Tag: tech

Canyon True Wireless Stereo Headset OnRun 11 Sport – Review

The Canyon OnRun 11 Sport features a carefully designed ergonomic shape and secure ear hooks that conform comfortably to your ears, so you get a snug and stable fit. No matter how intense your workout gets, these earbuds will stay in place, preventing slippage or discomfort and after wearing these for some time on holidays and going to the gym and some cycling these have remained secure in my ears and will not budge for anyone else due to their ergonomic design.
Built to withstand the rigors of your active lifestyle, the Canyon OnRun 11 Sport is sweat and water resistant. You can confidently wear them during your most challenging workouts without worrying about damage from perspiration. The OnRun 11 Sport utilizes a high-capacity battery that delivers impressive playtime. Enjoy up to 7.5 hours of continuous music playback on a single charge, and the charging case provides an additional 28 hours of power.
The OnRun 11 Sport is engineered specifically for sports enthusiasts. The lightweight design, secure fit, and sweat resistance make these earbuds the ideal choice for athletes who demand the best in performance and comfort.
These are designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, these earbuds deliver powerful sound, a secure fit, and long-lasting battery life. Equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology, however there is no app for these which is disappointing but not a huge deal, the OnRun 11 Sport offers faster data transfer, improved phone call quality, and a wider frequency range for richer audio.
With up to 7.5 hours of continuous playback and a charging case that provides an additional 28 hours of power, you can enjoy your favourite music without interruption. Plus, the convenient wireless charging feature makes it easy to keep your earbuds powered up.
When it comes to controls and audio we have a touch base system here which works well and preferential for many in the sports scene, with the audio and no app these sounded better than one would expect to be fair and are quite fine as are out of the box with decent highs lows and mids no lag latency and no tinny sound when maxed out on the volume which for me is always the highest it can go and all genres played well here form my usual test run with earbuds and headphones. Some bass drops where quite remarkable in fact.
Controls
Multi-function Touch control
Double Tap the L/R earbud CTC: Answer or end an incoming call Long press the L/R earbud CTC 2 seconds: Reject a call.Listening to Music

Double Tap the L/R earbud CTC: Play/Pause Three Tap the R earbud CTC: Next song Three Tap the L earbud CTC: Previous song

Voice assistant – Long press the L earbud CTC for 5 seconds

We are missing ANC but honestly full volume on these you can forget about what is going on outside , there seems to be no volume control either and finally there is no auto play or pause or hear-through either present. Calls where fine for the few I took on both ends also.
Overall these are not the best on the market but for the price you cant complain I guess, they are loud with decent punchy musics that hit the right notes all round and have enough features for those not fussy, check the video below for more.
Features

 

  • Wireless charging support
  • Up to 30H playback
  • 7.5H on a single charge
  • up to 30H with charging cartridge
  • Headphone mAh: 50mAh
  • Cartridge mAh: 600mAh
  • Charging time for case: 2H

More Canyon reviews

Buy

Video Review

IFA Moments launches: Where tech meets culture – IFA Berlin cooperates with Home Again Club Festival

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest home and consumer tech event, brings back IFA Moments – a platform for cultural highlights that extends well beyond the main event in September and unfolds throughout the year. The campaign kicks off with a partnership with the Home Again Club Festival, taking place at Berlin’s Club Revier Südost from 28 May to 2 June 2025.

The IFA Moments campaign launches with a clear focus: Tech meets Techno. Loud, creative and deeply rooted in Berlin’s club scene, it forms a space where culture and innovation collide – uniting electronic music, community and future-facing technology. Headline acts include Peggo Gou, Solomun, Helena Hauff, Job Jobse, I Hate Models, Octo Octa and many more.

At the heart of this collaboration with the Home Again Club Festival is the panel “Innovation, imagination and the future of the music scene“, on 31 May. Artists, DJs and tech visionaries will explore how sound, innovation and community co-create tomorrow´s cultural spaces – openly, inspiringly, and with a visionary spirit. Expect fresh perspectives, honest conversations and a preview of how IFA Moments is redefining what a tech platform can be.

“With Home Again Festival, we’ve found a partner who shares our vision: To make technology something you don’t just see but feel and experience. In the club, on stage, and through dialogue. Technology is part of a wider cultural movement and that’s exactly what we aim to highlight with IFA Moments, as our contribution to the cultural scene,” says Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Berlin.

IFA Moments creates direct exchange between brands, artists, communities and technologies. Through events, co-creations and creative partnerships, IFA Berlin makes it clear: IFA is not only the world’s largest consumer tech event – it’s also a platform that drives cultural momentum, enables meaningful encounters, and opens new perspectives at the intersection of tech, culture and community disciplines.

Learn more about the IFA Moments platform and the 31 May panel at:
ifa-berlin.com/ifa-moments 

Edifier NeoDots Earbuds Review

The Edifier NeoDots Earbuds are one of their latest earbuds on offer and as always great to see new product from the brand I can easily recommend each time coming in the Black Noir flavour we have been testing these ones out for some time now and it is time to tell you what we think.

As expected from Edifier and being a long time tester these delivered on all aspects and most importantly the sound.

With the standard presentation which is fine we are presented with all the good you would expect top find in the box being extra tips cable and user manuals you will also need the Edifier ConneX app to get the full features and with the Android app you get slightly more than on iOS.

The look is clean with no buttons and despite thinking the touch area is outside where you tend to find it this time around it is on the side which will take a bit to get you muscle memory going and will work well as expected just this time you do not tap the outside but the side which is fine.

Once you have the app download you are in control then after this setting things up and the EQ which is important you have low latency more find your buds control settings and much more as you will see in the video review and screenshots below which differ than the iOS video we done the review on to give you am taste of both.

You also have various sound effects to pick from and these are worth checking out as they differ greatly more so than other do you also have noise cancellation sensitivity and find your buds and fast pair with Android devices and moreover LDAC Hi-Res audio. You have ANC control and also multipoint connection and ANC works really well and calls are clear both ends from my testing.

The sound is excellent as expected highs lows and mids all fine and with all the genres tested on my usual test run these shine all round with no lag latency or tinny sound when tuned up to the max which is how I like so your volume levels may differ than mine but the audio experience is excellent.

Overall here these are another great pair of earbuds from Edifier and what you can expect from the brand no matter what price range you go for.

 

Edifier ConneX App

 

 

Features 

Bluetooth v5.4

Bluetooth V5.4 enhances audio streaming and its multipoint connection feature enables users to effortlessly switch between music, videos and calls on two devices simultaneously, making it convenient for multitasking and enhancing the overall user experience.

Game Mode

The 80ms low latency audio in gaming mode ensures that sound effects and in-game actions are synchronized in real time, providing a more immersive and responsive gaming experience. This minimal delay allows gamers to react swiftly to audio cues, enhancing gameplay and overall performance during competitive scenarios.

Easy To Use

Featuring a press control design to avoid accidental touch and with wearing detection, the earbuds pause music when taken off and resume playback when put on.

Compatible with EDIFIER ConneX app for additional functions: personalize control settings, customize your EQ, and more.

Price & Availability:

The Edifier NeoDots is available at £129.99 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DB54Z4BS

Other edifier reviews

Video review 

Ireland puts pressure on Big Tech to tackle surge in online financial ad scams

Online financial scams are accumulating a substantial toll within the European Union, as consumers continue to be defrauded at an estimated €4.3 billion in 2022, and similar trends continuing in the year after. 

Sophisticated yet misleading advertisements have been pushed across major social media and technology platforms have become a primary conduit for these fraudulent activities.

Ireland’s stand: A push for pre-emptive action from tech giants

In response to the escalating threat, Ireland is spearheading an important initiative within the EU that proposes a rule change that would force Big Tech companies to vet financial advertisers before their advertisements are published. 

At the core of this Irish amendment, which would add to the already extensive payment services regulation, is to mandate that only financial service providers (who are officially registered with national competent authorities) would be permitted to run financial ads within the EU. 

Such a proactive stance is designed to shift the onus of initial verification onto the platforms themselves, in part because those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden. Though, the crux of the debate is simply that if a platform “airs” an ad, they should be responsible for it. 

The debate has similarities to the debate of whether web hosting providers, particularly cheap and accessible providers like IONOS, should be responsible for the sites that they host. The proposal has gained a lot of eyes, and traction, with around half of EU member states reportedly expressing support. Though, figures like US President Donald Trump have previously advocated for scaling back the regulation of major American technology firms, so this could further stoke the fire of what appears to be the EU and US going head to head.

Digital Services Act and internal conflict 

Ireland may well face internal conflict too, as a big challenge to the proposal lies in its potential conflict with the EU’s landmark Digital Services Act (DSA). Several EU diplomats have indicated that the European Commission sees a requirement for Big Tech to pre-vet online advertisers as contravening the DSA provisions, which generally don’t force platforms to conduct broad-based, proactive monitoring of content. Of course, broadly speaking, the mood around this topic might be changing, and Irish MEP Regina Doherty has countered that the requirement can be structured to align with existing law. Doherty claims it could focus on verifying the advertiser’s authorised status rather than policing the specific content of each ad, a little bit like how one must be FCA authorised to conduct crypto ads in the UK now. 

Alternative suggestions also exist, like Poland’s proposal for streamlined communication between payment providers and platforms to facilitate post-fraud content removal. Though, this is deemed insufficient by industry critics who argue this reactive approach fails to address the speed and impact of initial fraudulent postings. 

Supporting the need for more proactive urgency, the Bank of Ireland claimed that over 75% of its customers’ fraud losses during the past year come from investment scams, of which many are promoted online.

Creating a safer digital financial ecosystem

The growing crisis of online financial ad scams highlights that something needs to be done, and as is often the case, the EU is where it is most likely to happen. As Ireland pushes for this proactive amendment, we are yet to see how not only internal disagreements play out, but also how US Big Tech reacts to their ongoing battles with the EU.

LaserPecker LP5 20W Fiber & Diode Dual Laser Engraver Review

The LaserPecker LP5 20W Fiber & Diode Dual Laser Engraver is a serious piece of kit to have at your disposal and basically anyone can use it be it for business or just pleasure with the capabilities here if you have a few quid spare and want to enhance or create things at home or the office, this is one of those things I would typically buy as just to have it kind of thing thats what an impulse buyer does, well for me anyway.

To use this takes time alot of time so make sure you have it and schedule your day well this will depend on the material you decide to use and I find leather the best and quickest to get done but this is for more than leather and can be used on a wide variety of materials.

Personalization is a huge thing these days and often expensive as I have found out in the past when buying gifts or products and this is ideal for making something your own.

There is several ad ons you can also purchase and we have the safety cage which would be vital buy can be used on its on out of the box as you will see in the video review down below.

Making room for your set up is also key here as it will take up space and once you are ready to go the software is the next thing you will require both on mobile and laptop you have a choice which is great.

Choosing the material and what you want to engrave is the next thing to be careful with there will be some trial and error till you get everything right but after this it is fun and a great way to get making products nobody else has and add your touch with names, designs, images cliparts and much much more.

Safety is another important element here and both the cage and engraver itself has a safety cut off switch which is hand and thankfully never had to use but it was tested and worked with no issues.

 

Instant Store Customization in 15 Seconds: Start engraving during customer wait times – perfect for mall kiosks. Create custom keychains/phone cases with zero pre-setup.

  • Ultra-Portable Workshop (6.02kg): Half the weight of similar engravers. 92% faster setup at craft fairs vs others’ 12kg machines – fits in car trunks for mobile services.
  • 20W Dual Laser: 10X Speed & 0.0027mm Precision. Cut/engrave metals (gold, steel, etc.) and non-metals (wood, leather, etc.) at 10,000mm/s. Achieve 8K details with 2x higher accuracy (0.0027mm) vs similar engravers.
  • Pro-Grade Cutting: 20mm Wood & 0.5mm Metal. 20W diode cuts 20mm wood/15mm acrylic; fiber laser slices 0.5mm brass/titanium. The only dual-laser system handling thick crafts and jewelry metals.
  • 3D Grayscale Function for High-Value Items: LDS system creates depth-controlled coins/relief art – turn scrap into $50+ jewelry; 80% less test runs with Material Test Array.

BUY

Video Review

Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G Review

The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is a mid ranged priced phone but has the premium look to it and we have been testing it out the last few months and have to say it is a device I could use as a daily driver all year round.

Storage is now a factor in mobile phones and the base factor here starts at a rather generous 256GB where others fall behind and for those who like to take good photos and video the base offering here is more than welcome.

Specs are known now and listed below so we will not bore you with them but there is plenty to think about at this phones price which will vary by region and further making the point there is no need to spend over a thousand euro on a phone today.

The build quality is decent here and given it has a plastic back the body of the phone is premium with alloy rails and a 6.7 OLDED panel with a 120hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 making it ideal for media consumption.

With the camera hump placed in the middle on the back it means no wobble on a flat desk though most of us will use cases it is good to know and in the camera array we have a 200mp main camera 8mp ulltra wide 2 mp macro and not forgetting the 20mp front camera. which the results of can be seen below with the photo and image gallery.

Redmi Note 14 pro 5G images and video samples 

We have no wireless charging on board here which might be a deal breaker for some but 45w fast charging which is a fair speed at this price point and we also have a decent battery at 5110 mAh and one thing we do not see too often is an IR blaster up top which is great for those who use such an remote controls is one handy use for it.

The Redmi Not 14 Pro is power by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra chip and for my personal daily use which is more than most is fine and I had no issues with the countless apps running and social media and emails etc all day long making it fine for multitasking.

The phone runs on Hyper OS which lies atop Android 14 so we are a bit behind here but for me there was no issues in my review period and zipped along fine with any task I threw at it but there is only two years of software updates available now which is much less than rivals however that can change and most people change their device within that time frame.

If you are on a budget within the big budget market there is plenty of options available and making the choice more difficult but after testing this phone out myself it is one to certainly think about. Check out the first look video where we take a deep dive into the phone and show you lots more.

Features

Camera 200MP main camera
Chipset MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra
Carrier Unlocked for All Carriers
OS Xiaomi HyperOS based on Android
Cellular technology 5G
Storage & RAM 8GB + 256GB
Connectivity technologies Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, NFC
Screen size 6.67 Inches
Battery 5110mAh (typ)
Charging 45W turbo charging

Buy 

Unboxing and first look

2025 Irish Smartphone Usage Stats

Not so long ago, mobile phones were used only for communication. However, as these devices advanced, they started replacing everything from cameras to gaming consoles. Today, they’re an integral part of everyday life in Ireland. This is best highlighted in the most recent Irish smartphone usage stats. In this article, we look at the most important figures and what they mean long term.

More People are Gaming on Mobile

Remember the famous Nokia Snake game? While still considered a classic, the games available on smartphones are significantly better. From mini-games for passing time to full-fledged titles that have their console versions, mobile gaming has evolved into a serious segment of the gaming industry. Even online casinos are available on mobile, allowing you to play poker or spin slots with just a few taps, all that in fully optimized apps. With mobile gaming on the rise, it’s no wonder 55% of adults in Ireland now play games on mobile. This means that smartphones are now the most dominant platform in the country, with only between 37% and 40% playing on consoles.

5.05 Million People in Ireland Own a Smartphone

Today, it’s practically impossible to go about your day without a smartphone in your pocket. Whether you want to make a phone call, look up an address, or buy something, you can do it all from this little device. And people in Ireland are doing exactly this, with 5.05 million people in the country owning a smartphone. With the tech constantly evolving, it’s natural to expect this figure to go up even more in the coming years. According to projections, the number of smartphone users in Ireland will reach 5.22 million by 2029.

Smartphones Are the First Thing People See in the Morning

While it’s not surprising that almost everyone in Ireland now owns a smartphone, you may be left stunned by the fact that for 74%, it’s the first thing they see in the morning. These devices have already started to replace traditional alarm clocks, but their use continues even after the alarm goes on. They’re responding to messages, scrolling through social media, or reading the news. Not only this, but people in Ireland also use their smartphones right before going to bed. In fact, 54% say they stay awake longer than planned because they’re on their phones.

Android Users Dominate Ireland

The Android vs. iOS debate is always ongoing, and in Ireland, Android is clearly in the lead. Apple’s iPhone has a strong following, especially among younger generations, but Android dominates the overall market. According to the numbers from 2025, Android holds over 60% of the smartphone market in Ireland. iPhone holds over 38% while only about 0.25% goes to other, older operating systems. Android has a wide range of devices at different price points, making it more accessible, which is the main reason behind its popularity.

Samsung is the Most Popular Brand in Ireland

As mentioned above, Android has the edge over iOS in Ireland. But what about brands? According to the most recent numbers, Samsung is the leader. Out of the surveyed individuals, 42% said they own a Samsung phone, while 38% said they own an Apple phone. The number of Samsung users went up by 4% between 2023 and 2024, proving that the brand is constantly attracting new customers. With the Edge version of Samsung S25 having just arrived, this number may increase even more in the coming months. AI is one of the hottest tech trends at the moment, and the new version of the popular Samsung phone integrates it at almost every touchpoint.

Viltrox K90 30W RGB Fill Light Review

The Viltrox K90 30W RGB Fill Light is a new product from the company that will certainly have eyes looking with what you get for your money here when it comes to fill lights.

Presentation is a good start and excels here with the box and the extra carry case inside which has not one but two lights with a protective sleeve and velcro straps holding them nice and tidy in the protective case with cables and brackets too.

The light itself is 3ft long sturdy and robust with protective housing and a small screen with buttons on the end however there is an app for this light which takes it to the next level as you will see in the screenshots below and video review later on.

I have tested many fill lights before and this one is best by far being versatile and having USB-C charging with a long battery life makes it more pleasing as often the case these lights do not last long but this one up to 70 minutes.

What is even better is the brightness of this light and the wide colour and CCT range making it ideal for anyone who uses such lights at present to take a look at this one and for me a replacement to my present set up and now permanently fixed over my desk offering an array of colour options to set the tone and mood for what work I might be doing

Viltrox App

 

 

Bright, true-to-life illumination
With a full RGB color range, 2500K–8500K color temperature range, and more than 26 customizable lighting effects, the K90 unlocks endless creative possibilities. Delivering 2300 lumens of luminous flux and 2550 lux illuminance at full power (at 5500K and 0.5m distance), the K90 provides consistent, powerful illumination.

Powered by 448 high-quality LED beads – evenly distributed between RGB, warm white, and cool white –this fill light ensures even illumination and long-lasting performance. With a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 and a Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI) of 97, the K90 delivers exceptional color accuracy, bringing the user’s vision to life with vibrant and natural results.

Efficient app control and creative effects
The K90 RGB fill light offers versatile control options for enhanced creativity. The Viltrox Link app connects the light via Bluetooth to mobile devices and empowers users by making it easy to adjust light parameters and effects, so enabling seamless control of individual lights or entire groups. The K90’s pixel function allows a single light to act as a pixel when used in a group, unlocking exciting creative possibilities.

The K90’s adjustable color temperature and full RGB control make it suitable for a wide range of fill lighting scenarios. In the Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) mode, it also supports Green-Magenta adjustment. Functions can be adjusted via physical buttons, remote control, or the mobile app.

Versatile power options and accessories
Built-in battery life is about 70 minutes, and the USB-C connector charges the battery in as little as 120 minutes, and the light can be used while charging. Most popular USB-C power connection standards are supported, including PD (USB Power Distribution 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1), Samsung AFC, Huawei FCP/SCP, and QC (Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0)

The K90 comes with a customized shockproof hard-shell protective case for easy storage and protection. This light is durable and easy to use, thanks to the high-quality soft light tube, four magnetic clamps compatible with other Viltrox products, and a 1/4-inch threaded hole on both sides.

Pricing & Availability
Viltrox Official Store: https://geni.us/K90PR

See our light reviews 

Video Review

Tech Industry Alliance TechFest 2025 – Tech, AI & Humanity: Shaping Our Future

Tech Industry Alliance’s flagship annual conference, TechFest 2025, brought over 400 delegates to the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Thursday, 15 May, for a powerful day of insight, innovation, and inspiration. With the theme “Tech & Humanity – Shaping Our Future,” the event challenged attendees to re-imagine our relationship with technology—from the rise of AI to the future of work and the next frontier: space.

Hosted by Tech Industry Alliance, the conference brought together tech and business leaders, educators, startups, and policymakers from across the South West of Ireland to explore how technology is impacting every aspect of society—and how we can ensure that progress is human-centred, ethical, and inclusive.

Tech & Humanity – Shaping Our Future

The conference opened with a captivating keynote by neuroscientist and broadcaster Dr. Hannah Critchlow, who explored “Consciousness and Our Evolving Relationship with AI”. The morning continued with a powerful panel on AI and Humanity, moderated by Jonathan McCrea, that delved into the ethical, philosophical, and societal impacts of artificial intelligence.

Later in the day, Cormac O’Sullivan of MBRYONICS delivered a visionary talk on “Building the Internet in Space”, which led into a thought-provoking discussion on Space and the Future of Humanity, highlighting the South West’s growing role in space-tech innovation.

Other key sessions examined the future of tech talent, exploring the skills and strategies needed to future-proof the workforce, and featured a showcase of evolving tech companies, with early-stage startups from the region pitching their products and sharing their journeys.

Exhibition stands, networking lounges, and interactive sessions throughout the day gave attendees opportunities to connect, learn, and collaborate.

A Region Leading the Way

Gerry Murphy, Chairperson of Tech Industry Alliance, commented on the event with a strong call to action: “TechFest 2025 has shown what happens when bright minds and bold ideas come together. The South West is not just keeping pace—we’re helping to shape the future of technology on a national and international stage. Today’s conversations will echo in tomorrow’s innovations.”

“Our deep thanks go to our sponsors and partners, whose commitment helps drive the growth and cohesion of the region’s tech ecosystem. This is about more than technology—it’s about people, purpose, and progress.”