Category: Tech News

Urbanista Seoul Now Shipping: True Wireless Earphones that will Elevate Your Game

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, announces that Urbanista Seoul, mobile gaming ready, true wireless earphones, are now shipping. Designed for gamers on the go, the sleek and compact Seoul earphones offer low latency and superb audio quality, making them the perfect partner for mobile gaming with flawless style.

Unrivalled Immersion
Priced at £89.90 / €89.90 / $89.90 / 899 SEK / 899 NOK / 899 DKK MRSP, Seoul boasts full compatibility with iOS, Android and other devices with Bluetooth® support, such as Nintendo Switch, and combines Urbanista’s trademark minimal Scandinavian design with a choice of four stylish colours, inspired by Seoul’s high-tech lifestyle: Midnight Black (black), Electric Blue (blue), Vivid Purple (purple), and Pearl White (white).

Every moment counts when you are in the zone and the sound signature for Urbanista Seoul is designed to provide an immersive experience. Axel Grell, Audio Engineer, comments: “Detail is at the heart of the sound stage for Urbanista Seoul. Detection of small movements and sounds gives the feeling of living through your game and that can make the difference between winning and losing. With Urbanista Seoul, the crystal clear and transparent sound is designed to make sure your head is in the game.”

Seoul’s impressive connectivity provides low latency audio so you can play your favourite mobile games, or watch movies, with minimal delay (70ms). Boasting up to eight hours of playtime, and a wireless charging case that provides three additional charges, these true wireless earphones will instantly elevate your game.

Unrivalled Freedom
Seoul’s in-ear design has a universal fit with customisable silicon tips so that you can comfortably enjoy games, music, or your favourite videos, for as long as you desire. You can instantly switch between gaming and music modes with just the tap of an earphone to choose the best possible audio experience for your most immersive mobile gaming and music listening moments.

CEO Anders Andreen comments: “The mobile gaming industry has exploded in recent years. At Urbanista, we always design products to complement our customers’ lifestyle. Seoul is a multi-functional product which allows you to enjoy your casual mobile gaming experience as well as music listening, at home or on the go.”

Unrivalled Experience
Urbanista Seoul is compatible with the Urbanista mobile companion app (www.urbanista.com/app) for both iOS and Android users. The app will help users change smoothly from Gaming Mode to Default mode, change their EQ, update firmware and configure the earphone’s controls.

Urbanista Seoul is available now at: www.urbanista.com/seoul

Urbanista Seoul Key Features

  • 70 ms latency mode
  • Noise-cancelling microphone
  • 8 hours Playtime
  • 32 hours of Total Playtime
  • Wireless charging case holds up to 3 charges
  • USB Type-C charging
  • Touch controls
  • IPX4 water-resistant protection
  • Siri and Google Voice Assistant
  • Silicon tips included in 3 different sizes

ZHIYUN Announces WEEBILL 3 Professional DSLR Gimbal

ZHIYUN, the world’s leading gimbal brand for filmmakers with cameras and smartphones, has launched the WEEBILL 3, its portable, high performance gimbal for DSLR cameras. Incorporating a new, updated SLING 2.0 design for improved ergonomics, built-in microphone, fill light and a powerful, inbuilt battery supporting all-day use. The WEEBILL 3 upgrades the filmmaking and photography experience by offering a dynamic, lightweight and easy-to-use professional device, where users can shed the discomfort of cumbersome equipment in order to focus on pure artistic creation.

New SLING 2.0: Better Ergonomics & More Stable Shots

Built from lightweight, ultra-strong materials, the ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3 offers enhanced ergonomics with a new SLING 2.0 design. The SLING 2.0 system incorporates three important ergonomic upgrades: a restructured L-shape handle that’s more stable when self-standing, a new wrist rest, and a repositioned, extendable sling grip, providing over 40% more support to your wrist by shifting the weight onto your arm. The extra support reduces fatigue, allowing for extended use in comfort. By moving the sling grip to the bottom of the gimbal, it provides better stability and shake-prevention when shooting at low-angles.

The grip includes thumb buttons, mini control stick for movement, plus a finger trigger and wheel that can be customized according to preferences of shooting modes and action parameters, such as camera parameters, movement along axes, follow focus etc.

Convenient Built-in Microphone & Light

The WEEBILL 3 includes a built-in Hi-Fi microphone and 1000 lumen fill light for a fast and efficient setup-to-shoot experience. These convenient, high-performance add-in accessories save filmmakers from unwieldy additional wires and the weight of extra accessories.

