A large land-locked country in West Africa, Mali’s population of 17 million has seen a strong growth in mobile uptake over the years, due to a lack of fixed connectivity services. Alpha Telecom’s long-awaited launch as the third mobile operator in Mali, under the brand Telecel, means that mobile subscriber penetration in Mali is expected to reach 138% in 2022, up from 127% in 2017, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Previously there have been two mobile operators in Mali: Orange Mali, part of the French Orange Group, and Malitel, part-owned by Marco Telecom and Malian government. At the end of December 2017, Alpha Telecom finally launched Telecel. Despite receiving a mobile license as far back as February 2013, Telecel had not managed to launch services until now. Over the years, it faced financing, infrastructure, and legal delays.
With network equipment built by Huawei, Telecel plans to offer 3G services, first in Bamako, then gradually rolling out across Mali. Telecel will be inserting fresh competition into the current duopoly between Orange Mali and Malitel.
June Sun, Technology Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “A new mobile operator entering a market can potentially lower the prices for consumers, as the new operator competes for subscribers with the incumbents. However, Telecel will have to compete with established products in the market, such as Malitel’s and Orange Mali’s popular mobile money services.”
The first Dell VEX Primary School Regional Competition of 2018 is taking place today in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The competition is run by Dell, in collaboration with CIT who have been involved with the programme since Dell brought it to Ireland six years ago.
67 Primary School Teams Compete in Final Stages of Competition
The first Dell VEX Robotics competition for secondary schools took place in 2012 featuring 10 teams before expanding in 2014 with the creation of the VEX IQ Primary School competition with 19 primary school teams competing that year. Over recent years, the competition has grown from strength to strength. 98 teams are involved in this year’s contest; 67 from primary schools and 31 from secondary schools. In total, 1,800 students from seven counties will participate over five days of events in the final stages of the competition.
The Dell VEX Robotics Challenge calls on students at primary and secondary school level to work in teams to design, build and program a robot. In September schools are provided with an easy to follow curriculum to help the schools run the preparation stages independently with the support of Dell employees who have volunteered their time to visit participating schools and provide guidance to students and teachers. Preparation with students has been taking place since September with scrimmages taking place in schools during November to prepare students for the competition phases.
Liam Daly and Aoibheann Roche of Burnfort NS Mallow with classmates preparing for the competition. The first Dell VEX Primary School Regional Competition of 2018 took place today in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The competition is run by Dell, in collaboration with CIT who have been involved with the programme since Dell brought it to Ireland six years ago. The semi-finals will take place on January 17th and 18th at CIT and at the Dell Limerick Campus on February 1st. The finals will take place in CIT on March 1st. The overall winners will get a spot in the VEX World Competition in Kentucky.
At the semi-final events, primary schools will compete against each other, present their projects to the judges and compete in a teamwork challenge with the finalists announced at the end of the day. The finals of the Primary School competition is taking place on March 1st in Cork Institute of Technology with the overall winners getting a spot in the VEX World Competition in Kentucky,
Bob Savage, Managing Director and Vice President EMEA, Dell Centre of Excellence said:“As a company we’re passionate about showcasing the exciting side of STEM subjects and inspiring students to become interested in science, technology, engineering and maths. Ultimately, we hope programmes like Dell VEX Robotics will have an impact on the choices students make when preparing for their Leaving Cert and when selecting courses for third level education. With Ireland’s tech sector continuing to thrive and technologies such as AI, VR and AR expected to be a core part of the future of work – regardless of the job or profession a student pursues, gaining these computational and engineering skills while still at school will be invaluable to them for the future.”
Dónal Ó Murchú, Principal, GaelScoil Thomais Daibhis, Mallow said: “The Dell VEX Robotics Programme is changing mindsets and addressing real issues with a problem-solving attitude; it focuses and inspires our young pupils to become the new innovators of their future. The fact that the pupils were more knowledgeable about some aspects of the robotics than their teachers meant that in our school the learning was pupil–led rather than what one might ordinarily expect.”
There are several aspects that differentiate the VEX Robotics Competition which is run by Dell from other school based projects. The competition focuses on engaging children from a young age with students as young as 9 and 10 years old designing robots. Typically, it involvesfull classes at primary level, meaning it engages all students and not just those who might already be tech-oriented. This is key to building that pipeline of talent that the technology industry needs to thrive. It also provides a wealth of opportunities to get involved within the community, from volunteers who provide mentoring sessions at their local school, to those who volunteer at an event as a referee, judge, inspector or more.
