School exam reliables Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, and King Lear top the list for most-searched Shakespeare plays in Ireland in the last year
It’s not much ado about nothing, but to celebrate William Shakespeare Day on the 23rd April Google has compiled the top web searches and most-viewed YouTube videos in Ireland from the last year that were related to the world’s most famous playwright.
It’s been double, double toil and trouble for the last twelve months as Macbeth leads the field by topping both the Google Search and YouTube most-watched lists, a result likely due to its inclusion in the syllabus for 2019’s Leaving Cert English exam. Similarly, the third most-searched Shakespearean play was King Lear, which appears in this year’s Leaving Cert exam, while in fourth was Hamlet, which students faced in summer of last year. Forsooth!
Meanwhile Romeo and Juliet, the Junior Cert favourite, unsurprisingly appeared in second place in Google Search and third in YouTube views in the last year, while students also demanded their pound of flesh from the exam’s alternative choice, Merchant of Venice, which came in at fifth and fourth respectively.
But despite the popularity of “The Scottish Play”, as it is otherwise known to the superstitious, there are no Macbeth quotes in the 10 most searched-for lines from Shakespeare’s works – instead, Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” takes top spot, followed by “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” from Romeo & Juliet.
Of the remaining eight quotes in the most-searched list, the Irish have shown ourselves to have a preference for the political, with two quotes from Julius Caesar (“Et tu, Brute?” in 3rd place and “Beware the Ides of March” in 6th), and for the romantic (“This above all: to thine own self be true” (5th place, from Hamlet) and “If music be the food of love, play on” (8th place, from Twelfth Night)).
Speaking about the results, Elijah Lawal, Google UK & Ireland Communications Manager, said, “Ireland hath long has’t a deep love of Shakespeare, with his worketh f’rming a parteth of the Irish education curriculum for decades. That students useth Google and YouTube as part of their learnings – bringing a 21st century twist to this most prestigious of playwrights – is a most wondrous source of jubilation for us.”
Ireland is the top producer of plastic waste in Europe, with an average of 61kg per person every year – almost double what the UK produce annually. That is the equivalent of nearly 2,000 water bottles, or 5,550 disposal coffee cups, per person. Plastic is not biodegradable so over time litter like bottles and bags are broken down into smaller pieces called microplastics that can harm marine life and even make it into the human food supply.
Speaking at today’s launch, Professor Gordon Chambers, Professor of Physics in DIT and Coordinator of The Microplastics Awareness Project, said: “Ireland is meeting all EU targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste, but there is still a long way to go. Many people aren’t aware of the damage single-use plastics and tiny microbeads in toiletries are doing to our environment and our coast. For example, 83 per cent of Dublin Bay Prawns have ingested microplastics, and by 2050, it is estimated that there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish.
“Education and awareness is an important part of tackling the threat of microplastics on our coast which is why we’re launching The Microplastics Awareness Project today. Even simple changes like a school policy on using refillable bottles for lunch drinks or shopping smart when it comes to plastic packaging or microplastic ingredients can make a difference to slow the flow of plastic into the environment.”
Bringing Science into the Community
The project is an initiative of Dublin Institute of Technology and will be piloted in coastal communities in Dublin this year. The pilot will be led by a team of experienced scientists from the School of Physics and Clinical & Optometric Sciences: Dr Siobhan Daly, Professor Gordon Chambers and Dr Michelle Giltrap from the School of Food Science and Environmental Health.
At today’s launch, Dr Siobhan Daly, Assistant Head at DIT School of Physics and Clinical & Optometric Sciences said, “Our team of scientists are passionate about bringing science to life and raising awareness of the significant threats that plastics pose to our environment. The workshops will be engaging and fun with a strong scientific foundation. We believe the workshops will give young people the knowledge and skills to be the agents of change within their families and communities.
“We find that children and young people come to explore questions such as these with an open mind and therefore, can explore the threat of microplastics in the widest sense and bring this openness to others that make decisions – families, communities, industry, and government – to prompt them to make change happen.”
Marking Earth Day
To mark Earth Day 2018: End Plastic Pollution this Sunday, 22nd April, The Microplastics Awareness Project is encouraging parents to track their use of single-use plastics over a week with their children, explore their plastic dependence together as a family and start to identify areas for change.
The Microplastics Awareness Project is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under the Discover Programme Call 2017. The Discover Programme seeks to promote the awareness and engagement of the Irish public with science, technology, engineering and maths.
Virgin Media, Ireland fastest broadband and in-home WiFi provider has launched two sizzling hot offers for customers looking to switch up their entertainment offering without breaking the bank.So if you are in the market for such you will need to act quickly these are limited offers and you could get yourself a nice free tablet..
Available to all new and existing customers, Virgin Media have brought back the outrageously popular €59 Mix Bundle which gives customers access to the latest boxsets, movies, exclusive TV shows, and much more. It also comes with broadband speeds of up to 240Mb meaning customers can enjoy even more great content online without being slowed down.
Customers who are just looking to upgrade their broadband can sign up online to one of Virgin Media’s selected 240Mb or 360Mb broadband bundles and will receive a FREE Alcatel Pixi 3 tablet (worth €99 RRP).
The great deals don’t stop there because Virgin Mobile’s ‘better than half price’ offer of Unlimited 4G data, Calls and Texts for €12 a month is still available to TV and broadband customers looking to save money on their mobile bill.
Paul Farrell, Vice President of Commercial at Virgin Media said“Whether you’re looking for the full package or just one individual component – Virgin Media has something for everyone. These sizzling hot offers are only available for a limited amount of time so make sure you act quickly and take advantage of them while they’re available.”
“We also have amazing offers for our current customers who are looking to save money on mobile. For just €12 a month for the first 6 months, Virgin Mobile offers customers unlimited 4G data, calls and texts.”
Customers looking to avail of the Alcatel Pixi 3 tablet (RRP €99) must purchase their bundle online before 1st May – while stocks last.
Virgin Mobile Unlimited deal is €12 a month for the first 6 months, reverting to €25 a month after.
On first seeing such earbuds with the Jabra Elite Sport I initially thought these would not fit not stay in my ears but I was wrong,they have actually turned out to be very useful and used now when out and about much of the time and when the 65t came to surface they had my interest straight away and I actually find them as good if not better than the sport…
These are a bit smaller which for me was better and a better fit albeit tight at first and as before it took a few minutes to get used to their fit and after some time you would forget they are there but have the fear of loosing one at some stage but they have not managed to drop out at any stage just like their processors which is good.
There is two buttons on the left which control the volume and also allows you to skip tracks when listening to them via your phone or tablet or whatever device you might have connected. The right side has one button being the whole front if you will but not a visual button which allows HEAR THROUGH which is activated by the Sound plus app which gives you more functionality and control you can also play pause from the right side and take calls too which are pretty much crisp and clear from testing and this applies to both ends.
Set Up
Setting up was easy as expected and what I love as with most of Jabra tech you have voice instructions to help you along but all you need to do is press and hold each side for a few seconds and follow the voice prompts and anyone familiar with Jabra products will know what I am talking about when it comes to set up.
Battery Life
It is not the longest compared to headphones or others out there but for their size its great giving you around 5 hours but then you have the charging pouch that comes with it giving you up to 2 full charges on the go so they are ideal for anyone and easily one full day heavy use and fine for commuters whom have long commutes for work and so on.
Sound Quality
Perhaps it might be my ears but these sounded better than the Elite Sport and very crisp,calls where also good,although there is no sound controls bar the volume on the unit itself there is the choice of equalizer on your phone and then you have the option to use the Sound Plus app which will enhance the default setting they came at,all sounds be it highs lows and mids where reproduced well here and again I found them better overall in this department too for giving good clarity throughout and that added boom with volume, Many earbuds I have tested sounded tinny in some scenarios but these did at some stages but this was at the default setting but some adjustments in the sound plus app fixed that once and for all..
Hear Through
This is not a new technology but more manufacturers are taking in on board but have their own take,Jabra have used this before and in short it allows you to let the outside noise in but also letting you listen to your music etc, This is ideal again for commuters or cyclists who need to have their wits about them on receiving information for example at an airport,bus tation or railway station however this would impact on your volume and experience but this feature is there for a reason and rightly so and should be used so I cant see anyone complain about it.
Overall thoughts
First off i did not like the buds that came attached but you have three pairs to pick from but as a tester I try all and go straight in but just like the elite sport there was a set of buds that fit me perfectly and they do a good job of sealing the outside environment quite good, They did feel strange for a while as any new earbuds do but after some time you forget they are there.
