Month: January 2024

Is Ethereum a Good Investment?

As blockchain technology aims to revolutionize markets, decentralize power, and enable broader transparency, Ethereum has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising crypto assets at the forefront driving this disruption.

Powering decentralized finance applications, non-fungible token marketplaces, decentralized autonomous organizations, and an array of crypto projects – Ethereum adoption continues accelerating at an impressive pace.

Yet like any speculative investment, potential downside risks remain ever-present alongside the substantial upside potential. Evaluating the potential long-term investment prospects of Ethereum entails a thorough analysis that goes beyond mere fluctuations in price.

This involves scrutinizing the foundational utility and real-world use cases that contribute to sustainable value. Furthermore, the evaluation of strategic options to sell Ethereum becomes crucial when assessing its long-term investment viability.

What Makes Ethereum Unique as a Cryptocurrency?

Unlike Bitcoin’s singular focus on peer-to-peer digital payments and store of value propositions, Ethereum operates as a more multifaceted asset powering an entire decentralized software ecosystem.

Ether tokens fuel a broader blockchain platform for building and running decentralized applications known as dapps. Programmers leverage Ethereum’s Turing-complete programming language to build self-executing smart contracts.

These autonomous lines of code get deployed on Ethereum’s blockchain, enabling dapp functionality to run exactly as programmed without risk of manipulation or censorship.

Decentralized apps span markets like finance (DeFi), digital assets and collectibles (NFTs), identity management, insurance, supply chain tracking, gaming, metaverse worlds and more.

Ethereum unlocks the capability to fundamentally rewire economic incentives and innovation potential across countless vital industries. Global enterprises and scrappy startups alike see these possibilities.

The Future Possibilities of Ethereum

While Ethereum already dominates as the leading smart contract blockchain network, further cutting-edge innovations look to improve speed, efficiency, and scalability even more.

Upgrades like sharding, proof-of-stake consensus, plasma chains, state channels and layer 2 solutions will allow the Ethereum blockchain to potentially process over 100,000 transactions per second at negligible cost.

This positions the network extremely well for supporting billions of users and trillions in value transfer long-term across decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible token marketplaces (NFTs), metaverse domains, and web 3.0 apps built on Ethereum.

As more decentralized apps get built and actively used on Ethereum by enterprises and consumers alike, this will continue providing fundamental value to the Ether cryptocurrency itself. The long term investment prospects shine brightly.

Key Drivers of Ethereum’s Growth Trajectory

Several key factors suggest Ethereum adoption will continue rapidly advancing:

Developer Mindshare – Ethereum now dominates developer activity in crypto, with over 4x more monthly active developers than any other blockchain project according to Electric Capital. The pace of building continues accelerating.

Enterprise Interest – Major institutions like JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Microsoft, Intel, Amazon and others continue launching Ethereum-based projects and platforms to serve clients.

Consumer Apps – Between metaverse worlds, NFT digital collectibles, and DeFi protocols allowing earning yield, everyday users now have more accessible starting points for using Web 3.0 Ethereum dapps in daily life.

Institutional Investment – Major crypto investment products like Grayscale Ethereum Trust, Canadian ETH ETFs, CME Ether futures offer exposure to accredited investors, bringing billions of dollars onto Ethereum’s blockchain annually.

Upcoming Tech Upgrades – Scalability limitations currently hamper Ethereum, but foundational upgrades like sharding and Proof-of-Stake consensus to radically improve transaction speeds/costs remain ongoing, coordinated by the world’s top cryptographers and programmers globally.

As core protocol development and dapp innovation systematically address current platform limitations while granting broader access for developers and consumers to build/use Ethereum apps, the system appears positioned to see ballooning value capture.

Potential Downside Risks to Consider

Of course, prudent crypto investors must weigh both the short-term volatility and longer-term uncertainty that comes with an early-stage asset like Ether. Monitoring for changes in crypto policies, regulations, taxes merits consideration as the technology matures.

And while the pace of core protocol upgrades like the Merge to proof-of-stake continues aggressively, scope for further delays or security issues means conservatism around rollout timetables makes sense.

