Month: April 2024

Swappie – More than 60% of Irish consumers Unaware about the Growing Impact of E-waste

As the world celebrated Earth Day, Swappie, Europe’s largest iPhone refurbisher, has unveiled a dire need to educate people about the impact of e-waste. This alarm bell comes as a study by the United Nations reveals that a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, up 82% from 2010; on track to rise another 32%, to 82 million tonnes, in 2030.

Swappie did a pan-Europe community survey to gauge people’s knowledge and awareness about sustainable habits, carbon footprint and the impact of e-waste on the planet. The result was a startling and urgent need for more awareness across all age groups shedding light on widespread ignorance regarding e-waste and its consequences.

Globally, the annual generation of e-waste is rising by 2.6 million tonnes while the documented recycling rate has dropped from 22.3% in 2022 to 20% in 2030 – as recycling efforts fail to match pace with the monumental growth of e-waste generation worldwide.

The key highlights from the survey are as follows:

Awareness Gap:
A staggering 62.7% of Irish respondents were unaware of the projected 82 million metric ton increase in e-waste by 2030, equivalent to discarding 1,000 laptops every second.

Personal Impact on E-Waste:
Around 25% of global respondents correctly estimated their annual e-waste production.

Knowledge of iPhone Carbon Emissions:
22.7% correctly identified that it emits approximately 82 kg of CO2 in its first year of life.

Concern for the Environment:
Despite the lack of e-waste awareness, the majority of Irish respondents expressed significant concern about their carbon footprint and environmental impact.
61.6% rated their concern as 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-5, indicating high levels of worry about their personal environmental footprint.

Sounding the alarm, Luísa Vasconcelos e Sousa, Country Manager for Ireland at Swappie said: “These survey findings underscore the critical importance of raising awareness about e-waste and its detrimental effects on our planet. It is evident that there is a strong desire among consumers to make more informed choices to mitigate their impact on the environment – but the buck doesn’t stop here. We, at Swappie, pledge to inform more and more people about e-waste and how every person can contribute in making the world a better place.”

Swappie remains committed to environmental education and sustainability, aiming to empower individuals with knowledge to combat e-waste and reduce carbon emissions. As part of its Earth Day initiatives, Swappie will be launching educational campaigns and resources to help individuals better understand and address the challenges posed by e-waste.

Majority Audio launches the Majority MP3 Pro

Majority, the consumer electronics brand known for its innovative products, provides the audio solution for music lovers on the go, the Majority MP3 Pro.

The Majority MP3 Pro is available in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain from Amazon for £34.95/€39.95/$39.95.

Never again does running errands or housekeeping have to be boring- The MP3 Pro opens a world of opportunity to take 12,000 songs wherever you go. With expandable storage of up to 128GB, listeners can further enjoy up to 36,000 songs to put a music kick into your next workout, commute, or holiday. Working together with the extensive playtime and 4-hour fast charge means with the MP3 Pro your favourite songs do not need to be interrupted.

Designed for the on-the-go music enthusiast, the MP3 Pro features 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity coupled with 67 hours of playtime means listeners can surround themselves with wireless audio for hours whatever the occasion.

Keeping to Majority’s tradition to deliver high quality home audio products at an affordable price, the MP3 Pro’s integrated speakers prove crystal-clear audio doesn’t have to be sacrificed! Simple connect with the included headphones for a private party or pair with external speakers to fill the room with your customised playlist- either way the MP3 Pro has been meticulously engineered for listeners to immerse themselves in every intricate musical note.

Showing that style and function can work effectively side by side, the MP3 Pro’s zinc alloy chassis encasing delivers a premium touch and sleek design, while the 2.4” colour display guarantees that music navigation could not be easier!

Designed in the UK and with a 3-year warranty, Majority produce products that will last and stand the test of time.

The MP3 Pro is available on Amazon for £34.95/€39.95/$39.95.

Key Features of the Majority MP3 Pro:

  • 5.0 Bluetooth Connectivity
  • 4hr Charging Time
  • 65GB Internal Storage
  • Compatible with SD cards up to 128GB
  • Earphones included
  • Integrated Speaker
  • Dimensions: 4.2cm x 6.6cm x 1.8cm
  • Weight: 33g

 

About Majority:

From a living room in Cambridge to over a million homes across the globe, Majority was born from the idea that there could be a product that is suitable for everyone and enjoyed by all. A consumer electronics company offering a range of radios and home audio products that never compromised on great features and sound quality, Majority is now in over a million homes and has high ambitions to be one of the greenest tech companies on the planet by the year 2023.

www.majority.co.uk

JUSTTIP Flex offers next generation mobile tipping solution for table service establishments

In a move that is set to further transform the hospitality industry, Irish founded company JUSTTIP has expanded its offering with the introduction of JUSTTIP Flex, a new mobile tipping solution developed for restaurants, pubs, and hotels offering table service.

