Tag: #tech

Ireland’s Tech Sector is Leading One of the World’s Biggest Industries

The Irish tech sector may not get the attention it deserves when it’s compared to Silicon Valley or London, but it’s more than a match for even these two hubs in certain areas. One area where Ireland has led the way for a few years now is gaming and, specifically, casino gaming. Thanks to major players in the industry calling Ireland home, many of the casino world’s best innovations emanate from our shores.

The best example of this is Flutter Entertainment. Based in Dublin’s Belfield Office Park, Flutter is among the largest online gambling companies in the world with a value of more than €30 billion. The company made Dublin its international headquarters in February 2022. The decision was prompted, in part, by the fact it owns one of Ireland’s biggest gambling exports, Paddy Power, and its sister site, Betfair.

Merger Makes Flutter a Gambling Powerhouse

Paddy Power and Betfair merged in 2015 to create Paddy Power Betfair. Many acquisitions later, including a takeover of The Stars Group, facilitated the switch to Flutter Entertainment. Under this banner, these sites, most notably Betfair, have become places where customers can find the best casino promotions in the UK. From free spin welcome bonuses to daily cash drops, Betfair and its stablemates have become synonymous with value and entertainment.

However, as we’ve said, they’ve also become tech hubs under the Flutter Entertainment banner. Go to the live casino lobby, for example, and you’ll find branded tables overseen by human dealers. These live dealer tables not only offer classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette, but they also feature game show-style offerings like Spin A Win.

Yes, these games were designed by Playtech and Evolution Gaming. However, the branded games have been developed in collaboration with Flutter Entertainment. Moreover, Flutter has given these games a place to sit and, in turn, where they can be accessed by millions of customers. Sticking with gaming, you’ll notice that Flutter-owned casinos also have daily jackpots. These progressive prize pools are designed to drop prizes at random intervals. This innovation has since been copied by other online casinos.

Innovations in All Areas

Gaming isn’t the only area where Flutter has changed the game. For example, Paddy Power Sports pioneered one-touch live bets to reduce the time it takes customers to lock in wagers. This innovation basically removed the confirmation process, so the bet could be locked in with a single tap. Another innovation from Paddy Power was Track My Bet, a system that allows customers to monitor wagers made inside betting shops via their computer or mobile. It’s not just online gambling butone of the world’s biggest industries worth more than €100 billion where Flutter has pushed the envelope.

Its headquarters in Dublin was given a €15.5 million makeover ahead of becoming the company’s international nerve centre. As well as housing 1,700 employees, the 164,000 sq. ft building has an onsite convenience store run by artificial intelligence technology. Add to this, leisure spaces and a live roof that’s home to three beehives, and Flutter’s HQ is as innovative as the gambling products it produces. For Ireland, that’s good news. With companies such as Flutter Entertainment leading the way, the local tech sector is gaining worldwide acclaim, and rightly so.

 

New property tech platform aims to make tenant selection fairer and simpler

Irish technology company Bynaric today launched a new B2B software platform to help make processing applications for rental accommodation, and selecting and managing tenants, fair, unbiased and transparent.

The FairSelect platform is aimed for use by organisations in the public sector, including affordable housing bodies, as well as by private rental providers.

Users of the software are able to process and select tenant applications based either on a randomised, lottery-style system, or on a first-come-first-served basis.

FairSelect is already being used by a number of public sector organisations, such as local authorities, including Meath County Council, approved housing bodies, including Tuath Housing and Respond, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).

The platform has a self-service feature for tenants that enables people living in rented accommodation to manage their rental contract, report issues relating to the property they are renting, and pay rent online. It also enables transparency for applicants, who, in cases where demand for the rental accommodation they have applied for exceeds supply, can find out where they are in a queue system.

Announcing the launch of FairSelect, Aria Pour, founder and CEO of Bynaric, said: “We believe in a fair and unbiased tenant selection process, and our innovative FairSelect technology uses a random selection process that reduces the potential for human bias and ensures that every applicant is assessed on an equal footing. This is particularly important for the public sector, where there is a need to demonstrate fairness and transparency in decision-making.

“FairSelect’s compliance with GDPR regulations ensures that the selection process and the results are fully auditable. A centralised dashboard and audits allow the housing agency or landlord to maintain transparency in the selection process. The tenant self-service feature empowers tenants to manage their accounts, report issues, and make payments online, improving communication and increasing satisfaction. Rental applicants can also check where they are in a queue and find out if they were skipped for other people and ask if there is a justification for this.”

Mr Pour continued: “By promoting fairness and transparency, FairSelect helps build trust between landlords and potential tenants, and improves the overall reputation of the housing industry. This ultimately benefits both the applicants and future tenants, as they can feel confident that they have been selected based on their qualifications and not on other factors such as biases or unfair preferences.”

FairSelect was launched today at an event at Dogpatch Labs, Dublin, that featured a keynote speech by Bynaric founder and CEO Aria Pour, along with a panel discussion exploring FairSelect, moderated by business advisor Colin Chapman, and featuring Eoghan Ó’Muiris, head of product for Bynaric; Johnny Horgan, MD, BidX1; and Conn Murray, chair of public sector at BDO Ireland.

At the launch event, Mr Pour announced plans by Bynaric for launching FairSelect in the UK market, where it is aiming to open offices in Manchester and London in the next year.

Sony launches their new ZV-1 II vlogging camera

Sony has launched the all-new second generation camera to the ZV-1 in the vlog camera ZV series, the ZV-1 II which includes highly requested and popular market-leading features.  With a wider angle than ZV-1, the ZV-1 II helps vloggers make more engaging storytelling with attractive photogenic image quality.

With the 1.0-type Exmor RS image sensor (approximately 20.1 effective megapixels), BIONZ X image processing engine, and ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T 18-50mm F1.8-4i lens, the ZV-1 II allows for creators of many skill levels to enjoy sophisticated capabilities. From the 18-50mmii wide angle lens which can frame everything from group selfies to narrow interiors or dynamic recordings of everyday scenes to the Multiple Face Recognitioniii ,which recognises multiple faces and automatically adjusts to keeps all faces sharp and clear when taking selfie shots that include two or three people, the ZV-1 II is the advanced vlogging camera packed into a travel-size.

“The ZV-1 II is an exciting chapter for content creators and will be the go-to camera for many, including vloggers, social media influencers and short form video creators. With the newest vlog camera in the ZV series, we have taken requests from various users and included features that matter most to vloggers,” said Yann Salmon Legagneur, Head of Imaging Products & Solutions Marketing, Sony Europe. “We are striving to take feedback from our community to continue to expand and elevate our ZV series and the ZV-1 II does just that.”

Comprehensive Features for Vloggers & Video Content Creators

The ZV-1 II has a number of new and popular features that will empower creators to capture better content. Ultra-wide angle and Zoom – 18mmii wide angle of view makes it easy to capture attractive photogenic image with the entire scene – especially when shooting selfies at arm’s length. The 18-50mm optical zoom and the Clear Image Zoom smoothly enlarges images while minimising loss of image quality to create a variety in videos by changing the angle of view.

  • 1.0 type sensor with Bokeh Switch which gives beautiful bokeh by defocusing the background with a single touch.
  • Intelligent 3-capsule microphone – In Auto mode, the camera recognises human faces or objects and automaticallyiv switches the direction of the built-in microphone ([Front] or [All Directions]). In Manual mode, you can select [Front] for selfies, [Rear] when shooting with narration or [All Directions]. The supplied windscreen ensures a clear recording of the speaker when outdoors. Easy to use cableless attachment to Multi Interface Shoev  and a 3.5 mm microphone jack makes it easy to connect external microphones.
  • Cinematic Vlog Setting function responds to the demands to easily take ambient images using a vlog camera. It enables impressive imagery at a touch. Simply tap the on-screen function icon and the camera will automatically set a CinemaScope size (2.35:1) vi and a frame rate of 24 fpsvii , the same as for a cinema movie. Then finish off the work with the on-screen buttons to select from five LOOKs and four MOODs
  • Creative Look which supports 10 preset looksviii to suit your creative preferences and pro-level imaging features.
  • Face Priority AE and Soft Skin Effect automatically and immediately detects faces and adjusts the exposure to optimise facial brightness, no matter the lighting. Soft skin effect smooths skin and facial features when filming.
  • Fast Hybrid AF System – Even in high-definition 4K where precise focusing is required, the camera will keep the images sharp with the same Fast Hybrid AF system seen in α series cameras. The camera is equipped with AF Transition Speed to select the focusing speed during video recording, and AF Subject Shift Sensitivity to control the focus in line with the subject’s movement and environment. In addition, the Real-time Eye AF can accurately keep focus on human or animals for both stills and movies.
  • Product Showcase Setting – which delivers convenient shooting of product review videos with smooth focus transitions from your face to the item you are highlighting.
  • S&Q shoot modevix which allows a selection up to 5x slow or up to 60x quick motion to add impact to everyday scenes. The combination of shooting and recording frame rates can now be set on a single screen.
  • ISO sensitivity spanning from 125 to 12800– allows the camera to record sharp images with less noise, even in low lighting.
  • Active Mode electronic image stabilisation – content can be captured while walking or in motion and is especially useful for handheld shootingx. Useful for handheld Movie and Slow & Quick motion shooting.
  • Built in ND filter – to reduce exposure by three stops and allow for beautiful background bokeh even in the brightest situation.

Compact and Lightweight for Easy Portability, Operability, Connectivity

The ZV-1 II is perfect for on the go; its compact and lightweight design can be easily carried in a pocket or small bag, even with its’ optical wide zoom lens. The ZV-1 II supports different filming styles with the vari-angle screen suitable for selfies, easy to hold body grip (or with an optional GP-VPT2BT grip), user-friendly key and control layoutxi and the recording indicator on the front face of the body. The monitor display has been redesigned with a bold, clearly visible red frame that makes it obvious when recording is in progress. Power charge easily via a USB Type-C® connector.

Creators can connect and share content easily with Sony’s Creators’ Cloud platform and easy smartphone connection. The Creators’ App can be used to control the ZV-1 II from a smartphone, monitor camera battery and media status, edit date and camera names and easily transfer stills and videos shot, even in the background. The Creators’ Appxii also provides a convenient way to update camera software.

For easy high-quality live streaming, simply connect the ZV-1 II to a PC or smartphone xiii with a commercially available USB cable (not included) to use it as a webcam. Make your video more attractive in online meetings and live streaming by using Creative Look to improve the skin’s appearance and adjust the hue. Faces will appear clearer and brighter (Face Priority AE) and the eyes will be kept in focus (Real-time Eye AF).

Environmentally Friendly and Accessible Design

In addition to Sony’s commitment to a sustainable future with global initiatives like Road to Zero and the 2030 renewable energy goal, the ZV-1 II has been specifically developed with sustainability in mind. Recycled materials, including SORPLASTMxiv, are actively used for the camera body, reducing environmental impact without sacrificing functionality. Sony’s unique recycled paper “Original Blend Material”, which does not use plastic and is easy to recycle, is used for individual packaging. Using materials such as bamboo, sugar cane fiber, and recycled paper collected from the market, it is both environmentally friendly and high quality.

The ZV-1 II includes accessibility features that facilitate operation in several ways, including screen reader functionality for people with visual impairments. Accessibility features allow anyone to enjoy shooting and playback.  When the screen reader functionxv is activated, text on the menu screens is read aloud. The screen reader function can be activated by turning the [Screen Reader] function in the [Setup] tab ON. Screen reader volume can be adjusted via the [Sound Options] settings. In addition to the above, the ZV-1 II includes a number of functions that assist in achieving pinpoint focus on a variety of subjects. The Real-time Eye AF can automatically recognise and focus on [Human] or [Animal], or the Real-time Tracking function. Focus Magnification, and Peaking functions make it easier to focus manually, and features like Touch Focus, Touch Tracking, and Touch Shutter let the user focus, track, and shoot simply by touching the subject on the monitor screen. ZV-1 II accessibility features (items listed in the specifications): Screen Reader, Touch AE, Focus Magnifier, Peaking Display, Real-time Eye AF, Real-time Tracking, Touch Focus, Touch Tracking, Touch Shutter, Vari-angle LCD screen and Custom function.

Pricing and Availability

The new ZV-1 II will be available in June 2023 at a variety of Sony’s authorised dealers, for an estimated retail price of £870 / €1000.

With Sony’s promotion – Welcome to Vlog. UK & Ireland customers who buy any ZV camera (ZV-1F, ZV-1, ZV-E10, ZV-E10L, ZV-E1, ZV-1 II) can register to receive up to £100 / €100 off their next lens or accessory purchases.

Dell Tech World 2023: Dell APEX Portfolio Expands from Multicloud to Client to Compute

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) unveils new Dell APEX offerings across cloud platforms, public cloud storage software, client devices and compute. These additions to the industry’s most comprehensive as-a-Service and multicloud portfolio spanning data center to public cloud and client devices will help businesses operate and innovate faster through improved management and mobility of their applications and data wherever they reside.

“Our customers continue to look for a simpler technology experience to easily manage and access their assets and applications with predictable costs and greater flexibility,” said Chuck Whitten, co-chief operating officer, Dell Technologies. “That’s where Dell APEX comes in. Now, Dell APEX spans the breadth of our portfolio to give customers greater freedom for technology to support businesses as their needs dictate – from PCs and IT on-premises to public clouds and edge locations.”

Dell APEX Cloud Platforms deliver consistent multicloud operations

Dell APEX Cloud Platforms are a portfolio of fully integrated, turnkey systems integrating Dell infrastructure, software and cloud operating stacks that deliver consistent multicloud operations by extending cloud operating models to on-premises and edge environments. Workloads can be placed in the optimal location based on desired performance, cost and security requirements with data mobility across a common multicloud storage layer. Customers will be able to move data seamlessly between on-premises environments and Dell APEX Block Storage for Public Cloud deployments. Each system is designed to accelerate IT and developer productivity using familiar management tools and software-driven automated deployment and lifecycle management.

The cloud platforms are developed in collaboration with Microsoft, Red Hat and VMware:

 

  • Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure enhances the Azure hybrid experience with full stack software integration and automated lifecycle management through Microsoft native management tools and extensive engineering collaboration between Dell and Microsoft. The platform is ideal for application modernization and delivers faster time to value of Azure based on Azure Arc-enabled infrastructure with consistent operations and governance across on-premises data centers, edge locations, and the Azure public cloud using Azure Arc.

 

  • Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Red Hat OpenShift simplifies container-based application development and management, wherever applications are developed and deployed, through full stack software integration and automation with the industry’s leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes. Customers can run containers and virtual machines side by side, natively within Kubernetes, with a unified experience for a wide variety of workloads, including AI/ML and analytics, with broad GPU support across any hybrid cloud footprint. This offering represents a deep engineering collaboration between Dell and Red Hat, using enterprise Kubernetes and backed by the world’s leading enterprise Linux platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

  • Dell APEX Cloud Platform for VMware gives customers the flexibility to deploy vSphere on a fully integrated system with highly scalable, high performance Dell software-defined storage. This new offering joins Dell APEX Private Cloud and Dell APEX Hybrid Cloud within the broader Dell APEX portfolio to offer more choice for VMware customers on their multicloud journey.

“For more than a century, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace experience,” said Tino Lancellotti, chief information officer, Xerox. “Dell APEX has helped us optimize our multicloud strategy so that we can deliver software and services that meet the needs of the modern workforce.”

Dell APEX Storage for Public Cloud enriches the public cloud experience

Delivering on the promise of Project Alpine, Dell brings the performance and advanced software capabilities of its industry-leading enterprise data storage to public clouds while delivering operational simplicity with a unified approach to Dell cloud storage and Kubernetes management.

Dell APEX Block Storage for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dell APEX Block Storage for Microsoft Azure and Dell APEX File Storage for AWS combine Dell’s enterprise-class storage performance, scalability and cyber-resilience with public cloud economics and services, such as analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). Organizations can fine-tune their cloud strategies based on business need, and maximize existing skillsets through advanced data mobility and management consistency between Dell on-premises storage and public clouds. This approach avoids the need to refactor applications and retrain staff.

Dell APEX Block Storage can rapidly expand performance and capacity for mission critical workloads through a unique scale out architecture. Increased resiliency is achieved by distributing data efficiently across multi-availability zones. Dell APEX File Storage delivers enterprise class file performance and capabilities in the public cloud. Customers can support a broad variety of performance-intensive workloads including AI, machine learning, media and entertainment and life sciences.

These offers join Dell APEX Protection Storage for Public Cloud as part of Dell’s portfolio of software-defined storage for public clouds. Dell APEX Protection Storage delivers industry-leading data protection storage for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and Alibaba Cloud with more than 17 exabytes of data protected by Dell software in public clouds to date.3

Dell APEX Console enhancements include new management, deployment, data mobility and discovery software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings that make it easier for operations teams to maintain multicloud storage and Kubernetes clusters.

 

  • Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage is SaaS that centralizes, simplifies and secures management of Dell APEX Block and File Storage with easy configuration, automated deployment, storage monitoring and data mobility between on-premises and public cloud environments. This allows organizations to manage their multicloud estate consistently and securely at scale, optimizing workload placement to match their business needs.
  • Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes is SaaS that simplifies Kubernetes storage management, bringing advanced data services such as data replication, application mobility and observability, to containers with easily deployed and managed Dell Container Storage Modules.

“Organizations are looking to streamline their IT environments so that data and applications can live in the right place to deliver the most value for their businesses,” said Matthew Eastwood, senior vice president, IDC. “Dell Technologies has delivered a significant expansion of its Dell APEX portfolio that creates commonality between public cloud and on-premises environments to simplify workload placement.”

Dell APEX brings the cloud experience to PCs and servers

Dell expands the Dell APEX portfolio to help users easily handle day-to-day IT operations, speed infrastructure deployment, control costs and manage device takeback securely and sustainably through an as-a-Service experience.

 

  • Dell APEX Compute delivers scalable, secure bare metal compute resources in a data center, edge environment or in a colocation facility. Customers can support virtualized or container-based environments by installing the hypervisor or operating system of their choice. Organizations will be able to meet their workload and IT operations needs with scalable and secure compute resources available through a predictable, monthly subscription.

  • Dell APEX PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) helps companies simplify IT and deploy the latest client technology with predictable costs4 while freeing up capital to invest in modern employee experiences.5 Organizations can customize offerings across the entire PC portfolio—inclusive of devices, software and services—with flexible one- to five-year terms and scaling up or down as needed. Early customers using Dell APEX PCaaS have reported 50% less help desk effort, 30% savings in support costs and 50% less time spent onboarding employee devices.6

 

Dell expands data management ecosystem for simpler access to data insight with Databricks’ Lakehouse Platform 

To provide customers greater freedom to extract insights from data wherever it resides, Dell and Databricks, the data and AI company, announce a new, multifaceted relationship to connect on-premises data in Dell’s industry-leading enterprise storage platforms and the Databricks Lakehouse Platform.

Dell customers can connect Databricks in the public cloud with Dell object storage, on-premises or in a co-location facility, to analyze data in-place, store results and securely share it with third parties using Databricks’ Delta Sharing capabilities. Dell and Databricks are collaborating to jointly engineer additional integrations that will deliver a seamless experience for Dell object storage within the Databricks Lakehouse Platform.

Additional Comments

“Microsoft and Dell are simplifying hybrid cloud management with an integrated solution that gives customers consistent operations across the Azure public cloud and their on-premises and edge environments,” said Bernardo Caldas, corporate vice president, Azure Edge PM, Microsoft. “Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure provides native integration of Dell’s differentiated infrastructure platforms and management software with Azure Arc, and Arc-enabled services like Azure Stack HCI and AKS for a unified experience from cloud to edge.”

“As organizations continue to evolve and scale their cloud strategies, customers are looking for a consistent user experience across hybrid infrastructure to accelerate cloud-native application development and faster time to value,” said Stefanie Chiras, senior vice president, Partner Ecosystem Success, Red Hat. “Red Hat OpenShift provides that common foundation, and through our continued work with Dell Technologies, customers can benefit from a fully integrated Red Hat OpenShift experience on Dell’s on-premises infrastructure to extend capabilities wherever they deploy applications across the hybrid cloud.”

“VMware and Dell Technologies have a track record of jointly engineered solutions and innovation that spans nearly two decades,” said Dave McGraw, vice president, Partner Solutions Engineering, Office of the CTO, VMware. “The introduction of Dell APEX Cloud Platform for VMware broadens customers’ VMware multicloud deployment options, providing greater choice and flexibility to modernize applications while streamlining multicloud operations.”

“Databricks is focused on helping businesses extract the most valuable insights from their data, wherever it resides,” said Adam Conway, senior vice president, Products, Databricks. “This relationship provides the ability to leverage cloud and on-premises data together with best of breed technologies, as well as easily and securely share that data through Delta Sharing. Combining the best of Dell and Databricks changes the data landscape for customers as they operate in today’s multicloud world.”

Availability

  • Dell APEX Cloud Platforms will be globally available starting in the second half of 2023.
  • Dell APEX Block and File Storage for AWS are globally available now.
  • Dell APEX Block Storage for Microsoft Azure will be globally available in the second half of 2023.
  • Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage will be available in the United States with planned future geographic expansion during the second half of 2023.
  • Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany during the second half of 2023.
  • Dell APEX PC-as-a-Service is available now in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
  • Dell APEX Compute is available now in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
  • Dell object storage and Databricks Lakehouse Platform connection is available today with access to public cloud data coming soon.

Dublin Smartphone Film Festival is back with a BANG with more Mobile Movie Magic

Now in its 6th year, The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival returns to the Capital for another weekend of mobile movie brilliance. Taking place on June 3rd -DubSmartFF has the usual exciting mix of shorts, features and workshops, but this time at the beautiful MART GALLERY & RATHMINES Ominplex in Dublin 6

This year’s festival is bigger than ever with filmmaking workshops, a range of short films from 15 countries around the globe, and an Irish premiere of the heartbreaking documentary Everybody’s Oma from award-winning with director Jason Vangenderen 

The festival organizers have meticulously curated an exceptional program, emphasizing powerful original concepts and innovative utilization of technology. In an exciting development, this year’s festival has partnered with esteemed brands such as Zacuto, Dreamgrip, and Zhyiun as well as Ireland’s premier tech site, Goosed.ie. These collaborations will offer fantastic prizes and gifts to fortunate audience members coming to the event

Festival Director Robert Fitzhugh commented: “We just could not believe the success of the festival in the past five years. We sell out each year before the doors even open. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have brought about an incredible period of creativity with people forced to use the tools they have at their disposal to tell stories. There has never been a more interesting time to explore Smartphone filmmaking. This is what the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival is here to do; to encourage the next generation of filmmakers to create their stories using their phones and to provide them with the widest possible platform to present these stories to a wider audience”

The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival will take place on the 3RD of June 2023 at the Irish Film Institute and online from May 1st to May 7th 

Tickets

Filmmaking Workshop:  https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/630634182817

Gimbal Workshop: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/630779948807

Shorts Programme: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/630634182817

Feature: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/631404145797

 

Tech Review – Pamu Fit ANC earbuds from Padmate

PAMU is a brand we have been testing earbuds with some time now and have been solid with their products over the years and they where on of the first to bring more specs and value plus an app for you money some time ago and since then that trend has continued since with other brands.

The latest buds we have in we have been testing some weeks ahead which gave us time to see what is on offer this time around and as you can see it is a nice looking new pair of earbuds with a nice small case and one of the smallest I have held in some time and the overall package looks great but what have we got inside and what do we not get. well there is a that goes on for ever to begin with which spec junkies like.

The case is small but the earbuds no so.. The earbuds will be not be for everyone due to their fixed set-up with built in wings and tips but the design is cool overall, I love the colours and the glossy white finish they have with the black tip and wing which is of course rubber and these are comfortable however it took a bit to get them to settle in my ears and here is where they will not suit all ears especially those with small ones and the company does say it will fit up to 70% of users so my assumption would be correct here.

Once I got use to them and the fit they offer a good seal from the outside world which is a good start and when there is no app access this time around I got a bit concerned but it is PAMU we are dealing with and the sound was good from there on. Bassy and deep is the tone you will find overall and by no means bright either, highs lows and mids are fine calls are also fine and no distortion or tinnyness on maxed out volume which is how I always use my earbuds and headphones. ANC of course is present and decent it must be said and they score it at around 20db which is fine for most.

The earbuds are also catered for the gamers too which many manufacturers are now accommodating on their earbuds and headphones which is a great move again and again it worked well during my testing. The controls are also great and the earbuds are designed in such a way your finger will setting nicely on the earbud itself when you go to change something and I had no issues here either.

There is no auto play or pause on these no wireless charging and no app but everything else is present so for those who are not fussy it should be a pair of earbuds to look at which look great and come in a super cool charging case.

 

Pamu Fit and case – techbuzzireland

 

  1. Comfortable Noise-Cancelling, Half-in-ear + ANC, Reduce noise up to 20 dB Pamu Fit adopts the latest active noise-cancelling technology, combined with a semi-in-ear design, making it the new benchmark for active noise-cancelling wireless earphones. According to laboratory test data, the noise reduction can reach 20dB, delivering an unparalleled noise-cancelling experience in a variety of environments such as public transport, subways, buses, etc,.

 

  1. Dual-mic noise reduction and Advanced AI noise reduction Pamu Fit uses the AINR algorithm dual-microphone noise-cancelling technology. Thedual microphone array precisely calculates the direction of the speaker’s voice while effectively suppressing various environmental noises. The AI technology ensures high-quality call performance and clear voice recognition, even in noisy environments, Pamu Fit can deliver a clear voice experience, providing an excellent communication experience. 
  2. Comfortable and secure ergonomic design As we know, headphones are often defined by their method of wearing, such as wired earphones, over-the-ear, in-ear, semi-in-ear, neck-mounted headsets, etc,. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as the discomfort of in-ear headphones, the lack of bass in semi-in-ear headphones, and the inconvenience of wired headsets. Pamu Fit offers a comfortable and stable fit for the majority of users, including those with different ear sizes. 

1) Pamu Fit uses a fully ergonomic design with an elastic material that perfectly fits the ear canal, tragus, and helix. 

2) The adaptive ear hook is designed to fit different ear shapes, making it easy to wear for extended periods without discomfort. 

3) The semi-in-ear design ensures a stable fit and comfortable wearing experience. 4) Pamu Fit has a custom-fit for up to 70% of users, making it a perfect fit for the majority of people. 

5) Antimicrobial coating for skin-friendly design 

6) Pamu Fit is Lightweight, with each earphone weighing just 5.5g, making them easy to wear without feeling burdened.

 

  1. Unprecedented Comfortable Sound Quality – Taking Your Audio Experience to a New Level 

1) Customized for Pamu Earbuds – Unlike traditional Bluetooth earphones that use standard speakers, Pamu Fit earbuds have a custom-designed dynamic driver unit that is optimized for the earphone’s acoustic chamber structure. The 13mm driver unit with a titanium alloy composite diaphragm and four-layer voice coil, as well as a precision magnetic circuit design, deliver excellent sound quality with clear highs and deep bass. 

2) Four-Layer Coil + Precision Magnetic Circuit Design + Titanium Alloy Composite Film – The rare and precious metal titanium, which is difficult to extract from nature, is used to make the composite film. This enhances the clarity of high-frequency sounds, while the precise magnetic circuit design ensures high bass efficiency with deep bass extension for an immersive listening experience. 

3) Experience a wide soundstage – Pamu Fit’s ultimate pursuit of music sound quality has never compromised its high standards. It delivers a comfortable audio experience with stable low-frequency design, producing consistent bass whether worn loosely or tightly. Additionally, the bass dives deeply, delivering “super bass”even when worn halfway in the ear. 

 4) Open Sound Field Design – Enjoy a Realistic, Experience Comfortable Sound Feeling. 

5) Versatile performance – Pamu Fit delivers excellent performance for a variety of music genres with a well-balanced, comfortable and durable listening experience. 

13mm high-power speaker: Pamu Fit earphones feature a 13mm high-power speaker that delivers rich and immersive audio. The speaker is designed with four-layer voice coils, a precise magnetic circuit design, and a titanium alloy composite diaphragm that delivers accurate and high-quality sound. 

  1. Dual host switching 

Pamu Fit earphones come with a dual-host switching feature that enables you to use either earphone independently. Each earbud can automatically connect to the device when taken out of the charging case, providing a convenient and fast user experience.

PamuFit  Vs Other Earphones 

  1. Ultra-low latency game mode, as low as 70ms Pamu Fit earphones come with an ultra-low latency game mode that offers adelayaslow as 70ms. This feature ensures that audio and video are synchronized, making it perfect for gaming and watching videos. Plus, the game mode also adjusts the sound output to reduce auditory fatigue. 
  2. Slim charging case 20mm 

Pamu Fit earphones come with a slim charging case that is only 20mm thick. The case has a minimalist design that is environmentally friendly and easy to carry. 

  1. Bluetooth 5.3 

Pamu Fit earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3, which provides faster and more stable connectivity, lower power consumption, and improved anti-interference. 

  1. Low power consumption, 15h long battery life Pamu Fit earphones have a long battery life of up to 6 hours on a single charge, andthe charging case can recharge them twice, providing a total battery life of up to 15 hours. 
  2. IPX4 waterproof rating 

Pamu Fit are rated IPX4, making them resistant to sweat, rain, and splashes. You can use them during workouts and outdoor activities without worrying about water damage. 

  1. LED battery indicator 

The charging case has four LED battery indicator that shows you the remaining battery life, ensuring that you are never caught off guard. Each indicator light represents 25% power. 

Conclusion: Overall, Pamu Fit Bluetooth earphones are a fantastic choice for anyone looking for high-quality audio and advanced features. With its ergonomic design, active noise cancellation, dual-mic noise reduction, and AI noise reduction, these earphones offer an unparalleled audio experience. They are also durable, waterproof, and come with a long battery life, making them perfect for outdoor activities and extended use the only thing missing is the lack of an app which they have and is excellent so perhaps this might change down the road. 

 

1.  30% off for the first three days. (From May 20th to 23th)
2. Customers will receive a $10 coupon for the next purchase if they share photos of themselves using PamuFit on social media by using the hashtag #pamufit and tagging @INS@padmate orFB@padmatetech

BUY

Video Review

Tech Review Crusher ANC 2 Headphones, Bass has just got better.

Skullcandy has just announced the release of their all new Crusher ANC 2 Headphones, the newest edition to the iconic Crusher Franchise. The headphones take Skullcandy’s patented Adjustable Sensory Bass to the next level  and we have tried and tested and you will love it and also comes with the addition of Active Noise Cancelling, upgradable features, hands-free voice control and more, all for an unbeatable price of $229.99 MSRP. With up to 60 hours of battery life, rapid charge technology and customizable EQ modes, these headphones are perfect for tech-savvy audiophiles who crave an immersive audio experience. And we have been testing these out for some time now and delighted to do so as I am a huge fan of the crusher range but not only that their other products too which you can find here on site and there is lots to pick from. 

The Crusher ANC 2 headphones have been designed to deliver personalised, customizable experiences for every listener, with Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, users are enabled to create and tune features to their unique hearing preferences. If you are a fan of bass there is no need to look anywhere else for bass driven headphones plus you can customise these to your own taste.  Lightweight and durable, these headphones boast design updates with comfort-ability in mind. Having tested these out long enough now I am the type that wears my headphones or earbuds for hours on end and these are super comfortable with no clamping effect or get sweaty either. 

Built with larger ear cups, an asymmetric yoke and a notch in the headband for improved comfort, ideal for all day wearing. The headphones are also flat-folding and collapsible, packaged in a durable travel case, making them perfect for on-the-go use. Again a carry case provided which will keep your headphones safe and away from dirt or dust and this is something instilled in me for many years now as I have a big range of headphones I use in a cycle over time and keep them protected and all look like new today even ones that are near ten years old. 

“This latest generation of Crusher gives fans the bass response they loved in its predecessors, with the added feature of Active Noise Cancelling,” said Jason Luthman, Director of Global Product Management.“We have been refining and improving the Crusher Technology for over a decade now, Crusher ANC 2 is our 7th iteration in the family. For those looking for a premium headphone, the all-new Crusher ANC 2 has it all and will no doubt deliver the world-class listening experience they crave, while layering on robust, in-demand features at a ridiculously good value.”

Skullcandy iQ app

 

Skullcandy developed a user experience centred around individual customization. Users can personalise the proprietary haptic bass one of three ways; rotating the adjustment wheel on the left ear cup, using the hands-free voice command “Hey Skullcandy, More Crusher,” or creating bass preferences directly on the Skull-iQ app. Adjustable four-mic Active Noise Cancelling not only detects and cancels noise but can now be customised and refined. Users can also set up a Personal Sound profile to tune Crusher ANC 2 to their unique hearing through a short hearing test on the app. We go through the app below and show you what is involved here and again the Skull iQ offer and experience to make life so handy for you without having to touch your phone or headphones when using it to do all the things you usually do with your headphones and more. 

Additional details surrounding Crusher ANC 2 Headphones include:

Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones – $229.99 MSRP

  • Up to 60 Hours of Battery Life (ANC off) – And up to 50 Hours of Battery Life with ANC turned on.
  • Rapid Charge – 10 minutes of charging gives you up to 4 hours of playtime
  • Adjustable Sensory Bass – Skullcandy’s patented bass technology, is responsible for the experiential bass for ‘Music You Can Feel’ 
  • Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling – Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality
  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology® – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on and adjust Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, Take Photo and more
  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update headphones via the Skull-iQ App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the headphones
  • Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels
  • Multipoint Pairing – Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer
  • Clear Voice Smart Mic – Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear
  • Preset & Custom EQ Modes – Choose one of the preset EQ modes or create your own custom EQ
  • Customizable Button Functions – Personalize your headphones by customizing your on-board button controls
  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic connection and pairing with the last device used
  • Built-In Tile Finding Technology – If headphone is misplaced, simply “ring” it from the Tile app
  • Durable, Lightweight Design – All-day comfort with asymmetrical, ergonomic earcups 

Conclusion

Skullcandy have done it again with a winning pair of cans and I certainly welcome the new addition, they have been on a roll of late with their collabs too and if you want headphones that you own and you take control of with excellent ANC sound and bass with sensory adjustment these are what you need right now.

For more information, visit Skullcandy.com  

Video Review 

Tech Review – Canon MAXIFY GX6050 printer

The Canon MAXIFY GX6050 is a high-volume inkjet printer for small office or home use. The design is sturdy, strong, and solid to feel without the potential of bits falling off or trays breaking,

This kit comes with a 3-in-1 refillable ink tank which is visible through the front display. This came with a colour 6.9cm LCD Tiltable  display allowing you to view the various settings or use the touch screen options.

 

Contents

  •         MAXIFY GX6050 Refillable MegaTank Inkjet Printer
  •         4 high-yield ink bottles (1x Black and 1 x C/M/Y)
  •         Power cord
  •         Setup CD-ROM (CD only for Windows)
  •         Manuals and other documents

 

Functions:   Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Print, Copy, Scan & Cloud

 

Ink

The kit comes with a  3-in-1 refillable ink tank with ink included in the box.

The ink supplied allows for  14,000 A4 pages from a full set of colour ink bottles or up to 6,000 pages from a black ink bottle, when Switching to Economy mode this can print up to 1.5 times more pages for even increased capacity.

To put this in perspective in terms of Ink used

The cost of an All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer in the region of  60 euros from a high street store had a  Multipack printer option of ink for approx 60 euros, this had a yield of print  180 Pages   colour & Black  – 180 Pages  as compared to the up to  18,000 pages available for the Canon MAXIFY GX6050 

Note Prices are included for reference only to give a perspective  in terms of cost per page

 

Setup:

The setup is straightforward in following the user guide instructions. And downloading the relevant software, The QR looks positive but does very little in terms of saving time or efficiency as it only takes you to the website. A search is required for the model printer near and then downloaded for a Windows laptop or Android phone. This works as required and the use of the printer display option is very good. The software appeared slow and clunky which I suspect has been pulled from the legacy products.

