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.

The Philips Xperion 6000 Slim scoops Auto Express mega-test on workshop lighting, with Xperion 6000 UV Pillar being awarded Recommended status.

The UK’s most respected testing forum for automotive products, Auto Express, has assessed two of the latest Philips Xperion 6000 workshop lights and found them to be the pick of the bunch in its annual mega test. Winning the test with a superb five-star rating, was the Philips Xperion 6000 Slim, while its larger sibling, the range-topping Xperion 6000 UV Pillar, also secured a coveted Recommended Buy award.

The Best Buy, Philips Xperion 6000 Slim, was described as “A great package” – scoring near the top in every aspect of the test, from its substantial feel through its lighting performance to its run-time length and its value for money.

The Xperion 6000 Slim features a wide 100° beam angle from its long slim lighting unit which rotates through 270°, allowing the operator almost unlimited vision, through even the narrowest of gaps. The 6000 Slim has three different outputs – like the other lights in the range – and in the case of the Slim it ranges from 100-500 lm, yet it still offers a long operating time of up to 9 hours – depending on the levels of light required. With two different magnets – one on the base and one on the rear – and a useful torch in the tip, but still light and easy to use, with its folding light blade, and an SRP of £49.99, the lamp is a brilliant all rounder.

Xperion 6000 SLIM

Auto Express also heaped praise on the Philips Xperion 6000 UV Pillar, citing the performance of its 500-lumen light, its colour matching ability, its battery life and its advanced battery display as being amongst its premium features and its worthiness for Recommended Buy status.

The Philips Xperion 6000 UV Pillar, is packed full of features – a multi-purpose work light with several powerful light sources. It has a premium LED movable main light, with three different outputs ranging from 100-500 lumen(lm) and a wide 100° beam angle; a high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) light and a unique UV light which allows leak detection. The 6000 UV Pillar has a long-lasting battery and allows the user to locate it with the “Find My Device” function, which comes as standard (the same function is also available as an option on the Best Buy – wining 6000 Slim).

Both award winning Xperion workshop lights can be charged wireless via a docking station that can be purchased as an additional accessory.

“The Philips Xperion 6000 range employs some innovative thinking for workshop inspection lamps and its great to see this cutting-edge technology proving itself in the UK’s most respected test,” explains Richard Armstrong, Business Development Manager Automotive –UK & Eire for Lumileds, who manufacture and bring Philips Automotive products to the market, globally. “In an extremely competitive sector, having the products recognised as stand-out purchases so soon after their launch, should make both professional and serious home-users sit up and take notice.” 

The ranges of Philips Workshop lamps offer a wide variety of lighting solutions for Professional and home – workshop applications. From the EcoPro selection through the hybrid CBH52 under bonnet lamp and Penlight Colour+, to the new award-winning Xperion 6000 models, Philips workshop lamps offer the right product for the job.

Further details : www.philipsautomotive.com

·       Further details                          : LED work lights | Philips Automotive

·       Video Xperion 6000 Slim           : https://youtu.be/yqzXt6sNjDo

·       Video Xperion 6000 UV Pillar    : https://youtu.be/PZI5Ru7B5RQ

Virgin Mobile sms voice message scam to watch out for

Another day another scam this time it is an sms scam which claims to be sending you a voice message, this is not the case at all and has another unusual twist to it. Check the URL up top for 4smilesdental, then as seen in the image you will be asked to download a voice message app which is not required and you will see that if you can’t download the app you should allow it by changing the settings, clearly malware that will be installed on your phone.

As usual if you get a strange sms which this one is albeit appearing to coming from an Irish number you can spot that the text is all over the place and if you get such you should delete it straight away, I have checked this number out and it just answers with nothing else going on. A quick check on tellows and Who called me also lists the number as trouble.

Cut Business Energy Costs and Save Big With These Smart Tips

Are you looking for ways to save money on your business energy costs? If so, you’re in luck. There are a number of smart tips and tricks you can use to cut your business energy costs significantly. Here are just a few of the most effective.

