Journalists

Concern as tech startups suffer VC funding fall 

Venture capital funding has slumped in Ireland with a fall-off in major deals and seed funding, new figures show.

Adrian Weckler's top technology gifts for this Christmas 

What DSLR or mirrorless camera should you buy in 2019? The six best to choose from 

Are you on the hunt for a really good camera? Here, I’ve picked six of the standout DSLR and mirrorless cameras based on my testing over the last year.

Broadband plan boss attacks criticism 

The Government's National Broadband Plan programme director has dismissed recent criticism of the rural rollout scheme as "nonsense".

Elderly are now Facebook's biggest users as teens flock to Instagram 

Grannies have replaced teens on Facebook in Ireland, new figures show.

The dial-up user's guide to €1bn plan for high-speed fibre 

Q. What is the National Broadband Plan (NBP)? A. It's a Government scheme to invest over €1bn in laying new fibre broadband lines to large chunks of the country that ordinary broadband operators won't serve.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: I want to get a speaker for the house, but I'm baffled by the choice. Do I need to get a wireless one? It needs to work with my phone because that's where I now play music from.

The Big Tech Show: Are male founders better bullsh***ers than female ones? 

All the statistics show that when it comes to VC cash, men get almost all of it. In fact, they snag way more than the percentage of startups they solely found.

Food-order startup raises €5m in funding 

An Irish startup that aims to take on food-ordering giants such as JustEat has raised almost €5m in funding.

Irish startup rival to JustEat raises €5m 

An Irish startup that aims to take on food-ordering giants such as JustEat has raised almost €5m in funding.

National Broadband Plan has cost €20m to date, rural rollout scheme boss says 

The government’s National Broadband Plan programme director has dismissed recent media coverage of the rural rollout scheme as “nonsense”

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I've decided I want to train for a marathon next year. I want to get a decent sports smartwatch to help encourage myself. Is one of the tracker devices enough or is it worth getting one of the fancier ones? Would an Apple Watch do the trick? A friend of mine recommended a Garmin, is that any use? I'm not a tech expert but know my way around a smartphone well enough.

The Big Tech Show: Crypto - the good, the bad and the truly shady 

In the original dot com boom, all you needed was an idea and you were showered with millions in funding. But is the same now happening with cryptocurrency and blockchain?

Making it in Taiwan: how chip upstart stole a march on Intel 

For more than 30 years, Intel has dominated chipmaking, producing the most important component in the bulk of the world's computers. That run is now under threat from a company many have never heard of.

Kitman enters big leagues after €8m funding round 

One of Ireland's fastest-growing indigenous tech firms has added $9m (€8m) in funding in recent months, including a 'Series B' round of $4m (€3.5m) that it has just closed.

Google Ireland pays €171m tax as sales hit record €32bn 

Google has announced record revenues of €32.2bn for 2017 in its Irish accounts, a rise of €5.9bn due to the scale at which it is cornering the advertising market.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: Hi, can you recommend the best camera (but not the most expensive) for a beginner? It's mainly for taking photos of a new baby. I'm looking at the Olympus Pen, but is Canon any good? I'd prefer it to be somewhat compact and Wi-Fi would be a bonus. I should say that I'm not very techie.

Google announces surge in revenue in Europe due to advertising sales 

Google has announced record revenues of €32.2bn for 2017 in its Irish accounts, a rise of €5.9bn due to the scale at which it is cornering the advertising market.

The Big Tech Show: Recycled iPhones and crypto w***ers 

This week, Adrian throws off the shackles in a free-ranging conversation with the Irish Independent’s environment editor, Paul Melia.

Adrian Weckler: 'Three reasons why capital gets technology jobs' 

Tech companies are driving much of the country's jobs growth at present. Unfortunately, most won't consider anywhere outside Dublin.

Adrian Weckler: 'Deep discounts on Black Friday... or are stores just pushing old stock?' 

Wondering about genuine tech deals for Black Friday?

WeWork places big bet on Dublin with major expansion 

Look around your office. Do the desks and the carpet look a little tired? Do the lights flicker and the temperatures fluctuate? Does the sputtering coffee machine make you grimace?

