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.

Equinix project explores re-use of waste data centre heat for vital public and community infrastructure

Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company, today announces the launch of a community project that will see it explore new ways to reuse waste data centre heat for vital public infrastructure in Dublin’s Blanchardstown area. Working with Dublin’s energy agency, Codema, a feasibility study will explore how waste heat from Equinix’s data centres could be used to support important facilities in the local community, which includes a hospital, university and local aquatics centre.

The project is part of Equinix’s commitment to drive greater energy efficiencies in its own operations, as well as for the wider community in which it operates. The company has pledged to become climate neutral globally – and in Ireland – by 2030. This will be achieved, in part, by innovative projects and initiatives – such as district heating – that will support the circular economy.

District heating delivers low-carbon heat to buildings through a network of insulated underground pipelines. It is fuel agnostic, which helps to drive down heating costs and ensures security of supply.

In the last three years alone, Equinix, which has four data centres operating in West Dublin, has reduced its Irish data centre carbon emissions by 16%.

This is one of a number of initiatives deployed by Codema to reduce Dublin’s CO2 emissions. By collaborating with Codema on the sustainability project, Equinix hopes to further its progress towards climate neutrality in Ireland while also benefiting the community in which it operates.

Maurice Mortell, Equinix’s Sustainability Lead in EMEA and Managing Director for Ireland, said: “At Equinix, we are relentlessly exploring innovative ways to achieve our commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030. As sustainability lead in EMEA, I have been involved in a number of groundbreaking projects to ensure we are continuously innovating and striving to achieve this goal. Our partnership with Codema will help us to explore new ways in which we can not only work towards our own decarbonisation, but also benefit the community in which we operate and contribute to the circular economy.

“As the world’s digital infrastructure company, we are committed to driving steady economic growth while reducing our carbon footprint – and the footprints of the organisations we work with.

“Codema has been doing admirable work in its goal to decarbonise Dublin. We are delighted to be working with them and look forward to learning how we can continue to support them on their important carbon zero mission.”

Donna Gartland, CEO, Codema, said: “Codema’s mission is to lead the low-carbon transition in Dublin, and one of the ways we have been successfully doing this is by identifying and implementing new innovative solutions to help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We have enough waste and renewable heat available in Dublin to completely move all buildings away from fossil fuel heating, and working with progressive and ambitious industry stakeholders like Equinix enables us to bring these district heating projects to reality.”

Introducing a new Airbnb for a new world of travel

With a new way to search designed around Airbnb Categories, the innovative Split Stays feature, and AirCover for guests, this launch represents the biggest change to Airbnb in a decade. 

Last year, Airbnb released 150 upgrades to improve every aspect of the Airbnb service. Today, they are launching the biggest change to Airbnb in a decade including: 

  • Airbnb Categories – A new way to search that makes it easy to discover millions of homes you never knew existed. 
  • Split Stays – An innovative feature that provides more options for longer stays by splitting your trip between two homes. 
  • AirCover for guests – The most comprehensive protection in travel, included for free with every stay. 

“The way people travel has changed forever. That’s why we’re introducing the biggest change to Airbnb in a decade,” said Brian Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb. “First, people are more flexible about where they live and work, so we’ve designed a new way to search with Airbnb Categories. Second, people are taking longer trips, so we created Split Stays to give you more options by splitting your trip between two homes. And third, we’re introducing AirCover for guests, giving you the confidence to book knowing that Airbnb’s got your back.” 

Airbnb Categories 

Millions of people are now more flexible about where they live and work. But travel search has been the same for 25 years — you enter a location and dates into a search box. Most of us can only think of a few dozen cities to type into the search box, but there are Airbnbs in 100,000 towns and cities around the world. 

That’s why they are introducing a new way to search designed around Airbnb Categories, making it easy to discover millions of unique homes you never knew existed. When you open Airbnb, you’re presented with 56 categories that organize homes based on their style, location, or proximity to a travel activity. When you search for a destination, your search results are also organized by categories that are relevant to that destination. As you view different categories, the map intelligently zooms to show you where the homes are located. 

