TCL Introduces the TCL A400 Pro NXTVISION TV

Across Europe, televisions are increasingly becoming part of interior design, shaping how modern living spaces look and feel. According to recent data[1] from Eurostat, more than 68% of people in the European Union live in homes they own, reinforcing the importance of creating living spaces that reflect personal style and lifestyle priorities.

As televisions become larger and more central to the living room, consumers face a familiar dilemma: design-first TVs often sacrifice picture quality, while performance-focused TVs can dominate the room with their size.

TCL addresses this challenge with the TCL A400 Pro NXTVISION TV, a new QD-Mini LED television designed for style-conscious viewers who want cinematic picture quality without sacrificing aesthetics. Confirmed to be launching into the UK Market, the A400 Pro combines an art-inspired design with advanced display technology to reimagine what an Art TV can be.

TCL’s leadership in large-screen and advanced display technology is reflected in its global market performance: according to the Omdia TV Sets Emerging Technology Market Tracker (Q4 2025), TCL ranked No.1 worldwide in Mini LED TV shipments in 2025 with 3.954 million units (31.1% market share) and also No.1 globally for 75-inch and above TV shipments, reaching 4.938 million units (19.1% market share).

Strong Picture Quality with Style

While many art-style televisions prioritise appearance over performance, the TCL A400 Pro boasts some of TCL’s best display technology.

At its core is the flagship QD-Mini LED technology, addressing a common limitation of art-style TVs that often rely on basic edge lighting. By using precise Mini LED backlighting and up to 448 dimming zones, the TCL A400 Pro delivers deeper contrast, brighter highlights, and more accurate colour reproduction, allowing films and series to appear more detailed and lifelike.

The TSR AiPQ processor continuously analyses each scene to optimise contrast, colour, and motion in real time for films, sports, and games. Combined with support for 4K 144Hz refresh rates and up to 288Hz acceleration, the television ensures smooth, responsive visuals that reduce blur and lag during fast-paced gaming or intense action films.

To match the picture experience, the TCL A400 Pro integrates an ONKYO 2.0 Hi-Fi audio system with Dolby Atmos and DTS support, meaning that all dialogue is clear and immersive without requiring an external audio setup.

Seamless Integration into Modern Homes

Many art-inspired televisions promise gallery aesthetics but often introduce complex installation setups or visible hardware that disrupts the clean look of a living space.

The TCL A400 Pro has a unibody integrated design, eliminating the need for external connection boxes and additional wiring. Its light walnut woodgrain frame and matte HVA panel create a picture-like appearance that blends naturally into home décor, whether mounted flush against the wall or displayed on a stand.

Art Gallery mode transforms the screen into a digital canvas, featuring curated artwork and AI-generated visuals. Users can also personalise the experience with AI-created wallpapers and ambient on-screen settings, allowing the TV to complement the mood of the home throughout the day.

Adapting to Everyday Routines 

Beyond design and performance, the TCL A400 Pro can adapt naturally to users’ daily routines.

During the day, the matte HVA panel reduces reflections and recreates the texture of framed artwork, allowing the display to function as a decorative element. Throughout the day, an integrated brightness sensor automatically adjusts the screen to maintain a comfortable viewing experience.

In the evening, the television transitions into a premium entertainment hub. The combination of Mini LED contrast, immersive audio, and TCL’s AI-enhanced processing brings movies, streaming content, and games to life with clarity.

Running on Google TV, the TCL A400 Pro also provides quick access to streaming services, personalised recommendations, and voice-enabled control, ensuring the television remains as practical as it is beautiful.

The TCL A400 Pro will be available in four screen sizes: 43”, 55″, 65″ and 75″ giving UK consumers flexibility to match the television to their living space and will see the following promotional retail prices (RRP):

  • 75A400 PRO-UK – £1,399.00
  • 65A400 PRO-UK – £1,099.00
  • 55A400 PRO-UK – £899.00
  • 43A400 PRO-UK – £599.00*Specifications may vary based on sizes and final pricing is at the retailer’s discretion.
  • For more information visit: www.tcl.com/en/uk

 

  • TCL A400 Pro – Quick Reference
Everyday Problem How TCL A400 Pro Solves It
Art TVs with weak picture quality The World’s First Artistic TV featuring QD-Mini LED QD‑Mini LED with high‑zone local dimming (up to 448 zones) delivers deeper contrast and brighter highlights for cinema‑level picture quality
TVs that dominate the room Integrated unibody design with light walnut woodgrain frame blends naturally into interior décor
Messy installation with extra boxes Integrated design with no external connection box keeps installation simple
Screen glare in bright rooms Matte HVA panel with brightness sensor reduces glare and adapts to changing daylight
Fast motion in sports, films, and gaming can appear blurry or laggy TSR AiPQ processor with 4K 144Hz refresh rate and up to 288Hz acceleration optimises contrast, colour and motion in real time to keep action smooth and responsive

Irish Government lauches AIReady.ie

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills, James Lawless TD, launched AIReady.ie, the Government’s new national AI skilling platform, designed to provide people across Ireland with access to essential AI skills.

