauty is they can be played anywhere, anytime via your mobile device.

What’s more, the number of payment methods online have opened up slot games to almost anyone, with an increased flexibility that hasn’t gone unnoticed by players.

As well as slots, the rise in bingo players at bingo sites has also seen a particularly large increase, particularly during the period when bingo halls were closed due to the virus.

Battle Royale

Games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty have been among the big winners in console and PC gaming, leading to the battle royale genre being one of the big winners over the past few months.

In Italy during the pandemic Telecom Italia Chief Executive Officer, Luigi Gubitosi reported a 70% increase in internet traffic, with Fortnite players cited as one of the predominant reason for it.

Call of Duty released its Warzone title during March and it welcomed six million players in the first 24 hours of it being live.

The game has been hugely successful for gaming during lockdown, with in-game transactions growing by $536million year-on-year.

There are many other titles which have proven successful over the last few months too, including Apex Legends and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, which broke the 70 million units sold mark during the lockdown.

Sports Games

The lack of sport across the world has left a real void in many fans’ lives. Football fans were particularly disappointed, with the climax of the season being put on hold until June.

During that time, the FIFA franchise proved to be a worthwhile replacement, and there were also a number of tournaments created, with bookies even taking odds on them!

The UltimateQuaranTeam tournament was a huge hit with fans, with thousands streaming the games live and it being covered in the news and official club websites.

Revenue from FIFA Ultimate Team has risen 70% against the same quarter last year, welcoming tens of millions of new players.

Net bookings on EA’s live services rose from $416million to $1.1billion year-on-year and it’s largely due to the lockdown.

Blake Jorgensen, CFO at EA said,:

Engagement was broad-based, with net bookings for live services at extraordinary levels for FIFA, Madden, Apex Legends, the Sims and our mobile titles.
We were having a strong Ultimate Team quarter… But I mean this is — this is off the charts different, right?

That is certainly the case, and with us not entirely out of the trees with the pandemic, and EA set to release the new FIFA title on October 6, the good fortune of gaming during lockdown could well continue into the new year.

Written By: Mark Holland

I love tech and gaming, and am always looking for the 'next big thing'...