Category: Tech News

Naughten Switches on State’s First National IoT Network #IoT #2rn #VT #RTE #SIGFOX

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr Denis Naughten TD, officially switched on the State’s first Internet of Things  (IoT) network in Athlone, Co Westmeath today. The network, which is owned by VT Networks, operates through 2rn’s national broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure, which gives it huge resilience, coverage and robustness. 2rn’s involvement has made the fast rollout of a nationwide IoT network possible.

2rn has struck a partnership with VT Networks, which Minister Naughten signed as part of the official switch on today, Oct. 4. In exchange for shares in VT, 2rn provided expertise and use of its national network of broadcast towers, masts and infrastructure. This allowed VT to bring a SIGFOX network, valued at €10 million, to the entire country in a record-setting five months.  

SIGFOX is a French company that provides low-power, wide-area networks (LPWAN) across the globe through partnerships with local operators. This type of connectivity is optimized for sensors and simple devices, such as GPS trackers and security systems, allowing them to send multiple messages with small amounts of information. Since users are only paying for the bandwidth needed for these devices, they can be connected for as little as €1 per year. Low power requirements also mean the battery life of SIGFOX-enabled devices can last up to 300 times longer than those that use other connectivity options, such as traditional cellular networks.

2rn Infrastructure Manager Kevin White, VT COO Will Ferguson, Minister Denis Naughten, 2rn Executive Director Mick Kehoe, VT CEO Mark Bannon and 2rn Commercial Manager John Clarke were on hand for the official switching on of Ireland’s first dedicated Internet of Things network.

Speaking at the switch on at a broadcast tower in Coolderry, Athlone, Minister Naughten said, “Ireland is a centre for innovation and our aim is to stay ahead of the curve. We could immediately see the benefit of having a nationwide network dedicated to IoT devices, covering both urban and rural areas, and hope this will help to cement our place as a country that is leading the way in Internet of Things development. We are delighted to be part of the drive towards innovation in Ireland alongside VT.”

“We could not have hoped for a better partner than 2rn to bring this new technology nationwide,” said VT CEO Mark Bannon. “Our partnership ensures businesses, homes and farms across the country will benefit from IoT.”

Dee Forbes, Director General, RTÉ, said: “I am delighted that 2rn has been able to assist in the deployment of Ireland’s first national IoT network, which will enable the important development and deployment of new products and services across rural and urban Ireland.”  

“Our experience and knowledge within the connectivity space convinced us that bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds would require new forms of technology. We are proud to be partnering with VT Networks, and we share in the vision of helping Ireland become a global hub for IoT development,” said 2rn Managing Director Mick Kehoe.

OnePlus 3 is heading to O2 UK on September 29th #OnePlus3

Who would of thought we would see the One Plus 3 hit a retailer?? Well now it is happening but sadly not for Irish users and probably never will. Given its specs and price point it would surely be a good seller on any network but with how their business model started out with it did not go down to well with potential customer with the invite system which they eventually ditched… To add on top of that its the logistics if you had an issue but this seems to have been all forgiven and it would certainly be welcomed by most to see it in a store rather than online… Could this be the beginning of something new seeing new OEMs landing on our shelves??

 

The OnePlus 3 will be available on a range of O2 Refresh tariffs, starting at £28 per month, with no upfront costs. Not only that, but the device will be available in O2 retail stores and online from September 29.

 

 

One Plus have said…

 

O2 attracted us for a number of reasons. First of all, they have an unparalleled pedigree when it comes to exclusive launches for the finest handsets and introducing the hottest new tech to their community. The strength of their Refresh initiative, rewarding loyalty by removing high upgrade prices, is a perfect fit for the OnePlus 3. Finally, there’s O2 Priority, delivering exclusive early opportunities to grab tickets for the hottest events and gigs – an initiative that lines up beautifully with our Never Settle mentality.

Would you like to see it here in Ireland with our networks?? Let us know..

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Heavey RF successfully completes €750,000 contract with United Drug. #Cloud #Tracking

Heavey RF Group, a leading Irish-owned provider of advanced technology solutions to the warehouse and logistics sector, has fully completed its contract with United Drug which was worth in the value of €750,000. Heavey RF is delighted to have fully and successfully implemented one of its largest projects to date.

