Category: Tech News

Salesforce Tower Dublin ‘Ohana Floors Open To The Community

Salesforce Tower Dublin hosted Irish nonprofits, education groups, and foundations to mark the one-year anniversary of its official opening. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daithí de Róiste and as well as Carolan Lennon, Salesforce Ireland Country Leader were in attendance and led the celebration.

The ‘Ohana Floors in Dublin form part of a global initiative offering event spaces at the top of Salesforce towers to nonprofits and foundations aligned with the company’s culture of giving back. To date, events on our global ‘Ohana Floors have raised over $111 million for non-profit organisations. Community members can submit a request to use the space for free to host charitable fundraisers, receptions, and special events that have a focus on humanitarian, social, educational, or environmental causes.

Located on the 7th and 8th floors of Salesforce Tower Dublin, the ‘Ohana floors are a flexible, open space used during the day by Salesforce employees, customers and partners to collaborate and connect with each other. Guests can enjoy the barista bar, chef’s table, and stunning views of Dublin’s River Liffey and skyline.

“Salesforce has been contributing to the innovation, economic growth and social impact in Dublin for many years,” said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daithí de Róiste. “The ‘Ohana Floor in Salesforce Tower and what it offers is another example of how the company continues to invest in the community. We’re delighted to have this beautiful space available to our city.”

“We believe that business can be the greatest platform for change and our impact goes further with collective action. Salesforce Dublin Tower is a beautiful space designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and giving back to the community,” said Carolan Lennon, Salesforce Ireland Country Leader. “The ‘Ohana Floors are designed to welcome local charities and organisations to use the space and we support them to use this resource to its fullest potential, further strengthening our community connection.”

One of the first organisations to use the facilities included Special Olympics Ireland. The tower hosted a reunion for volunteers who travelled to Berlin in June 2023 to offer their time in support of Team Ireland’s journey to the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The event focused on recognising and celebrating these volunteers who gave up their time to support Team Ireland.

“The ‘Ohana Floor facilities offered at Salesforce Tower Dublin provide a wonderful space for community and collaboration,” said Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland. “Volunteers play such a vital role in Special Olympics and we’re proud we had the opportunity to be one of the first organisations to host an event here to celebrate those individuals.”

Giving back has been part of the DNA of Salesforce since the company was founded 25 years ago. Since opening in Ireland in 2001 Irish employees have volunteered over 325,000 hours, and last week hosted the company’s largest ever Volunteering Time Off (VTO) activity, bringing over 1,100 employees together to walk, run, cycle or hike to raise money for local charities Breakthrough Cancer Research, Special Olympics Ireland, and Difference Days.

Age Friendly Ireland Convention Addresses Technological Challenges Faced by Older People

Up to 200 older people from across Ireland have gathered in Kilkenny for the Age Friendly Ireland National Older People’s Councils (OPC) Convention, addressing the pressing issue of the technology gap experienced by older demographics. The national annual convention at the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel — held today and tomorrow (9 May and 10 May) — will tackle concerns surrounding online banking, a cashless society, and automated customer service helplines; offering potential solutions to bridge this divide.

The event, attended by Minister Mary Butler, TD, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People at the Department of Health, the Older People’s Councils and 31 local authority representatives, will feature discussions from panel speakers including;

  • Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service and Mark Harrington, National Manager, Healthy Age Friendly Homes.
  • Garret Doocey, Assistant Secretary from the Department of Transport with responsibility for Land Transport, Investment and Public Transport Policy will be discussing transport supports such as the travel assistance scheme, JAM card, Wayfinding centre and accessibility improvements to bus shelters, buses, age-friendly car parking and Age Friendly train stations.
  • Philip Hogan, CEO of Cliffrun Media, a Dublin-based technology company specialising in technology solutions for older individuals such as the ACORN Age-Friendly Smart Tablet, will be demonstrating technology that supports ageing.
  • Diarmuid Angland, a Department of Finance specialist, who is leading the development of a National Payments Strategy, will outline the meaning of digital inclusion and the implications of a cashless society.

