Category: Tech News

Qualcomm announces flagship €125m investment in AI transformation for Cork

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, has announced a €125m investment that will see the transformation of the Cork site into a strategic AI pillar in the global chipmaker’s organisation over the next three years.

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, Qualcomm is a global leader in wireless technology and advanced semiconductors. The company develops cellular standards such as 4G, 5G, and now 6G. It is also one of the world’s largest fabless semiconductor companies, which sees it provide critical advanced semiconductor technology across mobile, wearables, PC, XR, IoT, automotive and data centres.

Qualcomm Technologies has had a presence in Cork since 2013, and this year it celebrates 10 years since it hired its first engineer in the city. In that time, Qualcomm has embedded itself in the community and has built strong relationships with UCC, MTU, and Tyndall, helping support the next generation of Irish engineers through internships and graduate role opportunities.

This flagship project, which is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, plans to undertake a new RD&I project in Cork, leveraging current capabilities to align with Qualcomm’s diversification strategy beyond mobile technology into areas such as PC, XR/VR, IoT, automotive, and data centres.

 

Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke TD said:
“Today’s announcement by Qualcomm is a powerful endorsement of Ireland’s ambition to lead globally in advanced research, next‑generation computing and AI. This €125 million investment further strengthens Ireland’s position as a hub of deep‑tech innovation, creating hundreds of high value jobs. This announcement is also a signal of support for Silicon Island: Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to make Ireland a world leader in semiconductors through securing long‑term investments, developing a robust talent pipeline and seizing opportunities in technologies of the future such as AI.

Qualcomm’s continued expansion builds on Ireland’s strong semiconductor ecosystem and demonstrates the value of the collaborative environment we have fostered between industry, academia and Government.  The Government is proud to support this strategically significant project through IDA Ireland, and I wish the team at Qualcomm the very best for the future.”

EVP, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer of Qualcomm Incorporated, Colin Ryan said: “Qualcomm’s success and ongoing growth in Ireland reflect the strength of our partnerships with the Government, IDA Ireland and Irish universities. This investment underscores Cork’s importance as a strategic Global R&D hub for Qualcomm and our commitment to supporting Ireland’s innovation ecosystem.”

Vice President of Engineering at QT Technologies Ireland Limited, Paul Kelleher said: “Qualcomm is proud of what we’ve achieved in Ireland—and we are even more excited about what’s ahead. We’re not just building technology; we’re shaping the future, right here in Cork.”

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “I wish to congratulate the entire team in Qualcomm on the announcement of this landmark investment – a substantial and complex project in both its scale and scope, reflecting its strategic and transformative nature.   This €125m R&D investment and the future jobs it will create, positions Qualcomm Ireland at the forefront of technological and product development in the AI-era. Today’s event also recognises a decade since Qualcomm hired its first engineer in Ireland, I wish you continued success and assure the team of IDA Ireland’s continued partnership and support.”

Qualcomm is currently hiring engineers across several business areas. To explore opportunities to join the team in Cork, visit Careers

Viltrox Brings AI Autofocus to Manual Lenses with NexusFocus F1

Viltrox is pleased to announce NexusFocus, a new autofocus solution for manual lenses. The NexusFocus F1 is a compact, lightweight adapter that fits unobtrusively in between the lens and the camera body. The system is compatible with Sony E-mount cameras and PL-mount Cine and CineMod lenses. It takes advantage of Sony’s powerful phase-detection system and AI subject recognition, and leverages those native capabilities of the camera to drive motors for aperture, focus and zoom adjustments, thus revitalizing manual lenses with powerful autofocus capabilities.

NexusFocus gives vintage lens enthusiasts, solo operators, and small film crews unprecedented creative freedom. Freed from the constraints of manual focusing and LiDAR’s parallax limitations, creators can enjoy cinematic-level imaging, with effortless control and precision.

Quick set up and versatile lens control

With fast synchronized motor control of focus, iris, and zoom (FIZ), users gain complete command of every lens movement. The responsive autofocus lets solo operators and small crews work efficiently on set.

