Most of use that use Netflix share our passwords so others can use it be it your neighbour or friend down the road or in another pat of the country, today you will be getting an email telling you it is game over for such carry on and this will certainly piss people off who have shared their account info to avail of it for free.
This has already happened in other regions and also today those in the UK will have to take the bad news too. You will also be charged 4.99 if someone outside your house uses your account and you will need to opt-in. For me this is Netflix shooting themselves in the foot and the lack of content of late this will not bode well for many and perhaps go look elsewhere for content.
Netflix said the following
Starting today, we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in Ireland.
A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are – at home, on the go, on holiday – and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.
We recognise that our members have many entertainment choices. It’s why we continue to invest heavily in a wide variety of new films and TV programmes – so whatever your taste, mood or language or whoever you’re watching with, there’s always something satisfying to watch on Netflix.
ZHIYUN today announced the launch of the CRANE – M 3S and the WEEBILL 3S, two ultra-portable products that break new ground in the professional stabiliser market and catalyse a new era of dynamic, anytime,anywhere visual storytelling, unconstrained by equipment weight or crew size. Each new feature on both gimbals – portability, ease-of-use, creative control and performance – has been carefully curated with the intention of liberating the creative process by simplifying the technical aspects of filmmaking for content creators.
The ZHIYUN CRANE – M 3S: portability and wider camera compatibility
ZHIYUN’s CRANE – M 3S is the successor to the popular 2022 Red Dot Product Award winning CRANE M3 and is the perfect vlogging, travel, live streaming and interview companion. The 705 g compact, portable powerhouse sports a higher load-bearing capacity with mainstream full-frame cameras and lens combos than its predecessor and can be used with mobile phones, mirrorless and action cameras. Its dimensions come in at 284.2 mm (w) x 74.5 mm (d) x 163.5 mm(h) and hits the style mark with its monochromatic looks.
Once balanced; keep on shooting
Users can capture stunning images effortlessly thanks to its Bluetooth shutter functionality that enables wireless control of zoom and record with one touch – no more complicated cable connections. Furthermore, its customised two-in-one quick release with plates for each camera model, means that mainstream camera batteries can now be changed without camera assembly or disassembly. And once you have balanced the stabiliser, you won’t need to do it again. Quick installation combines with Power Delivery (PD) fast charging meaning that a full charge takes just two hours and a maximum battery life is up to 7.5 hours.
Stunning clarity; ultimate control
Day or night, ZHIYUN’s CRANE – M 3S boasts a tiny, yet powerful built-in bi-colour fill light no bigger than a fingernail. Powered by Lumen Amplifier technology from ZHIYUN, the modular light enables stepless/temperature adjustment and emits up to 1,000 lux brightness; colour temperature 2,700K-5,500K.
Once you have the footage, the 1.22” intuitive touchscreen features an all-new interactive UI that offers easy adjustment of functions for you to adjust and fine-tune that all-important content, effortlessly.
ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3S: Seamless professional filmmaking
Seamless filmmaking was what ZHIYUN had in mind with its launch of its WEEBILL 3S. It weighs 1,054.8 g and comes in at 305 mm (w) x 210 mm (d) x 72.5 mm (h).
With its powerful performance and compatibility with most DSLR and mirrorless cameras on the market as well as mainstream lenses, unleashing the full potential of your favoured camera has never been easier. A tenth generation of algorithms features customisable following and smooth curves based on common shooting scenarios and operating habits, providing a seamless shooting experience every step of the way with unbeatable stability and silky-smooth camera movements.
WEEBILL 3S is compatible with ZHIYUN TRANSMOUNT accessories and the ZY Play App, including: TransMount Follow Focus/Zoom Units; TransMount Image Transmission System; TransMount Transmitter/Receiver; MasterEye Visual Controller VC100 and the ZY Play App features.
Revolutionary portrait switch
An innovative system integrates the local structure on the portrait/landscape modes on the WEEBILL 3S meaning filmmakers can switch between the two modes on the quick-release module, saving time and without having to rebalance the gimbal.
