Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Phone 5 Series. #ASUS #ROGPhone5

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, the latest and most powerful incarnation of the world’s most advanced gaming smartphone.

The ROG Phone 5 series is powered to win by the flagship Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^™ 888 5G Mobile Platform featuring advanced 5G communications and premium Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming™ features. The upgraded GameCool 5 cooling system along with the all-new performance manager in Armoury Crate ensure maximum performance is available for any gaming scenario.

For ultra-smooth and ultra-responsive gaming visuals, the ROG Phone 5 series is equipped with a Samsung-built 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED HDR10+ certified display with an industry-leading 300 Hz touch sampling rate and ultra-low 24.3 ms touch latency.

Gamers can play longer with the ROG Phone 5 series thanks to the monster 6000 mAh battery, and the phones come with a 65-watt HyperCharge adapter that tops up the battery in the shortest possible time.

The ROG Phone 5 series continues the ROG built-for-gamers design philosophy with ROG Vision, a never-before-seen rear matrix display — available exclusively on ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate — that shows customisable animations in response to a variety of system and in-game events.

There are also massive enhancements to the pioneering and still-unrivalled AirTrigger 5 control system, and the powerful GameFX audio system has also been overhauled to deliver even more immersive sound.

Dare to win

The ROG Phone 5 series harnesses the massive power of the latest flagship Snapdragon 888, which packs industry-leading innovations in 5G, AI, gaming, and camera technologies. Snapdragon Elite Gaming allows gamers to harness the power of ultra-smooth play at the highest possible HDR quality levels, with desktop-level capabilities. It also debuts Qualcomm Game Quick Touch, so players can experience up to a 20% increase in touch responsiveness and lower latency. With up to a stunning 35% increase in GPU performance and 25% in CPU performance, even the most demanding 3D mobile games run smoothly with maxed-out settings.

To enable maximum sustained performance, the GameCool 5 cooling system in the ROG Phone 5 series now has an optimum thermal structure featuring a centred CPU with the battery split into two parts, one located on each side of the CPU. This ensures that the heat generated by the CPU is transferred to all the edges and corners of the chassis simultaneously for higher thermal efficiency. The reshaped 3D vapor chamber and extensive graphite sheets also help to spread the heat evenly across the device to reduce heat build-up in the middle.

The completely revamped AeroActive Cooler 5 now intakes and expels an incredible amount of air directly onto the centre of the phone — right where the CPU is — to deliver an amazing 10°C drop in the CPU temperature.

The all-new performance manager in Armoury Crate now includes X Mode, with multiple system profiles to give gamers even more performance settings and performance tuning tools, so they can instantly adapt the phone to the task at hand.

Additionally, ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is the world’s first smartphone to use 18 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which dramatically increases the overall gaming performance and takes the user experience to the next level.

Dare to see

Cutting-edge displays have been a signature ROG Phone feature since its inception, and the ROG Phone 5 series continues this tradition. Boasting an industry-leading 300 Hz touch-sampling rate, the 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED display — built by Samsung — delivers a super-smooth gaming experience, with an ultra-low touch latency. Tuned in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks^®, the supreme visuals are enhanced even further with world-beating Delta-E <1 colour accuracy, the new always-on HDR technology that improves non-HDR visuals, and a screen that’s protected by the toughest ever Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass Victus^™. The ROG Phone 5 series is built to endure — and built to win.

Dare to play

To extend both screen-on time and the lifespan of the monster 6000 mAh battery, ROG Phone 5 series is optimised using new software optimisations and power-saving mechanisms, including a charging upper limit, steady charging, and enhanced scheduled charging. There are also passive power-saving mechanisms to limit inactive apps and deliver up to 67% more power savings. The ROG Phone 5 series always optimises itself for the best power efficiency, however it’s being used.

Rapid charging is assured by the bundled 65-watt HyperCharge adapter, which gets gamers up and running again in the fastest possible time.

Innovative ROG Vision

ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and ROG Phone 5 Pro let gamers make their presence known to the world with the exclusive ROG Vision, a pioneering rear matrix display that’s never been seen on any phone until now. ROG Phone 5 Pro features a colour ROG Vision display, while ROG Phone 5 Ultimate has a monochrome version.

