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.

Final call from Microsoft & Belfast Metropolitan to participate in Microsoft Assured Skills Academy

Microsoft and Belfast Metropolitan College have once again joined forces to launch the fourth Microsoft Assured Skills Academy this time focused on preparing participants for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer.

The 12-week intensive Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy, will be delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College in partnership with the Microsoft Assured Skills Academy and made possible through funding provided by the Department for the Economy.

If selected for the Academy, participants will receive practical, real-world training in programmes and functionalities ranging from Cloud Concepts and Networking Fundamentals through to Cyber Security, Microsoft 365 Security Administration, Cloud Computing and presentation skills.
The 12-week course is free to the participants with each candidate also receiving £155 per week training allowance while undertaking the course.

Upon successful completion of the training, candidates will obtain industry-recognised modern work qualifications while also getting the opportunity to interview for one of a number of roles being made available by Microsoft within the newly established Microsoft Customer Service & Support team located in Belfast. If successful at this stage candidates will have the opportunity to work from Belfast as part of Microsoft’s world-wide customer support operations working with customers to help them take advantage of new technologies to enable them to achieve more and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

Commenting on the launch of this year’s Academy, Anne Sheehan, Microsoft Ireland General Manager said: “We’re thrilled to be launching the fourth Microsoft Assured Skills Academy in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College and the Department for the Economy, offering graduates from all backgrounds the opportunity to take their first steps in preparing for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer.

“At Microsoft, we believe in empowering people to achieve their full potential and, through the launch of this latest offering from the Microsoft Assured Skills Academy, we want to ensure that we’re providing opportunities for people to equip themselves with the skills they need to access exciting new job opportunities and prepare for the future of work. This course is particularly exciting as we seek to grow our Microsoft Customer Service and Support team located here in Belfast. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to pursue a career in a dynamic and fast-moving industry and we hope that through the course we’re able to find the right talent to support our continued growth of this team right here in Belfast.”

Susan McCambridge, Economic Development Manager, Belfast Metropolitan College commented: “We are delighted to be delivering our fourth Academy with Microsoft which will focus on preparing participants for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer. Learners will gain the most up-to-date industry relevant training, giving them what we hope will be life-changing opportunities and the skills they need to participate in the growth of Northern Ireland’s digital economy. With the deadline for applications in the coming days we’d encourage anyone interested to register their interest before the deadline this Friday.”

Candidates can apply online at Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy by noon on Friday 27 May 2022. To secure a place on the programme candidates will be invited to participate in an interview which will be held between 20th and 22nd June and if successful in this phase will move forward to the training part which will take place from 15th August to 4th November.

Those applying must be aged 18 years and above and eligible to work full-time in the UK. Candidates do not need have any experience working within the technology industry but must have a university degree classification 2.2 in any discipline or a Level 5 qualification in an IT related subject.

Tech Review – Quntis LED Waterproof Solar Landscape Spotlights

With things the way way they are now with the cost of living raising almost weekly there is some forms of technology that can help you out that is cost effective to buy and free to run, lights are one example many of us have in our homes, I have a home security system with spotlights that are plugged in however timed but depending on the time of night and how much they are used will obviously affect the cost of running them.

Quntis has a solution that is cheap to buy and free to run something that the green party here would like and it is the Quntis LED outdoor spotlights that run by solar power and no need to plug them in to use them or charge them as there is a small 1200mAh battery inside to do that for you.

These can be mounted in the ground or fixed onto the way with two screws and there is also a switch on the rear to turn them on whenever you need with two brightness levels too, simple and effective idea easy to maintain and easy to operate.

Check out the video review below for more, this is so simple and easy to use and check out the results.

