Tag: tool

Bank of Ireland launches Sustainable Business Coach online platform for SMEs

Bank of Ireland has launched its new Sustainable Business Coach online platform, a free digital tool designed to support SME business customers with sustainability planning and to identify their ESG priorities.

Sustainable Business Coach, which is unique in the Irish market, is designed as an ESG questionnaire with businesses answering a series of multiple-choice questions. The results of the online assessment, which can be conducted at a pace that suits each business, provides a concise summary of their current sustainability position and covers key action areas such as:

  • Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
  • Employee engagement
  • Energy usage
  • Procurement
  • Water & waste management

Recent research conducted by Bank of Ireland revealed that a majority of SMEs are unclear on how to implement sustainable growth plans, with over 70% concerned about the impact ESG requirements could have on their own enterprises. Sustainable Business Coach provides SMEs with a structured roadmap to make meaningful progress in the sustainability space, with the online platform underpinned by a globally recognised framework based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The launch of the easily accessible and free-of charge Sustainable Business Coach further enhances Bank of Ireland’s ESG ambitions, with the Bank on track to deliver its end-2025 sustainability-related lending target of €15 billion earlier than anticipated.

John Feeney, CEO, Corporate and Commercial, Bank of Ireland said: “‘Bank of Ireland is delighted to launch a new, free digital sustainability tool focused on Irish SMEs. Many of our business customers face time and resource challenges. Our goal is to deliver an easy-to-use online tool that can provide businesses with a practical and quick plan to support sustainability decision making.”

To find out more about the Bank of Ireland Sustainable Business Coach please click here: Bank of Ireland – Sustainability Coach    

How Automation is Shaping the Future of Enterprise Procurement

Enterprise procurement transforms automation, driving speed, efficiency, and cost savings. This is a handy tool for companies sourcing and buying; it saves time and money. Automation revolution presents the axiom trade platform and how it supports consumers during the transition.

Why Automation Matters in Procurement

Conventional procurement includes manual activities such as finding suppliers, negotiating contracts, and placing orders. These processes are time-consuming and error-prone, creating delays and increasing costs. 

Automation makes those tasks more efficient by replacing manual effort with software that can do things automatically at high speeds. That is good news for businesses as it translates to reduced operational expenses and swifter response from supply chains. 

According to a recent survey, 70% of procurement leaders are frustrated with a lack of visibility and manual processes and would like a more automated solution. Automation technologies, such as the Axiom Exchanges platform, can help resolve these problems in a user-friendly manner, ensuring procurement requirements are under control.

Axiom Exchange Platform

The Axiom Exchange is an AI-enabled marketplace for enterprise procurement. It automates tail spend, the small, frequent purchases that can be difficult to track. It combines sourcing, catalog management, and supplier collaboration in a single solution, simplifying the use of multiple tools. 

Businesses can create a controlled atmosphere for the buying of goods and services, making sure they are compliant, and purchases are efficient. This centralized method saves time and costs by up to 50% in some situations, which is a valuable resource for any business, large or small.

How to Use Axiom Exchange

Using Axiom Exchange is easy, even if you’ve never done programmed procurement. Here it works: Companies join the platform and set up various procurement settings, including ideal suppliers and budget restrictions. 

The system subsequently permits the user to search through catalogs, request quotes, and place orders with minimal clicks. It’s guided buying software makes it easy to evaluate whatever you’re buying, with guidance on suppliers by cost or reliability. 

Axiom Exchange trading features offer real-time analytics and automated approvals so users can monitor spending and ensure orders align with company policies. Users also have a dashboard guide that helps them onboard step by step.

Axiom Exchange Review

User reviews praise the platform for its ease of use and speed. According to Axiom Exchange review information, businesses are delighted with the ease of automating their manual work and improving supplier management. 

Organizations speak of massive time savings; some even say that 90% of their indirect spend is automated. The platform integrates with other systems, such as ERP software, which allows for flexibility in industries like healthcare and retail. 

But some users report that advanced functionality has a learning curve, and that training is recommended for best use.

Is Axiom Exchange Secure?

Purchasing security is crucial, so the query “Is Axiom Exchange safe?” is common. The system is built on enterprise-level encryption and verified supplier security for data and transactions. 

