Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

Creative’s Bespoke World Cup Soundbar Collection

Major sporting events, like the upcoming football World Cup, always serve up enthralling spectacles, and most fans get their fix from their TVs at home. But watching alone is not enough, as audio is just as important (if not more important) for a complete experience. No matter the size or clarity, the onboard audio of TVs do not quite do sporting events full justice. This is where soundbars – space-saving, instant audio upgrade – come in handy. Creative Technology has a comprehensive line-up that caters to various needs across the budget range, but with a key common goal – to bring fans closer to the action.

Creative’s soundbars are choice options in recreating a stadium-level ambience for fans at home.

Creative SXFI CARRIER – The Cinema Soundbar, £899.99

Dolby Atmos Speaker System Soundbar (DASS) with Super X-Fi Headphone Holography

Creative’s current flagship soundbar is the world’s first DASS soundbar jointly developed with Dolby Laboratories. With a room-shaking soundstage of realistic height and spatial elements emanating from a compact form factor, it heralds a new soundbar dimension that transforms the living room into a front-row seat in a full stadium for the ultimate level of immersion. With Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, users get to enjoy the same cinematic soundstage on headphones – perfect for late-night football match marathons.

Creative Stage 360 – This is It for Best Value, £199.99

2.1 Soundbar with Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 Experience

Tagged with an entry-level price, but which is immensely belied by the Dolby Atmos sound signature, Creative Stage 360 delivers precise positional audio and real-life atmospheric simulation, making users feel part of the on-field action. It also features near-field and far-field listening modes so that users enjoy the immersion whether they’re at the desktop or living room.

Creative Stage V2 – Most Wallet Friendly soundbar, £99.99

2.1 Soundbar and Subwoofer with Clear Dialog and Surround by Sound Blaster

Creative’s most affordable living room soundbar delivers price-defying sound quality through custom-tuned mid-range drivers, and deep thumping bass from the accompanying long-throw subwoofer – so that the matches on TV can come to life more.

Creative Stage Air V2 – Create a Mini Stadium on the Go, £54.99

Compact Under-monitor USB Soundbar with Bluetooth

The Stage Air V2 is the right size and form as an under-monitor soundbar to stream matches from a decluttered desktop. Also, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, and up to 6 hours of battery life, it excels as an audio enhancement when fans used outdoors to stream the matches from laptops, tablets or even mobile phones.

Gaming Soundbars FTW – Sound Blaster Katana V2 (£319.99) and Sound Blaster Katana V2X (£259.99)

Tri-amplified Multi-channel Soundbars with Super X-Fi Technology

Hailed by many as the definitive gaming soundbar, Sound Blaster Katana V2 is powered by the award-winning Xamp tri-amplified technology to deliver rich and flawless audio dynamics. But besides being the perfect solution to bring football video games to life, it is also a competent game-changer for live match enjoyment in the living room, with a sleek form factor and design to match any set-up. The Katana V2X, with a smaller footprint, is ideal for smaller gaming rights or living rooms.

The Complete Guide to Microsoft Azure Services and How They Can Benefit Your Business

In this guide, we will look at the many Azure services that are available to help you optimize your business and take it to the next level. We will start with an overview of what Azure is and how it can benefit your business. We will then go into detail about what each service does, how much it costs, and who would need to use it. Lastly, we’ll explore some of the more popular services in more detail with a brief explanation of how they can benefit your business.

Microsoft’s Unique Role in the Cloud Computing Market

Microsoft is one of the most well-known companies in the world. As of 2017, it is the third largest company in terms of market capitalisation and the largest public company. Microsoft’s success can be attributed to its focus on developing software and hardware products. Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform and a suite of related products and services that together provide a comprehensive cloud platform for businesses, developers, governments, schools, nonprofits and others to build modern applications.

Microsoft has been a leader in the cloud computing market for many years. Its Azure services are used by enterprises and startups all over the world. Microsoft with Azure is a service that lets you use the same applications and data on-premise or in the cloud, giving you more flexibility to choose where your data lives.

How to Choose Microsoft Azure Consulting Services Provider

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that offers a suite of services to help businesses and organisations build, deploy, and manage applications and data. The first step in choosing the right Azure Consulting Services Provider is to identify the needs of your organisation. This will help you find an Azure Consulting Services Provider that can offer solutions that are tailored to your company’s specific requirements.

The next step is to evaluate their experience with Microsoft Azure, as this will ensure that they are knowledgeable about all the features, benefits, and limitations of Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.

Best Microsoft Azure Consulting Services Providers

Microsoft Azure consulting by DataArt can help you in many ways, from analysing your business needs to developing an enterprise-grade application.

Azure offers a variety of services for building and deploying applications. These services include compute, storage, networking, database and analytics. With all these services available in one place, the Azure Consulting Services Provider can help you leverage the power of the cloud to meet your business goals.

What are the Advantages of Using Microsoft Azure Services?

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that offers a suite of products, including analytics, storage, and networking.

Azure is the world’s second-largest cloud provider. It has over 140 data centers in 24 countries around the world. Microsoft Azure services are reliable and scalable and offer a wide range of pricing options for businesses of all sizes. Businesses can also use Azure to augment their on-premises IT environment with online services to reduce costs, increase agility, improve security, and gain insights into their business. Microsoft Azure provides business benefits with its wide range of products that are scalable and reliable.

Microsoft Azure Platform is an Enterprise-Ready Cloud Computing Platform

Microsoft Azure is an enterprise-ready cloud computing platform that provides a scalable and reliable infrastructure for the most demanding applications. Azure has been used by companies like Netflix, Airbnb, SAP, GE, and many others to power their mission-critical workloads. It is also used by the US Department of Defense to process classified data.

It offers different deployment models such as IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service). It also offers different pricing models such as pay per use or monthly subscription based on the needs of the customer.

Limited Edition 35th Year Anniversary Street Fighter x Skullcandy Headset announced

Skullcandy, the #1 selling brand in Stereo Headphones and True Wireless Earbuds under $100, announced today a collaboration with Street Fighter, one of the world’s most iconic and best-selling gaming franchises. The Skullcandy x Street Fighter PLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset celebrates Street Fighter’s 35th anniversary by blending state-of-the-art audio technology with the signature stylings of fan-favourite, Street Fighter II. The limited-edition drop is available now at Skullcandy.com for an MSRP of $149.99.

“For many gamers, there are few franchises more iconic than global powerhouse Street Fighter,” said Derek Steiner, Director of Global Partnerships at Skullcandy. “In honour of the game’s 35th anniversary, we re-designed our all-new flagship PLYR headset to ooze Street Fighter nostalgia. This exclusive drop gives gamers premium features and the immersive sound you can only get from Skullcandy — now, in signature Street Fighter style.”

The limited-edition Skullcandy x Street Fighter PLYR headset is loaded with nods to the classic game. The stand-up arcade cabinet’s unforgettable grey and black pebble texture is a clear staple, while custom ear cup illustrations are brought to life with a lenticular effect, resulting in low-tech, high-impact “motion graphics.” Every detail — right down to the headband fasteners modelled after the original arcade action buttons — was considered.

Skullcandy x Street Fighter PLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset – $149.99 MSRP:

  • Bluetooth 5.2 Wireless Technology – Enables enhanced power management and stronger connectivity to bluetooth-enabled media and gaming devices

  • Skullcandy Supreme Sound – Unique audio-tuning process enables users to maximise the depth and detail of each sound

  • Enhanced Sound Perception – A hearing test tunes audio levels to match user’s unique hearing needs

  • Advanced Audio Controls via Skullcandy Software – Compatible with both mobile app and PC software to unlock advanced features and customise button functions

  • Clear Voice Smart Mic – AI-based technology removes unwanted background noise to enable crystal-clear communications

  • Mute & Volume Control – Easy-to-reach, on-board controls enable gamers to quickly mute and adjust volume without gameplay interference

  • Adjustable Suspension Headband – Reduces pressure on top of the head for true, all-day comfort

  • Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life + Rapid Charge – Headset will charge when connected to select gaming devices via USB-A to USB-C

  • Built-In Tile™ Finding Technology – If the headset is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

  • Skull-HQ Software – Available for both PC and Mobile App

  • Ultra-Low Latency Wireless Transmitter (sold separately) – Available early 2023, the wireless transmitter will enable low latency wireless connection to PlayStation console and PC.

First look Gravastar Sirius P5 these are for the Sci-Fi fans

In what has to be the coolest looking presentation to date the Gravastar Sirius P5 has landed here with us and this is quite a package and looks like something out of a sci fi movie. I review the biggest range of earbuds in Ireland and this without doubt has to be one of if not the best presentations and package I have seen in some time.

With interchangeable cases and the super cool looks these are quite something and we think you will like these too, today we give you a first look and will have a review soon here on tecbuzzireland and YouTube and if you have any questions feel free to fire away as normal.

The Sirius P5 earbuds will be available in black or white, and come with one charging case. Different Sirius P5 sets are available at http://www.GravaStar.com. At time of launch three variations will be available with more being released quarterly. MSRP for the earbuds is $79.95 – $99.95. Order before November 1,get a special pre-order price of $89.95 includes one set of black earbuds and all three cases, normally offered for $139.95.

Gravastar Sirius P5 techbuzzireland

Additional Tech Specs 

  • Battery Type: Polymer lithium-ion battery
  • Earbuds Charging Time: 1.5 hours
  • Single Earbuds Battery Capacity: 45 mAh
  • Single Earbuds Weight: 5g
  • Charging Case Battery Capacity: 500 mAh
  • Charging Case Charging Time: 2 hours
  • Input: 5V–350mA
  • Output: 5V–150mA
  • Playtime: Up to 8 hours of listening time with full charge (50% volume) ● Standby time: Around 80 hours
  • Bluetooth: V5.2
  • Bluetooth Protocol: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
  • Decoding Format: SBC/AAC/APTX
  • Bluetooth Distance: >10m
  • Sensitivity: 99dB+/- 3dB
  • Frequency response range: 20Hz – 20KHz

BUY

Unboxing

How to Register a Dormant Company?

The benefits of establishing a dormant company are numerous. However, many entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to set up dormant companies in the UK are unsure how to get started. Assume you know how to set up a limited liability company in the UK. In that case, you might be interested to know that, with a few exceptions, the process for establishing a
dormant company is the same.

Though dormant accounts advisers are available in the UK, it is also beneficial to understand minor details such as what causes a dormant company in the UK, the information required, and why you might want to register a dormant company. So keep reading to find out more about registering a dormant company in the UK.

What is a Dormant Company?

Companies House may have marked some companies as dormant, which you may have heard about or seen. Dormant companies are those that have been registered but have not been used. Even if the company is dormant and has no current business activities, it is still required to file certain documents.

A dormant company is simply a standard limited company that does not conduct business and has no accounting transactions. Dormant corporations can also be used to hold assets such as freehold real estate. This purpose, however, is of limited interest to small business owners.

How to File for a Dormant Company?

Do you want to know how to form a dormant company in the UK? If your company is no longer trading for whatever reason, but you do not want to close it permanently, you have this option. Those interested in how to register a dormant company, on the other hand, should familiarise themselves with the country’s legislation. Every year, a dormant company must file annual
accounts and a confirmation statement.

After a period of inactivity, a dormant limited company can be registered. You also have the option of establishing a dormant company from the start. You can change its status whenever you want to resume trading. Similarly, you must notify Companies House and HMRC of this change.

If you decide to stop trading, you must notify HMRC immediately and register your company as dormant. If your company has previously been active and traded, they will notify you and notify you that you must file a Corporation Tax Return for that period. If your company is VAT registered, you must cancel this registration as well as any payroll operations and settle any
outstanding debts. If you have already registered your company as dormant and begin trading, it will automatically
lose its dormancy status.

Looking to Relax a Bit?

There are many reasons why you might want to leave their company for a while: perhaps you are taking a break from your duties as a director, or perhaps you’re returning to permanent employment. Whatever your reason, making your company dormant is a quick and easy way to put a halt to your operations for a while. Icon Offices can assist you if you are considering dormancy in the UK. We can assist in keeping your dormant company’s filing requirements current while you arent using it, allowing you to focus on your business. Get in touch with us today to learn more!

Revolut challenger Atlantic Money launches in Ireland

New international money transfer provider, Atlantic Money, today announces its official launch in Ireland, continuing its expansion in Europe after Belgium and Germany. For the first time, consumers in Ireland can make international money transfers for a fixed fee of €3 at the current exchange rate for transfers up to €100,000. The low-cost transfers can be made via the Atlantic Money iOS App.

The firm, co-founded by Patrick Kavanagh and Neeraj Baid, early employees at trading giant Robinhood, drastically undercuts established providers, such as PayPal, Revolut and Wise. For example, someone sending €3,500 to GBP would see at least 75% savings, with larger transfers up to 99% cheaper. Despite the cost of sending money internationally being largely fixed per transaction, these providers have a variable pricing model meaning the more you send, the more you pay.

Atlantic Money is particularly cost-effective for people that regularly transfer large amounts abroad such as Ireland’s estimated 30,000 cross-border workers, its growing immigrant population and residents with overseas commitments such as tuition fees, holiday homes and credit cards.

Atlantic Money’s app is the most simple, slick and cost-effective way of moving money across borders. Users simply download the app, go through a one-minute verification process, and can immediately begin transferring money. They can select standard delivery or opt for express delivery for a small additional fee of 0.05% – a €1,000 express transfer costs just €3.05.

Customers can send money from Ireland in EUR into eight currencies including USD, GDP, AUD, CAD, SEK, NOK, DKK, and PLN, with new currency corridors and advanced product features being added continuously post-launch.

Patrick Kavanagh, co-founder of Atlantic Money, said:

“The first generation of cross-border payment fintechs did a great job initially, but their flexible pricing models penalise people that have to send significant amounts of money abroad regularly and they’ve lost focus in their quest to build the next superapp. We are disassembling this approach by being laser-focused on doing one thing better than anyone else – getting people’s money from one currency and country to another, as efficiently as possible. We are grateful to our current and new investors for their continued support and excited to provide consumers in Ireland with a best-in-class customer experience and unmatched cost savings.”

Neeraj Baid, co-founder of Atlantic Money, said:

“We are already seeing some fascinating use cases and delivering substantial cost savings for our customers. For example, one of our customers transferred €100,000 to GBP which arrived in minutes for the price of €3.05, a 99% saving compared to Wise or Revolut.”

Atlantic Money was founded in 2021 and has been operating in the UK since March 2022, where it is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In June, the company received its official EU licence from the National Bank of Belgium (NBB), the first company to do so in a year, and will soon launch in other European countries besides Germany and Belgium.

Atlantic Money is backed by investors Amplo, Ribbit, Index Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Elefund, 20VC, Day One Ventures and the founders of Robinhood, who invested a total of USD 7.5 million in the seed funding round.

Atlantic Money is currently available as an iOS app. Android will follow in the coming weeks.

UK Gambling Industry Awaits News of Proposed Changes

The gambling industry in the United Kingdom is one of the largest in the world, with millions of people spending billions of pounds each year. Recently, there are calls for changes to be made to the industry, specifically around how online gambling is regulated. Therefore, the UK gambling industry is eagerly awaiting news of the proposed changes that the government is planning to make. The changes are intended to make gambling fairer and safer for players, but there is some concern about how these changes will affect the industry as a whole.

Restructuring of UK Gambling Laws

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is reviewing the country’s gambling laws and is expected to announce proposed changes in the near future. The changes come as the industry faces increased scrutiny from both the government and the public. Players in UKGC licensed casinos are eagerly awaiting news of the proposed changes, as they could have a major impact on how gambling is conducted in the UK. In particular, players are interested in any changes that would affect online gambling, as this is the most popular form of gambling in the country. The UKGC is expected to announce its proposed changes sometime in the next few months.

The Current State of Gambling in the UK 

The UK’s gambling laws are some of the most restrictive in Europe. Players must be 18 or over to gamble, and casinos are only allowed to operate in designated areas. In addition, all forms of advertising for gambling products are heavily regulated. These restrictions have limited the growth of the gambling industry in recent years. The UKGC’s review of gambling laws was announced in May 2018 and is part of a wider government review of all aspects of society that may be harmful to individuals or families. 

What Changes Are Proposed?

The Gambling Commission released a statement earlier this month outlining the potential changes that can happen to the industry with groups like Aspire global international The most significant change may be a £2 limit on stakes for online slot games. This would be a major blow to the industry, as online slots are one of the most popular and lucrative forms of gambling. Other proposed changes include making it more difficult for people to open new accounts with gambling companies and banning “VIP” schemes that offer perks to high-spending customers. 

One of the other proposed changes is increased regulation of online gambling. This would include things like age verification checks and limits on how much money can be deposited into an online account. There are also calls for a ban on credit cards being used for online gambling, as well as restrictions on advertising. All of these changes are designed to protect vulnerable people from getting into debt or being exposed to addictive behaviour.

What Would These Changes Mean For Players?

If these changes are introduced, it would mean that gamblers would have to take more responsibility for their actions. Age verification checks would ensure that only people over the age of 18 could gamble online. And limits on deposits would prevent people from gambling with more money than they can afford to lose. While some might see these as hindrances to their enjoyment, ultimately they are designed to protect you from potentially harmful consequences There is no doubt that these changes would have a significant impact on the gambling industry in the UK. How exactly these changes would affect players is not sure, but it is safe to say that they would not be positive. With any luck, the government may listen to the concerns of those who may become affected by these changes and make adjustments accordingly.

Final Thoughts

The gambling industry in the United Kingdom is vast and hugely popular, but there are calls for changes to be made, specifically around online gambling. The proposed changes to the gambling industry are sure to have a major impact on both gambling companies and players alike. These changes include increased regulation, bans on credit card use, and restrictions on advertising. While some might see these as hindrances to their enjoyment, ultimately they are designed to protect you from potentially harmful consequences. Only time will tell if these changes are implemented, but it’s important to be aware of them so that you can plan accordingly. 

Players are also waiting eagerly for news about proposed changes to gambling laws in the United Kingdom. The changes are part of a wider government review into areas that may be harmful to individuals or families, and they are expected to be wide-ranging and far-reaching. It is hoped that they will protect vulnerable people from harm while still allowing adults to make their own choices about how they spend their leisure time. As long as the official announcement is made all the players can do is gamble safely and carefully.

Tech Review – Orico USB4.0 portable SSD

Most of of us own some kind of storage be it a thumb drive or USB key as they are also known as or some form of external storage and we have covered plenty here on site even some with personalization too which is cool so if you can get that option do so as some brands do offer this service on top of the usuals like storage size and the option of HDD or SSD and like most tech now they come in different shapes and sizes and have moved from a boring block to an extent but there is none out there quite like this one boasting really nice colours and just stands out, anyone that has been to my office has asked what it is and have been surprised not realising such things exist these days.

Yes those who know me know I like things that stand out and when we seen this released it was a must have regardless, there is a mobile phone actually quite similar with looks that  out there too called the Techno Camo 19 Mondrian Edition phone and I love it, in fact I am trying to get my hands on that phone.

So we have a portable SSD drive that stands out in short and looks well even just sitting there so what else has this got that then let’s have a look.

It is a multiplatform device which for one is a good start and after testing on several devices we see that indeed it does work as it says on the tin and super fast I tested on Android Windows and Chromebook and all worked well and fast so it works let’s be clear on that one.

I guess the thing here is speed and speed means better productivity which saves you time not only that your data is secure, also this is super portable and can be placed in your travel bag and have movies and music on the go or whatever your use case scenario is these days.

The Specs

  • Product Model –  ORICO-MTQ-40G
  • Series – MTQ
  • Material – Zinc Alloy+ABS
  • Dimension – 115*63.15*21mm
  • Color – Multi-color
  • Transmission Interface – USB 4.0 USB-C (40Gbps)
  • Capacity – 512GB/1TB/2TB (Optional)
  • Data Cable – Type-C/Male to Type-A/Male+Type-C/Male(2 in 1), 0.3m
  • Support System – Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android，iPad

BUY 

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House of Marley Get Together Solo speaker launched

Today House of Marley, the eco-conscious audio maker created in collaboration with Bob Marley’s family, introduces the House of Marley signature speaker, reimagined. Enjoy your favourite playlists on-the-go with the Get Together Solo – an all-new portable speaker that boasts up to 25 hours of playtime. Engineered to deliver vibrant, balanced audio wherever you are, the Get Together Solo speaker features 3.5 and 0.75 inch drivers, meaning you can fully immerse yourself in the sound and feel the beat like you were meant to.

With Bluetooth 5.1, RCA and AUX connectivity, the Get Together Solo speaker lets you take control of the crowd, whether you’re attending an intimate evening gathering or relaxing in a sun-soaked garden barbecue that demands those summer throwbacks on repeat. In true Marley style, this new addition takes sustainability seriously. Crafted from bamboo and REWIND fabric, this speaker doesn’t just sound good – it does good too. One of the world’s fastest growing plants, bamboo makes for an environmentally friendly alternative to most materials, while the House of Marley REWIND fabric is pieced together using organic cotton, reclaimed hemp and recycled plastic bottles.

The House of Marley Get Together Solo is available to purchase from houseofmarley.co.uk now, and Amazon and HMV by the end of the month, for RRP £99.99 and will be on promo for Black Friday at £79.99.