ROG Vision can display a variety of cool animations that show whether the phone is charging, if there’s an incoming call, whether X Mode is enabled, and more. Owners can even create custom animations to make their phone even more personal.

Built for gamers

Total control is the name of the game for the ROG Phone 5 series, and the massively upgraded AirTrigger 5 control system now gives gamers up to four distinct ways to interact with their ROG Phone 5, delivering an unrivalled level of game control. The AeroActive Cooler 5 now also features two extra physical buttons to allow a genuine console-like gaming experience.

The ROG Phone 5 series supports an unprecedented total of 10 different motion controls, so gamers can easily pick the moves to fit their game. In a racing game, for example, they can swivel the phone to steer or pull it towards them to brake. Game control has never been so easy.

ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate additionally features innovative hidden rear touch sensors on the back cover, which provide L2/R2 trigger functions, just like a game console controller. These also work together with the ultrasonic sensors, the AeroActive Cooler 5 buttons and the motion controls to provide full control for a total gaming experience.

The GameFX audio system in the ROG Phone 5 series now incorporates symmetrical seven-magnet dual speakers for truly balanced stereo sound effects. Optimised in collaboration with audio specialist Dirac, the projected sound quality will grab the user’s aural senses and take them to a different world. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a hi-fi-grade ESS DAC for lossless audio processing. The AudioWizard audio-tuning app has also been completely revamped to optimise sound for different audio styles, including Game, Cinema, and Music settings. GameFX audio on ROG Phone 5 series delivers the crystal-clear in-game sound effects and powerful aural soundscapes that gamers never dared to hope for in a phone.

For the ROG Phone 5 series, we’ve teamed up with some of the most popular game titles to give owners a series of different theme packs for customising their device with their favorite characters and screens. Gamers can also share, discuss, and interact via ROG Connect, an online community that’s built into the ROG Phone 5 series.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS ROG Phone 5 (12GB / 256GB) will be available in the UK from the end of April 2021. MSRP: £799

ASUS ROG Phone 5 (16GB / 256GB) will be available in the UK from the end of May 2021. MSRP: £899

ASUS ROG Phone 5 Series

Processor	2.84 GHz Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^™ 888 5G Mobile Platform with 5 nm, 64-bit Octa-Core Processor
GPU	Qualcomm^® Adreno^™ 660
UI	Android^™ 11 with new ROG UI
Display	6.78″ 20.4:9 (2448 x 1080) 144 Hz / 1 ms Samsung AMOLED display 800 nits outdoor readable brightness 1,200 nits peak brightness Delta-E < 1 111.23% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass Victus^™ Supports Always-On HDR display HDR10 and HDR10+ certified Capacitive touchscreen with 10-point multitouch (supports glove touch)
Dimensions	173 x 77 x 9.9 mm
Weight	239 g
Battery	6000 mAh typical capacity
Memory	ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: 18 GB LPDDR5 RAM ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5: Up to 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage	ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and Pro: 512 GB UFS 3.1 ROM ROG Phone 5: Up to 256 GB UFS 3.1 ROM
Sensors	In-display fingerprint sensor, face recognition, accelerometer, e-compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient-light sensor, ultrasonic sensors for AirTrigger 5 and grip press
Wireless Technology	Integrated WiFi 6E (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2×2 MIMO)[7] Bluetooth^® 5.2 (HFP + A2DP + AVRCP + HID + PAN + OPP), supports Qualcomm^® aptX^™ Adaptive WiFi Direct NFC
GPS	GNSS support GPS (L1/L5), Glonass (L1), Galileo (E1/E5a), BeiDou(B1i/B1c/B2a), QZSS (L1/L5) and NavIC (L5)
I/O Ports	Side and bottom: USB-C^®
Front Camera	24 MP
Rear Camera	64 MP (Main camera Sony^® IMX686) + 13 MP (125° ultrawide-angle lens) + 5 MP (Macro)
Voice Wakeup	Yes
Speaker	Symmetrical dual front-facing speakers powered by Dirac technologies 7-magnet stereo speaker with Cirrus Logic amplifier for louder, deeper and less distorted sound effect
NFC	Supported
Color	ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: Storm White ROG Phone 5 Pro: Phantom Black ROG Phone 5: Phantom Black and Storm White

KBC Bank launches new survey highlighting the digitisation of Ireland. #KBC #Banking

KBC Bank, Ireland’s digital first bank, has launched a new survey which seeks to put a spotlight on the digitisation of Ireland, revealing how people in Ireland are using digital services and technology as COVID-19 accelerates digital adoption.