Essential features for extended shooting
Improved sling structure grip for ultimate comfort
ZHIYUN has further innovated and improved the ergonomics of its pioneering industry-first sling grip. Crafted from skin-friendly materials, its soft hand grip supports the precise fine-tuning of the wrist angle with a knob, allowing for accurate adaptation to gimbal operating and camera movement habits and one or two handed operation. The extendable sling grip can be adjusted to a two-handed grip mode and allows for left and right tilt adjustments to the direction of the gimbal handle as well as the grip centre of gravity, making low-angle and sling mode shooting effortless.
11.5 hours of uninterrupted operation in static environments. WEEBILL 3S needs just two hours to fully charge using PD fast-charging and offers up to 11.5 hours of shooting with its two 18,650 3.7V Li-ion, 1150m Ah batteries.
1,000 Lux fill light: Like the CRANE – M3 S, WEEBILL 3S comes with Lumen Amplifier technology; the fill light delivers a powerful 1000 Lux light and dual Colour Temperature: 2,600k-5,500K CRI90+, enhancing the light and shadow texture of your shots.
Take control of your filmmaking
The Bluetooth shutter control on the WEEBILL 3S with mainstream camera models, allows for the recording button to start/stop recording or trigger photo-taking functions, to enable a seamless shooting experience.
0.96-inch bilingual (EN/CH) display screen makes perfecting shots in-situ easy. This feature has shortcuts for motion lapse, V mode, etc meaning your preferred shooting feature is just one touch away. Creative control is further facilitated with the WEEBILL 3S’s control wheel which supports adjusting parameter, focus motor, and gimbal axes, making your perfect shots come to life.
Commenting on the new additions to its iconic WEEBILL and CRANE product ranges; Yilun Liao, CEO, ZHIYUN said:
“The WEEBILL 3S and the CRANE – M 3S with their innovative features, usher in a brand new filmmaking era. combining ZHIYUN’s WEEBILL 3S with its MOLUS X100 and CRANE-M 3S with M40, for instance, delivers powerful professional cinematic results, and ultimate mobility to film wherever your imagination takes you. ZHIYUN is driven by the belief that filmmaking equipment can be lightweight, convenient but also produce high quality cinematic results. “
The ZHIYUN CRANE – M 3S is available from the ZHIYUN store or Amazon. Prices are as follows: standard – £299 (gimbal, tripod); combo – £359 (gimbal, tripod, phone clamp, backpack).
The ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3S is available from the ZHIYUN store or Amazon. Prices are as follows: standard £319.00 (gimbal, tripod); combo – £439 (gimbal, tripod, backpack, sling grip, wrist rest).
Irish technology company Bynaric today launched a new B2B software platform to help make processing applications for rental accommodation, and selecting and managing tenants, fair, unbiased and transparent.
The FairSelect platform is aimed for use by organisations in the public sector, including affordable housing bodies, as well as by private rental providers.
Users of the software are able to process and select tenant applications based either on a randomised, lottery-style system, or on a first-come-first-served basis.
FairSelect is already being used by a number of public sector organisations, such as local authorities, including Meath County Council, approved housing bodies, including Tuath Housing and Respond, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The platform has a self-service feature for tenants that enables people living in rented accommodation to manage their rental contract, report issues relating to the property they are renting, and pay rent online. It also enables transparency for applicants, who, in cases where demand for the rental accommodation they have applied for exceeds supply, can find out where they are in a queue system.
Announcing the launch of FairSelect, Aria Pour, founder and CEO of Bynaric, said: “We believe in a fair and unbiased tenant selection process, and our innovative FairSelect technology uses a random selection process that reduces the potential for human bias and ensures that every applicant is assessed on an equal footing. This is particularly important for the public sector, where there is a need to demonstrate fairness and transparency in decision-making.
“FairSelect’s compliance with GDPR regulations ensures that the selection process and the results are fully auditable. A centralised dashboard and audits allow the housing agency or landlord to maintain transparency in the selection process. The tenant self-service feature empowers tenants to manage their accounts, report issues, and make payments online, improving communication and increasing satisfaction. Rental applicants can also check where they are in a queue and find out if they were skipped for other people and ask if there is a justification for this.”
