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.

Wix.com Opens Dublin Customer Support Centre. #Wix #ICT #Jobs #IDA

WIX, a leading cloud-based web development platform, has added a Customer Support Centre in Dublin, Ireland to further enhance its global support infrastructure and international footprint.

Wix has already recruited and trained a staff of approximately 100 support specialists and office operations personnel ahead of the office’s formal opening. The Dublin support team caters to Wix customers in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Russian. Operations in Dublin officially began in September 2018, initially with a staff of nine. Beyond the Dublin location, Wix announced during their latest earnings report an additional growth investment into the next phase of its Customer Solutions organization.

“Our customer support teams are at the frontlines of our product growth and the work they do is invaluable to our company,” said Nir Zohar, President and COO at Wix. “We have significantly increased our global customer support team headcount since 2016, and with the addition of the team in Dublin, we’ll be able to better serve our European customers, and further support our millions of customers around the world. We were delighted to work with IDA Ireland who were wonderful partners in Dublin. Their team provided meaningful connections throughout the city making the process of creating our space there very easy to accomplish.”

Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Heather Humphreys T.D., said “I am thrilled by this news and Wix’s decision to establish an office in Dublin. Wix is one of the most popular platforms used by both individuals and businesses to create websites, with over 150 million users worldwide. They will be a great addition to Dublin’s already thriving ICT sector.”

Executive Director of IDA Ireland, Mary Buckley also welcomed the news, stating: “Ireland has the youngest population in Europe with a third of the population under 25 years old and almost half the population under the age of 34. Companies such as Wix benefit from the wealth of multilingual talent, with more than 535,000 non-Irish nationals living in Ireland. Wix will service its European customer base from Dublin due to the multilingual and technological skills available here.”

About Wix

Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based website development platform for over 150 million registered users worldwide today. The Wix website builder was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, a highly curated App Market, Ascend by Wix and Corvid by Wix enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix’s headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Be’er Sheva, Berlin, Dnipro, Dublin, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo and Vilnius.

The Wix office address is The Reflector Building, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2

Interested candidates should refer to: wix.com/jobs/locations/dublin/positions.

FUJIFILM announces the INSTAX Mini Li-Play. #FUJIFILM #INSTAX #Camera

FUJIFILM Corporation and its President, Kenji Sukeno, today announced the release of INSTAX Mini Li-Play (RRP €170.00). This sleek hybrid instant camera is the smallest and lightest INSTAX product on the market, boasting instant printing via microSD. However, these features are only the tip of the ice-burg! The INSTAX Mini Li-Play is the first instant camera to fully embrace sound, making it Fujifilm’s most playful camera yet. The INSTAX Mini Li-Play is available in Ireland from today and in three attractive colours; Stone White, Elegant Black and Blush Gold.

LET’S GET LOUD

INSTAX Mini Li-Play has the ability to record audio via a dedicated sound button located on the front of the camera. The audio clip is converted into a QR code, which is printed onto the INSTAX print, in a location of your choice! The audio can then be played on any type of smartphone using any QR application. This unique feature is an innovative new way to share messages with friends and family.

 

FUN IN AN INSTANT

In addition to embracing sound, INSTAX Mini Li-Play has a variety of functions making it perfect for everyday use. The camera has live view functionality, which means fans can use the rear LCD screen to frame and take photos. These images can then be saved to the internal camera memory, or to a microSD card. This ensures users can save photos down to their computers if they aren’t ready to print them.

 

INSTAX Mini Li-Play also boasts remote camera control, which enables the user to shoot images on their smart phone and then transfer them to the INSTAX Mini Li-Play for instant printing – all done via Bluetooth. The camera also features three shortcut buttons positioned on its left edge, which allows the user to select different frames for images.

INSTAX Mini Li-Play is available now in Fujifilm outlets nationwide, RRP €170.00, prices may vary by retailer.Watch out for our review soon

Nokia 8110 welcomes WhatsApp to the Store. Now in Ireland. #Nokia8110 #WhatsApp

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announced that WhatsApp is now available on the Nokia 8110 in Ireland. The app can be downloaded via a software update from the Store. It has been a long app being asked for now you can have it…..

HMD spokesperson, Lisa Higgins said: “Millions of people stay in touch with their loved ones through messaging apps like WhatsApp, and we wanted to bring this to fans of our retro classic, the Nokia 8110. Now, you can keep up to date on your family and friends’ groups, share messages and never miss a moment, all with the style and cool-factor of a true Nokia classic.”

