Independent leading real hands on tech review site in Ireland with technology, business news and more.
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.
A projector is something I have been looking for a good while now and this is one way we can evade the licence fee we have to pay here by the way which has been big news of late and no doubt some folk use such tech today. But we have this new product out which has much to offer in a small package that also looks good and contemporary and will fit the bill for many in my opinion. We will do a quick first look and unboxing today and in the meantime if you have any questions feel free to ask. One thing to keep in mind here is the versatility of this product and its ease of use and we look forward to showing you our results in the coming weeks.
The Qumi Z1 Series is available as two models. The Z1H can project a screen size of up to 100 inches at 300 lumen brightness level with HD720p resolution. Texas Instruments’ established and respected DLP technology delivers sharp and crisp images with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. It is feature-rich and equipped with WiFi to connect to the user’s favourite online content, while other preferred content can be preloaded onto the 8Gb onboard memory of the Z1H.
The Qumi Z1V enables users to enjoy projection with 480p resolution with a screen size of up to 75 inches at a brightness level of up to 250 lumens and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Like the Z1H, the Z1V benefits from the convenience of an HDMI-in interface to make it even easier to connect it to laptop devices.
Superb image
The Qumi Z1 Series can light up any social gathering thanks to it being able to project an image of up to 100” from any mobile device. Its advanced multi-media player and ability to display virtually any content makes the Qumi Z1H a true extension to a mobile device. Users can display their favourite apps or stream online content directly via a WiFi connection to the Qumi Z1H, or preload content to the on-board storage, or directly mirror their content from USB-C for certain compatible Android phones, via a cable. It is equally easy to connect the Qumi Z1V to USB or HDMI sources to really get the party started.
Massive sound
The Qumi Z1 Series is set to impress those who consider a smart phone’s screen too small and its volume too quiet for true entertainment satisfaction. The combination of image quality and the built-in 2x5W stereo sound performances adds to its talents as a true entertainer offering both perfect picture quality with an audio ambiance that will impress users wherever it accompanies them; to a friend’s, at parties, in a hotel room, or even at an outside movie-night, under the stars.
The Edifier R908T might be a few years old and we tested them out to see how they stand the test of time and for the price you pay here you get a great stylish set of multimedia speakers for your office or home set up that deliver on sound and also they are not too cumbersome to place in your home be it on a bookshelf or your personal set up as for example I have one made up in the video below to check out yourself, I tend to change my set up quite often and I also move from upstairs to downstair in the house depending on how busy I am.
These speakers have no bluetooth or remote which some might find annoying but it is no big deal as they are a simple plug and play set up. These can be plugged into your smartphone,pc,laptop or tv if it has the requirements on the rear,some will depending on how old your TV is as some configurations might not allow it.
Using this from my PC and phone the speakers yield great results with sound and also deliver a nice touch of bass and the overall impression is the sound is well balanced and plenty aloud which is how I like it and louder than I expected from this pair. They also look good and they are clean and will blend in anywhere.
Check out the unboxing and sound test below and let us know what you think. For the price you will pay for these they are well worth the spend for a strong good looking and sounding pair of multimedia speakers.
Active bookshelf speaker system with 24W total power output
Calibrated, flared bass reflect port in front of the speaker
Dual RCA inputs for connectivity to multiple audio sources
100% MDF wooden enclosures to minimize acoustic resonance
The Nokia 2.2 is now available to purchase in Ireland from the Nokia store and you can also bag a free xpress on cover if you purchase from the store right now but this is a limited offer which runs from now until 31/08/2019.
The Nokia 2.2 comes with Google Assistant and AI technology and will get regular updates as part of the Android One programme and is said to get Android Q at a later stage this year. The 2.2 comes with a 13 megapixel real camera and a 5MP front facing camera, 3000mAh battery and 2GB RAM. At the time of posting this the Dual Sim variant is on offer so again this might suit those who carry two sims and it would be an ideal holiday phone which would allow you buy a local sim.
Pure Telecom, the Irish high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, today announces the results of a survey, which found that traditional TV viewership is declining as younger generations choose internet-reliant video and streaming instead. The nationally-representative research*, carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom, also found that Irish consumer spending on video streaming will reach €454.6M in the next 12 months.
As more streaming services come to the Irish market, consumers are being offered a wider range and greater volume of programming. As a result, just 20% of Irish adults now view the TV licence as better value than streaming services. Some 57% think streaming is better value than the TV licence – increasing to 73% and 66% for Gen Zs and Millennials respectively – while 23% are undecided.
