Category: Tech News

Garmin announces the venu 4 smartwatch

Garmin has announced Venu® 4, the latest smartwatch in the award-winning Venu lineup with innovative new health, fitness and accessibility features. To help users understand their body better and make healthier decisions, Venu 4 lets them track their health trends and log lifestyle changes to see how their choices affect their overall well-being. It also features a stylish metal design, built-in speaker and mic and a bright LED flashlight that provides greater awareness in dark environments. And with up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, users don’t have to charge their watch every night, making it easier to monitor health metrics 24/7 and receive a more holistic view of their sleep, heart rate variability (HRV), Body Battery™ energy monitoring, and more.

“We designed Venu 4 to be a personal on-wrist fitness and wellness coach. This premium smartwatch helps users learn even more about their body, provides data-driven insights into how their choices are affecting their health and holds them accountable so they can reach their goals with greater ease.”

—Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

What’s new

Health

 

    • Health status: See whether health metrics like heart rate, HRV, respiration, skin temperature1 and Pulse Ox2 while sleeping are trending away from their usual range. These changes could indicate added stress to the body and could be related to physical activity, potential illness and more. This feature is currently available in beta3 on the watch and in Garmin Connect™.
  • Lifestyle logging: Log custom or preset behaviours – like caffeine and alcohol consumption – and view reports on how those lifestyle choices impact sleep, stress and HRV in the Garmin Connect app.
  • Advanced sleep metrics: Sleep alignment provides even more personalised sleep guidance by keeping track of how aligned the body is to its inner sleep cycle using circadian rhythm. Sleep consistency provides a look at the average bedtime over the past seven days.

Fitness

The new Garmin Fitness Coach provides personalised workouts for over 25 different fitness activities – from walking and indoor cycling to rowing, HIIT and more. These heart rate and duration-based workouts will adjust daily based on activity history, sleep and recovery. Users can set up a Garmin Fitness Coach plan to receive tailored workouts and track their progress in the Garmin Connect app. If users don’t set up a plan, they will still get daily suggested workouts for different fitness activities. For those doing several activities in one workout, the mixed session activity profile tracks multiple activities in one session rather than saving separate activities. 

Accessibility

 

  • Spoken watch face: Hear time of day, health data and more spoken directly from the watch and receive alerts at the top of every hour. 
  • Colour filter: Users with various forms of colour blindness can choose different colour display options – including grey scale, red/green, green/red or blue/yellow.

Stylish design, premium features

Featuring a sophisticated metal design, Venu 4 is available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and comes in fun colourways – like lunar gold and light sand or silver and citron – with leather or silicone bands that can easily be swapped out. Both sizes feature a built-in LED flashlight for greater visibility in the dark, plus a speaker and microphone to make and take calls from the watch when it’s paired with a compatible iPhone® or Android™ smartphone and use the phone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages. Certain voice commands, like “start a running activity” and “set timer for 5 minutes” can also be activated right from the watch—no phone connected required.

To support every goal, Venu 4 includes Garmin’s suite of health, fitness and connected features, including HRV status, Body Battery, women’s health tracking (including skin temperature for past ovulation estimates and improved period predictions)4, the Garmin ECG App5, workout benefit and recovery time, training readiness, wrist-based running dynamics, smart notifications, onboard music storage, Garmin Pay™, safety and tracking features and more. To learn more, visit www.garmin.com. 

Available to purchase starting September 22, 2025, Venu 4 has a suggested retail price starting at £469.99 / €549.99 (IRE).

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised the health and wellness industry. Committed to developing smartwatches and health measurement tools that help people of all activity levels lead healthier lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.