Eoghan neison, Manahil sabir, Dolly Sheehan and Jess young of Cork Educate Together N.S., Grattan Street. Cork City
The Dell VEX Robotics Challenge is delivered by Dell with the support of CIT. Throughout the last year, strategic partnerships have been built with various educational institutions. Mary Immaculate College in Limerick delivered a module on VEX Robotics for student teachers, held a summer course for school teachers and sponsored a number of teams. The Education Support Centres in Cork and Limerick both hosted VEX Robotics support sessions for teachers.
Monday, 16 October Was Day The Irish Watched The Most Netflix
2017 brought a lot of learning and also, A LOT of watching. Netflix members around the world watched more than 140 million hours per day (that’s a little more one billion hours per week in case you were wondering). The most popular1 of which fell on Monday, 16 October in Ireland – the day Hurricane Ophelia struck – schools and businesses closed and everyone needed a comfort binge during the official duvet day.
Even Antarctica got in on the watching action, where someone binged through Shameless (talk about Netflix and chill). Not to be outdone, Mexico takes the top spot for having the most members to watch Netflix every-single-day (#goals).
The ones we’re still scratching our heads about, the person who watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 365 days in a row (streamin’ me timbers?) while an Irish Netflix member watched “Just Go With It” 308 times during 2017. Impressive feats, especially as the average member watched around 60 movies on Netflix this year.
There’s much to say about what we watched, but how we watched was also intriguing. Though bingeing was standard in 2017, not all series were enjoyed in the same way – there were those we devoured, those we savoured, those we cheated on, and those that brought us together…
The Shows We Devoured in 2017
Globally we took an escape from reality in 2017 by devouring (watching more than two hours per day) sci-fi series likes of 3%,Travelers and The OA. The question of ‘whodunit’ (and didn’t do it) in The Keepers and The Confession Tapes also had us watching with might. While members in Ireland devoured crime dramas like Ingobernable,Marvel’s Iron Fist and Marvel’s The Defenders
Ingobernable
Greenleaf
The Mist
13 Reasons Why
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Marvel’s The Defenders
One Day at a Time
Santa Clarita Diet
Riverdale
Frontier
The Shows We Savoured in 2017
We needed a laugh this year and Irish members found that solace by savouring (watching less than two hours per day) comedies like You Me Her, ASOUE, GLOW and Big Mouth. We also took care to enjoy the splendour of The Crown (it is a visual feast fit for a queen after all).
The Crown
Ozark
El Chapo
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
The Confession Tapes
ASOUE
GLOW
Big Mouth
Neo Yokio
You Me Her
The Shows That Got Us Cheating in 2017
We couldn’t resist the thrill of a thrill and shamelessly watched ahead of our significant others on Narcos, Ozark, Black Mirror and more (don’t tell Marty).
Narcos
13 Reasons Why
Stranger Things
Orange is the New Black
Sense8
Black Mirror
Marvel’s The Defenders
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Ozark
MINDHUNTER
The Shows That Brought Us Together in 2017
Whether for the adventure, Chief Hopper or bromance (#DadSteve), Netflix members ranked Stranger Things as the top show to watch together as a family. Nostalgia also scored top points for family watching via Star Trek: Discovery, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and Fuller House.
Stranger Things
13 Reasons Why
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Star Trek Discovery
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Riverdale
Fuller House
Chef’s Table
Atypical
Anne with E
Methodology:
Popularity based on the average daily viewing hours per member between November 1, 2016 and November 1, 2017 Series viewed less than two hours per day were identified as ‘savored.’ Series viewed more than two hours per day were identified as ‘devoured.’ Data was inclusive of new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only. Additional information on the Netflix Binge Scale here.
Based on more than 60,000 survey responses from Netflix members between October 24-30, 2017. The sample is representative of an adult population who watch TV shows as a couple in 32 countries. The survey included new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only.
Based on more than 60,000 survey responses from Netflix members between October 24-30, 2017. The sample is representative of an adult population who watch TV shows with their family in 32 countries. The survey included new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only.
From online gaming, to mobile apps and wearable tech, technology is used at almost every touch point in people’s day-to-day lives. However, the downside of living in this hyper-connected society means that people are also extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Our friends at Sophos has this important report to share with us.
This year’s Malware Report from Sophos reveals just how malware is being weaved into this everyday technology, and how, year on year, we are seeing cybercriminals become more intelligent in their attacks, making it increasingly important for consumers to be wary of the dangers out there.
