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.

Fujifilm Announces instax mini LiPlay+ hybrid instant camera

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, is proud to announce the introduction of its instax mini LiPlay+™ hybrid instant camera (mini LiPlay+), an update to the popular instax mini LiPlay™ line that debuted in 2019. This new camera debuts a variety of new features including dual cameras (a main camera plus a wide-angle selfie camera) with new capabilities for image makers, various enhanced sound capabilities that allow the user to integrate sound into their images (through the use of an integrated QR code printed onto the image), and tasteful upgrades to the camera body.

“As Fujifilm’s first hybrid instant camera, and the first camera with the unique capability to integrate sound into photos, our mini LiPlay™ line of hybrid instant cameras has always been one of our most unique offerings,” said Shin Udono, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, FUJIFILM Europe. “mini LiPlay+™ builds on the distinctive features of the original mini LiPlay™, giving users even more creative ways to express themselves through photos and sound. It’s a truly versatile hybrid camera with a unique set of attributes to suit every skill and interest level”

Main Features:

instax mini LiPlay+™ Smartphone App 

The free, downloadable instax mini LiPlay™ App allows users to capture images remotely via Bluetooth connection, add finishing touches to images with frames, and print photos from a connected smartphone. Users can further embellish their images by adding sticker icons or overlay text, making each image a true custom creation.

Dual camera functionality

The mini LiPlay+™ hybrid instant camera features both a front main camera and a rear-facing wide-angle selfie camera. New to mini LiPlay+™ is layered photo mode, in which images created with both the front and rear cameras can be combined so the images appear in layers, one in the foreground and one in the background. When editing images, users can choose between instax-Rich mode™ and instax-Natural mode™ to accentuate their images and choose from a selection of artful filters to express themselves further. mini LiPlay+™ also features automatic exposure and flash control to enhance image quality and includes either 2 or 10 second timers.

Instax Sound Print™ and instax Sound Album™

Users can utilise the free, downloadable instax mini LiPlay+™ App to add sound features to their images. With the instax Sound Print™ feature users have four unique ways to record 3-second audio clips to add to their images, then listen back by scanning the printed QR code on your photo (instax™ instant film required and sold separately) with their smartphone. Alternatively, the instax Sound Album™ feature turns adventures into custom animated videos with sound, vibrant backgrounds, and standout music. 

New instax™ mini film variety introduced

Also being announced at the same time as the mini LiPlay+™ camera is instax™ mini Soft Glitter instant film available in a 10-exposure pack. Gold accents combine with soothing hues to bring a calming shimmer to the frames around each photo. 

Pricing and Availability

The instax mini LiPlay+™ hybrid instant camera will be available in Sand Beige and Midnight Blue colors from 30th October 2025 at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of €220.00 (inc. VAT). The updated instax mini LiPlay+™ smartphone App will also be available at this time. Available from Fujifilm retailers nationwide.

For more product information, visit  https://www.instax.ie/cameras/mini-liplay-plus/ 

instax™ mini Soft Glitter instant film will be available from 30th October 2025 at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of €10.50 (inc. VAT). Available from Fujifilm retailers nationwide.

See our instax reviews

Toast teams up with Eclective Hospitality Group

Toast the cloud-based restaurant technology platform, today announced that Eclective Hospitality Group, Ireland’s largest hospitality group, has implemented Toast across its portfolio, highlighting Toast’s growing role as a trusted partner in Ireland as the company celebrates 3 years in market.

This new collaboration sees Toast’s technology platform deployed across 25 Eclective venues, including iconic brands like Angelina’s, Elephant and Castle and Wowburger.

Toast’s technology seamlessly connects every aspect of Irish hospitality businesses, from kitchen to customer. Eclective will utilise Toast technology to strengthen operational flexibility, provide greater ease of use and responsiveness, improve staff efficiency, and enhance the overall guest experience.

“As Ireland’s largest hospitality group employing 850 people across 27 venues, we need a technology partner that can scale with our ambitions while understanding the unique demands of running a restaurant in Ireland,” said Dave Mongan, COO at Eclective. “Toast eliminates the complexity of managing multiple systems across our portfolio. Toast gives us the tools that power service and allows us to focus on what matters most – creating exceptional experiences for our guests. This partnership positions us perfectly for our next phase of growth.”

“Delivering a great guest experience requires a restaurant to have exceptional tools and technology,” added Daniel Hanigan, Executive Chef at Angelina’s. “By leveraging technology like Toast’s Kitchen Display Systems to improve efficiency in the kitchen, our team will have more time to focus on creating exceptional food experiences.”