To create Airbnb Categories, we evaluate millions of homes using machine learning to analyze titles, written descriptions, photo captions, structured data from Hosts, and reviews from guests. Members of Airbnb’s curation team review listings and hand-pick featured photos — so if a listing is in the Amazing Pools Category, the first photo shows a pool. Then, each category goes through a final check to help ensure consistency and photo quality. 

The 56 Airbnb Categories include more than 4 million unique homes that are made possible by Airbnb Hosts all around the world. Airbnb Categories organize homes by what makes them unique, which helps people discover places they wouldn’t have otherwise found. This can help alleviate over-tourism by redistributing travel to new locations beyond the same popular destinations. 

Split Stays 

In the last three months*, nearly half of nights booked on Airbnb were for trips of a week or more. That’s why we created Split Stays, an innovative feature that splits your trip between two homes. With Split Stays, you will typically see around 40% more listings when searching for longer stays. 

When searching a specific destination, Split Stays automatically appear in your search results. They also appear within 14 categories — including Camping, National Parks, Skiing, and Surfing — to inspire you to stay in two destinations as part of a longer trip. 

When viewing Split Stays on a map, an animated line visually connects the two homes to show you the distance between them and the sequence of the stays. Once you select a Split Stay, you’re guided through an easy-to-use interface to book each stay, one home at a time. 

AirCover for Guests 

This summer, millions of people will travel for the first time since the start of the pandemic. That’s why we created AirCover, the most comprehensive protection in travel. AirCover is always included and always free, and it represents the biggest upgrade to Airbnb customer service in a decade. 

With AirCover, you’re covered by four protections every time you stay on Airbnb: 

  • Booking Protection Guarantee – In the unlikely event a Host needs to cancel your booking within 30 days of check-in, we’ll find you a similar or better home, or we’ll refund you. ● Check-In Guarantee – If you can’t check into your home and the Host cannot resolve the issue, we’ll find you a similar or better home for the length of your original stay, or we’ll refund you. ● Get-What-You-Booked Guarantee – If at any time during your stay you find your listing isn’t as advertised — for example, the refrigerator stops working and your Host can’t easily fix it, or there are fewer bedrooms than listed — you’ll have three days to report it and we’ll find you a similar or better home, or we’ll refund you. 
  • 24-hour Safety Line – If you ever feel unsafe, you’ll get priority access to specially-trained safety agents, day or night. 

AirCover has been designed directly into the Airbnb app and website, making it easy for you to contact an agent and resolve issues quickly. We created a team of specially trained agents for last-minute rebooking assistance. We also significantly expanded our 24-hour safety line to cover 16 languages. 

Available starting today 

Airbnb’s redesigned app and website with over 50 categories of unique homes, the innovative Split Stays feature, and AirCover for guests will be available worldwide this week, with rollout starting in the US today. 

Airbnb Categories

56 Airbnb Categories Number of homes
Style categories
A-frames 4,500
Amazing pools 1,500,000
Amazing views 27,000
Barns 14,000
Bed & breakfasts 20,000
Boats 9,500
Cabins 240,000
Campers 12,500
Castles 2,600
Caves 750
Chef’s kitchens 7,500
Containers 2,200 Creative spaces 900 Design 27,000 Domes 3,000
Earth homes 4,000
Farms 150,000
Grand pianos 2,800
Historical homes 4,000
Houseboats 2,000
Luxe 3,800
Mansions 1,500
OMG! 700
Off-the-grid 2,300
Shared homes 650,000

 

Tiny homes 60,000
Towers 200
Treehouses 2,500
Windmills 190
Yurts 3,800
Location categories
Arctic 6,500
Beach 900,000
Beachfront 450,000
Casas particulares 7,500
Countryside 200,000
Cycladic homes 11,000
Dammusos 280
Desert 2,100 Iconic cities 490,000 Islands 1,200 Kezhans 19,000
Lake 160,000
Lakefront 90,000
Minsus 1,000
National parks 750,000
Riads 900
Ryokans 1,200
Shepherd’s huts 1,100
Tropical 500,000
Trulli 1,900
Vineyards 120,000

 

Activity categories
Camping 32,000
Golfing 150,000
Skiing 400,000
Ski-in/out 40,000
Surfing 240,000

Are You Still Reusing Your Passwords? It’s Time to Drop This Habit, and Here’s Why

Imagine you had a single key for every lock you use. You could lock and unlock your house and gym locker and start your car all with a single key. 

