Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Google Year in Search results moments that captured Ireland’s attention in 2025

As the year draws to a close, Google’s Year in Search reveals the questions we asked Google, the people who caught our interest, and the everyday curiosities we wanted to solve.

For a country obsessed with weather it’s no surprise that the record breaking Storm Eowyn, was the most searched term of the year. The storm which hit Ireland in January was one of the most powerful and widespread wind events to hit Ireland since the 1800s. People also turned to Google to find out how to pronounce the storm’s name with ‘How to pronounce Eowyn’ as the third most popular ‘How to’ search term.

Asking Google questions is an everyday occurrence for most people. In a year where Ireland welcomed a new President for the first time in 14 years, the election had a big impact on the most searched lists. People used Google to not only find out more about Ireland’s new President, Catherine Connolly, who was the third most searched overall term and most searched person this year but also the presidential election in general. Ireland’s presidential election featured on the most searched list and in the ‘How To’ list, ‘How to spoil your vote Ireland’ was the second most searched term while ‘How to register to vote in Ireland’ was the fifth most searched term.

2025 was another huge year for sport. The Ryder Cup, in which Europe was victorious, was the second most searched term overall and football and rugby also featured on the most searched list. Champions League is the fifth most searched term, the Club World Cup is the sixth and Ireland v France rounded out the list.

The Top 10 Most Googled recipe list gives us a glimpse into what Ireland has been up to in the kitchen. This year Ireland leaned into comfort and creativity with coffee topping the list followed by the social-media hit, Dubai Chocolate. Three cocktails bubbled up the chart; the Pornstar Martini, Hugo Spritz and Pimms. Pancakes, Gooseberry Jam and Cupcakes also featured on the list.

2025 was the year of TV shows people couldn’t stop talking about or searching. Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Adolescence were the most searched TV shows and they also featured on the overall most searched list showing their popularity. Google Search also helped people decide what to see in the cinema this year with Nosferatu, 28 Years Later and Superman all featuring at the top of the most searched Movie list.

Everyday questions and timely answers are what millions of people seek on Google every day. From health and wellbeing to social media trends and sports, Search helps Ireland navigate the practicalities of daily life and understand what’s shaping the news .‘What is Listeria?’ topped the ‘What is’ list and other trending questions asked by the Irish public were ‘What is 6 7?’ and ‘What is a tariff?’.

Search can help you find a world of information – and the way people use Search can be a window into the world. Take a closer look at this year’s trending lists at yearinsearch.google

-Top trending searches refer to queries with the highest amount of traffic over a sustained period in 2025 as compared to 2024.

Top Overall	People
Storm Eowyn	Catherine Connolly
Ryder Cup	Maria Steen
Catherine Connolly	Jim Gavin
Monster: The Ed Gein Story	Belle Gibson
Champions League	DJ Carey
Club World Cup	Alexander Isak
Iran	Garron Noone
Adolescence	Andy Byron
Ireland Presidential Election	Conor Loftus
Ireland v France	Stephen Graham

Losses	Sports
Charlie Kirk	Ryder Cup
Ozzy Ozbourne	Champions League
Diogo Jota	Ireland v France
Gene Hackman	Liverpool F.C
Diane Keaton	Liverpool vs Man United
Hulk Hogan	Ireland v Scotland
Ricky Hatton	India vs England
Michelle Trachtenberg	FIFA Club World Cup
Val Kilmer	Liverpool vs PSG
Robert Redford	Lions

TV Shows	Movies
Monster: The Ed Gein Story	Nosferatu
Adolescence	28 Years Later
House of Guinness	Superman
Traitors Ireland	Happy Gilmore 2
Say Nothing	Minecraft
Mobland	Sinners
Dept. Q	Anora
Severance	Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
The Last of Us	One Battle After Another
Squid Game	Weapons

Tech	Recipes
iphone 17	Coffee
Amazon.ie	Dubai Chocolate
Deepseek	Pornstar Martini
Wplace	Pancake
Chat GPT free	Gooseberry jam
Strands	Hugo Spritz
Maths solver	Pork fillet
TikTok banned	Pimms
Grok	Cupcakes
Switch 2	Plum Chutney

