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.

€200,000 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition announces shortlist of 10 emerging talents, in association with Screen Ireland

Ten new submissions have been shortlisted to take part in the 2022 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition, benefiting from total prize fund of €200,000.

Selected from hundreds of entries this year, each shortlisted project will receive an investment of €6,000 to develop their script with a mentor and the three finalists will be chosen and awarded €30,000 to bring their script to life on screen with the production of a 10-minute short film. The final production will be broadcast on Virgin Media Television and Virgin Media on Demand.

With well over 70 years of script writing experience combined, mentors include storytellers such as Bláthnaid de Róiste (Ros na Rún, Fair City, and Holby City), Eilish Kent (Foreign Exchange, Raw, and Fade St), Gavin Burke (lecturer in screenwriting at IADT), Aileen Docherty (Holby, Waterloo Road, and The Clinic) and Nadine Flynn (Fair City and EastEnders).

Now in its third year, the competition continues to showcase outstanding original creativity and a diverse collection of voices and engaging stories with star judges for this year’s competition including Lenny Abrahamson, Director of the new ‘Conversations with Friends’ series and rising Irish actress, writer and star of hit crime drama, Kin, Clare Dunne.

One of last year’s winning films, ‘Punch Line’, which tells the story of how a transgender female stand-up comedian reframes a transphobic attack she experiences during the day in her routine that evening, has gone on to win a number of international awards, including ‘Best Direction’ at the LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival.

Bill Malone, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this level of funding, mentorship and a platform to some of Ireland’s most promising film makers that have such unique voices and new stories to tell.

“As a national broadcasting platform, it is important to Virgin Media that we invest in emerging talent, the Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition is a great opportunity for us to do this.

“For our applicants this is not just about building their careers, it is also a chance to raise awareness of the issues at the heart of their films, and I am thrilled that we can help them to have their voices heard.”

Andrew Byrne, Head of Television, Screen Ireland said: “As the national development agency for the creative screen sector, investing in and encouraging the development of new talent is a key principle of our work in Screen Ireland.

“We are thrilled once again to be able to further support this short film initiative, growing a broad range of exciting new talent and giving mentorship and first screen opportunities to a range of creative voices and diverse themes which deserve further recognition.

“We look forward to seeing the final developed projects and shining a light on the stars of the future both in front of and behind the screen.”

The Prize:

With a prize fund of €200,000, 10 filmmakers will be awarded €6,000 to realise the full potential of their scripts through professional development. 3 of these projects will then be awarded €30,000 to produce their 10-minute short film which will be broadcast on Virgin Media Television in 2023. €50,000 will go towards supporting the projects through script editing, mentorship, PR, advertising and marketing support.

The Judging Panel:

Star judges include award-winning director and screenwriter Lenny Abrahamson (Adam & Paul, Normal People, What Richard Did and Room), rising Irish actress, writer and star of hit crime drama, Kin, Clare Dunne; Clinton Liberty who played Kiernan in global hit drama ‘Normal People’ and Linus in drama ‘Holding’; screenwriter and executive producer Ursula Rani Sarma (Delicious and Red Rock) as well as representatives from Virgin Media Television, Screen Ireland and the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.

The 10 shortlisted projects are:

Always Find Him in the Kitchen At Parties (Drama) Writer/Director: Zoë Gibney

Fake it ’til you make it, that’s what Sean keeps telling himself. But how far will he go to cover his shame?

Location: Dublin

Blith (Drama) Writer/Director: Gerard Walsh and Fabu-D

David has recently moved to Ireland to create a better life for his daughter as a paediatrician. He soon finds out it’s not that simple.

Location: Dublin

 

Calf Writer/Director: Jamie O’Rourke

A near fatal farm accident leaves teenager Cáit with a terrible decision to make in order to do what she must to protect her family.

Location: Tipperary

Casper (Drama) Writer/Director: Jason Forde and Jody O’Neill

A dark film about the final week of 8-year-old autistic boy Casper’s life. Utilising straight to camera address, visuals and sound inspired by the autistic experience to mesh avant-garde documentary style with narrative.

