Category: Tech

Irish business websites are too slow on mobile devices. #Mobile #Web #Speed

Leading digital agency, AGENT Digital, has created Ireland’s most comprehensive website speed report, surveying the page loading times of more than 1,000 individual Irish websites throughout a wide range of a Ireland’s business sectors.

Ireland’s Website Speed Report—which details Ireland’s fastest & slowest websites by business sector—highlights that the average website loading time in the Irish eCommerce (general) sector was the slowest of all sectors surveyed, with websites taking on average 10.35 seconds to load fully on a mobile device.

AGENT Digital managing director Kevin Meaney declared the research a wake-up call not just for the Irish eCommerce (general) sector but for all Irish businesses online.  

“The average load time for Irish websites is more than three times the recommended industry standard of less than 3 seconds. Research shows us 53% of people will leave a mobile page if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load (Google),” Mr Meaney said.

He added: “More than 64% of Irish people are searching and in excess of 16% are purchasing goods and services online through mobile devices every week (Statista). But our data shows that Irish business websites are not fast enough to adequately serve this traffic.”

The AGENT Digital report reveals that the slow page loading time of Ireland’s eCommerce (general) sector is part of a national trend, with the speed across all sectors averaging 7.76 seconds on mobile devices.

Mr Meaney explained that the focus on website speed has been intensifying over the past decade, and urged businesses to act now to align their page loading times to the industry standard of less than 3 seconds. He stated: “Google has for years aimed to load its pages in under a half-second, and regards 2 seconds as the e-commerce threshold. As long ago as 2012, Google was describing loading times of 5 seconds as an eternity in a world where fractions of seconds count (Google). And other research has concluded a delay of just one second can result in 11% fewer page views, a 16% decrease in customer satisfaction and a 7% loss of conversions (Aberdeen Group).”  

To bring the issue up to date and into focus for Ireland in 2018, AGENT Digital’s research team created Ireland’s Website Speed Report using Google’s web performance and speed test tools to periodically test the speed of 1,081 individual Irish websites across 29 business sectors over a 12-month period.

Ireland’s Website Speed Report
Ireland’s Fastest & Slowest Websites – By Business Sector

The research finds that websites in the Irish Professional Services (Consultancy) sector have the fastest average page-loading time on mobile devices (4.95 seconds), followed by websites in the Energy sector (6.08 seconds), and Financial Services (Insurance), where sites have an average page loading time of 6.45 seconds.

As noted, the research finds Retail eCommerce (General) sites with the slowest average loading time on mobile devices of all sectors, at 10.35 seconds, behind the 9.22 seconds for sites in the Non-Profit sector, and AgriBusiness websites, which have an average loading time on mobile devices of 9.19 seconds.

Just under half (14) of the 29 sectors surveyed have average loading times faster than the national average of 7.76 seconds. Eight of the sectors are in the immediate hinterland of the national average, including Automotive (7.02); Retail-Fashion (7.25); Technology-Sector Total (7.53); Resources (7.58); Food (7.67); Communications (7.73); Media & Marketing (7.85); and Construction 7.88). All sectors have average mobile loading times in excess of the recommended 2-3 seconds threshold.

NEED FOR SPEED: Managing Director AGENT Digital, Kevin Meaney, launched “Ireland’s Website Speed Report” at international race circuit Mondello Park, Co Kildare, with a call for Irish businesses to get their websites on the starting grid for 2019. “The average load time for Irish websites is more than three times the recommended industry standard of less than 3 seconds.”
Image Credit: AGENT Digital

In 2018, swift mobile loading times have become critical for two reasons. The first relates to user experience (UX) as it is right now, and how UX and sales are affected by the loading delays. There is a correlation between delays and bounce rate (the percentage of users who leave a website after viewing only one page). Bounce rate increases as page-load times increase, so longer waits are more likely to result in mobile users leaving for other websites (Akamai). In addition, it’s tougher to get mobile users to convert, because their expectations for speed and reliability are higher. While it’s impressive that more than half of overall web traffic is coming from mobile (Google), this is offset by the reality that more than 53% of mobile visitors to a site will abandon a page that takes longer than three seconds to load (Google).