See our smartwatch reviews

ABM Connect for Life Sciences Launches in Ireland to Strengthen Regulatory Compliance and Operational Efficiency

ABM, a leading international provider of facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions, today announced the launch of ABM Connect™ for Life Sciences in Ireland. The platform is designed to help life sciences organisations improve accuracy, meet stringent regulatory requirements, and enhance operational efficiency in controlled environments.
A Digital, Audit-Ready Compliance Tool
ABM Connect for Life Sciences replaces paper-based documentation with a secure, fully digital system that creates an instant, audit-ready record of all activities. By guiding frontline teams step-by-step through their cleaning, maintenance, and operational protocols, the platform helps reduce errors, improve inspection readiness, and streamline day-to-day processes in compliance with the European Medicines Agency’s Annex 11 guidelines for electronic records and electronic signatures.
The system is accessible via a secure mobile application on company-issued devices, giving authorised personnel immediate access to live schedules, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and task instructions. It also features real-time, automated task management and verification, ensuring that work is completed according to validated processes by trained and compliant staff.
Supporting Compliance in a Highly Regulated Sector
Manual documentation and logbooks in life sciences facilities can be time-consuming, prone to error, and costly to maintain. ABM Connect for Life Sciences digitises and centralises these records, helping companies reduce the likelihood of deviations, minimise rework, and improve oversight.
“Clients across the life sciences landscape are under pressure to deliver efficiency without compromising safety or compliance,” said Dinny Crowe, Vice President, Operations, ABM. “ABM Connect for Life Sciences builds on decades of sector expertise to provide a precision-driven, validated process that gives our clients real-time visibility into operations and readiness for inspection at any time.”
Clients who utilise ABM Connect for Life Sciences state that it has improved their documentation compliance while reducing the costs and environmental impact of maintaining paper logbooks. It is a smarter, more sustainable approach to compliance.
A Strategic Expansion in Ireland
This launch marks a significant step in ABM’s growth within Ireland’s life sciences sector, where the company is expanding its specialist services. Globally, ABM supports more than 85 million square feet of life sciences facilities daily, with over 500 GMP-trained team members working in highly regulated, controlled environments.
ABM is an active member of leading life sciences professional associations, including the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE), Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST), Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio), BioCom California, and INTERPHEX. With more than 25 years of life sciences expertise, ABM’s Irish team delivers tailored, end-to-end support, combining global best practices with deep regulatory knowledge to meet the unique needs of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device manufacturers.
ABM Connect for Life Sciences is already in use across the United States with some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies,

Twelve South launches PowerBug: Transforming standard plug sockets into sleek wireless charging docks

Twelve South, an innovative designer of tech accessories, today launches PowerBug – a unique magnetic charging puck that transforms a standard plug socket into a minimalist wireless charging station that also serves as a dock for devices.

Designed for wall-mounted power outlets at waist height or higher, users simply snap their MagSafe compatible iPhone (12 or newer) or Qi2 smartphone to this sleek magnetic wireless charger, freeing up desk or counter space and removing the need for trailing cables or freestanding wireless chargers.

PowerBug also supports iOS StandBy mode, so iPhones can be used as an intuitive display for checking the time, weather, making video calls, streaming shows and sport or even following a recipe in the kitchen. It can also be used to easily control smart home devices.

PowerBug delivers up to 15w of fast, wireless power for MagSafe and Qi2 devices, while an additional USB-C PD Port enables fast wired charging of a second device. When both charging functions are used, the USB-C PD port offers 20w power, or 35w if the wireless charging function isn’t in use.

It’s ideal for use in kitchens, where counter space is often at a premium, home offices, gaming dens and even offices and co-working spaces, where plug sockets are often located atop desks. PowerBug can easily be transported too, thanks to its compact design, light weight (less than 1kg) and folding prongs.

Available now in white/dune or slate/black exclusively from twelvesouth.co.uk for UK customers, it is priced at £49.99.

See our twelvesouth reviews

Codex launches pioneering neuroinclusive workplace range

Codex, Ireland’s leading B2B provider of office supplies and solutions, has launched a new range of neuroinclusive workplace products designed to help Irish employers provide a more inclusive working environment for employees.

The ‘Thrive by Codex x AsIAm’ product range consisting of 34 Autism friendly products, were developed and tested in collaboration with AsIAm, Ireland’s  Autism charity in real workplace settings and were launched on the opening day of the Autism Europe Congress in Dublin, of which Codex is a platinum sponsor.

With the launch of its new neuroinclusive product range, Codex has become a leading advocate for the acceptance of neurodivergent employees and the need for more inclusive working environments. The company published a report earlier this year – ‘Neuroinclusion in the Workplace’ – which highlighted some of the daily challenges for neurodivergent employees including sensitivity to noise and light as well as issues with communication and social interaction.

With the findings from the report and the research that was carried out,  Codex has been working with AsIAm to launch its new range of products designed to foster a more inclusive and adaptive working environment. The centrepiece of the new range are bespoke,  AsIAm endorsed  ‘Balance Booths’ that allow employees to physically remove themselves from the noise and bustle of the work environment while remaining connected to their teams. ‘The Balance Booths’ have been designed with unique sensory features to provide further regulation opportunities, including tactile ridged dots on the underside of the table for sensory input, a fresh air feature, and coloured lights.

Other items in the new range include an acoustic lounge chair that provides a private, semi-enclosed space for employees who need to detach from the busy work environment and a range of office seats, stools and chairs including the ‘Swopper’, Numo Task chair and Variable kneeling chair that promote movement, which is vital to cognitive development and can also help employees to regulate and maintain focus.

The full neuroinclusive workplace product range is on display at the Autism Europe Congress in the RDS, which is being hosted by AsIAm and Autism Europe and where Codex is a platinum sponsor and exhibitor. Attendees at the 3-day event can try out the new pods and chairs for themselves and talk to members of Codex’s speciality Furniture and Interiors team about the products.

“We’re proud and excited to launch this groundbreaking range of neuroinclusive products that will help Irish employers and companies to build truly inclusive workplaces for their employees,” said Patrick Murphy, CEO of Codex and a keynote speaker at this week’s Autism Europe Congress in Dublin’s RDS.

“The new range has been developed in response to our own research, which found that many traditional workplace designs and social expectations can create unnecessary barriers for neurodivergent employees,” Mr Murphy said. “We were also delighted to be able to consult with our partners at AsIAm, who provided real-world insights and experience that helped to shape the new product offerings.

“We hope these new products will help pave the way for employers and employees to have a positive conversation about workplace inclusivity, starting here at the Autism Europe Congress,” Mr Murphy added.

Codex is already trusted by a range of organisations including universities and private sector companies to deliver products that support neurodivergent people. The company’s ‘Neuroinclusion in the Workplace’ report highlights ways in which employers can improve the everyday experience for neurodivergent employees or students.

“We welcome the launch of Codex’s neuroinclusive workplace range and are proud to have contributed to the development of these products, which are accessible and inclusive by design,” said Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm “It is fitting that the new product range is being launched here at the 14th International Autism Europe Congress in Dublin and I’m sure ‘The Balance Booth’ and other products will be a big talking point among delegates.”

For more information about the Codex neuroinclusive workplace product range, please visit www.codex.ie

See our sit/stand desk reviews

Phononic Announces Exclusive Cold Chain Licensing Agreement with Peltier, Inc

Phononic, the global leader in solid state cooling  technology, has entered into a strategic exclusive cold chain licensing agreement with Peltier Technology, Inc. Phononic’s Active Cooling Solutions (ACSTM) platform has become mission critical  through the cold chain from fulfillment centers to grocery shelves to last mile delivery.

Peltier Technology, Inc is founded by Hanson Li – an experienced entrepreneur and technology investor  – with the mission to reimagine the world’s approach to using cold. Peltier has built an  experienced team of industry executives, global supply chain and 3PL partners, and a world class  engineering team to strengthen the cold chain with smart modular solutions.  

Customers can expect refrigeration and IoT software solutions from Peltier that patch up leaks in  the cold chain; an astounding 20% of food and drugs, and up to 50% of vaccines, are wasted  despite the tens of billions of dollars the world invests each year in the cold chain. Peltier solutions  bring refrigeration flexibility that can be easily integrated in operations that demand temperature  integrity. From unlocking new shelves for chilled or frozen goods in the grocery aisle to enabling  multi-temp automated warehouse solutions, Peltier delivers sustainable and purposeful  refrigeration to an industry frozen in time. 

“Peltier is excited to license and commercialize Phononic’s next generation of solid state cooling  technology,” said Hanson Li, Peltier CEO and Founder. “I’m excited to combine Peltier’s focus on  solving temperature challenges with Phononic’s disruptive cooling platform. With an established  ACSTM platform, supply chain, and customers, Peltier will continue to deliver timely solutions for our  customers’ cooling challenges.”  

“We’re excited to partner with Hanson and his team at Peltier” said Tony Atti, Co-Founder and  CEO of Phononic. “We developed the ACSTM platform as a solution to the needs of e-commerce,  cold chain, retail/grocery and consumer demand for innovating cooling. Licensing provides us  the flexibility to leverage Peltier’s cold chain focus to support the market while we enable the  future of AI through our datacenter platform.” 

Phononic’s ACSTM platform includes a unique combination of merchandising refrigerators and  freezers, portable totes, integrated docking stations and IoT connectivity, last mile, and shipping  and logistics design concepts. This platform has already realized value ensuring protection of  temperature-sensitive drugs and vaccines; delivering frozen/refrigerated perishable items at the  point-of-sale; and enabled retailers to scale e-commerce online purchasing.  

Nikon | RED extends Z CINEMA line with ZR full frame camera

Nikon | RED extends the Z CINEMA line with the addition of the ZR full-frame cinema camera. Built for filmmakers and creators on the move, the ZR is the lightest all-in-one cinema camera around and punches well above its weight in cinematic power.

From carefully staged scenes to run-and-gun video footage, the ZR is the perfect tool for storytellers who want to elevate their video output. Up to 6K/60p in-camera recording and a full suite of professional video recording formats provide the flexibility to deliver for practically any platform or workflow. Standout features include an exclusive R3D NE codec, which brings renowned RED colour science to Nikon. Plus, the ZR boasts a Dual Base ISO of 800/6400 which maintains the sensor’s 15+ stop dynamic range for maximum detail in highlights and shadows.

For agile set-ups, the ZR’s 4-inch Vari-angle monitor is a huge asset. The large, bright display functions as an expansive control hub and it covers the DCI-P3 colour gamut for accurate on-set colour monitoring. Since the picture is only half the story, the ZR also makes its mark as the first camera in the world1 to offer internal 32-bit float audio recording. The dynamic range of 32-bit audio is so vast that levels won’t need to be monitored constantly during filming: sound can be captured freely, and the levels adjusted in post without clipping.

Other professional ZR features include full weather sealing and vast lens choice thanks to compatibility with Nikon and third-party lenses. In addition, the ZR offers extensive system expandability, and Nikon’s new ME-D10 digital shotgun mic covers rich directional audio capture in a wide range of recording environments.

Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager, Nikon Europe says: “Today, we’re raising the curtain on the first truly cinematic Nikon camera. Our collaboration with RED is bearing fruit, and the cinematic future looks bright!”

Summary of key features: ZR cinema camera

Up to 6K/60p in-camera recording: flexible frame rates and resolutions. From cinematic 24p to 240p extreme slow motion. From richly detailed 6K to crisp, compact 1080p.

Semi-stacked full-frame sensor: wide dynamic range and fast read-out speeds that effectively minimise rolling shutter distortion.

Renowned RED colour science: an exclusive R3D NE codec from RED allows immense freedom in post and enables ZR footage to be matched with video shot on a RED camera system.

Large, bright 4-inch Vari-angle touchscreen monitor: covers the DCI-P3 colour gamut and boasts a generous 16:10 display format. Functions are controlled with soft, quiet screen taps, and up to 10 3D LUTs can be loaded into the camera for viewing on the monitor while filming.

Dual Base ISO of 800/6400: when shooting in Log3G10. The sensor’s wide 15+ stop dynamic range is maintained at both base ISOs.

In-camera 32-bit float audio recording: capture sound freely using the camera’s internal mics, or a compatible external mic, and adjust the levels in post without clipping.

Cinematic video modes and custom RED Picture Controls: 4 creative video modes and 9 custom RED presets for content with a cinematic look and feel straight out of the camera.

Fast, intelligent AF: quick, accurate, reliable, and customisable. Intelligent subject detection and tracking, custom wide-area AF, and selectable AF speeds for smooth, repeatable focus transitions.

5-axis in-body image stabilisation: Nikon’s sensor-shift Vibration Reduction keeps footage steady.

Focus-breathing compensation: for smoother, more natural-looking transitions.

Long recording times: an innovative body design efficiently and quietly dissipates heat.

Light, tough: the ZR weighs approx. 540 g (body only) and is fully weather sealed.

Z mount for flexibility in lens choice: attach any Nikkor Z lens, any Nikon F-mount lens, and a wide range of third-party lenses.

Expandable: Nikon and partner brand accessories make it possible to put the ZR at the heart of an extensive video rig.

New ME-D10 digital shotgun mic: compatible with the 32-bit float audio format and boasts a 77 dB signal-to-noise ratio for distortion-free sound.

RED Digital Cinema, Inc. releases the V-RAPTOR XE

RED Digital Cinema, Inc., a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, is pleased to announce the release2 of the new V-RAPTOR XE digital cinema camera, which was released on 9th September, 2025. Joining the acclaimed Z CINEMA camera lineup, this streamlined version of the revolutionary V-RAPTOR [X], curates the essential tools for cinematic storytelling. Designed for independent creators who demand uncompromising image quality, the V-RAPTOR XE delivers large format, cinema-grade features at a more accessible price point.

The new camera retains RED’s industry-leading 8K large format (VV) global shutter sensor found in the V-RAPTOR [X] series, ensuring cinematic image fidelity, dynamic range, and low-light performance that filmmakers around the world trust.  Nikon and RED will meet a wide range of needs in film production with an extensive lineup of cinema-oriented products under the Z CINEMA series.

Viltrox Upcoming Lens Lineup and New TTL Flash at IBC 2025

Viltrox, a leading innovator in photographic and cine optics, will unveil a diverse portfolio of upcoming products at IBC 2025. Visitors can discover the brand’s latest advances in lens and imaging technology, including new autofocus lenses, a next-generation TTL flash, and intelligent optical solutions designed to enhance creative workflows.

Product Highlights at IBC 2025

 

  • AF 50mm F1.4 Pro – a professional-grade full-frame lens delivering exceptional sharpness and outstanding low-light performance.
  • AF 9mm F2.8 Air (APS-C) & AF 14mm F4.0 Air (Full-Frame) – ultra-wide lenses from the lightweight Air series, engineered for creators who prioritize portability without compromising quality.
  • AF 85mm F2.0 EVO – the first lens in the new EVO series, combining refined optics with a modern design language.
  • Z3 TTL Camera Flash – featuring a unique mech-inspired design with powerful lighting control.
  • Nexus AI Autofocus Adapter – an innovative adapter integrating artificial intelligence to expand focusing capabilities.

 

A Complete Optical Ecosystem

Beyond first-look products, Viltrox will present its broader ecosystem, including the LAB, Pro, and Air lens series, the DL-mount lineup for DJI Ronin 4D and Inspire 3, and the Epic 1.33X anamorphic cine lenses. Together, this range underscores Viltrox’s commitment to empowering photographers, filmmakers, and hybrid creators with versatile tools that elevate visual storytelling.

Inspiring Creativity

Under the theme “Powering Every Vision,” Viltrox highlights its mission to provide reliable, high-quality, and customizable optical solutions that inspire creativity and innovation worldwide.

Visit Viltrox at IBC 2025

Viltrox invites industry professionals, creators, and media representatives to visit Hall 11, Booth A09 at RAI Amsterdam from September 12–15, 2025 to experience the next generation of imaging solutions firsthand.

National Women’s Enterprise Day 2025 is announced

This year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day has been launched.  The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) aimed at inspiring and supporting female entrepreneurs and women in business will take place across the country on Thursday 16th October.

Last year saw a record-breaking number of attendees sign up for the day with 2,200 taking part across the country.  This year there will be 15 events nationwide on National Women’s Enterprise Day with some of Ireland’s best known female entrepreneurs and women in business sharing their stories of challenges and success.