Location: Wicklow & Cork

Coasteering (Drama) Writer/Director: Orla Sanders & Joanne Fitzgerald

Following a series of unsuccessful rounds of IVF, Sinead runs and Peter gardens; creating life can destroy you.

Location: Dublin

 

Crushed (Drama) Writer/Director: Eilís Doherty and Olivia McLaughlin

A dramedy about what happens when your feelings are strong, but your vodka is stronger. Emma battles with ‘the fear’ when she overshares about her crush on a night out.

Location: Dublin, Donegal & Kildare

 

Good Chips (Drama) Writer/Director: Nell Hensey and Brigid Leahy

Dublin 1989. A family of Vietnamese immigrants struggle to keep their takeaway business afloat while their 12 year old daughter befriends one of the  customers, a local Irish boy. When he disappears, she sets out to find him.

Location: Clare & Dublin

Home Safe (Neon-Noir / Thriller) Writer/Director: Jaro Waldeck and Grace Sexton

In a normal world, walking home may seem like a straight-forward thing to do. But in the world of a sketchy man, hooded and hard to read, this task proves to be quite the undertaking. What dangers can he encounter on his way home?

Location: Wexford, West Cork & Dublin

Unhinged (Comedy) Writer/Director: Mary Kirwan and Zoë Brennan-Whitmore

After discovering the love of her life and colleague on Tinder, a self-deprecating fat millennial must find the confidence to swipe right before his leaving party, all while navigating a fatphobic workplace

Location: Wicklow & Cork

Why the Sun & Moon Live in the Sky (Fantasy) Writer/Director: Aisha Bolaji and Alfonso Films

Living in the mundane suburbia of Farraig-Mor, two teens plan to escape by building a spacecraft and living in the sky.

Location: Dublin, Meath & Wicklow

‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ digital skills competition final to be televised on RTÉ2 on June 16th at 5pm

The final of Ireland’s first national digital skills competition, Ireland’s Future is MINE, is scheduled to be televised on RTÉ2 on June 16th at 5pm. Delivered through a collaboration between Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr, the competition’s final will see St. Hugh’s National Primary School from Leitrim and Moyvore Primary School from Westmeath battle it out for first place.

Launched in September 2021, the ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE‘ digital skills competition challenged primary school students to use Minecraft: Education Edition to think creatively, collaborate, problem-solve and shape Ireland’s sustainable future.

Since its launch, schools across Ireland have entered the competition and students have explored fun challenges such as building their own NASA rover and coding their very own polar ice hut. These challenges, made possible through Minecraft: Education Edition, are aligned to both the Republic and Northern Irish curriculums covering subjects from English, Maths, Science, Geography, SPHE and more.

Delivered by Microsoft Ireland’s Dream Space teachers on Dream Space TV in partnership with RTÉjr, the competition provided each school with comprehensive teaching guides to ensure that they were supported in making their submission. Through the competition, Microsoft Ireland and RTÉ sought to inspire students to build critical in-demand skills that will allow them to compete and fully participate in today’s digital world.

Having successfully progressed through the various stages of the competition, which saw participation from 130 other primary schools across Ireland, St Hugh’s National Primary School and Moyvore Primary School will compete in the final phase of the digital skills challenge. The winner will receive the grand prize of laptops for the classroom plus a charging trolley for their school.

Commenting on the final, James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “We’re delighted to see the ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ competition reach its final stages. It’s been encouraging to see the level of enthusiasm from teachers and students right across the country as they competed in the competition over the last few months. At Microsoft, we are passionate about engaging students and teachers in STEM education experiences and by way of Ireland’s Future is MINE and Dream Space, our innovative STEM education experience, we are empowering young people to see digital technology and STEM in exciting new ways.

“In advance of the final, I’d like to wish the students of St Hugh’s National Primary School and Moyvore Primary School the very best of luck.”

 Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s and Young Peoples’ Content at RTÉ, said:

“We were blown away by the standard of entries from schools across the country to Ireland’s Future is Mine. After months of hard work and nail-biting showdowns, just two talented schools remain in the battle for the coveted title of All-Ireland champions.  RTÉ is so excited to bring you our thrilling final. This is a ‘first of its kind’ esports TV broadcast and when kids see what the finalists built, we hope they will be inspired. Certainly, we’ve been inspired by the creativity and the fun the two teams showed in this exciting final. Don’t miss it!”

To view the scheduling programme for the final, visit RTÉjr here: www.rte.ie/learn/irelands-future-is-mine/

Tech Review – Benks Whirlwind Phone Cooler

We all know smartphones can get hot with heavy usage, gaming phones in particular do and they have overcome the problem with heat dissipation solutions, all gaming phones now come with this issue solved and mobile gamers are happy, there is plenty of phones out there though that do not have a solution some may have vapour chambers made with copper and frankly many phones are not up to the gaming challenge, gaming phones are big and bulky and started off silly looking but over the years they got better looking and more slimlined and all this with the built in heat solutions..

Benks have come up with this simple plug and play solution for those who have a standard phone and want to keep it cool whilst gaming or vlogging, both these are taxing on a phone and cause it to heat up and it can damage your phone which is the last thing you need, to point out once applied you will lose the wireless charging if your device has it and the magnetic patch you apply to your phone is rather hard to remove, the unit itself can be powered by your phone or a wall charger and simply just sticks on the rear of the device and that is all there is too it.

This gets really cold it has to be said and I did not think it would be possible to get so cold, it is ice cold in fact nor it is noisey like other fans you might hear at home like your games console for example. Check the video below for more and see what it is all about.

Benks magnetic cooler techbuzzireland

 

  • Defeat the heat with the Benks Phone Cooler. Powered by advanced cooling technology for enhanced gaming performance and avoiding lag. Stay cool when the smartphone battle heats up.
  • Strong magnet, stick on like glue.
  • Undisturbed gameplay, Benks phone cooler brings peace, not noise.
  • Reduce phone temperature and maintain battery health.
  • Mute Engine Dissipation: Dual silent designing fan can efficiently emit wind from all sides, providing a stronger refrigeration effect, no disturbance to your gaming or your Vlog show.
  • Multiple Scenes Suitable: It is a must-have for mobile phone game players and vloggers who use their phones to make live streaming video

BUY

Video Link

Eminence of LoomSolar providing the best Solar Installation Services

Battery technology is always evolving and keeping an eye on how leading Indian battery manufacturers meet the needs of their customers and what their EV battery ambitions are is important.

With the advent of electric vehicles (EVs) as a viable alternative to traditional energy storage, the world’s need for stored energy has skyrocketed. This has led to an ever-increasing need for better batteries. Many different kinds of batteries have been used over the years to power automobiles other than Solar System. Eventually, lead-acid batteries took over. Lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the mobility and storage segments, have finally posed a threat.

There are various ways in which Li-ion technology surpasses older technologies. It can take up to ten hours to charge a lead-acid battery for example. Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, may be recharged in as little as a few minutes, depending on the size of the battery. Lead-acid batteries charge more slowly than lithium-ion batteries, which can tolerate a higher rate of current. Li-success Ion’s is also being aided by improvements in the number of charging cycles or battery life. Li-ion batteries are being used in a variety of applications besides automobiles, such as telecom towers, mobile phones, and power grids. According to some estimations, 60 GWh of Li-ion cells would be needed by 2025 and double that by 2030.

Government Initiatives for using Green Energy

The Government of India is also taking steps to promote the growth of the electric vehicle industry in India, following the worldwide trend of increasing Li-ion battery use. The Make in India program and incentives for electric car purchasers are among the measures. A PLI plan for battery manufacturing’s advanced cell chemistries is already under way, with proposals from major businesses both inside and outside the country.

Monocrystalline solar panels and AC modules are made by Loom Solar Pvt. Ltd. They began in Faridabad in 2018 and have been producing the highest-quality solar panels ever since. Through 1500 re-sellers, they distribute their items throughout India, including rural areas. The solar panels they produce are among the best in the industry. All of their solar panels are made to exacting standards. As an interesting aside, they assert that their batteries for inverters and solar applications are the only ones made for the automotive, lithium, and tubular markets they serve.

