Groov-e, recently launched the Sports Buds which are completely free from wires, providing a secure fit and featuring True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology to generate perfect audio, the SportsBuds are ideal for sport as well as for everyday wear.
Delivering crystal clear sound and a powerful bass the SportsBuds will help to keep users motivated whether they’re doing a home workout, at the gym doing weights or running their first 10k. Providing a secure and comfortable fit with an ear hook design and rated IPX4 sweat resistant, the SportsBuds were built to endure the toughest workouts.
Featuring advanced Bluetooth 5.0 technology, the SportsBuds connect automatically with a compatible device (after being paired the first time) and have a wireless range of 10-metres. They provide up to four hours of music playback and an additional 24 hours using the charging case. The clever charging case has an 1800 mAh capacity and can also be used as a power bank for other devices.
The SportsBuds feature a built-in microphone for convenient calling. Pressing gently on the earbuds lets users answer or reject incoming calls without having to reach for a phone as well as enables them to play and pause music, alter the volume and even activate Siri or Google voice assistant while on the move.
Kunal Patel, Director, Groov-e said: “Now more than ever we are seeing people get into exercise and our SportsBuds were developed to enhance the experience for users. At a time when people are also cash conscious, we are pleased to offer the latest technology at an accessible price. We are sure our customers will love the SportsBuds when working out.”
Watch out for our review soon – The Groov-e SportsBuds are £34.99 and available from www.groov-e.co.uk
Expleo, the technology partner for innovative companies, today announces that it is investing €100K in helping businesses to get back on track following the disruption caused by COVID-19. The company’s specially-designed COVID-19 recovery package includes free consultancy services in areas that will be critical to business stimulation, including business strategy, digital transformation, change management and business agility.
Expleo’s investment will cover initial assessment of businesses’ needs, referral to a leading consultant and in-depth business analysis to establish a clear plan of action. Services will be offered to businesses of any size operating in all sectors including financial services, retail, manufacturing, travel, insurance and IT.
Irish firms continue to suffer from the fallout of COVID-19 and the disruption it has caused to day-to-day functions, supply chains and their ability to operate to full capacity. Business group Ibec anticipates that investment will fall by as much as 40% this year and the economy will continue to be impacted by the pandemic ‘well into 2021’.
With Government restrictions easing, organisations are now looking to the future and the key areas they need to address in order to limit the pandemic’s impact on their business. And with digital transformation expected to play a central role in economic recovery, Expleo believes its services can give Irish businesses a vital boost.
Phil Codd,pictured above, Managing Director for Ireland, Expleo, said: “At Expleo, we feel very strongly that the business community needs to work together to overcome the challenges set by COVID-19. We wanted to make sure that we played our part and believe that our experience in helping enterprises across all sectors to digitally transform and manage change will be of great assistance to businesses as they look ahead and prepare for a drastically more digitised world.
“Economic hardship can inspire great innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. We want to embark on that journey with Irish businesses to help them thrive in the years ahead and make our economy stronger as a result.”
Businesses who wish to avail of the COVID-19 recovery package and speak to one of Expleo’s leading digital transformation experts can register their interest here.
The Derry Group, a one stop shop for the distribution, storage and order picking of chilled and frozen products has today announced the launch of its new employee engagement app, Thrive.App.
Their flagship company Derry Refrigerated Transport is a leading service provider for chilled and frozen distribution throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe. Derry Refrigerated Transport is the first haulage company in Ireland to sign up to the newest self-service, rapid deployment Thrive.App which brings together the key features needed for businesses to power up their internal communications for their frontline teams.
With hundreds of employees working across multiple locations in Ireland, communication, organisational engagement and information sharing is essential for the growing business.
In order to meet the additional challenges presented by the current global pandemic and the fact that the company works out of various locations throughout the country The Derry Group recognises the need to look at new ways in which all employees can more effectively communicate and share information with each other.
Commenting on the deployment of the new Thrive.App, Patrick Derry, Managing Director, said,
“We have worked hard to build and transform our business to what it is today, and our employees are key to our success. It is important to us that we give them everything they need to carry out their roles successfully as well as feeling supported and recognised for what they do. With the Thrive.App our employees can now easily access the information they need to support them in their role, they see important updates as they occur, and they know what is happening across all areas of the business.
The launch of Thrive.App will bring everyone closer together, which is particularly important during the current challenges of Covid19 and the fact that we have teams in various parts of the country.
The Thrive team have provided the best support and guidance in helping us to launch the employee app and we are confident they will continue to support us to make it a success across our organisation.”
James Scott, CEO, Co-Founder of Thrive, adds;“We are delighted to help and welcome The Derry Group as a new client and look forward to working together to ensure their employee communications and engagement app is a success and loved by their teams within the Group structure whether based in Armagh, Dublin or Cork.
Our goal is to help organisations in shifting their communications from traditional methods such as printed newsletters, notice boards and team briefings to instant, modern apps and we have loved helping The Derry Group do this. We look forward to seeing the direct positive impact the app will have on their employee communications and engagement.”
Blink earned its place as 1 of just 10 InsurTechs selected following a competitive ‘virtual pitch’ process that had 140 of the world’s insurance industry trailblazers vying for a place on the prestigious Lloyd’s Lab innovation accelerator programme.
Lloyd’s, the world’s leading specialist insurance and reinsurance market announced Blink’s selection to join its fifth cohort which will be focussed on 3 themes including data & models, new insurance products & markets and response to COVID-19. The 10-week programme will commence on 7th September. The 10 successful companies can be viewed here.
Speaking of today’s announcement, Blink’s co-founder and CEO Paul Prendergast said: “This has already been a tremendous experience for us and we’re just getting started. The pitch process allowed us to really refine our platform’s potential with an exciting range of commercial solutions and Lloyd’s Lab is going to work with us to accelerate the development and realisation phases by providing us not only with Lloyd’s market access, but with rich historical data, analysis, modelling and testing forums. Our parametric platform’s effectiveness in supporting increasingly Covid-19 prone, high frequency, low severity claims environments was a major success factor in this process so we’re ready to showcase its full potential with this golden opportunity. We also get to collaborate with some of the world’s best minds in insurance innovation, so we are hugely honoured and thrilled to have been selected.”
PICTURE Darragh Kane
Blink, founded in 2016 and bought by AIM listed CPP Group just 6 months after it was set up is now a world leader in parametric insurance product innovation, transforming its clients’ complex offerings into superior service experiences with simple, intuitive, online products. It was recognised in 2019 as one of the world’s fastest growing Travel Insurance InsurTechs making it onto The INSURTECH100 – an annual list of the world’s most innovative company in theInsurTech ecosystem solving significant industry problems, generating cost saving or efficiency improvements within insurance. The company partners globally with insurance and financial services companies, driving innovation in Asia, Europe and North America.
Trevor Maynard, Head of Innovation at Lloyd’s, said: “This cohort of InsurTechs will play an important role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to help us develop the new models and insurance products of the future. We will undoubtedly need new products and services for insurers to deliver confidence and security against future waves of this pandemic and other systemic risks of the scale we have seen in 2020. I’m thrilled to have the best InsurTech’s across the globe join the Lloyd’s Lab and look forward to seeing the progress they make. Lloyd’s has thrived on its purpose of sharing risk and its as important now as it has ever been to combine minds and build a braver world.”
I love my Bluetooth speakers and Aukey have sent us one of their latest ones on offer, Aukey is a brand that offers good tech at decent prices and we have their Eclipse Wireless speaker in for review, built solid and packing a decent punch with some good bass this is simple to use and has a fabric based finish with metal covered tweeters on the sides and body is made of tough plastic which makes it tough and can be used indoors or outdoors.
On top there is several buttons which are raised slightly to distinguish the buttons but they are also marked, you can also take calls on this speaker which are good and you can control your music too, this speaker will look well anywhere indoors or outdoors and comes in a range of colours,the speaker is loud too and can easily fill a big room. You have also got a big 4000mAh battery on board too which will last a day easily.
POWERFUL MUSIC: Thanks to the 20w powerful driver with elastic cavity from Eclipse, AUKEY SK-M30 delivers crystal-clear and balanced sound as well as rich bass
SUPER LONG PLAYING TIME: with the powerful 4000mAh battery, you can enjoy 12 hours of carefree music enjoyment without constant recharging
IDEAL GIFT: Curved design with massive forming and knitted cotton mesh looks serious and classic. Distribute metal plate on both sides of the speaker, small details are also excellent
Bluetooth 4.2: You can get a fast connection to almost all devices of up to 10 m via Bluetooth (or if necessary also via the supplied 3.5 mm audio cable)
INCLUDED IN DELIVERY: AUKEY SK-M30 wireless Eclipse speaker, micro USB cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, user manual, 24-month replacement guarantee and friendly customer service
Aukey sent us this to review and had no copy approval nor compensation paid and are seeing this the same time as you.
Recently we reviewed two of the companies range of powerbanks that suit all pockets and needs,this model again offers needs for those who want a bit more, this can charge 4 mobiles at once making it the ideal travel accessory and we will be attending some tech events later this year pending how turns out and will be packing all of them.
This model is the bigger of the three and a has a hidden LED battery level meter under the cover which looks nice,this does not have a torch but offers three USB -A inputs x 4 one of which is fast charge and dual USB-C input and Micro USB so there the three options at hands and of course it will charge iPhones.
Features…
【23800mAh PD 18W Power Bank】This 23800mAh high capacity pd power bank can charge the iPhone 11 almost 5 times, the iPhone 11 Pro 4.8 times or iPhone 11 Pro Max 4.4 times, and the charging speed is 4 times faster than the other traditional battery pack.
🔥 【Accurate LED Power Digital Display】The usb power bank built-in advanced smart digital display technology, power display accuracy is up to 100% which ensures you know the remaining power clearly and never missing recharging in time.
🔥 【Charges 4 Devices Simultaneously】The slim portable charger supports four types of output ports, you can charge 4 devices simultaneously, share the power and fun with your friends, makes the charging much more efficient.
🔥 【Type-C and Micro USB Dual Input】The quick charge power bank offers two types of input ports, you can use any one of them to get your power pack recharged, and all of them provided with 18W quick charge which help you recharging the phone charger more faster.
🔥 【Smart E 3.0 Technology & Safety Priority】Built-in iSmart technology and intelligent chip-set, support multi-protection system to protect the pd power bank against over-current, over-voltage and short circuit, extend the service life of your phone.
Charmast send this to us to review with no compensation paid nor influence or copy approval and they are seeing this the same time as you.
John O’Donoghue, Solution Consultant for the Data Centre Computer Group, Dell Technologies Ireland.
Cybersecurity is more important than ever, as hacks and attacks surge following the mass migration to remote working. Irish businesses are coming to terms with their ‘new normal’ and as many within the workforce adapts to remote working over the longer-term, organisations will become ever more vulnerable to attack.
At a time when many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland are planning for an uncertain future while seeking to protect their employees, one area that businesses will need to focus on is security. Moreover, cybersecurity strategies need to be adapted at speed to the new ways of working to protect businesses. For smaller and medium businesses struggling with cash flow issues, a cyber-attack could be disastrous.
Covid-19 Cyber Realities
Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, the volume of cyber-crime and cyber-attacks became significantly more prevalent in Ireland, while the rate of phishing attacks skyrocketed by over 600% in Europe compared to previous figures. Attackers have been exploiting the fear and uncertainty generated by the pandemic by luring users to click on a variety of links or handover personal details – or unknowingly download malware.
The increased level of risk is being acknowledged across industries – with healthcare businesses being particularly affected. The World Health Organisation reported a five-fold increase in cyber-attacks, targeting its employees as well as the general public, with scammers impersonating the organisation. It took to the media to urge extra vigilance as a result.
Meanwhile here in Ireland, An Garda Síochána has warned that the number of cyber-attacks is likely to increase further, as cybercriminals are using Covid-19 themed phishing scams and emails in an attempt to exploit vulnerabilities and fear.
SMEs are right to be concerned. Not only are they disproportionately being targeted, but they are particularly at risk from phishing attacks due to a comparative lack of cyber training and awareness. Larger businesses tend to have several in-house cybersecurity experts, enabling swift and effective responses. Speed is key when it comes to containing a breach.
Apart from a lack of awareness putting smaller businesses in Ireland at risk, the larger businesses that may rely on their goods and services also risk being exposed – creating both reputational as well as financial consequences. Cybersecurity is a collaborative effort, requiring all stakeholders to be aligned, alert and prepared to take the appropriate action in the event of an attack.
Protecting medium businesses
With high risks and high stakes, Irish SMEs will need to review and update security strategies – engaging with expert consultancy where possible for support. In order to protect businesses, data must be protected from the endpoint to the data centre, assessing each step of the chain and reviewing when the business landscape evolves. Being able to pivot in order to protect is key. Their first line of defence is their employees.
John O’Donoghue
Ensuring the workforce has a good understanding of cybersecurity essentials is a key part of any strategy – along with an instant response plan. This can be achieved through regular training, workshops and testing to help businesses spot security threats. With the surge in phishing attacks, it is important that they understand the risk, the levels of deception and the consequences. Practice really does help erase complacency and keep staff on their toes.
While some SMEs may ponder why they would be targeted over a larger business, overall they seem to accept that the threat is not only real but impending, according to a recent study. However, far from being complacent, with the volume of risk being exponentially high, there is a tendency for IT decision-makers to panic – and they need to know who to turn to for clarity.
Trusted advisors with deep digital expertise should be able to share a clear security roadmap, that is surprisingly simple. Security experts at Dell Technologies Ireland help to tailor cyber strategies to businesses, providing a threat intelligence network using AI technologies, while ensuring the ecosystem of partners is covered. SMEs are not alone – but they do need to act.
As the Irish economy continues to digitise operations, supply chains, business transactions, and employee and customer services, cyberattacks are expected to continue to pose as one of the major threats. Shoring up security for medium businesses provides a critical lifeline in otherwise uncertain times.
Market expansions, increased content and technical innovations have resulted in huge growth for the Christian online streaming service New Faith Network, which launched in 2017. The service has grown on average by 110% year-on-year in the last three years and in the last six months by 150%.
Bringing the word of Christ to millions Founded by broadcasting veteran Henk Bout, the service launched in the Netherlands with the mission to inspire Christians globally by bringing faith and family-friendly entertainment in a new, modern way. Since then, the service has rolled out in a further five European markets, with the UK and Ireland being the most recent in December 2019, where there is already a strong local presence.
The largest, growing selection of Christian content New Faith Network’s content catalogue has the largest collection of Christian films, series and original productions – all faith and family-friendly. Whereas, other mainstream platforms only have a handful of Christian titles. In the Netherlands, the catalogue has grown to just under one thousand titles (doubling since launch) and in the UK and Ireland the number has also doubled since launch.
A continually improved experience More supported viewing methods, mobile apps, as well as the increase in content has meant consistent growth in viewing time; and viewing patterns and lengths are similar on New Faith Network to other subscription video platforms. Smart apps will be available in the UK and Ireland at the end of 2020 and they will be second, to the Netherlands, to offer original content.
Connecting communities, safely New Faith Network is the better alternative to other more mainstream streaming services for Christian viewers because it has been tailored to fit their requirements – selected, created and curated with Christian values in mind and connected to their beliefs. The content gives parents a sense of security and reassurance and unites world religions, regardless of differing viewpoints.
Henk Bout, Founder, New Faith Network said: “Our subscriber numbers have increased every year because there is a growing demand by the Christian community for this type of content. We listen and respond to their needs by offering more titles, being more innovative and continually improving our service. Our opportunity to grow has been supported by our strong bonds with local and international partners.”
What’s next for New Faith Network? Currently active in five markets there is a strong drive to further expand across Europe (and beyond) reaching Christians in as many countries as possible. New Faith Network will continually look to improve the service and find additional ways to watch. The aim is to build the catalogue of titles across all markets with the addition of more original content and more self-produced material (particularly from UK and Irish viewers) offering a multi-faceted platform with local support.
Chrome OS has accelerated its expansion within businesses amid the shift to work from anywhere. The new Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, a 14-inch premium business laptop or 2-in-1 from Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL), boosts productivity with on-the-go power, sophisticated security and fast connectivity features employees need.
With the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, Dell expands its Latitude Chromebook lineup – now offering a mainstream and premium option – to give companies more choice in devices without sacrificing enterprise-class scale, manageability and security.
“This is not just another Chromebook,” said Rahul Tikoo, senior vice president, Commercial Product Group, Dell Technologies. “Our latest Latitude Chromebook Enterprise is designed equal parts for employees and IT managers adopting Chrome OS in the enterprise. Employees will appreciate its sleek design and collaboration features that help them navigate new work dynamics, while IT managers have the management and security features they expect when deploying devices in a corporate environment.”
“We are constantly evaluating the tools and technology that help our teams better serve our customers, while also staying true to our mission by using sustainable products whenever we can,” said Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO and co-founder of Blueland. “Our deployment of the Latitude Chromebook Enterprise devices, which are packed with sustainability features, created new opportunities for my team to collaborate, stay flexible and continue to be productive as we shifted to working remotely.”
Work Anywhere: Designed for executives, mobile professionals and remote workers, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise includes innovative security and productivity features, allowing employees to power up quickly with no time wasted on setting up the device. Co-engineered with Intel as part of the Project Athena innovation program,[i] the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise offers LTE mobile broadband[ii], Intel WiFi 6 and up to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors to boost productivity and performance for bandwidth-intensive activities, such as working up to 8.6 times faster in Google Sheets[iii].
Additional key features include:
First-ever 4K panel with Low Blue Light display available on a Chromebook Enterprise[iv]: The Latitude 7410 provides better readability and eye comfort with built-in 4K low blue light display technology. An expansive, four-sided narrow border display also provides more screen to connect with colleagues, and acoustic noise reduction features that enhance video calls.
World’s longest battery life of any premium Chromebook: With up to 21 hours of battery life, mobile professionals can complete tasks throughout the day. If they do need a charge, the device can charge quickly from 0% up to 35% in as little as 20 minutes with ExpressCharge Boost[vii] or get up to 80% charge in as fast as an hour with ExpressCharge
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Ease of use: Employees and executives pressed for time can rely on one-hand assist to power the Latitude Chromebook in less than three seconds simply by opening the lid. For extra flexibility, the device comes with the one of the broadest array of ports available in a premium Chromebook Enterprise[ix]. Simple app access is available locally or online through the Chrome Browser or the managed Google Play Store. Employees get peace of mind with an optional built-in privacy panel and camera privacy shutter.
Premium design: Professionals can choose between machined aluminum or carbon fiber on the world’s lightest 14-inch Chromebook Enterprise laptop[x]. A new silver color is available on the Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise to give more employees a modern look and feel.
Management and Security: As organizations prepare for long-term remote work, Dell Technologies Unified Workspace reduces IT complexity and allows IT leaders to secure, manage and support the Latitude Chromebook Enterprise. Available in more than 50 countries and with 14 localized language keyboards, companies can select and purchase various configurations to meet employee needs. IT can manage the devices with the same level of support, security and reliability they expect in a corporate environment, and have confidence in platform stability with the Intel® Stable IT Platform. They can service and upgrade storage and batteries and operate the same support model across their entire organization.
“Now, more than ever before, IT administrators need innovative technology solutions to support their modern cloud-first businesses,” said John Solomon, Vice President of Chrome OS at Google. “That’s why we’re thrilled to expand our premium Chromebook options for enterprise customers with the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise. Powered by Chrome OS, Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise allows IT managers to deploy rapidly and securely while enabling employees to get work done effectively, no matter where they are.”
The Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise is available now starting at €1,199 ex. VAT and delivery.