Findings from the first KBC Digital Indicator Survey show that Irish consumers have high levels of confidence when it comes to using digital technology, given the acceleration of digitally enabled products and services stimulated by COVID-19. The majority of respondents (85%) are confident in using digitally enabled products and services, with younger cohorts and those in urban areas more likely to describe themselves as ‘very confident’. Confidence with digital technology levels were lower in those aged 66 and over, and in those of a lower social grade, with 19% and 31% describing themselves as ‘very confident’ respectively.

Additionally, 29% of respondents would place themselves ahead of the curve when it comes to trying new digitally enabled products and services, compared to just 6% of those aged 66 or over.

The research findings come as Irish consumers continue to adapt to the changes brought about as a result of the pandemic. Consumers are now using digital technology and digitally enabled services more in their day-to-day lives, with streaming services (54%), fitness tracking (45%) and managing daily finances (44%) proving most popular. Nearly one third (31%) of respondents are now also using digital platforms to open new accounts. At KBC, over 77% of new current accounts were opened digitally or over the phone in 2020.

Interestingly, more than a quarter of those surveyed (29%) are using digital dating services less than before the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, almost a third of respondents (32%) admitted to using technologies more to manage and track their mental health.

Commenting, Fergal O’Riagain, Director of Daily Banking Products at KBC Bank said, “We understand that the pandemic has accelerated the rapid migration to digital technologies, however, the results of our first KBC Digital Indicator Survey show that consumers are increasingly more comfortable with using technology and digitally enabled services in all aspects of their daily lives. At KBC, we are committed to keeping up with the pace of change by making our products and services more accessible to customers across Ireland.”

As consumers embrace new technologies, 74% of respondents have used cash less since March 2020, with 48% reporting a significant decrease in their cash usage. Over half of those surveyed (55%) believe digital payment methods will replace cash payments within the next ten years, while 44% believe this will happen by 2025. According to KBC Ireland’s own data, spending on KBC digital wallets has increased 21% year-on-year in 2020.

Looking forward, nearly half of those surveyed (47%) feel they will use mostly digital payment methods and only ‘some’ cash, while nearly one quarter (23%) feel they will use an equal mix of both. Young millennials (21%) are most likely to believe they will use only digital payment methods into the future, followed by those aged 66 years or over. Higher social grades are also more likely than lower social grades to feel they will use digital only.

In addition to embracing digital technologies, Irish consumers are also more aware of online security threats with 95% of respondents claiming that they are more vigilant when it comes to online scams or text and email phishing attempts. Overall, 51% of respondents would describe themselves as much more vigilant.

Fergal O’Riagain, Director of Daily Banking Products at KBC Bank continued: “We’ve already seen notable increases in eCommerce spending, with online grocery spend amongst KBC customers increasing 116% year-on-year in 2020 and online home improvement centre spend up 228% year-on-year for example. As consumers continue to use digital solutions in their daily lives, we will continue get them ‘digital ready’, which includes our soon to launch first to market range of wearable contactless payment devices. By offering new, secure ways to pay, Irish consumers now have more choice and greater flexibility when it comes to making purchases, both in-store or online.”

Facebook launches campaign to help those spot false vaccination news. #Facebook

Today, Facebook Ireland is launching a new campaign in partnership with the WHO and its European fact-checking partners to educate people on how to spot false vaccination news. The campaign, ‘Together Against Covid-19 Misinformation’ launches at an important juncture in the roll out of Ireland’s national Covid-19 vaccination programme, which reached a milestone of half a million vaccinations administered at the end of February.

