Month: March 2024

SHURE Unveils Movemic: The World’s Smallest And Best Sounding Dual Channel Direct To Phone Wireless Lavalier Microphone System

Shure, the brand behind the world’s best wireless audio, today introduced its newest line of wireless clip-on microphones, the MoveMic Microphone System. MoveMic delivers reliable, true broadcast-quality audio in an ultra-lightweight design, ideal for content creators, videographers, and mobile journalists. It is the smallest, best-sounding, dual-channel direct-to-phone wireless lavalier solution available, developed with a custom acoustic design and proprietary wireless software to ensure professional audio quality while on the go.

Shure’s discreet and durable MoveMic series connects directly to phones in both single—MoveMic One—and dual channel—MoveMic Two—configurations for use with our MOTIV and MOTIV Video apps on iOS and Android. For those seeking universal compatibility, the standalone MoveMic Receiver and bundled MoveMic Two Receiver Kit seamlessly integrate with devices like cameras, computers, and third-party smartphone apps. MoveMic’s patented lavalier design and patent-pending wireless technology make it a reliable and flexible solution regardless of whether users are going direct-to-phone or connecting to the MoveMic Receiver.

“On-the-go interviews have become the primary way journalists, content creators, and TikTokers gather the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of people around the world,” said Eduardo Valdes, Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Management, at Shure. “The rise in this style of content has created an ideal opportunity to introduce an incredibly discreet, extraordinary-sounding wireless lavalier microphone system like MoveMic. We’ve applied our expertise as the leaders in professional wireless tools for performance, broadcast, and recording to create this super portable device. Creators will love that they can simultaneously send two channels of audio directly to their phone while keeping mics covert on camera.”

COMPACT, POCKET-FRIENDLY DESIGN – EASILY CONCEALED AND READY FOR ANYTHING
Nobody wants a big, bulky microphone distracting from their next shot. MoveMic was purposely designed to be almost invisible, weighing only 8.2g per microphone and measuring a demure 46mm x 22mm, with only a fraction of the microphone visible while worn for an unprecedented level of concealment and portability. With an IPX4 rating, MoveMic was engineered for real-world use and is capable of withstanding spills, splashes, and the demands of recording outdoors.

24 HOURS OF RECORDING PER CHARGE
Each MoveMic wireless clip-on microphone features up to eight hours of battery life. Users can achieve two additional eight-hour charges within the charging case, giving creators an entire day of recording for every full charge. USB-C connectivity makes MoveMic universally chargeable with any USB-C capable charging platform.

EFFORTLESS, BROADCAST-QUALITY AUDIO – DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE
The proprietary Shure wireless software and custom acoustic design built into MoveMic makes it easy to capture high-fidelity, broadcast-quality voice recordings with minimal background noise, ideal for hectic, on-the-go recording situations up to 100 feet from the receiver source. The result of endless hours of development by Shure engineers is performance, reliability, and sound quality you can count
on that is only available in MoveMic products.

QUICK SETUP – ONCE PAIRED, ALWAYS READY
After pairing MoveMic One and Two with a user’s preferred device, the microphones will automatically reconnect to the last-paired device when removed from the charging case and powered on. By eliminating setup time between shots, creators, journalists, and videographers can be ready to record in an instant.

FULL APP CONTROL
Designed to be paired with the free MOTIV Audio and Video apps, creators leveraging MoveMic One and Two can configure audio settings like gain, limiter, compression, noise reduction, and EQ. Additionally, users can record and livestream content to Facebook directly from the MOTIV Video mobile app, with YouTube livestream integration coming in spring 2024.

Pricing and Availability:
The MoveMic system and components are available now at Shure.com and select retailers.

MoveMic One

  • 1x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphone
  • Charging Case
  • USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

$249 / 289 EUR / £259

  • 2x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphones
  • Charging Case
  • USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

$349 / 399 EUR / £349

  • 2x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphones
  • Charging Case
  • MoveMic Receiver
  • 2x USB-C to USB-C Cable
  • 3.5mm – 3.5mm Cable
  • Roll Bag/Protective Carrying Case

$499 / 569 EUR / £499

  • MoveMic Receiver
  • USB-C to USB-C Cable

$199 / 182 EUR / £159.00

Google announces 21 winners of the second annual You’re the Business competition

Google, Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) are today announcing that they have selected 21 SME’s from across Ireland to secure a truly unique, money- can’t-buy prize as part of the You’re The Business campaign. Now in its second year, You’re the Business is a training and mentoring programme that aims to accelerate Irish SME growth through digitalisation.