“Partnering with an ambitious, forward-looking organisation like Eclective represents a defining moment in Toast’s journey here in Ireland,” Ana Munoz, GM of International at Toast said.

“Working with a group of this scale and caliber is a testament to the depth and presence we’ve built in the local hospitality community over the past three years. We know that Irish restaurants want both great technology and a provider who truly understands them, and we’re the ideal choice for growing restaurant groups here and across our other international markets.”

Toast is the restaurant technology partner of choice for many of Ireland’s leading hospitality businesses, including Bewley’s, Kicky’s and OAKBERRY.

Toast’s presence in Ireland includes Customer Support, Research and Development, and Sales and Marketing teams in Ireland, and is recognised as a Certified Great Place to Work in Ireland.

Toast supports many Irish communities through Toast.org, the company’s philanthropic arm. Some of Toast.org’s programmes in Ireland over the last 3 years include a €50,000 donation to Airfield Estate for a new community garden that supports local food education. Toast.org’s continued community investment reflects Toast’s on-going commitment to supporting communities that make Irish hospitality thrive.

Occupational Drug Testing Service Standards

The landscape of occupational drug testing has evolved dramatically in recent years, driven by the demand for safer workplaces and the necessity to comply with increasingly stringent regulations. As we navigate this intricate world, understanding the standards that govern these tests becomes crucial for employers and employees alike. Let’s delve into the core components of occupational drug testing service standards and what you need to know to maintain a compliant and productive workplace.

Understanding Occupational Drug Testing

Occupational drug testing is a critical component of workplace safety and compliance. It’s designed to deter and detect drug use among employees, ensuring that workplaces remain safe, productive, and legally compliant. But, what does “drug testing near me” really entail? It involves a series of steps and standards that ensure accuracy, reliability, and fairness.

Imagine a bustling office where everyone is focused on their tasks. Suddenly, there’s an incident involving an employee who seems impaired. This situation highlights why drug testing is not just a formality but a necessity. The standards governing these tests are not arbitrary; they are meticulously crafted to uphold fairness and accuracy, much like the way we uphold the values that keep workplaces harmonious and efficient.

Key Standards in Drug Testing

1. Reliability and Accuracy

The first and foremost standard is the reliability and accuracy of the drug testing process. You need to ensure that the tests are conducted in certified laboratories that adhere to strict protocols. The accuracy of results is paramount, as false positives or negatives can lead to unjust consequences or overlooked dangers. Think of it like adjusting a finely-tuned instrument; even the slightest error can lead to a discordant outcome.

2. Chain of Custody

The chain of custody is a fundamental aspect of drug testing that ensures specimens are handled correctly and results are traceable. You must maintain a clear and documented process from collection to analysis to ensure that samples are not tampered with. This standard is akin to the bustling flow of a well-organized assembly line, where each step is critical to the integrity of the final product.

3. Confidentiality

Confidentiality is not just a legal requirement; it’s a moral obligation. Drug testing results must be handled with the utmost discretion to protect employee privacy. You should have robust protocols in place to ensure results are only accessible to authorized personnel. This standard acts as a shield, upholding the trust between employer and employee.

4. Fairness and Non-Discrimination

Fairness in the testing process is vital. You need to apply drug testing policies uniformly across all employees to avoid any discriminatory practices. This standard is like the scales of justice, ensuring balance and equality in the workplace. It’s about adjusting policies to fit the diverse needs of your workforce without bias.

5. Clear Communication

Clear communication about drug testing policies is essential. Employees should be informed about when and why drug testing near me is conducted, along with the consequences of non-compliance. Transparency in communication can prevent misunderstandings and foster a culture of trust and accountability.

Implementing Effective Drug Testing Programs

To implement an effective drug testing program, you must first design a policy that aligns with both legal requirements and organizational goals. Here are some steps to consider:

– Policy Development: Create a comprehensive drug testing policy that outlines the purpose, procedures, and consequences. Ensure it complies with federal and state laws.

– Employee Education: Educate your employees about the policy and the importance of drug testing in maintaining a safe workplace. Use training sessions, handbooks, or meetings to convey this message.

– Selection of a Reputable Provider: Choose a reputable drug testing provider that meets industry standards. Search for “drug testing near me” to find certified labs that offer reliable services.

– Regular Reviews and Updates: Regularly review and update your drug testing policy to reflect changes in laws or organizational needs. This adaptability is crucial, much like adjusting your sails to navigate changing winds.

– Support Systems: Implement support systems for employees who may need assistance with substance abuse issues. Offering access to counseling or rehabilitation programs can be a proactive approach to address potential problems.

