Month: May 2024

HMD teams up with Sinead Gorey for the sales start of HMD Pulse Pro

Forget cottagecore, commutercore and gorpcore; there’s a new fashion aesthetic on the block with an unlikely muse at its ‘core’: the HMD Pulse Pro smartphone.

To celebrate the sales start of the HMD Pulse Pro smartphone, European mobile innovator, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) and Fashion Week designer Sinead Gorey have teamed up to create ‘The Phonecore Collection’, which includes a pair of ‘Screen shades’ –  sunglasses, with vertical frames and lenses shaped like a mobile phone.

The Phonecore Collection is a hyper-limited drop of fresh Sinead Gorey fashion designs all inspired by – and integrating with – one of HMD’s first original smartphones, the HMD Pulse Pro and its Glacier Green colour. The collection intends to accompany, accentuate and accessorise a smartphone like nothing else in the fashion world.

 Lars Silberbauer, HMD’s Chief Marketing Officer: “We are so excited to unveil our HMD Pulse Pro device, and this unique Phonecore collection designed by Sinead Gorey. It is the perfect statement of what the HMD Pulse Pro, and HMD, represents. People no longer want their smartphones to only

be state-of-the-art pieces of technology but also to be fashion statements – and the HMD Pulse Pro is both. In addition to a 50MP camera, gesture-activated selfie function and bleeding edge tech under the hood, the device has a distinctive normcore revival aesthetic that makes it a great accessory to any wardrobe. The device also represents affordable luxury, as we don’t believe that quality should be out of reach for anybody.”

Commenting on the launch of The Phonecore Collection, Sinead Gorey, Fashion Designer, said: “With the HMD Pulse Pro acting as the muse to my designs, our Phonecore collection perfectly demonstrates the coming together of tech and fashion. Each accessory boasts a 70s space age future feeling with art-deco references and modern technology at its heart. For me it’s clear the intersection of fashion and technology is only going to lead to more industry innovations with wearable accessories at the forefront.” 

The HMD x Sinead Gorey ‘Phonecore’ range comprises:

  • Phonecore ‘Screen shades’: a wild pair of oversized sunglasses with elongated vertical frames matching the exact shape of the smartphone, complete with black lenses mimicking the device’s screen. Wearing two smartphone silhouettes over the eyes is a vibe.

  • Phonecore ‘Mobile backpack’: a 3D-printed undersized backpack designed only to house the smartphone. The semi-transparent smartphone backpack builds on the ever-popular trend of the mini bag but puts the smartphone in the front seat. The bag has also been engineered for a HMD Pulse Pro to sit upright in the bag, enabling owners to take a swift hands-free selfie whilst on the go.

  • Phonecore Belt: A modernised belt that heroes the smartphone. The toolkit-style belt features a pouch for the phone, making it the ultimate utilitarian addition to someone’s fit.

The items in the HMD x Sinead Gorey ‘Phonecore’ collection can be paired with a wide variety of apparel and other fashion ‘cores’, but the items’ colour-blocking lends itself particularly well to the normcore 2.0 aesthetic and monochromatic outfits.

The HMD x Sinead Gorey ‘Phonecore’ Collection is dropping globally with a limited number of accessories available to the public to get their hands on. Stay tuned at HMD.com.

About HMD Pulse Pro: Your selfie game is about to level up

Pulse Pro is a selfie-lover’s new best friend. With a 50MP selfie camera, your picture-perfect snaps will be the envy of all this summer. Give your phone the two-finger salute to kick-start all new Selfie Gesture Navigation, capturing core memories with just a wave of the hand, or go hands- free with a finger-heart, thumbs up or two-handed heart sign – perfect for those group selfies. And you can wave goodbye to blurry night-time selfies with HMD Pulse Pro’s AI Super Portrait mode, rendering even the darkest selfie as clear as day. Making it easier than ever to capture memories in high-definition, HMD Pulse Pro makes you look like a pro photographer – without any training.

HMD’s Pulse Pro is a fashion statement that won’t go out of style, available in three stunning shades: Glacier Green, Twilight Purple and Black Ocean. And it doesn’t stop at the handset. Pulse Pro in Glacier Green has its own statement colour-matched charger sold separately RRP €24.99. With its timeless design and sleek silhouette, it’s giving major celebrity vibes, without the celebrity price tag.