Compare Different Rates to Get the Best Deal on Business Energy

One way to save on business energy costs is to compare different rates and providers. This will allow you to get the best deal on your energy costs, and save money in the process. According to the team behind www.compareyourbusinesscosts.co.uk, there are a few things to keep in mind when comparing rates. First, make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. This means that you should be comparing the same type of energy (electricity, gas, etc.) from different providers. Second, make sure that you are aware of any taxes or fees that may be associated with the energy provider you choose. Finally, make sure that you read the fine print before signing up for anything. 

Educate Your Employees About Energy Conservation

Your employees are your front line when it comes to conserving energy and saving money for your business. Make sure they know how important it is to conserve energy and what simple steps they can take to make a difference. Educate your employees about the importance of conserving energy. Show them how much money your business can save by reducing energy consumption. Offer training on energy conservation techniques and make it fun and engaging. The more your employees know about conserving energy, the more they will be willing to do their part.

 

There are many ways to educate your employees about conserving energy. You can start by hanging posters around the office or placing stickers in strategic locations. You can also send out regular email reminders or set up a competition with prizes for the employees who save the most energy. Whatever method you choose, make sure your employees are aware of the importance of conserving energy and are given the tools they need to make a difference.

Take Advantage of Government Incentives

The government offers a number of incentives for businesses to save energy, which can help you cut your business costs significantly. Many of these incentives are tax breaks, so be sure to speak with your accountant to see if you qualify. One popular incentive is the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA), which allows businesses to claim 100% first-year tax relief on investments in energy-saving equipment. This can be a great way to save money on energy costs, as you can effectively get all of your money back in the first year. 

 

There are also a number of grants and loans available to businesses that want to improve their energy efficiency. The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans of up to £5 million for projects that reduce carbon emissions, while the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme provides interest-free loans of up to £100,000 for energy efficiency measures. The government also offers a number of grants through its Energy Technology List (ETL), which can cover up to 30% of the cost of certain energy-saving technologies.

Switch to LED Lighting

One of the simplest and most effective ways to cut energy costs is to switch to LED lighting. LED lights use around 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 50 times longer, so they can save you a lot of money in the long run. They also emit very little heat, so they can help to keep your premises cool in summer. If you’re not ready to switch to LED lighting yet, there are still some things you can do to cut costs. For example, you could use energy-efficient light bulbs These may cost more upfront, but they use less energy and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run. 

Turn off lights when they’re not needed. This one seems obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Make sure all lights are turned off when they’re not needed, such as in unoccupied rooms or during daylight hours. Use timers and sensors. Timers and occupancy sensors are a great way to make sure lights are only turned on when needed. For example, you could use an occupancy sensor in a toilet so that the light is only turned on when someone enters the room. Use natural light. Where possible, make use of natural light instead of artificial light. This will help to cut costs and also boost employee morale as it has been proven to improve productivity.

 

There are many ways to cut business energy costs, but these are some of the most effective. Educating your employees about conserving energy, taking advantage of government incentives, switching to LED lighting, and making use of natural light are all great ways to save money. So take a look at your business energy costs and see where you can make some changes to save money.

First Look – Punkt MP02 phone. Need a detox from social media and more?

There has been several mobile devices over the years that enabled you to take a detox from all the hustle and your phone hopping all day with notifications but these are far and few between, we have dumphones and feature phones and then the smartphones which can give you all you need for little money these days and one can argue you can just turn off the notification or delete the apps but it is to easy and lets be honest about it, we can just switch all this back on.

The MP02 can be used as a second phone as a way to get some ‘digital downtime’ – everything else is left behind for a while. Alternatively, many MP02 owners use it as their sole phone and combine it with a mini-tablet as required, via the MP02’s hotspot. Having that larger screen is a major upgrade over any smartphone, and a tablet does not have the same ‘pester power’.

The MP02 offers an alternative to mass-produced, old-tech handsets. It’s not just a thin-as-possible pixel platform; it’s a solid, comfortable piece of equipment that is easy to pick up, feels great in the hand, and is never, ever going to bend. Its sleek elegance is matched by top-quality materials, producing a phone that provides a concrete reminder of why the physical world is the world that matters even before it is switched on.