Features

  • 【Super Bright Cool White Solar Spotlights】24 LEDs Solar spot lights adopts optical lens design for 30% more brightness, luminous intensity 800 Lumen which can focus the light source to the greatest extent and increase the brightness of the light. Solar spot lights can completely light up patio gardens, swimming pools etc.
  • 【IP65 Waterproof Solar Spot Lights Outdoor】Outdoor spotlights are made up of high-quality ABS plastic materials, integrated design IP65 waterproof, 1200mAh large capacity rechargeable battery, longer light time. Whether it’s raining, snowing, high temperatures or other extreme weather, you can use the solar landscape lights with confidence.
  • 【Automatic On-Off & 2 Brightness modes】Solar uplighters come with Auto-charging and Auto On/Off function. The battery usually lasts for about 12 hours on low brightness(45% brightness) and for about 6 hours at high brightness(100% brightness) setting. When the battery is not enough, the brightness of the light will automatically decrease to ensure the longest light time.

BUY

Video

 

Datapac digitally transforms Sheil Kinnear’s 130-year business

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, today announces that it has delivered a complete digital transformation solution to Sheil Kinnear, one of the longest-established accountancy practices in the country.

Founded in 1893, Sheil Kinnear provides accountancy and auditing services to companies of all sizes around the country from its head office in Drinagh, Wexford, and locations in Enniscorthy and Arklow.

Following Sheil Kinnear’s recent merger with a second accountancy practice, Datapac was awarded the contract to digitally transform the business by integrating both IT systems and securely migrating all company devices, software packages and data to a cloud platform.

The solution supports effective remote and hybrid working and has improved collaboration for Sheil Kinnear’s 30 employees. In turn, the upgraded system enables Sheil Kinnear to better serve its customers with improved workflows. The solution is flexible and will scale to meet the company’s needs as it continues to grow.

All employee desktops now run in the cloud using Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, and are securely accessed through thin clients. These small and portable cloud-based devices offer the same Windows desktop experience and can run from anywhere, enabling secure access to data, even on client site. This digital transformation of Sheil Kinnear’s business has resulted in significant cost savings for the company as the need for hardware upgrades and maintenance has been reduced.

Datapac also refreshed Sheil Kinnear’s security posture with cloud-based and on-premise firewalls, and has secured company data with cloud-based backups to prevent information loss and ensure business continuity for the company. The Datapac solution also backs up data on Microsoft Office 365 including Mail, Teams, and Sharepoint.

Additionally, employee onboarding and training has been made simpler with all information available from a single cloud source.

David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear: “As a customer of Datapac for over 30 years, we knew we could trust them to deliver on this new and exciting chapter at Sheil Kinnear. All of the development and background work was done off-site without interruption to our day-to-day business. The project was ongoing throughout an extremely busy time in our office and there was no disruption of service, with backup of data from our servers to the cloud carried out at evenings and weekends.

“The system ensures we have access to the most up-to-date servers running in the cloud and capacity will automatically expand to meet our needs. We have full, secure access to company information in the cloud, with the added confidence that all data is fully backed up. Most importantly, the Datapac solution has helped us to ride out the unprecedented disruption to business imposed by various Covid lockdowns. Datapac streamlined our infrastructure to maximise performance and scalability into the future, while enabling us to digitally transform our business.”

Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac: “It’s fantastic to see a company with such a rich business heritage like Sheil Kinnear truly embrace modern ways of working and move to an entirely cloud-based system. They needed a complete overhaul of their IT infrastructure, and as the company’s trusted technology partner, Datapac delivered a scalable solution which will future proof their systems for their evolving requirements.

“Sheil Kinnear’s decision to migrate to the cloud has enabled secure remote and hybrid working for staff and accelerated the transition of its workplace to a cloud-based, paperless environment.”

Tech Review – Vacos Baby Monitor

If you have a new baby or even pet in the house this may just be the thing to have at your disposal, simple and effective and easy to use and also very affordable you should check this out, also there is no app here like most have so in effect it is a simple plug and play gadget and all you really need is a micro SD card, there is one small drawback though but the idea is still great.

The drawback being no smartphone connectivity is only where i can fault this, why you might ask, OK so if you are out and about and want to keep in check with your baby or pet this does not happen here it is all in your own house and the range is 1000 ft which is impressive I might add so for those with big houses it is simply a must have if you are the concerned type.