The one-year contract involved the integration and national roll-out of a single, cloud-based solution to replace United Drug’s previous proof of delivery as well as its associated tracking and reporting solutions.

 

Pictured are Ronan Clinton, Heavey RF with Ian Donaldson from United Drug on the completion of Heavey RF’s contract to deliver a new package tracking and proof of delivery system for the the pharmaceutical wholesaler, a project was worth in the value of €750,000.

 

United Drug is the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler and pre-wholesaler in Ireland providing a wide range of supply chain services to manufacturers, hospitals and pharmacies.

United Drug distributes 200 million medicines and related products per year providing extensive service to all parts of the island of Ireland.

Heavey RF partnered with ABM Data Systems, a Dublin-based specialist software house with over 20 years’ experience in transport software in its project to deliver a user-friendly, secure package tracking and electronic proof of delivery for United Drug.

Ronan Clinton from Heavey RF said: “United Drug’s requirements was for a scalable and future-proof solution that would seamless integrate with its existing and future infrastructure. It was a complex project in which our core team worked in partnership with United Drug to deliver a solution tailored to its needs. Together we have developed a best in class solution that give our client, who is already an industry leader, an added edge.”

 

Pictured are Ronan Clinton, Heavey RF with Ian Donaldson from United Drug on the completion of Heavey RF’s contract to deliver a new package tracking and proof of delivery system for the the pharmaceutical wholesaler, a project was worth in the value of €750,000.

The project included a solution integration across over 200 mobile and more than 30 desktops across six national locations.

 

Ian Donaldson Operations Director from United Drug said:

“United Drug required a leading edge tote tracking and proof of delivery solution across multiple business units and locations whilst aligning the implementation to a Group SAP Program. Heavey RF provided this solution and was a willing and flexible partner who enabled us to achieve our key objectives. The solution is meeting our performance targets and we are confident it will allow us to move forward with enhanced capability in this key operational area.”

Wireless officially launch their brand flagship store in Athlone and their new website www.wirelessphones.ie

Wireless officially launch their brand flagship store in Athlone and their new website www.wirelessphones.ie today Thursday 15th September 2016. Over the last few months, blood, sweat and tears have gone into making this one of the best Irish tech launches of 2016. Wireless is an easy solution to never ending hikes in smart device pricing. We deliver smart deals on smartphones and tablets. Wireless is an Irish-owned company with just one ambition: to provide people with graded sim smartphones and tablets aka price everyone can afford, even students (yes we care about you furry, broke, little animals!)

 

 

 

Wireless Managing Directors, twins John & Michael Conway, and the Wireless team had been working on this this well kept secret for months before they told their friends, family and existing staff what was really going on. “It wasn’t easy to keep it from the women in our lives (girlfriend’s and more importantly mammy!) but we managed to pull it off and it made it all that bit more enjoyable”. The boys are thrilled to finally see all their hard work come to fruition.

 

What was this well kept secret you ask? Well… The boys already have a hugely successful pre-existing repair company in the midlands called ‘Fix My i’ with two shops based in Mullingar and Tullamore. They employ 10 staff members between the two shops and business is booming! What the twins didn’t tell their staff was that they were opening a brand new flagship store in Athlone and that eventually they were going to rebrand both shops in Tullamore and Mullingar as ‘Wireless’ with Fix My i still existing in the background of the business.

 

 

John says: “Wireless was pretty simple really. I opened a repair shop called Fix My i to repair broken smartphones and tablets in 2013. That repair shop did really well. My twin brother Mike came home from Australia and we brainstormed how we could expand the business. We started selling refurbished and repaired devices as good as new for a fraction of the cost of a brand new model. Turns out this was pretty lucrative. Athlone seemed like the perfect opportunity to test out this new flagship store. Our location on Sean Costello street is perfect right between the two shopping centres opposite Eddie Rockets. We’ve also created a partnership with AIT allowing us to welcome thousands of students – and of course we have discounts!”

We love our smartphones and tablets. They have pictures of our dogs, girlfriends, boyfriends, (notice order of preference!) favourite places, favourite memories. They house our unlimited hours of playlists from ‘Soppy breakup songs’ to ‘Pure buzz tunes’ to ‘Please God, don’t let people find out I listen to High School Musical!’

