The annual event will see a number of familiar Irish start-ups make an appearance, including Manna, Lua Health and Binarii Labs.

Read more: Enterprise Ireland announces a 24-company delegation to Slush

Mytaxi has quietly revealed that you may have to pay a bit more for every booking made through its app, starting from 21 September.

Read more: Irish Mytaxi users could now have to pay a little more for app bookings

New Apple transport features are customised for cities and towns.

Read more: Public transport directions are now available in Ireland on Apple Maps

Wireless pairing is about to become a lot less frustrating for Android device users.

Read more: Android makes it easier to pair Bluetooth devices with new technology

Instagram is making a big change to its Stories feature.

Read more: Instagram now allows users to add any video or image to Stories

Samsung’s latest offering is unveiled at Mobile World Congress.

Read more: 8 things you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S9

Apple released the first beta of visionOS 2.2, introducing new "Wide" and "Ultrawide" modes for the Mac Virtual Display feature on the Vision Pro headset. MacRumors reports: Apple has previously said the ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display is equivalent to having two physical 4K displays sitting side by side on a desk. Mac Virtual Display is now available in three sizes: Normal, Wide, and Ultrawide. visionOS 2.2 will likely be released to the public in December alongside iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and other updates. Further reading: Apple Delays Cut-price Vision Headset Until 2027, Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Says

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Sodium-ion batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion batteries — and they're also more environmentally friendly. And "In the past few years, sodium-ion battery production has increased in the United States," reports the Washington Post, with a new factory planned to manufacture them "in the same way as lithium-ion batteries, just with different ingredients. Instead of using expensive materials like lithium, nickel and cobalt, these will be made of sodium, iron and manganese..." Last month, sodium-ion battery manufacturer Natron Energy announced it would open a "gigafactory" in North Carolina that would produce 24 gigawatt hours of batteries annually, enough energy to charge 24,000 electric vehicles. But sodium-ion batteries are still early in their development compared with lithium-ion, and they have yet to hit the market on a massive scale. "It's unlikely sodium-ion could displace lithium-ion anytime soon," said Keith Beers, polymer science and materials chemistry principal engineer at technical consultancy firm Exponent... The biggest limitation of sodium-ion batteries is their weight. Sodium weighs nearly three times as much as lithium, and it cannot store the same amount of energy. As a result, sodium-ion batteries tend to be larger. Jens Peters, an economics professor at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, said the energy density could be improved over time in sodium-ion batteries. But, he added, "what we found out so far in our assessments is that it is not a game changer." Sodium-ion batteries are touted to be the environmentally friendly alternative to their lithium-ion counterparts, thanks to their raw materials. Sodium, iron and manganese are all abundant elements on the planet, so they require less energy to extract and cost less... Sodium-ion batteries also last longer than lithium-ion ones because they can withstand more charge cycles, said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron Energy. "Our product can have millions of cycles," said Brooks, "where lithium-ion would have three to five thousand cycles and wear out a lot faster...." Sodium-ion batteries aren't the best fit for smartphones or electric vehicles, which need to store lots of energy. However, one advantage is their low cost. And they could be a good candidate in situations where the size of the battery isn't a concern, like energy storage. "When something is built out to support grid or backup storage, it doesn't need to be very dense. It's staying put," Beers said. Natron will invest nearly $1.4 billion in the factory "to meet the rapidly expanding demand for critical power, industrial and grid energy storage solutions," according to their announcement. "Natron's high-performance sodium-ion batteries outperform lithium-ion batteries in power density and recharging speed, do not require lithium, cobalt, copper, or nickel, and are non-flammable... Natron's batteries are the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries on the market today, and will be delivered to a wide range of customer end markets in the industrial power space, including data centers, mobility, EV fast charging, microgrids, and telecom, among others."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Marine Institute’s Dr Niall McDonough talks about the upcoming Ocean Knowledge 2030 Conference and a new national marine strategy.

Read more: Why knowledge is vital for securing Ireland’s ocean economy

The largest number of doses (85pc of the allocation) will go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicentre of the current outbreak.

Read more: WHO announces 899,000 mpox vaccines for nine African nations most affected

To celebrate Science Week, we’ve put together a bumper list of 25 scientists based in Ireland who are innovating across STEM.

Read more: 25 scientists you need to know about

The new office, located at Bonham Quay, will open sometime in spring in 2025.

Read more: Liberty IT announces new office space in Galway

The CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had faced accusations that he had ignored and downplayed internal concerns raised about young users.

Read more: Zuckerberg not liable in social media harm lawsuits, judge rules

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is often held as a model for driving technology advances. For decades, it has contributed to military and economic dominance by bridging the gap between military and civilian applications. European policymakers frequently reference DARPA in discussions, as outlined in the 2024 Draghi Report, but an EU equivalent has yet to materialise. To create such an agency, the governance and management of European innovation programmes would need drastic changes. DARPA supports disruptive innovation Founded in 1958, DARPA operates under the US Department of Defense (DoD) with a straightforward mission: to fund high-risk technological…

This story continues at The Next Web

Can't be bothered to set up a new smart home gadget? Now you can let Gemini do it.

