Category: Tech News

Why Dynamic Design And Crystal Clear Sound Matter When Video Conferencing. #Konftel

The art of sound and striking design are just as important as pristine picture performance for pioneering conferencing manufacturer Konftel.

With more professionals returning to offices over the coming months, Konftel is keen to stress the vital role of alluring aesthetics and crystal clear audio, wherever people are communicating – from huddle rooms and boardrooms to home working.

Konftel created the first conference phone in the 1980’s. Whilst styles have changed, the power of form as well as functionality remain more compelling than ever, inspired by consumer driven technology trends, says Konftel UK Sales Director, Jeff May.

“The look and style of a product is hugely important to its user. Great design is part of our DNA.”

Aesthetic appeal

He emphasised: “A demand for style and aesthetic appeal has its roots in the consumer market, but people want that experience in the workplace and at home as well too. 

“Of course, the functionality and the quality is where any product starts but, for us, the design is not a second thought. The conception, the innovation, the manufacture: the process has a critical design imperative running right through it from beginning to end.

“For us, it is always about the combination of cutting-edge technological performance and understated elegance. Both are given equal focus. It’s simple: our products have to be beautiful as well as functional.”  

Jeff May, Konftel

Konftel’s multiple Red Dot award-winning range of devices bear testimony to striking visual appeal and usability. The latest innovation – the Konftel 70 speakerphone – was codenamed internally ‘Stingray’ by virtue of its striking sleek lines. The company’s acclaimed OmniSound technology inside all of its carbon neutral devices play another crucial role – matched by dynamic design.

Emotional impact

“When we design, we are always thinking of the environments our products will occupy and the emotional impact they will have on the user,” says May.

“Organisations are investing significantly in high-quality, high-design new office spaces to take account of the new post-pandemic hybrid model of increased remote working and video conferencing.

“We believe it is hugely important for our products to look good in those crisp, contemporary new environments; to complement the space and help create a certain mood. Our products make a statement. They say this is an organisation which values quality and sophistication. It helps send a message to employees that they are valued.

“It’s no longer just very senior people who take part in video conferencing. Today, everyone is in and out of conference calls and using conferencing equipment.”

As video conferencing continues to redefine the way the world does business, it’s high quality audio on which people rely – in many ways even more so than exceptional picture quality.

May highlighted: “For whilst cameras can be turned on or off, a video call is nothing without good sound, without which the meeting cannot continue. And that means quality really matters. Mobility, audio sharpness, reduction of background noise – these are all factors which greatly influence the overall quality of any call, whether voice or video.”

He added: “In the beginning, most people just used whatever kit they were given. Now, people want choice. They want top quality audio and video in every online meeting they attend. We can cope with video going fuzzy by just turning off our cameras. Without audio, nothing works. The act of communication has changed beyond recognition; hastened this past 18 months due to the pandemic. Call environments are now hugely varied.

Discerning demands

“Users are far more discerning and will continue to be so going forward. They are also much more aware as to what the options are and the differentiators that exist.

“Those with the best audio and video on a call stand out. Their contribution to the call is accentuated as a result of the way they sound. It’s the way we make the best impression nowadays. Of course, the sound and video quality is paramount, but significant added value is also derived from the equipment being beautiful.”  

Touch, too, is part of the mix, as May concluded. “Our designers are encouraged to be free and to express themselves. They understand that their contribution to the success of any product is huge. In today’s evolving and demanding world, products have to look as good as they perform.”

Targus launches EcoSmart tablet cases made from recycled waste and with biodegradable materials

Targus today announces its new portfolio of EcoSmart® tablet cases, with lifetime warranty. The cases are made from recycled post-consumer plastic and 30-40% biodegradable materials, without compromising the high-performance military-grade protection the brand is trusted for.The new range consists of three cases for Apple iPad and one for Samsung tablets.

The new family of EcoSmart tablet cases are created from a variety of sustainable materials, pioneering the brands vision to power the circular economy. The base trays are designed using bio & fossil based degradable materials that are sustainably designed to decompose.  The cover and lining are all recyclable and made from post-consumer plastic, saving water bottles and other plastic materials from countless landfills and oceans. Taking it one step further, the packaging for all EcoSmart products are also 100% recycled and exclusively use hemp rope and recycled sealing tape.

