HONOR Launches HONOR 200 Series, bringing Studio-Level Portrait Photography to Europe

HONOR, the fastest growing smartphone brand in Europe, unveiled the HONOR 200 Series line-up during a landmark event at the iconic Hipódromo de París-Longchamp in Paris. At the event, attended by over 800 media representatives and partners from across Europe, HONOR confirmed that the HONOR 200 Series will be available in Europe almost immediately, with pre-sales starting today. This marks the first time the Pro version of this product range will be available in the region. The HONOR 200 Series will be available in the UK from today. And make sure you stay tuned as we are here at the event for more coming soon.

Central to the keynote presentation was further detail on the partnership with Studio Harcourt, a legendary Parisian portrait photography house, which was unveiled recently by HONOR CEO, George Zhao. Demonstrating HONOR’s unwavering commitment to innovation, HONOR’s product team have worked closely with Harcourt’s expert photographers to analyze thousands of images and co-engineer the HONOR AI Portrait Engine. By combining Studio Harcourt’s expertise and artistry with HONOR’s cutting-edge platform-level AI capabilities, the HONOR 200 Pro enables users to manipulate light and shadow, the foundation of studio-level portraits, to get the perfect shot every time.

“With the HONOR 200 Series, we’re proud to bring the perfect fusion of artistry and technology to Europe, allowing anyone to take studio-level portraits every time”, said Tony Ran, President of HONOR Europe. “While a studio-quality portrait has been out of reach for many until now, the HONOR 200 Series sets a new standard in smartphone portrait photography, putting a professional studio in your pocket. This unprecedented achievement in AI technology not only showcases HONOR’s commitment to innovation but also underscores our relentless pursuit of excellence in redefining the boundaries of mobile photography.”

Other key announcements at the event included a major collaboration with renowned portrait photographer, Rankin, famous for his iconic shots of celebrities including Queen Elizabeth II, David Bowie and Kate Moss. Further details of what the partnership entails will be announced in the coming weeks but a potential summer event in London was teased. Additionally, it was announced that the MagicBook 16 Pro, previously unveiled at this year’s MWC, will be available in some European countries this summer.

At the event, we had the opportunity to celebrate the new HONOR 200 Series and experience its capabilities firsthand through interactive experience zones and pop-up portrait studios, provided by Studio Harcourt.

Unlocking the Mastery of Studio Harcourt Portrait Photography

Recognizing the most important tools in portrait photography are light and shadow, the HONOR 200 Series has been equipped with advanced hardware and meticulously co-engineered AI-powered software that recognizes even the most subtle nuances of lighting. The HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Main Camera with a Super Dynamic H9000 Sensor enabling users to capture compelling images with the perfect balance of light and shadow in even challenging lighting scenarios. With support for 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with a pixel size of 2.4μm, users can capture intricate details in their images even in low light scenarios. Additionally, the HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Telephoto Camera and a customized telephoto sensor from Sony. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides better light sensing capabilities, ensuring clear and true captures of distant objects with exceptional details.

The HONOR 200 Pro takes portrait photography to new heights with the powerful AI-enhanced HONOR AI Portrait Engine. With a rich history of photographing legends from Roger Federer to the esteemed Queen Rania of Jordan, Studio Harcourt is synonymous with timeless portraits that showcase a symphony of visual storytelling through the skillful use of light and shadows. In collaboration with Studio Harcourt, the HONOR AI Portrait Engine distilled Studio Harcourt’s craftsmanship and understanding of shadow and light expression, empowering users to capture unique, distinctive portraits on their smartphones effortlessly.

The mutual ideation process involved an extensive exploration by more than 20 Studio Harcourt and HONOR imaging experts over 400 days. The team analyzed over 1,000 lighting scenarios and millions of datasets, ensuring Studio Harcourt’s classic essence can be captured on smartphones. In addition, the Triple 50MP Portrait Camera incorporates an upgraded HONOR RAW Domain Algorithm, producing well-balanced portraits that manage exposure in bright areas while preserving intricate details in darker lighting scenarios.

