Tag: #tech

ITRenew to establish Ireland Headquarters & Logistics Centre in Drogheda and create 40 jobs.

40 roles to be created over three years as company looks to significantly expand its presence in Ireland.

ITRenew Inc., the global leader in circular cloud and sustainable data centre infrastructure has today announced that it will establish an Ireland Headquarters & Logistics Centre in Drogheda, Co. Louth, with 40 new roles set to be created over the next three years. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, ITRenew securely decommissions data centre hardware for the world’s leading global cloud service providers and transforms it into everything from critical components to fully integrated edge and data centre systems.

The announcement comes as ITRenew seeks to meet the strong increase in demand for its asset decommissioning, data erasure, value recovery and IT sustainability services across Ireland and Europe.

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD said, “It is fantastic news for the North-East that ITRenew has chosen Drogheda as its new Ireland Headquarters and Logistics Centre, creating 40 new jobs in the region.  The company’s expansion in Ireland speaks highly of our continued success at attracting foreign investment, particularly within the tech industry.  The North-East offers a wealth of talented people and local resources which will allow the company to thrive in the years ahead, and I wish the ITRenew team the very best with their future innovative endeavours.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to establish ITRenew’s presence in Drogheda. This area offers us the skills and resources we need to open new financial opportunities for our EU customers and help them achieve their sustainability goals faster,” said Ali Fenn, President of IT Renew.  “The roles we’re creating will be highly skilled, ranging from operators to process engineers, with responsibility for data sanitization, component recovery, and responsible recycling.”

ITRenew employs more than 500 people globally and has had a presence in Ireland for a number of years, with a baseline staff responsible for hardware procurement, secure transport and decommissioning. The new premises in Drogheda will increase headcount and the scale of operations.

IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “The decision by ITRenew to establish in Drogheda is very positive news for Louth and the North East region, where the company will benefit from a rich pool of tech-based talent. Winning jobs and investments for regional locations is a key pillar of IDA  Ireland’s strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 and today’s announcement by ITRenew demonstrates the continued commitment to that pillar.  I wish ITRenew every success with its plans for expansion as the company continues to meet the increasing demand for its sustainable IT infrastructure services.”

400 new jobs for Kilkenny as State Street selects Ireland for its new global cybersecurity and technology unit

State Street Corporation, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, is to establish a new specialist 400-strong team in Ireland to provide technology infrastructure and cyber security services to support group operations globally.  State Street celebrates 25 years in Ireland and 20 years in Kilkenny this year and currently employs approximately 2,000 staff in Ireland across Dublin, Drogheda, Naas and Kilkenny.

Ireland has been selected in large part due to the availability of relevant and skilled technology talent – existing and emerging – from universities and third level institutions, as well as the need to have a location outside the US for time zone support purposes.

The new unit will be located at IDA Ireland Business and Technology Park in Kilkenny where State Street already employs approximately 600 staff and where the firm is in the process of developing a new state-of-the-art office. Reflective of new ways of working post COVID and of staff preferences for flexibility and remote working, the new office will accommodate above average occupancy levels enabling it to draw on a broad staff pool along the east coast and midlands.

The new unit will employ up to 400 high value, experienced and graduate level roles, across: programming, Cybersecurity Operations Analysts, Cybersecurity Instrumentation Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Architects (Network, Identify Access Management and BlockChain), Cybersecurity Forensics/Investigations, Pen Testers and Governance as well as Risk and Compliance experts.  The new roles will be filled on a phased basis over the next 2 years.

Commenting, Tadhg Young, State Street’s head of Ireland, said:

“We are very pleased that Ireland and Kilkenny will benefit from this very substantial investment and the addition of high value, sustainable jobs. Today’s jobs announcement, alongside plans for our new state-of-the-art office development in Kilkenny, marks a further strengthening of our presence and commitment to the region for years to come.