Priced at €179, the HMD Pulse Pro is available for purchase in Glacier Green, Black Ocean, and Twilight Purple via the HMD website here: www.hmd.com/hmd-pulse-pro. The HMD Pulse Pro is part of the new original HMD collection which also includes the HMD Pulse+ and HMD Pulse.

HP Unlocks New Era of AI Experiences Powering Work and Creation

Today HP Inc. unveiled a new class of next-generation AI PCs at Microsoft’s AI Vision Event designed for the AI era to empower people to work and create more meaningfully.

The way we live and work is no longer confined to a desk; we are creating at home, from the office, and everywhere in between. At the same time, AI is rapidly changing everything, including consumer and professional expectations for productivity and creativity. More than half of early tech adopters believe AI will save them time, and 72% of business leaders believe AI will help employees focus on more productive work. Additionally, developers are releasing a steady stream of AI-enabled software designed for new experiences and capabilities that can only be unlocked with next-gen AI PCs.

To capitalise on both flexible work and AI, HP has created a new category of devices crafted for work and creation. Today, HP unveiled the HP OmniBook X AI PC and HP EliteBook Ultra AI PC, HP’s first next-gen AI PCs built from the ground up with the latest ARM architecture to harness the most powerful AI technologies.

Both devices are designed and engineered around the Snapdragon® X Elite processor[vii] and its dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU)6, capable of 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) to run language models and generative AI locally on the device. Coupled with Copilot+ PC and its transformative features like Recall, these PCs supercharge creativity and productivity for a more personalised, powerful computing experience.

More AI apps are available every day, expanding the possibilities of what can be achieved with the newest HP next-gen AI PCs. Communicate and collaborate more effectively with AI tools that leverage gestures, facial expressions, and voice interaction to easily interact with others. Improve presentation skills in virtual meetings with real-time coaching and feedback powered by AI technologies. Create and edit photos, audio, and video faster than ever with AI-enabled software that make pro features easy even for beginners.

“In this transformative era of artificial intelligence, how we define an exceptional device is no longer about speeds and feeds – it is measured by our ability to create and enable meaningful breakthrough experiences,” said Alex Cho, President, Personal Systems, HP Inc. “We’re at the beginning of a new decade of personal computing that will redefine what a personal computer is. AI enables a fundamentally more personalised and creative experience we believe will empower people in both their personal and professional lives.”

Uniquely Designed to Break Barriers

HP’s latest next-gen AI PCs unlock capabilities beyond traditional PCs, running AI locally on the device for maximum performance, efficiency, and privacy with longer battery life than ever before. The HP OmniBook X and HP EliteBook Ultra are designed for tech-savvy freelancers and on-the-go leaders with a sleek design and the perfect synergy of AI-enhanced power and mobility.

  • Sleek & Versatile – As the world’s thinnest next-gen AI PCs with 26 hours battery life, these devices take productivity and creativity to new heights with unprecedented style and mobility. Both PCs feature HP’s new AI Helix Logo, reflecting HP AI engineering that delivers optimised performance and security for AI today. The HP EliteBook Ultra adds an additional layer of durability for commercial customers in a blue finish with a smudge-resistant Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating.
  • Lightning-Fast Responsiveness – With the HP OmniBook X and HP EliteBook Ultra, experience top performance without sacrificing portability. Open a large Microsoft Excel file almost 2x faster,  stream up to 12 hours of Microsoft Teams calls or binge up to 22 hours of Netflix streaming.
  • Responsibly Crafted – As part of the world’s most sustainable PC portfolio, both devices incorporate 50% recycled aluminium in the covers and 100% sustainably sourced materials for packaging, along with EPEAT® Climate+ Gold Registration and ENERGY STAR® Certification. Representing HP’s commitment to sustainability, the HP EliteBook Ultra’s three-year warranty saves costs and decreases downtime for professionals working in a mix of environments.
  • Intelligently Optimised to Power AI Experiences

With 60% of freelancers already using AI tools in their work, and 70% of developers adding AI to existing applications, HP architected the HP OmniBook X and HP EliteBook Ultra to take advantage of the newest features and software experiences, including:

  • Collaborate Authentically – As work requires collaboration in-person and virtually, state-of-the-art conferencing tools are critical. The new Poly Camera Pro uplevels virtual interactions across all collaboration and streaming apps across multiple cameras. Poly Camera Pro utilises the NPU to power AI enhancements like Spotlight, Background Blur & Replace, Auto Framing, and more, allowing the CPU to maintain performance more efficiently while preserving battery life.
  • Explore & Optimise – First available on today’s next-gen AI PCs, HP AI Companion uses AI to optimise the device for greater productivity while bringing AI tools locally onto the device.
  • Work Protected – As AI advances, trusted security measures are essential for AI PCs. Commercial users can confidently do their best work from anywhere on the HP EliteBook Ultra, with Wolf Pro Security Next Gen Antivirus (NGAV),[xix] which harnesses the power of machine learning to defend against new and known threats. As a Microsoft Secured-Core PC, the device is designed to protect the PC down to the firmware level with hardware security features that shield user credentials and other critical data.