Targus are evolving their business from the inside out. Recently named as a finalist for the Sustainability Vendor of the Year at the CRN Tech Impact Awards, Targus is committed to creating more products from waste, with their entire laptop bag portfolio now 100% recyclable.

VersaVu EcoSmart® Tablet Case

Targus signature tablet case, VersaVu, is now a part of the EcoSmart family.It features a patented 360o rotation for seamless switching between portrait, landscape use, and anything in between. This is particularly useful for those in hospitality or retail professions as it allows you to show what’s on the screen via a simple rotation, without having to touch the interface of the tablet.

Pro-Tek EcoSmart® Tablet Case

The Pro-Tek EcoSmart tablet case has a flexible tray with reinforced corner bumpers that offer ultimate impact protection. Precise design allows full access to all ports, controls, and the camera lens, so you can use all of your tablet’s features without removing it from the case and an integrated sleep/wake feature to reduce downtime and saves battery on those tablets.

Click-In EcoSmart® Tablet Cases

With custom-moulded trays to secure and protect the device, the case offers precision cut access to controls, ports, and camera. Audio-enhancing sound scoops direct sound towards the user and a non-slip lining holds the device in the perfect viewing angle whether you’re traveling, sitting on your sofa or have the case standing on your desk. Available for both the Samsung Tab A7 10.4” as well as the iPad 8th and 7th Gen 10.2”, iPad Air 10.5”, and iPad Pro 10.5”.

In addition to the sustainability efforts of each product, all four EcoSmart tablet cases pass a military-grade 1.2m (4 feet) drop test, providing peace of mind  for your tablet device. Each tablet case also comes with a convenient sleep/wake function. The three Apple tablet cases additionally feature an Apple Pencil/ Stylus holder and support Apple Pencil charging, allowing you to get the best use out of your tablet whenever you need it. Endless use is guaranteed by a lifetime warranty.

Raphael De Perlinghi, Director of Consumer Business EMEA, Targus said: “In 2008 Targus launched its first line of eco-friendly laptop bags and established the EcoSmart trademark.​ A few years on and we have continued to accelerate along the road to sustainability responding to the increased demand from consumers and businesses alike. Our new EcoSmart tablet range looks towards powering a circular economy – something our world urgently needs. I am extremely proud that we are creating tablet cases from waste, providing real sustainable options for people, all whilst maintaining the style and quality we stand for at Targus.”  

Pricing & availability

The cases are now available at selected retailers.

  • Click-In EcoSmart®case for iPad (8th and 7th Gen) 10.2”, iPad Air 10.5”, and iPad Pro 10.5” (THZ884GL, black) SRP £39.99
  • Pro-Tek EcoSmart®case for iPad (8th and 7th Gen) 10.2”, iPad Air 10.5”, and iPad Pro 10.5” (THZ885GL, black) SRP £39.99
  • VersaVu EcoSmart®case for iPad (7th Gen) 10.2”, iPad Air 10.5”, and iPad Pro 10.5” (THZ886GL, black) SRP £59.99
  • Targus EcoSmart®Click-In case for Samsung Tab A7 10.4” (THZ883GL, black) £39.99

Targus has also been named as a finalist for the Sustainability Vendor of the Year award at the CRN Tech Impact Awards, as a result of their demonstrated commitment to building a circular economy and creating sustainable products.

What Do Organizations Need for an Affective API Governance?

Today, businesses have embraced the use of Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs) to meet the changing demands of their customers. Due to advancements in technology, customers are looking for customized services that are tailored to meet their requirements. Businesses know that it would be difficult to offer these services without implementing APIs, something that has led to the growth of the use of APIs.

However, this has brought with it a new need for shared standards and governance of APIs to complement the value of business data and the strategies used in the business platforms. However, getting the right approach to governance and standardization is a challenge for most organizations. Most of them get this wrong, meaning that their API strategy is likely to fail in one way or another in the future.