The latest hospitality solution from Dublin headquartered JUSTTIP, co-founded by young entrepreneurs James Fahy (23) and Ciara Walsh (22), saves business owners the 11.8% PRSI liability on every tip managed through the system, reduces administrative burdens, and brings them in line with tipping legislation to avoid on-the-spot fines of up to €1,500.

With the new Flex option, as well as existing Fixed terminals and QR code solutions offered by JUSTTIP, customers can easily and securely tip hospitality staff, safe in the knowledge that everything goes directly to staff. For customers, JUSTTIP Flex allows them to choose their tip amount in a separate transaction from paying the bill, thus increasing servers tips while separating them from the business’ income.

Designed to streamline the tipping process for both businesses and employees, Ciara Walsh, Co-founder of JUSTTIP explained “We launched JUSTTIP to bring transparency to tipping, but found so many businesses didn’t even know the charges they were paying on tips, and requirements with updated legislation. The platform is built to help businesses and employees manage tips, with end to end transaction reports, bringing businesses in line with legislation, and offering complete transparency to their staff. An added bonus is that the customers love it too.”

 

With tipping legislation in Ireland updated in December 2022, companies must now provide clear information to customers on how tips are shared among employees, promoting transparency and trust in the tipping process. Legislation also states that staff should receive a breakdown of electronic tips received and how they are distributed, and guarantees employees the right to receive their tip, protecting them from unfair distribution.  All tips generated through JUSTTIP’s systems are collected and pooled, and distributed weekly directly to the employees’ bank accounts in proportion to the hours they worked, bypassing the employer’s business completely.

With JUSTTIP, employers manage tip distribution thanks to the easy to use employer portal to monitor tip collection and distribution. For employees, tips are paid directly to their bank account every Tuesday, and tax management tools are available to help with calculating liability.

JUSTTIP Co-founder James Fahy added “As the hospitality industry continues to embrace digital transformation, JUSTTIP remains committed to driving innovation and setting new standards for excellence. We guarantee regulatory compliance for businesses and equitable tip sharing for employees.”

JUSTTIP was founded in July 2021, and since then has successfully on boarded 400 establishments and over 7,000 staff across Ireland and the UK.

For further information visit https://justtip.net/.

Tech Review – BURGA Universal Watch Band 22mm – Metal Mesh

Just like cases watch straps are a huge business today and for someone like me I have more than one strap per watch and I have a lot of smartwatches yet alone your old standard wrist watches but I collect both along with my other habits of collecting tech and trainers.

This strap is lightweight and fits well on the wrist and simple to swap out from your existing straps as things have changed in that area now and they come with a quick release lever bar which saves you digging in with a knife like the old days however Apples idea is better and easier still but that is just me.

This strap is made from quality materials too and will allow your skin to breathe which is good especially if you are wearing metal on your wrist, the magnet is strong too and works really well and the strap is of course fully adjustable, it looks well and slightly less thicker than your average strap that comes with a watch today. It is slightly thinner in width which does not suit me personally but still looks nice on the arm and more premium looking than what you get out of the box.

Check out the video for more below.

 Features:

  • 4 colors to choose from
  • Adjustable watch band size
  • Made from strong & sustainable 304 Stainless Steel
  • Max Length when open: 206 mm / 8.11 in.
  • Length when closed: 108m / 4.25 in.
  • Product weight: 36 g / 1.27 oz.
  • Convenient magnetic buckle for a secure hold and easy removal.
  • Stamping and extrusion manufacturing techniques with PVD coatings to increase wear and corrosion resistance
  • Polished and brushed finish for a smooth, shiny appearance & improved durability
  • Lightweight and water-resistant

BUY

Video Review

Evolve IP Launch New Training Hub To Empower Reseller Knowledge

Cloud collaboration provider, Evolve IP, has created a specialist eLearning platform to inspire reseller knowledge and help them retain and win new business.

The ‘ucSKILLS’ digital adoption platform offers valuable tools so partners can seamlessly deliver all of Evolve IP’s Anywhere Product Suite solutions, and enhance their own customer experience.

Together with technology partner iTEL, dedicated eLearning content is available from one user-friendly central resource which is constantly updated. 

Transform

Scott Rixon, Evolve IP Solutions Director, says the new service will cement reseller knowledge across the EMEA region and help accelerate digital user adoption.

“Our partnership with iTEL will totally transform current services and create a host of benefits such as optimising team knowledge and support levels, improving the overall customer experience and reducing customer churn.

