Category: Tech

Tappit cements place as the leading cashless provider for Rugby 7s with Kinsale deal. #Kinsale #Rugby #Tappit

Tappit, the global payments ecosystem for events, sports stadia and venues, has secured a three-year contract with Heineken Kinsale Rugby 7s in Ireland, cementing its position as the leading cashless provider for the Rugby 7s tournaments around the globe. 

Kinsale Rugby 7s is Ireland’s premier seven-a-side club rugby event taking place on the 2nd and 3rd May 2020 in Kinsale, Ireland. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to watch both men and women’s teams compete across the May bank holiday. 

Tappit’s easy-to-use system will make the event 100 per cent cashless across food vendors, bars and merchandise. Kinsale will also use Tappit for event ticketing, integrating it with Eventbrite and using Tappit’s technology for ticket scanning at the event itself. Organisers will also have access to valuable data to build a better picture of fan behaviour to enhance the experience year-on-year.

This will be the third Rugby 7s event that Tappit has worked with – working with Rugby 7’s across the Middle East and HSBC New Zealand Sevens. 

On the partnership, Jason Thomas CEO, Tappit said: “The Kinsale partnership illustrates that there is a huge appetite for cashless technologies in the sporting sector. The business benefits of working with Tappit are significant for both organisers and fans alike. Not only does Tappit improve the fan experience by reducing queues and making transactions safer and faster, but by equipping organisers with customer insights and data unavailable through any other method, we make it possible for organisers to really understand their audience, improve the experience and make their events even more successful.” 

Kinsale Tournament Director, Philip Stokes said: “After such a successful event last year – scorching sun and great rugby – we were looking for ways to battle down the queue times and improve the overall fan experience. Tappit was the only choice to provide the solution. We have been so impressed with the sleek and rapid integration as well as the professionalism of the staff. We are really looking forward to our fans experiencing an even better 2020 tournament.”

For more information about Tappit, please visit: https://tappit.com/

Sony’s new Xperia L4 joins its entry series, bringing 21:9 viewing and capturing experiences in a sleek design #Sony #XperiaL4

Sony today announced Xperia L4 – adding a new entry model to its portfolio of entertainment-focused smartphones.

 21:9 Wide display for sleek design and increased productivity

New for Sony’s L series, Xperia L4 benefits from a sleek 6.2” 21:9 Wide display that delivers a slender style and fits perfectly in your hand. The 21:9 ratio allows you to see more at once and scroll less, plus together with Sony’s multi-window UI you can launch and enjoy using two apps simultaneously in easy-viewing sizes for both windows. Furthering the ease of use is the Side sense function which provides easy access to your favourite apps.

 

Widen your photography skills

Xperia L4 is the first product in Sony’s L series to feature a triple camera, offering 13MP main lens, 5MP ultra-wide lens and 2MP depth camera, so you can channel your inner creativity and capture high quality, artistic photos and benefits from a beautiful bokeh effect.

 

Always get the full picture by switching between the two angles, wide and ultra-wide, offering you the option to capture beautiful landscapes, as well as effortless portraits and everything-in-between.

Camera creativity is also enhanced by the 21:9 display, allowing you to capture videos and images in the dramatic 21:9 aspect ratio.

 

A battery built for life

The high-capacity 3,580mAh battery with fast charging will easily see you through a busy day, so you can do more of what you love.

Sony’s Xperia Adaptive Charging monitors your phone as it charges, ensuring that the battery isn’t overworked and stays healthy for longer.

 

Availability

Xperia L4 is available in a choice of two colours, Black and Blue and will be available in select markets from Spring 2020 onwards.

See full press release

Timing and availability may vary by market and/or carrier  http://www.sony.net/

First look at the Tranya B530 Pro True Wireless. #Tranya #TrueWireless

Tranya is a relatively  new company to the audio market and has a wide range of products for consumers to buy at an affordable price. In fact their range is all under the €100 mark and it is good to see. They have sent us their very latest product to hit the market which is the B530 PRO true wireless earbuds which we cant wait to test over the next while..