‘Together Against Covid-19 Misinformation’ will roll out to Newsfeeds in Ireland through a series of ads encouraging people to connect with accurate information from credible sources such as Ireland’s Health Services Executive (HSE), and reduce misinformation by asking them to check the following when viewing content online;

1. Check The Source: Scrutinise content, even if it appears science based

2. Check How It Makes You Feel: False news can manipulate feelings for clicks

3. Check The Context: Look to public health authorities to confirm content

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Facebook has worked closely with the HSE – and global public health experts – to connect people to accurate information and tackle vaccine misinformation. This campaign has been launched to provide further tools, knowledge and resources to help inform people on how to detect false news – and ultimately stop sharing it.

Between March and October 2020, Facebook removed more than 12 million pieces of Covid-19 misinformation on Facebook and Instagram, and displayed warnings on about 167 million pieces of Covid-19 content on Facebook, pointing to debunking articles written by fact checking partners.

Facebook’s platforms also provide a channel for important public health messages. The HSE is experiencing significant increases in people accessing Covid-19 and vaccine information on their social channels. Since December 30th 2020, the HSE has reached over 9.2 million people on Facebook and had over 573,000 engagements on posts about Covid-19 health messaging. The HSE’s #OurHealthService Covid-19 vaccine stories featuring real people getting the vaccine have reached around 1 million people per post; while their Instagram posts have reached over 669,000 people.

Paul Reid, CEO, HSE said, “Social media is an essential platform for us to communicate and we’ve used it very successfully to communicate our key messages to the majority of the population. We welcome the work Facebook is undertaking to help users spot false news in relation to Covid-19 and vaccines. Public safety remains our top priority and we will continue to share factual, up-to-date information from trusted sources, which will in turn allow people to make informed and confident decisions about Covid-19 vaccines.”

Dualta Ó Broin , Head of Public Policy at Facebook Ireland said, “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we have been connecting people to accurate information and reducing misinformation on our platforms. We are removing harmful misinformation about vaccines and Covid-19. . We also want to empower people to decide for themselves what to read, trust, and share. This campaign will encourage users to connect with accurate information around vaccines, and will highlight the broader steps we are taking against misinformation on Facebook.”

For more information, visit Facebook’s new website Taking Action Against Misinformation Across Our Apps which will give people more transparency around Facebook’s Remove, Reduce and Inform strategy, Community Standards, and the steps taken to combat false news around global events such as Covid-19, elections and climate change.

Pointy from Google is offering free devices to Irish retailers to build online presence. #Pointy #Google

Pointy from Google is offering free Pointy devices to small and medium retailers in Ireland, enabling them to display their in-store products online. Irish retailers who connect with Pointy in the next six months will also get €100 ad credit to trial Pointy’s Product Ads feature.

Pointy works by creating a connection between physical stores and Google so that their products can appear in local Google search results, which can help attract shoppers in the surrounding area to the store.

Commenting, Mark Cummins, General Manager, Pointy said, “Being visible online has become critical for brick and mortar retailers throughout the pandemic, but that can be a challenge for smaller retailers who may not have the resources to build and maintain an e-commerce platform. Pointy creates an online presence for these retailers automatically, to help them showcase their product offering.”

Irish shoppers are actively supporting local retailers, and 66% of people who shop local say they are doing so in a conscious effort to support local businesses. Displaying products on Google will help these retailers leverage current consumer sentiment and encourage more footfall to their stores, as consumers can see that the products they are searching for online can be bought locally.

“Pointy is an essential tool for businesses in Ireland,” said Lorraine Higgins, Secretary General, Digital Business Ireland. “Helping online shoppers find the products they need in their area is a new way for businesses to connect with their customers and boost their visibility in an ever-competitive digital marketplace”.

COVID-19 continues to challenge retailers and the economic impact on small and medium businesses has been severe. Google is committed to helping these businesses recover. With a 100% increase in searches for “available near me” since last year, these new tools will help Irish retailers reach more customers and ultimately drive sales.