Tech Review: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

What is the ultimate high-end work phone? Indeed, what is a work phone these days?

Vodafone chief hails 5G as it switches on cell in Dublin docklands 

Vodafone has installed the first 5G mobile site in Dublin, claiming that it will pave the way for autonomous cars, faster mobile broadband, smart cities and other new technologies.

WeWork 'just getting started' in Dublin as it plans a sixth office 

The co-working firm WeWork is to announce a sixth Dublin premises, making the Irish capital its most invested in city in Europe.

Blinded by Black Friday offers? Here's a look at some genuine tech deals 

Wondering about genuine tech deals for Black Friday?

Vodafone switches on 5G mobile - but claims it isn't a replacement for rural broadband 

Vodafone has installed the first 5G mobile site in Dublin, claiming that it will pave the way for autonomous cars, faster mobile broadband, smart cities and other new technologies.

Broadband plan 'not undermined' by minister meeting businessman - review 

MINISTERS are optimistic that a review of the bidding process for the National Broadband Plan will not further stall its roll-out.

Cheaper broadband may be on the way after Eir is forced into price cuts 

Cheaper broadband may be on the way for those who use phone lines to get it.

Adrian Weckler: 'Beware of Black Friday 'sales'.' 

In five days, 'Black Friday' will occur. You'll see and hear lots of ads appearing about this. Sadly, it's a time of the year when retailers spoof a lot about price cuts with no consequence from any regulatory body.

Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: I'm shopping for a set-top box but it's hard to find one that has all the channels I want. Saorview seems to be good for the Irish channels, but what about the UK ones like BBC? I don't want to subscribe to Sky or Virgin as I don't feel I get value out of them. Is it worth getting an Apple TV? Or what are my options? I see some shops advertising boxes that give free TV stations like sports and movies, but is that legal?

The Big Tech Show: ‘Being an exec in a big tech company stressed me out’ 

We talk about the life of a startup founder being loaded with pressure and stress. But one of Ireland’s best known technology executives, who went from managing a $5bn division of Cisco to starting and selling his own startup, says that life in a big company was actually far more taxing than running your own business.

Tech review: Apple Watch Series 4 

Some people still wonder if a smartwatch is for them. Apple's new model makes a compelling case. The new Series 4 Watch is a major step up in almost every way from the Series 3 model, itself a decent smartwatch.

Just do it: Swapping Cisco for tech startup pays off for O’Sullivan 

What do you do when you sell your Irish startup to a big US tech company for millions?

WATCH: TD Noel Rock to propose new legislation for electric scooters 

A Dublin TD who bought an electric scooter to zip in and out of the Dail says that it’s time to liberalise the law around them.

Galway wins huge 200-job artificial intelligence centre 

Galway is to get a new 200-staff-strong artificial intelligence research centre in one of the biggest high-end tech announcements outside Dublin this year.

'I'm not here to make a quick buck' - McCourt defends broadband role 

The head of the consortium bidding to land the National Broadband Plan tender has strongly rejected accusations he is seeking to make a quick profit from Ireland's broadband crisis.

'I'm not out to make a quick profit' - head of consortium bidding to land National Broadband tender 

The head of the consortium bidding to land the National Broadband Tender says accusations that he is a recently-arrived financier seeking to make a quick profit from Ireland’s broadband crisis are wrong.

4G network to patch gaps in broadband 

Ireland is to get blanket 4G mobile broadband coverage in a new twist to the rural broadband controversy.

Adrian Weckler: 'Why cities bend over for tech' 

Imagine Google and Facebook employing 20,000 people in Dublin. What sort of power would that bring? What effect would it have on the city, its economy, its infrastructure, its culture?

Adrian Weckler: 'Government wobbles on notion of a 'right' to rural broadband access' 

The eyes of 1.1 million rural citizens will turn next week to a crucial broadband report delivered by the State-appointed auditor, Peter Smyth.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: With Apple having gotten rid of the headphone jack on its phones, what is the best option in the form of wireless headphones to use with Apple products? I use the iPhone 7 so I want wireless headphones that are affordable and won't drain the battery too quickly as it drains rapidly already. - Cormac

The Big Tech Show: When success is a two-way thing 

What happens when the tech company you build becomes wildly successful? Do you change?