Organizations need to come up with directives that balance with the requirements of their developers. They need to figure out ways through which they can have data structures updated and implement API standards that conform to future customer requirements. In addition, they need to enforce all the required styles and make sure that they align with globally accepted standards such as open banking standards, GDRP, and FIHR.

Affective API Governance

There are a number of things that organizations need for effective API governance. The most important best practices in API governance include;

Using Abstract Designs to Manage APIs

Using abstract designs to manage APIs makes it easy for organizations to apply API governance. For instance, organizations that have their APIs held in the form of abstracted designs with all the required technical details such as headers and payloads placed in the right specifications find it easy to enforce governance policies.

Managing APIs with a Service Catalog

In other situations, some organizations hold their APIs together with all dependencies, lineage, mappings, and documentation aligned to the right taxonomies in a service catalog. This makes it easy for them to rationalize and visualize their APIs, as well as gaining control and insight into the people using their APIs, where the APIs are, how their (APIs) data flows, and the rate of data transfer. This aids the process of enforcing governance regulations.

Using a Single Set of Governance Rules

Organizations need to make sure that the set of rules they are enforcing on their APIs are globally accepted. They should desist from using any rules based on an individual project or set of APIs. Even though some organizations might feel like this forces them to only use a certain set of coding standards, it also means that they should adopt standards that meet the requirements of their business models. Finally, they need to make sure that all these rules are centrally located to ensure that everyone can easily access and implement them on their projects.

Applying Governance Throughout the API Lifecycle

When building APIs, some organizations tend to overlook some things in the early stages of an API lifecycle. These things become bigger in the later stages of the lifecycle, making such organizations think that API governance is responsible for bringing issues into development. 

However, organizations need to apply governance policies throughout the stages of the API lifecycle, starting from the first stage to the last stage. This will make sure that they are able to avoid these issues that might arise later, and in return, build applications faster and standardize all outputs.

API Versioning

When building APIs, organizations need to keep in mind that there might be times when they might need to add new features, modify the APIs, or even deprecate them. When this happens, they need to find a way through which they can let everything continue working without affecting the end users of applications implementing the APIs.

This is where API versioning comes in. Versioning ensures that users will keep using the APIs, depending on the version that they need. They can even use the later versions without compromising their data. In addition, versioning ensures that APIs are well documented and standardized.

API Governance Benefits Organizations

The pandemic has accelerated the rate of digital adoption among businesses the world over, making data one of the most important assets of any business. Looking at the continued rise of the importance of data, the ways through which such data is exposed becomes quite important as well. 

This means that things such as inconsistencies in code, data leaks, and poor system organization can affect the experience of developers negatively. In addition, APIs’ performance – keeping in mind that APIs depend on this data – will be affected directly. This can be avoided by making sure that organizations implement effective API governance.

Why More OEMs Are Sourcing Their Parts Online – And Why You Should Too

Ask any procurement team about the purchasing process, and they’ll probably describe a long, drawn out procedure that involves multiple spreadsheets or paper files, catalogues, price comparisons between vendors, problems with quality control and issues with communication across the company.

Reach out to a procurement team about how they source their component parts online, and they’ll tell you a completely different story. Streamlined procedures, straightforward price comparisons and millions of high-quality component parts at their fingertips. It’s hardly surprising that more OEMs than ever before are sourcing their component parts online. You’ll find a range of parts available here.

However, if your purchasing team is a little dubious about change, or perhaps they’re already convinced that their current way of procurement is the most practical, then it might be difficult to convince them to take advantage of online component purchasing. So, with this in mind, we’ve gathered some of the strongest reasons why more OEMs are sourcing their parts online – and why you should too.

Ease of Ordering

When you upload your BOM to an online marketplace such as Sourcengine, using their BOM tool you’ll be able to upload your entire Bill Of Materials within seconds. Alternatively, you can choose to search for specific components at a slower pace and with over 550 million parts available, you’re certain to find exactly what you need. So, rather than handing over specific parts of your BOM to individual suppliers, you’ll be able to upload the document in its entirety, saving your procurement team time and resources.

