Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Google launches ‘Play with Art & Culture. #GoogleArts #Google #Arts #Culture

Google Arts & Culture launch a collection of interactive games that make art, culture and history accessible in a fun and educational way

Google have today launched ‘Play with Arts & Culture’, a collection of five interactive games that allow people to indulge in arts and culture with friends and family across the globe from the comfort of their own home. The games aim to make art, culture and history accessible in a fun and educational way and are an engaging way to get inspired and play while learning more about arts and culture.

It’s time to have some fun while immersing yourself in the history of the world’s culture and art! Whether you want to solve artistic jigsaw puzzles together with family and friends using PUZZLE PARTY, discover more art through unexpected pairings in VISUAL CROSSWORDS, compare cultural moments in time on WHAT CAME FIRST, color your way through the palettes of famous paintings in the ART COLORING BOOK, or get cultured playing CULTURAL CROSSWORDS now you can all from the comfort of your couch.

Google Arts & Culture puts the treasures, stories and knowledge of over 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries at your fingertips. It’s an immersive way to explore art, history, wonders of the world and stories about cultural heritage from Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings, Mandela’s prison cell to Ancient Temples, Dinosaurs, Indian Railways or Food in Japan. Google has been an innovation partner for cultural institutions since 2011 working together on developing and applying technologies that help to preserve and share culture in new ways.

The Google Arts & Culture app is free and available on the web, on iOS and Android.

Review – CLCKR Stand and Grip Case Carbon Fibre. #CLCKR

There is a wide variety of phone accessories available today and choice which is important for consumers and some can be expensive whilst others not but combining a good stand and case built in one is a hard find that will last, CLCKR is a company that offers both be it the stand on its own or both the case and stand as one unit and these are a must have accessory for your smartphone for two reasons, One being protection and Two the ability to consume media uninterupted and without the need to remove your case.

CLCKR has a range of products to address this. Recently we checked out the phone stand and grip case which is your typical phone case but with the stand built in too and has been solid so far for me and has not had any signs of wear and tear so it is a durable product..

This case we have today is carbon fibre and looks really well and not only that very light,robust and ads virtually no bulk to you iPhone. There is a small lip around the front so the device can be placed face down as well as rear down, the keys work a treat and no issues there and again this case is ideal for consuming media in portrait or landscape mode. All cutouts are present so no issues with cables or speaker port being blocked and overall it is a worthy investment for your phone.. Check out the video below for more.

Options.

The brand-new range includes phone cases with an in-built CLCKR stand and grip are available for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro, as well as a universal CLCKR stand and grip that fixes directly to the device. All the cases are drop tested up to 2.2m and are compatible with QI certified wireless chargers.

Protect Your Phone in Style – Available in two colours, Black and Navy Blue, the phone cases or universal stands are available in a choice of four materials:

Carbon Fibre – A stylish and modern effect which also gives extra grip and protection for your device. Priced at £34.99

Saffiano – Made using a PU Saffiano material, the crosshatch effect gives this case a sleek, smart and classy feel. Priced at £29.99

Perforated – Boasting circular perforations give the perfect mix of edgy and sporty and is ideal for everyday use. Priced at £34.99

Studio – The clear design of the case allows you to show off the colour of your device whilst the CLCKR is made from a soft PU material for comfort when using. Priced at £24.99

BUY – https://www.clckr.com/uk/clckr-case

UPS, Sealed Air, Smurfit Kappa and MacFarlane Packaging simplify wine and spirits exporting. #ecommerce #Logistics

UPS, a global leader in logistics, global packaging experts Sealed Air (SEE), Smurfit Kappa and top UK distributor Macfarlane Packaging are today launching a new range of packaging specially designed for shipping individual bottles of spirits and wine, to help producers in the UK and Ireland expand their markets and reach new customers.

“Ecommerce presents a huge opportunity for drinks producers wanting to grow their businesses, as a fifth of alcohol consumers in key export markets are already purchasing their favourite brands online,” said Mark Vale, President, UPS UK & Ireland. “We designed this new packaging to simplify the process and bring peace of mind that these fragile products will arrive safely at their destination. By combining this specialised packaging with UPS’s smart global logistics network, brokerage expertise and service coverage, distillers can focus on their passion and sharing their savoir-faire with the world.”

With alcohol e-sales in the UK and Ireland experiencing double digit growth this packaging addresses the challenge of how to safely pack and ship individual bottles that come in a range of shapes and sizes. It has been developed and tested by UPS, in partnership with leading packaging companies Smurfit Kappa and Sealed Air, and is distributed by Macfarlane Packaging. Alcohol producers shipping with UPS benefit from damage cover when they use this UPS Approved packaging.