The B530 pro has all you would expect to find for a pair of true wireless at this price and we will be going over all the features and finding out if they are worth your money so stay tuned for a review and check out the unboxing below and you can fire away with any questions as we go a full real hands on like we do with all our tech.

BUY HERE 

Equinix partners with AirSpeed Telecom to provide secure cloud solution. #Cloud #Airpseed #Equinix

Equinix, Inc. the global interconnection and data centre company, today announced a partnership with Irish telecommunications service provider, AirSpeed Telecom. The joint cloud offering comes as results of an independent survey commissioned by Equinix, finds 38% of Irish IT decision-makers believe the volume of data breaches will increase with the widespread rollout of remote working solutions. The survey also shows 31% of businesses in Ireland cannot fully support employee remote working because of latency issues. Equinix’s collaboration with AirSpeed Telecom addresses these concerns with the launch of AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity.

As digital transformation takes hold in Ireland and across the world, flexible working gives employees choice on how, when and where they work – increasing productivity, job satisfaction and improving business performance. As demand from employees for flexible working increases, businesses are under pressure to ensure they have the right technology, network speed and security to support it.

Pictured announcing Equinix’s partnership with AirSpeed Telecom to provide a secure cloud solution for businesses are (L-R):
Charles O’Reilly, General Manager, AirSpeed Telecom; and Kevin O’Connor, Channel Manager, Equinix

To facilitate the rise of flexible working in Ireland, and as part of its ongoing strategy to offer enhanced end-to-end solutions, Equinix partner, AirSpeed Telecom, now provides Equinix’s cloud platform, Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric™ (ECX Fabric®), as ‘AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity’. It will offer businesses across Ireland, fast, secure and reliable connectivity to streamline cloud migration and increase business performance.

AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity allows businesses to privately and seamlessly interconnect with the world’s largest cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure (ExpressRoute), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Google Cloud. As Equinix offers direct access to the highest concentration of major cloud provider onramps in the world, it allows businesses to choose the cloud services that best fit their, and their employees’, ever-changing business requirements.

Highlights/Key Facts

  • By offering a cloud solution, AirSpeed Telecom is answering the growing trend for businesses to move from traditional IT infrastructure to cloud-based services. Independent research commissioned by Equinix found cloud is now the number one driver of channel engagement in Ireland, with almost half (45%) of IT decision-makers using the channel to access cloud-based services.

  • Equinix’s third annual Global Interconnection Index (GXI) shows the need to connect to multiple clouds and IT services represents the fastest-growing use of interconnection bandwidth – in other words, the bandwidth required for businesses to privately connect to clouds, enterprises and networks – is growing at an expected 112% CAGR by 2022.

  • Available in 37+ locations across five continents, AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity, through ECX Fabric, now provides businesses with a multinational presence to support cloud connectivity across the world.

  • Through ECX Fabric, AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity enables enterprises to make significant cost savings and enhance productivity by eliminating the costly overheads associated with traditional IT infrastructure. It also offers organisations a selection of bandwidths to support their business needs – ensuring they only pay for what they need.

  • AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity, through ECX Fabric, uses integrated APIs and allows organisations to establish on-demand virtual connections in near real time.

  • The cloud solution delivers bandwidth ranging from 10Mbs to 10Gbs to ensure businesses can easily access 145+ cloud service providers via a fast, secure and reliable dedicated private line, therefore supporting a variety of use cases in addition to remote working, such as business continuity and disaster recovery.

Quotes

  • Charles O’Reilly, General Manager, AirSpeed Telecom:

“As cloud services continue to grow and facilitate the strategic needs and direction for more and more organisations, AirSpeed Cloud Connectivity has been designed to provide fully managed, secure and reliable access to the cloud. Reliance on the cloud, and the benefits it will deliver, continues to expand; and throughout that journey businesses can rely on AirSpeed every step of the way.”

