Month: August 2024

ZAGG Announces Screen and Case Protection for the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold

ZAGG, the global leader in accessories and technologies that empower mobile lifestyles, today announced screen protection and cases designed exclusively for the newly released Google Pixel™ 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. ZAGG InvisibleShield® screen protectors and ZAGG cases will bear the “Made for Google™” badge, indicating they have been designed by ZAGG for use with the Pixel 9 smartphones and have been certified to meet Google’s compatibility standards. These products from ZAGG uphold the highest quality standards, ensuring that users’ devices are well-protected without compromising style and functionality.
The ZAGG InvisibleShield product lineup features:
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold
  • Glass Elite (£29.99) – Glass Elite tempered glass screen protection has got you covered with ultra-strong aluminosilicate glass, tested up to 5x stronger than traditional glass screen protection.3 The ClearPrint surface treatment makes fingerprints nearly invisible when your screen is turned on. Glass Elite applies evenly and accurately with our EZ Apply installation tray.
  • Glass Elite Anti-Reflective Lens Protection (£19.99)  – Protect your camera lenses from impact, scratches, rough surfaces, or the contents of your bag or pocket. Glass Elite Anti-Reflective lens protection fits precisely, and the embedded anti-reflective technology eliminates glare and lets you see everything in rich, vibrant color.
The ZAGG case lineup features:
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL
  • Luxe (£19.99)  – Your phone deserves the Luxe treatment. Luxe has been tested to protect your phone from drops up to 10 feet/3 meters.4 Its comfort grip and soft, smooth surface feel good in your hand. The slim design fits easily in your pocket. Luxe is made with up to 100% post-consumer recycled content.5
  • Milan (£29.99)  – The iridescent Milan is more than just a pretty case. It provides up to 13 feet/4 meters of drop protection.4 The beautiful, iridescent finish complements the sleek lines of the new Pixel phones. Milan Snap is made with up to 78% post-consumer recycled content.5
  • Crystal Palace (£29.99)  – The gorgeous Crystal Palace case is a consistent favorite, combining transparent design with approximately 13 feet/4 meters of drop protection.4 It protects while showing off the sleek lines of your new Pixel phone. And Crystal Palace is made with up to 78% recycled content, so the strong, sleek choice in case protection is also the responsible one.5
  • Luxe 360 Bundle (£24.99) – Your phone deserves the Luxe 360 treatment. Elevate your smartphone protection with the Luxe & Glass 360 Protect Bundle, combining the ZAGG Luxe case and the Glass Elite tempered glass screen protector. This premium bundle offers unparalleled defence and style, ensuring your device remains in pristine condition from all angles.
Each ZAGG case for the Google Pixel lineup contains the revolutionary material Graphene, which is harder than a diamond, yet more elastic than rubber, and up to 200x stronger than steel.6 Trusted by innovators and leaders in the fields of aerospace, aviation, professional sports, and more, Graphene can withstand tremendous force and dissipate heat.
“ZAGG continues to stay at the forefront of the market, delivering innovative products that cater to the evolving needs of consumers,” said Brad Bell, senior vice president of marketing for ZAGG. “This new line of products embodies our dedication to enhancing the mobile experience and protecting the mobile devices at the center of our lives.”
Availability:
ZAGG accessories for the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and the Pixel Watch 3 are available now on ZAGG.com, at ZAGG franchise locations, and at select retail stores nationwide. ZAGG backs its mobile accessories with an industry-leading limited lifetime warranty and will replace the product if it ever gets worn or damaged for the life of the device.7 With more than 330 million screen protectors sold worldwide, ZAGG InvisibleShield is the No. 1 selling brand for smartphone screen protection in the U.S. and has set the industry standard for screen protection.
  • Glass Elite (RRP £29.99) Pixel 9 / Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold – With ultra-strong aluminosilicate glass and tested up to 5x stronger than traditional glass screen protection, the ClearPrint surface treatment also makes fingerprints nearly invisible when your screen is turned on.
  • Glass Elite Anti-Reflective Lens Protection (RRP £19.99) Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold – Protect your camera lenses from impact, scratches, rough surfaces, or the contents of your bag or pocket. Anti-reflective technology also eliminates glare and lets you see everything in rich, vibrant colour.
New phone cases include:
1 Tests conducted by a 3rd party independent lab; tested up to 10X stronger than traditional glass screen protection.
2 Recycled material is certified through a third-party mass balance allocation process.
3Tests conducted by a 3rd party independent lab; tested up to 5X stronger than traditional glass screen protection.
4 Mil Std 810G 516
5Recycled material content is verified by an independent third party
6See ZAGG.com/grapheneFAQ for more details
7Shipping and handling fees apply. Visit zagg.com/warranty-policies for warranty terms and conditions.
Google Pixel and Made for Google are trademarks of Google LLC. Eyesafe is a trademark of Eyesafe Inc.

Google Pixel 9 series new earbuds and watch announced

The #MadebyGoogle event has just taken place and it is my favourite time of year to see what Google has to offer and again we have a full suite of devices and this time they all come to Ireland unlike last years foldable device which is great news for those who like such phones.

Of course being Google AI is one of their key features on their new devices along with other new features which look good making the new phones superb productivity tools and one we always carry on us all year round be it the Main staple model of the year or their A series..

Pixel 9 phones

The Pixel 9 phones have an elevated new look that puts the camera front and center with an evolution of our iconic camera bar. The sculpted design is stunning — and also feels good in your hand. They also feature updated finishes, with a silky matte glass back and polished metal sides for a distinctly premium feel. Plus, the phones are twice as durable as Pixel 8.

