Category: Press

Press release

Dothistroma Needle Blight hits republic. There is an app to help. #Treecheck #DNB #Trees

Dothistroma Needle Blight is a disease, primarily on pine, that can be caused by the two fungal pathogens, Dothistroma septosporum and Dothistroma pini. The disease has been present in Great Britain since the 1950s and is now a serious disease of pine species there. The disease was found in Northern Ireland in 2011 on Corsican pine. The disease is present in most other EU Member States and in many other countries outside the EU.
DNB has now been found in Ireland for the first time (September 2016). It was identified, following laboratory analysis, as being present on Scots pine trees at two forests, one in Limerick and one in Cork.

 

 

World map of first record of Dothistroma Needle Blight


Dothistroma septosporum tree disease is listed as a quarantine disease and is regulated under the EU Plant Health Directive – Council Directive 2000/29/EC, which requires Member States to take all necessary measures to eradicate, or where that is impossible, to inhibit the spread of the harmful organism. The Department is taking a number of actions in relation to the disease, detailed on the Department’s website. Foresters are asked to be vigilant for the disease and report (with photographs, if possible) any sites where there are concerns about possible DNB symptoms in pine, to the Forest Service by e-mail forestprotection@agriculture.gov.ie, by phoning 01-607 2651 or by using the Treecheck App.
For more comprehensive information about the disease, the symptoms, actions being taken etc. please visit:  http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/treediseases/dothistromaneedleblight/

 

 

 

TreeCheck App

TreeCheck, an All Ireland smartphone App, may also be used to report suspect findings. Using a GPS-enabled smartphone the location of the suspect tree can be recorded by the app to allow a follow-up field visit by Inspectors in the relevant jurisdiction if required. All reports received will be acknowledged and examined and those of particular concern taken forward for follow up by specialist plant health inspectors.

 

 

To access the TreeCheck App scan the attached QR with your smart phone or type the address https://www.treecheck.net into your mobile web browser. (It is not available in the App store.) You will be presented with the App and the option to save a link to your home screen. Follow the directions for your phone. Please note if you have a GPS enabled phone you may be asked to “Share Location”. Choosing to share your location enables us to have accurate geo-location data to assist our Inspectors in the event we need to investigate your report further.

Source 

 

VT Networks Supports IBM’s Galway Hackathon. #IoT #Hackathon #IBM

VT Networks has thrown its support behind Ireland’s first IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) Hackathon, to be held Oct. 7-9 at the PorterShed in Galway.

 Participants will be creating IoT solutions that connect with IBM’s Watson — a powerful cognitive engine. Experts will be on hand to provide guidance throughout the process, from hardware and software prototyping to pitching their idea.

 

VT Networks will be offering use of developer kits, free connectivity and support to any participants that experiment or develop with SIGFOX — a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) dedicated to the Internet of Things.

 

“We believe there is fantastic potential to combine SIGFOX and the power of Watson. Our network can transport data from a large number of sensors to the cloud efficiently and affordably, where Watson can provide advanced insights and analytics,” said Patrick Robinson, Director of Business Development at VT Networks.

 

Participants will be eligible for prizes, and will also own the intellectual property behind anything they create during the event. This event is ideal for developers, technologists, startups, students, researchers and post graduates.

 Refreshments will be provided, and participants who are deep into development are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and catch a nap while they work through the night.

 Sponsors include IBM, Atlantec and Cisco. For more information, or to register, visit http://porterhack.devpost.com/.

 

Where: PorterShed, Galway
When: Oct. 7-9
Cost: Free
Advanced registration required: https://porterhack.clearbookings.com/component/jbooka/?view=listing&Itemid=116&lid=125332

 

About VT Networks

VT, which was founded in 2014, operates the SIGFOX network in Ireland, providing the country’s first commercial IoT network with its infrastructure partner 2RN, the engineering arm of RTE. For more information, visit www.vtnetworks.ie,https://twitter.com/VTNetworks, www.linkedin.com/company/vt-networks or www.facebook.com/vtnetworksiot.