Yet Ethereum now has a substantial track record of resilience, security, and antifragility compared to past blockchain iterations. The global grassroots community of builders/users continues gaining momentum/maturity in parallel with technological evolution.

While Ethereum stands as the clear dominant leader currently in decentralized app platforms, threats still loom from competitive Layer 1 blockchain alternatives like Solana (SOL) aiming at its market share. The key contrast emerges in the immense transaction speed advantages of SOL to ETH – with Solana already proving the capacity to handle 50,000+ transactions per second (TPS) compared to Ethereum’s 15 TPS presently.

Solana prioritizes scalability and rapid innovation cycles to maintain its raw TPS edge over ETH. Yet the tradeoffs involve much lower security thresholds presently, higher network instability risks, and far fewer live applications or users compared to Ethereum. Still, as congestion persists on Ethereum until solutions mitigate costs and latencies, the window remains for SOL to syphon liquidity and mindshare from ETH.

The race contrasts the two project’s philosophies—Solana’s appetite for rapid composability and low cost against Ethereum’s patient emphasis on security, stability and gradual upgrades. For investors bullish on maintaining raw SOL to ETH speed advantages indefinitely, the massive upside from SOL’s still nascent $35 billion market cap compared to ETH’s towering $250 billion valuation may warrant including some Solana exposure alongside core Ethereum holdings if managed prudently.

Ethereum Price Predictions and Market Outlook

Based on growth trajectory, prominent crypto thought leaders and institutional analysts across Ark Invest, Bloomberg, Invesco, Galaxy Digital and more share an overwhelmingly bullish perspective on Ethereum price appreciation potential over 5-10 year timeframes.

Mike Novogratz of Galaxy Digital believes $7,500+ per ETH emerges by 2025 as financialization accelerates and platforms like DeFi built on Ethereum gain escape velocity in usage.

A Bloomberg analyst predicted Ethereum reaching a market cap between $20-30 trillion one day, which would translate to $14,000 – $20,000 per ETH.

ARK Invest analysts forecast Ethereum hitting $20,000+ eventually based on expectations for massive innovation and growth in DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, stablecoins, and Web 3.0 platforms over the next decade being built largely on Ethereum-based programming.

Clearly, industry experts see still 10-100x or greater upside in play for Ethereum prices over the next decade even from today’s levels. This requires the total crypto/digital asset market cap ballooning above $100 trillion over time.

Final Verdict: Bull Case Stronger Than Ever

Despite extreme volatility at times, early-stage computing platforms and cryptocurrencies involve monumental wealth creation potential. This matches the history of other revolutionary technologies like the internet, which compounded over decades.

Investors with enough vision, diligent analysis of utility and conviction in decentralized networks upending entrenched business models stand well-positioned to generate substantial returns over long time horizons.

Of course personal risk tolerance must always be evaluated with full transparency around crypto complexities before any investment.

But based on accelerating developer/enterprise traction, demographic/generational trends embracing digital assets, global institutional infrastructure maturing, and the mainstream awakening to money/power decentralization possibilities – Ethereum appears primed to emerge as the definitive Web 3 blockchain settlement layer and thriving decentralized application ecosystem over the long run.

The odds seem highly favorable that within the high risk, high reward realm of crypto assets, Ether and public blockchain innovations will deliver wealth creation on the scale of other revolutionary general purpose technologies like computers, the internet, mobile computing for believers in decentralized networks upending business paradigms over the next decade. Buckle up.

 

Half of organisations have suffered a cyberattack or incident that prevented access to data in 2023

Over half (54%) of organizations suffered a cyberattack or incident that prevented access to data last year, according to the 2023 Dell Technologies Global Data Protection Index survey of 1,000 IT decision makers (ITDMs) and 500 IT security decision makers.

Respondents report that IT disruption is commonplace, with the vast majority (90%) saying their organizations experienced some form of IT disruption in 2023. External security breaches were the most cited (40%) cause of data loss and/or systems downtime within organizations. Over half (55%) of those who experienced a cyberattack event said attackers’ first point of entry was external – users clicking on spam or phishing emails and malicious links, compromised user credentials and hacked mobile devices.

