Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

“MIND-SHIFT: A Compendium on Future Mobility, Circularity and New Urbanism“

The eagerly awaited study “MIND-SHIFT: A Compendium on Future Mobility, Circularity and New Urbanism“ will be presented to the public, the impressive result of six months of in-depth research and analysis of English- and German-language lead media data.

Oliver Heyden, Chief Strategic Officer of pressrelations, talks about the methodology used during research: “We centered our research program FirstSignals ® on the systematic way for early recognition of future trends which opened up our analytic focus to totally new connectivities and developments, making it possible for us to recognize innovative and new dynamic perspectives. To put it in other words: we have concentrated our efforts on what moves mobility in the real sense of the word by looking at what serves as basis for the awareness in English- and German language lead media.”

E-Mobility, Software & In-Car-Tech, Circularity & Sustainability, New Urbanism and Logistics are some of the central issues at the heart of the new study, a preview of the fascinating subject matters and possible solutions awaiting all of us, and an in-depth look at the challenges, the latest developments and opportunities of the future.

Just in the field of mobility and digitization, media coverage increased by a phenomenal 800% in the past year alone with the main focus on digital services in the automotive industry. For 40% of the European customers, and 80% of those from China, the improved range of products in that specific field was reason enough to change their automotive brand.

The inadequate charging infrastructure is still the main discussion point when talking about mobility. Huge electric charging stations with quick-charging points represent old conventional gas station-thinking from the time of combustion engines. That slows down an effective build-up of a network of charging points as they turned out to be too expensive, too complex, and take too much time to install. Small charging points – like parking meters – are needed instead to take advantage of the ever-present availability of electricity. That way the downtime of cars, 85% of their time after all, could be used effectively.

The paradigm of smart cities loses attractiveness, for years the dominant factor in urban research. Urban flight has become a mass phenomenon, and so has become a serious concern for the cities. In its stead, urban concepts are concentrating more and more on quality of life and climate resilience.

Another example is “Shipageddon,” the supply-chain-crisis in the field of logistics. Mark Leonard, one of the world’s leading political scientists, has called it “the Connectivity Wars,” increasing protectionism globally leading to an increase in bilateral trade agreements from 38 in 1994 to 354 today.

“Shipageddon” transformed the entire global logistics industry and causes “Near-Shoring” and “Back-Shoring,” thus creating a new megatrend: circularity.

Dr. Hans Hamer, CEO of SHIFT Mobility, sees a unique approach towards the future in the holistic nature of “MIND-SHIFT: A Compendium on Future Mobility, Circularity and New Urbanism.”

“Inspiration and new ideas are mostly found at the interface where industries overlap and cross-pollinate, and so turn into a kind of a breeding ground for innovation. That is why we are looking at the entirety of the mobility ecosystem in the study, and that is why that interconnectivity is becoming such a seismograph for future developments in mobility.”

On March 30, 2022, Dr. Hans Hamer and Oliver Heyden will present first results to a prestigious group of scientists, politicians and business leaders from the mobility industries at the restaurant “Borchardt” in Berlin.

What Does a Tech Writer Do?

Writing is a skill that can take you far in the world of business, whether you’re writing blog posts, marketing content, or even a book. But what if you’re more technically inclined than you are a wordsmith?

Can you still make it as a writer in such an arena? The answer is absolute, at least based on some experts’ opinions.

As a tech writer, I’m often asked, “What does a tech writer do?” While this is a really broad question, it’s a great place to start. Let me first paint the broader picture of what the role entails; then, we can look at real-world examples.

The short answer to this question is that a tech writer is someone who writes about technology. But there’s more to it than that. What does a tech writer really do? Here’s a quick explanation.

Tech writers write documentation, tutorials, and glossaries on technical topics. Simply put, they explain technical topics that are hard to understand in a way that other people can easily comprehend.

The technology field is growing at a rapid pace, so tech writers have plenty of opportunities available to them.

Tech writers are often thought of as the unsung heroes of the tech world. If you’ve used or read about new technology, you’ve come across a tech writer’s work at some point. This article tells you everything you need to know about tech writers and their role in the tech world.

So, who are tech writers?

A technical writer is a professional information communicator who transfers information to other parties through any medium.

Technical writers research and create information through a variety of delivery mediums (electronic, printed, audiovisual, and even touch).

