Category: Tech News

TransferMate takes top prize at the inaugural Deloitte Financial Services Innovation Awards #TransferMate #Deloitte

Global payments company TransferMate has been announced as the overall winner of the first annual Deloitte Financial Services Innovation Awards. Established in 2010, the company facilitates global payments in 162 countries in 134 currencies, and has nine offices worldwide.

The awards, which celebrate innovation by financial services companies across the island of Ireland, recognise both individuals and companies that are leading the way in innovation – using technology to address challenges and create opportunities, improving user experience, and changing the way business is done. Financial Services Ireland (FSI) and Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) partner with Deloitte on the awards.

Speaking at the awards, Minister Michael D’Arcy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services and Insurance said: “Financial services has long been a priority sector for the Irish Government. The development of our international financial services sector has been one of the highlights of Ireland’s economic development over the last 30 years. It is innovation that will be key in ensuring that we maintain what we have and to continue enhancing our IFS sector. The Ireland for Finance strategy recognises this with one of the four foundational pillars being Technology and Innovation.

“I am delighted to have been invited by Deloitte to their inaugural Deloitte Financial Services Innovation Awards. As the first event of its kind in Ireland, the awards celebrated innovation in the financial services space and I would like to congratulate all of the nominees and award winners on their achievements.”

BUSINESS 20th Sept 2019 no fee for repro
Deloitte has announced the winners of its inaugural Financial Services Innovation Awards. Global payments company TransferMate has been announced as the overall winner, while Denis McCarthy, CEO of Fexco, was recognised in the leadership category.
Pictured at the awards are David Dalton, Head of Financial Services, Deloitte, Joe Duffy, Chair of FSI Executive Board and Country Executive for BNY Mellon in Ireland, Sinead Fitzmaurice, Co-Founder and CFO, TransferMate, Terry Clune, Co-Founder, TransferMate, Richard Walsh, Head of Digital and Payments Strategy, BPFI.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic.

It was double success for TransferMate at the awards. In addition to being crowned the overall winner, it was also named the winner within the Product or Service category for its Global Invoice Connect product. This is an international receivables product for businesses looking for a more efficient solution for receiving payments from their global customers. The product provides an alternative to international wire payments by using TransferMate’s global network, which features a robust legal and compliance framework capable of transferring funds in over 162 countries. TransferMate collaborates with Wells Fargo to bring Global Invoice Connect to the market.

Denis McCarthy, CEO of Fexco, was announced as the winner in the leadership category. This award acknowledges the role Denis has played in driving Fexco’s diversification into new product areas and investment in innovation that has proven key to the evolution of the company into a global fintech business. Prior to his role at Fexco, as a founder of both Annadale Technologies and Aviso, he demonstrated his ability to lead a concept and idea through to product development and commercial success.

David Dalton, Head of Financial Services at Deloitte Ireland, commented:  “Congratulations to TransferMate on being crowned overall winners. We launched these awards to showcase the pioneering innovations that were being developed in the industry and to showcase Ireland as hub for innovation internationally. We’ve been blown away by the calibre of innovation within the industry and TransferMate certainly exemplifies that through their innovative product offerings.

BUSINESS 20th Sept 2019 no fee for repro
Deloitte has announced the winners of its inaugural Financial Services Innovation Awards. Global payments company TransferMate has been announced as the overall winner, while Denis McCarthy, CEO of Fexco, was recognised in the leadership category.
Pictured at the awards are David Dalton, Head of Financial Services, Deloitte, Joe Duffy, Chair of FSI Executive Board and Country Executive for BNY Mellon in Ireland, Sinead Fitzmaurice, Co-Founder and CFO, TransferMate, Terry Clune, Co-Founder, TransferMate, Richard Walsh, Head of Digital and Payments Strategy, BPFI.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic.

Similarly, Denis’s relentless focus on continuous improvement and the determination he has shown when pursuing efforts to innovate is inspiring to all of us – he is an outstanding leader, innovator and influencer in the financial services industry. The judging panel were particularly struck by their appetite to collaborate with strategic partners, both domestically and internationally, to drive innovation within their businesses.

“Through these awards, we have observed a level of innovation in the financial services industry and an ecosystem in Ireland not seen before, and we are delighted to recognise those companies that are driving this.”

