Month: June 2020

New Data Shows Facebook & Google Ads Effectiveness Is Fueled By TV Advertising.

A consumer analytics company – passively measured consumer behaviour 24/7 including all their TV viewing (content and ads), online behaviour as well as offline store visits. The analysis on the impact of TV advertising on online platforms was conducted in sectors such as supermarkets, automotive, travel, insurance, financial services, lottery, gambling and online clothing, which represent a cross section of products associated with both impulse and considered purchases.

Overall, the data shows that consumers who clicked on an online ad or visited the advertisers’ website, watched on average 39% more TV ads by that advertiser in the previous week than users who did not click on an ad or visit the website. The study shows that TV’s effect on Facebook clicks was the highest and users who clicked on a FB ad saw 48% more TV adverts of that brand in the previous week than users who did not click on an ad. Users who visited the brands’ websites watched an average of 28% more adverts and users who clicked on a Google ad saw an average of 42% more TV ads. When embarking into the world of paid ads, it is important to source a reputable PPC management company to get the best results for your investment.

The best performing sectors were gambling and online clothes, where those who interacted online with brands – were exposed to 68% and 47% respectively – more TV adverts than those who hadn’t. Within these sectors, for brands such as Coral those who clicked on their adverts or visited their website were exposed to a massive 117% more Coral TV adverts than other gamblers. For Jacamo, in the online clothing sector, this figure was 85%.

The Facebook and Google duopoly now account for 60% of all digital advertising expenditure globally or USD $144.6 billion, but their success is clearly being propped by TV advertising who continues to be the most effective medium at brand building and driving online clicks

ViewersLogic’s single-source data shows unequivocally that TV drives online traffic but in recent years online advertising became the tool of choice for marketers because it offered better measurability than TV advertising. ViewersLogic technology can, for the first time, see the whole consumer journey both online and offline and measure accurately how our exposure to TV adverts results in consumers wanting to find out more about a product or a brand by following it through online up to the product purchase. Crucially, its technology can now also measure for the first time, how much brands really spend on generating clicks through online ads by factoring in the impact TV advertising had on generating each online interaction.

For Henry Daglish, the founder of boutique marketing agency Bountiful Cow this new data provides compelling evidence that marketing campaigns need to be more aligned across TV and online to drive sales effectively through advertising. Mr. Daglish said: ‘’Over recent years TV advertising expenditure has shrunk as brands have increasingly shifted their budgets online attracted by better measurability and segmentation but ViewersLogic’s data has now shown us that, if used correctly, TV drives the greatest improvement in online performance. This opened for us a new area of analytics and performance improvement that we are now sharing with our clients’’

Other studies have shown a clear correlation between a decrease in sales and a reduction in TV ad spend, not only TV advertising has an immediate impact on sales but it is also proved that it manages to significantly enhance the impact of digital advertising. Despite compelling evidence, recently released data by Media Audits shows that TV now account for less than a quarter of ad expenditure in the UK compared to online with over 50%, and this is predicted decline even further this year. With the cost of an advertising slot on TV becoming considerable cheaper, its proven effectiveness at brand building and driving online traffic is it time for smart brands to get back on TV?

DATA FINDINGS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR
Gambling •

Gambling was the best performing sector and those who interacted with the brands online saw an average of 68% more ads by the same brand in the previous week than other gamblers who did not visit the site (in this case we compared this just with other gamblers to neutralise other influence). • Coral performed particularly well – users who interacted with the brand online saw an average of 117% more of the brand’s TV ads in the previous week than other gamblers who did not interact with Coral. On the other hand, PaddyPower users saw only 30% more Paddy Power TV ads in the week before interacting with the brand, compared to other gamblers.

Online clothing  •

Of the sectors measured online clothing was the second best performing and those who went on to click on a Google or Facebook advert or onto a brand’s website had seen 47% more TV adverts by that brand in the week before the interaction than those who had not (in this case we compared this just with other online clothing shoppers to neutralise other demographic influence (e.g. if online clothes shoppers see more ads than the general population). • Jacamo was particularly successful compared to their competitors and people who interacted with the brand online either through an advert or by visiting their website saw on average 85% more Jacomo ads than other online shoppers.

Financial Services •

Out of all the sectors measured the financial services showed the lowest effect of TV on online behaviour and on average those who interacted with this sector online, saw 19% more ads in the previous week. • The data shows that Totally Money was by far the most successful financial brand in converting its TV audience into clicks and users who interacted with the brand online, saw 69% more Totally Money TV ads in the previous week. • Companies such as Experian, Money Supermarket and uSwitch had a poor cross-media performance and users who interacted with these brands saw only 2% more of their TV ads in the week before the interaction.

