Swiss developer Blindflug Studios today announced a completely refreshed and optimised version of iconic nuclear war strategy game First Strike, launching 10 March for PC, iOS and Android devices. First Strike Classic reprises First Strike: Final Hour with a brand-new AI with new behaviours and a redesigned user interface. The First Strike Classic update replaces the older versions of First Strike on Steam, Google Play Store and Apple App Store free of charge.
First Strike has been played by over 11 million players since its release in 2014 in almost every country on Earth. Be it South Sudan, China, the Virgin Islands, the US or Mongolia, there are First Strike players everywhere with only one exception: North Korea.
See the First Strike: Classic trailer below
Over the years, the First Strike fan community has requested new content. This remastered version of the game will now serve as the base for future content updates. Those expansions are exclusive to the free version of the game, which are planned to start rolling out in summer 2021.
First Strike: Classic Features:
Twelve playable nuclear superpowers – You decide which real-world superpower you play, from the USA to Russia, China or North Korea.
Devastating superweapons – Build twelve technologically advanced rockets, from Tridents to the TSAR, unique to each nation.
Build rockets and missiles, conquer territories and research new devastating nuclear technologies.
Control the world – shoot and defend against nuclear rockets on a 3D globe.
Improvements of the remaster:
First Strike’s classic fast-paced strategy gameplay – completely remastered!
New artificial intelligence with new behaviors
Refreshed graphical user interface
Social Hub for the fan community
Update serves as base for future expansions, planned for summer 2021
First Strike: Classic launches 10 March for PC, iOS and Android.
Irish headquartered IT product procurement and services company, Arkphire, has completed the rollout of a major employee-centred digital transformation programme, which is a multi-million investment by leading Irish financial institution, AIB. At the heart of the project which aligns with AIB’s digitalisation and ways of working strategies, is the sourcing, delivery and support of a fully digital workspace for AIB employees across Ireland and the UK. The ambitious employee mobilisation programme, which gained urgency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has enabled AIB to continue to provide an uninterrupted service to its customers, while also empowering its workforce to communicate and collaborate innovatively across the entire enterprise from their home workspaces.
The project saw Arkphire deliver 8,000 digital workspace solutions including Microsoft Surface laptops, laptop stands, monitors, docking stations and keyboards to AIB’s employees across Ireland and the UK. The laptops were configured as notebook or touch-screen-operated tablet PCs, based on the AIB employee’s preference in either country. Arkphire is also providing a range of ongoing support services to AIB including:
Adoption Services—the ability to procure, assemble and roll out hardware pre-installed with software as specified by AIB for its employees’ specific needs and deliver it to their homes anywhere in either country;
Break/fix support—enhancing the standard warranty provided by Microsoft to ensure timely and reliable collection and repair of equipment;
Next business day replacement—if an employee needs a replacement computer, Arkphire can guarantee to deliver the necessary personalised solution, complete with software updates within 24 hours.
Employee-centred digital transformation programme at AIB- Geraldine Casey, Chief People Officer at AIB at a virtual meeting with (from left to right), Graham Fagan, Group Director of Technology & Operations at AIB Group and Bríd Graham, Managing Director of Arkphire’s IT procurement services business. Arkphire has delivered the rollout of a multi-million euro employee mobilisation programme involving 8,000 employees at AIB.
Geraldine Casey, Chief People Officer at AIB said “At AIB our aim is to empower our people so they can work from home and support our customers as seamlessly as possible. 8,000 of our people now have remote access, with state of the art technology allowing us to develop our ways of working and digitalisation strategies.”
Graham Fagan, Group Director of Technology & Operations at AIB Group said: “In overall terms, Arkphire has very quickly earned our trust through a rapidly accelerated programme, where the Arkphire team has demonstrated real professionalism and a ‘can do’ attitude that we really value. On a project of this scale, there are always challenges, but where any difficulties arose, Arkphire stepped up to the mark, bringing things back on track and always delivered. I greatly appreciate their support as a true IT partner.”
AIB is a financial services group operating predominantly in Ireland and the United Kingdom, providing a range of services to retail, business and corporate customers, with market-leading positions in key segments. The bank has over 2.8 million customers.
Given the importance of the initiative to AIB, which is adopting a new operating model to increase the flexibility of its workforce to work from anywhere, it was essential for the bank to engage with a partner of proven capability, international reach and who could move at pace. According to Fagan “The combination of Arkphire’s long-standing logistical and procurement capabilities along with their experience and track record of service delivery for projects of this scale, both domestically and internationally, were decisive factors in selecting Arkphire.”