Buying Loom Solar Products Has Benefits

Conserving energy is becoming increasingly dependent on solar panels. Many locations now have solar panels installed in their entirety. Loom Solar, the best lithium battery manufacturer, provides the highest-quality solar products to meet this need. Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards’ 11th annual 2019 gold and silver medals went to Loom Solar. They have direct access to India’s leading solar manufacturers. They offer items that meet the demands of their customers. All of their solar panels are of the highest quality and are guaranteed to perform correctly and endure longer.

The Li-ion or Lithium battery beta from Loom Solar is open to providing sustainable and greener options for household lighting systems, inverter compatible solutions, EVs (Electric Vehicles), science or DIY projects, and farming. Because of its high power density, long life, minimal self-discharge, and low maintenance requirements, Li-Ion batteries are becoming more popular for EVs and backup power systems in particular. The company has also recently been spotted actively entering the Lithium Ion market.

PUBG MOBILE TO BRING THE BOYS TO THE BATTLEFIELD IN A “SUPE SPREE” EVENT

PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile video games, has announced a collaboration with Prime Video, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Sony Pictures Studios to bring players exclusive content from the Emmy-nominated subversive superhero series, The Boys.

In conjunction with The Boys season 3 premiere, streaming June 3rd on Prime Video, players will be able to grab a number of exclusive collaboration items, including the iconic super suits of Homelander, Starlight and Soldier Boy, as well as weapon skins, backpacks, a unique Supes parachute and much more.

Beginning on June 8th, players will be able to participate in a “Supe Spree” event, where they join The Boys infamous antihero, Billy Butcher, to build their own investigation squad and search for evidence of superhero wrongdoings. In the game, a horrifying series of unsolvable murders suddenly grips NYC. The mutilated bodies of Wall Street brokers and their clients begin to appear across the city. The police have no clues and city officials are demanding answers. In order to complete each challenge, players must work with characters from The Boys or their in-game friends to expose the truth. Players will collect evidence, unlock stories and ultimately reveal the superhero behind these heinous attacks to earn Billy Butcher’s Duds. The integration will also feature a series of weekly challenges, providing players with more opportunities to earn additional perks and rewards for a limited-time.

“The Boys is a groundbreaking TV series that has forever changed the entertainment industry with its irreverent take on superheroes,” said Anthony Crouts, Senior Director of Marketing for PUBG MOBILE. “We always strive to deliver fresh new content to our players and this collaboration gives us the amazing opportunity to integrate real-time elements of The Boys’ new season directly into PUBG MOBILE.”

 

PUBG MOBILE and The Boys collaboration content will be available from June 3rd to July 3rd to most players located in North America, South America and Europe. ​​Download PUBG MOBILE for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.

See the new trailer below.

Edifier revive legendary Japanese audio brand STAX with the new Spirit S3 Planar headphones

Innovative audio specialists Edifier have released the S3, the brand’s first premium Hi-Fi headphone designed for audiophiles and the first product in their new STAX Spirit product line – which brings absolute audio fidelity firmly to the foreground for
Hi-Fi enthusiasts, music lovers, musicians and producers alike. For those who may not be familary, STAX was a legendary Japanese audio brand which Edifier acquired in 2011.

Best known for developing the first ever electrostatic headphones, or “Earspeakers”, the name ‘STAX’ has been at the forefront of every major sonic innovation since 1938. The S3 continues in this tradition, and builds upon the name’s renowned legacy and pursuit of faithfully reproducing a ‘live’ sound.

Inspired by the delicacy of exceedingly more expensive electrostatic technology, the Edifier STAX Spirit S3 achieves a level of audio fidelity previously unheard of at this consumer level ($399). Designed with audio professionals and enthusiasts in mind, the S3 set a high technical threshold using finely tuned Planar technology. Planar combines both the benefits of a Dynamic and Balanced Armature Driver to achieve exceedingly detailed lower frequencies and clearer, more consistent high frequency performance. Utilising a combination of Snapdragon audio technology; three patented planar driver solutions; Hi-Res Audio technology and innovative acoustic-friendly materials, the S3 delivers a truly memorable, lossless and low distortion audio experience.

