Nearly 60% of People Are Worried About Their Data Being Used by Mobile Apps #GDPR

Research from The App Developers has discovered that whilst 58% of the population are worried about mobile Apps stealing personal data, they still went on to download as many as 100 paid apps each, over the course of 12 months.

Surprisingly 73% of respondents said that, despite being worried about their data, they would still only download free apps – which were far more likely to be monetised with targeted advertising or by capturing their data.

When asked about how they preferred to access premium content within free apps, more than a thirdof those worried about their data said they’d prefer to access premium content in exchange for being subjected to “un-skippable” in-app advertising, this compares with just 13% who preferred to pay for the content directly or as an upgrade cost.

Sam Furr, founder of The App Developers said: “Despite the fact that such a large concern exists, the public continue to download free apps in abundance, meaning that companies should make efforts to keep their apps free if they want to reach the largest possible audience”.

He goes on to say “Luckily, only a tiny minority of apps are capturing data with the intent to sell on, most will fall foul of the new GDPR rules, demonetising lots of the less trustworthy apps and allowing those to cut through the noise who genuinely add some value”.

New GDPR legalisation will mean hefty fines for those found in breach of data protection laws. Of those who have only downloaded 1-5 apps in the last 12 months, 67% admitted to being concerned about apps using their data for marketing purposes.

Comparatively, 69% of participants who have downloaded 51-100 apps in the last 12 months revealed they were content with handing over their personal information to apps. This could suggest app-addicts are unsure of the potential consequences of carelessly handing over their personal information, or are comfortable with the way their data could be used.

However, the overall perception of apps asking for personal information is negative, with 60% of participants being against it; meaning apps who request this might be unpopular to download.

About The App Developers

The App Developers are an award-winning mobile led design & development agency, working with corporates and start-ups across multiple sectors. All products are created adopting a user-first methodology, and solutions are designed taking an expert think-tank approach to business pain points and objectives.  Everything is built with ROI in mind.  The App Developers have worked with brands such as Fujifilm, Exxonmobil, Sainsbury’s, Walkers & many emerging and disruptive start-ups.

Survey Methodology

The App Developers surveyed over 300 men and women within the UK between 07/02/2018 – 12/02/2018 to discover their opinions and thoughts on mobile apps. Respondents were asked 10 questions such as which marketing channels encourage app downloads, how much they spend on downloading apps or in-app purchases and whether they would choose an app over a branded website. The App Developers then analysed the results.

 

Unboxing and first look. The Sudio Tre earphones #tech #earphones

Sudio Sweden have sent us over their latest earphones the Sudio Tre in the Classic Blue. Dont forget you can get a special discount via us on their website by using the code techbuzzireland15 see more HERE. Today we will have a quick unboxing and walkaround and if you have any questions feel free to ask during our review period.

The Tre sound signature is well-balanced with each tone represented clearly for an even listening experience. Tre offers full sound transparency, meaning the user can still hear their surroundings without having to remove the earphones. You won’t be caught off guard by unexpected street noise and conversation, even while listening to your favorite tunes.

BUY HERE 

Almost two-thirds of Irish workers don’t have full remote access during #StormEmma

Storm Emma has taken everyone by surprise and frankly I don’t think we were prepared for it and it could cost the economy millions. From a business perspective things can keep going though via remote access which I do myself but there is businesses out there that could be more proactive in this department. Will the likes of these severe weather conditions be a kickstart for a business to now have a protocol in place? Some do but there is many there that do not so maybe now this might change after recent events.

Severe weather conditions have forced the closure of many Irish businesses as Status Red and Orange snow and ice warnings have been issued across the State. The resultant impact could end up costing Irish companies millions, as many fail to embrace the technology capable of empowering remote working.

Gary Hopwood, Managing Director at Ricoh Ireland, commented: “Between the severe conditions that engulfed the country this week and Storm Ophelia late last year, Ireland has experienced two Status Red nationwide weather warnings in recent times. Events such as these impact the entire workforce and can cause a huge amount of disruption to unprepared businesses, in terms of both time and money. Ensuring the safety of the workforce is paramount, however it is essential that employees can stay safe at home whilst having the capacity to work productively. That is where remote working technology comes in.