The sound is great and most levels and especially loud and they offer simple to use controls and much of that is just a tap away rather than fiddling with the standard flush or raised buttons we are custom to. They are small and light and stand out from whats out there today and people have stopped and asked me what are them things in your ears.
From someone who disliked earbuds or in-ears I have slowly taken this form on board and now beginning to use such much more as my daily drivers and experince a truely wireless experience with little fuss about fucntionality. I am known for the fondness of Overheads and Overear for example the JABRA VEGA headphones but they are the ones I leave at home these days and use the likes of Jabra when I am out and about but also when working at home I can connect to my PC or leave connected on my mobile phone keeping my hands free to do other tasks and commitments I do from my home office.
Over the last year or two I have been reviewing Edifier products and they are all quality made products that last, I actually have a surround system set up in-house still and one thing I have not tested from the company is their headphones, this has changed the Edifier 830 BT headphones landed and just like their other products these are good and give quality in both sound and build.
UNBOXING THE EDIFIER 830BT
They come well presented in a nice package covered with a sleeve only to be then presented well again with an inner box then when you open it you are presented with a hard case which is certainly most welcome and ideal for travel, included inside is your usual cables and instructions which can also fit inside the carry case in a small pouch should you need them.
Build Quality
Just like other products they are built well and should last some years if you are careful with them and use the protective case when you are meant to and not leave them lying around and so on. The headband is covered both sides with padding and soft synthetic leather which is really comfortable which also matches the cups which again are really comfortable for long-term use. Either side we have a slider system to adjust the bands which will fit any head and they do not clamp onto your head which is nice,comfort is a certainty here for any user. These are foldable to so compact and come with a carry case as mentioned before.
The arms either side are housed in plastic along with the outer sides of the cups themselves surrounded with a nice silver trim which complements the headset as a whole. The cups do swivel aplenty so they will rest nicely with anyone and not feel clamped they rest really well and will be ideal for those who use headphones for long periods of time.
Controls
Both cups have the Edifier branding in silver which looks well complementing the Silver band around them controls are near flush on the right cup which allow you power on/off skip tracks and also control the volume, I did find these take a slight be longer to turn on than other headsets I have tested but it’s no big deal. On the right we also have a mic for taking calls which are quite clear during my test period this can be said for both ends.
Also we have an LED indicator light, blue/red to tell us our status on connectivity and powering on/off. There is no battery indicator or voice instructions here but when connected to your phone you will be a percentage level,however when powering on/off you will hear two short beeps and the red LED will flash 3 times.
On the left we have our 3.5mm jack and charging port via micro USB again flush with the cup itself.On using the controls you will need some time to get used to their position especially blindly but after a while you will be fine considered how near flush they are, Also you have the NFC logo here for pairing NFC devices.
Sound
I like my music loud and these are loud which I expected from the company so they did not let me down here, I was please will all aspects when it came to quality and reproduction of all formats and volume levels mids,lows,and highs came through crisp and clear this can be said across the board with my usual activities such as taking calls,you tube streaming music and listening to music stored on my device, The average person here will be well pleased with the performance here.
Specs
DRIVER UNIT:40mm
BLUETOOTH VERSION:Bluetooth V4.1
SUPPORTED PROFILES:⩾HFP,HSP,A2DP,AVRCP
FREQUENCY RESPONSE:20 -20,000 Hz
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL (SPL):96dB
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE24Ohm
WEIGHT:0.274kg
Conclusion
Over the last two years Edifier is a brand I can trust personally from testing quite a few of their products and I am really pleased with these headphones, Headphones are something I am a huge fan of and will not hold back on my thoughts no matter who the manufacturer is and they have ticked all the boxes here for me, With the 95 hr music playback this is a must have for those who have long commutes this is really a good selling point here and they have only been charged once since i got them and that says alot considered how much I use them.
You can pair two devices to these too which is also good via NFC and Bluetooth so if you are using a separate music player or laptop for example with your phone both can be used together,again a good feature for those whom work and like to do other things be it on the go or at home like pairing your laptop for example and your phone. For the price point these are a safe bet and a good purchase you will not be disappointed with. One thing I would like to see is other colours than the typical industry standard they came in for me.
The Solo speakers are designed by British audio design specialists Studio 19 and feature 360°sound, dual pressure air compression and movie, music and gaming modes with the option of a retro style EQ to adjust to your tastes.
