Pearl Abyss today released a free update to Black Deserton PlayStation 4, bringing Awakening Events for Striker and Tamer classes that boost their combat power. In addition, fairy companions have been added to support adventurers, and world bosses Quint and Muraka are now available.
Striker Awakened Skills
Echo Spirit – Summon the Striker’s spiritual alter-ego to bring down the apocalypse onto enemies.
Infernal Destruction – Bring down enemies with a leg-sweep followed by a powerful punch.
Skull Crusher – Spin in the air and and use the momentum to knock enemies down with a downward kick.
Rampaging Predator – Relentlessly chase down enemies and unleash a flurry of attacks.
Tamer Awakened Skills
Allround Spinner – Spins the Celestial Bo Staff around, striking enemies from all directions.
Legendary Beast Dance – Channel the spirits of the four legendary beasts through your Celestial Bow Staff to perform different attacks on your enemies.
Flow: Cloud Ride – Using the Celestial Bo Staff, Tamer launches herself forwards dealing damage and knocking enemies down.
Fairy Companions
Fairies offer great utility in Black Desert offering skills which help you on your travels. These celestial beings can provide auto-potions and Desert drinks, instant resurrections and more!
New World Bosses
Quint – As the first ancient troll, Quint is a statue-like being that will be difficult to topple. Since he does not take damage while standing, it is imperative to take out his legs first, where adventurers can unleash attacks on his relatively weak body.
Muraka – Emerging from the thick woods of Mansha forest, Muraka brings death and destruction to anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. While relatively slow, he unleashes incredibly powerful attacks that only increase in power when enraged.
Black Desert on PlayStation 4 is featured within the PlayStation Double Discount event, with 25% off all three game bundles and PS+ members receiving 50% off until November 22. Sales of Black Desert on PlayStation 4 have increased tenfold since the start of the event!
Fingerprint Cards (Fingerprints™) today announces the launch of a new side-mounted capacitive touch sensor for biometric authentication. Responding to customer demand, the slim FPC1540 sensor enables a range of the latest smartphone designs including borderless and foldable phones.
The sensor can be coated in a range of colors to complement the aesthetics of the smartphone design. The biometric sensor can also enhance the user experience beyond offering a convenient and secure authentication method, doubling as the power button, volume control, operating the camera shutter and scrolling.
FPC1540 expands Fingerprints’ portfolio of capacitive sensors that are now deployed on the front, back and side of over 400 different mobile device models.
“As smartphone design diversifies, biometrics are becoming an enabler for innovation and differentiation,” comments Ted Hansson, SVP Business Line Mobile at Fingerprints. “It’s not easy to create a sensor this slim while retaining industry-leading biometric performance. We’ve got years of experience, R&D expertise and our advanced algorithms to give OEMs maximum design flexibility, and without compromise to security or functionality.”
Fingerprints expects the first smartphone using FPC1540 to be launched early 2020.
For more information about Fingerprints’ smartphone and tablet solutions, visit the website.
The xdeck will be a place where experienced entrepreneurs and innovate companies share their knowledge, resources and network with emerging founders and support them in developing their potential.
The goals for participating startups are to reach product-market fit, to initiate a financing round, where appropriate, and to prepare for scaling. The xdeck aims to establish a sustainable startup ecosystem in the Rhineland that brings together startups and innovators from all over Europe. The application phase for founders starts now.
With the completion of Cologne’s new future-oriented office building THE SHIP, opening in early 2020, the xdeck will move into its premises. The accelerator program xdeck has been uniquely designed for founders – initiated by the successful founding trio of the company FOND OF, Dr. Oliver Steinki, Florian Michajlezko, and Sven-Oliver Pink. As part of a comprehensive service package, they aim, together with renowned partners, to pass on their vigorous experience to a selection of outstanding startups.
Next to FOND OF, the top-class xdeck partners to date include the globally leading top-management consultancy McKinsey & Company, the top German corporate law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, and Germany’s most active early-stage investor High-Tech Gründerfonds. Their common goal is to support startups in the xdeck to quickly develop innovative business models and to anchor them in the market.