Additional help & initial set up  faultfinding  videoes etc available under https://www.canon.ie/support/consumer_products/videos/maxify-gx6050/

 Removing the protective materials

  •         Turning on the power
  •         Pouring ink
  •         Loading paper
  •         Loading paper: for installation
  •         Loading paper: rear tray
  •         Loading paper: cassette

Problems with printing

  •         Colours are uneven or printing is faint
  •         Printing is misaligned 

Removing paper jam

  •         Removing jammed paper: paper output slot
  •         Removing jammed paper: rear tray
  •         Removing jammed paper: inside printer
  •         Removing jammed paper: inside rear cover

Network connection

  •         Connecting the printer and a computer via Wi-Fi
  •         iOS: Connecting the printer and a smartphone via Wi-Fi
  •         Android: Connecting the printer and a smartphone via Wi-Fi

 

 

 

Note, caution when accessing  this website to ensure typed correctly ( putting a dash in instead of a dot will give detrimental results and be linked to another site.

 Connecting to a Smartphone

If you are using multiple smartphones, perform these steps on each smartphone

   Typically for an Android phone, the expectation would scan the QR code and then takes you to the play store, instead, this takes you to the Canon support website, where you have to manually enter the printer model and then go to the play store to download the app, ( this defeated the purpose of the QR code) given the impression the software works but old fashioned.

The user guide does give details about Using the Fax function. This model does not come with that option.

Warranty:  This is great to see a business printer with a 3-year warranty ensuring confidence in Canon on their product with expected high usage in terms of the number of pages it can print from a single refill.

Comparison of Canon models:

 

Conclusion

The Canon Maxify GX6050 is a printer with experience from Canon experience dating back to 1985 having the world’s first inkjet printer using Bubble Jet technology, this can be seen in the design and the key features required in terms of the basic you would expect and eco option and quiet mode.

This printer has one major advantage as compared to budget inkjet printers Its Low running cost and comes with four ink straight out of the box in terms of black ink can Print up to 6,000 pages (or 9,000 pages when printing in Economy Mode) from a single bottle or  14,000 colour pages from a full set of colour ink bottles. This can be improved even further with access to Economy mode, where you can print up to 1.5 times more pages.

Canon has placed a  Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO) Calculator  on their website to give value saving of 90% Average Savings On The Total Cost of Ownership vs top 10 laser and inkjet printers ( see https://www.canon.ie/printers/tco-calculator/ for a comparison)

The setup is straightforward but this is where Canon are using older technologies which can be seen from the software process and looking at the installation guides. The guide looks modern with QR codes from your phone or laptop, Unfortunately this is as far as it goes, Th QR code takes you to their website where you have to manually type in the model of your printer and download the Android app from the play store. For Windows, you have to choose a file and download the exe file and run. This process works and connects to the Wifi but felt old and sluggish. A CD is included and the mention of a fax machine on the installation again reinforces this outdated software view. (On a positive note, this model does not come with fax machine options which is an outdated technology )

The design in terms of the colour 6.9cm  LCD Tiltable Touch screen display is a real positive in terms of getting into the printer setting, this was fast and responsive to touch. Printing via a laptop Android phone was easy while slower than some used before when Printing top quality.

Overall this is a solid printer in terms of build quality, with Key features, easy to use, excellent ink options, and a 3-in-1 refillable ink tank to provide years of cost-effective printing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-4470C006-MAXIFY-GX-6050/dp/B08ZG2R58Q

 Video Review 

Creative launches Live! Cam Sync 4K

Creative Technology today announces the release of Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K, the latest webcam that comes equipped with nifty features to meet any video conferencing or streaming needs. With a high-performance Sony 4K UHD 8MP image sensor*, a backlight adjustment feature, and a 95° wide-angle lens, this webcam captures more within the frame and delivers crystal-clear videos even in low-light conditions at a smooth frame rate of up to 40 FPS. Perfect for pros, streamers, and anyone who wants to take their video quality to the next level.

Say goodbye to blurry video quality and hello to 4K perfection with Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K. The Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K is not just about video quality, though. It also has dual built-in microphones that can capture the user’s voice with clarity and accuracy. So, whether for presentations, live-streaming, or just chatting with friends and family, this webcam makes sure that users appear and sound great in any setting. Plus, it has an integrated lens cover for extra privacy and a universal mounting clip that allows greater flexibility for users to find the best angle.

Setting up the Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K is also super easy. It’s UVC-compliant, which means users can jump into virtual meetings and start streaming right away without any additional drivers. It is also compatible with most video conferencing platforms and popular streaming apps. And if that is not enough, it even comes with a SmartComms Kit via the Creative App. This kit includes features such as VoiceDetect and NoiseClean-Out to ensure clearer communication whenever and wherever.

Be it for work or personal use, the Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K is the perfect tool to achieve greater video quality with clear audio to match. Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K is priced at £74.99 and is available at Creative.com. For more information, visit www.creative.com/LiveCam4K