AIReady.ie enables anyone to learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence through free, practical and bite‑sized online courses, allowing learners to engage flexibly, anytime and anywhere.

The platform has been developed by SOLAS, in partnership with the National Skills Council, and is designed to make learning about AI more accessible and inclusive. It supports people to develop in‑demand skills needed for work, study and everyday life, regardless of prior experience or technical background.

Current content focuses on building foundational AI literacy and practical digital capability. Initially, the platform will offer a series of four free, short courses tailored to older people, small businesses such as sole traders and farmers, and individuals returning to the workforce.

Each AIReady course takes less than 30 minutes to complete and can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet or laptop, allowing learners to build skills quickly and flexibly, wherever they are.

At the launch, Minister Lawless announced that the AIReady.ie initiative aims to upskill one million people in AI, representing one of the Government’s most ambitious responses to the rapid emergence and impact of artificial intelligence to date.

Speaking at the launch at Dogpatch Labs, Minister Lawless said:

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we work, learn and live, and ensuring people are ready for that change is one of the most important challenges we face. I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to understand AI and to use it with confidence.

“We are now at a point where AI readiness is no longer optional – it is essential. Being ‘AI‑ready’ is about more than technology, it is about giving people the skills, confidence and understanding they need to participate fully in an AI‑enabled society.

“AI skills are for everyone, not just experts or specialists. You do not need a technical background to begin, and AIReady.ie has been designed to show exactly that. It is about helping people feel ready to experiment, to learn, and to grow with AI at their own pace.”

Dr Kevin Marshall, Chairperson of the National Skills Council, said:

“As Chair of the National Skills Council, I welcome the launch of AIready, which will support the development of AI skills. We know the biggest risk today isn’t AI, it’s being unprepared to use it.

“We want people to feel like AI is accessible to them, regardless of their background or stage in life, and this new platform delivers exactly that – a simple entry point for anyone looking to start their journey with AI,” Dr Marshall said. “With the launch of AIready today, we are laying the foundations to build the AI skills our economy and society needs for the future.”

Deirdre McDonnell, CEO at SOLAS said:

“The launch of AI Ready marks an important step in making AI skills accessible to everyone in Ireland. SOLAS is proud to have partnered with the Department and National Skills Council in developing this initiative, drawing on our experience in national skills provision to help shape and deliver the AI Ready platform.

“AI Ready is about ensuring that everyone has access to foundational AI skills, providing a starting point for all, regardless of their background or experience.

“By empowering people with these essential skills, we are laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and supporting future growth and progression.”

The AI Avatar Generator Revolution: How Brands Are Building Virtual Identities at Scale

The AI avatar generator has evolved from experimental novelty to essential business infrastructure. Content creators, marketing agencies, and global brands now rely on AI avatars to produce studio-quality images and videos at a scale that traditional photography cannot match. Research shows the AI avatar generator market reached USD 1.27 billion in 2024, forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 34.6% through 2033 — reflecting genuine commercial adoption across industries, not speculative hype.

The broader AI avatars market was valued at USD 9.78 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 142.62 billion by 2035. Year-over-year growth of 30.9% between 2024 and 2025 signals an acceleration phase, with cloud-based AI avatar generators dominating at USD 4.46 billion of 2023 market value. These figures reflect a structural shift in how organisations approach content creation and brand identity.

What Is an AI Avatar Generator?

An AI avatar generator is software powered by generative AI that creates digital avatars — synthetic visual personas customisable across images, videos, and marketing materials. Unlike stock avatars assembled from templates, modern AI generators produce lifelike avatars with hyper-realistic skin textures, natural facial expressions, and anatomically correct hands — addressing quality problems that made earlier AI-generated content unconvincing.

From Static Images to Lifelike Digital Versions

The evolution from stock avatars to lifelike digital versions is the defining shift in AI avatar creation. Today’s platforms maintain character consistency across hundreds of generated images — same face, same identity, across different outfits, scenes, and lighting. Character consistency is the technical achievement that unlocked commercial-scale avatar deployment. Without it, AI avatar generators produce inconsistent outputs that undermine the value of any synthetic brand persona.

How Generative AI Builds Realistic Avatars

Generating realistic AI avatars requires multiple model components: a base generative AI engine, an identity-preservation module that locks facial features across outputs, and separate subsystems for avatar styles, body proportions, and clothing variation. The result is an AI avatar generator where non-technical users access advanced AI technology through simple template selection — no prompt engineering required.

Custom Avatars Versus Stock Avatar Approaches

Custom AI avatar creation differs fundamentally from using stock avatars or pre-built persona libraries. Custom avatars are designed with specific age ranges, facial features, hairstyles, and avatar styles aligned to a brand’s target demographics. Personalised avatars for different audience segments — each representing a distinct identity — can be deployed simultaneously across campaigns, bringing targeting precision to creative production.

Why AI Avatar Generators Are Transforming Content Creation

The business case for AI avatars is fundamentally economic. Scale content creation across multiple social media channels, seasonal campaigns, and language markets — and traditional photoshoot logistics collapse under volume. AI avatar generators decouple content creation volume from production cost. Once avatars are created, the marginal cost of additional avatar videos, personalised avatars, and promotional videos approaches zero.

Video Creation Without a Production Team

Video creation is the highest-value application for AI avatar generators. Short video dominates social media engagement, yet video production remains the most resource-intensive content format. AI avatar video generators produce dynamic videos — talking avatars, promotional videos, lifestyle content — from a single image, in seconds. Creating personalised videos at scale, tailored to different platform formats and audience cohorts, is now a single-operator workflow rather than a full production team effort. Traditional video production costs are eliminated entirely.

Social Media Content Demands and AI Avatars

Social media algorithms reward consistent posting volume. AI avatars allow creators and brands to maintain daily posting cadences with studio quality videos, without proportional increases in budget. Content creation workflows that previously required photographers, editors, and production scheduling can now run from a single AI avatar generator platform. Independent creators and small businesses gain access to the same quality of content production previously available only to teams with dedicated creative resources.

Key Features of the Best AI Avatar Generators

Professional AI avatar generators share several defining capabilities that separate them from basic image editors. Evaluating these features determines whether a platform can serve real production requirements or only experimental use cases.

Character Consistency Across Every Avatar

Character consistency is the feature that makes AI avatars commercially viable. Without it, generated avatars show uncanny inconsistencies between images — undermining any synthetic persona strategy. The best AI avatar generators enforce consistency at the model level, so every avatar output — regardless of outfit, setting, or pose — maintains the same facial features and identity. This allows organisations to create avatars once and generate unlimited content variations without manual quality control between each output.

Realistic AI Avatars: Skin, Hands, and Facial Features

Realistic AI avatars depend on three technical capabilities: hyper-realistic skin rendering, accurate hand generation, and stable facial feature preservation across outputs. Skin quality — the rendering of pores, freckles, and natural lighting — distinguishes photo-realistic avatars from obviously artificial imagery. Hands represent the hardest technical challenge; most AI avatar generators produce anatomically incorrect hands that immediately identify content as AI-generated. Leading platforms invest specifically in hand generation accuracy as a core quality benchmark for realistic AI avatars.

Free AI Avatar Generator Options Versus Premium Features

The market separates into free AI avatar generator tools for entry-level use and premium paid plans for professional-scale production. Free versions provide core avatar creation with limited monthly output — basic avatar styles and lower resolution. Premium features required for professional applications include advanced avatar customisation, faceswap, voice cloning, and priority processing. For agencies managing AI avatars across multiple clients, and for e-learning courses requiring consistent talking avatar content, paid plans provide the volume and capability necessary for professional production.

Voice Cloning and Lip Sync for Talking Avatars

Voice cloning and lip sync extend AI avatars from visual to audiovisual. A talking avatar with perfect lip sync and human-like speech transforms avatar videos into active communication tools. Brands producing video content at scale can clone a consistent voice paired with lip sync accuracy, enable content delivery in multiple languages, and eliminate dubbing costs entirely. Voice cloning paired with consistent AI avatars enables brands to build a recognisable audiovisual identity that scales across every content vertical.

Avatar Generation Across Multiple Styles

Leading AI avatar generators support multiple styles — fashion editorial, lifestyle, portrait, urban streetwear, studio photography — across the same avatar identity. Multiple styles output enables a single AI avatar to match the aesthetic requirements of different platforms and campaign objectives. Artistic styles extend this further, enabling avatar creation for gaming, animation, and stylised marketing contexts. The availability of diverse avatar styles within a single AI generator platform determines its versatility across content verticals and audience demographics.

AI Avatar Video Generators: Beyond Static Images

AI avatar video generators represent the convergence of avatar creation and automated video production. Instead of generating static photo avatars, video generators animate the avatar — producing short video content, dance reels, promotional videos, and talking-head presentations from a single image source. The AI avatar video generator market is one of the fastest-growing segments within the broader AI avatar creation space.

Dynamic Videos for Social Media

Dynamic videos — content where avatars move, speak, and react — drive substantially higher engagement than static imagery on short-form video platforms. AI avatar video generators produce dynamic videos across libraries of predefined scenarios: product demonstrations, lifestyle vlog content, reaction videos, educational explainers. Each template outputs a final video featuring the user’s avatar, adapted to the selected scenario. Brands that previously produced weekly video content can now generate daily dynamic videos from a centralised avatar identity, maintaining consistent brand representation across every output.

