Tag: 13

FUJIFILM announces its instax mini 13 instant camera

FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, Imaging Solutions Division, has announced the introduction of its instax mini 13™ instant camera (mini 13). Following in the footsteps of the popular instax mini 12™ instant camera launched in 2023, mini 13 brings a fun, playful new look and feel with its soft, sculpted shape and a metallic silver logo that accents the front of the camera.

New for mini 13 is the introduction of a self-timer, with options for 2 or 10 seconds, giving the photographer the opportunity to be in the shot themselves with their subjects, or for easy hands-free selfies (with the help of the included wedge-shaped angle adjustment accessory). The mini 13’s main features also include a Close-Up Mode, Selfie Mirror, and Auto Exposure capabilities, as well as the Parallax Correction feature, in which the camera’s viewfinder aligns with the lens when using Close-Up Mode, minimizing object shifts to produce a centered photo. The mini 13 also features Automatic Flash Control, which optimizes image quality in bright or low light situations. The lens structure is designed to provide intuitive steps both for powering the camera on/off and for accessing the popular Close-Up Mode with a simple twist of the lens.

 

“Our instax™ mini line of mini instant cameras, smartphone printers, and film represents not only an incredible value for our users, but in many cases, it’s a user’s first foray into analog photography,” said Shin Udono, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, FUJIFILM Europe. “The mini 13 is a perfect fit because experimenting with instant photography – trying out new lighting, poses, or scenes (especially by using the new self-timer feature), are all fantastic ways to express oneself artistically and be a part of your art. We’re looking forward to seeing what our community creates with the mini 13!”  

 

instax UP!™ Smartphone App Update Announced

Along with the introduction of mini 13, the free, downloadable instax™ UP! smartphone app is debuting new and enhanced features. This app is designed for instax™ users to digitally scan, import, organize, and store their photos in one place, regardless of which instax™ instant film, camera or printer product they use. The updated version brings increased image scanning precision by integrating the use of AI. The overall learning capability of the app has been greatly enhanced so that it can recognize images versus backgrounds or other extraneous content, resulting in cleaner, more precise scans. 

New Film Variety Introduced

Pastel Galaxy, the new instax™ mini instant film, will be introduced along with mini 13, featuring a fun cosmic theme complete with sparkly, glossy embellishments, and soothing colors to add a cool vibe to a user’s instax™ photos. 

Colors, Pricing, and Availability

Fujifilm’s instax mini 13™ instant camera will be available in Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Candy Pink, Lagoon Green, and Clay White. It will be available to purchase at Fujifilm retailers nationwide from 25th June 2026 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €90.00 (inc. VAT). The instax™ mini Pastel Galaxy film will also be available to purchase from 25th June 2026 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €11.50 (inc. VAT). 

For more information on instax, please visit www.instax.ie

 

See our instax reviews

 

 

13 new businesses awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade

13 new businesses have been awarded the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies (BMC) accolade at the 16th annual awards programme. This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland.

The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than €15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction.

A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Ireland’s top privately-owned businesses, such as a business’ environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy.

The 13 newly qualified companies are: Active8 Solar Energies, Ashdale Care, Coen Steel Limited, Ethos Engineering, MCO, Mergon Group, Mivan, Mowlam Healthcare, S&W Wholesale, Sisk Group, United Hardware, Western Motors and Writech.

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said: “The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial.”

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said: “AIB is proud to be the new lead sponsors of Ireland’s Best Managed companies. One of AIB’s core ambitions is to support Irish companies and their management teams in sustainable growth and development, something which is fully aligned with the goals of the BMC programme.”

A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award.

The members of this year’s judging panel were:

  • Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
  • Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets
  • Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
  • Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld
  • Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
  • Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
  • Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
  • Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post

 

New Winners

Company County
Active8 Solar Energies Monaghan
Ashdale Care Monaghan
Coen Steel Limited Galway
Ethos Engineering Dublin
MCO Dublin
Mergon Group Westmeath
Mivan Antrim
Mowlam Healthcare Limerick
S&W Wholesale Down
Sisk Group Dublin
United Hardware Dublin
Western Motors Galway
Writech Westmeath

 

The Gold Standard (four years as a Best Managed Company) winners are:

Company County
BidX1 Dublin
Camile Thai Kitchen Ltd Dublin
Clonakilty Food Co Cork
DigitalWell Dublin
Dowds Group Antrim
Errigal Group Monaghan
Fortus Group Dublin
H&MV Engineering Limited Limerick
Instantor Dublin
Keltech Waterford
Mannok Fermanagh
Modubuild Kilkenny
MPA Recruitment Derry
Stafford Lynch Dublin
The Brennan and Co Group Dublin
Toga Group Dublin
Totalmobile Antrim
Triangle Technology Services Dublin
Windsor Motor Group Dublin

 

The Platinum Winners (seven years as a Best Managed Company) are:

Company County
Around Noon Down
Codd Mushrooms Ltd Carlow
Creagh Concrete Antrim
Dennison Trailers Kildare
EDGE Innovate Tyrone
GES Group Antrim
GSLS Dublin
LotusWorks Sligo
Ocuco Dublin
Phonovation Dublin
PlanNet21 Dublin
The Merrion Hotel Dublin

Fairphone champions long-term support of older phone models with Android 13 update of Fairphone 3(+)

Fairphone, the Dutch social enterprise building a market for ethical smartphones, has announced that the Fairphone models 3 and  3+ will be receiving an update to Android 13. Beta version roll-out has started today, with all users receiving the update by the end of June. The new update will take users of the Fairphone 3 and the Fairphone 3+ from Android 11 directly to Android 13.

This update to Android 13 is an example of Fairphone’s policy of providing software support for its devices for as long as possible. Since support by the device’s chipset vendor has expired, Fairphone 3(+) software is now maintained directly by the Fairphone team who assessed the feasibility of updating the device to Android 13 right away. Fairphone has previously done the same with the recently discontinued Fairphone 2, skipping Android 8 and updating the device to Android 9 instead.

The Fairphone 3 was originally launched in 2019 with Android 9, the upgraded version, Fairphone 3+, followed in 2020. Both models are guaranteed to continue to receive software support until at least August 2024. However, Fairphone aims to support the phones for even longer, until 2026. This is a first for the Android ecosystem. Fairphone wants to push the industry to act more responsibly and maintain phones longer.

Agnes Crepet, Head of Software Longevity at Fairphone, states:

“At Fairphone, we not only care about our new customers, but also about our existing users. By providing Android updates for our older models, we are going against industry norms and want to ensure that owners of the Fairphone 3 can also enjoy using their phones for longer. As we always say, the most sustainable phone is the one you already own!”