Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Black Friday/Cyber Monday gifts for everyone

Stuck for some gift ideas or something for yourself this Black Friday and Cyber Monday check out the list below from several partners we work with there is something for everyone here and most wont break the bank, front earbuds to lamps to headphones and more see what is on offer below today.

Pocketalk has promotions running on its portable, AI powered instant voice translation devices which break down language barriers and bridge the gap between different spoken languages.

Pocketalk S – Save £42

Price: £167 (reduced from £209)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK and www.uk.pocketalk.com between 25.11.22 – 28.11.22

Perfect for globetrotters, the Pocketalk S can translate 82 languages bidirectionally at the touch of a button. It also has a text-to-translate camera which instantly recognises and translates text, the written word and signs – ideal if you need help reading menus or are trying to find your way around a new city. By utilising the best translation engines from around the world, Pocketalk S provides consistently accurate translation and creates the best experience by picking up localised dialects and slang. It also comes with a complementary 2-year mobile data plan that provides coverage in over 130 countries/regions so you don’t need to rely on Wi-Fi.

Pocketalk Plus – Save £31

Price: £228 (reduced from £259)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK and www.uk.pocketalk.com between 25.11.22 – 28.11.22

With its launch in 2018, Pocketalk was originally designed as a travel-friendly practical communication tool. However, with an increased need for social distancing, Pocketalk developed the Pocketalk Plus which has a larger screen that is readable from six feet of distance, a strong speaker, and a noise-cancelling microphone.

Similar to the Pocketalk S, other features of the device include translations for 82 languages, the ability to seamlessly provide audio readout in native language, a camera that translates text and written words and built-in data (no need for Wi-Fi).

Twelve South, the company known for designing beautiful kit for Apple, has promotions running on a number of products during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period. These include:

Twelve South HoverBar Duo – Save £11.90

Price: £67.50 (reduced from £79.40)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK between 18th – 28th November 2022.

The Twelve South HoverBar Duo is an adjustable stand that can securely hold an iPad at different heights as well as in multiple positions and angles. The HoverBar Duo comes with a weighted desktop stand as well as a desk/shelf clamp so whether you want to lift the iPad camera up to eye level for FaceTime calls or clamp it to a kitchen cabinet to follow recipes whilst cooking, the HoverBar Duo is incredibly versatile.

Twelve South StayGo Mini – Save £8.25

Price: £46.75 (reduced from £54.99)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK between 18th – 28th November 2022.

The StayGo Mini USB-C Hub provides four additional ports including a headphone jack, USB-A, USB-C (for pass through power) and HDMI port so that users can easily connect and power their most essential accessories. Being able to easily access external hard drives, connect a display, use a keyboard or Magic Trackpad and other peripherals using StayGo Mini will make editing video, photos or polishing presentations on iPad Air, iPad Pro or MacBook much more convenient and efficient.

Users can connect StayGo Mini directly to their iPad or use the included 0.5 metre-long cable. The handy cable enables users to connect this little hub to their iPad without removing their case, or place it below a monitor or Magic Keyboard for an improved desk setup. StayGo Mini can be used like a dock to quickly connect and disconnect everything at once.

Small and compact, StayGo Mini is perfect for anyone on the go. Having it snapped onto an iPad provides the freedom to connect peripherals as needed or they could use the pass-through power to charge an iPad, iPhone or AirPods.

AirFly Pro – Save £7.50

Price: £42.99 (reduced from £49.99)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK between 18th – 28th November 2022.

The Twelve South AirFly Pro allows you to connect wirelessly to systems and devices that were previously incompatible. Forget the flimsy headphones the airline provides, you can now enjoy in-flight entertainment on your favourite Bluetooth headphones.

Also, AirFly Pro can send audio from your iPhone to the sound system in a car. Ideal for when hiring a rental car – use AirFly Pro to stream directions from a navigation app instead of syncing your entire iPhone.

HiRise for MacBook – Save £9.20

Price: £52.28 (reduced from £61.48)

Available at this price from: Amazon UK between 18th – 28th November 2022.

The Twelve South HiRise for MacBook is a beautifully designed, height adjustable stand that elevates a laptop to the perfect position. Unlike fixed stands, the HiRise allows users to set their screen height from a few inches up to a half foot off their desk, making it perfect for MacBooks and users of all sizes. HiRise allows users to align a MacBook with an external monitor for the ultimate dual-display set-up. Users can perch their MacBook on the HiRise and pair with their favourite wireless keyboard and mouse to create a comfortable and convenient workstation. This sleek brushed metal stand features non-slip arms to securely hold all size MacBooks from 11-inch Air to 16-inch Pro.

Pivo, a leading developer of AI-tracking technology for content creators, has Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotions running on its range of smartphone tracking mounts including:

Pivo Pod Lite – Save £20

Price: £49.99 (reduced from £69.99)

Available at this price from: www.pivo.ai from now until 28th November 2022

The Pivo Pod Lite, in conjunction with the Pivo + app, turns a phone into your personal camera crew. Powered by AI technology, the Pivo mount, which can rotate 360 degrees, automatically tracks your face and body movements, following you at all times and zooming in and out to make sure you’re always in focus and in the frame. Capturing high-quality video and images with minimal effort, you no longer have to worry about the camera rattling, shaking or if the person filming you has missed the best shot.