Whilst many consumers may live in denial that an attack like this will ever affect them, Sophos’ research revealed the opposite. James Burchell, Security Specialist at Sophos, reviews the most prominent risks from 2017, and what we can expect in 2018.
Ransomware is on every platform – don’t assume your mobile and tablets are safe
This year, WannaCry shook the world as the cyber hi-jack accounted for more than 45% of all ransomware tracked, closely followed by Cerber at 44.2%, according to Sophos’ most recentMalware Report.
In September alone, 30.4 percent of malicious Android malware processed by SophosLabs was ransomware. Sophos expects this to jump to approximately 45 percent in October. The majority of these attacks have targeted Windows users, but the number of attacks on other platforms is increasing, including those targeting Android, Macs and Linux.
Ransomware attacks have shifted in focus in the past two years, towards industries which are most likely to pay up, such as healthcare, government, critical infrastructure, and small businesses. Due to it being one of the most lucrative industries from ransomware payments or selling medical records, Healthcare has been a big target in 2017 and will without a doubt continue that way into 2018.
Malware is hiding in Android Apps
When reviewing Google Play, Sophos found that the number of different threats had doubled since last year. One type of malware, dubbed ‘GhostClicker’, sat in Google Play for almost a year, disguising itself as part of the service library. It then request device administration permission, and actively simulated click-on advertisements as it delivered to earn revenue.
One of the more sobering finds was Lipizzan, spyware that infected up to 100 devices. Although this doesn’t sound like a large number, it seems this was a targeted, precision malware, which was designed to monitor phone activity and extracting data from popular apps including email, SMS, location, and voice calls, and media.
Malware such as this is showing no sign of reducing in the future, as cyber criminals know it works. Therefore, in order to combat being a victim of Android malware, Sophos would suggest consumers:
Stick to Google Play – Although it isn’t perfect, it puts plenty of effort into preventing malware arriving in the first place
Avoid apps with a low reputation – Be especially wary of this when using a work phone
Patch early, patch often – Check the vendors attitude to updates
Online gaming is being used to spread Ransomware and Malware
In terms of online gaming, fake copies of the popular game, ‘King of Glory’ were used to spread ransomware this year. The warning screen used mimicked the one used during the WannaCry outbreak, directing individual to pay the ransom through the China-based Wechat, Alipay and QQ payment methods.
The number of malicious apps has risen steadily in the last four years, peaking at nearly 3.5 million in 2017, therefore we are likely to see this rise further in 2018, including more deceptive online gaming traps.
Data breaches– they are not going away
The downside of living in this hyper-connected society means that people are extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as shown in the past few weeks with the Uber Hack, which affected 2.7 million riders and drivers. Sadly, we don’t see these data breaches diminishing in 2018, and with GDPR coming into effect in May it will only continue to be a hot topic and something we are continuing to see.
2018 and beyond
It’s impossible to predict what will happen in 2018, however it’s a fair bet that Android and Windows will continue to be heavily targeted with ransomware and other Malware. Email will also remain the primary attack vector threatening corporate cyber security, especially in the case of targeted attacks.
Four trends that stood out in 2017, and will likely dominate 2018 are:
A ransomware surge fueled by RaaS and amplified by the resurgence of worms;
An explosion of Android malware on Google Play and elsewhere;
Continued efforts to infect Mac computers; and
Ongoing Windows threats, fueled by do-it-yourself exploit kits that make it easy to target Microsoft Office vulnerabilities.
Pretty popular toys these two but the Amazon Echo was the first to hit the market, but the Google Home is gaining ground. Hopefully the infographic will help you understand some more about the Assistants. Tane Clark from http://www.halfprice.com.au/ has created this infographic and sent it over for you to read and we hope you like it.
It has been a while since I have been hit on Viber in particular but just now I got this call on my phone and from looking at the number knew it was a dodgy one, But these scams will never go away but this is one you can add to your block list and prevent it regardless and pass it on to family and friends. Prevention is not a bad thing and we can all help on this.
The call is originating in Mauritania and has several threads on the web about it. Here is the offending number here +22222304969.
A refreshed version of old being the BNX-60 These offer much the same but wired and also quality
Last December we reviewed the BNX-60 headphones from Lindy and today they are still going strong and this refreshed model I expect to follow suit with the only difference being a wired connection rather than Bluetooth, Some folk prefer the Wired and some like wireless I am kind stuck between both and the argument that will crop up is sound quality which is debatable..
To be blunt nothing much has changed here apart from the wired offering and after wearing these for a few days the same quality and comfort is back and a well built headphone with a nice touchy feel to them that come packed once again in a hardcase and some extras to keep everyone happy.. Check out the video review below and image gallery and if you have any questions fire away.