With a familiar and easy to use interface, the Nokia 8110 features intuitive tactile mechanics such as sliding the cover open to pick up calls and sliding it back to end them, as well as a design that allows for an addictive helicopter-style spin on its axis. It comes with the craftsmanship you would expect from a Nokia phone, delivering durability and reliability as standard.

Powered by KaiOS, Nokia 8110 is perfect for anyone who wants an iconic 4G feature phone or a companion phone. It also comes equipped with the Store, a home to KaiOS-powered apps, rich content and services that enhance user experience. This includes a suite of preloaded Google applications such as the Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Search. Facebook can be downloaded from the store.

SEE OUR NOKIA 8110 REVIEW

With two vibrant colours to choose from, Traditional Black and Banana Yellow, the Nokia 8110 has everything you loved reloaded, including a revamped Snake game. The Nokia 8110 is available from €49 on prepay.

Civica pilots smart technology in Belfast parks. #Civica #AI #IoT #AmazingSpaces #SmartPlaces

Civica, a market leader in business-critical software applications, digital solutions and managed services, is taking part in a smart pilot project to help Belfast City Council manage its parks and open spaces.

The ‘Amazing Spaces, Smart Places’ initiative will be trialled for two weeks as part of the Council’s Smart Belfast programme to gain a deeper understanding of how residents and visitors alike use green spaces in the city.

Following a competition launched in October 2018, five companies including Civica were selected to explore how data and innovative cloud technologies can help Belfast City Council manage its open spaces, looking at safety and usage issues, alongside encouraging more visitors.

Jake Mercer and Laura Soutar, Civica Software Engineers, with Councillor John Kyle, Deputy Chair of People and Communities Committee, Belfast City Council

Civica’s Belfast-based Innovation Team created the Park Keeper solution for the competition, based on the company’s SensAI cloud software. Civica’s pilot project is based in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens and uses a network of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to track anonymous WiFi connection data to record footfall and better understand the flow of people through the park. Following the pilot, Civica will provide analysis and data reports into flow and occupancy which will help the Council make better informed decisions for the future.

Councillor John Kyle, deputy chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “We’re committed to working creatively with companies to encourage innovation in areas such as big data and new technologies, to come up with smart solutions to everyday challenges for our city.

“This pilot project gives us a unique opportunity to capture important data which will help Council improve how it manages our city parks and open spaces, and further enhance the experience for all users.”

Mark Owens, Managing Director, Northern Ireland for Civica added: “We’re delighted to be working with Belfast City Council on this challenge to explore how cutting-edge cloud technologies can help build better and safer parks and community spaces. We look forward to seeing the results alongside the potential to innovate and collaborate further on digital projects across the city in the future.”

Mark Owens

Phase one trials are taking place in Botanic Gardens, Victoria Park, Connswater Greenway, Girdwood Community Hub sports pitches and City Cemetery. The projects use a range of technologies to capture and analyse data including IoT, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and community currency apps.

The project has been jointly funded by Belfast City Council and the Department of Justice via the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), as well as funding from Dublin City Council.

The Civica Group’s leading innovation programmes cover a range of technologies from robotic process automation to IoT, connected devices, AI, and blockchain programmes, helping organisations transform the way they work. Civica has recently partnered with the University of Bath to back the training of the next generation of AI leaders, exploring ideas in accountable, responsible and transparent AI.

Premium Tech gifts with a difference for Fathers Day. #Tech #FathersDay #Audio

Fathers Day is around the corner and if you have a pocket that can shell out on some goods these are a few examples below of what is on offer and these goods are especially good for the audio fan so you can start dropping hints now…

Bluesound Pulse 2i: Compact Wireless Multi-Room Music Streaming Speaker.
The PULSE MINI 2i takes decades of high-fidelity audio legacy and squeezes it into a tiny box. Delivering rich and detailed sound, the PULSE MINI 2i can easily fit into small living spaces, all the while providing an outstanding music experience.
Price: £499
More Info: https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-mini-2i/
PSB Alpha Speakers:
The globally-acclaimed Alpha Series of speakers offer five models to fit the needs of any audio setting. The Alpha Series of speakers offers audiophile sound quality at an affordable price but not at the expense of appeal and style.
More info:  http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/alpha
PSB M4U 8: PSB’s flagship travel headphone, the M4U 8, has noise cancellation and lots of ‘first class’ features for travellers, loaded into a very premium product. One of the best noise cancelling products and a strong, understated, contender within its category. I have personally tried and tested these and they are probably the loudest headphones I have tried..
Price: £299
Shure MV88+: Premium digital stereo condenser microphone for mobile high-fidelity video and audio recording. For astonishing audio, anywhere. You can see our review soon on this..
Price: £199