Its non-custodial nature means merchants control their funds, minimizing risk. Additionally, adherence to industry standards and routine audits maintains its safety profile and has built trust among companies.

Final words

The future of enterprise procurement is automation, driven by tools like the Axiom Exchange. Their mission is to make businesses more competitive by automating repetitive tasks that help employees make better decisions while keeping information and assets safe. 

The consumers get faster services and reduced prices, and in return, the producers end up with an automated procurement business- a win-win for both.

AR tool could give cyclists ‘sixth sense’ and improve self-driving vehicle safety

A new tool which can rapidly prototype augmented reality experiences has given researchers new insights which could allow cyclists to safely share the roads with self-driving cars.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow developed the tool, called CycleARcade, which uses augmented reality headsets to enables cyclists to see and interact with simulated autonomous vehicles as they ride in real-world environments.

The team used CycleARcade to explore how new gear could equip cyclists with a ‘sixth sense’ to help them be more aware of self-driving cars’ intentions. They also examined how cyclists from different countries may expect different behaviours from autonomous vehicles on their local roads.

Unlike traditional simulators which use stationary bikes surrounded by computer screens to mimic real-world situations, CycleARcade enables a more realistic experience, where cyclists ride freely in open spaces with graphics of virtual vehicles displayed in their headsets. The system provides researchers with precise control over the virtual vehicles, allowing cyclists to safely test out immersive scenarios which could be dangerous on real roads with actual cars.

The team’s research builds on previous work they have conducted on how autonomous vehicles can communicate effectively with cyclists to replace the complex set of nods, waves and eye signals which human drivers and riders have developed to signal their intentions to each other. Their CycleARcade research will be presented as two papers later this month at the CHI Conference in Japan.

The first paper outlines how the Glasgow team used CycleARcade to test new designs for interfaces which could alert cyclists to nearby autonomous vehicles and provide information about the cars’ intentions.

With the help of a focus group of 20 cyclists, they developed and tested three virtual displays which would give riders information about vehicles around them in different road scenarios where some cars would yield to the cyclists while others would not.

One prototype, RoadAlert, displayed signals about the cars’ intentions directly onto the road surface and played spatial audio beeps which got louder as vehicles approached. A second, called reARview, gave riders a virtual rear-view mirror through augmented reality glasses. The third, named Gem, used handlebar-mounted displays to communicate the virtual vehicles’ movements.

Ammar Al-Taie, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science, is the paper’s lead author. He said: “Technology offers an opportunity to augment cyclists’ awareness of the roads around them, providing a kind of ‘sixth sense’ to help them navigate safely.

“What we found in this study is that you don’t need to alert cyclists about all vehicles equally. Cyclists need focused awareness of vehicles that pose the greatest risk, like those approaching from behind or vehicles that won’t yield, while being able to maintain attention on the road ahead. RoadAlert was the design that brought those qualities together most effectively for our study participants.

“It’s important to emphasise, though, that we’re not expecting cyclists to have to adopt this kind of technology in order to stay safe on the roads in the future. Instead, we’re expanding the toolbox for cyclists who want additional support or awareness, who could choose to buy devices specifically designed to do so.”

In the second paper, computing scientists and psychologists from the University of Glasgow and colleagues from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden show how they used CycleARcade to probe the road safety expectations of cyclists in three different countries, with very different levels of cycling infrastructure.

They gave CycleARcade kits to cyclists in cities in Sweden, Oman and Scotland and asked them to ride in simulated road conditions with computer-controlled projections of autonomous vehicles displayed in their headsets.

In Stockholm, where cyclists are used to having their own space in dedicated cycle lanes, riders wanted to know exactly where the self-driving car was located around them. They preferred to take their time to judge its intentions by watching its driving behaviour.

In Muscat, where cyclists regularly navigate busy shared roads and make fast-paced decisions about their next move, riders were more likely to quickly trust direct signals from the vehicles.

Cyclists from Glasgow, which has a limited number of dedicated bike lanes, took a more balanced approach. They reported that they wanted to see both location information and clear signals about the vehicle’s intentions.