Navigating Legal and Ethical Challenges

While implementing drug testing programs, you may encounter legal and ethical challenges. It’s essential to stay informed about the laws governing drug testing in your jurisdiction to avoid potential pitfalls. Additionally, you should consider the ethical implications of testing and strive to balance workplace safety with employee rights.

Consider the story of a company that faced backlash for its drug testing policies. The management had to adjust their approach, incorporating more employee feedback and ensuring transparency in their processes. This adjustment not only improved compliance but also enhanced employee morale and trust.

Final Thoughts

Occupational drug testing is a crucial element in fostering a safe and productive workplace. By understanding and adhering to service standards, you can effectively manage the complexities of drug testing while maintaining compliance and fairness. Whether you’re implementing a new program or refining an existing one, remember that the goal is to uphold the principles of safety, accuracy, and respect for all employees.

As we continue to navigate these waters, let’s ensure that our actions reflect the values we uphold—integrity, transparency, and fairness. By doing so, we create workplaces that are not just compliant, but thriving environments where everyone can perform their best. So, when you think of “drug testing near me,” remember that it’s not just about the process, but about the standards that support a safer and more equitable workplace.

Twelve South revives iconic BookBook cases for iPhone 17 models

Twelve South, a leading designer of innovative tech accessories, is reviving its iconically designed wallet case, BookBook, for iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. 

Crafted to echo the appearance of an antique book, the folding leather wallet is a legacy Twelve South design that customers have known and loved since its first iteration for iPhone 4 in 2011. Now, those with iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models can transform their ultra-modern devices into their favourite leatherbound literary classic. 

Featuring a design of premium, full-grain genuine brown leather, a reinforced spine for sturdiness and to resemble a hardback novel and intricate stitching, it’s as beautiful as it is practical. 

In addition to offering protection for iPhones, the ‘front cover’ can house up to four cards in the secure slots and bank notes or receipts/tickets in the sleeve.

 

BookBook is also MagSafe compatible, so users can enjoy fast and convenient charging with their favourite, innovative chargers, including Twelve South accessories like PowerBug and Butterfly.

What’s more the case is versatile; it can be used in its entirety or the card wallet portion can be removed and used independently, while the MagSafe shell remains attached to iPhone for charging or use with accessories.

BookBook also cleverly folds into hands-free viewing stand, ideal for watching shows or Face Timing while in coffee shops, on trains and more. 

 

Available now exclusively from Twelve South UK for £59.99.

See our Twelve South reviews

RED BULL IS LOOKING FOR IRELAND’S BEST TETRIS PLAYER

Red Bull is looking for Ireland’s best Tetris player to compete at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai! Live in Ireland from today, Red Bull Tetris® invites students and gamers of all levels to test their skills in the world’s most versatile Tetris tournament.

First launched in 1984, Tetris® is one of the most iconic video games of all time. From its early days on PC to becoming a cultural phenomenon on the Nintendo Game Boy in the 90s, the simple but addictive puzzle game has soundtracked student dorms, bedrooms, and arcades for decades.

Now, in 2025, Red Bull Tetris® takes the beloved classic into the future – a cross-platform tournament that blends the nostalgia of old-school gameplay with modern competition. For the first time, players will compete across multiple platforms, testing their skills in a dynamic, multi-device environment, with the single-player Qualifier Phase now live in Ireland.

Players eager to prove themselves can start competing today at www.redbulltetris.com.

The single-player, mobile qualifier phase is open to participants of all levels aged 18 and over, from casual players to seasoned competitors. With campus qualifiers taking place in colleges across Ireland, competition is heating up for a place on the national leaderboard.

Those with the highest scores will be invited to the Red Bull Tetris® Irish National Final on Thursday, November 6th. The event will take place at Zero Latency, Dublin’s cutting-edge free-roam VR venue, where the best players from across the country will play 1v1 on desktop for the title of Ireland’s top Tetris player.

The stakes? The Irish National Champion will secure their place in the Red Bull Tetris® World Finals in Dubai, taking place from December 11th – 13th. This once-in-a-lifetime event will be hosted at the iconic Dubai Frame, where the final match will unfold in the night sky – a world-first live playable game of Tetris powered by over 2,000 drones.

Speaking as the global partnership was announced, Maya Rogers, the President and CEO of The Tetris Company, said: “Our partnership with Red Bull celebrates what Tetris has stood for since the beginning: simple, joyful gameplay that connects people across the world.” 

“For over 40 years, Tetris has remained a beloved game through its ability to adapt and inspire. Red Bull Tetris is the next chapter, bringing a bold, unexpected twist to the tournament scene and offering fans a spectacular new way to engage with the brand.”

