Journalists

The Big Tech Show: Why we, the media, are not screwed 

This week Adrian is joined by Independent News & Media (INM) head of product (and business columnist) Steve Dempsey and INM chief commercial development officer Mark Coan.

Exclusive Adrian Weckler: Inside HQ of Huawei, the most controversial tech giant in the world 

Walking through Huawei’s test facilities and research and development centres in Shenzhen, southern China, there is a note of defiance among senior Huawei staff. “We’re not a cyber-security threat to anybody,” says Joe Kelly, a Donegal expat who has risen to become one of the most senior western executives working in the Chinese headquarters.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: We're regular readers of your Saturday column and are 80 year olds and use Nokia 3310 mobile phones. Can you please recommend smartphones that are simple to use for basic texts, calls, family photos and good battery life? We have some experience with touchscreen devices - I have a Lenovo IdeaPad and my wife has an iPad. Separately, I have a standby laptop with Windows 7. - John Mullins (via email)

Web Summit's tech a bigger opportunity than its events - Cosgrave 

Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave has said the technology side of his events business will outstrip its high profile conferences - and the entire firm may be valued at €1bn.

The Big Tech Show: Is Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon doing a good job? 

This week, Adrian is joined by data privacy expert Daragh O’Brien and child protection campaigner Alex Cooney of CyberSafeIreland.

Eir risks fine after missing key rural broadband deadline 

Eir is to miss its June deadline for connecting 300,000 rural Irish homes to fibre broadband.

Adrian Weckler: 'La Liga's own goal recording app users on phones will stoke privacy row as to who else is listening in' 

Just when you thought your phone wasn't secretly recording you, one of the football world's most prestigious sports organisations has been caught doing just that.

Adrian Weckler: How to go Pro with your business-friendly tablet this summer 

Adrian Weckler: 'Mobile screen test for television' 

It's official: phones are replacing TVs as TVs. Emarketer's latest industry report tells us what some of us have been arguing for years: phones are now far, far more important than TVs for audiovisual attention span.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: My family and I have become more and more reliant on WhatsApp. We use it more than normal text messaging. But is it secure? Recent news reports have us a bit worried about using it. Should we give it up or is there any way to take security precautions when using it?

Gross profits at Web Summit rise to €16m, company's latest accounts show 

Gross profits at Paddy Cosgrave’s Web Summit have risen to €16m on revenues of almost €29m, the company’s latest accounts show.

From tragedy to triumph - how SurveyMonkey won the polls 

With 17m users, the US firm is the world's powerhouse of online customer polling. Adrian Weckler met CEO Zander Lurie, whose close friend - and former SurveyMonkey CEO - died in tragic circumstances.

Surface Studio 2: Microsoft PC gets 'oohs' and 'aahs' 

In the last 10 years, I don't think there has been a Windows PC I would seriously have considered as a replacement for my iMac. Until now, that is.

Data watchdog Dixon gets five more years as second term approved 

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, has been re-appointed for a second five-year term.

Helen Dixon re-appointed as Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner for second five-year term 

IRELAND'S Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, has been re-appointed for a second five-year term.

Irish venture capital funding falls 41pc but more companies share the cash 

A lack of “megadeals” saw venture capital funding in Ireland fall by 41pc to €197m in first three months of 2019.

Google app threat leaves Huawei phone business at edge of abyss 

Will the events of the last week sink Huawei's high-growth phone business? Does it mean that the high-end P30 Pro or P20 you just bought may shortly become useless?

Google probed over personalised ads 

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is to open a statutory inquiry into Google amid concerns the tech giant may not be in compliance with GDPR over personalised advertising.

Broadband final bill may be €1bn less than forecast 

The National Broadband Plan may cost the State €1bn less than the reported €3bn figure, the head of the State-subsidised process has told TDs.

Tech Review: Best mid-range phones 

Irish privacy watchdog opens official probe into Google's advertising practices 

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is to open a statutory inquiry into Google over concerns that the tech giant may not be in compliance with GDPR privacy rules over personalised advertising.