Talking Avatar Technology for E-Learning and Professional Use

Talking avatar technology has particular value for e-learning courses, corporate training, and customer communications. An AI twin — a lifelike digital version of a specific instructor or brand representative — delivers course content with cloned voice accuracy across multiple languages, maintaining visual consistency across every module without additional recording sessions. Personalized videos in which the avatar addresses specific audience segments extend this capability to marketing and customer service. AI twin technology allows educators and brands to create video content at a volume that would be economically impossible through traditional video production methods.

Traditional Video Production Versus AI Video

Traditional video production involves location costs, talent fees, equipment hire, and post-production cycles spanning weeks. AI video generation produces comparable studio quality videos in seconds. For short video formats optimised for social media, the speed and cost advantage is decisive. Creating AI avatars for video production shifts creative effort toward concept and strategy rather than execution logistics — a fundamental reallocation of creative resources that benefits organisations at every scale.

How Brands Are Using AI Avatars in Marketing

Personalised Avatars for Campaign Targeting

Sophisticated brand applications use personalised avatars as campaign variables. Multiple avatar identities — different age ranges, facial features, and avatar styles — are deployed across different audience segments. Performance data identifies which avatar persona drives highest engagement and conversion for each cohort. This approach applies the targeting logic of programmatic advertising to creative production, enabling continuous optimisation of AI avatar selection based on real audience response data from social media, email, and paid channels.

Promotional Videos and Studio Quality Content at Scale

AI avatar generators produce studio quality videos for promotional campaigns at speeds that transform content marketing economics. Agencies report completing multi-piece promotional video campaigns — each version adapted to different platform format requirements — in hours rather than weeks. Promotional videos, avatar videos for product demonstrations, and personalised videos for audience segments are all produced from the same avatar identity, maintaining brand consistency across every output. The result is a fundamentally different model for content creation at scale.

The Market Opportunity in AI Avatar Creation

Market Growth and Regional Data

North America currently holds 37.1–39.2% of the global AI avatar market, while Asia Pacific is growing fastest at a CAGR of 39.1% through 2033, driven by gaming, social media, and expanding internet penetration across China, Japan, and India. The fragmented market structure — with no single dominant AI avatar generator yet established — creates sustained opportunity for specialised platforms serving specific use cases across content creation, e-learning, retail, and customer service applications.

Generative AI and Scale Content Creation

Generative AI is the underlying technology enabling this generation of AI avatar tools. Unlike rule-based systems that assembled avatars from predefined components, generative AI learns statistical patterns and synthesises novel outputs — enabling the hyper-realistic skin, consistent character generation, and lifelike videos that define current quality standards. Organisations that invest in AI tools for scale content creation establish compounding advantages: growing avatar content libraries that can be repurposed, versioned, and combined to generate new content without proportional cost growth. For agencies managing AI avatars across multiple clients, a centralised platform fundamentally changes content production unit economics.

A Platform Focused on Consistent AI Avatar Generation

Advanced AI Technology for Character Consistency

Among platforms addressing consistent character generation for commercial content, RYLA AI has built a particular technical focus on this challenge. With over 10,000 creators using the platform, more than 2 million AI avatars and images generated, and a content reach exceeding 50 million views across 120 countries, RYLA AI’s published metrics reflect deployment at commercial scale across multiple content verticals. Independent feature comparisons have rated the platform at 9.5 out of 10 overall, with character consistency, realistic AI avatars, and video generation identified as the platform’s standout capabilities versus generic AI image tools and other AI avatar generators.

Real Creator Outcomes with AI Avatars

Creator testimonials published on the RYLA AI platform include accounts of tripled social media engagement within two months of adopting consistent AI avatar content strategies, accounts reaching 100,000 followers in three months, and digital agencies managing 12 distinct AI influencer identities for clients simultaneously. These outcomes reflect a pattern consistent across creators and agencies that successfully integrate AI avatar generators into their content workflows: content velocity and brand consistency that would be economically impossible through traditional production methods.

Evaluating AI Avatar Generators for Professional Production

Lifelike Avatars Across All Output Types

When evaluating AI avatar generators for professional use, test lifelike avatar quality across all output types — not just static photo avatars. Studio quality videos, avatar videos for social media, and talking avatars for e-learning courses should all maintain equivalent visual standards. Platforms that produce excellent photo avatars but inconsistent video output reveal model limitations that surface only in real production conditions. Testing generate-an-ai-avatar workflows, avatar video quality, and talking avatar lip sync accuracy together provides a complete picture of production capability.

Avatar Customisation, Multiple Languages, and Professional Applications

Avatar customisation depth — control over facial features, age, body type, hairstyle, and avatar styles — determines whether a platform supports diverse campaign requirements or only a narrow template range. The best AI avatar generators combine custom avatar creation with video generation, voice cloning, and multiple language support. Multiple languages paired with voice cloning allow a single avatar identity to deliver content for a global audience — same face, same brand persona, localised message — without multilingual production teams. Professional applications across e-learning, retail, HR training, and social media marketing all benefit from this combination of avatar customisation depth and language flexibility.

