Month: October 2017

Unboxing and walkaround – The Nokia 5 #Nokia5 #Nokia #HMDGlobal #Ireland

Our Nokia 5 has finally arrived sim free which we will now be testing over the next few weeks,today we do a quick unboxing and compare it to the Nokia 3 and 6 and talk about those two devices to compared to this mid ranger which can be bought here in Ireland on the Three network and Argos. Any questions feels free to ask below and we also have some cases coming to keep the Nokia 5 safe from harms way should it be dropped be sure to tune in for those reviews coming your way very soon…

Outside
  • Seamless metal body that fits perfectly in your hand
  • Convenient fingerprint sensor
  • Bright fully-laminated and polarized 5.2” HD display with sculpted Corning Gorilla Glass
  • 13 MP autofocus camera on the back, 8 MP camera on the front
  • Available as both single SIM and dual SIM variants
Inside
  • Clean and clutter-free Android Nougat with regular updates
  • Latest generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon 430 processor designed for excellent battery life and improved graphics
  • NFC for easy sharing of your content
  • A MicroSD card slot with support up to 128 GB
  • 16 GB storage for all your stuff

 

The @IrishResearch Appoints New Director Peter Brown #Research #IRC

The Irish Research Council has announced the appointment of Peter Brown as its new Director.Mr. Brown was appointed following a public recruitment process, and will assume the role with immediate effect. 

The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant research community in Ireland by supporting excellent researchers in all disciplines from arts to zoology.

Previously, he served as Deputy Director of the Council (2015 to 2017) and Senior Manager with the Higher Education Authority (2003 to 2014), based in the Skills and Engagement unit and National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education.  In the past, he has also held roles with Dublin Institute of Technology and in the private sector.

Mr. Brown has been Interim Director of the Irish Research Council since May 2017, following the departure of former Council Director Dr. Eucharia Meehan earlier this year.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Chair of the Irish Research Council, said: “The Irish Research Council is delighted to announce Peter Brown as our new Director.

“The richness of Peter’s experience, his commitment to basic frontier research and excellence across all career stages and disciplines, and his track record in successfully delivering major research projects make him an ideal fit for this role.”

Mr. Brown said his priority in his role as Director will be to consolidate the Council’s unique role within the Irish research eco-system.

“Support for individual researchers across all disciplines and career stages is a necessary and indeed vital component of a modern, advanced research system,” he said.  “By investing in exceptional individuals working at the cutting edge of new knowledge, we future-proof Irish research and its place in a globally-connected world.

“I am looking forward to leading the Council on this agenda over the coming years, working closely with Council members, a very committed staff team, the Higher Education Authority and Department of Education and Skills, and the wider set of research stakeholders.”

Further information about the Irish Research Council is available at www.research.ie.

Top UK Organisations Still Too Exposed to #CyberThreats According to New RiskIQ Research

This morning, leader in digital threat management, RiskIQ reveals its latest report on the current cyber security threats existing amongst the FT30. With cyber criminals on the prowl to exploit the UK’s largest organisations, and vulnerabilities found comparable to Equifax, protection of an ever expanding digital attack surface is crucial in preventing millions more falling victim. For more read the press release..

Unpatched web infrastructure and de-centralised web management practices are leaving UK organisations vulnerable to cyber-attacks and high profile data breaches. New RiskIQ research reveals a loss of control amongst the FT30, expanding their digital attack surface and opening doors to cyber criminals.

New insight exposes five key areas leaving businesses exposed to cyber-attack as a result of increasing digital transformation, including: servers and frameworks, certificates, test site, data collection, and  web management. Cyber criminals are constantly researching organisations’ digital footprints and exploiting known vulnerabilities. Worryingly, RiskIQ discovered 5,127 at risk servers and 2,045 at risk frameworks among the UK’s top 30 firms. This is an average of 171 at risk servers and 68 at risk frameworks currently existing per organisation.

When assessing the public websites of the FT30, a total of 99,467 live websites were discovered; an average of 3,315 websites per business. Such expansive digital presence is the result of digital transformation efforts which can often result in the loss of security control, leading to  opportunities for cyber adversaries to exploit weaknesses and access critical business and customer information.