In addition, the xdeck cooperates with partners from the university landscape, in particular the University of Cologne and its Excellence Start-up Center GATEWAY, the RWTH Aachen University, and its unit RWTH Innovation, as well as the Incubator of the leading business school WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. The xdeck also cooperates with the non-profit association Wissensfabrik, which is committed to MINT education for children and young people and entrepreneurship in Germany, as well as with the PIRATE Summit, Europe’s largest “invitation only” startup conference.
“Our vision with xdeck is to generate new fuel for entrepreneurship. The xdeck is unique in our eyes, because it is characterized by three things: First, it hosts an accelerator program from founders for founders. We are entrepreneurs ourselves and know what other founders need in order to develop successful startups”, says Dr. Nils Eiteneyer, Founding Managing Director of xdeck. “Secondly, it involves outstanding corporate partners who share their expert knowledge and resources. And third, the xdeck is a non-profit initiative that is strategically interesting for all parties but does not pursue a focus on investment or returns. Above all it is socially motivated. Founder teams do not have to contribute equity to participate in the xdeck program.” Nils Eiteneyer has extensive industry experience. Previously, he was Managing Director of a FOND OF founders’ startup investment in the retail sector and was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. During his doctorate he also headed the startup center at RWTH Aachen University.
What founders can expect from the xdeck program
Founders who obtain a place in the xdeck program benefit from a comprehensive service package without additional costs or equity from the startup. Services include:
Network access: individual mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, such as the FOND OF founders, and personal contact with professional investors;
Knowledge transfer: tailored to the needs of the founding teams, for example in the areas of financing, performance marketing, or employment law;
Financial resources: an initial funding of up to €20,000 for relocating to Cologne (for the duration of the program), an office space in THE SHIP with access to the FOND OF Design Lab and Tech Credits (e.g. AWS).
The program is structured in two phases. During the first four months, the founding teams receive active support in optimizing their business model. The focal point of this phase is to achieve product-market fit. Customer acquisition and -feedback as well as product development are therefore key. The program focuses on personal exchange with experienced mentors, experts, and other founders offering regular sparring to help teams prioritize their challenges.
In addition, workshops, lectures, and expert consultancy provide answers to all growth-related questions. The curriculum is tailor-made for each team without being overloaded. In the second phase of the program (a further two months), startups will have the chance to pitch in front of professional investors and initiate scaling. After a total of up to 180 days in the xdeck program, the teams move out of THE SHIP, but remain an important part of the community.
Application
The xdeck aims at ambitious B2C and B2B founder teams across Europe in the fields of consumer goods, retail, and digitization. Their startups should be in an early stage, have a prototype or MVP ready (or in late stages of development), and have already achieved usage numbers or revenues with (pilot) customers.
The Pioneer Batch will be launched in spring 2020. Interested founders can get an overview of the xdeck program here and apply for the first round until end of January. Applications can be submitted continuously and will be considered on an ongoing basis.
Additionally, xdeck is looking to increase its partner network. Companies that are willing to actively contribute to the xdeck can qualify regardless of size and industry. In doing so, they contribute to an emerging ecosystem of startups and companies, creating value for both sides.
New research today reveals the extent to which naughty Brits are using innovative home security camera tech to check up on each other, their kids and their pets.
The research, conducted by Neos Smart Home Insurance in partnership with YouGov, finds a whopping 83% of UK consumers are using smart security cameras to monitor our nearest and dearest.
The stats reveal pet-parents are the worst culprits, with 35% of people using their security cameras to dote on their furry friends from afar, compared to just 28% who use them to watch their kids. Millennials are the age-group most obsessed with their fur babies, with 38% of people aged 25 to 34 confessing they predominantly use their security cams to peek at their pets. Scots are the worst out of all the Brits, with 58% saying they obsess over their pets remotely.
As well, 12% of Brits confess they use their security cameras to watch what their partner is doing at home when they are out (or in another room). Men particularly enjoy a snoop with 14% owning up to watching over their partner versus just 10% of women. Perhaps not so shockingly, tech-obsessed millennials aged 25-34 like to check up on their partners more than the other generations (17%) and couples aged 45-54 (4%) are the least likely. Those who live in the South East of England peak at their partners the most (16%) and the Welsh (9%) are the least likely to do so.