The Pivo Play app enables you to be even more creative thanks to its 12 quick create modes. From ‘Many Me’ which takes multiple pictures of you in different positions within the same frame and ‘Magic Edge’ which stitches two video together side by side to ‘Clone Trail’ which creates copies of you within the same video, Pivo makes it easy to create playful, share-worthy content without any editing experience.

Pivo Lite comes in six different colours and accessories such as tripods, a remote control, a smart mount and protective cases are also available.

Pivo Pod – Save £45

Price: £79.99 (reduced from £124.99)

Available at this price from: www.pivo.ai from now until 28th November 2022

The Pivo Pod Active, in conjunction with the Pivo + app, turns a phone into a training partner and your personal camera crew. Perfect for fast-paced content creation like roller-skating, skateboarding and horse-riding, Pivo will capture all the action.

Powered by AI technology, the Pivo Active mount, which can rotate 360 degrees, automatically tracks your movements, following you at all times and zooming in and out to make sure you’re always in focus and in the frame. Pivo Active has four different speed modes and with face, body and horse tracking, makes it easy to record a dance session, stream a workout routine or video a riding lesson when you’re on your own. Pivo Active also includes a video call feature that will allow a coach to train you (whether doing PT or a horse riding lesson) from a remote location.

Pivo Active is compatible with iOS and Android. It comes with a remote control and other accessories such as a mount and tripod are also available.

Petoi Bittle – Save up to £75

Price: £239.99 from 11.11.22 until 23.11.22/ £224.99 from 24.11.22 – 28.11.22

Available from: Amazon UK

Small but agile, Bittle is a powerful robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Bittle is operated in OpenCat, an open-sourced quadrupled robot platform that offers endless programming and customisation possibilities and can be controlled using an app that’s compatible with iOS and Android.

Users bring Bittle to life by assembling its puzzle-like frame which is made up of 3D interlocking components, eliminating the need for screws (it’s also available pre-assembled). The bionic construction of legs rather than wheels means that Bittle is able to move more freely over unstructured terrain.

Evolving with an open-source gene, Bittle is built on Petoi’s OpenCat open-source platform specifically for quadrupled robots. Bittle’s dynamic manoeuvrability and behaviours are features typically seen on luxury robots but Petoi’s technology is now making it accessible to more consumers. With a customised Arduino board coordinating all instinctive and sophisticated movements, users are able to clip various smart sensors onto Bittle or mount a Raspberry Pi or other AI chips through wired/wireless connections to inject perception and artificial intelligence capabilities. Bittle can be configured and controlled using Petoi’s official mobile app.

Long standing family-run Yorkshire camping retailer Outdoor World Direct has some fantastic deals available on premium family tents for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with deals running until 5th December or until stocks last.

Outdoor Revolution Kalahari PC 9.0DSE Tent – save £1,128

Price: £1,999.99 (RRP £3,129)

Available at this price from Outdoor World Direct from now until Wednesday 5th December

New for 2022, this premium family tent boasts premium fabric and features and is one of the biggest tents available – sleeping up to 13 people! The tent features a tunnel design with a side extension on each side and the interior is highly customisable as bedrooms or living space depending on your needs.

Despite its size, it is incredibly easy to pitch as it’s inflatable, simply use the included pump to pitch.

The technical polycotton fabric offers premium durability and also keeps humidity under control under hot conditions, ideal for warmer climates or camping in the British summer. It is also perfect for cooler conditions too and much more durable than polyester. Darkened bedrooms also offer a better night’s sleep on light mornings and evenings.

Bundles including carpet and footprint at reduced cost also available.

Vango Anantara III TC 650xl Tent – Save £445

Price: £1,699.99 (RRP £2,145)

Available at this price from Outdoor World Direct now until Wednesday 5th December

This versatile premium family tent offers plenty of space while the technical polycotton fabric offers versatility and reliability in changing weather conditions. Robust yet breathable, it offers protection from the rain while also offering reduced humidity. It also has thicker airbeams than is standard for Vango’s inflatable tents, offering greater stability. The beams can also be inflated individually or from one single point depending on your needs.

Sleeping up to six people, the darkened yet breathable bedroom can be used as one large bedroom or divided for more privacy. The tent is standing height throughout, including bedrooms, ideal for thicker air mattresses and camp beds.

This tent also comes with an intuitive packing system which includes the smart roll carry bag, complete with wheels for easy transportation.

As well as deals with various retailers (including Argos, Currys and more), Groov-e also has plenty of deals running on direct purchases via its website, groov-e.co.uk. Discounts are as follows. These deals are live now until 16th December, so plenty of time to bag a gadget bargain for under the Christmas tree.