“This valuable technical resource will be readily available to all our customers, giving them the power to quickly resolve issues and guide customer queries.”

Rixon added that a recent study with iTEL proved that having an effective digital adoption platform reduced customer churn by 35%, ensuring resellers retain their customer bases.

“If their service is reliable and consistent, customers will stay. An adoption platform supports quality control and team development,” he highlighted.

Evolve IP is designed to advance today’s hybrid workplace. It partners with many of the world’s biggest tech companies to bring together their unified communications, collaboration, voice, and contact centre tools into a single, secure solution, fine-tuned for the hybrid workforce. 

Continuous Pursuit

Rixon emphasised: “By integrating these disparate systems from leaders such as Cisco and Microsoft, we can improve both productivity and security, increasing uptime to make the future of work better for everyone. The Evolve IP Training Hub – ucSKILLS – is another major step forward as part of a continuous pursuit to drive standards even higher.

“In addition, the hub will also be the new home for the Evolve IP Partner Portal. Meaning once a team has access, everything they need is in one place such as training materials, marketing resources and technical content. We want to make it even easier to do business with us.” 

James Buxton, Managing Director of iTEL, is equally enthusiastic about the new partnership. “Teaming-up with Evolve IP is a perfect fit as we share the same customer-focused goals and objectives, based on an engage, adopt and retain philosophy. Knowledge is power in an increasingly sophisticated and evolving technology arena.”

Rixon concluded: “This new service is all about empowering partners and helping cement their technical knowledge. As we begin to grow the training hub, we will ensure this space becomes the centre for partner learning and development and a go-to Unified Communications knowledge bank.”

Source Galileo and Rosslare Europort sign agreement to develop offshore wind projects

Source Galileo, a leading Irish and European renewable energy development company, and Iarnród Éireann, the Port Authority for Rosslare Europort, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together with the aim of achieving the common goal of developing Rosslare Europort as a key facilitator in the delivery of large-scale offshore wind farm projects in Irish coastal waters.

A redevelopment plan for Rosslare Europort to facilitate both offshore wind farm construction, and operations and maintenance, is currently being progressed by Iarnród Éireann. It plans to establish the port, its hinterland, and the south-east region as Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub, with the potential to create up to 2,000 jobs.

While the joint agreement between Source Galileo and Iarnród Éireann is non-exclusive in nature, it seeks to combine their respective fields of expertise and knowledge to maximise the opportunities and potential to develop their respective development plans.

Source Galileo is developing 10 GW of offshore wind to electricity and wind to hydrogen projects off the coasts of Europe. Its portfolio includes the Mac Lir project, a proposed offshore wind farm located off the coasts of Wicklow and Wexford.

The project has a target installed capacity of 700 MW+, which equates to approximately 15% of Ireland’s commitment to achieve 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030. The project also has the potential to meet the needs of over 600,000 households and to offset over one million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

At its nearest point, Mac Lir’s proposed turbine array area will be over 22 kilometres off the east coast, lying entirely outside Ireland’s 12 nautical mile foreshore limit. This area, which spans from south of Arklow to Cahore Point, has been strategically selected by Source Galileo to reduce visibility from the coast, to limit environmental and economic impacts and to harness stronger wind speeds that are found further offshore.

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has secured a 20% stake in the Irish offshore wind projects of Source Galileo, which includes the Mac Lir project. Work is underway to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report for the project, with the aim to submit a planning application for the project in late 2026.

Rosslare Europort is uniquely located within 60-100 nautical miles of most of the planned Offshore Renewal Energy developments in the Irish and Celtic seas. To deliver its vision for ORE, Rosslare Europort plans significant works including:

–          ORE purpose-built quay and berth.

–          ORE quayside storage and pre-construction / up to 50 acres in area.

–          Navigable channel dredged down to a minimum of 9-11 metres depth.

–          Management Control Centre and management offices and facilities for Operations and Maintenance.

Kevin Lynch, CEO of Source Galileo said: “Source Galileo is developing a portfolio of projects that will generate substantial clean renewable energy direct to homes and business across Ireland. We look forward to working with Iarnród Éireann to jointly develop solutions that will assist the Government to accelerate its target of delivering 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, and 20 GW by 2040”.

Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units for Iarnród Éireann, Port Authority Rosslare Europort said: “Rosslare Europort is excited to work with Source Galileo whose vision for the potential of ORE aligns with our own.  We believe there are strong synergies to be achieved as we work together to place this renewable energy industry at the heart of Ireland’s decarbonised future.”

