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.

Airpulse launches the P100X

 

The P100x is the latest offering from Airpulse, the renowned speaker designer and manufacturer. The P100x features a pair of patented custom-designed tweeters and 4.5” aluminum diaphragm mid-woofer. Drawing on the designs of traditional wireless FM radios, the P100x offers high-end digital power amplification delivered via line in or Bluetooth, all housed in a beautiful cherry wood speaker casing.  

Designed by renowned speaker designer and sound engineer Phil Jones, the patented custom-designed tweeters offer an oval shaped diaphragm to effectively deliver a better high frequency response, seamlessly reproducing the highest audio frequencies accurately. This tweeter easily out-performs any normal dome tweeters, allowing the speaker to be positioned anywhere in a room yet still performing at its best.  

The patented custom-designed tweeters accurately reproduce sound, evenly controlling the dispersion of sound from low to high notes. It has been constructed using a high degree of technological intelligence, creating a highly precise sound which is not usually seen in a single loudspeaker unit.

Airpulse P100X techbuzzireland
Airpluse P100X techbuzzireland

 

The mid woofer is a 4.5-inch unit, featuring a hard anodized aluminium alloy cone suspended in a heavy, ultra-rigid cast magnesium alloy frame. Designed with meticulous testing, the 30mm diameter voice coil is larger than most found in similar sized speakers. It has been shown that larger voice coils have less power compression because they run at a cooler operating temperature. Sonically, this means a more realistic and dynamic representation of the music, really allowing the listener to be totally immersed. 

The cabinet is built using high-strength MDF, producing a superb foundation for a superior sound quality by reducing unwanted sound resonance, whilst delivering a pleasing aesthetic. The all-in-one design allows placement flexibility and the design will effortlessly fit in with your current room décor.

The P100x supports line in and Bluetooth v5.1 chipset QCC3031, supporting aptX HD codec and offering a lower distortion yet higher resolution audio output. This latest Bluetooth version also results in minimal interruptions for a more consistent listening experience. The well – known US cable manufacturer, TRANSPARENT, provide the internal wiring, further enhancing the reproduction of sound from the tweeter and mid-woofer system, producing a high degree of accuracy and sound resolution.  

Reminiscent of a traditional wireless radio, the one/off, volume, bass and treble controls are located on the front of the speaker. Easily fine tune the high frequency to your taste and adjust the amount of bass according to the listening environment. Included with the pair of speakers is a wireless remote that allows you to adjust the volume and mute your speakers from a distance. 

 

Specifications 

Colour  Cherry Wood
Bluetooth  Bluetooth 5.1 with APTX HD
Power Amplifiers  2 x 10W + 40W
Mid-woofer  4.5″ Aluminium Cone Underhung Design Neodymium Power Mid-Woofer
Audio presets  Classic, Dynamic, Monitor, Vocal
AC Voltage  100-240 V / 50-60HZ
Input Sensitivity  Lin In 400350mV, Bluetooth: 450350mFFs
Frequency Response  52Hz-20KHz
Input Mode  Line IN, Bluetooth
Dimensions (mm)  300 W x 180 H x 200 D
Net Weight  5.1kg/11.5lb

 

Price & Availability 

Available for £499.99 at:  

https://www.tech4.co.uk/collections/airpulse/products/airpulse-p100x-multi-driver bluetooth-active-speaker-system

https://www.kitchenbathroomradio.co.uk/products/airpulse-p100x-multi-driver-bluetooth active-speaker-system?_pos=2&_sid=2cbffcf03&_ss=r 

The Ultimate Guide For Training Your Workers For New Technology Adoption

In the 21st century, technological advancements have enabled companies to increase efficiency whereas enhancing profitability. But these digital marvels also contributed significantly to alienating employees. In 2019, a survey revealed that 37% of people between 18-24 years of age were afraid of technology taking over their jobs. 