The Viltrox NexusFocus mobile app allows for effortless setup, with a wide range of lens calibration profiles ready-to-go. The system automatically detects calibration status on startup, so users can just mount the adapter, power on, and start creating (automatic calibration is currently only available on the iOS app version).

The app also provides Bluetooth wireless control with smartphones and iPads, allowing limitless camera placement options and versatile single-user operation. The adapter features a clear backlit status display panel on top, so users can instantly check the operating mode and lens data.

Tough and compact design, with powerful performance

Compact, but with powerful performance, the motor responds with remarkable speed and precision. The standard USB type-C power port offers broad compatibility with professional equipment, and seamless connectivity. The motor is powered by an external source to ensure reliable operation. The dust-resistant seal at the camera mount end of the adapter protects equipment and preserves image integrity. The unit’s durable but lightweight aluminum alloy and stainless steel construction ensures reliability and a long operating life. A detachable tripod mount allows for flexible support.

More details and how to buy

The NexusFocus F1 will be available via an official Kickstarter campaign, running from January 15 to February 13, 2026.
For full details of supported cameras and lenses, please visit the NexusFocus F1 campaign page on Kickstarter. Some features may work differently, or not be available, on certain equipment or equipment combinations.

For more information, please visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/viltrox/nexusfocus-pl-e-adapter

MSRP: $8,599HKD (≈1,099USD) (dual motor kit) / $10,199HKD (≈1,299USD) (triple motor kit)

Super Early Bird Kit: $5,499HKD (≈$699USD) (Limited to 10 Kits)
Early Bird Kit: $6,299HKD (≈$799USD) (Limited to 200 Kits)
Early Access Kit A – Dual Motor: $6,999HKD (≈$899USD) (Limited to 2,000 Kits)
Early Access Kit B – Triple Motor: $8,199HKD (≈$1,049USD)

Fujifilm instax mini Link+ Smartphone Printer first look

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, has announced the introduction of the instax mini Link+™ (mini Link+) smartphone printer. The latest iteration in the instax™ Link series smartphone printer lineup, mini Link+ integrates even more instant photo technology into its free, downloadable instax mini Link™ smartphone app, with new features centered around inspiration, impact, and imagination, including new and enhanced print modes designed to capture both the aesthetic of the creator and the moment. They also launched a new evo Cinema camera.

“One of our favorite things about the instax mini Link™ series of smartphone printers is the breadth of options it delivers to creators,” said Shin Udono, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, FUJIFILM Europe. “Users being able to print images from their smartphone’s camera roll has brought the joy of instant photography and the analog film experience to so many. With the introduction of mini Link+, we’re especially excited because the features will allow them to take their creativity and self-expression even further.”

Main Features: 

Simple Print Mode

With mini Link+, users can utilize Simple Print mode in the instax mini Link™ app to print photos directly from their smartphone’s camera roll, or even print out saved images from their Pinterest® account for some handheld inspiration.

Design Print Mode

This mode captures every detail in users’ images – from text to illustrations or other graphics, the images show the finest details with precision.

Simulation Mode

Simulation mode lets the user see what the photos will look like before they print, whether the image is going on a wall, a shelf, a table, or more, this mode lets you experiment with placement and style, to ensure your printed image fits your design plan.

Multiple Print Mode

Multiple Print Mode on the instax mini Link™ smartphone app lets users print up to 10 images3 they have previewed and selected in Simulation Mode – in a single step. This ensures smooth printing of images in the sequence the user selected, with no waiting. 

Frame Print Feature

With this feature, users can customize their images by applying a frame, adding a sticker, or even adding a text caption.


Video Print Feature

Within the instax mini Link™ smartphone app, the Video Print feature allows users to isolate the perfect frame within a video they have shot with their smartphone, and output that frame as a printed image3.

