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.

CitySwift closes €5M Series A round and launches world’s first Mobility-Intelligence-as-a-Service platform

CitySwift, the Galway-based leader in data and artificial intelligence for the public transport sector, today announces the closure of its Series A funding round of €5M, bringing total funding to date to €8.5M.

Led by Act Venture Capital with all existing investors following including Declan Ryan’s Irelandia Investments, Mike McGearty, former CEO of CarTrawler, Enterprise Ireland and the Western Development Commission, the round will fast-track expansion plans to help the public transport industry build resilience against ongoing issues like fuel hikes, driver shortages, funding uncertainty, and Covid-19 recovery

Brian O’Rourke, CitySwift Co-Founder and CEO commented, “This new era of CitySwift is one where we are focused on preparing our partners for a greener, cleaner future of mobility, by matching supply and demand across their networks now. CitySwift strongly believes the future is bright for public transport, and Mobility Intelligence is the key that will unlock attractive, efficient, and green public transport across cities globally.

“Over the past decade, we have seen a significant shift in the way the world moves due to compounding crises such as climate change and the Covid19 pandemic. Cities worldwide have become more congested, travel patterns have changed, the cost of living has increased and sustainability is now a key issue of the political agenda. These shifts have presented us with an exciting opportunity. The public transport industry must rethink its traditional ways of operating and shift its focus from supply to demand in order to optimise networks for the future – and data is what will unlock these efficient and optimised networks. Private operators and public authorities require data-enriched insights to inform them on how to best adapt and operate their networks to provide more efficient, reliable and sustainable services,” added O’Rourke.

To coincide with the announcement, CitySwift has revealed new product announcements alongside a new visual identity and website. The new identity will take the company into its next phase as the world’s first “Mobility Intelligence as a Service” platform, blending the power of data and public transport together to prepare transport networks everywhere for the future of mobility.

The new suite of products includes CitySwift’s Evolve module that delivers scenario planning for AI-powered bus timetabling, and movement pattern simulation for accurately matching frequency with demand resulting in over 5x ROI, a 45% reduction in late buses and over 2% reduction in operating hours with existing clients – also equating to significant emission reductions, cost savings and increases in passenger demand in cities.

The company has also released the Discover offering, a range of dashboards catered to different pain points across transport organisations. These dashboards, which are already driving a massive spike in usage across CitySwift’s existing client base, include driver performance for punctuality insights and driver retention, and demand forecasting for understanding how service changes will impact passenger demand and revenue.

These new and upgraded products will help CitySwift to realise its vision of reducing global emissions from transport, supporting public transport networks to attract more people to choose public transportation over private car use.

Founded in 2016, CitySwift is a homegrown Galway headquartered company with a rapidly expanding team of 65 employees building an international roadmap. A market leader working with all the leading UK operators and Public Sector Authorities, the business has consistently doubled recurring revenue over the last 3 years and is expanding globally into Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and South East Asia. Listed as one of Linkedin’s Top Startups in Ireland, the company is currently hiring across Engineering, Commercial, and Product teams.

Urbanista launches the Urbanista Austin

Stylish and compact Urbanista Austin produces a powerful sound combined with eye-catching new colours that complete any look. The small true wireless earbuds are available in two new colours, Lavender Purple and Lake Green, and in the classic Pure White and Midnight Black colourways. Designed for life in motion, Austin lets you enjoy wireless audio wherever you go – the earbuds are protected against splashing water and designed for comfortable everyday use. Urbanista Austin is your new go-to audio companion for any occasion, whether it’s for listening to podcasts on the go or needing a boost from your favourite music for your morning walk.

Features

IPX4 – 20HRs playtime – Touch Controls – Bluetooth 5.0

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Almost one-third of people share where they live on dating apps

Dating apps have seen a surge in users in recent years as people use online platforms to meet potential partners. But often cybercriminals pose as possible matches for nefarious reasons, putting many online daters’ identities, and safety, at risk.

To find out the potential consequences of using dating apps, TechRobot has analysed 180 profiles across Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge to reveal how much information people share on their dating profiles.

  • Online daters share the most information on Bumble (37%) with 55% of profiles sharing where they live.

  • 100% of women share enough information on their dating profiles for their social media accounts to be found, increasing their chances of catfishing attempts.

  • 28% of homosexual profiles share where they live compared to just 19% of heterosexual profiles, increasing the risk of blackmail and stalking crimes.