British audio design specialists, Studio19, is today pleased to announce the launch of the Solo E500T and E500X-EQ speakers. The Solo E500 T and 500X-EQ are precision-engineered speaker systems that are ready to connect with music, movies and gaming for a premium audio experience. Built using patented Dual Pressure Air Compression (DPAC) super-bass technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound, the Solo speakers produce a fully immersive auditory experience with an exceptionally detailed and nuanced sound quality throughout the entire room.
Beautifully designed in an anodised aluminium housing available in space grey or gold, the Solo speakers use state-of-the-art speaker drivers with a maximum output of up to 200 watts, loud enough to handle virtually any occasion with no compromise in quality. The Solo speakers are among the world’s first “enhanced degree” patented 3D-effect portable Hi-Fi speakers. Unlike conventional 360° sound, the Solo range’s Enhanced 360° Optimised Sound flows not only left to right but top to bottom. This creates an omni-directional spread with wide, directional waves that circulate throughout a room, giving the authentic impression of a multi-speaker environment from a single speaker.
Cutting edge digital processing power means that the Solo speakers heighten the essential characteristics of the audio you listen too, resulting in a rich, dynamic sound that truly brings your music to life.
The Solo E500X- EQ has a built-in professional EQ Graphic Equalizer, a digital sound enhancement not normally found in portable speakers, allowing users to fine tune their music even further using the knobs as shown on the image above to more bass, mid-range or treble to get exactly the sound you want.
The Solo E500T (shown below) features a touch control to change volume and listening mode. It is also possible to change bass, mid-range and treble by downloading one of the free apps on the App Store or Google Play.
Machine learning and cloud optimisation company Densify has appointed DataSolutions as its distribution partner for Ireland and the UK. DataSolutions’ appointment will help to facilitate Densify’s expansion in the Irish and UK markets, both of which are particularly important to the company.
Densify is the developer of the industry’s first machine-learning cloud optimisation service. Its solution continuously learns applications’ usage patterns and needs, and is aware of the major cloud suppliers’ technologies and prices 24/7. These insights enable customers to make the right changes to produce optimal infrastructure performance while achieving maximum cloud savings.
Densify, the developer of the industry’s first machine-learning cloud optimisation service, today announced the appointment of DataSolutions as a distribution partner to support expansion in Ireland and the UK. Densify’s software as a service (SaaS) solution allows applications to become self-aware of their public cloud resource demands, perfectly and continuously matching their needs with the best cloud supply.
Densify is powered by Cloe, a “Cloud-learning” Optimisation Engine, that continuously learns the applications’ usage patterns and needs, and is aware of the major cloud suppliers’ technologies and prices 24/7. Cloe customers are now driving 40% to 80% improvement in efficiency across their cloud environments, which has led to improved application health, increased automation, and lower cloud costs.
Commenting on the announcement, Ayman Gabarin, SVP EMEA, Densify, said: “DataSolutions has established itself as a leading specialist distributor of innovative IT solutions across virtualisation and cloud technologies. Its deep understanding of these industries, combined with Densify’s game-changing cloud-optimisation engine, will continue to unlock the visibility into public cloud efficiency that customers require in order to stay competitive.”
Ayman Gabarin, SVP EMEA, Densify
He continued: “We are confident that this partnership will enable both companies to go from strength to strength and to consolidate our leadership positions in delivering unrivalled cloud services.”
Unlike traditional cloud tools that focus on the bill but don’t fix the underlying issue, Cloe goes to the heart of addressing the problem at the application and infrastructure layer. In practice, Densify provides results in the first 48 hours of deployment, with Cloe recommending the best cloud technologies for any given application. The solution also offers multicloud support, whereby applications are provided the right resources even when simultaneously using multiple cloud vendors.
Francis O’Haire, group technology director, DataSolutions
Francis O’Haire, group technology director, DataSolutions, commented: “We are proud to add Densify and the industry’s first cloud optimisation engine service to our portfolio of best-of-breed technologies designed to build, manage, access and secure a modern IT infrastructure.” He continued: “This business alliance brings together two companies that are passionate about helping companies to address the spiraling costs of public cloud adoption.”
Local family established company Craigmore, the leading UK and Ireland distributor of Kärcher cleaning equipment, has announced the opening of a new state of the art 5,000 sq. ft. showroom in Belfast.