In addition to the training, You’re the Business features a competition element to recognise and reward

SMEs that have demonstrated a commitment to digital at different stages of their growth journey – from

those who have launched a website, through to those who are just starting to export. Entrants were asked to submit a video no longer than 2 minutes in duration, detailing what their business means to them and an example of how they have used digital to drive / grow / enhance their business.

Winners will receive a digital support package from Google which includes €1,000 Google ads credit, as

well as one on one consultations with experts that will help them to further develop and grow their

business. The selected businesses are invited to attend a celebratory event at Google’s The Foundry

later this year.

An additional prize of a video creation kit was awarded to Jasmine Feehan, founder Dóchas Design Studio, for demonstrating great efforts in promoting their business online. Speaking about the competition, Jasmine said:

“I entered the You’re the Business Competition with hopes of expanding my digital expertise, growing my business online and advertising outside of social media. Developing the Dóchas Design Studio website and social media channels has allowed me to give a real sense of personality and brand identity to the business online. Without having a brick and mortar store, becoming familiar with website development and social media marketing has been essential to the success of Dóchas Design Studio and growing an online community.”

Speaking about their win, Sofie Rooney, co-owner and founder of winning SME Chimac, the Dublin-based Korean fusion chicken and sauce company, said:

“We’re so delighted to be a winner of this year’s Google You’re The Business competition. Whether it’s promoting our restaurant to potential customers, or reaching new markets with our Korean inspired sauces, Chimac has always used digital media as a targeted tool that enables us to speak directly with existing and potential customers  As we move into 2024, Google’s support package of advertising funds and expert mentorship will play a key role in our strategic planning and marketing strategy.”

Cera Ward, Managing Director of Google Ireland said:

“In Ireland, over 90% of all enterprises stand within the SME bracket. SMEs like Chimac and those we are celebrating today are an integral part of the economy generating employment and providing services across the country. Business owners know that in order to reach Irish consumers, 90% of whom are active online, they need to ensure their online presence is at its best.  You’re the Business helps SMEs to do just that, through training that is available on our dedicated site. We’;ve been proud to partner with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices in the delivery of the You’re the Business programme and I want to congratulate Chimac, Dóchas Design Studio and all the winners announced today, I look forward to seeing how they use this prize to support continued growth.”

Richard Murphy, head of LEO Support and Coordination Unit at Enterprise Ireland said:

“The role of digital in the evolution and growth of any SME has never been so keenly felt than over the past number of years. Companies have had to become more agile and digitally adept to survive and thrive. Opening up and sharing Google’s expertise in digital with SMEs across Ireland is a huge step forward in helping these companies to maximise their online presence and growth potential. Many congratulations to the winners announced today. We wish them continued success and look forward to supporting them as they grow both here in Ireland and hopefully internationally in the years to come.”

The foundation of You’re the Business is a digital upskill program. It is a Google initiative developed in

partnership with EI and the LEOs that delivers on-demand training online, e-learning courses, and tools

and other resources to SMEs in Ireland to help them upskill digitally.

For further information on the winners and the You’re The Business initiative, please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

Winning SMEs:

Google.org extends support to Barnardos to help make the internet safer for children

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced that it is extending its support to children’s charity Barnardos by providing an additional $1 million of grant funding to promote safe internet use for children and teens across Ireland.

The announcement follows the success of the initial Online Safety Programme launched by Barnardos in 2019 with €1 million in grant funding from Google.org. Over the past five years, more than 3,000 workshops in 700 schools across Ireland have reached over 90,000 students, and delivered over 2,000 parent workshops on online safety nationwide.

The new grant will enable Barnardos to extend the programme to children aged between 10 and 15 and will address new areas including AI. The new programme will also see Barnardos working in collaboration for the first time to help shape the programme with Webwise, leading online safety organisation and Media Literacy Ireland, Ireland’s media literacy network.