Unboxing the Vacos baby monitor

The installation is simple, just turn on the device but before hand ensure both have been charged up as the instructions say to get going without a hitch and you will be literally good to go in a minute or two. You will need the sd card as mentioned to save events locally, you will get an alarm on your small tablet and then you can investigate, connecting to your home WiFi is all that is needed in the setup process.

Two devices link to each other via 2.4 GHz private FHSS transmission. View recording without WiFi or app. 100% encryption protects your baby’s privacy from top to bottom.

Once all setup you can then check out the UI on board which is simple and easy to use, there is also a small stand on back and you can place this beside you on your locker or table once you have placed the camera where it is best suited for you, there is two way audio here and also lullabies to help your baby sleep, the screen though is only 720 not the best in the world but you can make out what is going on even in the dark as you will see in the video below where we go through the UI set up and more and of course samples of day and night quality.

For the price here it is good value I think and what is on offer, perhaps a future version would include a screen for the baby or pet too which would be a nice idea I think and even an app then in its current state but overall it is a great product and value for money and keeping your mind at rest once you can watch your child in your home whilst getting other things done.

Features

The latest 2.4 GHz wireless tech enables the monitor to communicate with the camera via their own proprietary network signal from up to 1,000 ft away (in open areas).

Feeder reminder

Designed for mothers who want to track their baby feeds, including a useful reminder for when a feed is due – it is a must for night feeds.

Expandable up to 4 Cameras

The 5’’ LCD monitor can pair up to 4 cameras simultaneously, enabling you to keep an eye on multiple rooms in your home.

5 Comforting Lullabies

This camera provides 5 lovely lullabies for the baby. Play those lullabies to calm the crying baby when you are not in the nursery.

BUY

Video

Konftel Announces Strategic Wireless Content Sharing Partnership With ScreenBeam

Konftel’s flagship video conferencing cameras and audio devices have been fully tested to work with the wireless collaboration and content sharing innovation from ScreenBeam.

Solutions include the Konftel Cam50 and Cam20 conference cameras along with the Konftel 800, Konftel 70, Konftel Ego and Konftel 300Wx speakerphones. 

ScreenBeam Conference allows meeting room participants to wirelessly connect to the display, room camera, microphone and speaker for flexible presentations, on any meeting app of their choice.

Complete confidence

Konftel Product Manager, Torbjörn Karlsson, says compatibility testing further enhances the appeal of many of Konftel’s most popular conferencing products.

“We welcome the announcement of our testing success which means users can take advantage of ScreenBeam technology with complete confidence and enjoy a seamless collaboration and content sharing experience.

“Sharing information is a key component of any successful meeting and ScreenBeam Conference offers quick and easy wireless set-up. It creates effective hubs for collaboration between in room and remote meeting participants by being flexible enough to use in any space and simple enough to be used by any employee or guest.”

ScreenBeam Senior Director of Alliances, Jay Taylor, outlined: “We are delighted to partner with Konftel and extend our reach and compatibility with Konftel products. Konftel is a major industry player and together our products make a compelling combination for even more engaging online meetings. 

“Enabling the hybrid workforce to be successful requires technology that is flexible and simple enough for any employee to use. As we look to the future we see offices as places for collaboration with many different types of spaces.  Konftel’s solutions empower that future with products that meet the needs of those varied spaces.”

Most visited Places of Interest on Street View in Ireland as Google Street view turns 15

Google Street view turns 15 and like me I use it quite often and you may have also noticed some nice Jaguar cars going around with a contraption on top, well that is Google if you did not know.. So where is the most visited places of interest on Google Street view.. Let’s have a look then read on some more about Google Street view

Most visited Places of Interest on Street View in Ireland
1. Dublin Castle
2. Billy Byrne 1798 Monument
3.  Dublin Airport
4. Phoenix Park
5. The Temple Bar Pub
6. Guinness Storehouse
7. Aviva Stadium
8. Trinity College Dublin
9. Molly Malone Statue
10. Dog’s Bay
Most visited Museums on Street View in Ireland
1.Kilmainham Gaol
2. Titanic Experience Cobh
3. Dublinia
4.Muckross House
5. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
6. Drombeg Stone Circle
7. The National Wax Museum Plus
8. Irish Museum of Modern Art
9. MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland
10. Bunmahon Geological Park