Gary Hopwood, general manager, Ricoh Ireland

A recent survey from Ricoh Ireland found that almost two-thirds (63%) of Irish workers don’t have the authorisation or remote access tools needed to work effectively from home. With extremely low temperatures and blizzard conditions caused by Storm Emma, many employees have either been unable to complete their daily work, or have seen their productivity greatly impacted by a lack of mobile workstyle supports.

“At Ricoh Ireland, we have implemented our own business continuity plan which enables all Ricoh employees to work effectively and efficiently from home. We recognise the value of mobile working during times like these, not only in terms of upholding business continuity and delivering a high standard of customer service, but also enabling employees to innovate and collaborate from remote locations. In other words, supporting mobile workstyles is advantageous for the individuals but also the organisation and, perhaps most importantly, its customers.

In addition to the impact on a company’s bottom line caused by office closures, the study found that Irish businesses are missing out on a further range of benefits by failing to empower mobile working. Respondents cited the main benefits of remote workstyles as greater flexibility (79%), the ability to attract and retain the best talent (37%), and improved customer service (36%).

The research, which was carried out in association with TechPro magazine in November 2017, surveyed 175 IT professionals from private and public sector organisations across Ireland.

Boots Ireland App update has a host of features and New Digital Advantage Card #Boots #Apps #AdvanatageCard

The Boots Advantage Card is used regularly by 1 million Irish customers and is one of Ireland’s most loved loyalty programmes. The Boots Digital Advantage Card is now available via the Boots phone app which we have covered before and will enable customers to earn points simply and swiftly at the till via the phone app, with a host of additional new functions also available. Boots Advantage Card customers earn 4 points for every €1 spent. Boots customers that download or upgrade the app can avail of a bonus 400 points when they spend €20 in store or online.

The generous points system remains unchanged, with Boots Advantage Card customers earning 4 points for every €1 spent, and members of the Boots Parenting Club, and the Over 60s programme, earning a boosted 10 points for every €1 on a selected range of products.

The new version of the Boots Ireland App has a host of features other than the New Digital Advantage Card, including:

  • A range of personalised offers for each customer
  • Online shopping and appointment booking service
  • New vitamin reminder and health advice function
  • Store locator to quickly find nearest Boots store and the services offered
  • Wide range of photo printing services

As a special offer, Boots customers can avail of a bonus 400 points when they spend €20 in store or online.

Insights from the Boots Advantage Card programme reveal that the most popular item to be redeemed via points is cotton wool pads, followed by bottled water and Boots cucumber face wipes. Looking further at the spending habits of Irish Boots Advantage Card users, Christmas is the most popular time of year for Boots customers to choose a points purchase, and Fridays top the table as the most popular day of the week for customers to pay with points – allowing a little more spending power heading into the weekend.

Commenting on the launch of the Boots Digital Advantage Card, Mark Barry, IT Director for Boots UK & Ireland said: “We are always looking to bring our customers new and exciting ways of getting better value for their purchases and bringing the Boots Advantage Card into the digital space is an important step in making it easier than ever to collect and spend points. The new app also offers a range of new services that were developed with the Boots customer in mind, which we hope will be really popular.”

Commenting on the new launch, Gillian Hennessy, Head of Marketing at Boots Ireland says: “We are really proud of what the Boots Advantage Card has offered to Irish shoppers over the last decade, and this new launch introduces the easiest way ever to carry your Boots Advantage Card. The insights show that a million Irish people regularly benefit by using the Boots Advantage Card points system, and we’re delighted the new digital version provides a streamlined way to earn and spend points.”

