A nice new phone has just arrived being the Sony Xperia XZ2, Whilst we where at the official launch of this device we did have some time with it and the compact version. Both very nice devices and a new look moving away from the boxy look the previous devices held for some time, This device is more rounded and really feels good in the hand yet a tad slippery so a case would be a wise move here especially outdoors.
See the Irish Launch with images videos and commentary HERE
We will be testing this over the next week or two so if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels which are linked on the top right.
Recently we attended the official launch party for the all new Nokia 6 (2018) Nokia 7 Plus and the much hyped refreshed banana phone the 8110 4G which could be seen as a detox type phone with limited access but sports a hotspot which people tend to find odd, This is a nice phone and one to use perhaps if you want to cut down on your phone usage…
7 PLUS VS NOKIA 8/6
However the flagship device the Nokia 8 Sirocco will NOT BE on sale in Ireland at all which might come as bad news for some fans and potential buyers, With the 7 plus taking the limelight and its a fantastic looking phone especially in ceramic white one might understand why and what market the Sirocco 8 is intended for after all its a limited edition device but nonetheless it’s also a nice one. So if you want to purchase the device the old reliable channels will of course be available and of course the Nokia online store. Ireland is also not the first market to be left without this device.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D., has announced the launch by her Department of a new website providing free public access to information on thousands of historic wrecks in Irish waters.
The Wreck Viewer is a new free-to-use digital service that has been developed to facilitate easy access to the Wreck Inventory of Ireland Database compiled by her Department’s National Monuments Service. The database holds information on over 18,000 known and likely wreck sites both off the Irish coast and in our inland waterways. These wrecks span the entirety of maritime travel around and within the island, from prehistoric logboats to medieval trading vessels, warships and ocean liners. There are exact locations for approximately 4,000 of the recorded wrecks which are displayed on an interactive map.
The map also provides summary information on individual wrecks and their history, voyage, cargo, passengers and, if known, the circumstances of their loss. Information on the 14,000 wrecks in the database for which locations have yet to be fully confirmed can also be downloaded. Further details of these wrecks will be added to the database as they become available.
The Wreck Viewer will be of value to everyone with an interest in Ireland’s maritime history. It also complements the Department’s Historic Environment Viewer which provides information on archaeological sites across the country from the Sites and Monuments Record compiled under the National Monuments Acts and from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Speaking today, Minister Madigan said:
‘I am delighted to launch this website today which will allow the public to engage in a new and exciting way with the country’s underwater cultural heritage. The Wreck Viewer provides information on shipwrecks across a wide expanse of time. Of particular interest, in this decade of centenaries, are the stories of those wrecks from the First World War. Over 1000 ships were lost off the coast of Ireland during that conflict, in effect bringing the Western Front to our shoreline and alerting the Irish people to both the grim realities of war and the scale of the tragic loss of life that took place on land and sea.”
The National Monuments Service is tasked with protecting and preserving Ireland’s underwater cultural heritage. The Wreck Viewer will contribute to that goal and will be of use to all marine environment users, the diving community, researchers and to those who might be undertaking development in the marine, lacustrine or riverine environments.
The Minister said that:“This wonderful new on-line service will, I hope, promote a much greater appreciation and awareness of our marine heritage and at the same time provide an essential tool to help the protection of this remarkable resource.”
The Irish Research Council has today announced details of a new research-focused podcast. Podcasts are back and now a big thing in the tech world so check this out today and if you want us to talk about technology on your show you can also contact us directly with the social links above and below.
The ‘Cool Science & Curious Minds’ podcast will be produced by East Coast FM, with support from the Irish Research Council.
It will be fronted by seasoned science journalist Sean Duke, with episodes published on a weekly basis on the www.eastcoast.fm website and available for download nationally. The first episode airs today, Thursday, 26th April 2018 and is available online now: https://bit.ly/2JvSYOF
Each episode of the new podcast will profile the work of cutting-edge researchers in Ireland, including those funded by the Irish Research Council, as well as focusing on wider issues of relevance to science and innovation.
Commenting today, Peter Brown, Director of the Irish Research Council, said: “There is excellent and exciting work being done by researchers around the country every day. However, this work is not always on the public radar.
