Category: Tech News

DCS eyes sustainable expansion with UK’s first HP Latex R530 printer

Diversified printing business Digital Creative Services (London) Limited (DCS) has become the first company in the UK to invest in and install an HP Latex R530 hybrid printer to support its aim of offering customers access to truly sustainable printing services.

Located in London’s Royal Victoria Dock, on the same complex as the Excel Exhibition Centre, DCS offers a wide range of services across digital and lithographic printing. The company works with customers across various sectors, including global beauty brands, financial institutions, sports clubs and educational settings.

Overseeing operations at DCS is Managing Director Barry Page, who, along with his business partner and Co-Owner Dave Gibbons, purchased DCS in June 2020. Over the past five years, the company has gone from strength to strength, integrating several other businesses to expand its offering and investing in new machinery on a regular basis to support this ongoing expansion.

This ethos led to the first UK investment in the new HP Latex R530 hybrid printer, which was purchased through approved HP distributor Papergraphics and installed at the DCS site in April 2025.

Running at a top speed of 24sq m/hr in indoor mode, the machine can print on media up to 1.6m wide and as thick as 5cm. It runs 3-litre ink cartridges across both colours and white, with DCS opting for the white ink model to help meet the ever-changing demands of its customers.

The compact HP Latex R530 can be seamlessly switched between rigid and flexible applications, delivering consistent, high-quality output – up to 1200 x 600dpi – across various media types. It enables print service providers (PSPs) such as DCS to tap into new markets and expand into new print applications. Such are its far-reaching capabilities that the printer can be used to produce applications such as indoor and outdoor signage, wall coverings, vehicle wraps and graphics, POS and packaging

Features such as automatic recirculation and printhead cleaning enable businesses to bolster uptime and reduce maintenance costs, while an intuitive touchscreen makes it easy to operate, and a single-phase power system enables effortless installation. In addition to this is the ability to streamline workflows with remote production control through the HP PrintOS Production Hub.

As is the case with all HP Latex printers, the new HP Latex R530 runs water-based inks, which have much less impact on the environment than solvent, eco-solvent and UV inks. Working with HP Latex inks also improves the recyclability of printed applications, whereas using other ink types can prove a major stumbling block for printers.

With many DCS customers having a strong focus on the environment and reducing their impact on the planet, Barry Page said the HP Latex R530 will fit in perfectly at DCS to help deliver sustainable printing to clients.

“The decision to purchase the HP Latex machine was in part driven by our clients’ needs to ensure they reach their sustainability targets, plus our own ethos of buying the most environmentally friendly equipment in the market in line with our ISO 14001 Environmental Management system,” Barry said. “Our objective is to help our customers achieve their ever more sustainable goals, which are aligned to our own.

“We have carried out a lot of work to be able to offer ever improving environmentally responsible operations and the range of recycled and recyclable materials that we offer. We clearly see this investment as the next step of this ongoing process.”

As to the type of work DCS will be running on the new printer, Barry said the machine will mainly be used for producing freestanding exhibition display boards, with the company having identified this as a key growth market. It will also increase capacity for other printed work such as office décor and window manifestation.

“We will have an improved offering to our existing clients as well as attracting new ones thanks to the quality and sustainability we can now provide,” Barry said.

With DCS clearly not a company to rest on its laurels, Barry said the business is constantly on the look-out for ways to further enhance production and could soon return to HP for another Latex investment.

“If we meet our objectives for the business over the next 12 months, we will then consider the HP Latex FS50 as our next investment,” Barry said.

See our printer reviews

TCL has achieved a 5-star reliability ranking in Which? Magazine annual TV survey

TCL announced it has achieved a 5-star reliability ranking in the latest Which? Magazine annual TV survey, further establishing its reputation as a quality and dependable TV brand among UK consumers.

Which? Magazine’s annual tech reliability survey identifies brands consumers can trust to last. In March 2025, Which? assessed each brand’s reliability by looking at how often its products had problems, how soon they developed and how serious they were. The Which? score is based on surveys of thousands of UK homes, testing product performance, fault rate and overall consumer satisfaction. TCL’s 5-star rating is a reflection of its excellent track record of delivering consistent product reliability, with lower fault rates than many long-established market players.