The microphone provides forward focused cardioid recording, with noise-cancelling functionality, while the bright fill light offers color temperature adjustment to meet the requirements of each scene.

Ecosystem of Accessories

ZHIYUN offers a comprehensive ecosystem of TransMount accessories to extend the WEEBILL 3’s functionality, dramatically increasing on location teamwork efficiency. Combining the WEEBILL 3 with TransMount Image Transmitter and MasterEye Visual Controller VC100 allows directors to monitor the shot via wireless image transmission, and apply parameter adjustment, such as focus and zoom, via remote control. Other accessories include ZHIYUN’s Follow Focus/Zoom units and its ZY Play App.

Outstanding Battery Life & PD Fast Charging Support

Compared to the previous version, the WEEBILL 3 upgrades the large 7,800mAh internal battery, which now provides up to 21-hours use for all-day filming support. With support for PD fast charging (0-100% in 2 hours) and pass-through charging of attached cameras (5V/1A), the WEEBILL 3 offers outstanding endurance with minimal downtime.

Next-gen Quick Release system
ZHIYUN’s latest quick release system includes a dual quick-release plate with embedded magnetic wrench. The camera requires balancing just once, then it can be repeatedly mounted and secured easily, fast and conveniently without needing to rebalance, saving time.

MSRP:

The ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3 in now available at USD$449, or with a combo that includes a backpack, wrist rest, and extendable sling grip for USD$529.

Learn More:

Read more information at the official website and YouTube channel.

Fujifilm Europe introduces the new instax mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer

Fujifilm Europe, Photo Imaging Division, today announced the European launch of its FUJIFILM instax mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer, available from 22nd June 2022. instax mini Link 2 features a variety of new, unique features designed to encourage
creativity, including customizable frames and image color modes that help enhance the mood of an image. instaxAiR is an exciting new feature for instax mini Link 2, taking interactivity and personalization to a whole new level by allowing the printer to be a tool to draw “in the air” and apply the effects directly to the print. “instax mini Link 2 encourages image makers to express themselves creatively through their prints,” said Shin Udono, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, FUJIFILM Europe. “With highly innovative, fun, and interactive features like instaxAiR, we’re establishing new ways to connect with and inspire instax users as they create their images.”

Key features of instax mini Link 2 include:

instaxAiR: instaxAiR allows users to add graphics to their prints, via the free downloadable instax mini Link App 1 , including bubbles, petals, neon, spray paint, or a glitter look by simply holding the instax mini Link 2, pressing the feature button on top,
whilst aiming the side LED to start drawing in the air. What is drawn in the air will then appear on the print preview in-app
and once the user is happy with the look, the graphics will appear on the print itself. Users of the instaxAiR feature can
even record a video of the drawing and share the moment as a printable QR code that appears on the print. The QR code
can be scanned to view the video, download it, or share it on social media.

Lightweight portability and speed

Compact, lightweight, and finished with a striped texture, instax mini Link 2 transfers a print in about 15 seconds, supports continuous printing, and is capable of printing about 100 instax mini
prints per charge, seamlessly via Bluetooth 2 .

Ability to customize your instax mini prints with Image Modes, Design Frames, Stickers,and more.

The instax mini Link 2 app contains a variety of design frames that can be overlaid onto the selected image for a one-of-a-kind instax instant print. Users can choose between two image color modes – instax-Rich Mode for deeper, enhanced colors and instax-Natural Mode for a more original look. Smartphone images can also be enhanced with artistic filters or by adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation of the image. Users also can combine up to eight pictures into
a single instax print collage via the app.

In addition to smartphone compatibility, instax mini Link 2 is also compatible with the FUJIFILM X-S10 mirrorless digital camera, allowing photographers to send their images directly from the camera to the printer. instax mini Link 2 will be offered in Soft Pink, Clay White and Space Blue, and will be available for purchase on 22 nd June 2022 in Ireland and across Europe at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of €130.00.