Innovative Eye Comfort Display for Extended Immersion

Adhering to its commitment to human-centric innovations, the HONOR 200 Pro features 3840Hz Risk-free PWM Dimming, as verified by the TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Display Certification and the TÜV Rheinland Full Care Display Certification. To ensure extended eye comfort, the HONOR 200 Series also features Natural Tone 2.0, which optimizes the display color temperature gradient based on ambient light, and an AI Circadian Night Display that leverages AI to intelligently adjust the color temperature of the screen to regulate blue light and transition to a melatonin boosting setting at night to improve sleep quality based on users’ sleep cycle. Furthermore, the HONOR 200 Series supports Adaptive Dimming, which adjusts screen brightness based on external light input and the application use, ensuring a more comfortable viewing experience. With the 1.5K Quad-curved Floating Display and a peak HDR brightness of 4000 nits, the HONOR 200 Series allows users to enjoy excellent visibility even in the most challenging scenarios such as direct sunlight.

Enhanced Hardware Performance for Seamless Connectivity

The HONOR 200 Pro is packed with a large 5200mAh Silicon-carbon battery that enables up to 61 hours of continuous music streaming on a single charge. To maximize user productivity, the HONOR 200 Pro features powerful supercharge capabilities. With lightning-fast 100W Wired HONOR SuperCharge and 66W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge, users can charge their device fully in only 41 minute making it the ideal device for busy users who are always on the go. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides an impressive 12GB memory and large 512GB storage drive, which allows users to store and access their data without limitations, guaranteeing a seamless and hassle-free experience.

Equipped with the robust Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the HONOR 200 Pro achieves a CPU clock speed of up to 3GHz, guaranteeing seamless graphics rendering and real-time responsiveness. Featuring MagicOS 8.0, the HONOR 200 Pro offers an intelligent user experience enriched with a range of AI-powered smart functionalities. MagicOS 8.0 also offers flagship features such as Magic Portal, Magic Capsule and Magic Ring on the HONOR 200 Pro that streamline user digital interactions.

HONOR 200 Lite: Capture Every Moment with its Versatile Triple Camera System

Launched alongside the HONOR 200 PRO and HONOR 200, the HONOR 200 Lite equipped with a powerful triple camera system, the HONOR 200 Lite excels in portrait photography, empowering users to capture stunning images with exceptional detail. The system consists of a 108MP Main Camera with f/1.75 aperture and HIGH-RES mode, a 5MP Wide & Depth Camera, and a 2MP Macro Camera. The 50MP Front Camera with a Selfie Light that creates artistic lighting effect. It also boasts an impressive 6.7-inch Eye-comfort AMOLED Display with the 3240Hz risk-free PWM Dimming and the display’s peak HDR brightness of 2000nits, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and exceptional durability.

Pricing and Availability

Showcasing an elegant design inspired by nature, the HONOR 200 Pro is available in three colours: Ocean Cyan, Moonlight White, and Black, while the HONOR 200 is available in Moonlight White, Emerald Green, and Black.

The HONOR 200 Pro and HONOR 200 will be available for purchase in the UK from today on HONOR.com/uk and pre-order through major retailers on the 21st June, with general sale on the 26th June. Both devices will also be available in Three on the 28th June and other key UK operators in due course.

The HONOR 200 Pro launches at£699.99 RRP, and customers will also receive a FREE Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8, worth£279.99 RRP, across all available sales channels, whilst stocks last.

The HONOR 200 is priced at just £499.99 RRP, and customers will also receive a FREE JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi, worth£199.99 RRP, across all available sales channels, whilst stocks last.

For those looking to perfect their portraits at a more affordable price, the HONOR 200 Lite is also available at £279.99 RRP on HONOR.com/uk and major UK retailers. Plus get £30 off on HONOR.com/uk with code “A200L30”.

Visit HONOR online store at https://www.honor.com/uk/.