TCL offers the leading Mini-LED technology on the market and this endorsement highlights not only that innovation but also the brand’s dedication to offering high-end, cutting-edge features at prices that remain accessible to a wide range of consumers.

“These results from Which? prove our long-term emphasis on quality and performance,” said Adam Aldred-Lane, Marketing Director at TCL Electronics UK. “From our global partnership of the Olympics to being an Official Global Partner of Arsenal FC, we’re building strong emotional connections with consumers while continuing to deliver high quality products. These partnerships, combined with our cutting-edge technology and accessible pricing, are key to making TCL a household name in home entertainment.”

Other TCL news

About TCL 

TCL Electronics specialises in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics including TVs, mobile phones, audio devices, smart home products and appliances. Combining thoughtful design and innovative technology to inspire greatness, our lineup delivers must-have features and meaningful experiences. As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics brands, our vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art display panel factory help TCL deliver innovation for all. For more information, please visit: https://www.tcl.com

HP Report Unveils Critical Gaps in Printer Platform Security

HP Wolf Security has released a new report – Securing the Print Estate: A Proactive Lifecycle Approach to Cyber Resilience – highlighting the challenges of securing printer hardware and firmware (platform security), and the implications of these failures across every stage of the printer’s lifecycle. Based on a global study of 800+ IT and security decision-makers (ITSDMs), the findings show that platform security is being overlooked, leaving concerning security gaps.

Exploring four lifecycle stages, the report reveals that during the Ongoing Management stage, just 28% of UK ITSDMs apply firmware updates promptly. This is despite IT teams spending 4 hours per printer per month managing hardware and firmware security issues. Failure to promptly apply firmware updates to printers unnecessarily exposes organisations to threats that could lead to damaging impacts, such as cybercriminals exfiltrating critical data or hijacking devices.

Further security gaps revealed across the other stages of the printer’s lifecycle include:

Supplier Selection & Onboarding stage: 

  • Lack of procurement collaboration: Only 34% of UK ITSDMs say procurement, IT, and security collaborate to define printer security standards – with 63% warning that this lack of collaboration puts their organisation at risk.
  • RFPs going unchecked: 47% of UK ITSDMs fail to involve IT/security teams in vendor presentations; 57% fail to request technical documentation to validate security claims; and 58% fail to submit vendor responses to security teams for review.
  • Inability to verify the printer’s integrity: Once the printer arrives 51% of ITSDMs cannot confirm if the printer has been tampered with in the factory or in transit.

Remediation stage:

  • Inability to detect and remediate threats:  Many organisations are struggling to keep on top of patching devices. Only 31% of UK ITSDMs globally are able to identify vulnerable printers based on newly published hardware or firmware vulnerabilities, not to mention zero-day threats that are unknown to the vendor or the public.  Only 35% can track unauthorised hardware changes made by users or support teams, and only 30% of ITSDMs can detect security events linked to hardware-level attacks.
  • Not just cyber – print risks are physical too: 66% of UK ITSDMs are increasingly worried about offline threats, such as employees printing and mishandling sensitive company information.

Decommissioning and Second Life stage

  • End of life risk: 88% of UK ITSDMs say data security is a barrier to printer reuse, resale or recycling – a big problem, given that on average ITSDMs report having approximately 103 printers that are redundant or are in the process of being decommissioned within their organisations.
  • Lack of confidence: ITSDMs lack confidence in current sanitisation solutions, with 37% saying they are uncertain whether printers can be fully and safely wiped. Meanwhile, more than 1-in-4 (28%) believe it’s necessary to physically destroy printer storage drives, and nearly 1-in-10 (9%) insist on destroying both the device and its storage drives to ensure data security.

“Printers are no longer just harmless office fixtures – they’re smart, connected devices storing sensitive data,” warns Steve Inch, Global Senior Print Security Strategist at HP Inc. “With multi-year refresh cycles, unsecured printers create long-term vulnerabilities. If compromised, attackers can harvest confidential information for extortion or sale. The wrong choice can leave organisations blind to firmware attacks, tampering or intrusions, effectively laying out the welcome mat for attackers to access the wider network.”