The convention will include seven workshops, panel discussions and the opportunity to network and share learnings.

Hosted by the Kilkenny Age Friendly Programme and Kilkenny County Council in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland in Meath County Council, this year’s theme, Ageing with Independence, underscores Age Friendly Ireland’s commitment to building environments conducive to the well-being of older adults. There are approximately 806,300* people aged 65 and over living in Ireland.

Speaking at the convention, Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council and host to Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service said: “This is the only conference of its type in Ireland that harnesses the collective voice of older people and brings that wisdom directly into local government, and to the multiple stakeholders involved in the Age Friendly strategic response to demographic change. There is a huge value for local government officials having this direct connection to the citizen voice.”

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service emphasised the vital role of open dialogue among older individuals, local authorities, and the Government. She said: “Older people are not a homogenous group, and it is essential that we hear from the collective voice so that older people themselves can co-design solutions to challenges. Over the past 15 years, they have done exactly that — and thousands of innovative initiatives have been implemented based on their recommendations. That’s the core principle that underpins everything we do in Age Friendly Ireland and the key reason why we hold this annual convention”.

Ms McGuigan added that there are technological solutions to support independence as we age such as telecare which includes personal alarms, pendants/watches with 24-hour monitoring and smart home packages.

Speaking on behalf of the Older People’s Councils, Ita Healy, Chair of the National Network of Older People’s Councils said: “New policies are forthcoming that will tackle some of our concerns, including the National Payments Strategy, which aims to resolve the issue of services not accepting cash payments. Support for choice in payment is widespread.

“Safeguarding is an issue when payments can only be made online and older people must rely on neighbours, friends and family members to make their payments and access their personal information. At the recent NGO forum meeting, the safeguarding element was flagged especially for domestic abuse victims as cash is often essential for them to get away from their situation. People in all walks of life need the choice to use cash when and where they want to”.

Hosted in Kilkenny for the first time in its 15-year history, Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council said: “We are delighted to host this year’s National Older People’s Convention in Kilkenny, there is immense work being done by the Kilkenny Older People’s Council to further the mission of making Ireland a great place to grow old. I would encourage anyone who wants to have their voice heard to join their Older People’s Council. It’s an opportunity to engage with your local authority and to remind them about agreed programmes of work.”

Anne Marie Shortall, Age Friendly Kilkenny Programme Manager added: “In Kilkenny, we strive to make our county a place where older people are valued for their wisdom, experience and contributions to an inclusive society and community. Our programme is ambitious but so too is the need to change how we think about ageing and how we collaborate to deliver improvements in supports and services for older people. This annual gathering provides an opportunity for the national shared service to collaborate on how best to broach this change.”

Convention attendees called for older people to join their local Older People’s Council to ensure their voice is part of the conversation as the population ages. For more information on Age Friendly Ireland visit agefriendlyireland.ie.

Creative announces the latest Next-Gen audio profile with Super X-Fi Gen4

Building on the foundation of its award-winning Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, Creative Technology will be unveiling the all-new Super X-Fi Gen4 audio profile. This latest release boasts significant enhancements in dynamic range, clarity, and spatial awareness. The Super X-Fi Gen4 isn’t just raising the bar; it’s redefining the standard for immersive audio experiences. With this latest update, users can enjoy an expanded dynamic range, delivering richer, more detailed audio reproduction. Coupled with improved clarity, users can indulge in crystal-clear sound that captures every subtle nuance, while the refined sense of space offers a more expansive and lifelike soundstage.

Super X-Fi technology elevates the audio experience for users by recreating the immersive soundstage of high-end surround speaker systems within headphones, further personalized  by the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a remarkably natural listening experience. Since its debut at CES 2019, users and critics have been impressed by the realism of personalized audio, which is tailored according to their anthropometric profiles. From immersing in the heart-pounding action of a blockbuster movie to feeling the raw energy of a live concert or delving into the captivating world of gaming, Super X-Fi can bring it all to life with breath-taking detail and precision.