Mr Al-Taie added: “These findings clearly show that cyclists learn to share the roads with cars differently from country to country, which suggests that self-driving cars might need to adapt their communication methods to better speak the language of the local roads. Humans often do this naturally when driving abroad, but autonomous vehicles may need to have their programming tweaked to take local driving culture into account when they start rolling out around the world in the years to come.”

The paper has been selected by the conference for an Honorable Mention award, which are presented to the top 5% of papers submitted to CHI 2025.

CycleARcade is the latest development in research led by Professor Stephen Brewster, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science, which focuses on how cyclists can communicate with self-driving cars in the years ahead.

Professor Brewster said: “Ultimately, we’re aiming to thoroughly explore the ways in which cyclists and autonomous vehicles can speak the same language on the roads to keep both as safe as possible. Human drivers and riders have developed a sophisticated series of signals to help decide who has the right of way or who has priority in a change of lanes, for example, and it’s vital that cyclists can have the same level of trust and understanding with self-driving cars.

“CycleARcade is a powerful tool to help explore how that new language can be developed, using real bikes in real physical spaces, with virtual elements that can be tweaked or replaced in real-time. We’re continuing to work on research in this area, and we hope that our insights will help influence the design of future generations of autonomous vehicles.”

The team’s papers, titled ‘Around the World in 60 Cyclists: Evaluating Autonomous Vehicle-Cyclist Interfaces Across Cultures’ and evARything, evARywhere, all at once: Exploring Scalable Holistic Autonomous Vehicle-Cyclist Interfaces’, will be presented at the CHI Conference in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday 28th April and Wednesday 30th April respectively.

Video

 

VDIAGTOOL VD70S wireless automotive diagnostic tool review

The VDIAGTOOL VD70S wireless automotive diagnostic tool is a kit for the more serious motorist or mechanic packed with more features than any other kit I have tested in the past.

Coming in a solid frame this is also very robust and will stand the test of time and serve its purpose with ease and these tools do get an awful life over their duration.

These kits are a daily tool for any garage these days ableit they charge you to plug it in and if you have one of these you can go to your dealer or garage with ammo at hand to save you the costly fees they charge to plug in their own and stop them trying to tell you that you have issues that do not exist in my past experience I have been charge 99 euro once and 130 euro just to have them plug in their own diagnostic tool.

The tablet itself has a 7 inch screen and gives more information at a glance than most I have tried before if not all so this is good to have so much information right in front of you without the need to be scrolling.

There is support for all countries on this and broke down into regions you can find your vehicle on the list or just plug it into your OBD port and let it find it for you it works well and fast as I have tested on two vehicles with no issues.

You have Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity giving you a smooth experience with no lag in results or speed.

Designed for DIY enthusiasts tackling common issues such as engine, transmission, ABS, and SRS, the VDIAGTOOL VD70 S vehicle scanner offers targeted diagnostic solutions. It efficiently reads and clears fault codes while analyzing data streams, ensuring quick identification of problems.

In the images below you can see what the UI looks like and what is on offer and we also show live testing on two videos below and walk through the experince which is simple and not to complicated even for novice users.

Each time this is turned on you will get updates so make sure you accept them this also stands testament to their support of the product which again is a great selling point and good to see as over the last while testing I have seen the updates come in each time.

Check the video below for more.

The UI and Menu on tablet 

 

 

Key Features of the VD70S:

  • ECU Coding & FCA AutoAuth:Advanced capabilities typically found in high-end tools.
  • Full Bi-Directional Testing & Active Component Control:Comprehensive diagnostics at your fingertips.
  • Broad Compatibility:Works with over 10,000 vehicle models.
  • 8-in-1 Live Data Display:More data options compared to standard 4-in-1 tools.
  • WiFi & Type-C 2-in-1 Connection:30x faster than Bluetooth for seamless diagnostics.
  • Large 7-Inch Touchscreen:Intuitive and user-friendly interface for easy navigation.
  • Three Years of Free Firmware Updates to keep the tool up-to-date with the latest technologies.

Other diagnostics tools reviews

BUY

Video Review

The Best Typography Tool for Your Designs

Let’s be real—typography can make or break a design. The right font can grab attention, convey emotion, and make your project stand out from the crowd. But searching for the perfect font? Yeah, that can take hours. Luckily, Creative Fabrica’s Font Gen has got you covered. You can create a fully custom font in minutes—no crazy tech skills needed!

