Indeed on CSO unemployment: Unemployment rate increases to 4.3%

The main unemployment rate was 4.3% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, up from 4.2% in February of this year and up from 4.1% in March 2023. There was an increase of 9,400 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in March 2024 compared with a year earlier. 

Jack Kennedy, senior economist at global jobs platform Indeed, comments on the latest CSO data:

“The main unemployment rate was 4.3% in March, up from the 4.2% recorded in February and compared to 4.1% in March 2023.

The latest figure remains down from the 4.6% recorded in January though and is lower than rates seen in the second half of 2023.

Overall, the Irish labour market remained resilient in Q1 and barring any other major shocks to the economy, the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive, although it is possible that there will be some further modest softening.

Irish job postings on Indeed were down to 14% above pre-pandemic levels at the end of March. This compares to 17% at the end of February 2024 and 22% in January. This is also down from a high of 65% recorded in February 2022. We expect to see job postings continue to gradually recede to levels similar to those prevailing before the pandemic. 

Wage growth in Ireland continues to hold steady and was at 4.1% year-on-year at the end of February. This reflects the ongoing pressure employers are under to recruit and retain staff at a time when the cost of living remains high, but may ease somewhat later this year if the labour market continues to soften and cost-of-living pressures ease further.  

For now, however, employees are likely to continue to press for pay rises despite signs that the inflation rate is falling amid lower energy and food prices. The latest CSO figures showed the annual inflation rate in Ireland fell below the euro zone target of 2% for the first time in almost three years after slowing to 1.7% in March.

This is good news for hard-pressed households and offers some relief, but it is likely to take time before they feel the real impact, especially as government energy and fuel supports have either ended or are about to end later this month. Many households may also require reductions in the European Central Bank’s key interest rate before regaining full confidence in their financial position and ability to spend.”

Dell Technologies Unveil Next-Gen All-Flash PowerScale F210 and F710 Nodes

Dell Technologies is today announcing the introduction of two new cutting-edge additions to their all-flash lineup – Dell PowerScale F210 & F710. These new storage systems are designed to boost AI innovations, offering top-notch performance and scalability with exceptional efficiency.

These latest generation file storage solutions are seamlessly integrated with the advanced OneFS software. This integration empowers businesses and organisations in Ireland to harness the power of PowerEdge servers, ideal for driving the most compute intensive workloads with ease.

“With these latest PowerScale all-flash nodes, we’re ready to unleash the power of your data and fast-track your AI innovation journey,” said Chris Mount, Director, Dell Technologies. “As part of the world’s broadest GenAI infrastructure portfolio that spans from cloud to client devices, all from a single vendor, at Dell Technologies, we’re ready to bring AI to your data anywhere.”

Latest All-flash Nodes

Drawing on its established reputation as a Magic Quadrant leader for eight consecutive years, the PowerScale F210 and F710 are launched with enhanced capabilities. The F210 is tailored for optimal performance with smaller capacity needs, while the F710 offers a blend of high performance and substantial capacity within a compact 1RU form factor which helps in meeting the evolving needs of customers in today’s data-centric landscape.

 Improved Efficiency

Dell’s latest platform features a Smart Flow chassis designed to streamline airflow. This innovative design directs air precisely where it’s needed, improving energy efficiency across the system. This advancement in innovation has allowed Dell to deliver up to 90% greater performance per watt in just one year. Furthermore, the latest F710 node builds upon the capacity and density of previous generations, accommodating up to ten drives in a compact 1U configuration. This represents a 25% increase in node density compared to its predecessor, the F600.

“Collaborating with Dell means faster innovation for my business. The new Dell PowerScale F710 has exceeded our expectations with more than 25% performance improvements in our EDA workloads while delivering improved data center sustainability,” said Alan Davidson, CIO, Broadcom

The release of PowerScale OneFS software and platform enhancements marks a significant milestone in AI innovation. These advancements will allow Dell customers to take full advantage of high-speed storage and empower their most demanding file workloads, including AI and generative AI (GenAI).

Check our Dell’s website to learn more about their AI solutions and services.

5-year deal for Dublin’s new children’s hospital awarded to Telefónica Tech

Telefónica Tech, a leader in digital transformation and part of the Telefónica Group, has been announced as the successful vendor for the tender to provide numerous infrastructure technology solutions to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for the new digital children’s hospital.

When the new children’s hospital opens in 2025, digital technology will be involved in everything from electronic health records to the systems controlling the building. Digitisation fosters information exchange and helps doctors optimise their decisions and provide the best care for patients.