“At the Irish Research Council, we are constantly striving to promote the great work being done by researchers and to profile Ireland’s research achievements. We have run our successful #LoveIrishResearch campaign for the past two years, with this objective. Today, we are delighted to be launching the new ‘Cool Science & Curious Minds’ podcast as yet another means of engaging the public in excellent Irish research.”
Commenting on behalf of East Coast FM, Sean Duke, presenter and producer of the new podcast, said: “As someone with a longstanding fascination about all things science and the humanities, I’m really excited about this new podcast.
“I’m looking forward in this podcast to talking to lots of brilliant researchers, who are driven by an insatiable curiosity to better explain the world.
“This podcast will be aimed at anyone who has a natural inquisitiveness about the world around them, and likes to be informed as well as entertained.”
ACID Pro is back – the revolutionary DAW returns MAGIX Software announces the long-awaited return of the DAW that kick-started a revolution in music production. ACID Pro 8 has more features, more power and more plug-ins but retains the easy workflow of the previous version.
The loop-based Digital Audio Workstation ACID Pro is back with its first major update in ten years. MAGIX Software has completely overhauled the software that revolutionised loop-based music making 20 years ago and has added many new professional features, instruments and effects and an all-powerful 64-bit architecture. Yet with a brand new, sleek and modern interface and its innovative loop-based compositional environment, the software retains the easy workflow that it is famous for. ACID Pro has been revitalized for today’s creative artist and producer but is as easy to use today as it was at its release 20 years ago.
The last major update to ACID Pro, by the previous owner Sony Creative Software, was in 2008. ACID Pro 8 not only represents a major upgrade of the software but demonstrates MAGIX Software’s commitment to the brand going forward. Indeed, the company will be adding VST3 support in a free update later this year. ACID Pro 8 is sure to please both new users looking for a creative DAW that marries top-spec features with ease of use, and also its large and loyal fanbase – which MAGIX consulted with for many of with whom MAGIX has worked closely together in developing many of the new updates.
NEW FEATURES:
Whether you are making 24-bit, 192kHz multitrack recordings, mixing with multiple effects in real time, or composing with dozens of plug-in instruments – thanks to its new powerful 64-bit architecture, ACID Pro 8 will step up to the plate and offer all the latency free power you need and support for state-of-the-art 64-bit instruments.
With the new interface, MAGIX has redesigned the GUI to enhance working in a dimmed environment and further improve ACID Pro’s famed ease of use. The sleek and modern interface makes navigating and editing a breeze.
MAGIX has also added over $1000 of instruments, loops and effects to ACID Pro 8. There’s powerful virtual analogue synthesizer from DN-e1; first-class effect plug-ins and high-quality audio tools from essentialFX Suite; screaming guitar effects by way of Vandal SE; flexible and high-quality sampling from Vita 2; plus 11 Vita solo instruments that cover everything from Pop Drums to Cinematic Synths. ACID Pro 8 also comes with a 9GB library of all new ACIDized loops and samples.
MAGIX has also announced producerplanet.com: a new comprehensive online content platform where users can purchase even more ACIDized loops, sounds and instruments.
ACID Pro 365:
With ACID Pro 365, MAGIX now also offers a flexible subscription service. Users get all the power and functionality of the regular ACID Pro 8 but enjoy all future updates, full support plus additional instruments and effects for a monthly fee from $7.99.
“ACID Pro has a long, distinguished history and a very large and loyal following. It was vital, then, that we spent a long-time consulting with this ACID community of artists and producers over how we should improve the software. We are very pleased that most of their suggestions have been included in ACID Pro 8. This enormous passion of the ACID fan base has really transferred to me and my team,” says Torsten Heise, ACID Pro 8’s product owner. “We firmly believe that, with its enhanced power and features-set, this latest version of ACID Pro will appeal to those users and a completely new generation of creative musicians and professional producers. ACID Pro 8 heralds a new dawn in the software’s glorious history and will become the DAW of choice for today’s forward-thinking and creative artists.”
Apart from ACID Pro 8, MAGIX Software has already driven the development of other professional audio titles forward, such as SOUND FORGE Pro 12 and SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 12.