Ready to take control of your typography? Let’s dive in and see how this tool can become your new design best friend.

Why You’ll Love Creative Fabrica’s Font Generator

Forget sifting through endless font libraries. With this tool, you’re in the driver’s seat. You can whip up fonts that perfectly match your vibe, whether you want something bold, playful, or elegant.

Instant Font Magic with AI

This isn’t your average font tool. Thanks to AI, you can create an entire custom font in seconds. Type out a prompt like, “Imagine a bold futuristic font for a tech brand” or “Create a playful handwritten script for kids’ content,” and watch the magic happen.

Total Control Over Your Font

You’re the boss here. Adjust letter spacing, tweak glyphs, and mess with kerning until it’s just right. Need a font with thin, delicate strokes? No problem. Want something chunky and impactful? Easy. Try prompts like “Show me a thick, vintage-style serif for a café menu.”

Beginner-Friendly Interface

Never designed a font before? Don’t sweat it. The interface is designed to be as easy as scrolling through your favorite social feed. Just enter your text, choose a style, and start tweaking.

Works Anywhere

Once your font is done, you can export it and use it in all your favorite programs—Photoshop, Canva, Illustrator, and even your website. Say goodbye to cookie-cutter fonts forever!

How to Get Started (Spoiler: It’s Ridiculously Easy)

Here’s the quick-start guide for Creative Fabrica’s Font Generator. You’ll have your custom font ready in no time.

  1. Sign Up – Head to the Font Generator page and create a free account. You’ll get 5,000 bonus coins (yep, that’s enough for five free fonts).
  2. Enter Your Text – Type something fun, like “Typography is awesome!” or “This is my signature font.” The generator will instantly show different font styles based on your input.
  3. Customize Like a Pro – Fine-tune the details. Play around with letter spacing, adjust the thickness of the strokes, and regenerate any characters you don’t like. Try out prompts like “Elegant script font with flowing curves.”
  4. Export Your Masterpiece – Once you’re happy, export the font in TTF format. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Need help installing?
    • Windows: Right-click on the file and select “Install.”
    • Mac: Double-click and hit “Install Font.”
    • Linux: Move the file to your fonts directory.
  5. Start Designing! – You’re ready to use your new font in projects. Your creativity just leveled up!

 

Why Custom Fonts Are a Game-Changer

So, why bother with custom fonts anyway? Because they can take your designs from average to unforgettable.

Boost Your Brand’s Identity

Your font says a lot about your brand. Custom fonts help you create a signature style. Think of iconic brands—half the magic is in their typography. Imagine generating a font for your business using a prompt like, “Sophisticated serif font for a luxury brand.”

More Creative Freedom

Fonts that are “just okay” don’t cut it anymore. With your own custom typeface, you have total creative freedom. Want to create a gothic-themed poster? Try prompting, “Dark, gothic font with sharp edges for a horror project.”

Professional Consistency

If you’re serious about your designs, consistency matters. Using one font style across your website, social media, and documents makes your brand look polished and professional. No more mismatched typefaces!

Tips to Level Up Your Typography Game

Want your custom fonts to really stand out? Follow these quick tips:

  • Mix and Match: Pair contrasting fonts like a classic serif with a modern sans-serif. This creates balance and visual interest.
  • Focus on Readability: Your font should be stylish but easy to read. Adjust kerning and spacing as needed.
  • Test It Everywhere: Make sure your font looks good on both large and small screens. Compatibility is key!

Need ideas for prompts? Try these:

  • “Retro-style display font for a music festival poster.”
  • “Delicate, elegant calligraphy font for wedding invitations.”
  • “Minimalist sans-serif font for tech-related content.”

Conclusion

Why settle for boring fonts when you can create your own? Creative Fabrica’s Font Generator puts the power of typography in your hands. With its AI-driven features and easy customization, you can design fonts that perfectly match your style in just a few minutes.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, type out a few prompts, play around with styles, and watch your ideas come to life. Try the tool today and start turning your creative dreams into reality!