Adrian Weckler: 'Zuckerberg's company may find it has fewer Government friends than Apple' 

If the EU opens a tax probe into Facebook, will Ireland go to bat for the company in the same way it has for Apple?

Telco's CFO Keaney assumes the top job at Siro 

Siro, the telecoms firm which is a joint venture between the ESB and Vodafone, is to change its chief executive.

Design for life: Pinterest chief out to inspire as it gets personal with users 

Planning a wedding, new outfit or a house redecoration? If you use social media, there's only one place you'll go to help you gather everything neatly in a single online scrapbook.

Review: Apple's excellent new iPad is a real Pro and ever closer to a laptop replacement 

Apple has a new portable computer that it believes will strongly appeal to professionals and creative types. But do people yet see the iPad Pro as a replacement for a MacBook Pro or a Windows equivalent?

Siro CFO to take top job at telecoms firm as chief returns to ESB 

Siro, the telecoms firm which is a joint venture between the ESB and Vodafone, is to change its chief executive.

Facebook says it shouldn't pay for a new watchdog to protect young online 

Multi-billion dollar tech firm Facebook says it should not pay to help set up a new watchdog to protect children online.

Facebook in crackdown demand as web founder urges online revolution 

Facebook has endured another day of bashing on the international stage with the European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, telling the Web Summit that social networks need to be controlled more tightly.

Social networks need to be controlled more tightly - Web Summit told 

Facebook has endured another day of bashing on the international stage with the European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, telling the Web Summit that social networks need to be controlled more tightly.

Internet founder Tim Berners-Lee urges firms to ditch 'clickbait' 

THE inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, said that the internet needed to wean itself off "clickbait" and that another "revolution" was needed.

Exclusive Is Apple's new iPad Pro a good enough upgrade to be a laptop killer? 

What is the iPad Pro? Is it a laptop, a souped up tablet or something in-between?

Adrian Weckler: 'Can the ESB replace the NBP?' 

Can a semi-state body such as the ESB, Bord na Mona or Irish Water (Ervia) become a viable substitute for the current National Broadband Plan?

Fianna Fáil wants firm behind Irish Water to take on rural broadband plan task 

Fianna Fáil wants the transfer of the National Broadband Plan to the firm behind Irish Water or another semi-state, leaving political support for the current process hanging by a thread.

Adrian Weckler: 'Handing over high-speed internet roll-out to a semi-State would be difficult' 

Are we really about to change tack on rural broadband roll-out after six years? It's not impossible. A combination of factors, mostly political ones, have converged to put it on the agenda.

Ireland's Fast 50 indigenous tech firms pull in record €2.5bn sales 

Ireland's 50 fastest-growing tech firms took more than €2.5bn in revenue last year, new figures from Deloitte show.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I'm looking to get a drone for my husband for Christmas. I don't have a massive budget. Could you recommend the best one to go for?

The Big Tech Show: Is the new iPad Pro a replacement for your laptop? Does the Web Summit matter? 

Adrian returns to Dublin following Apple’s MacBook Air and iPad Pro launch. Joined by Sunday Independent business correspondent Michael Cogley and INM head of product Steve Dempsey, he goes through the most important features of what was announced and asks whether pro tablets can be a long term replacement for current laptops.

China's Xiaomi enters Irish market with Three scooter and phones sales tie-up 

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is to start selling phones, electric scooters and other tech gadgets in Ireland.

Tech review: Canon Eos R 

Canon has finally produced a full-frame mirrorless camera. But is it worth the attention of professionals?

The iPad Pro versus the MacBook Air: which will win? 

When he was interviewed by the Irish Independent three years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked whether he could see the iPad and MacBook lines of computers ever merging.

Apple's new iPad Pro suggests iPhone users may soon need to get a new charger 

Apple’s newly-launched iPad Pro signals that iPhone users may soon need to think about getting a new charger.

Apple launches new lighter, smaller MacBook Air - and a new Mac Mini desktop computer 

Apple has launched a new MacBook Air laptop.

Apple launches new MacBooks 

Apple has launched a new MacBook Air laptop.

