Tag: meals

DragonTouch Digital Calendar/Photo Frame Review

The DragonTouch Digital Calendar/Photo Frame is an ideal tool or decoration for someone who has a busy schedule and wants to see nice photos when not working the fact it is touch screen make this even easier to use and there is an app to go along with keeping all things in sync

The build quality is also excellent and looks well on any desk or shelf and comes in a range of sizes, you could also wall mount this and with the included bracket you can place vertically or horizontally the choice is yours.

You can sync from several calendars not just Google for example and all works well having tested in both iPhone and Android devices.

The UI on the app is simple and the same for the UI on the frame itself making life so simple with editing option on screen without the need to pick up your phone or go to your laptop for example this also allows ease of use and others can be invited to use it too.

For me this is a great product executed well and something for anyone or the busy tech enthusiast in your life and an ideal gift, check the full hands on video review for what you can expect.

The eCalender App

  • 【All-In-One Smart Family Calendar】: Dragon Touch digital frame effortlessly organizes and tracks every family schedule with the crystal-clear 10.1″ touchscreen. Assign different colors and tasks to each family member, making family scheduling simpler and more intuitive.
  • 【Easy Setup and Auto-Sync】: Enjoy a user-friendly design that our smart picture frame allows for quick setup—just plug in, connect to Wi-Fi, and link your calendar to the Mobile App. Once synced, it seamlessly integrates multiple personal calendars (iOS, Google, etc.) into one unified interface. Authorize additional devices for even greater convenience.
  • 【Interactive Chores Chart & Dinner Planner】: Our digital calendar keeps housework organized and motivates family members, especially children, to develop healthy habits with an interactive chore chart. Display your family dinner plans to keep everyone informed and eliminate the daily “What’s for dinner?” question.
  • 【Manage from Anywhere】: Stay connected with the powerful eCalendar App. Access and manage your calendar on the go, with free features like a photo frame, chore chart, dinner plan, grocery list, and more. Paid functions like Magic Import offer advanced tools tailored for users with special needs.
  • 【Elegant Digital Picture Frame】: Transform your smart calendar into a stunning digital picture frame when not in use. Display cherished family photos on the clear touchscreen, bringing a touch of sophistication to any room as contemporary home decor.

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Video Review

Bosch launches series 6 Air Fryer

Bosch – Europe’s leader in food preparation appliances – is proud to announce that its first ever air fryer is now available in Ireland!

Say hello to the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer RRP €179.99, backed by 150 years of cooking expertise and designed to meet the growing demand for healthier, faster, and more convenient cooking. Available from retailers nationwide, it marks the beginning of a new era for Bosch as it expands its renowned range of innovative kitchen solutions into the booming air fryer market.

The air fryer is one of the most sought-after kitchen gadgets in Ireland. In fact, air fryers were officially added to the CSO’s basket of goods and services in 2024 – a clear indicator of how much of a kitchen staple they’ve become.

So what makes Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer stand out from the crowd?

Boasting a compact, space-saving design, it can feed the whole family with its generous 7.2L capacity allowing you to cook up to five portions without taking up too much room on the countertop.

Thanks to Bosch’s even-cooking technology, there’s no need to shake the drawer – your food comes out perfectly cooked all on its own. The illuminated viewing window allows you to keep an eye on your meal as it cooks so you’ll know when it’s ready to serve. It even comes with extra accessories including a grill plate and skewers, opening up endless meal possibilities.

It also uses up to 95%*** less oil, creating healthy meals that don’t compromise on taste or flavour. Best of all? It delivers quick, energy-efficient meals, saving up to 65% faster than a traditional oven and 70% on energy.

From tender meat and crispy potatoes to perfectly grilled veggies and kebabs, this air fryer is ready to handle whatever’s on the menu. Bosch is all about reliability, so customers can rest easy knowing the Series 6 Air Fryer comes with a 2-year warranty as standard – giving you extra peace of mind.

Also making its debut in Ireland is the Bosch Series 4 Air Fryer RRP €149.99. With a 6.1L capacity, it’s slightly smaller than the Series 6 but built with the same Bocsh technology. Both products are available in electrical retailers nationwide, it’s compact, easy-to-clean, and promises to simplify midweek cooking – making it the perfect choice for busy Irish households.

For more detailed information, visit www.bosch.ie or book your free product consultation at the Home of Innovation showroom in Dublin 12 today. 

See our Geo smart pro air fryer review

MyNetDiary Launches PlateAI: The First All-in-One AI-Powered Diet & Wellness App

MyNetDiary, the top-rated nutrition and health platform trusted by over 28 million users, has announced PlateAI, the next-generation app for personalized diet and wellness. Available on iOS and Android, PlateAI combines instant AI-powered food logging, real-time nutrition coaching, and a complete suite of health tools to support better habits and sustainable results.

Built for everyday life, PlateAI helps users eat better, lose weight, and stay consistent without the guesswork. The app combines the proven tracking accuracy of MyNetDiary with a powerful new AI Coach that delivers instant feedback, motivation, and meal guidance tailored to the user’s goals.

“PlateAI is your complete support system,” said Sergey Oreshko, founder and CEO of MyNetDiary. “We’ve taken the trusted foundation of MyNetDiary and layered in real-time coaching, photo-based and voice logging, and a smarter, more connected experience. It’s everything people need to succeed in one app.”

With PlateAI, users can log meals by speaking, snapping a photo, or scanning a menu, with AI instantly estimating nutrition and offering personalized suggestions. Its verified database of over 1.9 million foods includes both macronutrients and 100+ micronutrients, providing unmatched nutritional depth.

Unlike traditional calorie counter apps that rely on tedious manual entry and a do-it-yourself approach, or basic AI apps that offer quick logging but limited features and generic guidance, PlateAI delivers both speed and depth. It combines fast AI-powered logging with a comprehensive wellness platform — and goes further with a real-time AI Coach that provides personalized, actionable support based on each user’s habits, goals, and progress, making it easier to stay consistent and achieve sustainable results.

Key Features Include:

  • AI Coach (24/7) – Personalized, real-time guidance, encouragement, and insight based on actual user data
  • Photo & Voice Logging – Track meals instantly without typing or manual entry
  • Menu Scan & Smart Suggestions – Scan a restaurant menu and get personalized recommendations
  • Daily Nutrition Feedback – Trend analysis and suggestions to help users adjust in real time
  • Custom Meal Plans – Expert-designed programs for weight loss, strength, or balanced eating
  • 1.9M+ Verified Foods – Complete with macros and 100+ micronutrients
  • Intermittent Fasting Tools – Flexible tracking and support
  • Fitness Integration – Works with Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, Google Fit, and more
  • Built-in Community Support – Ask questions, share meals, and get encouragement

Built on two decades of trusted nutrition expertise, PlateAI delivers an elevated, AI-driven experience to support better health, improved consistency, and sustainable results all in one place. Learn more at PlateAI.com.

Almost half of people in Ireland use their smartphones during meals

Almost half of people in Ireland (47%) use their smartphones during meals and 70% say they spend too much time on their devices, a new Deloitte survey has found.

The survey of 1,000 people in Ireland was carried out as part of Deloitte’s Digital Consumer Trends report.

It shows that three-quarters of adults (74%) tend to use their mobile phones as soon as they wake up while 54% say they tend to stay awake later than planned because of their devices. Over one third (34%) check their phone at least 50 times a day and 15% do so more than 100 times.

Young people are also more likely to stay up later than planned due to phone use with 73% of those aged between 18-24 and 60% of those aged 25-34 years admitting it delays their bedtime. More women (74%) than men (66%) say they spend too much time on their smartphones while adults aged 18 to 44 express the most concern.

Nearly everyone in Ireland, 95%, now owns a smartphone, and almost half of those surveyed (47%) use their smartphone or smartwatch to pay for goods and services in-store through digital wallets, up from 36% in 2023.

The use of wearable devices (55%) has declined from 67% in 2023 while the ownership or use of games consoles is down from 40% to 37%, most likely due to the lack of new console releases in 2024. Just 7% of people own or have access to a VR headset.

42% of those surveyed own a Samsung, the most popular mobile phone brand, up from 38% in 2023, while 38% own an Apple phone.

Android is the most popular phone type in every age group with the exception of 18-24 where 64% own Apple handsets and 35% own Android. Almost three-quarters of those aged 65-75 (74%), 69% of those aged 45-54 and 66% of those aged 35-44 use Android phones.

The survey found the average respondent has access to 2.3 subscription services. 74% have access to a video streaming service and Netflix is the lead service by a significant margin despite a drop in penetration from 65% of respondents in 2021 to 59%.

Just 26% now say they share a video streaming service with someone from outside their household, down from 37% in 2023. This comes amid a clampdown on password sharing by Netflix, which introduced new rules and now effectively only allow users to regularly stream from one main location.

Younger subscribers are more likely to share accounts with people outside their households with 39% of those aged 18-24 doing so and 44% of those aged 25-34.

27% of those surveyed cancelled a video streaming subscription in the last 12 months. Unsurprisingly cost was the main reason for doing so jumping from 24% to 31%, followed by lack of usage at 29%, down 4 percentage points on 2023.

Fake news on the rise

 71% of respondents to the survey said they’d been exposed to online information designed to deliberately mislead. A total of 53% said they had more regularly found material online that was subsequently proven to be fake. This is up from 46% in 2023.

Television remains the most popular choice for news consumption in Ireland with more than half the population (57%) preferring it for updates. This trend is particularly strong among older demographics with 83% of those aged 65-75 choosing TV over other mediums.

The most popular method of staying up to date for the 18-24 (67%) and 25-34 (57%) age group is social media, which is cited by just 24% of the 55-64 and 11% of 65-75 age groups.

Overall, 40% say they like to get their news from radio, 39% use news websites or apps, and 38% use social media. Only 14% cite print as a preferred source.

Interestingly, more than half (58%) of 18–34-year-olds have made a purchase through social media in the last year. 22% of 18–24-year-olds and 29% of 25-34 year olds have bought something through a brand advert or a sponsored post.

John Kehoe, partner, Audit & Assurance, Deloitte Ireland said: “Our digital consumer trends survey shows that smartphones have become the most essential device, surpassing laptops (81%) and tablets (61%) in accessibility and consistent use across all ages. They are replacing physical wallets and remain the preferred tool for banking, shopping, browsing and gaming. However, recent innovations have been incremental rather than groundbreaking. Generative AI could change this by making smartphones more personalised and intuitive. Despite their benefits, concerns about excessive use persist – 47% use phones during meals, and many delay sleep to stay online. As smartphones shape daily life, it’s important to balance convenience with mindful usage.”

Commenting on the rise of fake news revealed in the report, Lorraine Griffin, partner and Chair of Deloitte Ireland, Tax & Legal, said:

“Our research highlights the increasing exposure to misinformation, particularly online. As news consumption shifts towards social media, and almost three in four respondents in our survey encountering intentionally misleading content, the need for media literacy and critical thinking has never been greater. Education remains key in empowering individuals to navigate digital spaces responsibly, ensuring access to information is accompanied with the skills to assess its accuracy.”

Tesco Ireland redistributes 20 million meals to 350 charitable groups in 10 years

Over the past decade, almost 20 million meals, or 7,900 tonnes of food, have been redistributed to people living in food insecurity across Ireland, thanks to Tesco Ireland’s Surplus Food Donations Programme. On average, Tesco Ireland redistributes and donates up to 40,000 meals every week to over 350 charities across the country.

New research commissioned by FoodCloud, a social enterprise with a mission to transform surplus food into opportunities, shows that families with children are the single largest group of people accessing donations from Tesco Ireland’s Food Surplus Redistribution programme.

According to the study, conducted in July of this year, families with children make up almost half (47%) of all those accessing food donations, while three quarters (75%) of community groups, who distribute surplus food, report that they have experienced an increased demand for food in the last six months.

In ten years of partnership, diverting this surplus food from going to waste to those in Irish communities who need it, Tesco has significantly reduced emissions associated with the processing of this waste.

Working with FoodCloud and Olio, as well as over 350 local charitable and voluntary groups nationwide, Tesco redistributes surplus food at the end of each day to those who need it most in our communities. This food is perfectly edible but because it is nearing its use by date, it will be removed from the shelves in store. Typical donations comprise fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, meat and more.

In 2013, Tesco Ireland became the first retailer to partner nationally with FoodCloud, and this year the two organisations are celebrating 10 years of working together. The programme, which began in one Tesco Express store on Talbot Street in Dublin city, is now in operation across Ireland, and has since expanded into the UK, Czechia, and Slovakia.

Marking this important milestone, Tesco Ireland Communications Director, Rosemary Garth said: “We are very proud of what has been achieved since we launched our national Surplus Food Donations Programme 10 years ago. As a grocery retailer we have no time for waste and are absolutely committed to ensuring that no good food goes to waste when there are people in our communities who need it.

Since we launched this programme, which is powered by our partners FoodCloud and Olio, we have provided almost 20 million meals to the most vulnerable in our communities. This has enabled the charitable and voluntary sector in Ireland to reduce their food bills by over €23 million, which, according to FoodCloud, has empowered them to invest in providing an even greater level of support services in towns and cities nationwide”.

Co-founder of FoodCloud, Aoibheann O’Brien said: “Tesco’s commitment to eliminating edible food waste from their stores has positioned us as a global leader in tackling food waste. Through our strong partnership with Tesco, we have continued to grow our impact, innovate, and push boundaries around what is possible around food redistribution. We have worked together to reduce food waste for 10 years, expanding across four countries.”