Mr Pour continued: “By promoting fairness and transparency, FairSelect helps build trust between landlords and potential tenants, and improves the overall reputation of the housing industry. This ultimately benefits both the applicants and future tenants, as they can feel confident that they have been selected based on their qualifications and not on other factors such as biases or unfair preferences.”
FairSelect was launched today at an event at Dogpatch Labs, Dublin, that featured a keynote speech by Bynaric founder and CEO Aria Pour, along with a panel discussion exploring FairSelect, moderated by business advisor Colin Chapman, and featuring Eoghan Ó’Muiris, head of product for Bynaric; Johnny Horgan, MD, BidX1; and Conn Murray, chair of public sector at BDO Ireland.
At the launch event, Mr Pour announced plans by Bynaric for launching FairSelect in the UK market, where it is aiming to open offices in Manchester and London in the next year.
Flexibility is a key characteristic of employment at Viatel Technology Group. The group’s strategy is to embed flexibility as a central pillar of their work culture and operations. The leading provider of cloud, cybersecurity and digital services is committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment for its growing team of 310 employees.
CEO Paul Rellis explains that Viatel actively listens to its team, “Our people told us flexibility is a top priority, and we are responding. We have fully embraced hybrid work, with no mandated number of in-person days. Life isn’t ‘one size fits all’; each individual is empowered to work with their manager to find the balance that works for them and their team.”
“Many companies have backtracked on flexibility, returning in whole or part to traditional work practices and locations. In contrast, we are fully committed to embedding flexibility in our strategy, our culture and our operations. We are transforming our office spaces into regional hubs, with hot desks and collaborative areas for when colleagues choose to meet face to face.”
Hybrid working is just one aspect of Viatel’s flexibility initiatives; the technology group has also enhanced leave entitlements, and implemented a working from abroad policy to accommodate international team members.
Starting this month, team members can also take some extra time to themselves. Paul explains, “‘Flextime’ is part of our strategy to create a vibrant and dynamic workplace where our team can achieve their professional goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Time is our most precious resource, and we are giving everyone the chance to pursue personal interests; whether they be studying; volunteering; getting outdoors; spending quality time with loved ones, or simply relaxing. We’ll get back to work refreshed, reenergised, and poised to make an even greater impact.”
Viatel Technology Group successfully trialled a flextime initiative in 2022, when employees committed to a 100:90:100 model: receiving 100% pay for 90% of time while maintaining 100% productivity. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants rated Viatel 8.5 out of 10 as a flexible and supportive workplace, with 81% expressing their desire to maintain flexible working arrangements, reporting improved job satisfaction.
Harvard Business Review cites that initiatives that support work-life balance have been proven to promote productivity, reduce turnover, improve employees’ mental and physical health and can even boost organisational diversity. Paul concludes, “We believe flexibility benefits our employees, customers, and our business as a whole. Our focus is on fostering a happier and more fulfilled workforce, which will ultimately lead to greater success.”
Flexibility is just one of the many benefits offered by Viatel Technology Group which, in February, announced the creation of 50 new jobs; and has been shortlisted as one of Ireland’s best workplaces by the Tech Excellence Awards.
London, United Kingdom – Music composition system DAACI announced the acquisitions of music technology companies MXX and WiSL yesterday, with an industry event at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. The acquisitions are the latest step in DAACI’s journey to develop the ultimate creative AI ecosystem, unparalleled in its capabilities and committed to ethics in music, AI, and the creative industries at large.
The acquisitions position DAACI at the forefront of creative and ethical AI technology – focused on driving a tangible and mutually beneficial partnership between the two. DAACI is also now an organisation with a combined 60 granted patents, a further 20 patents filed, 65 team members, and a current annual revenue of £4.88million.