The search for Ireland’s best Tetris player has started – build your path to Dubai today at www.redbulltetris.com. For updates, qualifier announcements, and more, follow @RedBullIre on Instagram and TikTok.

Digital Transformation in Banking and Financial Markets

The banking industry is experiencing one of the most significant shifts in its history. In 2025, more than 3.6 billion people worldwide are using digital banking services. Together with this 77% of consumers now prefer to manage their accounts through mobile apps or computers.

This trend highlights how digital channels have become the default choice for banking, with liquidity aggregation opportunities, advanced risk management, and enhanced user experience playing a key role in ensuring efficiency and resilience behind the scenes.

Where banks once differentiated themselves through physical presence and reputation, they are now judged by the efficiency of their platforms, the quality of their digital services, and their ability to integrate into an increasingly interconnected financial ecosystem.

From Closed Systems to Open Infrastructure

For decades, many banks operated on legacy technology. Systems were closed, data was siloed, and client access was limited to what a single institution could offer. The rapid rise of fintechs and alternative service providers has upended that model, showing clients that seamless digital experiences and global reach are not just possible, but expected.

As a result, banks are under pressure to modernize their core infrastructure. This includes migrating to cloud-based solutions, adopting real-time analytics, and rethinking how they connect with counterparties and clients.

For example, several leading European banks have partnered with fintech providers to implement cloud-native payment hubs. By doing so, they can process cross-border payments in real time, aggregate liquidity from multiple sources, and provide clients with transparent pricing — something that would have been impossible under their former legacy systems.

 

Technology as the New Competitive Edge

What sets leading banks apart today is their ability to use technology strategically. Artificial intelligence, advanced risk management tools, and automated compliance systems are now part of everyday operations. Beyond efficiency, these innovations create new opportunities to improve client experience, streamline back-office processes, and strengthen resilience during periods of market stress.

Among the many solutions reshaping the industry is liquidity aggregation, which allows institutions to consolidate liquidity from multiple sources into a unified framework. While it may sound highly specialized, its impact is broad: by reducing fragmentation and enabling more transparent pricing, it contributes to a more stable and efficient market environment.

For example, JPMorgan Chase has invested heavily in digital trading infrastructure, combining liquidity aggregation with advanced analytics to offer clients deeper market access and more competitive pricing. Similarly, Deutsche Bank has deployed AI-driven risk management and consolidated liquidity flows across multiple venues, enabling it to deliver greater resilience during volatile market conditions.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Boundaries

Another key element of transformation is the expansion into multi-asset services. Clients increasingly expect banks to support a wide range of financial instruments through a single interface. Delivering on this expectation requires more than technology — it demands strategic partnerships, agile operating models, and the willingness to rethink traditional boundaries.

This convergence of banking and financial technology highlights a larger trend: the emergence of connected ecosystems. Banks are no longer isolated institutions; they are nodes in a global digital network. Success depends on how well they integrate, adapt, and innovate within that network.

A good example is UBS, which has expanded its platform to provide clients with access to equities, fixed income, and digital assets within a unified environment. By partnering with fintech providers and leveraging open APIs, UBS has been able to integrate multiple asset classes into one client-facing interface. Similarly, Standard Chartered has embraced a multi-asset approach through collaborations with technology firms, enabling institutional clients to manage foreign exchange, commodities, and securities from a single digital platform.

The Road Ahead

The journey of digital transformation is far from complete. Many institutions are still in the process of modernizing legacy systems, while others are experimenting with new service models to stay ahead of client needs.

What is clear is that technology will remain at the center of banking’s evolution. Whether through artificial intelligence, open banking frameworks, or specialized solutions such as liquidity aggregation, the institutions that embrace innovation will shape the next era of financial services. Those that hesitate risk being left behind in an increasingly connected and competitive economy.

How Online Gaming Is Evolving

Technology is transforming online casinos, making them a great deal more convenient and accessible for punters. Technology is truly changing the online gaming sector from smartphones to AI-based experiences.

Online casino gaming has witnessed some of the most sophisticated technology, becoming more handy and delightful for gamblers worldwide. Authentic sites lead such technologies, developing new functionalities that adhere to modern gaming requirements. Technological progression is really enhancing user experience and creating new standards in online gaming, helping gamblers savor safe, seamless, and fascinating gaming anywhere in the world.

Mobile Gaming Revolution

The rise of smartphones has transformed online gaming, enabling gamblers to play their best-loved casino games anywhere they want. Sites such as online casino Ireland have well-optimized their smartphone sites, with great experiences running on all screen sizes. Members can access the games, look through offers and handle their accounts through their phones or tablets, making gaming more convenient.

