Month: September 2020

@QuietMark now accredits eight @meacouk products. #Meaco #QuietMark #Tech

Meaco is delighted that the MeacoDry20L ‘ABC’ Dehumidifier becomes the eighth Meaco product to have achieved the Quiet Mark accreditation. Meaco products are renowned for low noise levels. The company prioritises manufacturing products that are low in noise and low on energy consumption.

The ‘ABC’ 20L joins the smaller ‘ABC’ 10L and 12L models, the 12L Low Energy dehumidifier, and the company’s family of cooling fans as Quiet Mark accredited products. After extensive testing, the 20L was found to be one of the quietest products in its category. Quiet Mark is the international approval award programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society, and Meaco is the only  manufacturer to have achieved this award for its dehumidifiers.

With more people currently working from home, products that are “whisper” quiet can make for a better work/home lifestyle, helping to reduce stress, and noise levels are becoming an important feature when making a buying decision. Quiet Mark awarded products have each been tested and approved as one of the lowest noise performance products in their category. Recent consumer research by Quiet Mark confirmed that 76% of UK customers want quieter home appliances.

CHECK OUT OUR CORDLESS MEACO FAN 260C REVIEW 

Reaching these low noise levels have enabled customers to use the dehumidifiers in and around their bedroom and in particular for the fans to be used close up whether that be on a work desk, in the living room whilst watching TV or by the bed to improve sleep.

 

With news of the latest certification achievement Poppy Szkiler Founder and CEO of Quiet Mark said, “We are delighted these Meaco dehumidifiers have achieved Quiet Mark certification, providing acoustic performance which does not intrude, whilst delivering the core function of reducing humidity in summer and condensation in winter.”

 

Until recently smaller Meaco dehumidifiers, ideal for up to three-bedroom homes, held the Quiet Mark accreditation. Operating at 44dB (A), this latest award for the ABC 20L shows that you can have a larger model for use in larger homes, without compromising on noise level. The model is also energy efficient and the environmentally friendly R290 refrigerant means that it extracts more water from the air for less money.

Chris Michael, Meaco MD comments “We’re proud to receive the Quiet Mark accreditation for the latest Meaco product to undergo testing. We continually strive to produce quieter and more energy efficient machines and are determined to give our customers the best products available.”

The full range of Meaco Quiet Mark products is:

ABC 20L compressor dehumidifier 

ABC 10L compressor dehumidifier

ABC 12 L compressor dehumidifier

12L Low Energy Dehumidifier

1056 Air Circulator

1056 Pedestal Air Circulator

650 Air Circulator

360 Air Circulator

Survival-Horror Cult Hit “Song of Horror” Lurks Onto PS4 & Xbox One on October 29. #Gaming #Tech #SongOfHorror

Having kickstarted its movement to both refresh and honour the survival-horror genre last Halloween with the very first episode of Song of Horror on PC, Raiser Games and Protocol Games are utterly spooked to announce that the game will come to both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as one single release on October 29th, 2020.

The release will comprise of all five episodes in one package, allowing console players to take on a thrilling paranormal story where the threat of The Presence, a dark entity that reacts to your way of playing, looms large throughout in one seamless flow, celebrating the first anniversary of the game’s debut – a title that’s been in development for more than six years in total.

Song of Horror sees players set out to investigate the mystery of the disappearance of famed but now elusive writer Sebastian P. Husher – a man who, along with his entire family, has vanished without a trace. Taking on any one of 13 different characters, Song of Horror is a Lovecraftian, third-person adventure that pays homage to the classic masterpieces of the survival-horror genre.

“We have been blown away by the reception Song of Horror has had on PC, and now’s the time to broaden the game’s base and reach out to console players,” says studio co-founder Carlos Grupeli. “The survival-horror genre has such a history on both PlayStation and Xbox that it feels only right to bring our little ode to all that has gone before to an audience that truly appreciates real scares.”

At its heart, Song of Horror is a non-combat adventure where the focus instead is on running and hiding, staying silent in the midst of all the terror to avoid triggering unnerving manifestations, capable of bringing the game’s line-up to the brink of insanity. With the game’s ever-present foe The Presence keeping players on their toes from start to finish, Song of Horror’s mission to keep you severely spooked is one it never lets up on.