These results come in today just after the announcement of the way the licence fee will change in the coming years and how change is coming as we now consume more media from our smartphones and tablets and a #mobiletax is what I am going to call it will be introduced. We are now in the era of subscription based products like Netflix for example and I think this is the way forward in 2019 and the coming years rather than have a licence fee forced upon us we should be able to choose the content we want to watch and not have this mobile tax forced upon us, I heard Dee Forbes today on the Radio discussing how change is required to make things sustainable and for me and many others they need to look closer to home rather than force a levy on customers and perhaps look into Pay Per view or like I have said which many people like is a subscription based model.
One can argue about publicly funded content but the flipside of this is what the public want to watch and not have a fee forced upon us if we don’t chose to watch it, We live in a democracy and forcing a fee on consumers is far from a democracy end of story. We pay tax on our electronics when we purchase them as it is. There is younger new talent out there too which RTE need to look at since they speak or reform and give other’s a chance.
It's time we took a stance on this. We pay an isp by choice . We pay for mobile by choices , We pay tax on our electronics by choices l. We should be able to subscribe BY CHOICE like Netflix for example. DISCUSS. #RTE#LicenceFeepic.twitter.com/lyc5QqF7m2
— Jim O Brien Tech 👨💻techbuzzireland.com (@techbuzzinfo) August 2, 2019
Pure Telecom’s research suggests that internet-reliant content is closing the gap on broadcast TV. The average person spends 17 hours 21 minutes watching broadcast TV per week, compared to 14 hours 3 minutes spent viewing content sourced online. However, that changes to 10 hours 9 minutes of TV versus 21 hours 12 minutes of online content for Gen Zs; and 14 hours 8 minutes versus 16 hours 10 minutes for Millennials.
The research found that Galway and Longford residents are the heaviest consumers of online content, watching an average of 18 hours 20 minutes each week. This is closely followed by those living in Kildare (18 hours 16 minutes) and Louth (17 hours 59 minutes). Those living in Roscommon spend the least time viewing online content, watching 7 hours 16 minutes per week.
Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom
Commenting on the findings, Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “There is a growing global appetite for sourcing TV and video content online and Irish consumers are no exception. That trend is particularly pronounced amongst the younger generations, who have grown up alongside technology and are used to having services at their fingertips.
“Consumers expect the convenience that online content can offer such as high quality on-demand, on-the-go viewing; they want to watch what they want, when they want. High-speed broadband is crucial for this, as it ensures viewers get a seamless service without any buffering or quality issues. As broadband plays a greater role in people’s lives, it is essential that both urban and rural areas have access to the fastest, most reliable internet and that is something that we at Pure Telecom are very committed to providing.”
The world of healthcare is changing. By 2040, specialist surgeons will use remote robots to operate on patients in different continents; babies will have their DNA sequenced before they are even born; and patients will be able to generate new blood inside their own bodies without the need for a blood donor.
These are just some of the findings of a new report commissioned by international healthcare specialists, Allianz Care, to help them prepare for the longer-term needs of their customers. The report looks at how medical science and healthcare delivery will be transformed globally in the next 20 years. Allianz Care is the international health brand of Allianz Partners and a leading provider of international health insurance.
The Future Health, Care & Wellbeing Report
Authored by internationally renowned futurologist, Ray Hammond, it presents likely future developments and trends in healthcare between now and 2040. Commenting on what healthcare will look like in 2040, Ray Hammond said:
“Healthcare is one of the few arenas in which every one of us has a stake. The next 20 years will witness profound change in healthcare, all the more notable given that medical science and healthcare delivery tend to be conservative, slow-moving sectors that are highly resistant to change. The annual global market is currently estimated to be worth around $8.1 trillion, with annual global spending on healthcare forecast to rise to $18.28 trillion by 2040. With that in mind, we have a collective responsibility to ourselves and to the next generation to determine what that change will look like and the impact it will have on all of us.”
The report identifies five key trends which, collectively, will revolutionize the healthcare landscape. These include: personalized medicine; stem-cell medicine; nano-scale medicine; gene therapy and editing; and digital health.
The key healthcare predictions for 2040 are:
Health information from traditional annual physical check-ups and other tests previously only available in a surgery or lab will be replaced by data from sensors on/around our ‘smart’ bodies (including in our clothing and, eventually, skin and blood). This will be immediately accessible to us, in real time.
A new field of ‘predictive medical data mining’ will provide early warnings of physiological trouble ahead or indications of disease as it develops. Physicians will have 24/7 real-time reports of their patients’ wellbeing and will be alerted to any change in patients’ data that requires urgent attention
Stem-cell medicine will be a powerful tool in mainstream medicine. For example, replacement human organs for transplant will be grown on demand from stem cells in the lab, with minimal risk of rejection
Nano-medicine (in its infancy in 2019) may eventually outperform all other branches of medical science, as scientists create ‘designer drugs’ that are far more powerful than today’s drugs. The use of UV-Vis Spectrophotometers will also play an important role in the manufacturing process of nano-medicine in the upcoming years.”