Technical writers spend their days researching, writing, reviewing, and editing technical documentation. They work with technical staff to make complex information easier to understand. Reference documentation. This is more in-depth information about the product, and it includes handbooks, online help, FAQs, and so on.

For example, this document contains several software engineering lecture notes, slides, books, essays and more which can serve as excellent reference materials for technical writers. Sometimes it is included as part of the procedural documentation; for instance, many procedures will include links to reference material that explains specific terms or concepts used in the procedure.

What technical writing entails

Procedural documentation. The best example of this is instructions that come with a product. The instructions are written by a technical writer and explain how to operate the product to the user.
Reference documentation. This is more in-depth information about the product, and it includes handbooks, online help, FAQs, and so on. Sometimes it is included as part of the procedural documentation; for instance, many procedures will include links to reference material that explains specific terms or concepts used in the procedure.
Tutorials. This type of document teaches users how to accomplish tasks using the product. It is similar to procedural documentation because it uses step-by-step instructions; however, it may be more general than procedural documentation and not address specific products or applications.
Conceptual documentation. This is not about a product or application, but explains basic concepts in a particular field (e.g., computer networking).
Marketing materials. Technical writers write these documents to describe and promote products and services offered by their companies (or their clients’ companies). Marketing documents include brochures, data sheets, and presentations.

Areas of expertise?

As I see it, there are four main areas of work for a technical writer:

Documentation

Helping users to understand how to use your product by providing written guidance (instructions, how-to guides, feature overviews)

User education

Helping developers or other users understand how your product works through creating tutorials and training materials

Internal communications

Make sure that all the teams within your company get access to the information they need to do their jobs

External marketing

Creating content that helps prospective clients better understand how your product might help them

The practice of technical communication involves writing, editing, layout and design, and the use of multimedia. Of course, not all tech writers do all of those things. Very few tech writers do everything.

As a result of their variety of skills, tech writers can be found in almost any industry or profession where technical information needs to be communicated to an audience – from consumer products to aerospace and defense.

Tech writers work for corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and even individuals or small companies that need documentation for their products. The best part about being a technical writer? You can do it from almost anywhere!

Why tech writers do what they do

Tech writers are more than just people who make sure documentation exists. A tech writer is a partner in creating software, bridging the gap between developer and user, between marketing and sales, between product and customer.

As with many aspects of the tech industry, the role of a tech writer is constantly changing to meet new demands.

The primary goal of good technical writing is to explain the features of a product or service to users. This often involves documenting the functionality of a system, explaining how it works, and guiding readers through how they can use it.

People often confuse technical communication with other types of writing, such as journalism or marketing. While there are some similarities between these types of writing, there is one big difference: tech writing is focused on helping people use a product. In contrast, other types of writing may be more focused on persuading people to buy it.

Without an easy-to-understand and accurate manual, the user (or customer) of a product might as well not have the product at all.

According to Joan Young, a professional essay writer from Advanced Writers, a tech writer’s role is to take the technical jargon and make it understandable to the layman.

Tech Writers are also responsible for writing documentation, articles, white papers, and other types of content that helps users understand how a product works.

The more simplified answer is that tech writers can help a company in many ways. These include:

Creating guides for customers and employees
Creating marketing content such as white papers and blog posts
Drafting emails and other sales correspondence
Writing scripts for training videos or podcasts

San Francisco-based Shippo Opens First European Office in Dublin creating 120 jobs

Shippo, a leading shipping platform for growing e-commerce businesses, today announced further corporate expansion – including the creation of 120 highly-skilled jobs – through the opening of a new European R&D Centre in Dublin. Shippo’s entry into Dublin aligns with its international expansion plans, which centre on growing its global workforce and expanding its shipping infrastructure and carrier ecosystem to an international market.

Shippo is the shipping platform where e-commerce businesses, marketplaces, and other platforms are able to connect to multiple shipping carriers around the world from a single API and dashboard. The company has raised over $150 million and was recently valued at $1 billion.

“We serve a growing, international community of merchants who are looking for a global end-to-end shipping solution,” said Simon Kreuz, President and co-founder at Shippo. “With our European team working with our US engineering teams in building a world-class shipping service, as well as spearheading new initiatives for the European market, including platform API optimisations, carrier integrations, and building a brand new mobile app, this new location will enable us to deliver more tailored programs to our customers and partners across Europe.”