Song of Horror features: –

  • A truly dynamic terror experience: its antagonist, the supernatural entity known only as The Presence, is controlled by an advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) that reacts to your actions and decisions.
  • Experience unbearable fear as this otherworldly being responds to your way of playing and hunts you down in unexpected ways, offering a unique experience to every player and gameplay where tension builds up naturally instead of coming from scripted sequences.
  • Live this story through the eyes of a varied set of characters related to the story in their own way. Every character is different, and brings their unique point of view to the investigation, allowing them to approach clues and items differently.
  • Their actions and decisions will shape the world: some of them will know more or less of certain aspects of the story; some will be more effective against supernatural manifestations, but all of them can die if the Presence gets to them – and death can be permanent. If they die, you will have to pick the story up with another one, and continue the investigation so their deaths are not in vain.
  • A mysterious antique shop, a forgotten abbey, an abandoned mental hospital… Each location in Song of Horror is inspired by the classics of the genre. Explore and investigate these haunted places to gather clues and items that will help you solve challenging puzzles while enduring the agonizing tension of the game’s atmosphere.

Song of Horror will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as one single release on October 29th, 2020.

Sennheiser launches CX 400BT True Wireless. #Sennheiser #CX400BT #TrueWireless

Rules are there to be broken: With the new CX 400BT True Wireless, Sennheiser has rewritten the rulebook for true wireless audio by bringing its high-end acoustic technology to an exciting new pair of everyday earphones. With intuitive customisable controls, all-day comfort and a 7-hour battery life that can be extended to up to 20 hours using the supplied charging case, they are the ideal, uncompromised choice for anyone with a passion for great sound.

“The CX 400BT True Wireless makes astonishing sound quality incredibly accessible,” said Frank Foppe, Product Manager at Sennheiser. “First, our premium true wireless range set new standards in audio quality by introducing high-end acoustic technology to the true wireless market. Now, we are excited to be bringing this ‘sound first’ ethos to everyday true wireless earphones as well. We believe that people shouldn’t give up on sound quality when giving up cables – and with the CX 400BT True Wireless they don’t have to.”

The CX 400BT True Wireless delivers astonishing performance thanks to Sennheiser’s 7mm dynamic drivers which are also featured in the acclaimed MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 earphones that were introduced earlier this year. Developed for the audio specialist’s premium true wireless earphones, this bespoke acoustic system delivers high-fidelity stereo sound with deep bass, natural mids and clear, detailed treble. With the Sennheiser Smart Control app it is also possible to tailor the sound experience to your personal preference via the built-in equaliser. Support for codecs such as SBC, AAC and aptX assures exceptional sound quality with both iOS and Android mobile devices.

The CX 400BT True Wireless is powered by Sennheiser’s 7mm dynamic drivers

Intuitive and effortless to use
The CX 400BT True Wireless has been created for fast-paced, always-on lifestyles. Staying entertained, informed and connected is effortless and intuitive, thanks to the earbuds’ customisable touch controls that let the user define their preferred way of controlling audio, calls or accessing voice assistants such as Google Assistant or Siri.

For phone calls and when using smart assistants, the earbuds feature ambient noise reduction microphones to make voice interactions sound natural and crystal clear. With the CX 400BT True Wireless, device connectivity is fuss-free, thanks to Bluetooth 5.1 compatibility for reliable connectivity and easy management of Bluetooth connections using the Smart Control app.

Experience all day entertainment in total comfort
With 7 hours battery life and up to 20 hours available when charging on-the-go with the supplied case, the CX 400BT True Wireless can keep you entertained throughout the day – and comes with all-day comfort to match.

The stylish, minimalist design is available in white or black

Stylish, minimalist, and perfectly balanced, the earbuds’ ergonomic design – available in either black or white – assures all-day wearing comfort, while their carefully crafted build quality ensures lasting durability. For a perfect in-ear fit that keeps the earbuds securely in place and effectively attenuates outside noise, adapters are provided in a choice of four sizes.

The CX 400BT True Wireless will be available in black and white from September 15 for £169.00 GBP (MSRP).

Virgin Media is Ireland’s Fastest Broadband Provider and In-Home Wi-Fi Network for fourth year in a row #VirginMedia #Ookla

Ookla, the worldwide independent leader in consumer-initiated testing and analysis, has named Virgin Media as Ireland’s fastest broadband provider, for the fourth year in a row, and Ireland’s fastest In-Home Wi-Fi network. The results of tests taken with Speedtest® show that Virgin Media is considerably faster when compared to its nearest competitor for broadband and In-Home Wi-Fi.

Comparing millions of tests carried out by consumers themselves, Ookla analysed the results of tests taken by customers of all the major internet service providers in Ireland during the award determination period (Q1-Q2 2020).

Virgin Media provided the fastest speeds delivering 90th percentile download speeds of 255.18 Mbps compared to Vodafone (175.95 Mbps), eir (112.28 Mbps) or Sky (95.33 Mbps).

