Google.org provides funding to three Irish NGOs to support jobs and upskilling.

Three Irish NGOs that support small businesses, job seekers and skills training will receive a share of €500,000 funding from Google.org to help them respond to the repercussions of the pandemic. The funding from the philanthropic arm of Google is the second tranche of the €1 million grant funding announced in April.

The funding was dedicated in two tranches, the first of which was provided to help NGOs and non-profits providing vital services to the most vulnerable in our communities during the initial Covid crisis, followed by a second tranche dedicated to economic recovery.

This second tranche of grants will be shared among NGOs that focus on upskilling, mentoring and supporting job seekers to help them gain the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need for roles in the tech sector. The projects to be funded by each of the grantees are:

 

  • Jobcare delivers virtual, 7-week training programmes to jobseekers in Dublin. Its goal is to support 500 participants and to help with this, they’re building a new platform for participants to use which will help them engage with the course material, other participants, and the trainers.

 

  • Ringsend Community Services Forum (RCSF) provides mentorship, job training, and train-the-trainer programmes to 50 community leaders in Ringsend and Pearse Street. This will provide an opportunity for each of the leaders to deliver training to their own target groups. In partnership with St. Andrew’s and The Anchorage Project key support in digital skills and employment opportunities will be provided to jobseekers in the wider communities of Pearse street and Ringsend.

  • INCO provides virtual job and skills training to young people (18-35) who have been economically impacted by COVID-19, primarily in Cork, Galway, and Waterford (achieved through working with local partners). INCO focuses on developing tech skills amongst this group with a view to young people gaining vital experience that will help them get full time roles in the tech sector.

 

Nick Leeder, Head of Google in Ireland said, “When we announced this funding back in April, we wanted to ensure that the second tranche would be dedicated to organisations that are providing support to job seekers and people needing to upskill from different backgrounds and locations around the country. Jobcare, INCO and RCSF provide these vital services that must not only continue amid the pandemic and public health guidelines, but must also continue to adapt their services to meet evolving challenges. It’s also very important to us that we continue to support our neighbours in Ringsend and the surrounding areas as they navigate this extremely difficult time.

 

Paul Mooney, Founder of Jobcare, one of the grantees to receive funding from Google.org said, “We are working tirelessly to support jobseekers, now including those who have unfortunately been economically impacted by COVID-19. It’s crucial that we continue our services during this extraordinarily difficult time, and the Google.org grant will help us expand our reach and adapt our platforms so that we continue to provide vital support.”

 

The first tranche of the €1 million euro funding was shared among NGOs that address different aspects of the crisis in communities across Ireland, including FoodCloud, ALONE, A Lust for Life and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, in addition to Google’s local community in Ringsend and Pearse Street.

Worms Rumble ‘incoming’ to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on PlayStation Plus next week

Team17 and Sony Interactive Entertainment are today announcing that Worms Rumble, the latest instalment in the long-running and award-winning Worms franchise, will be free on PlayStation Plus during December on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The news means that in just one week, players across both PlayStation platforms will be able to fight it out across the game’s urban arenas alongside – and against – those on Steam in up to 32-player, real-time action, thanks to its crossplay functionality.

 

Plus, there’s a new PlayStation trailer right here:

 

 

 

There’s still time for Steam players to take advantage of preordering Worms Rumble, and gain access to the ‘New Challenger’ content pack, featuring exclusive cosmetic items: the ‘New Challenger’ Outfit; Worms Rumble beanie; Worms Rumble baseball bat skin; Purple Worm Skin; Worms Rumble Banner; and the ‘New Challenger’ title. Two additional cosmetic packs, the Action All-Stars Pack# and Legends Pack#, provide additional customisation options for players and are available to preorder ahead of launch; the Legends Pack is included in the Worms Rumble Digital Deluxe Version.

Worms Rumble Key Features:

  • Real-time, frantic, 32-player action: Worms Rumble makes history as the first game in the series’ 25-year history to introduce real-time strategic combat and object destruction
  • Get more targets with crossplay matchmaking: Whether on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, or PC players can battle against players from all other platforms
  • Make your Worm its own: No Worms game would be complete without cosmetics and personalisation, ranging from outfits and hats to skins for your Worm and weapons they wield
  • Lock and load your arsenal: Crates across the maps contain a host of weapons and items, including fan favourites like the Sheep Launcher, Holy Hand Grenade, and Grapple Gun.

 

The Action All-Stars Pack is available on Steam for £3.99/$4.99/€4.99, while the Legends Pack is £6.99/$7.99/€7.99. The standard edition of Worms Rumble is now available to preorder on Steam and the Team17 Store for £10.99/$14.99/€14.99; Worms Rumble Digital Deluxe Version, which includes the Legends Pack, is available to preorder £16.99/$21.99/€21.99.

PowerA FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 Now Available. #PS4 #Gaming #Tech

PowerA – a leader in enhancing interactive entertainment with officially licensed gaming accessories – is excited to announce that the FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 is now available. This officially licensed controller is designed from the ground up to keep up with the play demands of the modern gamer and is available at retailers for £99.99.

Play Like A Pro

The FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 features a mappable Pro Pack on the back that gives players the ability to assign button actions on-the-fly to the four removable paddles. In the heat of gameplay, being able to quickly access programmable commands without losing control of the thumbsticks can determine the difference between winning and losing. The FUSION Pro empowers players to Play Their Way with swappable analog sticks, anti-friction rings, and even a racing clip for masterful control in high-speed gameplay moments.

Style and Substance

The gamepad is designed with ergonomics in mind with ALPS analog thumbsticks giving players firm control over their game and the option to switch from short to tall sticks. The soft-grip front and rubberized rear grips makes the FUSION Pro a comfortable fit even after long gaming sessions. The 3-way trigger locks can be adjusted for the perfect response while the magnetic impulse triggers provide enhanced precision feedback for more immersive gameplay.

All the Bells and Whistles

The FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 also features motion sensors, dual rumble motors, touch pad, lightbar LED, built-in speaker plus share, PS, and options buttons. It also comes with a USB charging cable for wired gameplay on PC and PS4 as well as a rechargeable battery that boasts over 20 hours of play per charge.

 

 

Tech Review – The TimeKettle MK2 translator earbuds. #TimeKettle #TWS #Tech #Travel

Every once in a while a product crosses my desk that I just love and this is one of them and that is a rare thing for me and if you are a person that travels this simply is a must have piece of technology in your pocket, OK one could argue there is standalone translators out there and you can use you voice assistants and so on but these do a great job plus they sound dam good too so they are a 2-in-one product that just delivers.

When to company contacted me I was a bit dubious however once I gave these a test run I was more than impressed and these for the two reasons outlined above they work quite well and they deliver on sound yet they are on the large size and one might feel they are too big you can forgive it and they are also light they will not fall out of your ears and you will forget they are there, I do wish they came in different colours and perhaps the next model will be smaller but overall they are a worthy investment particularly for those who travel and is learning a language.

The build quality here is fine although just like your typical earbud and the build is just plastic but they are durable, they are light, bigger than conventional earbuds but overall fine and you will forget they are there after a few minutes use.

Controls are minimal when it comes to use but the basics are there you have to remember they are not a music focussed product too you can skip tracks, play and pause and you can also access your voice assistant and the controls work really well due to their size we go through all this in the hands on review below and all the functions on offer they are really intuitive and I love the idea. When it comes to using as a traditional pair of true wireless these are actually good, they are loud well balanced and I would certainly use them on a daily basis and if travelling these would certainly be in my tech bag without a doubt.

When it comes to the translation this is where they do the job they aim to do and they can be used in several ways to use the translation functions and all is simple to do and no real tech know how to get going and you will need your smartphone to implement the functions. Check out the options you have and the detailed video review below for more.

FEATURES

  • 【40 languages ​​/ 93 dialects】 The WT2Plus portable translator can reach 40 languages ​​and 93 dialects with an accuracy of 95%. Voice Translator can meet the translation needs of 85% of the world’s population. Partial list: German, English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese), Russian, Portuguese, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Greek, Romanian, Czech …
  • 【Translator + bluetooth headphones】 Timekettle is a smart translator and also a wireless bluetooth headphones. The M2 voice translator has Qualcomm aptX audio technology to ensure you get the most out of music and phone calls. The M2 portable translator is powered by the Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.0 chip and offers intelligent, responsive playback while connecting quickly and consistently to all devices.
  • 【Three modes with APP】 Touch mode: tap the headset to recognize the voice, translate all the sentences at the same time and convert them to text in the APP for you. Listening mode: put the phone on the table to record a short conversation in the group and then listen to the translation played on the M2 headset. Loudspeaker mode: belongs to 1 headphones and 1 smartphone so that more people can talk.
  • Bluetooth 5.0 for IOS & Android: Supports IOS11 and above, Android 7 and above, Bluetooth 4.2 and above, and the earbuds are compatible with most major brands cellphones. Easy connection with IOS & Android operating system in seconds by turning on Bluetooth in APP. A true Bluetooth wireless connection enables fast and stable audio transmission for up to 20 feet. Its stable connection makes it a good choice for language learning devices
  • 【Smart Touch ＆ Long battery life】 Play your favorite music with intelligent touch sensors or answer or reject a call conveniently. Play / pause / skip tracks, activate voice assistant with a short touch (compatible with Apple and Google). The M2 translation headphones support up to 6 hours of listening and translation per charge. With a portable charging box, the playback time can be extended to 30 hours.

BUY HERE    INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN 

 

F-Secure updates TOTAL cyber security package. #CyberSecurity #Tech

Cyber security provider F-Secure has released the latest version of its premium cyber security service TOTAL. TOTAL has undergone updates and improvements to offer users the very best in online protection.

Offering malware, browsing and banking protection, TOTAL has a new look and feel with many usability improvements such as faster and easier installation, improved instructions and streamlined flows. It also includes the recently launched F-Secure ID PROTECTION which is the evolution of KEY password manager.

F-Secure TOTAL is premium cyber security for users and their devices rolled into one subscription. It features F-Secure SAFE, which protects users online security; F-Secure FREEDOME, which maintains privacy online, and F-Secure ID PROTECTION, which keeps important credentials safe in one secure password manager and identity monitoring offering.

SAFE works across PC, Mac, Android and iOS devices to provide online security with antivirus, browsing and banking protection against various threats including hacking and criminal activity on personal data. Family Rules also enable parents to set healthy boundaries for kids’ device use.

The latest additions to SAFE include:

  • Stalkerware protection
  • Banking protection enhancements for Windows users, including no longer blocking non-browser applications that are trusted by the scanning platform
  • Browsing protection enhancements
  • Redesigned Family Rules to improve usability and now allows for daily time limits and bedtime to be set across all supported macOS versions and accounts
  • Silent upgrades to make sure SAFE mac upgrades are installed automatically
  • An ADBlocker for iOS users

Also included now is F-Secure ID PROTECTION as it takes over from KEY as F-Secure’s password manager that stores logins, card details and other key personal information. ID PROTECTION takes this one step further by also continuously monitoring and detecting exposed personal information online and enables users to respond quickly to threats to their online accounts and identity.

ID PROTECTION’s features include:

  • Identity management that provides instant alerts and guidance on how to respond when personal information has been found as part of a breach or data leak
  • A comprehensive breach database consisting of billions of recovered assets and plain text passwords
  • A combination of human intelligence and Dark Web monitoring to recover breach data up to 6 months faster
  • Protection for the entire family with a single subscription
  • Password management that makes it easy to create unique, strong passwords that are automatically synchronised and auto-filled on all devices

Also included in TOTAL is F-Secure FREEDOME, an intuitive online privacy and security VPN that lets you stay invisible to online trackers, protects data on public Wi-Fi and changes virtual location. In addition to typical VPN capabilities, FREEDOME supports browsing protection, anti-phishing, anti-tracking, and Tracker Mapper, protecting users from harmful sites, trackers and apps that want to forward personal data without you knowing about it.

F-Secure TOTAL is available from £59.99 per year and has 50% off for Black Friday (25-30 November 2020).

DPD parcel wizard and Parcel Motel closing. #Logistics #ecommerce #Shopping #ParcelWizard

Over the years many of us has adopted the route of using virtual shipping addresses for online shopping which is a great ecommerce solution to get products cheaper and get products that normally would not ship direct to Ireland and with big players like parcel motel and parcel wizard this made life easier most of the time but come this time of year it does turn out to be a bit of a disaster, but time may be running out for other players going forward with Brexit.

DPD are the first to step up and tell us they will cease the option for its customers to use a UK virtual address to get their packages delivered and recently Parcel Motel decided to up their prices which is shooting themselves in the foot, however it may mean a good percentage of parcel wizard customers might migrate to the service just to tide them over the xmas period which could be a risky move..

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up this is typically a very busy period for the companies and to add to it Christmas does not help either and also recently DPD and UPS formerly Nightline have advertisements screaming for extra delivery drivers to cope with the demand over the next few weeks and this often runs into late Jan and sometimes later, Having worked in the industry some years ago it is a stressful time for drivers and become such a cut throat business with not so great pay and change is needed, staff turnover is huge and this is seen by the constant advertising looking for drivers throughout the year and in short needs to be addressed, I had a delivery last Saturday night in fact at 7pm which was a first and this shows the strain these companies are under.

Address Pal changes.

From January 1st 2021 deliveries from the UK are changing due to customs.
When shopping online use your Home Delivery AddressPal virtual address (see below for address examples).

From this date, your Post Office/Collection Point AddressPal virtual address can no longer be used when importing items.

However, once the parcel has been processed we will let you know by email or text and you will then have the option to redirect your parcel to any of the following:

  • A Post Office/Collection Point
  • A Parcel Locker
  • A neighbour
  • A safe place
  • Or select an alternative date for delivery

This will apply for UK and USA AddressPal items.
Payment details:

From January 1st 2021 payment for all AddressPal items must be taken from a Credit/Debit card that is saved on your AddressPal account. Without a valid card your parcel cannot be delivered. You will only be charged once we process your AddressPal deliveries.

Note: All UK items will be subject to Revenue customs rules from January 1st 2021.
If there are customs fees related to your item, you will be contacted with more information.

For now however you can use the alternatives such as An Post( Address Pal/ Delivery box at your house) , Parcel Motel, and there is some drop off point/collect points, there is some other smaller operators around but this is not a service for ecommerce etc but more so intra company services and special sectors in some areas of business. There is also word of alternatives that might be arriving soon but more on that as it becomes more transparent and solid. But I would be looking at Amazon going forward. With Amazon being a key player and recently opened a warehouse here in Ireland it makes sense going forward and they are also seeking new premises from what I have heard and this is most likely to hold stock which would be a real win and the right route for Amazon to take with its customer base.

Looking ahead there will be another issue for consumers with Brexit and that is returns, With the option to return packages it was a great business move over the years giving people a quick option to return packages via virtual addresses easily and the main problems here was wrong size, wrong item and wrong colour, when it comes to colour everyone’s screen is different and the brightness settings differ and was one of the most problems for consumers buying online. This may all be about to change in the coming weeks but stay tuned for more..

Ebay changes

Parcel Motel – Suspended.. 

Parcel Motel has been the most prominent player in the locker business and have also issued notices to its customers however things could be weighing up different here as they claim their service is suspended with a new Virtual Dublin address just a stones throw away from their main office, UPS bought the business if you remember and have now in the EU more channels to work with there has been talk of amazon lockers due to the infrastructure already here but also setting up new bases in the EU which makes sense, Whilst many people shop on Amazon UK they have other stores like de and fr you can shop from and is often cheaper and this again makes sense for setup in such countries particularly for the likes of Amazon and also Amazon now have a base here in Ireland but this is not a fulfilment centre but does now open the doors for them to set up such warehouses and there is rumour they have been. Many in the logistics industry do know more and did know they where looking for units here in Ireland and that today still is the case. Amazon is here for the long haul..

Stay connected this Christmas with Nokia mobile phones. #Nokia #Christmas2020

Looking to gift your loved one a new phone this Christmas? Nokia has the whole family covered with their selection of trusty handsets at accessible price points. From feature phones that allow you to stay connected with family and friends, to smartphones that are packed with the latest technologies and next generation AI-powered photography to bring out the best of your creative side, there is something for everyone this Christmas from Nokia. Check out the deals below.

 

Elevate your creativity with Nokia’s first 5G – The Nokia 8.3 5G 

Effortlessly stylish, the Nokia 8.3 5G offers vivid colors and stunning clarity on the impressive edge-to-edge 6.81” screen. Featuring a powerful PureView quad-camera with ZEISS optics giving you immersive and stand-out movie-like shots with ZEISS Cinema effects and OZO audio, the Nokia 8.3 5G is the ideal smartphone for those who want to create powerful content. Designed to support multiple and evolving 5G networks, Nokia 8.3 5g is not only a global device but also a future-proof smartphone. 

Built with precision and crafted with care, this phone is rooted in pristine Nordic design, from its all-glass body to stunning colour, Polar Night, inspired by the Northern lights. The Nokia 8.3 5G in Polar Night with 6GB /64GB memory is available from Vodafone, Tesco and Harvey Norman priced from €399.99 prepay for 6/64 configuration 

 

Go big and beyond with Nokia 5.3

Ideal for students, the Nokia 5.3 will help you to stay focused with an impressive 6.55” screen and powerful Qualcomm® platform that is built for speed and easy access to Google Drive, Documents or to attend classes on Hangouts, Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Say goodbye to battery anxiety for good with a two-day battery life thanks to the 4000mAh2 battery and AI-assisted Adaptive Battery, saving energy for the apps that are used the most. 

The Nokia 5.3 is great for older school goers or students who already have an entry level smartphone and are looking to upgrade for a better experience. This modern and durable device is available from Three Ireland, Harvey Norman, Power City and Tesco Mobile and comes in either Cyan and Charcoal colour options with the 4GB/64GB RAM/ROM configuration priced from €129.

 

Maximise your streaming with the Nokia 3.4

The Nokia 3.4 offers a serious performance upgrade thanks to the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 460 Mobile Platform which gives the user more power to get the best out of their phone. Take creativity to the next level with a large 6.39” HD+ screen, a punch-hole front camera and a mighty triple rear camera with an ultra-wide lens and AI imaging. All of this is powered by the signature two-day battery life and wrapped up in a premium timeless design, inspired by Nordic nature, delivering style with durability that’s true to its Finnish roots.

The Nokia 3.4 comes in Charcoal with 3/32GB, memory and storage configurations starting at a retail price of €139. Available in Vodafone, Three and Harvey Norman. 

 

Brining powerful AI to the Nokia 2.4 next generation

The next generation Nokia 2.4 brings modern essentials to this device, with advanced AI imaging, a dedicated Night mode and Portrait Editor that will let them create curated content with custom shapes and blurred background. With a convenient fingerprint sensor and AI face unlock, the Nokia 2.4 offers effortless access and added security, in a durable design that’s not only built to look good but also to last. Watch, learn and create on the large 6.5” HD+ screen, and thanks to its two-day battery life, favourite apps and games can be enjoyed for longer. 

The Nokia 2.4 comes in Charcoal with 2/32GB and storage configurations starting at a retail price of €99. Available in Vodafone, Three, Harvey Norman and Carphone Warehouse

 

Nokia 1.3 for those buying their first smartphone

The Nokia 1.3 delivers modern technology at Nokia’s most accessible price point. The screen offers a bigger, brighter and bolder experience, allowing users to see it all as clear as day on the large 5.71” HD+ screen. The battery certainly won’t hold you back – so you can do more in a day with the Nokia 1.3’s battery that stays charged from sunup to sundown. 

The Nokia 1.3 is an entry level smartphone available for only €79, from Vodafone Ireland in cyan and charcoal colour options 

The classis flip phone with a modern twist – stay connected with the Nokia 2720  

The Nokia 2720 offers reliability, durability, and trust. The classic flip is simple and reliable and boasts a 28-day standby time from a single charge, meaning your phone could be left on standby for the whole month! It comes with easy-to-use essential apps such as WhatsApp, which comes preloaded to help users stay in touch with family and friends.

 

This classic flip phone is available from Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, Three and Harvey Norman, from €79.

Check out the Nokia 800 tough video review and the new 5310 2020 edition video review

First look at the all new Jabra Elite 85t #Jabra #JabraElite85t #Tech

The all new Jabra elite 85t have dropped in and I cant wait to test these out, i am coming from the Elite Active 75t which are an excellent pair of True Wireless and one of the best pairs last year and in my top 5 True Wireless earbuds.

The newest addition to the Elite series, the Jabra Elite 85t, comes with Jabra Advanced ANC  which delivers a level of noise-cancelling that goes one step further than Jabra’s standard ANC offerings. Dual chipset in the earbuds deliver strong ANC capability as well as optimal sound processing. These are some of the smallest earbuds that offer premium ANC to create your private, quite space and delivers HearThrough to let you hear your surroundings – both features fully adjustable and with extra focus on natural sound performance and limited occlusion (blockage/closure), achieved via the semi-open design and multiple ANC microphones.

Features..

  • Compact design and oval silicon EarGels™ for a secure seal and comfortable fit
  • Dedicated ANC chip which is more efficient in removing surrounding noises
  • 6-microphone call technology and wind protection for superior calls wherever you are
  • 4-microphone ANC using mics on the inside and the outside of the earbuds
  • 12mm speakers for big sound and powerful bass
  • Semi-open design with natural hear through
  • Adjustable ANC with dual sliders from full ANC to full HearThrough
  • IPX4-rated durability and 2-year warranty against dust and water
  • Up to 5.5 hours battery on a single charge and up to 25 with the charging case with ANC on, 7 hours battery on a single charge and 31 hours with ANC off
  • Qi-certified, for wireless charging, and compatible with all Qi-certified chargers
    • Customisable equaliser in the Sound+ App makes your music sound even better
    • Voice assistant enabled. Elite 85t works with Alexa, Siri® and Google Assistant™
  • ‘MyControls’ to define button settings and Jabra MySound for individualised sound

Any questions hit us up in the usual spots…

Tech Review – KIKR S1 (2-in-1 Phone/Tablet stand with Dual 10W Wireless Chargers) #KIKR #Tech

Wireless charging is something everyone should adopt it is more convenient and for two other reasons, it saves you on cables and saves your port as these are always things to go bust and meaning you have to spend on more later on. This new product though solves both and can charge two devices at once and it is also compact and does not take up much room either and ideal for your bedside locker or just to have it beside you in your office set-up.

It has a foldable One-Piece Integrated Design compact and portable, you can put S1 in your pocket and take it anywhere so it is not confined to use at home either and it is a great solution and saves you carrying cables too and loosing them as often the case we tend to forget our chargers on trips etc..

Another great feature here it is not a fixed product, most wireless chargers are fixed this can be adjusted to suit an angle you prefer this applies to the phone part not the base which can be used to charge your phone too and earbuds etc so there is some flexibility here and I like how you can angle the unit and height. This is a well built product with a good design and a must have for those whom have adopted wireless charging.On a side note this can also be a very useful product for media consumption too and is handy again for your bedside locker or to have sat beside your PC at home or in the office and gives you the option to have social media,emails etc on the screen at hand saving you tabs on your PC and so on. Check out the video below for the full tour and review.

Buy here https://kikr-s1-charger-stand.kckb.st/3ebee30c