 “Ireland’s tech ecosystem and financial services credentials alongside Kilkenny’s central location and access to talent from third level institutions in Dublin, Carlow, Waterford and beyond were all compelling factors in our location decision. I wish to thank the IDA for their continuing support of State Street, and I strongly encourage anyone seeking a new career opportunity in a great location and with great prospects for professional development to check out our new roles.”

 Welcoming the news, Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: “This is a fantastic boost for Kilkenny. State Street, which already employs 600 in its Loughboy office and approximately 2,000 across the country has chosen to locate a new cybersecurity and technology unit in the county, creating up to 400 new jobs over the next 2 years.  Ireland’s highly skilled and experienced workforce continues to attract the very best investment across the country. This announcement is further evidence of the phenomenal work the IDA is doing to attract and retain FDI in Ireland – the new unit will be based in the IDA’s Kilkenny Business Park. I wish all involved every success.”

Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Seán Fleming said: “I am delighted to welcome this transformational investment from State Street and would like to thank all of the executives involved in Kilkenny, the wider Irish operations and their colleagues in the US. The investment is an endorsement and a commitment to Ireland and the State Street team in Kilkenny. It demonstrates the vital role that regional operations can play in creating value for global firms.  Both I and the team behind the Ireland for Finance Strategy wish State Street every success as they build out the team in the region.”

Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: “This significant announcement by State Street demonstrates not only the company’s continued commitment to Ireland but also the attractiveness of the South East Region’s value proposition. The new cybersecurity and tech roles announced for State Street’s new facility in Kilkenny will help shape the future of our economy and will support the company’s global operations.  I wish State Street every success with this expansion.”

In Ireland, State Street is the largest provider of fund administration and custody services with $1.7tn in assets serviced across all asset classes. The Irish group also manages $317bn within its investment management division SSGA.

Today’s announcement coincides with the first anniversary of State Street’s support for the Rethink Ireland €1.5 million Ability to Work Fund which, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection & the Department of Rural and Community Development, is helping develop the talents and skills of those living with a disability.

Edifier launches the TWS330 NB true wireless earbuds with ANC and AI #edifier

Featuring AI Phone Call Active Noise Cancelling and Hybrid Noise Cancelling Technologies For Sharp Audio/Calls with No Interruptions.

Edifier International, prominent designer and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets announces the latest addition to its’ earbud line-up the TWS330 NB.

With so many models of earbuds available in the market, Edifier continues to innovate its’ earbud range combining the very latest in technologies with sleek modern designs. The TWS330 NB provide seamless Bluetooth communication, hybrid noise cancellation and AI phone call active noise cancellation for SRP £55.99

The TWS330 NB earbuds adopt upgraded hybrid ANC technology. The 4 built-in internal and external bidirectional microphones provide better noise cancellation which enables up to -38dB. ANC works even when no songs are playing 

These Bluetooth earbuds are equipped with deep neural network call noise cancellation, which accurately picks up sound waves using AI. With the help of an adaptive algorithm, the voice of the caller is separated from other voices in real time, resulting in a high-quality call experience. Even in a noisy environment, both sides of the call can be heard clearly.

The TWS330 NB have an Ambient Sound Monitoring Mode. By simply double-tapping the left earbud, it can conveniently deactivate the active noise cancelling feature to be able to listen for outside sound without removing the earbuds, for safety and convenience.

AAC HD audio decoding provides higher quality audio transmission and excellent sound quality, beautifully restoring every detail of sound.

Choose from a selection of ear-tips to get the most secure and comfortable fit in your ears. The TWS330 NB slim charging case can easily fit in pockets and small bags and the case has a Type-C charge port to support quick charging. 10 minutes of charge time will provide 60 minutes of listening. 

The TWS330 NB earbuds have an IP54 rating meaning they are dust and waterproof: – great for outdoor sports.

Take complete control of TWS330 NB with the “Edifier Connect” app. Adjust noise cancelling, transparency mode, and even customize the earbuds’ touch controls.