National Broadband Plan may cost €1bn less - government officials 

The National Broadband Plan may cost the state €1bn less than the reported €3bn figure, the head of the state-subsidised process has told TDs.

Huawei phones 'will still work' despite damaging US Google apps ruling 

Google and Huawei say that hundreds of thousands of Irish Huawei smartphones will not stop working overnight because of new sanctions.

Explainer: Is my Huawei phone useless now because Google is taking away its apps? 

Have a Huawei phone? Worried about the latest news that says you might be cut off from the app store and your favourite apps? Here’s a basic explainer about what you do – and do not – need to be concerned about.

Adrian Weckler: 'Nine interviews to get just one job' 

A FRIEND of mine just got a job in a mid-sized multinational tech firm. It took her nine interviews over eight weeks.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I was interested in your article on health and fitness trackers [ed's note: see 'Ask Adrian', April 27 on independent.ie]. I have been fitted with a pacemaker and wonder if a health tracker gadget would interfere with it. Breege Staunton (via email)

Eir makes court bid to force cost sharing 

EIR has lodged a court action in a bid to try and compel rival telcos to pay into an industry fund that would pay for rural telephone infrastructure.

The Big Tech Show: Wires crossed – Richard Bruton and the National Broadband Plan 

This week, Adrian sits down with Richard Bruton, the government Communications minister at the centre of the state’s €5bn plan to run subsidised fibre broadband to every one of 540,000 rural homes and businesses in the country.

Adrian Weckler: 'New value on NBP network helps case, but more data is needed' 

The revelation that the completed National Broadband Plan to 540,000 homes may be worth less than 15pc of the €3bn State subsidy used to build it may raise eyebrows.

€5bn broadband network worth €350m - Bruton 

The completed National Broadband Plan network to 540,000 rural homes may be worth less than €350m as an asset despite costing €3bn of State funding to build, according to Communications Minister Richard Bruton.

Tech Review: Google Pixel 3A XL - €479 

Google has a new, very impressive mid-range smartphone out. I've been putting the Pixel 3a XL through its paces over the last fortnight. Here's an overview.

The Interview: 'If we were Google or Facebook, there would be a statue up to our investors' - Eir Chief 

Adrian Weckler [AW]: Among all the talk of value for money and whether the National Broadband Plan is worth a €3bn subsidy, Eir will take in close to €1bn from rental of its poles by the bidder. That's a nice pay day for Eir, surely?

WhatsApp users warned as service hit by 'malicious' spyware threat 

WhatsApp has urged all of its users to update the messaging app on their phones after a serious spyware flaw was found.

Explainer: What could the Whatsapp hack do and has anyone read my messages? 

Have any of my messages or photos been read or seen?

'No better option,' says Varadkar on broadband plan 

The Taoiseach and Communications Minister have rejected criticism that the upfront sum of €220m to be invested by the bidder for the €5bn National Broadband Plan (NBP) rural network is too low.

Rural broadband: Consortium will invest just €220m up front 

THE consortium responsible for rolling out broadband to more than 500,000 homes and businesses in rural Ireland is investing just €220m up front.

Virgin Media Ireland promises new TV box and faster wifi speeds 

Virgin Media Ireland is to introduce a new, higher-specification television box for its 269,000 Irish TV customers later this year.

Adrian Weckler: Three reasons we fear the NBP 

We all thought that the principle of a State-subsidised rural broadband service was a settled thing in Ireland. For the last seven years, it has been national policy across successive governments and parties. Indeed, the main criticism has been that it has not come fast enough.

Irish tech boss McCabe admitted 'poor judgment' with female staff as he built up €1bn company 

Who is Eoghan McCabe, the tech entrepreneur who apologised for "poor judgment" relating to behaviour with female staff this week?

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I have 2,000 pictures on my phone and I really want to keep them all. But I don't want to upload them to the Samsung Cloud because I worry it could get hacked and I'd lose them all. Am I right to be worried? What's the safest place to store photos?