Check out this new phone and stay tuned for a full hands on review soon…

Find out more about Punkt.’s new eco-conscious phone cases here.

Video Link

 

First Look – ZHIYUN CRANE-M2S camera gimbal

The latest from ZHIYUN has just landed and if you need a gimbal this company is where you should look if you dont want to spend a fortune on one.

At just 549g, the CRANE-M2S is highly portable, just like a phone gimbal, but with the capacity to hold cameras up to the Sony A7SIII with small prime lenses. The super lightweight body is combined with stronger motors and extended axes compared to the standard CRANE-M2 series, making it a must-have for high velocity, run-and-gun filmmakers.

Intuitive & Ergonomic Design

Designed to feel completely natural in the hand during use, the CRANE-M2S features a built-in 0.66-inch display that offers real-time status and operating parameters of the camera and gimbal, giving users a convenient at-a-glance view while they shoot. Various operating modes are available in the CRANE-M2S, including Pan Follow, Follow, Lock, POV, Vortex, Go and more.

Ultra-bright Light Built -in

An ultra-bright light is built into the CRANE-M2S. Using Lumen Amplifier technology it can produce over 1000 lumens brightness within 2.8 cubic meters, ideal for capturing subjects directly in shot. With five levels of adjustability and four colour filters, it gives users more creative potential and control.

Full review soon on techbuzzireland.com

The ZHIYUN CRANE-M2S is now available at £259/USD$269, while the CRANE-M2S Combo is available for £329/USD$349 at ZHIYUN Store and Amazon.

Video Link

ZHIYUN Announces SMOOTH 5 Mobile Movie Contest Winners

ZHIYUN, the world’s leading gimbal brand for filmmakers with cameras and smartphones, has announced the winners of its SMOOTH 5 Mobile Movie Contest. The top prize, the Filmmakers’ Choice Award, will receive USD$10,000 plus a selection of filmmaking products including ZHIYUN gimbals, while additional prizes of USD$3,000 plus ZHIYUN filmmaking products will be awarded to five further category winners. The judging panel includes: ZHIYUN, Insta360, Artlist, Artgrid, Motion Array, NANLITE, SmallRig and ESRgear.

Entrants created a video that followed one the five categories: narrative, mini documentary, adventure, music and dance, and how-to. ZHIYUN received over 400 submissions submitted from all over the globe. The judges noted the overall quality was extremely high, with the narrative category receiving the largest number of entries and included many outstanding creative works. The competition gave many new creative teams the opportunity to showcase their abilities, with many stating they were challenged to embrace new styles and techniques, and that the entries also showed the true possibilities of smartphone videography, which can produce quality that approaches close to professional cameras.

Top Prize: Filmmakers’ Choice

Shelly – Tim Hamilton

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgkd2-B0RlY 

Comments: “Incredibly creative and imaginative visual storytelling with a suitably offbeat narrative”

Category Winners

How-to:

How to set up a skateboard – PJ Madd

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXn26trBJng

Judges’ comments: “Lots of interesting tricks, and we can see the author’s intention to work with composition. It’s very well formed into one united story”

Music & Dance:

Words – Polar Eyes

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRNtd2yAsvg

Judges’ comments: “Innovative shots fit perfectly with the music and dance to tell a story.”

Mini-Doc：

Something Is Coming – SJ van Breda

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhbiHg6VdoU

Judges’ comments: “Every element looks harmonious, not a single wasted shot, excellent camera work, good editing.”

Narrative:

The Speed Date – TRIO Stories

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrhPjMhmWbo

Judges’ comments: “Feels like a movie, really cinematic and great storyline. Impactful mise en scene as well.”

Adventure:

Life Breath – Leo Markov

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJQ-15CCzQM

Judges’ comments: “Very time consuming and excellent planning of shots … the order of the shots. Well done.”