Comfortingly, 80% of people surveyed do get round to using their security cameras for what they’re actually intended – keeping an eye on their home to help prevent break-ins and disasters, such as leaks and house fires. In fact, 63% of Brits say they feel much safer with security cameras watching over their homes.
Matt Poll, co-founder and CEO, Neos says, “It’s great so many Brits are taking advantage of smart technology to better protect their homes – and quite funny that they’re also using it for a good old fashioned snoop when they’re out of the house. Even more incredible is our research found people place their pets above their offspring in the pecking order for who they want to watch over with their security cams… Each to their own!”
“In addition to keeping a watchful eye over loved ones and pets, it’s fantastic to see that security cameras like Neos are predominantly being used by Brits to take a proactive approach to home safety and security. It’s a real pleasure to know that security cams are helping the majority of Brits to feel safer.”
This Black Friday make sure you take advantage of Neos’s 20% off Black Friday deals, a real steal when Neos has the market leading price point for home security cams! Neos also has a partnership with Amazon this year where you can snatch up a Neos SmartCam and an Amazon Echo Show 5 for a reduced cost. Neos Black Friday deals can be found on Amazon, Curry’s PC World, Very, as well as onshop.neos.co.uk.
Everyone has special photographs they want to treasure forever, and now this is possible with the opening of two new worlds of wonder in Galway on Saturday, 30th November, and Ennis on Saturday, 7th December. Local Ennis Man, Niall Considine, in partnership with FUJIFILM, has announced the opening of two regional Wonder Photo Shops in Ireland just in time for Christmas. With so many services available, the Wonder Photo Shops in Galway and Ennis will offer everything from photo printing, personalised gifts and wall decorations, to a selection of frames and stationary. The Wonder Photo Shops will also carry the ever popular INSTAX cameras, which are on everyone’s gift list this Christmas.
“This is a very exciting time for photography fans in Ireland, as Wonder Photo Shop by FUJIFILM offers a wide range of products and services, making the concept of photo creation entertaining in a fun atmosphere”, said Kyran O’Kelly, general manager of FUJIFILM Ireland. He added, “On visiting, you are encouraged to explore the latest photo printing trends, gifting ideas, wall art concepts, cameras and film, and express your creativity by transforming treasured photo prints into beautiful creations”.
Niall Considine described the journey awaiting shoppers at the new Wonder Photo Shops, saying: “There are different areas designated for individual experiences, which are specifically designed to assist you on your creative journey. Have fun with photos by creating customised albums and prints, wall decorations and lots more. You can create an entire photo book by just using your mobile phone! There is also a photo gift area, where you can create one-of-a kind personalised gifts for family and friends this Christmas”.
FUJIFILM’s new Wonder Photo Shops will open in Galway’s Corbett Court Mall on Saturday 30th November, (open Monday-Thursday and Saturday from 9.15am to 6pm, Fridays from 9.15am to 8pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5.30pm), and in The Town Square in Ennis on Saturday 7th December (open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm).
For further information on FUJIFILM and its new Wonder Photo Shops, please visit fujigalway.ie / fujiennis.ie. @FujiEnnis @FujiGalway
Is there a day that goes by whether you’re walking, cycling, using public transport or driving that you don’t open Google Maps at least once? It’s the app that’s made travelling and getting around easier and this month a new feature will make travelling even easier.
When you’re in a foreign country where you don’t speak or read the language, getting around can still be difficult, especially when you need to speak with someone. Think about that anxiety-inducing time you tried to talk to a taxi driver, or that moment you tried to casually ask a passerby for directions.
To help, Google is bringing Google Maps and Google Translate closer together with a new translator feature that enables your phone to speak out a place’s name and address in the local lingo. Simply tap the new speaker button next to the place name or address, and Google Maps will say it out loud, making your next trip that much simpler.
As well as speaking the local lingo on your travels get to know the other Google Maps features that will help take the hassle out of your daily commute as well as your travels.
Go Handsfree Keep your focus on the road by using voice commands on Google Maps. Just say “OK Google, find petrol stations” or “ Show alternate routes” to get the information you need, hands free.