Whilst businesses continue to be exposed to risk outside of the firewall, there is simultaneously an impact on consumer trust and long-term business success. For example, expired or untrusted certificates result in warning messages that dent consumer confidence and can lead to disengagement. The research uncovered an average of 35 expired certificates and 250 untrusted certificates per organization.

Risk is also present when it comes to data collection within the FT30. If done insecurely, this can lead to loss or fraudulent use of customer data, whilst impacting a business’s reputation and revenue. A total of 13,194 instances of data collection through login or input forms was discovered, of which over a quarter (29%) had no encryption, and 5% were using old encryption algorithms or expired certificates.

Fabien Libeau, VP RiskIQ, EMEA says, “Gaining visibility over an ever expanding web presence isn’t a simple task. We have recently seen the consequence of Equifax losing control of its infrastructure and web assets before falling victim to cyber-crime and impacting millions of customers. It is crucial that other organisations don’t follow suit by ensuring their digital attack surface is constantly monitored, kept under control and secure from cyber adversaries on the prowl.”

The full UK FT30 report and findings can be found here.

Image source

First look at Virtuali-Tee #AR #VR #Eductaion #Curiscope

VR/AR has kind of nosedived the last year and hopefully this will turn around and I am a huge fan with lots of headsets an testing apps quite often. One great use of VR /AR which is now getting some attention is in education which is useful and also fun and for kids its really a good way of learning rather than looking at boring pictures in a book or again drawings on the blackboard,this kind of technolology puts it in your face and I find it has a longer lasting effect which is much better..

 

Two recent things for example in this area is INVIVO and VEATIVE which I have tried and tested and continue to test with VEATIVE which is edcuational VR for the classroom.. This new product from Curiscope is a simple genuis idea and can be shared via Airplay and Chromecast to the masses and its cost effective too and I have started testing it out with my child here and she loves the idea and not only does it use AR it can work with VR headsets. Check it out below and if there is any questions in the interim drop us a note below or get us on social.  You can also follow the guys below on the links provided..

Ireland’s Red Alert forces thousands of companies to work remotely. #Ophelia #Abodoo

Many companies in Ireland are ‘going remote’ today (16.10.17) for the first time, out of necessity rather than choice. With the arrival of Storm Ophelia to Ireland, forcing school closures, limited public transport and warnings for people to stay in-doors, Abodoo are highlighting reasons why companies should encourage remote working all year round. Sadly though some services will have to continue like first repsonders and so on and other major businesses will have to have staff on the ground but going remote is an option and perhaps some have chose to ignore perhaps until now.

Top 7 reasons to go remote with your workforce:

Remote workers save, on average, between €2,000 and €7,000 and hundreds of hours of travel time per year – just by removing their daily commute.

82% of those who work from home report lower stress levels as a result.

58% of companies in Ireland (in a 2016 survey of 540 companies) confirmed they are investing in cloud technology, of which 46% confirmed this would benefit remote working.

15% of large multinational companies in Ireland now support home-working, and this figure is increasing year on year.

Companies that promote remote working report an increase in staff retention of over 50 per cent; and a reduction in absenteeism of 63%.91% of companies that facilitate remote working experience increased productivity.

Companies will save an average of €11,000 per employee that is remote and many start by implementing a hybrid or flexible model.

Abodoo, the online platform that connects employers directly with professionals who want to work remotely, has attracted support from the IDA and open eir.

Vanessa Tierney, co founder of Abodoo is a champion of flexible working. She stated today: “More and more companies want to find great remote workers. Until Abodoo there was no dedicated job platform for connecting employers and workers in Europe. We have made it free to access and have a panel of experts on hand to support companies in their workforce transition

“Ireland and the UK have some of the best national fibre roll out initiatives in Europe, which will bring huge flexibility for where employees work.”

Employers and those seeking remote-working careers can register now at http://www.abodoo.com.

Universal Pictures Combines Snapchat and OOH for Scary Results, First time in Ireland.

As the Halloween horror season draws near, Universal Pictures has teamed up with Kinetic, the leading agency in helping brands connect with and activate their audiences while on the move, and Mediacom, media agency, to promote ‘Happy Death Day’, an up-coming thriller in cinemas across Ireland on October 20th. Out of Home advertising and Snapchat are being effectively merged to drive engagement with the general public around the new release. The innovative OOH campaign features a unique SnapCode, which consumers are encouraged to ‘Snap to Unlock’ if they dare.