Shippo has hired tech veteran Ashutosh Saxena as Site Lead and Head of Engineering, Europe. Capitalising on his nearly two decades of industry experience, including his most recent effort establishing and growing another Bay Area company in Dublin, Saxena will lead the company’s expansion throughout Europe as well as building out and managing the engineering team, and will oversee day-to-day operations in Dublin.

“Shippo’s vision is to provide Amazon-like shipping to all e-commerce merchants, and it is a wonderful career opportunity to join the company at this stage,” Ashutosh said. “As a home to some of the best engineering talent in the world, Ireland felt like a natural next step for Shippo as we continue our international expansion, and I’m excited to help lead this effort locally.”

“I’m really happy to welcome Shippo to Ireland and I’m delighted they’ve chosen Dublin for their first European office, creating 120 new jobs over the next couple of years,” said Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. “The pandemic emphasised the importance of e-commerce businesses for our economy and Shippo’s work in facilitating these companies is vital. This new R&D centre will greatly benefit from our rich pool of talent. I wish the team the very best in this exciting new project and ongoing success with their European operations.”

This announcement builds on several growth milestones Shippo has reached this year, including:

A new multi-year partnership with Shopify. As the leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, Shopify is partnering with Shippo to provide an end-to-end shipping solution to its merchants directly within the Shopify platform.

The launch of Shippo for Platforms. With this new product, e-commerce platforms and marketplaces can provide an improved shipping experience for their merchants worldwide directly within their existing platform experience – and do so without incurring additional development costs.

International carrier expansion. Building on its already extensive carrier ecosystem, Shippo expanded its existing service area through the introduction of seven new carriers across five countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. This expansion represents the first phase of Shippo’s international growth.

“The internet economy is still in its early days,” said Patrick Collison, Stripe co-founder and CEO, and a Shippo investor. “Shippo’s work orchestrating the world’s intricate shipping infrastructure will help millions of businesses around the world to expand their operations and reach new customers. That Shippo has chosen my home country–and location of Stripe’s second headquarters–as the basecamp for its European presence makes the company’s continued expansion all the more exciting.”

“Shippo is a welcome addition to the SaaS technology space in Ireland. The availability of multilingual technology talent here will help the company with this expansion of its operations into Europe. I wish them every success here.” said Martin Shanahan, CEO at IDA Ireland.

The local office will initially support Engineering, Product, and Design teams. Prospective employees interested in local opportunities should visit https://goshippo.com/jobs/. More general information about Shippo’s product and growth internationally can be found by visiting https://goshippo.com/.

Tech Review – S12 true Wireless earbuds that cost just 20 euro

The earbuds game is oversaturated a long time now and the cost to performance ratio has also got much better for the consumer which means better deals for those in the market for new earbuds and it can only get better, with so many players in the market now there is plenty of choice and some might be a risk especially imports and copies which we see at petrol stations and cheap tech stores throughout the country.

We have been testing an affordable pair which can be bought on Amazon are the S12 earbuds and deliver across the board there is no app no wireless charging and no auto play and pause but everything else you need is present such as skip and reverse tracks play and pause volume up and down and you have access to your voice assistant too all of which are considered the basics these days.

The case they come in is also quite nice too and has a matt finish and hold the earbuds securely and has a USB-C port for charging and a pairing button, the earbuds themselves are a clean design and do look similar to airpods which would not be a new thing these days and have a touch area that works quite well in comparison to other out there I have tried out.

When it comes to sound they are loud and punchy with great bass too so for the bass fans these are a must if you want to purchase a cheap pair of earbuds, highs lows and mids where fine and overall really these are quite good for the small price you pay and they look clean and fit quite well too, battery life might be on the lower end of the norm but what you get for your money you can’t really give out at all. Check out the video review for more and how to operate the S12 earbuds and stay tuned for more real hands on tech reviews where stock images don’t cut it.

BUY HERE

VIDEO LINK

Consumer protection foundation seeks record damages of nearly €5 billion from Apple

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation announced that it is filing the largest class action damages claim in the EU on behalf of Apple iPhone and iPad consumers. Apple has illegally used its monopoly power to make consumers overpay for apps and in-app purchases for more than a decade. The lawsuit, which will be filed in the Amsterdam District Court, seeks damages for EU consumers who have bought an app in the Apple App Store or made an Apple in-app purchase since 1 September 2009, as well as a court order to force Apple to stop its unlawful behaviour.