Virgin Media’s In-Home Wi-Fi also excelled, providing Virgin’s customers with 90th percentile download speeds of 251.23 Mbps, compared to Vodafone (156.42 Mbps), eir (111.42 Mbps) and Sky (99.42 Mbps).

Paul Higgins, Vice President of Commercial, said: “Today’s announcement is another fantastic endorsement for the Virgin Media cable broadband network. The fact we own our entire network, which uses DOCSIS 3 cable technology, means we can deliver speeds that are head and shoulders above our rivals. To be independently verified by Ookla, a globally recognised organisation, for the fourth year running underlines the investment we have consistently made to ensure our customers can enjoy Irelands fastest broadband network.”

Our award-winning speeds, paired with our innovative Hub with Smart Wi-Fi, means customers can expect to achieve the best In Home Wi-Fi and enjoy more connected entertainment including video, movies and gaming on more devices than ever. It also means our customers can be sure of the fastest Wi-Fi experience when it comes to working from home, be it online video conferencing or file sharing with colleagues. Virgin Media broadband network is delivering average download speeds that are over 72% faster than our nearest competitor.  

We know our customers are using their broadband more than ever before with a 40% increase in data usage and a 22% increase in Wi-Fi usage across Virgin Media’s high speed residential broadband network during the period from March to June inclusive. With our recent announcement offering 1Gb broadband speeds to 97.5% of our network, we’re now giving customers the option of even faster broadband speeds to their homes and the latest in-home technology to unlock the power of this new capability. The fastest really has gotten even faster.”

Doug Suttles, CEO, GM and Co-Founder of Ookla said: “We are pleased to present Virgin Media with the award for Fastest Broadband and In-Home Wi-Fi Network in Ireland. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in Q1-Q2 2020 based on Ookla’s rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest.”

The full results of the speed test can be viewed here: 

https://www.speedtest.net/awards/ireland/2020?award_type=isp&time_period=q1-q2 

Microsoft Ireland swaps tech for tyres in 30,000km cycling challenge in aid of @LauraLynnHouse #MicrosoftLifeIreland

Hundreds of Microsoft Ireland employees are swapping tech for tyres this month as they take on the challenge of cycling 30,000kms over the 30 days of September in order to raise €30,000 for LauraLynn, Ireland’s only children’s hospice.

Microsoft’s seventh annual charity cycle will see the company’s employees, as well as their family members, hit the road and clock up as many kilometres as they can on solo or family bike rides, or indoors on a stationary bike, in order to raise €1 for every kilometre cycled. Over the course of the 30 days, Microsoft employees will collectively cycle the distance to Perth, Australia and back.

All funds raised from the charity cycle will go directly to LauraLynn as it provides much needed respite for children and families after months of strict cocooning due to COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, LauraLynn has continued to provide family supports such as play and music therapy, counselling and wellbeing checks, as well as crisis respite at its hospice in Leopardstown, close to Microsoft’s campus at One Microsoft Place.

To mark the launch of the thirty-day cycling challenge, Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland said: “Despite the challenges created by COVID-19, the team at LauraLynn has continued to provide vital care and supports to families across Ireland. But now, more than ever, they need our support. That’s why our employees are dusting off their cycling helmets and getting back in the saddle for the 7th year to participate in a very special cycling challenge.

“Since 2014, Microsoft employees have raised a staggering €430,000 for LauraLynn by way of our annual cycle and we remain as committed as ever to achieving this year’s fundraising goal of €30,000.”

Emma Reid, a member of the Microsoft cycling team said: “This is my second year participating in the Microsoft cycle for LauraLynn and whilst COVID-19 is preventing us from cycling alongside our colleagues, we remain entirely united in our goal to raise much needed funds for the children’s hospice. Of course, I don’t intend on going it alone, my husband and two children and coming along for the ride as we collectively aim to complete 500 kilometres as a family over the course of the 30 days.” 

Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice said: “We are humbled by the continued support shown to LauraLynn by Microsoft Ireland. This is the seventh year of the Microsoft annual cycle for LauraLynn and we are hugely appreciative of their ongoing support.

“Whilst there is still much uncertainty about what the remainder of the year and indeed next year will look like, we have been very fortunate in how generous our supporters and the public have been in response to our appeals and virtual challenges. Microsoft has been hugely supportive of LauraLynn and so it is really special to have the opportunity to work together again on this fantastic challenge”.

To support LauraLynn, members of the public can pledge their support and donate by simply logging on to  http://aka.ms/Cycle4LauraLynn.

The public can track the progress of the team as they undertake their 30,000km challenge using the hashtag #MicrosoftLifeIreland.