Videndum Media Solutions joins forces with Aquatech exclusive distribution across EMEA

Videndum Media Solutions, the leading manufacturer and distributors for imaging and audio capturing devices for the growing content creation world, has announced its exclusive distribution partnership across the EMEA region with AQUATECH, the internationally acclaimed manufacturer of premium underwater housings. Starting April 2024, European ocean photographers will have direct access to AQUATECH solutions through a newly designed experience on manfrotto.com, as well as through Videndum Media Solutions’ qualified distribution network in key European Countries.

For over two decades, AQUATECH has been at the forefront of design for high quality, waterproof housings and professional photographic accessories, engineered to withstand the toughest underwater conditions and ensure the safety of valuable camera equipment. A pioneer in the water photography niche, AQUATECH has empowered photographers and filmmakers to capture breathtaking moments above and beneath the water surface.  

The new announcement expands on the previous collaboration in 2023 that introduced the JOBY SeaPal; the premium, waterproof smartphone case compatible with Samsung Galaxy S24-S22 and iPhone 15-12 that unleashes stunning ocean footage and epic wave-riding shots has been co designed and engineered with Aquatech team. 

Today, the partnership brings together two industry leaders sharing the values of unparalleled quality, innovation and a global presence.
“We’re thrilled to welcome AQUATECH into our partner brands portfolio” comments Chris Carr, Videndum Media Solutions CMO and EVP of Sales. “Their expertise in underwater imaging technology perfectly complements our range of media supports and accessories, adding an exciting new dimension to content creation.”

Alan Love, AQUATECH Founder and CEO, shares the company’s ambitions: “The partnership with VMS marks a pivotal moment for us as we expand across the EMEA region. Their robust distribution network provides a strategic avenue for growth, allowing us to strengthen our presence alongside industry leaders.” 

The full range of camera housings, lens port and accessories is now available to professionals and enthusiasts engaged in photography, cinematography and visual arts such as surfing, sailing, documentary, ocean seascape art, fashion, Olympic water sports, wildlife photography, outdoor sports, and more. 

For more information, browse the dedicated AQUATECH section on www.manfrotto.com, or visit VMS authorized distributors and partners across the EMEA region. 

Infographic + data – phishing is more prevalent via email than SMS/voice, plus latest on mobile connections

𝐌𝐄𝐅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 – 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞

Most incidents of Phishing or Spoofing on smartphones still occur via Email, according to MEF’s (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) 9th Annual Trust Study, with 52% of users reporting personal experience of data harm via this channel. Surprisingly, 39% of those users still took no preventative measures to protect their online data.

SMS and Voice (phone calls) were the joint second most reported channels for Phishing and Spoofing attempts for 39% of users, followed by WhatsApp (30%). However, more users are taking protective action against breaches on these channels – perhaps highlighting the acceptance of Email as a ‘dirty’ channel.

Full details are available to download at https://mobileecosystemforum.com/mefs-9th-annual-trust-study/

 

𝐌𝐄𝐅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 – 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The total number of cellular connections worldwide with mobile data (excluding M2M) has risen 75% since the end of 2016 – from 3.89 billion to 6.82 billion. Mobile data connections comprise both Talk, Text & Data SIMs and Data-only SIMs.

Over the same time, the total number of cellular connections rose from 7.25 billion to 8.44 billion meaning that cellular connections with mobile data now comprise almost 81% of the total versus just 54% at the end of 2016.

Mobile connection data and user data for over 200 countries worldwide is available to view at MEF Data https://mobileecosystemforum.com/mef-data/

Google.org announces €500,000 in funding to improve access to AI in Ireland

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google is today making €500,000 in grants available to help improve access to AI in Ireland – with a focus on those in vulnerable and underserved communities. As part of the AI Opportunity Initiative, funding from Google.org will support training and skills for workers who are most likely to be impacted by workplace transitions brought on by AI.

Developed in collaboration with the Centre for Public Impact, Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, is making up to €500,000  in grants and sub-grants available in Ireland. Google is seeking applications through an open call from social enterprises and nonprofits in Ireland who can help reach those people most likely to benefit from this training – equipping workers here with the skills they need to avoid being left behind.

Selected organisations will receive bespoke training for their beneficiaries on foundational AI with extensive guidance and wraparound support. In addition, cash grants will be offered to support successful applicants, ensuring workers can attend the training.

Cera Ward, Managing Director, Large Customer Sales, Google Ireland, said:

“AI has the potential to improve people’s  lives, and to help solve some of our most pressing societal challenges. We’re pursuing AI boldly and responsibly to ensure its benefits are available to everyone and that accessibility enhances our society – not exacerbates existing inequalities.  The AI Opportunity Fund will help people in Ireland to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence around AI, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

The application window is open. Information and details on the Google.org landing page: https://aiopportunityfund.withgoogle.com/