Lottery •

Online clickers on Facebook/Google ads and visitors to the lottery companies’ websites had watched 35% more TV adverts than those who did not, in the week before the interaction took place. • The Postcode Lottery adverts performed better than its competitors and people who clicked through online on Facebook/Google ads and visited the company’s website, saw 55% more Postcode Lottery TV ads.

Supermarkets •

Consumers that clicked through supermarket ads online saw 35% more TV ads in the previous week than users who did not click. • In this sector, Iceland had by far the most successful cross-media campaign, and overall, users who visited the brand’s site or app were exposed to 39% more Iceland TV ads in the previous week. Users who clicked on an Iceland ad on Google or Facebook were exposed to 64% more TV ads in the week before clicking. • Waitrose was the worst performer in this sector and users who clicked on its online ads were exposed to only 12% more Waitrose TV adverts in the week before clicking.

Automotive •

People who interacted with car brands online saw 24% more TV ads than users who did not interact with these brands. • People who clicked on a Ford or Vauxhall ad online saw 18% more TV ads in the week before clicking than other users. Nissan’s cross-media campaign was more effective and people who interacted with the brand online saw 45% more Nissan TV ads in the previous week. • For Vauxhall, users who clicked on a Google ad saw only 3% more TV adverts in the previous week, suggesting that their TV campaign wasn’t particularly successful in driving people to search for the brand.

Travel •

Because the travel industry has been severely affected over the last three months, ViewersLogic did the analysis until the end of February and saw that users who interacted with travel brands were exposed, on average, to 25% more TV ads in the week before, than those who did not interact with these brands. • Jet2 had the best performing TV campaign in this sector and those who interacted with the brand online had watched 45% more Jet2 TV ads. Their TV campaign has a specifically good effect on their FB advertising where people who clicked on a FB ad, were exposed to 77% more Jet2 TV adverts than other users. • Perhaps surprisingly, one the biggest travel brands internationally Booking.com, had a poor cross-media campaign and users who interacted with the brand saw only 7% more TV ads of this brand, compared to other users.

Insurance •

In this sector, those who interacted with insurance brands online had watched 26% more TV ads. • LV Insurance was especially successful in converting their TV audience into online activity and users who interacted with the brand online, saw 49% more LV TV ads in the week before. They did particularly well on Facebook where users who clicked on an LV FB ad were exposed to 115% more TV ads.

Most successful brands by online platform • Brands own website o Bet365 – +185%

• Facebook ads o Jacamo – 131%

• Google ads o Ladbrokes – +244%

• Overall Most successful cross-media campaign o Coral – +117%

Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme. #Microsoft #UCD

In collaboration with Microsoft in Ireland and in Brussels, UCD has established the Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme at UCD with the goal of building digital policy capability amongst the public and private sector in Ireland and across the wider European Union.

In today’s rapidly-evolving digital world, it can be a challenge for legislators and policy makers to keep abreast of the pace of change and its potential impact. This programme is designed to support those in government with the skills and knowledge necessary to amend existing legislation and plan for new legislation that will protect society and provide a relevant framework in which organisations can operate.

The features of the programme will fill a short term need while also building a sustainable pipeline of skills for long-term impact. It will build on existing expertise and curriculum already offered at UCD, while also recruiting leading academics to develop and oversee its success.

Under the direction of Programme Director, Professor Kalpana Shankar, the programme aims to fulfil this demand for digital policy knowledge and skills in the policy ecosystem. The Digital Policy Programme, which will welcome its first intake of students in September, includes the establishment of new educational programmes, including a Certificate course and a Masters in Digital Policy as well as the opening of the UCD Centre for Digital Policy under the leadership of Professor Eugenia Siapera. Elizabeth Farries has been appointed Assistant Professor for the programme and there are plans to appoint a Microsoft Newman Fellow in Digital Policy in September.

The last few weeks and months have demonstrated in a very real way, the transformative impact of technology. Digital solutions have been at the heart of the healthcare and societal response that we have seen – not just in Ireland and Europe but across the globe. The technology led response, driven by innovation and the creative thinking of public servants, has been done at a pace not previously imagined. The reality is that the policy environment and legislation are not, by their nature, as responsive. In addition to the need to create a policy environment that caters for a digital future, it is likely that there will need to be amendments to policy to reflect the rapid change that has already happened. This Digital Policy Programme will help equip those in decision making positions with the skills and capabilities that they need to help inform this important work.

Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland said: “Microsoft is proud to have worked with industry partners, the public sector and leading academics to help inform the development of a programme that will build digital expertise into existing policy making frameworks. This much needed and timely programme will help to advance capabilities amongst Irish and EU policy makers on legislative and policy matters that arise in the context of digital technologies. Irish policy makers have the potential to take the lead in Europe on the evolution of laws and policies that remain relevant in a digital world while also fostering innovation and building trust.  The Microsoft team here in Ireland and in Europe are delighted to partner with UCD in the development and delivery of this new academic programme.”

Professor Kalpana Shankar, Professor in UCD School of Information and Communication Studies said: “This MSc in Digital Policy is the first of its kind in Ireland. It is designed to offer graduates the opportunity to learn more about some of the core policy issues that are arising with the prevalence of digital and data technology in all dimensions of life. The course will build on the rich offerings in the School of Information and Communication Studies as well as the wider College of Social Sciences and Law through taught modules, independent projects, and interactions with policymakers and evaluators in the public and private sectors.”

For details on the Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme log on here.

Unity Card: a simple, quick and targeted way for authorities to provide emergency aid and relaunch the economy #UnityCard #Loyaltech #Paynovate

As the Corona curves are slowly but surely starting to flatten, the focus is gradually shifting towards the next challenge: relaunching the economy. Whilst national governments and international institutions across Europe and the world are announcing unprecedented crisis measures, it remains to be seen if these will be enough, and especially, whether the aid can be deployed quickly enough to save those in need today. Therefore, decisive action needs to be taken today rather than tomorrow.

Already, Loyaltek is in talks for well over a million cards in several countries including Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, the first few municipalities having already confirmed they will be adopting the solution.

With a view to this, European FinTech pioneers and veterans Loyaltek and Paynovate are teaming up in a unique proposal to political leaders, with the aim of offering citizens much needed and rapid financial support by means of the Unity Card. As innovative as it is useful, this debit card can be limited for use in a certain geographical area (e.g. one municipality) as well as a certain types of predetermined shops or businesses, in this case those that have been forced to close during the current crisis: hotels, restaurants, bars, hairdressers, DIY-stores, clothes stores… As such, it is the perfect instrument to stimulate the local economy and prevent the money disappearing to foreign e-commerce websites, being sent to family abroad, or saved.

“Whether it’s to support merchants who have had to close their business or to help a mother feed her children: our leaders, from municipal to national level, are looking for ways to mitigate the effects of the lockdown and prepare for a return to normal life and economic recovery,” explains Robert Masse, founder and CEO of Loyaltek and expert in the field of card payments. “But time is running out, and the question arises as to how to allocate these various resources as quickly and efficiently as possible, while at the same time avoiding any risks of fraud and ensuring that public money serves its intended purpose, to the extent of creating a win-win situation and benefiting society as a whole.”

The Unity Card can be loaded and reloaded with any desired amount of money and works just like a regular debit card on payment terminals. The validity period can be adapted in function of the needs and intended support. Users can check the remaining value thanks to a QR code on the back, while an extranet allows the issuing authority to monitor, analyse, manage and even adjust the way its cards are being used, all in real-time. And thus, once again in this crisis, it’s new technologies that are offering relief in a situation which at first seemed insoluble.

“In a spirit of social commitment, our R&D teams wanted to make themselves useful against the horrors of the Corona virus. Ultimately, it’s the pragmatism and the potential of this solution which convinced us to set up the necessary partnerships to deploy it throughout Europe,” concludes Robert Masse. “The name, which of course stands for solidarity, came naturally, and we have decided to offer the first 5,000 cards to each of the municipalities that want to work with it, given that they’re the ones closest to the situation on the ground. Implementation costs are kept to a minimum and amount to a fraction of the usual costs of similar ‘traditional’ measures. Moreover, we do not take any margin on the transactions. Two years ago, we already delivered 12.000 cards to the World Food Program for humanitarian aid.”

The solution proposed has proven its worth before in Germany at the time of the migration crisis, when Loyaltek distributed tens of thousands of cards to local authorities to manage the allowances of Syrian refugees, allowing them to provide in their most basic needs by purchasing from local merchants.