Bumble users share enough information for strangers to have a deep insight into their online and offline lives

TechRobot’s study found that people share the most personal information on their Bumble profiles. 98% share photos of themselves and all profiles share their first name and live location and there’s no option to hide this information. 90% of all Bumble profiles also share their personal interests and hobbies, 55% share where they live, 28% share job titles, and 20% of Bumble profiles also share their Instagram handle. This is more than enough information for someone to have an insight into what online daters are doing throughout their day, and where they are, increasing the risk of stalking.

Women share 33% of all possible data points on their dating profiles – more information than their male counterparts

The research also found that women share an average of 33% of possible data points across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge compared to men who share 31%. Men are more likely to share information on their status, education level and work-life- 39% of men share their job title, 36% the languages they speak, 19% their employer, and 33% their education level. Women, on the other hand, tend to share information that makes them seem more physically attractive – 98% share their age, 96% share photos of what they look like and 26% share their Instagram handle. With women sharing more information on their physical appearance the risk of them being impersonated by a catfish is exacerbated and the information that men share about their job title and employer means they are more likely to be victims to blackmail attempts. Cybercriminals often offer inducements for monetary gain and use sensitive information such as an individual’s workplace to leverage this.

Data point

Percentage of male dating app profiles across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge that share information on this data point (%)

Percentage of female dating app profiles across Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge that share information on this data point (%)

Age

91

98

Job title

39

37

Languages spoken

36

38

Education level

33

30

Employment/ Company

19

11

Instagram handle

11

26

Lesbian women share 33% of all possible data points on their dating profiles, the most of all researched sexualities

When comparing dating profiles based on sexuality TechRobot found homosexual online daters are more likely to share sensitive information with potential matches than straight users do. 28% of homosexual profiles share where they live compared to just 19% of heterosexual profiles and 98% of lesbian and gay dating profiles share what they look like, compared to 93% of straight profiles. Lesbian women were also found to share the most information on their profiles of all the groups researched and they share the most on Bumble- 42% of all possible data points. 44% of lesbian profiles share where they live, and 36% their job title. Collectively, this means lesbian women are providing strangers on dating apps with a huge insight into their personal lives which could heighten their risk of being stalked, or even harassed.

Using different photos across social media profiles can reduce online daters’ vulnerability

Users can take steps to protect their privacy and safety when online dating. Lasse Walstad recommends using unique images on dating profiles – “Using reverse image searching on Google, people will be able to find out your social accounts and any other places that your photos are posted giving them potential access to a large amount of personal information. Using images that you have not used on your other social accounts will ensure that you can reduce the chances of your other accounts, such as Instagram and Facebook, being less likely to be found.” This will reduce online daters’ chances of being catfished and victims of stalking crimes.

Whilst the amount of personal information we share on our dating profiles is dependent on the app, gender, and sexual orientation, all profiles expose enough information to offer strangers a huge insight into their lives. This puts online daters’ identity, and safety, at risk and exacerbates their chances of being victims of crimes like blackmail, stalking, catfishing or harassment.

You can view the full study here.

Ireland has the 3rd most neobank accounts in the world

The research, undertaken by SEON, sourced the percentage of people with a neobank by country and the predicted percentage of people who will use a neobank by 2027 from Finder to reveal where in the world most people have a neobank account.

According to a survey by Finder, around 43% of Brazilians have a neobank account, putting them in first place as the country that uses digital banking the most. 
According to current population estimates, that equates to around 91,719,000 people. The digitization of the economy has been accelerated by the pandemic and, as a result, popular neobanks have seen their client base grow exponentially.
Brazil is home to Latin America’s biggest neobank, NuBank, which has over 48 million users.
In second place, the study found that 26% of Indians use a digital-only bank. Looking at India’s current population, around 356,553,704 could be neobank account holders.
Innovating the banking sector in India, neobanks offer their customers convenience, 24-hour support and often reduced costs. Importantly, they can also help serve the unbanked and underbanked, if they employ alternative credit scoring and similar innovations.
Ireland is one of the countries using neobanking the most, with around 22% of Irish people using a digital-only bank.
According to current population estimates, around 1,127,178 residents currently use neobanking. Finder predicts this could increase to 34% by 2027.
Further Findings: 

  • In the Philippines, around 13% of the population currently use neobanks, but Finder predicts that by 2027 that figure will be around 33%, representing around 33,323,874 people.

  • By 2027, 41% of Mexican residents will use neobanking.