The report offers recommendations on how to address these security challenges across the printer’s lifecycle, including:

  • Ensure IT, security and procurement teams collaborate effectively to define security and resilience requirements for new printers.
  • Require and leverage manufacturer provider security certificates for products and / or for supply chain processes.
  • Apply firmware updates promptly to minimise exposure to security threats.
  • Leverage security tools to streamline printer policy-based configuration compliance.
  • Deploy printers that can continuously monitor for zero-day threats and malware with the ability to prevent, detect, isolate and recover from low-level attacks.
  • Select printers with built-in secure erasure of hardware, firmware and stored device data to enable safe second life and recycling.

“By considering security at each stage of a printer’s lifecycle, organisations will not only improve the security and resilience of their endpoint infrastructure, but also benefit from better reliability, performance, and cost-efficiency over the lifetime of their fleets,” comments Boris Balacheff, Chief Technologist for Security Research and Innovation at HP Inc.

For further insights and recommendations, download the full report “Securing the Print Estate: A Proactive Lifecycle Approach to Cyber Resilience” here.

JMGO Launches PicoPlay Series: Coffee-Cup-Sized Projectors

JMGO, a leader in optical technology, officially unveiled the PicoPlay series, a new line of coffee-cup-sized portable projectors built for modern lifestyles. The series features two models, PicoPlay and PicoPlay+, each combining compact form, powerful projection, and integrated social entertainment tools. 

The PicoPlay series is now available on Amazon and will soon be launched on offline retail channels across Europe. Both devices are designed to cater to the growing demand for flexible, on-the-go streaming and immersive visual experiences, all without the bulk of traditional projectors.

Both models deliver high-definition 1080P projection using DLP technology, supported by 400–450 ISO lumens of brightness. This enables sharp, vibrant visuals that significantly outperform conventional 100–200-lumen projectors. Integrated with official Google TV, the projectors offer access to over 10,000 apps and more than 700,000 movies and shows, with intuitive content recommendations and low-lag streaming performance.

Designed for seamless usability, the PicoPlay series introduces a simplified control interface featuring an action button for app shortcuts and touch controls for fast navigation, even in the absence of a remote. The auto-keystone adjustment is powered by a gimbal-inspired design that auto-focuses and aligns the image as the projector is tilted or moved. This hands-free calibration ensures instant setup with no manual adjustment required.

The series goes further in transforming entertainment into a social experience. Its Bluetooth speaker mode allows 360° music playback, while a Vertical Play feature optimizes TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts for large-screen vertical viewing. Enhancing the ambiance, colorful ambient lights and soft shadow filters create dynamic visual effects that sync with music or elevate a room’s atmosphere, whether for winding down or hosting a party.

Measuring just 85mm in diameter and weighing no more than 0.74kg, the PicoPlay series is engineered for portability. Both models are compatible with JMGO’s Power Bank Stand, a sleek, all-black accessory that functions as a projector stand and provides up to four hours of battery-powered runtime, making the projectors ideal for parties, outdoor events, or movie nights off the grid.

See our Projector reviews 

About JMGO

Founded in 2011, JMGO has consistently aimed at creating immersive large-screen experiences that blend portability with cutting-edge design and performance capabilities. By leveraging advanced optical technology, this brand continues its commitment toward delivering versatile home entertainment solutions suitable for audiences worldwide.

For more information, please visit https://global.jmgo.com/, or follow JMGO at https://www.instagram.com/jmgo_official/.

Oboard Bridges the Biggest Strategy Gap Enterprises Face Today

Tracking strategy can be easy for startups and small teams, with more direct lines between goals and work. But enterprise-level growth introduces layers of people, platforms, processes, and eventually, those clean strategy docs stop syncing with what’s happening on the ground.

Oboard’s latest release closes that loop. By adding native KPI tracking to its OKR (Objectives and Key Results)-based platform, the tool now gives teams a way to measure both strategic intent and day-to-day output without risking alignment and accountability.

KPI Tracking That Mirrors Real Work

With this update, KPIs no longer live in isolation from your strategy. Each one now sits inside Oboard as a dynamic module, complete with real-time values, visual status indicators, and contextual notes. That means no more toggling between tabs and platforms.

These cards aren’t just static dashboards. You can update values, mark completion, or annotate progress as it unfolds, all from the same workspace where your team tracks goals. And because Oboard treats KPIs as first-class citizens, you can either nest them within your OKRs or manage them separately, depending on how your team prefers to work.

Color-coded states (green, red, orange) make it easy to see where things stand at a glance. But the real strength lies in the flexibility: percentage targets, compliance scores, engagement benchmarks, whatever you’re tracking, Oboard adapts without forcing a one-size-fits-all mold.

Custom Metrics & Milestone-Based Tracking

Not every KPI fits neatly into a percentage or fixed-value goal. Campaigns evolve, growth is often stepwise, and sometimes success means hitting specific thresholds, rather than climbing steadily to 100%. That’s why Oboard now lets teams define custom metrics that reflect how progress unfolds per team.

You can now:

 

You can now:

 

  • Set thresholds like “maintain uptime above 99.5%” or “keep CAC under $60”
  • Break down big targets into milestones, each with a date and individual goal (think: “500 signups by week 2,” then “5,000 by end of quarter”)
  • Track performance within or outside OKRs, depending on how tightly your metrics are tied to your broader outcomes

And for teams catching up or backfilling results, you can log entries for any past date with the “Historical Updates” feature,  complete with notes and a full audit trail in the Progress History tab.

That means:

 

  • Data stays reliable
  • Audit prep gets easier
  • Everyone trusts what’s on screen

Custom Dashboards: One View That Fits All

Each team reviews strategy a little differently. Growth teams might want a funnel-focused dashboard. A product team might care about feature velocity. Leadership needs the big picture, not buried numbers. Oboard’s Custom Dashboards let you design around those real needs.

 

  • Drop the metrics, OKRs, and contextual notes that matter
  • Add context blocks that explain what numbers mean, not just what they are
  • Build separate layouts for different teams or reporting cadences: sprint recaps, QBRs, executive reviews, etc.
  • No more screenshots into slides. No more linking out to sheets. You keep your reporting where the strategy lives.

Strategic Takeaways for Leaders

The bigger your organization gets, the harder it becomes to keep strategy, metrics, and execution in sync. This update gives executives a consolidated workflow:

 

  • Vision (OKRs)
  • Metrics (KPIs & Custom Metrics)
  • Execution data (Milestones, Dashboards, Updates)

All in one space. Leadership can view how campaign-level metrics tie into outcomes, pivot faster when plans shift, and trust the trail of updates when reviewing progress at scale.

Conclusion

Oboard’s new KPI features are now live. If you’re part of a strategy team, PMO, or leadership group looking to tighten the loop between goals and execution, now’s the time to explore one of the best options available today.

Digital surge in construction: Strong tech uptake but critical gaps in AI training and sustainability

Recent research by Strata, Ireland’s leading provider of construction time management and digital construction services, reveals that 88% of construction and engineering professionals have accelerated their use of digital technologies over the past year. In addition, nearly 70% of respondents are leveraging these tools to drive smarter decision-making and innovation across the sector.

Barriers to digital adoption

The 2025 Strata Report: Digital Transformation in Construction highlighted that siloed workflows are the leading barrier to digital adoption in the sector. Time constraints ranked second, driven by limited capacity for training and the pressure of industry-wide labour shortages. In third place, skillset gaps point to an urgent need for targeted training and the strategic hiring of new digital capabilities to support transformation.

Knowledge of AI

The research found that 81% of construction and engineering professionals report only basic or moderate knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, more than 71% of respondents believe AI will be critical in shaping the future of the sector. Despite this strong belief, over half of companies surveyed had yet to implement formal AI training for their teams.

Sustainability in sector

When asked about the importance of sustainability in the sector, 85% of construction and engineering professionals said it will become more important over the next one to three years. This contrasted with just 5% reporting significant progress in utilising digital tools such as carbon calculations and whole-life assessments.

Commenting on the findings, Enda Grimes, Director and Founder of Strata said: “With the Government’s National Planning Framework prioritising accelerated housing delivery, and the Climate Action Plan placing new demands on infrastructure and sustainability targets, meeting construction demand will require greater efficiency and new ways of working. In this context, digitalisation and AI are no longer optional efficiency tools — they are essential levers for delivering on national ambitions.”

“Our research shows that while digital adoption is gaining momentum across the sector, a significant gap in skills and applied knowledge remains in our industry. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration with digital experts who not only bring strong digital capability, but also understand the practical complexities of engineering and construction. As Ireland’s population continues to grow, the need to improve our infrastructure becomes more urgent. By combining deep engineering expertise with digital innovation, we can accelerate delivery and build the resilient infrastructure we need.”

Over 250 construction and engineering professionals, representing over 170 individual companies in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe took part in the Strata survey in the second quarter of 2025.

For more information visit www.stratadigital.io/ . The 2025 Strata Report: Digital Transformation in Construction report can be sourced here.

Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers Power Status Audio’s New Pro X Premium Earbuds

Knowles Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty electronic components, including high performance capacitors, radio frequency (“RF”) filters, advanced medtech microphones, and balanced armature (BA) speakers, today announced that Status Audio has selected Knowles BA drivers for its new Status Pro X true wireless earbuds, featuring a rare triple-driver hybrid configuration with two Knowles BAs and one dynamic driver in each earbud. This distinctive combination delivers crystal clear sound that rivals many other hybrid true wireless stereo (TWS) designs currently in the market.

As consumer expectations for high-definition audio continue to evolve, this collaboration showcases the technical advantages of hybrid driver configurations in premium true wireless products. Status Pro X’s sophisticated acoustic system pairs the precision of Knowles’ miniaturized BAs with the power of a 12mm dynamic driver, resulting in a frequency response that captures both subtle sonic textures and dynamic range that single-driver designs cannot achieve.

The Status Pro X users have the option of selecting an equalizer setting including the Status Signature setting or the Knowles Curve setting, based on the Knowles Preferred Listening Response Curve, a breakthrough in audio engineering based on research that shows listeners across age ranges and hearing abilities prefer expanded treble response beyond 10 kHz for a more satisfying music experience.  By leveraging Knowles BA technology, Status Audio achieves the higher frequencies necessary to produce optimal audio performance and unlock intricate musical details while preserving the natural tonal balance audiophiles demand.

“Our BAs represent the pinnacle of miniaturized audio engineering,” said Jon Kiachian, President of MedTech and Specialty Audio at Knowles Corporation. “The collaboration with Status Audio exemplifies how our BA drivers can help innovative brands deliver truly exceptional audio experiences in remarkably compact form factors. The Status Pro X showcases exactly what becomes possible when cutting-edge driver technology meets thoughtful product design—an audio experience that reveals all the nuances and details of music that conventional earbuds simply cannot reproduce.”

Knowles BA drivers enable unprecedented sound performance for their size, allowing Status Audio to create an earbud that is 21 percent smaller than its previous model without compromising sound quality,  frequency range, or battery life. The high sensitivity of Knowles BAs also facilitates improved hearing personalization while maximizing power efficiency.

“When designing the Pro X, we needed a technology partner that could help us deliver on our promise of uncompromising audio quality in a more compact form,” said James Bertuzzi, Status Audio CEO.  “Knowles BA drivers were the clear choice, allowing us to achieve frequency response and detail that  would be impossible with conventional dynamic drivers alone. The combination results in a listening experience that truly differentiates the Pro X in today’s crowded earbud market.”

The Status Pro X earbuds are available for pre-order now, with shipping beginning early September. For more information on Knowles BAs, visit www.knowles.com/premiumsound. To learn more about Status Pro X, visit the Status Audio website.

Check out the huge range of our earbud reviews

emporia launches 7 Series the Smart7.Lite, Smart7.Mini and Smart.ME7

European smartphone innovator, emporia has launched its 7 Series – affordable, accessible smartphones engineered to last.  The three new models are designed to offer years of simple, secure usability in a pocket-friendly format. Prices start at just £200.

Each new 7 Series model – the Smart7.Lite, Smart7.Mini and Smart.ME7 – comes with a user-replaceable battery with a standby time of almost 10 days. The battery has been tested for at least 1,000 charging cycles and the charging capacity can be limited to 80 per cent to ensure longevity.