The Future of AI Avatars and Digital Content

Human-Like Speech and Natural Facial Expressions

Human-like speech and natural facial expressions represent the remaining quality frontiers for AI avatar generators. Current platforms produce impressive results but retain subtle artificialities in vocal cadence and micro-expression rendering that trained observers can identify. Ongoing research in voice cloning and neural video synthesis is closing these gaps. Platforms investing in human-like speech and facial expression accuracy now will define the next generation of quality benchmarks for realistic AI avatars and lifelike videos across every content application.

AI Twin Technology and Endless Possibilities

AI twin technology — where generative AI creates a lifelike digital version of a specific individual, rather than a synthetic persona — represents the most advanced current application of avatar generation. AI twins deliver e-learning course content, respond to community questions at scale, and maintain consistent content cadence in multiple languages without the individual’s direct involvement. The endless possibilities of AI twin deployment, combined with continued advancement in generative AI capabilities, reinforce why the AI avatar generator market is positioned for sustained growth. As avatar generation quality continues to improve and costs continue to fall, the case for integrating AI avatars into content strategy grows stronger across every industry and audience segment.

Choosing the Right AI Avatar Generator: A Practical Checklist

Creators looking to create an ai avatar — whether building their own ai avatar from scratch or starting with a free avatar generator — should evaluate platforms against real production requirements. The ability to create custom avatars with consistently high quality avatar output, create realistic avatars with accurate hands and skin detail, and own an avatar persona that maintains identity across every output are the core criteria that separate professional platforms from basic tools. Owning your own avatar identity — a persistent, consistent digital persona — is increasingly a strategic asset for creators and brands building long-term audience relationships.

In evaluations comparing heygen ai avatars, Synthesia, and other AI avatar generators, artificial intelligence platforms that achieve character consistency while preserving a creator’s own voice and own ai avatar identity consistently outperform avatar generator ai tools that optimise for novelty over consistency. Practical factors also matter: maximum file size limits, output resolution, and credit allocation affect real production workflows. For agencies that need to create custom avatars for multiple clients or create an ai avatar at volume, these operational details determine which platform delivers sustainable value beyond the initial demo.

Conclusion

The AI avatar generator has become a core content infrastructure component for brands, agencies, and creators at every scale. With AI avatar creation market growth exceeding 34% CAGR, commercial adoption spanning social media to e-learning to customer service, and rapid technical improvement in character consistency and video quality, AI avatar generators represent a durable strategic investment. The fundamental value proposition — unlimited studio-quality content from a single avatar identity, at a fraction of traditional production cost — continues to strengthen as the technology matures and the market expands across new industries and use cases.

Jabra Evolve85 3 review

The Jabra Evolve85 3 have been part of my daily routine now for some weeks alongside other cans and earbuds which is great for comparing to the latest on the market and at several price and feature point, with the cost to performance ratio dropping each year it is now a hard sell to sell expensive headphones, for example Apple have launched new headphones that are overpriced for me but these Jabra Evolve85 3 are also not cheap but target a different market.

The Jabra Evolve85 3 are a hybrid pair of headphones that offer the best for teams type calls and more but not only this phone calls and your music allowing you to hear more than you expect in some instances which is something I have only experienced once before with a pair of gaming earbuds not headphones.

For those who work in the office space or open office these are where it is at right now and the same applies to those who work from home they are for commuters if you commute to work they are for gamers and also general music and movies end of story making these a more versatile product than ever before.

For the professionals on calls such as teams which I often use alongside other platforms the call quality is excellent you can hear more than before and often things you may not of heard like background noise outdoor noise etc with adaptive ANC which suprised me you might also hear things you are not meant to ( in a bad or good way) but this can be tuned to your needs in the app and me being me I am all ears I want to hear it all and crystal clear as you do with these.

Jabra Plus App

 

The Jabra Evolve3 85 has no boom mic which for me is great not a huge fan but not an issue but the mics perform well on calls and teams calls etc with excellent clairty.

There is a simple button layout again for me great all work well all tacticle and the instant connection to teams which is a winner if you use that platform often which is about half my online calls to be up front on that however it still works great on all platforms it must be noted, these also perform excellent on Zoom and Google Meet for example.

Wireless charging is another bonus for me as I have fully adopted this at home all round the house so for those who are worried fear not also to note in general the battery life alone is excellent here and much improved.

Overall for me the new Jabra Evolve3 85 is an excellent hybrid headset that is a winner for online calls music and movies all round, the price for some might be a turn off however if you want it all in one headset this is where it is at and for me having the best in the game is often costly but this headset is worth it with all the technology packed inside.

