Month: December 2023

Last minute Christmas travel tech gifts – QDOS chargers and power

If you are travelling this Christmas check out these last minute Christmas travel tech gifts – QDOS chargers and power will keep you connected no matter where you are or where you go and are all portable and an ideal gift for you or that tech lover in your life,

PowerLink COMBI 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – £49.99

  • Space Grey, multi-port USB-C Hub with tuck in cable design
  • Charge your USB-C enabled MacBook/laptop with pass through PD charging at Max 100W
  • 3 x USB 3.1 (10Gb/s high speed transfer)
  • 1 x USB-C (PD 3.1, Max 100W)
  • 1 x HDMI (4K display)
  • 1 x Audio Jack (3.5m)
  • 1 x SD card reader (480Mbps)
  • 1 x Micro SD (TF) card reader (480Mbps)
  • 10cm built in cable
  • Slim and light 8 in 1 hub, easy to transport

  • PowerCube TRIO 45W Power Adapter, black – £69.99

45W European PowerCube (Dual Port USB-C power adapter)

  • Charge at 45W when charging 1 device with 1 port
  • Charge 2 devices simultaneously at 20W and 25W high speed charge
  • Charge your iPhone and iPad simultaneously, in one location
  • Programmable Power Supply (PPS) – Tailors the most efficient charge to the connected device
  • GaN technology – Improved energy efficiency, heat dissipation & compact housing
  • Optimised for Apple devices

USB-C to lightning (MFI) and USB-C to USB-C cable

  • 1.2m length cable
  • Supports Power Delivery (PD)- enabling high speed charging – Max 60W
  • Reinforced cable- reduces breakage and prolongs cable life
  • Something about be MFI certified
  • PowerMag 3-in-1 Wireless Charger – £69.99

3-in-1 wireless charger

  • Conveniently charge your everyday Apple accessories in one central location
  • Dedicated charging points for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods
  • Compatible with any MagSafe enabled iPhone
  • Snap your iPhone into place with optimal magnetic alignment
  • Foldable design, Ideal for carrying and transporting
  • Perfect viewing angle for watching videos
  • Pocket sized – easily carry in your pocket or bag
  • Seamless charging at home, at the office or on-the-go​
  • USB-C to USB-C cable (1.2m)

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces For Those Who Dare: Transcendence Virtual Launch Event for CES 2024

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced For Those Who Dare: Transcendence, a virtual launch event that will introduce brand-new high-performance gaming products at CES® 2024. ROG, the leading brand in the gaming technology industry, is gearing up to unveil its latest cutting-edge innovations at the highly anticipated show in Las Vegas in order to once again push the boundaries of what’s possible in the gaming world and beyond.

The event will be kicked off with a virtual launch event taking place on January 8, 2024, at 4 p.m. PST (11 p.m. UK time) on the ROG event website. The ROG products presented during the virtual launch event, and many more new and exciting innovations, will then be available for hands-on demonstrations and testing at the ASUS & ROG CES 2024 Media Showroom on the 3rd floor of The Venetian Expo, Meeting Room #3102, on January 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST and on January 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.

As ROG is the No.1 gaming brand committed to excellence, audiences can expect to witness powerful new gaming products including the new ROG Zephyrus series laptops, the new ROG Phone 8, displays, components, peripherals, and more at this event. The ROG Phone 8 is a true all-around talent with a completely revamped camera and tons of gaming-friendly features. This year’s latest products will provide gamers with an unrivaled gaming experience both at home and on the go, thanks to their clever designs and unmatched performance, whether it’s on your couch or on the way to school and work. Get ready to experience true power in the palm of your hand! Plus, ROG is also going to unveil a new approach to component design, with innovative powerful and stylish new desktop PCs that will revolutionize the image of open-architecture products.

But that is not all! In the spirit of celebration, ROG is thrilled to announce an exclusive giveaway campaign that will run during the live-streamed event on YouTube. As part of this exciting initiative, ROG will be giving away one ROG Ally every minute, on average, providing gaming enthusiasts with the opportunity to experience the unparalleled quality and innovation that defines the ROG brand.

ROG invites all gaming enthusiasts and tech aficionados worldwide to stay tuned for this monumental event and join us online at https://rog.asus.com/event/ces to watch the show as ROG unveils its latest gaming products. ROG also invites them to join us in Las Vegas to get a closer look at the latest ROG innovations.

Virgin Media’s Ireland AM to broadcast world-first AI-inspired show tomorrow

Ireland AM, the country’s longest-running breakfast television show, will wake up the nation tomorrow morning with a world-first, broadcasting through co-creating content with the power of artificial intelligence.