Looking to the implications, respondents said that disruptions that include data loss cost on average USD $2.61 million in 2023, accounted for an average of 26 hours of unplanned downtime and resulted in an average of 2.45TB worth of data loss. Costs associated with cyberattacks and related incidents have also doubled, up from USD $0.66 million in 2022 to USD $1.41 million in 2023.

Generative AI and cybersecurity

Generative AI (GenAI) is emerging as a strategic tool for bolstering defences, with 52% of those surveyed saying that integrating GenAI will provide an advantage to their organization’s cybersecurity posture. However, showing the dual nature of GenAI as both a defensive asset and source of complexity, 88% also agreed that the adoption of GenAI will generate large volumes of new data. The same percentage (88%) agreed that GenAI will amplify the value of specific data types.

“The rise of Generative AI and expansion into hybrid, multi cloud environments have put cyber resilience and effective incident recovery front-and-centre for organizations,” said Dermot O’Connell, senior vice president, EMEA Services for Dell Technologies. “Data is crucial in today’s digitally transformed world, making it both a vital resource and a priority target.”

Looking to ransomware attacks, responses suggest an over-confidence surrounding the consequences of a breach. 74% believe that if their organizations experience an attack, they would get all of their data back if they paid the ransom and 66% believe that once they pay the ransom, they won’t be attacked again. The majority (93%) stated that their organizations have ransomware insurance policies but only 28% of those who experienced an attack said their organizations were fully reimbursed through the policy. Survey responses also suggest ransomware policies are heavily caveated. 57% said their organization had to prove ‘best practice’ cyber threat prevention, 43% said their policy limited claim pay-outs and 40% said particular scenarios voided their policy. Read the full research report at Global Data Protection Index Report.

Sample: Survey of 1,000 IT decision makers and 500 IT security decision makers globally commissioned through Vanson Bourne and completed in September and October 2023. Unless otherwise specified, only the results from the 1,000 IT decision makers are referenced when making historical comparisons.

How Apps are Driving Growth in the Irish Gambling Industry

Ireland’s rich tapestry of green fields, Guinness and passionate sporting fandom would not be complete without a sprinkle of the ‘luck of the Irish’. 

This inherent love for wagering has been a cornerstone of Irish culture for centuries, evident in racetracks, betting shops and the national lottery’s ubiquitous presence. 

A digital revolution has swept across the island in recent years, with mobile applications (apps) emerging as the driving force behind an unprecedented growth in the gambling industry.

These aren’t your traditional dusty betting slips tucked away in the back pocket. Modern apps are sophisticated powerhouses, reshaping the landscape and fuelling a new era of Irish gambling. 

Read on as we delve deeper into how these pocket-sized portals are captivating the Emerald Isle, one tap at a time.

Greater Convenience

Gone are the days of battling crowds and navigating opening hours of packed brick-and-mortar betting shops. Mobile apps have shattered physical barriers, making betting hugely accessible.

Whether it’s during the morning train ride, a mid-lunch break or the pre-match pint at the local pub, placing a wager is just a tap away. 

This unprecedented convenience has unlocked new demographics – particularly younger generations who crave instant gratification and on-the-go action. 

The days of the seasoned punter in the betting shop are over. These days, anyone with a phone and a passion for a flutter can place bets at their own convenience.

Personalised Playground

Modern apps are data-driven chameleons, tailoring content and offers to suit the taste of individual players. 

Generic betting menus are no longer a thing. Apps curate recommendations based on your betting history, preferred sports and even geographical location.

These days, Irish punters receive live updates on their favourite horse racing jockey just as they round the final turn or tempting free bet offers on an underdog just because it aligns with their betting tendencies. 

The level of personalisation from modern apps fosters loyalty, drives higher betting frequency and transforms casual punters into dedicated app customers. 

It’s not just about convenience – although that can easily be considered the bedrock of every modern app. But it’s also about feeling like you’re playing in a world curated just for you.

The In-Play Adventure

Live betting was once a quickfire thrill, but it has quickly transitioned into a mainstream phenomenon thanks to mobile apps.