Anchor text: UV-Vis Spectrophotometers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) ‘chatbots’ equipped with deep learning algorithms could relieve emergency room personnel of tending to large numbers of walk-in patients with non-emergencies (e.g. sore throats, UTIs)
Ultimately, this report will help insurers anticipate the benefits and potential challenges of the evolving healthcare environment, from a customer perspective. It not only provides insight, but it will also help spark ideas and debate to proactively plan for the future.
The future of health insurance
The report makes clear that in the future, insurance business models will need to change. Currently, one of the primary purposes of insurance is that an individual is covered for the unexpected. But in the future, health issues will be identified, and often addressed at birth. Health will no longer be an unknown quantity. Insurance premiums, which used to pay for health events that ‘might happen’, may evolve into a fund which is there to pay for treatment following unexpected accidents, and to access the latest technology to treat conditions which can’t be dealt with at birth. Health plans will most likely be completely tailored to each person. Plus, as the number of deaths due to unexpected or incurable illnesses decreases, populations grow and people live longer, the sheer number of people in the world will bring its own challenges in terms of making sure that everyone can get prompt access to care. This is where digital tools, robotics and artificial intelligence can really help.
There will also be a significant shift with regards to where health information sits. Currently it’s primarily with doctors and hospitals. In the future, people will have much greater access to their own health data via in-body/device technology. However, future customers will need support interpreting that information and navigating the international healthcare system. They’ll also want data to back up decisions about which consultants they see and where to locate them. The role of the insurer will be to use their expertise and global network to make that process as easy as possible, while giving them access to the right care at the best rates.
For additional information about Allianz Care and how they are shaping the future of international healthcare, read the full ‘Future Health, Care & Wellbeing’ report, which was launched in July as part of ‘The World in 2040‘ futurology series.
A survey by Ricoh Europe has found that 42% of Irish office workers believe a physical office will be unnecessary in the next five to ten years as a result of technological advancements. Furthermore, 57% of workers say they will be able to effectively work from any location.
Forty-two per cent of Irish office workers believe that a physical office will be unnecessary in the next five to ten years, according to new research from Ricoh. In fact, the study found that 57% of respondents believe they will soon be able to work effectively from any location. The research, commissioned by Ricoh Europe and conducted by Coleman Parkes, involved 4,580 office workers from across 24 countries, including 150 from Ireland.
The survey also examined how younger generations are shaping the future workplace. When asked about the impact of Gen Z and their expectation of more flexible hours, a third (33%) of those surveyed in Ireland revealed that they think the typical 9-5 working day will cease to exist.
In terms of preferred workstyles, it appears agility is high on most people’s agenda with more than half (51%) of Irish workers revealing they would be attracted by the flexibility of a gig economy role*. Gen X were most drawn to this workstyle (59%), followed by Gen Z (52%), Baby boomers (50%) and Gen Y (41%).
However, despite the demand for more versatility, two in five (40%) Irish office workers cited a lack of flexibility as one of their top three workplace frustrations.
Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland & UK, said: “It’s quite clear from our findings that Irish office workers see the concept of the traditional workplace as a thing of the past. Employees no longer want to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. Instead, people want to use their time wisely and work smarter, wherever they are.
Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland and UK
“Furthermore, the youngest generations in the workforce have grown up with technology and want more fluidity in their roles. The workplace needs to adapt to this and accommodate everyone. Before getting to that stage, however, business leaders need to identify and understand the priorities of their people.
“As our research shows, a lack of flexibility remains one of the top frustrations for Irish office workers, yet versatility is seen as a defining element of the “office of the future” – it’s clear that there is a gap here and perhaps organisations aren’t doing enough to enable new and individual workstyles.
“In a world where technology can connect people from across the world in an instant and allow them to complete tasks much more quickly, there is no excuse for not empowering employees to work in a way that suits them. Moreover, businesses will see the benefits of this in terms of attracting talent, increasing job satisfaction, boosting productivity and supporting company growth.”
Mictic presents a wristband that uses your body movements to create sound through your phone or tablet in real-time. Forget air guitaring, think air drumming. Various activities are enriched using interactive sound patterns. This marks the beginning of a new era: audio augmented reality.
