Journalists

Landline calls and SMS texts plummet in Ireland while mobile roaming fears disappear 

Landline calls have plummeted in Ireland in the last year, new figures from the telecoms regulator, Comreg, show.

Apple: 17,000 Irish jobs linked to creation of iPhone and iPad apps here 

Apple says that there are now 17,000 jobs directly related to the creation of iPhone and iPad apps in Ireland.

Analysis: Wifi humming, Paddy keeps digs to a minimum 

'I've very little left to troll the establishment about in Ireland."

Paddy Cosgrave wants to stop 'trolling the establishment' in Ireland 

“I‘ve very little left to troll the establishment about in Ireland.”

Irish payments start-up Plynk set to appoint liquidator 

Plynk, the Dublin-based money-messaging app that announced a €25m funding round last year, has scheduled a creditors’ meeting to seek the appointment of Jim Stafford of Friel Stafford as liquidator.

Amazon announce 1,000 highly skilled tech jobs for Ireland 

Amazon has announced 1,000 tech jobs for Ireland over the next two years.

Adrian Weckler: Podcasts win, fake news loses 

Last week, Reuters laid out what is working in media and what isn't. It's a great, free report, running to 144 pages. Anyone who's interested in what people really think of the media should read as much of it as they can.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q: I'm retiring soon and was thinking of treating myself to something I can take up as a hobby. I've always wondered about getting a model kit plane but never quite had the time or money. Now I think I'd like to give something like that a go and am wondering about getting a drone. What's a good one to get and do I need a licence?

Death of the landline? Why we are hanging up on the 'home phone' 

Landline calls have plummeted in Ireland in the last year, new figures from the telecoms regulator show.

Trust in 'news' on Facebook has plummeted 

Irish people are turning away from Facebook for news, according to a major international study.

Exclusive Irish money messaging startup Plynk faces liquidation 

Plynk Ltd, the Dublin-based startup that announced a €25m funding round last year, has scheduled a creditors meeting for the appointment of a liquidator later this month.

He whooped and screamed, pointing at me and shouting that I was an "enemy combatant" - Adrian Weckler in San Jose 

He followed me for a mile, screaming into my ear.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q There's a lot of disruption in my office at the moment and I'm finding it hard to concentrate. One of my colleagues suggested that I wear noise-cancelling headphones but I don't know anything about them or where to begin looking for them. Can you help?

Yahoo escapes Irish fine in biggest ever email breach 

Yahoo has escaped a fine from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner after the watchdog found against it for a giant email data breach that affected 500 million Yahoo email users.

Millions of Facebook users' posts may have been made public in latest privacy error, social media giant admits 

Facebook has admitted that millions of users’ posts may have been public when they were posted as private.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q: I do a bit of running and would love to listen to music and podcasts when I'm out. Is there a reasonably priced set of wireless earphones - preferably under €100 - that suits runners and won't fall out of my ears? I don't want to wear big headphones and I don't want wires dangling down to my phone.

The Big Tech Show: The 20 stupidest tech ideas and products 

This week, Adrian Weckler and Dr Mick O’Kerrigan from RecommenderX discuss 20 of the dumbest, faddiest tech ideas in recent years.

Female-led startups get less than 1pc of Irish venture capital cash 

New figures show that the amount of venture capital allocated to female-founded companies has fallen below 1pc in Ireland so far this year.

Tech Review: Fun photos in an instant as Fujifilm ups game 

There's something special about instant camera prints.

Web Summit founder says mortgage subsidies now needed 

WEB Summit boss Paddy Cosgrave says his company is now offering mortgage and rent subsidies to prospective staff due to the Dublin housing costs.

Web Summit to offer Dublin staff mortgage supplements as Paddy Cosgrave slams housing costs as 'bad for business' 

Web Summit boss Paddy Cosgrave says that his company is now offering mortgage and rent subsidies to prospective staff due to Dublin housing costs.

Virgin Media seals deal for Cablevision 

Virgin Media Ireland has acquired Waterford-based Casey Cablevision for an undisclosed sum.