In this five year deal with Children’s Health Ireland, Telefónica Tech UK&I will build and manage the hospital’s IT infrastructure, with a significant focus on cyber security. Telefónica Tech will oversee all servers, storage, security, PCs, printers, workstations on wheels and laptops in the new hospital. The platform will also support the clinical applications that will integrate to the hospital’s new Electronic Patient Record system (powered by EPIC).

Adrian Rath, Chief Technology Officer with Children’s Health Ireland, explains the benefits this partnership will bring to staff working in the new hospital:

“We are delighted to work with Telefónica Tech for the next five years, to create world-class digital infrastructure in a world-class digital hospital. In Children’s Health Ireland, we deliver around 200,000 episodes of care to patients in a year. The new hospital will be an incredible place for clinicians to provide that care to patients. There will be a single sign-on system to greatly improve access to information for clinicians, while a single email system for all staff will make for seamless cross-city collaboration between the new hospital and CHI Urgent Care sites at Connolly and Tallaght. The security solutions provided by Telefónica Tech will enable Children’s Health Ireland to strengthen its cyber security posture against potential cyber. Most importantly, all of this will bring about a safer and better experience for the children, young people and families who use our services”.

Ellen Dickson, VP of Enterprise Health at Telefónica Tech UK&I, said: “The New Children’s Hospital is set to transform children’s healthcare in Ireland as a centre of excellence. The IT infrastructure and services will underpin the vital clinical services and are therefore critical to the success of the hospital. Telefónica Tech UK&I’s Strategic Healthcare Practice has market-leading expertise, thanks to the skills and experience of our staff, and has successfully delivered innovative and complex health IT projects with some of the largest health trusts in the UK.”

Telefónica Tech UK&I is developing the infrastructure technology for the new children’s hospital while the building is under construction, due for completion by the end of October 2024.

Tech Review – Conambo K10C Bluetooth Headset

The Conambo K10C Bluetooth Headset is one of several variants on offer from the company and ideal for those who work at home, the office or those who drive for a living.

On the headset there is an array of controls to get things done, now there is several variants of this model do do check what suits you best as some features might mean more to some than others, this one is missing skip and reverse tracks for instance and a digital display and distance is less on connectivity.

The device will work on both Android and iOS platforms and there is no app to install so it is a basic Bluetooth connection and you are good to go, there is call control music control though limited and you can access your voice assistant.

Speaking  of the controls they are well placed and very tactile and easy to navigate after a few minutes use we go through them all in the video review below. You can higher and lower the volume here and play and pause tracks.

The call quality is excellent and the volume is loud and not often I see a headset with the volume being so loud which is good to see, the calls a crisp no issues indoors or outdoors and again for music it is simple and clean so you can listen to tracks on the go and take calls but you are using one ear which is a good thing for hearing your surroundings.

Overall an inexpensive headset to have at your disposal with decent battery life and does a decent job overall with the features on board and as mentioned there is several variants available which is a good thing for those who are feature dependent.

Conambo K10C Bluetooth Headset – techbuzzireland

 

  • Bluetooth V5.1: The wireless headset has the latest Bluetooth 5.1 technology provides a fast and stable connection to most Bluetooth devices such as iOS or Android smartphones from up to 33 feet (10 metres). The headset features multipoint technology that allows you to connect up to two devices at the same time.
  • Clear calls: Experience clear voice calls with the Conambo K10C Bluetooth headset. With two CVC8.0 noise cancelling microphones and a built-in ENC noise cancelling system, the headset filters out 96% external noise and reduces interference during the call, making communication easier.
  • Comfortable fit: the headset with microphone weighs only 0.68 oz/18 g and comes with 9 earplugs in different sizes. Flexible design with 180° rotating ear hooks and 270° flip boom rotating swivel arm, suitable for a variety of left and right ear shapes. You can wear it for long periods of time without any inconvenience.
  • Long battery life: K10C headset Bluetooth mobile phone with 1.5 hours fully charged headset provides up to 16 hours of talk and 360 hours of standby. Powerful battery life brings convenience to your life. Perfect for driving, business, office, home and more.
  • Hands-free Bluetooth ear: easily control mute, volume, answer/end a call. These Bluetooth headphones support Siri, Google or other voice assistants to make hands-free calls. Compatible with Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom and other leading platforms. With 45-day money back and 24-month warranty.

BUY

Video Review

MAMMOTION Unveils Next-Generation LUBA 2 AWD Series Robotic Mower Redefining Lawn Care Standards

A leader in robotic outdoor solutions, MAMMOTION is proud to introduce the new LUBA 2 AWD Series. Representing the latest evolution of the LUBA AWD line of robotic mowers, this latest iteration of the LUBA AWD revolutionizes flawless lawn care with cutting-edge features and unparalleled technology.