Set to revolutionise morning television, the AI-powered special has been shaped entirely by input from ChatGPT and Google Bard, two of the world’s most popular AI content generation platforms, to create an innovative blend of entertainment and information. Delving deep into the capabilities of AI, the show will focus on what unique and imaginative content it can create on the live three-hour show presented by Tommy Bowe, Muireann O’Connell, Alan Hughes and Deric Hartigan.

A world-first, the live show tomorrow, Thursday 14th December, will be pushing the boundaries of what was once deemed impossible with the help of international companies such as the first provider of synthetic media for long form TV, StudioNeural. Tune in for a special mystery guest, a live cooking challenge and more!

Anthony Nilan, Head of Content Strategy at Virgin Media Television, said: “Ireland AM has been a trusted and valuable information source for Irish viewers for nearly 25 years. This AI curated show is about using current accessible versions of artificial intelligence tools and giving our viewers, presenters, and production team a taste of what it is capable of and how it could potentially assist us. It also ensures that Ireland AM is best placed to ask the important questions and give real insight into the emerging technology as it develops further.”

From the formatting and content of the show to the scriptwriting and interviews, AI will be doing the thinking for us from 7am – 10am!

Watch the special AI ‘Ireland AM’ from 7am-10am tomorrow morning on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Player.

Drones – Register as an Operator, get Trained and Know the Rules Before You Fly, Cautions Aviation Authority

The Irish Aviation Authority, An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council today launched the ‘Drone Safely This Christmas’ Campaign. If you’re thinking of getting a drone this Christmas, you need to make sure you register as an Operator on the IAA website and that you know the rules before you fly. This advice comes ahead of the busiest shopping days in the lead up to Christmas.

Jim Gavin, Chief Operations Officer of the Irish Aviation Authority commenting on drone safety said: 

“Drone use has increased significantly in recent years. Piloting a drone is fun but it comes with responsibility to fly it safely while respecting people’s privacy. Remember a drone is not a toy and can have very serious consequences if it collides with a person, an animal or an another aircraft. So, if you do get a drone this Christmas, remember it’s your responsibility to know the rules and fly it safely.”

Inspector John Egan, Garda Air Support Unit added:

“Breaches of EU Drone Regulations are enforced by the Irish Aviation Authority. An Garda Siochana also has a number of enforcement powers where a criminal offence has occurred, or is suspected to have occurred, with regard to the flying of Drones. Drones are not permitted to fly within five (5) kilometres of an airport.

Flying a Drone in this area creates a substantial risk to manned aviation. This risk may constitute a serious offence by way of Endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. This offence carries a maximum penalty of seven (7) years in prison.

It is also an offence under Section 43 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1988 to cause a false alarm which interferes with the operation of an aircraft, aerodrome or air navigation installation. Flying a Drone within five (5) kilometres of an airport may cause such alarm and you will be guilty of an offence.

An Garda Siochana also has a power to seize a Drone where a member of an Garda Siochana reasonably suspects the Drone is being, or is intended to be operated in the commission of any offence.”

The Irish Aviation Authority became one of the first aviation regulators in the world to introduce mandatory drone registration and regulations in December 2015. Consumers who own a drone that is over 250gr or has a camera, are legally required to register as a drone operator. If you are a drone operator, drone safety is your responsibility. You need to ensure you are always in control of the drone and that you remain compliant with the law.

“Thankfully the vast majority of drone users are compliant with the regulations. However, we are concerned, with the rapid growth of drone usage, that not all new pilots may be away of their responsibilities which can lead to unsafe flying. If you see anyone not complying with the regulations, we encourage people to contact the IAA. Reckless use of a drone or inappropriate use of a drone camera may result in prosecution,” Enda Walsh, UAS Manager/Drones Champion from the Irish Aviation Authority added. 

            

For more information on IAA Drone Safety Regulations and registration process, visit www.iaa.ie/drones

Mater Hospital becomes the first hospital in Ireland to integrate Artificial Intelligence technology across Radiology to accelerate emergency care

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has become the first hospital in Ireland to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its Radiology Department in order to accelerate emergency care. This has resulted in rapid notification of suspected pathologies, enhanced patient care and is freeing up valuable time for staff in the Department.

Since the introduction of the AI-assisted software this year, more than 15,600 patient scans have been analysed. Over 700 pathologies were correctly flagged by AI within 2-3 minutes of the scan being completed, with 500 intracranial haemorrhages and 200 pulmonary emboli being identified.