– First time ‘Snap to Unlock’ has been used on OOH in Ireland

– Combination utilised to promote the up-coming thriller ‘Happy Death Day’

 The trend of combining OOH and Snapchat is a global movement, and as the leading agency in activating brands and audiences on the move, Kinetic is the first OOH agency to utilise the ‘Snap to Unlock’ function on OOH in Ireland. Passers-by simply open their Snapchat App and snap the Happy Death Day poster which contains a ‘Snap to Unlock’ code. They are then transported to the movie trailer with an option to purchase cinema tickets.

Pictured L-R: Eoghan Kennefick, Account Executive, Mediacom: Eoin Carroll, Account Executive, Kinetic; David Burke, General Manager, Universal Pictures International Ireland

 

Commenting on the campaign, David Burke, General Manager, Universal Pictures International Ireland said: “Universal Pictures is delighted to be the first advertiser in Ireland to use the Snap to Unlock function on OOH for Happy Death Day.  Working with Kinetic and Mediacom, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with our audiences.  Integrating OOH and mobile allows to reinforce our message in both the physical world and the mobile space increasing our reach and relevancy.”

The campaign is running from 9th – 22nd October to contextually link in with the Halloween season. To engage with relevant target audiences, the strategically planned campaign can be seen in Ballsbridge, which is in close proximity to the Nightmare Realm at RDS, Ireland’s number one scare attraction.

 

Susan Murtagh, Account Director, Kinetic said: “OOH and Mobile applications are perfect partners. Research tell us that 68% of mobile activity is done on the go, while Snapchat is particularly relevant for younger target audiences. At Kinetic, we seek to digitally extend OOH to mobile, social and other interactive platforms. By combining OOH with Snapchat in this innovative campaign for Universal Pictures, we are driving people to take action in context.”

In addition to Digital OOH, the unique campaign can be seen across other Out of Home formats including Luas Portraits, Campus screens and 6 sheets. Universal Pictures ‘Happy Death Day’ goes on general release from Friday, 20th October 2017.

Vanishing Point Media in Post-Production on VR Thriller, “The Hidden” #VR #TheHidden

Produced by Annie Lukowski & BJ Schwartz of Vanishing Point Media, The Hidden is a VR thriller that allows you to step into the shoes of an undocumented immigrant as you watch your daughter being grilled by two ICE officers while you hold your breath hiding. 

The story follows Sophia, a young Mexican-American woman living in rural America, as she is harangued, first verbally and then physically, by suspicious ICE officers. The piece, which stars Cassie Hernandez (NCIS: New Orleans), proves virtual reality’s unparalleled ability to align audiences with a character’s subjectivity, and provides an effective vehicle for commentary on sensitive, real life events like immigration raids.

Currently in post-production, the project evokes tension by using VR to place the viewer in different roles throughout thestory, including letting them see events through the perspective of a family member hiding within the home. The goal of theexperience is two-fold: revealing both the tactics used by ICE, and enabling viewers to step into the perilous shoes of undocumented immigrants. Ultimately, the film serves as a testament to the utility of VR as a medium to amplify tension, drama and empathy, while also showcasing its ability to add depth and emotion to the physical set and surrounding.

“We were made really aware that the power of virtual reality is to put the viewer in the shoes of another soul, and in a place and under a threat that you never would be yourself,” explained BJ Schwartz, who co-directed the film alongside fellow filmmaker Annie Lukowski. 

“As important as the social issues are to us, VR really needs to be a compelling entertainment medium,” Lukowski added. “To get the message across, you really need to entertain audiences. So we landed on the thriller genre.”

Lukowski and Schwartz are the co-founders of the VR production company Vanishing Point Media. Previously, the company has produced digital content and 360 videos for brands such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Banana Republic, and Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic-Con. The Hidden will stand as both the company’s longest project to date, as well as its first original narrative piece. 

“The Hidden really reaffirmed for me that VR is truly the director’s medium,” Lukowski surmised, remarking on the production process. “By shooting long master takes, you really have to guide the actor through an entire performance. You can’t craft a performance in editorial…you don’t have that safety net that comes with traditional films. For this, you have to get theperformance on set, which is a challenge and so much fun for both the director and actors. I just loved working with theactors on this project.”