UNBOXING HONOR 200 PRO

The event in 7 minutes

Walkthrough of the HONOR 200 Pro

AWS Announces $230 Million Commitment for Generative AI Startups

Amazon Web Services, Inc. today announced a $230 million commitment for startups around the world to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications. This will provide startups, especially early-stage companies, with AWS credits, mentorship, and education to further their use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. Part of the new commitment will fund the second cohort of the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, a program that provides hands-on expertise and up to $1 million in credits to each of the top 80 early-stage startups that are using generative AI to solve complex challenges. Applications for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator open today and will be accepted until July 19. Startups can apply here.

“For more than 18 years, AWS has helped more startups to build, launch, and scale their business than any other cloud provider—it’s no coincidence that 96% of all AI/ML unicorns run on AWS,” said Matt Wood, vice president, Artificial Intelligence Products at AWS. “With this new effort, we will help startups launch and scale world-class businesses, providing the building blocks they need to unleash new AI applications that will impact all facets of how the world learns, connects, and does business.”

Interested startups can learn more about how to access these funds here. Startups can use AWS credits to access AWS compute, storage, and database technologies, as well as AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia2, energy-efficient AI chips that offer high performance at the lowest cost. These credits can also be used on Amazon SageMaker, a fully managed service that helps companies build and train their own FMs, as well as to access models and tools to easily and securely build generative AI applications through Amazon Bedrock.

AWS Generative AI Accelerator continues to launch successful startups

The AWS Generative AI Accelerator identifies top early-stage startups that are using generative AI to solve complex challenges in areas such as financial services, healthcare and life sciences, media and entertainment, business, and climate change, among others. Participants will access sessions on ML performance enhancement, stack optimization, and go-to-market strategies. The 10-week program will match participants with both business and technical mentors based on industry vertical. Startups will receive up to $1 million each in AWS credits to help them build, train, test, and launch their generative AI solutions. They will also have access to industry experts, technology, and technical sessions from NVIDIA, the program’s presenting partner, and be invited to join the NVIDIA Inception program, designed to nurture cutting-edge startups.

AWS will announce selected startups for the second cohort on September 10, and the program will kick off on October 1 with in-person sessions at Amazon’s Seattle campus. All 80 participating startups will be invited to attend and showcase their solutions to potential investors, customers, partners, and AWS leaders in December at re:Invent 2024 in Las Vegas.

“AWS has been instrumental in enabling us to scale our generative AI platform to meet the rapidly growing demand from our global user community. Their robust generative AI infrastructure helped us reduce inferencing costs by 60% and accelerate our language model inference speeds by up to 35%,” said Jachin Bhasme, co-founder and COO of Leonardo.AI, a powerful suite of generative AI tools for creators and one of the 21 startups to participate in the first cohort of the program. “The accelerator was also an incredible experience for us. The business and technical mentorship we received and the connections we made played a crucial role in shaping our product and strategy.”

“AWS has the right combination of technology, network of partners, and potential customers in the life sciences space that made it the best fit to support our vision of building the next generation of AI models for drug discovery,” said Nima Alidoust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Vevo Therapeutics, an AI-driven biotechnology startup building the world’s first platform to generate high-resolution, single-cell in vivo data in living organisms at scale. “Participating in the AWS Generative AI Accelerator program provided us with valuable opportunities to tap into this community and to leverage AWS’s infrastructure and expertise in scaling model training and development.”

To learn more about the opportunities for generative AI startups choosing AWS, and the application process for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, visit startups.aws.

AirHelp unveils new benefits in latest update to AirHelp+ memberships

AirHelp, the leading travel tech company supporting passengers with flight disruptions, today announces it has upgraded its popular AirHelp+ (AirHelp Plus) subscription, which now offers two-tiered memberships: Smart and Pro.

AirHelp+ benefits

Where eligible, AirHelp+ Smart and Pro members receive compensation for flight disruptions, luggage claims, and expense claims, without AirHelp charging a fee, ensuring passengers get all the money they are entitled to from the airline. AirHelp+ members will be entitled to 100% of the compensation up to 600 EUR and can receive up to 6,000 EUR for extra costs incurred, as well as up to 1,400 EUR for luggage issues.