How to get the Boots Digital Advantage Card:

  1. Download the Boots app on the Apple App Store or on Google Play
  2. Customers who have a Boots Advantage card then click ‘My Advantage Card’
  3. Click ‘Add my card’ and enter your Boots Advantage Card number and details
  4. You’re all set! Your Boots Digital Advantage Card barcode, points available to spend and personalised offers will appear in the app

For more information on the Boots Digital Advantage Card and how to download, visit boots.ie/advantage-card

 

The Studio19 SOLO EQ speaker with Dual Pressure Air Compression Technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound

British audio design specialists, Studio19, is today pleased to announce the launch of the Solo EQ speaker on crowd funding platform,Indiegogo. The Solo EQ is a precision-engineered speaker system that’s ready to connect with music, movies and gaming for a premium audio experience. Built using patented Dual Pressure Air Compression (DPAC) super-bass technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound, the Solo produces a fully immersive auditory experience with an exceptionally detailed and nuanced sound quality throughout the entire room.

 

Early Bird backers will be able to pick up the Solo EQ for just $379 (RRP $599) with an estimated delivery date of just 10-12 weeks.

Beautifully designed in powder-coated stainless steel, the Solo uses state-of-the-art speaker drivers with a maximum output of up to 200 watts, loud enough to handle virtually any occasion with no compromise in quality. The Solo is one of the world’s first “enhanced degree” patented 3D-effect portable Hi-Fi speakers. Unlike conventional 360° sound, the Solo’s Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound flows not only left to right but top to bottom. This creates an omni-directional spread with wide, directional waves that circulate throughout a room, giving the authentic impression of a multi-speaker environment from a single speaker.

 

Cutting edge digital processing power means that the Solo heightens the essential characteristics of the audio you listen too, resulting in a rich, dynamic sound that truly brings your music to life. The Solo EQ has a built-in professional EQ Graphic Equalizer, a digital sound enhancement not normally found in portable speakers, allowing you to fine tune your music even further. Add more bass, mid-range or treble to get exactly the sound you want.

 

Features:

  • Bluetooth Connectivity options for versatile play
  • Wifi connectivity for multi room playback and control
  • HDMI port: Connect to an HDTV for an enhanced sound bar experience
  • Active 3-band Graphic EQ to tailor your sound
  • Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound for omni-directional audio
  • Advanced DSP for full dynamic range
  • Dual Pressure Air Compression Technology for a super bass experience
  • Movie/Music/Gaming modes to optimize the sound source
  • Available in space grey or gold

Specifications:

  • Working voltage: 7.4V
  • Charging voltage: DC 5V 3A
  • Max Output: 200W
  • Driver Unit: bass 3Ω, middle 4Ω*2, treble 4Ω*2
  • Driver Size: bass 5 inch, middle 2.5 inch, treble 1.5 inch
  • Frenquency：20Hz~18kHz
  • S/N: ≥100dB
  • Distortion: ≤0.5%
  • Bluetooth Version: 4.2 with TWS
  • Bluetooth distance: 10M
  • Battery Capacity: 8800 mAh
  • Size: 143mm x 143mm x 602mm
  • Weight: 3.2kg

SUPPORT THEM ON INDIEGOGO

Thousands of employees to ‘go remote’ as Ireland prepares for #BeastfromtheEast #Remote

It would be nice if we could all do it but its not relevant to a percentage of the population but with the situation at hand it is the sensible thing to do for those that can..Many more companies could introduce a work from home set up and perhaps now is a time to look into it. 

Thousands of employees across the country will work from home in the coming days, as Ireland faces its worst blizzard since 1982.

Abodoo calls for employers to consider remote working as a longer-term option 

As the country gears up for the ‘Beast from the East’, start-up Abodoo, which champions remote and flexible career opportunities, is highlighting how remote working can help employers avoid work disruptions year-round.

Commenting today (27.02.18), Vanessa Tierney, co-founder of Abodoo, said: “When bad weather hits, many employers are thrown into disarray.  They may not have the systems and procedures in place to facilitate remote working, so a weather event like the ‘Best from the East’ can cause severe disruption to their business.