From over 100 applications the judging panel, comprising Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Brian Hayes, CEO, BPFI; Joe Duffy, Chair of FSI Executive Board and Country Executive for BNY Mellon in Ireland; Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor, The Irish Times; Mai Santamaria, Head of the Financial Advisory Team at the Department of Finance; and David Dalton, Head of Financial Services, Deloitte, chose the following winners:

  • Product or Service – TransferMate
  • Operations – Institute of Banking
  • Customer Experience – Xtremepush
  • RegTech – AQMetrics & Fenergo (joint winners)
  • Learning – Ulster Bank
  • Social or Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Fexco
  • Most Disruptive Fintech – InvoiceFair
  • Leadership – Denis McCarthy
  • Overall winner – TransferMate

Over 150 business leaders from across the island of Ireland attended the awards gala on Friday 20 September, alongside Minister Michael D’Arcy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services and Insurance, and keynote speaker Chris Skinner, CEO of The Finanser, author and expert commentator on the financial markets and fintech.

Urbanista Collaborates with the Tim Bergling Foundation to help stem Mental Health increase amongst highest affected 15-29 year old’s #MentalHealth #Urbanista #OpenToTalk

Urbanista, a leading developer and manufacturer of lifestyle audio products are proud to announce their support and long term commitment to supporting mental health illness; through the collaboration of the Tim Bergling Foundation. Founded in memory of one of the most acclaimed and beloved producers, performers and singer songwriters in modern music, also known as Avicii, who tragically lost his life to suicide in April 2018.

Open to Talk? Open to Listen, a collaboration launching in October 2019 designed to channel a long-term range of initiatives, championing the ongoing efforts made in raising awareness of mental health. Through music based collaborations, content and the sale of Urbanista headphone products – all aimed at encouraging those in need, to talk. Open to Talk? Open to Listen, created by Urbanista will proudly;

·     Partner and contribute support and finances to the Tim Bergling Foundation

·     Sponsor the Avicii Tribute Concert https://www.aviciitributeconcert.com/

·     Create Open to Talk? Open to Listen campaign, story based content encouraging others to talk about their own experiences with mental health

·     Donate to a range of Mental Health organisations through Urbanista headphone sales

Tim Bergling

A Voice for Mental Health

Both Urbanista and Avicii are connected to the music scene, especially in Scandinavia and have created the need to act and be a part of the voice, now gathering pace for Mental Health related illnesses.

Urbanista will work closely with the Tim Bergling foundation to help support Mental Health awareness and suicide prevention. Anders Andreen, Urbanista CEO, comments; As a manufacturer of headphones and speakers, music means everything to us. This collaboration goes hand in hand with our core values and it is with pride that we support the Tim Bergling Foundation.”

The Tim Bergling Foundation was created by Klas Bergling, Anki Liden and their family after the death of their son. The foundation will advocate for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency and promote removing the stigma attached to the discussion of Mental Health issues. 

An Alarming 450 million people currently suffer from mental illness, placing Mental Health disorders among the leading cause of ill health, globally. Up to one million people take their own lives every year and is the most common cause of death for young adults aged 16-29.

The Foundations activities will kick off with the Avicii Tribute Concert, supported by Urbanista, in Stockholm on the 5thDecember at Friends Arena, where 19 of the original singers on Avicii’s biggest songs will perform with a 30-piece live band, alongside DJ sets from his friends. The line-up already includes, David Guetta, Rita Ora, Adam Lambert amongst others. Others will be announced in the coming weeks. All net profits from the Avicii Tribute Concert for Mental Health Awareness will go to supporting organisation’s that address mental health needs and suicide prevention.

#OpenToTalk

Share your experiences and be part of those doing the same from October 2019 on Urbanista’s social channels.

Alongside the Avicii Tribute Concert, Urbanista begin their support with a contribution to the foundation, donating 10% of sales on all Stockholm headphones sold on the Urbanista website throughout October. The donated funds will help the formation of policies and tools that are needed to detect risks and prevent suicide, especially among young people. 

In participating retailers, purchase any Urbanista Stockholm headphone during October will have the opportunity to win one of 10 VIP golden tickets to the event. 

“These activities are a starting point to our long-term commitment in supporting issues close to Tim Bergling’s heart” says Anders Andreen in a statement, continuing “We are honoured to help keep Avicii’s legacy alive through the power of music and support the foundation in recognising the importance of Mental Health Awareness, Sustainability and Global Warming, the three topics close to Tim Bergling’s heart. “Urbanista supports us in this important work and we are extremely pleased to have them on-board” concludes Klas Bergling, Tim’s father.