New film variety introduced

Accompanying the launch of the instax mini Link 2 will be the new instax mini Spray Art Instant Film, featuring a colorful rainbow spray design that reflects light. It’s the perfect complement to the instaxAiR feature, or fun on its own, making any special image pop with added color. This film variety will be available for purchase on 22 nd June 2022 in Ireland and across Europe at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €10.50

For more information about the instax mini Link 2, visit https://instax.ie/printers/mini-link-2/
Where to buy? – Available at FUJIFILM stockists nationwide or visit instax.ie

Watch out for our review soon here on techbuzzireland and YouTube when we have our full hands on review and more.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless – key features revealed

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM range continues to redefine the standard for sophisticated listening through superior sound. Now, the upcoming MOMENTUM 4 Wireless over-ear headphones raise the bar even higher, with best-in-class sound, advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation and an all-new design offering exceptional comfort. The battery life is rated at an outstanding 60 hours.

Best-in-class sound
​The MOMENTUM experience starts with Sennheiser’s Signature Sound that surpasses everything in its class – letting users enjoy music as never before. An audiophile-inspired 42mm transducer system delivers brilliant dynamics, clarity, and musicality for exceptional high-fidelity sound. The angled speakers ensure sound is channelled slightly from the front towards the user’s ears to give a more natural soundstage. Advanced voice pick up provides for optimised calls and easier voice assistant access.
​
​Advanced customisation and a new design
​MOMENTUM 4 Wireless offers multiple customisations to enable users to adapt the sound to their unique preferences. An all-new lightweight design is optimised for acoustic performance, with deep cushioned earpads to ensure exceptional and long-lasting wearing comfort. The synthetic leather ear pads offer both optimum comfort and high precision in reproducing sound and ANC performance.
​
​Availability  
​The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless will be available globally from August 2022.

‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ digital skills competition final on RTÉ2 this Thursday at 5pm

The final of Ireland’s first national digital skills competition, Ireland’s Future is MINE, is scheduled to be televised on RTÉ2 this Thursday, June 16th at 5pm. Delivered through a collaboration between Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr, the final between St. Hugh’s National Primary School from Leitrim and Moyvore Primary School from Westmeath will be the first ever eSports final shown on broadcast television by an Irish station.

Launched in September 2021, the ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE‘ digital skills competition challenged primary school students to use Minecraft: Education Edition to think creatively, collaborate, problem-solve and shape Ireland’s sustainable future.

Since its launch, schools across Ireland have entered the competition and students have explored fun challenges such as building their own NASA rover and coding their very own polar ice hut. These challenges, made possible through Minecraft: Education Edition, are aligned to both the Republic and Northern Irish curriculums covering subjects from English, Maths, Science, Geography, SPHE and more.

Having successfully progressed through the various stages of the competition, which saw participation from 130 other primary schools across Ireland, St Hugh’s National Primary School and Moyvore Primary School will compete in the final phase of the digital skills challenge. The winner will receive the grand prize of laptops for the classroom plus a charging trolley for their school.  

To view the scheduling programme for the final, visit RTÉjr here: www.rte.ie/learn/irelands-future-is-mine/

AnyClip makes information available in videos with AI

The American-Israeli technology company AnyClip will have a stand at the International Technology Conference in Dublin on June 15 and 16, 2022 (Hall 4, Stand E23). The company, which has been active on the European market since the end of 2021, has developed a solution that for the first time makes it possible to fully exploit the data available in videos. 

If you want to find something on the Internet, you search Google. If you want to find something in an Office document, you use the text search function. If you want to find something in a video, then … well, what do you actually do? Until now, you had to click your way through second intervals until you find the right place. At a time when information is increasingly stored in the form of videos, this is not particularly efficient. For short videos, this may not be a big deal. But for databases with hundreds, even thousands of videos – as they are commonplace in more and more companies today, this is simply impossible. 

The AnyClip solution makes it possible to make the information contained in videos comprehensively accessible with just a few mouse clicks. And it does so with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The cloud solution turns an ordinary video file into a highly intelligent medium. AnyClip allows users to search a video specifically, find the information it contains in just a few clicks, and share it with others at the same time. The solution can also automatically create short highlight summaries of videos that span several hours. 

“Let’s take an example: imagine, for instance, that you had the ability to automatically search and summarize all recorded video conferences since the beginning of the Corona pandemic for the most important content with just one mouse click,” Michael Kummer, AnyClip managing director in the DACH region, explains the AnyClip principle. “Everything that is written, said and shown in a video becomes keyworded and searchable through AnyClip.” 

Especially since the start of the Corona pandemic, the importance of video as a communication and storage medium has continued to grow. In Germany alone, millions of people work “remotely”: almost every briefing, every sales meeting, as well as training courses and continuing education, even onboarding measures mostly take place digitally via video. This is exactly where AnyClip comes in: The cloud solution makes the valuable information contained in videos accessible to all authorized users at any time. 