“Based on the industry standard of a 3-second load time, even the quickest sector in Ireland is losing over half of their mobile site visitors. With 3.59-million smartphone users in Ireland this year, and a forecast increase to 4.06-million by 2022 (Statista), this highlights the scale of the issue.” Mr Meaney stated.

 

He added that the recent rollout of Google’s ‘Speed Update’ had made the issue even more urgent for Irish business website owners. “With the Google ‘Speed Update’ that was rolled out in July this year, page speed is now a ranking factor for mobile searches. Websites that are slow to load will rank lower in Google search results. It is now essentials for Irish businesses to address the problem to ensure their websites are loading as quickly as possible.” (Google)

Ireland’s Website Speed Report found no sector with average loading times of less than the recommended 2-3 seconds. This research is a wake-up call to businesses to face the challenges presented by slow loading times, and their impact on page views and customer satisfaction.

With Retail – eCommerce (General) identified as the sector with the slowest average page loading speed, a glance at the market gives an indication of the potential scale of losses.

In 2018, revenue in the Irish eCommerce market is worth around €3,502m and is expected to grow to €4873m by 2022 (Statista). However, Google and other sources warn that a delay of just 1-second could result in a 7% loss in conversions. Seen in that light, the 7-second delay averaged by Irish websites in the Retail – eCommerce (General) sector becomes a stark signifier of potential losses.

Ireland’s Website Speed Report is part of the AGENT Digital goal of helping 100,000 businesses to grow online by 2030. The report was created to make Irish brands more aware of the importance of website speed, and to help improve their online businesses.

Mr Meaney stated: “It was important for us to create this speed report to highlight the issue to Irish Businesses. Many Irish brands are simply not aware that their websites are too slow. Once the issue is highlighted it can be quickly addressed through effective website speed optimisation techniques.”

As a leading digital agency AGENT Digital specialises in website speed optimisation for leading brands both nationally and internationally. To help Irish businesses, AGENT Digital has 10 pragmatic tips that companies can take to improve their website speed immediately.

Visit https://www.agent.media/digital/  today for further information.

Follow on social

AGENT Digital Brand Mention / Website: https://www.agent.media/digital/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agent-digital/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/agent_digital

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkt0GDeDVqM2G88WaQea1Pw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareagentdigital/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kevin.meaney/

Lifesize Creates Lifelike Video Conferencing Experience with First and Only Global 4K Video Calling Solution #4K #Video #Cloud

Lifesize, a global innovator of video collaboration and meeting productivity solutions, today announced the release of its new global cloud service architecture and Icon 700 conference room solution. The complete video conferencing solution represents the flagship technology in a new line of next-generation Lifesize offerings. Designed with industry-first 4K video conferencing capabilities, the solution offers full-motion 4K content sharing and an unparalleled quality experience.

 

“Today’s businesses and their employees rely on video conferencing for their mission-critical communications,” said Craig Malloy, CEO of Lifesize. “Our goal with our next generation of Lifesize solutions was to challenge the status quo of ‘good enough’ quality and create a better-than-in-person meeting experience that eliminates the stress, time and money waste associated with commuting to and from meetings. Whether connecting face to face with your customers, making an introductory call with a new client or strengthening your internal global communication culture, these new offerings will help people present their absolute best selves in every conversation.”

The 4K global cloud service architecture and the Icon 700 conference room solution with full-motion 4K content sharing, and premium audio clarity, delivers the absolute best video conferencing experience on the market. Priced at $7,499, the Icon 700 offers a future-proof 4K solution for the price of competing 720p solutions. Highlights of the new solution include:

  • First-ever 4K video conferencing with full-motion content sharing in 4K
  • Native integration with easy-to-use cloud service designed for live 4K video
  • Ultra-wideband Opus audio for exceptional audio clarity optimised for human speech
  • The industry’s highest quality for multiparty calls and recordings

“The company that introduced the first HD-capable video conferencing system is now taking things to the next level,” says Ira M. Weinstein, managing partner at analyst firm Recon Research. “At a time when many solutions are sacrificing quality of experience in favour of cost, Lifesize is taking the opposite tact by providing full-motion 4K video and content sharing. The combination of these latest offerings and the company’s field-proven cloud service will pave the way for new use cases where the combination of ease of use and high resolution are a must.”