 

 

 

Having been in the smart device industry for several years now, we know how horribly overpriced it can be. Wireless are here to bring things back down a peg or two. Together with our sister companies Fix My i and Screen Hero which launched early last year, we are going to transform and revolutionise the smartphone and tablet industries one step at a time.

 

We are committed to providing outstanding customer service to each and every customer. Based across three locations in Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, our friendly, fun staff will provide the service you require, with some laughs along the way.

The twins have an array of special guests in store today including iRadio’s Ray Shah and the iRadio Opel Adams iTeam, the GAA funny man and Facebook sensation Rory O’Connor of Rory’s Stories and a representative from Otterbox Ireland. Promised to be a fun-filled, action packed day with plenty of giveaways, Wireless are open from 12 noon to 8pm on Thursday 15th September.

SunnyBAG launches the world’s first hybrid solar panel on #Kickstarter – LEAF+

Like the outdoors? This is a great little product and perfect for those enjoy the great outdoors, for festival goers and the more adventurous amongst us – no need to worry now about your phone or camera dying on you!  At 4000mAH, the LEAF+ has the ability to fully charge two iPhones that have no power whatsoever. You can see from the photos that the LEAF+ is extremely thin and lightweight so its an ideal, very portable and simple way to charge your phone whether you are roaming in the Peak District, cycling through the Forest Of Dean or partying at Bestival!

 

https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2221599/video-700359-h264_high.mp4?_=1

 

SunnyBAG, a specialist in developing fashionable solar bags, backpacks and outdoor gear, today launches its latest crowdfunding campaign for the SunnyBAG LEAF+. The world’s first hybrid solar panel, the LEAF+ combines a highly flexible solar panel with two efficient SUNPOWER® panels, meaning it’s able to convert a wider spectrum of light into electricity, even when partially shaded. Producing an output power of 6.2 watts and extremely lightweight, it’s the perfect solution for users who want to charge mobile devices such as smartphones, digital cameras, tablets, mobile gaming consoles and GPS Satellite devices on the go.

 

 

 

 

Twice the performance at same size

The LEAF+ is the new and improved version of the LEAF which came to market in 2014. The size of the surface solar system remains the same as the first product generation with a diameter of about 10 inches. The LEAF+ has a battery capacity of 4000mAH, meaning when fully charged, it is able to power up two dead iPhones as an example. It comes with both lightning and Micro-USB connectors making it extremely versatile. Weighing just 200-grams, the LEAF+ is also weatherproof, scratch and impact resistant and a useful fastening system allows it to be attached easily to backpacks, bags or tents.

 

 

Stefan Ponsold, Founder and CEO SunnyBAG, stated, “The LEAF product range stands for unlimited freedom in all sports and outdoor activities and for independent power supply all around the world. With the new hybrid system, the LEAF+, our ten months of development succeeded in a worldwide innovation. Our customers cheered us on with their consistently positive feedback, and I would like to thank everyone who has purchased and used our products in the past.”

 

 

The SunnyBAG LEAF+ is designed to charge any mobile device that can be charged via USB port. Electronic mobile devices such as smartphones, phablets, tablets (e.g. iPad), digital cameras, smaller video cameras, mobile gaming consoles, GPS und satellite devices, portable music players (e.g. iPod, mp3 and mp4 players) and many more additional devices can be operated via the ecologically friendly solar energy.

Pre-launch: Discount available for backers

Before production starts Kickstarter backers have the possibility to get the SunnyBAG LEAF+ from € 69,00 instead of € 129,00. Delivery is planned for Christmas 2016, before the official product launch starts in 2017.

 

The Kickstarter campaign ends on October 23rd, 2016, 11.59 p.m. (CET).

Head to Kickstarter for more details and support…

 

Warning.. Do not open any messages from this number.. cc @TescoIrl @tescomobileire

Just a quick warning for our readers.. This SMS just arrived and of course its spam telling you that you have won a Tesco voucher  worth €750 with a deadline to collect, Following that link an online survey suggesting you will make money from home… Number seems to originate in Germany.. The number as per head image is 35386781983. 

You will see there is a link telling you there’s a photo attached. Yes it’s bullshit spam… 

Just ignore and delete You know the drill…. See all the details below and tell your friends..UPDATE  Tesco have told us they are looking into it.. 