Spirit S3 Planar headphones

With a total weight of approximately 329g, the S3 are also much lighter than traditional planar headphones and boast a carbon fibre casing to ensure a comfortable fit and extended durability. Adopting the latest in wireless technology, the headphones are equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 which allows for faster, more reliable transmission speeds, and multi-connectivity (with users able to connect two devices simultaneously). And finally, the high-capacity lithium battery holds a mighty 80 hours of battery life – ensuring that you don’t get any unexpected interruptions whilst you’re laid out on your living room sofa or sat upright in your home-recording studio.

Bringing together the ethos and dedication of the legendary audio pioneers STAX with the high performance innovation of Edifier, the S3 and STAX Spirit line achieve an unmatched audio experience for a new generation of sonic lovers.

For a full list of specifications and more information, visit:
https://www.edifier.com/product-s3.html
Features:
● EqualMasstm™ wiring diaphragm
● Uniforce™ magnetic circuit
● Fluxor™ magnetic array
● Fazor™ acoustic module
● Snapdragon audio technology
● Hi-Res lossless high fidelity
● Replaceable ear muffs & replaceable wire design
● Made from sturdy and lightweight carbon fibre material
● aptX™ Voice call NC
● Low latency game mode
● Bluetooth V5.2 Technology (which supports the pairing of two Bluetooth devices) ● Edifier Connect App with multiple EQ options Sensitivity 98dB Bluetooth version V5.2

Switch it up this Summer and Save €100 on a Range of 5G Handsets with Vodafone Ireland

To celebrate the most anticipated summer in years, Vodafone Ireland is offering €100 off a range of fantastic 5G-enabled handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G and Oppo A54 5G, for new customers when they switch to Vodafone Pay As You Go from 1st June to 18th July 2022.

With handsets starting from as low as €69.99, customers can feel the connection this summer and capture great moments, from holiday adventures to the exciting return of music festivals, with a 5G plan that keeps up with them. Available for just €30 per month, new customers can switch to Vodafone’s Unlimited 5G Pay As You Go plan which includes unlimited 5G data, calls and texts.

Included in the promotion are a wide range of handsets offering excellent value such as the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G (was €199.99, now €99.99), Oppo A54 5G (was €229.99, now €129.99), TCL 20R 5G (was €169.99, now €69.99) and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G (was €199.99, now €99.99).

All handsets are 5G-enabled, meaning greater speeds while customers are on the go, greater network capacity to stay connected while in a crowd, be it at a concert, match or busy area and faster streaming so you never need to miss a second of your favourite TV show or have a video call to a friend lag.

To find out more on these exclusive offers, visit www.vodafone.ie.

  • Nokia G50 5G (was €199.99, now €99.99)
  • TCL 20R 5G (was €169.99, now €69.99)
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G (was €199.99, now €99.99)
  • Oppo A54 5G (was €229.99, now €129.99)
  • Samsung A22 5G (was €199.99, now €99.99)

Language Learning Software Developers Industry in the US

There are language learning programs on the market, and tools like Google Translate have come a long way to bridging the gap between different language speakers. There are even apps where you speak in your native tongue, and it outputs your sentences in a different language. The progress that the industry has made in regards to translation is awesome, but what about those actually teaching the languages? What has become of the developers who are making language learning software?

Learning Vs Translating

Just because the quality of translating has become a lot better, it doesn’t mean that learning programs are in less demand. There is this misguided belief that one day we will have universal translators that translate any language right there, similar to the sort of thing you saw on old Star Trek episodes. However, that day is a long way away, and it is going to be an AI device more than a pure translation device. In this day and age, and for decades to come, people are going to need programs that help them learn new languages. There may already be thousands of learning apps, but they get old and outdated pretty quickly. People still want learning apps and they will still want them in the decades to come.