Bets are no longer confined to pre-game anticipation. Mobile apps offer Irish punters, particularly those that wager on sports betting, to react to the evolving drama of a match in real time.

Irish betting sites offer bettors a wide range of market options, allowing punters to wager on goals, corner kicks and more, adding an extra layer of thrill and engagement that wasn’t possible before. 

From Gaelic football to horse racing, this dynamic gameplay has captured the imagination of Irish punters, pushing the boundaries of traditional betting.

It’s like watching the game with a friend who just happens to be an odds maestro, constantly offering exciting betting opportunities throughout the action.

Fostering an Online Community

Modern apps are more than just betting portals. They can also serve as a mini-gambling ecosystem for bettors across Ireland. 

News feeds keep users connected to the latest sporting developments, statistics offer an informed edge and expert analysis provides insights beyond the headlines. 

Social features create a sense of community, allowing users to banter with friends about upcoming matches, share their wagers and celebrate or commiserate together. 

This comprehensive experience extends the engagement beyond the final whistle, keeping users coming back for more than just the next bet. 

It basically serves as a virtual pub for sports fans and gamblers alike, all conveniently housed within your smartphone.

Marketing Revolution

Unlike billboards and newspaper adverts, app marketing is a targeted, efficient and hyper-personalised game. 

Push notifications ping with timely updates and tempting offers, in-app promotions highlight relevant sporting events, and geo-targeted advertising ensures you receive offers tailor-made for your location and preferences. 

This laser-focused approach maximises marketing return on investment (ROI) and attracts new users who are more likely to convert into active bettors. 

Challenges & Considerations

Apps have undoubtedly fostered significant growth in the Irish gambling landscape, but the exponential boom is not without its problems. 

Responsible gambling concerns are paramount, and app developers are keen to prioritise player safety and awareness. 

Robust know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) procedures, deposit limits and self-exclusion tools are essential to ensure a healthy and sustainable betting environment. 

Data privacy and security is also a key consideration, helping operators build trust with users and mitigating the risks associated with online transactions.

The convenience and excitement should not come at the cost of player well-being or personal information security.

The Future of Mobile Gambling

The future of mobile gambling in Ireland is brimming with a vast array of possibilities, thanks to constant technological advancements.

Mobile apps are not just transforming the Irish gambling industry, they are defining it by capturing the hearts and minds of Irish punters, driving growth and pushing the boundaries of the traditional betting experience. 

As technology continues to evolve and operators embrace responsible gambling practices, the future of mobile gambling in Ireland promises to be exciting, innovative and full of surprises.

Tech Review – Padmate S58 True Wireless Stereo Earphones

Padmate S58 OWS True Wireless Stereo Earbuds are a familiar looking earbuds and will be over the next year or more as last year we have seen a huge increase in such products from all manufacturers be it air or bone conduction styled, these are like mini speakers in your ears and still offer decent sound despite not being in your ear so to speak.

The design and look is clean and these are very comfortable and can be easily moved around to get the perfect fit, they will not fall off your ears and ideal for the sports fans out there or those who commute in general but anyone can use these..

I have tried around 20 pairs similar now and these have been one of the most comfortable to wear on be it at home or on the move and they feel secure which is important each side has its own controls to make commands on the go or take control of your calls which sounded great by the way.

The sound is no shabby either and sound great despite the lack of an app which means you have fixed controls and no EQ but overall they packed a punch decently loud and have as klight bit of bass but in general not much to complain about with the sound overall, there is a slight leakage element when maxed out but no lag latency no tinny sound either and overall pass the test for this style of earbud.

The controls work well albeit slightly sensitive but works fine every time, you may notice a play or pause command when putting on or removing but asides that the controls get it right all the time every time.

Battery life is also decent too and you can expect around 5 hours per charge and up to 15 per charge with the case this will of course vary by your volume setting and mine is mostly up to the max, there is also a handy LED display on the case to keep you informed of what juice is left.

Check the video below for more and if you are in the market for a new pair of this style of earbuds that are affordable do check them out below.

Padmate S58 OWS earphones – techbuzzireland

 

Features 

Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity:

Stay seamlessly connected with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 chip, ensuring compatibility with both Android and Apple devices.