Groov-e Soundbar 20 – save £10

Price: £19.99 (reduced from £19.99)

Available from now until 16th December from Groov-e

With two built-in 5W drivers, the Soundbar 20 with Super Bass produces high quality sound when you are listening to music or watching a movie, and is great for video or voice calls. Connect to your PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and enjoy the colour changing LED lights which will make it the perfect addition to any party. An integrated stand pops out to hold your smartphone or tablet making it perfect for those who want to watch a movie or the latest Netflix series. Lightweight and portable, it can be taken anywhere and offers 10+ hours of playback on a single charge.

Groov-e SportsBuds – save £15

Price: £24.99 (reduced from £39.99)

Available from now until 16th December from Groov-e

The perfect running or gym partner, the Groov-e SportsBuds keep users completely free from wires while working out. The True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology gives a fantastic audio experience at an affordable price.

Delivering crystal clear sound and a powerful bass the SportBuds will keep you motivated whether you’re trail running or enjoying a beach workout. Providing a secure and comfortable fit with an ear hook design and rated IPX4 sweat resistant, the SportsBuds were built to endure the toughest workouts.

Groov-e JazzBuds – save £15

Price: £14.99 (reduced from £29.99)

Available from now until 16th December from Groov-e

Enjoy up to 25 hours of playback with these true wireless headphones from Groov-e. With touch controls and voice assistant, they’re ideal for listening to music or for work calls. The included charge case means you can recharge on the go too.

Groov-e Kidz wireless headphones – save £15

Price: £14.99 (reduced from £29.99)

Available until 16th December from Groov-e

Available in blue or pink, the Groov-e Kidz wireless Bluetooth headphones are a great gift for older children. They can be connected wirelessly to their favourite devices by Bluetooth or using the included 3.5mm cable. Even better, they have a built-in audio sharing port so siblings/friends can watch/listen/game together.

Groov-e Fusion – save £15

Price: £14.99 (reduced from £29.99)

Available until 16th December from Groov-e

Enjoy fantastic sound and stylish headphones at a bargain price. Available in black or rose gold, they offer 35 hours wireless playback and also come with an audio cable, so they’re compatible with older devices too. Super Bass ensures crystal clear playback while the soft ear pads offer comfort for extended listening.

Groov-e Berlin colour screen DAB – save £15

Price:£29.99 (reduced from £44.99)

Available until 16th December from Groov-e

Enjoy crystal clear audio from your favourite DAB radio stations with the Groov-e Berlin. Featuring a compact design and modern colour screen which is easy to use. It also has Bluetooth functionality so you can use it as a portable speaker too.

Groov-e Zeus – save £20

Price: £39.99 (reduced from £59.99)

Available until 16th December from Groov-e

The Groov-e Zeus has everything you need from a traditional clock radio with additional innovative features. They can enjoy their favourite DAB stations with crystal clear audio thanks to the built-in 6 watt speaker.

It also has Bluetooth connectivity and therefore can be used as a wireless speaker, while the aux-in port means it can also be used as a wired speaker, ideal for older media such as turntables and cassette players.

While enjoying its audio capabilities, users can also use the wireless charging pad to charge any wireless charging compatible devices.

The large LED display makes it easy to control and to see the time, while the display dimmer and alarm functionality makes it the perfect bedside companion.

Groov-e Light Curve – save £20

Price: £19.99 (reduced from £39.99)

Available until 16th December from Groov-e

Enjoy a better sleep with the Groo-ve Light Curve.The light, which mimics natural daylight, will come on at the selected time, starting off gently and gradually getting brighter until it’s at the optimum level, offering a gentler wake-up that leaves them feeling fresher.

When it’s actually time to get out of bed, a chosen alarm sound or radio station will also be activated to help users wake fully.

Refurbed launches its first partnership in the Irish market to provide sustainable refurbished phones to 48’s customers

Refurbed, Ireland’s leading refurbished electronics marketplace, has launched a new partnership with 48, which is powered by Three – Ireland’s fastest mobile network. Refurbed and 48 will come together to provide new and existing 48 customers with the option of buying a cheaper, sustainable refurbished smartphone through the 48 dedicated app and website. The announcement marks refurbed’s first partnership within the Irish market as more consumers, particularly young people, are making the conscious decision to buy more sustainable products to reduce their carbon footprint.

48 is Ireland’s first totally digital mobile brand, popular among customers who enjoy commitment-free, data-controlled packages. As a result of this partnership, 48 customers will enjoy a holistic experience as phones and sim cards will be brought to one place, making life a little bit easier for those wanting to buy ‘green.’ Through the My48 App and website, 48 customers will enjoy refurbed’s full selection of refurbished smartphones.