The facility which represents a £300k investment, will create 10 new jobs and provide an unrivalled customer service experience for commercial and domestic clients throughout Ireland.
A Kärcher dealer for almost 25 years, Craigmore has experienced significant growth over the last two years and identified the potential of a dedicated Belfast Center to capitalise on the growing demand for Kärcher products. The in-store and online sales potential for the new showroom is around £1 million annually with exports to RoI representing a significant proportion.
Pictured at the opening of the new £300k Investment in the Kärcher ‘Center of the Future’ in Belfast are (L-R) Mark Venner, Chief Operations Officer at Kärcher UK, Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Nuala McAllister and Geoff Baird MD of Craigmore and Kärcher Center Belfast.
“The new system includes a Click and Collect app for customers which allows interaction between the store customers before, during and after the sale while tablet based software empowers staff to give the best customer service possible in-store and post transaction. In addition, the order management software for click and collect and repair requests allows front of house staff and those in the warehouse to communicate in real time, minimising any delays whilst integration codes enable all software within the new system to communicate and exchange data on everything from stock levels, availability and pricing,” said Mark.
Geoff Baird, Founder and Managing Director with Craigmore explains,
“This showroom is the first of its kind in the Kärcher network and represents the Gold Standard for our fellow distributors, with bespoke innovative software and hardware solutions to assist in the sales process as well as back end information gathering and sharing. Our location on the Boucher Road gives us access to the greatest concentration of potential customers with a dedicated site to service our all-Ireland customer base.”
Pictured at the opening of the new £300k Investment in the Kärcher‘Center of the Future’ in Belfast are (L-R) Mark Venner, Chief Operations Officer at Kärcher UK, Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Nuala McAllister and Geoff Baird MD of Craigmore and Kärcher Center Belfast.
Offering the full range of products for home and garden, professional, industrial, spares and accessories, this Kärcher “center of the future” has been designed to revolutionise customers’ expectations by offering an experience more akin to a high end car showroom, with a 900-shrub living wall featuring the Kärcher irrigation system, refreshments from Nespresso and Hotel Chocolat and an 9 screen LCD wall demonstrating the Kärcher portfolio of cleaning solutions.
“We currently supply Kärcher cleaning equipment to all sectors of businesses including haulage, car dealerships, car valeting shops, engineering, food, retail and hospitality, offering everything from £100 vacuums up to £75,000 bespoke cleaning systems or multiple machine installations,” says Geoff, “but this new showroom has been tailored to maximise appeal among domestic customers who will feel more comfortable shopping in the engaging environment we have created.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Nuala McAllister said: “I’m delighted to see further investment in the city because with that brings jobs creation and a boost to the local economy.
“This new business is the first success story to come from the council’s City for Investment Service which provides a ‘soft landing’ for businesses to tap into council networks and get marketing, employability and skills support.
“Through this new service we will proactively work with investors, providing the professional and personal connections to help them do business in our city successfully. I, and each one of the elected members for Belfast City Council, are committed to continuing this work to deliver our ambitions for the city and our Belfast Agenda.”
A significant element of the £300K investment has been the development of a bespoke suite of software and hardware that completely integrates the sales and business functions to maximise customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies. Kärcher UK Chief Operating Officer, Mark Venner explains,
The Kärcher Center Belfast will be open from 8.30am to 6pm, 6 days a week and will have specially trained Kärcher experts on site to explain and demonstrate the full product range. For further information, go to www.karchercenterbelfast.com
If you have no gaming apps to test out and for something to keep the kids entertained for a while this new app from MoffApps could be something to check out. The App is made by MoffApps and is available on the Android and iOS platforms and is FREE and is in short a 3D runner game which most kids would be familiar with on how they work.
About the app.
Test your reflexes as you run, jump and slide through the kingdom with Princess Boo (dress and all) dodging crazy obstacles to escape the Wicked Witch.
Be careful to avoid obstacles on this thrilling adventure. Swipe left and right to avoid obstacles, swipe up to jump and swipe down to slide. See how many stars you can gather and how far you can run with Princess Boo. Earn coins to unlock Princess Boo’s Princess friends. Earn coins by watching videos to unlock some of Princess Boo’s princess friends to help her on her quest to escape the witch.
Some of Princess Boo’s besties include Leah, Laura and Abbie. When you become a pro, you are free to choose which princess will save the day and defeat the witch.
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