Fifteen years ago, Street View began as a far-fetched idea from Google co-founder Larry Page to build a 360-degree map of the entire world. Fast forward to today: There are now over 220 billion Street View images from over 100 countries and territories — a new milestone — allowing people to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places right from their phone or computer. And Street View doesn’t just help you virtually explore, it’s also critical to our mapping efforts — letting you see the most up-to-date information about the world, while laying the foundation for a more immersive, intuitive map.

While that’s all worth celebrating, we aren’t stopping there. Today, we’re unveiling Street View’s newest camera, giving you more ways to explore historical imagery, and taking a closer look at how Street View is powering the future of Google Maps.

Bringing Street View to more places with our newest camera

From the back of a camel in the Arabian desert to a snowmobile zipping through the Arctic, we’ve gotten creative with the ways we’ve used Street View cameras to capture imagery. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that our world changes at lightning speed. Our hardware is one way we’re able to keep up with the pace.

In addition to our Street View car and trekker, we’re piloting a new camera that will fully roll out next year to help us collect high-quality images in more places. This new camera takes all the power, resolution and processing capabilities that we’ve built into an entire Street View car, and shrinks it down into an ultra-transportable camera system that’s roughly the size of a house cat. But unlike house cats, it’s ready to be taken to remote islands, up to the tops of mountains or on a stroll through your local town square.

Here’s a quick look at the new camera system:

  • It weighs less than 15 pounds. This means it can be shipped anywhere. This is especially handy when we work with partners around the world to capture imagery of traditionally under-mapped areas — like the Amazon jungle.
  • It’s extremely customizable. Previously, we needed to create an entirely new camera system whenever we wanted to collect different types of imagery. But now, we can add on to this modular camera with components like lidar — laser scanners — to collect imagery with even more helpful details, like lane markings or potholes. We can add these features when we need them, and remove them when we don’t.
  • It can fit on any car. Our new camera can be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated right from a mobile device — no need for a specialized car or complex processing equipment. This flexibility will make collections easier for partners all over the world, and allow us to explore more sustainable solutions for our current fleet of cars — like plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. You’ll start seeing our new camera in fun Google colors alongside our iconic Street View cars and trekkers next year.

Traveling back in time with Street View 

Street View is all about capturing the world as it changes, and it’s also a powerful way to reminisce about the past. Starting today on Android and iOS globally, it’s now easier than ever to travel back in time right from your phone. Here’s how it works:

When you’re viewing Street View imagery of a place, tap anywhere on the photo to see information about the location. Then tap “See more dates” to see the historical imagery we’ve published of that place, dating back to when Street View launched in 2007. Browse each of the images to see a digital time capsule that shows how a place has changed — like how the Vessel in New York City’s Hudson Yards grew from the ground up.

Building a more helpful, immersive map 

Street View is also an essential part of how we map the world. Here’s a look at how imagery helps us do that:

  • Updates to business information that reflect your changing world. We use Street View imagery coupled with AI to make helpful updates to Google Maps — such as adding newly opened businesses, surfacing new hours at your favorite restaurants and updating speed limit information. In fact, over the last three years, AI has helped us make over 25 billion updates to Maps so you can be confident that the information you’re seeing is as fresh and up-to-date as possible.
  • Easier than ever navigation, indoors and out. Street View imagery powers popular features like Live View, which allows you to use your phone’s camera to overlay navigation instructions on top of the real world so you can walk to your destination in a snap.
  • Immersive view helps you know before you go. Thanks to advances in computer vision and AI over the last several years, we’re able to fuse together billions of Street View and aerial images to create a rich, digital model of places around the world. With our new immersive view launching later this year, you can easily glide down to street level on Maps and even check out the inside of a business as if you were walking around.