 

About SIGFOX

SIGFOX is the world’s leading provider of low-bandwidth connectivity that is dedicated to the IoT. The French company maintains the cloud and core network in France, while partnering with local operators to roll out networks across the world. For more information, visit www.sigfox.com.

Naughten Switches on State’s First National IoT Network #IoT #2rn #VT #RTE #SIGFOX

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr Denis Naughten TD, officially switched on the State’s first Internet of Things  (IoT) network in Athlone, Co Westmeath today. The network, which is owned by VT Networks, operates through 2rn’s national broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure, which gives it huge resilience, coverage and robustness. 2rn’s involvement has made the fast rollout of a nationwide IoT network possible.

2rn has struck a partnership with VT Networks, which Minister Naughten signed as part of the official switch on today, Oct. 4. In exchange for shares in VT, 2rn provided expertise and use of its national network of broadcast towers, masts and infrastructure. This allowed VT to bring a SIGFOX network, valued at €10 million, to the entire country in a record-setting five months.  

SIGFOX is a French company that provides low-power, wide-area networks (LPWAN) across the globe through partnerships with local operators. This type of connectivity is optimized for sensors and simple devices, such as GPS trackers and security systems, allowing them to send multiple messages with small amounts of information. Since users are only paying for the bandwidth needed for these devices, they can be connected for as little as €1 per year. Low power requirements also mean the battery life of SIGFOX-enabled devices can last up to 300 times longer than those that use other connectivity options, such as traditional cellular networks.

2rn Infrastructure Manager Kevin White, VT COO Will Ferguson, Minister Denis Naughten, 2rn Executive Director Mick Kehoe, VT CEO Mark Bannon and 2rn Commercial Manager John Clarke were on hand for the official switching on of Ireland’s first dedicated Internet of Things network.

Speaking at the switch on at a broadcast tower in Coolderry, Athlone, Minister Naughten said, “Ireland is a centre for innovation and our aim is to stay ahead of the curve. We could immediately see the benefit of having a nationwide network dedicated to IoT devices, covering both urban and rural areas, and hope this will help to cement our place as a country that is leading the way in Internet of Things development. We are delighted to be part of the drive towards innovation in Ireland alongside VT.”

“We could not have hoped for a better partner than 2rn to bring this new technology nationwide,” said VT CEO Mark Bannon. “Our partnership ensures businesses, homes and farms across the country will benefit from IoT.”

Dee Forbes, Director General, RTÉ, said: “I am delighted that 2rn has been able to assist in the deployment of Ireland’s first national IoT network, which will enable the important development and deployment of new products and services across rural and urban Ireland.”  

“Our experience and knowledge within the connectivity space convinced us that bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds would require new forms of technology. We are proud to be partnering with VT Networks, and we share in the vision of helping Ireland become a global hub for IoT development,” said 2rn Managing Director Mick Kehoe.

Wireless officially launch their brand flagship store in Athlone and their new website www.wirelessphones.ie

Wireless officially launch their brand flagship store in Athlone and their new website www.wirelessphones.ie today Thursday 15th September 2016. Over the last few months, blood, sweat and tears have gone into making this one of the best Irish tech launches of 2016. Wireless is an easy solution to never ending hikes in smart device pricing. We deliver smart deals on smartphones and tablets. Wireless is an Irish-owned company with just one ambition: to provide people with graded sim smartphones and tablets aka price everyone can afford, even students (yes we care about you furry, broke, little animals!)

 

 

 

Wireless Managing Directors, twins John & Michael Conway, and the Wireless team had been working on this this well kept secret for months before they told their friends, family and existing staff what was really going on. “It wasn’t easy to keep it from the women in our lives (girlfriend’s and more importantly mammy!) but we managed to pull it off and it made it all that bit more enjoyable”. The boys are thrilled to finally see all their hard work come to fruition.