Sophos tracks evolution of WannaCry from predator to high risk vaccine. #Sophos #WannaCry #Malware

Sophos , a global leader in network and endpoint security, has published WannaCry Aftershock, a paper on what happened to the infamous WannaCry malware, following the worldwide attack that began on May 12, 2017.  The research by SophosLabs shows that the WannaCry threat remains rampant, with millions of infection attempts stopped every month, and that while the original malware has not been updated, many thousands of short-lived variants are in the wild.

The continued existence of the WannaCry threat is largely due to the ability of these new variants to bypass the ‘kill switch.’  However, when Sophos researchers analyzed and executed a number of variant samples, they found that their ability to encrypt data was neutralized as a result of code corruption.

Because of the way in which WannaCry infects new victims – checking to see if a computer is already infected and, if so moving on to another target – infection by an inert version of the malware effectively protects the device from being infected with the active strain. In short, new variants of the malware act as an accidental vaccine, offering still unpatched and vulnerable computers a sort of immunity from subsequent attack by the same malware.

However, the very fact that these computers could be infected in the first place suggests the patch against the main exploit used in the WannaCry attacks has not been installed – a patch that was released more than two years ago.

The original WannaCry malware was detected just 40 times and since then SophosLabs researchers have identified 12,480 variants of the original code. Closer inspection of more than 2,700 samples (accounting for 98 percent of the detections) revealed they had all evolved to bypass the ‘kill switch’ – a specific URL that, if the malware connects to it, automatically ends the infection process – and all had a corrupted ransomware component and were unable to encrypt data.

In August 2019, Sophos telemetry detected 4.3 million instances of WannaCry. The number of different variants observed was 6,963. Of these, 5,555 or 80 percent – were new files.

Sophos researchers have also traced the first appearance of today’s most widespread corrupted variant back to just two days after the original attack: May 14, 2017, when it was uploaded to VirusTotal, but had not yet been seen in the wild.

“The WannaCry outbreak of 2017 changed the threat landscape forever. Our research highlights how many unpatched computers are still out there, and if you haven’t installed updates that were released more than two years ago – how many other patches have you missed? In this case, some victims have been lucky because variants of the malware immunized them against newer versions. But no organization should rely on this. Instead, standard practice should be a policy of installing patches whenever they are issued, and a robust security solution in place that covers all endpoints, networks and systems,” said Peter Mackenzie, security specialist at Sophos and lead author of the research.

 How to protect against WannaCry malware and ransomware in general

  • Check that you have a full inventory of all devices connected to your network and that they are all up to date in terms of their security software
  • Always install the latest patches as soon as they are released on all the devices on your network
  • Verify if your computers are patched against the EternalBlue exploit used in WannaCry by following these instructions: How to Verify if a Machine is Vulnerable to EternalBlue – MS17-010
  • Keep regular backups of your most important and current data on an offline storage device as the best way to avoid having to pay a ransom when affected by ransomware
  • There is no silver bullet to security, and a layered security model is the best practice all businesses need to implement
  • For example, Sophos Intercept X employs a comprehensive defense-in-depth approach to endpoint protection, combining multiple leading next-gen techniques to deliver malware detection, exploit protection and built-in endpoint detection and response (EDR)

Skullcandy announce Crusher ANC Personalised Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones #Headphones

Skullcandy are releasing some great things at the minute and we have been testing them all and the next up is their new Crusher ANC headphones and if anything is to go by their last instalment of headphones these I cant wait to try out. Lately we have been trying their True Wireless range and I was looking forward to the next set of cans from Skullcandy. Check out the Deep Red they look something else..

 

These are at the more expensive range but with Skullcandy it will be worth the spend from trying out their previous Models which you can find on site by searching “SKULLCANDY” These come loaded with features including TILE again which is handy if you misplace your beloved cans. They also come with an App which is a must today for EQ.

Featuring:

ADJUSTABLE SENSORY BASS Bass you can measure in goosebumps. Crusher ANC features our broadest range of Sensory Bass yet with new, patented drivers. You don’t just hear it, you feel it. And you can easily adjust it up or down based on your preference.

PERSONAL SOUND Tuned to your personal hearing with the Skullcandy App. By taking a real-time audio test on the Skullcandy app, you’ll create a Personal Sound profile based on your unique hearing. That profile is then stored on your headphones to optimize audio levels so you hear layers in your music that you’ve never heard before.

ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION Less Noise. Cleaner Sound. No matter how much the sounds around you change, Skullcandy’s Active Noise Cancellation monitors your environment and eliminates outside noise to keep your music crystal clear.