Price Comparison

Once you’ve uploaded your BOM, the price comparisons already begin. By setting your chosen criteria, whether it be a specific price range, from a particular supplier, brand or delivery schedule, you’ll be able to find the parts you need that match the requirements of your production line – and all done within a couple of seconds. No more sifting through endless catalogues, switching from one site to another or calling multiple vendors trying to locate a component part, just everything you need in one place.

Latest Deals

In addition to price comparisons, you’ll also have access to real-time data, which lists the latest data, deals and offers from over 3,000 vendors who sell the component parts you’re looking for on Sourcengine.

Quality Products

Your procurement team may entrust their BOM with vendors due to longevity and familiarity, even if the parts purchased are often plagued with problems and cause occasional issues along your assembly line. When you source parts online via a marketplace such as Sourcengine, you’ll have the protection of a 3-year warranty on all parts purchased, as well as peace of mind that every component part is tested, and meets all industry compliance and certifications.

Generous warranties

Buying from online parts sellers can provide access to generous warranties. For example, the likes of these Yaskawa components come with a full 12 month warranty. This can provide OEMs with the peace of mind that parts are high quality – and if they do fail they can be replaced freely. 

And Finally, Competitive Edge

Streamlining your procurement process won’t make things easier for your purchasing teams, it will give your entire OEM enterprise a competitive edge. With faster sourcing and comprehensive supply chain management, you’ll be able to source, assemble and deliver on all your contracts, exceeding all the expectations of your clients and manufacturing partners. Consider sourcing your components online today.

Get ready to watch TV shows and Movies like never before – on the tiniest TV’s!

Big news! The biggest shows and movies of all time are coming to the tiniest TVs in history. 

Toymaker Basic Fun is to launch Tiny TV Classics – the newest collectable that brings everyone’s favourite scenes to tiny screens. Though smaller than a cup of tea, these tiny screens hold some of the biggest, most memorable clips from TV and film. That’s right, it’s top scenes on tiny screens!

The perfect gift for anyone aged 9 to 99, Tiny TV is the coolest content-packed collectable that has ever been seen!

 

Tiny TV Classics

Available exclusively from Smyths Toys Superstores (SRP £24.99) 

Each Tiny TV Classic television set comes preloaded with unique content, bringing together the most iconic scenes from the big and the small screen – all in one place for fans to treasure and enjoy. 

All Tiny TV Classics come with a tiny remote that really works! Fans can use it to change the channel, adjust the volume, and it can even be used to power the set on and off!

And that’s not all, further adding to the collectability, each set also comes with a custom backdrop scene!

 

 

The Tiny TV Classics collection launches with an incredible selection of favourite shows and movies to pick from. From TV classics, including Friends, The Big Bang Theory, South Park, Family Guy and the original 60s Batman TV show to the best of the box office, with Back to the Future available to collect from September, there is something for everyone! 

Each Tiny TV Classic is themed around one TV show or movie and comes with iconic clips of content to take fans on an unforgettable trip down memory lane!

Stay tuned for a hands on review soon

Twelve South introduces Forté for iPhone. #iPhone #Apple #TwelveSouth

Twelve South, an innovative Apple accessories designer, today introduces the Forté, a modern desktop charging stand made exclusively for iPhone 12 and the Apple MagSafe Charger. Forte is available now exclusively from Apple.com for £39.95.

Snap an Apple MagSafe Charger (not included) into Forté for a clever way to dock the iPhone 12 while it wirelessly charges. Creating a magnetic platform, Forté can securely hold the iPhone 12 vertically or horizontally, making it ideal for hands-free use. The platform can be tilted up to 70-degrees so users can find the perfect viewing angle or use it as a charging pedestal for their AirPods.

With a clean and minimalist design, Forté is the perfect desktop, countertop or bedside stand to hold your iPhone 12 while charging. The Apple MagSafe Charger is the fastest wireless charging solution (15 watts) and Forté offers the best possible docking experience. Once an iPhone 12 is magnetically suspended on Forté, users can simply leave it to charge or adjust it to the perfect position for streaming shows, taking FaceTime calls or attending Zoom meetings.