This development saw an explosion of gaming on phones and gamblers enjoyed the convenience of taking sessions from just anywhere, while commuting, from home, or during a break. Furthermore, mobile-optimized sites feature touch-screen access and mobile-exclusive offers, improving the user experience. Most sites also feature strategy guides, tutorials and demo access, allowing you to learn and acquaint yourself with games before committing, raising the ante for convenience.

These advancements adhere to the demands of contemporary gamblers who desire ease of access, portability and a great experience. Importantly, good sites allow gamblers to weave gaming into their daily lives through full access, reducing the confines of desktop-exclusive sites. Thus, gaming becomes more intensely personal and user-friendly.

Artificial Intelligence, Personalization and Customized Experiences for Every Player

AI is also contributing in large measures to the personalization of the online casino experience. Processed on the basis of your taste and behavior, AI algorithms can recommend you games, offers, as well as bonuses, that match the individual player. This level of personalization elevates the player interaction and satisfaction, as the player realizes that the site comprehends and is fulfilling their specific interests.

Technology-oriented platforms use artificial intelligence to offer you personalized suggestions, so you gain access to content that is most suitable for you. These systems also monitor development, recommend new titles and feature exclusive offers, making the whole experience far more dynamic and interactive. This is when user satisfaction is substantially enhanced and the chances of the player going back to the platform for their subsequent playing experience grow, developing a closer association of the player with the platform.

Speedier, Safer and Smarter Transfers

The integration of advanced payment technologies has improved payment settlements in online casinos, making it more rapid, more secure, and more user-friendly for deposits and withdrawal. Most sites also offer various payment methods, including payment with e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, and traditional banking. This allows more options for gamblers in terms of choice for management of accounts.

More measures of protection, such as two-factor verification, encryption technologies as well as fraud detection programs, make it such that your financial information is safe at all times. These technologies have also created trust among the user base, further encouraging more individuals to participate in online gaming activities with full confidence. Players can also delight in near-instant deposits and payouts, thus smoothing gaming sessions.

Cloud Technology and Accessing Casino Games

Cloud computing removed the prerequisite for top-of-the-line hardware so members could access a very wide variety of casino content directly from their web browsers. This technology is facilitated by instant playing, no downloading or installation and guarantees a seamless playing experience.

Additionally, cloud platforms can host a vast number of diverse games, ranging from old-school slots and table content to live dealer content. This increases your game library significantly. Technology also enables platforms to deploy and introduce new content easily, making the user experience new and exciting. This scalability and flexibility are particularly appealing to players who want a comprehensive gaming experience without the constraints of traditional software installations.

Immersive Play and Virtual Reality Innovations

Many sites offer live dealer offerings that already engage players with a highly interactive experience. Mainstream titles such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat are streamed live with professional dealers, enabling bets and chat interaction from the player. Live dealer offers the best online ease with the thrill and realism of being in a brick-and-mortar casino. More live dealer products continue to appear on platforms, including themed tables and multi-player features, to boost value in terms of entertainment further.

Virtual Reality (VR) brings a new dimension to online gaming by developing immersive surroundings that reproduce the experience of being in a real casino. Players interact with their environment and everyone else participates in real time, multiplying the social element of online gaming. Although VR technology is still developing, its promise of revolutionizing the online casino experience is tremendous. and some sites are already exploring how they can incorporate VR. This will allow gamblers to experience a much more immersive and interactive experience, with real simulations of the casino floors, interactive gaming tables and live social interaction.

Technological advancements are profoundly boosting online casinos’ ease of access and convenience. These technologies are really transforming the online gaming industry from smartphone gaming and AI-based personalization to payment systems of no frills, cloud sites, and virtual reality experiences.

As technology continues to transform, more groundbreaking features will follow that will further indulge the player’s gaming experience. Online casinos will become more interactive, more accessible and more pleasurable than ever.

New Square tech to transform Irish retail and hospitality

Square has announced the launch of Square Handheld, its most powerful, portable point-of-sale device ever. Combining a sleek, durable design with comprehensive, versatile software, Square Handheld enables sellers to manage everything from payments to back-of-house operations right from their pocket.

Power Meets Portability

Built for fast-moving and operationally complex businesses, Square Handheld is ergonomic and pocketable, at just 315 grams and 15.7mm thick. It’s IP54-rated and durable, standing up to water splashes and dust. With a large 6.2″ Corning® Gorilla® Glass touchscreen and a battery that powers a whole day, Square Handheld is packed with advanced features, including:

  • Full payments functionality to capture tap and chip and pin transactions, and seamless integration with Square’s ecosystem of software, making managing a business easier than ever

  • Barcode scanning for speedy checkouts, gift card scanning, and inventory management

  • A 16 MP camera for capturing photos of newly stocked merchandise and updating item libraries

It’s portable, reliable, and powerful. With Square Handheld, sellers and their staff gain the mobility, speed, and efficiency essential to keep operations steady and deliver high-quality customer experiences — whether they’re restaurateurs that need to take tableside orders and manage their floorplan from the palm of their hand, or retailers managing large inventories and letting shoppers check out anywhere on the store floor.