Speaking at the launch, Mindy Brooks, Senior Director, General Manager for Kids and Families, Google said:

“The internet is laden with opportunity and promise for young people, but education on how to confidently and safely explore the online world is crucial. Our work with Barnardos has been incredibly impactful across primary schools in Ireland. It’s important that we continue to collaborate to develop the correct tools and training for both young people and their parents to ensure ongoing education. This new grant from Google.org empowers Barnardos to not only reach more young people but also to roll out innovative solutions to emerging issues.”

Suzanne Connolly, CEO, Barnardos said:

“Over the last five years we have seen high levels of engagement with our Online Safety Programme supported by Google.org. The workshops have been very well received with 85% of children stating they found the workshops useful and 98% of teachers stating they would recommend the programme to other schools. This new grant allows us to extend both the reach and scope of the Online Safety Programme. We are especially excited by the collaboration with Media Literacy Ireland and Webwise, which will allow for a first of its kind co-creation of materials between different organisations.”

With this grant Barnardos plans to expand its current Online Safety Programme to include:

  • Collaboration with Webwise and Media Literacy Ireland in the design and delivery of its Online Safety Programme

  • Development of a virtual programme for delivery online to significantly increase the scale and reach of the programme

  • Adapting the existing Online Safety Programme for an older audience and delivery within secondary schools for students in 1st to 3rd years

  • Adapting the programme for use in youth and community settings as well as schools

  • Designing a Crisis Incident Response to provide advice and practical support to schools where a significant incident of online bullying or abuse has occurred

  • Organising conferences on topics of interest and engage in research to further the charity’s understanding of issues surrounding online safety and digital literacy

The grant was announced today at the Google “Growing Up in the Digital Age” Summit, which convened experts from industry, academia, government and civil society to discuss how young people can be protected, respected and empowered online. The summit was hosted by the Google Safety Engineering

Center (GSEC) in Dublin.

The Online Safety programme will be rolled out in secondary schools from September 2024 to complement our ongoing work in primary schools. A virtual programme will be rolled out in 2025. Schools can contact Onlinesafety@barnardos.ie for more information or to enquire about booking a workshop for their school.

Skullcandy Launches EcoBuds: Revolutionary Sustainable Earbuds with Battery-Free Charging

Skullcandy announced today its newest EcoBuds True  Wireless Earbuds, the brand’s most sustainable product to date. The new, environmentally conscious earbuds are made with 65 percent certified recycled plastics, 57 percent less heavy  metals and boast a 50 percent lower carbon footprint than comparable products on the market for  a fraction of the cost, making sustainability accessible to all. EcoBuds is available now globally at  select retailers and on Skullcandy.co.uk for £29.99 MSRP. 

EcoBuds are thoughtfully designed with sustainability in mind from the start. After conducting an  environmental impact analysis using third-party partner Ecochain, Skullcandy found lithium batteries  to be one of the worst carbon offenders for true wireless electronics. EcoBuds’ battery-free case  design, coupled with reduced virgin plastics, achieves a 1.35kg CO2eq total carbon footprint,  marking a 50% reduction from similar products. Meanwhile, the buds still offer eight hours of  battery life as well as a built-in USB-C cable, Rapid Charge and the ability to reverse charge from  your phone on-the-go–perfect for all-day use.

Designed for the eco-conscious consumer, EcoBuds’ small form factor and fewer, more sustainable  components make for the best eco-friendly offering on the market at a more accessible price point,  without compromising sound quality or performance. The open-case design limits plastic use, while  built-in magnets keep the buds secure in the case. The buds feature a minimal design featuring a  blue and white marble pattern paying tribute to the natural landscapes Skullcandy aims to protect. 

Tech specs tied to EcoBuds include:  

 

  • Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life + Rapid Charge – 10 minutes of charging gives you 2 hours of playtime • Charge From Your Phone with Integrated USB-C Charging Cable  
  • Premium Audio Quality with Microphone in Each Earbud 
  • Noise Isolating Fit  
  • Music, Bass Boost and Podcast EQ Modes 
  • Bluetooth® (v5.2)  
  • IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistance  
  • Auto On/Connect  
  • Call, Track & Volume Controls with Capacitive Touch  
  • Use Either Bud Solo  

Skullcandy’s VP of Marketing, Justin Regan, stated, “EcoBuds are a direct challenge to battery-anxiety assumptions, offering all-day battery life without wasteful overproduction and no compromise on sound quality.”