Google Stadia launches in Ireland this November. #Gaming #GoogleStadia

Ditch the console?? Perhaps not but for some this is the way forward and less hassle also less space taken up and right now you can pre-order with some value on top..

You can now pre-order the Stadia Founder’s Edition at the Google Store – a limited number are available, so if you want to be one of the “founders,” be sure to get it before it’s gone. The Founder’s Edition packs nearly €300 of value into just €129.99 and includes:

  • A Chromecast Ultra
  • A limited-edition Night Blue Stadia Controller
  • Three months of Stadia Pro (more on that below)
  • A three month Buddy Pass to bring one friend along for the ride
  • Dibs on selecting a Stadia Name

The Founder’s Edition gives our first set of fans the highest quality gaming experience—you’ll get Stadia Pro and the ability to play your favourite games across multiple screens (for those of you with a 4K TV and Stadia Pro,  you’ll get up to 4K HDR resolution at 60 frames per second with 5.1 surround sound). Stadia Pro will include free content, as well as discounts on titles you buy. The first free tile is “Destiny 2,” and it comes with the base game, all previous add-ons, the upcoming Shadowkeep expansion and the annual pass. And after your free 3-month subscription ends, Stadia Pro is only €9.99 per month.

If you want to pick up an extra controller for multiplayer games, for your laptop, or just to keep a spare in your backpack, they come in three colours—Just Black, Clearly White or Wasabi—for €69.99.

You’ll be able to access Stadia at launch this November in 14 countries: Ireland, U.S., Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, U.K.—and we’re working to expand to additional countries in 2020.

And if you don’t need 4K quality resolution, you can still play your favourite games on virtually any screen with instant access and no downloads, updates, or patches. Coming in 2020, Stadia Base is how you will play games you purchase in up to 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second without an active subscription to Stadia Pro. Stadia Founder’s Edition is the first way to get Stadia in November. Visit stadia.com/faq See the Google blog more more and regional news

Country Currency Controller (GStore) Founder’s Edition (GStore) Stadia Pro Subscription
Ireland EUR €69.00 €129.00 €9.99

 

 

Nik Collection 2 by DxO Offers Unmatched Creative Possibilities and RAW File Compatibility.

DxO, one of the most innovative companies in the photography and image editing industry, has announced the release of the Nik Collection 2 by DxO, a major upgrade to the famous plugin suite for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Elements. After bringing the Nik Collection back to the market with the software’s first stable version with customer support in June 2018, DxO is expanding the plugin suite with over 40 new creative presets and high-resolution monitor support for Windows. In addition, the Nik Collection 2 now comes with DxO PhotoLab 2.3 ESSENTIAL Edition, DxO’s recently released advanced RAW photo editing software.

Choose From More Than 40 New “En Vogue” Styles To Create Unique Images With A Single Click.

The Nik Collection 2, which has gained a significant following for its high-quality, creative filters, has added 42 new “En Vogue” presets to its original set of 156: 10 new recipes for Color Efex Pro, 10 new black and white presets to Silver Efex Pro, 12 new HDR presets to HDR Efex Pro, and 10 new tool combinations to Analog Efex Pro.

The latest filters in the Nik Collection 2 will take your photos’ emotional impact to the next level. For example, “Blue Monday,” which is available in Color Efex Pro, combines the fresh look of subtle Varitone coloring, the visual interest of cross processing, and the softness of slightly desaturated effect. “More Silver,” which is available in Silver Efex Pro, pairs the crispness of silver toning with a fine grain, resulting in black and white photographs that feature a level of balanced contrast typically achieved through darkroom techniques. Photographers who would like to add a bit of nostalgia to their images can turn to “Burned Edges,” in Analog Efex Pro to reproduce the burned-edge, vignetting, toning, and framing effects typical of old-fashioned analog cameras.