Adaptable Software for Every Type of Business

Square Handheld is powered by the new unified Square Point of Sale app, bringing years of commerce innovation and technology leadership into a single, powerful hub for running any size or type of business. The redesigned software provides sellers with seven different modes that lets them customise their experience with industry-specific features — such as Full Service mode, Quick Service mode and Retail mode — and the ability to easily add or switch between modes when their operations require different or expanded capabilities. Device-specific features like quick settings for easy adjustments and push alerts for timely notifications mean Square Handheld can fit into and improve any in-store workflow, especially for food and beverage sellers, and retailers, which drove 78% of Square’s gross payment volume (GPV) in 2024 in the EU. From bustling full service restaurants, to multi-location quick service restaurants and coffee shops and sprawling garden centres, Square Handheld gives sellers of all sizes a powerful solution to keep commerce moving.

Designed to Drive Commerce

Square Handheld builds on the company’s legacy of hardware design excellence that began over a decade ago with the iconic ‘little white reader’ and permeates throughout Square’s entire portfolio of devices – from two generations of Square Stand, to Square Register and Square Terminal. Representing the company’s unique ability to elegantly marry form and function, Square Handheld is one of the thinnest and lightest handheld point-of-sale devices on the market, offering a purposefully engineered solution that’s not only built for today’s business needs, but designed to evolve and grow with sellers as commerce transforms in years to come.

“Running a business, especially a restaurant or retail store, has never been more demanding: every second counts, every team member must find ways to be more productive, and every customer has increasingly higher expectations for when and how they’re serviced,” said Thomas Templeton, Block’s Head of Hardware. “Square Handheld fuses Square’s industry-leading design with powerful commerce software to deliver a dynamic device that empowers sellers to keep pace with the breakneck speed of modern business — whether they’re a full-service restaurant looking to provide seamless tableside service across multiple dining areas, or a boutique looking to give its clients a refined checkout experience anywhere in-store.”

Square Handheld starts at 199€ + VAT and to help sellers get the most out of it, Square has partnered with industry-leading accessories manufacturer Belkin to offer premium protective cases. The Belkin SheerForce cases, which come in grey and black, complement Square Handheld’s sleek design, and add further defense against accidental drops and scratches. Thoughtfully designed to improve device grip while maintaining Square Handheld’s pocketable profile, the Belkin SheerForce case starts at 39€ + VAT.

New Software Launches to Make Operations Even More Smooth

Square has made a number of new tools available to help sellers simplify ordering and the guest experience:

  • Combos – sellers can create pre-defined flexible bundles of items sold together at a fixed price

  • Modifier set ordering – sellers can reorder their modifier sets directly from their Dashboard, creating customisable menus and a smoother ordering flow

A number of software launches will be introduced in the coming weeks to create smarter table service and staff operations for sellers:

  • House accounts – allows sellers to enable buyers to aggregate purchases into an account and settle the bill later.

  • Seat management – allows servers to track and organise guest movements across the restaurant, streamlining service operations and improving bill management.

  • ResDiary integration – syncs the seller’s booking platform with Square for Restaurants POS. Table spend and order details automatically flow back into ResDiary, helping operators better manage service and track performance. Deposits taken via ResDiary are also applied to orders in Square when a guest is seated.

To learn more about Square Handheld and the Square ecosystem of business solutions, visit squareup.com/ie/hardware/handheld.

Meet Amazon Quick Suite: The agentic AI application reshaping how work gets done

Quick Suite helps you cut through the noise of fragmented information, siloed applications, and repetitive tasks to focus on what matters.

Key takeaways

  • Quick Suite is AWS’s agentic AI application that helps employees transform how they find insights, conduct deep research, automate tasks, visualize data, and take actions across apps.
  • Quick connects to your information across internal repositories like wikis and intranets, popular applications, AWS services like S3 and Redshift, and access integrations with MCP to connect to 1,000+ apps.
  • Ask any question and get insightful answers.
  • Battle-tested by tens of thousands of Amazon employees and dozens of customers, you can use Quick for tasks consumer AI shouldn’t handle.