Bríd Graham, managing director of Arkphire’s IT Procurement Services business, said, “We are delighted to be selected as the IT partner for AIB on such a transformational project. The pandemic forced us all to act quickly in unforeseen circumstances. AIB was determined to ensure it could provide an effective solution to help their employees transition to the new normal of working from home while continuing to provide uninterrupted support for their customers. We are very proud to partner with such a strong Irish heritage brand.”
Earlier this year, Arkphire became part of the Presidio Group, a leading North American IT solutions provider. The combined capabilities from both Arkphire and Presidio create a new global IT solutions business with the ability to serve customers and enable their remote working strategies in all key markets.
The journey to the NEOVERSE for PlayStation gamers starts today! After successful launches and thousands of positive reviews on both Steam and Nintendo Switch, Tino Gamez now brings thecharismatic Heroes, multiple skill combinations and unlimited destinations of NEOVERSE to both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms.
Check out the NEOVERSE PlayStation Launch Trailer below..
About Neoverse
NEOVERSE is a time warping multiverse game consisting of thrilling adventures that are packed with exciting challenges. Combining roguelite, deck-building and strategy gameplay together, NEOVERSE puts your skills to the test. Embark on an adventure with a cast of unique heroes to save the living realms.
Be the Saviour of NEOVERSE
Create your own Strategy with 300 cards and over 100 skills.
Choose from three charismatic Heroes, each with their own unique abilities and specialties.
Over 70 types of Monsters to battle, each with their own skills, techniques and fighting styles.
Multiple skill combinations for each Hero. Play your way.
Play for fun and adventure or take on challenging levels for more hardcore players.
Start your Journey Across Time and Space
Every adventure is different! Customize your experience with new cards each time you play.
Your future destinations will depend on every decision you make.
The future and beyond are legendary tales yet to be told!
Endless Gaming Experience
Strategy customization is your key to saving the Neoverse.
Weave your talent tree and create your own skill combination.
Switch between gear options to master the game.
NEOVERSE is available to purchase from the Official PlayStation Store US here for $23.99 and the Official PlayStation Store UK here for £15.49.
FUZE Technologies, creator of the popular FUZE4 Nintendo Switch coding platform is so excited to announce their coding competition in association Wireframe Magazine.
Have you always wanted to become a game developer or perhaps you have a ready-made game concept that’s just waiting to be put in to action? Code your game using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch. It can be any genre or style you like, as long as it’s retro-themed, coded using FUZE, and submitted via the platform by the closing date: Monday 19 April 2021.
What’s that, you don’t own FUZE4 Nintendo Switch? No problem! To support the competition FUZE is giving away up to 200 copies of its award-winning coding application worth £12.99 each, that’s over £2,500 worth of Nintendo Switch software for free!
Using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch entrants can create their game(s) and submit it to the judging panel for the chance to have their work appear on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform. Perfect for beginners and more experienced coders alike, FUZE4 Nintendo Switch is easy to use with step-by-step tutorials to get you started, even if you have no prior coding knowledge. There are no limits to the kind of games you can create – the only thing that can hold you back is your own imagination.
The competition will be announced in issue 48 of Wireframe Magazine which is available to buy from various newsagents and online, or can download for free from https://wireframe.raspberrypi.org/ from the 4th of March.
Full competition details along with instructions to claim your free download code are available at www.fuze.co.uk/wireframe.
You can enter multiple times and even win multiple prizes. Entrants can be any age but those twelve years or under must communicate via a parent or guardian. The competition closes on the 19th April 2021, so there’s plenty of time to get your entries in. The full list of prizes include:
5 Evercade handheld consoles and game packs worth over £530
16 Retro Fusion books worth over £300
2 My Retro Computer cases worth £378 A whole lot of Kudos and the chance to see your game published and available on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform!
Twelve South, a leading designer of Apple accessories, today introduces the new redesigned ParcSlope, a sleek metal dual-purpose stand that elevates MacBook screens and angles iPads for more comfort and productivity. ParcSlope is available now for £49.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
The Twelve South ParcSlope is a one-piece metal stand that raises a MacBook screen to an optimum viewing position while keeping the keyboard angled and low to the desk for comfortable typing. Whilst the ParcSlope is a great addition to any home office set up, it is also small and light enough that it can be moved around the home in the event users want to work from their kitchen island or dining room table. With ParcSlope, MacBook users will enjoy better ergonomics that help to relieve shoulder and wrist pain, a video call friendly viewing angle and an open wedge design that allows for increased airflow and a cooler, quieter MacBook.