What is	How to
What is listeria	How to bottle feed a breastfed baby
What is 6 7	How to spoil your vote Ireland
What is the warehouse	How to pronounce Eowyn
What is adolescence about	How to watch Europa League final in Ireland
What is polytrauma	How to register to vote in Ireland
What is americano coffee	How to watch Club World Cup
What is halal meat	How to clear cache on Chrome
What is Tylenol	How to opt out of organ donation Ireland
What is Tai Chi walking	How to watch Ballon d’Or 2025
What is a tariff	How to make Dubai chocolate

EPOS Announce IMPACT 500 Headset For UK & Ireland Market

Manufacturer EPOS today launches the IMPACT 500, an on-ear Bluetooth headset for professionals with dynamic workstyles who demand unrivalled call clarity and active noise cancellation – with a forthcoming option to go dongle free!

The IMPACT 500 combines high-end technology from EPOS AI™ enabling industry-leading voice pick-up, with EPOS BrainAdapt™ that lessens brain fatigue and enhances focus and productivity by as much as 40%, according to internal studies.

Adaptive microphone technology powered by EPOS AI™ intelligently identifies and shuts down noise, heightening the clarity of the speaker’s voice. By using adaptive beamforming technology with three microphones that scan environments 32,000 times per second, the speaker’s voice remains clear and crisp in any open office setting.

The IMPACT 500 will be EPOS´ first native Bluetooth headset – certified for Microsoft Teams Open Office with a planned future software release that supports Teams over native Bluetooth. The dongle-free option creates a more simplified and seamless user experience, with no USB port requirements whilst establishing direct connection to a PC, mobile phone or tablet. It comes with certifications for leading Unified Communication platforms – Microsoft Teams, Zoom Workplace, Cisco WebEx and Google Meet.

The latest headset innovation benefits from EPOS BrainAdapt™ technology that provides a state-of-the-art hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) system, which lessens brain fatigue caused by poor audio, boosting focus and productivity throughout the workday. Proven through clinical studies, EPOS BrainAdapt™ improves the user´s performance and communication by blocking out noise, reducing listening effort by as much as 67%.

Key features include:

Clear, natural voice with EPOS industry-leading voice pick-up: EPOS AI™ and expertly tuned microphones remove unwanted noise, making remote conversations feel as real as being there in person.

Seamless Microsoft Teams certified calls: Microsoft Teams certified with a future software release that will add support for Teams over native Bluetooth® – For dongle free calls.

Stay in control of your environment with hybrid ANC: Effectively reduce background noise during calls and when you need to focus, ensuring you remain productive in any work environment.

Professional performance all day long: Communicate with confidence all day with over 36 hours of talk time, talk-through mode and intuitive boom arm call control.

Protects from listening fatigue: EPOS BrainAdapt™ technology protects against brain fatigue caused by poor audio and noise, boosting focus and productivity.

The IMPACT 500 is a key addition to the expansion of the IMPACT line of headsets, as EPOS continues to deliver on its mission of unleashing human potential by perfecting audio experiences and steering innovation towards the needs of the global workforce of today and tomorrow.

That’s the view of Jesper Kock, VP of Research & Development at EPOS, who says the IMPACT 500 is designed for office-based as well as hybrid professionals with dynamic workstyles. It can be purchased with or without a dongle, for maximum user convenience.

“The IMPACT 500 continues to reflect our industry-leading pedigree based on cutting-edge innovation and exceptional audio performance, from finely tuned microphones to hybrid ANC and our renowned BrainAdapt™ technology. Native Bluetooth represents the next step in our pioneering headset technology journey, ensuring simpler pairing and no USB port requirements.”

MRSP from £169. Availability: November 4, 2025. Find more information at www.eposaudio.com

See our headset reviews

CHERRY KW 300W MX mechanical wireless keyboard review

The CHERRY KW 300W MX is a standout entry in the competitive wireless mechanical keyboard market. It merges CHERRY’s legendary switch quality with modern features like hot-swappability, multi-device connectivity, and, most notably, a focus on quiet operation.

The KW 300W MX employs a QWERTY keyboard layout ditching the Numpad for a more ergonomic setup that keeps your mouse closer to your hands. This space-saving design is immediately appreciated on crowded desks.

PBT Keycaps: The keyboard uses high-quality, double-shot PBT keycaps. Unlike standard ABS plastic, PBT is highly resistant to shine and wear, ensuring the keys maintain their textured feel and the legends remain crisp even after extensive use.