Pricing and Availability

  • The HP OmniBook X AI PC is available for pre-order at HP.com with 1 TB storage and will begin shipping on June 18, 2024. The device will also be available at BestBuy.com.
  • The HP EliteBook Ultra AI PC is available for pre-order at HP.com and will begin shipping on June 18, 2024.

To learn more about HP’s new branding, including the new OmniBook lineup, visit https://press.hp.com/us/en/blogs/2024/branding-update.html.

Tech Review – NAVITEL R9 DUAL Front & Rear WiFi Dash Cam – Full HD Compact Car Dash Camera

The NAVITEL R9 Front & Rear WiFi Dash Cam – Full HD Compact Car Dash Camera has lots of features on board and not just a dash cam, it comes with Night Vision, Built in GPS & Speedometer – Ultra Wide Panoramic Viewing Angle – Parking mode, G-Sensor also included when you purchase isa voucher with over 45 maps for around the world.

Presentation is excellent with lots of information provided on the box itself then inside you get all both front and rear camera and an array of cables and mounts to secure the dash cam to your front and rear windscreen.

Installation will take about 15 minutes all in if you are handy at stuff like that and if you are not sure you can get someone that is qualified to do so.

Once setup there is a choice of two apps to use. There is a navigation app which costs to download maps for available regions and there is the app to run the dashcam which we are focussing on here today but we will show you both in the video review below.

The system is easy to set up and get going and then you can change the metrics to your specific needs in the app it is simple to use with a good UI you can download videos and photos from all incidents to your device or plug into a pc at home.

You can also set up easily on the dashcam itself and again we show you this in the video review below so you are aware of what is involved it is not that hard at all being honest.

OK so both cameras do a great job with all the features there to tune in to suit your needs and if you just leave it there to do its job it will, there is some hardwear keys to also go through things on it as we show you in detail in the video review below.

Ensure you mount the cameras both front and rear correctly to get the best video recording it is in your interest to do so to have results when needed.

Overall this is a great dashcam to have and simple to use with a non taxing UI to get through to get things done and we take a much closer look in the video review below so go check it out and let us know if you plan to get one for your motor.

The DVR center App

 

The NAVITEL  Navigator App

 

Features

  • FULL HD & WIFI CONNECTIVITY > The NAVTIEL R9 dash cam includes a full HD front facing compact dashcam with a built in screen, 1080p resolution and an additional 1080p rear view camera. With the Navitel DVR Centre mobile app, you can view real-time video from your recorder, change your device settings, and save files to your smartphone or tablet.
  • BUILT IN GPS & DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER > Built in gps and digital speedometer – record the location of your footage and your speed with built in gps. The digital speedometer shows your current speed on the dash cam screen.
  • EXTRA WIDE VIEWING ANGLE > an extra wide panoramic 170° angle allows recording of a wider portion of the road ahead of a car, including neighbouring lanes and the roadside
  • PARKING MODE > thanks to parking mode NAVITEL R9 can detect vibrations and start recording even when the car is parked, the driver is absent, and the device is turned off
  • NIGHT VISION > The Navitel R9 dash video camera is equipped with the high-quality Sony 307 starvis sensor and a 6 layered glass lens for a high-quality and detailed image even in low light

BUY at the links below

https://www.diy.com/departments/navitel-r9-dual-dash-cam-full-hd-front-and-rear-cameras-with-wi-fi-and-gps/8594181745208_BQ.prd

https://www.debenhams.com/product/navitel-r9-dual-dash-cam—front-and-rear-cameras-with-gps-and-wi-fi_p-e422fac5-03a2-4d88-a2d4-df9ac0f1ea25?colour=Black

Video Review

RoviSys Embarks on Expansion: Unveils New Dublin Office in Ireland

RoviSys, a premier provider of automation and information solutions, proudly announces the opening of its newest office in Dublin, Ireland. Strategically positioned in the heart of Europe, this expansion underscores a commitment to growth and its dedication to serving clients across the European Union.