Bold Design

The mini Link+ smartphone printer is purposefully designed with a slim, easily portable form factor in a sophisticated black with a striking orange color accent. Additional features within the instax mini Link™ smartphone app include:

 

  • Remote shooting capability 
  • Collage Print functionality
    • Users can gather multiple images and print them in collage format on a single instax™ mini photo
  • Light/Dark user interface modes
  • instaxAiR Studio™ feature
  • Users can add 3D Augmented Reality effects before taking photos in the app 

Pricing and Availability

The instax mini Link+™ smartphone printer will be available on 28th January 2026 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €150.00 (inc. VAT). Available at FUJIFILM stockists nationwide. For more product information, please visit https://instax.ie/cameras/mini-link-plus/

See our instax reviews 

Unboxing 

Fujifilm mini Evo Cinema 3-in-1 Hybrid Instant Camera First Look

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, has announced the introduction of the instax mini Evo Cinema™ (mini Evo Cinema) hybrid instant camera. The mini Evo Cinema offers multiple ways for users to make highly personalized, one-of-a-kind content through still photos, short-form video (15-second clips), and instax™ mini photo prints via the free, downloadable instax mini Evo™ smartphone app. This 3-in-1 hybrid instant camera is designed to give users one of the most dynamic creative experiences the instax™ brand has ever offered. Also announced was their new smartphone printer.

“mini Evo Cinema offers the best of both worlds – the vintage look of an 8mm video camera, with all of the modern functionality of a hybrid instant camera now integrating photo, video, and print in one unique package,” said Shin Udono, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, FUJIFILM Europe. “The mini Evo Cinema delivers a smooth, unique photographic experience that gives the user a myriad of ways to turn casual moments into unforgettable ones.”

Main Features: 

Eras Dial™

The mini Evo Cinema hybrid instant camera features a first for instax™ cameras – the Eras Dial™, which allows users to apply photo effects from 10 different eras to their image – from the grainy, pale tones of the 1930s, to a 1960s effect inspired by 8mm film cameras, to the vibrant colors of the 1980s, and to the sharp, rich imagery of the 2020s. Each era is designed to capture the look and feel of the imagery of that time. 

Degree Control Dial

Content created in each era can be fine-tuned with any of the 10 effects from the Degree Control Dial on the lens. By simply rotating the dial to precisely adjust color, contrast, and noise expression – users can create up to 10 creative variations per era. 

Frame Switch

Once an era is chosen and the intensity of the era is selected via the Degree Control Dial, users can continue to personalize by adding a frame to every shot or video clip utilizing the Frame Switch. There’s a frame for every era, each paying homage to the characteristics, media, and playback devices that defined that time.

CINE/STILL Modes

Users can easily switch between “CINE” and ”STILL” modes to capture either a video or photo, respectively, with ease. In CINE mode, users can shoot a series of clips – up to 15 seconds in total – and the camera will stitch them into one smooth video automatically. Via the free, downloadable instax mini EvoTM smartphone app, users can connect via Bluetooth® and extend video creations to 30 seconds by adding or reordering clips. 

Zoom Lever

The mini Evo Cinema features built-in digital zoom. The tactile Zoom Lever lets you dial up the intimacy of the shot or pull back for greater scope and more atmosphere.

 

“My Gallery”

Within the instax mini Evo™ app, the My Gallery section provides users a secure place to store the images and videos they create, segmented into categories including Favorites, Printed, Video, Photo, Projects. Through this function, users can also save printed images digitally to their smartphone’s camera roll, finished with the iconic instaxTM mini border.

Video Printing

Users can access videos via a one-of-a-kind instax™ mini instant photo printed with a QR code ready to be scanned and played back on a smartphone. Video is captured as standard at 600 x 800, and with the 2020 Era selection is captured at 1080 x 1440. 

Timeless Design

With sleek black, vertical grip design (inspired by Fujifilm’s “FUJICA Single-8”, an 8mm camera introduced in 1965); and analog-inspired details, this hybrid instant camera is meticulously crafted for those who appreciate tactile functions alongside beauty and elegance.  