 

What was this well kept secret you ask? Well… The boys already have a hugely successful pre-existing repair company in the midlands called ‘Fix My i’ with two shops based in Mullingar and Tullamore. They employ 10 staff members between the two shops and business is booming! What the twins didn’t tell their staff was that they were opening a brand new flagship store in Athlone and that eventually they were going to rebrand both shops in Tullamore and Mullingar as ‘Wireless’ with Fix My i still existing in the background of the business.

 

 

John says: “Wireless was pretty simple really. I opened a repair shop called Fix My i to repair broken smartphones and tablets in 2013. That repair shop did really well. My twin brother Mike came home from Australia and we brainstormed how we could expand the business. We started selling refurbished and repaired devices as good as new for a fraction of the cost of a brand new model. Turns out this was pretty lucrative. Athlone seemed like the perfect opportunity to test out this new flagship store. Our location on Sean Costello street is perfect right between the two shopping centres opposite Eddie Rockets. We’ve also created a partnership with AIT allowing us to welcome thousands of students – and of course we have discounts!”

We love our smartphones and tablets. They have pictures of our dogs, girlfriends, boyfriends, (notice order of preference!) favourite places, favourite memories. They house our unlimited hours of playlists from ‘Soppy breakup songs’ to ‘Pure buzz tunes’ to ‘Please God, don’t let people find out I listen to High School Musical!’

 

 

 

Having been in the smart device industry for several years now, we know how horribly overpriced it can be. Wireless are here to bring things back down a peg or two. Together with our sister companies Fix My i and Screen Hero which launched early last year, we are going to transform and revolutionise the smartphone and tablet industries one step at a time.

 

We are committed to providing outstanding customer service to each and every customer. Based across three locations in Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, our friendly, fun staff will provide the service you require, with some laughs along the way.

The twins have an array of special guests in store today including iRadio’s Ray Shah and the iRadio Opel Adams iTeam, the GAA funny man and Facebook sensation Rory O’Connor of Rory’s Stories and a representative from Otterbox Ireland. Promised to be a fun-filled, action packed day with plenty of giveaways, Wireless are open from 12 noon to 8pm on Thursday 15th September.

Express yourself with these funky new phone case designs from #FLAVR #iPhone #Samsung

FLAVR, the new fashion brand from global mobile accessories and connected devices specialist, STRAX GmbH, today launches a brand new range of hot, bold and eclectic phones cases for iPhone 5/5SE, 6/6S, 7, 7 Plus and Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

 

 

The cases are designed to appeal to those who love to stand out from the crowd and want a phone case that reflects their unique style and personality. For the dog lovers, there is the characteristic pug case, which is guaranteed to raise a smile whilst the lips or pineapples are certain to brighten up anyone’s phone. For others, there is the option of diamond rings, cactuses or nail varnish to spruce up their beloved device.

 

Priced at just £9.99 complete with bright and unique packaging, the FLAVR cases are certain to bring out the sunshine this summer even if the weather has different ideas. Why not express your personality AND protect your phone at the same time!!

The FLAVR cases are available for £9.99 from Carphone Warehouse

 

 

Happy Birthday Tinder – Infographic. Tinder turns 4. #Tinder #Apps 

It was four years ago this month that an app named Tinder first made an appearance in the App Store and, since then, the dynamic of online dating has shifted considerably. While long-standing dating websites focused on using a wide range of information to find your ideal match, Tinder replicated the more realistic scenario of making the call based on the person’s image, along with some minor nuggets of information, similar to trying to pick someone up in a bar. This simplified approach has worked a treat with 40 million people who have downloaded the app since it first became available in 2012.  Tinder is due to turn 4 years old today the 12th of September. Tinder has really become a phenomenon in online dating check out some more..