The appearance of the Unity Card can be personalised if necessary. It is distributed either directly to the beneficiaries or by group transmission to the competent authority, which can then further distribute it. The payments made by citizens with the card are managed together with the rest of the merchants’ payment traffic, while cardholder support is ensured by Loyaltek or the ‘customer’ himself, i.e. the issuing authority.

https://www.unitycard.eu/

Cowboy introduces its third generation electric bike, at the edge of a new frontier in urban mobility. #ebike #Cowboy #Cycling

As people and governments around the world rethink city life and the daily commute, today Belgian start-up Cowboy unveils its third generation electric bike. With a vision to transform urban mobility, the Cowboy 3 is designed for commuters all across Europe to ride fast and free toward the city of the future.

The Cowboy 3 model is engineered with several significant new hardware features including a single-gear automatic transmission to create the smoothest, simplest mode of transport on the streets today. With an obsessive attention to detail, including the removable battery built right into the frame, Cowboy continues to hold a distinct performance advantage in the market. Cowboy 3 uses the latest in design, smart technology, manufacturing excellence and is available for order now via cowboy.com at an RRP of €2.290 / £1.990. The first orders will be delivered at the end of July.

Cowboy also announces a major update to its app with features most desired by its rider community: auto-unlock, theft alert, crash detection, and air quality mapping now available for new and existing customers. These uniquely Cowboy features stack alongside a brand-new service offering: Cowboy Mobile Service. Rolling out in cities throughout the summer, any rider will be able to book a repair online and a local specialist will come to them to fix their bike, free of charge.

Bike Update Highlights

All-new:

Carbon belt transmission

No oily chain and no maintenance required for up to 30,000 kilometres.

Lower gear ratio

Ensures a faster start and easier ride when climbing uphill.

Custom mudguards

Fits the bike like a glove (available at an RRP of 89€ / 79£ inc VAT ).

Puncture-resistant tires

Has a flexible grip and a puncture protection layer in the tires.

Comfortable ride

Increased comfort with an increased tire surface along the rims.

Three colourways

Now available in Absolute Black, Anthracite Grey, Mineral Grey to suit the rider’s preference.

Cowboy 3 users will of course make the most of existing features like the aforementioned removable battery and a lightweight bike weighing only 16.9 kg.

App Update Highlights

The new Cowboy is connected to an app like its predecessors. In addition to the existing Cowboy app features (Find My Bike, Navigation, Live Dashboard, Siri Voice Control), four new features will complete the digital experience and transform the way one rides and navigates through cities:

Auto-unlock

The bike knows its rider. The app automatically senses when you’re nearby. Simply move the bike, and it will unlock so you can keep your phone in your pocket and be ready to ride in an instant.

Theft detection 

Your bike should move with you and only you. The owner gets notified as soon as someone tries to move or attempt to snag their bike.

Crash detection

The road is rough out there. So if a rider is ever in an accident, a sensor detects the fall so we can check in to make sure they’re alright. If the rider doesn’t answer, their emergency contact is alerted right away.

Air quality 

Be aware of the pollution level around you and let the app show you the healthiest way through the city.

Cowboy Mobile Service Highlights

The now introduced Cowboy Mobile Service program is a network of repair specialists who come to our customers wherever and whenever they need a repair—free of charge when under our 2-year warranty. This program, now active in 24 cities and expanding throughout the summer, was  inspired by our Test Ride program—a 67-city network of Cowboy experts who meet a prospective customer with the bike to try it before purchasing.

Adrien Roose, CEO of Cowboy said: “The success of our previous model has been tremendous across all of Europe. It’s been great to create an electric bike that really speaks to the modern commuter as they set to change the way they experience urban movement. We always knew that people would start to look at alternative ways to commute over the next few years, however with cities’ increased investment in bike infrastructure, we are thrilled to offer a perfect blend of convenience, technology and comfort.”

Technical specifications of the Cowboy 3 electric bike: 

Weight 16.9 kg total weight, including battery
Frame material Aluminium
Rider height One M/L frame size, optimized for riders between 170-195 cm tall
Tires Cowboy custom tires, puncture resistant tires with a flexible grip and a puncture protection layer at a width of 42mm
Brakes Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Front lights Integrated LED front light can be turned on/off via the app
Rear lights Integrated LED rear light intensifies when decelerating and/or braking
Warranty 2 years
Range up to 70 km autonomy
Battery 2.4 kg removable battery. 360 Wh and 10.0 Ah
Mobile app iOS and Android. Secure, digital-key lock/unlock via personal app
Colours Absolute Black, Anthracite Grey, Mineral Grey
Belt Gates carbon belt, gear ratio 63/22 (2.86), offering a 30k km lifetime
Charger 100 W charger with a charging time of 3.5 hours
Motor Custom-designed 30 Nm / 250 W motor, integrated into the rear wheel
Maximum speed 25 km/h (15mph)

Virgin brings back Unlimited Mobile for €5 a month for 5 months for EVERYONE. #VirginMobile

Virgin Mobile is bringing back one of their most popular offers. Both existing Virgin Media customers and new customers can sign up now to get Unlimited Mobile for €5 for 5 months. The offer launches today, June 4th, and runs until July 29th so act quick to snap up this great deal. This new offer includes Unlimited 4G data, calls and texts and our customer-friendly 30 day contracts.

Anne O’Flynn, Head of Commercial Product at Virgin Media said: “Our ‘545’ offer was one of our most popular ever so we decided to bring it back and give everyone the chance to sign up who hasn’t already and get Unlimited Mobile for just €5 for 5 months.

It’s important to us to give customers the best value possible and, with the return of our ‘545’ deal, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with a saving of €100 over the course of 12 months if you sign up now.”  

This new ‘€5 for 5 Months’ Unlimited Mobile offer launches June 4th 2020 and runs until July 29th 2020. The price of the plan will return to just €25 a month thereafter.

The temporary change to Virgin Mobile’s plans to make them unlimited will run until June 30th, 2020. All domestic data use, Irish landline, mobile and non-geographic calls, texts to Irish mobiles are unlimited with no Fair Usage Policy (FUP) for all Virgin Mobile customers until June 30th 2020. Any out of bundle international, premium and non-EU Roaming calls and texts will be charged at the standard rates for your plan. Virgin Mobile’s EU Roaming Data Fair Usage Policy is not affected by this change.

PayPal email scam to watch out for in Dutch. #PayPal #Scams #Phishing

Last November I was the tatget of an elaborate paypal scam which Paypal had to investigate due to the numerous emails I got within the space of a few days which was dealth with eventually by the company, Now there is another one to keep an eye out for only this time comes in Dutch via email claiming there is unpaid fees to be paid and will limit my account Dutch would be a language not used often in phishing scams.

Once again this is a replica page that is trying to get your details and should be avoided and reported to Paypal straight away at spoof@paypal.com. Again these scams are not new but they change tack and can still catch people out so beware. On the opening text you see

Account Service heeft u een betaalverzoek gestuurd

translates to –  Account Service has sent you a payment request. 

After a review your account has been limited due to unpaid fees, please pay this invoice to cover your unpaid fees and remove this restriction permanently.

 

It claims I owe them 6.75 USD and then gives you a link to pay it and as mentioned looks genuine as seen above, Of course it is just out to get easy money in small doses but if you fall for it you have just handed over all your login information which is what they aim to do.. Remember to report the mail by forwarding it to spoof@paypal.com. We will see what they have to say about this one..

Father’s Day gifts for any tech-savvy dad. #FathersDay #Tech

With Father’s Day coming up this month make sure dad feels appreciated with one of these great gadget gifts. From a retro cassette player and a picture frame/Qi wireless charger in one to a sleek and stylish connected electric bicycle, there’s something for everyone and every budget.

Groov-e Retro Cassette Player

Price: £19.99

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

Does your dad have a collection of old cassette tapes? If so then this could be the perfect nostalgic Father’s Day gift for him. Dad can enjoy classic music tapes or listen to the radio with this personal Cassette Player from Groov-e. If he wants to share his music with others, he can even play his favourite tunes loud through the external speaker.

Twelve South AirSnap Pro

£35.99

Available from Amazon UK

If dad is lucky enough to own a pair of Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds then the Twelve South AirSnap Pro is the perfect gift. The AirSnap Pro is a premium leather case accessory designed to protect the earbuds wireless charging case from scratches and scuffs. Offering more than just protection it also allows users to charge the earbuds and case wirelessly using their favourite Qi-certified wireless charger or via a Lightning cable. Available in three colours including cognac, black or slate blue.

Groov-e Athena

Price: £34.99

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

The sleek and stylish Athena isn’t just an alarm clock, it’s also a wireless charging device and nightlight, meaning dads can have all the essential night time functionality they need in just one handy product. No need to find a charger at the end of the day, simply place a mobile device on top of the Athena for easy, wireless charging whilst asleep.

What’s more, the Athena features a gentle night light with three settings that enable users to choose what level of brightness they require at bedtime, through the night and first thing in the morning. A handy alarm clock and calendar display means that even if users wake up sleepy they can be sure to know what day it is.

Twelve South PowerPic

Price: £49.99

Available from: Amazon UK

The perfect Father’s Day gift the PowerPic is a picture frame and Qi wireless charger in one. Modern and stylish and crafted from the finest New Zealand pine, the frame blends seamlessly into any home or office décor, making it perfect to display favorite photos on a desk, bedside table or shelf. Getting rid of ugly cables or docks, the PowerPic doubles up as a Qi wireless charger – just set any Qi-compatible phone inside the frame to start charging. PowerPic holds any 5” x 7” photo and is available in black or white. It enables up to 10 watts for wireless fast charging and will charge through most popular phone cases up to 3mm thick.

Twelve South AirFly Pro

£49.99

Available from Apple.com and Amazon UK

The perfect gift for any tech loving dad, the AirFly Pro is a Bluetooth adaptor that allows AirPods or other wireless headphones to be used in situations where only wired headphone jacks are available i.e. at the gym or on the plane.  Having incompatible wireless headphones and earbuds is now a thing of the past with AirFly Pro allowing up-to two users to easily connect their wireless headphones via Bluetooth, to the media system while flying or to a running machine. Also handy for anyone with an older car – simply plug in to the car’s AUX IN to make the stereo system Bluetooth compatible.

Groov-e Zen

Price: £54.99

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

The Groov-e Zen Active Noise Cancelling headphones are the ideal gift for any music loving dad. Combining 40mm Neodymium drivers for superior sound quality with crystal clear audio supported by Active Noise Cancelling, that reduces unwanted ambient sound, they provide an immersive listening experience.  With over 10-hours of wireless playback the Zen headphones are ideal for listening to favourite music when at home, travelling, commuting or in the office when connected to a Bluetooth device.

Activ5

Price: £129.99

Available from: Amazon.co.uk

Dubbed ‘a tiny gym in your pocket’ Activ5 is a portable fitness device ideal for any dad whether he’s a working professional who sits all day, likes to travel, over 60 or simply just finds it challenging to fit in daily activity. Activ5 by Activbody allows anyone with a smartphone or tablet to complete effective five-minute workouts from virtually anywhere.

Ideal for any fitness level, the sleek and portable handheld device guides users through short burst isometric workouts, providing full-body toning from both sitting and standing positions, all while tracking results on the companion Activ5 coaching App. It features more than 100 unique workouts that are calibrated to your individual strength level and uses your own body as resistance so you don’t need any other equipment. Fast, fun, and measuring data such as strength, strength increases, precision and other personal metrics, Activ5 helps motivate you to reach your fitness goals.

With a durable design that registers more than 200 lbs of force, Activ5 can help you increase your strength by as much as 5 percent per week. You can work your whole body or focus on particular areas and muscle groups such as your shoulders, biceps or abs. With Activ5 you can even exercise while playing one of the integrated games in the app that use the device as a controller. Playing games with the Activ5 is fun and challenging whilst still providing a workout.

Small enough to pop in your bag, Activ5 really does allow you to exercise anywhere – there are even specific workouts available on the app including Yoga and Pilates, at work, travelling on a train, plane and much more.

Senstroke

Price: £145

Available from: www.senstroke.com

A great option for any music loving day, the Senstroke connected sensors and app allow you to play drums anywhere, anytime. Perfect for anyone from wannabe drummers to pros, adults and children, simply attach the Bluetooth sensors to the included drumsticks and begin playing on any surface – a table, cushion or even on your knees. Senstroke is not only great for experienced drummers it’s also the perfect solution for anyone wanting to give drumming a go but is perhaps worried about space and noise complaints from the neighbours.

Pocketalk S

Price: £259

Available from: Amazon UK

The perfect gift for a travel mad dad, Pocketalk S is a multi-sensory, two-way translation device designed for easy naturally flowing conversations, even in noisy environments. With a sleek design encompassing a large touchscreen, two high-quality speakers, noise-cancelling microphones and a text-to-translate camera, Pocketalk S is able to create connections across 74 different languages in over 130 countries and regions. By utilising the best translation engines from around the world, Pocketalk S provides a consistently accurate translation for deciphering public transportation signs, menus, and creates the best experience by picking up localised dialects and slang.

Cowboy

Price: £1,790

Available from https://cowboy.com

A luxury present for dad, the sleek and stylish Cowboy is the next generation of connected electric bicycle. With live dashboard, navigation, GPS tracking, removable battery and ride stats, the accompanying app makes your ride more than just a ride. Its impressive features include:

-No gears, it uses intuitive assistance that adapts automatically to the power and speed you need

-Up to 70km battery range with a removable battery so you can recharge anywhere

-Integrated lights/intensifying brake lights to make sure you’re seen

-Hydraulic brakes meaning you can go from 25km/hr to stop in a split second

-Lightweight at only 16kg – lightest electric bike with removable battery on the market

-Built in GPS tracking

-Controlled by the Cowboy app, a live dashboard keeps the rider informed of the status of the ride in terms of speed, duration, distance and battery level.

48 is back with new plans data allowance rather shy but has other good perks. #48

48, Ireland’s first truly digital-only youth mobile network, is changing up mobile with the introduction of two totally new SIM only plans sure to revolutionise the data experience, giving customers more choice and flexibility than ever before.  The new plans, starting from just €9.99 per month also offer a range of incredible new flexi-data features allowing customers to experience a mobile network in a way that truly works for them.

 

 

In what is a first for any mobile network in Ireland, customers can CARRY, SAVE, SHARE, SWAP AND DONATE their data each month; this is a good move here which no other networks offer and might swing customers but the overall allowance might not cut it for an extra 3 euro a month from GOMO with 80GB of data. DATA IS KING these days..

  • CARRY IT
    • Roll any excess data over to next month before you lose it.
  • SAVE IT
    • We get a lot of rainy days in Ireland. Save 5GB for a really wet one or an emergency.
  • SHARE IT
    • BFFs share everything. If yours is on 48 and needs some data, share some of yours through the My48 App.
  • SWOP IT
    • Turn minutes into gigabytes. Exchange minutes not used for extra data
  • BORROW IT
    • Down on data? Mates have nothing for you? Once a month, we’ll spot you 1GB and you can get us back next month – we’re sound like that.
  • DONATE IT Turn data into donations. Donate up to 1GB of data to 48’s chosen charity, FoodCloud (equivalent of 50 cent).

The new plans not only represent greater flexibility but also allow customers to do all of the things they love like talk, text, internet… without having to worry about cost.

For €9.99 a month, customers get 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 20GB data. 48 has also introduced a second membership plan for €14.99 per month offering customers 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 40GB of data.

Both memberships also offer 4G connectivity as standard and a monthly EU data roaming allowance is included. What’s more, there is no limit on the number of customers who can avail of these new membership plans – they are available to anyone looking to change up their mobile experience!

The new membership plans have been live since April 2020 with existing customers making the most of the flexi-data deals.

Speaking about the new membership plans, Eilis Fitzgerald, Marketing Manager, 48 said; “We’re incredibly excited to unveil our two new membership plans today. Since 2012, 48 is Ireland’s first digital-only youth mobile network and more recently we recognised the need to freshen up our membership plans to better suit our customer’s needs. We listened to our target market and have created a mobile experience that is truly different, offering the flexibility that our customers crave. Finally, Ireland has a mobile network serving the youth market, offering a revolutionary data experience, greater flexibility at an affordable price point.”

For new customers looking to change up their mobile network, it’s simple to join; customers can visit 48.ie or download the My48 app, fill in their details to receive their new SIM through An Post to any address in Ireland. There’s no need for existing customers to change their SIM, they can simply log on to 48.ie and sign up for one of the new monthly memberships. New customers also have the option to trial the service first by ordering a SIM preloaded with 1GB of data before choosing to activate their account.

Ireland’s first digital only network, 48 customers have the benefit of managing their account exclusively online or by speaking with a member of 48’s dedicated webchat team who are available seven days a week. 48 customers will also benefit from 98% 4G population coverage as standard.

Nik Collection 3 By DxO: A Faster and More Creative User Experience in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic

DxO, one of the most innovative companies in the photography and image-editing industry, has announced the immediate release of the Nik Collection 3 by DxO, a major upgrade to the famous plugin suite for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and DxO PhotoLab. The Nik Collection 3 By DxO has become even more powerful and versatile with each new version. It features a newly designed Nik Selective Tool, the suite’s plugin launcher for Adobe Photoshop, and new quick edit tools. Nik Collection 3 By DxO also offers a new non-destructive workflow, a unique feature that is perfect for Adobe Lightroom Classic users, as well as an eighth geometric correction plugin, Perspective Efex. Finally, the Message Centre lets Nik Collection users stay informed about new upcoming features and access new online resources.

Quickly Unlock Your Creativity in Adobe Photoshop with the Nik Selective Tool

The Nik Selective Tool is a dedicated palette that gives users direct access to the suite’s various plugins from Adobe Photoshop. The new Nik Selective Tool has been completely redesigned. This latest version revolutionizes how Nik Collection By DxO is used by simplifying the suite and providing faster access to each editing feature. The new version of the Nik Selective Tool features a new design that makes it easier to identify each plugin and clearly display your favourite presets. To optimize the workspace in Adobe Photoshop, the palette can be automatically collapsed with one click. The tool is also fully compatible with HiDPI screens and can be used in dual monitor mode for an even more productive experience.

At the same time, the Nik Selective Tool has been expanded to include lightning-fast retouching options. Its new “Last Edit” feature recreates the last preset applied in a single click so users can quickly edit their images in the plugins of their choice. This feature is especially useful for editing batches of images or when users want to create a preset after editing a photo. Its brand-new “Quick Edit” option even lets users edit their images by applying the last action used without having to launch the plugin interface—all in a single click. Lastly, Silver Efex Pro and HDR Efex Pro now offer direct access to favourite presets, in addition to Color Efex Pro.

 

“The new Nik Selective Tool is a great way to make my post-processing workflow even more effective,” says Soli Kanani, professional photographer and DxO ambassador. “Just like a real-life assistant, it’s by my side around the clock, which lets me quickly open all the plugins I need at every step in the editing process, all without losing sight of what I’m doing.”

A Revolution for Adobe Lightroom Classic Users: A New Non-Destructive Workflow 

To better meet the needs of Adobe Lightroom Classic users, the Nik Collection 3 By DxO now offers a new workflow that lets photographers freely edit their files within the same plugin. This technology is based on the use of the TIFF MULTIPAGE file format, which combines the input image, the saved Nik Collection 3 By DxO editing parameters, and the output file all in the same file.  The Nik Collection 3 By DxO is the first suite of creative photo plugins to introduce a non-destructive workflow to Adobe Lightroom Classic, resulting in unparalleled versatility.

“The non-destructive workflow in Nik Collection 3 By DxO adds an incredible amount of flexibility and fluidity to the editing process,” says Jean-Marc Alexia, VP Product Strategy and Marketing at DxO. “It can be used with all host software programs that include a third-party export menu. It’s a huge improvement.”

Perspective Efex: The New Geometric Correction Plugin 

Perspective Efex is the new Nik Collection 3 By DxO plugin dedicated to geometric corrections. Drawing from DxO’s unique expertise, it combines a number of exclusive tools to remove defects and add effects to photos. 

Perspective Efex automatically corrects unsightly leading lines, no matter how complex, which is a very useful feature in urban photography. It is also the only plugin to offer a feature that automatically corrects shape distortion, providing an easy way to reestablish the natural shapes of subjects located on the edges of wide-angle photos. It is the perfect tool for group wedding photos and family photos! Thanks to the use of DxO’s powerful optical modules, Perspective Efex can even automatically correct fish-eye distortion. Lastly, its automatic horizon correction tool instantly levels out skewed horizon lines in architectural and landscape photos.

Miniature Effect

Perspective Efex can also be used creatively at the end of the editing process to simulate a shallow depth-of-field effect, i.e. miniature effect. Previously, such a result could only be obtained through costly and complex tilt-shift lenses. The plugin offers two blur gradients. Users can adjust placement and intensity and choose whether they would like the effect to be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Users can also change their aperture settings when simulating a bokeh effect.

Message Centre

The Message Centre in Nik Collection 3 By DxO can be accessed through the new Nik Selective Tool. This feature helps Adobe Photoshop users stay up to date on the latest news about the plugin suite and access a number of online resources, including webinars, tutorials, customer support services, and much more!

Price & Availability

The Nik Collection 3 by DxO (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-nikcollection) for a special launch price of £86.99 instead of £125, and £49.99 instead of £69 for the upgrade, until June 30, 2020.

 

Photographers who already own Nik Collection 2 By DxO or a previous version can upgrade their software by signing into their customer accounts. A fully-functional, one-month trial version of Nik Collection 3 By DxO is available on the DxO website: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/download/.