Roofing industry makes outreach, education and business networking a priority in Dallas as the percentage of Latino workers in roofing continues to climb.

Productivity is what you install and produce, not how hard you work. So take these steps to increase productivity.

Roofing innovation: NanoTech Inc, a material science company pioneering a category of climate-resilient materials that enable environmental responsibility without sacrificing financial return, brings on multiple investors in an oversubscribed funding round to combat peak heat in the last weeks of summer.  

NanoTech Materials has partnered with Tesson Roofing to form a joint venture called Cool Roof Coating Systems LLC, which plans to combat Arizona's summer heat.

NanoTech Materials, Inc. announced a move to a new 42,000-square-foot Houston-area facility, marking a milestone in expanding its Cool Roof Coat production to meet high demand.

A new University College London study found that white or reflective roofs, also known as “cool roofs,” reduce urban temperatures by up to 1.2 C (2.2 F), suggesting better relief than green roofs, especially during the hottest days.

The U.S. Labor Dept. has launched an initiative to improve safety and enforcement in the engineered stone industry due to severe health risks from silica dust exposure. 

OSHA and Noble Texas Builders have entered into a one-year partnership to enhance worker safety during construction at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – McAllen Independent School District Collegiate Academy in McAllen, Texas.

If you know someone under the age of 40 making a difference in your company’s success in roofing, you probably know our next Young Gun. Don’t miss out!

A Beta version of JobNimbus' new app will be available to see at the 2021 International Roofing Expo.

In addition to its partnerships with Tradepost LLC and Stonecutter Ventures, Feazel is now offering GAF Energy's Timberline Solar Shingle.

RC's annual tradition of naming the residential and commercial roofing contractors of the year continued at the conclusion of day one of the 18th Best of Success conference.

NanoTech has unveiled a "groundbreaking Next Generation Cool Roof Coating" that reduces energy use by 200-300%, extends roof life by 10-plus years, and costs less than $1/sq. ft.

MFM Building Products is expanding its Coshocton, Ohio warehouse to increase raw material storage and support new product lines scheduled to roll out in Q3 2025. 

GAF's Timberline HDZ Reflector Series shingles are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council and can be used to comply with Title 24's Cool Roof Requirements and the LA County Green Building Standards Code.

The partnership is a significant step forward in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the roofing industry while providing resources to Hispanic roofing professionals.

Amparo Sancen, the principal and founder of Sancen Contracting based in Richardson, Texas, continues her mission to empower Latino contractors to run successful businesses in the roofing industry.

The National Roofing Contractor Association’s (NRCA) Hispanic Outreach Task Force is making a big push to empower Latino roofing contractors and to tap into the trillions of dollars they represent in the U.S. economy

The International Roofing Expo returns to Las Vegas Feb. 6-8, 2024. Take a sneak peek into what's in store for attendees returning to the 'Entertainment Capital of the World.'

Holcim US announced a planned investment of around $100 million in its flagship Ste. Genevieve, Mo., production plant, expanding capacity by over 600,000 metric tons of cement while also reducing net CO2 emissions. 

Homeowners are increasingly turning to home energy devices like solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicle chargers - and a new technology called "Heartbeat," powered by AI and developed by Panasonic - is simplifying their management by connecting and optimizing energy systems through a single software platform.

GAF commenced production at its fifth polyisocyanurate insulation plant in Peru, Ill., producing GREENGUARD-Gold certified EnergyGuard insulation products and adding 70 jobs to the local economy. 

The Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) announced Richard Carroll of Carroll Consulting Group joined its board, replacing Andrew Centauro; RT3 promotes technology in the roofing industry. 

The co-branded instant estimating tool from Owens Corning and Roofle can enhance the homeowner experience on the contractor’s website, resulting in higher conversion.

Stay on top of tech trends with our 2024 Technology Special Section, featuring Q&As with experts, products and more.

Gunner is successfully shaking up the residential roofing industry with a concept rarely seen: offering customers the ability to buy their roofs online.

A roundup of products and materials offered to the roofing industry. This month, check out the latest offerings in Safety Tools and Equipment.

Scope Technologies announced the launch of Scope 2.0, a SaaS model for roofing and siding contractors, offering no-fee subscriptions, significant report discounts, ProData Sheet insights, and ProDocs software access.  

IKO, the Canadian roofing, waterproofing, and insulation manufacturer, launched a new website for IKO Commercial users with a mobile-friendly design, geotargeting, enhanced navigation and more. 

Scope Technologies launched ProData Property Report, providing roofing contractors and insurers with data like building codes, and storm history.

The Associated Builders and Contractors' fourth annual Construction Technology Report explores AI's impact on the construction industry; insights include a case study and resource guide to improve safety, quality, and profitability.

Fintech firm SquareDash has partnered with iink Payments to streamline insurance claim payments so that contractors can receive funds within 24-48 hours through digital check endorsements and cash flow acceleration.

The rooftop solar system for the North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens is expected to offset the building’s energy usage by 85%, enough to power 98 homes.