 

Jabra Evolve3 85 (Over-the-Ear) Key Features

·       Over-ear design for maximum immersion and noise isolation

·       Ideal for professionals needing full focus in louder environments

·       Extended battery life for 25 hours of call time or 120 hours of listening to entertainment (with ANC/busylight off) and 10-minute fast charge for 10 hours of use

·       35% slimmer and 23% lighter than Jabra Evolve2 85

·       Foldable and portable with compact storage case

Solar power could save Europe as much as €100 million a day

In today’s global energy landscape, businesses are facing rising costs and volatility. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has reported a 50% average increase in energy costs this year, while oil and gas prices have also climbed 50% since last year, and have almost doubled compared to the previous month. As of March 2026, the average industrial (C&I) electricity price in the EU is estimated to be approximately €0.15–€0.18 per kWh (150–180 €/MWh), with industrial electricity prices remaining 2-3 times higher than those in the US or China.

Supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions are adding further uncertainty, putting operational stability and profitability at risk. In this context, securing a stable, predictable, and affordable energy source has never been more critical.

Wewise, a collective of B2B renewable energy specialists part of DCC, is demonstrating how solar energy provides a powerful solution, delivering consistent, cost-effective power that protects businesses from market fluctuations and rising energy costs:

 

1) Long-term cost stability through smart investment and financing

 

While the initial cost of solar can still hold many SMEs back, it’s important to look beyond the short term. Solar energy delivers immediate and long-lasting savings by reducing energy bills and limiting exposure to an increasingly volatile grid. Today, innovative financing solutions remove the need for upfront investment altogether.

With a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA), businesses can access solar energy at a fixed, competitive rate over time, without owning the infrastructure. This allows them to stabilise their energy costs, protect against price fluctuations, and turn what was once seen as a financial barrier into a clear, strategic advantage.

2) Consistent, predictable power through smart solar storage

Solar energy combined with batteries offers businesses a reliable, round-the-clock solution by intelligently managing energy use to deliver consistent, cost-effective power. During low-cost, off-peak hours at night and early morning, batteries charge using grid power, preparing to supply energy during expensive, high-demand periods.

Throughout the day, solar panels generate peak energy to power your business and recharge batteries, reducing dependence on the grid. Even under cloudy conditions and in countries that don’t get a large amount of sun, solar continues to produce valuable savings. As evening demand spikes, stored energy is discharged to offset costly grid electricity, lowering bills and potentially generating additional income. This continuous, intelligent cycle empowers businesses to achieve energy certainty and financial resilience despite market volatility.

3) Durable, long-lasting technology for a reliable energy supply

Durability and reliability are critical when securing businesses’ energy future. Concerns about the lifespan of solar panels often deter them from committing to these solutions, but modern advancements have transformed solar technology into a durable, long-lasting investment.

Today’s high-quality panels are engineered with robust materials and backed by warranties of 25 years as standard, with some even offering 30 years, highlighting their proven reliability. This durability ensures businesses benefit from a dependable energy source that delivers consistent performance and significant cost savings over the long term, providing stability in an unpredictable energy market.

“In today’s unpredictable energy market, where wholesale electricity prices in Europe have surged over 50% since March, solar energy stands out as a dependable and cost-effective solution for businesses. Amid the Middle East conflict, solar power could save Europe as much as €100 million a day. At Wewise, we’re dedicated to helping European SMEs reduce dependency on the grid as well as energy markets, stabilise their energy expenses and achieve lasting savings in addition to paving the way for a more sustainable energy future,” explains Judy te Breuil, Head of Business Development, Wewise.

Vodafone Ireland €360 million investment as it moves to new Dublin City Centre HQ

Vodafone Ireland announced a further €360 million investment, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Ireland, as it makes final preparations to move to its new headquarters in St Stephen’s Green next week.

The investment includes a further €200 million in its mobile network – building on the company’s €500 million, five-year network investment programme announced in 2023 – and €160 million in digital and IT spend up to 2030.

The announcement was made ahead of the official opening of the new office later today by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris T.D.  He will be joined at the event by Vodafone Ireland CEO Sabrina Casalta, Vodafone Group Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer Joakim Reiter, and IDA Ireland’s Global Head of Technology Anne Marie Tierney Le-Roux.

With 2.4 million customers, the company is the fastest-growing broadband provider and number one mobile network in Ireland. Six in ten Irish businesses are Vodafone customers.

New HQ

The company has signed a 15-year lease on the new six-storey, 63,000 sq ft grade A office building, marking the next chapter in Vodafone Ireland’s 25-year presence in the country.

Vodafone’s new office incorporates features such as a green roof that supports biodiversity, rainwater harvesting to reduce water use and on-site solar (PV) technology. The move will contribute to Vodafone Ireland’s 2028 net zero ambition by reducing direct emissions from the heating, cooling and powering of the office, while improved access to public transport and cycling facilities supports a reduction in indirect commuting emissions.

The company remains committed to its hybrid working model, with employees spending between eight and ten days in the office each month. More than 2,000 people work with Vodafone Ireland across its headquarters and 80 retail stores nationwide – over 850 people will be based in the new city centre office.

Fresh Investment

The €200 million network investment is focused on building a smarter, more flexible network that can adapt to how people and businesses will use connectivity in the years ahead.