Apple’s abusive behaviour towards European consumers

The action alleges that Apple has taken specific steps to ensure that purchasers of iPhones and iPads have had no choice but to shop for apps via the Apple App Store and pay with Apple’s own payment service Apple IAP. Because users cannot use a different platform to buy apps and make in-app purchases, Apple has effectively created a marketplace over which it has complete control. Consumers cannot purchase any apps – such as Minecraft, Angry Birds, Baby Monitor 3G, Moofer MyFitnessPal and CandyCrush – on their iPhone or iPad without using Apple’s platform.

Apple has taken advantage of its monopoly position by taking an up to 30% cut of every sale from app developers – a fee that experts have concluded is six times higher than it would have been in a competitive marketplace. In turn, app developers have been forced to increase their prices, passing the cost of Apple’s monopolistic practices along to consumers. Damages from Apple’s abusive scheme amount to nearly €5 billion, exclusive of interest.

Consumer Competition Claims

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation is a not-for-profit consumer organization that defends consumers against unfair trade practices and obtains compensation for their losses. The management and supervisory boards consist of experts in (competition) law and finance.

Bert Heikens, the foundation’s Chairman, commented, “After careful review, the board decided to take on Apple because it has clearly abused its dominance for over a decade, and caused consumers across the EU significant financial harm. This is just the type of consumer protection case that our foundation pursues.”

The Dutch foundation has enlisted the legal services of international law firm Scott + Scott, the largest law firm in the Netherlands representing victims of anti-competitive schemes, to handle its claim. “We are pleased the foundation has turned to our law firm to seek relief from Apple,” said David Scott, the firm’s managing partner.

“We demand that Apple cease abusing its dominant position in the market. In addition, it must compensate tens of millions of consumers across the EU for the damage it has inflicted,” continued Damiën Berkhout, a partner in Scott + Scott’s Dutch office.

All costs for the claim are being funded by Hereford Litigation, a third-party litigation funder experienced in the financing of group and collective litigation globally.

European consumers can register their support

The foundation calls on consumers who have made a purchase in the Apple App Store or via an Apple in-app purchase since 1 September 2009 to register at https://www.consumercompetitionclaims.com/ “We strongly encourage consumers to register on the website,” said Heikens, “Simply by adding their names, they can help ensure that they are positioned to receive the damages they deserve to collect.”

Garmin launches the D2 Mach 1 aviator smartwatch

Garmin International, has announced the D2 Mach 1 GPS aviator smartwatch with classic pilot watch styling and a bright AMOLED touchscreen display that offers advanced tools for flying – plus health and fitness features – to help pilots and aviation enthusiasts accelerate their adventures. With a battery life of up to 11 days, pilots can rely on the D2 Mach 1 around the clock to keep tabs on the weather, receive automatic alerts for changing conditions, help navigate with the moving map and horizontal situation indicator (HSI) and so much more. Coupled with a full suite of health monitoring and activity tracking features, the D2 Mach 1 offers unmatched utility both in and out of the cockpit.

“Whether you’re climbing into the cockpit for a fun weekend flight, practicing or shooting instrument approaches to minimums or flying professionally, the new D2 Mach 1 delivers the latest and most advanced aviation functionality and smartwatch capabilities right to your fingertips,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “With its new, sophisticated design, the D2 Mach 1 proves that professional gear can also be a great statement piece no matter your destination.”

Enhanced style and utility

Designed for everyday wear, the D2 Mach 1 combines a durable design and premium materials like sapphire and titanium with a vibrant, sunlight-readable 1.3’’ AMOLED display. Trusted button controls are matched with a responsive new touchscreen interface for dual utility, improving daily smartwatch interaction and access to selections and map features. The watch face includes a UTC pointer, which can also display and help pilots manage multiple time zones, including Zulu time, and a 24-hour clock around the bezel, along with seven customizable data fields. Leaving your hangar or FBO to head to the gym? Quickly change out the D2 Mach 1 watch straps – available with oxford leather or vented titanium options – with the included QuickFit^™ black silicone band.