A select group of industry stakeholders attended Abbey Road Studios for the event in Studio Three, the room where legends including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Fela Kuti, Amy Winehouse and Stormzy have recorded. The day included demonstrations and an audience with founder and inventor Dr. Joe Lyske, whose life’s work has gone into the patents and method behind this evolution. The event also punctuated the successful completion of DAACI’s incubation with Abbey Road Red, the studios’ music tech incubation programme.
DAACI’s mission is to empower composers, music makers and creatives to unlock their creativity. A key part of this is DAACI’s effort to uphold ethics at the core of its expanding creative AI ecosystem by ensuring that the tools it builds respect copyright, trademark, rights of publicity (where they exist) and Name/Image/Likeness/Voice, put artists at the centre of the creative process, and provide transparency around the data inputs used during the creative process.
With the acquisition of these two music technology firms – MXX and WiSL – DAACI takes another leap forward in powering the content of tomorrow with dynamic music AI that creates an infinite musical palette, and empowers artists and composers to fulfil any brief and tailor each composition to fit specific experiences or occasions in gaming, digital worlds, XR, or VR experiences.
Abbey Road Red has an artist and rights-first philosophy which traverses its incubation guidance. The team advises participants exploring cutting-edge content usage that it is critically important to respect copyright and intellectual property rights and obtain all necessary authorisations and licenses from rightsholders.
Rachel Lyske, CEO of DAACI, said, “This is a milestone moment for DAACI. I’m delighted to welcome MXX and WiSL to the team. We’re forging ahead in collaboration, creating an ecosystem that integrates three decades of experience and research and bridges the gap between static and responsive music creation.
“The ultimate goal is to channel our incredibly powerful ecosystem of technology to create new paths for talented individuals to express themselves. Whether you’re an experienced professional, a budding creative or anything in between, you can benefit from the processes and creative options generated by our system. I’d like to thank Abbey Road Red, the DAACI, MXX and WiSL teams and everyone involved for their incredible hard work and commitment. I’m excited for the possibilities these acquisitions bring.”
Julian Goodkind, CEO of WiSL said, “We are delighted to be joining DAACI and their team on this exciting journey. They are at the forefront of this evolution and, together, have formed a unique and robust ecosystem which truly amplifies growth for both music makers and content creators.
“It’s vitally important to us that AI technology is adopted and utilised in an ethical way, to ensure that songwriters, artists, rights holders and industry professionals continue to be the driving force at the heart of our industry.
“WiSL remains committed to its objective of creating a marketplace for access and discovery for all music, driven by a suite of AI tools which is supported by the music and content creation industry, so that together we can create a new industry standard.”
Simon White, CEO of the TMC2 Venture Studio, who have invested in all three businesses added, “We have an exceptional track record in ground-breaking adaptive AI technologies for music and media, and are thrilled to be continuing our journey as part of the world’s ultimate creative AI ecosystem.”
Sony has launched the all-new second generation camera to the ZV-1 in the vlog camera ZV series, the ZV-1 II which includes highly requested and popular market-leading features. With a wider angle than ZV-1, the ZV-1 II helps vloggers make more engaging storytelling with attractive photogenic image quality.
With the 1.0-type Exmor RS image sensor (approximately 20.1 effective megapixels), BIONZ X image processing engine, and ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T 18-50mm F1.8-4i lens, the ZV-1 II allows for creators of many skill levels to enjoy sophisticated capabilities. From the 18-50mmii wide angle lens which can frame everything from group selfies to narrow interiors or dynamic recordings of everyday scenes to the Multiple Face Recognitioniii ,which recognises multiple faces and automatically adjusts to keeps all faces sharp and clear when taking selfie shots that include two or three people, the ZV-1 II is the advanced vlogging camera packed into a travel-size.
“The ZV-1 II is an exciting chapter for content creators and will be the go-to camera for many, including vloggers, social media influencers and short form video creators. With the newest vlog camera in the ZV series, we have taken requests from various users and included features that matter most to vloggers,” said Yann Salmon Legagneur, Head of Imaging Products & Solutions Marketing, Sony Europe. “We are striving to take feedback from our community to continue to expand and elevate our ZV series and the ZV-1 II does just that.”
Comprehensive Features for Vloggers & Video Content Creators
The ZV-1 II has a number of new and popular features that will empower creators to capture better content. Ultra-wide angle and Zoom – 18mmii wide angle of view makes it easy to capture attractive photogenic image with the entire scene – especially when shooting selfies at arm’s length. The 18-50mm optical zoom and the Clear Image Zoom smoothly enlarges images while minimising loss of image quality to create a variety in videos by changing the angle of view.
1.0 type sensor with Bokeh Switch which gives beautiful bokeh by defocusing the background with a single touch.
Intelligent 3-capsule microphone – In Auto mode, the camera recognises human faces or objects and automaticallyiv switches the direction of the built-in microphone ([Front] or [All Directions]). In Manual mode, you can select [Front] for selfies, [Rear] when shooting with narration or [All Directions]. The supplied windscreen ensures a clear recording of the speaker when outdoors. Easy to use cableless attachment to Multi Interface Shoev and a 3.5 mm microphone jack makes it easy to connect external microphones.
Cinematic Vlog Setting function responds to the demands to easily take ambient images using a vlog camera. It enables impressive imagery at a touch. Simply tap the on-screen function icon and the camera will automatically set a CinemaScope size (2.35:1) vi and a frame rate of 24 fpsvii , the same as for a cinema movie. Then finish off the work with the on-screen buttons to select from five LOOKs and four MOODs
Creative Look which supports 10 preset looksviii to suit your creative preferences and pro-level imaging features.
Face Priority AE and Soft Skin Effect automatically and immediately detects faces and adjusts the exposure to optimise facial brightness, no matter the lighting. Soft skin effect smooths skin and facial features when filming.
Fast Hybrid AF System – Even in high-definition 4K where precise focusing is required, the camera will keep the images sharp with the same Fast Hybrid AF system seen in α series cameras. The camera is equipped with AF Transition Speed to select the focusing speed during video recording, and AF Subject Shift Sensitivity to control the focus in line with the subject’s movement and environment. In addition, the Real-time Eye AF can accurately keep focus on human or animals for both stills and movies.
Product Showcase Setting – which delivers convenient shooting of product review videos with smooth focus transitions from your face to the item you are highlighting.
S&Q shoot modevix which allows a selection up to 5x slow or up to 60x quick motion to add impact to everyday scenes. The combination of shooting and recording frame rates can now be set on a single screen.
ISO sensitivity spanning from 125 to 12800– allows the camera to record sharp images with less noise, even in low lighting.
Active Mode electronic image stabilisation – content can be captured while walking or in motion and is especially useful for handheld shootingx. Useful for handheld Movie and Slow & Quick motion shooting.
Built in ND filter – to reduce exposure by three stops and allow for beautiful background bokeh even in the brightest situation.
Compact and Lightweight for Easy Portability, Operability, Connectivity
The ZV-1 II is perfect for on the go; its compact and lightweight design can be easily carried in a pocket or small bag, even with its’ optical wide zoom lens. The ZV-1 II supports different filming styles with the vari-angle screen suitable for selfies, easy to hold body grip (or with an optional GP-VPT2BT grip), user-friendly key and control layoutxi and the recording indicator on the front face of the body. The monitor display has been redesigned with a bold, clearly visible red frame that makes it obvious when recording is in progress. Power charge easily via a USB Type-C® connector.
Creators can connect and share content easily with Sony’s Creators’ Cloudplatform and easy smartphone connection. The Creators’ App can be used to control the ZV-1 II from a smartphone, monitor camera battery and media status, edit date and camera names and easily transfer stills and videos shot, even in the background. The Creators’ Appxii also provides a convenient way to update camera software.
For easy high-quality live streaming, simply connect the ZV-1 II to a PC or smartphone xiii with a commercially available USB cable (not included) to use it as a webcam. Make your video more attractive in online meetings and live streaming by using Creative Look to improve the skin’s appearance and adjust the hue. Faces will appear clearer and brighter (Face Priority AE) and the eyes will be kept in focus (Real-time Eye AF).
Environmentally Friendly and Accessible Design
In addition to Sony’s commitment to a sustainable future with global initiatives like Road to Zero and the 2030 renewable energy goal, the ZV-1 II has been specifically developed with sustainability in mind. Recycled materials, including SORPLASTMxiv, are actively used for the camera body, reducing environmental impact without sacrificing functionality. Sony’s unique recycled paper “Original Blend Material”, which does not use plastic and is easy to recycle, is used for individual packaging. Using materials such as bamboo, sugar cane fiber, and recycled paper collected from the market, it is both environmentally friendly and high quality.
The ZV-1 II includes accessibility features that facilitate operation in several ways, including screen reader functionality for people with visual impairments. Accessibility features allow anyone to enjoy shooting and playback. When the screen reader functionxv is activated, text on the menu screens is read aloud. The screen reader function can be activated by turning the [Screen Reader] function in the [Setup] tab ON. Screen reader volume can be adjusted via the [Sound Options] settings. In addition to the above, the ZV-1 II includes a number of functions that assist in achieving pinpoint focus on a variety of subjects. The Real-time Eye AF can automatically recognise and focus on [Human] or [Animal], or the Real-time Tracking function. Focus Magnification, and Peaking functions make it easier to focus manually, and features like Touch Focus, Touch Tracking, and Touch Shutter let the user focus, track, and shoot simply by touching the subject on the monitor screen. ZV-1 II accessibility features (items listed in the specifications): Screen Reader, Touch AE, Focus Magnifier, Peaking Display, Real-time Eye AF, Real-time Tracking, Touch Focus, Touch Tracking, Touch Shutter, Vari-angle LCD screen and Custom function.
Pricing and Availability
The new ZV-1 II will be available in June 2023 at a variety of Sony’s authorised dealers, for an estimated retail price of £870 / €1000.
With Sony’s promotion – Welcome to Vlog. UK & Ireland customers who buy any ZV camera (ZV-1F, ZV-1, ZV-E10, ZV-E10L, ZV-E1, ZV-1 II) can register to receive up to £100 / €100 off their next lens or accessory purchases.
The Irish Electric Vehicle Association [IEVA] has written to John Byrne, head of ESB eCARS, asking that the cost of DC Fast Charging at eCARS be reduced immediately to pre-Ukraine-war levels. Eamon Stack, CEO said, “Our members were shocked at the over 100% cost increase last year and even more upset at the failure to reduce the cost now. Our charges are among the highest in Europe.”
We believe the maintenance of this high cost is unreasonable for four reasons:
1. A substantial % of the power in the National grid is generated by wind, whose base cost did not increase with the tragic Ukraine war. The State is the major stakeholder of the ESB group and can distribute their substantial dividends to balance this injustice;
2. The speed with which eCARS increased the cost of charging, with the increase in the wholesale gas market, was not matched with an equivalent decrease when the wholesale price of gas market dropped. The wholesale price of electricity dropped 13.5% in April alone;
3. We strongly believe the increased cost will slow down the adoption of EVs which is contrary to Government strategy. eCARS prices are comparable with some commercial providers, significantly higher than Tesla [€0.47], yet their service is primarily funded by the State. The high cost is being used by EV detractors to undermine the transition;
4. To add insult to injury, the quality of the current enroute charging service does not match the high cost. There are too few chargepoints, too many out-of-service, and too slow – charge speeds often below 50kW rate.
For these four reasons, the CEO continued: “the IEVA membership strongly encourages eCARS to reduce prices immediately to pre-Ukraine war levels. This action, we believe, will encourage other chargepoint providers to also reduce their prices.”
We have also written to Minister Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport. We believe he needs to act on behalf of the major stakeholder at ESB Group to rectify the situation.
Consumers are continuing to reign in their spending amidst a challenging cost-of-living environment globally, with 94% of consumers now worried about the rise of living costs as they continue to navigate inflation. Affordability is the leading concern for consumer respondents to the 12th edition of the EY Future Consumer Index (FCI) increasing by 10 percentage (to 35%) points since October 2022, with increases in the cost of groceries, energy and fuel areas of significant concerns to consumers.
Colette Devey, EY Ireland Partner and Consumer Products and Retail Lead, says: “This latest edition of the EY’s Future Consumer Index reveals that cost of living and financial and health pressures are taking precedence with consumers, while more altruistic concerns for the planet or society are not being prioritised to the same degree.
“Value for money emerges as the key areas of focus for consumers from the report, something we know is a significant issue of concern here in Ireland also. Consumers across all income bands are more frugal in their spending, with almost two thirds reporting that private label products satisfy their needs just as well as branded products (65%) or can help them save money (63%). While customers continue to focus on value and are cost-conscious, we are also seeing that some groups are continuing to prioritise holidays with almost four in ten (38%) higher income consumers intending to spend more in this area over the coming months.
“The focus on affordability is also helping to drive sustainable behaviours, with large majorities of consumers indicating that they prefer to repair rather than replace items (67%), are recycling or repurposing products after use (79%,) and are switching to sustainable alternatives in the products they purchase (60%).
“We are seeing the prioritisation of affordability and health being reported by consumers irrespective of age, income profile or location, demonstrating that these are wider macro-trends as consumers globally continue to deal with the lingering impact of the pandemic, supply chain disruption and inflationary issues and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.”
Technology is intrinsically part of consumer life
The EY Future Consumer Index reveals almost half (46%) of consumer respondents rely on technology to manage their daily lives. In light of this, it is not surprising then that data theft and security breaches are an issue of concern for a majority of respondents, most notably ID theft (55% very concerned), data/security breaches (53% concerned) or downloading a virus (52%). Consumers are also wary about what it happens to their data, with 53% concerned that companies may sell their personal information to a third party. Somewhat paradoxically, however, they are also willing to share personal data if it provides value for them, with two thirds (66%) willing to exchange their data for personalised recommendations for cheaper alternatives to a product, and six in ten (60%) are willing to share data for a completely customised online experience.
This growing reliance on technology and its outputs and recommendations are also shaping purchase decisions and overall consumption. Across mainstream technologies, the data reveals almost half of consumer respondents (46%) have used online grocery delivery services in the last three months, a 12-percentage point rise since June 2022. Fifty-three percent of respondents have socialised with friends and family over video platforms, a significant 14 percentage point rise since June 2022, and 62% now listen to audio streams, a huge 17 percentage point increase from June 2022. Emerging technologies also saw a sharp uptake, with more than double the number of consumer respondents globally now using virtual multi-user platforms when compared with June 2022.
Colette Devey says: “Consumers have become habitual users of digital technology, becoming incrementally more reliant on it to provide them with ways to make life easier, save money, save time, work from home and reduce their environmental impact. Consumer attitudes toward technology are evolving just as rapidly as the technology itself, as people look for a fair exchange of value. Businesses must foster a relationship with their customers around technology based on trust, respect and value. Failure to do so will damage relationships in the long term.”
Consumers turn away from brands in search of affordability
With today’s economic uncertainties showing slow signs of easing, 92% of respondents are concerned with their country’s economy currently. Consumers are somewhat more positive about the longer term outlook, however, with almost half (48%) expecting to feel more positive in three years’ time.
Consumer respondents are taking action to reduce spending in many areas of their lives, with more than a third (36%) planning to spend less on clothes, 44% expecting to buy less take-away food and nearly half (49%) planning only to spend on essential products. Affording the essentials also remains a challenge for many consumers. More than three quarters (79%) feel prices for food have increased in the past three to four months and 74% have noticed some brands have reduced their pack sizes without reflecting changes in the price, otherwise known as “shrinkflation”
The data indicates brands are no longer the only way to communicate status for the majority of consumers as 62% of respondents globally don’t feel the need to keep up with the latest fashion trends and half would now consider private label for clothing, shoes and accessories. A large proportion (67%) now prefer to repair rather than replace their possessions, challenging the traditional consumer desire of having to always own the latest things. 55% of consumers globally say brands are no longer important and 29% of respondents say that they have switched from brands to private label.
Colette Devey says: “Consumers are remaining frugal and resilient to cope with cost-of-living pressures. They are reporting the value they receive from brands diminishes due to price increases and in some cases shrinkflation. Consumers are responding by switching away from brands, reducing their list of essentials and cancelling subscriptions to maximise budgets. While many Irish households may feel that there are many factors outside their control, they should recognise that there are a number of ways in which they can take control of their spending, including exploring private label offerings, seeking to take advantage of on-the-floor and at-the-till discounts and to shop around and across channels for the best value.”
Swappie, Europe’s leading online destination for buying and selling refurbished iPhones, has announced today a new addition to its professionally refurbished offer: The Premium Series. As its first ever premium product, this new line closes the gap in the current market by bringing a first class refurbished smartphone experience to everyone, making it easier than ever for consumers to do the right thing for the planet.
The Premium Series, which collects devices that are cosmetically flawless, fully functional with 100% capacity battery, will be available in all countries Swappie operates in from today. The highlight of Swappie’s Premium Series is its carbon footprint which, like the other refurbished devices offered by Swappie, generates 78% less emissions than a new smartphone, meaning that from today consumers can own an even more perfect version of technology without contributing to the vast amount of e-waste generated as a result of smartphone production.
“We’ve always made it imperative to listen to our customers, and over the years with this approach and through constant improvements in our offering we’ve gotten closer to them and made refurbished electronics a little bit more mainstream. But we knew this wasn’t enough, that there was a group of consumers who would only choose refurbished if the phone had pristine aesthetic conditions or a battery with full capacity. Even guided by the wish of doing the right thing for the planet, the lack of this solution stopped them from making this choice. That’s why we’re bringing Swappie’s Premium Series to the market, because it represents a class above new which will make it easier for discerning consumers to incorporate the circular economy into their everyday lives’ comments Casper Andersen, Premium Series Lead at Swappie.
A recent survey commissioned by Swappie and conducted by market research company Kantar shed light on the reasons why some people are still buying a new smartphone over a refurbished one with over a third of consumers (34%) citing battery health, followed by the functional quality of a new phone (28%) and lack of signs of wear (20%). Swappie’s refurbished Premium Series addresses directly these concerns as it is essentially new, offering 100% capacity battery, no sign of wear, full operational capacity and, as with all Swappie iPhones sold, it comes with a 12-month Swappie warranty. Additionally, the Premium Series produces a fraction of the e-waste traditionally associated with a new smartphone, so it is also a better choice for the planet.
Swappie CEO and co-founder Sami Marttinen said ‘We are passionate about creating a world that is more sustainable, ethical, and inclusive. Our customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and we are determined to make using our services as easy and pleasurable as possible. Swappie is in a unique position as all our refurbishment work is done in our own facilities in Europe, we own our own supply chain, and we offer benefits like warranties and returns. At every stage we can ensure best practices are maintained, guaranteeing high-quality products that are fully functional. This is vital in building long-term trust in Swappie. Smartphones don’t have an expiry date and we’re hoping that adding the Premium Series to our beloved product line will help even more consumers feel as comfortable buying a refurbished iPhone as they would a used car.’
‘The manufacture of new smartphones produces over 100 million tonnes of CO2 a year while e-waste is the fastest growing form of waste on the planet. 85-95% of the emissions connected to smartphones are released during manufacture, including the extraction of raw materials, shipping and the first year of life. Earlier this year, Brussels proposed legislation to promote consumers’ right to repair which is a step in the right direction. However, we need to go further to make sure any practices which limit independent repair through processes like serialization, restrictions on the distribution of parts and access to manuals are prohibited. Consumers should be able to seek affordable, quality repair from the provider of their choice and under no circumstances should product functionalities be degraded because repair was done outside of the network of original manufacturers. This is the only way to effectively promote repair over replacement’ commented Jori Ahvonen, CTO at Swappie
Premium Series handsets are limited in number, but the Premium grade is not limited to a specific model. Premium Series is available from today at www.swapppie.com