Setting up and using Pointy is simple and efficient, taking only minutes. Qualifying businesses simply scan their products with a standard barcode scanner to add them to Google, making their inventory visible to local shoppers, along with their store location, opening hours and contact details.

To sign up retailers should visit: pointy.com/ireland.

eFax research reveals IT decision-makers accelerating digital transformation of paper-based processes as a direct result of disruption caused by Brexit. #eFax

According to latest research from eFax, most IT decision-makers are accelerating the digital transformation of paper-based processes as a direct result of disruption to their workforce caused by the UK leaving the EU (Brexit). Even more of them, would have accelerated digital transformation sooner if they were aware of the impact of extra paperwork causing cross-border trade and transport to slow down.

Many believe the technology already exists to ensure additional paperwork does not hold-up cross-border transport and supply chains, and that new levels of extra paperwork creates a security risk.

This article from eFax Director of Customer Experience, Scott Wilson, will examine how IT leaders have accelerated digital transformation since Brexit, and are planning and implementing how they can help their organisations thrive with frictionless cross-border travel and trade, despite huge increases in extra paperwork, by exploring new technologies to cut delays and ensure vital goods and supplies reach their destinations.

eFax, the world’s leading online fax solution, today announces the findings of research revealing how UK IT decision-makers are accelerating digital transformation of paper-based processes as a direct result of disruption caused by the UK leaving the EU (Brexit).

The research conducted on behalf of eFax by independent research organisation Vanson Bourne, has found that whilst most UK IT decision-makers (57%) are accelerating the speed of digital transformation of paper-based processes as a direct result of disruption caused by Brexit, the majority (77%) of UK IT decision-makers would have accelerated digital transformation sooner if they were aware of the full impact of extra paperwork causing cross border trade and transport to slow down. Despite this, only 5% of IT Directors have completed their digital transformation of paper-based processes.

The findings also found that most IT decision-makers (74%), believe the technology exists already to ensure additional paperwork does not hold up cross-border transport and supply chains, and the majority (68%) also believe that extra levels of paperwork required to do business across EU borders creates an additional security risk. The vast majority (86%) of IT decision-makers also agree that workers travelling across borders would benefit from the ability to send, receive and securely sign extra layers of paperwork on the move.

eFax Director of Customer Experience, Scott Wilson

“This evidence from eFax shows IT decision-makers are accelerating digital transformation of paperwork as a direct result of the UK leaving the EU” said Scott Wilson, Director of Customer Experience, eFax. “Since Brexit we have seen many stories of vital goods and supplies delayed or not reaching their destinations due to increased requirements of paperwork, continued Wilson.

“The good news is this doesn’t have to be this way” said Wilson. “IT decision-makers understand the technology exists today to securely send, sign and receive extra paperwork on the move, to help enable frictionless cross-border trade and transport.”

The eFax research surveyed 100 UK IT decision-makers across organisations in Business & Professional Services, Financial Services, IT, Retail, Distribution & Transport and Manufacturing industries.

Dell Hybrid Client Delivers Increased Flexibility To Employees and IT. #DELL #DellHybridClient

Dell Technologies today unveiled Dell Hybrid Client to meet the changing needs of businesses, end users and IT. Dell Hybrid Client is a centrally managed client software solution that is ready to deploy with select Dell mobile and desktop devices, helping employees get to work quickly with a consistent experience. As the world’s first client computing software with hybrid cloud management, enabling easy access to applications and data regardless of where they live – in the public cloud, private cloud or on the user’s device.

In an increasingly cloud connected world, organizations need to easily deploy and maintain data and applications from a variety of locations without burdening IT teams or hindering employee productivity. Dell Hybrid Client simplifies and personalizes the user and IT experience while still providing security and flexibility across devices and work environments. Features like built-in everyday productivity applications, browser security, and others are available out-of-the-box and managed through the cloud empowering employees to work how and where is best for them.

“At the core of Dell Hybrid Client sits an elevated experience for both employees and IT teams,” said Brooke Huling, vice president, Modern Computing Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “For employees, Dell Hybrid Client delivers the same, personalized experience regardless of the device you chose to work on. Everything you need is at your fingertips. For IT, we’ve opened access to multiple clouds enabling experiences to be scaled and customized for workforces at rapid pace.”