Goodbye, infernal GDPR emails 

I bring good tidings - there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm talking about those incessant emails asking you to "keep in touch" or warning you that "action is required" if you want to "keep hearing" from them.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q My iPhone 6 has a cracked screen and the battery life is very poor. I've had it a couple of years and am thinking of upgrading. What's a decent smartphone to get that won't cost me the earth? Should I get a new iPhone or another model? I normally have a contract, but I'd consider buying it up front if it's good value.

The Big Tech Show: An absolute idiot’s guide to GDPR 

“I run a sports club – does this mean I have to ask them for permission to email now?”

Adrian Weckler on GDPR: A foolproof guide to what all those emails really mean 

WE'VE all been getting the incessant emails. They say things like: "Let's keep in touch!" And: "Important - if you want to keep receiving our emails ..."

Pointy to hire 25 after €5m fundraising 

A Dublin software startup is to create 25 jobs after landing more than €5m in venture funding.

iPhone v Samsung v Huawei: which is best? 

New data laws will be used as opportunity by cyber criminals: gardaí 

Cyber criminals are planning to take advantage of new data laws with a fresh wave of scam phone calls and emails, gardaí have warned.

Dublin tech startup to create 25 jobs 

A Dublin software startup is to create 25 new jobs after landing more than €5m in venture funding.

Adrian Weckler: How tech can be crucial in finding victim or a suspect 

As we know from multiple high-profile investigations such as the Graham Dwyer trial, it is now common for authorities to piece together locations of interest based on having possession of a suspect's (or a victim's) phone.

How this Irish YouTube star earned more than €850,000 in two years 

Is it a surprise that a 22-year-old YouTuber from Meath earns more than all but a handful of Ireland's biggest television stars?

Build it (in Cork) and they will come 

The first thing you see when you walk into Teamwork's Cork office is a huge video screen with a big number on it - $25m annual revenue.

Google's power is unchecked 

It used to be said that real politics doesn't happen on social media. If there's one thing that this referendum proves, it's that this just isn't true any more.

Children will now pay for our foolish move to raise the digital age of consent 

So do we all feel better now? Good – because virtually every child protection agency in the country says we’ve just made a big mistake.

The Big Tech Show: Adrian Weckler on the digital age of consent, Google’s Duplex, Elon Musk and Yanny versus Laurel 

Adrian is joined by culture journalist Roisin Kiberd and INM’s head of product (and SundayIndependent columnist) Steve Dempsey to pore through some of the biggest tech tissues of the week.

Tech review: Cheaper Huawei P20 beats most rivals on price and features 

This review column recently rated Huawei's P20 Pro (€899) as the best cameraphone out there at present. But Huawei also has a highly impressive junior stablemate, the P20.

Dáil votes to set digital age of consent at 16 

The digital age of consent in Ireland is set to be 16 after the government’s proposal for 13 was reflected in the Dail.

Twitter to start hiding comments from suspected 'trolls' in conversations 

Twitter is to start hiding comments from suspected ‘trolls’ in communal conversations and debates, even though such comments may not violate its terms of service.

Facebook remove more than 20 million pieces of adult nudity or pornography in three months 

Facebook took down 21 million pieces of adult nudity or pornography in the first three months of this year and “applied warning labels” to 3.5m pieces of violent content during the same period, according to the company.

Caravan holidays and Penneys clothes shopping - how to throw the bank off your trail on social media 

So banks are now officially checking the social media of mortgage applicants.

Can Niel's Eir get up to speed? 

Will Eir let its network rust away? Or is it about to surprise everyone with a massive wave of investment?

Eir plans €1bn network boost as billionaire takes control 

Eir is preparing an investment plan of €1bn into its network over the next five years, senior executives have told investors.

The Big Tech Show: Adrian Weckler talks to Snapchat King James Kavanagh about the new media world 

What sort of power do ‘influencers’ really yield?

Athenry loses out on Apple's €850m centre 'over three-year delay' 

Apple formally pulled the plug on ambitious plans for a giant Athenry data facility, citing a three-year planning delay.

Adrian Weckler analysis: This will go down as a bit of a shambles 

Regardless of where anyone stands on data centres or their pros and cons, there has to be a quicker way of deciding things nationally.

Huge blow to Athenry as Apple abandons €850m data centre 

Apple has abandoned plans for an €850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway, citing delays in the Irish planning process.

Money talks - and takes Irish entrepreneurs mainstream 

There is a wider story to what is going on behind the huge uptick in tech venture capital here.

Irish tech boom sees VC cash hit €1bn in a year 

Annual venture capital funding has exceeded €1bn in Ireland for the first time, new figures show.

Google ad ban 'is an attempt to rig vote', claim No campaigners 

Abortion referendum campaigners have reacted strongly to a decision by Google to suspend all advertising relating to the upcoming abortion referendum.

Google and YouTube to ban all ads relating to abortion referendum 

Google is to block all ads on its search engine and on YouTube relating to the upcoming abortion referendum.

Facebook will block ads from abroad ahead of abortion vote 

Facebook's move to block ads from abroad ahead of the abortion referendum will not prevent organisations in Ireland using foreign funding for ads on the platform, it has emerged.

Google announces €150m investment into expansion of Dublin data centre operations 

Google has announced a €150 million investment into the expansion of its data centre operations in south county Dublin.

Facebook to block all foreign ads about Eighth Amendment referendum 

Facebook is to block all ads related to the Eighth Amendment referendum that come from advertisers outside of Ireland.

Reprieve for Tesco after overcharging for roaming abroad 

Tesco Mobile overcharged customers for seven months when they roamed abroad, the Irish telecoms watchdog has found.

Twitter's timely password prompt 

Last week, Twitter did us a favour.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q We've just invested in a great new TV and I'm thinking of buying my husband wireless headphones so that he can watch all the sports he enjoys so much while I listen to music (or watch Netflix on another device) in the same room. Are there specific types for TV use, and how much can I expect to pay?

Adrian Weckler on Nokia 7 Plus: 'In an age of unbelievable phone cameras, this is very good for a mid-tier model' 

Last year, when I reviewed the Nokia 8 flagship phone, I was a little underwhelmed. No such mixed feelings accompany my experience of the Finnish company's new endeavour, the six-inch Nokia 7 Plus.

Adrian Weckler: #DeleteFacebook: a media myth 

So much for #DeleteFacebook.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q In light of the last few weeks' attention on Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, can you recommend a secure, GDPR-compliant, online service which consumers can use for storing (and preferably also for sharing) photos and videos from holidays? On the basis that 'if it's free, you're the product', I expect that nothing recommended could be free, but I'd also be delighted if that expectation proved false.

New mobile coverage map will expose blackspots 

A new State-backed mobile coverage map is to be introduced to publicly expose blackspots around the country.

The Big Tech Show: Minister Denis Naughten talks megabits, ministers and media ownership 

Communications Minister Denis Naughten sits down with Adrian and Fearghal O’Connor to talk of plans to make high speed broadband an “enforceable legal right” in Ireland.

Bank of Ireland reveal Apple Pay and Android Pay are on the way for its customers 

Bank of Ireland has given its first indication that it plans to launch Apple Pay and Android Pay with its banking services.

Exclusive 'Small screen good, big screen bad' - How Netflix plans to take over the world 

Tech Review: Google's Wifi speeds up home's far corners 

Despite the wonders of modern home wifi, many of us find at least one spot around the place where the signal falls off a little or a lot. It's not entirely obvious what to do in this scenario, other than replace your router.

Ireland's most valuable tech firm Intercom launches new business messaging platform 

Intercom, the Dublin-based customer messaging firm recently valued at over €1bn, has launched what it believes will be a major new business messaging platform.

Facebook to start allowing appeals for removed posts as part of transparency effort 

Facebook is to start allowing appeals for posts that are removed for nudity, sexual activity, hate speech or graphic violence.

Exclusive A real Netflix original: TV's most important player now has Ireland in his plans 

Who is the most important executive in television and movies? Disney chief executive Bob Iger? Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch? Some powerful actor like Tom Cruise? Not according to Wall Street. To financial power brokers, the current master of the TV universe is Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive of Netflix.

Subscriptions will save media 

Are subscriptions the future of media? It certainly feels like it, looking at my most recent credit card statement. All told, I'm heading toward €100 per month.

Adrian Weckler: Tablets are a funny breed...but the new iPad blows most other rivals away 

Tablets are a funny breed of computer. On one hand, they are the natural inheritors for casual use - web browsing, email and media consumption - because of their likeness to smartphones.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q. I use my Vodafone Smartphone mainly for email, YouTube, and for catching up on Irish TV programmes via RTÉ and TV3 playback apps. Could you advise me on a suitable budget tablet that would give me all this on a larger screen, maybe 10in. I am not interested in Facebook or WhatsApp, but enjoy watching 'how to' videos on YouTube?

Netflix now has at least 250,000 Irish subscribers amid TV and movie boom 

Netflix is estimated to have at least 250,000 Irish subscribers, according to new data offered by the company. 500,000 households currently “have access” to a Netflix account in Ireland, according to a recent survey from the Irish telecoms regulator, Comreg, and Ipsos MRBI.

Facebook promises to cut fake abortion referendum ads by fast-tracking transparency tool 

Facebook has promised to cut out fake ads on its platform for the Irish abortion referendum by fast-tracking a new ad-transparency tool it has developed.

Adrian Weckler: The axeman cometh: Eir looks to Lidl as billionaire boss cuts jobs 

Bienvenue en Irlande, Monsieur Niel. And quel entrance: your first pronouncement is to let a quarter of your company's staff to go under a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Finnegan is man with big mobile plans 

A week is a long time in Irish telecoms. As Eir's new billionaire French owner commenced his reign with the announcement that a quarter of the company's staff are to go, another billionaire - from Hong Kong - saw his Irish phone company go the other way.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q I am travelling to San Francisco direct from Dublin during the summer. I plan to purchase good quality headphones and would like to use technology on the long flight. I have a Samsung J5 phone, tablet and MP3 player. I would like to be able to use mindfulness apps, downloaded podcasts, audiobooks and music. I am open to purchasing an iPod if that would make it easier. I'm also wondering what the best options are in relation to charging devices. Any ideas much appreciated?

National Broadband Plan gets €500m EU boost 

The state’s National Broadband Plan, which promises to connect 542,000 rural homes and businesses to fibre-grade broadband over the next three years, is to get access to €500m in EU financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The Big Tech Show: SuperAwesome founder talks digital consent, kids, Facebook, privacy and all points in between 

Adrian talks about digital consent, kids, Facebook, privacy and all points in between with Dylan Collins, the Tipperary founder and chief executive of SuperAwesome, a ‘kid tech’ company he founded five years ago and which is now valued at over $100m.

Tech Review: Sony's Xperia XZ2 fails to keep pace with rivals' flagship devices 

Sony has always made decent smartphones with great cameras. Of late, however, it has been falling behind the competition.

Tech Review: Canon's M50: the 'M' may as well stand for 'meh' 

Like the photographic equivalent of an oil tanker, Canon is ever-so-slowly turning itself around to focus more prominently on mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. It has no real choice.

Adrian Weckler: Senators barely lay a glove, let alone land a punch, on Facebook's founder 

Ten hours of testimony over two days. No one knows whether his giant chair cushion was to make his 5ft 7in frame look taller or was simply a comfort aide.

Tech Review: Pixel perfect: Huawei leapfrogs rivals as P20 Pro becomes top cameraphone 

What will your next phone be? An Apple, a Samsung or ... a Huawei?

Latest Apple software update may stop repaired phones working properly 

Heading to an unauthorised repair shop to fix a cracked iPhone screen could become a thing of the past.