Additional camera features include:

 

  • Remote shooting capability (via app)
  • Integrated Selfie Mirror and Self-Timer
  • 1.54-inch high-resolution LCD Monitor
  • Print Lever
  • The camera features an analog-style printing operation lever – lift and twist to print a photo.
  • Accessories
      • The mini Evo Cinema includes viewfinder and grip attachments, and a premium hand strap. 
  • USB-C & Micro SD Card Slots
  • Integrated flash/continuous light source

 

Pricing and Availability

The instax mini Evo Cinema™ hybrid instant camera will be available on 28th January 2026 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €380.00 (inc. VAT). Available at FUJIFILM stockists nationwide. For more product information, please visit https://instax.ie/cameras/mini-evo-cinema/

See our instax reviews

Unboxing

 

Battery and e-waste clear-out plea as only half return for safe recycling

Only half of household batteries sold on the Irish market are making their way back for recycling each year, new data shows.

As newly-bought Christmas gifts replace old devices, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland is urging people to recycle used batteries and unwanted small electrical items, rather than storing or binning them.

Its figures show that almost half of all household battery purchases are made during the Christmas shopping period, yet recycling rates remain stubbornly low.
To support a nationwide New Year clear-out, the e-waste recycling scheme is delivering one million blue battery recycling boxes to homes this month to capture the valuable hoard of waste batteries.

They can be returned for free at participating retailers or local recycling centres.

“As space is made for new gifts, now is the ideal time to carry out a battery and e-waste clear-out,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

“As well as providing a handy QR code that connects you to a map of hundreds of local drop off points, our blue battery boxes are a simple but powerful reminder that batteries should never go in household bins.

“Returning for recycling ensures the safe recovery and reuse of the materials they contain.”

When it comes to small electronic items, 2024 figures from WEEE Ireland show a similar trend, with 40 per cent of Ireland’s annual small electronic gift and toy purchases happening in the festive period.

But just 30 per cent of these are returned to the circular economy for recycling.

Recycling rates for electronic toys such as gaming consoles, e-scooters and battery-operated action figures are even lower, dropping to just 10 per cent, leaving millions of unused, broken or obsolete toys gathering dust in homes or discarded incorrectly in the household bin.

“Every home in Ireland can make a difference. Batteries don’t belong in the bin – they belong in recycling. When we dispose of them incorrectly, we risk fires and environmental pollution,” said Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Alan Dillon.

“This January, WEEE Ireland is delivering one million battery boxes to households. Let’s use them. Collect every old battery from toys, decorations, and devices, and return them to your local retailer or recycling centre.
“It’s free, safe, and it protects our environment. Together, we can keep dangerous chemicals out of landfill and rare materials in circulation. Let’s make 2026 about responsibility and care for each other.”

WEEE Ireland’s network of free collection points across local authority civic amenity centres and retailers is available at weeeireland.ie.

A new Light Means of Transport (LMT) lithium battery guide has also been added to the WEEE Ireland website to support consumers on the safe recycling of higher-capacity batteries such as those used in e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mobility and power packs.

YouTube expands parental controls in Ireland and beyond

Today, YouTube announced a new set of tools and content standards designed to give parents more control over their teen’s viewing experience. New research also reveals that 77% of EU parents using YouTube’s supervised accounts agree the content their child views is age-appropriate, and 73% agree the tools give them confidence in a safer digital environment for their child.

Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health, said:

“We believe in protecting kids in the digital world, not from the digital world. That’s why providing effective, built-in tools is so essential, as parents play a critical role in setting the rules for their family’s online experiences.”

“After feedback from parents and guidance from independent experts, we’re equipping families with even more tools and protections that are right for them. This builds on a decade of investments to create a healthy experience for young people on YouTube.”

Key updates shared in a new YouTube blog post include:

  • Additional controls for mindful teen viewing: Parents can now help teens be even more intentional about how they watch, with a control to set the amount of time spent scrolling Shorts. And soon, they will also have the option to set the timer to zero – an industry-first that gives parents flexibility to, for example, set the Shorts feed limit to zero when they want their teen to use YouTube to focus on homework, and change it to 60 minutes during a long car trip to be entertained. Parents will also be able to set custom Bedtime and Take a Break reminders, building on the existing default-on wellbeing protections for teens.