In celebration of Street View’s birthday, you’ll have the opportunity to make your navigation icon a celebratory Street View car – just tap the chevron when you’re in driving navigation. And on desktop, our beloved Pegman – who you can pick up and drop anywhere in Maps to see Street View – will be dressed up in a birthday hat and balloons for the celebration.

To keep the celebration going, check out our newest collections of places like The Pyramids of Meroë in Sudan and Les Invalides in France, popular spots to explore with Street View and some of our all-time favorite Street View images to date. Oh the places you’ll go!

Pioneer DJ launches new models of its DM Series of desktop speakers: the 4-inch DM-40D, plus Bluetooth® models DM-50D-BT and DM-40D-BT

Pioneer DJ, a world-class manufacturer of DJ equipment, announces a host of new models to its DM Series of desktop monitor systems. The DM-50D-BT units add Bluetooth® functionality to the popular DM-50D speakers which were released in late 2021, while the new 4-inch DM-40D-BT and DM-40D come with or without Bluetooth® respectively and offer an upgrade to the compact DM-40 models which have served music lovers, DJs and producers well for several years. All available in black or white, these all-purpose speakers are perfect for a variety of purposes – from home use, DJing, music production, throwing parties and much more.

Whichever DM Series monitor system you choose, you’ll find the speakers produce powerful, high-quality sound. They’re easy to set up, tune, and use – making them ideal for a range of purposes. Whether you want to play DJ sets or make your own music at home, or regularly switch between the two, these speakers offer the perfect sound.

Want to make some tracks to drop into your next DJ set? Simply flick the switch on the speaker to change from DJ mode to Production mode and the DSP settings will automatically adjust to create the best sound for each application.

 

Also ideal for home use, these all-purpose speakers will unleash an unrivalled listening experience when playing your favourite records or for pure enjoyment in the home. Whether hosting parties, DJing or for upgrading the home sound system, these speakers will complement any living space with its sleek, modern aesthetic and hassle-free setup with the Bluetooth® versions. They are sure to set the mood whatever the occasion and complete any home entertainment setup.

For budding producers, you can easily connect your DJ setup or home studio to the RCA and mini jack input terminals on the DM Series speakers. The DM-50D-BT and DM-50D also have a TRS input, and the Bluetooth® models enable you to wirelessly connect mobile devices for cable-free high-quality music playback. Even better, the volume knob and headphones socket are on the front panel for quick connection and level control. And, with the choice of black or white models, you can pick the colour that best suits the setting in your home.

The DM-50D-BT and DM-40D speakers can be purchased from May 2022 with the DM-40D-BT becoming available in early June 2022. The DM-50D-BT will be priced at £229, the DM-40D-BT will cost £169 and the DM-40D will be £149. All models come in a choice of a black or white finish. These state-of-the-art monitor systems are a high-performance, all-purpose speaker offering any aspiring DJ or music lover the best in sound experience. For more information, go to pioneerdj.com.

Cottagecore Beekeeping Sim APICO Out Now #savethebees

Combining resource gathering, biology, and minigames with ideas from both real-life and fantasy beekeeping and gardening, APICO will teach players about the ins-and-outs of maintaining a healthy hive and the importance of our irreplaceable pollinating pals. The islands of APICO were once abuzz with different species of bees, and it’s up to players to rediscover lost species, cross-breed new ones, and populate each unique bee-ome. Progressing further into the game may also uncover some forgotten secrets. But that’s none of our beeswax.

Key Features of APICO include:

  • Breaking into Hives: It’s not as bad as it sounds! Collect materials, craft tools, and play fun beekeeping mini games to help rehome bees before releasing them back into the wild.
  • It Takes a Colony: Breed, collect, and conserve over 30 species of bees, like the Common Bee, the Forest Bee, and the Verge Bee. They’re all Queens in our book.
  • Bee2C Marketing: Fund the family business by making and selling honey, Apicola, and other beekeeping products. You’ll be a bee-llionaire in no time!
  • Cross-Pollination: Cross play with up to four players, regardless of where you purchase the game. Bees who work together, stay together!