“Dell Hybrid Client has the potential to be a game-changing offering,” said Rob Enderle, President and Principal Analyst, Enderle Group. “The new work from anywhere environment coupled with the need to support virtual, local and cloud apps means we’re approaching a window of opportunity for a new client computing solution. Dell has the breadth and reach to drive such a shift in the industry.”

How it works

Dell Hybrid Client begins with single sign-on where users will find their personalized desktop interface and all their applications, whether in the cloud or virtual. This first-of-its-kind solution provides:

Security at every touchpoint: Securely scale to thousands of users while still protecting employee and company data through built-in features including system lockdown, secure boot, user file encryption and more.
Simplified Workflow: Your workday doesn’t need to be interrupted as users have secure access to web and virtual applications from Citrix, VMware and Microsoft and various storage locations.
Optimized Productivity: Zoom or Microsoft Teams clients run locally, enabling faster collaboration while helping reduce strain on IT infrastructures.
Consistent Experience: With an enhanced “Follow-me” feature, users will find their applications and data on any supported desktop interface – even after changing devices.
Flexibility in Cloud Providers: Organizations can embrace a more flexible mindset by supporting and seamlessly integrating from Wyse Management Suite’s multiple cloud vendors including, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
Comprehensive Software Support: With ProSupport, Dell Hybrid Client users receive proactive resolution. With automatic alerts and case creation, remote diagnosis and access to ProSupport engineers, employees can experience little to no downtime and IT can proactively support business needs.

Dell Hybrid Client is currently available across a variety of desktop, VDI and mobile form factors – including the OptiPlex 7090 Ultra, OptiPlex 3090 Ultra, Wyse 5070 and the new Latitude 3320.

Availability and pricing:

The latest Dell Hybrid Client is available on today at €53.81 per year per device.

FREE NOW to partner with e-scooter operator TIER enabling people to book e-scooters. #TIER #Escooters #FREENOW

The leading multi-mobility platform FREE NOW has partnered with micro-mobility operator TIER, meaning people in Ireland could soon book e-scooters through the FREE NOW app. The partnership will initially launch in eight German cities next month, followed by France before a wider European roll-out, which both companies plan will include Ireland, should TIER be successful in launching an e-scooter rental scheme in one or more Irish cities.

A recent passenger survey revealed growing demand for multi-mobility options among FREE NOW passengers in Ireland, with 59% saying they would like to see additional mobility options available in the app. In response to this demand FREE NOW is progressing plans to add more mobility options to the app, starting with e-scooters and partnering with TIER and other mobility providers as legislation comes into effect.

The partnership follows the Government’s recent announcement that it will legalise e-scooters on roads, with the legislation expected to be passed in the coming months, followed by city tenders. TIER, which recently won highly prized tenders in Paris and Dubai, will partner with FREE NOW in all common markets, with both companies united in their mission to improve urban mobility and reduce dependency on car ownership.

Anyone booking a TIER e-scooter through the FREE NOW app will get the benefit of industry- leading safety features which minimise the risks to riders and the public, including an integrated helmet, indicator lights, shock absorbers and the largest front wheel in the market to better handle varied terrain. They also have triple brakes and a double kickstand which help TIER to lead the sector when it comes to stopping-distance and wind resistance.

Commenting on the announcement, General Manager for FREE NOW Ireland Niall Carson said: “Our new partnership with TIER is another key milestone in the growth of FREE NOW’s multi mobility offering to passengers in cities across Europe. In the Irish market, we welcome this announcement and are working closely with TIER and other leading micro-mobility providers to offer passengers a broader range of transport options in the future. Already in other markets such as Germany and soon in France, we have a mix of taxis, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds and car sharing on the FREE NOW app, offering a more integrated approach and we look forward to expanding this further in Ireland. We are proud to be working with partners such as TIER who have a strong track record of success with a clear focus on safety, which is of critical importance to us.

Fred Jones, Northern Europe General Manager of TIER, commented: “We are on a mission to transform urban mobility and to do that, we need brilliant global partners, like FREE NOW, who share our vision for greener, less congested cities.