All members will have priority around-the-clock assistance through AirHelp’s customer support, and receive enhanced travel communications through flight notifications. AirHelp+ members can also access exclusive deals from AirHelp partners, such as discounts on eSIMs and car rentals, and transfer support.

AirHelp AirPayout insurance gives passengers 100 EUR if they have faced delays of more than three hours, their flight is diverted, or if they face a cancellation less than 28 days before departure. The money will be paid into the registered bank account within hours after provided details and is provided on top of any eligible airline compensation. Members can also benefit from AirLuggage protection/insurance, which pays passengers an additional 100 EUR for lost or delayed luggage, on top of any airline compensation. If passengers experience a cancellation or delay of more than one hour, they can enjoy lounge access* away from crowds for comfort.

Hassle-free compensation

AirHelp has helped 2.3 million passengers claim compensation to date and its network of specialised lawyers is the biggest of any travel tech company globally. Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO at AirHelp, comments: “We strive to bring passengers the smoothest travel experience possible through providing valuable and relevant benefits to support them when flights are disrupted. With one in four flights delayed, passengers risk losing time and money through disruptions and should be best prepared for when travels do not go according to plan.

“The AirHelp+ memberships have been developed based on an increased focus on the passenger experience, with 6.5 million passengers choosing AirHelp+ protection already. Compensation is no longer enough to make up for lost time and money, and the stress of disruptions. We want to ensure passengers can have the best experience possible – from the moment they arrive at the airport to when they return home after their trip. The new AirHelp+ memberships provide all passengers with the protection, comfort, and assistance they need while ensuring they get the compensation they are owed – without the hassle and management fees.”

Find out more about the AirHelp Plus memberships here.

Lenbrook Media Group Partners with HDtracks to Create Streaming Service for Music Enthusiasts and Audiophiles

Lenbrook Media Group, specialists in high resolution audio technology, and HDtracks, the pioneering service for audiophile quality music downloads, have announced a partnership to develop a streaming service aimed squarely at discerning music fans. Among a set of unique features, the service will offer consumers choice in formats and will be the first subscription service using a novel application of the AIRIA by MQA Labs codec.

“We have wanted to launch an HDtracks streaming service for some time. In Lenbrook we have a partner with global reach to help us launch a service ensuring quality and consumer choice,“ says HDtracks co-founder David Chesky, who has been a leader in high resolution audio alongside his brother Norman. “Fans will get to choose their format – either PCM/FLAC or MQA – in a service that will ensure high resolution audio streaming whether you are in your home or on-the-go.”

The HDtracks service will be the first to use Lenbrook’s AIRIA by MQA Labs, a transparent delivery codec equally suited for streaming from the cloud or wirelessly from a device to headphones. Designed for low-latency wireless communications by the inventors of lossless compression, it brings the benefits of a format-agnostic, scalable codec with an unmatched combination of audio quality, reliability, and data-efficiency.

“Our industry has been built by providing discerning music enthusiasts with choices while using innovation to advance digital music delivery,” explains Lenbrook’s Chief Strategy Officer, John Banks. “As audiophiles ourselves, it’s an exciting prospect to bring a service to life for the millions of global audiophiles that care so passionately about the quality of the music they listen to.”

The service will be available across platforms. In addition to its own applications for mobile, the service will find its way into many of the world’s leading high-end audio ecosystems, apps, and brands, that count on service providers for their content.

Mike Jbara, VP and GM of Lenbrook Media Group adds, “Norman and David are the perfect partners for Lenbrook. Their experience and understanding of the high-end audio fan is unique and their history with quality and innovation speaks for itself. We are ready to embark on this journey with them and think music fans are going to love it.”

Jabra Powers AI-Driven Intelligent Meeting Experiences

Jabra, a global leader in personal sound and hybrid work solutions, is showcasing its latest in video collaboration at InfoComm 2024 including AI-driven intelligent meeting experiences, next generation meeting room management, and future proofing with enhanced service offerings.