The Learning Industry is Still Thriving

Was there ever a truer word said. Some people think that the global community is relying on translation software to bridge the gap, but that is not even close to being true. Since China decided it is going to be the world’s manufacturing hub, the sheer number of English-to-Chinese software to come into existence is massive. Companies are building their own, apps are competing, Universities are competing, and learning courses are building their own language-learning software. The world is becoming smaller thanks to easier travel and the Internet, and so people are looking to learn new languages out of necessity rather than simple curiosity or intellectual endeavor.

What Are We Teaching Our Kids?

If you want your child to learn coding because you feel it offers a lucrative career, then you are half right. Coders will always be in demand in the future, but how lucrative the career is may be a matter of discussion. Nevertheless, if you are out looking for books about coding for kids with the hopes your little Jimmy or Jenny will become a language learning software developer, then your child will probably grow up with some valuable and marketable skills.

The Size of the Market

At the moment, the size of the language learning market in the USA alone is about $4 billion. The part that software plays in that is obvious simply by the fact that most schools, colleges, Universities and online learning courses rely on at least some varieties of language-learning software. What makes this interesting for software developers is that at no point is a language-learning course going to turn away good language-learning software. While learning courses exist, so will the desire for language-learning software. Plus, given the sheer number of different platforms for language learn and the sheer number of ways to learn a language, there are always going to be a diverse number of ways for software developers to make an impact. The future is bright for software developers who specialize in language learning apps and software.

Tech Review – DigitalLife U2AUDIO7-1 7.1 External USB Sound Card

Need to enhance your audio game for home use or gaming this little gadget could the item you take a look at, this simple plug and play solution that is cost effective and does not require any additional tools or the need to take tools to your home pc or laptop and start taking it apart, with a simple clean design and well laid out it makes it accessible too and keeps things simple. Check out the video below for more.

The Digitallife U2AUDIO7-1 USB Sound Card/Audio Adapter offers a high quality solution for upgrading desktop or laptop sound. Providing a robust USB audio experience, the USB sound card connects to a host computer through a single USB 2.0 connection, to deliver impressive external audio capability that can instantly be swapped between systems, without having to open the computer case for installation.

Supporting analog and digital audio for 2.1 to 7.1 channel audio applications, the external USB sound card provides a cost-saving upgrade from built-in/on-board sound that turns desktop/laptop sound into a home theatre ready audio solution.

The external USB sound card features easy-to-use volume control and two external microphone inputs – a convenient solution for any audio application requiring high quality sound with multi-input capability with support for 44.1 KHz and 48 KHz sampling rates for analog playback and recording or 48 KHz for SPDIF. A more than suitable solution for home theatre, gaming or multi-media presentations, the External USB Sound Card is easy to install with plug and play support in Windows 10 and Windows 8 Operating Systems.

 

Features
■ Full 7.1 audio outputs via 3.5mm mini-jacks
■ Optical S/PDIF input (pass through) and outaput
■ Dual microphone input
■ Built-in volume control buttons
■ Full-duplex recording and playback
■ Supports 44.1 & 48 KHz sampling rates for analog playback and recording or 48 KHz for SPDIF
■ High Speed USB 2.0 compliant host interface, with transfer rates up to 480 Mbps

BUY

Video Link

usa  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GSXMRBD
uk  https://www.amazon.co.uk/DigitalLife-U2AUDIO7-1-USB-Sound-Interface-Box-Theater-Ready-Production/dp/B09ZX93NN6
de  https://www.amazon.de/-/en/DigitalLife-U2AUDIO7-1-Interface-Enabled-Production/dp/B09ZX93NN6
IT  https://www.amazon.it/DigitalLife-U2AUDIO7-1-USB-Sound-Interface-Box-Predisposti-Produzione/dp/B09ZX93NN6
fr  https://www.amazon.fr/DigitalLife-U2AUDIO7-1-USB-Sound-Interface-Box-Audio-Compatible/dp/B09ZX93NN6
es  https://www.amazon.es/DigitalLife-U2AUDIO7-1-USB-Sound-Interface-Box-sistema-Producci%C3%B3n/dp/B09ZX93NN6