 

Native vs Hybrid App Testing Tools Key Differences

Quality Assurance (QA) teams play a crucial role in the development process, diligently ensuring that software applications perform reliably and meet user expectations. Their work involves anticipating potential issues during real-world use, such as performance bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities, or compatibility problems with different devices. By rigorously testing applications across various scenarios, QA teams strive to deliver a seamless experience for users.

Choosing between a native and hybrid mobile app testing tool isn’t just some small technical decision. It’s more like picking between taking the scenic backroads or jumping on the highway. QA teams are already racing against deadlines and trying to catch every possible bug. The last thing they need is to realize halfway through that they picked the wrong testing approach.

Native Testing Tools: Focused and Reliable

Native testing tools are like tools made for a specific car model. They fit perfectly and know every nut and bolt. These tools are built to test apps designed for a particular platform, like iOS or Android. That focus is their biggest strength.

When you’re using native tools, you’re working with a solution that understands the platform inside and out. That means everything from swiping gestures to GPS functionality gets tested exactly the way users will experience it. For QA teams, this precision is a game-changer.

Why QA Teams Count on Native Tools

Platform Integration

A native mobile app testing tool doesn’t just test functionality—they test how the app “feels” on its platform. Is the animation smooth on an iPhone? Does the Android version handle the app behavior accurately, etc?

Device-Level Testing

Real-device testing is where native tools shine. Whether it’s testing a front-facing camera feature or a fingerprint scanner, native tools let you get hands-on with the real thing.

Spotting Performance Bottleneckss

Since native tools are tied closely to the platform, they excel at catching problems like slow load times, resource hogging, or memory leaks.

The Tradeoff

The downside? Native tools are laser-focused. That’s great if you’re building for just one platform. But if your app needs to work across iOS and Android, you’re looking at twice the effort—separate tools, separate tests, and separate expertise.

Hybrid Testing Tools: Flexible and Broad

Hybrid tools are like a universal toolkit. They’re designed to work on multiple platforms, so you don’t have to carry separate tools for every situation. These tools focus on testing apps built with frameworks like Flutter, React Native, or Ionic, which are designed to work across platforms from the get-go.

For QA teams handling apps that straddle multiple ecosystems, hybrid tools offer a way to test quickly and efficiently. They allow you to write a single set of tests and run them on both iOS and Android. Which is a huge time-saver.

Why QA Teams Lean on Hybrid Tools

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Hybrid tools are perfect for apps built with shared codebases. You can test once and apply the results to both iOS and Android versions.

Speed and Simplicity

By consolidating workflows, hybrid tools reduce the complexity of managing multiple test environments.

Cost-Effectiveness

Fewer tools mean fewer licenses to buy and less time spent training teams on different systems.

The Catch

Hybrid tools have limitations, too. Because they’re designed to cover multiple platforms, they sometimes miss the finer details. Platform-specific bugs or issues with hardware integration (like testing a gyroscope) can sneak through.

The Key Differences Between Native and Hybrid Tools

QA teams often wonder: What’s the real difference? It’s more than just platform compatibility. Let’s break it down into the specifics that matter most during testing.

  1. Platform-Specific Testing
  • Native Tools: Deep and precise. They excel at catching issues tied to the unique quirks of iOS or Android.
  • Hybrid Tools: Broad and efficient. Great for ensuring that shared functionality works seamlessly across platforms.
  1. Test Coverage
  • Native Tools: Limited to one platform at a time.
  • Hybrid Tools: Cover multiple platforms in a single go, but might miss certain platform-specific behaviors.
  1. Time and Cost
  • Native Tools: Higher upfront investment in terms of setup and resources.
  • Hybrid Tools: More budget-friendly, with faster turnaround times for cross-platform apps.
  1. Real-Device Testing
  • Native Tools: Shine in this area, offering more granular mobile app testing capabilities on physical devices.
  • Hybrid Tools: Can support real-device testing but may need additional setups to match the depth of native tools.
  1. Maintenance
  • Native Tools: Require frequent updates to keep up with changes in iOS or Android.
  • Hybrid Tools: Often evolve alongside the frameworks they’re built for, keeping updates streamlined.

Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

There’s no universal “best” testing tool. The right choice depends on your app’s needs, your team’s experience, and the scope of your testing. Let’s break it down with some real-world examples.