Enhancing the renowned reliability and wire-free functionalities of the original LUBA AWD, the LUBA 2 AWD showcases a myriad of advancements including a superior 3D vision system with built in dual lens to enable depth measurement, obstacle recognition and precise positioning. 

Wireless Precision: The integration of the state-of-the-art 3D Vision and RTK fusion-mapping system ensures precise positioning, eliminating the need for cumbersome wiring. Customized mowing paths are optimized to cover the entire yard seamlessly, effortlessly manoeuvring through complex landscapes.

All-Terrain Expertise: The LUBA 2 AWD excels in conquering uneven slopes and navigating real-world obstacles such as muddy ruts and rogue roots that could leave less capable mowers stuck. Its sturdy suspension and reinforced AWD conquer steep 38-degree inclines with remarkable ease, maintaining momentum throughout.

Triple Obstacle Detection and Avoidance: Featuring bionic 3D vision, ultrasonic radars, and sturdy physical bumpers, the LUBA 2 AWD can detect obstacles as small as 1 inch, skilfully manoeuvring around animals, garden hoses, and other obstacles without any interruptions to the mowing process.

Lawn Artistry: The MAMMOTION App enables lawn printing technology, allowing users to convert their grass into unique designs, emblems, and decorations, adding a touch of personalization to their outdoor spaces.

“We designed the LUBA 2 AWD to be the ultimate, hands-free solution for anyone who wants pristine lawn care,” said Jidong Wei, CEO of MAMMOTION. “From all-terrain handling to total customization, its commercial-grade technology makes easy work of even daunting yard projects so users can skip the headaches and enjoy their outdoor oasis.”

With multi-zone management that can be set up for varying cutting heights and schedules and app and voice control, the LUBA 2 AWD gives a hassle free lawn care experience.

Featuring eight different models catering to various lawn sizes from 0.05 to 2.5 acres, the LUBA 2 offers cutting height options ranging from 1 to 2.7 inches. The LUBA 2 AWD starts from £2149. Available from www.mammotion.com 

First York puts 12-strong upgraded electrical bus fleet into service featuring Equipmake powertrain

Equipmake, the UK-based engineering specialist pioneering the development and production of electrification products across the automotive, aerospace, bus, coach, and marine industries is working in partnership with First York and has delivered a fleet of 12 upgraded electric buses with all vehicles now in full operation in the city.

The Optare Versa singe-deck models have been converted by Equipmake, incorporating the company’s cutting-edge Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which in this specification, features a 274kWh capacity battery, providing a range of 150 miles in all UK weather conditions.

The delivery follows on from a successful trial of an initial converted prototype vehicle, which allowed engineering teams at First York and Equipmake to evaluate its performance and make any final adjustments. The completed 12 buses are now in full, reliable service across the city playing a key role in improving York’s urban air quality.

Stuart Eyre, Engineering Manager of First York, said: “Following a successful initial trial, it’s great to see this new fleet of 12 upgraded, all-electric buses operational across York. Equipmake’s repower technology is an important step in our transition to achieving a fully electric fleet in York, continuing to help improve air quality in the city and supporting the goal of First Bus nationally to have a zero-emission fleet by 2035.”

Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake, said: “We are delighted this 12-strong fleet of repowered Optare Versas is now operating in the city for First York, with all featuring our state-of-the-art electric drivetrain. This is fantastic news for passengers and the people of York, making a significant contribution to local air quality. For operators, repowering existing buses offers an excellent opportunity to achieve zero-emission targets, while making significant cost savings in parallel.”

Equipmake repowers are tailored to specific requirements provided by the operator, with service routes simulated to ensure the optimum battery power level is selected to secure driving ranges of 150 to 250 miles. This range is more than sufficient for a complete duty cycle, allowing buses to be recharged faster, overnight and operate for longer during the day.

The ZED, which is completely modular and scalable and can be applied to single as well as double-decker buses, features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, combined with the latest in lithium-ion batteries. In addition, one of its most important features is Equipmake’s patented ultra-efficient thermal management system, which maintains all three of the ZED’s key components – the battery pack, motor, and inverter – at an optimum operating temperature, maximising vehicle range.

Featuring an advanced water-glycol cooling circuit, the system provides interior heating during cold conditions with captured thermal energy. When the battery is depleted at the end of a complete duty cycle, it can be recharged at the depot overnight via a CSS DC charging point.