Refurbed, who was recently awarded the LinkedIn Top Start-Up in Austria for 2022, and 48 are both passionate about sustainability and financial empowerment. Refurbed’s smartphones are up to 40% more affordable than new devices and are 100% sustainable. The refurbishment process that refurbed’s smartphones undergo is up to 40 steps and produces 70% less CO2 emissions compared to the creation of a new device. To offset the remaining 30%, refurbed plants a tree for every product sold. 48 sends its sim cards in compostable packaging and offers its customers the best value plan on the market as awarded at the 2022 Switcher.ie Mobile Awards. Both companies go hand-in-hand in offering their customers a sustainable and affordable mobile package. As part of this partnership, refurbed will plant a tree for every smartphone sold to 48 customers, with the option to plant a native tree in Ireland.

Speaking on the announcement, Pádraig Power, refurbed’s Marketing Manager for Ireland said, “We are delighted to partner with 48, Ireland Best Value Mobile Network. We are excited to broaden our reach through this partnership, bringing refurbed’s smartphones to 48 customers. It is essential that affordable and sustainable alternatives are available to Irish consumers, particularly those looking to make a saving as the cost of living crisis continues. As a society, we often try to improve our sustainability efforts, but find it challenging. This is why we are proud to present an offer that is actually both sustainable, and cheaper. Together with 48, we will help new and existing 48 customers stay up-to-date with the latest smartphones at more affordable rates while also positively impacting the environment.

This partnership is a milestone in refurbed’s journey in Ireland. We are thrilled to partner with a prominent Irish brand such as 48. The demand for sustainable alternatives in all industries is becoming more apparent among Irish consumers. With this partnership, we are demonstrating that sustainable practices can be incorporated into everyday life such as your mobile sim plan. We are excited to see what the future holds for this partnership.”

David Ward, Head of New Products and Propositions, 48 added, “We are proud to announce that 48 is partnering with refurbed, who recently launched their proposition in Ireland of selling refurbished devices at a very reasonable cost and who are offering products up to 40% cheaper and 100% sustainable. This collaboration allows us to place our customers at the core of the partnership, as any existing 48 customer now has the option to buy a refurbished device from refurbed through the My48 app and website once logged into their account.

We also know our customers are very passionate about sustainability, which is another key element of the partnership, and to demonstrate this commitment, for every device bought from refurbed, they will plant a tree on behalf of our customers. We invite all customers, current and new, to check out the range of options and more information on their My48 account.”

Tronsmart Announces Huge Savings for Black Friday Supersale

Tronsmart, the creator of high-quality, innovative portable speakers, is proud to announce their Black Friday Supersale event that offers savings of up to 60% on their most popular portable speaker, the Bang, Bang Mini, T7 and Trip. The sale begins on Friday, November 18th, 2022, and those discounts will be available throughout the holiday weekend.

Customers will be able to grab a bargain direct from Tronsmart, with each of the impressive speakers offering exceptional sound quality, ease of use and style.

The Bang boasts 60 watts of power for big sound wherever you may be. With LED lighting that works to the beat of the music, instant Bluetooth connection, a built-in power bank and full IPX6 water resistance, the Bang speaker is perfect for days at the beach or park thanks to its 15-hour playtime on a single charge. Would like to try? 33% Off available on Amazon UK for £79.99.

The Bang Mini offers great performance in a smaller format, with a seamless NFC connection, 15 hours of playtime, stunning stereo sound as well as the same light show technology as its bigger brother. Now you could gain 22% discount for $69.99 on Amazon US or 20% off available on Amazon UK for £63.99.

The Tronsmart Trip offers incredible sounds from a tiny package, with up to 20 hours of playtime on a charge and IPX7 waterproof performance, it is the lightweight, go-anywhere Bluetooth speaker that you can always have with you. Gain 40% discount for $15.59 on Amazon US or 22% off available on Amazon UK for £17.99.

Finally, the T7 is an easy-to-carry speaker cylinder, offering IPX7 waterproofing and up to 12 hours of playback, offering the option to pair with your device through Bluetooth or play directly from a Micro SD card for the ultimate portable sound. With 4 lighting settings too, the T7 creates a party wherever you go. Gain 31% off for $39.29 on Amazon US or 20% discount available on Amazon UK for £39.99.

In addition to those bargain prices for current speakers, Tronsmart is also launching an entirely new speaker on November 24th, the Tronsmart Bang SE. This compact device packs IPX6 waterproofing, 40 watts of power, 24 hours of playtime & incredible stereo sound into its small frame. With 3 lighting modes, it can be the heart of any party, wherever you may be. Interested in buying this one, get early bird discount by visiting at: Bang SE.

All Tronsmart speakers benefit from their patented SoundPulse technology that provides personalized EQ settings to get the sound from your speaker just how you like it. The easy-to-use app has a range of presets to make sure your music sounds fantastic every time.

You can find out more about the Tronsmart range of speakers, including the new Bang SE, and the Black Friday sale offers with prices up to 60% off, by visiting their website at Tronsmart.

Revolut Pay Later offers fee-free 45 days for Black Friday…Irish credit expert explains why ‘Pay Later’ is being used this season by savvy shoppers as a money management tool

This season is when many of us get ready for big purchases and have to dip into savings or complex credit options to make ends meet. However, some of the savvier consumers are using instalments payment products for Black Friday to make use of the cost-effective time to make a purchase.