UNBOXING AND REVIEW
Build quality once again is identical to the older version with a nice soft touch finish and priced at an affordable rate which puts a good set of cans on your ears with ANC to boot,The ANC is powered by two AA batteries hidden under the left cup which you will see how to access in the video above. If you are wondering the old version is costing £89 whislt this version cost just £59 and trading off for a wired headset is certainly worth it in this case as the package is almost identical thoughout with the extras inside and with the hardcase to portect them when travelling or if not in use its a nice touch..
Comfort is once again as before which is important for folk that like to listen to music on their commute or whatever the case maybe, With the soft leather padding on both cups and the headband they really offer a soft touch and dont clamp onto your head and also they are light so you will almost forget they are not there over a period of use.
Controls are as before with an ANC button which is powered by two AA batteries on the left also on this side is the 3.5mm audio socket. On the right is the volume control,LED status light and ANC switch.Powered by two 40mm drivers the sound is spot on in all circumstances and for the average user they will be pleased not only with the sound but with the quality and and comfort and they outdo some headphones coming in at a higher pricepoint..
Features
Active Noise Cancellation technology delivers up to 85% reduction of ambient noise
40mm high output drivers with neodymium magnets for smooth, solid bass and clear, sparkling treble
Features a fully adjustable headband and soft cushioned earpads for your comfort
This event brought together 30 PayPal employees to create and develop digital resources and systems for Irish charities over a 24-hour period.There were a number of charities that benefited from digital solutions. One of the most innovative was an app developed for suicide and self-harm charity, Pieta House.
The app streamlines the registration and payment system for Pieta House’s annual fundraiser, Darkness Into Light. It will save the charity 5,000 volunteer hours and eliminate the handling of over €1.5m in cash.
Press Release.
PayPal today announces the success of this year’s Opportunity Hack, its charity hackathon held in Ireland. The event, which took place at the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin, brought together 30 PayPal teammates to create and develop digital resources and systems for Irish charities over a 24-hour period.
Led by Jonathan Davies, Manager of Small Business Integrations and Optimisations at PayPal, the teammates were drawn from various disciplines including coding, software development, customer support, risk and compliance. They were tasked with working with the charities to develop solutions for their most pressing digital needs.
Pictured (L-R) at PayPals Opportunity Hack are Guy Thompson Fingal Chamber president & GM Castleknock Hotel; Alison Pryce, PayPal; Kristina Fernandes, PayPal; Cian Delaney, PayPal; Francesca Placido, PayPal; and Anthony Cooney, CEO, Fingal Chamber.
A judging panel – which consisted of various members of the PayPal team including Maeve Dorman, Vice President of Merchant Operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Anthony Rafferty, Director of Merchant Services, as well as Guy Thompson, General Manager of the Castleknock Hotel and President of Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce – had the difficult task of choosing the best projects.
The team behind Chifundo, a charity dedicated to the education of some of the most underprivileged children in the villages of Zomba in Malawi, claimed the number one spot. The PayPal techies helped to create an online shop for the organisation to enable it to sell Malawi crafts brought back to Ireland by volunteers, the proceeds of which will be donated directly to the school. They also made it user-friendly so that Chifundo can update it easily.
Second place went to Pieta House which helps those in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm. It was provided with an app allowing community centres to streamline the registration and payment system for its Darkness Into Light event, thus saving the charity 5,000 volunteer hours, allowing it to gather information on participants and eliminating the handling of over €1.5m in cash.
Junior Achievement Ireland, an organisation that encourages and supports young people to remain in education, and Outreach Moldova, which is dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable children in the Republic of Moldova, took joint third. Junior Achievement Ireland collaborated with PayPal to develop an integrated CRM system to digitise materials used in the classroom. Outreach Moldova’s collaboration resulted in a new online ticketing service to make it easier for people to purchase tickets for its dinner and lunch events.
Speaking about the hackathon, Maeve Dorman said: “At PayPal, we are committed to giving back to the local community where we do business. It’s been fantastic to see our team joining forces with local charities to tackle their digital challenges, and come up with solutions that can make a tangible difference to their work.
Maeve Dorman, Vice President of Merchant Operations EMEA, PayPal
“It is a tremendous event for all involved. Not only do the charities benefit but PayPal teammates get a great sense of achievement out of applying their expertise to new challenges. Now in its second year, the Opportunity Hack 2.0 has made a significant impact already and helps to address important issues such as social inclusion, education and wellness.”