Now imagine that key is stolen and your whole life is available to a stranger. 

Reusing passwords is a dangerous habit a lot of people still have. It’s high time we change that since it brings nothing but trouble!

Having A Master Password Is Far From Good

The reason behind this is simple – once the master password gets compromised, your other accounts are put at risk as well. If that happens and your passwords get into the wrong hands, you’ll be lucky to recover even a portion of your accounts. 

Your password can get compromised via a massive data breach. If this happens while you have the single same password for everything, then chances are your other accounts are going down as well.

Dictionary Attacks Are a Thing

Another reason to reevaluate your password game is dictionary-based password decoding, aka dictionary attacks. With this type of attack, a hacker will try to guess your password by using actual words (from the dictionary). 

That’s why you should avoid using real words in your passwords. The best passwords are the ones that are the most random, like this one: fA38!TP?A}. 

Your Business Accounts Will Be At Risk As Well

Imagine your password gets cracked and the hacker has control over your email account. Is your email connected to your business account? Is it connected to your professional social media profile or your LinkedIn? You see where this is going. 

It is strongly advised to change passwords often, especially for business accounts. You don’t want sensitive info getting out. Some hackers even crack passwords with the intention of breaching business accounts simply because of their higher value. 

So, What Can You Do About It?

The very first thing you can do is change your main email password right now! Use a complex combination of symbols, numbers, and letters. Once that’s taken care of, set up a 2-Factor Authenticator (biometrics are great if you have access to them). 

Now that your main email is secured, try to implement these into your password regimen: 

  • Change passwords every once in a while. 
  • Watch out for phishing. Any email that asks you for your password is suspicious!.
  • Never give your password to anyone. Even if Mark Zuckerberg himself asks you for your Facebook password, you say “no”.

All of this can sound a bit cumbersome, but cybersecurity is no joke. If you find password hygiene difficult, you can resort to a password manager. It’s an app that helps you create and maintain your passwords without the remembering part. 

Protect Your Digital Privacy – Make Better Passwords 

It’s ok to make mistakes. After all, no one taught us in school about password hygiene, right? As long as you use strong and unique passwords and change them every once in a while, you should be good. 

Just remember to diversify your passwords game and never use the same password twice.

Tech Review – Asus ROG 5s phone.

The Asus ROG 5s phone is a bit of a beast it must be said. Given it is aimed at gamers it also has great battery life and an excellent camera with great speakers too and a great display.

The phone is not light and not small by any means either which is fine with me however the back of the phone is slippy and can move on a table etc if it starts vibrating. I like phones like this aside the slippy part as you can feel the phone feel the quality and feel it in your pocket, having this alongside other devices I own it is the biggest and heaviest but again I am fine with this because it looks good and is a powerhouse too.

The camera hump is raised but nothing like some others out there which are starting to look stupid now and its angular design blends in well on the device too but it does rock on a table if typing so a case would be a good idea to eliminate this and also protect the device.

On the right you have your power on/off and volume keys on the left you have a docking point, on the bottom you have a headphone jack, yes you heard me right and you also have your USB-C port and a mic.Up to there is just a mic so it is a clean looking device overall and feels solid in the hands and you know you are not holding something cheap.Also as it is a gamer phone you have Air Triggers built in.

Check out the unboxing below and walkthrough and we look at the specs etc 

The gaming and user experience

If you are into mobile gaming this is what you could look into, not a huge mobile gamer myself but once was and this phone not only caters for that well it caters for everyday use too, the 6.78 inch screen is ideal for media consumption and more with a peak brightness of 1200 nits and that 144 hz screen refresh which seem to be the buzzword of late, in short here a superb display.