  • Making it even simpler to get the right experience for the right age: A new sign-up process will make it easier for parents to create a new kid account and switch between family accounts in the mobile app, depending on who’s watching with just a few taps. This makes it easier to ensure that everyone in the family is in the right viewing experience with the content settings and recommendations of age-appropriate content they actually want to watch.

  • A blueprint for high-quality teen content: YouTube is introducing new principles to steer teens toward age-appropriate and enriching content. Developed with the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA and supported by experts from University College London, the APA and Boston Children’s Hospital, these principles will guide YouTube’s recommendation system to raise high-quality videos from creators in Ireland and beyond.

Alongside the new high quality principles for teens, YouTube unveiled a Creator Guide, developed in

partnership with the streaming service’s Youth & Families Advisory Committee and supported by Save the Children International.

Rebecca Smith, Global Head of Child Protection, Save the Children International, said:

“We are pleased to partner with YouTube on the launch of their new Creator Guide, which equips content creators with the knowledge and tools to stay informed, educated and safe online. With the help of this guide, not only can creators make the most out of their own digital experience, but they can support fellow creators as well. This initiative reflects YouTube and Save the Children’s shared commitment to fostering a safer digital environment for all.”

Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL, said: “The mental health of children and young people is a global concern, and in the digital age the content teens encounter online can have both positive and negative impacts. These YouTube Teen Quality Principles give creators a practical, research-informed roadmap for making videos that are developmentally appropriate, emotionally safe, and genuinely supportive of young people. UCL was delighted to partner on this programme to bring evidence-based insights on adolescent development, helping ensure creators understand their wider responsibility to help teens thrive while minimising potential harm.”

These updates will be rolling out starting today and will expand globally over the coming months.

New YouTube/Ipsos research: A survey conducted by Ipsos for YouTube in August 2025, found that:

  • In the EU, 77% of survey respondents who are parents and have used YouTube supervised account tools said they agree that the content their child views on their supervised YouTube account is appropriate for their age.

  • In the EU, 73% of survey respondents who are parents and have used YouTube supervised account tools said they agree that YouTube’s supervision tools give them confidence that their child is accessing a safer and more controlled digital environment.

Creating For Teens on YouTube: Teens often look at creators for guidance as they grow and navigate the world. Together with global experts, we created a new guide of principles to help you make content that’s responsible, fun, and positive while avoiding harmful qualities so teens can build confidence, connection, and community online. These are the High Quality Principles included in the Creator Guide, to inspire teens to explore, learn, and feel good about themselves:

  • Joy, Fun And Entertainment: Show humor and warmth that lift teens’ moods like a day-in-the- life video or funny, self- accepting outtakes.

  • Curiosity and Inspiration: Encourage exploration through creative tutorials, behind-the-scenes demos, or new hobbies that are easy to try.

  • Deepening Interests and Perspectives: Create deeper dives into subjects teens love, like music, gaming, or fashion, and show process, not just outcomes.

  • Building Life Skills and Experiences: Offer relatable guidance for real-life moments, like teamwork or budgeting, to help them prepare for the future.

  • Credible Information that Supports Well-being: Share accurate, age-appropriate information. Use trusted sources and avoid spreading misinformation.

The Creator Guide also includes a series of top tips for creators to be positive online role models. These include:

  • Set the tone for your community: Speak up against hate, avoid unproductive conflict, and challenge misinformation, while distinguishing between fact and opinion.

  • Create a safer space for everyone:  Encourage teens to revisit their privacy settings, curate their feeds, and unfollow accounts that harm their well-being.

  • Support teen resilience and well-being: Whether it’s from pressures to succeed, to look a certain way, or to fit in with their peers, teens can face an overwhelming amount of stress, leading to burnout and other negative outcomes. Your content can give teens the right tools to build resilience and combat stress.

  • Help teens thrive on and offline: Your impact as a creator doesn’t stop when teens log off. By showing creative ways to connect with friends and family and prioritising healthy habits, you remind them that balance matters.

