After months of the same old walks and being confined to 5km of our homes, it’s time to get out and explore further afield. Now that spring has well and truly sprung and the days are getting longer you can make your daily walk more exciting and rediscover nature in a new way with Google Lens.
Ireland is home to tens of thousands of different species including 400 species of birds, more than 4,000 plant species and 12,000 varieties of insects! With the help of Google Lens and the camera on your phone you can identify every new plant, insect or bird you come across as you explore your county. If you have not used Google Lens yet you should try it, it is pretty handy and works really well.
Spot a beautiful flower while you are out and about? Now you can become the ultimate flower expert by using Google Lens to identify what’s growing in the wild. Why not add a little fun to your walk by challenging yourself to identify as many different species of flowers as you can and once done, move onto plants and insects. You can also ask Google Assistant for handy facts as you go along.
On your phone, open the Google app and in the search bar, tap Google Lens
Point your camera at the flower to identify the plant
Swipe up to learn about the discovery
You can also use the folder of stock images to create your own eye spy checklist, or if feeling creative make your own.
You can use Google Lens from:
Google Photos
Google Assistant on most Android phones
The Google app on Android phones, and Apple phones
New to Ireland? You’re in for a treat. The country has more pubs than people (only a slight exaggeration!), the countryside is absolutely stunning (there’s a reason why Hollywood often chooses the Emerald Isle), and its music scene is known worldwide.
When you’re brand new to the country, it can be a little overwhelming. Sensory overload aplenty. But don’t worry, there’s an app for that. Or a bunch of them, anyway. These are the best mobile apps to download if you’re planning a trip to the Land of Saints and Scholars.
Why Apps Rule in Ireland (Answer: Mobile Penetration)
You may be wondering why we’re going down the app route, why we’re so confident it’s the best way to get embedded in the Irish way of life. The answer is mobile penetration. According to Statista, almost 80% of people in the country use a smartphone.
This means the Irish use apps for everything, whether it’s playing Candy Crush on the commute, regulating the temperature of their homes when they’re not even there, or looking for online casinos that can be played on mobile to indulge in games that are available on mobile phones, like Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack or Baccarat (the luck of the Irish and everything!). With that said, here are our favourite’s.
How to Travel
Ireland has a fantastic public travel system. There are several apps that will help you navigate it:
Dublin Bus. The easiest way to travel through Dublin is by using public transportation, with the bus system being fantastic. This app will tell you where the nearest stop is, in addition to exact bus times tracked by GPS.
Free Now. This is a taxi app for Dublin, perfect for those late nights when you just want to get home ASAP. ‘Nuff said.
Dublin Bikes App. If you’re over 14 years of age, use this app to hire a bike whenever you want. It’s a perfect alternative for your daily commute or a tour around the city.
Lovin.Ie (Foodies Rejoice!)
Anyone who has a smartphone probably has a food app in there somewhere. For Ireland, the Lovin.ie app is the essential tool for foodies. It has so many fantastic restaurants for you to discover and pig out in! Whether you want traditional Irish grub or something that has a little bit of a modern twist, this app will help you find it.
Met Eireann (Irish Weather = Changeable)
You take a look outside in the morning, pure sun. Perfect. Just some jeans and a t-shirt, leave that umbrella at home. Or have you just made a huge mistake? As most Irish people will tell you, the weather can change in an instant. It can look like the perfect summer’s day one minute, and the next it’s like you’re in the middle of a Game of Thrones winter.
Discovering the Capital
Even though it’s a relatively small city, Dublin has a lot to offer. It’s easy to get lost. These apps will help you discover the city:
Dublin Event Guide. Whether it’s music festivals or sporting events, this app will give you a very good overview of what’s happening in Dublin.
Dublin Literary Walking Tour. Ireland has a multitude of literary powerhouses, like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. This app will guide you through their lives in Dublin, taking you right to the heart of their journeys.
Dublin Map and Walks. Only available on iOS, so those of you who are Apple fans, you’re in luck. This app will give you some excellent self-guided walking routes. The ‘Hidden Gems’ section is particularly useful, as it gives you tips for things even locals aren’t aware of!
Huggnote (Show Family You Care, the Irish Way!)
Okay, our last one won’t help you in Ireland necessarily, but it’s a staff favourite with a genuine Irish slant. The last year hasn’t been easy for a lot of us, especially if family members don’t live close by.
To help bring people closer together, Jacqui and Perry Meskell, two sisters from Limerick, invented Huggnote. It’s an app that allows you to send a virtual hug through music, giving a message of love and comfort. Whether it’s a ‘good luck’ before a job interview, or just to say you care, it’s an easy way to make someone’s day. The company also has some great St. Paddy’s Day music as well, ensuring the tracks available don’t lose their Irish origin!
If you are new in Ireland or thinking of heading that way any time soon, these apps really are a nice helping hand and can bright up your time there. Good luck.
Jabra has released a new software update to Elite 85t, available in the Jabra Sound+ app, to enable Alexa as a Voice Assistant at the tap of a button. This means now you have an extra voice assistant which is excellent news for users of this great set of earbuds.
Alexa Built-in
With this update, users will now be able to choose Alexa as their preferred Voice Assistant on both Android and iOS by following these steps in the Sound+
If the Alexa app is not yet downloaded, users will be directed to download it from their app store. Once the app is available, users will be directed through the needed steps to set-up Alexa on their phone. Once Alexa has been chosen as preferred Voice Assistant, users will be able to enjoy more Voice Assistant experiences just by double tapping on their right earbud. This means users have access to Alexa features such as:
Setting up routines (e.g. Alexa, good morning – plays music, turns on the lights)
To provide you with a wide range of gaming options on their websites and download apps, online casinos use several technologically advanced technologies. Every other month, there is advancement in the technology behind online casinos, with more people using the internet on their desktops and mobile devices. Online casinos use active systemically integrated technological advances that now give simplicity and mobility, thanks to outsourcing game production to third-party developers, for example you could visit site. Let’s look at specific areas that this technology is developing to understand things better.
Security There are several ways in which online casinos protect your personal information and funds. You can tell whether an online casino is safe by looking at whether it uses at least two or three of the following security measures. Encryption software – The best data encryption technology is used for the safest online casinos. This ensures that other people cannot read or view details or financial transactions between them and their customers. ID verification – When you sign up for a new casino, it’s becoming more popular to have ID verification in the form of a passport or driver’s license. This safeguards your account, the casino, and your personal information. It also prohibits minors from participating in gambling. End-to-end encryption – Data encryption scrambles data into unbreakable codes that can only be decoded by the intended recipient’s computer or account – similar to end-to-end encryption used by many messaging apps. Two-step verification – When you log in to a casino, many of them now use 2-step authentication, which includes a unique code being sent to your mobile device to confirm you’re the account holder. TLS – TLS is a widely used data encryption protocol. TLS is the same system that all major banks use, so you can rest assured that your money is secure when you play at an online casino that uses TLS.
We can bet anywhere, anytime using our smartphones.
Smartphones Without a doubt, the gambling industry is still growing. It was unthinkable only a few decades ago to play casino games without going to a land casino. With your mobile, you can now bet from anywhere and play roulette, blackjack, or free online slots. People’s perceptions of casino gaming have shifted drastically since the introduction of smartphones. People nowadays prefer the convenience and versatility that mobile casino games provide. Players are increasingly turning to mobile phones because they allow them to play their favorite casino games anywhere, at any time. Mobile gaming sites are more immersive than desktop platforms, and they provide casinos with more long-term value. Although many players prefer to play on their computers, mobile is where the potential growth will be. Investing in the development of the most mobile platforms gives casinos a leg up on their slower rivals. It helps them to place their brand for potential mobile growth. The mobile gaming experience has vastly improved in recent years, with graphics and animations that are now almost indistinguishable from those seen in the best online casinos. Casinos are fully able to reap the benefits of mobile technology by investing in mobile platforms. This did not happen by chance.
Enhanced payment services Technology-enabled payment service providers such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill allow faster and more safe deposits and withdrawals than conventional bank checks or money transfers. With e-wallet providers offering options for cash transfers, whether you have an account with the payment network or not, seamless electronic transactions eliminate P2P collisions. Many online casino sites accept one of several common e-wallets, which can be connected to your bank account or loaded with credit cards. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is the primary technology used by reputable payment providers and banks. It is also used in online casino game applications.
The many advancements in the field of cyber technology have undoubtedly helped online gambling. And it’s mind-boggling to see how far things might go from where we are now. Artificial Intelligence is one of the most critical variables that can help drive things forward in this regard. When one considers the exponential growth afoot in that area, AI has already advanced to the point where it can beat humans simply by knowing the rules of whatever game they’re playing. In the case of online casinos, AI can identify and ban unauthorized sites, track down cheaters, and personalize the user experience. Various gaming software developers use the RNG algorithm to create online casino games like blackjack, Hold’em poker, baccarat, video slots, and roulette. Web-specific technology such as HTML5, Java ME, and JavaScript is then used by casino website applications or downloadable apps, allowing you to win big jackpots. It seems we find something new almost every day within the industry. This is predominantly because the industry is so competitive that developers have to keep coming up with innovative ways to stay ahead. If you want to learn more about the slots RNG and algorithm check the guide on BonusInsider.com.
IG has turned out to be the 6th trendy world platform with 1 billion monthly active users.
According to the statistics, about 60% of IG users look for business profiles to discover new products, while 90% of users follow IG business accounts. It seems that this platform has long been more than just a field of great visual sharing, but a place where you may profit from the most professional and visually aesthetic images.
Of course, it’s not without advertising because 75 percent of users purchase after seeing an advertisement and visiting the company or brand’s website. But advertising has always been and will be a powerful boost to sales, but are there other ways of captivating new customers without spending a dime?
Hashtags, customer integration, advanced search Instagram and other features play no insignificant part in successful business promotion.
Let’s see what opportunities Insta offers to bump up your sales and how to sell on Instagram without spending huge sums to buy views or advertisements (everything has a measure).
7 basic steps to become a marketing guru
Turn into a business account
The first and essential step on the way to sales is to switch to a business profile. The business profile gives you an excellent free opportunity to set up a marketing campaign.
For example, the IG Insights feature provides sufficient, though not complete, analysis for you to determine your Instagram activity’s pace. You can find content statistics, reach, user engagement levels, etc.
The CTA button under your profile description allows other users to get in touch with you via a phone number or email. Add a link to your website/store to make people more aware of your product, and thus audience reach will increase.
How to make a business page:
visit your present IG acc to pick out a “hamburger” icon on the top rights of a profile page;
choose “Settings”> “Switch to business profile” after scrolling down.
Make an advanced search Instagram
Search Instagraminfluencers, potential clients, partners, or like-minders now is easies. IG is a round-the-clock integration that yields excellent results in the form of new interesting people, partners, a new customer base, or simply accounts that will be your constant source of inspiration or business ideas.
There are online advanced search Instagram tools to assist you with your lookup: adjust the filters to hit the target and find an appropriate account!
Make hashtag research
A hashtag seems to be nothing! But it isn’t. Today, relevant hashtags are one of the biggest tricks for attracting an audience interested in your profile.
With modern web-based hashtag generators, you may get the top hashtags according to the keywords you type in. These hot hashtags will help promote your post to the top of IG search and become the navigators that will lead new customers to your profile.
Use IG advertising
You may customize your ads via Insta images/videos/Stories/Explore feature/carousel/collection but don’t forget to research your audience better to decide on the best way to reach them.
Create ads via:
“Promote” button under your IG post;
Using the ad manager on your FB page.
Publish an exciting content
Audiences like constant content updates, especially if we’re talking about accounts, they’re interested in. Feed your target audience with interesting posts, contests, polls in stories, ask their opinion and share incredible secrets from your professional field. Stay in touch with them at all times; that’s what’s important to customers.
Stick to a specific profile design
Insta is where people come for the visual content. The importance of creating visually appealing posts, Stories, etc., for all purposes (to sell or just inspire other users) remains undeniable.
Make sure that you have a central theme for your account designed in a specific color palette. Visually compatible profile posts are important for new users because they will estimate your posts with their eyes first and only then read the basic information (or not, if your profile design is not well thought out at all).
Apply the same filters to all your Insta photos, use the same colour palette, and think about your posts’ layout to give your profile an aesthetic taste.
Use IG Shopping feature
A new Insta Shopping feature made sales even more convenient. That’s because you may now post a product catalog directly on your profile and the checkout feature makes it easier for customers to purchase without leaving Insta. So tag items in a post or Stories to drive more users aware of them.
Anker Innovations, a global leader in mobile charging and consumer electronics, today announces two products under the AnkerWork product line, including the PowerConf C300, Smart AI-enabled HD webcam and the PowerConf S500Portable Conference Speaker.
“For many, working from home has been a dream come true, but it also brings its own unique challenges; distracting pets, family, poor lighting, as well as power and cable management issues, to name a few,” said Steven Yang, Founder and CEO of Anker Innovations. “AnkerWork products have been designed to help address many of these issues, while providing solutions that are portable and can be easily used in the home, the office and on the road.”
PowerConf C300 Smart HD Webcam
The PowerConf C300 is AnkerWork’s first 1080p, Full HD webcam with a built-in AI chipset, that provides a high-quality image with accurate colour reproduction and unparalleled low-light performance. With three field-of-view choices; 78-degrees for close-ups, 90-degrees for a mid-view or 115-degrees for the widest field of view, users can customise the experience that meets their needs – whether showing something on a whiteboard or keeping pets and family out of frame.
The C300’s A.I. also offers smart framing that helps keep an individual or group members cantered on screen – though it will only reframe a subject’s deliberate movements, so they can take a sip of water off camera, without shifting focus. Dual stereo microphones also ensure great sounding audio.
PowerConf S500 Portable Conference Speaker
The PowerConf S500 builds on the success of the original PowerConf products, adding four upgraded microphones featuring Anker’s new proprietary VoiceRadar™ technology. VoiceRadar uses beamforming and enhanced Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to pick up the voice of the person speaking while ignoring surrounding noises to ensure a great sounding experience for all parties.
The S500 can be used with the AnkerWork app (on Android and iOS) which lets users choose one of three pickup patterns for different use case scenarios. These include traditional conference room environments with multiple people, a single person presenting to others as well as using the S500 as a microphone for live streaming.
Additionally, two units can be paired together for larger conference rooms and upgraded 10 watts of power offers great sound for conference calls or for listening to music.
Availability and Pricing:
The PowerConf C300 is available today through Amazon, Anker.com, and select retailers for $129.99 in the US; €129.99 in Germany, and £119.00 in the UK.
The PowerConf S500’s pricing and availability will be announced at a later date. Additional products under the AnkerWork brand will be announced in the coming weeks.
Poly recently announced a new 7300 office series of headsets and now that we are using such technology more than ever it is the perfect time to do so, with Teams and Zoom being more prevalent in the workplace this equipment is at the top of the table when it comes to technology and we are now exploring here on techbuzz a series of equipment you can use at home or in the office and products that cater for all pockets and businesses.
The Savi 7300 Office Series offers Poly’s Acoustic Fence microphone technology so workers will always be heard, but never overheard. Built with the latest DECT™ wireless technology, the Savi 7300 Office Series ensures that even the strictest internal security requirements for wireless headsets are met with ease. The Savi 7300 Office Series is designed to the highest level of DECT™ Security Step C, and is further enhanced with 256-bit AES encryption, the same level of maximum protection used for military communications.
We take a first look today and any questions you have feel free to as as usual whilst we take this one for a test run if you want to see the range of what is on offer head over HERE
If you’re like most employers, you probably got the employee tracking app last year when everyone started working from home. We get it, you were in a completely new place, your entire team was suddenly working remotely, and it wasn’t easy managing everyone’s time and making sure people are staying productive.
And employee tracking software is amazing! It helps quantify and improve productivity, keeps you in the loop on your team’s usual activities, etc.
However, there are some lines you shouldn’t cross when using an employee tracking app.
Let’s see what they are.
Tracking Employees Without Their Knowledge
Monitoring employees’ computers in secret is only okay if you’re suspecting malpractice and you need to catch the perpetrator in the act. In most countries, this is the only time you’re allowed by law to monitor your team’s activities without their knowledge or permission.
However, if you’re using the software so you could improve your business, you should give them a heads up. Depending on where you’re located, you might need to tell your employees a few weeks in advance, or even have them sign consent forms and create policies that exhaustively explain everything about your monitoring practices.
What can happen if you don’t do this? Well, your employees will find out at some point, leaving you open to lawsuits. Not only that, but you can expect that your workers will be outraged, potentially quitting your business and giving it a bad reputation.
Using the Tracking Software Outside of Working Hours
Depending on how you set up your employee tracking app, it might be monitoring your employees since they turn on their work computer until they turn it off. Or, they need to clock in and out. If you’re using the second option, you can move to our next tip. If you belong to the first group, keep reading.
There’s no scenario in which it is good to collect employees’ private data, even if they’re doing private things on their work computers. So, if you have an option to make the tracker active only during specific hours – use it. It will automatically start at 9 AM and turn off at 5 o’clock. This way, you’ll avoid potentially catching their Facebook newsfeed, private emails, or whatever else they decide to check after hours.
The same goes for tracking during breaks – your employees should have an option to pause the tracking when they go on a break.
Collecting Private Data
As we said, collecting private data isn’t okay in any case. But, how can you prevent this if your employee decides to scroll through social media or pay some bills during working hours? Well, it depends on the employee tracking app you’re using.
Ideally, you should have the option to either turn off tracking or turn off screenshots (if this feature is on in other cases) when your employees are browsing through the aforementioned websites. You’ll still probably want to know that they’ve spent some time on social media, but you don’t need to see what they were doing there.
Not Using the Data for Improvement
Collecting the data about employees’ everyday activities just for the sake of monitoring doesn’t make much sense. It’s a waste of time, money, and other resources. The reason why you implemented such software should be connected to your business goals, or to the improvement paths you’re creating for your teams or individuals.
Don’t go around “catching” employees who slack off for short time periods. Track their behavior on a weekly or monthly level, and see how that “slacking” affects their overall workload or deliverables. If they’re doing a good job – you don’t have to give them a lecture on how they use their time.
On the other hand, if you do see that such behaviour affects your worker’s performance – talk to them. Tell them that you’ve been reviewing their data, and how it doesn’t look so good. Work with them to find the cause of this issue, as well as the potential solutions.
Wrapping Up
It’s not that hard to use employee tracking software “the right way”. Essentially, all you have to do is avoid being a snooping micromanager and you should be good to go.
Nokia has announced a new line up of phones and also given the naming scheme an overhaul which was long overdue and lets be honest it got confusing over time, The Nokia X20, Nokia X10, Nokia G20, Nokia G10 an Nokia C20 that have been streamlined into three distinct lines.
Top of the range Nokia X-series, intermediate G-series and entry-level C-series all deliver the quality experience that consumers have come to expect from the European mobile company. Products that are built to last inside and out thanks to industry-leading security, superior durability, and the promise to provide the latest software, so you can keep your phone for longer.
Florian Seiche, CEO, HMD Global:“Today is more momentous than a regular product launch. The past 12 months have no doubt been challenging, yet they also gave us a moment to pause, think and prepare for the next big step in our start-up journey. As a Finnish company, our approach to technology and business is human-first and that is reflected in this new smartphone range. We want people love their phones. The launch of HMD Mobile – a milestone in our journey to a holistic provider of all things mobile – amplifies this, and it is only the beginning. We want you to trust that we put security at the heart of everything we do – Nokia smartphones come with security and software updates for extra piece of mind. And we want people to keep their phones for longer, thanks to our signature durability.”
Stephen Taylor, CMO, HMD Global:“For our team, innovative thinking is about unlocking high-value experiences to those who may have not had access to them before. Millions of people rely on a Nokia device for their everyday needs, from basic connectivity, to payments and creativity. We care about people trusting their phone. That’s why our industry-leading security offering runs across the new X, G and C ranges – everyone deserves to feel safe. We care about people keeping their phone for longer. These products are built to last inside and out, thanks to our upgrade promises and superior durability. And we want people to continue to love their phone. The X-series allows us to offer the benefits of our high-end partnerships with Qualcomm and ZEISS Optics. Finding that perfect balance between specs and affordability is what the G-series is all about. The C-series, meanwhile, thrives on delivering ultra-high value tech to the smartphone market. I’m proud of the niche we’ve carved within this extremely competitive market.”
X-series launches with Nokia X20 and Nokia X10
Sitting proudly at the top of the new portfolio are the Nokia X20 and Nokia X10. Pushing the boundaries of the mid-range, these smartphones provide experiences and quality far above their price tag. Both powered by the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 480 5G Mobile Platform which delivers series-defying performance and truly global 5G.[2] Nokia phones are built to last the test of life with durability and longevity at their core. This signature hardware durability is matched with three years of security and software updates, designed to encourage sustainable consumption, extend product lifecycle and reduce e-waste.
Ruben Lehmann, Vice President of Europe, HMD Global:
“All Nokia phones are put through a tremendous amount of durability tests. So, by the time they are available to purchase, we are fully confident that our fans can trust them to work smoothly in their hands for years.
We understand that there is more that can be done to tackle these issues, which is why we are constantly working to develop our offering and continue building on these initial steps. After all, according to the Environmental European Bureau, if everyone in Europe used their smartphones for just one more year, by 2030, we could save as much carbon as taking two million cars off the road.”
Presented on the clean AndroidTM One interface, these handsets come with Android 11 straight out of the box. Renowned ZEISS Optics and innovative AI solutions are at the heart of the impressively versatile imaging options. With a wide 6.67” Full HD+ punch-hole display, all of your content will be delivered on a crisp, eye-catching screen.
Nokia X20 and Nokia X10 also come with an extended three-year warranty (which exceeds the industry standard) and a 100% compostable case in the sales box – designed to be tough on the ground but soft on the earth, helping X-series go the distance
The wall charger and headphones have been removed from the sales boxes, helping to tackle the 12,000 tonnes of e-waste generated by mobile phone chargers in the EU. If needed, wall chargers can be purchased from Nokia.com. The money raised will be donated to CLEAR RIVERS, a charity that works to clear plastic waste out of International waterways.
The Nokia X20 comes with an impressive 32MP front camera and 64MP quad camera on the rear. The all-new Dual Sight feature will activate two cameras simultaneously so you can capture multiple sides or multiple angles of the story. Then, enhance it further with a host of watermarking options.
Bringing exceptional value to the range, the Nokia X10 will please those with sub-€300 budgets. The 48MP quad-camera with Cinematic capture, is complemented with a full suite of pro editing tools, so you can personalise, style and share stand-out content that inspires others.
G-series launches with Nokia G20 and Nokia G10
The G-series represents the perfect balance of delivering on all your daily needs through straightforward problem-solving technology. Featuring on both phones in the G range is the three-day battery life[6] – the longest yet on a Nokia smartphone. The Nokia G20 is supported by the signature Android promise available on Nokia smartphones. That’s three years of monthly security updates to help keep your data as secure as possible and two years of OS updates. The first members join the G-series with signature longevity, improved security thanks to face and side fingerprint unlock and an impressive 6.5” teardrop display with a handy brightness boost.
The Nokia G20 is an on-the-go creative studio that fits in the palm of your hand. With a stunning 48MP camera, ample storage and immersive OZO surround audio, you can capture then relive your memorable moments in all their glory.
Nokia G10 has a triple rear camera and advanced imaging with AI-enhanced shooting modes, so your memories are perfectly preserved even from tricky low-light settings.
C-series adds Nokia C20
Bringing amazing value, the C-series makes high-quality smartphone technology accessible to everyone. The latest additions to the popular range bring forward much-loved features like the wide 6.5” HD+ display, at amazing price points. With Android 11TM (Go edition), adding up to 20% faster speeds, and improved security features, as well as Nokia smartphone durability with quarterly security updates for two years.
The Nokia C20 is an ultra-high value smartphone that comes with standout features that include the front and rear LED flash to capture those special moments even in low-light.
Pricing and availability
The Nokia X20 will be available in Ireland starting mid May in Midnight Sun and Nordic Blue colour options, and comes in 6/128GB and 8/128GB configurations. Available from Nokia.com and Harvey Norman, from €349 sim free
The Nokia X10 will be available in Ireland in June in Forest, and comes in 6/64GB configuration. Available from Nokia.com and Harvey Norman from €299
The Nokia G20 will be available in Ireland starting in June in Night, and comes in 4/64GB Available from Tesco and Eir, from €149
The Nokia G10 will be available in Ireland in June, in Night and Dusk colour options and comes in 3/32GB configuration. Available on Nokia.com from €119
The Nokia C20 will be available in Ireland in June in Sand and Dark Blue in 1/16GB. Available on Nokia.com from €89