For iPad users, ParcSlope angles the device to a wrist-friendly 18-degree angle that’s perfect for sketching, creative work, note taking or performing music. The matte black easel stand is sturdy and holds every iPad (except iPad mini) in a landscape or portrait mode. ParcSlope even allows users to turn their iPad into a mini desktop by pairing it with a wireless keyboard providing an even smarter way to work.
A must-have for MacBook and iPad users, this versatile modern stand also features tiny ridges along the top that are just enough to allow the MacBook screen to swing freely open, while a lip at the front of the stand enables users to open their MacBook with one hand while gravity holds the notebook in place. Additionally, an oval cutout at the back of the stand holds cables securely when an iPad or MacBook is not in use.
The Twelve South ParcSlope is available now for £49.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
Today Samsung announced the launch of Wildlife Watch, an ambitious new pilot that is using technology to help fight back against poaching in the African Bush. The pro-grade cameras in Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) handsets will capture live footage that will be streamed 24/7 from the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa, part of the Kruger National Park. Everyone is invited to Take the Watch and become a virtual ranger, helping to protect endangered animals from poaching by monitoring them in their natural habitat and enjoy live sightings of these spectacular animals from home.
Samsung has joined forces with African technology pioneer Africam to reimagine one of its latest Galaxy mobile devices in an initiative that uses technology to help make the world a better place. Africam’s profit for purpose model means they charitably support The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit; an all-female troop who use non-violent methods to prevent poaching, which has surged during the pandemic as illegal hunters take advantage of the sudden fall in tourism. Through the Wildlife Watch initiative viewers will be closer to the work of the rangers, see the animals they protect and have the opportunity to donate to support them.
South Korean born, Berlin Based DJ, producer, and fashion designer Peggy Gou, who loves animals – especially giraffes – is fronting the initiative to champion and encourage people to take part, take the watch and raise awareness.
Four Samsung Galaxy S20 FE handsets have been installed as additional cameras in the bush, boosting the reach of the existing Africam infrastructure in the Balule Nature Reserve by over half for the duration of the pilot. The pro-grade camera in each handset is being used to capture animals for the live stream. Supporting the rangers in their daily tasks, the bigger pixels, enhanced camera AI and 30x Space Zoom including 3 x Optical Zoom in the handsets have improved the quality of the photos the Black Mambas are able to take whilst on patrol. From a distance and even in low light and the unreliable conditions of the bush they can send clear and detailed images back to their base as evidence for investigations into poaching activity.
A camouflaged jeep fitted with a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will also be used by the rangers for surveillance patrols, and the live streamed action will bring you closer to the rangers and their daily experiences.
Samsung’s Galaxy upcycling programme aims to solve social needs, lengthen product lifecycles, and reduce waste by reimagining phones into new roles. Repurposing existing products to serve a critical new function is a great way to avoid needing to create new products. As part of the Wildlife Watch initiative Samsung handsets are being redeployed by the rangers as CCTV cameras for perimeter fences, as well as adding crucial tech support to improve the rangers’ daily patrols.
By becoming a virtual ranger and taking the watch on wildlife-watch.com, you can alert rangers if you see animals in danger or signs of poaching, share what you see via snapshots on social to encourage others to take part and donate to The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. With different camera views it’s never the same watch twice, and you might witness elephants, lions and even giraffes in the wild from your sofa.
Animal loving DJ, producer, and fashion designer Peggy Gou, said, “We all love these magnificent animals, but the harsh reality is poaching is on the rise all across Africa. It’s amazing to think a device we use every day can help tackle such an important issue. The ability to become a virtual ranger and support the incredible real-life rangers battling against poaching, is really exciting.”
Mark Notton, Senior Director Mobile, Samsung Europe said, “As our lives have become more virtual, the power that technology has to bring people together to do something good and for the benefit of everyone has never been clearer. Wildlife Watch is a truly exciting pilot, and by repurposing one of our latest handsets in this way, we hope increased eyes on these incredible animals will not only support existing surveillance and raise awareness but bring pleasure by letting people see and learn more about wildlife from home.”