Similarly, Forbes has stated that 55% of employees are worried about automation rendering them jobless. What makes workers resist adopting technology? It might be the “fear of the unknown” that has made them oppose automation. The solution lies in training them properly so they may understand how technology helps them become better employees. Here, we’ll explain how this training is achievable:

Steps to help your workers adopt new tech

  • Create a technology roadmap

It isn’t practical to merely install software programs on an employee’s computer and expect them to become familiar with it. Companies should establish a “technology roadmap” that involves their workers’ training to accelerate technology adoption. This roadmap ensures that employees receive enough time to adjust to new tech. It’ll make them less stressed/worried about adopting innovative software applications. By creating a roadmap, you can allocate time for meetings where workers discuss their problems with these programs. So, this “fear of the unknown” will dissipate. Don’t forget to implement this roadmap properly to receive effective results in the end. You could also check out this blog for more information. 

  • Choose the right degree

It’s essential to choose the right degree for your workers based on their different expertise. Some employees require only the basic tech-related know-how, while others can acquire higher education. So, you can motivate some workers to pursue MBA in information technology management to hone their digital acumen. This degree prepares them for roles such as CIO and CTO in your organization. After earning an MBA-IT, an employee can also become an in-house company trainer for other workers.

  • Offer some incentives

It isn’t enough to offer them training opportunities when you haven’t incentivized this extra learning for your employees. Make this experience joyful and beneficial for a worker by providing monetary benefits. Delegate more responsibilities to them and offer rewards if they upskill themselves. We’ve observed that “tech skills” shall become necessary to survive in the future marketplace. Moreover, give constructive feedback to motivate employees and encourage them to hasten their learning.

  • Be patient with them

You can’t expect employees to learn using a software application in a few classes. Sometimes, you’ll have to wait for several months before the entire workforce becomes familiar with an application. It seems proper to be patient with them and introduce these new concepts gradually. Don’t make the training overwhelming for your employees. Give them information in bite-size chunks so they may digest this education properly. Also, don’t expect all your employees to be some sort of whizkids.

  • Use how-to videos

Adding visual elements to anything makes it easier to remember. Statistics show that people remember 80% of what they’ve seen while 20% of what they’ve read. So, you can create some how-to videos for your employees. It’ll help them understand how the new software program works and what advantages it brings to the table. Make this video content brief (five minutes long at most) to make information easier to handle. These videos will permit trainers to become better teachers.

  • Train small groups

While some companies insist on training the entire staff simultaneously, we suggest dividing them into smaller groups. It’ll make training more effective, invite more employees to participate, and allow trainers to explain complex concepts quickly. Psychologists believe that smaller groups motivate people to engage and draw out individuals who won’t speak before a larger audience. They address challenges in students’ understanding effectively as well while training employees in small groups.

  • Pair them with mentors

Don’t forget to pair your employees with some mentors for quick learning. These mentors should be tech-friendly individuals with enough expertise to your workers how to operate a particular program. It will enable employees to have someone with they may discuss challenges facing them while using that software application. These mentors will also help them retain the information taught by trainers. People tend to learn faster when they have someone to depend upon during education. Research best practices on how to get started with building a mentoring program that’s destined for success. 

  • Explain the advantages

A LinkedIn survey published in 2018 shows why technology adoption fails at workplaces and turns this failure into success. One reason why workers are hesitant about technology deals with their ignorance of its benefits. How does it help me become better at my job? Unless they know how these tools make them more productive, they won’t be motivated to undergo training. Boomers, especially, need people to explain to them the benefits of adopting new tech. Have an open chat with them to get the desired results.

Conclusion

It shouldn’t be challenging to make workers understand how technology makes them more productive. But we have 63% of managers complaining that technological adoption at their workplace isn’t fast enough! How do you make skeptical employees more motivated about “going digital”? There are some methods to convince them, such as offering incentives, providing mentorship opportunities, and making learning interactive. Give workers some room for failure, and also don’t forget to break training into small steps for easy understanding. These practices will enable employees to adopt new technology willingly while monitoring their progress. Consequently, your workforce shall become upskilled and more organized.

Urbanista Lisbon now on sale offers an impressive 27 hours’ total playtime in a range of five colours

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, announces Urbanista Lisbon, their most compact true wireless earbuds to date are available now, in a range of five playful colours. Priced at £49,90 / €49,90 / $49,90 / 499 SEK / 499 NOK / 399 DKK MSRP, Lisbon combines functionality with personality and delivers an impressive sound for its size.