Scenario 1: A Fitness App with Heavy Hardware Use

If your app relies on hardware like GPS tracking, a heart rate monitor, or step counting functionality, native tools are your best bet. They’ll dig deeper into how these features perform on each platform.

Scenario 2: An E-Commerce App Built with React Native

If your app runs on both iOS and Android with a shared codebase, hybrid tools will save time and resources. You can test features like shopping cart functionality or payment processing without duplicating effort.

Tips for QA Teams to Succeed

Whether you’re using native tools, hybrid tools, or a mix of both, a smart approach to mobile app testing can make all the difference. Here are some practical tips:

  1. Start with a Plan: Understand your app’s architecture. Decide which features need deep testing and which can be handled broadly.
  2. Balance Efficiency with Depth: Use hybrid tools for general functionality and native tools for the details.
  3. Invest in Real-Device Testing: Emulators are helpful, but nothing beats testing on real devices. Bugs that show up on actual hardware are the ones users care about most.
  4. Train Your Team: A skilled team can maximize any tool. Invest in regular training to keep their knowledge sharp.
  5. Monitor and Adapt: Testing needs change as your app evolves. Be ready to adjust your approach when new challenges arise.

Common Missteps to Avoid

  1. Skipping Real-Device Testing: Don’t rely solely on simulators or emulators. They’re helpful but can’t replicate every real-world condition.
  2. Overlooking Platform-Specific Features: If your app uses unique platform capabilities, hybrid tools might not catch everything.
  3. Underestimating Maintenance Needs: Both native and hybrid tools need regular updates. Keep this in mind when choosing your stack.

Conclusion 

Testing isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the safety net that ensures users have a smooth experience. For QA teams, the choice between native and hybrid testing tools comes down to priorities. Are you diving deep into one platform? Go native. Testing for a broader audience? Hybrid tools can handle the load.

At the end of the day, the right tools make all the difference—not just in finding bugs but in making your app something users can count on. That’s the goal, isn’t it? A product that works, no matter where or how it’s used.

XTOOL D5S diagnostic tool review

The XTOOL D5S diagnostic tool is an ideal piece of kit for motorists which come with a complete package for those want more other than their typical plug in OBD, this comes with sought after options such as Oil Light Reset, EPB, SAS, DPF, BMS Reset, Throttle, TPMS Reset, ABS Bleeding, Injector Coding, Gearbox Matching, Suspension, Window Initialization, Headlight, EGR Relearn, and Gear Learning.

There is plenty of such tools now available on the cheap and even in your local petrol station these days but they do not cut it and the cost reflects this, these just remove warning lights and they then return later on when it suits or if it is a persistent problem you will be doing it daily like I was on one of my vehicles until this product came along and fixed a well known error in my vehicle by activating a feature to clear the issue not just clear the issue with cheap OBD readers.

This is a well built product with plenty of other features on deck with live testing results too which is excellent and other parameters not seen on cheaper products which do not cut it.

There is a simple to use interface too which makes it simple and additional storage for other files you could run through the system.

It is built like a tank and will certainly take many falls from any height with a rubberised rugged finish it is the ideal tool to have if you are a mechanic or even a car enthusiast that will last a lifetime. See the video below for more.

Features 

4 Systems, 1 Comprehensive Solution

For DIY enthusiasts tackling common automotive issues like engine, transmission, ABS, and SRS, the XTOOL D5S vehicle scanner offers specialized diagnostic capabilities. It efficiently identifies and clears fault codes, analyzes data streams, and ensures timely problem detection

Enhanced Hardware Support

Enjoy improved performance with the upgraded D5S diagnostic tool, featuring a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, 128MB RAM, 32GB expandable ROM, and a user-friendly Linux operating system. The 3150mAh 3.6V battery ensures longer usage between charges.

15 Essential Maintenance Functions

The XTOOL D5S comes equipped with 15 of the most sought-after maintenance services (with free lifetime updates), including: Oil Light Reset, EPB, SAS, DPF, BMS Reset, Throttle, TPMS Reset, ABS Bleeding, Injector Coding, Gearbox Matching, Suspension, Window Initialization, Headlight, EGR Relearn, and Gear Learning

Graphical Live Data Stream

The D5S allows you to view up to 4 data streams simultaneously on a single interface, displaying them graphically. This feature helps users compare data and make informed, precise decisions.