For more information about the new line of Lifesize 4K solutions, visit www.lifesize.com.

Budding Irish scientists to reach for stars at European Space Agency. #IRC #ESA #Space

The Irish Research Council has announced today that two young Irish scientists have won a national competition to train at the European Space Agency (ESA). The coveted positions are part of an ongoing partnership between the Irish Research Council and ESA, which hosts Irish trainees at its centres across Europe.

As part of the programme, the researchers will work on cutting-edge projects and gain practical experience in high-tech space activities such as: space science; Earth observation; telecommunications; navigation; mission control and operations; and human spaceflight.

Following a national competitive process, the two top-ranking candidates who were selected to join the traineeship programme at the European Space Astronomy Centre in Madrid, Spain are:

  • Amy Joyce from Clonmel, County Tipperary: Amy has a master’s degree in experimental physics from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She will work on developing tools for mission cross calibration and will also learn about the scientific uses of x-ray satellites and the challenges and procedures of operating a space mission.
  • Cillian Murphy, from Dundrum, County Dublin: Cillian has a master’s degree in space and science technology from University College Dublin. He will work on the Gaia Mission to assist in completing an astrometric survey of stars, using spacecraft observation. He is also a future Analog Astronaut candidate with the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF).

Commenting on the announcement today, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan TD, said: “This is a unique opportunity for Amy and Cillian to train with the best and to develop their skills at the European Space Agency.

“Supporting a pipeline of talent plays an integral role in taking Ireland forward in its contribution to space research, development and innovation and ensures that we are continuing to contribute and collaborate on an international level.”

Peter Brown, Director of the Irish Research Council also welcomed the announcement, saying: “The Irish Research Council and the European Space Agency first partnered in 2016 with the aim to give Irish-based science and engineering graduates a chance to make their mark in the field of space exploration.

“This traineeship offers the life-changing opportunity to pursue a career in Europe’s gateway to space. The Council is committed to supporting the development of Europe’s space capability and ensuring that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. We are delighted to support both Amy and Cillian on this project and look forward to continuing to collaborate with ESA on this initiative.”

Review – Jabra Elite Active 65t Copper Red #Jabra #Tech #EliteActive65t

The Jabra Elite Active 65t in Copper Red are probably the best looking in-ears about and stand out  from the industry norm when it comes to colour, I own several pairs of in-ears like this and these easily stand out on the collection and on the street as people have been asking me anytime I wear them outside and this is something I like.. They stand out..

The presentation as always with Jabra is good and again something I am always liking and you can check out the unboxing video below for a detailed look at what we are dealing with here.

At first these where a little uncomfortable like the previous pair and this is after trying several buds but after a few minutes they settle and after this its all good more or less. The pairing process is same as before and we have audio giving us status however it took me two attempts to pair both sides this time around but after this there was no drop out on switching to and from these earbuds as at the minute I am testing several so that is a good thing as some report only one side being picked up but there could be several reasons for that.

On the buds we have simple controls and again on first use they might hurt at first but like I said after a while they settle and all is good. The left side controls your volume and you can also skip tracks by holding down there is two little raised humps either side of the logo and the right side is for call management and playback.

One thing I like with these is if you remove one the music stops and is quite handy and on putting the earbud back in the music continues again,handy little feature this. If you are one to take commutes you get a charging case which is also in Copper Red and again be prepared eyes looking in wonder, the charging case gives you two full charges which would be around 4-4.5 hours of non stop music. The case itself flips open on top like previous versions and its charged via micro USB and sports and LED on the rear and one in top for status.

For those who run or train they do not fall out of ears as they are tight-fitting and are good at noise isolation but there is the Jabra Sound plus app which is really great and during my test period I got an update. I have touched on this app before but it really is a must if you have these earbuds or others from Jabra that is compatible, You can also use your voice assist but something I don’t bother with to be honest..