EcoBuds are now available at select retailers and Skullcandy.co.uk, inviting consumers to embrace sustainability without compromising on performance.

 

Price: £29.99 MSRP

Keego Mobility Announces iQuTech as Fleet Management Partner in Ireland

iQuTech is also Keego Mobility’s logistics and support partner in Europe and will set up a new division called iQuTech Mobility that will leverage their extensive operations to provide Irish delivery companies and their couriers with Keego Mobility’s purpose-built, sturdy delivery ebikes and world-class maintenance and customer support.
“We are excited to help the last mile delivery market in Ireland become more sustainable. The couriers who deliver our food and online purchases deserve the best service,” says Mark O’Sullivan, Co-founder, iQuTech. “Keego Mobility’s high quality products and our extensive service network will ensure that couriers will maximize the use of their delivery ebikes.”
iQuTech also sees great potential in Keego Mobiility’s ebikes for the First Mile Collections business where couriers can also pick up goods being returned, saving consumers the need to drop a package off at collections points or a post office.#
In Ireland, the Online Food Delivery market is projected to reach US$1.16bn in 2024 and is still growing. The Grocery Delivery market is also expected to grow, reaching a market volume of US$0.91bn this year.
Using electric bikes to deliver greatly cuts down on CO2 emissions. And this is something that is appealing to the customers. According to a study made by the delivery platform Just Eats, more than half of delivery customers want to know more about the carbon footprint of their takeaway orders.
First unveiled at the Taipei Cycle Show in March 2022, Keego Mobility’s delivery ebikes are built to handle the hard work of daily deliveries with long range and low total cost of ownership. The front and rear racks save the couriers from having to carry their cargo in a backpack, making for better ergonomics and ensures the food arrives as the chef intended. The company is co-founded by Irishman Philip Corri. Born in Dublin, Mr. Corri moved to Spain for his studies and eventually moved to Taiwan for work where he eventually met his other two co-founders and started Keego Mobility.
“We are excited to partner with such a strong Irish company such as iQuTech. There are thousands of couriers in Ireland that spends every day driving around on a fossil fuel scooter. When they switch to one of our delivery ebikes, there are 98% less CO2 emissions, quieter streets and the couriers will not have to carry cargo on their backs, truly a win for everyone,” says Philip Corri.
Anyone interested in iQuTech and Keego Mobility’s offerings can visit this new website to sign up to receive more information: https://iqutechmobility.com.

Tech Review – BACKBONE One Gen 2 mobile gaming controller

Gaming phones are rising in popularity but remains a niche market for many even though they are powerful phones they often come with caveats being targeted at gamers and generally expensive and you will not see many in retail here in Ireland anyway as in your typical mobile shop but you can find some sim free in other retail outlets, The BACKBONE Gen 2 mobile gaming controller brings gaming to mobile phones and makes it a better experience and costs much less than buying gaming phones and this is their latest on offer and there is some key differences between this and their last model.

The BACKBONE Gen 2 offers more new features and are as follows.

    • Both USB-C generations support iPhone 15 and USB-C (OTG) Android phones, enabling immersive game experiences.
      • There are a few key differences:
        • The 2nd generation controller supports a wider range of phones and compatible phone cases via swappable magnetic adapters and increased bridge extension
        • The 2nd generation controller D-pad and face buttons have been updated to ensure even more precise and responsive input

The product is well presented as seen below in the unboxing video and in partnership with Red Bull and the product itself is solid with nice tactile buttons and controls across the front of it with two buttons on each side up top namely called shoulder buttons.

They key difference here now you can use your iPhone with the Gen 2 model so for iPhone users it is most welcome as I use both Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 pro means it is a hand gaming accessory for me to use. Also tested on my Pixel 8 pro this is a great accessory to use given I have not much time for gaming in the first place but plan to change this it is a simple to set up device and you are good to go in a few minutes and you also need to download the app to get full use of the product.