The Hidden has recently wrapped up production and will be released in early 2018. It was produced by Charles Uy and stars Cassie Hernandez, Christian James, Gustavo Quiroz, Gonzalo Bouza, Geoffrey Kennedy, Darren Campozzi and Mike Tarnovsky.

Image credits  – Peter Cramer.

Review – Urbanista San Francisco Lucky Rainbow earphones. #UrbanistaLife #tech

The San Francisco earphones are earphones for everyday use. The colour stands out and certainly won’t get lost. The earpieces are designed for an ergonomic fit and does not come with a plastic fitting. (that get lost) The cable is flat cable which is a tangle-free which is a bonus when trying to unwrap the cables.

Functions:

• VOLUME Click on + or – buttons
• PLAY/STOP Click the logo button
• FORWARD Double click on the logo button
• BACK Triple click on the logo button
• ANSWER PHONE CALL Click logo button
• HANG UP Click logo button

Features:

• Speaker size: φ14.2mm
• 95dB ±3dB SPL @1KHz
• Impedance: 32ohms ±15% @1KHz
• Frequency: 20-20.000Hz
• Hands-free with microphone
• Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows
• Weight: 16g (without packaging)
• Weight including packaging: 61g
• Packaging size: 50x30x120mm

The Urbanista earphones come in a wide range of colours available. San Francisco Pink
Paradise, San Francisco Red Snapper, San Francisco Dark Clown, San Francisco Rusty Road,
San Francisco Sunset Boulevard.

The audio quality is respectable for the price range while when the volume was turned up to max, this could be heard if sitting beside the person. The remote allows you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks. San Francisco is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows. This worked perfectly when connected to a laptop and iPhone.

BUY HERE
https://www.urbanista.com/san-francisco-lucky-rainbow-19563.html €19.99 Free shipping

One-third of workers fear losing their jobs due to lack of digital skills. #Digital #Jobs #Ricoh

Ricoh Ireland, today has announced the results of a survey of 3,600 European workers, including 250 from Ireland. The major finding is that one-third of workers from Europe and Ireland fear losing their job because of a lack of proficiency in digital skills.

Other interesting results are summarised as follows:

 

  • 70% believe younger employees are better suited to working with new types of technology.
  • Two thirds of employees want more training in digital technologies from their employers.
  • 36% feel that their business will fail within 5 years if the right investments in technology aren’t made.
  • 72% believe that senior management will only introduce new technology if it helps to cut costs, rather than empower employees.

See press release below.

Ricoh Ireland is today announcing the results of a survey which has found that a lack of proficiency in digital skills is a major concern for Irish and European employees, with 33% worrying they will soon be out of a job. Concerns about a growing generational gap are apparent as 70% believe that younger employees are better suited to working with new types of technology.

The survey by Censuswide of 3,600 employees from across Europe, including 250 in Ireland, found that while workers want to use more innovative digital technology, 40% admit that they lack the skills to make it effective. In addition, 67% want employers to put more emphasis on digital skills training so they can do the best job possible with the new tools and services being introduced.

Most workers surveyed are positive about the potential of new technology to empower them to work in smarter ways. This includes more immediate access to data (44%), the ability to work from home more frequently (42%) and the reduction of repetitive tasks (41%).

72% of those surveyed believe that senior management will only introduce new technology if it helps to cut costs, rather than empower employees. Yet there are drastic perceived risks of underinvestment, as 36% of employees think that their business will fail within five years if the right investments in technology aren’t made. What’s more, almost half (46%) feel that their competitors already have a technological edge.

Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland and UK

Almost two-thirds (65%) of the workers surveyed say automation technology will enable them to be more productive, while 52% believe that artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on their role.

Commenting on the survey results, Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland and UK, said: “Despite the headlines about robots taking over the workplace, most employees see the benefits of automated technologies, particularly where it frees them up to do more interesting work. Digital empowerment through new technologies has the ability to greatly improve productivity and employee engagement, as menial tasks can be automated and streamlined.

“However, no amount of infrastructure spending will help a business that isn’t encouraging and enabling its staff to develop the right skills. To ensure long term success, staff retention and ongoing competitiveness, business leaders must listen to and embrace the needs of employees from every generation in the workplace.”