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Category Archives: Lifestyle

by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Technology5 Ways To Re-Take Control Of Your E-Mail

Whether its our personal account or personal inbox, e-mail is a challenge to manage these days. The idea was that electronic mail was to reduce the amount of things we got in the post and make life easier, but today we are bombarded with newsletters, spam, adverts and countless other things that clog our folders…
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Global companies need to treat international customers the same
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyTreating customers differently by their region is counter productive

Living in Ireland I’ve always been struck by the fact that it seems that little bit more difficult sometimes to get the products and services that I’m looking for. This isn’t something new. Since I was a child and wanted to join the Lego club I found challenges based on the fact that I was…
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Time is our most valuable commodity
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionWe all want more, here’s the secret… we’ve already got it

Much as I’m not into sports one of my favorite movies is the classic American football movie Any Given Sunday. If you haven’t had the chance, its one of those movies that might initially put some people off with the premise, a jaded coach trying to pull his team back together and get them over…
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Social Isolation
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionSocial Isolation: 1141 is the loneliest number

We’re all increasingly living in isolation. It seems like such a contradiction given the perceived importance and focus on social media in our lives, but the last few years have made me reevaluate the actual interactions we have with people and the way in which we connect with others. I would regard myself as a…
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we've willingly surrendered our data
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyOur Data Is No Longer Our Own

Much as I’m not a fan, I can’t help but be impressed at Mark Zuckerberg’s performance in his testimony in the US in the last couple of weeks. He’s remained calm and patient and explained and defended Facebook and technology companies in general well and effectively in the face of some tough challenges, not the…
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Question Bias
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Operations, OpinionThe right questions can give you the wrong answers

There’s something really interesting I’ve noticed when looking at online surveys and questionnaires in the last few weeks. If you read the questions out loud and really think about them, sometimes, and only sometimes, you can you guess what the answer is they are looking for, It’s one of those interesting things that I come…
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Do not read this blog post
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionDon’t read this post, go out and do something

Okay, maybe read a little bit, but you don’t have to read the whole thing. We’re all guilty of setting unrealistic goals for ourselves. We’ve all had ideas that we thought were going to be the best thing we’ve ever done, and yet, more often than not, we don’t follow through. Perhaps we keep saying…
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Your CV is important but isn't the only thing to use job hunting
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionWhy you CV isn’t enough anymore

Over the last few weeks and months I’ve been asked by a lot of people about the content and layout of their CV, and, it’s still true that this couple of pages that describes your experience and skills is incredibly important, but it’s not the only way that potential employers and companies find out about…
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Amazon healthcare
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionCan Amazon provide one click to buy healthcare?

Elon Musk is planning on conquering the final frontier. It’s no secret that I’m fascinated by the SpaceX works as well as everything else he is working on, but recently none has captured the imagination more than the launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket in the last few days. Musk, in his usual o.t.t antics,…
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Email overload
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OperationsHow an empty inbox became a happy inbox

We’ve all been there. Our notification counter on the little envelop icon showing a number that makes us dread clicking. Our unread e-mails have spiraled to a level where we think we’ll never possibly be able to read them all. You know 90% is probably junk, be it spam, newsletters from that home wares shop…
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Do people need to take responsibility for what they post
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyDoes your social media belong to you?

Social media is a double-edged sword for many people. The ability to connect with people from your past or over long distances is making the world smaller and more connected, but at the same time the pitfalls and potential challenges of being constantly online are ever-present and more and more public when things go wrong….
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Your career trajectory doesn't have to be a strict straight line
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionTaking a step back to move forward in your career

There’s a long-held belief that people have that in their career the trajectory has to be always upward. It’s the assumption that a lot of us make when we enter the jobs market or begin working for the first time that if we work long enough, and hard enough of course, that we will progress…
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Are schools teaching poor work life balance
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionSchools might be teaching kids to accept poor work / life balance

While I still have many years before my daughter starts school I couldn’t help thinking about the prospect the other day. Primarily as the need to enroll children up to the local or chosen school is needed earlier and earlier in their lives, so I found myself wandering in my mind back to when I…
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Staying at home for 6 months with my daughter
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionWhy I’m glad I stayed at home

I have new-found respect and admiration for all parents in the last year. I always knew that becoming a parent was a tough job and that it no other job is like it and in truth its something I had wondered about how I would deal with if and when the situation arose for me….
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyIs your smartphone going to be your next laptop

It’s no secret that the cost of smartphones has gone up in the last few years, and the logical reason is because of all the bells and whistles that you now get from your handheld devices. The truth is that the internal hardware of your phone has come on leaps and bounds even in the…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionMake something for Christmas and do it together

While I love the new gadgets and tech that comes on the market, I’ve definitely been fascinated lately by the number of retro consoles and boxes out there that emulate old Super Nintendo systems or Sega Mega Drives, or even old arcade games. There’s something really cool on top of the nostalgia to go back…
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Hacking the human body is the new ear piercing
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyAre we ready to hack the human body?

Much of the technology I look into and implement in my own home tends to be smart home technology. Voice command systems, motion sensors and the like, and, even though at first it was a bit of a novelty, through repetitive use, I really have found them beneficial in day-to-day life. At the same time…
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Knowing when to walk away is just as important as staying the course
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionKnowing when to quit is just as important as staying the course

There’s this old image of two guys digging a diamond mine and both look exhausted. Both are near to pockets of diamonds, but neither know this and one has decided to quit right before hitting the goal. It’s designed to teach people the importance of perseverance and that you should keep trying your best as…
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Make a profit and make the world a better place
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyYou can be a profitable startup and save the world

I’d say for most people today when you hear the word startup the images that come to mind are of tech companies or guys huddled in a garage somewhere. Or if you believe the myth that all IT startups get huge funding right off the bat, you might think of brightly colored office spaces where…
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Big data has a huge amount of information about your online usage
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyBig data is watching. Do you know how much they know.

There are many things you need to watch out for when you’re online today. From scam e-mails to people phishing for your credit card details there are pitfalls when you’re browsing that thankfully have been well publicized and we are more and more aware of. But there are other things to be aware of that…
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We all need support and routine to prevent feeling alone or disconnected
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionIt’s always important to have a strong support network and a place to rest

It’s the same with everyone I suppose. As our lives progress and we get busy with everything else that comes along we lose touch with people. It’s the usual way of things, and no matter how close you are in school, college or whatever, things change. It’s not always possible to sustain the relationships and…
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Natural input to your computer is closer than you think
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyNatural input devices could replace your keyboard soon

Let’s face it, it’s a little bit artificial to use a keyboard. You may be very proficient at typing, but I’m sure everyone would prefer another way of interacting with their computer. Or then again maybe not, perhaps the idea of using the keyboard helps remind us that we are using a piece of technology…
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Black Friday Sales are here, what should i buy
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionWell I had to post something about Black Friday!

I’ve heard a few people grumbling over the last few days that they don’t ‘get’ Black Friday. It’s one of those strange phenomena we have imported from the US and kind of just forgotten that fact. Although its been a huge deal in the States for years, particularly in retail, I’ve only really taken notice…
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Acting has always been a passion of mine, but there are also secondary benefits to performance
by ambyrne
LifestyleAct now! But just for the fun of it

Outside of the technology and start-up space, one of my passions is for drama. I’ve always loved to act for as long as I can remember and even have memories as a child of putting on little shows and plays for family and friends before properly treading the boards in secondary school during school plays…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyNet Neutrality is important for all of us

You may or may not have heard conversations in the last few days around net neutrality and if you’re thinking it’s something tech related, or only effecting businesses and giants like Google or Facebook I’m going to be the barer of some bad news; this is a big deal for all of us. I’m picking…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyDo micro-transactions kill the fun of computer games?

Today with micro-transactions you are paying again for a game you already own. When I was a kid buying a new computer game was a big deal. I still remember vividly the day I saw the box for Monkey Island 2 and, it being about 6 weeks away, I starting dropping hints for my birthday…
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Smart pills can help keep track of medications
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologySoon digital pills could keep track of our medication

Doctors prescribing medications have lots to think about, be it the dosage that the person will receive, whether its counter indicated with some other drug that they are taking, side effects the patient might suffer as well as dozens of other considerations that they may have before they take out their prescription pad. You would…
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Choose wisely before you buy a laptop
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyBefore you buy your next laptop think carefully about what you need it for

Between now and Christmas there will be an up surge in people buying laptops, both for themselves and for family and friends. Many small businesses will also consider replacing and updating in the sales that seem to inevitably follow the holiday season, and, although there’s plenty of choice out there, there are some pitfalls to…
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Stop making excuses and putting that idea off
by ambyrne
LifestyleIf there’s little to lose, why not risk start your idea?

I come across a lot of people who have great ideas on a regular basis. In fact the truth is that everyone has really good ideas from time to time, but so many of us there is this failure to act on these ideas that hangs over us. This can be some pipe dream that…
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Remote working isn't always the best way
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionRemote working is great in theory, but use it sparingly

About 10 years ago there was a big move by large companies in Ireland to follow the trends they were seeing coming from the US and in particular the blue chip and high value tech companies in terms of how they treat culture in the work place. Ireland, like much of the world still had…
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by ambyrne
LifestyleA shredder is a new must have item for your home

A new tool against your money being taken and your identity being stolen is a really old one, the humble shredder. Time was the idea of identity theft made for good movies and heist films, and the idea of the con man seemed a little detached from reality, you got the usual fishing attempts from…
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Step outside your comfort zone
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionPushing outside your comfort zone

The old adage goes that you should try to do at least one thing every day that scares you, and while, at this time of year that might mean putting on cheesy horror films or going through a scary show, what it really means is do something that pushes you outside your comfort zone. It’s…
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Artificial Intelligence
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyArtificial Intelligence should frighten us all, and not for the reasons you think

There has been so much talk in recent weeks and months about the advancement of Artificial Intelligence, or AI and for the most part it seems that people want the technology to move forward with the assumption that it will be of benefit to humanity. The current thinking is that AI will create better self-driving…
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mart Watches We Just Can't Get A Handle On
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyWe just haven’t taken SmartWatches by the hand

When they were first brought to the attention of the public smart watches seemed to be the new darling of the gadget world. Take something that virtually everyone wears and make it smart, not only that but make it something that people would actually like to have smart functionality in, unlike the ill-fated Google Glass…
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Amazon Prime Deliveries
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, NewsWould you let a courier in when you’re not at home?

Seems like the title of this post is a bit of a no-brainer. If I’m not home, how can I get a courier into my house? We’ll believe it or not that is what Amazon are proposing over in the US. While it will probably be months if not years before we see them offering…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionIs there a purpose to prepaid credit cards?

Something that I’ve always been surprised at is that, although there are many different options and suppliers, prepaid credit cards, particularly in Ireland seem to not have ever achieved the traction that i would have expected. There’s the obvious benefit for those who do not have a normal credit card from a bank or financial…
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Parting with our money
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyWhy we love new ways of parting with our money

We have a fascination today with payment services it seems. Although most of us are looking for ways of saving money for the most part, we are at times living a contradiction when it comes to how easy we want it to be when we do want us to part with our money. It’s an…
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Bitcoin
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyAll the way to the bank, or not, with Bitcoin

There’s been so much talk of Bitcoin in the last couple of years, even to the point where it’s now being mentioned in TV shows and has slowly but surely become a topic of conversation when people mention everything from gaming, to gambling to illegal activities. But what is Bitcoin, and will it have an…
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Learn to code
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyWe should all learn to code before our next job interview

A couple of decades ago not having any computer experience was something that was a non issue when going for a job interview. Even when I was growing up, it was the exception rather than the rule to be asked if you had working knowledge of a PC, but as time went on this changed…
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Entering Startup
by ambyrne
LifestyleStartup life is a strange kind of life

Up until a few years ago I had a really good job. It was one of those jobs that before I got it I believed was my dream job, and in truth for the first 3 or 4 years I enjoyed pretty much every minute. It was well paid, challenging and enabled me to work…
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Apple
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, Opinion, TechnologyHas Apple fallen too far from the tree?

Full disclosure before you continue reading this post, I’m not a fan of Apple and I can’t say that I ever have been. I’ve long-held the belief that they are one of the best companies in the world when it comes to marketing their products as well as being brilliant at design, but although they…
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Geeks Inherit The Earth
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyThe geek will inherit the earth, and I’m delighted

Watching the new Star Trek series on Netflix the other night a thought struck me, I’m still a geek. It wasn’t the first time I had the idea pop into my head, it was just the co-incidence of simultaneously getting a message on Facebook from someone I went to school with. These things will all…
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Kindle vs paper
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyPaper, plastic screen or audio? Why not to fear the changing face of books.

Living in an apartment means that space is limited at this leads to the occasional clear out of clothes, old pots and pans, and most recently DVD’s and books. Before the bibliophile’s get up in arms, please be prepared to hear me out. I do love books, I enjoy reading and I confess that over…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionWorld Mental Health Day – Let’s Talk

There are many things I would have liked to learn in school, and a lot of things I know that can’t be learned or taught in these environments, but today I was reflecting on the first time I really thought about mental health. I remember having a discussion in primary school about how, even surrounded…
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Work Life Balance
by ambyrne
LifestyleBalancing work and life with call screening in the 21st Century

I used to get a lot of calls on my mobile. I mean a lot. I’ve had the same number since as far back as I was about 13 and this means that there are so many people who have my contact details from old school friends, casual acquaintances, not to mention people I’ve worked…
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Save the world
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, OpinionDo dreamers need to be ruthless to save all of us?

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes, we’ve all heard the quote made famous by Steve Jobs during the Think Different campaign from Apple but who are today’s crazy ones and how are they making our world different? More importantly are they forcing us…
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by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologySci-Fi may have just made learning a foreign language obsolete

The universal translator has been a familiar trope of science fiction works for as long as I can remember as the idea provides the writer the ability to get past the language barriers that would make much of their stories more cumbersome, or altogether impossible. The act of travelling to an alien world and allowing…
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Amazon Echo
by ambyrne
Lifestyle, TechnologyHow Amazon’s Echo & Alexa might save your life.

At some point or another we’ve had the experience of misplacing our phones. For most people it’s an inconvenience as we know we’ve left if somewhere in our room, apartment, house or whatever, but what happens when this comes at a time when its really needed, or worse, a time when it’s a genuine emergency….
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