Now we can play games on our phones without the likes of this but I have never been a fan of on screen controls and this changes the game here if you have never used such a product as it gives you the full hand controller experince you would find on your Xbox or PS5 for example and you can play the console and PC games you have with Backbone’s support for PS Remote Play, Xbox Remote Play, and Steam Link mobile apps.

 

BACKBONE One mobile gaming controller rear view Gen 2 – techbuzzireland

Overall if you are into mobile gaming and cant afford to splash out on a gaming phone that can be expensive this is an ideal bit of kit to have that works with many devices and now iPhones which are powerful phones and can handle games better than before.

Features 

  • PLAY ANY CONTROLLER-SUPPORTED GAMES: Responsive analog triggers, tactile buttons, and clickable thumbsticks for the ultimate mobile gaming experience.
  • LOWEST LATENCY, PASS-THROUGH CHARGING & 3.5MM HEADSET JACK: Connects to your phone’s USB-C port for ultra-responsive gameplay. Charge and use your favorite headset while you play.
  • WORKS WITH MOST ANDROID PHONES AND IPHONE 15 SERIES: Compatible with most Android devices 10.0 and up as well as the new iPhone 15 series. For iPhone 14 Series and older, please see our Lightning version.
  • EARLY ACCESS TO THE BACKBONE APP – The Backbone app is your gaming destination–the feature-rich home for gaming on mobile devices complete with 20+ unique features. Record and share gameplay, party up with friends, and launch your favorite games all from one place
  • PLAY YOUR XBOX, PLAYSTATION OR PC FROM ANYWHERE: Play the console and PC games you have with Backbone’s support for PS Remote Play, Xbox Remote Play, and Steam Link mobile apps

BUY

Video Review

Laifen Launches the Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush, a Revolutionary New Oral Health and Wellness Experience

Laifen, a renowned leader in personal care appliances, is pleased to announce that its pioneering dual-action electric toothbrush, the Laifen Wave, is now available to audiences in the United States. The Laifen Wave features a proprietary servo system that delivers unprecedented ultra-wide 60° oscillations and a max of 66,000 vibrations/min, achieving a 3x higher brushing efficiency¹ for healthier teeth.

Ahead of World Oral Health Day on March 20th, Laifen is committed to contributing to the awareness of good oral hygiene and its impact on overall body health. Knowing that new health and wellness appliances and practices are at the top of many people’s minds, the Laifen Wave is designed to align with the dentist-recommended Bass brushing method² and provide excellent oral care in one complete package.

At the heart of Laifen’s technological innovation is an emphasis on more effective and intelligent self-care solutions. The Wave’s superior cleaning efficiency, seamless design and user-friendly customization sets it apart from legacy brands, giving consumers an accessible path to optimized oral hygiene.

Laifen Wave Key Features:

60° Oscillation Combined with Vibration for a Deeper Clean
Modern Appearance, Seamless Single-Piece Design
Fully Customizable Brushing with 3 Settings / 10 Levels, Controlled by an Intuitive App
Long-Lasting Battery Life, Significantly Faster Charging, and Low Noise
Premium Antibacterial Brush Heads

FDA Approval and Product Recognition:

The Laifen Wave has been approved by the FDA for sale in the United States. Amongst other awards and roundups, the Laifen Wave’s debut made an impression at CES, earning recognition in Phandroid’s Best of CES 2024 Awards, TWICE’s CES Picks Awards 2024, PCMag’s 10 Best Health and Fitness Devices of CES 2024, and The Hollywood Reporter’s 15+ Best Smart Home Tech. The Wave stood out for its cutting-edge technology, extensive customizability, inventive brushing method, and sleek design.

Pricing Details:

The Laifen Wave is now available on Laifen EU and Amazon. To learn more about the Laifen Wave, please visit the website.

ABS (Plastic): €79.99
Aluminum Alloy: €99.99
Stainless Steel: €99.99

Evolve IP Accelerates Ahead With 2024 Partner Day

Fast-growing cloud collaboration provider, Evolve IP, is gearing up for a successful Partner Day to help resellers drive their businesses further forward.