Teen Creation Guidelines_2-Pager

Thypoch’s New 21mm f/3.5 M Mount Lens

Thypoch’s New Ksana 21mm f/3.5mm lens revisits the classic warmth and intimacy of rare and respected lenses in the 1970s, but brings them up to date, in an accessible modern format. Despite its ability to capture crisp detail all the way from portrait to landscape, and from wide angle to close focus, this lens is ultra-compact and lightweight.

Epoch Coating 73: The Retro Look

Thypoch starts a specialized project – Epoch Coating, which aims at exploring the aesthetic soul of different eras. Drawing from the deep heritage in cinema optics, Thypoch has successfully translated the magnificent flare of cinema lenses into the world of still photography.

As the first lens of the Ksana series, the 21mm f/3.5 blends classic aesthetics with vintage rendering. Epoch Coating. 73’ brings that 70’s cinematic aesthetic, golden bloom, and soft, delicate color rendering into modern photography. The Ksana 21mm blends classic optical craftsmanship with the artistic soul of vintage lens coatings, for exceptional sharpness and vibrant, saturated colors.

Ultra Compact, Pocket-size

The Ksana 21mm f/3.5 keeps things light and agile. The all-aluminum, featherweight Ksana Lens’ ultra-compact size – just 27mm high and weighing only 131g – guarantees effortless handheld shooting, all day. Highly portable and discreet, it’s made for inspirational street, travel, and documentary photography.

Modern Optics, Classic Performance

Despite its light weight and pocketable form, the Ksana 21mm’s outstanding optical structure delivers high resolution with great suppression of unwanted chromatic aberration. This is a result of a design that includes a compact eight-element, six-group optical design, featuring 1 ASPH (Aspherical), 2 ED (Extra-low Dispersion), and 3 HRI (High Refractive Index) elements. The nine-blade diaphragm provides apertures from f/3.5 to f/22 for rounded highlights, with especially crisp 18-point starbursts at f/4.

Wide Angle, Wide Perspective

The lens has a wide 21mm angle, but with a 0.5m minimum focusing distance. It offers an 80.2° horizontal field of view on full-frame cameras, with imperceptible distortion. Maintaining the classic Leica rangefinder charm, this lens ensures precision for film and digital photographers alike. A tactile reminder at 0.7m alerts you when the rangefinder uncouples, signaling a switch to EVF focusing.

Timeless Design, Signature Lens Body

The Ksana 21mm f/3.5 features a vintage-inspired body with a scalloped focus ring and crescent-shaped tab. Ergonomic contours align with your fingers for a comfortable grip and intuitive handling, ensuring stable, precise control even during fast focusing.

Beautiful inside and out, this lens evokes the best of vintage design, complementing any compatible camera, and is available in classic black or silver. Ergonomic contours align with creative fingers, for a comfortable grip and intuitive handling, ensuring stable, precise control even during fast focusing. Its smooth, well-crafted feel makes it an ideal match for Leica cameras, offering a retro look with contemporary reliability, perfect for artists seeking a balance of style and performance.

Pricing and Availability

MSRP: USD 549/EUR 479

Available in M mount, black and silver version

Standard package includes front and rear caps, and warranty card

Available on Jan. 13th, 20:00 (GMT+8), at both Thypoch official store and authorized dealers.

EthyloKey: World’s First Touch-Based Alcohol Detector

Ethylowheel is proud to announce the upcoming Kickstarter launch of EthyloKey, a new category of pocket-sized, contact-based alcohol-awareness device designed to help users better understand their alcohol consumption before driving — effortlessly, discreetly, and responsibly.

Launching on Kickstarter on January 8, 2026, EthyloKey combines patented sensor technology, thoughtful product design, and intuitive real-time feedback to support alcohol awareness in everyday life – without mouthpieces, forced blowing, or socially awkward gestures.

Why EthyloKey?

Most people don’t use a breathalyzer when they should – not because they don’t care, but because existing tools are inconvenient, embarrassing, or impractical in real-life situations. Devices designed for enforcement or professional use rarely fit into everyday social moments.