If you want to enjoy music it is better via this app with an array of features including Hear Through and caller ID and so on. The call experience was fine here but it’s the music that people want to know about. I feel most audiophiles would be happy overall with the performance if not too picky and for me all music attributes were reproduced well and great clarity too and this is down to the app and the app is FREE. If you like bass it is there and probably a favourite aspect many people are interested in.

These earbuds are IP56 rated so they can take a rain shower and sweat which is important for some and for a place like Ireland where the weather is never good they should last some time but it is advisable to take care of them regardless which is something I do with all my headphones and earphones just don’t take things for granted.

Overall I think these are a worthy purchase especially in this colourway if you want something different and that stands out. Some might say at the higher end of the scale when it comes to pricing but what you get is a good solid product that is ideal for those on the go and who workout or jog, Jabra are a long time in this business and deliver on all aspects.

See Jabra for more Info

Amazon

 

ActaFun is a new activities booking platform in Ireland. #IrishBiz #Actafun #Activity #Booking

This platform allows for online booking of these gathered activities in less than 3 minutes on an easy to use website, instead of spending hours on Google looking for what to do, then having to pay a deposit through the phone – which is not secure process and most people feel uncomfortable giving their card details to strangers through the phone. Their story is interesting, unusual and somewhat funny.

“We are very active but it was too time-consuming to find fun things to do with friends in our spare times.” I built something that I really needed, I just felt like activities and fun things to do should be easy to find and booked with no hassle” said Steven.

With a small team of 6, ActaFun’s vision is to bring people together and do fun, challenging and memorable activities. Doing activities with colleagues, friends and families always bring something new to chat about, its amazing! Our current users are young professional, groups of friends, tourists and families usually between 22 – 40 who are booking activities on ActaFun.

Users are Booking activities such as Paintballing, Go Karting, FootGolf, Falconry, Rock Climbing, Ghost bus, comedy bus and many more in less than 3 minutes. “ You can book an activity for 2 people or for 30 people, as long as the time is available on the site.” said Steven. ActaFun Partners up with activity providers and makes sure all activities on the website are been booked at the best prices, with no booking fees for users. They are bringing on more activities on a daily basis.

While building the platform they created a Facebook group just to add value to people, they organise monthly group activities allowing random people to join. This group was very popular during the summer, “We plan to do more indoor activities such as Ice Skating, Rock climbing and Escape VR while it’s cold outside” said Steven

The website has the benefit of growing activity providers sales during off-peak times, it increases providers sales and reduces staff time been wasted on unnecessary tasks. 

ActaFun currently has 1 angel investor and are open to more investments offers while planning to Launch their app by the first week of December and scale to Barcelona & Madrid in March 2019. They plan to scale to Barcelona and Madrid because they are large cities, Full of local activities with a massive demand for fun activities. “ but our headquarters will always be in Ireland. I am a proud Irish, “Well,  Afro – Irish” says Steven

SEE MORE https://actafun.com/#!/

The S-Charge – A must-have battery case for the popular Nintendo Switch. #Nintendo #Gaming

The S-Charge has been devised based on user feedback, allowing them to never worry about losing charge and maintain the optimum gaming experience for up to 12 hours.Perfect as a last-minute stocking filler or the latest addition to any avid gamer’s arsenal

The ultimate accessory for non-stop gaming fun on the Nintendo Switch has arrived – S-Charge. Incorporating a high capacity battery, improved kickstand and two game card slots, the S-Charge is an extension to your existing device that easily clasps around it.

The creators of the S-Charge, InDemand Design, launched the product on crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo, achieving its fundraising goal in 48 hours of going live. The campaign was supported by over 4,000 backers making it the best-selling crowdfunded Nintendo Switch accessory. With more than 5,000 units sold across 60 countries, the S-Charge has gone from strength to strength with the aim of being a must-have for all gamers.

Aiming to limit the number of accessories when on the move, the S-Charge is portable, slim-line and lightweight and can not only charge the Nintendo but also other devices. The 10,000mAh battery offers up to 12 hours of additional power which means that users can stay entertained when travelling, commuting or having a long gaming session at home – even when playing the most power hungry games. Here is how the Switch performs when playing the most popular games:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: 10 hours 40mins
  • Mario Kart 8: 10 hours 45 mins
  • Mario Odessey: 10 hours 55mins
  • Diablo: 11 hours 20mins
  • Splatoon 2: 10 hours 15mins
  • Fortnite: 10 hours 35 mins

The S-Charge also has an improved kickstand which offers greater stability and can be used in multiple angles to change the way you play. As the charging port has been moved to the right-hand side of the case, the S-Charge is one of the only ways to charge while playing in table top mode.