To top of the visual aspects you also get the audio goodness thrown in with dual speakers that are loud and as good as my iPhone 13 pro which are seen as one of the best speakers on a phone today, both the sound and picture just make it a really good experience for anyone to use as just a normal phone as well as gaming.

For my daily use it walked through anything with ease so that emails, social, browsing, and all the daily tasks I use my phone for but the thing is it doesn’t stop there it is also super when it comes to gaming, typical gaming phones I have seen from other manufacturers skimp out somewhere but not this phone.

 

Cameras

The camera set up here is also typical of a gaming phone a 64mp main camera 13mp wide and 5mp macro and a 24mp front facing camera, you can shoot up to 8k in video here but there is no point just yet in doing so as where can you watch it? This wont be mainstream for another 2 years at least and then think of those large files too if using 8k but the fact that it is there those fe who have 8K tv and has tech than 8K capabilities can enjoy now. The cameras are good in my eyes given it is not the main feature of the phone and who it is aimed at you can take great photos and videos but check them out for yourself below.

We shot in 4K on this phone as I felt it was the best thing to do to a wider audience but we can upload 8K video if requested.

We have done both night and daytime sample videos and photos here so you can get some context.

Full camera specs

8K UHD (7680 x 4320) video at 30 fps for main rear camera 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) video at 30 / 60 fps for main rear camera, at 30 fps for second rear camera 1080p FHD video recording at 30 / 60 fps 720p HD video recording at 30 fps 3-axis electronic image stabilization for rear cameras Time Lapse (4K UHD video) Slow Motion video (4K at 120 fps; 1080p at 240 / 120 fps; 720p at 480 fps) Take still photo while recording video.

Overall this phone is ideal for those who want it all, which is gaming audio camera power and more it is a solid phone not lacking where others do.

8 Amazing Applications of Biotechnology You Should Know

Biotech is the evolving branch of science that combines knowledge from traditional biological and chemical procedures with tech tools to produce better organisms and products for daily use. 

Ongoing research has enabled us to use biotech for various purposes. Biotech experts rely on advanced techniques like the protein expression and purification service to develop better medicines and products to solve various problems. 

Everyone should be familiar with how biotech is shaping our future. In this blog, we will show you how biotech is making the world a better place – keep reading!

 

1. Space and Biotech

Scientists around the world have focused on space exploration during the past decades. With each space exploration and investigation, we find that space can provide us with minerals and even become “habitable” if certain conditions are met. 

But there are still many challenges to overcome before we can conquer space. 

For example, improving air and water is necessary to make space travel accessible for everyone. Handling biowaste is another challenge when it comes to space travel. Recycling organic products is also important to ensure that spaceships can perform properly for years to come. 

Biotech procedures can solve the space exploration challenges mentioned above. For example, the methanogenic bacteria can allow us to break down biomaterials into methane gas that we can use as fuel for spaceships. 

 

2. Food and Biotech

Experts suggest that we might face a food crisis in the future if we don’t handle food production properly. One of the things we can adopt to improve food production is to use biotechnology and its applications. 

Biotech has helped us produce transgenic crops. These genetically modified crops are more resistant to weather and pests. Transgenic or genetically modified crops can help us save our costs spent on pesticides and allow us to have better crop production. 

 

3. Industrial Biotech

The amazing thing about biotech is that its applications are not limited to food or medicine. With proper processes, we can use biotech for industrial advantages as well. For example, biotech can help us with the production of biofuels. 

Genetically modified bacteria can convert organic matter into methane gas which we can use for industrial purposes. Biofuel is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels and can help industries lower the cost of production. 

Another biotech application is the production of microbes that can convert plants into biodegradable plastics. Biotech has also played its part in the improvement of the textile industry. Some of its applications are:

  • Production of wrinkle-free clothes
  • Enhanced longevity of fabrics
  • Improved dye uptake

 

4. Environmental Biotech

Industrialization has harmed our environment over the years. We cannot reverse the damage done by fossil fuel emissions and industrial waste unless we develop proper processes to overcome the environmental problems. Biotech is enabling us to produce products that can help our environment. 

A leading example of using biotech to conserve the environment is the development of bioremediation. Scientists utilized the catabolic properties of microorganisms through bioremediation to purify contaminated soil and water. 

Bioremediation of soil and water through biotech is done in three processes:

  • Degradification
  • Detoxification
  • Restoration

Biotech has also enabled us to purify the gases in the environment. Microbes allow us to remove the toxins from the emission sites of industrial plants that can harm the environment. Biotech can also be used to keep the ocean clean by removing the impurities from industrial effluents released into the ocean.

 

5. Forensics and Biotech

Forensic science plays a vital role in maintaining law and order in society. With the adoption of advanced methods by criminals to carry out illegal activities, law enforcement agencies now rely on advanced solutions like biotech processes to identify criminals. 

Forensic experts could only rely on serology and the study of fluids in the past. But biotech is now providing forensics with advanced solutions that can help rapidly identify criminals in trials. 

For example, DNA forensics is a developing branch of biotech, which encompasses procedures like:

  • DNA profiling
  • DNA footprinting
  • DNA fingerprinting 

With PCR analysis, forensics can now extract information from small evidence items collected at the crime scene. 

6. Synthetic Biology

What if we can modify organisms on purpose and use them for advanced applications? Biotech has turned this dream into reality with synthetic biology. In synthetic biology, experts specifically redesign organisms so they can adopt new abilities, which we can use for various purposes. 

Thanks to the flexible nature of biotech, synthetic biology benefits from multidisciplinary research that can speed up the production of better organisms. Some of the techniques used in synthetic biology are:

  • Genetic engineering
  • Computer engineering
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular biology
  • Evolutionary biology 

A common application of synthetic biology is its use for food production. For example, synthetic enzymes are responsible for producing around 90% of hard cheeses in the U.S. 

Synthetic biology has been a dormant field of research until recently. However, the research in synthetic biology has become easier thanks to the affordable costs of genetic engineering processes. 

 

7. Stem cell research

Stem cells can play an important part in the development of medicine. Due to their unique intrinsic properties, stem cells can grow rapidly in different types of body cells. The newly-produced body cells produced by stem cells can be used to cure a disease by introducing the cells into a patient’s body. 

Biotech can help us produce desired types of cells from stem cells. With stem cell research techniques, biotech experts can develop stem cells in a lab setting or in vitro to speed up the production of body cells from stem cells. 

Ongoing stem cell research using biotech practices hints that we might be able to control the growth of stem cells through deterministic mechanisms. 

 

8. Tissue Nanotransfection

Tissue Nanotransfection is another promising application of biotech. In this approach, specific genetic codes are entered into skin cells. These codes can dictate the growth of skin cells and can help us produce different types of body cells efficiently. 

The good thing about Tissue Nanotransfection is that it can potentially lower our dependency on stem cell research. Some studies hint that Tissue Nanotransfection might also allow us to produce desired body cells by injecting genetic codes into cells other than skin cells. 

Tissue Nanotransfection is a developing gene therapy that might help us revolutionize medicine along with other medical biotech procedures. 

Lion’s Den business pitch event returns on 25th May to celebrate Afro-Irish Entrepreneurs.

Lion’s Den returns to celebrate the entrepreneurial talent of the Afro-Irish community and African diaspora.

Wood Quay Venue in Dublin will host the competition organised by the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI).

The competition sponsors are Dublin City Council, Dogpatch Labs, META and HoaQ.

Six businesses are vying for the 2022 prize. The companies offer services in healthcare, fintech, commercial model management, fashion and food.

The public can vote until 16th May to select three finalists from the six company shortlist. The three finalists will pitch on the 25th May in front of Ireland’s tech and investment communities.