Crucially, the investment is preparing the network for the next evolution of 5G – delivering faster, more reliable and more responsive connectivity. This will enable next‑generation technologies such as AI, IoT and smart city applications, and is particularly critical for business, industry and manufacturing, where real‑time performance and resilience are essential. By allowing the network to manage traffic more intelligently and prioritise critical services when required, the investment also future‑proofs Ireland’s digital infrastructure for automation, emerging technologies and developments such as satellite‑enabled mobile coverage as the technology continues to evolve.

The company will invest up to €160 million in digital and IT systems over the next four years, supporting the development of next-generation customer platforms, including its digital care assistant Tobi, as well as advances in AI and critical infrastructure upgrades. This follows sustained annual IT investment in recent years, underlining Vodafone’s focus on enhanced customer care and ongoing commitment to digital transformation.

25 years of Investment in Ireland

As the longest-established telecommunications company in Ireland, Vodafone is marking its 25‑year anniversary this year. Since 2001, the company has invested more than €20 billion in the Irish market in today’s terms, including €5.8 billion in capital investment and €6.3 billion contributed to the national exchequer through spectrum licence fees and taxation. Vodafone has invested €24 million in community and digital inclusion initiatives and was the first company to establish a corporate foundation in Ireland.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris T.D. said: “Vodafone’s continued investment is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland and in our future as a digitally connected, open economy. This additional €360 million commitment will strengthen our national infrastructure, support jobs, and ensure businesses and communities across the country can benefit from world‑class connectivity. Investments like this are essential to Ireland’s competitiveness, resilience and longer-term growth.”

Vodafone Ireland CEO Sabrina Casalta said: “This investment underlines our long‑term commitment to Ireland and to the customers and communities we serve. As we move into our new headquarters, we are continuing to strengthen our network and digital capabilities, so customers benefit from fast, reliable and resilient connectivity and an enhanced experience. Building on 25 years at the heart of Ireland’s digital evolution, this programme will support businesses, regional development and the technologies of the future, helping future‑proof Ireland’s digital infrastructure for the years ahead.”

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “World-class, resilient networks support productivity, innovation and regional competitiveness, which help Ireland win and retain foreign direct investment.  Vodafone’s investment is set to strengthen Ireland’s digital infrastructure and connectivity capacity – an increasingly decisive factor for multinational companies assessing where to locate and scale high‑value operations. IDA Ireland welcomes today’s announcement and looks forward to continuing our strong partnership with Vodafone.”

Recently, Vodafone Ireland has been named “Best in Test” in fixed broadband benchmarking by independent benchmarking organisation umlaut reflecting our continued investments to deliver the best experience for our customers.

Dell Technologies unveils PowerMaxOS 10.4 to boost performance, cyber resilience and enterprise modernisation

Dell Technologies has announced the launch of PowerMaxOS 10.4, the latest update to its flagship enterprise storage platform, designed to help organisations accelerate performance, strengthen cyber resilience and modernise mission-critical infrastructure.

The new release delivers up to 25% faster read response times for SRDF-protected workloads, alongside improved efficiency and lower total cost of ownership for PowerMax 2500 and 8500 arrays. It is engineered to support high-demand enterprise environments, including large-scale Oracle, SAP, Salesforce and Epic deployments.

Brian Henderson, Director of Primary Storage and ISG Portfolio Messaging at Dell Technologies, said: “The pace of innovation in the enterprise world never slows down. Organisations today face a dual challenge: maintaining the stability and performance of mission-critical workloads while modernising infrastructure to seize new opportunities.

“At Dell Technologies, we believe that technology should empower teams to move faster, work smarter, and achieve more.”

PowerMaxOS 10.4 introduces Advanced Ransomware Detection to proactively identify threats, alongside enhanced Zero Trust security capabilities, including single sign-on (SSO) integration with Okta, PingFederate and Microsoft Entra ID. The platform also strengthens resilience through a four-site SRDF replication architecture, enabling continuous availability, automated failover and data consistency across regions.

To support application modernisation, the platform offers deep integration with VMware and Red Hat OpenShift, enabling up to 10x faster virtual machine migration using array-based XCOPY and the Red Hat Migration Toolkit for Virtualization. Enhanced REST API capabilities also deliver up to 7x faster storage provisioning for containerised environments.

Henderson added: “This latest release introduces faster performance, enhanced cyber resilience and deeper ecosystem integration, ensuring your business stays ahead of the curve.”

PowerMaxOS 10.4 is also designed with future scalability in mind, supporting next-generation 128Gb Fibre Channel connectivity and built-in AES-256 encryption, alongside compliance with FIPS 140-3 Level 2 standards, making it suitable for highly regulated industries including finance, healthcare and government.

The new release is available globally from today. Dell Technologies will showcase PowerMaxOS 10.4 at Dell Technologies World (May 18–21), highlighting innovations in cybersecurity, AI-driven automation and high-performance infrastructure.