Adrian Weckler: 'Separating the myth and reality in big debate over €3bn rural network plan' 

1. We're funding an asset that won't be owned by the State.

The Big Tech Show: A frank chat with Eir CEO, Carolan Lennon 

While attention rests on the National Broadband Plan, Eir still holds the keys to many of Ireland’s biggest telecoms problems.

The Big Tech Show: Eye of the broadband storm 

Is the National Broadband Plan a visionary thing for Ireland? Or is it a grand folly?

Irish Intercom CEO responds to reports of complaints 

The chief executive of the 'unicorn' software firm Intercom has apologised for "poor judgment" relating to behaviour with female staff.

CEO of Irish 'unicorn' software firm Intercom responds to HR complaints, apologises for 'poor judgement' 

The chief executive of the Irish ‘unicorn’ software firm Intercom has apologised for “poor judgement” after the US tech journal ‘The Information’ published an investigation highlighting reported HR complaints against the tech founder.

Tech review: Canon Eos 250D 

Canon's new Eos 250D is a decent new higher entry-level camera that borrows some of the good bits from more expensive, bigger Canon DSLR models in recent years.

Google privacy trade-offs as its upgraded Assistant gets personal 

Google has unveiled a slew of new privacy features, but the internet giant has also given users new reasons to give the company even more of their personal information.

Adrian Weckler: 'Nationwide broadband service essential - but the real deal won't come cheap' 

'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

NBP bidder must meet €2.5bn rural network cost 

The company behind the National Broadband Plan will have to spend €2.5bn to cover the cost of rolling the rural network out to 540,000 premises.

Rural homes to get better broadband than cities 

Homes in rural Ireland will have better internet access than Dublin and the regional cities as part of the €3bn plan to roll-out fibre broadband.

Adrian Weckler: All you need to know about rural broadband as politicians turn the corner 

Our Technology editor answers all your questions on the controversial €3bn rural broadband plan

Adrian Weckler: The four biggest complaints about the National Broadband Plan 

It now looks fairly certain that the Government will formally announce the National Broadband Plan on Tuesday. This will proceed on the basis of a fixed-fibre network rolled out to one million rural residents over the next five years.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I'm trying to get a little healthier. My niece said that I might consider getting one of those digital health watches. Is there any one you'd recommend? I'm not very tech savvy, I'm just looking for something that will help me become more active.

The Big Tech Show: The email scam that keeps working 

This week, we look at war stories from one of the fastest-growing online scams around – email fraud.

State 'commits' to €3bn rural broadband plan 

The Government is "committed" to a State-subsidised National Broadband Plan because there is no alternative for 25pc of the population, Communications Minister Richard Bruton said.

Government 'committed' to state-subsidised National Broadband Plan... because 'there is no alternative' - minister 

The government is “committed” to a state-subsidised National Broadband Plan because there is no alternative for 25pc of the population, Communications Minister Richard Bruton said today.

Five of the best: business laptops that put in the extra hours 

While much attention is given these days to which flagship phone is best, work laptops are still a critical part of our business lives.

Irish data watchdog promises GDPR decisions into tech multinationals 'this summer' 

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner says that the first batch of major investigations by her office under GDPR into companies like Facebook and LinkedIn will “conclude over the summer of 2019”.

Mobile broadband 'no alternative' to fibre network, says Bruton 

Communications Minister Richard Bruton has all but ruled out mobile broadband as an alternative to fibre for the State-backed National Broadband Plan roll-out.

Government rules out mobile broadband as alternative to fibre for National Broadband Plan 

The government has ruled out mobile broadband as an alternative to fibre for a state-backed National Broadband Plan rollout.

FF calls for ad tax on Facebook, Google to fund media 

Fianna Fáil has reiterated its call to introduce an advertising tax on Facebook and Google in Ireland in an effort to find new ways to fund newspapers and broadcast media.

Biting back: Apple cracks down on apps that control what children access on net 

Apple is cracking down on apps that let parents control their kids' phones.

Tax Facebook and Google to fund Irish media, Fianna Fail says 

Fianna Fail has re-iterated plans to introduce a new advertising tax on Facebook and Google in Ireland in an effort to “fund” newspapers and radio stations.