As an added bonus, users can tilt the top of Forté completely flat, creating a shelf for the AirPods or AirPods Pro to safely sit while recharging the wireless charging case. The MagSafe Charging disc fits like a glove and is easy to remove when it’s time to travel.

When paired with a MagSafe Charger, Forté offers a useful and elegant solution for docking the iPhone 12 while charging. Forté is available now exclusively from Apple.com for £39.95.

Here is what your EU Digital Covid Certificate looks like. #EUDigitalCovidCertificate

Yesterday the all new EU Digital Covid Certificate started rolling out to those who had their test in a mass testing centre and today my own arrived which is impressive and it is via the good old QR code which most of us are familiar with today. As it stands if you have been vaccinated you can expect your digital cert by email next Thursday and if at a GP/Pharmacy or Hospital you should have it by next Tuesday in the post all going well below is what to expect if you get the email which is sent in English and As Gaeilge. Obviously for protecting my own information certain elements have been covered here and the QR code is where my logo is and it comes in the form of a PDF so it can be printed then folded and as you will see some items are upside down with instructions to fold on the bottom left.

You can scan the barcode however no information is available to you as to what’s on it.

Dear Jim,

Please find your EU Digital COVID Certificate attached to this mail.

The certificate is proof that you have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

This is an important document and should be kept safe.

From 19 July 2021, new advice and rules for international travel will come into effect in Ireland.

You can use your certificate to facilitate travel across EU member states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you plan to travel, you should check the restrictions in place for the country you are visiting.

If you have queries in relation to this certificate or international travel in general, get all your information online:

The emergency helpline number for the Digital COVID Certificate is: 1800 851 504

EU Digital Covid Cert techbuzzireland

A Jim, a chara,

Tá do Dheimhniú COVID Digiteach AE ar ceangal leis an ríomhphost seo.

Is ionann an deimhniú agus cruthúnas go ndearnadh thú a vacsaíniú in aghaidh COVID-19.

Cáipéis thábhachtach é seo agus ba cheart é a choimeád sábháilte.

Tiocfaidh comhairle agus rialacha nua maidir le taisteal idirnáisiúnta i bhfeidhm in Éirinn ón 19 Iúil 2021.

Is féidir leat do dheimhniú a úsáid chun taisteal a éascú ar fud bhallstáit an AE i rith phaindéim COVID-19.

Má tá sé ar intinn agat taisteal, ba cheart duit na srianta atá i bhfeidhm sa tír a dtabharfaidh tú cuairt uirthi a sheiceáil.

Má bhíonn ceisteanna agat maidir leis an deimhniú seo nó le taisteal idirnáisiúnta go ginearálta, is féidir leat d’eolas go léir a fháil ar líne:

Is í uimhir ghutháin na líne éigeandála don Deimhniú COVID Digiteach: 1800 851 504

New F-Secure FREEDOME VPN feature protects privacy and security on public WiFi #VPN #FreedomDay #FSecure

Leading cyber security software provider, F-Secure, has announced a new feature for its virtual private network (VPN) software, FREEDOME, to tie in with ‘Freedom Day’ in the UK on 19th July — the significant or complete lifting of Coronavirus restrictions.

With the UK set to enjoy unrestricted life again, many won’t have safe internet access on their minds. But with many establishments now relying on phones for services such as ordering and payment, it’s crucial, now more than ever, that people ensure they’re safely using their devices to avoid becoming a victim of cyber crime.

FREEDOME’s new feature, which is available for iPhone and Android devices, automatically detects when a user’s device connects to a public WiFi network and launches the VPN to ensure an anonymous and safe browsing experience.

Public WiFi networks are now widely available and although undoubtedly convenient, can present serious security and privacy risks. A password-protected public network may appear secure however devices are actually at their most vulnerable when connected to one. Because data sent through public WiFi can be easily intercepted, Cyber criminals often target these hot spots to steal confidential information from unsuspecting users, such as passwords or credit card details, leaving them susceptible to identity theft and fraud.