On out-patient scans, 50 pulmonary emboli were also flagged where the scans were being performed to assess other medical conditions. The overall accuracy of the software in real Irish clinical practice has been deemed to be highly sensitive and specific, with an accuracy rate of more than 90%.

The Mater Hospital has implemented four new technologies, including AI assistance on: CT pulmonary angiograms, incidental pulmonary embolism notification on CT scans, intracranial haemorrhage detection on CT head scans and cervical spine fracture detection on CT C-Spine scans.

The screening platform, made by Aidoc, operates on an ‘always-on’ basis, meaning it is constantly running in the background in order to analyse medical imaging data, flag urgent findings, and highlight cases that should be prioritised and brought to the immediate attention of consultants. The use of the software in Radiology at the Mater has significantly reduced report turnaround times, while also improving diagnostic accuracy and streamlining workflows.  The development of AI in healthcare clinical settings is being supported by Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare based at the Mater Hospital.

Mater Hospital Consultant Radiologist Professor Peter MacMahon said: “Our experiences have underscored the tangible benefits of AI, notably in expediting critical diagnoses and reducing turnaround times by rapidly flagging anomalies detected in scans. This allows Radiologists to prioritise the reading of these results and verify their accuracy before deciding upon a further course of action.”

The software underwent rigorous scrutiny, verification and testing at the Mater Hospital during a trial phase from April until August before the technology was fully deployed across the Radiology Department. The software is used to augment rather than replace the capabilities of radiologists at the hospital in emergency settings, ensuring that human scrutiny, verification and expertise is still at the centre of reading the scans.

Alan Sharp, CEO of the Mater Hospital, said: “The introduction of AI tools at the Mater’s Radiology Department demonstrates the strong emphasis we place on innovation and development. The integration of AI at the Mater serves to enhance patient outcomes and add efficiencies which ensure our patients receive the best standard of care we can possibly offer. The Mater strives to be a national leader in deploying cutting-edge technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.”

Mike Burns, Director of Sales for Aidoc in the UK and Ireland, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are proud to collaborate with The Mater Hospital, a healthcare institution known for its dedication to patient care and innovation. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to improving healthcare delivery and impacting patient outcomes in Ireland.”

Early next year, the Mater plans to trial further specialised AI tools, focusing on the analysis of bone and chest X-rays in the Emergency Department. These tools, designed to promptly flag pathologies and accelerate patient triage, are set to further enhance the Mater’s diagnostic capabilities and reduce waiting times for patients, while freeing up valuable time for frontline healthcare staff.

Tech Review – Twinkly Candies Candles HD smart lights

The festive season is well and truly here and we have a range of tech for the home indoors and outdoors to brighten things up and show off to your neighbours and it is already heating up on the street here but I have some cool lights here for both inside and out to let them step back and enjoy.

Twinkly has been in my home now some years and this year we are taking the festive approach with real tech this time and whats more these can be controlled via an app on your smartphone be it Android or iOS with cool designs and colours which will get the neighbours talking.

First up is their new Candies candles. they come in a few styles and we picked the candle shaped version, you can also get pearls, stars and hearts. There is a cable colour choice too which is clear Green or Black, we picked the clear cable.

The presentation is nice and inside the box you get two separate bundles of candies wrapped up to make life a bit easy as you have 2X 19.6 ft of cable to deal with so there is plenty to get creative with, you do not have to have them on the tree as the box suggests but you can create designs or wrap around current items in your home and so on.

With 16 million colours, you can unleash your full creativity using the free Twinkly app available on iOS and Android. The Twinkly app is also compatible with voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. Thanks to Twinkly’s exclusive mapping function, you can completely customise your lighting effects to your heart’s desire and instantaneously transform any living space into a playful canvas of beautiful, radiant colours and ambiance.

Setting up is simple and takes a few minutes once you have planned how you are going to execute you grand design or put on your Christmas Tree. You have a USB-C plug which is great and there is a control on the plug for the simpler things that changes the colours and how they operate but the app is where it is all at.