Your Sound in Colour 

Urbanista Lisbon is available now in a choice of five stylish colourways, inspired by the carefree feeling of endless summer days: Coral Peach (pastel red), Vanilla Cream (beige), Blush Pink (pink), Mint Green (green) and Midnight Black (black). Lisbon offers an impressive 27 hours of total playtime and although small, they are designed to pack a punch in terms of sound for their size. “Urbanista’s sound signature is designed to be strong on the bass without overpowering the crystal clear mid range and sweet high’s.” Explains Audio Engineer, Axel Grell, who among other products in the Urbanista range, has designed the sound stage for Urbanista Lisbon. “We wanted to design a small and portable product that delivers above and beyond expectation for its size, and price point, and Lisbon certainly delivers.”

 

Feel the Power

Perfectly embodying the simplicity of Urbanista’s trademark Scandinavian design, Lisbon is sleek, compact and, above all, functional. With a portable charging case, which weighs less than 30g, and earbuds measuring just 18 x 16 x 14 mm and weighing only 4g each, Urbanista Lisbon is possibly the world’s smallest Bluetooth earbuds. The small earbuds fit comfortably and securely for a barely-there listening experience. Anders Andreen, CEO, comments: “Urbanista Lisbon is the perfect addition to our true wireless line up. It may be the smallest product in our range but Lisbon certainly delivers great sound for its size. It is packed with features to compliment an on the go lifestyle and we hope our customers enjoy this fun product as much as we do.”

Urbanista Lisbon is now available at www.urbanista.com/lisbon


Watch the full Urbanista Lisbon “A Colourful Daydream” campaign film below. 

Urbanista Lisbon Key Features

True Wireless Earphones

Compact design

9 hours Playtime

27 hours of Total Playtime

Wireless charging case holds up to 2 charges

Touch controls

Universal GoFit wing included

Bluetooth 5.2

USB Type-C Charging

Compatible with iOS and Android devices

Siri and Google Voice Assistant

Popular Online Games besides E-sports

If your parents ever slandered you for playing online games, they didn’t know better. Playing games online can be not only fun but also educational. And, if there’s one thing we all can agree on in quarantine, it’s that online games are fun again. 

The upsurge in popular online e-sports games during the pandemic was huge. The worldwide audience for e-sports games is forecasted to be at 250 million. However, even though the growth of e-sports games has been phenomenal, we understand that it is not everyone’s cup of tea. 

Online games can mean different things to different people, and it doesn’t necessarily need to mean e-sports. We have trawled the internet to compile a list of the most popular online games in 2021. Check them out! 

 

10 Alternatives to popular online E-sports games

 

  1. Psych!

We have all played Psych! at some point in our lives. This is the game that high school house parties would be incomplete without. The aim of Psych! is to mislead your friends into choosing a fake answer for a real trivia question. But, if they can guess the correct answer, a point is scored. On the other hand, you score the point if you can convince your friend to pick the wrong answer. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

 

  1. Blackjack

Gambling can be fun once in a while. According to the best betting sites in Ireland, Blackjack is one of the most popular online games in 2021. For those who are not aware, Blackjack is one of the most popular card games played in casinos worldwide. 

The game is not only relatively easy to play, but it also has incredible odds in gambling. Blackjack is played with cards with one, two, four, six, or eight decks in a traditional card game. A digital favourite, if you are good at card counting, this one’s for you!

 

  1. Scrabble Go

Who said only popular e-sports online games could be fun? Scrabble Go is for wordplay lovers. And, as far as online games go, Scrabble Go is the closest virtual version of the classic. The rules are simple. You know it because you’ve played it before. If you are looking for a game that will be fun to play but is educational at the same time, you should give Scrabble Go a shot! 

 

  1. Drawful 2

At first glance, Drawful 2 may seem a lot like Pictionary, but it’s the ridiculous version of Pictionary at best. In Drawful 2, your friends have to guess your best and worst sketches. You can either play the game online or download it on your phone, and three to eight players are allowed in one game. 

 

  1. This Is Your World 

If you are a trivia geek who loves geography-based online games, we have found the perfect fit for you! This Is Your World re-surfaced during the pandemic and lockdown in 2020, and fans haven’t been able to stop playing it since then. One of the most popular online games in 2021, in this game, you have to travel across the globe to collect trivia cards. 