 

 

#Snaphappen: The World’s First Community Driven #Snapchat Event and Awards in London

Snaphappen, the world’s first ever community led global Snapchat event run BY the community, FOR the community has been announced. This groundbreaking event will be held at the coolest new venue in London, the Magic Roundabout in Shoreditch, on 22nd September 2016.

 

 

With sponsors The Lad Bible, 3 and Cisco already on board and Mashable hosting a pre-event, Snaphappen is designed to showcase the talent and community of Snapchat™ and more than 300 snappers, influencers, social media superstars and media are set to attend with a combined reach of over 200M. Some of the biggest and best Snapchat* stars will be jetting into London from all over the world; from the US, Dubai, Philippines, Lebanon and Israel, all keen not to miss out on this iconic event. There are already plans in place for a Snaphappen event in New York early next year and next San Francisco, following the massive response to date from the Snapchat community.

 

Just a few of the key speakers already recruited include Shaun McBride, better known as Shonduras, one the most influential in the world on Snapchat, with over 2.3 million views daily and one of the best at storytelling on the platform. He has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world including Disney and Sphero. Yusuf Omar from Hindustan Times will be talking about his use of Snapchat with reference to his coverage of India’s first Climb Against Sexual Abuse and the serious applications that the platform can have in journalism.

 

Also confirmed is Tristan De Burgh, or Tristan Tales, another renowned storyteller whose original humour and authentic style are widely respected in the community and who has worked with the likes of Red Bull, Coca-Cola and Fox. Another confirmed is Julius Dein, a storyteller and magician with over 100 million views on Facebook and 1 million daily views on Snapchat. Geir Ove Pedersen, Geeohsnap, is an incredible Snapartist, whose “Random People” series is one of the most viewed on Snapchat.

A dominant force within the Snapchat community in the Nordic regions, he regularly speaks at conferences and works frequently with major brands, most recently Microsoft.

Alongside other internationally famed Snapchatters such as Cyrene Quiacomo and CJ they will be talking about their love of the app, how to make your best stories and giving tips for drawing on Snapchat.* Their followers will have the unique opportunity to meet face to face with and learn from the experts and be able to collaborate with hundreds of other Snapchatters from all over the world.

 


Those looking to replicate their idol’s success can listen to talks from Snapchat* marketer Carlos Gil, who has over 20 years of digital marketing experience and Chris Kubby, a bilingual executive with extensive corporate marketing experience, engaging consumers via digital, social media, mobile and e-mail channels. Carlos is very well equipped to offer the audience an incredible insight into Snapchat for your brand, whether it is your personal brand or a company’s brand. These two experts will discuss how to use Snapchat to get your brand noticed, how to work with corporate brands and how to showcase your brand more effectively.

 

Guaranteed to be a fun filled event with a real festival vibe; attendees can enjoy gaming stations and even be part of the biggest Snapchat collaborative story, which could well be an official Guinness World Record attempt subject to further discussions. The face swap selfie party, where you do a face swap with someone you don’t know, aims to spark networking and community growth and using the #SnaphappenFaceSwap hashtag amazing prizes are up for grabs.

 

In the evening, the real partying begins at The Ghosties Snapchat Awards; the first awards event to honour the best storytellers, artists, comics and vloggers to grace the app. Hosted by imnickroberston (UK based influencer) and Ginicanbreathe (US based influencer) and performances from the signed girl band Stooshe, the awards will be streamed live across 3-4 platforms and dozens of accounts, but specifically targeting media agencies both in the US & UK who are keen to participate. Maxus currently the #1 agency in the UK for awards and 7stars the #2 are both on board with many other agencies also interested in being part of this unique event.
Come along to find out who are the lucky award winners of the Ghosties Snapchat Awards 2016 with categories including Best Newcomer, Funniest Snap Story and of course The People’s Choice and maybe you could be on the winners podium next year! So don’t miss out and be sure to take advantage of the early bird tickets for Snaphappen and The Ghosties available now from Snaphappen.com; your chance to be part of the biggest mass Snapchat*collaboration ever – let’s make something great!