A dedicated flight system on your wrist

The D2 Mach 1 includes preflight, in-flight and postflight features and tools to assist pilots in navigation and enhance situational awareness, along with multi-band frequency and multi-GNSS support for better and more accurate GPS positioning. Direct-to navigation lets pilots navigate straight to an airport or waypoint in the preloaded worldwide aeronautical database directly from the watch, or choose the Nearest function to activate a direct course to a nearby airport. Pan across the moving map with a touch, and tap on waypoints for more information. Plus, see NEXRAD radar overlaid on the route. The instrument-like horizontal situation indicator (HSI) course needle makes it easy for pilots to see if the aircraft is left or right of the desired flight path, and the barometric altimeter can alert when a desired altitude is reached. Aviation alerts like time, distance, altitude and a fuel timer are also available on the D2 Mach 1 during flight.

Know what’s ahead with airport information like runway orientation and wind components runway lengths and airport frequencies—all preloaded and easily accessible from the watch. The D2 Mach 1 offers aviation weather reports, including METARs and TAFs that allow pilots to see winds, visibility and barometric pressure and more before takeoff. New graphical indications of MOS forecasts for specific airports, including projections for temperature trends, wind, dewpoint, sky cover, precipitation probability and more, are also available. Customizable notifications can be set for new METAR and TAF reports, so pilots will stay in-the-know when things like destination airport conditions change or when crosswind components exceed a threshold. And in case of emergency, the D2 Mach 1 can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance and glide time during an engine-related issue, along with a bearing pointer to the nearest airport and a list of alternate airports.

Flight logging is a breeze with the D2 Mach 1, which automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically transfers the date, duration, total flight time and route to the user’s flyGarmin.com logbook Pilots can also seamlessly transfer flight plans from the Garmin Pilot^™ app to the D2 Mach 1 and view the list of waypoints included in their route.

Advanced health, wellness and fitness features

With the broadest range of 24/7 health monitoring features available from Garmin, the D2 Mach1 offers: wrist-based heart rate (with user-configurable alerts for high or low readings, advanced sleep monitoring with sleep score, breathwork activities, fitness age, respiration, Pulse Ox⁴, all-day stress tracking, hydration, and women’s health tracking. Body Battery^™ energy monitoring shows users how “charged” their body is as well as the draining effects of stress and exercise. During a flying activity, pilots can quickly access the health stats menu to track their heart rate, Pulse Ox, respiration, Body Battery and more. Plus, a new Health Snapshot^™ feature logs a two-minute window of key health stats and generates a report users can share with a health care provider—a great tool for capturing physiological data anytime you’re feeling off your baseline.

The D2 Mach 1 features 30+ built-in indoor and GPS sports apps with favorites that include walking, running, cycling, pool swimming, hiking, advanced strength training and more. It’s even preloaded with SkiView^™ maps and more than 42,000 golf courses from around the world. Keep fitness feeling fresh with preloaded workouts on the watch, preset workouts available for download from the Garmin Connect^™ app, or create customizable workouts by choosing from over 1,400 exercises.

All-day connection and convenience

Pilots can keep essentials on the wrist with built-in music (download up to 650 songs including playlists from Spotify^®, Amazon Music, and Deezer), Garmin Pay^™ contactless payments, and smart notifications for calls, texts, calendar reminders, social media updates, breaking news stories and more.¹ No service? No problem. Stay connected by pairing the D2 Mach 1 with a Garmin inReach^® device to send preset messages to loved ones, toggle tracking or to initiate an SOS to the Garmin IERCC, a 24/7 staffed professional emergency response coordination center.

Like all Garmin smartwatches, the D2 Mach 1 can be used with either Android or Apple^® smartphones. With a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours with the Fly activity (GPS + Pulse Ox), pilots can prepare for takeoff without worrying about their next charge.

Available now, the D2 Mach 1 is offered with a vented titanium bracelet or an oxford brown leather band for suggested retail prices of $1299.99 and $1199.99, respectively. Both styles include a trial subscription of the Garmin Pilot app. Learn more at garmin.com/aviation.

Xiaomi Debuts Latest 5G Additions to Redmi Note and Redmi Lineup

Xiaomi today announced the debut of Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 11S 5G, complementing its popular Redmi Note 11 Series with more 5G power. Also announced today is Redmi 10 5G, which is also the first Redmi Series device to feature 5G, making next-gen connectivity accessible to more consumers.