Apple set to launch new MacBooks and iPads this week 

Apple is set to launch a range of new MacBooks and iPads, as it switches its attention away from iPhones.

New delay will leave a million without broadband until 2020 

THE Government is preparing to announce a new delay to a broadband roll-out for a million people living outside our cities. This will push back new rural broadband connections until 2020 at the earliest.

Adrian Weckler: Dublin politicians must not relegate country areas to a communications Stone Age 

Try to imagine, for one minute, that half of Dublin, Cork or Limerick had no broadband infrastructure.

Rural fury boils over as broadband pushed back 

Rural residents say they are being "abandoned again" as the Government prepares to announce a new delay to a broadband roll-out for a million people living outside our cities. The delay will mean broadband connections being pushed back until 2020 at the earliest.

Why eCars are still non-starters 

I'm writing this as I sit in Abrakebabra with a weak tea. It's 8.15pm on a dark, cold northside Dublin night. I'm waiting for my electric car, Volkswagen's latest eGolf, to charge. It is doing so very, very slowly.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question The mobile reception in my house is awful. I live in a recently-built terraced house that's over three stories. The signal is okay upstairs but terrible downstairs. I hate having to walk up two flights of stairs to make or take a call. Is there something I can do to improve it myself?

The Big Tech Show: Mark Little's plan to reinvent app-based news with 'Kinzen' 

Mark Little is one of Ireland’s most recognisable media technology figures. From being an anchorman on RTE television to founding Storyful to becoming boss of Twitter in Ireland, he has seen the business from all angles.

New doubts cast over rural broadband plan 

New questions over the future of the National Broadband Plan are emerging with sources close to the State tendering process casting doubt over its future.

Build it and they will share: what Mark Little did next 

Does the world need another news app? What if there was one that could mix in the best of what one looks for in Twitter without the dross?

National Broadband Plan faces fresh doubt over bid 

The National Broadband Plan faces a new challenge as doubts begin to surface over the commitment of the sole remaining bidder to the rural rollout.

Little and Kerr launch user-driven subscription news app 

A DUBLIN-BASED online news service called Kinzen has been launched by Mark Little and Áine Kerr.

Online news service Kinzen launched by journalists Mark Little and Aine Kerr 

A Dublin-based online news service called Kinzen has been launched by Mark Little and Aine Kerr.

Adrian Weckler: The shame of San Francisco 

Tent cities. Long lines for food. People in rags. The mentally ill cast adrift on streets.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: I am currently thinking about buying my first smartphone. Some friends have suggested that Samsung's J5 or the J3 are worth considering. At the moment I am using a very basic Nokia phone. I want to change to a smartphone, but I have no idea what to buy. I don't want anything too sophisticated or too expensive, just something suitable for my age group of 60.

The Big Tech Show: Knowing me, knowing you, David Schneider: Aha! 

When do comedy and technology mix? Why is social media so much to the fore in critical analysis of current events?

Rich tech companies need to 'give more' to fight homelessness - Salesforce boss condemns Stripe over controversial law 

The Limerick-born Stripe founder Patrick Collison has become involved in a row over homelessness in San Francisco, where his company has been accused of "not [being] willing to give back at scale" by Salesforce founder and chief executive Marc Benioff.

'It happens suddenly' - knowing when to sell a €100m startup 

IIT'S BEEN a busy month for Oisin Hanrahan, the thirty-something Rathcoole man who built one of America's most-used home cleaning services. Last week, he and co-founder Umang Dua sold Handy.com. Having raised almost €100m in recent years for its expansion across US, Canadian and UK cities, Hanrahan and Dua decided to accept an acquisition offer from an American rival, Nasdaq-listed Angi Homeservices.

Tech firm Voxpro to recruit up to 400 people in Cork as it opens bigger office 

Voxpro, the call-centre technology firm set up by Dan and Linda Kiely that was recently sold to Canada's Telus International, is to recruit up to 400 new people in Cork as it opens a bigger office there.

Could the flagship smartphone market be a four-horse race? Google Pixel 3 XL - a review 

Most people thinking about a top-end phone will go for either an iPhone, Samsung or Huawei.

God help rural broadband plans 

For F***'s sake. Just when a national broadband rollout plan is about to be announced.