You have to collect cards from locations spread across the world and compare them against trivia questions such as “Which has the highest population?” or “Who has the bigger economy?”. You can either play this game alone or with friends. 

 

 

  1. Spyfall

Let’s be honest. All of us have had spy fantasies. Spyfall is a game that brings your spy fantasies to life, much like the virtual version of Cluedo. Every player is given a location, and the spy is randomly selected. Players are then required to ask each other questions to guess who is in on the secret before the spy can catch on. This game is available on both mobile and desktop versions and is a fun game to be played with friends 

 

  1. Keno

If you are in the mood to play online casino games, give Keno a try! Keno is a game of pure chance, and it has very little possibility of influencing the outcome. All you have to do is sit back, enjoy the show, and hope that luck is in your favour that day. However, you can come up with a basic strategy to minimize your losses. 

For example, start by betting as minimum as possible. If you win a game, you can increase your bet. But, if you lose, it’s better to decrease it. This way, you will be able to enjoy the game without gambling too much money away. 

 

  1. Among Us

Among Us was a crowd favourite in the early months of the pandemic, and whoever hasn’t played it yet, is a misfit. If you still haven’t tried it out, this is your chance to hop on the bandwagon finally. In a classic game of Whodunnit, you are randomly picked to play either as the murderous imposter or the innocent crew member. 

 

Your main goal in each game is to stay alive or kill the rest of your crewmates. Among Us is a super fun game that makes you question your closest friends’ intentions! 

 

  1. Colonist

An online board game, Colonist, is lauded for its competitive strategy. Colonist is the purest Catan implementation online. You and your friends will have to take the role of settlers, and each of you has to work towards trading, acquiring resources, and building your settlements. As your colonies grow, you score points. The first to reach Victory Points wins! If you are a fan of traditional board games, and especially Catan, you will love Colonist.

 

  1. Craps

Last but not least, we have one of the most popular online games in 2021, Craps! A casino-themed game, Craps is like a typical money Keno game. It is a lottery on demand. You need to pick a number, wait for the casino to draw the set of numbers, and then get paid based on whether you could guess correctly. Craps is a no-brainer entertaining game. However, be careful and don’t bet all your money away! 

 

There are several popular online E-sports games but if you aren’t into these millennial games, then we suggest you try these alternatives. They will back a sense of nostalgia and the hours will fly away in no time! Happy Gaming!

Intel Core i7 vs AMD Ryzen 7

In case you are in the market to buy a new laptop or desktop for your everyday computing needs, you would want to get something highly powerful. Whether you are using your PC for office work, gaming, entertainment, education, content creation, or anything else, having a powerful PC is always great.

And even though there are a lot of components and factors that affect the performance of a given gaming PC, the processor surely plays a highly important role. When you are talking about powerful CPU models for desktops and laptops, then the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 prove to be great options. Thus, we are here with a detailed comparison between Intel Core i7 vs AMD Ryzen 7 including their differences on desktop and laptop platforms as mentioned here:

Intel Core i7 vs AMD Ryzen 7 for Desktops

Starting with desktops, it is the preferred platform when you are talking about high performance computing. As for the CPU options, both Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 are meant to go inside high end desktops with similar high end components. Talking about their supported motherboards, the latest CPU models of AMD Ryzen 7 are meant for AM4 motherboards.

On the other hand, the Intel Core i7 lineup of processors is designed for the LGA 1200. While both of them are meant to be replaced in the next generation of CPUs, AM4 offers slightly better compatibility in terms of using older and cheaper motherboards with the same socket.

CPU Models

Now that you know more about the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 processors in general, let’s take a deeper look at their specific models. As you would expect, both Intel and AMD offer multiple CPU models within a given lineup. And for the sake of an easy comparison, we will be taking a look at the high end models of the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7.

Starting with Intel Core i7, its Core i7 11700KF has a total of 8 cores and 16 threads along with 16M cache. These are rated to run at a 3.6 GHz base clock speed and up to 5.0 GHz boost clock speed. As for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, it comes with 8 cores and 16 threads paired with 32M cache. And thanks to its 3.8 GHz base clock speed and up to 4.7 GHz boost clock speed, you can expect excellent performance from it.