Super X-Fi For Speakers

Originally engineered for headphones, Super X-Fi has elevated personal audio to new heights with its personalized spatial holographic experience. Now, this innovative technology is poised to transform the home entertainment landscape by bringing the same revolutionary experience to speaker systems. The debut of Super X-Fi for speakers brings a new dimension to home entertainment, effortlessly turning any living space into a vibrant concert hall or theatre. With every note, beat, and sound resonating with captivating realism and depth, users can expect an immersive listening journey, mirroring the satisfaction long enjoyed by Super X-Fi headphone users.

Super X-Fi Gen4 will be rolled out worldwide in June, with users simply needing to configure and download their new profiles through the SXFI APP.

Expanding Super X-Fi Ecosystem

Soon, Creative Technology will unveil the integration of Super X-Fi technology across its upcoming product line-up, spanning from True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds to premium headphones and speakers. This expansion will enable users to seamlessly tap into the world of Super X-Fi across their preferred streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify, even on compact earbuds and speakers—a pioneering feat for Super X-Fi technology.

“Our user community has played a pivotal role in shaping the evolution of Super X-Fi, providing valuable insights and data that have refined our AI engine. With Super X-Fi Gen4, we’re advancing further, delivering an even more immersive listening experience that breaks free from the limitations of flat and lacklustre audio. Moreover, we are also thrilled to announce the upcoming integration of Super X-Fi technology across our product line-up, offering users seamless access to spatial audio no matter where they are,” said Lee Teck Chee, Chief Technology Officer at Creative and inventor of Super X-Fi.

For more information on Super X-Fi technology and products, visit sxfi.com.

Xencelabs launches portable Pen Display 16 – Industry First 16-Inch 4K OLED Pen Display for digital artists

Xencelabs, the global provider of digital drawing solutions and new choice for creative professionals, today announces the Xencelabs Pen Display 16, its new pen-on-screen solution for creative content professionals in media and entertainment, industrial and graphic design, and others. The Xencelabs Pen Display 16’s footprint, quality build, value-added features, and attractive pricing also make it an ideal choice for educators and students in art and design programs, from animation and game development to 3D design and visual effects.

Inspiration is Everywhere. Create Where, When and How You Want

Designed with portability and convenience in mind, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 will go wherever you want to take it. Slim at just .47 inches (12mm) and very light, 2.67 lbs (1.21kg), the profile and weight allow the device to be easily transported or conveniently placed on a desk.  “The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is easily transported between work and home,” says Michael Thompson, Head of Product for Xencelabs. “If home is where you work, the display can go wherever creativity takes you – your favorite café or to a client presentation. For users who might have limited desk space or would like to add a conveniently sized pen display to their workflow, look no further than the Xencelabs Pen Display 16. It is the ideal multi-tasking companion to a primary display or work setting where multiple displays are being used,” continues Thompson. Virtual Tablet, an innovative, time-saving feature within the Xencelabs driver, enables users to control multiple displays with the Xencelabs pen. Xencelabs’ new pen display is also ideally suited for educational purposes. Faculty, students and IT personnel will appreciate the limited desk space the unit occupies, as well as the robust styling, easy set up and intuitive driver. Additionally, the product would fit extremely well with student loaner programs, whereby students would be allowed to take the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 from classroom to home and back for assignments, exams, or other projects.

The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 will connect to any compatible PC, Mac or Linux laptop device via a single USB-C to USB-C cable. A 10-bit hub is included for those wanting to or required to connect through HDMI or Display Port. Naturally, Xencelabs provides all the necessary cables in the box.

The Xencelabs Mobile Easel is a stand designed for portability. It ships with the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 and provides two drawing angles, 18.3° and 32° respectively. Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 and the number of ways you can use the device is a testament to Xencelabs’ product design philosophy.