Free Lifetime Updates

Stay ahead with free lifetime updates that keep you up-to-date with the latest parameters, vehicle models, and functions—no annual software fees required!

Other motoring news  

BUY –  https://www.xtoolglobal.com/products/xtool-d5s and the 15% discount code ‘techbuzzireland’

Video review

The Benefits of Archive Utility on Mac: An Essential Tool for File Management

Success in file management with Mac often relies on proper tool selection, and the Archive Utility is among the most helpful. It’s a built-in utility within macOS that makes file compression and extraction easier; it assists all those who have to deal with big files, frequently downloading them or organizing documents. Let’s dive into the benefits and best practices for using Archive Utility Mac for file management.

What Is Archive Utility and Why It Matters on Mac

This utility is a compression tool, thus shrinking the size of the file in its size, which, in turn, enables users to save space and keep things in order. Large project folders, for instance, could be shrunk instantly into much smaller and control-sized files with Archive Utility by saving space but making these files easier to store and share.

On the extraction side, things couldn’t be easier with Archive Utility. You can think of an incoming ZIP full of documents or media files. You would not have to use any third-party software; you’d open it right there and then with Archive Utility, which saves you from searching headaches for compatible software to decompress or compress the data. It’s handy, dependable, and perfectly cut to macOS cloth.

Key File Formats Supported by Archive Utility

Examples include cross-platform formats such as ZIP and TAR, allowing you to share files between Mac, Windows and Linux systems easily. You’ll also find the utility supports GZ and CPGZ file types, both of which have several uses in development and data compression. These formats are especially convenient for those who work with large volumes of data and plan to use some kind of data compression to save space.

In case some file types require more specialized handling, for example, if a user wants to unrar file on Mac, lightweight third-party options can easily be installed to complement the functionality of Archive Utility. For all three, ZIP, TAR, and GZ, this utility offers an all-in-one solution that reduces reliance on third-party software and simplifies workflows.

How Archive Utility Enhances File Management on Mac

Saving Storage Space through Compression

This tool helps to enable better storage options in that compressed files occupy a smaller space. In this, you can keep your documents, photos of particular moments, or even work projects in order without the thought of clutter. It is not only a matter of saving space but also of creating a systematic way of storing backups or collections.

This is also helpful for file backup; since the files are smaller when compressed, they are easier to store for longer periods or to transfer onto external drives. For example, should one have been working on design projects over the past year, compressing them using Archive Utility will allow everything to be kept in one archive, occupying less space and keeping it neat for easy access at any moment it is needed.

Efficient Ways to Organize and Share the Files

The other major advantage of Archive Utility is how easy it makes file organization and sharing. Compressing a batch of files, for instance, is one of those ways in which Archive Utility packages them together into one neat archive, thereby reducing the clutter of one file after another. For professionals who have to manage several project files, or for personal users who are arranging family photos, that would save them quite a lot of time.

This is very useful in the case of email attachments or uploading to cloud storage, where the file size limit provides a barrier. Compressing files ensures that even large attachments can meet the size limit, so you don’t have to go back and forth trying to send an overly large file. 

Password Encryption of Files

Besides file organization, Archive Utility can also provide the option of setting a password on compressed files- a rather basic but effective way of protecting information. Suppose you are sharing financial documents or personal data; using a password on the archive adds a layer of security that keeps access to the file limited to only authorized users. This is especially useful in creating file backups onto shared storage or even sending archival files with sensitive information.

Advanced Tips to Use Archive Utility on Mac More Effectively

Customizing Archive Utility Settings for Better Control

This utility also allows the setting of default save locations for extracted files, which might be of extreme use since it saves users from a lot of hassle regarding file organization. This means that instead of having to manually move files to their proper locations after extraction, you can simply set Archive Utility to save files to one single folder automatically so that everything remains in order without extra steps. 

Automate File Compress and Extracting Work

You could use Automator to configure how Archive Utility handles routines and makes the application perform repetitive tasks without your intervention. Say, for instance, that at the end of every month, you compress some project files; you could create a workflow for that, and instead, you’d invest more time in other productive activities.