Edifier TWS 330NB

The TWS330 NB are available for SRP  £59.99 in Black or White

Main Features:

  • Hybrid active noise cancellation technology
  • AI call noise cancellation technology
  • AAC audio decoding for high-definition audio with rich details
  • 20 hours continuous playback with quick charging
  • IP54 rated dust and waterproof resistance

Specifications: 

  • Bluetooth: 5.0-Protocol of Bluetooth: A2DP、AVRCP、HFP
  • Audio Decoding Format: AAC、SBC
  • Effective Distance: 10m
  • Running Time: 4h+12h (with noise cancelling on);
  • 5h+15h (with noise cancelling off)
  • Charging Time: 1h (earphones) + 1.5h (charging case)
  • Input: 5v==200mA(earbuds);5v==200mA(charging case)
  • Frequency Range: 20Hz-20khZ
  • Output SPL: 94±3dBspL(A)
  • Rated Impedance: 24Ω

 

Price & Availability: The TWS330 NB are available at SRP £59.99 from Amazon:

Edifier 330NB True Wireless Earbuds – Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling – 6 Mics – AAC Audio – USB-C Fast Charge – App Control Bluetooth Earbuds – Black: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

 

Maneater: Truth Quest, Out Now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S #gaming

Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive announced today the launch of  Maneater: Truth Quest, the first downloadable content (DLC) for Maneater, the award-winning Action-RPG (shARkPG) where you play as a shark! Out now for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S console systems, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the Maneater: Truth Quest DLC requires the completed base game, Maneater, to play, and is available for $14.99 / €14.99 / £12.99 MSRP with an ESRB rating of M for Mature, PEGI 18 rating, and USK 16 rating. Players looking for the best bang for their bite, can also look forward to the Maneater Apex Edition, which includes the base game, Maneater, plus the Maneater: Truth Quest DLC, available for $49.99 / €49.99 / £42.99.

 

Maneater: Truth Quest Key Features Include:

New Story

  • Play through a new full narrative, story-based expansion as Trip Westhaven (voiced by Chris Parnell; SNL, 30 Rock, Rick and Morty) is back to narrate, having now been relegated to the online video streaming platform “ViewTube.”
  • New Evolutions
  • New Evolution Set
  • Maximum level cap increased to 40
  • Five new organ evolutions with one additional organ slot unlocked at level 35 (requires DLC ownership)

New Wildlife

  • New “Uber” Apex Predator
  • Battle fierce wildlife, including evolved hunt creatures as you eat your way up the food chain to regain regional dominance.

New Military Forces for Bounty Hunter System

  • Nicknamed “Site P,” the Plover Island Military complex hosts land forces will launch attacks from beaches and fortifications
  • Helicopters will hunt by air
  • Five new Bounty Bosses
  • New weapons and vehicles for military Bounty Hunters

New Objective Types

  • Failure to Communicate: Tail-whip objects to destroy the target objective
  • Time Trial: Swim through the rings before time runs out!

The original Maneater is a single player, open-world action-RPG (ShARkPG) where YOU are the shark. Starting as a small bull shark pup you are tasked with surviving the harsh world while eating your way up the ecosystem. To do this, you will explore a large and varied open world encountering diverse enemies — both human and wildlife. Find the right resources and you can grow and evolve far beyond what nature intended, allowing the player to tailor the shark to their play style. This is fortunate, because to get revenge on the cruel fisherman that dismembered you will take evolving into a massive shark, an apex predator of legends. Eat. Explore. Evolve.

Tech Review – Burga iPhone 12 case Satin White Marble #Burga #iPhone

Next in for review from Burga is the Satin White Marble iPhone12 case and again the same applies before as to the previous case we have reviewed from the company, All aspects remain the same here and the quality once again is throughout.  As Burga says on their website:

We take everyday boring items and – with a bit of magic and extreme imagination – turn them into lifestyle & fashion accessories you’ll be psyched to wear.