The new office in Dublin marks a significant milestone in the RoviSys strategic vision for expansion, particularly within Ireland and the broader EU market. With a team of seven dedicated engineers already in place and 65 employees across Europe, RoviSys aims to bolster its presence by targeting a remarkable 200% growth in Ireland over the next 18 months. By the conclusion of 2025, the company plans to employ up to 30 professionals in Ireland, further solidifying its foothold in the region.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said: “Congratulations to RoviSys and all the team in Dublin on the opening of their new office. RoviSys’s innovative solutions to automation will complement Ireland’s thriving technology sector immensely. It is very exciting news that they have chosen Dublin as a location for their expansion withing the EU. They will have an abundance of talented engineering professionals here to fulfil positions as they grow. Best wishes to RoviSys and team on this new chapter.”

“Our expansion into Dublin represents an exciting chapter for RoviSys as we deepen our commitment to serving clients throughout Europe,” remarked Matthew Wise, President, RoviSys Europe. “With Ireland’s vibrant technological landscape and strategic position within the EU, we are confident that our presence in Dublin, combined with our Netherland’s office location, will enable us to better serve our clients, drive innovation, and expand our reach across diverse industries.”

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: ‘’I am delighted that RoviSys have chosen Ireland as the location for their newest office and have announced plans to hire up to 30 employees here. This is a great vote of confidence in the skilled engineering workforce that companies can find in Ireland. I wish RoviSys every success here in the coming years.’’

In additional to geographical expansion, the RoviSys growth strategy is focused on cultivating new and lasting partnerships within the local business community. The company looks forward to collaborating with businesses, organisations, and institutions in Dublin and beyond, contributing to the region’s advancement and reinforcing its reputation as a leader in industrial technology.

Dell Technologies partner with NVIDIA to expand Dell AI Factory and boost AI Adoption

Dell Technologies expands the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA to include new server, edge, workstation, solutions and services advancements that speed AI adoption and innovation.

“Organizations are moving quickly to capture the AI opportunity, which is why our collaboration with NVIDIA is so important,” said Michael Dell, founder and CEO, Dell Technologies. “Our expansion of the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA continues our joint mission – we’re making it easy for organizations to implement AI so they can move boldly into this next technological revolution.”

“Generative AI requires a new type of computing infrastructure – an AI factory that produces intelligence,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO, NVIDIA. “Together,

NVIDIA and Dell are providing the world’s industries with a full-stack offering – including computing, networking and software – that drives the copilots, coding assistants, virtual customer service agents and industrial digital twins of the digital enterprise.”

Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA transforms data into insights and outcomes

The Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA integrates Dell’s leading AI portfolio with NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform, underpinned by NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs, NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking fabric and NVIDIA Bluefield DPUs. Customers can purchase integrated capabilities tailored to their needs or pre-validated, full stack

solutions to get them started on AI use cases that require accelerated performance like RAG, model training and inferencing. Advancements to the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA allow organizations to:

Use advanced compute power to handle large scale AI deployments

  • The new Dell PowerEdge XE9680L delivers high performance with support for eight NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in a smaller 4U form factor. The server provides the highest possible rack-scale density for NVIDIA GPUs in an industry standard x86 rack, offering 33% more GPU density per node.1 The platform offers 20% more PCIe Gen. 5 slots and double the North/South network expansion capacity.2

 

Direct liquid cooling (DLC) improves overall efficiency with greater cooling capacity for CPUs and GPUs. The PowerEdge XE9680L is designed for easy serviceability and will be available fully configured with advanced factory integration for rack-scale deployments and onsite installation.

Dell is also announcing industry leading density and highly energy efficient turnkey rack-scale solutions that speed time to value for large GPU-accelerated deployments. Multiple variants will be available including an air-cooled design supporting 64 GPUs in a single rack, or a liquid cooled format featuring 72 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in a single rack.

Accelerate edge AI application deployment with Dell NativeEdge and NVIDIA

  • Dell NativeEdge is the first edge orchestration platform that automates the delivery of NVIDIA AI Enterprise software,3 helping developers and IT operators easily deploy AI applications and solutions at the edge. Businesses from manufacturers to retailers can quickly and accurately analyze their edge data with new Dell NativeEdge deployment blueprints which include NVIDIA Metropolis video analytics, NVIDIA Riva speech and translation capabilities and NVIDIA NIM inference microservices.