The Lion’s Den is not only a competition but a unique networking opportunity. Representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the Irish VC community will be in attendance. The pitch finale will be one of the largest events celebrating Africa Day in Ireland. Africa Day is a global event which has been running since 1963.

Against the historic background of the viking city wall dating from 1100 AD – the future game changers in Afro-Irish community get a chance to storytell about how they have built thriving businesses in the COVID era.

Lion’s Den is a platform that can contribute to building the first Irish unicorn with an Afro-Irish founder.

The shortlisted companies gain access to sponsor led workshops on brand building and expansion.

Previous winners include Wellahealth and the Jungle Food Company. Wellahealth have received seed investment from AXA Mansard (one of the largest insurers globally). Jungle Food Company are now listed with national retailer SuperValu.

Ayo Olabimtan, investment manager and president of the APNI spoke about the contest:

“It is the only business pitch competition in Ireland focused on entrepreneurs of African descent. It provides the companies access to an invaluable support network and access to capital. It is a unique springboard for growing businesses to connect with investors from the growing start up scene in Ireland.”

The public can vote for their top business until the 16th May. They can also register for their free ticket to attend the grand finale on the 25th May at the link below

https://linktr.ee/apnireland

Lion’s Den is an APNI event. APNI is a non-profit organisation with over 1,700 members connecting African and Afro-Irish professionals and business owners through webinars, workshops, competitions and mentorship schemes.

Full information is on the website

Shortlist

 

Business  Founders Mission Website
Eko Model Management Tessy Ehiguese and Dave Olu Providing diversity in the commercial model space. https://www.ekomodelmanagement.com/
La Ruche Health Rory Assandey Increasing access to essential healthcare in low-income communities. https://laruche.health/
K Pesa Leyla F Karaha Funding for women lead start-ups. https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpesa/
Surejobz App Alex Oshunloye Helping Africans find work across boundaries. https://www.surejobzapp.com
Mama Shee Edizemi Onilenla Bringing West African cuisine to Ireland’s local stores. www.mamashee.com
Umoja Linn China Soribe & Meneliswa McDonald Creating a marketplace for African fashion designers. www.umojalinn.com

 

https://www.apni.ie/

7 Reasons the English Premier League is the most Popular Domestic League on the Planet

The English Premier League is the most-watched domestic sports league in the world. Millions of people from all around the globe tune in each week to watch live games unfold. 

But what is it that attracts so many sports fans to watch these soccer games? Why are television companies spending large sums of cash on the rights to televise English football, and why are some of the best players and managers in the world working for these clubs?

 

1. It’s unpredictable

Anything can happen in the Premier League. Each club is given a cash injection each year because of television rights. This allows small clubs to spend millions of pounds on top players. 

Unlike other domestic competitions, the team at the bottom of the league can beat the team at the top. Predicting the outcome of any Premier League game can prove challenging, but even with that in mind, gambling in the premier league is extremely popular. You will be able to find odds for all of the fixtures at an online casino. 

Betting on the Premier League can be a lot of fun. You will be able to find an online casino that allows you to bet on the number of goals, substitutions, corners, goalscorer, etc. 

It’s no surprise that gambling on the Premier League is popular. In the 2020/21 season, over fifty percent of the teams in the competition were sponsored by betting companies. 

2. The Premier League has a long history

The first Premier League season took place in 1992/93. Before the Premier League, the top domestic football division in England was known as Division One. However, Division One had generated a negative reputation around the world due to hooliganism in the 1980s, which encouraged the owners to replace it with the Premier League. 

With broadcasters Sky onboard, they decided to change the way football in England was viewed. Sky, along with the Premier League’s owners, decided to make the Premier League a family-friendly competition. They worked hard changing people’s persona on the league, and over time, it seemed to have worked. Today, attending football games is a lot safer than it once was. People of all ages go to Premier League matches without having to worry about their safety. 

3. The media attention

The media surrounding the Premier League is constantly growing. Although most fans tune into their local television network to watch the fixtures, you can easily find other content online. There are several fan channels on popular streaming platforms like YouTube, and there are countless groups on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. 