 

This infographic by Carvaka (https://carvakasextoys.co.uk/) tells the story of Tinder from its foundations in a California university through to the billion-dollar enterprise that it is today. The company has had a brief but eventful history, not least with co-founder Sean Rad being deposed as CEO in late 2014 before returning to the role within a matter of months. Tinder has also been targeted by naysayers who believe that it is taking a shallow approach to dating, but considering how successful the business has become, dissenting voices won’t bother its powerbrokers in the slightest.
Every single day, there are 1.6 billion swipes worldwide on Tinder, 26 million of which will end up in a match. Also, contrary to its common perception as a platform for mostly hook-ups, 80% of its users are actively seeking a long-term relationship. Even the move into freemium monetisation hasn’t stalled its progress; it was introduced almost a year ago and had one million subscribers in less than six months, with that figure set to hit two million by the end of 2016.
Tinder’s popularity shows no sign of abating. If anything, the introduction of features such as Tinder Social, where you can see your friends’ social plans for a particular night, proves that this hugely successful dating app is very much on a winning streak. Check out the info graphic below for a cool guide on Tinder’s impressive four years of existence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X-Doria’s Protective iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cases, Designed for Style-Conscious. #iPhone7

X-Doria, a leading manufacturer of fashion-forward accessories, is introducing five stylish case collections to outfit and protect the new iPhone. The collection consists of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus cases, each designed with distinct aesthetics that appeal to various personalities and styles with the added protection of a raised front lip to keep the screen off tables and other flat surfaces.

 

 

Defense Gear is a full body, no bulk case for iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, with four materials infused together for military grade drop protection, including a scientifically proven DropShield™ edge lining that hardens on impact. Defense Gear combines DropShield™ technology with hard polycarbonate, TPU and anodized aluminum. The case is engineered with enhanced corners and a 0.1 inch thick frame that provides dual layer protection and shields all angles of your device. The Defense Gear case can withstand drops from up to 6’6”. Available colors include: Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. Available for £24.99 on XDoriaLife.com for iPhone 7 orXDoriaLife.com for iPhone 7 Plus.

 

 

X-Doria’s Defense Lux for iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus brings together refined luxury and durability to create the ultimate protective case. Defense Lux features a simple snap-on construction, engineered with a soft inner rubber layer, impact resistant polycarbonate backing, and machined with an aluminum outer frame. The aluminum outer frame protects the perimeter of the iPhone, while inside, the soft rubber wraps around the phone protecting it from up to 6’6” drops on concrete, exceeding military drop test standards – MIL-STD-810G.  For a sophisticated look, the case is available in luxurious faux carbon fibre, soft leather, canvas or microfibre rear panel. Available for £29.99 on XDoriaLife.com for iPhone 7 or XDoriaLife.com for iPhone 7 Plus.

 

 

The Revel series of quirky cool snap on cases for the iPhone 7 are designed with a raised bezel edge to protect the screen from surface scratches and a wraparound reinforced rubber bumper that extends across the top and bottom edges to ensure the phone is protected edge-to-edge. Revel also protects the volume and lock buttons with a grip rubber bumper. There are twelve different images to select from including Pug, Panda, Husky, Fox, Bear, Lion, Blue Future and Chrome Web. Available for £19.99 on XDoriaLife.com for iPhone 7.

 

For more information on X-Doria’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus case collection, visit XdoriaLife.com.

Entrepreneurs launch app to streamline service industry offering in Northern Ireland. #getsortsy #sortsy 

Tech-savvy entrepreneurs Peter Layland and Richard Campbell have launched their innovative app set to revolutionise the way that local businesses and consumers make appointments, following an investment of £200,000 in a bid to meet growing consumer demand.

Sortsy, which was officially launched to the Northern Ireland market in June, provides companies operating in the service industries with a quick route to market and allows them to directly engage with customers across Northern Ireland.
The new app will give businesses, both large and small, a platform to market their services to consumers, receiving bookings, and fill appointments directly based on consumer demand.  

Having already made an investment of £200k and created 7 new jobs to date, Northern Ireland’s latest tech start-up has big ambitions for their product.

Speaking about the new company Peter Layland, co-founder, Sortsy said “The idea for Sortsy was born out of sheer frustration as I tried to find a qualified and trusted trades person in Northern Ireland.