Revolut Pay Later, designed to focus on responsible credit and affordability, is offering a 45 day fee-free promotion for new users to cover Black Friday, Christmas and January shopping. New Pay Later users will have their first 45 days free of any fees. That means customers can do their holiday purchases without paying anything on fees or charges. Additionally, every 3rd Pay Later purchase above €30 is fee-free for existing Pay Later customers.

Rob Mooney, Irish credit expert, explains that consumers who use instalments payment products for Black Friday are often the savvier shoppers. He says these products can be used as a tool to manage money more efficiently and avoid unmanageable debt. Especially in the lead up to Christmas, using Pay Later to take advantage of the discounts available on Black Friday and Cyber Monday allows customers to save money by getting discounts online, and spreading the cost over 3 instalments with Pay Later.

Rob explains that Pay Later provides a convenient way for consumers to spread the cost of purchases over several months. Paying by instalment assists consumers’ budgeting without resorting to loans, going overdrawn or putting the expense on credit cards – which all have high, often complex repayment terms, interest rates and penalty fees. Using Pay Later, consumers can also take full advantage of Black Friday – without dipping into savings.

Rob Mooney, Revolut Credit Manager, says, “Pay Later helps me navigate the most cost-effective time to make a purchase, gives me greater financial control and helps me better manage my cash flow. By enabling me to spread the cost of products at more transparent and economical repayment rates – and therefore spend wisely in more calculated ways, I can take advantage of Black Friday for Christmas shopping. For example, I can buy a new TV, and then spread that cost over several months.”

Ways that Pay Later can be used as a money management tool:

Managing Cash Flow – You can use Pay Later to manage cash flow by controlling the outflow of money. For example, if you’re looking to get yourself a new laptop this Black Friday, but you don’t get paid for another 2 weeks, Pay Later can help manage your cash flow as you can pay back your expenses over time.

Budgeting – As Pay Later communicates a transparent affordability limit, consumers know how much is available to them so they can plan and budget using this limit. Having visibility of your spending limit means you know exactly what you can spend, you won’t be rejected at point of sale and left disappointed.

Complementing Your Budget – Large purchases can throw your budget off. Pay Later can help ease this burden by spreading the load of large purchases across several months to avoid dipping into your savings. Further, it lets you hold on to your money for longer (and, in turn, maintain investments and current accounts).

Spending at the right time – Similarly to ‘large purchases’, there are some items that are cheaper to buy at certain times of the year. For example, Black Friday could be a good time to purchase toys for birthdays over the next year. Using Pay Later can help you navigate the most cost-effective time to make a purchase.

As the number of buy now, pay later companies entering the market continues to grow, consumers will be presented with an ever-increasing array of repayment options. Those who choose a robust and responsible product that provides an affordable credit limit rather than granting credit on a purchase-by-purchase basis will be better set for financial success. While some providers may be tied into specific merchant partnerships, those which use pre-approved credit limits (like Revolut Pay Later) give consumers more spend management options.

Revolut Pay Later checks customer affordability by linking to customers’ existing bank accounts through Open Banking. Revolut will assess customer suitability and affordability for ‘Pay Later’ through an underwriting process. The current maximum credit limit is €499, but each customer will have their own bespoke limit as decided by Revolut’s credit assessment.

The new product also features built-in safeguards to check that users can afford their Pay Later limit. Unlike other buy now pay later providers, Revolut performs a more robust assessment by pre-approving credit limits before transactions are made, rather than making a decision at point of sale whether to allow consumers to make a Pay Later transaction.

UNICEF youth advocate Donnacha Lenehan meets Taoiseach to highlight growing online risks facing children

A UNICEF Ireland youth advocate today met the Taoiseach to highlight the growing online risks facing children. Sixteen-year-old Donnacha Lenehan spent the day at Government buildings with Taoiseach Micheál Martin to voice his concerns about issues like online privacy, disinformation and the mental health impacts of social media, as well as to call for greater protection for children online.

Like many young people of his generation, Donnacha spends much of his free time online, experiencing both its opportunities and risks. And as a passionate advocate for protecting children’s rights, Donnacha won UNICEF Ireland’s 2022 #KidsTakeOver competition and had the opportunity to share his message directly with the Taoiseach.

Speaking following the meeting, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Digital and online platforms offer immense opportunities for social connections and learning, but they also pose challenges and risks, especially for our young people. I really enjoyed meeting Donnacha today and hearing his important message – that we should all be aware of the risks of social media, and work to ensure that every child is safe and thrives online. The childhoods that Donnacha and his peers are experiencing are profoundly different to those of the generations before them. We do need to reflect on how children and young people are being influenced and impacted by social media and everyone involved needs to be accountable and responsible for ensuring that children and young people are protected online.”

For Donnacha the meeting with the Taoiseach offered him a unique opportunity to highlight the experiences of children and young people online, “I was delighted to be able to share my perspectives and experience with the Taoiseach. As young people, we depend on the Internet. We use it constantly. We connect with friends. We work and play on it. We use it to create new things and to contribute to communities we are interested in. However, like most things, the Internet, and social media in particular, has its downsides. My main point today was that I feel social media is having a bigger impact on the real world than many people think.”