This coming summer, the Xencelabs Desktop Easel will be available as an optional purchase. The stand provides a wide range of tilt angles as well as rotation. The Desktop Easel provides a standard VESA mount for attaching to articulating arms. In keeping with the focus on mobility, the Desktop Easel has a quick release mechanism to enable artists to switch between desktop operation and mobile environments. No screwdrivers or other tools are needed. Xencelabs also includes a smartly designed protective carrying case that can house the Xencelabs Pen Display 16, accessories, cabling, and the user’s laptop.

OLED Display for Stunning Image Quality

By offering a 4K OLED pen display, Xencelabs is answering the call from creative users wanting the colours from their drawings and paintings to be more vivid and realistic. “Pen Display color continues to be of major importance to creatives,” says Thompson. “After working with dozens of artists, we chose an OLED display to deliver remarkable vibrance, brightness and contrast levels. The OLED display also provides an absence of visual artifacts such as backlight bleeding and blooming pixels. Most importantly, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16’s OLED design provides near perfect black levels and artists delight in the devices ability to create lifelike colours against a true black background.”

In addition, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16’s edge-to-edge, super-AG etched glass surface offers a seamless and natural drawing experience that feels just like a real pen on paper or paintbrush on canvas. Artists working in studio or classroom environments with high amounts of ambient light will appreciate the pen display’s uncanny ability to reduce glare. Supporting up to 1.07 billion colors, the pen display features five factory-calibrated colour spaces: Adobe® RGB (98%), P3-DCS (98%), sRGB (99%), Rec 2020 and Rec 709. The display’s aluminium back housing ensures rapid heat dissipation without any disruptive fan noise.

Fluid, Accurate, Responsive Pen Performance

The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 comes with two pressure-sensitive pens to meet with the ergonomic or style needs of the artist. The 3-Button pen has a wider barrel with three customisable buttons for placing commonly used keyboard shortcuts directly on the pen. The Thin Pen is for those who are looking for the feel and effects produced by a real pencil or thinner brush. It has two buttons for convenient customisation. Both pens come with a pressure-sensitive eraser. “Our pens are designed to the highest standards and digitally replicate the natural feel and feedback one would get using a real pen or brush,” states Thompson. “Incredibly responsive and smooth pen pressure curves are easily adjusted with the Xencelabs driver to align with various drawing styles.”

Quick Keys, other Accessories

Quick Keys, Xencelabs’ hand-held remote for creating software application specific shortcuts to boost productivity, ships with the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle. This super user-friendly device provides five customisable groups of eight keys for a total of 40 shortcuts per application. Each of the eight keys have an OLED display that shows the user-defined name of the shortcut. Additionally, the Quick Keys colour-coded dial delivers up to four customised application tasks such as zoom, rotate, pan, and brush size. Quick Keys works up to 53 hours on a single charge.

Two Options for Artists and Designers

Xencelabs is offering two options to customers – the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle and the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Essentials. The Bundle comes with the Pen Display 16, Mobile Easel stand, two pens, cables, driver, Quick Keys, and protective carrying case. Customers will receive other valuable items, including an elegantly designed and functional pen case that contains the pens, extra nibs (standard and felt), nib remover and Quick Keys dongle. A drawing glove and screen cleaning cloth round out Xencelabs’ incredible Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle for digital content creators who are serious about the tools they use for art and design.

The Essentials is a wonderful option for those who are on-the-go and know they will be connecting the display to their laptop via the single USB-C to USB-C cable and do not require all the items that ship in the Bundle version. The budget-friendly Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Essentials, ideal for schools and individuals alike, ships with the Pen Display 16, two pens and elegant pen case, single USB-C to USB-C cable, carrying case, drawing glove and cleaning cloth. Accessories for the Xencelabs Pen Display 16, such as the Quick Keys, cables, and stand, are available to purchase separately on the Xencelabs eStore.

See Jason Chatfield’s, past President of the National Cartoonists Society and professional cartoonist/illustrator, review of the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 here.