By choosing to repower existing buses using Equipmake’s revolutionary technology and methods, significant cost and environmental benefits are achievable. Each conversion costs less than half of a new electric bus, and with most buses in service for 14 years or more, operators can make significant savings by repowering a bus halfway through its operational life.

Banish tap water contaminants with the world’s most advanced kitchen water purification system

Swedish water and beverage brand Bluewater collaborated with top nutritional scientists to offer health aware consumers the ultimate kitchen gadget that removes 99.97 percent of toxic chemicals from kitchen tap water and then remineralises it ~

Amid growing evidence of how municipal tap water is contaminated by toxic ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS, Sweden’s water purifier and beverage brand Bluewater today launched its ground-breaking Kitchen Station 1™ water purification system that removes up to 99.97 percent of toxic chemicals and other contaminants.

Designed to allay consumer fears about tap water quality, the compact Bluewater Kitchen Station ensures drinking and washing water is squeaky clean, while also adding a unique blend of liquified minerals harvested from age-old northern Swedish mountains for enhanced health.

The mineral solution — dubbed ‘Liquid Rock’ by Bluewater — is delivered via an IoT infuser system steered via a smartphone app allowing users to adjust the mix of minerals according to their taste preferences and wellbeing needs. But the benefits don’t stop there. Integrated into the system is the Bluewater O, a user-friendly control enabling easy switching between municipal water (for doing the dishes) and the purified re-mineralised water. The O enables users to visually check water quality by shifting from an orange shade during the speedy water purification process to an all-blue colour when it is fit to drink.

“The Kitchen Station 1 is the world’s most advanced kitchen water purification solution designed for the municipal water realities of the twenty-first century and meeting the desire of modern consumers for healthier lifestyle options,” said Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri (photo below). He adds: “An aesthetically pleasing yet functional addition to any kitchen, the Bluewater Kitchen Station boldly unveils the future of water purification while additionally ending the need for people to continuing buying single-use plastic bottles!”

A highly regarded Swedish environmental entrepreneur who founded a world-leading indoor air purification company called Blueair before shifting his focus to water ten years ago, Mr Rittri notes that consumer surveys have increasingly revealed the depth of consumer worries about the potential contaminants lurking in their tap water.

In March, a Bluewater poll of 2,000 men and women in London indicated that 4 out of 10 Londoners do not trust tap water. The reality behind those fears was underlined by an investigation by Bluewater at three locations across London – Battersea, Harrow, and Heathrow – that revealed worryingly high levels of toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ substantially exceeding new limits proposed by the European Union and the US Environmental Protection agency.

The Bluewater Kitchen Station  is the result of several years of intense research and development, which included identifying the perfect mix of minerals needed to deliver a health-enhancing formula and superior taste. The result utilizes minerals sourced from virgin Swedish mountain rock that are liquified hygienically and then bottled to be added to purified water via a unique dosing system.

The ‘heart’ of the Bluewater Kitchen Station 1™ is the brand’s state-of-the-art Spirit compact under-sink purifier, which delivers up to 900 liters of purified water daily from an existing kitchen tap. Bluewater Spirit harnesses the company’s unique SuperiorOsmosis™ filtration solution, verified in independent tests to remove 99.9 percent of toxic PFAS chemicals from tap water, providing customers with the peace of mind that they are drinking healthier, better-tasting water.

Designed for residential and commercial settings, the Bluewater Kitchen Station 1™ is easy to install and maintain. It utilizes a customer’s existing tap, making it a game-changer for health-aware consumers with top-of-the-range kitchens or living in rental accommodation. Priced at £4,150 for the entire system, including installation, both outright purchase or finance packages are available. The Kitchen Station  is now available for directly from Bluewater or via select dealers throughout the UK.

Product Highlights

Hyper efficient, quiet running compact under-sink Bluewater Spirit purifier, removing up to 99.7 percent of toxic PFAS chemicals and other contaminants from lead to bacteria…
System uses a customer’s existing taps, delivering a powerful clean water delivery rate of around 3 litres per minute…
Unique intuitive sink-mounted visual at-a-glance water quality monitor that shifts from orange showing unclean water to blue confirming purified water…
Ground-breaking smart mineralisation solution automatically adding a perfect mix of essential minerals…
Smartphone App providing personalized water mineralization choices
Low energy usage and service requirements

Tech Review – Skullcandy X TMNT push active earbuds

With another new collaboration from Skullcandy we have the latest Skullcandy X TMNT push active earbuds which comes in a Green themed case as was before and slightly larger than others only this time this one looks better and stands out which looks cool. It has a nice finish and feel to the case and non slippy which is helpful due to its size but still this case gives you up to 44 hours of battery life and you have got rapid charge built in via USB – C

We have reviewed these before with the first Push Active Skull-IQ and with the Burton X and nothing has changed really only this time you get the TMNT branding on board here and for those who remember them as kids will certainly want to check these out.