In a constantly changing online world, and with research into the impacts of online use still unclear, Donnacha feels strongly that children and young people need more protection, especially on social media. “We rely on social media to communicate and socialise. But that dependency also makes children and young people extremely vulnerable to scams, doxing, and cyberbullying, which is becoming a lot more common. Social media is designed to be extremely addictive and I question how positive that is for our physical and mental health. A real danger of social media is that is so new and we don’t fully understand how it works on our brains and the long-term effects it may have on us.”

In his meeting with the Taoiseach, Donnacha spoke about the opportunity that Ireland has, as home to many of the world’s leading social media companies, to take a lead on protecting children online from issues like disinformation. “Another big issue is disinformation. We’ve seen in recent years how it causes fear, hate, uncertainty and divides us during the most troubling times – potentially threatening democracy and our society. In many ways, our experience on social media is influenced by algorithms that are designed to meet the business models of the technology companies – not the interests of our society. However, many of these companies have their European Headquarters here in Ireland. And therefore, does Ireland not have a responsibility to ensure their practices meet the highest standards in terms of protecting children’s rights? We have the power to act and Ireland should lead, not follow.”

Heralding Donnacha’s message that all children should be enabled to thrive in a digital environment, UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power said: “Donnacha powerfully articulates some of the risks and dangers that his generation is experiencing online, and we commend him for raising these important issues with the Taoiseach today. More research is required to fully understand the impact of social media use on children. However, what we know is that Governments and social media companies must be accountable for children’s health and safety online. We thank the Taoiseach for welcoming Donnacha today, and we welcome the Government’s Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill 2022 currently going through the Dáil, along with the recent introduction of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). These frameworks now need to be properly resourced in order to ensure companies fulfil their responsibilities and act in the best interests, and rights of every child.”

Donnacha’s #KidsTakeOver of the Taoiseach’s office comes a few days after UNICEF’s World Children’s Day on November 20. World Children’s Day is a day ‘for children, by children’, when children from around the world take over, as part of UNICEF’s global #KidsTakeOver initiative, key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to express their concerns about what global leaders should be focusing on.

According to UNICEF, around the world, children are going online earlier and staying online for longer. This is happening during a period when children are increasingly exposed to embedded and invisible technologies, including algorithms, predictive analytics systems, and even location trackers – that potential violating their rights.

Between 2010 and 2020, the time children spend online almost doubled in many countries. Recent research has found that the majority of children with smartphones report that they use them “almost all the time” to connect, especially on social media. Meanwhile, the numbers of children highlighting online risks is also significant. Globally, 1 in 3 children report experiencing online bullying. And in 2020, 33 per cent of girls and 20 per cent of boys in Europe reported experiencing disturbing content online at least once a month.

Protecting children online and increasing their access to digital learning and other opportunities is also a strong focus of UNICEF’s work all over the world, and UNICEF is helping build the evidence base on children’s digital rights to better understand how the digital transformation of society is influencing children’s lives and wellbeing.

Ireland ranks joint lowest of 13 countries on readiness to transition to renewable energy

A new independent report from The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has ranked Ireland joint lowest of 13 European countries, on its readiness to make the transition to renewable energy.

The Energy Transition Readiness Index 2022 sponsored by Irish-headquartered global power management company, Eaton, and global law firm Eversheds Sutherland, analyses the readiness of Ireland’s energy market to support the progression towards net zero, comparing it to other key European markets. The report ranks countries on a scale of 1-5. Higher ranking countries scoring ‘5’ and ‘4’ have effective energy transition policies which encourage technological innovation and market access; while lower ranking countries present barriers to investment through existing policies and rules which are complex and slow to evolve.

While the same report published last year awarded Ireland a score of 4 – showing that the country had a proactive approach to decarbonising electricity – this score has since fallen to 3, meaning that Ireland has been ranked joint lowest of all countries surveyed. Among other causes, the report cites the country’s failure to allow low or zero-carbon projects to connect to the national grid as a factor which is delaying the transition to renewable energy, noting that the situation is “becoming increasingly critical”.

The report has also shown that the percentage of newly registered electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland remains significantly lower, compared to its European counterparts. EVs accounted for 5% of all newly registered vehicles in Ireland in 2021, compared to 12% in the UK, 20% in the Netherlands and 65% in Norway. On EV charging specifically, Ireland has received a score of 2 – together with Poland, this the lowest score of any surveyed country. While acknowledging that “few commercial barriers exist”, the report nonetheless notes that the rollout of EV charging infrastructure across Ireland has been “slow” and “limited”. The widespread adoption of EVs is viewed as an essential component of Ireland’s plan to decarbonise the transport sector. There are approximately 1,900 charging points installed across the country at present. The EU expects that 3 million public chargers will be needed to service its overall target of having 30 million EVs on the road by 2030 – per the same calculation, Ireland would therefore need to install 100,000 chargers within the next eight years.