Pricing and Availability

The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle (£1199 – MSRP) is available now and Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Essentials (£969 – MSRP) will be available at the end of May at the Xencelabs eStore, Amazon and local Distribution.

Leostream to Expand Remote Desktop Flexibility with Windows 365

Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream® Remote Desktop Access Platform, has announced the full integration of the Leostream Platform with Microsoft Windows 365 to provide enhanced flexibility, scalability, and resilience to organizations incorporating cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

Enterprises that rely on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure contend with a myriad of challenges, including capacity limitations due to space constraints within data centers. With potentially hundreds of thousands of user desktop sessions happening at once, the sheer size of these environments often requires moving workloads to the cloud to accommodate demanding use cases. Cloud deployments also permit new flexibility for instance-size updates and nearly limitless restore points to minimize disruptions, especially in the event of VM failures.

However, cloud and hybrid cloud strategies incur increased complexity as resources, applications, and data must be managed and available across on-premises data centers and multiple cloud platforms. The Leostream Platform alleviates this complexity and enables Windows 365 users to access additional resources hosted on-prem, on Azure, AWS, or other cloud providers, with a consistent and unified experience and state-of-the-art authentication and security.

Key to the Leostream Platform’s ability to streamline remote Windows 365 desktop access in heterogeneous environments is its comprehensive protocol support. This delivers seamless communication between disparate systems, regardless of the underlying hosting platform or supported display protocol.

Additional features and advantages of deploying the Leostream Platform with Windows 365:

– Provides a customizable landing page tailored to individual user profiles and locations for a personalized and intuitive user experience.

– Eliminates conventional password-based authentication with stronger Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) to enhance security while simplifying the user login processes, and integrates with Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) providers so organizations can easily transition to SAML authentication while maintaining compatibility with the existing authentication framework.

– Enables direct connections to Windows 365 desktops via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support and allows the use of cloud-specific display protocols such as NICE DCV and PCoIP for connections to other hosted resources, eliminating incompatibilities that lead to interoperability issues and impede user experience.

– Permits future integration of Windows 365 with other third-party VDI and DaaS Vendors.

“Windows 365 is an essential tool for many organizations, and this integration gives them new options not only for supporting hybrid and remote workforces, but also truly for implementing a multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud strategy alongside their on-premise infrastructure,” said Leostream CEO Karen Gondoly. “The Leostream Platform’s emphasis on access and interoperability of diverse protocols eliminates one of the primary obstacles to transitioning to the cloud by ensuring workers have access to the resources they need and a user experience that won’t hamper their productivity.”

The Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform for hosted desktops and workstations offers a comprehensive solution for remote access to maintain productivity, control costs, and ensure security with strict authentication and authorization built on zero-trust concepts. Its connection management system eliminates clunky corporate VPNs with an ultra-efficient gateway that gives users access to only the specific resources they have permission to use, automatically, regardless of their location or device. The Leostream Platform shines even in environments that rely on complex, specialty applications like energy and science; large files such as media and entertainment; real-time performance like financial services; and bulletproof network security like government and defense.

Leading supplier of IT solutions for public transport INIT to expand in Maynooth

INIT, worldwide leading supplier of integrated planning, dispatching, telematics and ticketing systems for buses and trains, have announced that they will increase their capacity in Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

Highly skilled software developers create applications for public transport projects around the world, including for ticketing and real-time passenger information systems for transport operators and authorities in cities including Honolulu, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Nottingham, Dublin, Hamburg, and New Zealand. INIT opened its first Irish office in 2018, their first software development centre outside Germany and employ 25 people. From today, the office capacity has increased with space to accommodate up to 60 employees and INIT is on the lookout for further talented Java and .Net cloud software engineers to continue their rapid growth. INIT is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD said: “I very much welcome INIT’s announcement that they will increase the number of employees to 60 as part of an expansion at their Maynooth facility. Since their establishment in Ireland in 2018, INIT have been providing vital IT solutions for public transport, and it is great to see them continue to thrive and grow in Kildare. The expansion will provide fantastic employment opportunities in the IT sector. Great news for INIT, Kildare and the wider region, I wish them all the best with this new expansion.”