“On the other hand, those employers that facilitate remote working year-round have nothing to fear from bad weather.  They have provided flexible working options for their employees, which means their business will continue to run smoothly no matter what the weather conditions. 

“If employees can work from home, they don’t have to venture out and try to drive to work in perilous conditions.  During storms, remote working is the safest and most sensible option.

“At Abodoo, we believe remote working shouldn’t be the exception and employers should offer this option to employees throughout the year, and not just at times of adverse weather conditions.”

Business Case for Remote Working

According to Ms. Tierney, there is a strong business case for remote working, year-round.

“Apart from avoiding disruption during bad weather, remote working leads to cost-savings, better retention levels, higher rates of employee satisfaction, and greater opportunities for working parents, people with disabilities, and those living outside major urban areas,” she said.  “It’s better for the environment because people need to commute less, and it allows people more choice in where they live and the type of homes they buy.  

Abodoo highlighted the “figures that prove remote working makes sense”, including:

  • Remote workers save, on average, between €2,000 and €7,000 and hundreds of hours of travel time per year – just by removing their daily commute.
  • 82% of those who work from home report lower stress levels as a result.
  • 58% of companies in Ireland (in a 2016 survey of 540 companies) confirmed they are investing in cloud technology, of which 46% confirmed this would benefit remote working.
  • 15% of large multinational companies in Ireland now support home-working, and this figure is increasing year on year.
  • Companies that promote remote working report an increase in staff retention of over 50 per cent; and a reduction in absenteeism of 63%.
  • 91% of companies that facilitate remote working experience increased productivity.
  • Companies will save on average of €11,000 per employee that is remote and many start by implementing a hybrid or flexible model.
  • Figures from Census 2016 show the scale of the daily exodus from two out of every three local authority areas due to a lack of local job and educational opportunities. Rates of unemployment in rural areas include: 16% of Cavan; 19% of Longford; over 14% of Mayo and 15% of Wexford.

Review – Urbanista San Franciso Green Camo earphones. #tech #earphones #urbanistalife

The Urbanista San Francisco earphones are multi-functional earphones for everyday use. This colour would not suit everyone but could be a dream earphone for some. The flat cable looks strong and is designed to be tangle free. The remote allows you to take calls and control your music.

 Box Contains:

Urbanista San Francisco In-Ear Headphones – Green Camo

Features:

  • The earpieces are perfectly shaped for an ergonomic fit
  • Tangle-free flat cable is as practical as it is stylish
  • The remote allows you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks
  • Whether you’re listening to your favourite music or chatting with a friend on the phone, the San Francisco set gives you an enjoyable audio experience with crisp highs and a rich sound.

 

Specification:

Speaker size: φ14.2mm

 95dB ±3dB SPL @1KHz

Impedance: 32ohms ±15% @1KHz

Frequency: 20-20.000Hz

Hands-free with microphone

Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows

Weight: 16g (without packaging)

Weight including packaging: 61g

 Packaging size: 50x30x120mm

 

Warranty:

Urbanista One Year Limited Warranty

 

Colours:

There is a variety of colours available to match your style to name a few, San Francisco Blue Petroleum, Pink Paradise, Sunset Boulevard, Lucky Rainbow, Coral Island, Dark Clown, Crispy Apple, and Fluffy Cloud

 

Overview:

One on the advantages (double edge sword) of these earphones is the earphone themselves, they don’t have the option to inset a larger or smaller gel to fit the size of your ears, one size fits all approach. This works great if they fit comfortable, however some of the more expensive may include a gel type earpiece that can often get lost / fall off a continuous wear. The flat cable is a bonus to prevent tangles to the cable even after been folded into a pocket.

The audio quality is respectable for the price range while when the volume was turned up to max, this could be heard by another person sitting beside you. The remote allows you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks. San Francisco is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows. This worked perfectly when connected to a laptop and iPhone.