CPU Benchmarks

While the specifications of any given CPU can be a great way to compare its performance, you need to know more to get an idea of its real world performance. One great way to check this is to simply check the benchmarks of the CPU model that you are using in your computer.

Taking a look at Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i7 11700KF has a single core score of 1569 which is slightly lower than the 1594 single core score of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X. Similarly, the multi core score for the Intel Core i7 11700KF is rated at 15011 which comes right under the 15245 multi core score of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X.

Intel Core i7 vs AMD Ryzen 7 for Laptops

Even though the laptop market used to be dominated by Intel in the past, these days you can also find a wide range of high end options from AMD as well. In other words, even if you are buying high performance laptops, you can still find both Intel Core i7 as well as AMD Ryzen 7 models in those.

Talking about the laptops that feature these powerful processors, you can find gaming laptops under $1000 and also business laptops out there with these CPU options. Although, to make these CPUs work in thin and light chassis, their power configuration is much lower to keep cooling manageable. As for the available options, Intel takes a lead here because you can find many more laptop models to choose from if you are going with Intel.

CPU Models

As mentioned earlier, you can find both low power U series processors as well as high end H series ones while buying high performance laptops. And because there are multiple processor models within the U series and H series lineups from both Intel and AMD, the total number of CPU models is quite high that you can choose from while buying laptops. To help you in understanding their differences easily, we will be taking a look at the high end models of the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 which are available in laptops.

Beginning with Intel, the Intel Core i7 11850H features 8 cores and 16 threads alongside 24M cache. As for its clock speeds, it features 2.5 GHz base clock speeds and up to 4.8 GHz boost clock speeds. Coming to AMD, its AMD Ryzen 7 5800H has a total of 8 cores and 16 threads paired with 16M cache. Talking about its clock speeds, you get 3.2 GHz base clock speeds and up to 4.4 GHz boost clock speeds.

CPU Benchmarks

Just like desktop processor models offered by Intel and AMD, you cannot get an idea of their real life performance by taking a look at their specifications. Thus, we are here with all the detailed CPU benchmarks in the form of Cinebench R23 scores for both the Intel Core i7 11850H and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H. Taking a look at the single core scores in Cinebench R23 for these CPUs, the AMD Ryzen 5800H falls behind at 1445 which is much lower than Intel Core i7 11850H’s 1517 single core score.

Although, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H still takes a lead in multi core score which is given at 12969 that happens to be slightly higher than the 12345 score of the Core i7 11850H. While the Intel Core i7 does offer better single core performance, it has much higher power consumption. As a result, the AMD Ryzen 7 still makes for a better overall option thanks to its excellent power efficiency resulting in better battery life.

Conclusion

After checking out all these various details regarding the Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs, you must be ready to pick the right one for you. Starting with desktops, both the AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7 offer excellent CPU performance.

Although, for content creation and multithreaded applications, the AMD Ryzen 7 proves to be a better option. As for laptops, the AMD Ryzen 7 is the much better option as not only do you get similar performance but you get much better efficiency which is important for cooling in a laptop as well as its battery life.

PCI Compliance Checklist to Help Your Team Become Audit-Ready

Whatever kind of business you run, there will be all kinds of compliance, laws, and rules that need to be adhered to. These laws and compliance systems are designed for many reasons, mostly involving protecting customers and staff, and their data. The issue is, it can be a real headache keeping on top of them all, with time-consuming tasks making compliance a tough job.

One of these is PCI compliance. This is an essential regulation for all companies taking payment online or in-person using credit or debit cards. PCI laws are strict and require proper management throughout the year to ensure that your entire business is keeping on top of the rules. Let’s take a closer look at what PCI is and what you need to do to make sure you are audit-ready. 

What is PCI Compliance?

PCI compliance is one of the main types of data protection that business owners need to understand. Set up in 2006 by major brands VISA, Amex, MasterCard, JCB, and Discover, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of rules designed to ensure the safety of said brands’ customer data. It, therefore, affects any company that takes payments through any of these card networks.