Committed to using technology as an instrument for good, Wildlife Watch supports The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan adopted by 193 United Nations Members, by addressing Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land – of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Samsung has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch an education and donation-based mobile app – Samsung Global Goals. Currently on 100M+ Galaxy smartphones worldwide it has raised more than $1.5M in donations for the UNDP and provides millions of individuals the opportunity to make the world a better place and take action to achieve the 17 Global Goals.
Wildlife Watch will be live for two months (25th February – 8th April 2021). During which time, Samsung hopes to bring many people’s eyes back to the animals that have been forgotten during the pandemic. To watch the live stream and help protect vulnerable animals, go to wildlife-watch.com.
Gitzo, world-renowned for over 100 years for setting the industry’s standard for innovative camera accessories, launched today the Légende Tripod and Camera Backpack. Engineered to last a lifetime with low environmental impact, the Légende combo is inspired by the storytelling power of photography: transferred from one generation to another while creating eternal stories. The Légende products are designed to address “throwaway culture” by creating the smallest environmental footprint possible through sustainable materials built for optimal performance throughout its entire life and backed by an unlimited warranty. The Légende Tripod and Camera Bag is available today for pre-order onwww.indiegogo.com and will ship to photographers in June 2021.
“As photographers, we photograph the wonders of the world and capture its beauty through our lens, so we wanted to create a product that would reduce its negative impact on the very planet that inspires us,” said Marco Pezzana, CEO of Gitzo. “We set out to create a product that was forever repairable, could withstand any adventure, and would never be thrown away. After months of design and development, we’re very excited to bring Légende to photographers across the globe.”
Unmatched Manufacturing Quality backed by Expert Craftsmanship
Gitzo continues cementing its legacy for manufacturing excellence, innovation and quality that lasts a lifetime as the Légende Tripod and Camera Bag are built to survive all of life’s adventures. Using high-quality materials in its premium design, the Légende products are made to be everlasting as a lifetime companion for generations. The travel tripod is lightweight and features one hundred percent carbon fiber legs for superior strength and stiffness. In addition, the precision aluminium leg locks provide ergonomic control with both knurling and rubber inserts.
Unlimited Warranty and Maintenance for the Eternal Story Those who own the Légende tripod and backpack receive the exclusive benefit of an unlimited warranty, designed to usher in a circular economy that brings an end to the “throwaway culture.” The Légende Tripod is crafted of 170 individual parts that can be repaired instead of having to replace the tripod in case of damage. One hundred percent of the tripod parts are replaceable and seventy percent of those can be done by the owner, so the part will be shipped out directly for simple repair at no extra charge.
Sustainable Materials Reinforce Légende’s Earth-First Approach Légende pushes to create the smallest environmental footprint possible with the use of sustainable materials that complement the unlimited warranty. One hundred percent of the backpack’s main exterior fabric is made up of recycled polyester and sixty-five percent of the entire bag weight is comprised of recycled fabrics. Additionally, the Eco Leather tripod strap and backpack details are made of cruelty-free, environmental-friendly, and non-toxic synthetic leather. It is light and extremely soft with great performance.
Supporting the Next Generation of Photographers Légende backers will contribute to the development of Gitzo’s Wild Shots Outreach educational program, which seeks to educate the children bordering the Kruger National Park about conservation and photography. Five percent of campaign sales will go towards this program that will help the students by opening up eco employment opportunities and instilling the value of our protected spaces.
Légende Tripod Tech Spec Highlights
Weight 1.45kg
Payload: 8kg
Leg angles: 25°, 70°
Minimum Height: 43cm
Maximum Height: 165cm
Panoramic Rotation: 360 °
Front and Lateral Tilt: -90° / +40°
Availability
Available today through Indiegogo.com, the Légende tripod and backpack will be ready to ship in May 2021. Kit pricing will start at $699 for super early birds who will get a Légende Tripod, Backpack and Gitzo Mini Traveler.
Motoklik, an Irish Motorsport Tech start-up, has raised €300,000 in seed funding from investors and Enterprise Ireland. Along with supporting the creation of 10 roles, the funding will also be used to complete the commercial design of the product and launch it into the market.
The company, which was founded in 2018 by Jens Köpke, a former Research and Development Engineer with Bausch and Lomb, and Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur category winner, is seeking to make racers faster and safer by improving their suspension setup.
Jens has been racing off-road motorcycles for over 20 years. In 2016, he injured himself in a crash caused by an incorrect suspension setup. As a result, he had the idea to create Motoklik.