Aesthetics: The design is minimalist and professional, often featuring a subtle black/copper/grey color scheme. It includes dimmable white LED backlighting, which is functional for low-light conditions without being distracting or overly flashy but look really cool in my opinion. There is a small, convenient control dial is included for intuitive adjustment of volume, brightness, or channel switching.

At the heart of the KW 300W MX is the German-engineered CHERRY MX2A switch. These updated switches are known for smoother keystrokes, improved acoustics, and exceptional durability, boasting a lifespan of 100 million keystrokes. and can be swapped out with the tool provided in the box.

The keyboard is built for flexibility, supporting both wired and wireless connections.

Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.2 and supports up to four devices simultaneously. Dedicated keys (usually F1-F4) allow for seamless switching between your PC, tablet, and phone, making it an excellent tool for multitasking across platforms. It also supports wired operation via the included USB-C cable, which doubles as the charging port. It was tested using two laptops and a mobile phone via the seperate channels and no issues with connectivity noted. YOU will be asked to enter a password on the keyboard for all devices connected with bluetooth.

The CHERRY KW 300W MX is an exceptional keyboard for anyone seeking the tactile and responsive feel of a mechanical keyboard without the accompanying noise. It’s a premium, durable, and flexible choice for professionals, writers, and programmers who value a clean workspace and a high-quality typing experience.

Features

ORIGINAL CHERRY MX2A SWITCHES The KW 300 MX is equipped with CHERRY MX2A keys, which are characterized by particularly good sliding properties and improved acoustics. The result is a super-soft touch with an extremely long service life of up to 100 million strokes per key (depending on the switch type) and unbeatable precision.
PERFECT ACOUSTICS The inside of the housing is damped with several layers of foam. In combination with the lubricated MX2A switches and the high-quality PBT key caps, this results in whisper-quiet noise when typing. Entries are acknowledged with a subtle “thock” sound.
HOT-SWAP SOCKETS The individual switches can be easily removed with the enclosed tool and replaced with other MX switches of your choice. Simply insert the new buttons into the special hot-swap sockets and you’re done. No soldering or screws are required: just snap into place.
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY The built-in lithium-ion battery can be recharged using the a USB-C cable. A full charge is sufficient for several weeks of undisturbed work depending on the selected lighting intensity and personal habits. For example, the battery lasts for about six weeks with the lighting off, and about one week with the LEDs on.

BUY

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Ryanair and CarTrawler announce strategic partnership

Today, CarTrawler, the leading B2B technology provider of car rental and mobility solutions to the global travel industry, announces a new car rental partnership with Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline.

Ryanair operates one of the most extensive short-haul networks in the world, carrying 207 million passengers per year. Its relentless focus on low fares and high efficiency has made it the most commercially important airline in European aviation.

Ryanair customers can enjoy exclusive rates, top-tier car rental options, market-leading customer service and a fully integrated booking experience through Ryanair’s website and on the myRyanair App.

Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said: “We’re pleased to announce our new partnership with CarTrawler. CarTrawler delivers great value with an outstanding range of car rental options at competitive prices, fully integrated into the Ryanair booking journey. Ryanair passengers already enjoy the lowest fares in Europe and this new product will offer them the best value with our price match guarantee.”

Powered by CarTrawler’s Connect Platform, the company’s proprietary cloud-based technology, the service makes it easier for travellers to secure the right car at the right price as part of their overall journey, an experience that keeps car hire aligned with the airline’s low-fare promise and supports its broader commercial strategy.

Peter O’Donovan, Chief Executive at CarTrawler, commented: “Ryanair’s decision to partner with CarTrawler is a powerful endorsement of our industry-leading Connect Platform, which delivers unparalleled results for our airline partners. We’re delighted to be reuniting with Ryanair to build a long-term, mutually successful partnership and to provide their customers with world-class car rental offers and exceptional value.”

Unlike many travel technology providers that divide their focus between consumer and business channels, CarTrawler operates solely as a B2B partner, focused on enabling its customers to succeed. Every innovation and investment in its platform is designed to strengthen partner brands and drive measurable commercial growth.