Unlocking intelligent meeting experiences with PanaCast 50

AI technologies are helping to drive productivity and enhance today’s hybrid meeting experiences. Yet, the efficacy of AI assistants depends heavily on the input it receives. Jabra provides the audio quality input needed to optimise AI-powered intelligent meeting experiences.

The Jabra PanaCast 50 intelligent video bar is the first front-of-room device certified for Microsoft’s Intelligent Speaker functionality. Intelligent Speaker identifies who said what in a meeting room and accurately attributes speaker names to their transcript, enhancing AI-based productivity tools such as Intelligent Meeting Recap and Copilot in Microsoft Teams. As a certified Intelligent Speaker device, PanaCast 50 is designed to maximie accuracy in transcriptions and provides more accurate input for Intelligent Meeting Recap and Copilot.

Updates to PanaCast 50 will also bring Microsoft People Recognition* functionality to the video bar. With the PanaCast 50 180-degree field of view, all people in the meeting room are seen in the highest video quality, powering Microsoft People Recognition which recognises and adds the names of in-room participants to their individual videos and the meeting roster – providing a more equitable hybrid meeting experience.

New Multi-stream Dynamic Composition* for PanaCast 50 provides a close up of meeting room participants by giving individuals their own video stream, in addition to showing a panoramic view of the entire meeting room for a natural, inclusive experience for all meeting participants. With Intelligent Speaker, People Recognition and Multi-Stream Dynamic Composition, Jabra PanaCast 50 provides the most comprehensive hybrid meeting experience with Microsoft Teams.

“AI assistants have the potential to drive significant productivity gains in today’s hybrid workforce, but the right hardware is critical to unlocking the true value of these technologies,” said Holger Reisinger, SVP Enterprise Solutions at Jabra. “Our PanaCast portfolio provides a gateway to these intelligent experiences, and we will continue to enhance our video collaboration devices with AI-powered feature updates to meet the evolving needs of the hybrid workplace.”

A broader range of Jabra professional devices are also available to power AI-driven intelligent meeting experiences, including the Certified for Microsoft Teams Jabra Speak2 75 which now supports Intelligent Speaker.

More meeting flexibility and inclusivity with Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS

Jabra is bringing additional meeting flexibility to the Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS Android collaboration bar with the new Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) Mode. Available now, BYOD mode enables users to join meetings on other platforms from their own laptop by plugging a USB cable into the PanaCast 50 VBS. The high-quality camera, microphones, and speakers from the video bar will be used during the meeting, and the user’s laptop will serve as the temporary in-room compute – providing flexibility while maintaining a premium audio and video experience.

Updates to PanaCast 50 VBS will also provide audio clarity. New Enhanced Noise Suppression* intelligently separates voice from disruptive sounds such as typing and paper crunching to transmit high-quality, professional sound to remote participants.

New Single-stream Dynamic Composition for Teams Rooms includes a close-up view of the most recent speakers in a meeting room, along with a 180-degree panoramic view of the meeting room. New Multi-Stream Dynamic Composition for Zoom Rooms creates an individual real-time video feed of each in-room participant along with a 180-degree panoramic view of the meeting room. With this new feature, PanaCast 50 VBS supports six streams, including one full room video and an additional five streams to capture close-ups of participants in the meeting room. These new PanaCast 50 VBS features provide more inclusive meeting experiences, giving participants joining remotely a better view of everyone in the room.

Next generation meeting room management

Jabra+ for admins is Jabra’s new cloud-based API-first software platform for remote monitoring and management of meeting rooms. With Jabra+ for admins, users can seamlessly monitor and manage all Jabra meeting room solutions with a clear visual overview of rooms, locations, and devices.

As a unified software platform, Jabra+ for admins will eventually integrate with IT help desk systems and third-party tools to create an ecosystem for device management. Whether updating devices, customising headsets, or integrating with Jabra devices, users engage with a single system.