“At the moment, people are ordering more goods from online retailers so that they can stay at home,” said Laurel Granville, Marketing Director, Macfarlane Packaging. “There is a growing demand for bottle packs as there is a need to effectively pack and distribute these products without damage. At Macfarlane, we offer our clients the most innovative and environmentally friendly protective packaging options for their businesses and we are proud to work with UPS to offer this pack to ecommerce customers.”

There are four customisable versions of the new one-bottle packs that can accommodate most of the wine and spirits bottles on the market. The packaging is also fully recyclable. It features the Korrvu^® Retention technology by Sealed Air that allows the bottle to be suspended in transparent film, the pack can be used for display in a shop or bar, or sent to family or friends as a gift.

UPS also provides a direct-to-consumer wine shipping export service from selected countries in Europe to destinations in 60 countries across North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa, in addition to its global business-to-business alcohol shipping services.

For more information on the new packaging, visit ups.com/spiritspack. To download UPS’s full guide to shipping alcohol, visit the UPS website.

Creative SXFI TRIO: USB-C In-ears with the Super X-Fi Difference. #Creative #SFXITRIO

Creative Technology today announced the launch of the Creative SXFI TRIO, triple-driver USB-C in-ear headphones, designed to deliver high-quality holographic audio with all-day comfort on Android phones, PCs and laptops.

Implemented with the latest Super X-Fi Gen2 technology, users can expect greater accuracy in personalisation and a better all-round audio experience. Powered by the same triple-driver system as the well-received Aurvana Trio and fitted with a custom-designed Kevlar USB-C cable, SXFI TRIO sets to exceed expectations with balanced, accurate, and natural-sounding digital audio for users on the go.

Wired for Pristine Digital Audio

SXFI TRIO delivers pristine digital audio and great performance powered by an in-house tuned, hybrid triple-driver system. Each of the three drivers (two precision balanced armature drivers for detailed mids and highs, and a bio-cellulose driver for powerful yet clean bass) plays an important part to achieve maximum audio fidelity. Yielding up to 100 dB SNR and 0.008% IMD, SXFI TRIO offers users exceptional audio clarity with balanced and accurate audio that is natural sounding.

Intricately designed and engineered, SXFI TRIO is also fitted with a custom-designed, Kevlar-reinforced cable for exceptional tensile strength, and wrapped in an aluminium and copper shield for higher durability. Its all-round superior quality makes it perfect for use on mobile devices while on the go.

The cream of the features crop is the critically-acclaimed Super X-Fi technology, which is incorporated through an attached in-line SXFI WIRE, which is a 40% smaller version of the already finger-sized SXFI AMP, the first-ever Super X-Fi product and an icon in its own right. Users can enjoy holographic audio which is personalized for an all-natural surround audio experience, that can rival a high-end 7.1 surround sound system.

Work-Learn-Play from Home All Day

SXFI TRIO truly sets itself apart with a new level of audio realism for calls, and makes video calls with family and friends more intimate. It’s also excellent for long calls, where the spatialisation of Super X-Fi eliminates the fatigue associated with conventional headphones.

As such, SXFI TRIO is the perfect companion to Work-Learn-Play from home with, instead of bulky headphones.

SXFI TRIO’s angled earbuds are intricately designed and fine-tuned for long-lasting comfort, and it comes with 6 pairs of different silicone ear tip sizes, so it will be a breeze to find the perfect fit.

Creative’s CEO Sim Wong Hoo said, “The SXFI TRIO is an all-rounder, ideal for all day in all places. It’s a miniaturised wonder. The triple-driver performance can rival high-end, bulky headphones; with Super X-Fi integrated, I believe it will be very hard to match. Moreover, you are getting two products for the price of one, because it basically integrates the SXFI AMP and the Aurvana Trio into one – their combined price is twice that of SXFI TRIO.”

Pricing and Availability

SXFI TRIO is priced at £124.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit creative.com/sxfitrio.

Official data hub launched to provide comprehensive COVID-19 information to public. #DataHub #Covid19

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that a new COVID-19 data hub, compiling official figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE), is now publicly available to view.

The data hub is a result of a collaboration between Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi), the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) and the Department of Health, with Esri Ireland providing technical support for the hub built using its GIS technology and platform.

All figures and data on the hub are updated in line with the latest national figures. In addition to headline figures on total confirmed cases and total deaths, the hub makes large swathes of entirely new information for the public, including testing figures, ICU admissions and hospital capacity.

Furthermore, the hub presents confirmed COVID-19 case counts by electoral division, enabling detailed analysis of the location of cases and for the first time, bringing geography to the forefront in the management of the virus in Ireland. People can now view accurate and up-to-date information on COVID-19 cases in their locality.

Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub can be viewed on the Government’s GeoHive platform at: https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/

Mobility companies say programme commitment to legislate for e-scooters should be urgent priority in new government #escooters

A group of major mobility providers in Ireland have written to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party to welcome the commitment in the Programme for Government to legislate for e-scooters, but have also called for a radical rethink in how Ireland manages transport.

FREE NOW, Lime, Bleeperbike, Zip Mobility and Zeus have said any new incoming government must make legislation for e-scooters and other forms of Powered Personal Transporters (PPT) an immediate priority in the wake of COVID-19.

In an open letter sent to the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, the providers highlighted the need to radically rethink how Ireland manages transport and the requirement for new forms of micro mobility: “Now, more than ever, we can encourage a shift into alternative forms of transport. Other countries have made the deployment of micro-mobility a key step in supporting their re-opening, it is time for Ireland to do the same. COVID-19 has changed how people will travel and many are seeking alternatives that allow social distancing. E-scooters and other forms of micro-mobility can support this.”

Image by Christian Bueltemann from Pixabay

Alan Fox, General Manager of FREE NOW said: “We have brought together the major mobility providers in Ireland and are calling on any incoming government to prioritise the legislation of e-scooters and other micro mobility as a matter of urgency. While we welcome the commitments made in the new Programme for Government, we urge any incoming government to make this legislation a top priority. Ireland needs to radically rethink how we manage the traditional transport modes such as buses and trains to reduce clustering of commuters at peak times. Taxi drivers have been working throughout the pandemic to get essential workers to where they need to be. Taxis will continue to offer the potential to transport passengers in an effective, socially-distanced way, but we now see people looking for greater mode diversity and alternatives to public transport as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need to offer alternative modes of transport that enable people to get around without putting more private cars on the streets, which would ratchet up congestion again and increase harmful carbon emissions. Now is the time for any new government to allow for more choice and encourage people to leave their cars at home and use e-bikes, e-scooters and other forms of micro mobility.”

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport ran a public consultation on Personal Powered Transporters (PPTs) last year, but no recent progress has been made to introduce new legislation that would permit the use of e-scooters in Ireland. The commitment to legislate for e-scooters was included in the recently-announced Programme for Government.

The mobility providers also said in the letter that: “We believe that we can help people travel responsibly and we will help usher in the return of economic activity. This is a great opportunity for a new government to encourage passengers to get out of private cars and onto bikes, scooters and other forms of micro-mobility.”

Electric scooters, an efficient and carbon-friendly transport mode that is tailor-made for the new socially-distanced normal, are already an integral part of the transport mix in many European countries like Germany and France that are easing restrictions with measured transport circulation.

GungHo Launches Ninjala exclusively for the Nintendo Switch today. #Ninjala #Gaming #NintendoSwitch

GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE) today released its bubblegum arena brawler Ninjala exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The free to play title features two exciting multiplayer modes including an eight-player arena battle and a 4v4 team battle, as well as a single-player training mode. Pick and customize your ninja kid before you burst onto the scene of the World Ninja Association’s (WNA) ultimate ninja tournament, Ninjala.

By chewing super-powered Ninja-Gum, these modern-day ninjas can blow bubbles that can be targeted at their foes, craft all sorts of weapons, and fly across the battlefield with enhanced speed and agility…all with only one small side effect – it turns them into kids!

Download Ninjala here. Check out the launch trailer here.

To celebrate the launch of Ninjala, Japanese pop sensation Kyary Pamyu Pamyu collaborated with celebrated American musician and producer, Steve Aoki. The pair teamed up to remix Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s hit song Ninja Re Bang Bang which is out now! Listen to it here and check out the special mashup video here.

Also available today is Chapter One of the Story Mode DLC which features Van, a naturally talented kid who loves playing basketball. After learning from his master about his family’s ninja ancestry, he resolves to wield his ninja powers for good to defend the WNA and the world at large. With the power of Ninja-Gum, Van will be able to use special ninja abilities, fly around the city, stealthily pursue his targets, and take on huge bosses in epic battles.

But when it comes to taking down the enemy, whether it’s a space ninja or a giant, monstrous soda bottle, Van needs to use every trick in the book to gain the upper hand. Van’s Story Mode chapter one is regularly $9.99 USD, but is currently on sale for $4.59 USD. Story Mode is available now in the Nintendo eShop – look out for chapters from other Ninjala characters in the future!

To learn more about the fantastical story behind Ninjala and its eight main characters, check out the 2D cartoon anime series from GOE. The first episode, Bloodline of the Shinobi, follows Van’s story as he uncovers the mystery behind why ninjas attacked his father, and how it ties to his ninja heritage.The episode is available on YouTube here.