Apple cracks down on parental control apps, saying they're too powerful 

Apple is cracking down on apps that let parents control their kids’ phones.

Adrian Weckler: 'Why old people need Facebook' 

Maybe we're wrong about the pernicious role of Facebook in our lives. Or, at least, maybe it is of more value to elderly people than we're acknowledging.

The Big Tech Show: The truth about rural broadband 

There’s a lot of nonsense spoken about how rural broadband can be delivered.

Adrian Weckler: 'Purported price tag would limit suitors for telco firm' 

BT Ireland is the network formerly known as Esat that was originally built by businessman Denis O'Brien before it was sold to British Telecom for €2.4bn in 2000.

Watchdog opens fresh probe into Facebook over password storage 

The data privacy watchdog has opened a new investigation into Facebook.

Fresh probe launched into how Facebook stored millions of user passwords 

IRELAND'S data privacy watchdog has opened a new investigation into Facebook. The probe will aim to uncover how millions of passwords were stored in insecure "plain text" format by the tech giant.

Adrian Weckler: 'Don't be naive - lending your account to fraudsters will be taken very seriously' 

'Psst! Can I borrow your bank account for a few days? It's for a real business reason, honest!'

How email scammers are siphoning millions away from Irish firms 

What have Trinity College, Dublin Zoo, and the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board got in common? Sadly, they've all been conned out of large amounts of money by clever forms of email fraud.

Students face prison for being criminal 'money mules': top garda 

Hundreds of students are staring at the prospect of jail time for letting fraudsters use their bank accounts, a leading anti-fraud garda has warned.

World Health Organisation tells parents to remove screens from young children 

The World Health Organisation has issued new guidelines saying that babies and children under two should not be exposed to “sedentary” screen time.

Bunq bank to target currency exchange users 

The newest bank to launch in the Irish market is counting on zero currency exchange fees, Apple Pay and 'ethical investment' options to attract customers.

Samsung won't Fold on €2,000 phone that's on the blink 

Samsung has indefinitely delayed the release of its troubled new folding phone as it looks for a technical fix to the misfiring screen.

Adrian Weckler: Samsung won't fold on phone that's not all it's cracked up to be 

Samsung has indefinitely delayed the release of its troubled new folding phone as it looks for a technical fix to the misfiring screen.

Adrian Weckler: 'Why 5G isn't broadband answer for rural Ireland' 

'What I don't understand is the need for all this expensive fibre," my mother said to me at dinner last week. "In Beara, we got fed up of having no broadband. So a local guy set a service up. It works fine from a box on the roof and costs us €30 per month. I can work from home. Why can't we just have more of those around the country?"

Adrian Weckler: 'Why 5G isn't broadband answer' 

'What I don't understand is the need for all this expensive fibre," my mother said to me at dinner last week. "In Beara, we got fed up of having no broadband. So a local guy set a service up. It works fine from a box on the roof and costs us €30 per month. I can work from home. Why can't we just have more of those around the country?"

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

The Big Tech Show: Are we wrong to care about Facebook privacy screwups? 

Do people really care if Facebook does unwarranted things with our personal data?

That phone snap from the back of the church? It's fine 

IT has been one of the most puzzling things facing parents in recent years. Just when can you take a photo of your child at a school event?

Schools ban parents from taking photos 

School principals are warning parents they cannot take photos at communions or sports days “because of GDPR”.

Stripe buys Irish payments ID startup as EU beefs up laws 

Stripe, the payments firm founded by the billionaire Limerick brothers Patrick and John Collison, has acquired Dublin-based tech company Touchtech.

How one Donegal island is taking control of its broadband future 

"This is the first year on the island where we won't have any first communions." Jerry Early is one of 450 residents of Donegal's Arranmore Island. His family has owned a pub there for decades. But he's worried about the island's future.

Game of Thrones season opener sets piracy record with 54m illegal streams 

The first episode of the latest season of Game Of Thrones was pirated 54m times within 24 hours, a digital analytics company called Muso says.

