An Irish Insurtech looks to the horizon as it launches Blink Luggage, building the next generation of Travel Insurance services in a changed world. The launch comes as Blink works with its Travel Insurance partners on developing post-COVID-19 Travel Insurance solutions.
Speaking of the launch, Paul Prendergast, CEO of Blink, “Although Travel is very tough right now and everyone is dealing with personal and business difficulties, we are bullish and continue to invest to allow our partners to innovate at speed.”
Blink Luggage:
– offers travellers an immediate pay-out if luggage is delayed and offers service options ranging from lounge access to care benefits based on the travellers outbound/inbound transit status,
– after 4 days, if it is officially confirmed that luggage is deemed lost, travellers receive an additional immediate pay-out.
Blink Luggage cover does not impact on any separate valid claims on any Airline Luggage Policy.
Mr. Prendergast explained,
“With the COVID-19 pandemic triggering a massive influx of claims across the Travel sector worldwide, we face a major turning point opportunity for the travel insurance industry. Claims processing delays and system inertia are the ultimate proof that a major shift in how claims are paid is now critically important for the long-term future of the sector. We are working with our partners to deliver parametric solutions to addressthese challenges efficiently as Blink can process more than 60,000 claims per hour and today’s consumers demand and expect immediate remedy which we can deliver”.
Picking the right earphones is one thing since we cant really try them on in store these days and most revert to online shopping too, Yes we do get choices and extra tips in the box in most instances however they do not suit all, Years ago comply foam hit the market to fix this issue and have been a hit ever since bundled in with many brands today.
Since they launched I have not really seen any on the market or any that have come to my attention until now from LUDOS who we currently work with with great quality wired earbuds for good money. Now they have some comfy memory foam tips on offer again at a budget price.
First all all one thing here is that sticks out is colour which is excellent and really change things around here from the typical black ones we tend to get from other companies on the market or bundled with your earbuds these stand out and make your earbuds stand out and look good too perhaps it is just me but I like things to stand out and be different than the trend and these just do that..
Not only that they offer better noise isolation too giving you a better listening experince too which enhances to mood all round matter what you might be listening to be it music or watching a film on your phone or tablet or You Tube.
❇️【EXTRA STRENGTH AND WASHABILITY】Our earbuds are the result of extensive ear studies and they are 40% more wear-resistant than common Memory Foam cushions. We also chose premium materials. This allows you to wash the eartips with running water, unlike other pads that will be damaged if wet.
❇️【THE BEST FOR MAXIMUM COMFORT】The usual silicone earbuds can be annoying in many cases and do not fit in the ear. So what happens? Many times, they fall out and are not comfortable. At LUDOS we offer you the best for a high-level and above all comfortable musical experience. The Memory Foam eartips are comfortable, MORBID and STABLE IN THE EAR. Silicone rubber simply can’t compete.
❇️【SIZE, COMPATIBILITY AND WASHABILITY】The size of these eartips is 4.9mm. The LUDOS COMFY are compatible with all our LUDOS earphones models. If you don’t have a LUDOS model, remove your old eartip from your earphones and measure the diameter of the eartip. This product is compatible with earphones with a diameter of 4.9mm. In the package you will find 6 pairs of eartips.
The 2020 official 1v1 League of Legends (LoL) tournament for amateur players worldwide, Red Bull Solo Q (formerly Red Bull Player One), starts next week! The first Irish online qualifier will take place on Thursday (16th April), and is now open to amateur gamers in Ireland to register to play, visit redbull.ie/soloq to sign up, and for news and information on format, rules & eligibility.
In 2019, the competition, previously known as Red Bull Player One, saw 25,000 registrants from 29 countries battling for the title. This 2020 season, the community can expect over 35 National Qualifiers & Finals, International Online Qualifiers and new tournament stages
Red Bull Solo Q puts a twist on a typical League of Legends match, pitting two players against one another in a bracket of 1v1 duels. The first player to earn ‘First blood!’, destroy the opponents´ tower or reach a 100-minion score, wins the duel. There are four qualifiers offering four chances for players from the island of Ireland to represent Ireland at the European Final.
As part of the partnership with League of Legends Global Esports Events, the global winner of Red Bull Solo Q will get to experience the 2020 League of Legends All-Star event first hand! The champion will participate in the League’s annual year-end celebration alongside some of the game’s biggest esports athletes and streaming personalities, playing in special showcases and attending exclusive parties. Red Bull also continues its collaboration with one of the most popular faces in the League of Legends community: Sjokz, who will return as the global brand ambassador for Red Bull Solo Q.
Last year’s Irish champion, Prototype, or Mateusz Kowalczyk of Cork City, had the honour of representing Ireland at the Global Final of Red Bull Player One in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
For more details, including player and event details, visit RedBull.com/SoloQ
I like to see all things new when it comes to tech and this tech does make us even more lazy but you just have to love it. I have always had a fan beside me in my bedroom and have had two general desk fans that have lasted ten years a piece however these are smaller than this one but they served their purpose and now they are gone.
This Fan is smart and simple to use and I like the idea and would like to see smaller versions made too but having said that this is portable and it will certainly cool you down which is what a fan is for but this can be controlled from your mobile phone. The app is simple to use and you dont have to move and especially if your in bed its great. I have mine in the bedroom but it is portable enough to move around the house which is fine…
With new tech ease of use is what is important here and this is simple to use and you can also use voice assistants too to get the job done if you wish which is handy but I prefer to use the app here and see it in action as you will in the video below its really cool..
You have all the options you would find on your typical fan plus it is also quite in comparison to even conventional fans out there. Alongside this you can customise this which again goes beyond your traditional fan and makes life even easier and better. Check out the video for more on this and we go through all the features. My only complaint overall here is that while you can swing it left to right from the app, you have to manually adjust the angle but after that its a product that has delivered and kept simple for anyone to use.
Features.
Control: Total control via your GeoSmartPro app from anywhere.
App Automation: Automate your fan’s actions and triggers to suit your preferences.
Schedule: Set your preferred schedule, to suit your daily routine.
Tronsmart have sent us over their latest earbuds but stay tuned for more tech from the company including some really nice new earbuds very soon that differs from the current range we have tried out over the last few months and be sure to check out those reviews here.
The Onyx are probably the smallest ones on offer and similar to their spunky beat but this time around they outperform the beats when it comes to sound, Again a touch affair to change things around these are a vast improvement over the spunky beat and that is not to take anything away from them either as they are quite good and a solid performer all round.
The Onyx are set more in the ear and will not budge giving a nice profile that does not stick out or look noticeable and very discreet to wear and they also isolate the outside world to a great extent and will not fall out of your ear despite the size.
The controls this time seem to work much better than previous models but like any earbud it does require some thumb memory to get the hand of the controls and the commands which are simple taps which work all the time which is what we expect to see. We also have access to voice assistants for those who use them.
Doing my usual test loop these performed well offering good volume levels, good direction separation and good with highs lows and mids and overall a great experience with no lag latency either noticed. Call quality is good and on both sides but these can be used in a mono format too should you require to do so.
Like it or not we are in for more self isolation and staying home but over the last few weeks we perhaps have got bored or have enough to do but people are taking up hobbies or just expanding on what they already do..
Picodi.com Analysis Team investigated Google search queries and created a ranking of the activities which gained the biggest popularity in the times of pandemic.
After evaluating statistics, it turned out that all activities that require leaving home have become less popular: theatre dropped by 81 per cent, cinema — 78 per cent, concerts — 71 per cent. Irish people also lost interest in foreign languages (decrease of 10 per cent). Probably it’s no longer such a sought-after ability in the world of closed borders.
The biggest increase of interest was noted in board games (338 per cent), workout (150 per cent), and online courses, such as Udemy (150 per cent).. There is a possibility that the uncertain situation in the labour market has made Internet users seek opportunities to gain additional qualifications. Various creative activities and crafts, like origami (79 per cent) or drawing (60 per cent) have also gained popularity. See the full report https://www.picodi.com/ie/bargain-hunting/how-have-the-hobbies-of-irish-people-changed-due-to-isolation
Videogames Mental Health Charity, Safe In Our World (www.safeinourworld.org), today announces the launch of a dedicated hub for Covid-19 resources, information, and advice.
With the advent of lockdowns across Europe and the US, Safe in our World, the videogames mental health charity has launched a new hub for those in need of support, advice and information in these unprecedented times. The Covid-19 hub is available online, and will be updated regularly: https://safeinourworld.org/covid-19/
Launching today, the hub offers advice on managing stress, coping with isolation, relaxation and excise techniques, as well as highlighting videogames that may aid those suffering, or finding it hard to cope with the changes in daily life.
Leo Zullo, Chairman of Safe in our World said, “As a charity, we’re doing our best to support those around us, and the wider industry. Whether working from home within the industry, or our players, everyone will be adjusting to a new normal. This dedicated hub is designed to signpost techniques to help deal with the challenge of isolation. We’ll continue to do everything we can to help.”
Officially unveiled in 2019 on World Mental Health Day, Safe in Our World is an accredited charity supported by industry luminaries, veterans and ambassadors across the world, and its mission is to create an online destination where people can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry. Safe in Our World aims to enable conversations by destigmatizing the mental health conditions; helping a generation of creators, professionals and players come together in support of each other.
In 2020, Safe In Our World will continue to make more announcements and share updates on its efforts and impact to the global gaming community.
Safe In Our World is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1183344 but its objectives and mission is global.
Together With Non-profit Partner, To Write Love On Her Arms, Skullcandy Looks To Bring More Awareness To Mental Health Issues By Celebrating A Feel-good Mood Every Month
PARK CITY, Utah, April 7th, 2020 – Skullcandy announced today the launch of MOOD BOOST, a vibrant and uplifting program, combining colourful new designs with inspiring content from musicians, athletes and artists.
Every month, MOOD BOOST will spotlight a positive mood and collectively lift spirits through:
Exclusive music artist content Four fast-rising music stars have joined the campaign to represent a diverse range of music genres and world views: Rapper Rico Nasty; Latinx singer-songwriter, Cuco; Indie-pop singer-songwriter Gus Dapperton and London-based pop sensation, Rina Sawayama.
Insightful athlete content As a brand founded at the intersection of music and board sports, Skullcandy will also profile its rich roster of surf, skate and snow athletes through interviews designed to offer uplifting stories. Followers will hear from iconic professional athletes like surfer Coco Ho, snowboarder Mark McMorris and skateboarder Jenn Soto, among others.
Limited-edition product/art bundle drops The hottest Skullcandy true wireless products will be released in small-batch, custom colorways and bundled with free limited-edition art prints by renowned graphic designers and pop-culture artists, including London-based Tina Touli and design duo Rude, as well as New York City artist Queen Andrea and France/Asia-based Paiheme Studio.
“As we looked to create our new take on moods and music, we wanted to listen carefully to the voices of our core customers. It became very clear that mental health is a critical topic for them. Mood Boost is our way of shining a spotlight on this issue and ways to seek help,” says Skullcandy Chief Marketing Officer, Jessica Klodnicki.
Part of every bundle sale will benefit To Write Love on Her Arms to help directly fund treatment and recovery for youth suffering from depression and addiction.
“Music can play a big part in coping with depression and anxiety. Music reminds us that it’s okay to feel and it’s okay to be honest, and those truths relate directly to mental health,” says Jamie Tworkowski, Founder, To Write Love on Her Arms. “We couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with Skullcandy. Our dedication to helping people find hope fits perfectly with their Mood Boost program”
The campaign kicks off April 7 by celebrating the mood ‘Blissful.’ For the next 12 months, Skullcandy will explore and spotlight additional moods such as ‘Original,’ ‘Strong,’ ‘Hopeful’ and ‘Determined’ — all designed to bring a daily dose of positivity to the social feeds of the brands’ many followers.
“Our younger customers believe that, if they buy from us, we should have a greater responsibility to the issues facing their generation,” added Klodnicki. “Mood Boost is an important answer to their request that businesses do good in the world.”
About To Write Love on Her Arms To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since 2006, the organization has responded to more than 250,000 messages from individuals in 100 countries. TWLOHA has invested over $2.6 million directly into treatment and recovery. More about the story behind the movement can be found at https://www.twloha.com
About Skullcandy® Skullcandy is the original lifestyle audio brand with the mission “to unleash the visceral power of music for all.” Based in Park City, Utah, Skullcandy designs, markets, and distributes audio products around the globe. The company’s web site can be found at https://www.skullcandy.com.
The Open Doors Initiative has today released a podcast series to help workers and businesses deal with the new realities of employment during the Covid-19 crisis. The initiative is also today publishing a ‘Covid-19 Toolkit’ aimed at helping people with information on working from home, upskilling, financial supports and wellbeing.
The four-part podcast series features different experts all addressing different aspects of work / business during the Covid-19 crisis. Those featured in the podcast are:
David Joyce, Equality Officer from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Maureen Walsh, CEO of DeCare Dental
Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion, Clifford Chance
Dr Pat McKeon, founder of Aware and former Clinical Director of St. Patrick’s Hospital.
Among the topics they address are mental health supports at this time, the need for inclusion and diversity in the workplace – now more than ever, and what the future of work and working practices may bring.
Alongside the podcasts the online toolkit offers best practice and work planning with links to resources and aids for people affected by this change.
Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative said: “In recent weeks we have seen employment fall by over 17% in Ireland, mainly affecting those most in need such as employees on a low wage and marginalised people. There is a compelling need for social responsibility and leadership to be taken by the business community, where it can help.
“We have seen many businesses and their workers help where they can and Government, business and unions are working together to ensure that employment continues and the impact on the economy is temporary and recoverable. We are proud that so many businesses and organisations, including our members, are stepping up to help those who need it most”.
The Open Doors Initiative was established to help three marginalised groups in employment in Ireland – those with a disability, under 25s with educational disadvantage, and refugees and asylum seekers.
We know that during the current Covid-19 crisis the impact on these groups is greater:
For young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, this can lead to falling into negative behaviour, criminality and other anti-social ways, as supports such as mentoring and training are not available.
People in direct provision who have no way to move accommodation and protect themselves and their families through self-isolation while modes of travel are restricted too.
For people with many disabilities, who need work routine, or have difficulty working without carer support or have mental health difficulties, can all be very affected by the changes that have come about.