For the first time, our Pro model comes in two different sizes: Pixel 9 Pro (6.3”) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.8”). Both have our best and brightest Super Actua displays yet, and a new 42 MP front camera so you’ll get sharper and brighter selfies in low light. And other than display size, charging speed and power, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL share all the same specs and features.

Pixel 9 is packed with upgrades. With its 6.3-inch Actua display, Pixel 9 is 35% brighter than Pixel 8 and has been rated the best display in its class. As for the camera, you’re getting the same main and ultrawide cameras as Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. That’s a huge upgrade for the ultrawide lens, from 12MP on Pixel 8 to 48MP on Pixel 9. And the front camera now has autofocus for even sharper selfies. Plus, the Pixel 9 has approximately 20% longer battery life during active use with the screen on when compared to Pixel 8.

To top it off, all the Pixel 9 phones get even better over time — each phone comes with seven years of OS, Pixel Drops and security updates.

AI helpfulness, powered by Google Tensor G4

The Pixel 9 phones are powered by their new custom silicon: Tensor G4. It’s our most efficient chip yet and was designed to improve everyday use cases, like opening apps more quickly or browsing the web.

Tensor G4 was designed with Google DeepMind and is optimized to run their most advanced AI models. It will be the first processor to run Gemini Nano with Multimodality — which helps your phone understand text, images and audio.

To make sure the AI-powered experiences on your device run smoothly, with upgraded memory memory across the entire Pixel 9 family, with 12GB of RAM for Pixel 9 and 16GB for Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Gemini Live helps you get the answers you need

Gemini Live lets you have a free-flowing conversation with Gemini — right from your phone or Pixel Buds. So whether you’re trying to plan a fun tailgate, need help thinking through household repairs, or want help brainstorming gift ideas, Gemini Live will offer a new level of help in a more intuitive, natural way.

Gemini: Updates to Android and Pixel

Pixel Studio is a canvas for your creativity

Pixel Studio is a first-of-its-kind image generator. So now you can bring all ideas to life from scratch, right on your phone — a true creative canvas.

It’s powered by combining an on-device diffusion model running on Tensor G4 and Imagen 3 text-to-image model in the cloud. With a UI optimized for easy prompting, style changes and editing, you can quickly bring your ideas to conversations with friends and family.

Pixel Screenshots to remember more without doing more

Ever screenshot something on your phone that you want to remember, but then can’t find it when you need it? Pixel Screenshots, an exclusive app for Pixel 9, helps you save, organize and recall important information you want to remember for later.

Let’s say your friend, who loves squirrels, has a birthday coming up. You may browse Google Chrome for a gift for them, screenshotting squirrel shirts, squirrel coasters and everything else squirrel-related you think they might like. Pixel Screenshots will analyze the content of all those images and make the information searchable for you in the app. So all you’ll need to do is open the app and search for “squirrel,” and these results will pop up. Even better, it will include links to where you found everything and a summary of what you’re looking at with relevant information.

Better weather app

One of the most common things people do on their phones is check the weather, so we’ve used AI to make that experience more helpful and delightful.The Pixel Weather app is beautifully designed with super accurate weather forecasts. And Gemini Nano will generate a custom AI weather report to get you a sense of the day’s weather.

More camera improvements for stunning photos and videos

With outstanding camera performance and a re-engineered imaging pipeline, your photos and videos will more accurately capture the world around you, also added AI features to help you perfect the shot — from getting everyone in the group photo to capturing zoomed-in videos.

There’s usually the one designated photographer who’s left out of group pictures. With Add Me you’ll get a photo with everyone who was there — photographer included — without having to pack a tripod or ask a stranger for help.
Panorama has been rebuilt to give detailed shots — even in low light. It’s the highest-quality low-light panorama on any smartphone.

Magic Editor in Google Photos has new editing capabilities so you can get the shot you want. Auto frame lets you reframe a photo for better composition, and you can reimagine your photos by simply typing what you want to see — like adding wildflowers to an open field — so you can bring your ideas to life.

Video Boost — available on all Pro phones — is even better, processing Night Sight Videos twice as fast once videos are uploaded. And for Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, you can use the 48MP 5x telephoto to record high-resolution zoom videos all the way to 20x with Super Res Zoom Video.
The Pixel 9 start at 919 euro and pre-order here
The Pixel 9 Pro/XL  starts at 1119 here

Pixel 9 Fold the one I really look forward to….

As above we did not get the fold last year but now that has changed and for the better as now I have an interest in the foldable phones, The Pixel 9 Pro Fold combines the best of Google hardware and software with a sleek and sophisticated design, an advanced camera system, multiple screens to get more done, and our most powerful Tensor G4 processor to fuel the Pixel features you know and love.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is now available for pre-order now, and will be on shelves September 4 from 1919 euro on the 256GB and if pre-ordered you get 512GB for the same price HERE

Here’s a look at the newest foldable in the Pixel portfolio.

A thin, durable design with a big display

Pixel 9 Pro Fold brings the best of a foldable form factor to life. It’s the thinnest foldable phone and has the biggest inner display ever seen on any mobile device.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a fluid-friction hinge that easily opens fully flat with a satisfying snap so you can enjoy the big, bright Super Actua Flex display. It’s 80% brighter than Pixel Fold, so you’ll be able to see your screen clearly even when it’s bright outside. And Pixel 9 Pro Fold features scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 and boasts an IPX8 rating for water resistance of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes of submersion.

AI at your fingertips

Pixel 9 Pro Fold brings you the best of Google AI for a more helpful and personal smartphone. Powered by Google’s new Tensor G4 chip, Pixel 9 Pro Fold delivers improved performance and increased efficiency across a range of experiences for everyday use.