Read more below

We’ve all experienced how AI can transform our personal lives, but this same experience hasn’t been unlocked at work—yet. Consumer AI solutions aren’t connected to all your business data. They don’t have access to the tools you need to get things done at work. And many organizations won’t even let you use consumer offerings, because they lack critical security and privacy features.

That’s why we invented Amazon Quick Suite. It’s the AI experience people love with the security and privacy enterprises trust. Quick is your AI teammate that collaborates with you to get work done. With Quick, you can ask questions and get detailed answers, conduct deep dive research, analyze and visualize data, and create automations for workflows to save time and let you focus on the big picture. And thanks to the enterprise-grade security and privacy standards, Quick can work across all your information, so you finally get the fully featured gen AI experience you want at work, while knowing your queries are never used to train a model.

With Quick, we are entering a new era of work. Interact with Quick through an intuitive, web-based experience or integrations across your browser, Office 365, and more. Working with an AI agent is now as simple as chatting with a teammate. Make a request, ask a question, or automate a task. Quick works with you to help you go from insight directly to action. To see these capabilities firsthand, watch my video overview of Amazon Quick Suite.

We’ve been testing Quick with employees across Amazon and key customers to ensure it’s up to the demands of today’s workplace, and the results speak for themselves. Amazon employees are turning tasks that used to take days into minutes, automating the development of critical reports, and building their own benches of personalized agents. Propulse Lab, a leading marketing automation company, used Quick to streamline their customer service workflows, reducing the average time spent handling tickets by 80%—with a planned expansion of this workflow, they predict they will save over 24,000 hours annually. Based on the results they’ve already seen with Quick, DXC Technology, a global provider of information technology services, is planning to deploy it across more than 120k users, while Vertiv, a provider of critical digital infrastructure, plans to scale their users by more than 25% in 2026.

So how does Quick Suite work?

Bring everything together with Quick Index and Spaces

Quick Index makes it simple for you to connect to the sources and applications that matter. With over 50 built-in connectors for applications like Adobe Analytics, SharePoint, Snowflake, Google Drive, OneDrive, Outlook, ServiceNow, Databricks, Amazon Redshift, and Amazon S3, Quick brings together all your data securely to ensure you have full context for every decision. Using integrations with OpenAPI or Model Context Protocol (MCP) customers can connect to custom resources and 1,000+ apps by taking advantage of popular MCP servers from Atlassian, Asana, Box, Canva, PagerDuty, Workato, Zapier, and many more. You can then add additional files, dashboards, and other information to dedicated Spaces for you and your team to collaborate.

Ask questions and build agents

Once you’ve connected your data to Quick, you can start interacting with the chat assistant. You can ask Quick to write and send communications for you, or if you want Quick to write in your style or for a particular task (like writing a case study), you can use natural language or point Quick at existing guides or documentation to create a custom agent able to communicate in your intended style.

Analyze and visualize data with Quick Sight

Quick Sight makes business intelligence accessible to everyone with a new agentic experience, helping you gain insights to make better decisions. Unlike traditional business intelligence tools that work only with databases and data warehouses, Quick Sight’s agentic experience analyzes all forms of data across all your systems and apps, including your documents.

For example, a marketer can now easily look at a dashboard of their campaign data with metrics and customer feedback and ask questions in natural language about how the campaign is performing. They get a crisp analysis of the data in seconds without hours of manual statistical analysis, compiling sentiment from feedback, and summarizing the findings into a narrative—no business intelligence or data science experience required.

Dive deep into complex questions with Quick Research

Quick Research is the most accurate and reliable research agent on the market, ready to answer your most in-depth questions. It’s like having your own personal Ph.D. to provide comprehensive answers and reports to questions that require extensive research. It uses sophisticated analysis capabilities and extended processing to dive into your company’s data, and the public internet, including real-time information from 200+ outlets like The Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post, and Forbes. Quick Research can turn weeks-long research projects into quick-turn results, all with fully cited sources you can trust.

We tested Quick Research on DeepResearch Bench, a comprehensive benchmark for evaluating research agents, using a collective jury, where it provided the most accurate and reliable research across a range of tasks. The Last Mile Delivery team at Amazon used Quick Research to assess the potential impact of new legislation on a particular country that had been previously enacted in other countries. In 30 minutes, Quick Research delivered an in-depth analysis of how this legislation impacted other countries and their associated partner organizations, while also providing details on references and research methodology. This sort of research previously took multiple team members two weeks to complete.

Streamline repetitive tasks with Quick Flows

We all have those routine tasks, like compiling weekly reports or preparing for a recurring meeting, that take up your time every week. Quick Flows helps you use simple prompts to create automated workflows that handle repetitive tasks, reducing errors and freeing you and your team from busy work. For example, a program manager at AWS created a Flow to report on new, in-progress, and closed Asana tickets from the past week, compare them against the previous week’s status and committed items, and generate an executive summary email for leadership, saving multiple hours of manual work each week.