BUY

 

 

 

Say goodbye to charging nightmares with Athena. #Athena #Tech #WirelessCharging

Groov-e, a leading UK tech brand, continues to expand its range of wireless charging products with the launch of the Athena, a sleek and stylish alarm clock featuring wireless charging and a night light.

Athena is the perfect bedside companion, conveniently combining all the essential functionality you’d expect in an alarm clock with wireless charging technology. Users simply place their wireless charging compatible device on top of the Athena and wake to a full battery every morning. Athena makes cluttered bedside tables and hunting down cables at the end of the day a thing of the past.

Controlled by touch, the Athena alarm clock also features a gentle night light with three settings that allow users to choose the brightness level that best suits them. This is ideal for those who need different levels of light throughout the night to aid getting up for the toilet, tending to infants or pets or because they don’t like to sleep in total darkness.

The Athena’s handy alarm clock and calendar display means that even when waking up sleepy it’s easy to know what time and day it is. The brightness of the easy-to-read LCD screen can also be easily altered ensuring users get an undisturbed night’s sleep.

Kunal Patel, Director, Groov-e said: “We’ve had so much success with our first two wireless charging products the Apollo and Ares and we are thrilled to introduce the Athena to our line-up. Athena is the perfect addition to any bedroom or study providing great features for us all.”

The Athena is £34.99 and available from www.groov-e.co.uk

Dunnes Stores and Lidl hit with Facebook voucher scam. #DunnesStores #Lidl #Scam

Over the last few weeks there have been multiple scams doing the rounds mostly involving cost traps be it by calling someone back or people claiming to be form eircom to fix a problem at home, Facebook however of late has had multiple scams reported but little action being done by Facebook itself or the companies involved, Dunnes stores today have got back to us on the matter which is good to see but people need to be warned about these and steer clear.

We have yet to hear from Lidl on the matter despite reporting it to them on social media. Lidl are usually proactive on social media about such incidences. Facebook have a part to play here too in my book verifying such bullshit which I have said before and it seems nothing has changed, Some people are reporting that they have been victim to premium rate message charges over these voucher scams which are not true. Dunnes was also recently hit with a voucher scam by prizejack.

Both scams use the same tactic citing an anniversary offering a €750 voucher.

Pass it on and be warned.

Updated. Today https://twitter.com/techbuzzinfo/status/1181188575011987457?s=19 has appeared on Facebook. Dunnes have responded via private message which is not a way of being proactive on the matter.

Dell Technologies Forum reveals how emerging technologies will shape the future economy. #DELL #IoT #AI #IT

At the Dell Technologies Forum taking place in Dublin today, leading technologist and Global CTO Patricia Florissi outlined how AI can utilise unimaginable amounts of data to develop critical business insights which will drive business growth.

Over 400 business leaders and IT experts gathered to listen to the global CTO for sales of Dell Technologies as she explained how businesses need to embrace this innovative new technology to remain competitive in the world of 2030.

The event also included specific workshops and breakout sessions led by experts from the Dell Technologies family on the move to the cloud, improving cyber security, AI and Machine Learning as well as 5G technology. These workshops enabled Irish business leaders to see how they could use these innovative technologies to drive growth and improve competitiveness at their business.

Patricia Florissi, Vice-President and Global CTO for Sales, Dell Technologies said: “It’s great to be here in Dublin meeting with so many business leaders from across Ireland. Technology is having a profound effect on how we live and work, so it is imperative that businesses embrace the possibilities that digital transformation offers. Artificial intelligence is turning valuable data into even more lucrative insights which will allow businesses to maintain their position at the forefront of their industry. At Dell Technologies we are committed to working with our customers to ensure that technological innovation helps them achieve their business goals”.

Sustainability was an important theme at this year’s Dell Technologies Forum as it is a key concern for businesses and organisations across Ireland. Everyone at Dell Technologies is committed to using technology to create a sustainable economy and society.

Mark Hopkins, General Manager, Dell Technologies Ireland added: “Dell Technologies Forum is always an important event for us as it allows us to showcase the opportunities that emerging technologies can offer our customers. It has been interesting listening to Patricia Florissi’s valuable insights on future technology trends, and to see how we can use technological advances to drive sustainability and create a thriving planet.

“The potential improvements that technologies such as AI and IoT can offer businesses are truly transformational and at Dell Technologies Ireland we want to ensure that Irish companies take the necessary steps to make that transformation a reality.”