The innovative foldable form factor of Pixel 9 Pro Fold works in tandem with on-device AI to help you do more while saving time. With the biggest inner display on the market, you can easily Split Screen paired apps to multitask with ease, drag and drop photos, and use Dual Screen with Google Meet, so the people on your call can see your face and what you’re seeing.

Your favorite time-saving Google AI features on Pixel are coming to Pixel 9 Pro Fold too, including Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Circle to Search, Summarize and Gemini, plus some world-class photography features including Magic Editor, Best Take, Video Boost, Add Me and Pro Controls.

A Pixel-perfect camera

Pixel phones are known for their incredible camera quality, and this phone is no exception. Pixel 9 Pro Fold harnesses the power of Google hardware and AI capabilities with an ultra-thin advanced triple rear camera system. It’s the best camera on any foldable phone. Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s cameras to the next level with an upgrade to the ultrawide camera — which now supports Macro Focus — and both front cameras, which now support Face Unlock whether folded or unfolded.

In addition to existing features like Dual Screen Preview, Tabletop Mode and Rear Camera Selfie, we’re bringing a new camera feature to Pixel 9 Pro Fold that’s perfect for parents: Made You Look. It helps get your little one to smile for a photo by displaying an animation on the outer screen to grab their attention while snapping a picture. Say goodbye to making silly faces to get their attention (unless you really want to)!

An elevated entertainment experience

With its updated aspect ratios and larger screen size, this is the phone for entertainment lovers. With multiview on YouTube TV, you can watch up to four preselected events at once on the large inner screen for the perfect gameday experience.

Gaming is also amazing on Pixel 9 Pro Fold. We’ve partnered with several game developers to bring you optimized experiences in games like Asphalt Unite and Disney Speedstorm, which support tabletop mode on the large inner screen. Minecraft and Candy Crush Soda Saga have also made optimizations for a more immersive experience, and even more optimizations are coming later this year for games like NBA Infinite and League of Legends: Wild Rift.

Pixel Buds Pro 2

Pixel Buds Pro 2, the newest earbuds from Google Pixel. For the first time, Pixel Buds Pro 2 are equipped with the all-new custom-designed Tensor A1 chip to power industry-leading audio performance, helpful Google AI, and improved noise cancellation. With a new redesign the buds for maximum comfort and a more secure fit — you’re going to want to hear this. Earbuds are a staple of our site and we look forward to sharing our thoughts on these soon after testing them out in the coming weeks.

Designed to move with you

Pixel Buds Pro 2 are 24% lighter and 27% smaller than Pixel Buds Pro. After analyzing 45 million ear scans and conducting real-life wear tests, they designed Pixel Buds Pro 2 to be the most comfortable and secure fitting earbuds. Thanks to the new twist-to-adjust stabilizer, your earbuds stay put while still offering maximum personalized comfort. And they come with four different sized eartips, so you’ll be able to find the perfect fit.

Noise cancellation that’s twice as strong with Tensor A1

Thanks to Tensor A1, Pixel Buds Pro 2 have ultra low-latency audio processing, adapting to your environment up to 3 million times per second. This gives you Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that’s twice as strong as their previous generation earbuds. The buds also cancel a wider variety of noises, from the bustling sounds of traffic to surrounding conversations in coffee shops.

And with Tensor A1’s multipath processing, your music sounds better than ever. Tensor A1 provides a dedicated “highway lane” for your music, completely independent of the continuous processing that’s happening for Active Noise Cancellation. This is pretty rare, even in premium earbuds, and the result is accurate, highly detailed and immersive sound.

Tensor A1 also allowed them to increase the battery life, despite the smaller and lighter design. When Active Noise Cancellation is enabled, you get up to 8 hours of battery life on the Buds and 30 hours with the case, so your buds will last all day and still have some charge to spare. When they need a quick charge, pop them back in their case for 15 minutes for up to three hours of extra battery life.

Made for the Gemini era

Pixel Buds Pro 2 do more than just play music, keep you focused and help you take phone calls. With Gemini, they also provide a hands-free, eyes-free virtual AI assistant right when you want it. Need walking directions to the nearest public transit? A reminder of an upcoming appointment? New song recommendations? Gemini can do all of that and more, even when your phone is locked and in your pocket.

And with Gemini Live, Pixel Buds Pro 2 provide a mobile conversational experience that uses our state-of-the-art speech technology to let you have extended conversations with Gemini. It’s like having a sidekick right in your pocket, one that can chat with you about new ideas or even practice for an upcoming interview. You can even use Gemini Live while on the go — just unlock your phone while wearing your Buds, say “Hey, Google, let’s talk live” and have a free-flowing conversation with Gemini even if your phone is locked.

Packed with helpful features you know and love

You can easily find your buds with the new Find My Device Network if you ever misplace them. They’ve even added a ringing speaker to the case, so you can hear where your buds are hiding even if they’re tucked away.

Clear Calling cuts through noisy environments when you’re talking with someone on the phone, so they don’t have to ask, “Hey, can you hear me?”

And with Conversation Detection, you can easily engage in conversation, even with your earbuds in. It automatically disables noise cancellation as you speak out loud, allowing you to seamlessly switch between focusing on your music and talking with those around you.

To make your favorite movies and shows sound just as realistic as if you were hearing them live, Pixel Buds Pro 2 has spatial audio with head tracking. No matter how you move, sound moves with you. You can also seamlessly switch your buds between multiple devices.

Pre-order starting today

Pixel Buds Pro 2 come in four fun colors that beautifully complement your other Pixel devices: Porcelain, Hazel, Peony and Wintergreen.

Pre- order the all new Pixel Buds Pro 2 for 249 euro here

Google Pixel Watch 3 

Not one but two watches this time and thankfully a larger one to suit bigger wrists. Both the 41mm and the larger, all-new 45mm size have their most advanced Actua displays that are twice as bright as before, with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits — perfect for seeing your run stats mid-stride on a sunny day. They also automatically adjust to as low as 1 nit in dark environments for a more discreet glance, like when you are at the movies. The displays are bigger with smaller bezels: the 45mm watch showcases 40% more screen, and the 41mm offers 10% more screen than Pixel Watch 2. Both are more power efficient with refresh rates from 60Hz all the way down to just 1Hz in always-on-display.

With these more efficient displays, combined with Wear OS 5 and a power-efficient hybrid architecture, Pixel Watch 3 delivers dependable all-day battery life. It also uses machine learning to automatically detect sleep and enable Bedtime Mode, turning off notifications and the always-on display for disruption-free sleep while conserving battery.

Plus, a new better Battery Saver Mode extends battery life to up to 36 hours across both sizes, without compromising any of your health and fitness tracking or safety features. On top of that, the Pixel Watch 3 45mm includes a 35% bigger battery than before, and the 41mm size charges 20% faster, saving you up to 15 minutes to fully charge up.

Insights to plan your activity and recovery

Fitness isn’t just about going all out on your workouts — it’s also about listening to your body when you need to prioritize rest. To help you find that balance, Pixel Watch 3 introduces three new tools: an all-new Daily Readiness, Cardio Load and Target Load.

Daily Readiness is more in tune with your body’s state of recovery than ever before. An improved algorithm tracks and analyzes your body’s key recovery biometrics — like resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and recent sleep. The result is a more comprehensive picture of how ready your body is to take on training each day.

Cardio Load helps you better track your training. It tracks your heart’s exertion and intensity during an activity and throughout the day, and even keeps track of your trends over time to help you know if you’re over- or under-training, maintaining or improving your fitness.

Target Load is a personalized target for your training, received each morning. It connects it all together, taking into account your recent cardio load and Readiness — guiding you to improve your fitness, while balancing recovery. And all these insights come together in the new Fitbit Morning Brief, making it easy to plan each morning, with a daily digest delivered proactively on your wrist when you wake up. It includes Sleep, Readiness, your target Cardio Load and how you’re tracking against your weekly exercise goal. It even shows the weather, and lets you know if any of your metrics — like HRV, SpO2 or Skin Temperature — are out of your personal range.

New ways to plan, run and reflect on your progress

Pixel Watch 3 also comes with powerful new tools for runners: helping you plan your runs, guiding you through them, and reflecting on your progress.

Whether you’re training to run a faster half-marathon or your first 5K, the new Workout Builder lets you build custom runs. You can set goals for distance, time, pace or heart rate zone, and easily create repeats for interval runs.

Pixel Watch 3 is like having a running companion on your wrist, providing haptic feedback and audio guidance so you know when your warm up is done, when you’re off pace, if you’re over your heart rate target, or when it’s time for your next interval. This real-time guidance is powered by our continuous sampling, machine learning based heart-rate tracking. And Pixel Watch 3 takes it a notch further — with major improvements in one of the toughest environments for heart rate sensing — delivering our most accurate heart rate for running yet.

After your run, Pixel Watch 3 even helps you analyze your form. New advanced motion sensing, combined with machine learning, powers running form-tracking that delivers a comprehensive analysis of the cadence of your steps, the length and height of your strides, and your ground contact time. You can even see how you are improving your pace, form and mileage over time, while tracking your personal records in the new running dashboard in the Fitbit app.

Fitbit Premium brings major benefits on top of all this. Google AI powers automatic daily run recommendations, tailored to help you hit your target load and personalized to your previous runs. And if you’re looking for ways to go beyond your regular training routine, Premium members can also enjoy a variety of Peloton workout classes from Peloton instructors. Pixel Watch 3 comes with six months of Fitbit Premium included so you can make the most of your training with this personalized guidance and insights.

Loss of Pulse Detection: A first-of-its-kind feature on Pixel Watch 3

Pixel Watch 3 introduces a first-of-its-kind capability — Loss of Pulse Detection — which detects loss-of-pulse events occurring when the heart suddenly stops beating. It’s a health emergency, where every minute matters. It can affect people of any age and be due to a wide range of problems internal or external to the heart, such as primary cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose or poisoning. Unfortunately, many loss of pulse incidents happen when a person is alone, leaving them with effectively no chance of receiving emergency assistance.

Loss of Pulse Detection can automatically place a call to emergency services and share an automated message with critical context, along with your location. It will be available on Pixel Watch 3 in September in various countries in Europe.

More help from Google, at a glance

Pixel Watch 3 provides even more help at a glance, with our deepest integration across the Google and Pixel ecosystem.

When your couch cushions eat your remote (…again), your Pixel Watch 3 doubles as an on-wrist remote to pause, control the volume and change the channel on your Google TV Streamer. If you’re in the middle of a workout when the doorbell rings for a delivery, you can open a live camera feed in the Google Home app on-wrist to see who’s there, and even tell them to leave the package on the doorstep.

Or as the perfect companion to your Pixel Phone — the new Pixel Recorder app on-wrist lets you grab voice notes on-the-go, then search and transcribe with automatic sync to your phone. Call Assist uses Google AI to not only screen spam calls, but also pick them up and hold when you need a moment to find a quiet space.

And with a new Ultra-Wideband chip, you can easily unlock your Pixel phone with a swipe while wearing your watch, or even unlock and start your car with your watch as your digital car key, starting with BMW and MINI

Colors and bands to style your watch, your way

The 41mm comes in a Matte Obsidian case with a Matte Black band, Porcelain with Polished Silver, and Hazel with Champagne Gold. Or you can try a fresh pop of color with the Polished Silver case with an all-new Rose Quartz band. The 45mm also comes in Obsidian and Porcelain, and debuts a new matte Hazel Aluminum case with a matching Hazel band.

The watches can be styled with a range of accessory bands in a variety of colors and premium materials, including leather, metal and woven bands for any occasion.

Pre-order Pixel Watch 3

Starting today, you can pre-order Pixel Watch 3 from 399 euro here

Stay tuned for our reviews on selected devices soon.. See our other Pixel series reviews here

Bring fun to life with the new instax mini Link 3 photo printer

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, is set to launch the new instax mini Link 3™ instant photo printer, designed to transform your everyday moments into vibrant, colorful instax™ mini photos. This innovative product, an update to the highly popular instax mini Link 2™ printer, combines cutting-edge technology with playful features, making it the perfect companion for capturing, printing and sharing life’s moments simply in fun & creative ways. 

Available in three on-trend colors – Sage Green, Clay White, and Rose Pink – the textured and easy-to-hold instax mini Link 3™ printer is designed to be as mobile as your smartphone, allowing you to print photos simply and effortlessly from anywhere. Adorned with three unique LED lights on the front to tell you what the printer is doing, this instant photo printer is both functional and stylish. The printer also supports the instax Pal™ digital camera for direct print and features a USB-Type C port for easy charging.

Pricing and Availability:

Fujifilm’s instax mini Link 3™ instant photo printer will be available at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of EUR 130.00 (incl. VAT). It is expected to be available for purchase across Europe on 28th August 2024. Available at Fujifilm stockists nationwide or visit https://www.instax.ie/printers/mini-link-3/

Launching new instax mini film “SPRINKLES”Fujifilm is also thrilled to announce the launch of the new instax™ mini film “SPRINKLES.” Inspired by the new instax AiR Studio™ effects, the film features a colorful sprinkle pattern reminiscent of cakes, ice cream, and other sweets. The silver sprinkles have a metallic sheen that accentuates the design, making the film both colorful, fun and eye-catching.

The SPRINKLES film pairs perfectly with the instax mini Link 3™ printer’s distinctive instax AiR Studio™ and Click to Collage modes, adding that extra touch of fun and creativity to your instant photos.

Pricing and Availability:

The new instax™ mini film “SPRINKLES” will be launched on the same date, 28th August 2024, at a manufacturer suggested retail price of EUR 10.50 (incl, VAT). Available at Fujifilm stockists nationwide or visit https://www.instax.ie/film/

instax UP!™ Smartphone App Update

And that’s not it! Fujifilm also announces an update to its free, downloadable instax UP!™ App. An App designed for instax™ users to digitally scan, import, organize, and store their photos in one place, regardless of which Fujifilm instax™ instant film, camera or printer product they use. 

The latest addition to the instax UP!™ App is the introduction of “instax Days™”, a new calendar function where your scanned-in instax™ photos are automatically dated and added to a calendar. Users know the date of key moments instantly, as well as can modify dates.  

The updated instax UP!™ App is available today.

For more product information, visit www.instax.ie

See our other instax reviews

Revolut Report: Stats indicate a return to Irish staycations this summer

Revolut, the European-licensed bank with more than 45 million customers worldwide, and over 2.8 million in Ireland, has crunched the numbers on Irish consumer spending over the last month, with the app’s own data revealing that a return in the popularity of staycations led to a record month of Revolut spending in Ireland this July. 

Revolut’s consumer spending analysis tracked more than 58.5 million card payments over the course of the month, indicating several real-world spending trends by the country’s Revolut customers. The amount Revolut users are spending with the bank each month continues to rise, up nearly 5% (MoM increase) in July, with staycations a key driver in the broader uplift.

With a scorching heat wave across much of mainland Europe in July, a rising number of Revolut’s customers in Ireland chose to stay put for their summer break rather than go abroad. 

In terms of accommodation, spending on hotels and resorts in Ireland has risen by 15% compared to last summer (YoY increase), while Revolut customers are spending more than 38% more (YoY increase) on health and beauty spas compared to this time last year too. For those looking for a slightly more outdoorsy or cost-effective alternative, the amount spent on camping sites and caravan parks has seen a more than 14% jump in July 2024 versus July 2023 (YoY increase). 

When making their way around Ireland, Revolut has seen customers increase their spending at service stations, nearly 19% more this July than last (YoY increase), and on EV (electric vehicle) charging, which has risen considerably by over 46% since last summer (YoY increase). Staycations have also driven a surge in toll charges, with customers spending over 33% more to get to their destination faster than in July 2023, highlighting an uplift in domestic tourism. 

At their journey’s end, Ireland’s staycationers are spending more in local bars, cafes, and restaurants, up close to 5% (YoY increase), with other leisure activities such as tourist attractions and museums rising by nearly 18% (YoY increase) and boat rentals by over 25% (YoY increase). 

Maurice Murphy, General Manager at Revolut Bank UAB – Ireland Branch, said: “Once a trusted travel card, this record month of spending clearly indicates our evolution into many customers’ preferred bank and why we’re a mainstay for the people of Ireland. Revolut’s ecosystem of financial products is the answer for people whether at home or overseas, and helps them make the most out of their money. It’s so great to see our customers choosing to spend on their staycation with us, while others are doing the same as they jet off abroad too.” 

European-licensed bank Revolut was recently recognised by financial comparison site Bonkers.ie as ‘Ireland’s Best Consumer Business’ and ‘provider of the Best Current Account’, while the company ranked 9th as part of the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study earlier this year. 

For more information, visit: www.revolut.com/en-IE 

Tech Review – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is my first foldable to use long term so to speak and is certainly a beast of a mobile phone in more ways than one.

Being a foldable this is still regarded as a niche product however at the beginning I was not a fan of the closed option due to the ratio but over time this grew on me and some slight adjustments made it easier to use and all was good but still on the thin but all the screen was reachable for me as I have big hands and they often get in my way.

The price of these phones to has come into question and even for me I find it a hard sell but if you want a powerhouse phone that opens into a device with screen estate like no other this is perhaps the way to go and is easily the best phone now for multitasking on the go or at home and when fully loaded with your apps and even apps on board the device this is a super productivity tool.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 standing – techbuzzireland

When closed it is on the thick side but when open it is not but here is another caveat to get used to is that it is hard to hold one handed and you find yourself hitting things on the screen but again this wears off once you get comfortable with it and get to grips so to speak.

Whilst on holiday for example was a good idea to start putting features into test so with maps and more and the interpreter using the big inner screen was an instant advantage, everywhere I took it people asked about it and the watch ultra so it was good to see people had interest in it.

 

Being a foldable of course the interpreter could be used in two ways as seen below on the big screen.

 

Of course AI is part of the package here and people are probably sick of it and as a tech guy I do not have much interest in it but you cant avoid it being honest and it should be embraced a bit more and of course this was tested as it is not new on devices now and much of what the S24 Ultra had to offer and more is now here at your fingertips.

Circle to search works well, Flex mode which is super handy and a better hinge this time,detailed notes, photo assist, live translate etc all worked well when I was testing away and at home and came in handy when on a recent holiday as language barriers still exist but not with this phone and it picks up speech pretty much on point all the time it is super cool and made life easier and got me some discounts I might add.

Photo and video would be another question people have asked about and again all good here, I will not bore you with specs and so on we did a walkthrough of the phone here and below is image and video samples taken with the phone and you can be the judge but i found it great overall and with photo assist and other features built in this is a portable editing studio too and again ideal for content creators who want the larger canvas.

 

Being the 6th iteration the phone has improved and is probably still the best and most solid one out there but the price is a key factor to consider with the competition out there which most of is not available here to be fair..

Overall for me this is a luxurious powerhouse of a phone that gives you real screen estate and ideal for those who are multitaskers and want the bigger canvas with great speakers you could even attach a bluetooth keyboard if you liked to make it even more special and almost close to laptop status depending on what you do, it grabs attention looks good does what you ask it to do and more..

Read more on the Z Fold6 here

Product Features:
  • IP48: Water resistance
  • Flex mode
  • Stereo speaker
  • Fast Wireless charging 2.0
  • 25W Super Fast Charging
  • Enhanced armour aluminum
  • Brightest ever display
  • Nightography
  • Interpreter
  • Long lasting battery
  • Photo assist
  • S pen assist
  • Dynamic Amoled 2X main display
  • Gorilla Glass Victus 2
  • Live Translate
  • Brightest ever display on a foldable smartphone

For more information about Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsungmobilepress.com, or Samsung.com.

Investment fraud attempts surge by 76% in the first half of 2024

According to the latest Bank of Ireland fraud data for the first half of 2024, the volume of investment fraud attempts has surged by 76% compared to the same period in 2023.

Investment fraud happens when fraudsters, posing as legitimate firms, offer consumers investment opportunities on social media or in a sponsored search result. A common tactic is to promise high returns and then put people under considerable pressure to commit to the investment opportunity quickly.

The majority of investment fraud cases begin on social media with customers then receiving phone calls and messages to continue the scam. The practice of re-targeting customers is also a growing trend. This is where fraudsters contact a person who has already been a victim and pose as someone trying to help the consumer recover their money. However, this is simply another way for them to try to gain access to consumers’ accounts.

Red flags of Investment Fraud:

 

  • Follow-up calls: You receive a call having clicked an investment product advert on social media or in a sponsored search result.
  • Big/fast returns: They promise a quick and profitable return, with little or no risk.
  • Pressure: They advise you must act quickly to take advantage of an “opportunity of a lifetime”.
  • Urgency: They tell you to make an urgent payment to get in on the deal.
  • Secrecy: They say you’re not to discuss the “investment” with family, friends or your bank and they may instruct you to sign a “non-disclosure agreement” (NDA).

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said:  “The growth in investment fraud attempts is the most concerning trend we are seeing at the moment. The level of highly personalised targeting of consumers continues to grow year on year, and everyone needs to be on their guard. When it comes to this serious criminal activity, there is no room for complacency. Being alert to the ‘red flags’ – including too good to be true returns and pressure to act quickly – is vital. 

“We know that three in four consumers want to be able to speak directly with someone at their bank or financial service provider if they fall victim to fraud or are worried about a transaction. That’s why Bank of Ireland offers a 24/7 fraud telephone support for customers on 1800 946 764, available every day of the year. We encourage our customers to put this number in their phone so they have easy access to it if they ever need it.”

Bank of Ireland fraud research (Red C, 2024) reveals:

  • 94% of people have been targeted by a fraudster in the last 12 months.
  • The most common way is by text message (89%), followed by phone calls (75%) emails (65%) and fraudulent WhatsApp messages growing in prevalence at 39%.
  • When asked whether they feel personally at risk of financial fraud, 43% of people still rate themselves as having little or no risk of fraud in the next 6 months. This increases to 52% in the age 18 – 30 category, showing a high degree of complacency or over-confidence. 

Aine McCleary, Chief Customer Officer, Bank of Ireland said: “Bank of Ireland runs one of the most comprehensive consumer fraud awareness programmes in Ireland, designed to help safeguard the financial wellbeing of our customers. However, our research shows that close to half of those surveyed do not feel at risk of fraud, and this underlines the importance of raising awareness of this very real risk.

“Bank of Ireland will spend €50 million on fraud prevention and protection measures this year and next. This includes €15 million on new fraud prevention technology, along with a range of high-profile consumer awareness campaigns and support for customers who are targeted by fraudsters.”

 A new heavy-weight fraud awareness campaign across digital and social media is being launched this week, running for the rest of the year, designed to reach the general public across a range of media. The latest phase in Bank of Ireland’s consumer fraud education campaign, now in its fourth year, will have a particular focus on media to reach the 18-30 demographic, where research has indicated a degree of over-confidence.

The campaign includes five new episodes of Fraud Watch: True Crime Stories,  a content series featuring real-life examples of fraud scenarios including advice from international cyberpsychologist Professor Mary Aiken, digital audio ads,  social influencer partnerships, a partnership with LADBible and ‘Back To Basics’ social content series.

The content highlights topical fraud scams and gives customers essential fraud prevention steps they can take.Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can try to stop the fraud and try to recover funds. Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7 on the Freephone line 1800 946 764.

For advice and information on how to stay safe from fraud, visit the Security Zone on the Bank of Ireland website.

HRLocker awarded Business All-Star Customer Success Company of the Year by AIBF for its unwavering commitment to excellence

HRLocker, a leading provider of human resource (HR) solutions based in Co. Clare, today announced it has been awarded the prestigious Business All-Star Customer Success Company of the Year 2024-25 accreditation by the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF). The honour recognises HRLocker’s unwavering commitment to empowering HR professionals, enhancing workplaces, and boosting the employee experience.

Celebrating over two decades of delivering innovation and excellence in HR technology, HRLocker has solidified its position as a leader in the field and consistently demonstrated its dedication to customer success. Founded by Adam Coleman in 2004, HRLocker has grown from a local HR consultancy to a global leader in cloud-based HR management tools.

The company’s platform offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to automate essential HR tasks so organisations can focus on more strategic growth and employee engagement. It serves customers in more than 55 countries, enabling them to drive efficiency and foster a more productive work environment.

“I am delighted to commend HRLocker as the Business All-Star Customer Success Company of The Year 2024-25,” said Kieran Ring, deputy chair of the AIBF adjudication board. “This award recognises HRLocker’s dedication to customer success, showcased through their exceptional support, user-friendly solutions, and significant contributions to their clients’ organisational achievements.”

As noted by the AIBF, the HRLocker’s approach goes beyond improving HR operations to fostering a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement, making it a trusted partner for organisations seeking to enhance their HR capabilities and employee experience.

In reaction to the award, HRLocker founder and CEO Adam Coleman said, “Our customers are at the heart of our business, and their success is our driving force. We prioritise quality and trust in all our relationships and work diligently to provide exceptional service. I want to thank our valued customers for their continued support and our dedicated team, which has been instrumental in achieving this honour.”

The AIBF is an autonomous national accreditation body that promotes best-in-class Irish businesses. Its rigorous assessment process provides a measure for hundreds of companies across the republic. AIBF Managing Director Kapil Khanna explains, “We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors,”

“We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

Global Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit returns to Amsterdam this September

The Global Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit (GCB&MPS) is set to make a return to Amsterdam on the 17th and 18th of September.

The 2024 edition of this prestigious event will see Informa Tech and the Mobile Ecosystem Forum joining forces to deliver the world’s largest gathering dedicated to Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) and Mobile Payments.

A hub for global knowledge exchange

This summit will attract representatives from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) across the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. With the focus on sharing knowledge and showcasing regional successes, the event aims to tackle the challenges surrounding DCB and Mobile Payments across more than twenty diverse markets. Payment service providers will be on hand to offer invaluable localized insights, while top-tier merchants will present exciting new products ranging from AR/VR gaming to streaming and education services.

Understanding Direct Carrier Billing

Direct Carrier Billing allows consumers to make purchases by charging payments directly to their mobile phone bill. This method simplifies the transaction process, eliminating the need for credit cards or bank accounts, and offering a seamless and secure way to pay for digital content and services.

DCB is particularly valuable in regions where traditional banking services are less accessible, providing a convenient and inclusive payment solution. Stakeholders from both mature and developing markets will meet at the event to share experiences and learnings, fostering a greater global understanding of this payment mechanic.

Expanding subscription-based content offerings and other DCB use-cases

The summit will also explore the burgeoning market for subscription-based content offerings. As consumer demand for continuous and on-demand access to digital services grows, businesses are increasingly adopting subscription models. These models are facilitated by DCB, enabling easy and recurrent payments for a variety of services, including video streaming, music platforms, and digital news subscriptions. This trend is not only transforming how content is consumed but also driving innovation and competition among service providers. At the same time, DCB is increasingly used for quasi-digital products and offerings, most notably in the ticketing- and mobility sectors.

The rise of Mobile Money

In addition to DCB, the event will delve into the expanding realm of mobile money. Mobile money services allow users to store, send, and receive money using their mobile phones, bypassing the need for traditional banking infrastructure. This service has been revolutionary, particularly in developing countries, where it provides financial inclusion to millions of unbanked individuals. Mobile money enhances economic participation enabling businesses to reach a broader customer base.

“By offering the seamless payment mechanic of DCB, alongside the tried-and-trusted mobile money brand offering at checkout, merchants give consumers the choice of payment method they prefer, backed by their telco.” says Anzelle Robertson, Program Director for DCB, Content & Advertising at MEF.

A comprehensive agenda

The agenda for GCB&MPS 2024 is comprehensive, covering crucial topics such as payment and cyber security, regulatory landscapes, digital marketing strategies, and sustainable development practices. These discussions are designed to equip MNOs with the insights and tools necessary to establish, grow, or showcase their Carrier Billing and Payments offerings effectively.

A must-attend event

GCB&MPS is the essential meeting place for Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders looking to stay at the forefront of the evolving mobile payments landscape. The summit offers a unique opportunity to network with industry leaders, learn from experts, and discover the latest advancements in DCB and mobile payment technologies.

Dario Betti, CEO at the Mobile Ecosystem Forum says: “​​Partnerships are important in the ecosystem, so I am glad to take a moment to highlight this very important one: our collaboration with Informa Tech means the industry benefits from their expertise in events and logistics production and MEF’s thought leadership and network in the greater Telco- and Payments landscape.”

For more information about the Global Carrier Billing & Mobile Payments Summit see: https://mobileecosystemforum.com/global-carrier-billing-and-mobile-payments-2024/

Downloadable pdf here: Global Carrier Billing Mobile Payments Summit 2024 09.pdf

ZAGG Camera lens protector Screen protector and Bridgetown case review for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

If you are now sporting the new Galaxy Line of products such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 you might want to get that device protected as nothing comes with it in the box which is annoying considering the cost of the phone outright.

They have three new products on offer which we take a closer look at in the video review below and it is in your interest to get them in my book because if you drop the phone it will be a costly fix and that is the last thing you want.

Their new Bridewtown case is pretty cool to start with protecting most of the exterior bar the fold part when closed however the front and rear of the device is well protected and you get additional grip too which is great due the phone being much larger in the hand when opened.

All ports are accessible as expected and you can still wirelessly charge the device with the case on but seems to work with the stronger wireless chargers only.

The keys work well and no issues noted here when using and no infringement when folding the device open or closed so for me it is a safe bet and worth the purchase.

The lens protector for the rear too is well worth the purchase as I have cracked a lens on an iPhone in my pocket before and since then get these for all devices when available and this just sticks on easily and has a better sticking power than others I have tested in the past.

The screen protector comes with an install kit and takes two minutes to install and right away your are good to go with no issues with the outside screen when working as normal, overall the trio is a small price to pay to protect such and expensive phone and you should look into it. The only bugbear here is when the phone is opened you are still at risk if it lands face first.

 

ZAGG products for the Galaxy Z Fold6 – techbuzzireland

 

Bridgetown Case

Bridgetown is designed specifically for the Galaxy Z Fold6. It covers the back of the phone and frames the exterior screen for added protection. Bridgetown has been tested to protect your phone from drops up to 10 feet. This slim case combines protection, function, and minimalist design.

Drop Resistant up to 10ft ǀ 3m: Bridgetown has been tested and proven to protect your phone from drops up to 10 feet (3 meters).

Strengthened with Graphene: Graphene is harder than diamond, yet more elastic than rubber, and it’s 200x stronger than steel.

Designed to Fold: Bridgetown covers both back and front of the phone, framing the exterior display.

78% Recycled Content: Bridgetown is made with up to 78% post-consumer recycled materials.

Lightweight Design: Bridgetown fits easily in your pocket and comfortably in your hand.

BUY 

Glass Elite Screen Protector

Made with aluminosilicate glass, Glass Elite is up to 5x stronger than traditional glass screen protection. Reinforced edges prevent cracks from starting and spreading. Glass Elite has a smooth, silky feel and ClearPrint™ technology that makes fingerprints virtually invisible when your screen is turned on. 5X stronger than traditional screen protection.

5X stronger: than traditional screen protection.

Ultimate Scratch and Impact Prevention: Ultra-strong aluminosilicate glass for increased scratch resistance.

ClearPrint® Technology: provides you with a smudge-free screen by eliminating fingerprints.

Anti-Microbial Technology: protects your screen protector by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria and degradation by microorganisms.

EZ Apply® Installation: precise installation with our EZ Apply® installation tray.

Made with up to 30% Recycled Glass: Promoting eco-consciousness by using up to 30% of recycled glass.

Limited Lifetime Warranty: ZAGG warrants the product against wear and damage during the lifetime of the device for which the product was purchased.

BUY

Glass Elite camera lens 

Made with aluminosilicate glass, Glass Elite is up to 5x stronger than traditional glass screen protection. Reinforced edges prevent cracks from starting and spreading. Glass Elite has a smooth, silky feel and ClearPrint™ technology that makes fingerprints virtually invisible when your screen is turned on. 5X stronger than traditional screen protection.

5X stronger:  than traditional screen protection.

Ultimate Scratch and Impact Prevention: Ultra-strong aluminosilicate glass for increased scratch resistance.

ClearPrint® Technology: provides you with a smudge-free screen by eliminating fingerprints.

Anti-Microbial Technology: protects your screen protector by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria and degradation by microorganisms.

EZ Apply® Installation: precise installation with our EZ Apply® installation tray.

Made with up to 30% Recycled Glass: Promoting eco-conciousness by using up to 30% of recycled glass.

Limited Lifetime Warranty: ZAGG warrants the product against wear and damage during the lifetime of the device for which the product was purchased.

BUY

Video review