Handle complex multi-system workflows with Quick Automate

When these processes get complex and require hundreds of steps to be securely executed across multiple enterprise systems, like insurance claims processing or onboarding a new employee, teams wish that these tasks could be streamlined, but they lack the sophisticated automation tools and expertise to do it. With natural language prompts or by simply using existing documentation for their standard operating procedure, Quick Automate coordinates even the most complex business workflows across multiple applications, systems, or departments.

For instance, the Amazon Finance team uses Quick Automate to reconcile thousands of invoices every month. Quick Automate pulls information across multiple external transportation management systems, cross referencing this content with internal data from Amazon systems to help teams forecast cashflow, identify payment blockers, and conduct root cause analysis. The team built this automation without a dev team in days instead of weeks, and Quick made it easy to scale across multiple teams. Customers, such as Kitsa, have found the computer use agent in Quick Automate to be the most accurate solution for browser automation, helping them reliably automate their most complex and sensitive workflows across applications at scale.

Quick works wherever you are. With an intuitive web application, extensions in popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, and extensions in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and Word, Quick helps you find answers and act immediately in your flow of work.

Quick Suite is already transforming work for Amazon employees and customers

Quick serves people across every department and role—from sales reps to marketers, to CEOs and CIOs, to engineers and IT. Employees across Amazon, along with customers like Vertiv, DXC, 3M, Jabil, dLocal, Propulse Lab, and Kitsa, are already seeing amazing results with Quick:

Research in high gear

Jessica Gibson, vice president and associate general counsel at Amazon, sees an enormous benefit using Quick Research to help the Legal, Public Policy, and Compliance departments keep up with shifting global requirements that impact their business. From a single prompt, Quick Research helps her team synthesize complex requirements for specific geographic regions and provide recommendations at remarkable speed. “This same task used to require many hours of outside counsel, research, and writing,” said Gibson. By using Quick Research to compile these reports, her team can “stay agile while optimizing both time and resources.”

Automations that work

Kitsa, a customer that builds software to help expedite clinical trials, used Quick Automate to pore through hundreds of webpages and found that they were able to analyze sites for clinical trials in days that previously took months—with a 91% cost savings. “Compared to similar offerings like Manus and ChatGPT Operator, we achieved the highest accuracy and data coverage for our use case,” said Rohit Banga, the company’s co-founder and CTO.

Data-driven business decisions

Robbie Wright, a senior product marketer at AWS, uses Quick Flows to build a repeatable workflow to draft monthly business reviews based on business metrics from Quick Sight, campaign performance reporting from Adobe Analytics, and content from emails, and other internal documents. This saves time and helps his team make more informed decisions about ongoing campaigns faster.

“The workflow makes it simple to combine multiple sources into a concise update for our leaders,” Wright said. “I can now complete these projects 90% faster, and the quality of my reports has improved dramatically because I spend less time chasing numbers and more time providing my own insights.”

An AI-driven transformation

Jabil, a global leader in engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions, is embracing Quick so that employees can use natural language to research regulatory updates across key industries faster and to optimize account collections and request for quote (RFQ) submissions. The automations in account collections and RFQs alone are expected to save about $400,000 annually as a result!

“The multi-tier AI architecture powered by Quick consolidates chatbots and information sources, increasing our manufacturing speed and flexibility,” said May Yap, Jabil’s CIO. “As part of our AI-driven transformation, these unified capabilities are helping us drive efficiencies and operational excellence.”

Complex workflows made simple

Natalie Fischbeck works in business development on Amazon’s Workforce Staffing team, and in one week she built 39 customized AI agents using Quick to help her complete complex tasks in minutes.

“Quick has given me the opportunity to create an accessible hub of institutional knowledge that would otherwise be scattered,” she said. “We now have scalable, logic-based agents that track all our leads and solutions at a high level. Because they pull from all our most recent emails and documents, they can provide dynamic updates almost instantly.”

Beyond productivity: A whole new way of working

What strikes me about these examples isn’t just the time saved—it’s how Quick is fundamentally changing our relationship with work. It’s removing the busy work that used to consume valuable time and energy and gives us the time back to focus on what matters. It brings together all the data, metrics, and institutional knowledge you need to make decisions, and helps you act on these decisions to drive outcomes.

We’ve been blown away by all the creative ways people have used Quick so far, and we’re excited to see how others will use it in the future. There are so many possibilities to dig into with these tools, and our team is hard at work finding ways to make them even more useful for customers in the future.