VPNs such as FREEDOME use encryption to scramble user data and make it unreadable when it’s sent over a public network. Without a VPN, a user’s entire browsing history is not encrypted, including websites visited and passwords entered, leaving them vulnerable to having their personal information compromised.

“As restrictions are lifted in the UK, more people will be connecting to public networks. Whether they’re working from a coffee shop, killing time in an airport or ordering food via an app or website,” says Tom Gaffney, Principal Consultant at F-Secure, “the last thing people want to worry about when they get their freedom back is cyber security, which is why we created this new feature. Our users can enjoy their newfound freedom with peace of mind that their data is protected.”

FREEDOME VPN gives people a hassle-free way to encrypt their communications over public Wi-Fi, change their virtual location to access location-based  online services, and block malicious websites and online tracking attempts. Users can whitelist trusted networks, such as their home WiFi, to prevent FREEDOME from launching unnecessarily.

F-Secure is located in Finland, outside of the ‘14 Eyes’ intelligence community, which means F-Secure isn’t legally obligated to share user data with those countries’ authorities — offering better privacy than other VPN providers located in the US or UK, for example.

A number of FREEDOME packages are available; prices start from just £2.08/month to protect three devices for a year. Check F-Secure.com for further information.

Pandemic accelerates rate of digital adoption among Irish businesses according to latest survey from Dell Technologies

A new survey undertaken by the Executive Institute on behalf of Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) reveals that 98 per cent of business leaders in Ireland believe technology has played a key role in helping their organisation to navigate the past year and, as a result of the pandemic, 68 per cent have shortened the target window for digital transformation.

The ‘Digital Adoption Survey 2021’ seeks to understand business leaders’ changing attitudes towards technology in Ireland. It also collected views on how digital adoption will help businesses to embrace new opportunities to grow and succeed in a data-driven era.

The survey of 147 business leaders has shown that 84 per cent believe that supporting a hybrid workforce with employees both working remotely and from the office is the greatest business challenge that technology can help address over the next one to three years. Enhancing organisational resilience emerged second (59 per cent) and reducing costs third (50%).

In light of these findings, 53 per cent of business leaders in Ireland will now invest more in technology to maintain a competitive edge given the experience gained during their experience of the fourteen months.

The Digital Adoption Survey identified several key obstacles in maintaining the current pace of digital transformation. Business leaders highlighted that upfront investment (51 per cent), lack of in-house skills and expertise (32 per cent) and an absence of digital culture (20 per cent) represent the main barriers to adopting new technologies within their organisation.

In looking to the future, the vast majority (67 per cent) of respondents said that 5G technology will be extremely or very important in keeping connected with a remote workforce. Despite this, half (51 per cent) of business leaders are unaware of the benefits that 5G technology will unlock in the next one to three years.  Moreover, 63 per cent of leaders surveyed stated they are aware that Edge Computing and the Internet of Things can provide new insights into future customer behaviour.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies in Ireland, said: “Although faced with challenges of an unprecedented scale over the past year, businesses leaders I speak to have valued the role of technology in keeping connected with their customers and their people. The results of our Digital Adoption Survey demonstrate this very fact.

“By taking the learnings of the past year into account, business leaders can ensure that the advancements made through necessity can be built upon to foster a technology-enabled recovery. With close to seven in ten businesses saying that they have shortened the target window for digital transformation, it is clear that leaders are intent on harnessing the power of technology to drive future growth.

“5G will prove to be game-changer in an increasingly data-driven era. Despite business leaders valuing the benefit it can bring in connecting employees, 5G is more than just enhanced connectivity. It is converging with AI, Edge Computing, Cloud and robotics to accelerate the fourth industrial revolution. With 75% of business data to be processed at the Edge by 2025, organisations need to begin assessing how 5G and Edge Computing can fit into their IT transformation programme and deliver real benefits on the road to recovery.”

Conor Morris, Managing Director, The Executive Institute said: “90% of our members have already committed to a hybrid workplace model post-pandemic. The further acceleration of digital adoption will be one of the key factors that will determine whether hybrid will survive and thrive.”

Additional resources

To access the full results of the survey visit: http://del.ly/6001yTDwl.