Adrian Weckler: The ugly truth about Facebook 

What's your opinion about Facebook? Love it? Hate it? Scared by it? After weeks of scandal associated with the social networking giant, let's remind ourselves of a few home truths about Facebook. And let's question why so few of us have deleted our accounts after everything that's happened, despite so many of us proclaiming that we would do so.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q The only social media I really use is Facebook. But I'm concerned that my data is going to be used improperly. I don't want to quit, just minimise the possible damage and know what are the dangerous things to do. Is there something I should be doing right away?

The Big Tech Show: Ryanair's technology chief on everything from putting WiFi on planes to becoming the "Amazon of travel" 

This week Adrian is joined by John Hurley, the Chief Technology Officer of Europe’s biggest airline, Ryanair.

Was your Facebook data improperly accessed? You'll soon be notified 

Are you one of the 45,000 Irish people whose personal information was improperly accessed as part of the Cambridge Analytica scandal?

Facebook wary of fake accounts in referendum 

Facebook is to target "fake accounts spreading misinformation" in the upcoming abortion referendum.

Irish users caught up in Facebook scandal as number of those affected worldwide swells to 87 million 

Irish users have been caught up in the Facebook scandal as it's revealed that the number of people worldwide whose personal data was improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica is likely to be 87m - almost twice the figure initially thought.

Meet Square's Irish CFO - one of the most influential female tech execs in Silicon Valley 

Who is Ireland's most influential female technology executive?

New EU law lets you watch Sky Sports and other pay-TV channels abroad at no extra cost 

Sky subscribers and other pay-TV customers can now access their sport and movies anywhere in Europe when they travel, thanks to a new EU law.

Facebook boss hits back at Apple 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has dismissed as "extremely glib" comments from Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

Adrian Weckler: Admit it: Irish tech is on the up 

After an extraordinary week in tech, it's worth pausing to take stock of how far Ireland has come with its indigenous tech industry.

Ask Adrian: Our tech editor tackles your trickiest technology problems 

Q: My daughter was talking about investing in a small printer. She is in first year in college and it is awkward for her to get to the library to print off the notes she needs. Could you suggest the name of a small printer and how much it would cost?

Marrying tech and the art of conversation catapults Intercom to €1bn valuation 

What do you do when you've just raised $125m (€101m) in a funding round, leaving your seven-year-old tech firm valued at $1.28bn (€1.03bn)?

Review: The new Panasonic Lumix GH5S 

If Panasonic wants a new catchphrase for its new Lumix GH5S, let me offer the following: ‘Come for the video, stay for the stills’.

Adrian Weckler review: Huawei P20 Pro appears to have muscled its way to the top of the camera phone podium 

A couple of years ago, phones killed off compact cameras.

iPhones answer calls for privacy 

Apple has unveiled new privacy controls to let iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac users delete their Apple accounts or get a copy of everything Apple knows about them.

Your iPhone gets new privacy controls as Apple positions itself as the un-Facebook 

Apple has unveiled new privacy controls to let iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac users delete their Apple accounts or get a copy of everything Apple knows about them.

Tech Review: Low-light shots a highlight as Panasonic offers best of both worlds 

If Panasonic wants a new catchphrase for its new Lumix GH5S, let me offer the following: 'Come for the video, stay for the stills'.

Facebook to bring in clearer privacy controls for mobiles 

Facebook is introducing new privacy controls following the global outcry over how the social media giant has allowed personal data to be inappropriately shared and manipulated.

Web Summit profits soar by almost €2m after move from Ireland to Portugal 

The Web Summit has seen a rise in its profits with its move to Lisbon apparently paying off.

Irish tech firm hits €1bn valuation as four founders join country's rich list 

Ireland has its first ‘unicorn’ tech company worth more than €1bn.

Intercom raises €101m in funding round making it the most valuable Irish tech firm 

Dublin-based customer messaging company Intercom has raised $125m (€101m) in a funding round that sees the firm now valued at $1.275bn (€1.03bn)

Startup designs hi-tech life jacket to help avoid tragedies like Rescue 116 

A startup firm has designed a life jacket aimed at preventing tragedies experienced by emergency services, such as last year's ill-fated Rescue 116 mission.