Simplify AI application development and deployment for faster time to value

  • The new Dell Generative AI Solution for Digital Assistants helps speed deployment of digital assistants that deliver a personalized self-service experience for end users on a full-stack Dell and NVIDIA solution. Implementation Services for Digital Assistants help organizations design, plan, implement, test and scale the solution.

 

  • Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA solutions help organizations quickly stand-up AI environments for a variety of use cases with full stack deployment automation engineered in collaboration with NVIDIA. Full stack automation reduces the time to value by up to 86% compared to doing it yourself.4 When combined with NVIDIA NIM inference microservices, the overall time from delivery to running inferencing jobs is even further reduced. NIM microservices provide enterprise

developers production-ready, optimized inference engines for popular AI models available from NVIDIA and its partner ecosystem.

 

  • New Dell Accelerator Services for RAG on Precision AI Workstations help shorten the AI development cycle and quickly yield better performing AI applications through a tailored large language model using RAG on a Dell Precision workstation with NVIDIA AI Workbench, a development platform to experiment, test, and prototype AI and ML projects in a more secure environment.

“Our research shows that organizations seek IT simplification, but are challenged to achieve it. AI, while promising simplification, brings its own set of complexities including choice, data quality, consistency and security. Having a proven, one-stop shop to help stand up the infrastructure, software and services needed to realize value from AI can reduce risk and lower costs,” said Dave Vellante, chief analyst, theCUBE Research. “Dell’s end-to-end capabilities are a core differentiator that we believe will translate to AI. The Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA is a leading example of an AI solution designed to simplify adoption for emerging AI workloads.”

Availability

  • Dell PowerEdge XE9680L servers will be available in the second half of 2024.
  • Dell NativeEdge deployment blueprints for NVIDIA will be available globally starting in the second half of 2024.
  • Dell Generative AI Solution for Digital Assistants and Implementation Services for Digital Assistants are available now in North America.
  • Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA automated deployment capabilities enabled through Dell professional services will be available in the second half of 2024. NVIDIA NIM microservices are available today.
  • Dell Accelerator Services for RAG on Precision AI Workstations are available in late May in the United States.

Additional Resources

 

 

Dell Unveils New Lineup of Copilot+ AI PCs

Dell Technologies today announced the expansion of its AI PC lineup with the introduction of new Copilot+ PCs, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon® X Elite and Snapdragon® X Plus. 

This new range includes five laptops: XPS 13, Inspiron 14 Plus, Inspiron 14, Latitude 7455, and Latitude 5455. These devices are designed to enhance productivity, efficiency, and security for consumers and professionals.

The new AI PCs are equipped with Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, GPU, and NPU, offering 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance and extended battery life. On-device Copilot enables instantaneous results without requiring an internet connection, ensuring seamless and secure operation. Key features include Recall, Cocreator, Live Captions, Windows Studio effects, and Auto Super Resolution, which collectively enhance productivity and creativity.

“ There’s no doubt the AI PC revolution is here. New transformative AI experiences will bring enhanced productivity and efficiency to the hands of consumers and professionals alike. Those with an AI PC will never look back, and everyone will want to be part of the action. We’re here to lead the way. Our five new laptops, XPS 13, Inspiron 14 Plus, Inspiron 14, Latitude 7455, and Latitude 5455, offer a range of consumer and commercial options that deliver exceptional speed and AI performance to elevate computing and simplify tasks.” said Sam Burd, President, Client Solutions Group, Dell Technologies.

Amplified creativity

Build for AI, the XPS 13 is Dell’s first XPS to feature Copilot+ powered by Snapdragon X Elite. It is the thinnest and lightest XPS model, offering up to 27 hours of battery life, making it suitable for everyday productivity and content creation. 

The Inspiron 14 Plus features the Snapdragon X Plus platform with up to 15 hours of battery life, enabling a faster and more efficient experience. The device offers an upleveled video and audio experience with quad speakers and a QHD+ display with 400nit brightness. Inspiron 14 is powered by Snapdragon X Plus and provides an easy-to-use platform with features like voice commands and a mechanical privacy shutter for extra security.