Video highlights reduce time spent   

But how does this automatic processing actually work? Imagine: A sales representative has a digital customer appointment. With the consent of all parties involved, the conversation is recorded. An authorized colleague wants to view the recording afterwards, but only a few sequences that are relevant to him. Watching the video in its entirety, which may take several hours, is not possible in everyday life; clicking through the video until you find what you are looking for would take far too long. With AnyClip, this process becomes as simple as a text search in a WORD document. A conversation that could last several hours is turned into a 10-minute highlights video, with all the individually selected data. The software filters the video content according to the parameters defined by the user. If desired, automatic subtitles can be added. The cloud solution can be used in German and English. 

Know-how should not be lost

Using “GeniusWORK“, a fully integrated communication platform, the video data can be stored in a central location. The platform includes automatic content recognition and distribution and can be accessed on any device. Employees’ unique know-how can be stored there audiovisually and made available to selected users. Employees who leave the company, often having worked there for decades, record their unique special know-how on video. The saved videos can then, for instance, be made available to new employees as onboarding and training measures. 

“The knowledge available in videos is a blank space in most companies,” Michael Kummer points out. “For the first time, AnyClip gives companies of all types comprehensive access to this information. AnyClip offers exactly the right technology to make visible the many valuable pieces of information that are also contained in older videos.” The information delivery through the video solution does not create additional staffing needs, Kummer says: “Whether corporate events, HR resources, or internal recordings, everything can be accessed in one central location without costing additional capacity.” GeniusWORK resides on a European cloud server and can be used on all types of devices.

One software, many applications

In addition to video on demand, live events or business-relevant content, such as documentation of verbal agreements, can also be uploaded to the platform. Furthermore, AnyClip users can, for example, use the “Zoom” video communication platform to record their meetings directly and upload them to GeniusWORK. Video access rights can be distributed individually. 

Expanding business to the European market

Besides Munich, the company currently has offices in Tel Aviv, London, New York, and Los Angeles. With the establishment of the Munich office – the first European office – at the end of 2021, AnyClip has initiated a new phase of its global expansion. In the U.S., AnyClip achieved record revenue growth in 2021. This was in addition to a $47 million funding round. The company, which has experienced a significant upswing since the start of COVID-19, is ranked 5th in New York on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ list of fastest-growing companies in North America.

Trade show info

AnyClip will be in Hall 4 at stand E23 on both days of the show. There will also be a presentation with Michael Kummer on June 16 at 09:30 a.m. (Workshop Stage), where he will give a live demonstration of AnyClip’s features. 

Irish students win awards at international science and technology fair!

Two SciFest projects represented Ireland at the virtual Hong Kong Global Youth Science and Technology Bowl (GYSTB) 2022 at the weekend and claimed an overall Grand Prize – Silver Award and a first-place category award.

The Grand Award was claimed by Hari Pranavam from Saint Eunan’s College, Letterkenny for his project, Building an Automatic Weather Satellite Ground Station with Data Analytics Forecast. Hari will now have the opportunity to have his project published in the STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ), an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by Canadian Science Publishing. Grace Ní Ifearnáin from Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, Tralee won her first-place award for her project, Nature Takes on Nature: Investigating the Effects of Juglone on Japanese Knotweed. Grace recently represented Ireland and SciFest on the Broadcom MASTERS International programme in Atlanta, Georgia.

GYSTB is organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. Judging took place online and the awards ceremony was broadcasted live globally on 12 June. The competition attracted 84 project entries from 16 countries or regions all competing for prizes.

Speaking about his award, Hari Pranavam said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive a Grand Prize-Silver Award. It is such a great honour to get to compete on a global stage against people from all over the world. This is a fantastic reward for my work on the project and it is great to see it acknowledged by international experts. I would like to thank my parents and my teacher Mr Michael Harkin for their support and encouragement throughout. I’m also very grateful to SciFest who gave me the opportunity to compete in this international competition and achieve this award.”

Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO commented: “We are all immensely proud of the two SciFest students who represented Ireland at the Hong Kong Global Youth Science and Technology Bowl this year. Their great success in this prestigious international competition is testament, not only their ingenuity, commitment and hard work, but to the standard of Irish STEM education. We are delighted that the two students have had the opportunity to bring their projects to an international audience. Well done to both of them on their awards and we wish them every success for the future.”