Alcohol awareness should be as simple and natural as checking the time. It should happen before getting behind the wheel – quietly, quickly, and without friction.

EthyloKey was created to remove those barriers and turn prevention into a simple habit – empowering individuals to pause, reflect, and make more informed decisions, while remaining fully responsible for their choices.

Simple, Visual Guidance

With a brief finger touch, users receive color-coded indicative feedback designed to support understanding and self-evaluation. This guidance helps users assess whether they may be above commonly accepted legal limits, depending on context and local regulations.

🟢   Green – Lower alcohol presence detected
 🟠 Orange – Elevated alcohol presence detected

 🔴 Red – High alcohol presence detected
 🔵 Blue – Test could not be completed

EthyloKey is discreet, eco-conscious, and shareable, making it suitable for both personal and everyday social use.

A New Approach to Alcohol Awareness

Traditional breathalyzers have remained largely unchanged for decades: bulky, slow, and poorly adapted to everyday use.

EthyloKey explores a different approach by leveraging insensible perspiration of ethanol – a natural phenomenon where trace amounts of alcohol are released through the skin after consumption. Using a patented sensor system and proprietary algorithms, EthyloKey analyzes ethanol vapors at the skin surface and provides indicative, real-time guidance to help users evaluate their situation before driving.

EthyloKey is designed as a prevention and awareness tool, not as a certified breathalyzer, medical device, or law-enforcement instrument.

How It Works

  • Capture
     Ethanol vapors emitted through the skin are captured within a controlled micro-volume.
  • Detection
     Specialized gas sensors analyze the concentration of ethanol vapor.
  • Interpretation
     Proprietary machine-learning algorithms translate these signals into indicative alcohol-awareness feedback, delivered in seconds.

Laboratory testing against certified breathalyzers has shown consistent correlation patterns, with a short detection delay compared to breath-based methods.

Smart, Connected & Adaptive

EthyloKey connects via Bluetooth to a companion mobile app (iOS & Android), enhancing the experience with:

  • Alcohol awareness history 
  • Predictive alcohol curve visualization 
  • Safety reminders 
  • Multi-user profiles 
  • Adaptation of legal reference thresholds based on the user’s country or location

This connected approach allows EthyloKey to remain flexible in a world where alcohol regulations vary globally.

Design & Specifications

  • Dimensions: ~40 mm diameter × 15 mm height (1.6 in × 0.6 in)
  • Weight: ~20–30 g (0.7–1 oz)
  • Materials: Aluminum housing, stainless steel, high-grade polycarbonate
  • Battery: Rechargeable coin-cell battery with wireless charging
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth for iOS & Android apps
  • Available Colors: Space Grey and Rose Gold 

 

 

Designed for everyday carry, EthyloKey features a miniaturized, pocket-friendly form factor and a sealed, cable-free charging system.

Why It Matters

Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the most persistent and well-documented road safety issues worldwide. According to European road safety authorities, alcohol is estimated to be involved in roughly one quarter of fatal road accidents across Europe. In the United States, data from national road safety agencies shows that alcohol-impaired driving continues to cause more than 30 deaths every day.

Despite these well-known risks, voluntary use of personal breathalyzers remains extremely limited outside of enforcement or professional settings.

The gap is not awareness — it’s usability.

EthyloKey aims to help close that gap by making alcohol awareness intuitive, accessible, and stigma-free, encouraging people to pause and reflect before getting behind the wheel.

Founder Quote

“Alcohol awareness should be simple, intuitive, and part of everyday life – not a device people avoid,”
 says Jaime Alonso, CEO and co-founder of Ethylowheel.
 “With EthyloKey, we’re introducing a new approach to prevention – designed for real life, to help people make more informed decisions without friction or judgment.”

Kickstarter Launch

EthyloKey will make its global debut on Kickstarter on January 8, 2026.
Pricing will start at $159, with limited early-bird offers available for early supporters who want to be part of this new generation of alcohol-awareness tools.