If you want to find out more about your favorite club, upcoming fixtures, the latest transfers, or injuries, just do a quick search on Google. There are multiple websites dedicated to the Premier League. There are news channels that discuss the Premier League 24 hours a day. 

 

4.The style of play

The Premier League is highly entertaining. Not just because of the avid fans, or the flashy footballers, but the style of play is what most people like about the Premier League. 

In almost every Premier League fixture you’re guaranteed tough tackles, exciting attacks, interesting tactics, etc. Unlike the German League, players don’t get a lot of time on the ball. Each player must make quick decisions if they expect to retain possession. 

Arguably the best managers in the world manage clubs in the Premier League. Klopp at Liverpool, Pep at Manchester City, Conte at Spurs, and Tuchel at Chelsea. These managers have made the Premier League the most exciting league at the moment. Although each manager has a unique style of football, it can be enjoyable for the neutral and supporters to watch. 

 

5. Watch it all over the world

In the past, watching the Premier League fixtures could prove challenging. However, in recent years, watching games has become a lot easier. Although standard in-home viewing is just as popular as it once was, more people than ever before are watching the games from their mobile devices. Streaming Premier League matches is an easy way to watch a game while you are on the move. 

Today, you can watch the English league in one hundred and eighty-eight countries. Here are the only countries that are recognized by the UN that you won’t be able to watch the league:

 

  • North Korea

 

  • Turkmenistan

 

  • Cuba

 

  • Afghanistan

 

The league reaches over one billion homes each year. Live coverage of games is shown in over 900 million homes annually. 

Even if you are planning a vacation abroad, watching your favorite team play in the Premier League won’t be difficult. 

The league is a good conversation starter while visiting a foreign country. Especially in areas throughout South East Asia and Africa. Lots of local people in these areas tune into the Premier League on a regular basis. You will find counterfeit Premier League jerseys for sale in a lot of the stalls in local marketplaces. 

 

6. The supporters

Premier League supporters are some of the most passionate supporters on the planet. Even the teams at the lower end of the table attend games week-in, week-out. International supporters often travel for thousands of miles to watch their beloved team in real life. 

Even for people who don’t find football entertaining, attending a game and watching the loyal fans scream, sing and shout, for ninety minutes can be highly entertaining. A lot of supporters in England breathe, sleep, and eat football. It is an obsession throughout the country. 

7. It created a lot of excitement during the pandemic

Although the Premier League was temporarily put on hold during the pandemic, the owners decided to continue the competition behind closed doors. This allowed fans to watch each game unfold while many people around the world were on lockdown. This provided fans with much-needed excitement. Although the stadiums were empty, the games were just as exciting as ever. During these unprecedented times, more people found themselves watching Premier League fixtures to avoid boredom. 

Tech Review – Coolify 2 Neck Air Conditioner

With the Summer coming in fast and we have had a great few days lately which was great timing for testing this latest product from TORRAS which is the Coolify 2 which is the second model they have now created, you can check out the first model and other models on offer on their site, there is 3 versions of the latest model with a starting price of $179 and goes upwards to $229 with some extras, do not forget to include shipping costs and taxes if applicable to your region.The company offer free  shipping in the US.

What is the product about then

If you are into sports and fitness or just like being cooled down then this is for you, it might seem a bit cumbersome by its size but do not let that put you off, the headset is no bigger than an average pair of headphones only you let them rest on your neck, there is two controls on the device and that is is nothing complicated at all here.

a. Click the power button — turn on/gear 1 2 3/turn off the COOLIFY2.
b. Press the power button for 1.5S at any mode/gear — turn off the COOLIFY2.
c. Click the mode button– switch in between cooling mode and fan mode.
d. Press the mode button for 1.5S — switch in between cooling mode/ fan mode and heating mode.
We go through the motions in the review anyway so do check it out below in the hands on video
Coolify fans
Coolify fans
Bottom view
Top view

Build quality

The build is mainly plastic but robust it might feel a bit cumbersome for some folk but after using it you can forgive this as seen in video review below it has a glossy finish for the most part and has air outlets on both sides and breathing holes for the fans too.