The day-long event takes place at the Williams Racing F1 Experience Centre in Grove, Oxfordshire on April 18th. It includes innovative talks and fun-related race activities as well as detailing Evolve IP’s expanding product roadmap.

“We will be showcasing solutions, celebrating partners and knowledge sharing,” confirmed Evolve IP EMEA MD Paul Harrison. “In addition, there will be lots of fun F1-inspired activities throughout the day.”

The white-label cloud collaboration service provider generated unprecedented growth and attracted record numbers of new partners last year. Now the company is hailing 2024 as the ‘year to sell’ with new product innovations and enhanced levels of reseller support aiming to increase overall performance.

Insightful

“As a global collaboration provider, we specialise in bringing together unified communications, collaboration tools, contact centre, voice, and omnichannel solutions securely into the cloud,” Harrison explained.

“We recognise the importance of partnerships which is a key cornerstone of our ethos and evolution. Partnerships help create best-of-breed solutions and can unlock new doors, opportunities and deliver greater customer value and service.

“Insightful talks will be combined with interactive workshops as part of driving inspired day of fun and wisdom.”

Harrison concluded: “Our ultimate objective is to enhance today’s hybrid workplace and help make the future of work better for everyone. The Williams Experience Centre never fails to impress, located at the home of the Williams Formula 1 team. We are looking forward to highlighting how we are in pole position to drive our partners further forward.”

The Partner Day 2024 event is supported by technology partners Akixi, iTel, Dubber, Enghouse, Broadsource, Snom, PromptVoice, PRD Intelligence, Jabra, Yealink and Tango Networks. All sponsors will be exhibiting, offering technical demonstrations and playing a major part in the day – working together to promote partner growth and success in 2024. 

More details can be found by visiting: https://www.evolveip.net/en-gb/partner-day-2024

Streaming TV from Virgin Media has arrived – Infinite entertainment from one tiny box

Ireland’s Best Broadband provider, Virgin Media, has today announced the arrival of its new Streaming TV platform, offering infinite entertainment from one tiny box.

Streaming TV puts an ocean of entertainment at your fingertips and offers the best of both worlds, from your favourite traditional TV shows and channels to the most popular streaming apps (like Netflix, Prime Video, AppleTV+, Paramount+ and YouTube) and players (including the Virgin Media Player, Channel 4 Player and TG4 Player). And it does it all over your WiFi – making cable a thing of the past.

The fun-sized box fits in the palm of your hand and is completely portable, so you can move it anywhere around the home. All you need is our amazing WiFi to make every room in the home your own personal playground for world-class entertainment.

Streaming TV connects via Wi-Fi or Ethernet with live TV, recordings, continue watching, replay, on-demand, radio and pause live TV options available.

It’s now even easier to find the shows you love no matter where they live (be it live TV or your favourite apps) with one single search. It also comes with voice control, with 69% of Virgin Media customers now using voice search on a weekly basis. Add a show to your watchlist and get a notification when the latest episode drops into your app or is scheduled on TV. You can also access the streaming apps in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos support.

Its award-winning design boasts extraordinarily strong sustainability credentials, thanks to extremely low power consumption, averaging 70% less power than a traditional set top box. It is also made from 35% recycled plastics with no single-use plastic being used in the packaging.

New customers can add Virgin Media Streaming TV with Loaded TV to their broadband package for as little as €15 per month for 12 months and €34 per month thereafter. Existing Broadband customers can add Streaming TV at any time and can add an extra Streaming TV box or upgrade their current box depending on their circumstances.

Paul Higgins, VP of Consumer of Virgin Media said, “We are delighted to finally bring this incredible and exciting new Virgin Media product to our customers. With its award-winning design, the TV streaming box is as unique as it is compact.

“We also understand how imperative it is to keep sustainability at the forefront of our business goals and objectives when we bring a new product onto the market. Thanks to its small size, its subsequent packaging is also relatively small and kept to a minimum.

“Virgin Media Streaming TV also comes packed with a number of user-centric features across live TV and streaming apps, giving each of our customers a bespoke experience so, no matter what your TV viewing style is, you can play it your way.”

You can learn more about the new Streaming TV at virginmedia.ie.