“Working with Richard and the newly formed Sortsy team we have developed a product which will offer businesses the perfect online channel for promoting and growing their business with a relevant local audience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The app will also deliver exceptional customer service to NI consumers – it’s a win-win situation for everyone”.

 

Speaking about the new app, Richard Campbell, co-founder, Sortsy said, “From the very beginning I could see the potential in this product.  It is something I could see myself using all the time, so being a part of the team creating it and building it is just the icing on the cake”.

“Our product has infinite possibilities for the local businesses it can help grow and even create. From sole traders to multi-nationals, from plumbers to hairdressers and dentists, once started Sortsy can be expanded and assist virtually any type of business”.

Sortsy launched in Northern Ireland in June with over 400 trade professionals. Unlike other apps that offer just one genre or industry, Sortsy will be adding new industry sectors and additional business services to their platform very soon, and as they grow business users’ opportunities will grow also.
For further information or to register your business with Sortsy visit www.sortsy.co.uk or tweet @Sortsy #getsortsy.

 

SunnyBAG launches the world’s first hybrid solar panel on #Kickstarter – LEAF+

Like the outdoors? This is a great little product and perfect for those enjoy the great outdoors, for festival goers and the more adventurous amongst us – no need to worry now about your phone or camera dying on you!  At 4000mAH, the LEAF+ has the ability to fully charge two iPhones that have no power whatsoever. You can see from the photos that the LEAF+ is extremely thin and lightweight so its an ideal, very portable and simple way to charge your phone whether you are roaming in the Peak District, cycling through the Forest Of Dean or partying at Bestival!

 

https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2221599/video-700359-h264_high.mp4?_=1

 

SunnyBAG, a specialist in developing fashionable solar bags, backpacks and outdoor gear, today launches its latest crowdfunding campaign for the SunnyBAG LEAF+. The world’s first hybrid solar panel, the LEAF+ combines a highly flexible solar panel with two efficient SUNPOWER® panels, meaning it’s able to convert a wider spectrum of light into electricity, even when partially shaded. Producing an output power of 6.2 watts and extremely lightweight, it’s the perfect solution for users who want to charge mobile devices such as smartphones, digital cameras, tablets, mobile gaming consoles and GPS Satellite devices on the go.

 

 

 

 

Twice the performance at same size

The LEAF+ is the new and improved version of the LEAF which came to market in 2014. The size of the surface solar system remains the same as the first product generation with a diameter of about 10 inches. The LEAF+ has a battery capacity of 4000mAH, meaning when fully charged, it is able to power up two dead iPhones as an example. It comes with both lightning and Micro-USB connectors making it extremely versatile. Weighing just 200-grams, the LEAF+ is also weatherproof, scratch and impact resistant and a useful fastening system allows it to be attached easily to backpacks, bags or tents.

 

 

Stefan Ponsold, Founder and CEO SunnyBAG, stated, “The LEAF product range stands for unlimited freedom in all sports and outdoor activities and for independent power supply all around the world. With the new hybrid system, the LEAF+, our ten months of development succeeded in a worldwide innovation. Our customers cheered us on with their consistently positive feedback, and I would like to thank everyone who has purchased and used our products in the past.”

 

 

The SunnyBAG LEAF+ is designed to charge any mobile device that can be charged via USB port. Electronic mobile devices such as smartphones, phablets, tablets (e.g. iPad), digital cameras, smaller video cameras, mobile gaming consoles, GPS und satellite devices, portable music players (e.g. iPod, mp3 and mp4 players) and many more additional devices can be operated via the ecologically friendly solar energy.

Pre-launch: Discount available for backers

Before production starts Kickstarter backers have the possibility to get the SunnyBAG LEAF+ from € 69,00 instead of € 129,00. Delivery is planned for Christmas 2016, before the official product launch starts in 2017.

 

The Kickstarter campaign ends on October 23rd, 2016, 11.59 p.m. (CET).

Head to Kickstarter for more details and support…