BTS Winners:

Camelot – Max Prod.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efF_pg7qdGY&

This is my adventure – Romuald Kabala

Video Link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbV2G5JDCdq

The Painter – Roberto Eduardo Mazzarago

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjheGMdX57o

ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 Gimbal Delivers Next-Level Smartphone Videography

ZHIYUN is committed to enriching filmmakers and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking through its products and community initiatives. The ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 gimbal for smartphones offers a 3-axis design, supremely smooth movement, a full-control panel, and the ZY Cami companion app. The ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 gimbal takes cinematic filming with your smartphone to the next level.

MSRP:

The ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 is now available at USD$169. The SMOOTH 5 plus a combo accessory pack is also available for $219.

Delta Partners Targets 30 Tech Investments With New Venture Capital Fund

Dublin-based venture capital firm Delta Partners has announced the launch of its new venture capital fund which will invest into seed and early-stage technology businesses in Ireland. The fund has reached a first close with Bank of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland as cornerstone investors, supported by Fexco and several family offices. New investors will be added to the fund over the coming year, with a target close of €70m.

The Delta team will invest in 30 of Ireland’s most innovative and exciting start-ups over the next 3-4 years, and Delta’s strategy is to invest at both the seed stage, where it will be the first institutional investor on board, and the Series A stage as companies launch their products and services internationally and require more capital to fund the scaling stages.

Expanding the team, Maurice Roche and Dermot Berkery, the existing Partners in Delta, are joined by two new Partners. Amy Neale is joining from a senior role in Mastercard where she led innovation teams focused on fintech across the globe from New York to Singapore and Kenya. Richard Barnwell brings vital experience as a hands-on entrepreneur having created Digit Games, previously an investee of Delta Partners which subsequently sold to U.S. games company Scopely.

Delta has a strong track record, with over 120 investee companies to date with successful scaling companies such as Luzern and Sirius XT in the current portfolio. To date, the team has realised €1.8bn from companies such as Clavis (sold to Ascential plc), Sensl (sold to OnSemiconductor) and Neuravi (sold to Johnson & Johnson).

Commenting on the new fund:

 Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, said: “We are constantly looking at ways we can back Irish businesses, especially at an early stage when raising finance is often the most difficult. I really admire those that are brave enough to start their own business. This Fund will be a €70m pot of money, supported by the Government through Enterprise Ireland for seed and early-stage technology businesses, working on ideas that will create the jobs of the future. I look forward to seeing the success of those that receive funding and wish the Delta team the very best of luck.”

 Jillian Clarkin, Head of SME Markets at Bank of Ireland, said: “This new fund will support the talent and ambition of dozens of fledgling Irish technology businesses. I look forward to seeing them grow into successful employers and exporters and I’m excited that Bank of Ireland will be part of that journey. Bank of Ireland is committed to supporting the innovation that is so important to Ireland’s future economic success.”

 Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “This fund will increase the availability of capital to early-stage companies to deliver on their business plans and compete with international peers.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus on seed-stage investments, which enhance diversity and experience in the ecosystem, is underpinned by this excellent launch and we look forward to working with the team at Delta over the coming years.”

 Dermot Berkery and Maurice Roche of Delta Partners Limited said: “This fund is aimed directly at the funding gap for early-stage companies in Ireland. Great Irish entrepreneurs are succeeding across the technology spectrum and the main thing they lack is capital to help them to achieve their ambitions. Our two new partners, Amy and Richard, bring incredible skillsets to help these entrepreneurs along their journeys.  We are delighted to have the support of Bank of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Fexco and the family offices of some of Ireland’s most successful technology entrepreneurs.”

 Neil Hosty, CEO of Fexco Group said: “Innovation is at the core of Fexco’s strategy and we are delighted to support the next generation of Irish technology success stories. This new fund will provide critical investment to exciting new businesses as they take on the international marketplace.”

DBIC Ventures leads €1.6M seed investment in Clarity CX1 – 30 jobs created

DBIC Ventures today announces that it has led a €1.6M funding round in industry cloud CRM company, Clarity CX1. The investment will be used to fuel Clarity CX1’s global growth plans, supported by 30 new jobs over the next two years.