The APP

Features

  • Multicolour RGB LEDs: Choose from pearl, candle, star or heart-shaped Candies. Great as mood lighting in the living room, for your kids’ bedroom, for gaming, or as Christmas decoration
  • Unleash your Creativity: Enjoy a variety of ready-to-play customisable effects or craft your unique light show by choosing from 16 million colours with the Twinkly App for the ultimate decorative lighting
  • Gaming Integrations: Perfect for content creators, gamers and streamers. Compatible with the Homey app, Razer Chroma RGB and OMEN Light Studio for the ultimate gaming experience
  • USB-C Powered: Versatile indoor use, perfect for cosy nights in, festive celebrations or streaming setups – without ever running out of battery
  • Smart Home Device: Switch lights on and off, dim them or apply timers with the Twinkly app and use Twinkly Music (sold separately) to sync music with your lights. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit

BUY 

Video Review

PayPal study reveals that 71 per cent of people in Ireland establish a budget for the holiday season

New research from PayPal unwraps consumer expectations and beliefs relating to Christmas shopping and spending during the festive season.

PayPal’s 2023 Festive Spending Snapshot – conducted by Censuswide and polling more than 1,000 consumers who celebrate the holiday season across Ireland revealed that 71 per cent of people actively establish a budget for the holiday season. However, despite their best intentions, 74 per cent of these budget-setters often overspend during the holiday season.

Budgeting plans for the holidays

Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than half (57%) of people get stressed when it comes to planning their Christmas budgets and 37 per cent would like better control over their holiday expenses.

Popular tips and trends among Christmas shoppers across Ireland included:

  • Ringing the bells for budgets – Out of the shoppers who actively establish a budget for the holiday season, 36 per cent allocate budgets per person that they need to buy for. Just under a third (32%) say that having a budget makes them less stressed/more relaxed and some 26 per cent set one to prevent them from dipping into their savings.
  • Jingling rather than mingling – A quarter (25%) of people in Ireland are forgoing their work Christmas parties to make their budgets stretch further this Christmas. Furthermore, attending New Year’s Eve parties are off the list of 24 per cent of consumers to reduce costs.
  • Sleighing with saving – Thirty-two per cent of consumers plan to pay for goods using loyalty points or rewards, while 28 per cent will compare prices using apps to cut back on spending this year. Moreover, 21 per cent will use a digital wallet (like PayPal) to track online purchases and 18 per cent will shop online this year.

Festive shopping habits

When it comes to online shopping, respondents cited main benefits which included saving time (48%), helps them to avoid crowds (44%), better offers (36%), more competitive prices (33%), greater variety (31%) and it enables them to complete their shopping earlier (27%).

On timing, 57 per cent of consumers expect to have their Christmas shopping finished by the 12th of December. On the other hand, the county with the highest proportion of last-minute shoppers – those that wait until after 20th December – is Monaghan (50%). This was followed by Offaly (29%), Kerry (28%) and Carlow (27%).

Looking beyond Christmas, 60 per cent of survey respondents usually shop in the January sales, with just over a third (34%) picking up presents for the following year. The expected average spend in the coming January sales is €248.

Are Irish people rationalising spending?

The study revealed people’s concerns when buying Christmas presents. These included delivery/arrival times (62%), overspending (61%) being scammed (57%), shopping on unfamiliar websites (49%) and filling in financial details when making purchases (46%).

However, despite the concern around excessive expense when Christmas shopping, more than three quarters (77%) of people have justified spending over their budget. About a quarter (28%) agree that ‘buying one and getting one free’ means they can treat themselves to the free item.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent typically spend enough to get free delivery so that they don’t lose money and 23 per cent believe that getting something for half price means they can make their budget go further.

The leading reasons for rationalising spending during this time of year were found to be that it is a means of relaxation (27%), gift-giving fosters emotional connections (25%) and it makes people feel less guilty (23%).

As for what’s driving this spending over their budget among consumers, more than a third (36%) cited much higher prices this year.

Speaking about the findings, Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President, PayPal, commented: “It’s clear that people in Ireland are conscious of the cost associated with Christmas, with many justifying the expense and others overspending. But this is where “festive maths” comes in. It means planning and sticking to a budget, while being smart with spending. From tracking transactions and using Honey for discounts or using PayPal at Checkout, festive maths enables people to take better control of their finances and enjoy the holiday season.”

Refer to the PayPal website for more information on easy budgeting solutions for the festive season.

Datapac technology accelerates growth for Kefron in deal worth €370k

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that it has delivered a reimagined server and data storage solution to Kefron in a deal worth €370,000 over three years.

Kefron is a leader in document and information management, and has now developed its own invoice processing software, Kefron AP, which leverages machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide e-invoicing, invoice automation, and analytics to customers. The software has grown exponentially and now serves the needs of organisations of all sizes across a multinational customer base.

As Kefron experienced rapid growth both in terms of its customer base and the innovative services offered, the company needed to upgrade its IT infrastructure to keep pace with this expansion. Following an extensive consultative process, Datapac upgraded Kefron’s existing storage ecosystem to a HPE Nimble Storage Area Network (SAN).