Unmatched productivity for the business professional

New Latitude AI laptops with Copilot+ pack game-changing performance and exceptional battery life. The Latitude 7455 is a premium AI laptop up to 21 hours of battery life stacked with a stunning 14-inch QHD+ touch display and quad speakers with AI noise reduction. The Latitude 5455 packs performance in a mainstream AI business laptop option with a 16:10 FHD+ display.

New AI experiences

The Dell Copilot+ PCs take productivity, creativity and communication a step further. Using Cocreator, users can create AI generated images using a combination of descriptive words and brushstrokes. New Windows Studio effects adjust lighting and offer new creative filters to enhance call collaboration. Auto Super Resolution uses AI to upscale videos and games in real-time for smooth streaming and gameplay.

Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM, Compute and Gaming Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., stated: “Leveraging Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus, Dell has created best-in-class products that can keep up with the AI use cases that will simplify consumer workflows. Together, we are delivering powerful and intelligent Copilot+ capabilities, and empowering customers, compute and gaming, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Together, it adds up to powerful performance, long battery life, and on-device generative AI. We are proud to power these products and enable Copilot+ for Dell users.”

 

Speaking on the unveiling of new lineup of Dell PCs Mark Linton, VP device partner sales, Microsoft Corp said: “It’s a thrilling new era of AI PCs, and our collaboration with industry leaders like Dell enables us to develop innovative devices that seamlessly integrate new AI experiences, enhancing our customer’s productivity and creativity like never before. Our deep engineering collaboration has been crucial in delivering productive and secure PCs for commercial, consumer and gaming customers for decades. With Dell’s launch of their Copilot+ PCs spanning Inspiron, XPS, and Latitude series, we will bring new AI experiences to life for consumers and businesses alike, taking advantage of on-device and cloud AI to empower individuals and organisations to achieve more”. 

 

Availability and Pricing

  • XPS 13 and Inspiron 14 Plus are now available for pre-order, starting at $1299 and $1,099, respectively.
  • Latitude 7455, Inspiron 14 and Latitude 5455 will be available in the coming months.
  • Dell Silent Mouse (MS355) will be available worldwide in Q3 for $37.49.
  • Dell Silent Keyboard and Mouse Combo (KM555) will be available worldwide in Q3 for $62.49.
  • Dell Wired Collaboration Keyboard (KB525C) will be available worldwide in Q3 for $39.99.

 

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

Qualcomm, Snapdragon, Qualcomm Oryon, FastConnect and Hexagon are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Rise in Purchase Scams Duping Consumers – Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland is warning consumers about a new wave of purchase scams which is luring consumers to make payments for goods and services through an advertisement online, which then transpires to be fake.

In the last year, there has been a 32% increase in purchase scams reported to Bank of Ireland. From relatively low value items such as clothes and trainers, through to holiday home deposits and even cars, consumers are often lured by the false promise of a slashed price or bargain and asked to pay directly, sending money from their bank account to another via bank transfer, which provides little protection.  Once the payment is transferred, the seller usually cuts all contact, and the product or service never arrives.

Providing practical advice for consumers, Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, said: “Fraudulent advertisements online and on social media have been the subject of regular warnings for some time. This alarming trend is not going away, even with increased awareness among the general public, and repeated calls for websites and search engines to remove the adverts.  These fake ads should be caught before they are published online, but many are not.

It’s unacceptable to see fraudsters operating so openly through online advertisements. No company should be generating advertising revenue from criminals – search engines, websites and social media platforms really need to step up and crack down. Our advice to consumers is don’t click on these adverts, ignore them completely, and if something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably fraud.”

Bank of Ireland’s advice in response to the current wave of purchase scams:

  • Research and read reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine.
  • Be alert to poor grammar and spelling, or vague product descriptions.
  • Go directly to the online shopping site by typing the web address into your web browser.
  • Links in unsolicited emails or on social media are not always safe and should be avoided.
  • Use secure payment methods, try and pay by debit or credit card, or the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites, as this could give you more protection.
  • Never agree to buying vouchers or other items for someone as a way to pay for something else.
  • Always view large purchases in person prior to making full payment for them.
  • If people suspect they have been a victim of fraud they should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can take action to stop a fraud in progress and try to recover funds. Bank of Ireland customers can call our Fraud Team 24/7, on the Freephone line 1800 946 764. 

Bank of Ireland is hosting a series of fraud awareness events in branches around the country, where its fraud and security teams will provide advice to members of the public and business owners on the latest fraud trends in circulation and tips on how to safeguard their finances.