Established in February 2020, Dublin-based Clarity CX1 develops tailored CRM solutions built on the Salesforce Lightning platform. The solution was developed to fill a gap in the market for strategic sales and relationship management in sectors with notoriously complex and multi-layered customer engagement structures, including life sciences, manufacturing and financial services. It is tailored for each industry and allows users to rank and manage opportunities strategically, providing the user with a detailed understanding of where to focus their efforts.

The investment will be used to support Clarity CX1’s go-to-market strategy, which includes international expansion. The company is targeting large multinationals operating in the US, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the UK and is currently implementing CX1 with Stemline Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Menarini Group based in Italy. Clarity CX1 estimates that the addressable market for its services is approximately $11BN per year and it expects to reach revenues of €1M by year-end 2022. This growth, along with the investment, will support the creation of an additional 30 jobs – bringing Clarity CX1’s total headcount to more than 40, with the majority being based in Dublin.

DBIC Ventures led the seed round, investing via its latest fund. Launched in 2019, the fund is highly active and is investing in up to 30 highly scalable, export-focused Irish software and MedTech companies up to year-end 2024. The fund is backed by leading Irish technology entrepreneurs and business leaders, as well as Enterprise Ireland. Also contributing to the funding round were business angel investors from Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN); Enterprise Ireland; Tribal.vc; and Spark Crowdfunding.

Clarity CX1 is a spinout company of Clarity Engagement Solutions, which since 2009 has been providing strategy consulting and virtual training solutions to 8 of the world’s top 20 pharma companies.

Chris Deren, CEO and founder, Clarity CX1, said: “Industries like pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services have large voids in their CRM systems because of their extremely complex B2B  sales cycles. Sales teams are engaging with multiple stakeholders of varying seniority in multiple departments: it is not only a headache, but it delays revenues. We are providing users with the insights to make the best use of their time and therefore shorten the sales cycle and pursue more qualified opportunities.

 “We are delighted to have the backing of DBIC Ventures as we go to market. They have not only provided us with capital, but also the experience, knowledge and network of contacts that are so important at this early stage. With this support – along with the financing – we will be able to scale globally at pace.”

Colm O’Sullivan, Partner, DBIC Ventures, said: “This significant investment underlines the founder’s impressive track record and the clear global market need for Clarity CX1. The company is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy and targeting some of the world’s most profitable industries.

 “DBIC Ventures invests in, and partners with, highly ambitious start-up teams to support their growth plans. I am excited to be joining the company’s board and working with the Clarity CX1 team as the company scales rapidly.

National Broadband Ireland Progress Update

NBI, the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP), has today issued a progress update which is showing strong momentum across all 26 counties.

By year end 2022, NBI is on track to deliver:

  • Premises under construction to grow by 43%, to 221,000 homes (40% of the 7-year target)
  • Premises available to order* set to increase by 266% to 128,000 homes
  • Premises passed^ to grow by 219% to 102,000 homes

Specifically on take-up, NBI reports take-up rates of over 30% already in Deployment Areas that have been live for a period of 6 months or more.

David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland said: “The leading indicators give us confidence that this ambitious project can and will be delivered on time and on budget. During 2022, 221,000 premises or 40% of the entire Intervention Area will be under construction, up from 28% last year. At the same time, we anticipate that 128,000 premises will be available to order on the NBI Network. Our ability to move premises from the construction phases to the order phase is seriously ramping up which means users can reap the benefits of the transformational network sooner.”

NBI Chief Executive Peter Hendrick said: “Early take-up of services on the NBI network are already exceeding 30% in many of the initial deployment areas and it’s growing all the time, something we see as a really strong indicator of future demand. By comparison with any national or international comparison this is indicative of very high uptake levels, substantially ahead of initial expectations. Ultimately, we are confident of an overall take-up of approximately 85% and already have some 50 broadband providers signed up to sell services on the NBI network. This platform competition is expected to bring significant benefits directly to consumers by ensuring that bundled voice, broadband and TV packages offer real choice at competitive prices.”