Kieran Brady, Director of Funding and Advocacy, Pieta House, said: “As our flagship funding event, Darkness Into Light is the single biggest occasion that allows us to keep our doors open and continue to provide our life-saving service free of charge to people all over Ireland. Over the years, the event has grown from strength to strength, but with that, so have its needs, along with the challenges that come with managing such a large event.
“The app created for us at PayPal’s Opportunity Hack 2.0 streamlines the registration and payment processes, saving us countless hours, and protects both staff and volunteers by reducing cash handling. It will also help us adhere to tightening data protection legislation and maintain transparency, which is so important to us in remaining accountable to the many people who support us in doing our work. We are extremely grateful to the PayPal team for lending us their time and expertise for this project.”
Pictured (L-R) at PayPals Opportunity Hack are Tim O’Leary, PayPal; Darren Corley, PayPal; Slawek Smiechowski, PayPal; and Guy Thompson Fingal Chamber president & GM Castleknock Hotel.
Guy Thompson said: “Castleknock Hotel was honoured to be the partner hotel for PayPal’s Opportunity Hack 2.0 and the staff were delighted to host another hugely successful event. As President of the Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce, we strongly encourage CSR initiatives amongst our members and PayPal is leading the way, providing much needed expertise, support, enthusiasm and a genuine passion for helping the community.”
Before you try it out do gamble with sense folks or checkGambleAware.ie
Lottoz.ie, the new fully regulated global online lottery platform lands in Ireland today with a mission to eliminate geographical borders and give Irish lottery fans the chance to bet on jackpots from the biggest lotteries worldwide including the US Powerball Lottery which currently has a jackpot of €88.3million.
Lottoz is challenging the traditional way of playing lottery by allowing users of its mobile platform to bet on lottery results from 14 international lotteries from four continents including the US Powerball and Mega Millions, the EU’s EuroMillions and EuroJackpot, the UK’s National Lottery and Thunderball, Bonolotto, France Lotto and the Oz Lotto! By using a mobile platform to place bets and manage winnings, Lottoz removes geographical borders and the need to buy paper tickets and claim winnings in-person.
Owned and developed by new gaming and entertainment tech company Morpheus Games, Lottoz is licensed by Office of the Revenue Commissioners and is part of a new wave of digital-first brands that are changing the way people access the lottery. From offices in Malta, Israel and Ukraine, all known for their up-and-coming tech and gaming sectors. Morpheus plans to continuously expand the number of international lotteries and games it offers Irish players for betting, and attract new digital and mobile-first audiences to this kind of gaming.
“The lottery business needs to evolve if it is to survive,” says Co-Founder Kfir Biton, who devised the idea for Lottoz when he was sent a link to play the $1,586Bn US Powerball Jackpot in January 2016 and found that he was not able to play. “Driven by our cutting-edge technology and mobile customer experience, we introduce new, younger, global audiences to lotteries, with instant access to bet on their lucky numbers and win jackpots.
In 2017, accessibility is everything. People order gadgets and even cars on eBay, sublet apartments on AirBnB and do it on their phone in an instant. Still, they have very limited accessibility to global lotteries offering incredible jackpots. Its alien for these players to have to queue for tickets and head into newsagents or supermarkets to collect their winnings. This is a generation who pay with Apple Pay and trade in Bitcoins. They want to know that their winnings are already collected for them and in their account, ready to spend on the things they want. They want alerts for new games and instant access at the tap of a button.”
With these new audiences in mind, Lottoz is making it its mission to reimagine the way people play the lottery and connect to their dreams. “The global lottery market is worth $279.9M and is set to grow at a CAGR of 9.44% between 2017-2021, but the biggest challenge to growth is jackpot fatigue and the habit of playing predominantly offline. By taking the game online, expanding the jackpot opportunities and making it easy, secure and exciting to play for new mobile audiences, Lottoz is a brand that will spearhead a change in the market, and that is truly exciting!” says Morpheus Games CEO Dave Avila.
Kfir concludes, “Over the coming months we plan to educate and change consumer habits by digitising lotteries from around the world, making them available to bet on via mobile. We have a great product for the UK market and we’re ready for Irish players to place their bets, but we’re also in development and we have an incredibly exciting product pipeline lined-up.” Ultimately, Lottoz offers choice; choice of lotteries from around the world, choice of odds, choice of jackpots and draw times whenever you want them, wherever you are.
To bet on the biggest jackpots around the world, please visit www.lottoz.ie