New Features of ACID Pro 8 at a Glance:
A modern, sleek and inspiring user interface
Powerful 64-bit technology
Flexible 24-bit, 192kHz multitrack recording
Advanced MIDI and audio editing features $1000 of new plug-in instruments, loops and effects 9GB of all-new ACIDized loops
Today we attended the official launch of the all new Nokia range recently announced which are the Nokia 8810 4G ,The Nokia 6.1 2018, Nokia 7 Plus which are due to launch next month, The 7 Plus will also be available from Vodafone May 1st, Three and Carphone Warehouse, Harvey Normans from the 3rd . All devices where on show today and we had some hands on time with the lot and also Zeiss Optics where present at the event showing us how their camera lenses are today compared to old and the difference is quite amazing on how things have evolved over the last few years when we last me them in Abu Dhabi at Nokia world..
First up the much-loved banana phone the Nokia 8110 4G which goes on sale for €79 Late July/ August which is not a bad price and on par with the 3310 when it launched last year, the device comes in two colours Yellow and Black and no mention of a Blue variant the device in hand feels really light and will be easy to one-handed and whilst using the phone the contour is just perfect and fits nicely on your face and like most we are custom to the flat phone feel,this will be a notable difference and much more comfortable to boot.. Recently we also spoke to TRT WORLD about the much loved 8110
NOKIA 8110 4G 2018 IMAGE GALLERY
The Nokia 6 2018
The Nokia 6 2018 is very well priced again this year and like last years model its built like a tank, One thing though this will BE EXCLUSIVE TO THREE IRELAND at €229 just like last year,this is not something everyone will want to hear but it’s confirmed, the device goes on sale next month and will also be available via the Nokia e-commerce store sim free the device feels good in hand and has a better spec sheet than last years and you can notice this even with the time we had with it.
The Nokia 7 Plus
This device will probably the one that people will go for,its stunning looking at it from any angle and there was two colours on show today ,with a ceramic feel backing it really feels nice to hold the Black is a fingerprint magnet but a case will fix that and the White version is just stunning and not a fingerprint magnet, with its 6 inch full HD 18:9 ratio.
Android One is onboard to and Nokia OZO spatial and not forgetting Bothie which we found first on the Nokia 8. With a ZEISS 12MP and 13MP telesensor that delivers 2 X Zoom photos are bound to be great for a point and shoot. The 7 Plus also goes on sale May 1st with operators and will cost just €399 SIM FREE.
ZEISS OPTICS
ZEISS where present at the event and told us of how they have progressed over the last few years since we first spoke to them at Nokia World in 2013, they are also delighted with the partnership and also spoke of how things are looking in the future and also (SIC) really excited about future products which obviously made my ears wag but that is all the information available today on show was camera parts new and old and an old Nokia N90 and 2520 check out some images below.
The E7 Active Noise Cancelling wireless headphones. At just £41.99 /€49.99with ANC smart technology, the headphones offer a great solution for those not wanting to be disturbed by external sounds when enjoying their music. The E7’s also boast 40mm drivers and a whopping 20 hours listening time, perfect for long journeys.
The Mixcder E7 Bluetooth headphone adopts ANC technology, which can not only isolate noise physically, but also blocks out noise by smart and active technology. When the headphones detect an incoming noise, a digital signal processor (DSP) analyses the sound waves and creates inverse waves to cancel out the ambient sound. To activate the ANC function, users simply switch on the ANC button on the left ear cup. The ANC technology makes E7 ideal for those who want to focus on music but not noise, and those who appreciate a quieter environment.
The E7 is equipped with 40mm drivers and CSR Bluetooth, delivering clean and clear great sound quality, with a powerful deep bass. E7 Listeners can immerse themselves in their music, enjoying every nuance of their favourite song whilst also appreciating the peace of no external noise.
The E7 features buttons and a microphone to allow for wireless control of music and hands-free phone calls. The ear cups have soft foam covered by super comfortable and soft pseudo leather and its extendable arm makes it adjustable to fit most heads. The carry case included makes the E7’s a great choice for commuters and travellers.
The battery on the Mixcder E7 allows users to play music or make phone calls for around 20 hours whilst on the go. When the battery runs out, users can plug in included 3.5mm audio cable to connect the headphone to their smart phone or MP3 player.
The Mixcder E7 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are available from Amazon for £41.99/€49.99
Today Google is announcing major updates to help the more than 4 million paying businesses that use G Suite work safer, smarter and more efficiently. This includes an all-new Gmail, with a brand new look on the web, advanced security features, new applications of Google’s artificial intelligence and even more integrations with other G Suite apps,Google are also introducing a new way to manage work on the go with Tasks.
See full press release below..
Built-in Information Rights Management (IRM) controls also allow you to remove the option to forward, copy, download or print messages. This helps reduce the risk of confidential information being accidentally shared with the wrong people. In the coming weeks, confidential mode will begin to roll out to consumer Gmail users automatically, and be made available to a limited number of G Suite customers
We’ve also redesigned our security warnings within Gmail so that they are simpler to understand and give a clear call to action to employees. These bigger, bolder warnings will help you be even more informed when it comes to potentially risky email.
And it’s always worth a reminder: we do not scan Gmail for the purposes of targeting ads, and there are no ads shown in Gmail for G Suite customers.
Stay on top of email effortlessly using artificial intelligence in Gmail
New AI-powered features in Gmail, like Nudging, Smart Reply and high-priority notifications, can now help you spend more time on work that matters.
Most of us get more emails than we can deal with at one time, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. With Nudging, Gmail will proactively remind you to follow up or respond to messages, making sure you don’t drop the ball.
Last year, we introduced Smart Reply to our Gmail mobile apps. Smart Reply processes hundreds of millions of messages daily and already drives more than 10 percent of email replies on mobile. Today we’re bringing Smart Reply to Gmail on the web to help you respond to messages faster.
We’re also introducing new features on mobile to help you minimize interruptions and clutter. High-priority notifications is a new setting that only notifies you of important messages, keeping interruptions to a minimum. Gmail can also recommend when to unsubscribe from mailing lists. Using intelligence, unsubscribe suggestions appear based on cues like how many emails you get from a sender and how many of them you actually read. You’ll start to see these notifications show up in your inbox over the coming weeks.
Over the past few months, Salesforce has tested the new Gmail to collaborate on global projects. “As the global leader in CRM, the ability to quickly and securely communicate with our stakeholders around the world is critical,” says Jo-ann Olsovsky, executive vice president and chief information officer of Salesforce. “Gmail’s new easy-to-use interface and built-in intelligence enable our employees to collaborate faster and smarter, spending less time managing their inboxes and more time driving our customers’ success.”
“Gmail’s new easy-to-use interface and built-in intelligence enable our employees to collaborate faster and smarter.” – Jo-ann Olsovsky, EVP, CIO of Salesforce
Accomplish more from your inbox with easy-to-use tools – We redesigned the Gmail web application to help you take action even quicker. Now you can see and click attachments in your inbox before ever opening a thread. You can also hover over messages (you don’t have to click into them) to do things like RSVP to a meeting invite, archive an email thread or snooze an email until the time is right.
As a part of the redesign, we’re also tightly integrating Gmail with other G Suite apps you use every day. Now you can quickly reference, create or edit Calendar invites, capture ideas in Keep or manage to-dos in Tasks all from a side panel in your inbox.
The side panel also makes it easy to access Gmail Add-ons, too, like third-party business apps you might use. This way you don’t have to switch between tabs or apps to get work done. You’ll start to see the new side panel integration in other G Suite apps in coming months—like inside of your Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Slides apps.
New native offline capabilities in Gmail on the web can help you work without interruption when you can’t find Wi-Fi. Search, write, respond, delete, or archive up to 90 days of messages, just as you would working online, but offline. Teams can start using offline capabilities in coming weeks.
Like we mentioned, we’re introducing an all-new Tasks on web, as well as new mobile apps to help you handle work on the go. You can use Tasks to create tasks and subtasks, and even add due dates with notifications to help you stay on track.
And because Tasks closely integrates with G Suite, you can simply drag and drop an email from Gmail into Tasks to create a to-do. Tasks with due dates can also appear in your Calendar. You can download the new Tasks mobile apps from the Google Play Store or iOS App Store today.
The all-new Gmail experience is available for businesses to start using today in the G Suite Early Adopter Program (EAP) and can be turned on in the Admin console. Read more detail on how to turn on the experience in this post. Heads up: you’ll start to see offline support, confidential mode, Nudging, high-priority notifications and unsubscribe suggestions appear in the coming weeks. Personal Gmail users can opt-in to the new experience, too (Go to Settings in the top right and select “Try the new Gmail.”).
Netwatch, the Irish security monitoring company, has announced the establishment of Netwatch Group, following investment from global private equity firm The Riverside Company “Riverside”.
The newly formed company sees Netwatch join forces with National Monitoring Centre “NMC” (California), CalAtlantic (Texas) and Onwatch Multifire (Sussex, United Kingdom) to become Netwatch Group, a new global leader in proactive security monitoring services.
Demand for visual monitoring is increasing due to global security threats such as terrorism, school shootings and an aging population. Headquartered in Carlow, Ireland, Netwatch Group will meet this growing demand for enhanced risk management and security expertise through its innovative surveillance technologies.
Speaking at the launch of Netwatch Group today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD said; “This is good news not just for Netwatch, but also for Carlow and the wider region. The company has developed innovative, proprietary technologies which have revolutionised the security market. I would like to commend the vision of David Walsh and Niall Kelly on their ambition to grow their company from its Carlow base which has been realised today with the transformation of Netwatch into a global Group operating on four continents. Netwatch Group has been supported since its earliest days by Enterprise Ireland and is yet another example of how Irish technology companies can win on the global stage. I wish Netwatch Group every success in the future.”
David Walsh, CEO, Netwatch Group said; “Today we are creating a global powerhouse in proactive monitoring services. There is increased demand for visual monitoring from enterprise customers, driven by the continuing evolution of technology and advances such as AI, Deep Learning, 5G and IoT (Internet of Things). We have the proprietary technology, developed by our R&D team in Carlow to meet this demand. We have ambitious growth plans which we will achieve through organic growth and further acquisitions”.
As a new leader in proactive monitoring services the firm will specialise in providing risk management, business continuity and security services to clients across the world. The new company will immediately protect over hundreds of thousands of customers across the US, Europe, Middle East and Africa with a network of six global communications hubs connected by the CRATOS, a technology platform developed by the Netwatch R&D team in Carlow.
Riverside has a track record of international technology investments, having completed more than 85 in its history. The deal is led by UK and Ireland Partner Dr. Martin Scott, who alongside Principal Laura Dillon, will sit on the board of the new group.
DUBLIN : 23/4/2018 : Netwatch merges with UK & US Monitoring Companies to form new global security powerhouse. Carlow & Dublin Ireland, 23rdApril 2018: Netwatch, the Irish security monitoring company, has announced the establishment of Netwatch Group, following investment from global private equity firm The Riverside Company “Riverside”. The newly formed company sees Netwatch join forces with National Monitoring Centre “NMC” (California), CalAtlantic (Texas) and Onwatch Multifire (Sussex, United Kingdom) to become Netwatch Group, a new global leader in proactive security monitoring services. Pictured at the announcement was David Walsh, CEO, Netwatch Group, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD and Martin Scott, The Riverside Company. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
“Netwatch revolutionised the Irish security market with its business model and innovative remote visual monitoring technologies and has an ambition to lead the sector globally. It now monitors client sites on four continents and has grown rapidly since its foundation. We are delighted to back the management team as they realise their ambitions. This is our first investment in Ireland and we look forward to supporting more Irish companies that seek to become global players in their sectors”, said Scott.
“We are delighted that in Riverside we have secured a partner who shares our vision and aspirations to become a global leader in our sector and we look forward to executing our ambitious growth strategy with them”, said David Walsh.
Enterprise Ireland has supported Netwatch since its establishment in 2002. Speaking at today’s launch, Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “Netwatch is a great example of an Irish company that has achieved success globally through innovation. Today’s announcement is a key milestone in the company’s journey and it will accelerate its growth and further strengthen the company’s base in Carlow.”
David Walsh added: “The U.S. is a key growth market for us and the combined strengths of NMC and CalAtlantic together with the Netwatch offices in Boston, Chicago and New Jersey provides a very strong platform. This along with the addition of 1,000 resellers in the USA will be transformative for us as we grow our presence in the US market”.
“Onwatch Multifire is an important addition bolstering our offering in the U.K. Onwatch Multifire also specialises in remote video monitoring and will be our U.K. HQ. It expands our base in a market that holds significant opportunities and will be the focus of renewed attention for us in the future. Having a significant UK presence also insulates us from the impact of Brexit”, he said.
Netwatch Group also announced the appointment of Samir Samhouri, as Chairman of the company. Mr Samhouri is an industry veteran who developed Xtralis to be a global leader in safety and security technologies. He will work closely with David Walsh, CEO in executing the company’s global expansion strategy.
Advisors to Netwatch were William Fry, EY, Grant Thornton and Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking.