Extended Battery Life:

Enjoy 5-6 hours of uninterrupted use on a single charge, making the Padmate S58 perfect for all-day activities.

Crystal-Clear Sound and Noise Reduction:

Immerse yourself in HIFI sound quality and minimize background noise with ENC dual-microphone technology.

User-Friendly LED Display:

Easily monitor battery levels and settings with the intuitive LED digital display.

Comfortable and Secure Fit:

Experience comfort with OWS OPEN EAR technology, featuring top-side insertion, three-point support, and skin-friendly silicone for a secure fit during various activities.

20% off code: pamuvip20

 

Video Review

HMD’s Pink Phone Collection

Add a splash of pink to your tech game because, on Wednesdays, we dial pink! Inspired by the highly anticipated Mean Girls movie remake this week, HMD, the makers of Nokia phones, pick their ultimate selection of pink devices that would make ‘The Plastics’ green with envy. The list includes smartphones, a top-selling feature phone and the latest earbud accessory.

And, in case you missed the memo, Mean Girls is back, and this time the drama is set in modern day. In a world where pink reigns supreme, check out HMD’s Pink Phone collection:

The Nokia 2660 Flip

Price: €74.99

Availability: here 

Colours: Pop Pink, Lush Green, Red, Blue, Black

Materials: Free of PVC, nickel, brominated and chlorinated compounds. Packaging made of renewable material.

Escape the drama with the current favourite amongst Gen Z, the Nokia 2660 Flip phone. This little gem sold out in 2023 due to demand but is back for more in 2024. It has received high praise globally for its gorgeous clamshell design, simple functionality and…lack of notifications! Create tech-free zones or times to prioritise face-to-face time. The Nokia 2660 Flip phone is affordable, stylish and has plenty of battery to keep you connected.

Nokia G42 5G So Pink

Price: was €249.99 now €209.99

Availability: here 

Colours: So Purple, So Pink and So Grey

Materials: Free of PVC, nickel, brominated and chlorinated compounds. Packaging made of renewable material and 100% recyclable

The Nokia G42 5G So Pink brings sass to your tech game – it comes with 5G connectivity so you can seamlessly snap, share, shop, stream in style, all at your own pace. Plus, it’s made with a 65% recycled back cover.  If you’ve ever dropped a phone, you’ve probably had to live with a cracked screen. The Nokia G42 5G is built with QuickFix repairability so you can replace cracked screens, bent charging ports and old batteries, all by yourself at home. In collaboration with iFixit, the Nokia G42 5G can be repaired with handy step-by-step repair guides and affordable replacement parts.

*Discounted offer in January sales

Nokia C32

Price: was €149.99 now €129.99

Availability: here 

Colours: Pink

Materials: Free of PVC, nickel, brominated and chlorinated compounds. Packaging made of renewable material.

We don’t always know where the day will take us. But, with a three-day battery life, the Nokia C32 is ready to go on that journey with you. With a rear dual camera to capture more light and deliver stunning Night mode shots, it’s perfect for sun set. It’s got a great feel with a glass back and beautiful accent details. Nokia C32 is your new sidekick in the ultimate movie of your life.

*Discounted offer in January sales

The Nokia Clarity Earbuds 2+ So Pink

Price: €89.99

Availability: here *So Pink is not available to shop on IE site yet but coming soon

Colours: So Pink, So Purple, So Grey, Black

Materials: Free of PVC, nickel, brominated and chlorinated compounds. Packaging made of renewable material.

You know what’s fetch? Elevating your audio game with earbuds that match your Mean Girls attitude. Enter the Nokia Clarity Earbuds 2+ – the ultimate accessory for those who slay in pink and mean it. Eco-Fabulous made with 60% recycled plastic, on-the-go charging with a carry case that gives you up to 35 hours of ANC. Come rain or shine, these buds are weather-ready with an IPX4 rating, making them splash resistant.

Data Engineering for Accurate, Optimised, Scalable and Secure Data

Data engineering is essential for companies to successfully leverage the data they collect to make informed decisions. Data engineering involves taking raw, potentially unstructured datasets and turning them into an optimized form that can be used meaningfully. 