One positive outcome, is the progress that has been made on smart meter penetration. A smart meter is a device that accurately measures electricity usage – eliminating the need for estimated bills and allowing households and businesses to become energy efficient and save on costs by shifting their usage to times with lower unit rates. While just 4% of Irish households had smart meters installed in 2020, the Energy Transition Readiness Index 2022 shows this figure is now closer to 34% – a marked improvement.

The main barriers in Ireland include:

Reduced confidence in the timely development and deployment of policies to implement the transition.
Weakened political and public consensus for the energy transition owing to affordability/current energy crisis
Delays in the deployment of renewable generation owing to the current energy crisis
Grid accessibility constraints
Slow electric vehicle and charging infrastructure rollout

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, CEO of Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said: “As ETRI 2022 makes clear, despite impressive progress from a number of European countries, warm words from many Governments around Europe are not being matched by action when it comes to preparing for the energy transition. We now need to see significant action to remove the barriers facing our industry: proper long-term planning; prioritising and accelerating market reforms; and urgently addressing current investment barriers – all are desperately needed to help put us on the right path.”

Ms Phil Kane, Country Manager at Eaton Ireland, said: “While there is broad support for advancing the energy transition, ETRI 2022 demonstrates that there is a clear disparity between ambition and action. As a global power management company, we know that businesses around the world are embracing the opportunities presented by net zero and accordingly, they are investing in renewable energy technologies. Yet, in Ireland, this palpable enthusiasm must now be matched with practical policy solutions – such as allowing zero-carbon, energy efficient assets to connect to our national grid, without delay. This is especially true in the case of EV charging where it is imperative that both industry and Government works collaboratively to create a robust regulatory framework, that will unlock much-needed investment and boost consumer confidence in green mobility”.

Mr Mark Varian, Partner & Head of the Construction, Projects & PPP Group at Eversheds Sutherland LLP said: “In a challenging economic and political environment this report shines a light on where opportunities lie for the savvy business operator. As the leading global law firm, we are seeing more large industrials stepping into these markets and more funds wanting to invest in this area. There are also many interconnectors between countries in development and having that flexible demand will be crucial across all jurisdictions to achieve a Net Zero future. Ireland has made good progress in the clean energy sector. We now have an output target of 55% renewables for 2030 so major investment in variable and flexible low-carbon electricity resources are needed to achieve this energy transition target, provide energy security and save consumers money. But in order for investment to continue, we need a speedier role out and implementation of policies and regulatory frameworks that support access to market sectors such as offshore wind. There are huge opportunities here and implementing the recommendations set out in this Index could make a big difference.”

Microsoft announces renewable energy contracts that contribute almost 30% of Ireland’s corporate power purchase agreement target by 2030

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD today joined Microsoft as it announced new renewable energy contracts, which will see the company contribute close to 30% of Ireland’s corporate power purchase agreement target by 2030.

Microsoft entered into multi-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) with Statkraft, Energia Group, and Power Capital Renewable Energy, related to the development of more than 900 megawatts of onshore wind and solar energy projects across Ireland.

The new power purchase agreements will help support efforts to add additional clean energy capacity to the electricity grid. The Government’s Climate Action Plan includes a target of 15% of electricity demand to be delivered from renewable energy CPPAs by 2030. This equates to approximately 6 terawatt hours of additional electricity generation.

Microsoft’s procurement will contribute 28% of that target before the end of the decade. The company is seeking to make a material contribution to accelerating the country’s journey to a net-zero future.

In line with the company’s global sustainability goal, Microsoft forecasts that it will cover 100% of its data centre electricity load by 2025 with renewable energy.

Commenting on the announcement, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, said: “Data is an enabler of our digital world facilitating everything from remote working and online learning to e-commerce, e-health and online banking. As we position Ireland as a global digital leader and achieve our climate change objectives, Government is determined to progress both the digitalisation of our economy and its decarbonisation. Today’s announcement by Microsoft is very welcome news and will help to ensure that the company’s data centres play a more positive role in bringing new green power to the electricity grid and driving Ireland’s renewable energy transition.”

Noelle Walsh, Corporate Vice President, Cloud Operations and Innovation, Microsoft said: “At Microsoft, we’re committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030, working with Governments globally to accelerate the journey to a net-zero future. That’s why I’m delighted to announce today that Microsoft has signed 900MW of onshore wind and solar renewable energy power purchase agreements, which will enable Microsoft to achieve our 2025 sustainability goals and to contribute close to 30% of Ireland’s corporate power purchase target by 2030. With these agreements, we support new renewable energy infrastructure in Ireland. We’re proud to be partnering with leading energy providers to bring this additional renewable energy on stream and help industry and Government and the broader energy sector to achieve its climate action ambitions.

“This announcement builds on our efforts to make our data centres more sustainable and foster new innovations to support the growth of renewables on the energy grid here in Ireland. As we continue to support the growing demand for Cloud across public and private sectors, Microsoft is committed to partnering with all stakeholders to help Ireland on its grid decarbonisation journey while unlocking the opportunities of a digital economy and society.”