We add a pinch of sunshine to a cloudy day. Paint a sunflower on a winter canvas. Extract the purest feeling of freedom and combine it with a fierce desire for perfection. In other words, we go the extra mile to make you look & feel absolutely out of this world! Dive into the world of BURGA — a world of fashion, chique, and jaw-dropping aesthetics. Whatever your destination, we’ll help you get there in style.

This case again offers grip, gives your phone a premium look and protects it all round with a nice lip around the front of the device enabling you to leave it face down, check out the video below for more..

BUY HERE

 

 

 

Wind Mobility launches in Ireland we check out their e-scooter. #WindMobility #escooters #Mobility

Wind Mobility is a new e-scooter entrance to the Irish market and a welcome addition too and we tested out their #escooter The Wind 3.0 and met up with up Felix Eggert who told us about the plans and the e-scooter itself and one thing to note that stood out to me was it is made in house, down to the last bolt which means stealing one is pointless or stealing a part off one too.

At first this machine is heavier than most and bigger which does make it last and from testing it I like this approach however you are restricted to where you can bring it which again another point to note is that from testing in the UK Felix told me people have tried to bring them on public transport such as trains but this will in fact disable them. They have a very inclusive app and everything can be monitored and geo-fencing is an important feature and zones where they are not supposed to be used are also in place so overall a really good product here with great app features which we will see more in detail in the coming weeks and we get a full long term review of the e-scooter, as mentioned we spent a morning with the Wind 3.0 to check it out and I have made a quick assessment of my time with it..

Who is Wind

Wind Mobility, a micromobility sharing company, and we turn regular travel into safe moments that leave a lasting smile on your face.

They offer convenient, affordable, and easy-to-use access to short distance transportation in urban areas. With their eco-conscious and sustainable e-scooter, they aim to make cities more livable by reducing congestion, as well as noise and carbon emissions.

Born in Germany in 2017 as Byke Mobility GmbH offering bike rental services in European cities, in 2018 Wind launched an e-scooter sharing on a global scope.

 

 

The Wind 3.0

SPEED LIMIT: capped at 25km/h, possibility to automatically reduce speed in the busiest pedestrian areas

WEIGHT: 29.6 kg (higher weight makes for safer and more comfortable riding on bumpy roads)

RANGE: up to 80km range, fully GPS tracked, automatic updates for all major settings, IoT hardwired into mainboard

BRAKES: two independent physical & electric brakes. The braking distance is 3.5 meters in dry weather for a speed of 25km/h vs. 5-7 meters for other scooters on the market. The electronic brake force distribution system allows to automatically balance the load on two wheels in the event of sudden stops, thus limiting the risk of projection towards the front.

TYRES: Non-inflated double-layered foam-filled tyres (No risk of burst tyres; WIND 3.0 tyres are larger than comparable scooters in the industry, which increases comfort and safety)

BATTERY LIFE: 3+ days – fully swappable battery – serviced by electric cargo-bike. The Lithium-ion batteries are certified by the independent German technical inspection body TÜV SUD and comply with international standards

PREVENT CLUTTERED PAVEMENTS Wind scooters are the only shared electric scooters equipped with a robust double stand, which ensures the stability of parked vehicles and prevents them from falling easily and cluttering streets. Sensors in our scooter automatically notify our teams when the scooter has tipped over..

Safety Features

bright yellow colour for easy visibility
retro-reflective devices
bright front & rear lights (automatically
activated day & night)
horn with 110 decibel sound
wider non-slip platform
alarm & anti-theft features
built-in hand sanitiser
integrated helmet

 

 

Playing by the rules

Here is the problem which is still an ongoing issue with escooters in Ireland and they still continue to drag their heels on the laws, mostly the Gardai throw a blind eye which is obvious from the visible amount of these on the streets and as an escooter owner myself I have never been stopped or approached but still feel the threat anytime I do go out on mine. Wind have their own policy set out below but yet like us all still waiting for some kind of solid legislation from our government..

Our geolocation system allows the definition of our operating area and of no-riding zones such as parks or pedestrian areas. The GPS system indicates the position of our vehicles with a maximum margin of error of less than 5 meters. Our teams on the ground ensure that vehicles are not parked in scooter-free zones and will quickly remove scooters from those areas if parked incorrectly. Our app will prevent users from parking scooters and finishing their ride when outside the operating area. If scooters are removed, users will be subject to a fine and WIND reserves the right to suspend a user if scooters are mishandled or repeatedly parked in scooter-free zones. We can quickly adapt and configure our tools to comply with
regulatory demands and flexibly respond to any restrictions imposed by city authorities. Our geofencing technology allows the flexible modification of the area of operation. Within 30 minutes, our teams can integrate no-riding zones and reduced speed areas.

For more on the company see wind.co 

See the video below for a tour of the Wind 3.0

 

 

 

Dell Technologies Study Reveals Data Has Become A Burden Rather than an Advantage for Most Businesses in Europe

Dell Technologies is today releasing the results from a study conducted by Forrester Consulting, showing that for most businesses the proliferation of data has become a burden, rather than an advantage. The sheer volume, velocity and variety of data is overwhelming their technology, people and processes. They have data goals – and many believe that they are data-driven – but they’re held-back by an array of barriers. These include a data skills gap, data silos, business silos, manual processes, data privacy and security weaknesses.

#dellBased on a survey with 4,036 data decision-makers from 45 locations, the findings build upon the biennial Dell Technologies Digital Transformation Index (DT Index) study, which assesses the digital maturity of businesses around the globe. The 2020 DT Index revealed that “data overload/unable to extract insights from data” was the second highest barrier to transformation in Europe. Dell Technologies commissioned the study with Forrester Consulting to understand why and how we can stop data becoming the number one barrier to transformation.

The study identifies several data paradoxes hindering businesses today, including:

  1. The Perception Paradox

Almost two-thirds of respondents in Europe (61 percent) say their business is data-driven and state “data is the lifeblood of their organisation.” But only 21 percent of European businesses testify to treating data as capital and prioritising its use across the business.

The results show that 89 percent of European businesses are yet to progress either their data technology and processes and/or their data culture and skills. Only 11 percent of businesses are defined as Data Champions: companies that are actively engaged in both areas (technology/process and culture/skills).

  1. The “Want More Than They Can Handle” Paradox

According to the research, 71 percent say they are gathering data faster than they can analyse and use, yet 64 percent of businesses in Europe say they constantly need more data than their current capabilities provide.

Consequentially, the explosion in data is making their working lives harder rather than easier: 64 percent of European business leaders complain they have such a glut of data they can’t meet security and compliance requirements, and 62 percent say their teams are already overwhelmed by the data that they have.

Commenting on the results, Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland, said: “At a time when Irish organisations are looking to transform at speed, it’s vital that we uncover the obstacles preventing companies from turning data into actionable insights. Particularly now, with 45% of organisations saying the pandemic significantly increased the amount of data they need to collect, store and analyse.

“The results of our study reveal an interesting paradox. Despite businesses believing they are data-driven, they have more data than they can handle and secure right now. To address this challenge, it’s vital that businesses process data at the edge – where it is generated. The edge can be a video camera, drone, an engine in a car or the whole car. In gaining real-time insights at the edge, organisations in Ireland will be able to roll out new applications and transform the way they do business in a data-driven age. This will accelerate the pace of digital transformation and result in an 800% increase in apps at the Edge by 2024.”

  1. The “Seeing Without Doing” Paradox

While economies have suffered during the pandemic, the on-demand sector has expanded, igniting a new wave of data-first, data-anywhere businesses. However, the number of businesses that have moved the majority of their applications and infrastructure to an as-a-service model is still small (Europe 16%). Even though 61% of organisations in Europe believe it would enable companies to be more agile while 64% see the opportunity to scale to changing customer demands.