It requires a combination of technical considerations in terms of security and scalability as well as drawing insights and conclusions from the data itself so that you have accurate information on which to base your decisions. 

In this post, we will explore how creating effective data engineering systems can enable businesses to turn large amounts of data into actionable insights quickly, securely, and efficiently.

 

What is Data Engineering and How Does it Help Organisations Achieve Their Goals

Data engineering involves the process of collecting, transforming, and managing data to enable organizations to make better-informed decisions. It plays a crucial role in turning raw data into valuable insights that can drive business growth. 

According to Lewis Woolcott Analytics, implementing effective data engineering systems allows companies to gain greater insights and make more accurate decisions based on reliable data. By organizing and optimizing large and complex datasets, data engineering enables organizations to uncover patterns, trends, and correlations that would have been impossible to identify otherwise. 

This information can then be used to improve existing processes, develop new strategies, and ultimately achieve business goals more efficiently. With the help of data engineering, companies can streamline their data management processes and ensure the accuracy and reliability of their data.

Key Benefits of Data Engineering for Businesses

Effective data engineering offers several key benefits for businesses looking to leverage their data. One of the primary advantages is the ability to optimize and streamline data management processes, reducing the time and effort required to access and analyze large datasets. This leads to faster decision-making, allowing companies to respond quickly to changing market conditions and stay ahead of their competition. 

Additionally, data engineering ensures the accuracy and consistency of data, providing businesses with reliable information to base their decisions on. This is especially important in today’s data-driven world, where even the smallest error or inconsistency can have significant consequences. 

By implementing robust data engineering systems, companies can also achieve scalability, allowing them to handle larger and more complex datasets as their business grows. Moreover, data engineering plays a crucial role in ensuring data security and privacy, which is a top concern for companies that handle sensitive information.

Best Practices for Setting Up an Effective Data Engineering System

To set up an effective data engineering system, there are several best practices that organizations should follow. First and foremost, it is crucial to identify the specific business needs and objectives that the data engineering system will serve. This will help in determining the types of data sources that need to be integrated and the level of complexity involved in the process. 

Next, organizations should establish a strong data governance framework to ensure the integrity and security of their data. This includes implementing proper data management policies, procedures, and protocols to maintain quality and consistency across all datasets. It is also essential to have a clear understanding of data ownership and access rights within the organization. 

Another critical aspect is selecting the right tools and technologies for data engineering. There are various tools available in the market, and choosing the most suitable ones will depend on factors such as data volume, complexity, and budget. 

Furthermore, it is essential to have a skilled and knowledgeable team in place to handle the data engineering process effectively. To ensure optimal performance of the data engineering system, it is crucial to regularly monitor and maintain it. This includes conducting regular checks for data quality issues and addressing them promptly. It is also essential to have a disaster recovery plan in place to prevent data loss or system downtime. 

Lastly, organizations should continuously evaluate and improve their data engineering systems to keep up with changing business needs and advancements in technology.

 

Automation in Data Engineering

Automation plays a crucial role in data engineering, as it allows organizations to streamline and simplify their data management processes. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as data cleaning and transformation, companies can significantly reduce the amount of manual labor required for their data engineering process. 

This not only saves time but also minimizes the risk of human error, ensuring that the data remains accurate and consistent. Automation also enables organizations to handle large volumes of data efficiently, which is essential in today’s data-driven world where data continues to grow at an exponential rate.

Enhancing Security and Compliance Through Data Engineering

Data engineering plays an important role in enhancing security and compliance by implementing various measures to protect data throughout its lifecycle. This includes implementing proper authentication and authorization protocols, encryption techniques, and data backup strategies.

 By establishing a robust data engineering system that prioritizes security, organizations can ensure the integrity and confidentiality of their data, maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, and protect themselves against potential cyber threats. With the ever-increasing amount of data being collected and processed by companies, having a strong focus on security and compliance through data engineering is crucial for building trust with customers and maintaining a competitive edge in the market. 

Monitoring and Optimising Performance with Data Engineering Tools

Monitoring and optimizing performance is a critical aspect of data engineering, and having the right tools in place can greatly aid in this process. The right tools, like monitoring dashboards, data quality checks, and performance optimization algorithms, offer valuable insights into system health and efficiency. They help identify bottlenecks and issues, enabling corrective actions for improved performance. 

Continuous monitoring and optimization ensure maximum value from data, informed decisions, and predictive capabilities. Advancements in AI and machine learning enhance performance and identify areas for further optimization.

Data engineering is a vital aspect of modern businesses and plays a crucial role in turning raw data into actionable insights. With the ever-increasing volume of data being generated, having a strong focus on data engineering is essential for businesses to make well-informed decisions and stay ahead in today’s competitive market. 

By following best practices and leveraging automation and advanced technologies, organizations can effectively utilize their data to achieve their goals and drive business growth. 

Tech Review – House of Marley Little Bird Earbuds

The House of Marley Little Bird in-ear earphones are the latest earbuds on offer from the brand and next up from the Redemption ANC we tested, they look similar but come in at two different price points and one will ask is there much of a difference between the two which of course there is but how they sound is always that important question.

The Little Bird does not have the same appealing aesthetic looking finish as the Redemption and is missing features and first up is the lack of app access, there is no wireless charging but fast charging is present here. You can expect about 23 hours in total with the case at maxed out volume which is how I listen to my earbuds for the average user with their 75% volume you will hith there 24 ht playtime which is good at this price-point and 15 mins will give you an additional two hours play if you are running low which is pretty decent, there is an indicator on the case to let you know the battery status which is done in flashes from 1- 100%  the case is stylish and small and fits into any pocket. They come with an IPX4 rating too.

They sit well in the ears and look good, I always have like the bamboo look on Marley products and these still do not look cheap, they are secure and offer some passive noise isolation when the right tips are used and fitted into the ears. They are light and do not stand out too much but the Bamboo finish does draw attention.

House of Marley Little Bird earbuds – techbuzzireland

We have our controls all present on these little guys, we have play and pause, skip and reverse tracks,volume control and call control there is no auto play or pause and you can toggle between game and movie mode which is neat.

Ok so these are powered with 10mm drivers so you would think the sound might be a tad poor, well this is not the case and they sound much better than one would expect at their price which is dam good and surprised me to be honest and the lack of an app these days is a bug bear for many but with these there is no app required with how they are tuned, they are loud, nice bass highs lows and mids and punchy with no lag latency no distortion and really deliver an excellent audio experince even for those that might be used to having several pair of earbuds, I can safely say these are great for the money.

 

 

Crafted from bamboo and recycled plastics, these eco-friendly earbuds offer 6 hours of playtime, and up to 24 hours of listening with 3 additional charges. Intuitive touch controls make music management swift and simple, and the built-in microphone ensures clear calls. Enhance your audio experience with movie and gaming modes and enjoy quick charging via USB-C. The Little Bird Earbuds bring conscious craftsmanship and superior sound together with a natural aesthetic that speaks for itself.

 

Features 

  • Crafted with sustainable materials
  • 24-hour playtime (with case)
  • 6-hour playtime (without case)
  • Intuitive touch controls
  • Built-in microphone
  • Movie and gaming mode
  • USB-C Quick Charge
  • Small, medium and large color-coded ear gels included
  • 2-year guarantee

BUY

Video Review

Nordcurrent launches UGC platform enabling gamers to earn currency

Nordcurrent, the award-winning games developer and publisher, is reshaping the future of fashion gaming with the launch of its new UGC platform Pocket Styler Studio – the first platform where users can design entire clothing collections down to the last detail and then sell them in-game.

The online studio allows players to live their fashion-designer dreams, creating garments and entire fashion collections, including shoes and accessories, to their desired specifications. The studio currently has over 310 trillion possible outfit combinations!

Players can promote their completed designs under their own ‘designer label’ and sell them in the Pocket Styler game to millions of players globally, earning in-game currency, which has never been feasible in a mobile fashion game before. In-game earning potential is extremely high, with eight percent of global consumers already buying digital fashion, almost 50% of players buying skins with in-game currency and around 40% buying skins with real money.

How do you create your first design?

Powered by browser-based tools similar to those found in Photoshop, Pocket Styler Studio is an easy-to-use platform, whether you are designing coats and dresses, or sunglasses, gloves or hosiery.

 

Simply start by choosing a colour palette or partnered ‘fabric’ and then go to work! Choose from thousands of design details, such as the neckline style, sleeve design, skirt length silhouette and fit, and visual details like buttons or visible stitching.

No outfit is complete without bespoke accessories, so why not uniquely customise shoe styles, patterns, colours and heel heights too? Once the garment or accessory is completed, the platform renders it to fit on Pocket Styler avatars perfectly.

 

Images generated in Pocket Styler Studio

Sell sell sell!

The final collections are saved in the designer’s profile until they are ready to be marketed in the Pocket Styler app game. Designers can track their brands’ success by ‘Publishing’ items and assessing how many sell. Players can fully brand their designer label, even create their logo, and earn ‘Gems’, the in-game currency, for every item sold to other players.

Victoria Trofimova, CEO of Nordcurrent, comments: “Pocket Styler Studio gives anyone anywhere in the world a chance to become a fashion designer and build their own virtual fashion brand.

“The only limit to what you can create is your imagination. By designing their garments, players are transformed into designers, shaping the gaming universe – and potentially the real world of fashion.”

Fashion industry insiders say the launch of Pocket Styler Studio will revolutionise fashion forecasting, providing instant real-time data on the best-selling new styles. It will also allow fashion houses and designer labels to spot up-and-coming new creatives. Several big-name fashion brands have already expressed an interest in the new feature and the potential for designers to craft and showcase their items within the game. With 70 percent of users aged over 25 and 85 percent female, Pocket Styler Studio is expected to provide a hothouse of new talent for the global fashion industry.

Launched in May 2021, Pocket Styler is already a global gaming phenomenon, with over 21 million downloads and 100,000 fashion lovers spending 10,000 hours on the app daily.

Watch the Pocket Styler Studio video HERE

Download: Pocket Styler Studio HERE

McLaren Applied helps Network Rail maintain the railway with 5G connectivity and new Active Antenna

McLaren Applied is helping Network Rail maintain the railway following the installation of its F1-derived Fleet Connect software and 5G Edge Active Antenna hardware on 14 of the railway operator’s infrastructure monitoring trains. This first implementation of Active Antenna’ technology in the UK brings a new, simplified approach to on-train connectivity infrastructure and an advanced capability for data offload on the move.

The combined tech solution delivers far greater connectivity and performance, with Network Rail registering upload data improvements of up to one thousand times faster than previous systems, meaning upload speeds of up to 70MB/s per train versus 76kB/s previously.

The UK’s infrastructure monitoring trains travel up and down the country, checking the condition of bridges, tunnels, and viaducts, as well as 20,000 miles of track including signals and level crossings. The New Measurement Train – the most recognisable of Network Rail’s infrastructure monitoring trains – records 60,000 miles of data a year, which can now be easily offloaded via the McLaren Applied solution.

Access to better and more stable connectivity is supporting maintenance, with the monitoring trains reporting back using live data streams, including sensor readings on the track, foliage, and network monitoring. The remote and automated monitoring helps to target maintenance work and run a safe and reliable railway for passengers and goods.

Originally developed for the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, McLaren Applied’s patented Fleet Connect software splits data across networks in real time and reassembles it in the cloud en route to its destination, reducing blackspots and providing a consistent connectivity stream for any moving vehicle in any environment.

Pablo Garcia Lopez, Director, Connected Intelligence Business Unit at McLaren Applied, said: “The roll out of Fleet Connect software and cutting-edge Active Antenna hardware is a great example of how British ingenuity and engineering, along with cross industry knowledge, can solve prominent challenges in the transport sector. The combined technology ensures that infrastructure monitoring trains can quickly and reliably transmit data throughout their journeys up and down the UK.

“Network Rail has demonstrated an open, collaborative mindset in bringing Formula 1-derived software to the rail industry, and we expect further gains over five-year partnership,” Garcia Lopez added.