The “En Vogue” series was created in collaboration with Dan Hughes, a highly respected lecturer of photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and a former instructor with Nik Software. “I was honored to be a part of the expansion of the Nik Collection by DxO,” he said. “The plugin suite has helped promote the art of photography, and the addition of new effects has significantly increased its potential by offering all photographers new creative opportunities.”

Improved High Resolution Display With Windows

To better meet users’ needs, the Nik Collection 2 now supports high-resolution monitors (HiDPI) with Windows. The graphic elements of the Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, and Analog Efex Pro plugin interface have been improved to ensure flawless readability when viewed through high- resolution monitors—just like with the macOS version.

All The Potential Of RAW Files Within An Optimized Workflow

DxO’s recent surveys of Nik Collection customers revealed that nearly all users work in RAW. To help them harness the full power of this file format, the Nik Collection 2 by DxO now comes with DxO PhotoLab 2.3 ESSENTIAL Edition, DxO’s advanced and multiple award-winning photo editing software. The software has been adapted to offer users direct access to the plugins from their workspace via a dedicated button and drop-down menu. After the image is edited in DxO PhotoLab 2, it can be quickly converted and sent to one of the Nik Collection plugins, where the photo can be further altered and enhanced with creative effects.

“By offering our advanced photo editing solution along with the Nik Collection 2, we are giving users access to DxO’s powerful and high-quality RAW treatment technology as well as its unparalleled optical corrections, which were developed over fifteen years of measurements and analyses conducted in its laboratory,” said Jean-Marc Alexia, VP Product Strategy and Marketing with DxO. “DxO also offers high- quality de-noising capabilities, smart exposure optimization with DxO Smart Lighting, and U Point local adjustment technology, which is now available for use with RAW images.”

Dxo PhotoLab 2.3: Support For New Cameras

As well as providing access to Nik plugins directly from the software’s workspace, DxO PhotoLab 2 continues to support new equipment. In addition to adding support for Leica M 10-D and M 10-P, Nikon D3500, Panasonic Lumix DC-S1, DC-S1R, LX100 II, Sony A6400, and DSC-RX100 VA, DxO PhotoLab 2.3 can now process files from Canon EOS RP and Olympus OM-D E-M1 X. It has also added more than 500 new optical modules to its library, bringing its total number of camera/lens combinations to 47,500.

To read the full list of all devices supported by DxO PhotoLab 2.3, visit: https://www.dxo.com/en/dxo- photolab/supported-cameras/

Price And Availability:

The Nik Collection 2 by DxO is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-nikcollection) for £86,99 instead of £125, and £49.99 instead of £69 for the upgrade until June 30, 2019.

The ESSENTIAL and ELITE editions from DxO PhotoLab 2.3 are now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-photolab) for £112 and £169, respectively. DxO PhotoLab 2 users can download this upgrade for free.

First look at the SJCAM ion series TOTEM 4K. #SJCAM #ActionCams #4K #Tech

SJCAM recently launched an array of action cams and today we check out the Totem model which features a 2” LCD touch screen and a 166° A+ HD wide angle lens, external microphone  and image stabilization (Gyro). With up to 80 minutes of battery life, Totem will record 4K at 24fps (interpolated), 2K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps or 30fps and 720p at 120/60/30 fps. The field of view can be set to wide, middle or narrow, making sure you get the footage you want.  RRP £119.99

We will be testing this out over the coming weeks so if you have any questions feel free to ask us below or on our social channels, Check out what you get on the TOTEM 4K as we dive into the UI so you don’t have too..

BUY HERE – https://sjcam.com/

First look and unboxing. The Skullcandy INDY true wireless earbuds. #Skullcandy #TrueWireless

Recently we checked out Skullcandy PUSH and VENUE which came in a superb colour and they have really good audio as I expected  and you can see those reviews linked below you should check them out if you want a great audio experience with an affordable price.

0-16-12,9,0HDR compose failed.

Skullcandy Venue Review                 Skullcandy PUSH review  

Today we check out the all new INDY which are the dubbed pencil styled true wireless similar to iPods and the Urbanista Stockholm we just reviewed. With simple controls and ease of use I hope they sound as good as I always expect from Skullcandy and to date have not let me down. Any questions hit us up as always and we will gladly answer..

BUY HERE  –  https://www.skullcandy.eu/shop/earbuds/bluetooth-earbuds/indy