 

  • Kevin O’Connor, Channel Manager, Equinix:

“Our research shows Ireland’s IT decision-makers are cautious of the impact remote working will have on cybersecurity – and rightly so. Organisations must ensure that in their efforts to modernise their business, they are also considering the security risks in doing so. Remote working is all about employee satisfaction and boosting productivity. Organisations who experience latency issues won’t be able to reap the benefits of remote working, as it will slow down workloads and frustrate users. Having direct access to the world’s leading cloud service providers is therefore essential in removing these hurdles.”

Twelve South introduces the Curve SE notebook stand.. #MacBook #TwelveSouth #Tech #Apple

Twelve South today introduces the Curve SE notebook stand in matte white. The ultimate partnership of style and functionality, not only does it perfectly match clean modern office spaces and the aesthetics of many Apple accessories such as the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard, it also has an improved ergonomic design. With the Curve SE, users no longer have to hunch over and tilt their head downwards towards a screen, they can easily elevate their MacBook to a healthier, more comfortable height, relieving neck and shoulder strain in the process.

Offering multiple uses, the Curve SE can be paired with a full-sized keyboard and mouse for a convenient desktop setup or used with a monitor for dual screen functionality. Its minimal design uses a single piece of aluminum which allows for 70% of the base to be exposed for optimal cooling. Anti-slip silicone pads and bent arms keep the laptop in place and prevent scratches.

Andrew Green, founder & designer at Twelve South comments; “While others may chase the latest colour of MacBook, we continue to look for better ways to integrate your work tools into your work space. Desktop accessories – especially MacBook stands – are inherently home decor. They should match your room, your style, your desk and complement (not copy) your MacBook. Our latest solution, while deceptively simple, is a beautiful matte white MacBook stand we call Curve SE.” 

The Twelve South Curve SE is available now for £49.99 at Amazon.co.uk. It’s also available in black.

Globalstar Launches SPOT Mapping Platform with New Terrain Details and Weather Overlays #Mapping #Tech #Spot

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSAT) and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today introduced its new mapping software, SPOT Mapping. This new platform gives adventurers and lone workers enhanced location insights, including granular detail about terrain to aid navigation, and, for the first time, weather forecast overlays.

SPOT Mapping makes it easier than ever for SPOT owners to plan and track their trips, with dynamic intelligence about local conditions, and allows them to share their journey details with friends, family and colleagues. Users can now view maps with satellite, road and terrain options with far more detail than previously available. The new mapping platform is viewable on any mobile device, and users can either view maps in Live mode for real-time tracking or in History mode to review previous trips.

The entry-level SPOT Basic Mapping service is included in the SPOT Basic service plan. It enables users to post their waypoints; set an alert for check-in or custom messages; share maps with up to three additional people, store up to 10 contacts, and store up to three years of position history.

Premium Mapping pricing starts at 24 Euros (£20) including VAT annually and features weather mapping layers, geofencing and two-way messaging to/from SPOT X, the latest addition to the SPOT family, launched in 2019. The premium service also allows users to share maps with up to 10 people, store up to 25 contacts, and hold up to five years of position history.

Enterprise-level subscriptions start at 45 euros (£38) + VAT per year with unlimited sharing and contacts, as well as features including the ability to customise maps and add customised icons.

“With a choice of devices to suit different types of adventurer and lone workers, SPOT devices are being used by individuals and groups exploring remote regions of Europe from the Alps to the Nordic tundra. With this new mapping software, users now have the information at their fingertips to plan routes accurately and even check the local weather,” commented Karim Kabir, CEO of VarioTek, a German SPOT reseller.

“Having listened carefully to SPOT users about their mapping needs, we have worked diligently to bring them an enhanced mapping experience,” said Dave Kagan, CEO of Globalstar. “SPOT has been used to trigger more than 7,000 rescues worldwide, and now, with our new mapping platform, it will keep outdoor adventurers more informed than ever, resulting in safer journeys into the wild, and more peace of mind for friends, family and colleagues.”

 

SPOT Mapping is now available for all existing SPOT customers including SPOT X, SPOT Gen 3,  SPOT Trace, and legacy SPOT products.