  • Wise comes in first place on our list as the neobank which has raised the most capital from investors, currently at $13 billion.

Please see all the information here

 

 

 

UDU launches its handheld motion control console for an immersive, active and unique mobile gaming experience

Danish tech and gaming start-up, UDU, has announced the launch of its UDU CONSOLE and the UDU GAMES app. The idea was born in 2018 when co-founder Asbjørn H. Christensen worked as a design and engineer intern at LEGO and realised that almost all the toys and games that kids and people play, forces them to sit still indoors. From this, UDU was founded in 2019 with a vision to turn inactive gaming into an active and outdoor activity which the UDU CONSOLE aims to do for kids and families alike.

Compatible with smartphones and tablets and with games constantly being added, it is a console that will provide a whole new attitude and experience to mobile gaming and is already a 2022 Platinum winner of the MUSE Produce Design Award. Available on Kickstarter now, backers can gain up to a 40% discount off the usual retail price of $199 for the UDU CONSOLE and 12 months of free subscription to the UDU GAMES app (normal price is a monthly fee of $10).  Backers can expect to get the product in around April 2023 with general sale planned for the summer.

The UDU CONSOLE is the first console for mobile gaming which enables immersive gaming experiences that can be outdoors and active. With 81% of the world’s kids and teens not being physically active enough, the console was developed to tackle this problem. The mobile games that can be played with the console are controlled with physical gestures and the next level motion detection understands the players movements through AI and translates these into meaningful gameplay. This makes the games much more immersive, active and fun to create a gaming experience that is filled with learning. The HD Haptics also make it possible to feel 1:1 what happens in the games through the vibration of a sword as it cuts through the air or the flow of the brush as it touches the canvas – whatever may be happening in the game will feel super real to anyone playing.

Not only featuring impressive AI and Haptics for gameplay, the console has a crisp and clear colour display, RGB LED’s, a trackpad, squeeze button and trigger button to make every game unique and cognitively logical to play. Beginning play is simple and users can just connect the UDU CONSOLE to any smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth and use the UDU GAMES app to access a universe of engaging customised games – most of these based on geo-location – with hundreds of hours of social, learning and entertaining play for kids, teens, adults and the whole family.

The first console to truly be made for the outdoors, it is designed to be sleek and compact whilst also being ergonomic and durable. The sleek console fits naturally into either hand and is incredibly intuitive to use. As an extra safety feature, it also comes with a wristband to keep it securely in the hand of any player – preventing any accidents when the game might be getting competitive and movements more erratic! The durable casing ensures that the console is water repellent and robust so it can be used outside without any worries of breaking if dropped on the floor, in a puddle or caught in a bit of rain.

“With UDU, we set out with a team of industry experts to make an entertaining new gaming experience that is fun, active and outdoors.” Says Asbjørn’s co-founder Christoffer B. Christensen. “Because you move and feel just like your game character, the play becomes so immersive and fun that you don’t even notice that you are moving around and burning calories outdoors.”

BMW Group partners with AirConsole to bring casual gaming into vehicles in 2023.

Today, AirConsole and the BMW Group announced a partnership which will bring casual gaming into new BMW vehicles, starting next year. AirConsole is a gaming platform which perfectly fits with the BMW Curved Display and offers a large and diverse catalogue of games. The games are run directly inside the vehicle entertainment system. The AirConsole technology enables games to be instantly delivered over-the-air and to control them using smartphones.

“With AirConsole we will leverage innovative technologies combined with a broad variety of fun and multiplayer games. This will make every waiting situation inside the vehicle, such as charging, an enjoyable moment,” said Stephan Durach – Senior Vice President BMW Group Connected Company Development.

Anthony Cliquot, CEO of N-Dream, the company behind the AirConsole brand: “We are extremely proud to spearhead gaming inside vehicles with BMW and are excited to create new games for in-car entertainment. Our ingenious architecture coupled with the ease of access of our platform will change the way people get entertained in their vehicles.”

Smartphone + Screen = Console.

Setting up the gaming experience with AirConsole is seamless. Players only need a smartphone, which serves as the game controller, and the BMW Curved Display. The connection between the smartphone and the vehicle is established, for example, by scanning a QR code in the vehicle. The players can then instantly enjoy entertaining gameplay.

The BMW Group chose AirConsole as a partner via the BMW Startup Garage program.

 

 

How Can You Protect Your Privacy When Gambling Online?

Gambling online is a common way to play games and earn money. However, protecting your privacy is extremely important when gambling online. You want to make sure you are only using secure platforms and that your money is protected.

Use a VPN When Online

One of the most common ways to protect your privacy is by using a VPN when gaming online. VPNs hide your IP address which makes it harder for hackers to hack into your computer and find your information. 

Keep in mind though that not all online casinos allow VPNs since casinos are regulated to only allow players from certain states or regions.

Keep Your Password Strong

When using online casinos, you have to first make an account with the website. Make sure you are using a strong and unique password. Never use the same password for all your online casino accounts. 

You should also never give your password to anyone. For extra security, make sure you change the password every few months to protect against hackers.

Use E-Wallet Payment Methods

You will need to add payment methods to your casino account to begin gambling and playing the casino games. The safest payment method you can have is by adding methods through an e-wallet. 

E-wallets do not show the card number to the provider, so hackers will not be able to see the card number even if they somehow hack into the casino’s platform.

Try Casinos That Accept Cryptocurrency

There are many casinos that accept cryptocurrency as gambling with cryptocurrency has become very popular over the past few years. These casinos protect your money since you are directly using your bank account or a credit card. 

Red Dog Casino is a great platform to gamble responsibly. They have a wide range of games that you can all play with cryptocurrency. They also have extremely efficient customer support which you can contact if you happen to have a chance with your payment method.

Only Use Casinos With Top Security Levels

Before using any online casino, make sure you verify their security levels. The ways they secure your information are usually listed on their website. You can always contact their support team if you want more information. 

You should also make sure to read reviews. Most online casinos have reviews online where you can see what other customers are saying. If you see any reviews that mention poor security or identity theft, make sure you use another casino. 

Most online casinos are safe as long as the platform is taking the right security measures. When you know your information is secure, you can spend more time enjoying the games and less time worrying.

Don’t Rely on Private Browsing Tabs

Many people are under the impression that using a private browsing tab is enough to keep their information secure but this is not the case. However, private tabs only clear the cookies and history of the computer. 

However, they are not as good as password-protected browsers. You can use a private tab along with other security measures, but do not rely on it alone.

Authorised Casinos Only

If you are using an authorised casino and following the safety tips above, it’s very hard for a hacker to get your information. If you notice that your banking information or your account has been compromised, you need to cancel it right away so the hacker does not have access to more of your money. 

You can also contact the online casino and let them know there has been a breach in security so they can notify others.

Tech Review – Pixel 7 chalk case

We have a range of cases coming for the Google Pixel 7 and we start off today with a case from Google which is the Chalk case which matches our device nicely. Clean and simple this case does a good job all round and works with wireless charging.

The case will give you additional grip and also has a lip on the top which protects the screen, the lens area on the rear is also protected but I can see dust building up in the corners, we will see over the next few days how that goes. The keys which are aluminium work fine and match the buttons on the device too and same for the logo on the rear. The case is made with over 30% recycled plastics which is nice and keeps things greener. Check the video for more below.

Check out the Pixel Watch first look and Pixel 7 first look, full reviews soon when we spend some real time with both devices.

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Video review

 

Jabra Connect 5t – First look and unboxing

Only recently Jabra announced their latest product the connect 5t and we now have them here in the hand, the design language here is familiar which is fine and looks fine inside their product portfolio. The great thing here is you get a wireless charging pad with your earbuds which is certainly a first for me to see in the massive collection of earbuds I own and will make life easier, not only that you can charge as normal with USB-C.

The Connect 5t, based on the recently announced Elite 5 earbuds, lets you stay connected to two devices at once, like a laptop and a smartphone, with its Bluetooth Multipoint feature. For Android or Windows users, the Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair will connect the earbuds in seconds, allowing effortless switching and manoeuvring. With Spotify Tap playback, all the music the user could ever wish for is accessible on tap.

Features

  • 6-mic technology – Clear calls for virtual meetings
  • Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation – Blocks out surrounding noise for better concentration
  • Smart connectivity options – Connect to two devices at one time with the Bluetooth Multipoint connection and enjoy Google Fast Pair and/or Microsoft Swift Pair to be connected in seconds. Spotify Tap gives easy on tap access to music
  • Up to 7 hours battery, 28 hours with the case – All-day work calls. Wireless charging pad included
  • 6mm speakers – Ensures rich, satisfying sounds in and out of office hours
  • Hands-free voice assistants – Google Assistant* and Alexa built-in for hands-free assistance on-the-go
  • Wireless charging pad included

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Video