Aecooly AIR MATE Modular Type C Phone Fan Review

The Aecooly AIR MATE modular type C phone fan is a modular Type-C Phone Fan tailored for the iPhone 15/16/17 ecosystem. It features a pure fan head design that draws power directly from the phone—no internal battery needed. At just 1.34 oz (17,000 RPM), it’s a powerful yet weightless addition for anyone using their tech on the move.

This is such a simple product to use you just plug it into a USB-C device and you have power and it consumes little power so there is no need to worry about your battery either.

Having test on an Android device and my iPhone 17 Pro this really cools you down there is a simple one button control on the side that can higher the speed at a touoch and lower it and it has a high density brushless motor that spins at 17,000 RPM and for its size it is really effective and will cool you down quite quickly

There is some noise at the higher speed but no annoying like some I have tried in the past and the great thing is this will fit in any pocket or bag and can be broight just about anywhere and with the Summer coming in soon it would also be ideal for that bus or train journey or just simply having on your person for when you feel to hot, check the video below for more.

 

 

  • Powerful Cooling: Powerful phone fan equipped with a 17,000 RPM brushless motor and a focused airflow channel, generates a high-speed airflow of 30 ft/s. It instantly dissipates heat waves, letting you truly feel the cooling difference outdoors.
  • Ultra-compact size: Mini phone fan measuring just 3.5 x 2.8 x 1.6 inches and weighing only 1.34 oz, fits effortlessly into pockets, small handbags. Whether commuting, traveling, or enjoying outdoor leisure-instantly enjoy cool air without bulky burdens.
  • USB C Compatible:Portable phone fan features a USB C port, compatible with iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series, iPad, power banks, and most USB C devices. Whether at your desk, outdoors, or on the go, it’s your go-to cooling companion anytime, anywhere.
  • 4-Speed Precision Control:Cell phone fan accessory features 4 adjustable speed settings—from a gentle breeze to aid focused work to an instant turbo-cooling blast after commuting or working out. This fan delivers precisely the right amount of airflow whenever you need it.
  • Usage Instructions: This product features a pure fan head design without a built-in battery. It requires connection to a USB C power source (such as smartphone, or tablet) for operation. For Lightning or Micro USB, use your own adapter, check your port before purchase.

BUY

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Scapade Launches AirPro: Brings Bluetooth to Any Audio Jack

Scapade, the travel tech brand built for modern wanderers, today announces the launch of the AirPro Dual Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver (£49.99/€49.99/€41.00), a compact, travel-ready audio device designed to eliminate one of modern travel’s most frustrating problems: incompatible audio.

Whether you’re on a plane, in a hire car, or using any device without Bluetooth audio connectivity, AirPro transforms any 3.5mm audio jack into a fully wireless, shareable listening experience.

No Bluetooth? No Problem

In-flight entertainment

AirPro plugs directly into airplane seat audio systems using its dual 3.5mm adapter, allowing travellers to connect their own wireless headphones. No more uncomfortable, low quality airline headsets, just seamless, personal audio on long-haul flights.

Share audio with a travel companion

Watching a film on a plane, tablet or laptop? AirPro allows two pairs of Bluetooth headphones to connect simultaneously, making it easy to share audio without disturbing others.

Hire cars & older vehicles without Bluetooth

AirPro’s receiver mode instantly upgrades any car with an AUX input. Simply plug it in and stream music, podcasts or navigation from your phone – ideal for rental cars or older vehicles lacking modern connectivity.

Laptops, gym TVs & gaming consoles

From shared TVs on the treadmill in gyms and hotels or older games consoles without Bluetooth support, AirPro acts as a wireless bridge transmitting audio directly to your headphones for a private listening experience.

Home audio systems & speakers

Turn traditional speakers or stereos into Bluetooth-enabled systems. AirPro makes it easy to stream music wirelessly without replacing existing equipment.

Designed for Travel, Built for Everyday Life

Compact enough to fit in your pocket, AirPro is engineered for people constantly on the move. With up to 11 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and USB-C charging, it’s built to last through long journeys and daily use alike.

Its 2-in-1 transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) functionality means users only need one device to cover multiple scenarios from flights and road trips to home entertainment and public gym setups.

Jacques Walger, Co-Founder at Scapade commented: “As travellers increasingly rely on wireless headphones, compatibility gaps across planes, cars and devices remain a common frustration. The AirPro solves this with a single, intuitive accessory that works anywhere. From long-haul flights to everyday commutes, AirPro ensures users stay connected, wirelessly and effortlessly.”

Key Features

  • Dual Bluetooth connection (connect two headphones at once)
  • Transmitter & receiver modes for maximum flexibility
  • Universal 3.5mm compatibility across planes, cars, TVs and more
  • Bluetooth 5.3 for stable, low-latency audio
  • Up to 11 hours battery life with USB-C fast charging
  • Compact, lightweight, travel-ready design

The Scapade AirPro is now available for £49.99 / €49.99 at Scapade.net and in the US from $41.00 at Best Buy and Target.

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