  1. Hope on the Horizon

Although businesses in Europe are struggling today, many have plans to create a better tomorrow: 69 percent intend to deploy machine learning to automate how they detect anomaly data, 60 percent are looking to move to a data-as-a-service model and 56 percent are planning to look deeper into the performance stack to rearchitect how they process and use data.

Additional resources

Balsa Model Flight Simulator Beta Takes Flight

Felipe “HarvesteR” Falanghe, creator and lead developer of the original Kerbal Space Program, is bringing his passion for aviation physics to his next project, Balsa Model Flight Simulator with his new studio Floating Origin Interactive.

Focusing on true independent development, the Floating Origin team – comprising just three developers – designed Balsa to be unique in the flight sim category with its detailed, powerful editor where players can design, build, fly and battle their own model aircraft.

Powered by a sophisticated physics simulation and built from the ground up for Multiplayer, Balsa takes the next step in player-built flight simulation games, delivering an entirely new, multi-genre experience for virtual pilots of all skill levels.

Officially announced during last night’s Future Games Show, the open beta test for BMFS launches today with sign up via Steam for PC.

“When I started working on what became Balsa I really wanted to get back to that feeling of creating a game with the community from the very beginning.” commented Falanghe “It really felt to me that so much of indie game development had been sucked up into how the big guys do it these days, that the sense of sharing your ideas and seeing how the players take it and shape it had sort of been lost.  We are launching an open beta for the game now to make sure it has the absolute best foundation before we put it into Early Access, just like we did with Kerbal Space Program 10 years ago. We’re really hoping that will come about very soon and we can’t wait to work through the community feedback to make the game really, really great”

Sign up to the Balsa Model Flight Simulator Beta test here

Lack of investment in cyber security leaves many Irish businesses feeling exposed

EY Ireland is launching findings from their Global Information Security Survey 2021 which includes Ireland

More than half of Irish cyber security teams (52%) fear they are exposed to a major breach which could be avoided if their businesses invested more in their cyber defences, according to the EY Ireland Global Information Security Survey 2021.

Cyberattacks are increasing in frequency and impact with 90% of Irish businesses saying they have seen a rise in disruptive attacks in the last 12 months compared to 72% globally.

Irish respondents feel more exposed than their global peers due to a shortfall in funding. Globally, 36% of respondents say they are more exposed to a major breach than they would be if their businesses had committed sufficient resources to their cybersecurity defences. In Ireland, the figure was 52%, with 44% stating that their budgets were too low to handle the new challenges which have emerged over the last 12 months.

 

Carol Murphy, EY Ireland Consulting Partner and Head of Technology Risk, commented:

“Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent, more damaging, longer lasting and harder to anticipate. Irish businesses overall express confidence in their ability to manage evolving threats. The majority (60%) say they are confident in understanding and anticipating new strategies used by bad actors, which is encouraging.

Where improvement can be made is by creating heightened awareness of these threats at board and executive level. There is a tendency for cyber security to get lost on the priority list and this can leave the entire business exposed. With the regulatory burden rapidly increasing, however, boards are beginning to wake up to the threat posed and to the level of resourcing required, and not before time”.

 

Barriers to Communication

Only 30% of Irish respondents feel that their executive management fully understands the value and needs of the cyber security teams compared to 42% globally.

The survey suggests relationships between the cyber teams and senior leadership within their organisations are underdeveloped. More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents say that their teams are sometimes consulted too late or even not at all when their organisations make strategic decisions.

 

Carol Murphy concluded:

“The GISS survey highlights a number of gaps between Irish businesses and their international counterparts. These are partly due to budgetary constraints but also stem from a lack of internal communication and a perceived disconnect between cyber security and executive teams.

Given the global public health emergency, it is understandable that allowances have been made in some cases to facilitate rapid implementation of working from home policies. As remote and hybrid working become part of normal working life, however, businesses need to address the resulting security gaps as a matter of urgency.”