An Automator can also help with batch processing, such as pressing or extracting many files all at once. It helps handle big projects and simplify your work by ensuring that you will be able to handle bulk files with no delays. By integrating Archive Utility into Automator, users will be able to establish efficient, hands-free file management routines that ensure maximum productivity.

Conclusion

For the typical Mac user, Archive Utility is far more than what might be referred to as simply a utility. With its support for ZIP, CPIO, and TAR formats, it’s, in fact, an everyday tool that creates order, effectiveness, and safety in digital life.

New tool to help organisations track progress on diversity and inclusion in workplaces launches

Organisations across Ireland have shown improvements of up to 10 per cent in fostering diverse and inclusive workplace cultures in the last two years, with the public sector making the most progress, showing an average sector improvement of 9.4 per cent. However, organisations need to do more to improve their workplaces for certain groups, including disabled people; people of different race, colour, nationality, ethnicity or ethnic origin; and people of different ages.*

That’s according to a new Inclusion Score metric that quantifies the sense of belonging and culture of inclusion within an organisation being launched today (17.07.24) by the Irish Centre for Diversity, a nationwide body, headquartered in Waterford, that works with public and private organisations in Ireland to help them embed diverse and inclusive workplace cultures.

An organisation’s Inclusion Score is calculated based on diversity and inclusion (D&I) benchmarking data gathered by the Irish Centre for Diversity.  The details have been compiled from more than 130 organisations across Ireland that between them employ more than 120,000 people across both the public and private sectors. The data is updated every 12 months.

According to latest findings from the Irish Centre for Diversity, the national average Inclusion Score is 78 per cent, with the insurance sector having the highest average of 81.7 per cent. Other sectors showing high Inclusion Scores include IT and technology with 80.8 per cent, and construction and engineering with an average of 79.5 per cent. The average Inclusion Score for the public sector is 71.1 per cent.

The latest findings also reveal the top three groups that workers think their organisation needs to focus further on as being disabled people (17.8 per cent); people of different race, colour, nationality, ethnicity or ethnic origin (16.1 per cent); and people of different ages (11.3 per cent).

The Inclusion Score enables organisations to compare their D&I performance both at a national level and against peers in similar sectors, such as the public sector, professional services, construction and engineering, and insurance and finance, among others. It also gives them the opportunity to monitor their own D&I performance and progress, providing data and insights to report to governing boards, for corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD) needs, and for sharing with other stakeholders.

Tracking and Improving D&I Progress

To track and improve an organisation’s D&I progress, the Irish Centre for Diversity delivers an initial survey followed by an action plan with recommendations for improvements. A second survey is conducted 24 months later to monitor progress, with Irish Centre for Diversity records showing 100 per cent of organisations improving.

Improvement pathways can include D&I training, and according to the D&I benchmarking data, the top requested trainings over the last two years are mental health, promoting good mental health at work, unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.

The latest findings from the benchmarking data show that the number of staff who have attended D&I training has increased by 6.2 per cent in the last two years, from 55.9 per cent to 62.1 per cent.

A further finding from the latest research shows that 85 per cent of workers believe that colleagues take D&I seriously in the way that they behave and the things that they say, with line managers scoring 83.8 per cent and senior managers 71.5 per cent. It also shows that 91.5 per cent of people think those they work with are accepting of other people whatever their background.

Announcing the official launch of the Inclusion Score today, managing director of the Irish Centre for Diversity, Caroline Cummins, said: “We are in a unique position working with hundreds of companies across all sectors, and collecting data that covers both diversity of staff and the culture of Irish workplaces. Having such comprehensive and robust data on workplace diversity and inclusion culture in Ireland allows the Inclusion Scores to provide meaningful benchmarks and roadmaps to progress D&I in Ireland. The data shows valuable advances when steps are taken to address workplace challenges ─ what gets measured gets done, and we have the data that is fundamental to support this progress.

“We are seeing huge leaps in creating and fostering inclusive workplace cultures and evidence of this is that 100 per cent of organisations that we re-survey are shown to have improved Inclusion Scores by up to 10 per cent.”

For more information about the Inclusion Score, the national D&I benchmarking research data, and how the Irish Centre for Diversity can help organisations drive progress in this area, visit www.irishcentrefordiversity.ie/national-benchmarking/.