Do you want to play Bach, the Star Wars theme song or your favorite pop tune on the cello, and experience music like never before? Mictic allows you to play them all, giving everyone the opportunity to create or play music without an actual instrument. Thanks to wristbands with sensors, various instruments are controlled by simple motion – in other words: Mictic makes music following your movements. It is the perfect gadget for all those who love to express themselves through movement and sound.
The world’s first body instrument is as small as a watch and can be fixed to either wrists or ankles, making it portable as well as easy to carry. It is a tool developed to support musicians and performers, for instance when they are working on a new piece. Particularly developed sound kits have been tested and approved: The instruments are played by intuitive hand or leg movements. Mictic will provide additional instruments and individual sound kits, including robotic sounds or light sabers, thus also giving young ones a creative tool.
Rolf Hellat, Founder and CEO: «I want to empower everyone to intuitively create music with their own body!Everybody should experience the excitement of hearing sounds connected to their movements, something unknown so far. It just makes you smile – I can guarantee that much.»
Mictic AG is a rapidly growing startup founded and based in Zurich.To get their product off the ground and – quite literally – moving, the highly experienced and dedicated team has partnered with the Swiss Startup Factory.
The emerging company is currently looking for investors to finance their app as well as new developments and products. The pre-sale will be launched by July 2019 to raise funds for continued development. The product will be available in early 2020.
«After three years of developing the technology, we are finally ready for the last step: To develop the easy-to-use smartphone app. To finance this, we will start taking pre-orders,» says Rolf Hellat, Founder and CEO.
Stay tuned and check out the websitemictic.com to sign up for pre-orders and to become part of the next musical revolution.
Ireland’s leading renewable energy association, the Irish Wind Energy Association, has welcomed the announcement of the latest partnership between Amazon and an Irish wind farm.
Under the terms of the deal the 23.2 MW Cork wind farm, owned by Invis Energy, will provide clean energy to Amazon data centres. It is expected to start operations in September 2020.
David Connolly, CEO of the Irish Wind Energy Association, said: “This is fantastic news and a terrific vote of confidence in our industry which will also help Ireland achieve our 2020 renewable energy targets.
“Wind is the cheapest renewable energy on the market and increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. In the coming years we hope policymakers and industry will work together to ensure we can offer the best possible electricity prices to deliver more deals like this.”
VIRGIN MEDIA REVEALS SIZZLING SUMMER DEAL THAT OFFERS ENDLESS FOOTBALL IN ONE GREAT PACKAGE FOR ONE GREAT PRICE
Virgin Media has unveiled their ultimate sports package for Irish sports fans, with all the best Champions League and Premier League action on offer for just €55 per month for 12 months. Importantly, this new package includes great entertaining TV, superfast 250Mb broadband from Ireland’s fastest broadband network and now the ultimate sports pack with Virgin Media Sport and Sky Sports, as standard.
All Virgin Media TV customers are guaranteed to enjoy all 343 Champions League and Europa League matches, live on Virgin Media Sport, with Liverpool looking to defend their title as champions of Europe in a season that will see them joined in the game’s elite competition by rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and last season’s runners-up Tottenham. Revamped Barcelona and Real Madrid squads will test the dominance of the English clubs, with Italian champions Juventus, French kings Paris Saint-Germain and German super-club Bayern Munich all eager to bounce back after disappointing exits from last season’s Champions League.
Former Republic of Ireland player and Virgin Media Sport panelist Kevin Kilbane during the launch of Virgin Media’s €55-a-month ‘Endless Football’, Superfast Broadband and TV package, at Virgin Media Ireland HQ. You can check out Virgin Media’s Sizzling Summer package that offers the best value for Irish soccer fans on all the big competitions on https://www.virginmedia.ie/bundles/broadband-tv-phone. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Virgin Media TV customers will once again enjoy the very best coverage led by host Tommy Martin and illuminated by analysts Kevin Kilbane, Graeme Souness, Brian Kerr, Niall Quinn and Keith Andrews. The Virgin Media Sports team won widespread acclaim last season and they will be back once again to provide the best coverage of Europe’s two biggest football competitions.
The sport does not stop there with Virgin Media. From August 1st, Virgin Media’s new bundles also include Sky Sports. So now, in addition to customers having access to Virgin Media Sport, they can now also watch Premier League games, international qualifying games, All Ireland football and hurling, PGA tour and much much more.
New customers who sign up for our superfast broadband, entertainment TV package and our new outstanding sport package can lock in a fantastic deal from €55/month for 12 months. That’s one great bundle package for one great price.
Setting a new standard that is clearer, fairer and better value than all our rivals, Virgin Media is now the undisputed giant of sport, entertainment and broadband for Irish customers