Motoklik’s product aims to reduce the need for riders to rely on the “feel” of their suspension setup. Market research carried out by Motoklik revealed that 90% of racers report issues with their suspension setup, such as being too stiff or soft, but lack data on what is the cause and extent of the problem.
Motoklik has developed a cloud-based Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning platform in collaboration with the European Space Agency. Via a mobile app, it links to an in-house developed motorcycle suspension position monitoring system that provides racers, and race teams, with information on the best suspension setup for current track conditions.
Mr Köpke said the investment will put Motoklik in a position to take advantage of the booming off-road motorcycling sector and prove the technology works in one of the world’s toughest environments.
Caption: Motoklik CEO and founder, Jens Köpke. Credit: Motoklik.
“Motoklik is a ground-breaking product in Motorsports,”says Mr. Köpke.“Where previously data acquisition and management was only for top end race teams, now our AI and Machine Learning system can help teams and racers at every level to find the best setup, letting them concentrate on one thing – Winning!”
Welcoming the funding announcement Enterprise Ireland’s Niall McEvoy, Manager HPSU said,“We are proud to support Motoklik’s fundraising round to create 10 high value add jobs in Kilkenny over the next couple of years. Motoklik has developed a light, affordable, robust system to measure suspension movement developed for motorbikes. Jens Köpke is passionate about motor racing and his own experience drove him to use cutting edge technology to ensure that the sport is safer. This is a significant development for Motoklik and we look forward to working with Jens and his team in internationalising this innovative offer on this exciting venture.”
Motoklik is an ESA BIC (Business Incubation Centre) Ireland supported client company. ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland Manager, Peter Finnegan, commented that, “Motoklik is an interesting example of another Irish company that is utilising Earth observation data to enhance its product offering. The company’s innovative use of technology to address a problem experienced by motorsport enthusiasts has global applicability.”
Financing – The new investment is led by a number of local investors and Enterprise Ireland, as well as further funding through the European Space Agency. As part of the process former Merlyn Showering CFO, Michael Kilcommons will join the board of directors.
It is of utmost importance that the information about the conditions of a patient’s health is continually available and accurately documented. So, they can be well tracked and guide the physician’s decisions in treating the patient. Information that is recorded on paper is not reliable and causes a delay in data entry. Patient monitoring devices help ensure that the healthcare professional has easy access to updated information about a patient’s health status, especially vital signs.
Patient monitoring accessories are sophisticated devices that ensure that the information about a patients’ health status is always available and accessible to medical professionals. Besides the ones found within hospital buildings, some are automated to work with mobile devices and operating systems, while others are designed as wireless wearable devices. They are especially needed for patients with chronic or terminal diseases. Inthis article, we would be exploring the benefits.
Easy Access to Information
By providing full and easy access to data about a patient’s health, patient monitoring devices ensure that decisions reached concerning treatment and care are well informed. Also, speed up the recovery time of the patient.
Error Reduction
An error in the recording of a patient’s vital signs, for instance, can result in wrong dosage or therapy, which may lead to worsened health conditions or death of the patient. This has been a common case with hospitals that lack the automated structure of recording data on the health of patients. Some handwritings get misinterpreted or illegible while in other cases, some details are not recorded and are ignored until they lead to severe complications. According to statistics, 10-25% of patient information that is manually recorded contains errors. Patient monitoring devices ensure that medical professionals are updated with accurate facts to reduce cases of errors to the barest minimum.
Remote Solution
Some patient monitoring systems and devices have been designed and automated to make it possible for medical professionals and caregivers to gain access to patient data while the patients are comfortably convalescing at home. This helps save the unnecessary time and costs of sleeping on hospital beds or constantly visiting the hospital. Some of these machines have been designed to work with mobile devices and applications. This makes the system friendly and easy to use by the medical practitioners and patients. An app or a wireless device designed as a bracelet is a good idea for progressive recovery without stress.
Reduced Costs and Saved Time
Patient monitoring accessories save or totally remove the time spent on manually transcribing patient data on paper charts or spreadsheets. This is to ensure that the healthcare professionals spend vital time attending to the patients and to improve efficiency and the health condition of the patient.
This also saves a lot of money spent on treatment. Healthcare is expensive and gets more expensive with time. By providing the medical professionals with updated patient information, the diagnosis, and treatment of the patient will not only be speedy and accurate, but it will also save the patient unnecessary expenses on repeated appointments, medical tests, and staying in the hospital for a long period.