BUY HERE

Novi PatchGuard to deliver €750,000 revenue. #Novi #IT #PatchGuard #Ransomware

Novi, the cyber security and proactive IT provider, today announces that it is launching Novi PatchGuard, a new vulnerability and patch management service. Novi PatchGuard enables Novi’s customers to automate the patch management process and reduces risk by keeping systems up-to-date and secure against malware and cyber security breaches. The new service is forecast to generate €750,000 in revenue in the next 24 months. It will be available to businesses both in Ireland and internationally.

Ransomware and associated threats are causing real problems for Irish organisations, leading to an average financial cost of €107,210 per attack and in some cases, serious reputational damage. Global ransomware damage costs are predicted to exceed $11.5 billion annually by 2019, with businesses coming under attack by ransomware every 14 seconds. As the threat landscape continues to evolve and the number of threats increases, companies are struggling to effectively identify vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis. The Novi PatchGuard service will help businesses to meet this challenge head-on. Novi PatchGuard will secure devices by streamlining the patching process, routinely identifying vulnerabilities and applying patches.

 

George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi

Novi has invested €110,000 to develop and bring the new service to market, bringing to €330,000 the amount that it has invested in launching new services in the past year. Novi’s specialist team of highly trained cyber security professionals will deliver the service from the company’s advanced Proactive Service Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. Novi PatchGuard is managed via a centralised, cloud-based dashboard that provides real-time visibility into known vulnerabilities and missing patches across all devices. Comprehensive scanning functionality reports on patches that have been installed and identifies any that are missing. The service then automatically applies patches to all devices on a schedule, including to remote laptops and devices once they come online. This saves Novi’s customers time and effort and allows them to focus on growing their businesses.

George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi, said: “Ransomware has increased both in frequency and its potential to cause damage and companies now need to make sure to implement the necessary measures to protect their data. Failure to do so could result not only in significant financial harm, but also irreparably damage the organisation’s reputation.

Novi has invested €510,000 in a new Proactive Service Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. Pictured is George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi.

“Novi PatchGuard will help IT administrators move away from the tedious task of manual patching, and embrace the advantages that automated patching offers, including comprehensive scanning for patch status on every single device and faster rollout of patches for commonly exploited vulnerabilities such as the Wannacry ransomware strain.

Together with Novi’s other service offerings such as our off-site data recovery service AirGap, Novi PatchGuard will enable our customers to effectively defend against cybercriminals and prevent malware from accessing their data and systems.”

Review – Jabra Stealth Wireless Bluetooth Headset – Black/Orange #Jabra #JabraStealth

The Jabra Stealth Bluetooth Headset design (colours) may or may not be to all taste, however this is a solid build quality. The design is simplistic, necessitating the need for a variety of buttons to clutter the functionality on the headset. There are no volume buttons and the front of the unit has the answer and end-call buttons on the front of the headset in easy reach with the voice control button on the bottom of the headset.

Features:

  • Approx. 2 hours to recharge the headset
  • Micro USB hidden under the port protector
  • Different sized ear gels to fit your ears
  • Can be worn on the left or the right ear
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight
  • 3 buttons and a single lead
  • Android NFC option to pair the unit
  • Noise isolation

App: Jabra Assist is a smartphone app that enables GPS tracking of the headset, pairing assistance, and headset battery status. Android download – Google Play, iOS download – App Store.

Warranty: A limited one-year warranty applies to all Jabra mobile products purchased from an authorised reseller.

Connect to phone:

The connection to a smart phone is standard; Press and hold (3 secs) the Answer/End button until the Bluetooth indicator flashes blue, and pairing mode is announced in the headset. The voice-guided pairing instructions are then followed. Near-field communication (NFC) in a smart phone can also be used by enabling the NFC, then slowly slide the NFC zone of the headset against the NFC zone of the mobile device until a connection is confirmed.

One advantage of the mono earpiece is the awareness of the surroundings when on a call or listening to music, (watch someone unfamiliar singing or talking very loudly when they have two earphones plugged in). The Jabra Stealth headset is secure and comfortable when in use while also has the requirement you would expect from Jabra i.e. good audio quality and noise cancelling technology.

Available from: https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-stealth £69.99