ANELLO Photonics Launches Aerial INS at CES 2026

ANELLO Photonics, the creator of the Silicon Photonic Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™) and a leader in solid-state, high-precision inertial navigation systems, announces the launch of the ANELLO Aerial INS at CES 2026, a compact, high-performance inertial navigation system built around the company’s Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope technology and integrated with multi-band GNSS receivers.

The ANELLO Aerial INS is purpose-built for demanding aerial platforms – including BVLOS UAS, maritime/shipborne VTOL UAS, ISR/special-mission aircraft, heavy-lift and cargo drones and other autonomous aerial vehicles.  The system is powered by an advanced EKF-based sensor fusion engine and ANELLO flight-profile-tuned algorithms, consistently delivering >98% navigation accuracy without the need for cameras or fiber-optic cables.

The ANELLO Aerial INS delivers <0.5 deg/hr unaided heading drift, maintaining accurate navigation and control through high-dynamics and GNSS jamming, spoofing, or occlusion. ANELLO’s navigation solutions deliver assured performance in fully GNSS-denied environments – whether operating over water or desert corridors, in night or low-light missions, or through fog and cloud cover – maintaining precise guidance without GPS and enhancing the warfighter’s effectiveness and survivability.

“Customers flying real missions need resilient navigation when GPS isn’t reliable,” said Dr. Mario Paniccia, co-founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics. “By combining our SiPhOGs with our airborne-optimized sensor-fusion algorithms and integrated multi-band GNSS, the ANELLO Aerial INS delivers accurate navigation solutions in a cost-effective SWaP-friendly package. This allows UAVs to hold course through GPS jamming, multipath, spoofing or outages using only ANELLO without the need for cameras or fiber-optic cables and allows the warfighter to complete their mission safely and successfully.”

ANELLO’s full product portfolio has been developed in close collaboration with customers and verified through comprehensive integration and mission-platform testing.

Key features of the ANELLO Aerial INS include:

  • High-precision 3-Axis SiPhOG™ optical gyros with < 0.5º/hr unaided heading drift for reliable dead-reckoning during GNSS outages
  • Dual triple-frequency all-constellation GNSS receivers with static heading capability; ready for RTK/PPP corrections
  • ANELLO Advanced Sensor Fusion Engine with GNSS spoofing detection; resilient holdover in GPS-denied or spoofed conditions
  • Flight-stack integration: PX4 and ArduPilot drivers; standard interfaces (Ethernet, RS-232, RS-422, CAN) and timing (PPS Out/PPS Sync In)
  • NMEA-Compliant GNSS Interface outputs NMEA navigation packets for seamless integration as a drop-in replacement for conventional GNSS receivers
  • Flight-Profile Optimization; Algorithms calibrated for BVLOS, ISR, VTOL and other autonomous aerial vehicles for accurate navigation
  • Rugged, Compact and Lightweight; Small footprint, low power consumption, vibration-tolerant design for multirotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms.

“The ANELLO SiPhOG™ technology is a game changer for our warfighters. The ability to navigate in GPS-denied or spoofed environments without cameras or fiber-optic cables – in small, lightweight systems – is essential for future combat missions,” said Dan Magy, CEO at Firestorm. “The ANELLO team has developed an Aerial solution that seamlessly integrates into existing avionics with minimal effort. This type of capability is essential in today’s conflict areas where our adversaries actively disrupt GPS, making ANELLO a powerful upgrade for all modern aerial platforms.”

The launch of the ANELLO Aerial INS reinforces ANELLO’s focus on assured navigationin contested environments. By introducing a purpose-built airborne solution alongside its already proven ground and maritime inertial navigation systems, ANELLO Photonics extends its lead in GPS-denied navigation across land, air, and sea.  ANELLO products have been validated through multiple U.S. DoW operational test events and have been shipping to a vast array of customers.

The ANELLO Aerial INS is available for evaluation today with production shipments beginning Q2/2026. Evaluation kits include the ANELLO Aerial INS, cabling, drivers for PX4/ArduPilot, and a quick-start integration guide