Matthias Kühn, INIT COO, underlines the importance of INIT’s Ireland branch: “In just over five years, our subsidiary in Ireland has exceeded expectations. We see this as confirmation that Maynooth is the right place to develop our innovative solutions for public transport. Doubling the staff and more than doubling their office capacity in Ireland will help INIT pave the way for continued success in the future. We are looking forward to receiving applications from qualified specialists for our development centre.”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: ‘’INIT’s plans to grow to up to 60 employees in their Maynooth office is great news for the region and indeed Ireland’s technology sector. IDA is very proud of Ireland’s reputation as a hub for technology. This expansion is a testament to the talent and skills that companies can find in Ireland and in Maynooth. ‘’

Even before establishing its subsidiary, INIT had strong ties with Ireland, including Dublin Bus (Bus Átha Cliath). In 2010, INIT implemented the first fleet management and real-time passenger information platform for the Greater Dublin Area.

Iconic Belfast and Dublin venues to host first ever Transatlantic Fintech Exchange

The Fintech Corridor and the American Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC), are set to welcome around 100 delegates from across the globe to the first ever Transatlantic Fintech Exchange in iconic venues across Belfast and Dublin, on May 13-16, 2024.

Venues including the Guinness Storehouse, Belfast City Hall and Killeavy Castle will serve as historic backdrops for the conference.

It will see senior leaders from the finance and technology sector come together with government development agencies to drive collaboration across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US, share best practice and increase investment in the island of Ireland’s fintech industry.

Headline speakers include:

  • Karen O’Leary, Head of Payments and Securities at Central Bank of Ireland
  • Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance
  • Conor Murphy MLA, Economy Minister
  • Paul O’Hare, Tech & Finance Lead, Google
  • Karl Hanlon, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), FinTrU
  • Margaret Hearty, CEO, InterTradeIreland
  • Kieran Donoghue, CEO, Invest NI
  • Maeve Monaghan, CEO, NOW Group
  • Alison Donnelly, Director, Fscom
  • Richard Swales, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Paysafe
  • Stephen Groarke, Chief Financial Officer, Elavon/US Bank EMEA
  • Hartwig Gerhartinger, Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Paysafe

Key event themes are the future of payments, workforce development and the regulatory and legislative intersections between the EU, UK, and US. It’s designed to be an intimate event which will build real relationships and understanding in a focused group of fewer than 100 senior industry executives, government representatives, and academic institutions.

Hilary Moran, CEO of The Fintech Corridor, commented: “The island of Ireland is fast becoming a global centre for fintech. The distinctive blend of skilled individuals with experience in both technology and finance, coupled with proactive government support, has enabled a wave of startups to thrive and harness their potential in an exceedingly business-friendly atmosphere. The Transatlantic Fintech Exchange is designed to provide a forum to build connectivity across the UK, Europe and US and bolster investment in fintech across the island.”

ATPC Executive Director H. West Richards, commented: “This unique cross-border proposition connects US, EU, and UK fintech ecosystems and will help drive deeper understanding of opportunities in each governance. Brexit profoundly changed how EU and UK fintech companies interact with each other, and access to companies in both jurisdictions will enable us to work closely to develop common solutions and increase cooperation and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, especially as US regulators work on cybersecurity, data privacy and other critical issues.”

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “I am really looking forward to hosting the Transatlantic Fintech Exchange event at City Hall as it will help promote co-operation in the Fintech sector on both sides of the Atlantic and across the island of Ireland.

“It’s a valuable opportunity to showcase our growing Fintech industry in Belfast and along the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor and to build partnerships with like-minded networks in the US. Belfast has a developing cluster of fintech businesses, and we have an excellent track record of inward investment. As a council, we’re building on that and raising the profile of Belfast internationally through co-operative events like the Transatlantic Fintech Exchange.”