Kevin O’Donovan, Managing Director, Statkraft Ireland said: “As Europe’s largest renewable energy company, Statkraft is already a key player in the Irish market. Given our rapidly growing wind and solar portfolio, as well as our market trading business, we are well-placed to support companies like Microsoft in achieving their renewable energy ambitions.

“Today’s announcement shows that our continued rollout of new wind and solar projects is not just having a significant impact on Ireland’s renewable targets, but helping to deliver affordable, green energy to homes, communities – and businesses – amid a fossil fuel-driven energy crisis.”

Ian Thom, CEO, Energia Group said: “As an Irish energy company with a proven history of delivering new renewable energy projects and for providing innovative solutions for our customers, today’s announcement with Microsoft highlights the benefit of collaboration in bringing about collective benefit for society, enterprise, and the economy. Energia Group has set clear targets to promote Ireland’s energy transition and to facilitate the achievement of the Government’s 2030 targets that will be realised through a pipeline of almost 3,000 MW of new renewable projects across a range of technologies, including offshore wind, onshore wind and solar. This agreement represents another step towards the achievement of these targets.”

Commenting on the announcement Power Capital Renewable Energy Co CEO Peter Duff said, “As an indigenous Irish company we are delighted to be partnering with Microsoft on such a landmark agreement. Solar is now a proven force in Ireland and has become increasingly viable for businesses and homes. We see Solar PV having a significant positive impact on the targets in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. We very much look forward to playing an increasing role in the further decarbonisation of the grid here in Ireland.”

Today’s announcement reinforces Microsoft’s commitment to advancing sustainability through collaboration and innovation. In July this year, the company outlined its plans to use its uninterruptable power supply (UPS) batteries within its data centres in Dublin for real-time interaction with Ireland’s power grid. On days when wind or solar power production is fluctuating, Microsoft’s backup batteries can be used to help maintain a steady flow of energy to power customers. That means fossil-fuel burning powerplants will be needed less often to maintain steady power, cutting emissions and fuel costs.

Fairphone’s ‘Behind the Screens’ documentary available now

In 2021, consumers spent $19.6 billion during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. This new documentary ‘Behind the Screens’ shows the complex, resource-intensive production process behind creating mobile phones and the mounting problem presented by e-waste. As shoppers a getting ready to grab new tech deals ahead of the festive season, it’s an opportune moment to shine a light on the growing problem of e-waste and the tech industry’s harmful ‘make-use-dispose- attitude.

Check out the trailer below and see more, the documentary is available to view on WaterBear – a free streaming platform dedicated to the future of the planet.

Tech Review – Sony Linkbuds

The Sony Linkbuds are certainly a strange pair of earbuds when compared to the rest on the market today and it was quite the topic when I had them out in public, People seen them on the table be it out for breakfast or dinner or enjoying a few pints all asked “what the heck are they” and when i said earbuds the response was “no way” so I introduced them all to the new style of earbuds that perhaps was a risky move but for me a good one because you would get bored of the same design and styles that are out there today and you have to give Sony credit for that.

So I have been using these a few weeks and there is many reviews already and we go into more detail in the video review below so be sure to check out where we look at the design and their app and more. The first thing that would spring to mind does the quality of sound get less with a smaller product and the answer for the most part is no, I did find the volume a little on the lower side than I would prefer too but that is my personal choice here.

They lack other features too which I would expect but this is a new move by Sony and a completely new design from the norm so they had to give somewhere, they look like a small polo mint but do not let that put you off on how they fit and stay in your ears because they do both well and never fell out for me but for some others that tried they did, we all have different ears after all.

There is little noise isolation here either however this is the purpose of them I think to allow you to hear your surroundings which for some is a good thing, no ANC which again might be fine for some and I get the point here as these are to allow you listen to music and what is also going on around you so not for everyone considering we have passthrough now on most earbuds today.

When it comes to sound they do a decent job to be fair but again not as loud and I found the bass a bit lacking in comparison to other earbuds from Sony so for bass lovers you might pass on these but they have their app which can allow you to tweak things a little and their app is decent to be fair. When it comes to an overall audio experience they do fine on highs lows and mids and all that good stuff and if you are watching movies or gaming the audio quality is decent yet you can still hear your surroundings at the same time.

Call quality is actually good but no multipoint connection which for some might be a problem however I do not see these as an earbud you would use in an office environment, given I test mine in both at my office and outside I see these more for those on the go or the gym for example or again those who travel on public transport but with earbuds today you can really use them anywhere you like and people will wear just about anything these days be it for show or just that I have the latest look at me kinda thing like Apple fanboys for example.

The price is where a problem may lie for some with the omitted features mentioned above but Sony has a loyal fanbase and will still buy into it and again to have something different than the rest and these certainly are that..

The Sony Linkbuds are now widely available and check the price in your region or online as they do vary quite a bit. Buy from Sony.ie

Video Review

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