Wait time estimates and popular times: Use Google Maps to find out what the estimated wait times and popular times are at your favorite businesses so you can beat the crowds and save time.
Offline maps: No data? No problem. You can still find your way even if you have spotty reception or an expensive data plans. Whether you’re on a road trip or traveling abroad, you can download a map of an area so you can see directions and use turn by turn navigation even when you can’t get online.
Remember where you parked: After navigating somewhere, use Google Maps to save your parking location so you never have a “Dude where’s my car?” moment again.
Add detours to your route: We’ve all been there – you’re on your way to a birthday party and you’ve forgotten to buy a present. Cue panic – or not. With Google Maps you can easily search for places along your route while in navigation mode, so you can find the nearest store and get back on the road as quickly as possible.
Never miss your stop again: Use Google Maps to get transport navigation times, ETAs and a notification that tells you when to transfer or get off your bus or train, so you can stop worrying about missing your stop and start enjoying the sights.
Create listsso you can keep track of your favorite places and share them with friends.
Global HealthTech company Neurovalens today launched Modius SLEEP, a drug-free solution powered by neuroscience to safely and non-invasively improve a person’s sleep health.
Modius SLEEP is a headset, worn for 30 minutes before bed. Unlike other sleep headsets that are limited to passively reading brain-wave activity, Modius SLEEP actively stimulates the key sleep neurons in the brain reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and keeping you asleep for longer.
The device works by sending a safe electrical pulse into the vestibular nerve, influencing the areas of the hypothalamus and brain stem that control circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.
Modius SLEEP has launched on American crowd-funding website Indiegogo, following the success of Modius SLIM, the company’s first headset, designed to help people lose weight, which raised £2million on the same platform.
Developed by neuroscientist Dr. Jason McKeown, a Northern Ireland native, the latest product innovation continues the company’s mission to improve global health and wellness by providing drug-free, neurological solutions for common health problems.
Dr. Jason McKeown, Founder and CEO of Neurovalens, said:
“After gathering feedback from thousands of SLIM device users around the world, what we found was that improved sleep was a welcomed bonus reaction and this became our motivation for making specific changes to our technology to create Modius SLEEP.
“Our new headset taps into the power of the brain’s hypothalamus, which acts as a mini computer and influences many areas of the brain, including weight loss and sleep. Our continued aim is to help people avoid sedatives and sleeping pills as they only mask the underlying problem and come with a host of nasty side effects.
“We use neuroscience to improve lives through safe, innovative, non-invasive products and we have complete confidence our SLEEP device is just as life changing as our SLIM device continues to be.”
In an initial 30-day study, 95% of Modius SLEEP users improved their overall sleep score with 85% claiming that they were more satisfied with their sleep patterns. Additionally, 71.3% of survey respondents with sleep issues reported positive changes when using Modius SLEEP.
Neurovalens has launched its Modius SLEEP campaign on Indiegogo. For the duration of the fundraising campaign, the product is available from $249 on Indiegogo and will eventually retail for £399 in the UK and Ireland.
Virgin Media is once again turning Black Friday Red with the launch of its Red Friday promotions. With offers available across TV, Broadband & Home phone bundles, and Virgin Mobile, there’s something for everyone.
Looking for a new phone or even a great Christmas gift? Starting this Thursday, November 14th, to Monday, December 2nd, new Virgin Media Broadband customers will get a FREE Google Home mini worth €59 while customers signing up to Virgin Media Broadband with TV & home phone will receive a Google Home worth €99 free of charge.
Virgin Mobile is joining the party with the unbelievable Unlimited Mobile for just €5 a month for 5 months and just €25 a month thereafter now available across the board meaning everyone can enjoy Virgin Mobile’s incredible deal.
Customers who select a brand new Samsung, Apple or Huawei phones are also in for a treat as Virgin Mobile will also be including a fantastic free gift. If you purchase one of the following mobile phones, Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Note 10, Note 10+ an Apple iPhone Xr or iPhone 8 or a Huawei P30 Pro, you’ll also receive a FREE pair of JBL TUNE 120 truly wireless in-ear headphones with a RRP of €99.