SciFest is the largest, most inclusive STEM fair programme for second level students in Ireland. SciFest is free to enter and open to everyone across the island of Ireland, no matter their geographical location, school or scientific ability. The most important thing for SciFest is the participation of students and encouraging their interest in STEM in a fun and engaging way. The SciFest 2022 National Final will take place on 25 November 2022.

SciFest is funded primarily by Intel and Boston Scientific who have recently been joined by Smurfit Kappa, Regeneron and Eirgrid in a growing community of supporters.

Aer Lingus launches its 2022 Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Apprentice Scheme

Aer Lingus has today launched its 2022 Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme and is calling on motivated, enthusiastic, and technically minded candidates to apply for the four year programme.  Aer Lingus has a longstanding apprenticeship programme and is offering 10 places on the scheme this year and is keen to encourage a mix of female and male candidates.

Successful applicants who complete the programme will be fully qualified aircraft engineers and will continue to work at Aer Lingus.  This forward-looking programme helps ensure Aer Lingus has access to a pipeline of talented and qualified engineers for future growth.

The four year Aer Lingus Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme is run in conjunction with both SOLAS, the State further education and training agency, based in Shannon, and Technological University Dublin. It consists of seven phases and through each phase successful applicants will move between classroom training in both Shannon and Dublin, and on the job training at the Aer Lingus Maintenance and Engineering Hangar at Dublin Airport. Apprentices will be working primarily on line maintenance and will be focused on the delivery of Aer Lingus’ guest experience.

The launch of this year’s apprenticeship scheme comes at a pivotal time for the airline as it continues its recovery from the pandemic and returns to full capacity and growth. The investment in our people, including the Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme, will help underpin this strategy.

Aer Lingus Chief Technical Officer, Javier Jimenez, said:

“Aer Lingus has a proud history of providing opportunities to people starting out on their careers. Since we launched the Aircraft Apprentice Scheme in 2011, we have hired 113 maintenance and engineering apprentices directly from the programme.  We continued to recruit new apprentices during the pandemic, and this year we are again looking for highly motivated and technically minded candidates to apply for the programme.  This is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in aircraft maintenance and engineering at an exciting time in aviation as we move to a carbon neutral future. With our unique brand, world class reputation and modern fleet, Aer Lingus is at the forefront of commercial aviation, giving successful candidates the opportunity to be part of something special.”

The application process consists of submitting a CV application, followed by online assessments and an interview.  Applicants need to be 18 years of age by 1st September 2022.

Successful candidates will have a technical and mechanical aptitude and also display maturity, commitment, flexibility, and a willingness to accept responsibility. Excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills are also essential qualities.

The application process for the 2022 programme is now underway at http://careers.aerlingus.com and will remain open until 26 June 2022.

Brennans Bread enters the world of NFTs with sandwich-inspired artworks.

Today, Brennans Bread launched its first ever NFT menu, which takes 16 of the nation’s favourite sandwiches and immortalises them as digital art. For over 50 years, people across the country have been creating their own tasty masterpieces using Brennans Bread. With this new NFT menu, the brand is celebrating these slices of brilliance and proving that they’re works of art across any medium.

NFT, standing for “non-fungible token”, is the digital art new pop culture phenomenon taking the world by storm. NFTs allow people to buy and sell ownership of unique digital items and keep track of who owns them using the blockchain (a virtual ledger).

For the next month, Brennans Bread will be launching four unique artworks each week inspired by some of the country’s most beloved sandwiches, including the Classic Ham & Cheese and Crisp Sandwich. Ten ‘prints’ of each artwork will be sold on Bubblehouse, the world’s first carbon-neutral NFT marketplace, for €1.87 – the approximate price of a sliced pan.

Brennans will also be creating one extra-special NFT sandwich, inspired by a mouth-watering fan submission. Sandwich makers can have their say on what sliced sensation will become the final piece of art on Instagram.

Speaking on the launch, Ivan Hammond, Head of Marketing at Brennans Bread, said:

“Brennans Bread has been around for generations, and we’ve seen lots trends particularly around the area of innovation come and go. When we heard that NFTs offer people a chance to own a slice of history, we knew we had to get involved! We think our NFT menu is one of the most exciting combinations to hit the sandwich world since sliced bread – tech and tradition together in perfect harmony, creating something beautiful. We’re looking forward to celebrating these works of art that are created every day in kitchens across the country.”

Fans can purchase the artworks here and become part of sandwich-making history from now until eternity.