With the launch of Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, Xiaomi is pushing the legacy of Redmi Note Series one step further by delivering a performance that exceeds expectations. Featuring 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge and an ultra-clear 108MP camera, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G sets a new standard in the segment by making exceptional performance available at a highly affordable price, making it a top-of-the-line contender in its bracket.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G: The Ultimate Redmi Note

As the first-ever Redmi smartphone equipped with 120W wired charging, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G charges its 4,500mAh battery to 100% in merely 15 mins. Built with industry-leading dual charge pumps to deliver the blazingly fast charging speed, the device also ensures charging safety and stability with more than 40 safety features, as well as attaining TÜV Rheinland’s Safe Fast-Charge System certification.

Raising the bar for a flagship camera experience, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G again features a 108MP primary camera, complemented by a 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP telemacro camera. The main camera features a Samsung HM2 sensor and dual native ISO, allowing you to capture every moment in high resolution and true-to-life details, even in low light conditions. The device also comes with a 6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay, with a 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate that makes scrolling and swiping a treat for your eyes.

Powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G takes your mobile performance to a whole new level thanks to its energy-efficient 6nm process.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G comes in three variants – 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB, and the recommended retail price are $369, $399 and $449 respectively. Globally it will go on-sale from 6^th April.

Redmi Note 11S 5G: 5G Performance Racer

Redmi Note 11S 5G features a MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor with support from dual 5G SIM to access the future-proof network. Taking advantage of the power-efficient 6nm manufacturing process and a large 5,000mAh battery, Redmi Note 11S 5G provides the power you need to stay connected all day long. The device also delivers high-res photography thanks to the 50MP AI triple camera, allowing you to capture various perspectives with its 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro lens.

Redmi Note 11S 5G comes in three variants – 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB, and the recommended retail price are $249, $279 and $299 respectively. Globally it will go on-sale from 6^th April.

Redmi 10 5G: Level Up with 5G

5G is coming to Redmi Series for the first time with the debut of Redmi 10 5G. Powering up the device is a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, with an octa-core CPU of up to 2.2GHz and the support of dual 5G SIM to deliver an efficient performance. It also features a 50MP main and a 2MP depth camera to capture the ideal shot, as well as a 6.58” FHD+ Dot Drop display with a 90Hz refresh rate for a smooth viewing experience. Its 5,000mAh battery also provides enough power for you to sail through your tasks with less time plugged in.

Redmi 10 5G comes in three variants – 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB, and and the recommended retail price will start from $199.

Quick Specs:

	Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G	Redmi Note 11S 5G	Redmi 10 5G
Processor	MediaTek Dimensity 920	MediaTek Dimensity 810	Mediatek Dimensity 700
Display	6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay Up to 120Hz refresh rate Up to 360Hz touch sampling rate Wide Color Gamut (supports DCI-P3) Sunlight display, Reading mode 3.0 Resolution: 2400×1080 Brightness: HBM 700 nits (typ), 1200 nits peak brightness (typ)	6.6″ FHD+ DotDisplay Up to 90Hz refresh rate Up to 240Hz touch sampling rate Wide Color Gamut (supports DCI-P3) Sunlight display, Reading mode 3.0 Resolution: 2400×1080	6.58″ FHD+ Dot Drop display Up to 90Hz refresh rate Sunlight display, Reading mode 3.0 Resolution: 2408×1080
Rear Camera	108MP main camera 丨 8MP ultra-wide angle camera 丨 2MP macro camera	50MP main camera 丨 8MP ultra-wide angle camera 丨 2MP telemacro camera	50MP main camera 丨 2MP depth camera
Front Camera	16MP	13MP	5MP
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh battery丨 120W HyperCharge \| 120W in-box charger	5,000mAh battery丨 33W Pro fast charging \| 33W in-box charger	5,000mAh battery丨 18W fast charging \| 22.5W in-box charger
Audio & Haptics	Super linear dual speakers SOUND BY JBL \| Hi-Res Audio \| Hi-Res Audio Wireless \| Dolby Atmos^® 3.5mm headphone jack	Dual speakers 3.5mm headphone jack X-axis linear motor	3.5mm headphone jack Hi-Res Audio certification
Unlock	Side fingerprint sensor; AI Face Unlock	Side fingerprint sensor; AI Face Unlock	Side fingerprint sensor; AI Face Unlock
System	MIUI 12.5	MIUI 13	MIUI 13
Color²	Graphite Gray, Star Blue, Forest Green	Midnight Black, Twilight Blue, Star Blue	Graphite Gray, Chrome Silver, Aurora Green
Dimension & Weight	163.65mm x 76.19mm x 8.34mm 204g	163.56mm x 75.78mm x 8.75mm 195g	163.99 mm x 76.09 mm x 8.9 mm 200g
Variant²	6GB+128GB; 8GB+128GB; 8GB+256GB	4GB+64GB; 4GB+128GB; 6GB+128GB	4GB+64GB; 4GB+128GB; 6GB+128GB