The elevated and highly secure platform is resulting in significant time savings for Kefron AP’s users with faster scanning and invoice processing times. Upgraded VMware virtual servers are vastly increasing server uptime, meaning no interruption to vital services for customers across different regions and time zones. Kefron’s security posture is improved through enhanced encryption of all data, while Sophos firewall protection adds an extra layer of network security.

Kefron has ambitious growth plans and is aiming to double the number of customers using its invoicing software, underpinned by Datapac’s technology. The HPE Nimble storage system offers industry-leading scalability due to its unique data compression and de-duplication capabilities.

In turn, the solution has increased productivity for Kefron’s 180 employees across the business. Day-to-day tasks have become quicker and more efficient with lightning-quick access to critical business applications.

The technology has significantly reduced costs for Kefron, minimising the need to maintain or upgrade aging hardware. In addition to the best-in-class technology suite, the ongoing infrastructure management and support provided by Datapac continues to create capacity for internal IT teams to focus on more strategic, less routine activities which add a greater value to business objectives, with backups and other maintenance work conducted out-of-hours to ensure no disruption to daily operations.

Jonathan Purvis, IT Manager, Kefron: “As our software solution has grown, so too has the amount of data that needs to be stored and secured. Datapac has been a long-time trusted advisor to Kefron, and the team worked closely with us to provide strategic road mapping and deliver this infrastructure upgrade with little to no downtime or interruptions to our business.

“We can continue to grow Kefron AP at pace with the peace of mind that our IT infrastructure is fully scalable and enabling us to provide the highest levels of customer service. The Datapac solution has futureproofed our operations, maximising performance and ensuring the highest levels of security across the board.”

Pamela Keane, Service Delivery Manager, Datapac: “As long-term IT partner, Datapac are proud to play a continued role in Kefron’s ambitious evolution into the digital age. The innovative HPE Nimble platform, designed and delivered by Datapac, is helping Kefron to enhance the invoice processing services it provides to customers and is enabling the company to grow its user base. As Kefron’s customers extend across varying time zones, it’s essential that the platform underpinning their cloud service offering ensures the very best uptime possible.

“This technology harnesses the power of data and empowers Kefron with flexibility and scalability into the future. The solution provides the company with the platform and the confidence to keep innovating. We look forward to continuing to work with Kefron, building on our long and valued partnership.”

More than half of adults turn to online banking to cope with the cost of living

In a nationally representative survey of 1,005 adults in Ireland, carried out by Censuswide, EPAM has found that 53% of adults are now turning to their bank’s website and mobile app to access personal finance support tools to cope with the cost of living.

According to the research, nearly half (48%) of adults say they do not make enough money – either through salary or benefits – to cover their living expenses. This is more pronounced for young adults, with 58% of those aged 24 and under saying their living expenses exceed their income. More than half (56%) of adults, meanwhile, say they operate on a paycheque-to-paycheque basis.

Increasingly, an industry-wide focus on user experience has seen banking providers introduce tools, which can be accessed via mobile app or online, that can help customers to track and gain insights into their spending, enabling them to budget more effectively. EPAM’s research suggests that this could have a profound impact on those struggling to budget effectively – particularly for the significant proportion of people who do not track their spending. The company found that 21% of adults in Ireland rarely or never track their monthly spending and therefore don’t know how much they spend each month.

Overall, 64% of adults would like additional support in managing their spending. More than one-third of adults (37%) said they would like this support to come from more digital support and insights from their bank. Meanwhile, 19% of banking customers would be open to AI-powered personal finance advice from their bank it if helped them to better manage their finances.

Martin Byrne, VP and Country Manager for Ireland, EPAM Systems, commented on the research. He said: “Online and mobile banking is rapidly transforming as banking providers focus on user experience to stand out among their competitors. Online banking platforms have gone from functional to insightful, with users now having access to intelligent insights that make the prospect of budgeting seem a little less overwhelming.

“We found that even those who are successfully managing their spending want more support in managing their budgets. It can help people to save for a mortgage, make future plans, or simply have more disposable income to spend on treating themselves or loved ones. A banking provider that can empower its customers to take more control of their finances can secure a more loyal customer base and make a real societal difference by helping people to cope in more challenging times.”

With a global workforce of almost 55,000, EPAM has a presence in 50+ regions and countries, including Ireland. The company helps banks and financial services companies to embrace technologies that transform the user experience while also adhering to the most stringent regulations and cybersecurity standards.