These also fit really well too and have over ear hooks that goes around the ear and will not fall out of your ears,even for the most active folk and can be worn jogging or in the gym, there is one button on each side for controls but they have a new trick up their sleeve and buttons do not have to be used at all and you can just say “Hey Skullcandy” to do what you need them to do, more on this in the video below you need to see this in action it has been one of my favourite features on earbuds and yet not seen too much in the detail you get here and what you can get done with no hands required.

There is no ANC but this is fine with the really secure fit you will not hear much going on outside anyway unless outdoors in a noisy environment, with my ususal test loop they performed really well, highs lows and mids are fine and a good balance overall and then you have the app to play around with too with the EQ settings and also edit the button controls too which is excellent.The app has now more features this time around too which is a nice addition and good to see them improving as time goes on.

Check the video review below for a more in depth look.

Overall these are something we have seen before more than once but what is great with these and Skullcandy is their collabs they are getting giving your headphones earbuds and more a twist that not many will have and if you are a teenage mutant ninja turtle fan why not treat yourself.

The App

Skullcandy-IQ app features – techbuzzireland

 

Features

44 Hours Total Battery + Rapid Charge

IP55 Sweat & Water Resistant
Hands-Free Voice Control + Built-In Alexa
Advanced Features via Skull-iQ App
Personal sound by Mimi
Find your earbuds with Tile

Specs 

Headphone Type: True Wireless In-Ear
Connection Type: Bluetooth 5.2
Impedance: 22 Ohms
Driver Diameter: 6mm
Sound Pressure Level: 105dB±3dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Weight: 95g

BUY 

Video Review

ViewSonic Launches into OLED Gaming with the XG272-2K-OLED Monitor

ViewSonic Corp a leading global provider of visual solutions, introduces its first OLED gaming monitor, the XG272-2K-OLED. Engineered for gamers seeking ultimate immersion, this 27-inch monitor’s OLED panel delivers exceptionally vivid colors and stark contrasts. With its Blur Busters Verified certification, the monitor combines a rapid 240Hz refresh rate and an up to 0.01ms pixel response time to ensure crisp visuals and ultra-responsive gameplay in fast-paced gaming scenarios. The monitor’s sleek, ergonomic design elevates the aesthetics of any gaming setup with its white finish and smooth contours.

“ViewSonic recognizes gamers’ surging interest for OLED displays, driven by their superior color performance and faster response time,” said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. “With the launch of the XG272-2K-OLED, we’re bringing gamers impeccable visuals and speed, thanks to OLED technology, and ensuring exceptional clarity with the Blur Busters Verified certification. We are committed to delivering innovative and high-quality products that exceed the expectations of our gaming community.”

Rich Colors Meets Rapid Response

Leveraging OLED panel technology, the XG272-2K-OLED delivers exceptional color accuracy, enhanced brightness, and a superior contrast ratio, bringing video games to life with vivid visuals and wide viewing angles. The adoption of OLED display not only enriches the visual experience but also achieves an up to 0.01ms pixel response time, enabling users to react in an instant and gain a competitive edge.

Sustaining a rapid 240Hz refresh rate, the XG272-2K-OLED is Blur Busters Verified and features AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible support. These combine to effectively minimize image blurring, ghosting, tearing, and stuttering. The blend of high-speed performance with superior visuals ensures smooth, clear, and low-latency gameplay, enabling swift reflexes in fast-paced games, resulting in deeply immersive gaming experiences where each frame is rendered with precision and clarity.

Striking Design with Convenient Remote

The XG272-2K-OLED monitor blends style, functionality, and versatility in its design. The radiant white finish of the monitor is complemented by the customizable RGB lighting, creating a captivating ambiance perfect for gaming. Ergonomics are central to the monitor’s design, with its height-adjustable stand and the ability to tilt, swivel, and pivot the screen for a comfortable and personalized gaming experience.

Additionally, the monitor comes with a wireless remote controller, conveniently nestled in the stand base, which ensures seamless play through effortless menu navigation and game mode selection. Coupled with extensive connectivity options—including dual HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with 15w charging, and various USB-A and USB-B ports—that guarantee broad compatibility with PCs and consoles, it facilitates smooth switching between gaming devices.

The product will be available in Europe from the end of April, with specific timing and pricing varying by country. For the most current information, please visit the ViewSonic website.