Konftel Cam20 Conference Camera Captures Zoom Certification

The plug-and-play device features 4K Ultra HD performance and an impressive 123° field of view. Konftel Product Manager, Torbjörn Karlsson confirmed the camera has been fully tested as a Zoom Rooms USB-connected device.

“The Konftel Cam20 is the second in our product range to be certified to work with Zoom services and helps deliver a natural and fluent meeting experience.”

“Zoom Rooms is Zoom’s software-based conference room system that makes it easy to run or join video meetings with a tap of a button. The Konftel Cam20 represents a seamless and natural fit, combining exceptional picture performance with simple set-up. Certification was achieved following a rigorous testing process.”

Compelling combination

He added: “The synergy, reliability and high performance offered by Zoom and Konftel is a compelling combination, ideally suited to today’s growing hybrid work trends.”

His positive comments were echoed by Jeff Fox, Zoom Senior Product Marketing Manager, who says user adoption continues to accelerate, as more organizations look to embrace and invest in flexible working.

“Our Zoom Rooms service delivers a dedicated and seamless meeting experience leveraging certified hardware designed to perform to high standards. Certification of the Konftel Cam20 further adds to the appeal of our Zoom Rooms service at a time when more and more organisations are looking to combine office-based with remote flexibility, further elevating the importance of video meetings across a wider range of environments.”

Presenting auto framing

In addition to Zoom certification the Konftel Cam20 has been boosted by auto framing functionality, as Karlsson explained:

“With the addition of auto framing, room participants will always be ideally fitted within the picture. This removes the need to manually crop the image with the digital zoom. If someone leaves the room, the framing cleverly readjusts. The feature can be disengaged if required.”

Is it possible to use cryptocurrency to cover your travel costs?

Cryptocurrency has become an increasingly popular payment method across a variety of industries, and the travel space is no exception. Now the travel industry has opened up again, acceptance of digital currencies is considered to be a way of helping the industry recover.

Which Companies Accept Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency has emerged as an effective payment option for a range of different applications and platforms and is becoming increasingly mainstream. The number of companies embracing crypto is growing, with those such as Starbucks, AXA Insurance, Tesla and Mastercard allowing customers to use cryptocurrencies as an accepted payment method. More recently, we have seen travel companies opening their doors to the world of cryptocurrency payments and decentralized blockchains. Those companies include:

Cheap Air

Bitcoin Travel

Travala

Expedia

Webjet Exclusives

Destinia

Travel companies such as Staysure, the UK’s largest provider of travel insurance, have also shown their interest in the currency, creating their interactive site ‘My Bitcoin Holiday‘ to display the rapid rate of bitcoin growth over the past decade. The brand has placed an emphasis on the benefits of long-term investment by charting the rise of bitcoin over the past decade in the novel medium of budgeting for a holiday.

What are the Benefits of Booking with Cryptocurrency?

Although there are a limited number of people currently booking their holidays using cryptocurrency, there is a likely chance that the number of people using crypto as an official payment method will rise due to the number of benefits, such as:

Flexibility when booking travel
Transparency – transactions through cryptocurrency are secured and verified through cryptography.
Services for identification – blockchain has the potential to improve the efficiency of identification services. A fingerprint or retina scan can be used as a form of identification, allowing check in and airport wait-times to be reduced.
Luggage Tracking – The decentralized nature of crypto payments can allow for tracking data to be shared across firms, meaning luggage can be tracked internationally.

Whilst cryptocurrency adoption within the travel industry remains in its infancy, it’s clear that we’re seeing various signals that adoption of cryptocurrency payments is continuing to grow. The growing popularity of cryptocurrencies is making traveling easier than ever. The efficiency in completing international transactions, as well as the security and transparency of public blockchain technologies, means more and more traveling companies are accepting digital currency for flights around the world.

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