Effectively, the rules are quite simple. They state that customer data including card number, address, birthday, and more, are all protected at all times when a transaction is performed, stored, or data otherwise held by a company. In order to meet your compliance requirements, these rules must be followed. Data must be protected. Failure to do so could lead to fines, complicated audits, or businesses being shut down. 

What Does a PCI Audit Involve?

A PCI audit can be a long and arduous process. During the audit, a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) will examine your security systems from beginning to end, taking into account every stage of a transactional process and subsequent data storage. This process can take up to two years, as it looks at over 280 different compliance directives. The smartest thing you can do is analyze your internal processes and prepare for any audits in advance.

Managed Services Can Help

One of the best ways to manage your compliance requirements is to bring external help on board. Companies offer help to take the stress away from monitoring internal compliance, helping keep your teams free to do their own work. These businesses will help work through all the checkpoints on an audit using smart software, mini audits, reporting, data testing, and much more. They’ll help you establish new best practices to ensure you are PCI compliant while fixing any errors your business may have uncovered along the way.

Define Your Scope

Although there are 281 compliance directives for a PCI audit, not all of them may apply to your company. With the help of a managed services team, you can sit down and analyze your business to see where it fits within the overall scope. It may be that only one-half or two-thirds of these auditable directives apply to your company. This will help you know what needs to be tested, documented, and stored for any potential audit.

Test and Document Using Data

As mentioned, external companies can help do this. They can run tests, analyze systems, and use scenarios to ensure that your business is compliant in every stage of a PCI system audit. Every stage of the process needs to be rigorously tested, with scores of data recorded for each test. With the use of visualization and data management software, these tests can be examined in easy-to-read data blocks and graphs, helping you test and/or prove your PCI compliance.

Encryption Is Key

It’s worth noting that none of these tests will pass unless you employ high-level data encryption in every transaction and internet connection your company uses. If someone is accessing your customer data on an unsecured network, breaches can happen extremely easily. Every single access point, server, VPN, or other network device must have the most robust encryption. At their end, all the card providers use top-of-the-range encryption, so they expect the same from all businesses using their network. This is rule number one of PCI compliance.

Making sure your business is PCI compliant is one of the most important – and challenging – things you need to do. Getting help from QSAs or external teams will help massively, as the task is a large one. Use encryption, define your compliance scope, and test test test! Getting on top of it early will make it much easier if and when you are investigated by the PCI DSS. 

Tech Review – iPhone 12 cases review from PHNX

The iPhone 13 is arriving this week and we have a huge range of cases and accessories for it and we look forward to checking it out, There is much hype over right now if you should upgrade from the iPhone 12, the choice is yours if you have the cash to splash but upgrading the the 13 pro which we are doing is certainly one option or go pro with last years iPhone 12.

Either way you need to case up as a drop is expensive regardless and PHNX formerly MNML have a range of cases to pick from and we are looking at the iPhone 12 line ones today with a full range of iPhone 13 pro cases dropping next week so stay tuned for that. These cases are minimalistic hence the name and do give you some protection and are ideal for going out or just being about the house and are super thin, they also protect the camera area of your iPhone an all ports accessible and keys and look really nice.

These cases will also work with wireless charging if you are concerned about that and are brand free, check out the video below for more and watch out for the mega iPhone 13 round up soon on techbuzireland.com where we give you a hands on review and look at the products and less of the stock image approach.

BUY HERE 

As with all our reviews the company sent these over with no payment or input and are seeing this the same time as you.

See the video below for more.

 

 

Creative Launches Sound Blaster Katana V2

Creative Technology today announced the release of Sound Blaster Katana V2, the successor to the original Sound BlasterX Katana which had been regarded by many as the definitive gaming soundbar. Completely redesigned with an all-new sleek form factor, it delivers 68% more power than before, features improved audio dynamics and transforms the headphone experience with Super X-Fi Headphone Holography – this new Katana is a menacing weapon for desktop and console gamers alike.