Stripe snaps up Dublin payments firm Touchtech to continue growth 

The payments firm Stripe has acquired a Dublin-based payments tech firm called Touchtech, founded by Shekinah Adewumi and Joseph Kuye.

Irish privacy watchdog says schools wrong to ban parents for taking photos at communions or sports days 'because of GDPR' 

Irish school principals who tell parents they cannot take photos at communions or sports days “because of GDPR” are wrong, says Ireland’s data privacy authority.

Microsoft warns Outlook users to change passwords after hackers gained access 

Microsoft says that its email service Outlook.com has suffered a security breach with some users’ addresses, folder names and subject lines visible to a hacker.

Amazon must listen to concerns 

Amazon is listening to our conversations.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: I have a contract problem with my mobile operator. I can't get any mobile coverage where I live but my operator (Vodafone) won't let me out of my contract. I don't have a subsidised phone from them so I don't understand what the problem is. It's complicated by the fact that my family and I have just moved home. The new house, which we built ourselves, is in a black spot in West Cork with no mobile coverage from Vodafone outside the house. There is a decent mobile signal from a rival operator. Am I really stuck? What can I do?

The Big Tech Show: Yes, Amazon is listening in on us 

So now we know: Amazon is listening to our conversations. Some of its staff are told to listen in to what we tell the Amazon Echo to do.

Amazon admits its staff hear Echo chat 

Amazon has admitted its staff listen to some recorded requests on Echo smart speakers in people's homes.

Amazon admits that its staff do sometimes listen to your Alexa recordings 

Amazon has admitted that its staff listen to some recorded requests on Echo smart speakers in people’s homes.

GoFundMe bans anti-vaxxers as being 'risk to public health' through 'misinformation' 

The country's biggest crowdfunding service says it will no longer allow anti-vaccination campaigns.

Cause and effect: GoFundMe aims to set fundraising bar higher 

A cursory scroll through a typical Irish Facebook feed reveals a few things. There's a birthday reminder, a 'friendship anniversary' notice, a funny animal picture and a holiday or family photo that someone's posted. But increasingly, there's also a financial appeal for something: someone who needs an operation, a political campaign, even help with funeral costs.

Tech review: Panasonic Lumix G90 

As phones advance in camera technology, standalone dedicated cameras are becoming the preserve of advanced users or professionals.

Amazon tech chief dispels cloud fears 

The chief technology officer of Amazon Web Services says that encryption offers a way around European objections to sensitive data being hosted by US companies.

GoFundMe will no longer allow anti-vaccination campaigns 

The country’s biggest crowdfunding service says it will no longer allow anti-vaccination campaigns.

UK places Facebook in its crosshairs - but is it just tough-talking hot air? 

'The era of self-regulation for online companies is over," claimed Jeremy Wright, Britain's digital secretary.

Bean counters: The Dublin coffee shop where cash is not allowed 

Dublin’s newest city centre coffee shop has cut cash from its list of payment methods.

UK to make tech bosses culpable for online content 

The UK will today push ahead with a dramatically tougher regime to force online platforms to take greater responsibility for content found to encourage terrorism and child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Miriam fights fake Facebook ads 

Last week, TV presenter Miriam O'Callaghan struck a blow against fake ads on Facebook. A High Court order was obtained compelling Facebook to reveal details to her that might help identify the person who placed a number of ads for skin cream on Facebook last year, using her likeness for endorsement purposes.

Ask Adrian: Our technology editor tackles your trickiest tech problems 

Question: My iPhone 7's battery has gotten really poor lately. By lunchtime, it's usually down at 30pc and I'm not using it for anything more than I used to. I'm wondering whether I should upgrade to a new phone? My son told me that I can change the battery, but is that worth it?

Don't shoot the Messenger: my take on meeting Mark Zuckerberg 

Who is Mark Zuckerberg?

The Big Tech Show: Zuck comes to Dublin 

This week, we split the podcast into two segments: an interview with GoFundMe chief executive Rob Solomon and an audience with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on his visit to Dublin.