Jabra+ for admins meeting room management will be available end of June. Personal device management is planned for later this year.

Tech Review – Creative Zen Air Pro SXFI earbuds

The Creative Zen Air Pro SXFI earbuds with LE Audio is another new pair of earbuds from the brand that are affordable with great sound and features on board.

Recently we tested the Zen Air Plus which are really great value for money and worth looking at if you are unsure of what your requirements are. There is slight differences between the pair and to be honest either pair is great with the price you pay.

Again we have access to their apps which enhances the audio experience on a budget giving you the SXFI experience too which is great if you have not tested it out yet. On setting up there was an app update so be sure to do this before you move on to get the best features.

The case is a standard affair not as nice as the Zen Air Plus but still nice with the creative logo on the front and a button and on the  bottom is the USB port you can also charge these wirelessly too which for me is a win.

The earbuds again have a small stem and sit nicely in the ears giving a good seal so check you have the right tips for the best experience. The earbud is on the larger size but still fits well.

Creative Zen Air Pro – techbuzzireland

Sound is up next and again it’s good to report it is excellent slightly outdoing the sister product and anyone that does decide to check them out will be happy. Highs low and mids all good decent volume and with app access you have options. . No tinny sound when using with full volume lo lag latency or distortion noted either again here which just solidifies the product as before.

Creative App

Creative SXFI App

Features

  • NEXT-GEN BLUETOOTH LE AUDIO – With Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio, high-quality LC3+ (ULL), LC3, AAC and SBC audio codecs, delivering rich and uninterrupted audio streaming all day long
  • NOISE CONTROL FEATURES- Hear what you want with Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode, the Creative Zen Air Pro is decked with a total of 6 microphones
  • LONGER BATTERY LIFE -Offer up to 9 hours of playtime on a single charge, and up to 33 hours of total playtime when placed in a fully charged case
  • 6 MICS FOR ULTRA-CLEAR CALL EXPERIENCE – Creative Zen Air Pro is also further enhanced by advanced AI-powered Deep Neural Network (DNN)
  • POWERFUL AUDIO WITH IPX5 RATING – Equipped with 10 mm Dynamic drivers to accompany you through your gym workout or outdoor jog

BUY

Video Review

 

Ireland wins Gold at the WorldSkills Global Skills Challenge 2024 in Cybersecurity in Melbourne

An Irish team of cybersecurity experts has triumphed over Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Singapore to take Gold at the WorldSkills Global Skills Challenge 2024, hosted by WorldSkills Australia. Mark Drinan and Luke Woodside, guided by Dr. George O’Mahony of Munster Technological University (MTU), overcame fierce competition from several nations renowned for their cybersecurity expertise.

The victory marks the first time an Irish team has triumphed in an official World Skills Competition in Cybersecurity, with Ireland first entering the cybersecurity skill in 2021. Team Ireland is now setting its sights on the upcoming WorldSkills International Cybersecurity Competition (Skill 54) in Lyon this September as part of WorldSkills Team Ireland.

The Challenge

As part of the Global Skills Challenge, the teams were put into the scenario of a real-world cyber-attack on a fictitious company that was started based on a rogue malicious USB and insider threat. Over three days the teams had to run digital forensics on an infected end-user computer, each team also had to create reports including a technical brief, a timeline of the cyber-attack, a report for the media and a report for the board of directors. This competition was about accurately identifying what happened and providing real-world preventative measures and recommendations.

The Team

 Team Cybersecurity for WorldSkills Ireland consists of Mark Drinan, a recent graduate from the Cybersecurity Masters at MTU and an engineer at IBM, and Luke Woodside, a graduate from TUS (Technological University Shannon) and Managing Director of Woodside Networks. Mark and Luke beat out stiff competition in regional competitions to make the national team. The team was trained and mentored by MTU Cybersecurity Lecturer and WorldSkills Ireland Expert for Cybersecurity Dr George O’Mahony.

The team trained on and competed nationally using MTU’s Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art cybersecurity platform unique to Ireland. The facility enables simulations of cyber-attacks on virtual organisations, providing invaluable training for students, researchers, and industry professionals without risking real-world damage or outages.

Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, said, “MTU’s leadership in cybersecurity education, research and innovation, mentorship and training ensures that our graduates and trainees have the skills, capabilities and confidence to succeed at the highest levels in Ireland and globally. On behalf of everyone at MTU, I am delighted to congratulate our Team Ireland members on their extraordinary achievement of winning gold at the WorldSkills cybersecurity challenge.”

Dr. George O’Mahony – Cybersecurity Lecturer & Researcher at Cyber Skills at MTU and WorldSkills Ireland Expert Skill 54 – Cybersecurity, said, “This win is a great example of the work Ireland’s cybersecurity academics and experts are doing in preparing young Irish professionals to compete on the world stage. It highlights the calibre of talent being produced and the strong pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals available in Ireland. The win is a great boost to the team and a big step along their training and upskilling journey. The work Mark and Luke have put in has been a testament to their drive and determination.”

Mark Drinan, Team Ireland, said, “I am incredibly proud to represent my country and bring home a Gold Medal for Ireland. This medal represents Ireland’s commitment to investing in high-quality, practical cybersecurity education.”

Michael Hourihan (MTU) – WorldSkills Ireland Official Delegate – “This win highlights the positive outcomes that result when skills and technological careers are recognised and promoted at national and international levels. Congratulations to our competitors Luke Woodside and Mark Drinan and to our Cyber Security expert George O’Mahony.”

Ray English (TUD) – WorldSkills Ireland Chair-Technical Delegate – “The Global Skills Challenge held in Melbourne and hosted by WorldSkills Australia was a great platform for the WorldSkills Ireland Team of Luke Woodside, Mark Drinan and Cyber Security expert George O’Mahony to test their preparedness for the Olympics of Skills in Lyon in September 2024. We encourage ICT students to start their Skills Olympics journey by participating in the WorldSkills Ireland National Competitions this September, test your skills against the best nationally and possibly internationally.”

HP Study: Business and government leaders believe technology is key to expanding economic opportunity

HP Inc. unveiled a new study with Oxford Economics revealing enthusiasm among global leaders to use technology including AI to advance key impact goals.

The study of business executives and government officials in 10 countries found 3 out of 4 leaders believe technology is key to expanding economic opportunity (76%) and that AI will help drive progress towards sustainability and social impact goals (76%).

Further, business leaders are either already using AI or plan to in the next 1-2 years for goals such as increasing access to digital education (90%), workforce development (89%), and workforce diversity (86%).

“AI’s reach holds great promise to help HP accelerate our sustainable and social impact goals,” said Val Gabriel, Managing Director at HP Ireland. “From how we responsibly build AI PCs for first-time users to data scientists who use our workstations to help local farmers build more resilient businesses, this is the technology that can move businesses and our communities forward.”

Accelerating digital equity for 150 million people by 2030

About one-third of the global population remains offline, costing the world billions of dollars in lost GDP each year. The digital divide has been growing since the advent of technology, and AI could exacerbate these disparities if intentional action isn’t taken.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to access the tools needed to thrive in the digital economy,” said Gabriel. “We know technology can be a great equaliser and a powerful tool to drive progress. Yet, to truly narrow the digital divide in our rapidly evolving world, we must also equip individuals with the skills to use technology.”

In its latest Sustainable Impact report released today, HP announced it has accelerated digital equity for more than 45 million people since 2021, bringing the organisation nearly a third of the way to its goal of reaching 150 million people by 2030.

The rapid progress is a result of innovative partnerships with key organisations that create tailored solutions for communities. HP pursues impactful programs, strategic investments and partnerships that prioritise those mostly likely to experience the digital divide.