“Belfast will be the final part of this week-long visit to Ireland and it’s fantastic to collaborate with The Fintech Corridor and our Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor partners, with meetings hosted in both Dublin and Newry. Together, we’re presenting a very attractive investment proposition.”

In welcoming the event, Minister Neale Richmond said: “Fintech and digital finance are of huge potential as we work towards the digital transition and this event is a fantastic opportunity to develop this work across our island. Fintech is a key priority of the Ireland for Finance strategy and so I am looking forward to welcoming delegates from the Fintech sector here in Ireland and abroad to keep up the momentum and strengthen our connections in this area across the island and indeed, across the globe.”

Co–Chair of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) partnership, Councillor Pete Byrne, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said: “This visit by representatives from the American Transaction Processors Coalition provides a platform to proudly showcase the entire Dublin to Belfast Economic Corridor including our strengths in tech, innovation, talent, education, cultural and excellent quality of life for those who live and work along the Corridor.”

Co–Chair of DBEC Councillor Adrian Henchy of Fingal County Council, commented: “This visit presents a welcome opportunity to celebrate the many very special connections we have with the US from diplomatic relations to investment, knowledge sharing, tourism, education, and cultural exchange.”

More conference details are available at www.atpcoalition.com

and www.thefintechcorridor.com

NAD Electronics Introduces the C 379 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier

NAD Electronics, a leading manufacturer in high-performance audio, announces the launch of its new Classic Series amplifier, the C 379 HybridDigital™ DAC Amplifier at the HIGH END Munich International Audio Show. The C 379 builds on NAD’s commitment to innovation and value-driven performance with a ground-breaking design featuring a carefully engineered Class D output stage, industry-leading ESS SABRE® DAC, and the second generation of Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology for upgrades and expandability. The NAD C 379 will be available at the end of June 2024 for a suggested retail price of US $1,099 / EUR€ 1,199 / GBP £899. 

The NAD C 379 utilises a customised UcD output stage with HybridDigital technology to deliver 80 watts of Continuous Power (into 8 and 4 Ohms) and a remarkable 120 watts of Dynamic Power (4 Ohms), all with virtually no noise or distortion. The C 379 can also be bridged with the C 268 Stereo Power Amplifier in a fully balanced configuration for 300 watts continuously and over 500 watts instantaneously to provide maximum power and performance for the most demanding tracks.

The NAD C 379’s highly efficient power supply consumes less than half the power of conventional amplifiers in its class while also providing clean power to all amplification stages. This energy-saving supply and balanced design also provides near perfect regulation of voltage across a wide range of conditions. 

“The NAD C 379 stands in a class of its own, integrating of every essential component of a high-performance music system and accommodating all music sources from vinyl to digital streaming,” said Cas Oostvogel, Product Manager of NAD Electronics. “With its meticulous, low-noise circuits and the ability to enhance both its features and power output, this Class D integrated is a testament to the legacy of NAD’s Classic Series and our relentless pursuit of sonic excellence at an affordable price.”

The digital circuity is built around the critically acclaimed ESS SABRE® ES9028 DAC, the industry’s highest performance 32-bit digital-to-analogue converter with unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion. 

Featuring the second generation of NAD’s Modular Design Construction, MDC 2, the  C 379 and its two expansion slots allow users to upgrade the amplifier’s capabilities with emerging A/V technologies and additional features through the module, including BluOS high-resolution multi-room streaming and Dirac Live Room Correction. The available MDC2 BluOS-D module further enables seamless integration with BluOS, Apple AirPlay 2, and two-way aptX HD Bluetooth. 

With BluOS, users can connect the C 379 to their home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and experience the most advanced multi-room wireless music management system with        24 bit/192kHz resolution. Controlled through the BluOS app for smartphone, tablet, or desktop, BluOS manages your digital music collection and connects to over 20 high-quality streaming music services including Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Spotify, and more.

