Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Hidden Hearing Introduces Oticon Zeal

Groundbreaking new hearing device delivers exceptional sound quality, always-on AI sound processing and full modern connectivity, with a virtually unseen design

It addresses the overlooked consequences of hearing loss in the workplace and beyond

Hidden Hearing, Ireland’s leading provider of hearing healthcare, has announced the arrival of a breakthrough in hearing technology with the launch of Oticon Zeal. This next-generation hearing device combines exceptional sound quality, always-on AI sound processing and full modern connectivity in a remarkably discreet form.

Not everyone sees themselves in traditional hearing aids and with that in mind Oticon designed something different, discreet, elegant and effortless.It looks and feels more like the earbuds that many people already wear. It’s an exceptional hearing aid without the compromise or stigma of conventional designs.

With Zeal, seeing is believing. It’s the hearing aid for people who never thought they’d wear one. It delivers intelligent, high-performance hearing with seamless connectivity to today’s digital world, while remaining virtually invisible in use.

For many people, particularly those in fast-paced and demanding roles, hearing loss becomes a silent challenge. Missed information in meetings, increased listening effort and end-of-day fatigue can all affect performance long before someone realises hearing is the root cause. Despite this, most people delay seeking help for seven to ten years, often due to concerns about visibility, stigma and the belief that they must compromise on either discretion or performance.

“We regularly meet people who are coping rather than thriving at work,” said Dolores Madden, Marketing Director for Hidden Hearing. “They are working harder just to keep up, without realising how much untreated hearing loss is impacting their focus, confidence and energy. By launching this premium product in our clinics, we’re offering a solution that supports people in their working and social lives without drawing attention or requiring compromise.”

In the modern workplace, clear communication is critical. Untreated hearing loss can quietly undermine productivity, collaboration and confidence, particularly in meetings, open-plan offices and hybrid working environments. Supporting clearer hearing can reduce mental strain and help people stay engaged, effective and confident throughout the day.

“I see patients with hearing loss that is often left untreated due to perceived stigma around it,” said Dr Clodagh Gallagher, Medical Advisor for Hidden Hearing. “They also experience mental fatigue, frustration and a drop in confidence at work as a result. When you have clear hearing, it supports better decision-making, stronger communication and overall performance.”

This new innovation addresses the often unseen impact of untreated hearing loss on people’s professional performance, confidence and everyday wellbeing.

A significant barrier to early treatment is the belief that people must choose between discretion and performance. Many delay addressing hearing loss because they don’t want a visible device to define them professionally or socially.

Stigma remains one of the most powerful reasons people put off seeking help. Hearing loss affects people of all ages, yet outdated perceptions continue to hold many back.

“One of the most damaging myths around hearing loss is that it’s something to hide or ignore,” added Dr Gallagher. “The longer people wait, the more impact it can have on their personal and professional lives. Discreet, modern solutions like this help remove that stigma and encourage people to take action earlier.”

Oticon Zeal is designed to fit effortlessly into everyday life, offering a personalised hearing solution for people who want to stay active, social and fully engaged. Whether in quiet moments, busy social settings, at work, enjoying sport or listening to music, it adapts naturally to different environments while maintaining exceptional sound quality and connectivity.

With state-of-the-art innovations like Oticon Zeal now available in Hidden Hearing clinics nationwide, the organisation continues its commitment to helping people hear clearly, perform confidently and stay fully connected to their work and lives without

New report reveals the growing mental health crisis and global knowledge gaps on the impact of technology use for children

The new child and youth mental health report sheds light on the scale of our global knowledge gaps on the correlation between childhood technology use and childhood mental health impacts.

Over the past decade, mental health conditions in children and adolescents have seen a significant rise across all countries and incomes. The World Health Organization, estimates one in seven 10-19 year olds worldwide experience a mental disorder, and that a third of conditions emerge by age 14.

“It’s astonishing that we’re not doing more to understand this issue,” says Marija Manojlovic, Executive Director of Safe Online, who released the new findings at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.

“We know that children’s technology use is increasing, and we’re past the point of no return. Technology is embedded into almost everything we do. But we don’t really know what the long-term impacts are for children and adolescents. Most research on the topic is speculative.