For full listing of fraud awareness events and advice and information on fraud visit the Security Zone the Bank of Ireland website.

Portal Connecting Dublin and New York City Reawakens

Dublin City Council, Portals.org and the Flatiron NoMad are pleased to announce that the Portal connecting New York City and Dublin has reawakened.  The livestream restarted today at 9:00 AM in New York City and 2:00 PM in Dublin, after a temporary pause earlier this week.

The Portal will have specific hours of operation for the coming weeks with the livestream running daily from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM in New York City and 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM in Dublin.

In less than a week of operation, the Portal has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and garnered nearly two billion online impressions. The overwhelming majority of people who have visited the Portal sculptures have experienced the sense of joy and connectedness that these works of public art invite people to have.

The Portal sculptures are not meant to be touched or stepped upon. We have taken steps to limit instances of people stepping on the Portal and holding phones up to the camera lens. The Portals.org team has implemented a proximity-based solution. Now, if individuals step on the Portal and obstruct the camera, it will trigger a blurring of the livestream for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic. The team will continue making updates as needed to ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy the Portal.

The New York site will continue to have on-site security during all hours of operation, as it has had since the Portal debuted. Additionally, fencing has been installed in front of the New York Portal and more signage and spacing decals have been added to assist with crowd management and guide visitors to the optimal spots for interacting with the Portal.

For the Dublin site, physical design features are being implemented to assist with crowd management.

We are excited to welcome people in New York and Dublin back to experience this captivating visual bridge that connects these two iconic cities.

Portals.org artist and founder Benediktas Gylys added the following:

“As humans we are creating the Portals experience together. I invite local communities not only to enjoy but to care about their Portals and how other community members are approaching the sculptures.”

This is a joint statement from Dublin City Council, Portals.org and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership.

SSE Airtricity announces €5 million Generation Green Community Fund

SSE Airtricity has launched a €5 million all-island Community Fund with the aim of delivering meaningful community benefits across the island of Ireland. The company plans to undertake a ten week consultation process, which opens today, and which will continue until 26 July, inviting views from communities, individuals and organisations from towns, villages, inner cities, and rural heartlands, to advise how the fund could best support green initiatives throughout our communities.
The SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community fund is part of SSE Airtricity’s commitment to customers and the communities it serves by supporting them on the path to net zero through education, awareness raising, as well as grant funding and energy efficiency supports. The fund aims to support communities in reaching net zero by delivering a positive and lasting social impact.
Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development said: “I am delighted that SSE Airtricity has officially launched its €5 million Green Generation Community Fund. This is a transformative level of funding that will make a real and lasting difference in rural and urban communities. It’s pleasing to see SSE Airtricity acknowledge the integral role that local communities the length and breadth of Ireland will play in the transition to Net Zero through the launch of its community fund and consultation process today.
“This new fund will support local communities across Ireland with biodiversity, education, and decarbonisation projects, along with enhancing services and amenities in rural and urban areas.
I would encourage local communities and organisations to positively engage with SSE Airtricity and its Green Generation Community Fund during the consultation phase.”
Klair Neenan, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity, said: “Getting to net zero is in everyone’s interest and local communities will be at the heart of the energy transition. We know there are passionate people and groups working hard across Ireland and we want to help them make a positive difference by powering up their sustainability plans. But funding can often be an issue. That’s why we’re delighted to launch our unique Generation Green Community Fund.
“We know issues like biodiversity, education and decarbonisation are big priorities but to ensure the funding makes the biggest difference we want to hear from local communities directly.  That’s why we’re launching this initial consultation, and we look forward to hearing from communities and individuals, to inform how the fund should be used.”
As part of the consultation process, SSE Airtricity is inviting local communities and individuals to shape what the priorities for the fund should be. This will ensure the fund focuses on what is most important to communities. Examples of priorities may include green energy upgrades for community buildings, community biodiversity projects or green skills workshops and education.
The SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund will be administered in line with a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals, aligning with SSE Airtricity’s core sustainability priorities around community, biodiversity, education and decarbonisation.
The company has a long-standing commitment of supporting its customers and community groups. In response to the global energy crisis in 2022 and 2023, SSE Airtricity established a €25 million customer support fund to help its customers deal with the impacts of inflation.
The SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund will be open to application later this year, following the initial consultation period.
To submit your views to the consultation or for more information, please visit: www.sseairtricity.com/communityfund