Additionally, the NAD C 379 is equipped with a variety of analogue and digital connectivity including aptX HD Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, MM Phono stage, and two independent subwoofer outputs. The integrated amplifier also includes a built-in separate headphone amplifier with low output impedance and high output voltage capability, allowing it to drive a wide range of headphones.   

Join them at the HIGH END Munich International Audio Show from May 9-12, 2024, in Rooms D107 and D108 located in Atrium 3.1 at the MOC Event Centre and experience the NAD   C 379 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier.

FEATURES AND DETAILS: 

 

  • Customised HybridDigital UcD Amplifier with Stereo and Bridge Modes 
  • 2 x 80 Watts per channel of Continuous Power (8 and 4 Ohms)
  • 2 x 120 Watts per channel of Dynamic Power (4 Ohms)
  • 1 x 300W, in bridge mode
  • Industry-leading ESS SABRE® 32-bit/384kHz DAC
  • Dual MDC 2 Ports for Future Upgrades and Expanded Features
  • MM Phono Stage with Accurate RIAA Equalization and Ultra-Low Noise
  • Built-in Separate Headphone Amplifier for Low and High Impedance
  • HDMI eARC, Optical Digital and Coax Digital Inputs
  • Dual independent Subwoofer Outputs

Remora Unveil Groundbreaking Wireless Audio Solution, Remora PRO

Remora, a leading audio startup at the forefront of eliminating cables from professional and high-end consumer audio applications, is proud to announce the launch of their inaugural product: Remora PRO. This cutting-edge innovation, based on the acclaimed Headphone 3.0 platform from Sonical Inc, introduces a game-changing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connection, delivering an unparalleled loss-less audio experience with imperceptible latency.


Designed to cater to the millions of professional users and premium audio listeners who refuse to compromise on quality or latency, Remora PRO is set to empower audiophiles, music producers, live performers and DJs with a cable-free audio experience. The product’s groundbreaking design connects seamlessly with all existing audio sources via analogue and USB interfaces, and is adaptable to all headphone models. Moreover, the Remora PRO offers full Bluetooth support, ensuring backward compatibility with billions of existing wireless audio devices.

The Remora PRO fulfills the unmet performance needs of audio professionals and music enthusiasts that Bluetooth has been unable to support.  Mark Wade, Head of Products at Remora explains “By using CosmOS, the operating system for the ear from Sonical, running on their high performance ear computer platform, Remora PRO provides a complete solution for a personalized experience through downloadable plugins.”

Grammy award-winning mix engineer Wez Clarke expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I love the fact that I can use the professional headphones I already own, which I’ve had for years and understand the sound profile of.” Clarke further emphasized, “This level of audio performance goes beyond regular Bluetooth wireless headphones and is truly a cable replacement.  More than that, it means I don’t have to throw away my headphones just to get access to the latest technology”

The Remora will include THX AAA, the patented THX linear amplifier technology for headphones. THX AAA on the Remora will ensure the ultimate no-compromise headphone audio experience by delivering the world’s highest fidelity audio with infinitesimally low levels of noise, distortion, and power consumption for a quality and fatigue-free listening experience.
Anticipating a high demand for this revolutionary product, Remora PRO are scheduled for shipping by the end of September with a suggested retail pricing of GBP £759 USD $949 EUR €890. Pre-orders are now open on the company’s website: www.remora.pro

Key Features of Remora PRO:

  • Ultra Wide Band (UWB) wireless connection for an uncompressed lossless audio experience with imperceptible latency at 24bit / 96kHz
  • End to End latency of sub 5ms in UWB mode
  • Compatibility with all existing audio sources via analogue and USB interfaces.
  • User configurable through Sonical’s CosmOS with downloadable plugins for a personalised audio experience
  • Full Bluetooth support for backward compatibility with existing wireless audio devices
  • XMOS USB input and an ESS Powered DAC output
  • THX AAA certified headphone amplifier for an unparalleled headphone audio experience

Remora will be at the Sonical booth in Hall 1, C12 at HIGH END Munich 2024.