Building on this foundation, CarTrawler is evolving the platform into a wider ecosystem, integrating Insurtech and new ancillary products designed to boost partner revenues and traveller loyalty. This multi-year agreement enhances Ryanair’s ancillary offering and reinforces both companies’ commitment to delivering outstanding value and choice for millions of Ryanair passengers every year.

Scarcity Vs. Abundance Mindset

Ever notice how sometimes you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like there’s never enough? That’s what having a scarcity mindset feels like—a feeling that resources, opportunities, or success are limited and just out of reach. On the flip side, an abundance mindset is like seeing the world as full of possibilities, where there’s enough for everyone, and opportunities are waiting to be grabbed. Both mindsets shape how we approach life and money, and understanding how to shift from scarcity to abundance can change everything.

If you’re dealing with tough financial situations, maybe even thinking about California debt relief options, shifting your mindset might be just as important as finding practical solutions. Let’s explore what these mindsets mean, how they affect you, and ways to make a positive switch.

What Is a Scarcity Mindset?

A scarcity mindset is a way of thinking where you believe there’s never enough—never enough money, time, success, or resources. This mindset can leave you feeling anxious, depressed, or even paralyzed, because you’re always focused on what’s missing.

When you believe opportunities are scarce, you might hold back from taking risks or sharing resources, fearing loss or failure. Financial stress often worsens scarcity thinking, as you might feel trapped by debt or limited income. This mindset can make it hard to see solutions or possibilities.

For people facing financial strain, including those seeking California debt relief, this mindset can create a cycle of worry that’s hard to break.

The Power of an Abundance Mindset

In contrast, an abundance mindset is rooted in the belief that there’s enough for everyone, and new opportunities are always around the corner. This perspective encourages excitement, motivation, and action. Instead of focusing on limitations, you see potential and growth.

With an abundance mindset, setbacks become lessons rather than failures. You’re more likely to take calculated risks, share knowledge and resources, and approach challenges with confidence.

Financially, this mindset helps you look for creative solutions and opportunities rather than getting stuck in fear. It empowers you to rebuild, save, and invest in your future, no matter where you start.

How Mindsets Influence Financial Behavior

Your mindset directly impacts how you manage money. Scarcity thinking might lead to hoarding cash, avoiding budgeting, or making impulsive decisions out of fear. You might resist asking for help or exploring options like debt relief, feeling ashamed or hopeless.

Abundance thinking encourages planning, smart spending, and seeking support when needed. It helps you see financial challenges as temporary and solvable, which is essential for making progress.

Steps to Shift From Scarcity to Abundance

Switching your mindset isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about changing how you focus your attention and interpret experiences. Here are some practical ways to start shifting:

Practice Gratitude: Regularly remind yourself of what you do have. Gratitude helps redirect focus from lack to plenty.
Reframe Negative Thoughts: When scarcity thoughts creep in, challenge them. Ask yourself, “Is there really no way forward? What possibilities am I missing?”
Set Small, Achievable Goals: Progress builds confidence. Even small wins reinforce an abundance mindset by showing you can improve your situation.
Surround Yourself With Positive Influences: Spend time with people who have growth-oriented attitudes. Their mindset can rub off on you.
Educate Yourself: Financial knowledge reduces fear. Learning about budgeting, saving, or debt relief options (like those available in California) empowers you to act.

Why This Shift Matters

Changing your mindset impacts more than just your finances. It affects your relationships, stress levels, and overall happiness. People with abundance mindsets tend to experience less anxiety and greater resilience because they believe in possibilities.

Financially, this shift can be the difference between being stuck in a cycle of debt and frustration or building a stable, hopeful future.

Final Thoughts

Scarcity and abundance mindsets are like two lenses through which we view the world—and we get to choose which one to wear. While scarcity leaves you feeling overwhelmed and stuck, abundance opens doors to excitement, motivation, and meaningful action.

If you’re navigating financial challenges, including exploring California debt relief, don’t underestimate the power of your mindset. By practicing gratitude, reframing your thoughts, setting goals, and seeking knowledge, you can gradually embrace abundance.

Your financial future—and your peace of mind—can begin with a simple choice to see the world not as limited, but full of opportunities.