Some of those involved in the events across the country this year include broadcaster and entrepreneur, Norah Casey, international human rights lawyer Joanna Frivet, author and psychologist, Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, designer Helen Steele, entrepreneur Oonagh O’Hagan, home and food influencer, Sarah Butler, Hotelier Sammie Leslie, fitness influencer, Kellie Fennell and stylist and presenter Sonya Lennon.

The launch took place at one of the event venues, Gloster House in Birr, County Offaly and featured a selection of LEO supported female led businesses including sisters Hope Hayes and Angelina Sheridan of Flaunta, Emma Duffy of My Little Tooth Fairy and Nicola Lyons of Bánór.

The events will cover a wide range of topics for women at every stage of business.   That might be those who have an idea they want to develop or those who have been in business for a while and want to diversify or enter new markets.  There will be experts on all areas involved from funding and networking to marketing and upskilling.

For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day and what events are on go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED

Luna 2.0 Smart Ring launches globally at #IFA2025

Luna, a new-age health-tech company approaching the core problem of unlocking human potential, differently, today announces the global launch of Luna 2.0 af IFA2025 its next gen smart ring which comes equipped with the new LifeOS, a powerful intelligence layer that transforms biometrics into adaptive real-time guidance. Luna 2.0 is finally available worldwide at Luna for $300/£300 and $329/£329 with surge charging case. Pre-orders have come from more than 70 countries, and Amazon availability rolling out next month.

Introducing LifeOS:  More than a health tracker, a living intelligence

LifeOS is designed to decode how the body, mind, and environment interact, going beyond raw data. It is the most data trained AI wearable intelligence integrating circadian rhythm science, biomarker signals, personal habits, and contextual data (like chat patterns and daily routines) to create a dynamic intelligence layer.

  • Circadian alignment: LifeOS learns an individual’s internal body clock to guide daily peak performance.
  • Contextual intelligence: It adapts to a user’s lifestyle, habits, and environment.
  • Open & extensible: Built as an open-source plug, LifeOS is designed to ingest additional data streams over time.
  • Trained at scale: LifeOS is powered by over 1 billion sleep events, making it the most extensively trained intelligence layer across rings.
  • 21+ day battery life: Powered by a redesigned charging case, making Luna one of the longest-lasting smart rings available.

Smarter wellness, backed by AI:

 

  • AI-driven health scoring: Luna Ring 2.0 delivers real-time sleep, readiness, and activity scores. These scores are powered by an upgraded Luna AI engine that analyses physiological patterns to offer personalised recommendations on sleep quality, stress resilience, and recovery.
  • Luna AI 2.0 assistant: Building on user feedback, the new AI system is more contextual and conversational, offering proactive suggestions for sleep optimisation, movement patterns, and energy management, bridging the gap between raw data and real-life wellness decisions.
  • Comprehensive activity logging: The ring supports advanced workout tracking, including heart rate zones, effort levels, calories burned, and more across structured activities such as running, cycling, walking, and freestyle sessions.
  • Fertility tracking: Luna detects physiological shifts in an individual’s cycle like temperature and recovery to predict phases and personalise wellness insights.
  • Manage stress: Luna spots signs of stress through heart rate, recovery trends, and temperature shifts so patterns can be identified and action taken.
  • Body training: Luna tracks daily effort and recovery to guide smarter workouts, helping build fitness without burning out.
  • Enhanced sleep analytics: Luna 2.0 now provides deeper sleep analysis with expanded insights into latency, efficiency, circadian rhythm alignment, sleep cycles, movement disturbances, and respiratory performance during rest. This demonstrates how quality of sleep affects wellbeing.

Global Rollout and Momentum

Luna 2.0 has had pre-orders across 70+ countries. Retail and distributor prescence is being established across the world for faster delivery and service. Unveiled at CES, 2025 as a first time concept, bringing Luna 2.0 to the global tech stage for the first time at IFA Berlin is an exciting step for Luna as Europe is a key focus market.

“Luna 2.0 represents a step-change in what a smart ring can do,” said Amit Khatri, Founder of Luna. “With LifeOS, we’re moving beyond passive health tracking into an era where your ring actively helps you make better decisions for performance, recovery, and long-term health.”