Jabra presents the 4th generation in true wireless earbuds with the Jabra Elite 75t #Jabra #Elite75t

Jabra, leader in personal sound as well as office solutions,  announces the next generation true wireless earbuds, the Jabra Elite 75t. Engineered to last longer and designed to fit better, the Elite 75t takes things up a notch, building on the same great calls and music that fans of the Elite 65t have come to love – with a notably longer battery life and a smaller, more secure, comfortable fit.  As a user and fan of the true wireless from Jabra I look forward to checking these out soon..

Fuelled by 150 years of audio engineering excellence, Jabra has a proven track record within true wireless. The Elite 75t leverages a lower power platform and connectivity technology from sister company GN Hearing as well as miniaturization know-how built up from four generations of true wireless Elite products.

The Elite 75t is specifically designed to provide enhanced comfort through its optimal earbud shape and size. The earbuds have been extensively tested for secure fit, so users can be confident that the earbuds will stay put, no matter what activity they may be engaged in. The sleek design makes the Elite 75t ideal even for smaller ears, while the ergonomic shape makes them so comfortable, users can enjoy their music and calls for extended periods of time.

 

Determining key user needs

Jabra developed a comfort and fit simulation model based on thousands of ear scans from global users to determine the most optimal 3D shape and size, that fits ears comfortably across a range of users. Taking it one step further, Jabra also collated valuable insights on user needs and preferences to determine the primary barriers to a true wireless experience.

There’s a constant consumer demand for more battery life, better fit and ease of connectivity to devices which Jabra is seeking to address with the newest addition to the Elite range. The Elite 75t offers up to 28 hours of battery life with the charging case and 7.5 hours without. Those in a rush will appreciate the fast USB-C charging that ensures that you never run out of battery when you need it the most – perfect for modern life on the go. A wireless charging variant will also be introduced to the market at a later date.

Clever engineering ensures that the new compact size continues to deliver the fundamentals consumers expect form Jabra, namely – robust connectivity, durability, ease of use and a superior calls and music experience. Making and taking calls is a great experience with the 4-microphone call technology, enhanced with Jabra’s latest noise and wind reducing algorithms. This feature gives you the confidence to take that call, even in busy environments like the street or subway. We enhanced the ease of use of the charging case by ensuring easy access and adding magnets.

René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Jabra, said, “Our biggest news at IFA 2019 is also our smallest yet. It is a result of our dedication to listening to and providing for changing customer expectations for a truly wireless experience. Taking a great product and making it better is a complex undertaking and that is exactly what we have achieved today. We have elevated the earbud experience, ensuring the most comfortable and long-lasting solution for on-the-go lifestyles. We are excited to welcome the Elite 75t, our newest, most innovative addition to our award-winning Elite range,” he added.

Users can instantly connect to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant, quickly accessing the information they may need – from setting appointments, to finding nearby events or having messages read out. Furthermore, Bluetooth 5.0 allows users to seamlessly connect the Elite 75t to their smartphones.

The Jabra Sound+ app allows users to choose their voice assistant, customize their music profile with the equalizer, modify how much nearby noise they want to hear (HearThrough), adjust their calls experience, keep track of battery charge, and much more.

The Elite 75t will be available in two colours – Titanium Black, and Gold Beige, offering varied options to users to suit their preferred style. There will also be a black version exclusive for Best Buy in the US.

Key features and specifications: 

  • New compact earbud shape tested for comfort and secure fit
  • More than 7.5 hours battery life, up to 28 hours with the charging case
  • 4-microphone technology for crystal clear calls even in noisy and windy environments
  • Fast charging with USB-C
  • Reliable true wireless connectivity with no audio dropouts
  • Music your way with the customizable equalizer, available in the Jabra Sound+ app
  • IP55-rated durability and 2-year warranty against dust and water*
  • One-touch access to Amazon Alexa**, Siri® and Google Assistant™
  • Compatible with all Bluetooth audio enabled phones and tablets
  • The Jabra Sound+ companion app is compatible with iOS and Android devices

Pre-order your iPhone 11,11 Pro or 11 Pro Max shell and get -20% off with @noreve #iPhone11 #noreve

Apple have donned us with new iPhones and you will want to case up as they are expensive. noreve is now taking pre-orders on new shells and this company makes hand made cases and we have something on the way from them which was custom made to our choice. It hard to get custom cases and noreve allow you customise and are made from the best quality materials there is.

For the release of the latest Apple smartphones, get -20% off your iPhone 11, 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max by pre-ordering the shell now. Visit  www.noreve.com

Check out the range of cases we have reviewed.

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