No need for extra carrying cases, the S-Charge not only protects the Nintendo Switch™ but also has slots for 2 extra game cards to bring along with you on the go. The S-Charge has been built to combat the problems of overheating and potential warping of the device. A bundle version is available with two free screen protectors and a hardshell carry case at an RRP of £64.99 from Amazon, John Lewis and Currys.

Sign PDF and Use AI with the New Able2Extract Professional 14. #PDF #AI #Digital

Some time ago, we showed you how to convert PDF to Word using Able2Extract Professional 12, a PDF solution renowned for its conversion capabilities. And now, the latest iteration of the software, Able2Extract Professional 14, is out. It brings novel and compelling features such as PDF signatures and PDF to Excel conversion templates that utilize Artificial Intelligence.   

Let’s take a closer look and inspect what these new implementations bring to the table.

Electronic and Digital Signatures

To start off, Able2Extract Professional can now sign PDF files with electronic and digital signatures.

An electronic signature is basically an image that you insert into a page. You can add it to a PDF by typing it in, drawing it or by inserting a signature image.

Adding an electronic signature using Able2Extract Professional 14 can be done in a couple of clicks. First, you need to open the signatures panel located just below the annotations. Then click on the Choose signature option. There you can apply existing signatures, if any, or create new ones using the appropriate options. Finally, click on the Sign button and insert your signature to the PDF page.

Digital or cryptographic signatures, unlike electronic ones, leave a digital footprint. Essentially, these signatures are coded, and they carry information about the signer that can be inspected by the viewer of the signed PDF document.

For instance, if you receive a PDF contract that was signed with a valid digital signature, you can verify the authenticity of the signature and detect if any changes were made to the document after it was signed.

To add a digital signature with Able2Extract Professional 14, you have to check the Digitally Sign the Document option in the Signature window and specify the digital certificate. From there, click on the Sign button and insert the signature to PDF.

AI-powered PDF to Excel Conversion

As we already explained in our previous article, Able2Extract Professional is the go-to tool for PDF to Excel conversion because it enables users to customize the conversion output to their specific needs.

Now, with the newly added Smart and Master conversion templates it got even better. The latest version is equipped with a Machine Learning engine that can significantly speed up individual and batch PDF to Excel conversion.

These functionalities can prove to be very useful if you work with a lot of PDF documents that don’t have consistent table data. For instance, two monthly reports can have tables with the same structures, but the tables might not be of the same size or even on the same page.

You can input 5-10 samples of the relevant table structures you need and train a Smart template to locate and extract relevant data from PDF tables no matter where the table sits in the document.

The same training process applies to Master (Batch conversion) templates, as well. You can create specific document categories and corresponding conversion templates and let Able2Extract Professional do the rest. It will identify each PDF file in the queue and automatically apply the matching conversion template.

To sum it up, with these new functionalities, Able2Extract Professional 14 looks like a worthy successor to the previous version. If you want to try out the new features, you can download a trial version and test it out for 7 days.

Apple AirPlay 2 Arrives December 11, 2018, to Bluesound. #Apple #Airplay2 #Bluesound

Bluesound, a leading developer and manufacturer of wireless multi-room music systems, today announced that all Generation 2i streaming music players will receive a much-anticipated software update that will enable Apple AirPlay 2, allowing users to stream audio from their iPhone, iPad or Mac computer to Bluesound.

On December 11th, all Bluesound customers will be prompted to update their players to the latest version of BluOS, Bluesound’s award-winning, proprietary hi-res multiroom platform. For customers with Bluesound’s newest Generation 2i players, the software update will enable AirPlay 2. Gen 2i users can then stream music services, podcasts, audiobooks, movies, games, YouTube audio, TV sound and stored music from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer to any Bluesound Gen 2i player on the same WiFi network. The integration also gives Apple Music listeners the ability to control playback on their Bluesound Gen 2i using Siri voice control.

From streaming music to a NODE 2i in a hi-fi system to driving the latest Netflix movie soundtrack to a PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i, AirPlay 2 seamlessly integrates the power of iOS devices with the high-fidelity audio performance of Bluesound. Multiple Bluesound Gen 2i players can synchronously play the same stream, or users can opt to push different content to individual players around the home.

The good news continues for Bluesound Gen 2i users with older Bluesound products in their home network. Using the BluOS Controller app, previous generation Bluesound players can be grouped with a new Gen 2i unit, allowing them to play the same AirPlay 2 streamed content.

With AirPlay 2, Bluesound Gen 2i has become the ideal solution for Apple users looking for premium sound quality and seamless multi-room convenience.

See https://www.bluesound.com/

YouTube Rewind: What Was Ireland Watching on YouTube in 2018? #YouTube #Ireland

YouTube today announced YouTube Rewind 2018, the annual list of Ireland’s top trending videos and music videos for the past year, offering an insight into what caught our interest and imaginations these past few months. We also post on you and if you are not following us you can do so HERE where we bring you hands on tech videos every week.

At the top of the list is this year’s ‘person who broke the internet’, 12-year-old Mason Ramsey, who performed an a cappella version of the Hank Williams country and western classic ‘Lovesick Blues’ for customers of the Harrisburg, Illinois branch of Walmart. The video became a viral hit almost overnight, making young Mason an instant celebrity: soon afterwards he appeared on talk shows, met movie stars, signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and released his first single … all within a month of appearing on YouTube.

Three amateur Irish musicians dot the list this year, with 12-year-old Cork busker Allie Sherlock appearing on the immensely popular Ellen show in the US; Westmeath’s Fr. Ray Kelly giving a stirring rendition of REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ on Britain’s Got Talent; and a version of Send In the Clowns by 81-year-old Evelyn Williams from Tallaght ensuring there was not a dry eye in the house on Ireland’s Got Talent. Rounding off the list was our first Eurovision finalist for five years, Ryan O’Shaughnessy, and his emotive song ‘Together’.

Both unity and division were also evident in 2018’s list: Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Travis Scott introduced the world to their daughter Stormi via the moving video ‘To Our Daughter’, while vlogger David Dobrik had somewhat less positive news in ‘We Broke Up’, a video with actress Liza Koshy in which they announce their tearful split to the world.

Finally, 2018’s version of “The Dress” was the “Yanny vs. Laurel” debate, which was solved using science by the AsapSCIENCE YouTube channel (spoiler: it’s laurel); Carpool Karaoke kept its perennial spot in the Top 10 with Ariana Grande’s energetic appearance on the show earlier this year; and before we beat the All Blacks last month, Irish rugby fans couldn’t get enough of Johnny Sexton’s epic last-minute drop-goal to secure the rugby Grand Slam for Ireland.

YouTube was also pleased to announce the Irish launch this year of both YouTube Music, the company’s new streaming music service that allows ad-free and offline access to YouTube’s extensive music catalogue, and YouTube Premium, which gives similarly ad-free and offline access to YouTube’s entire video content, including its exclusive YouTube Originals productions. The services are priced at €9.99 and €11.99 per month respectively – visit YouTube.com for more.

Top 10 YouTube Videos in Ireland 2018 (excluding major label music videos)

  1. Walmart Yodelling Kid
  2. Kylie Jenner: To Our Daughter
  3. 12-Year-Old Irish Busker Brings Her Amazing Talents to Ellen
  4. Britain’s Got Talent 2018 – Ireland’s Father Ray Kelly Sings a Version of REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’
  5. Do You Hear “Yanny” or “Laurel”? (SOLVED with SCIENCE)
  6. “We Broke Up”
  7. Ariana Grande Carpool Karaoke
  8. Eurovision 2018 – Ireland’s Ryan O’Shaughnessy Sings ‘Together’
  9. Rugby Six Nations 2018 – Sexton kicks incredible 45m drop kick to win the match
  10. Ireland’s Got Talent 2018 – 81-year-old Evelyn stuns the judges