Does it actually work

Yes in short it does you can heat up or cool down but the USP here is the cool factor with the pun intended you will not need ice a cold towel or a bucket of water with this on it works a treat and with the hot weather we had here I took advantage of this and brought it with me on a small break in the country and I often carry a small desk fan with me on my travels but did not this time around to give this a shot and it is a lifesaver if you are hot and not a huge fan of the heat which is me..Battery life is also good for 18 hours in fan mode 1, or 1.5 hours in cooling mode 3. The LED Screen shows the battery life and setting mode as you will see in the video review.

Can I recommend it.

That is an easy yes if you are into sports or a regular user of a fan and require cooling down, anyone can use it in fact, the ease of use factor is also important here with no app or connecting to your phone and so on, however perhaps the next variant might include a headphone option to sweeten the deal, some might think the price is a bit much but it is the convenience factor here of how the product is made and how simple it is to use yet alone the benefits of getting cool fast.

Features

  • – Chill, instantly. Cool Down 27°F in 1S.
  • – Immersive Wrap-around Cooling with KU 2.0 Chip. It improves the cooling performance up to 7 times. Turn it on, turn heat off.
  • – Colossal 3D Airflow Power for neck fan. Fully personalize your temperature, anytime, anywhere.
  • – Live it Up from Dusk ’til Dawn, 3H Charge for Up to 23H Use
  • – Flex-to-Fit 0-160°, Coolify2 makes one-size-fits-all possible.
  • – Smart, as it should be. NTC smart temperature control and LED hidden design keep your temperature more manageable.
  • – Portable and safe, cooling made easy. Wrap around and breeze your neck safely thanks to 13x safety protection.
  • – Heating, In the Air. It is also designed for keeping you warm in colder months. Go heated, go totally warm.

BUY : https://torraslife.com/neck-airconditioner/

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3EqrEPK

Video Review

 

Salesforce Report Shows 86% of Irish Respondents Say Experience Is as Important as Products

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, today released the fifth edition of its State of the Connected Customer report that shares insights from nearly 17,000 consumers and business buyers across 29 countries, including 650 from Ireland on the new digital-first customer engagement landscape.

Key insights of this year’s State of the Connected Customer report include:

A Trust-Based Economy Has Emerged. As customers navigate a rapidly changing world, questions of trust, values and integrity are increasingly impacting their relationships with companies. 91% of Irish respondents believe trust becomes more important in times of change.

Digital Acceleration Is Sparking Demand for Personalisation at Scale. Customer engagement is decidedly digital-first, but brands are under pressure to merge online and offline interactions into a personalised experience as in-person interaction re-emerges. 69% of Ireland respondents have purchased products in new ways since 2020.

New Realities Are Testing Brand Loyalties. As priorities and behaviours shift, established brand loyalties are undergoing tests of strength. 73% of Irish consumers have switched brands at least once last year.

This new digital-first world has changed the norms of commerce, work, and everyday life, prompting customers and brands to re-establish how they connect. As customers continue to shift their preferred experiences with brands to online channels, brands must re-imagine digital-first experiences that engage customers in a way that is flexible, thoughtful, and provides a personal touch.

View a breakdown of key insights from consumers and business buyers, including generation and country filters, in an interactive Tableau dashboard.

“It is more important than ever for companies to understand their customers’ needs and expectations,” said Deirdre Purcell, Country Sales Leader at Salesforce Ireland. “While businesses are navigating a changing landscape, so too are customers, with an increased importance on trust, values and integrity impacting their relationships with brands.

 “The accelerated demand for digital technology is set to continue, but it is not the only challenge leaders have to grapple with, they also need to focus on merging online and offline interactions into more personalised experiences. This new digital-first world means that companies in Ireland must re-establish how they connect with customers and engage them in a flexible, thoughtful manner.”