Tag: #smartphones

USB-C for laptops from today, can we do smartwatches next.

New laptops sold in the European Union must now support USB-C charging, as the final major phase of the EU’s common charger rules takes effect. If you recall USB-C was made mandatory back not so long ago for mobile phones etc and I would personally like the same for same for smartwatches and fitness trackers next and ditching their docking stations and proprietary chargers which are a nuisance.

The requirement applies to laptops from today the 28th April, extending rules that have already applied to mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems since December 2024.

This does not mean your current power cables at home will work on new ones if you do not get a charger in the box which will be more likely the case making it an add on sale but we will soon see how that works out as of now we barely get the cable with the phone today and no plug

Also to note just because you have a USB-C cable at home it will work it most likely will not if it is just a bog standard one you need to check the voltagle and the plug.

European phone habits cost up to €2,574 per device

A new study from Fraunhofer Austria, commissioned by refurbed, Ireland’s leading online market place for refurbished goods, shows that the way people buy, use and dispose of their smartphones is quietly costing them hundreds – and in some cases thousands – of euro more than it needs to.

The research, which models the full six-year lifecycle of an average smartphone in Europe with a new retail price of €575, finds that consumers can cut the total cost of owning a phone by between 25% and 76% simply by changing how long they hold onto the device, whether they trade it in and how they dispose of it at end of life.

The findings land at a moment of rapid change in the Irish mobile market. According to ComReg’s 2025 Mobile Consumer Experience Survey, the second-hand phone market in Ireland has more than doubled since 2022, from 6% of purchases to 13% in 2025. Yet three in five Irish phones in use today are still two years old or less – pointing to a churn cycle that is costing consumers unnecessarily.

The €2,574 question: how you use a phone matters more than what you paid for it

The Fraunhofer study modelled three scenarios for the same average European smartphone usage:

  • Circular use: the phone is bought new, used for three years, traded in and refurbished, used for another three years, then properly recycled. Total six-year cost: €959 (€876 purchase + €83 environmental costs), producing 83kg of CO₂ and consuming 38g of critical raw materials.

  • Average European use: the phone is used for three years, then left in a drawer, and eventually ends up in household waste. Total six-year cost: €1,294 (€1,150 purchase + €144 environmental), producing 161kg of CO₂ and consuming 115g of critical raw materials.

  • Linear “throwaway” use: the phone is replaced every year; older devices sit unused or are sent to illegal recycling in the Global South. Total six-year cost: €3,834 (€3,450 purchase + €384 environmental), producing 684kg of CO₂ and consuming 346g of critical raw materials.

Compared with circular use, the average European approach costs nearly 35% more, produces twice the emissions, and consumes almost three times the critical raw materials. The linear model costs four times more than circular, with eight times the emissions and nine times the raw material consumption.

The pressure on critical raw materials – cobalt, copper, magnesium, palladium and others that Europe overwhelmingly imports – rises sharply across the three models: from 38g in circular use, to 115g in average use, to 346g in linear use per device.

“The Fraunhofer data puts a number on something Irish consumers already sense,” says Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of refurbed. “Through usage behaviour alone – reselling, keeping a phone longer, or disposing of it properly – consumers can save at least €274 and up to €2,574 per device over six years. That is real money at a time when Irish consumers are more and more worried about their personal finances. For iPhone users, the savings potential is significantly higher.”

Ireland’s drawer problem

The study’s findings have particular resonance in Ireland, where the Central Statistics Office found that seven in ten internet users said their most recently disposed-of mobile phone is still sitting at home. Just 9% brought it to an e-waste collection or recycling centre. The pattern is generational: 24% of 16–29 year olds sold or gave away their old phone, compared with just 5% of those aged 75 and over.

“It was important for us to calculate results at the product level rather than for specific consumer groups, to avoid unnecessary consumer blaming,” says study author Paul Rudorf. “Every product must first be produced, which already entails costs and environmental impact. What happens after production makes the decisive difference. Our data shows that usage type, duration and disposal have a significantly greater impact on both consumer costs and the environment.”

The full Fraunhofer Austria white paper is available on request.

Waterford Festival of Food Unveils Digital Partnership

Waterford Festival of Food has announced an innovative partnership with CultureUnderground.ie, introducing a bespoke, mobile-first digital guide to navigate this year’s extensive festival programme. This exciting collaboration reinforces the festival’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and accessibility, offering attendees a seamless, paperless way to navigate over 100+ events across Dungarvan, West Waterford, and Waterford City directly from their smartphones!

As the 2026 programme expands into Waterford City and deep into the West Waterford countryside, the Culture Underground guide serves as a real-time companion for visitors. Designed to reduce reliance on traditional printed materials, the intuitive platform provides interactive maps, instant schedule updates, and curated discovery features, allowing festival-goers to move effortlessly between high-profile chef collaborations, foraging trails, and the festival’s signature outdoor markets.

The move is a key part of the festival’s environmental strategy, aimed at reducing the event’s physical footprint while ensuring that the 100+ events remain easily navigable for visitors of all ages.

Eunice Power, CEO of Waterford Festival of Food, welcomed the partnership saying “Accessibility and sustainability are the twin pillars of our festival design. As we grow, we want to ensure that navigating the weekend is as enjoyable as the events themselves. Partnering with Culture Underground allows us to bring our values into the palms of our visitors’ hands, making it easier than ever to discover new chefs, follow food trails or family friendly events  and just generally move through the weekend with ease.”

Shane Holohan, Founder of Culture Underground, added: “We’re delighted to collaborate with the Waterford Festival of Food, a flagship event built on community, creativity, and a profound sense of place. Our goal is to make cultural discovery effortless. We are proud to support festival-goers with a digital guide that doesn’t just show them where to go, but helps them immerse themselves in the stories and producers that make this event so unique.”

The digital guide will be available to all visitors via waterfordfestivaloffood.com and through QR codes located at key festival hubs throughout the weekend.

Twelve South launches the Curve Nano smartphone stand

Twelve South, a leading designer of premium tech accessories, today launches the Curve Nano, a magnetic, adjustable and portable stand for smartphones.

Compatible with Qi2 and MagSafe-enabled devices, the Curve Nano is the ultimate companion for streaming, chatting, or working on a smartphone, at home or on-the-go. Easy to use, a hidden magnet holds a smartphone securely, while the silicone top ring prevents slipping and movement. Once the device is in place, users can smoothly tilt the smartphone to their preferred viewing angle, in either portrait or landscape orientation.

The weighted base always ensures stability, whether users are watching a movie during a flight, following a workout or yoga routine on YouTube, or keeping their phone propped up for recipes while cooking in the kitchen. The Curve Nano is perfect for those who want to watch shows, view content, make hands-free video calls and more from their smartphone. It can even make working from a device easy when paired with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

Lightweight, compact, and made from durable, high-quality aluminium, the Curve Nano is ideal for anyone who is travelling around, working remotely, or going on holiday. Designed to be folded down completely flat, it fits comfortably in a bag or pocket and comes with a protective sleeve to keep it safe from scratches as well as protect other items within reach.

The Curve Nano is available now for £29.99 from Twelve South UK in three different colours, slate, dune and coastal.

See our Twelve South Reviews

JCB Phone Launches New Rugged Smartphone Range

JCB Phone today unveiled its latest lineup of rugged smartphones, the JCB Toughphone E10, M20, and P20, as the company embarks on international expansion across Europe, Africa, Australasia and Latin America. Engineered for professionals in construction, logistics, agriculture, and emergency services, the new range delivers a powerful combination of durability, intelligent design, and performance in the toughest conditions.

At the heart of the launch is the JCB Toughphone E10, a slim, ultra-tough smartphone built for modern B2B deployments. Featuring Android 15, eSIM support, and multi-day battery life, it delivers serious enterprise capability. Ideal for fleet rollouts, the E10 combines outstanding value with premium rugged credentials including IP69K/MIL-STD-810H ratings, night vision camera, and 1.8m drop protection.

The Toughphone M20 and P20 models are designed to go further, packing heavyweight features for demanding users. With massive battery capacity, high-brightness displays, and enhanced durability, they’re built to be the ultimate reliable business tools for long shifts in extreme conditions. The P20 also becomes JCB Phone’s first device to feature an integrated thermal imaging sensor, which is perfect for inspection, diagnostics, and safety monitoring in complex environments.

The launch follows strong growth in the UK and a strategic investment in leadership to support international scale. In early 2025, JCB Phone appointed Pete Cunningham as Chief Strategy Officer and Chris Millington as Global Sales Director, combining decades of experience in mobile strategy and rugged device distribution.

“We’ve built a solid foundation in the UK, and now we’re focused on scaling internationally,” said Roy Taylor, CEO of JCB Phone. “This new range reflects what our customers have told us they need: tough, dependable smartphones with practical features that work in extreme conditions, all at a price point that makes sense for business.”

Industry experts remain optimistic about the rugged category. Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight commented. “While the rugged smartphone market has contracted over the past few years, there’s still a clear opportunity for companies that are lean, flexible and truly focused on customer needs. JCB Phone is well-positioned to meet that demand with a widely recognised brand and a clear product vision.”

The new JCB Toughphones will be available across Europe immediately, with rollout to Africa, Australasia and Latin America to follow.

See our Reviews on phones and more

Doro Aurora A30 unboxing and UI walkthrough

Recently Doro introduced a new trio of devices to their portfolio for 2025 which was the Aurora A10  Aurora A20  and the device we have here today the Doro Aurora A30 the top of the range device.

Aimed at more capable seniors you could say this is a fully fledged Android device with their own Doro Easy Interface on top which you can easily switch around from one to the other and an important feature on board is TeamViewer which enables others to access the phone in real time for those in need, we can look at this later on.

A recent Doro study revealed that 51% of seniors worry about pressing the wrong thing on their devices, while 49% struggle with app navigation. To address these challenges, the phones feature three physical buttons for easy calling and a dedicated home key, making navigation simpler for all users, including those with impaired sight or dexterity. The devices, with the buttons and their streamlined interface, also provide quick access to Google Gemini features.  With loud and clear sound quality powered by Doro ClearSound, they ensure crystal-clear communication.

Over the next few weeks we will be testing this device out and if you have any questions need answering feel free to ask us on all our socials and do check out the unboxing video below for more and watch out for more videos..

Unboxing Video

 

The  Doro Aurora A30 features

  • Doro Secure™ Button – One-touch access to immediate support and assistance.
  • Doro Easy™ Interface – A simplified smartphone experience tailored for all users.
  • Loud and Clear Sound – Doro ClearSound ensures optimised audio for enhanced clarity.
  • Remote Support – Loved ones can provide assistance remotely, reducing stress and ensuring a seamless experience.
  • Eco-Friendly Design – Crafted with recycled materials, reflecting Doro’s commitment to sustainability.
  • Easy charging – The Doro Aurora wireless charger makes charging easy and seamlessly blends into the home environment. It is ideal for hands-free video calling and comes with a dimmable light to be able to see at night easily. Available for purchase separately to the phones or as a bundle.

BUY

Other Doro News 

UI walkthrough Video 

ERP Ireland Encourages Public to Embrace Tech Reuse, Repair, and Recycling This World Earth Day

Tuesday, 22nd April is World Earth Day and the European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for WEEE and Waste Batteries, is calling on households to stop tech hoarding and consider reuse, repair or recycling their old or broken electrical items.
Whether its cluttering kitchen cupboards or stashed away in the infamous man drawer Irish homes, attics and garden sheds are full of forgotten electrical items. According to new Coyne Research commissioned by ERP, 1 in 3 adults claim they are holding on to unused electrical items because they haven’t got around to recycling them (32%). A further 15% say they are holding onto old electronics because they might repair them in future.
“Irish homes are full of old and forgotten mobile phones, laptops, tablets and gadgets that we haven’t touched in years,” says James Burgess, Country General Manager at ERP. “World Earth Day, just after Easter, is the perfect moment to take stock and do something positive for the planet. We want people to consider how their old tech can have a new lease of life, either by being repaired, or by being recycled so it’s components can be used again.”
Time to Close the Loop
ERP’s research also reveals a shift in how Irish consumers view technology as refurbished tech grows in popularity.
  • 44% of consumers have bought second-hand or refurbished electronics before (44%).
  • Gen Z are leading the charge, with 3 in 5 (60%) opting for refurbished tech, compared to just 1 in 4 (26%) Baby Boomers.
  • Smartphones top the list of most commonly purchased refurbished items (51%), followed by laptops (26%) and tablets (14%).
  • Quality, price, and warranty matter most to consumers when purchasing refurbished motivators.
  • And tellingly, there’s been a +6% increase in people holding onto old electronics with the intention to repair them in the past year but not getting round to it.
This World Earth Day, ERP is reminding the public that repairing and recycling are both central to ensuring a circular economy in Ireland.
“We need to move away from a throwaway culture – and that starts at home,” continues Burgess. “We’re asking everyone to take a moment to clear out those forgotten items and consider bringing them for repair where possible or taking them to a local recycling centre if needed. Don’t let them gather dust – let them make a difference.”
Free Recycling
This week, ERP Ireland launches its ERP Free Electrical Drop Off Events schedule for 2025 with events announced for Cavan, Clare, Fingal Dublin, Kerry, Meath, and Monaghan. The programme offers householders an accessible central collection point to bring their unused and broken electrical items and used batteries for recycling. ERP Ireland also partnered with Lidl Ireland to offer a series of free household electrical recycling events at some of their stores.
Find your nearest ERP FREE Electrical recycling Drop Off event at www.erp-recycling.ie

Rain Technology Embeds Visual Security and Delivers Display Innovation From Smartphone to AR/VR

CES 2025, CEO Robert Ramsey, Ph.D. and Chief Scientist Michael Robinson, Ph.D. of Rain Technology, creator of the world’s most advanced directional display technologies, has shared expert commentary and select video explainers about:

  • The market outlook for emerging display technologies.
  • The big leap in visual privacy to combat shoulder surfers.
  • Key advances in AR and VR optical design to spur mass adoption.
  • Opportunities to capitalize on display innovations today.

The Market Outlook for Emerging Display Technologies

Whether for business or personal use, displays of all types are central to our everyday experience. However, the amount and type of information displayed, the types of devices themselves, the hardware technologies used to provide higher quality and more efficient images, and the situations in which these devices are used all continue to expand at an incredible rate. As such, significant market opportunity exists for companies developing innovative solutions. Experts in optics and photonics with a legacy in 3D cinema, Rain Technology scientists are radically changing the playing field for visual privacy and superior optical performance in emerging display technologies, which will transform the market by enabling the type of experiences that drive mass adoption through quality and comfort.

One of Rain Technology’s innovations that has been broadly adopted is Switchable Privacy™, a thin liquid crystal layer in the display that switches privacy on and off, preventing peripheral viewers from seeing sensitive content. See the details of how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/y05VX8Pundg. This has applicability across fraud prevention, securing confidential information, and ensuring personal privacy. It has already shipped millions of units through industry-leading partners. In addition, the company’s innovations in privacy have been successfully leveraged and deployed in the automotive sector. Specifically, No-Driver-Distraction™ helps create safer driving experiences by preventing driver distraction caused by light emitted from passenger screens, and Display Screen Branding™ provides off-axis brand promotion by manufacturers and retailers.

Rain Technology will subsequently be adapted to further define the future of AR and VR in gaming, business, medical, and military defense. Its patented approach, Anamorphic-XR™, which relies on common, easy to manufacture materials, delivers fundamentally superior capabilities to existing AR and VR optics to improve user experience, performance and comfort. It has the potential to significantly increase consumer adoption as well as time spent engaged with devices, opening new opportunities for consumer, enterprise, military and industrial uses.

A Big Leap in Visual Privacy for Every Device

Identity theft and data breaches are on the rise, compounded by mobile work, whether remote or simply in transit. Shoulder surfers, visual hackers, and snoopers are omnipresent. Although the market for adhesive-based privacy screens for smartphones, laptops and monitors is valued at over a billion dollars and set to double in five years, it is a stopgap, lacking the ability to be controlled by enterprise IT and security policy and compromising device performance and usability.

Consumers will begin to see device and display manufacturers as well as enterprise IT departments and application developers placing a higher priority on integrating software solutions with new embedded display technologies to deliver increased privacy and control at the source. This newfound level of security will put mobile privacy in everyone’s pocket and across laptops, point of sale, automotive, tablets, and other devices.

Rain Technology is powering this change. Its patented Switchable Privacy controls the viewing angle to protect enterprises and individuals from visual hacking, data fraud, and identity theft. Switchable Privacy is applicable across the displays for smartphones, laptops, POS and ATM terminals, automotive dashboards and in-cabin displays, and medical kiosks. See more about Switchable Privacy here: https://youtu.be/4IzHUionehY.

Key Advances in AR and VR Performance to Spur Mass Adoption

AR and VR devices have been hyped for decades but have yet to realize their potential. To achieve mass adoption, the device hardware must significantly improve in weight, power efficiency, brightness, image quality, and eye comfort. Rain Technology’s Anamorphic-XR represents a crucial advancement in the evolution of AR and VR features, functionality and performance.

Rising consumer interest and commercial long-term strategies from the major players in AR and VR will be complemented by substantial government investment in these innovations, particularly in headsets and navigation and targeting systems. This dual trajectory of technological enhancement, spurred by Anamorphic-XR, and strategic funding will propel the industry forward. This will effectively pave the way for broader integration by the leading AR and VR manufacturers into various sectors, ultimately transforming how people interact with their digital and physical environments. As these improvements are integrated, a surge in user engagement can be expected in terms of session time and application diversity, from entertainment to surgery to day-to-day interaction with the environment.

Opportunities to Capitalize on Display Innovations Today

  • Smartphones – Rain Technology is working with smartphone manufacturers to integrate its embedded Switchable Privacy display technology, ensuring peak performance in optical clarity, color and luminance, while providing Privacy Mode for optimal protection and Share Mode for collaboration. Available now for smartphone brands, display manufacturers, and component suppliers from Rain Technology.
  • Laptops, Tablets and Monitors – Rain Technology’s Switchable Privacy enables viewing in Share Mode and Privacy Mode as well as delivering best-in-class performance for image clarity, color and luminance. Available now to laptop brands and manufacturers from Rain Technology.
  • Retail POS – Customer and staff-operated POS terminal numbers are expanding rapidly, and customers are increasingly sensitive to their data being “visually hacked” or even their privacy compromised during cart review, transaction or tipping at point of sale. Optimizing POS devices for both retailers and consumers, Rain Technology’s Switchable Privacy enables manufacturers to deliver a Privacy Mode for consumer transaction security as well as a Share Mode for brand promotion. Now available to retailers from POS manufacturer Datecs and direct from Rain Technology.
  • Bank ATMs – With more than 3 million ATMs around the world, shopping, dining and withdrawing cash puts consumers as well as merchants, retailers and bankers at risk. Rain Technology’s Switchable Privacy enables ATM manufacturers to ensure financial service providers can mitigate the risk of data breaches, meet regulatory compliance, and foster consumer loyalty and trust. Available today to ATM manufacturers and supply chain providers direct from Rain Technology.
  • Medical Kiosks – Private patient information, governed by HIPAA regulations, is often displayed on screens across the medical environment, from check-in kiosks to registration desks to hospital nurses stations, pharmacies and more. Rain Technology’s Switchable Privacy enables manufacturers of monitors and tablets to deliver a Privacy Mode for patient privacy and Share Mode for collaboration. Now available to manufacturers and display providers across the healthcare industry through Rain Technology.
  • Automotive Displays – Bridging the gap between passenger infotainment and safe driving while meeting evolving legislative safety standards, Rain Technology’s No-Driver-Distraction controls the viewing angle and luminous levels so the display screens within the cabin can only be viewed by the intended audience (driver or passenger). Rain Technology’s Display Screen Branding delivers a unique in-cabin design and branding opportunity for marketers. Available today to automotive suppliers, tier one integrators, and brands both directly from Rain Technology and via display manufacturer Tianma.
  • AR and VR – The future of AR and VR relies at least partly on hardware device advances. Rain Technology is the first to introduce a patented optical design approach — Anamorphic-XR — that holds significant advantages over existing systems in the areas of image quality, color, field of view, brightness (up to 10x improvement), weight, and comfort. Currently available as a proof-of-concept demonstrator, Rain Technology is actively engaging with partners to integrate this technology into future device and wearable offerings.

To learn more, visit www.raintechnology.com.

CES 2025 news

Best Mobile Phones for Playing Online Poker in 2024

Online poker has grown over the last couple of years to become one of the most favoured pastimes by many around the world. With improved technology on mobile, it’s never been easier to play poker while on the move. With performance, graphics, and even truly excellent battery life in most modern smartphones, the 2024 market is full of models that will help anyone enjoy online poker. 

Why Mobile Phones Matter for Online Poker

  • Performance and Speed

Performance is everything when playing online poker. A strong processor and ample RAM in a mobile phone are needed to play games without lags. This makes one able to make decisions very fast and be competitive enough within the game. High-performance phones generally handle multitasking quite well, allowing one to switch between different poker applications and other applications seamlessly, which is crucial when you want to play poker online.

  • Display Quality

Display quality can make all the difference in an online poker game. High resolution, vivid colours, and clear details reduce fatigue in the eyes while watching action or reading text. Larger screens also offer more real estate for a poker table view, which could be of prime importance to players who take part in multi-table tournaments.

Top Mobile Phones for Playing Online Poker

  • iPhone 14 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 Pro Max would without a doubt be among the leaders in playing online poker in 2024. Equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, this phone is super fast and provides faultless performance, which ensures there won’t be any lagging during the game process. The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display is sure to please with brilliant brightness and contrast levels, bringing out every nuance of the poker game. Besides, ProMotion technology offers a far smoother scroll that sometimes can be helpful in poker applications.

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Another excellent option for an online poker player would be the Galaxy S24 Ultra by Samsung. This model contains the newest processor, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is supported by up to 12GB of RAM for powerhouse performance in all types of gaming. Its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate and brings sharp, clear visuals. Additionally, long battery life means players can enjoy extended poker sessions.

  • Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes with great optimization in its software and a good user experience. This phone is driven by the Google Tensor G2 chip, which runs very smoothly and efficiently. Adding to that is the 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED screen running at 120Hz for sharp and fluent visuals for playing poker online. In addition to this, the device offers good battery life and fast charging to let users have long gaming sessions.

  • OnePlus 11

The OnePlus 11 makes for a good gaming phone, being now fitted with top-of-the-line specifications at an aggressive price. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and up to 16GB RAM for lag-free gaming. The 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED Display on the device runs at a refresh rate of 120Hz to provide fluid and vibrant graphics for playing games on the smartphone. Moreover, the device offers a good battery life, along with fast charging support to let users have long gaming sessions.

  • Xiaomi Mi 13 Pro

But of course, the most striking points about this phone, the Mi 13 Pro from Xiaomi, are its display and performance. Powered with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM ensures that online poker games go through without a hitch. The visuals are brilliant, with smooth transitions on the 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display, which comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Its large battery and effective power management ensure players can enjoy their favourite poker games for a long period.

In conclusion, you want to get the right mobile phone for the best possible online poker experience. Of course, the gadgets which really nailed it with great performance, brilliant displays, and long battery life in this roundup are the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 7 Pro, OnePlus 11, and Xiaomi Mi 13 Pro. These phones are great for playing poker at both casual and competitive levels, with enormous speed, brilliant graphics, and reliability for flawless gameplay. The future of online poker through smartphones is sure to be great with improving mobile technology.