“This partnership is a major milestone for TIER and we are hugely excited at the potential prospect of rolling out the feature in Ireland, so that Irish riders can have the convenience of booking a ride with the press of a button through the FREE NOW Ireland app.”

Founded in 2018, TIER was the first micro-mobility provider in the world to go climate-neutral, and its sustainable approach also applies to its business model, with the company reaching profitability in June 2020, shortly before securing a $250 million Series C fundraising.

Dropbox to acquire DocSend. #DropBox #DocSend

Dropbox, Inc. , today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DocSend, a secure document sharing and analytics company with more than 17,000 customers.

“Given the dramatic rise in remote work, there’s increased demand for digital tools that help people organize their content and seamlessly collaborate with each other,” said Dropbox Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Drew Houston. “DocSend is a perfect complement to our product roadmap and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our team. By bringing Dropbox, HelloSign, and DocSend together, we’ll be able to offer a full suite of secure, self-serve products to help them manage critical document workflows from start to finish.”

As work becomes more distributed, effective collaboration with external parties feels more siloed and results can be difficult to measure. DocSend gives customers visibility into what happens to their documents after they send them, adding a layer of intelligence on top of the scale and distribution of the Dropbox content platform. For example, client services teams and creative professionals who already rely on Dropbox to organize and collaborate on presentations and projects can use DocSend to deliver proposals and track engagement, and HelloSign to manage contracts and invoices. The combination of Dropbox, HelloSign, and DocSend will help customers across industries manage end-to-end document workflows—from closing deals to onboarding teams—giving them more control over their business results.

“Our roots are in helping startups navigate the fundraising process and empowering entrepreneurs to chase their dreams by giving them more visibility and control over the pitch process. As we’ve grown, we’ve realized that the ability to securely share content and engage with documents after they are sent offers powerful benefits to a variety of customer segments,” said Russ Heddleston, DocSend Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “By joining Dropbox, we’ll be able to rapidly scale, bringing our vision and capabilities to the hundreds of millions of people around the world who already trust Dropbox with their most important content.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Dropbox will acquire DocSend for $165 million in cash subject to customary purchase price adjustments and closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2021 and is expected to have an immaterial impact on 2021 operating results.

Top Ways to Get Girls into STEM Education

Despite best efforts, it’s common knowledge that STEM is a more male dominated industry. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math career paths are often those chosen mostly by men who have likely had these educational funnels encouraged to them by their teachers, parents and career advisers. But as we’re stepping into and creating a more diverse workplace, what can we do as a society to improve access to technology for girls in schools, but also at home? How do we start to tackle the gender gap before it’s too late?

Develop free content
If you’re an organisation or company who produces technology, why not consider creating free content to schools, colleges and academies? great tech companies even offer free academy sessions around Raspberry Pi to give the younger generations easy and free access to a wealth of online content. If you’re a school, make sure you take the opportunity to introduce this type of educational material to your students. You may just inspire the next cyber specialist or lead scientist!

Make it fun
Learning about STEM subjects doesn’t have to be boring. It shouldn’t mean endless lessons with content that can send you to sleep. Remember, people learn in different ways, and this should be reflected in the way you teach. Some kids prefer a more active way of learning and participating, so consider building more practical elements into your lessons. Why not encourage them to build computers or learn to code hands on instead of simply reading a textbook.

Explain the benefits and advocate STEM
Why would we do anything in life if we didn’t understand the benefits? The same can be said about STEM education. The more you talk about STEM subjects, advocate them and discuss all the future possibilities for exciting careers, the more likely you are to inspire them to try something different. With the help of mentors and teachers breaking down the barriers, this awareness could help to steer them towards an incredibly rewarding career in science, technology, engineering or maths.

Start early
Don’t wait till high school or college to start introducing them to these innovative and exciting subjects, get them involved in nursery and primary school. Kids at a young age pick up things incredibly quickly, and the earlier they start to learn, the more likely they are to become highly skilled and confident with what they’re doing. There are so many ways to bring a practical and exciting element to all of the STEM subjects – be creative and see what you can come up with.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: