Digital map charts 1,800 Culture Night events across Ireland

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that The Arts Council has used Esri’s technology to create a digital map of events happening around Ireland for Culture Night 2025 – which falls tonight, Friday 19th September.

The interactive, easy-to-use map will chart your cultural course and help you to navigate over 1,800 free events taking place across the island of Ireland. From music, theatre, and comedy to poetry readings, walking tours, and puppet workshops, there is something for all ages and interests on the 2025 programme.

The Arts Council has created a digital map of events happening around Ireland for Culture Night 2025 using Esri’s technology

The Culture Night digital map allows you to search for events by county, location, venue, and event name. It also allows you to search by start time, age suitability, and accessibility.

The event’s 20th edition, Culture Night celebrates the richness and diversity of culture in Ireland today.

Tune Into Nostalgia: Skullcandy Meet the World of Peanuts

Skullcandy have been quite of late and now they finally came out with something new for fans  to take a look at, known for great partnerships over the last few years they have launched a new pair of earbuds and turn up the volume on nostalgia with a playful new collaboration celebrating 75 years of Peanuts — the timeless cultural classic of friendship and fun.

Available in four colours and featuring Snoopy, Woodstock, and the gang, the limited-edition collection combines Skullcandy’s much loved Dime Evo earbuds with the lighthearted spirit of Charles Schulz’s beloved characters. Just like Snoopy dancing in his doghouse, these headphones bring together joy, imagination, and world-class audio making then the perfect gift just in time for the Christmas season!

They are now live here on HMV and on Skullcandy’s website from 23rd September and are £49.99.

 

See our Skullcandy Reviews

Innergie C10 100W Duo Charger and World Travel Kit Review

The Innergie C10 100W Duo Charger and World Travel Plug Kit is an ideal kit for those who travel home or abroad, consisting of  twin pack one being the C100W duo fast charger and world travel kit it will easily fit into any tech or travel bag.

Being USB-C is also ideal for me as I have only now USB-C products all round making life easy on the go or travelling at home this makes life easy and also means less cables.

Being a fast charger offering a 100W again speeds things up but this has 3 fast charge modes so if you have multiple devices even better which is always the case with me.

The swap out plugs are a gift meaning you can just bring what you need on the go and job done you do not need to bring the entire pack but this also gives you options with travel as you can plan what ad-on you need and pack accordingly, overall an ideal well made decent looking kit..

The Innergie C10 Duo is designed to streamline your charging needs without compromising on speed or convenience. It’s truly a versatile solution for modern tech users.

 

Key features include:

  • 100W total output: Fast charge two devices simultaneously, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • 3 Fast Charge Modes to adjust power being used to charge devices: 1) Ultra fast mode – full speed, fast charge. 2) Mix and match mode – higher power for the device that needs it more and 3) Equal charging mode – charge devices equally
  • USB-C compatibility: Ensures the latest, most efficient charging standards.
  • Safety and reliability: Built-in protection against overvoltage, overheating, and short circuits.
  • GaN: Equipped with the latest GaN component
  • MRSP $89.99. https://myinnergie.com/us/product/c10-duo-100w-usbc-power-adapter-fold/. This is available on Amazon also

 

https://myinnergie.com/us/product/world-travel-plug-kit/

See more travel charger reviews

Video Review

Garmin adds AMOLED displays to its Instinct Crossover hybrid smartwatches

Garmin has announced Instinct® Crossover AMOLED, its newest lineup of hybrid smartwatches designed to offer superior readability and timeless style in even the toughest conditions. Featuring mechanical watch hands, the vivid AMOLED display showcases 24/7 health and wellness data, activities and more in stunning detail. Meanwhile, the watch’s built-in LED flashlight provides greater visibility in dark environments. And with incredible battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and 18 days in battery saver mode, users can do more while charging less. 

“From a day on the hiking trail to a night on the town, Instinct Crossover AMOLED offers the best of both worlds. With traditional analogue hands highlighted on an even brighter display, adventurers can achieve a sophisticated look without sacrificing the durability they need when pursuing their passions.” –Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing 

Bigger and brighter

Instinct Crossover AMOLED combines the classic look of an analogue watch with a brilliant, colourful display, all protected by a new scratch-resistant sapphire lens. The watch hands will dynamically move away, making it easier to see data, health stats, smart notifications and more, while the Super-LumiNova® coating ensures users can see the time, even in the dark. 

Built for adventure

 

    • Get better visibility in the great outdoors or at home with the built-in dimmable LED flashlight.
  • RevoDrive™ technology ensures the time stays accurate by automatically detecting and recalibrating misaligned hands in case of impact during an adventure. 
  • The watch is built to MIL-STD-810 for thermal and shock resistance and includes a dual-layered metal bezel, making it strong enough to endure the toughest adventures.
  • With the ability to track in challenging conditions, users can navigate confidently thanks to multi-band GPS with SatIQ™ technology.
  • Prepare for the next adventure with the new lifestyle logging feature in the Garmin Connect™ app, showing users how lifestyle choices like caffeine and alcohol consumption impact their sleep, stress and HRV1.

 

VIDEO: See how form and function work together on Instinct Crossover AMOLED

Tactical edition

For those seeking a smartwatch that’s mission-ready, the Instinct Crossover AMOLED – Tactical Edition offers a variety of tactical-specific features, including an applied ballistics solver, stealth mode and night vision goggle compatibility.
Available now, Instinct Crossover AMOLED has a suggested retail price of £519.99 (€599.99 in Ireland) and comes in two colourways – charcoal and bronze/sunburst. Instinct Crossover AMOLED – Tactical Edition is available for £599.99 and comes in black. Visit garmin.com to learn more about the full collection of health, wellness, navigation and connected features available on Instinct Crossover AMOLED. 

See our smartwatch reviews 

Garmin announces Bounce 2 Kids smartwatch

Garmin has announced Bounce™ 2, its reimagined smartwatch for kids with LTE connectivity1 that makes staying in touch even easier. Bounce 2 allows parents and caregivers to talk to and locate their child thanks to two-way calling, text messaging and real-time location tracking. Featuring a bright, colourful display, kids can also use the smartwatch to track their activities, play fun games, listen to Amazon Music2 and more.

“We are thrilled to introduce Bounce 2, a smartwatch for kids offering the perfect solution for families facing the decision to give their child a smartphone. The watch’s transformed design has a stylish look kids will want to wear, while the connectivity features give parents peace of mind knowing where their kids are 24/7.” 

–Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

Connectivity features parents will love

When using the Garmin Jr.™ app on a compatible smartphone, parents and parent-approved contacts can communicate with and keep track of their child. 

 

    • Two-way calling and voice messaging: With the built-in speaker and microphone, kids can call their parents and send voice messages directly from their watch. From the app, parents can answer or call their child’s Bounce 2.
    • Text messaging: Parents can send text messages to their child’s Bounce 2; kids can respond or create their own messages using a full keyboard directly on the watch.
    • Voice message transcriptions: While in a work meeting or in an area where listening isn’t possible, read transcriptions of voice messages sent from the watch.
  • Real-time location tracking: Whether it’s a trip to the park or visiting a friend’s house, parents can see their child’s location in real-time and be notified when they enter or leave a parent-defined area with new temporary geofencing. 

Fun features for kids

  • Built-in sports apps: Kids can track a variety of activities like running, walking, bicycling, pickleball, jump roping, team sports and more. 
  • Immersive designs: Enjoy on-screen animations, watch faces and colour themes. 
  • Amazon Music: Download songs from Amazon Music directly to the watch (Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription required) to listen to tunes out loud on the watch or through compatible headphones. 
  • Voice commands: Phrases like “call mum”, “start a timer” and more can be activated right from the watch.

Kid-friendly design

Built for all-day play, Bounce 2 features a round, vivid 1.2-inch AMOLED display, giving the watch a sleek look, while the swim-friendly design provides protection during all kinds of activities. And with two side buttons and a touchscreen, it’s easy for kids to navigate between screens and type out text messages on their watch. 

Available now, Bounce 2 offers up to 2 days of battery life3 and has a suggested retail price of £259.99/€299.99.  It comes in three colour options, including light purple, turquoise and slate grey. Kids smartwatch plans are managed by Garmin and are available for £9.99/€10.99 per month. To learn more about the suite of fitness, wellness and activity features available on Bounce 2, click here. 

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised the health and wellness industry. Committed to developing smartwatches and health measurement tools that help people of all activity levels lead healthier lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.

See our smartwatch reviews 

Amazon’s Alexa now uses Irish ‘sayings’ with the help of Aisling Bea

Amazon today announced that Alexa has had a crash course on Irish vernacular, courtesy of comedian and bona fide Irish national treasure, Aisling Bea.

From today, customers can simply ask: “Alexa, teach me some ‘Irish’ sayings?” to be treated to Ireland’s best-loved expressions and their full definitions, read back to them in the dulcet tones of Alexa’s Irish accent.

The new Alexa update factors in Ireland’s top 20 most popular expressions, all of which have been identified by new research conducted by Amazon amongst Irish people, and topping the list is the understated yet all-purpose “It’s grand”, followed closely by “What’s the craic?” and the ever-polite “Thanks a mill”.

To make sure Alexa truly understands Ireland’s most beloved vernacular, Aisling Bea has been flat out teaching Amazon’s voice assistant the ins and outs of the top 20 expressions and has starred in a hilarious new film set in the heart of Dingle, County Kerry (available to watch here).

The update comes as new research suggests that being up to scratch on local chat is an essential part of Ireland’s cultural fabric, as findings reveal that nearly four out of five (78.7%) people in Ireland use Irish expressions daily, while a massive 95% believe it’s an important part of their identity.

Research has also shown that almost 8 in 10 (78%) believe it would be handy if Alexa could explain Irish sayings… and it’s no surprise, as nearly two thirds (63%) say they often find their Irish vocabulary isn’t understood outside of Ireland.

Aisling Bea said: “Our pal Alexa now understands what the craic is, and I am delighted to have helped teach Alexa how to be more than a bit sound.”

Meryem Tom, Alexa Director UK and Ireland, also said: “Irish sayings are iconic, and it’s part of what makes Irish culture instantly recognisable around the world. Now Alexa can join in too, responding with everything from a casual ‘It’s grand’ to a charming ‘Sláinte’. Language is at the heart of how people connect with Alexa, and we hope customers enjoy discovering or reconnecting with these expressions.”

Whether you’re asking “How’s things?”, calling someone an “Eejit” (with affection, of course), or announcing “The craic was 90” after a great night out, Alexa is now ready to join the conversation like a true Irish local.

The top 20 most popular Irish words and phrases according to Amazon’s research can be found below, all of which are featured in Alexa’s latest update:

  1. It’s grand

  2. What’s the craic?

  3. Ah sure, it’ll be grand

  4. Thanks a mill (million)

  5. What’s the story

  6. Fair play to ye

  7. Sound

  8. Eejit

  9. How’s things

  10. You know yerself

  11. That’s gas

  12. Sláinte

  13. Yer man

  14. C’mere to me

  15. Who’s yer man / yer woman

  16. Adding “ah” before a sentence

  17. Giving out

  18. Flat out

  19. The craic was 90

  20. Good man yerself

To try it out, simply ask Alexa “Alexa, teach me some ‘Irish’ sayings”

Garmin announces the venu 4 smartwatch

Garmin has announced Venu® 4, the latest smartwatch in the award-winning Venu lineup with innovative new health, fitness and accessibility features. To help users understand their body better and make healthier decisions, Venu 4 lets them track their health trends and log lifestyle changes to see how their choices affect their overall well-being. It also features a stylish metal design, built-in speaker and mic and a bright LED flashlight that provides greater awareness in dark environments. And with up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, users don’t have to charge their watch every night, making it easier to monitor health metrics 24/7 and receive a more holistic view of their sleep, heart rate variability (HRV), Body Battery™ energy monitoring, and more.

“We designed Venu 4 to be a personal on-wrist fitness and wellness coach. This premium smartwatch helps users learn even more about their body, provides data-driven insights into how their choices are affecting their health and holds them accountable so they can reach their goals with greater ease.”

—Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

What’s new

Health

 

    • Health status: See whether health metrics like heart rate, HRV, respiration, skin temperature1 and Pulse Ox2 while sleeping are trending away from their usual range. These changes could indicate added stress to the body and could be related to physical activity, potential illness and more. This feature is currently available in beta3 on the watch and in Garmin Connect™.
  • Lifestyle logging: Log custom or preset behaviours – like caffeine and alcohol consumption – and view reports on how those lifestyle choices impact sleep, stress and HRV in the Garmin Connect app.
  • Advanced sleep metrics: Sleep alignment provides even more personalised sleep guidance by keeping track of how aligned the body is to its inner sleep cycle using circadian rhythm. Sleep consistency provides a look at the average bedtime over the past seven days.

Fitness

The new Garmin Fitness Coach provides personalised workouts for over 25 different fitness activities – from walking and indoor cycling to rowing, HIIT and more. These heart rate and duration-based workouts will adjust daily based on activity history, sleep and recovery. Users can set up a Garmin Fitness Coach plan to receive tailored workouts and track their progress in the Garmin Connect app. If users don’t set up a plan, they will still get daily suggested workouts for different fitness activities. For those doing several activities in one workout, the mixed session activity profile tracks multiple activities in one session rather than saving separate activities. 

Accessibility

 

  • Spoken watch face: Hear time of day, health data and more spoken directly from the watch and receive alerts at the top of every hour. 
  • Colour filter: Users with various forms of colour blindness can choose different colour display options – including grey scale, red/green, green/red or blue/yellow.

Stylish design, premium features

Featuring a sophisticated metal design, Venu 4 is available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and comes in fun colourways – like lunar gold and light sand or silver and citron – with leather or silicone bands that can easily be swapped out. Both sizes feature a built-in LED flashlight for greater visibility in the dark, plus a speaker and microphone to make and take calls from the watch when it’s paired with a compatible iPhone® or Android™ smartphone and use the phone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages. Certain voice commands, like “start a running activity” and “set timer for 5 minutes” can also be activated right from the watch—no phone connected required.

To support every goal, Venu 4 includes Garmin’s suite of health, fitness and connected features, including HRV status, Body Battery, women’s health tracking (including skin temperature for past ovulation estimates and improved period predictions)4, the Garmin ECG App5, workout benefit and recovery time, training readiness, wrist-based running dynamics, smart notifications, onboard music storage, Garmin Pay™, safety and tracking features and more. To learn more, visit www.garmin.com. 

Available to purchase starting September 22, 2025, Venu 4 has a suggested retail price starting at £469.99 / €549.99 (IRE).

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised the health and wellness industry. Committed to developing smartwatches and health measurement tools that help people of all activity levels lead healthier lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.

See our smartwatch reviews

XBOTGO Chameleon AI Sports Cameraman Review

The XbotGo Chameleon is an AI-powered camera mount designed to act as a “cameraman” for sports filming with a 120 degree lens with AI built in.It comes with a high quality tripod which you can attach and it and then uses its own built-in AI camera to track and follow the action on the field or cout like football basketball and tennis etc. This is targeted at parents, coaches, and athletes who want to record games or practices without having to manually operate the camera however you get a remote control with it which is nice. The XbotGo also has live streaming which can allow you to let the camera work by itself should you need to be in a sport and not able to manage the camera

The build quality is excellent here and it had many asking me what it was when it was even just sitting in my house waiting to take it out due to the colour of it and even more impressed when I turned it on and they seen the breathing lights on the side making it stand out even more and great for night shoots.

The XbotGo Chameleon is easy and fast to set up at any game with no calibration required there is a 720p HD 1080p and up to 4K 60fps  in some sports there is a variety of settings in the app to go through you can also mount your phone in the device itself if you wish and again use the remote control which also allows you to make a point of refrence while in use in your video and you can then look back which is great. You can then also edit videos later on in app download or share if you want to go live you can also do which is a great feature.

Overall if you need you hands free and want a tool to do the job for you this is it but you yourself can be in control if needed the footage and audio is great and clear and it is also a grea talking point for anyone curious about the product which i encountered.

XbotGo App

Features

  • Advanced AI Team Tracking: Never miss a single play with AI-Powered Auto-Tracking that intelligently follows entire teams in real-time. Perfect for fast-paced sports like basketball and soccer, it eliminates motion blur while capturing multiple players simultaneously—ideal for analyzing team dynamics or documenting every moment of intense gameplay.
  • Multi-Sport Versatility (Team & Solo): One auto tracking sports camera, endless possibilities! Effortlessly switch between soccer, basketball, tennis, badminton, and more. Whether filming group drills or solo performances, the XbotGo Chameleon adapts to any sport with precision. Capture wide-angle action in any setting—from crowded fields to individual training sessions.
  • Go Live Instantly Across Every Platform: Capture every detail in stunning 4K Ultra HD at 60FPS with a 120° wide-angle lens and image stabilization. Enjoy up to 8 hours of uninterrupted recording and live stream your games seamlessly to YouTube,, Facebook, TikTok, or any RTMP in crystal-clear quality.
  • Capture Freely, Pay Nothing Extra: Easily capture key moments using the Bluetooth remote or Apple Watch, and create highlight reels with a single tap. Stay on top of the action with the live scoreboard feature, keeping track of scores in real time. Enjoy 20GB of free cloud storage to securely save your footage, free up your phone’s memory, and access your videos anytime, no subscriptions fee.
  • Built to Endure, Designed to Move: Engineered for durability, this camera remains reliable during intense sports activities while being lightweight and portable for easy setup and transport.

BUY

XBOTGO AI Tracking sports gimbal review

Video Review

Niryo reveals Nate, A robotic platform making industrial automation more accessible

French industrial company Niryo announces the launch of Nate, its new robotic platform designed to accelerate automation in industry.

With 3,500 robots deployed in over 70 countries, Niryo has established itself as a key player in the field of robotics. Building on this experience, the company is now accelerating the development of accessible, high-performance solutions for industry, with a clear ambition: to make cutting-edge robotics accessible to companies of all sizes.

With Nate, Niryo offers a concrete alternative to the complexity and high cost of current solutions, providing advanced technology that is easy to integrate and accessible to a wider range of businesses. Niryo robots are already being used by leading companies such as Coca-Cola, Siemens and ArianeGroup.

A technology platform built for industry

Nate is a modular platform that brings together all the building blocks needed to quickly design and deploy industrial robotic solutions: robotic arms, application software, AI modules, smart components and integration tools.

This genuine technological ecosystem enables the development of robust solutions that are quick to configure, easy to integrate and scalable, based on real industrial use cases.

One of Nate’s key strengths lies in its accessibility. By combining advanced technologies with the right level of performance, Nate can precisely meet the needs of manufacturers without unnecessary oversizing.

The result ? Optimised costs, rapid implementation and accelerated return on investment.

« We are proud to reveal this new technology platform, the result of several years of work. With Nate, we want to remove the traditional barriers to industrial automation and offer cutting-edge technology that is simple and quick to deploy. Nate is also part of a broader vision: using AI and innovation to support reindustrialization and help build technological independence across our regions. »

— Marc-Henri Frouin, Founder and CEO of Niryo

A first building block revealed at SIDO 2025

SIDO Lyon 2025 will mark the official launch of the Nate platform, with an exclusive preview of its new motorised actuators – the first technological building block to be brought to market.

The first components of the Nate platform, Niryo motorised actuators combine precision, robustness and embedded intelligence and will be available from September 2025. Thanks to their modularity and competitive pricing, these actuators can be used in a wide range of applications : robotic arms, humanoid robots, SCARA robots, industrial automation and R&D engineering.

A vision for European industrial sovereignty

With Nate, Niryo reaffirms its commitment to building a sovereign, competitive and accessible European industrial robotics.

Designed and manufactured in France with the support of the France 2030 investment plan, the platform helps tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the industrial sector:
– Retaining production capabilities in local regions
– improving the competitiveness of European industries,
– and elevating industrial professions towards greater expertise and autonomy.

The first robotic arm in the Nate product line will be available from March 2026, marking the start of the rollout of this new generation of robotic solutions designed for industry.

 

About Niryo
Founded in 2017 by Marc-Henri Frouin, Niryo is a French manufacturer of robotic solutions based in the North of France. With 3,500 robots deployed in more than 70 countries, Niryo has established itself as a leading player in robotics.

The company designs robotic arms and automation cells combining robotic arms, software and integration to support professionals and manufacturers who want to efficiently automate repetitive tasks with flexible, accessible and easy-to-deploy solutions.

With a team of 50 employees and a fully integrated value chain, Niryo offers modular, usage-oriented robotics that makes automation accessible to businesses of all sizes.

For more information, visit https://niryo.com/nate or follow Niryo on social media.