Gaming Sounds Exciting Again

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 personifies the culmination of Creative’s best audio technologies as it brings games and movies to life through its 5.1 channel playback. Delivering the sound signature of a high-end Sound Blaster, built with more than 30 years of audio processing expertise, it retains the acclaimed tri-amplified design of its predecessor, where each of its 5 drivers is powered individually by Creative’s proprietary multi-core DSP controller. The audio quality is enhanced further through improved fabric dome tweeters for cleaner and more refined highs, and a larger, more imposing subwoofer for deeper yet impactful bass performance.

For users who prefer to shut out the world or battle away late into the night without disturbing others, Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, a multiple award-winning technology which recreates the soundstage of a high-end multi-speaker system in headphones, is the compelling solution. Built into the Sound Blaster Katana V2 with the integrated Super X-Fi UltraDSP chip, users will experience holographic audio that is personalized according to how they hear sound, and enjoy an unprecedented level of realism as they fully immerse themselves in a movie, or dive right into the gaming battlefield.

Enemy-spotting gets easier than ever before – with SXFI BATTLE Mode, a sound mode which is specially designed to give FPS gamers an unprecedented edge in enhanced audio cues, both for directionality and distance. There is also Scout Mode, a familiar Sound Blaster feature which focuses on sound detection so that opponents are heard before they are seen moving on screen.

With an integrated Dolby Audio decoder, users get to enjoy the cinematic experience not just while gaming, but also while movie-binging on streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime.

All-in-One Audio Hub

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 can be customized to sound and look just the way users like it. When connected to the Creative app (both desktop and mobile), users can choose from various EQ settings and tune the audio with the Acoustic Engine suite. Furthermore, the redesigned RGB lighting strip features various illumination mode selections across 16.8 million colors, which intuitively reactive to the playback content.  These settings can be saved as customized profiles on either the app or the programmable buttons on the remote control.

It is comprehensively decked out with a multitude of connectivity options, with HDMI ARC and optical ports, wireless Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C port for USB audio support, 3.5mm AUX-in and SXFI-out for certified Super X-Fi products. It is compatible with desktops and consoles alike, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

All in all, the Sound Blaster Katana V2 provides a complete entertainment experience which transcends beyond what is expected of a gaming soundbar.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster Katana V2 is priced at £299, US$329.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit www.creative.com/KatanaV2.

Red Bull Basement is Back to Kickstart Student Innovation in 2021

Today’s student entrepreneurs, creators and innovators are driving positive change for the future and Red Bull is giving these young change-makers an opportunity to bring their idea to life by applying for Red Bull Basement before 24 October 2021.

In this global program, students are empowered to showcase their innovative ideas, using technology to make tomorrow’s world a better place. Students can avail of resources such as mentoring, workshops, networking events and more – all leading up to a Global Final where thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries from around the world collaborate with student teams representing each of the 44 participating countries.

Numerous teams from previous Red Bull Basement events have gone on to expand their ideas on the world stage. The top team from 2019, Austria’s Audvice, has made important strides since their participation, recently receiving six-figure funding in the first investment round for their learning and collaboration tool. And last year the UK’s Lava Aqua X team wowed the experts as they pitched an ecologically friendly reinvention of the washing machine. With the momentum they gained, they are now working to bring their product to market.

Ireland’s 2020 finalists, Ben Ralph and Tadhg Crowley have been working hard on the continued development of their sustainable energy solution DemRes, driving the development of an app which has garnered interest from key players in the Irish energy industry.

To apply for the 2021 edition, entrants can visit the Red Bull Basement website and upload a video that clearly and concisely explains their team idea. Entrants must be 18+ years old and currently enrolled in third level. The public will be able to give online “shout-outs” to their favourite ideas, and those shout-outs will be part of the criteria that judges consider – along with feasibility, creativity and impact – to determine the national finalists. Then the national teams will have five weeks to further develop their ideas with the help of resources including an international mentorship program before attending an immersive, three-day Global Final in Istanbul, Turkey, where teams will pitch their projects to a panel of experts.

 

Timeline, Red Bull Basement 2021:

1 September – 24 October:
Application window is open. The Irish public are invited to give “shout-outs” to their favorite teams.

25 October – 2 November:
National judges select one team to represent Ireland at the Global Final, concluding with a simultaneous announcement of all selected teams.

13 – 15 December:
The international teams connect and pitch their ideas at the Global Final in Istanbul, Turkey.