Sony Summer Sale launches online until 7th July on a huge range of products. #Sony #Tech #Sale

Kick back, relax and shop online whether you’re looking to upgrade your TV to watch the football back on display or you’re interested in a new camera after reigniting your love of photography during lockdown. For those planning a summer staycation, listen to music on-the-go with Sony’s award-winning range of portable speakers.

How to take advantage of the offer

To obtain a special summer promotion code, visit www.sony.co.uk or www.sony.ie and click on the banners on the homepage. You’ll be given a promotion code to use online via retailers participating in the deal. To access great savings, redeem the promotional code at checkout.

What products are included in the Sony Summer Sale?

There’s something for everyone in Sony’s Summer Sale, with 43 products on offer across audio, television and digital imaging.

Bring your favourite TV shows and movies to life with immersive surround sound from Sony’s new 3.1 channel HT-G700 soundbar, featuring Dolby Atmos and a new, dedicated centre speaker for clearer dialogue. To block out distractions or stay focused while working from home the award-winning WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones are the perfect choice.

Get creative with a summer photography project using α6100 APS-C camera with its fast AutoFocus; the perfect purchase for summer snaps. With its 180° tiltable LCD touchscreen, it allows for easier self-portraits and high- and low-angle shots. For those capturing important family memories at home or gatherings with friends at a nearby park, the RX100M5A is the perfect premium compact camera. Pocket-sized offering 20.1 Megapixels; it captures the glorious detail as well as up to 40x super slow-motion. The camera is also equipped with a 1.0-type stacked CMOS image sensor, a ZEISS lens for creating DSLR like portraits and an enhanced image processing system.

Watch sport as though you’re there with Sony’s range of 8K, 4K, OLED and LCD sets. Featuring incredible Acoustic Surface Audio, the Sony A8 OLED 4K TV turns the TV screen into a speaker; making a truly immersive viewing experience. Experience breath-taking detail with the Sony XH95 4K HDR Full Array LED TV which features the latest X-Motion Clarity™ technology; keeping everything smooth, bright, and clear – so you won’t miss a thing when watching your favourite moments of summer sport. What’s more, Acoustic Multi-Audio™ technology includes two sound positioning tweeters at the back of the TV that enable sound to follow the action, transporting you to the pitch from the comfort of your living room.

For further information on the Sony Summer Sale, visit:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/sale

https://www.sony.ie/electronics/sale

Xperia 10 II from Sony is now on sale in Ireland. #Sony #Xperia10

Available to order now from retailers across Ireland, the new Xperia 10 II lets you lose yourself in entertainment, with more Sony technologies in a super-mid-range device than ever before.

With IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance[i] and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6, the slim 69mm width lightweight 151g body fits perfectly in your hand, so at a time when entertainment has never been so in demand, you can consume in comfort no matter where you are.

Plus, with Xperia 10 II you can get closer to the action and immerse yourself in the 21:9 Wide 6.0” OLED display. With TRILUMINOS™ display for mobile technology, found in BRAVIA® TVs, and video image optimisation, you can enjoy your movies and TV shows with deeper blacks and enhanced colours for the ultimate viewing experience. You can also take your gaming to the next level with the dramatic 21:9 ratio allowing you to see more gameplay then before.

Further benefits of the 21:9 6.0” inch OLED display include use of Sony’s unique multi-window UI, which allows you to run two apps simultaneously, as well as the Side Sense function which lets you switch between your favourite apps effortlessly.

Xperia 10 II is packed with Sony audio technology and features a 3.5mm jack, for an authentic High-Resolution audio experience either wired or High-Resolution Wireless Audio.

But the entertainment doesn’t stop there; Xperia 10 II is equipped with a new triple lens camera offering 12MP, and two 8MP lenses: ultra-wide-angle (16mm), wide-angle (26mm) and telephoto (52mm), so you can get creative and experiment with photography. You can also easily tailor your photography with pre-set settings for Food, Portrait and a new Night mode, ensuring high quality images even in low-light situations.

No matter the subject or conditions, you can trust that Xperia 10 II will produce a beautiful image every time, due to the improved colour reproduction thanks to Sony’s leading digital imaging know-how. You can even capture images in the 21:9 ratio and record film in high quality 4K.

Xperia 10 II also comes equipped with a large 3600mAh battery you can consume and create all day knowing your creative juices will likely run out before your phone does.

For reliable performance and fast connectivity, Xperia 10 II features a Qualcomm® Snapdragon 665 Mobile Platform and comes equipped with Android 10.

Xperia 10 II is now available in black from select retailers across Ireland priced at €369 SIM-free. Please check with local operators for stock information.

Full specifications can be found on the Sony website.

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