“Most shockingly – there are huge gaps in research on the impact for under-5s when we know children as young as 2 are using phones and tablets. At a time when governments, like the UK, are developing screentime guidelines for pre-schoolers and parents are seeking guidance on technology use – we must have better evidence to help navigate these critical issues.

“We know that mental health conditions for under-18s have been rising for a decade but we don’t have the longitudinal research to understand the relationship with digital technologies in depth. This is a particular area of interest for me,” says Marija Manojlovic.

The Ecosystem Landscape Child & Adolescent Mental Health and Digital Technology report can be found here: https://safeonline.global/weave-wellbeing/

Marija has a strong track record of raising funds for research and developing tools to help prevent thorny issues like these. As Executive Director, she has led Safe Online to raise and deploy over US$100m over the past 10 years for research and tools to prevent online child sexual abuse and exploitation, and she’s on track to do it again, this time with child mental health in mind.

Safe Online is launching Weave Wellbeing, a pioneering fund to mobilize the scale of financing needed to tackle this urgent issue. Marija has already secured US$2m seed funding from Iconiq Impact.

Sky Mobile reveals major savings hack for 2026

New research from Sky Mobile has revealed Irish customers’ habits when it comes to their monthly mobile bills and switching mobile providers – and some new opportunities for saving money in 2026.

The study revealed that almost half (49%)* of Irish people are making financial New Year’s resolutions this January, from paying off debt to saving more money. Cutting back on impulse purchases (50%), following a budget (43%) and reducing food and drink spending (38%) are the top three ways Irish people plan to save money this year – but there’s one major savings hack that isn’t receiving the same attention.

The same research revealed just 1 in 10 (10%) Irish people were likely to start switching mobile providers more regularly as a New Year’s money saving hack. For the remaining 90% who planned to stay put with their provider, there’s a huge, missed opportunity for saving. This January, customers who switch to Sky Mobile today will pay just €15 a month for unlimited data, calls and texts to any network in Ireland – and switching couldn’t be easier.

The findings also show that customers aren’t as savvy at switching mobile providers as they are with other utilities, despite 70% saying they would switch for a better deal. While some Irish consumers are still not switching utility providers as often as they could, they are switching mobile providers far less frequently. Only just over a third of Irish consumers (37%) switch mobile provider within five years — while nearly double that number say they have switched electricity, gas, or broadband providers in the last five years (73%).

What’s more, 1 in 3 consumers say they wait over five years to switch mobile provider, while 1 in 5 admit to never switching providers. Think of the savings they could have been making!

Speaking about the findings, Irish budgeting creator and author, Caz Mooney, said: “One of my top budgeting tips for 2026 is to switch utility providers regularly but when it comes to mobile bills, it looks like many consumers are missing a big opportunity to save money. Sky Mobile has some brilliant offers for anyone looking to switch, and the best thing is, switching is easy.”

Speaking on the benefits of Sky Mobile, Aideen Chambers, Connectivity Director, said: “Since landing in the Irish market in 2024, Sky Mobile has offered customers fairness, flexibility and transparency when it comes to their mobile plan. However, our research tells us that a huge number of Irish customers are overpaying with their current provider. Switching to Sky Mobile could be the answer to your savings goals for 2026.”

Sky Mobile disrupted the mobile market in 2024, giving Irish customers the opportunity to Expect More versus other providers, with fairer contracts and greater transparency providing significant monthly savings.

Sky Mobile is available in Sky’s retail stores across Ireland and online at sky.com/ie/shop/mobile.

GTA 5 Online’s New Adversary Mode: The Mansion Raid

GTA 5 Online’s Sunshine in the Hills update has been a big hit for letting players purchase and live in mansions, but now you’ll get to raid them! With the brand new Adversary Mode that’s been added this week, players will be joining Attacker and Defender teams to either raid a mansion’s precious vault, or defend it with their lives. Here’s everything on how to play the mode and what rewards it gives.

💥 How to Start a Mansion Raid

To start a Mansion Raid, there are a few options. The first is by hosting the raid through the Jobs menu. You can host a Mansion Raid there, but you’ll need at least 4 players to join first. Only then can you start the game. Want to find more opportunities to earn GTA$? Find some gta 5 accounts here right now!

The second way to start a Mansion Raid is by joining an existing one. By going into your phone, you can select Adversary Modes through there. After that, you can just wait for the game to start while you do other things. Considering how new Mansion Raids are right now, the wait shouldn’t take too long.

💣 How to Play as the Attacker

Compared to the Defender team, your role as an Attacker is a lot more complicated. There’s several parts, but your first task will be planting bombs to infiltrate the lower levels of the mansion. These locations will be marked so you know where to go, and the placements stay relatively the same per match.

You have a limited time to actually plant the bombs, so you gotta be quick. The Defender team will be trying to prevent your bombs from being placed, which’ll cause you to lose if you run out of time. If someone else is placing a bomb, do your best to defend that player so they don’t get shot in the back by a Defender. When all the bombs are placed, you’ll move on to robbing the loot from the vaults on the first floor.

This is where the game becomes a bit more intense, as you’ll need to rob the loot before the Defenders catch you. Your job is to carry and protect the stolen loot until a vehicle arrives to pick it up. If successful, the Attackers will gain the GTA$ bonus along with the doubled winning rewards of 200,000 GTA$.

👮 How to Play as the Defender

When playing as part of the Defender team, your goal is far more simple. You’re basically playing as the mansion’s security guard. You’ll be hunting down the Attacker team members and protecting the mansion vaults and its loot. Your first task though will be preventing the Attackers from planting their bombs to infiltrate the vaults at all. A timer will be set for the Attackers.

If your team fails and the Attacker bombs get planted and explode, then the raid will move to the second stage. Now, the Attacker team will be focused on robbing the vault loot from the mansion and delivering it to a vehicle on its way. Your job now is to prevent this from happening at all by taking the Attackers out. If you take them all out, the Defenders can easily take the win back.

Once again, all the Attacker bomb placements remain relatively similar to each other per Mansion Raid match. If you familiarize yourself with the mansion floorplan, you can easily take the win per Mansion Raid. However, the same could be argued on the Attacker side too, so don’t get too cocky when playing.

💰 The Mansion Raid Double Rewards

Since the Mansion Raid Adversary Mode is so new right now, Rockstar has added a special Double Reward bonus for all the players that try it out this week. When either team wins, they’ll get a 200,000 GTA$ payout. However, that doesn’t include the extra 55,000 GTA$ bonus you get when winning as an Attacker. That’s from the vault loot you steal from the mansion. Even if you lose, players will still be getting a 120,000 GTA$ reward too!

Other bonuses have also been added to the game besides the Mansion Raid. For example, all Nightclub owners will also have their passive income doubled. This is made better with Business Battles gaining 4 times the usual payouts than usual. Even if you don’t think the Mansion Raid is for you, there’s still something to take advantage of this week if you’re a Nightclub owner.

Projector vs. Monitor: What You Should Buy for Display on Your PC

Choosing the right display for your PC can significantly impact your productivity, entertainment experience, and overall satisfaction. Two of the most popular options available today are projectors and monitors. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, environment, and usage patterns. In this comprehensive comparison, we break down the key differences between projectors and monitors to help you decide which is the ideal choice for your PC setup.

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What Is a Projector?

A projector is a device that casts a visual image onto a large surface, typically a wall or projection screen. Projectors vary in size, resolution, brightness, and price, but all share the basic function of turning a flat surface into a large display area. Projectors are widely used in home theaters, business presentations, and classrooms.

Projectors typically connect to a PC via HDMI, USB-C, or wireless display adapters. Modern projectors can deliver high definition (HD) and 4K resolution and even support HDR content.

What Is a Monitor?

A monitor is a dedicated display screen designed to show visuals with clarity and precision. Monitors come in various sizes, resolutions, refresh rates, and panel types such as IPS, TN, and VA. They are the standard display for desktops, laptops, and gaming PCs.

Unlike projectors, monitors have built-in screens with consistent brightness levels, reliable color accuracy, and support for fast refresh rates that benefit gaming and professional work.

Projector vs. Monitor: Key Factors to Consider

When evaluating whether to buy a projector or a monitor for your PC, it helps to compare them across several essential criteria:

1. Display Size and Viewing Experience

Projector

The most obvious advantage of a projector is its ability to produce a large image. Depending on the model and throw distance, you can create a display that ranges from 60 inches up to 150 inches or more. This makes projectors ideal for home cinema, group presentations, and immersive media consumption.

However, the viewing quality heavily depends on the projection surface and ambient light conditions. A darker room and a dedicated projection screen will deliver the best results.

Monitor

Monitors offer precise, consistent image quality at fixed sizes, typically between 21 inches and 49 inches for consumer displays. While they cannot match the sheer size of a projector image, monitors provide sharp visuals ideal for close-up work like graphic design, spreadsheets, and gaming.

Monitors are also easier to position and use without worrying about distance or external light sources.

2. Image Quality and Resolution

Projector

Projectors have come a long way in image quality. Modern units support Full HD (1080p) and 4K resolution, and some models offer enhanced color and contrast. However, due to projection optics and surface limitations, projectors may not deliver the same sharpness and detail as monitors of similar resolution.

Brightness is another concern. Measured in lumens, projector brightness affects how well the image holds up in well-lit environments. Unless you choose a high-lumens model, bright rooms can wash out the projected image.

Monitor

Monitors generally deliver superior image clarity and crispness at similar resolutions. Because they generate their own light, monitors perform well in any lighting condition and maintain consistent brightness. This makes them ideal for tasks where accurate visuals matter, such as photo editing or video production.

High-end monitors can also offer professional color accuracy with wide color gamut support (sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3), which is crucial for creative professionals.

3. Space and Setup Requirements

Projector

Projectors require more setup consideration. You’ll need space for the projector, a flat wall or screen, and sufficient throw distance to achieve the desired screen size. Mounting options include ceiling mounts or placing the projector on a desk or shelf.

Cables may need to be routed carefully, and you might need additional accessories like speakers if the projector’s built-in audio is insufficient.

Monitor

Monitors are generally plug-and-play. They fit well on desks, require minimal setup, and have straightforward cable connections (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C). Monitors also take up less physical space and don’t require external screens or darkened rooms.

4. Performance for Productivity and Gaming

Projector

Projectors are not typically designed for performance-intensive tasks like gaming or professional productivity. Input lag, refresh rates, and response times tend to lag behind monitors. While some projectors improve these specs, they still cannot match gaming monitors with high refresh rates (144 Hz, 240 Hz) or low response times (1 ms).

For presentations, multimedia, and casual gaming, projectors can perform well, but competitive gaming or fast-paced tasks may suffer.

Monitor

Monitors excel in performance applications. Gaming monitors offer high refresh rates and adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync and G-SYNC, which reduce screen tearing and improve visual smoothness. Productivity monitors often include ergonomic stands, multiple ports, and split-screen software support.

If you rely on your PC for work, creative projects, or gaming sessions, a monitor is usually the better choice.

5. Cost and Value

Projector

Projectors can vary widely in price. Budget models may start under $300, while high-end 4K cinema projectors can exceed $2,000. Remember that projectors may also require additional expenses such as a screen, mounting hardware, and external speakers.

Projectors offer excellent value if your priority is a large display experience in a dedicated media room.

Monitor

Monitors also vary in price, from affordable options under $150 to professional-grade displays over $1,000. For the average user, a mid-range monitor (1080p or 1440p) offers excellent performance for both work and play.

Monitors tend to deliver better overall value for everyday PC tasks due to their simplicity and versatility.

Final Verdict

When deciding between a projector and a monitor for your PC, your choice should match your primary use case. A projector can transform your space into a home theater and deliver an impressive screen size for shared viewing. A monitor, on the other hand, delivers superior clarity, performance, and ease of use for daily computing tasks, gaming, and professional work.

Before purchasing, consider your room size, lighting conditions, budget, and how you intend to use your PC. By aligning these factors with the strengths of each display type, you can make an informed decision that enhances your computing experience.

Honor GT 2 Faces Fierce Competition from OnePlus 15R

Honor has been one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers of 2025, especially when you look at their range’s screen quality and battery capacity. With that said, the OnePlus 15R is set to rival their latest release, the Honor GT 2, in every single way. Reports saying that the OnePlus 15R will be the first smartphone to have an 8300mAh glacier battery at launch, something that’s gone down very well with users.

A Bigger Focus on Performance and Power

The OnePlus 15R puts a big focus on performance and power. Representatives have said that the device is going to run efficiently all day long, without draining the battery too much, due to the design of the phone.

One charge is enough to run the handset for a full day, with the power-saving mode and 100W SuperFast Charging feature that makes it easy to use your phone for anything you need, without worrying about it running out of battery.

When you look at the Honor smartphone, which comes with an 8300mAh battery, it’s coupled with an 80w wired and wireless charging feature. OnePlus 15 has taken this and levelled it up, showing how they are set on dominating the smartphone sector. The 15R model of the OnePlus 15 is also going to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is great news for gamers.

Quality Displays and High Refresh Rates

The OnePlus 15R also has a dynamic screen, with a 120FPS refresh rate. The phone also has an “always on” gameplay screen, which means the power-saving settings won’t activate when you’re in the middle of something. With a 165Hz refresh rate, playing more complex titles with advanced animations is a breeze. With games becoming more complex over time, bigger screens are becoming the norm, and help to make experiences more fluid.

Games like chess or even solitaire really benefit from bigger screens, but at the same time, more graphics-intensive titles stand to benefit as well. This includes titles that tend to incorporate more advanced animations, like iGaming slots and Slingo online titles. These often use vibrant graphics and cascading animations, but use the format of a bingo card to create more hybrid experiences. So, even simpler titles like this not only benefit from phones with bigger screens, but also from phones that have more battery power.

It’s not just gamers that benefit from bigger phone screens, either. People who like to stream content from sites like Netflix will find that the quality of their footage isn’t just improved, but that they can also watch for longer without having to turn the phone brightness down or limit streaming quality.

With the OnePlus 15R taking steps to accommodate the needs of modern-day entertainment, it’s safe to say that it’s proving to be fierce competition for the Honor GT 2. Even though the Honor GT 2 also has a 165Hz refresh rate, the faster charging rate of the OnePlus 15R really helps to complement the high power output the phone has to offer, so your phone not only lasts for longer, but it’s also faster to charge. With that said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Honor GT 2 release a faster-charging phone in the future, to stay competitive and relevent in the ever-changing mobile world.

Telephone lines in Finland will be silenced for good – Elisa

The landline telephone network, which has been in service since the 19th century, will enter a well-deserved retirement when Elisa will discontinue landline connections by 30.6.2026. The change affects both consumers and companies, and is part of the development towards newer and more functional technologies. Elisa will contact landline customers during the spring. The number of landline telephone network users has decreased drastically in recent decades, as Finns have switched to using modern and more functional mobile networks.

Elisa founder Daniel Waden played a significant role in the development of the Finnish landline network. Even in the 1990s, landlines were a familiar sight in Finnish households. As mobile networks and mobile phones developed rapidly in the early 2000s, the number of landlines began to decline significantly. Despite this, many people still remember the landline numbers of family and friends, even after decades.

Now the moment is coming when the telephone wires will finally stop singing on June 30, 2026.

“The change is part of the development towards newer and more functional technologies, and it affects both consumers and businesses. Currently, Elisa’s customers only have a few thousand landline connections, and the number is decreasing all the time. Landline connections have been used in landline telephones, faxes, switchboard solutions and elevator phones, among other things. New connections have not been sold for years,” says Ilkka Pohtola, Business Director responsible for consumer connections at Elisa .

Modern 4G and 5G mobile networks offer users not only a more affordable option, but also a more weather-resistant and technologically capable one. Elisa’s 4G network covers over 99.9 percent of Finns and the 5G network over 97 percent. Elisa has also launched an independent 5G network, which will help to fully utilize the potential of the comprehensive 5G network.