 

TICKET INFO
Early bird general and VIP tickets available until July 12th – £55 / £110
General and VIP tickets available until Sept 21st – £65 / £160
Please note that general admission tickets do NOT include entrance into The Ghosties.
For full event details and to learn more visit: Snaphappen.com
Like on Facebook Facebook.com/Snaphappen, follow on Twitter Twitter.com/Snaphappen and Snapchat Snapchat.com/add/flawlessfox81

#Wraps launch special Rainbow Talk edition of innovative wristband earphones.

Following the success of the Classic and Talk Wraps wristband earphones range, the company is now launching a special rainbow edition to celebrate summer and festival season. The new Rainbow edition will be available for a limited time only so get yours whilst you still can! These are quite a nice idea and we will be bringing you our review soon on these and other models available..

 

Using Wraps earphones has fast become as much about how good you look wearing them as it is how good they sound. The new rainbow is no exception with its bright vibrant colours to bring a ray of sunshine to everyone’s day. Not only do the earphones look and sound great, they also solve the daily frustration of those that are easily broken, tangled or lost. Wraps solves 3 inherent problems all earphones have: storage, anti- tangle and style simply by enabling you to wear them on your wrist whilst you’re not using them. #WearYourSound with pride and bring your outfit to life while also having your favourite music ‘on hand’ whenever you want it.

 

 

 

The Rainbow edition will match the specifications of the current ‘Talk’ range, featuring a universal one button microphone. Stylish and functional: you can answer a call, play or pause your music and skip tracks all without having to dig into your bag or pockets for your device. Compatible with all smartphones and tablets.

 

A light, spherical alloy housing helps control the sound whilst providing a comfortable and secure fit whilst worn in the ear or on a wrist. A large 10MM driver, tuned by world renowned British Audio sound engineers, delivers exceptional sound quality.

 

 

When worn on the wrist, the unique patented slider system keeps the lightweight alloy heads, slider and jack plug all connected together for a secure compact fit. The cables are kept in perfect alignment and remain tangle free and always close to hand! Style, The British designers, blended materials and colours to craft a fashion statement earphone that can stylise your outfit and coordinate your look so whether travelling to work, to a party or heading off to school, there is a Wraps earphone for you!

The Special Rainbow Wraps Talk edition is available from www.mywraps.com  priced at £19.99

 

 

Ford adds pedestrian detection technology to Transit vans. #Ford #Transport

Ford is introducing car-like technology that enables vans to detect people in the road and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings. This certainly will help on a global scale especially when it comes to the transport industry due to the amount of claims,insurance costs piling up and how cut throat the courier industry is today with more vans on the road than before it would be a welcome technology on all vans more so than one company offering it,No doubt in years to come it will be an ALL commercial vehicles.

This is already available in motor cars and works by radars strategically placed on the vehicle and it detects shapes from a data base of “pedestrian shapes” that enables the system to distinguish people from roadside scenery and objects such as trees and road signs. Now available for Transit and Transit Custom vans, Pedestrian Detection technology can even predict when people may stray from the pavement and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. It is the first time that the technology has been made available for commercial vehicles of this size.

 

 

“It only takes a split second for a delivery driver to check an address – but that can be just the moment when an unwary pedestrian steps into the street,” said Gregor Allexi, active safety engineer, Ford of Europe. “In cases like this, Pedestrian Detection technology can help to avoid an accident, or reduce its severity.”

Ford engineers have tested the system on closed circuits, using rigs fitted with life-size dummies. The development team also spent months testing and refining the system on roads in European cities packed with pedestrians such as Paris and Amsterdam to prove system reliability under real-world conditions, covering more than 10,000 kilometres of urban driving.

The emergency braking system – called Pre-Collision Assist – functions in a series of stages. If the system detects a pedestrian and determines that a collision has become imminent, the driver will first receive an audible alarm and visual warning in the instrument cluster.

 

 

Should the driver fail to respond, the system then shortens the time required to apply the brakes by reducing the gap between brake pads and discs. If there is still no response from the driver, the brakes are applied automatically and the vehicle speed is reduced.

“Advanced technologies, like Pre-Collision Assist, that were billed as future technology only a couple of years ago are now starting to make a difference on UK roads by helping drivers to react fast to the unexpected, such as a pedestrian walking out in front of them,” said Luke Bosdet, spokesman for the AA. “For delivery and other business van drivers, this is a major advance – not only in helping to prevent accidents, but also protecting drivers from incidents that were not of their making and that would disrupt business.”

Source