In addition, spare parts for the 7 Series are guaranteed to be available for at least seven years, plus there is a guaranteed five-generation Android upgrade path. The three models will ship with Android 15, with an update to the newly announced Android 16 due in early 2026.

“Our customers are not mobile phone hoppers who buy a new smartphone every year or two, which is why we have designed the new 7 series with durability in mind”, explains emporia marketing director, Karin Schaumberger.

Security in mind

Thanks to NFC and a fingerprint sensor, users don’t have to worry when banking online or logging into digital government services. emporia also prioritizes the implementation of Android security patches; 7 Series smartphones will be automatically updated to the latest security level.

“Security is a key selling point for our customers, and there can be no compromises in this regard,” explains Karin Schaumberger.

With personal security in mind, 7 Series smartphones feature emporia’s signature ‘No Panic’ button – an external, directly accessible button so you can more easily call for help in an emergency. The button can alternatively be configured as a shortcut to a favourite function – for example, offering instant access to the Google Gemini voice assistant.

Enhanced usability

The new 7 Series can be used in standard Android mode or with the streamlined emporia interface, which makes it easier to find and use core functionality including calls, emails and favourite apps. The emporia Info Centre collates all notifications from multiple sources – from emails and WhatsApp messages to calendar or voicemail alerts – so you can catch up with a single glance.

Also on board is the new Flash Notification option, which means you’ll never miss a call or message again when your phone is on silent. Incoming calls and messages are signalled by both the screen and backlight flashing.

To help simplify things further still, the free emporiaCOACH app helps digital newcomers and switchers to quickly familiarise themselves with their smartphone.

Compact format

The 7 Series comes in a pocket-friendly 5.45in format; there will be no 6.6in option as in previous ranges.  Each model features a triple-lens camera plus selfie camera.

“The demand for more manageable smartphones remains strong, and the feedback from our customers is clear,” explains Karin Schaumberger.

Model differences – all about the extras

All new 7 Series models include the core functionality detailed above. The difference come in the extras supplied with each model.

Smart7.Lite  – £250/€250 The bestseller comes as standard with emporia’s patented Smartcover, which allows key functions to be used even while closed. It offers slimline protection for both screen and casing. It also comes with a handy docking cradle, which cuts cable-clutter when charging but also provides a nicely angled hands-free calling hub.

Smart7.Mini  – £200/€200 Comes with the docking cradle as standard, but not the Smartcover.

Smart.ME7 – £200/€200 Supports full Android mainstream; no extras supplied as standard.

Availability

The emporia 7 Series will be available to buy this month, from stockists including Amazon.

See our emporia reviews

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The Physical Internet: Dublin schoolchildren step inside Equinix data centre

As the primary school year drew to a close, Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company, hosted 4th class students from Scoil Ghráinne CNS in Phibblestown for a behind-the-scenes tour of Equinix’s DB3 data centre in Dublin.

Seventeen students, along with their teachers, met senior Equinix leaders to learn how data centres work and the impact that they have on the students’ daily lives. The education day gave the children the opportunity to walk inside the ‘physical internet’ and discover its far-reaching impact on their own lives, businesses, healthcare and more.

The class also learned about Equinix’s commitment to net zero and biodiversity. Among the initiatives discussed was Equinix’s participation in Digital Infrastructure Ireland’s Orchards in the Community project, which plants orchards for schools and other community organisations to encourage pollination. The children also learned about Equinix’s onsite beehives and bee habitats.

During the visit, the class worked in teams to design collages based on what they imagined the physical internet looks like. Later, Equinix team members took the schoolchildren and their teachers into the heart of the DB3 data centre for an exclusive tour.

Warren Delaney, Ireland Operations Director, Equinix, said: “At Equinix, we are committed to educating the communities around us about our role. For these young people, it is eye-opening to walk inside a data centre and imagine the parts of their daily lives that our industry makes possible. For some, it may even spark an interest in a career in technology. Having started my own career as an apprentice electrician, I know that there are many options and pathways into this industry via our apprenticeship and internship programmes in Ireland. It was fantastic to observe the students so engaged and eager to learn.”