The Big Tech Show
There is the obvious essential tech in our lives. Smart phones and laptops for example. What about some of the other technology out there that could be almost as useful every day?
This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by technology journalist Andy O’Donoghue to discuss some of the best and most overlooked tech gadgets on the market.
For example, scams and phishing emails are everywhere now. Aside from the two-factor authentication that many people use, Andy suggests an alternative that is as easy, if not easier and safer than using your mobile phone number.
“For me, one of the crucial things that I use every day, probably five times a day, is a USB security key,” Andy says.
“They are very clever and they’re like the old kind of Bluetooth adapters that people would remember.
“You plug it into your laptop and when you log into your email server, say Gmail or even Twitter…and you see the option for two factor authentication, most people just put their mobile phone…”
“So when you plug in your key, you essentially match it to your account,” Andy explains.
One gadget that people are more familiar with are smart doorbells and home CCTV. Are they worth it?
“The problem with [every maker] is that you’ve got to sign up for that annual subscription so you can’t have a mix of cameras,” Andy says.
“The evolution and the integration of is tremendous. You get the notice on your phone in real time.
“It can be a little bit stodgy (the connection) depending on where you are. However, the integration into, say, Alexa or Google Home is tremendous. You’re sitting in the living room, and you can set it up so when the front doorbell rings, the camera shows on your TV.”
You can listen to the full episode on Independent.ie or wherever you get your podcasts.
