Tag: Maps

8 Alternatives to CRM Software: Are They Worth the Hassle?

Software tools are designed to make your life easier and to ensure that your business runs as smoothly as possible. Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a prime example of that.

What you are getting with a good payment processing crm package is a solution that encompasses all of your requirements and gives you easy access to all the data insights you need.

Naturally enough, that comes at a price. It’s not hard to make a case for saying that CRM software is well worth the investment, when you consider what it gives you. However, you might be tempted to see if there are any alternatives that could be viable, or are they simply too much hassle because they don’t do everything you need?

Let’s take a look at some alternatives to CRM software and what they offer.

Kanban offers a sale-orientated alternative

If you are looking at an alternative CRM solution that is focused on sales targets and data, a Kanban board is well worth a look.

In a nutshell, it is designed to be a no-code visualization tool for managing workflow. A key difference to What Kanban offers compared to a spreadsheet is that it focuses on delivering the most important data rather than making you trawl through large amounts of data.

Documents serve a simple purpose

Sales documentation tends to be repeatable. Whether it’s a guide to your products, a contract, or a proposal, there’s a good chance you will be using the same format more than once.

In that respect, if you use something like ClickUp Docs it becomes a simple process to build a series of templates that can be used repeatedly.

Manage your contacts in email

Another straightforward alternative would be to embrace what products like Google Workspace or Microsoft Outlook have to offer. Both of these software packages give you access to a plethora of integrated tools.

That means you can customize your inbox. However, it;s a far more limited option compared to CRM software.

A simple database for your sales contacts

Another ClickUp feature is a free downloadable tracking template called Lists. This allows you to centralize information and create multiple databases. Again this is a binary solution without all the bells and whistles of paid CRM software.

Spreadsheets are always worth considering

Easy to create and interact with, spreadsheets are always worth considering. Data entry is straightforward and the various sorting options can be very useful and easy to use.

However, spreadsheets have clear limitations in comparison to CRM software.

Digital whiteboards help collaboration

If you like the idea of being able to engage and collaborate in a user-friendly way, digital whiteboards are worth considering.

It is a good way to enjoy smooth communication across your sales team, but it does have its limitations.

See your contacts in a different way with maps

Arguably, customer maps represent one of the most innovative alternatives to CRM software.

This gives you the ability to plot contacts by address and location, which can be very useful in a sales-orientated environment.

Directories serve a purpose

Last but not least, the use of directories in project management software offers a next-level alternative to spreadsheets, without offering as much as CRM software.

As a simple way to store contact data and track sales progress, directories serve a purpose.

As you can see, there are ways to organize your data without using specific CRM software. However, it’s abundantly clear that these alternatives can’t match all the features of paid CRM software, so they may not be worth the hassle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garmin Venu 4 45mm Smartwatch Review

The Garmin Venu 4 (45mm) is the company’s latest to bridge the gap between a sleek, everyday smartwatch and a powerful, dedicated multisport fitness tracker. Building significantly on the Venu 3, the Venu 4 introduces a more premium metalized design and brings over some of Garmin’s most advanced training features previously reserved for its high-end Forerunner and Fenix lines and I also feel it is taking on WHOOP with some of its features on board which is fine, WHOOP has no display and the watch does so it is a matter of wanting less time on your phone here which I do and have been doing getting metrics on the go by looking at your watch.

The 45mm Venu 4 represents a significant upgrade in build quality, moving to a full metal case that feels noticeably more premium and robust than its predecessors. The watch is stylish enough to look at home in an office setting but durable enough for the trail. It is a familiar design like many watches out there but you can up the style with different bands on offer which are nice like the leather bands.

The 1.4-inch AMOLED display is bright, vibrant, and highly responsive, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. For me after using the watch for some weeks I found this display and it stands out and you can of course customize it even more with faces and make it stand out more.

A new hardware addition is the built-in LED flashlight (with white and red light modes), a feature trickled down from Garmin’s high-end watches, which is surprisingly useful for visibility during night runs or finding something in the dark like keys for trying to get into your house for example or just general looking for things in the dark.

This is where the Venu 4 truly excels, incorporating professional-grade metrics into a lifestyle watch:

  • Training Readiness and Status: Borrowed from the Forerunner series, you now get a morning score based on sleep quality, recovery, HRV, and acute load, helping you determine if you should push hard or take a rest day. Training Status gives you deeper insight into the effectiveness of your overall regimen.
  • Dual-Frequency GPS: The inclusion of Multi-Band (Dual-Frequency) GNSS is a major technical upgrade. This provides superior positional accuracy, especially in challenging environments like dense cities or canyons, making it a reliable tool for runners and outdoor athletes.
  • Lifestyle Logging: A new wellness feature allows you to manually log behaviors like caffeine or alcohol intake directly on the watch. The Garmin Connect app then correlates these entries with changes in key metrics like sleep, stress, and HRV, offering genuinely useful insights into how your daily habits impact your well-being. For me logging things daily is annoying however tried it out here with a general task every day it will pormpt you every day which is not bad for those wanting to use such a feature.
  • Sleep Metrics: The watch offers comprehensive sleep coaching, tracking naps, and introducing Sleep Alignment (how well your sleep pattern matches your circadian rhythm) and Sleep Consistency again wasted on me never used such.
  • Over 80 Sports Apps: The Venu 4 covers virtually every activity, including new features like Mixed Session profiles for tracking multiple activities in one workout (e.g., a triathlon or Hyrox session).

The 45mm Venu 4 offers up to 12 days of battery life in standard smartwatch mode, which is a colossal advantage over competitors like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch which I have both of and can confirm in the real world this is the best watch for battery end of story I own right now.

Always-On Display (AOD): If you use the always-on display, the battery life drops to about 4-5 days, which is still competitive.

GPS Use: Even with the high-accuracy Multi-Band GPS active, the watch can last up to 19 hours, making it excellent for long hikes or marathon training mostly used with ealks for me as out with an injury and still am confined to an extent.

While the Venu 4 is a powerful all-rounder, it has a couple of minor trade-offs:

It lacks the deep, seamless integration and third-party app ecosystem of watches running Apple’s or Google’s operating systems. The voice assistant functionality relies on your paired phone and can feel a bit clunky. I am use to having full rich notifications but this is not the case here with no images in emails such as my cameras etc not a huge deal but miss it.

Unlike some competitors, there is no option for LTE connectivity, meaning you must have your phone nearby for full connectivity and calls however I think most are in this same situation and use the watch and phone for me it has always been the case.

It sits at a higher price point than its predecessor, reflecting the addition of the premium materials and advanced training features and price can be a factor for some people with the feature set, Garmin has a loyal following like Apple and Samsung.

The Garmin Venu 4 45mm which is the model I tested is an exceptional choice for the user who wants a watch that transitions effortlessly between the gym, the trail, and the boardroom. It successfully blends an attractive, premium design with Garmin’s leading-edge fitness and recovery data. If you prioritize multi-day battery life, highly accurate GPS, and deep insights into your fitness and recovery metrics like WHOOP does over the smart communication features of an Apple or Galaxy Watch, the Venu 4 is easily one of the best watches on the market right now if you are not fussy over some small caveats.

Garmin Connect App

 

Features

  • Smartwatch with a bright, colourful display, stainless steel design, and built-in flashlight; Available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.
  • Make improvements to promote a healthier lifestyle and know your body better with extensive health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, Body Battery energy monitoring, fitness age, stress tracking, meditation and more (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Get a sleep score and personalised sleep coaching, including recommendations for how much sleep you need, tips on how to improve, alignment on your inner sleep cycle by using circadian rhythm and more; breathing variations feature uses Pulse Ox to check your level of variations while sleeping (this is not a medical device, and device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox is required and not available in all countries)
  • The health status feature looks for changes in your health data that could indicate added stress to your body for key metrics — such as heart rate, HRV, skin temperature and more — which could be related to factors such as physical activity, potential illness or other health changes (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked).
  • Log custom or preset daily behaviors — such as caffeine and alcohol intake — and view reports in the Garmin Connect smartphone app on how lifestyle choices may impact your sleep, stress and HRV to help you make more health-conscious decisions (device data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Find new ways to keep your body moving with daily suggested workouts and more than 80 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, mobility, mixed session to track multiple activities in one session and more; plus, get easy-to-follow workouts for several activity types or even create your own workouts in the Garmin Connect app
  • Reach for your goals with Garmin Coach training plans for running, cycling, strength and fitness, which can provide personalised workouts based on your health, fitness and recovery metrics. Take on any fitness journey with advanced training features such as workout benefit — which helps you understand how each workout affected your body — and training readiness to help determine whether you should go hard or take it easy plus training status for insight into your overall effort
  • Enjoy the convenience of making and taking phone calls from your wrist — even use your smartphone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages and more (when paired with your compatible iPhone or Android smartphone); plus, you can respond to texts via voice, or Android users can text directly from the smartwatch
  • ECG app can record your heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (not available in all regions; for people 22 years or older)
  • Enjoy connectivity features, including music for phone-free listening and Garmin Pay contactless payments that allow you to leave your cash and cards at home (with a supported bank and payment network)

BUY

Other smartwatch reviews

Video Review

NOVOO Slim Smart Tracker Card Review

The NOVOO Slim Smart Tracker Card is designed to be a seamless, ultra-thin alternative to bulkier item trackers, specifically catering to wallets, passport holders, and luggage tags. Its primary appeal lies in its extremely thin profile and long-lasting battery, making it a competitive choice in the Apple Find My ecosystem and to make note early this is an iOS only product we have an Android version tag review also done.

The slimness is a good selling point and fits into all my wallets with ease. Integration with the Apple Find My network is immediate and reliable, providing the same global tracking peace of mind as an AirTag. The 6-year battery life (yet to be proven) is a massive advantage over rechargeable cards or those with 1-year replaceable batteries, minimizing maintenance. The setup process is quick and simple within the Find My app.

The main limitation is that the card is iOS-only and does not support Android devices. Furthermore, because it utilizes Bluetooth and the Find My network, it does not offer Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Precision Finding (the directional arrow feature found in AirTags), meaning you won’t get meter-specific guidance to an item nearby; you must rely on the 80dB sound cue for close-range location.

The NOVOO Slim Smart Tracker Card is an excellent choice for iPhone users seeking a dedicated, low-maintenance wallet tracker. It solves the critical problem of bulk that plagues many circular trackers, and its 6-year lifespan is unparalleled in this category. See the video down below for more

Features

 

  • 【Compatible with Apple Find My App】Setting up the NOVOO Wallet Tracker is fast and easy. Simply open Apple’s “Find My” app, enable Bluetooth, and pair the device within 30 seconds. Compatible with iOS devices, you can track your items across the vast Apple network. (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐢𝐎𝐒 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝). Note: Push Harder If It Doesn’t Turn On.
  • 【Long-Lasting 6-Year Battery】With a remarkable 540mAh battery, the NOVOO Slim Smart Track Card only needs to be replaced once every six years. Say goodbye to the hassle of recharging every 3-6 months like other Bluetooth trackers. You can check the remaining battery life anytime, with notifications sent to your smartphone when it drops below 20%.(𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Lasting 6-Year Battery, Battery Not Rechargeable)
  • 【Ultra-Slim SmartCard】The NOVOO Wallet Tracker Card is just 1.6mm thick, equivalent to two credit cards stacked together. This ultra-slim design allows it to seamlessly fit into any wallet, purse, luggage tag or backpack, making it ideal for travelers or anyone looking to keep track of valuable items without adding bulk.

 

 

【IP68 Waterproof & Dust Resistant】With an industry-leading IP68 waterproof rating, the NOVOO Wallet Tracker is
  • designed to withstand splashes, rain, and even brief submersion up to 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) for 30 minutes. Perfect for outdoor activities, travel, or daily use, it ensures reliable performance even in tough weather conditions.
  • 【Smart Reminder Alert for Easy Location】Enjoy a Bluetooth range of up to 131 feet (40 meters) with an 80dB ringtone for long-distance tracking. If your device is within range, use the “Find My” app or ask Siri to ring it. Even if the tracker is out of Bluetooth range, you can still view the last known location and get directions through the Find My network of billions of Apple devices.
  • 【Lost Mode and Smart Location Alerts】Activate Lost Mode to leverage Apple’s vast network of devices, helping you find your lost items. When your tracker is detected by an Apple device, you’ll automatically receive notifications. Additionally, your iPhone will notify you when the tracker moves out of Bluetooth range, and you can see the last known location in the “Find My” app.
  • 【Privacy Protection and Anti-Tracking Alerts】The NOVOO Slim Smart Track Card uses AES-128 encryption, ensuring your data remains secure. Get notified if an unknown tracker follows you, giving peace of mind in crowded places or while travelling. Additionally, if an unauthorized card is detected, you’ll receive an alert to protect your privacy. 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: This card’s unique pairing and security require Apple devices to remove it via the FindMy app with Bluetooth enabled.

BUY

Other Tracker Reviews

Video Review

Sky’s the limit for Inflight Dublin as Landmark Technologies secures operations

Landmark Technologies, an Irish provider of IT and cybersecurity services, today announces that it is helping to secure daily operations for in-flight entertainment provider Inflight Dublin. Together, Landmark and Inflight Dublin’s IT team have developed a customised cybersecurity solution tailored to Inflight Dublin’s specific needs. This integrated solution counters rising cyber threats, safeguards critical data, and provides a secure foundation for innovative in-flight entertainment solutions that enhance the passenger experience.

Headquartered in Dublin and with locations in North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, Inflight Dublin provides blockbuster movies, popular TV programmes, music, apps, games, and moving maps to leading airlines worldwide. These include Qatar Airways, Condor Flugdienst GmbH, Copa Airlines, Gulf Air, Philippine Airlines, Sunclass Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.

As Inflight Dublin collaborates closely with Hollywood studios to provide top content for customers, data security is paramount. The nature of the business requires many employees to travel overseas, and Landmark secures all devices and networks for the company’s 55-strong team – wherever they’re working.

As cyber threats continue to grow more sophisticated, Landmark works closely with Inflight Dublin’s internal IT team to provide rapid response and remediation should an incident occur. In addition, the tailored solution is boosting resilience for Inflight Dublin with onsite and offsite data backups to ensure business continuity in the event of an incident. Regular penetration testing identifies any cybersecurity gaps or vulnerabilities, and Landmark provides cybersecurity awareness training to employees.

Landmark’s technology, seamlessly integrated with Inflight Dublin’s bespoke solutions, enables a secure, immersive, and uninterrupted entertainment experience for airline passengers. Inflight Dublin recently completed a major IT infrastructure upgrade, deploying data centre-grade systems engineered for fault tolerance, redundancy, and maximum uptime. This enhancement ensures the continued rapid delivery of content and publication updates to in-flight entertainment systems worldwide including Inflight Dublin’s own wireless platform, Everhub.

Additionally, Inflight Dublin recently announced a new partnership with TED to bring thought-provoking TED Talks to its onboard content offering.

Pat Nolan, Director of IT & Information Security, Inflight Dublin, said: “Against the backdrop of a changing cyber landscape, this advanced security solution from Landmark and our teams gives us the confidence to continue to roll out our services, safe in the knowledge that our data and operations are fully protected. Effective cybersecurity is of the utmost importance in the aviation industry, and we are committed to providing secure solutions for customers which offer passengers an engaging and entertaining in-flight experience. In addition, even when located in different regions and time zones, our teams can work and collaborate securely to ultimately drive innovation for the business.”

Ken Kelleher, Managing Director, Landmark Technologies, said: “We are providing peace of mind and resilience for Inflight Dublin as the company continues to grow and evolve. Seamless access to movies and TV is a top priority for many airlines and as customers’ needs become more complex, our ultra-secure services reduce cyber risk and enhance capabilities. Meanwhile, our customer-first ethos and proactive support is crucial for Inflight Dublin, particularly as its team is often dispersed. Landmark is enabling Inflight Dublin to take off and deliver its services quickly and efficiently, while futureproofing operations and supporting seamless scalability in line with business growth.”

Airbnb Announces New Social Features With AI

Travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about who you meet. But those connections often fade once the trip ends. That’s why we’re introducing new social features for Airbnb Experiences, to help you connect with other guests before, during and after your experience.

Airbnb Announces New Social Features for Experiences, Smarter Search, Expanded AI Support

With searches for winter travel on the rise, we’re also announcing new updates for guests and hosts in time for a busy holiday season, including:

  • Smarter search and improved maps, to help you discover hidden gems
  • A new way to pay with Reserve Now, Pay Later
  • Expanded AI-powered customer support in more countries and languages
  • More tools to help hosts manage their calendar and pricing

New social features for Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb Experiences are designed to be as much about the people as the activity. Now, we’re introducing new social features, so you can connect with other guests throughout your trip and long after.

  • Who’s going – In a recent survey, more than 7 in 10 respondents said they would like to know more about other guests before booking an experience. Now, before you book, we’ll show you guests who are already going on that experience, along with where they’re from.  
  • Direct messaging – Forget to swap contact info? You can request to directly message guests you first met during an experience to stay in touch or even plan your next experience together, all right in the app.
  • Connections in profile – Now, in the Connections section of your Airbnb Profile tab, you can see the people you’ve met on your experiences, making it easy to reconnect with them.

You can enjoy these new social features while staying in control of what you share with new people. For each experience, you can choose to share your profile, giving you clear and simple control over who can message you and how you’re displayed in other guests’ Connections.

Smarter ways to search and more ways to pay

We’re making it easier to discover great places to stay and pay in a way that works for you.

  • Flexible carousels – When you’re searching for your stay, you’ll now see more options for homes just outside of your search criteria. For example, we’ll show homes with similar prices, different amenities or stays in nearby cities for less, helping you discover great options you might have otherwise missed.
  • Improved maps – Maps now let you easily filter for nearby landmarks, attractions, restaurants and more. Tap on any point of interest to see a summary and how far it is from the home in your search—or from the place you already booked. Later this year, see different map views, including satellite, street, and transit, based on your preference.
  • Reserve Now, Pay Later – With Reserve Now, Pay Later, guests have the option to reserve an eligible stay and pay $0 upfront. We launched this in the US earlier this year, and starting next year, it will be available worldwide for both domestic and international trips.

Expanded AI-powered customer support

Our AI assistant is getting even better with smarter responses and support in more places for guests and hosts.

  • More languages, more countries – The assistant will be available in English, Spanish and French, for users in the US, Mexico and Canada.
  • Smarter answers – The assistant can recognize you, your reservation, or your listing and provide quicker, more tailored responses.
  • Built-in actions – The assistant will let you take actions right in the chat, with interactive cards for common tasks like cancelling a reservation or changing dates.

Upgrades for hosts

We’re also rolling out highly-requested features to give hosts more flexibility and insight.

  • Dynamic cancellation policies – Set different cancellation policies for specific dates—like holidays or off-peak seasons.
  • Improved price tips – View price tips for dates up to a year in advance and adopt all tips in just one tap.
  • Updated earnings dashboard – Starting next year, view earnings trends year-over-year and compare seasonal performance in an all new tab.

Half a Million Vulnerabilities Leave Irish Businesses Exposed to Cybercriminals

Centripetal, the global leader in cybersecurity threat intelligence, has exposed critical security gaps leaving hundreds of thousands of Irish networks vulnerable to cyberattack.
Using its proprietary threat intelligence analytics platform, Centripetal has mapped cyberattack entry points across Ireland down to individual IP addresses* and networks, revealing which regions, industries, and organisations face the greatest risk.
The findings are stark:
  • 349,000 Irish networks (3.6% of the total) remain unprotected from active cyber threats.
  • 44% have exposed vulnerabilities.
  • Half a million vulnerabilities exist on exposed assets across Ireland as of September 2025.
  • Dublin faces the highest risk, recording the greatest concentration of vulnerabilities across all industries.
Centripetal’s Attack Surface Map identifies specific attack vectors – the methods cybercriminals use to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorised access to systems, networks, and sensitive data. This granular visibility enables organisations to understand their exact exposure and take immediate action.
The threat is active and escalating:
  • 63% of compromised networks are leveraged to conduct active reconnaissance – attackers are probing systems and planning their strikes through Irish infrastructure
  • 11% are acting as command-and-control centers to coordinate attacks – cybercriminals have already infiltrated these systems and are working to further seize control of other target networks
  • 35% increase in active attacks launched or coordinated through Irish networks since 2024 – the scale of attacks has expanded dramatically as cybercriminals automate campaigns and target vastly more organisations simultaneously by leveraging sophisticated tools and technologies including AI.
This means thousands of Irish organisations are likely under attack right now, many without knowing it.
David Silke, Managing Director, Centripetal Ireland says, “Across Ireland, we can see that there are Critical National Infrastructure organisations that are currently exposed to attack vectors. We can see that the largest attack vector in Ireland at present are the ISPs (Internet service providers – the telecoms and hosting providers). Our technology can drill down to a granular level to show which customers of a particular provider are affected by these vulnerabilities at a street level.
“We’re calling for organisations in Ireland to review their cybersecurity provision and asking them to put more emphasis on the use of threat intelligence to protect themselves. We know that only 20% of organisations currently do this.  At Centripetal, our technology effectively cloaks these vulnerabilities, hiding them from attackers so they can’t be targeted,” says Silke.
CleanINTERNET technology, including its new Fusion product, blocks 99.99% of threats by providing complete network visibility. Unlike traditional solutions that only monitor traffic entering and leaving the network (north-south), Fusion also monitors internal traffic flows (east-west), creating comprehensive protection from every angle.
This dual capability means organizations can now:
  • Stop external threats before they breach the network
  • Detect insider threats by identifying suspicious behavior from internal users and systems
  • Receive real-time alerts when unusual activity occurs, whether from outside attackers or internal sources
 

Garmin unveils the versatile eTrex Touch to guide every outdoor adventure

Garmin today introduced the rugged eTrex Touch GPS handheld navigator – ­purpose-built for all types of outdoor adventures with a new high-resolution colour touchscreen that allows users to easily swipe and zoom in on their routes. Designed to guide adventurers through a wide variety of activities, the eTrex Touch features preloaded TopoActive Europe maps for roads and trails, and the option to add an Outdoor Maps+ plan for access to additional premium mapping content. With up to 130 hours1 of battery life, adventurers can go on entire excursions without needing to recharge.

“No matter the outdoor adventure, the new eTrex Touch will be your essential companion through it. Featuring a bright color touchscreen that lets you tap, swipe and zoom, the eTrex Touch puts advanced mapping and navigation at your fingertips. Combined with rugged durability and dependable battery life, it allows you to enjoy all of your outdoor activities even more.”

–Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales & Marketing

Explore confidently

 

  • Slender design: Light and easy to carry, the newest Garmin handheld navigator boasts a bright, 3-inch, high-resolution touchscreen and fits in the palm of the user’s hand.
  • Preloaded maps: View TopoActive Europe Maps for roads and trails, and see terrain contours, topographic elevations, points of interest and more.
  • Long battery life: Out of the box, the device offers up to 130 hours of battery life – and up to 650 hours when switched to expedition mode – so outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities even longer. When needed, easily recharge with the included charging cable.  
  • Outdoor Maps+: Add an Outdoor Maps+ plan (sold separately) to receive premium mapping content, including high-detail elevation contours, high-resolution satellite imagery, Topo Pro, night lights and more.
  • Durable build: Purpose-built to withstand weather and rugged conditions, it has an IP67 dust/water rating and an impact-resistant to MIL-STD-810 specifications design.
  • Superior accuracy: Multi-band GPS support provides superior location accuracy, allowing explorers to know exactly where they are on their journey.
  • Plan ahead: Connect with the Garmin Explore™ smartphone app for seamless trip planning, or manage waypoints, courses and activities. Users can also see upcoming climbs on their route, when they will occur and how steep they will be.

Available now, the Garmin eTrex Touch has a suggested retail price of £389.99. To learn more, visit garmin.com/outdoor.

20 years of discovery with Google Maps

Twenty years ago, Google Maps started helping us explore the world, navigate unfamiliar roads and discover hidden gems. As Google Maps turns 20 they wanted to share some of the best features and hacks along with some of the most-reviewed places from the past two decades in Ireland.

Ireland’s crowd-pleasers: The most-reviewed destinations

Visitor attractions

  1. Cliffs of Moher

  2. The Books of Kells Experience 

  3. Rock of Cashel

  4. Hook Lighthouse

  5. Torc Waterfall

  6. Powerscourt Waterfall

  7. Dublinia

  8. Spanish Arch

  9. Glencar Waterfall

  10. Blarney Stone

 

Parks

  1. Phoenix Park

  2. St. Stephen’s Green

  3. Eyre Square

  4. Fota Wildlife Park

  5. Kilkenny Castle Park

  6. Killarney National Park

  7. Marley Park

  8. Wicklow Mountains National Park

  9. Merrion Square Park

  10. Connemara National Park

 

Museums

  1. National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street

  2. Muckross House

  3. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

  4. Irish Whiskey Museum

  5. National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street

  6. National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks

  7. The Little Museum of Dublin

  8. Titanic Experience Cobh

  9. Irish Museum of Modern Art

  10. Chester Beatty

 

Here are just a few mind-blowing stats about Maps:

 

  • 1 trillion: how many kilometers of directions they provided in 2024. This is the distance of Earth orbiting the sun over one thousand times!

 

  • 250 million: the number of businesses and places on the map. If you were to visit one of these places every hour without sleeping, it would take you more than 28,500 years to get through this list!

 

  • 500 million: the number of users who contribute information like reviews, photos, ratings and driving disruptions to the map per year. A vertical stack of 500 million pieces of paper would be 50km high!

 

  • 100 million: the number of updates made to the map each day. That means that in the time it took to read this sentence, the map was updated 10,000 times!

 

Today Google Maps is sharing some of the most popular and all-time favorite features — along with helpful hidden gems that might have been missed over the years.

1. Drive in style (new!)

Now when driving with Google Maps, the navigation icon is customisable with new car types and colors. Depending on your mood, choose a powerful pickup truck, a stylish SUV, a roaring racecar and more in eight vibrant colors. Just start navigating, tap on the blue arrow and let your creativity lead the way.

2. Get menu highlights

When checking out a new restaurant, use Maps to quickly understand its most popular dishes in advance. Search for a restaurant and scroll down to “menu highlights” — photos and reviews of top dishes from the Maps community will be visible to help people tap into their inner foodie and order with confidence.

3. Understand an area at a glance with AR

It can be tough to get your bearings if you’re in a new neighborhood. With Lens in Maps, tap the camera icon in the search bar and lift your phone to let augmented reality instantly overlay helpful information, like the name of a place, how busy it is and if it’s highly rated.

4. See HOV lanes along your route

Headed somewhere new and want to save time? Just get directions to your destination and quickly see if there are HOV lanes along your route so you can get there as efficiently as possible.

5. Time travel with Street View

Go back in time with Street View! See loved ones and even check out a childhood home: Open Google Maps and turn on the Street View layer. Search a home address, tap “See more dates” and scroll through the images to watch your neighborhood evolve over time!

6. Make reservations right from Maps

Forget frantic phone calls or scrambling for last-minute reservations: Google Maps can help you snag a table at your favorite restaurant. Search for the restaurant, and if it works with a booking partner, tap on “Reserve” to book your reservation.

7. Plan group hangouts with lists

Lists in Google Maps make it a breeze to save and share places you want to visit – and they also make it easy for groups to pick a spot. The next time you have an outing planned, create a collaborative list where everyone can save places and vote on them with emoji so you can make a quick decision on where to go.

8. Arrive with confidence

It can be tough to find the right entrance at a large apartment complex or unfamiliar building. With arrival guidance, Maps will highlight the entrance, show nearby parking lots and remind you to save your parking spot. Once parked, you can get walking directions from the  car to the entrance — and even enter Street View or AR walking navigation to orient yourself quickly.

9. Know before you go

With Immersive View, you can experience what stadiums, parks and routes look like and even check the weather and traffic so you can be ready in advance. When driving, see where the nearest parking is and if there are any tight turns on your route.

10. Send your trip from your phone to your car

If you’re in a rush, you can plan your trip from your phone and send it straight to your car if it has Google built-in. No need to waste time re-entering the address.

11. Find the hottest restaurants in town

Whether you’re exploring a new city or rediscovering your neighborhood, Google Maps’ restaurant lists can help you find the perfect spot. Check out our trending list to find places that have recently surged in popularity, the top list  for tried-and-true favorites and the gems list  to find the next hot spot before everyone else does.

12. Avoid the crowds

It’s helpful to know how busy a place will be before you get there so you can save time and avoid long lines. Search for a place and scroll down to “Popular times” — you’ll see a graph of how busy it typically is, and even how busy it is at that moment. New efficiency hack unlocked!

13. Don’t get lost — even when you’re off the grid

When exploring a new city or when in an area with bad signal, you can use Google Maps offline to access essential navigation information. Search for an area, tap the name or address and select “Download” to give yourself access to navigation and key details without a connection. Perfect for travel and adventures off the beaten path.

14. Get accessibility information anywhere

For those with accessibility needs, turn on “Accessible Places” in settings and a wheelchair icon will show if a place has accessible entrances, seating, restrooms and parking. Those with visual impairments can get detailed voice guidance while walking, with helpful alerts about routes, upcoming turns and nearby intersections.

15. Save money and petrol

Lots of people want ways to get around more sustainably. Fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps can help — it uses AI to show the most fuel- or energy-efficient route to your destination, if it’s not already the fastest one. Just pull up directions and tap on the route with the green leaf.

16. Have fun with Pegman!

Pegman is the beloved Street View mascot, and depending on where in the world you’re browsing, he might transform into someone new! Hint: Check out Loch Ness, Scotland for a fun surprise!

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Sport Ireland digitally maps over 12,000 recreational facilities in Ireland

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that its digital mapping system is being used by Sport Ireland to digitally map over 12,000 recreational locations and facilities across the island of Ireland.

Sport Ireland has launched Get Ireland Active, a national digital hub which maps sports and recreation facilities, walking and cycling trails, public parks, and other amenities around the country to promote higher levels of physical activity.

Sport Ireland is the national authority responsible for developing sport and outdoor recreation in Ireland. Based on Esri’s ArcGIS system, Sport Ireland and Derilinx created Get Ireland Active, which anticipates over 15,000 visitors per month and aims to inspire people to get involved in sport and other recreational activities to improve their health and wellbeing.

The interactive digital map addresses the need for a single, authoritative source of data about sports facilities in Ireland that can provide ways for citizens to become more active, and can also be used to support policy decisions and inform the development of new facilities.

Validated data, for the whole of Ireland, is available to stakeholders via the fully interactive online data hub, created with ArcGIS Hub Premium. Users can collate, verify, analyse, and share data in real-time, including development, planning, and socio-demographic information. This provides actionable insights and allows policy makers in central and local government, sporting bodies, and other stakeholders to analyse gaps in the provision of services and easily identify development land or other potential areas that might be available to site new facilities.

Sport Ireland conducted audits of all sports facilities in Ireland to create the central data hub, which is flexible and scalable and will continue to be updated as data is made available.

Dr Úna May, CEO, Sport Ireland, said: “Esri Ireland’s expertise has been crucial in bringing the Get Ireland Active database to life. Their technology allows us to offer a user-friendly platform that has comprehensive information about recreational activities across Ireland.

“Technology is transforming how we approach our everyday lives, and it’s vital that we use this to our benefit. Our collaboration with Esri Ireland has made this a reality, and we are excited to build upon this work through the continued development of the Get Ireland Active database.” 

Padraig Quinn, Senior Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: “We are proud to have supported the development of the Get Ireland Active national database, Ireland’s interactive activity, sport, and recreation hub. The benefits of having an interactive hub which can direct members of the public to their closest sport or recreation facilities are invaluable, especially coming into the winter months. Furthermore, the hub will continue to inform future development of sporting facilities across Ireland and embed a love of sport and the outdoors for both present and future generations. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Sport Ireland as the hub continues to grow.”