 

APICO is now available on PC via Steam, itch.io, GameJolt, the Epic Games Store, Utomik, and Humble Store, for $19.99 USD, with a simultaneous console release following soon after.

The Effect of Bitcoin on the Finance sector in the Netherlands

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency. Satoshi Nakamoto created it in 2009 as an alternative to the fiat currencies used across the world. The value of Bitcoin grew manifold within a few years, and presently its price is around $6,000 per coin. This development has led to more people showing interest in this digital currency since its inception. Read here about the future prediction of crypto

The finance sector of the Netherlands is not left untouched by this Bitcoin revolution. On the contrary, the country has seen significant growth in adopting Bitcoin and other digital currencies.

 

1) High Prices: Raised prices have made people more aware of these assets and their potential as an investment.

 

2) Ease of Use: Bitcoin and other digital currencies are effortless. All one needs is a digital wallet to store the coins. As a result, people can make transactions without hassle, and the confirmation process is also fast.

 

3) Support from the Government: The government of the Netherlands has been supportive of Bitcoin and other digital currencies. For example, it recently legalized online gambling using 

cryptocurrencies to boost its usage. This favourable stance has motivated many businesses in the country to start accepting these currencies as payments for goods and services.

 

4) Favorable Regulations: The regulatory environment in the Netherlands is quite favourable towards Bitcoin and other digital currencies. The government has not placed any restrictions on their use and trade. On the contrary, it has made it easy for businesses to operate in this space.

 

5) Growing Awareness: There is a growing awareness about Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the Netherlands. It has led to an increase in people investing in these assets.

Many businesses are already leveraging their potential for growth and profitability, and more are expected to follow suit in the coming years.

Positive Effects of Bitcoin on the Finance sector of the Netherlands

Bitcoin has had a positive effect on the finance sector of the Netherlands. The Dutch Central Bank has supported Bitcoin and created a task force to study the cryptocurrency. In February 2014, the Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that Bitcoin “is not a threat to the financial system” and that the Dutch Central Bank has “no plans to change the current stance on Bitcoin.” 

The support of the Dutch government is a positive sign for the growth of Bitcoin in the Netherlands.

Negative Effect of Bitcoin on the Finance sector of the Netherlands

The Dutch government has recently expressed concern over the impact that Bitcoin and other digital currencies are having on the country’s financial sector. A statement released by the Ministry of Finance highlighted that “the anonymous nature of Bitcoin transactions makes it difficult to trace and collect taxes on” and that “Any financial authority does not regulate Bitcoin.”

The ministry went on to say that while they are not currently seeking to regulate Bitcoin, they are “monitoring the development of digital currencies closely.” However, they also warned that Bitcoin and other digital currencies users should be aware of the risks involved, such as volatile prices, fraud, and money laundering.

It is not the first time that the Dutch government has expressed concern over the impact of digital currencies on the country’s financial sector. 

However, it remains to be seen if they will seek to regulate Bitcoin and other digital currencies or continue to monitor the development of these new forms of payment.

For example, several large companies accept payments in Bitcoin, such as Dell and Microsoft. As more and more people become familiar with Bitcoin and other digital currencies, it seems likely that this concern over the impact on the finance sector will eventually fade away. 

In the meantime, however, it is clear that Bitcoin and other digital currencies are shaking up the financial world in many ways.

Overall, it is clear that Bitcoin will continue to play a vital role in the Dutch finance sector. With more businesses and investors embracing Bitcoin, it is only time before the cryptocurrency becomes mainstream in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

The impact of Bitcoin on the finance sector in the Netherlands has been significant in recent years. Some key areas where Bitcoin affects include reduced costs, increased efficiency, and increased transparency. While there are some concerns related to security and volatility, overall, there is a strong consensus that Bitcoin is helping to reshape the financial landscape in the Netherlands for the better. Moreover, as the use of Bitcoin continues to grow, its impact on the finance sector will likely continue to increase.