You can keep your landline number

The aim is to make the transition to newer technologies smooth for both businesses and consumers.

The landline network services will operate until the end of June, so you can replace your old one with a suitable alternative during the spring. For business customers, replacement solutions will be mapped out, and they will receive a customer newsletter during January. All consumer customers affected by the change will be contacted by letter at the end of April, and they will be offered a replacement option. In addition, more information is available on Elisa’s website.

It is possible to keep your landline number even if the landline connection itself ceases to exist. There are subscriptions that utilize the mobile network, to which the familiar number can be transferred as is. The subscription can then be used at home, at work or at the cottage with a regular mobile phone or a GSM desk phone similar to a landline.

This is how the shutdown of the landline network progresses:

Elisa says it will discontinue landline connections in January 2026.
Until spring 2026, landline connections will continue to function as before.
Corporate customers will be contacted starting in January.
Consumer customers will receive a more detailed customer letter for changing their subscription and phone at the end of April.
The landline network will cease operations on June 30, 2026.

More information for consumer customers: http:// elisa.fi/lankapuhelin
More information for business customers: https:// linkapuhelin.elisa.fi/ohje/ lankapuhelinverkko

Dublin County Sheriff Seizure notice postal scam

There is not a day that goes by without some scam or another be it text or email from utulity providers or packages being delivered requesting money and these are non stop all year round. This one is a new one from the Dublin County Sheriff

This scam however is a new one and in my local facebook group a reader posted up a letter claiming to be from the revenue but this came in the post but there is several tel tale signs but it caused a bit of a stir on the group and rightly so.

The letter itself has all the headings similar to what you would get and two big red text sections saying SEIZURE PENDING and FINAL notice. After some investigating myself speaking to the person on the page and looking into the matter it turns out to be a scam as the Gardai have been contacted and also say it is a fake.

The website itself alone looks ropey and all the details match the letter so be carefull as there is two of them now online

This is the other one online and fake

The details below match however there is clues

You can contact us using any of the following methods:

Phone: 01 8603077

Email: info@dublincountysheriff.com

Post: Fergus Gallagher, Dublin County Sheriff, Unit 17, Tolka Valley Business Park, Ballyboggan Road, Dublin 11

Here is the letter below and what to watch out for just in case you get one in the post

Tyndall Driving New Research to Integrate Electric Buses in Ireland

Tyndall National Institute was awarded six projects from SEAI’s National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme, all now underway, to advance Ireland’s energy transition. These significant successes highlight Tyndall’s leadership in sustainable research and its commitment to delivering impactful solutions for Ireland’s energy future.

Among the funded initiatives is BEST-IRE, a pioneering project focused on transforming public transport through the integration of battery electric buses into the transport and electricity systems of Ireland. The project will deliver a comprehensive evaluation and strategic roadmap for electric bus implementation, addressing both investment planning and life cycle cost assessement

The project will present methodology to develop a strategic roadmap for battery electric buses in Ireland, guiding investment decisions and assessing long-term costs. It will also develop a smart decision-making tool to support the planning and placement of charging infrastructure, ensuring efficient integration with Ireland’s transport and electricity networks. This includes optimising bus routing, maximising renewable energy use, and maintaining grid stability through advanced modelling.

In addition, the research team plans to create a dynamic transit charge management system to monitor charging patterns and provide local flexibility for enhanced grid management. The project will also assess how electric buses can improve first and last-mile mobility, propose innovative business models for stakeholders in the transport and energy sectors, and recommend policy frameworks that support electric buses and renewable energy integration. Methodology will be implemented at both the urban and rural community levels to ensure broad replicability.

Dr Pádraig Lyons, Head of Group, International Energy Research Centre (IERC) at Tyndall, said: Electrifying an expanding bus fleet is a huge opportunity to decarbonise Ireland’s transport systems and improve the quality of life for people living in urban and rural areas. The BEST-IRE project will develop innovative methodology and tools to address the challenges to infrastructure, associated with this exciting new technology.

Author: Jim O Brien/CEO