In 2023, HP:

  • Supported digital equity solutions developed by ten organisations in Malaysia, South Africa and Mexico with the Digital Equity Accelerator, such as improvements in digital literacy to access employment, access to educational hardware and software in schools and development of digital platforms to support improved health outcomes. In total, the Accelerator reached 6.4 million people in 2023.
  • Launched more than 100 Digital Hubs in partnership with World YMCA to support digital programming and literacy. For example, the West Orem Digital Hub, provided by YMCA Houston in Texas aims to increase community access to educational, economic, and social opportunities for young people, support services for families, and digital literacy courses for aging members of the community. More than 500,000 individuals were reached globally in 2023.
  • Opened two NABU HP Creative Labs in the U.S. and the Philippines, equipping artists and authors with technology to write and illustrate hundreds of books for children in local languages each year. The free books have helped 1.9 million children in 2023 build confidence, connection to culture and literacy skills, a key building block to participation in the digital economy.

Building skills amid the rise of AI

Both business and government officials report lack of skills as a top barrier to meeting key organisational goals, only economic volatility ranked higher.

Skills-building is a core piece of HP’s digital equity approach. As a result, HP is expanding its goal to enrol 2.75 million users in the free skills-building program HP LIFE. The program from the HP Foundation has already enrolled and enabled more than 1.2 million users to access economic opportunities or start businesses.

HP is undertaking new initiatives to expand responsible access and use of AI, the top reported investment area of businesses today:

  • Expand our free HP LIFE Digital Business Skills courses by releasing a new course on AI skills later this year.
  • Kick-off the HP AI in Social Impact Award, in collaboration with MIT Solve, which provides technology designed for building and running AI applications to social entrepreneurs and organisations that use AI to advance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in communities globally.
  • Debut commercial and consumer Next-Gen AI PCs to market this month, a new category of devices crafted for work and creation.

HP aspires to be the most sustainable and just technology company. HP is committed to continually examining its progress and evaluating further actions to achieve a more equitable and sustainable future.

Getting Your Token Listed: Basic Steps

As more and more people are becoming interested in cryptocurrency, the process of listing a token is becoming increasingly important for projects. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to list token.

The Token Listing Process

Listing a token begins with understanding its classification and adhering to the regulatory frameworks governing its issuance and trade. Unlike coins, which typically represent a form of currency within their own blockchain, tokens are issued on existing blockchains. They can serve a variety of functions, from granting holders access to services to representing shares in a company. How to list a token? Below are some important steps.

Step 1: Determine Whether Your Token is a Utility or Security

Here is the difference:

  • Utility token listing. Utility tokens, which provide users access to a future product or service, are not intended as investments; however, their regulatory landscape can still be complex. When planning to list a utility token, ensure that it is compliant with the legal standards in every jurisdiction where the token will be offered. This compliance is crucial to avoid future legal complications.
  • Security token requirements. Security tokens represent investment contracts where the holder is entitled to dividends or a share of the profit. Listing a security token involves stringent compliance with securities regulations, including registration or exemption filings, before the tokens can be legally sold. However, each jurisdiction may have different requirements for security tokens.

Step 2: Prepare Your Token for Listing and Token ICO

Before listing, projects typically conduct an initial coin offering (ICO). This process involves marketing the token to potential investors to provide funding. Here are some token ICO tips:

  • prepare a clear and transparent whitepaper;
  • set up a professional website;
  • engage actively with the community across various social media platforms;
  • make sure that all promotional materials are truthful and not misleading to build trust and comply with advertising regulations.

Step 3: Select the Right Exchange

Consider factors such as the exchange’s reputation, user base, technical security measures, and regulation compliance. Some exchanges may have specific requirements for listing tokens, such as proof of concept, audits, or a certain number of active users.

Step 4: Fulfill Exchange Listing Requirements

Each exchange has its own token list criteria, including technical specifications, legal documentation, and marketing materials. Be prepared to meet these requirements and work closely with the exchange’s listing team to ensure a smooth process.

After successfully listing, continuous engagement with your token holders and maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements are essential for ongoing success. Remember, a successful token listing is about more than just launching a market; it is also about sustaining growth and compliance in the long term.