 

Powered by the Globalstar Satellite Network, with its worldwide fleet of spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the SPOT family of satellite messengers provides affordable messaging and tracking for outdoor enthusiasts and remote workers. SPOT devices with a one-touch SOS button have a direct connection to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center.

Review – The Kasa Power Strip KP303 smart extension lead by Liam Burke. #Kasa #Tech

The Tp-Link Kasa KP303 is essentially a smart extension lead with 2 additional USB ports. So you can have 5 devices using one plug with 3 of the devices being able to be remotely controlled and 2 always on USB ports (shared 2.4A) There is also surge protection which is always a good feature to have in case of a electrical surges from short circuits. It also has the ability to be controlled from anywhere either by using the Kasa App installed on your smart device or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. Liam Burke is here to tell us more about it. 

The wired cable is exactly 1 metre long its good that there is a possibility to mount the power strip using  screws (holes are approx. 4mm diameter) and also soft pads on the rear to raise the power strip off the surface its on.

It was a very easy setup, install the Kasa Smart app, sign into your TP-Link account (Just in case the app cant find the power strip check that your routers 2.4 GHz has been enabled.) Click the Add device button in the Kasa App, select Smart Plugs 🡪 Smart Power Strip (Make sure its powered up) and hey presto the app should find it and you will be able to enable/configure the plugs in no time at all.

Once the Kasa app has found the power strip, you get a list of 3 plugs in your smart plug list, from there you can configure and control the operation of each of them, the initial screen allows you to quickly control each plug..

 

The next option is Schedule, where you can enable the individual plug to either power on or power off at a certain time or at Sunrise or Sunset.

The next option is for a timer for a plug where you can set the plug to turn on/off at a user specified timer.

I like the Away Mode as it would be a useful feature when your going away so you could attach some lights and a sound source to the power strip.

The last time base option is to define a schedule of when you want to turn on/off during specific days.

And finally there is an option to define scenes which is basically a quick way to do an action for specific plug/s, once you have a scene defined if you have the power strip added to Alexa/Google, you can can just say “Alexa turn on (your scene name)”

There also option in the device settings to reorder the names of the plugs, enable/disable the Status LED on the power strip.

If you have an android phone you can use a Kasa widget to turn on/off plugs which is a nice way to control a plug without having to go into the app itself. 

You can never have enough sockets and usb ports in a house and with the added the smart capability of the power strip, it makes a great addition to any household.

Available to buy here

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-outlets-Wireless-Required-KP303/dp/B082LK6KPY

For more specs see the below link

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/smart-plug/kp303/?utm_medium=select-local

Amazon SMS scam is doing the rounds. @AmazonHelp #Amazon #Scams #Phishing

Recently there has been a spell of scams doing the rounds via sms with various chain stores attached to the text message but all untrue as we all know . Now we have a new one on the list to watch out for this time claiming to be from Amazon telling you that you have one a new phone and to click a link to claim your prize, All this is familiar territory and style we come to expect from scammers and sadly some will fall for it.. You will be brought to a site that looks exactly like amazon and asked to take a survey which in turn leads you to another site and here is where they get you.

 

Pass it on and tell your friends. The fact the Amazon comes up in the senders box does make it a little tempting and people will get caught out but the more people get wind of it the better and leave these clowns empty handed and then the site looking legit to the untrained eye is a good way to hook people in.  This is not a callback or email scam but one to watch in your sms folder. This site is just out to get information from you such as credit card details etc. Amazon give a guide to help you should you need it. Amazon are aware of the issue.

First look at the Sharp Sound Partner neckband speaker. #Sharp #Tech

The Sharp Sound partner is a portable speaker you place around your neck and something we are starting to see more of now with several products on the market but much more expensive, This is a wearable that fits nicely around your neck and blasts out the audio and gives you a different experience than what we are use too with a typical bluetooth speaker or earbuds,This is a new idea and we most likely will see more of these products in the coming year but the audio experience is different on first testing and better than you might expect.

This can also pair to your TV via a bluetooth transmitter which is great and gives the speaker more usability rather than just being connected to your smartphone. Any questions hit us up while we check it out..

BUY