Hanrahan sells Handy to Nasdaq listed rival 

Oisin Hanrahan's Handy Technologies, the on-demand 'gig' marketplace that lets people hire professionals for household services like cleaning, has been sold to Nasdaq-listed Angi Homeservices.

Another blow for a Government whose track record on broadband is already poor 

'But what does this mean for me getting broadband?"

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: I need to upgrade my iPhone 5 to a later iPhone on bill pay. I went to a mobile phone shop and found the price plans to be very confusing. I was also told that they don't keep phones in the shops so I couldn't even hold the phone to see what they are like in advance. I was wondering whether you could please do a comparison of the various iPhones to help me at least know what to ask for.

The Big Tech Show: A broadband clusterf***...what happens now? 

In a week that saw the resignation of the Minister responsible for the National Broadband Plan, Adrian asks some blunt questions about whether the whole rural rollout plan is going to be delayed and, if so, for what reasons.

Resetting the broadband bid would set back installation years 

As the dust settles on Denis Naughten's resignation as communications minister, what of the National Broadband Plan itself?

Irish entrepreneur sells €100m Handy Technologies to Nasdaq-listed Angi 

Oisin Hanrahan’s Handy Technologies, the on-demand ‘gig’ marketplace that lets people hire professionals for household services like cleaning, has been sold to Nasdaq-listed Angi Homeservices.

Explainer: A complete guide to the National Broadband Plan players - and what happens next 

IN THE immediate aftermath of Denis Naughten’s resignation as Communications Minister there are a few critical questions facing the National Broadband Plan. Here’s a complete guide to what happened, who’s involved and what might happen next.

Buffett partner and New York VC fund backing broadband 

Warren Buffett's business partner, Walter Scott, is to help bankroll the consortium aiming to win the Government's National Broadband Plan tender.

Buffett business partner to bankroll broadband bidder 

Warren Buffett's business partner, Walter Scott, is to help bankroll the consortium aiming to win the Government's National Broadband Plan tender.

Former newspaper editor is appointed to RTÉ board 

The former editor of 'The Sunday Business Post', Ian Kehoe, has been appointed by the Government to the board of RTÉ for a five-year term.

McCourt: Enet sale won't affect rollout of broadband plan 

THE Irish-American businessman at the forefront of Ireland’s National Broadband Plan tender bid has insisted that selling his 22pc stake in the bid’s lynchpin telecoms firm, Enet, will not weaken his involvement in the government-funded rural broadband scheme.

Key National Broadband Plan telecoms firm changes ownership 

A key telecoms firm to the forefront of the bid to secure the government’s National Broadband Plan contract has announced a change in ownership.

NBP bidder McCourt set to sell Enet shares 

The Irish-American businessman David McCourt, who is the lead figure in the sole remaining bidder for the €1bn National Broadband Plan project, is to sell his shares in the consortium telecoms firm Enet.

Adrian Weckler: Cosgrave gets in the end zone 

By any measure, €110m to stay in Lisbon for the next decade is a new level for the Web Summit.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problem 

Question: My husband surprised me with an anniversary present of a trip to Japan next month. We're only going for a week but I need to stay in touch with family during that period and I'm worried that it will cost me a fortune. Is there any clever way of avoiding exorbitant costs? Also, is there any fancy plug adaptor I need to bring? I have or a worldwide adaptor from a previous trip abroad - will that suffice?

The Big Tech Show: How to get €1m for your startup 

How do you ask for money for your startup?

Minister defends his dinner with broadband bidder 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended his Communications Minister after revelations about a dinner hosted by the head of the bidding team for a key state broadband contract.

Naughten defends meeting with broadband bidder during tender process 

The Minister for Communications has defended attending a dinner hosted by the head of the bidding team for a key state broadband contract ahead of the tender’s outcome.

Drop cooks up fresh deal with Electrolux 

Drop, the smart kitchen technology company run by Dubliner Ben Harris, has signed a new deal with Electrolux.

Ex-Web Summit staffer raises €1m 

A former Web Summit worker has raised €1m from business angels including the former CEO of Paddy Power Betfair and the current boss of CPL Resources.