Garmin introduces inReach Mini 3 Plus satellite communicator

Garmin is expanding its popular lineup of compact satellite communicators with the introduction of inReach^® Mini 3 Plus. Featuring a colour touchscreen display and built-in speaker and microphone, inReach Mini 3 Plus lets adventurers exchange voice messages, texts and photos¹—making iteasier to stay in touch with family and friends who are back home. Purpose-built to provide extra peace of mind while exploring beyond cell coverage, users can also trigger an interactive SOS message to the Garmin Response^℠centre should an emergency occur. And with up to 330 hours of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode, inReach Mini 3 Plus can be used on multi-day trips without the need for any extra plug-ins or battery chargers.

“We understand just how important it is to stay connected during both short and long adventures, and that’s why we are excited to bring even more communication tools to the inReach Mini 3 Plus. Tell friends and family that they’re missed, show them the amazing view while standing at the summit and more—all from this compact and rugged device that can be clipped to a pack.”

—Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

More ways to stay in touch

Voice messaging: Check in with family and friends by exchanging 30-second voice messages right from the device.
Voice message transcription: While in an area where listening isn’t possible or it’s necessary to maintain silence in the field, read transcriptions of voice messages directly on the device.
Touchscreen texting: Quickly exchange text messages (up to 1,600 characters), emojis and reactions or start a group chat right from the device.
Photo sharing: View photos from back home right on the colourful display and share photos from every epic adventure when using the Garmin Messenger^™ app.
LiveTrack^™ location sharing: Let friends and family follow along on the adventure and track progress, including distance, time and elevation¹.

Emergency support when it’s needed the most

When an SOS message is triggered, inReach Mini 3 Plus will send an interactive message to the Garmin Response centre, where a dedicated team of skilled emergency response coordinators are ready at any time. Photo and voice messages can also be shared during an SOS, giving coordinators the ability to see and hear details of the emergency firsthand. Response coordinators will communicate with the user, their listed emergency contacts, search and rescue organisations and other available local resources and provide updates. With nearly two decades of experience, the Garmin Response team has supported more than 18,000 inReach incident responses – from land to sea to air – in more than 150 countries on all seven continents.

Built for any adventure, inReach Mini 3 Plus is made to operate in extreme temperatures and features an impact-resistant design and IP67 water rating. When paired with the Garmin Explore^™ app, adventurers can plan a trip, follow a course to a destination and even follow a track back to the start.

inReach Mini 3 Plus is available now and has a suggested retail price of £439.99. To learn more, visit www.garmin.com.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised life for adventurers, athletes, off-road explorers, road warriors and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing products that enhance experiences, enrich lives and help provide peace of mind, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.

¹ Active satellite plan required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.

See our Garmin Reviews

Visa Helps Launch Klarna App in Ireland

Visa today announced it has enabled the launch of three brand new digital wallets across Europe, in partnership with BBVA, Klarna and Vipps MobilePay, and is collaborating with BANCOMAT on a pilot planned for early 2026.

These are the first Visa-enabled wallets to use NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to allow HCE (Host Card Emulation) on iOS wallets.

A major regulatory shift under the EU’s Digital Markets Act opened NFC access to third-party wallets, paving the way for greater competition and innovation in mobile payments. This allows more European players to bring new experiences to market and give consumers more choice.

According to Visa research*, mobile payments now represent more than half (59%) of all e-commerce transactions in Europe, and that figure is expected to rise to three quarters (75%) by 2030. With just under a third (32%) of Europeans saying they plan to rely exclusively on mobile wallets for purchases, there is a clear shift toward wallet-centric ecosystems, driven by demand for speed, simplicity, and control.

Visa has worked with three issuers and a domestic scheme across Europe to launch the new iOS wallets:

BBVA Pay, available through the BBVA Mobile Banking App, is a single issuer wallet launched in Spain. It is the first wallet in the world to use Visa’s own software developer toolkit (SDK) to directly integrate the Visa Token Service (VTS), a technology that protects sensitive card information by replacing it with a secure digital token. The wallet offers a new payment experience along with a secure, future-ready experience.
Klarna (the Klarna app), has launched its wallet in 14 European countries**, enhancing the app’s functionality and making the Klarna app a single, seamless experience for Klarna users on both iOS and Android. Klarna, having launched the Klarna Card powered by Visa Flexible Credential, gives consumers further choice, and a truly integrated experience, with the addition of tap to pay as part of the Klarna app.
The Nordic mobile wallet company Vipps MobilePay has launched a Visa co-badged wallet in Norway, with Denmark, Finland and Sweden to follow. The wallet combines local familiarity with global reach as existing users can now tap and pay anywhere Visa is accepted, with their stored cards automatically enrolled for seamless contactless use—alongside the everyday features they already enjoy in Vipps MobilePay.
Italy’s domestic scheme BANCOMAT, has announced launched a pilot project with Visa to enable users of BANCOMAT wallet to make secure and contactless payments through the BANCOMAT Pay service, anywhere Visa is accepted. The pilot is based on VisaPay, Visa’s new wallet solution, which provides security and scalability by leveraging Visa’s advanced tokenisation capabilities. Testing of the solution is scheduled for early 2026.

“These launches reflect growing demand for mobile wallet-based payments and Visa’s commitment to supporting local and regional players with the scale, security and reliability of our global network,” said Mathieu Altwegg, Head of Product & Solutions, Visa Europe. “As a ‘hyper-scaler’, we’re enabling partners of all sizes to innovate faster and deliver more choice and convenience to consumers, while helping drive broader digital and economic growth across Europe.”

“This launch reflects BBVA’s strong commitment to innovation and to delivering an exceptional customer experience. It also positions BBVA as the first bank in Europe to offer a proprietary wallet powered by Apple technology — marking a milestone in the European banking industry,” said Luis Simoes, Head of Retail Experience and Value Proposition for Retail Banking at BBVA.

“Tap to Pay brings us closer to our vision of Klarna being everywhere for everything. Now you can set up a flexible payment plan and tap to pay in seconds, all inside the Klarna app. It makes the everyday shopping moments significantly smoother for our Klarna customers across Europe, giving them even more flexibility and choice at checkout.” said David Fock, Chief Product & Design Officer at Klarna.

“We’re pleased that our Vipps users can now tap seamlessly all over the world with Visa. It’s an important step toward our vision of making payments simpler and more unified for people wherever they go,” said Rune Garborg, CEO of Vipps MobilePay.

“The pilot project launched with Visa marks an important step in the evolution of BANCOMAT products, with the aim of offering Italian banks and users increasingly digital services that can also be used outside national borders,” says Fabrizio Burlando, CEO of BANCOMAT S.p.A.. “This collaboration will allow us to enhance the value of the BANCOMAT infrastructures, based in Italy, integrating them with Visa’s global network to enable new features and expand the user experience for customers. The model allows us to maintain a strong local presence, while benefiting from the international acceptance network and the capabilities of a global player. We are confident that this partnership will bring greater value to Italian banks and their customers.”

Looking Ahead: The Expanding Role of Digital Wallets

Digital wallets are quickly evolving: from simple payment tools to platforms that support peer-to-peer transfers, real-time bank payments and government IDs. With expanded NFC access, wallets could also store digital keys, loyalty cards, event tickets and more, opening the door to richer, more personalised services through a single, secure interface.

As Europe’s digital landscape evolves through advances in open banking, embedded finance and digital identity, financial institutions and fintechs have new opportunities to create more seamless, secure, and personalised experiences for their customers.

Visa’s infrastructure supports multiple payment types, including cards, account-to-account, and tokenised assets, giving partners the flexibility to build future-ready solutions that meet the needs of today’s consumers.

Dell and Microsoft roll out integrated file storage for AI-era workloads

Businesses in Ireland can now leverage Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure, a scalable, high-performance enterprise-class file storage solution, integrated with Azure to support modern AI workloads.

Co-developed with Microsoft as an Azure Native Integration, Dell PowerScale provides a fully managed cloud-native deployment of PowerScale software on Azure infrastructure. The solution aims to accelerate AI initiatives, manage media production, and ensure business continuity, empowering organizations to achieve their next breakthrough.

“In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, enterprises need more than just storage, they need a platform that drives innovation, scales effortlessly, and adapts to their most demanding workloads. Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure is purpose-built to meet these needs,” said David Noy, Vice President of Product Management at Dell Technologies. “Co-developed with Microsoft, this enterprise-class file storage solution delivers high performance, robust security, and seamless integration, empowering organisations to achieve their next breakthrough. From accelerating AI and managing media production to ensuring business continuity, PowerScale for Azure is the foundation for success in the data-driven era.”

Built on a proven foundation, Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure is an Azure Native integration co-developed with Microsoft and built on a legacy of storage leadership. This is enterprise-class file storage, purpose-built for today’s most demanding workloads and managed by the experts at Dell. With NVRAM-enabled custom compute SKUs engineered exclusively for Dell, PowerScale for Azure delivers blazing-fast performance up to four times greater than the closest competitor.

The solution has been designed to offer ultra-low latency and optimized to handle even the most data-intensive applications with ease. PowerScale for Azure allows organisations to scale out rapidly and efficiently, supporting up to 8.4PB of storage in a single namespace. It also supports NFS, SMB, and S3 protocols running simultaneously, so teams can support a broad range of applications and avoid the limits of single-purpose solutions or vendor lock-in.

The familiar, unified PowerScale interface ensures operational simplicity and a consistent user experience whether data is on-premises or in Azure. Fully managed by Dell experts, PowerScale handles deployment, upgrades, monitoring, and support, delivering robust, proactive management every step of the way. With zero-trust architecture, always-on encryption, continuous backup, and built-in ransomware recovery, organisations can face threats with a hardened defence posture.

PowerScale supports production workloads across every industry vertical. Media & Entertainment companies can handle massive video files, real-time editing, and tight production timelines with high-speed hybrid data environments. Production teams can scale up for big releases, scale down when projects close, and focus on creativity, while robust security protects critical media assets. Electronic design automation produces massive datasets and demands fast, collaborative workflows.

PowerScale accelerates simulation, modelling, and design workflows, enabling global design teams to work together, handle simulation spikes, and move products to market faster. Life Sciences organisations can analyse large datasets, run simulations, and drive discoveries with high-performance access and secure, compliant storage. PowerScale allows scaling as clinical projects advance without service disruption.

Downtime and data loss aren’t options. PowerScale for Azure streamlines disaster recovery by enabling asynchronous replication into Azure with SyncIQ, extending data protection across environments to ensure compliance and rapid recovery in the event of disaster.

Garmin Venu 4 45mm Smartwatch Review

The Garmin Venu 4 (45mm) is the company’s latest to bridge the gap between a sleek, everyday smartwatch and a powerful, dedicated multisport fitness tracker. Building significantly on the Venu 3, the Venu 4 introduces a more premium metalized design and brings over some of Garmin’s most advanced training features previously reserved for its high-end Forerunner and Fenix lines and I also feel it is taking on WHOOP with some of its features on board which is fine, WHOOP has no display and the watch does so it is a matter of wanting less time on your phone here which I do and have been doing getting metrics on the go by looking at your watch.

The 45mm Venu 4 represents a significant upgrade in build quality, moving to a full metal case that feels noticeably more premium and robust than its predecessors. The watch is stylish enough to look at home in an office setting but durable enough for the trail. It is a familiar design like many watches out there but you can up the style with different bands on offer which are nice like the leather bands.

The 1.4-inch AMOLED display is bright, vibrant, and highly responsive, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. For me after using the watch for some weeks I found this display and it stands out and you can of course customize it even more with faces and make it stand out more.

A new hardware addition is the built-in LED flashlight (with white and red light modes), a feature trickled down from Garmin’s high-end watches, which is surprisingly useful for visibility during night runs or finding something in the dark like keys for trying to get into your house for example or just general looking for things in the dark.

This is where the Venu 4 truly excels, incorporating professional-grade metrics into a lifestyle watch:

Training Readiness and Status: Borrowed from the Forerunner series, you now get a morning score based on sleep quality, recovery, HRV, and acute load, helping you determine if you should push hard or take a rest day. Training Status gives you deeper insight into the effectiveness of your overall regimen.
Dual-Frequency GPS: The inclusion of Multi-Band (Dual-Frequency) GNSS is a major technical upgrade. This provides superior positional accuracy, especially in challenging environments like dense cities or canyons, making it a reliable tool for runners and outdoor athletes.
Lifestyle Logging: A new wellness feature allows you to manually log behaviors like caffeine or alcohol intake directly on the watch. The Garmin Connect app then correlates these entries with changes in key metrics like sleep, stress, and HRV, offering genuinely useful insights into how your daily habits impact your well-being. For me logging things daily is annoying however tried it out here with a general task every day it will pormpt you every day which is not bad for those wanting to use such a feature.
Sleep Metrics: The watch offers comprehensive sleep coaching, tracking naps, and introducing Sleep Alignment (how well your sleep pattern matches your circadian rhythm) and Sleep Consistency again wasted on me never used such.
Over 80 Sports Apps: The Venu 4 covers virtually every activity, including new features like Mixed Session profiles for tracking multiple activities in one workout (e.g., a triathlon or Hyrox session).

The 45mm Venu 4 offers up to 12 days of battery life in standard smartwatch mode, which is a colossal advantage over competitors like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch which I have both of and can confirm in the real world this is the best watch for battery end of story I own right now.

Always-On Display (AOD): If you use the always-on display, the battery life drops to about 4-5 days, which is still competitive.

GPS Use: Even with the high-accuracy Multi-Band GPS active, the watch can last up to 19 hours, making it excellent for long hikes or marathon training mostly used with ealks for me as out with an injury and still am confined to an extent.

While the Venu 4 is a powerful all-rounder, it has a couple of minor trade-offs:

It lacks the deep, seamless integration and third-party app ecosystem of watches running Apple’s or Google’s operating systems. The voice assistant functionality relies on your paired phone and can feel a bit clunky. I am use to having full rich notifications but this is not the case here with no images in emails such as my cameras etc not a huge deal but miss it.

Unlike some competitors, there is no option for LTE connectivity, meaning you must have your phone nearby for full connectivity and calls however I think most are in this same situation and use the watch and phone for me it has always been the case.

It sits at a higher price point than its predecessor, reflecting the addition of the premium materials and advanced training features and price can be a factor for some people with the feature set, Garmin has a loyal following like Apple and Samsung.

The Garmin Venu 4 45mm which is the model I tested is an exceptional choice for the user who wants a watch that transitions effortlessly between the gym, the trail, and the boardroom. It successfully blends an attractive, premium design with Garmin’s leading-edge fitness and recovery data. If you prioritize multi-day battery life, highly accurate GPS, and deep insights into your fitness and recovery metrics like WHOOP does over the smart communication features of an Apple or Galaxy Watch, the Venu 4 is easily one of the best watches on the market right now if you are not fussy over some small caveats.

Garmin Connect App

Features

Smartwatch with a bright, colourful display, stainless steel design, and built-in flashlight; Available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.
Make improvements to promote a healthier lifestyle and know your body better with extensive health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, Body Battery energy monitoring, fitness age, stress tracking, meditation and more (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Get a sleep score and personalised sleep coaching, including recommendations for how much sleep you need, tips on how to improve, alignment on your inner sleep cycle by using circadian rhythm and more; breathing variations feature uses Pulse Ox to check your level of variations while sleeping (this is not a medical device, and device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox is required and not available in all countries)
The health status feature looks for changes in your health data that could indicate added stress to your body for key metrics — such as heart rate, HRV, skin temperature and more — which could be related to factors such as physical activity, potential illness or other health changes (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked).
Log custom or preset daily behaviors — such as caffeine and alcohol intake — and view reports in the Garmin Connect smartphone app on how lifestyle choices may impact your sleep, stress and HRV to help you make more health-conscious decisions (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Find new ways to keep your body moving with daily suggested workouts and more than 80 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, mobility, mixed session to track multiple activities in one session and more; plus, get easy-to-follow workouts for several activity types or even create your own workouts in the Garmin Connect app
Reach for your goals with Garmin Coach training plans for running, cycling, strength and fitness, which can provide personalised workouts based on your health, fitness and recovery metrics. Take on any fitness journey with advanced training features such as workout benefit — which helps you understand how each workout affected your body — and training readiness to help determine whether you should go hard or take it easy plus training status for insight into your overall effort

Enjoy the convenience of making and taking phone calls from your wrist — even use your smartphone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages and more (when paired with your compatible iPhone or Android smartphone); plus, you can respond to texts via voice, or Android users can text directly from the smartwatch
ECG app can record your heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (not available in all regions; for people 22 years or older)
Enjoy connectivity features, including music for phone-free listening and Garmin Pay contactless payments that allow you to leave your cash and cards at home (with a supported bank and payment network)

BUY

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