At Virgin Media our Smartphone deals aren’t just for Red Friday – these incredible mobile smartphone offers are available right through to January 3rd 2020.
Paul Higgins, Director of Consumer, Virgin Media said “Once again Virgin Media is turning Black Friday Red. We’ve got plenty of deals to tempt everyone.”
“No matter what you’re looking for – great entertainment bundles for TV, treating yourself to a new mobile phone or getting connected to Ireland’s fastest broadband network, we’ve got you covered.”
“New Virgin Media customers taking either a broadband package or a great TV & broadband bundle will enjoy a free Google Smart Home speaker when they sign up. For the first time everyone can pick up Unlimited Mobile for just €5 a month for 5 months. With our Red Friday deals starting early this year, Virgin Media customers can get a head-start on their Christmas Shopping with great gifts and still enjoy fantastic value.”
“Unlike most other mobile network offerings, Virgin Mobile’s offer gives customers peace of mind; they can be assured their phones will never be locked to our network; we’ll make it clear then their phone is paid off and we’ll let them upgrade their phone whenever they want.”
Plantronics, Inc. a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration, has announced the Voyager 4200 and Voyager 5200 Office Series. These Bluetooth headset systems are an extension of the popular Voyager 4200 UC and Voyager 5200 UC Series, designed for mobile office workers, and provide multiple connectivity options in the widest range of wearing styles to meet office mobility needs.
The Voyager 4200 and Voyager 5200 Office Series will have a version available with a dedicated Microsoft Teams button, both on the base and the headset, to instantly invoke the Teams app. This instant access to the Teams app makes scheduling a meeting, starting a call, or checking the calendar easy. The Teams versions also provide audio and visual alerts when a Teams notification occurs. The Voyager Office Series headsets are also supported by Zoom and other UC platforms.
“Open office floor plans require a certain amount of flexibility and mobility of employees,” said Tamara Lane, director of product marketing, at Poly. “To escape noise and distraction, you might duck into a huddle room for a call, take your next meeting in the lobby or join a meeting from someone else’s office which means you not only use a desk phone but a PC or Mac and your smartphone for collaboration. The Voyager Office Series delivers high-quality audio in a comfortable headset that performs in all of those scenarios.”
Multiple Connectivity options for Office Mobility
Poly Voyager 4200 and Voyager 5200 Office Series headsets can connect to a desk phone, PC, Mac, or a mobile phone. The Voyager Office Series Bluetooth headset systems give IT decision makers another wireless communication option in regions where DECT is not permitted and therefore helps boost UC adoption.
Amazon Alexa and Tile Built-In Support
The Voyager 4200 and 5200 Series headsets also feature Amazon Alexa Built-In and Tile integrations. Just tap-and-ask, and Alexa will respond so you can focus on your tasks at hand. Tile is integrated right into the headset which makes finding your Voyager headset easy – you can literally “ring” it.
Wearing Styles
The Voyager 4200 Office Series offers an over-the-ear, hi-fi stereo and mono headband wearing style. The Voyager 5200 Office Series offers a sleek and discreet over the ear wearing style for those working on the go in and out of the office. Both the Voyager 4200 and Voyager 5200 Office Series come with the option of a one-way desk phone only or two-way desk phone and PC/Mac office base, in addition to a mobile phone.
“In 2018, advanced UC-enabled Bluetooth headset revenue grew by a significant 56 percent with the segment holding the strongest growth opportunity in the professional headset world,” said Alaa Saayed, information and communications technology industry director and fellow, of Frost and Sullivan. “Poly’s unwavering commitment of designing mobile-first solutions for the modern office and helping people collaborate no matter what collaboration devices and platforms they prefer has resulted in the vendor offering the broadest advanced Bluetooth connectivity portfolio on the market.”
Remote Management for IT
IT teams can add the Plantronics Manager Pro software-as-a-service (sold separately) to a purchase to track every Voyager Office Series headset to help streamline the management of headset deployments, including device firmware updates and policy compliance. (Note: Plantronics Manager Pro is not supported by the desk phone only models.)
Pricing and Availability
For more information on styles, pricing and availability, please visit:
