Walsh stated it is a privilege to represent Ireland’s businesses during a time of considerable change for the economy.

Ireland’s representative body for business and employers yesterday (3 September), announced the appointment of Maureen Walsh to the position of Ibec president for the period 2026 – 2027. 

She was elected by the organisation’s National Council and will succeed Dr Colin Hunt. 

Walsh is the managing director of DeCare Dental Insurance, which she has led from the start-up stage. She also previously served as a member of the Governing Body of GMIT, before the transition to ATU, is a former chair of the Mayo Cancer Support Association and serves on the Local Enterprise Evaluations and Appeals Committee.

Commenting on her appointment, Walsh said, “It is a privilege to lead Ibec and represent Irish business at a time of considerable change for our economy. 

“The resilience that has been synonymous with the Irish economy over the last number of years in the face of considerable global disruption is both a source of pride and a reminder that complacency is the enemy of our future success. 

“Operating from the West of Ireland, I know that the Irish economic success story is not just confined to our major cities, but one that touches towns and villages throughout the country.”

She added, “When it comes to regional development, we must keep Ireland’s momentum up by expanding our infrastructure- from housing and energy to transport and digital connectivity, all of which will be key to enabling our continued growth in all parts of the country.

“Individually, businesses of all sizes are also navigating this generation’s major technological disruption, but by supporting businesses to embrace artificial intelligence and develop future-focused skills, Ireland can be a real net beneficiary here.”

Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said the group is delighted to have Walsh onboard and he commended her track record as an entrepreneur and business leader, alongside her deep commitment to regional enterprise and digital innovation, which he explained gives her an exceptional perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing Irish businesses today.

He said, “Through her leadership of Ibec’s Digital and AI Policy group, and her former role as Regional President of Ibec West, Maureen has already demonstrated a clear commitment to shaping policy that serves businesses of all sizes and locations. We look forward to working closely with Maureen during her term and wish her every success.”

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Power banks are going through a quiet revolution of their own. Just when solid-state power banks started to find a spot, Ugreen has unveiled what could be the next evolution of power banks at its Smart Living Launch Event, far away from the glitz of IFA 2026. The latest from the brand is the Ugreen MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W, which is said to be the world’s first liquid-cooled power bank that combines the convenience of wired charging with wireless top up.

So how does the liquid cooling actually work?

And yeah, you can see the coolant liquid moving across the channel through a transparent window at the front. It’s similar to how Red Magic has implemented liquid cooling in its Red Magic 11S Pro smartphone and the new Red Magic Astra gaming tablet. The rear glass shell on both devices lets you see the coolant liquid flowing through the visible channels.

Coming back to the in-house CryoPulse tech, as Ugreen calls it, the company claims it can reduce heat buildup by half, keeping the power bank up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. Accompanying the liquid-cooled micro-pump assembly, there’s a copper foil sitting right below the Qi2 magnetic ring for further heat dissipation. I really like the built-in charging cable, which folds and buckle-locks neatly so that you can use it as a strap.

How fast does it actually charge your phone?

Talking about specifications, the wireless pad on the Ugreen MagFlow Pro 10,000 mAh power bank supports 25W Qi2 magnetic charging, letting you fill an iPhone 17 Pro Max from empty to the halfway mark in just 40 minutes. For wired charging, the power bank can output 45W through its built-in USB-C cable, promising a 0% to 65% top-up for Apple’s flagship in just 30 minutes. Charging the power bank, on the other hand, takes 2 hours for a full juice-up.

What about pricing and availability?

There’s also a dedicated USB-C inlet on the power bank, letting you charge three devices simultaneously. Supported charging standards include PD 3.0, Qi2, QC 4.0, and PPS, among others. The asking price of the Ugreen MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W is set at $149.99, which is twice as expensive as a regular 10,000 mAh power bank by the brand with wireless charging support. It’s already up for grabs on Ugreen’s website with a 20% discount, and you can also get it from Amazon’s storefront in the US.

Belkin picked IFA 2026 to give its SoundForm audio lineup a proper glow-up, and this time the focus is squarely on your wallet. The company just announced three new additions, SoundForm Isolate, SoundForm Dot, and SoundForm Play, and together they push ANC and other premium features down to affordable prices. All three will be on display at IFA and start shipping this September.

What do the new earbuds actually offer?

Leading the pack is SoundForm Isolate, Belkin’s most powerful noise-cancelling earbuds yet. They pack up to 45dB of ANC along with three ear tip and wing tip sizes for a snug fit, so they should stay put whether you are commuting or grinding through deep work. Battery life tops out at 32 hours, and a 10-minute fast charge gets you 90 minutes of playback when you are in a rush. All this comes in at just $59.99.

If that is still more than you want to spend, SoundForm Dot might be the better fit. It comes in two flavors, one with ANC and one without, so you only pay for what you actually need. The ANC version offers 30 hours of battery life and costs $39.99, while the non-ANC model drops to $34.99 for an even easier entry into true wireless audio. Both models support Bluetooth Multipoint, so you can jump between your laptop and phone without pairing again.

There’s also something for the kids

SoundForm Play is a pair of over-ear ANC headphones built for kids five and up, complete with an optional 85dB volume limiter to protect young ears. There is also a new Focus Boost feature that plays soundscapes like Seashore and Pink Noise to help kids concentrate during homework or study sessions. 

Battery life is rated at up to 62 hours with ANC off and 45 hours with it on, so it should easily survive a school week. It is priced at $49.99. All three products go on sale this September at belkin.com, Amazon, and select retailers worldwide.

USA’s last-gasp reshuffle has set up a fascinating FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026. The 11-time champions – who haven’t lost a tournament game since 2006 – were thrown into a tailspin by the withdrawals of four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum just days before tip-off, and will therefore need to calibrate on the fly in Berlin.

Although they’re still the title favourites, everything depends on coach Kara Lawson and two-time WNBA MVP-winning veteran Breanna Stewart being able to coax the best out of superstar World Cup debutants Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese on the international stage.

The cuts come despite a 13.9% rise in first-half profit

Real estate manager CapitaLand Investment (CLI) has axed 90 jobs, or about 4% of its Singapore workforce in 2026, The Straits Times reported on Sep 3.

The firm “periodically reviews its organisational structure” to ensure it remains aligned with strategic priorities and long-term business needs, the CLI and the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union in a joint statement on Sep 3.

Currently, CLI, a unionised company, has 2,200 employees in Singapore, and most of them are based at its office in Capital Tower.

The union said it had been informed of the restructuring exercise in advance and has been engaging with the firm throughout the process, including representing workers’ interests and ensuring that affected employees are treated fairly, with severance packages in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

“Supporting employees is a key priority. Where appropriate, the company will also consider redeployment opportunities within the group,” said CLI and the union.

According to figures released in the firm’s 17th Global Sustainability Report in May 2026, the company had 9,542 staff worldwide in 2025, with 24%—or about 2,290—based in Singapore.

Local employees made up approximately 77% of its Singapore workforce in 2025, with more than 48% of these local employees holding managerial and senior management positions.

Based on a global workforce of over 9,500 employees, the report stated that CLI has maintained a turnover rate of 24% “with no major layoffs.”

CapitaLand Investment is a global real asset manager headquartered where it was listed in 2021. The firm has a strong presence in Asia and operates in over 40 countries, including China and India.

As at Sept 3, job openings on its website showed over 60 Singapore-based roles and internships available in areas such as operations, property management and marketing.

At the real estate manager’s results briefing on Aug 13, chief executive Lee Chee Koon said the firm is weighing a partial divestment of its stake in hospitality arm The Ascott Limited to accelerate growth.

The firm also posted a 13.9% rise in net profit to S$327 million for the first half of the financial year ended Jun 30, up from S$287 million a year earlier.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Featured Image Credit: EdgeProp

For anyone who has come to rely on AI chatbots, especially for work, Thursday morning was rough.

According to online reports, including from staffers at the companies that make them, outages shut down some of the most popular AI services: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude AI, Google’s Gemini and xAI’s Grok.

The widespread outages appear to have started around 9:30 a.m. ET, according to user-submitted reports on Downdetector.

CJ Avilla, an Anthropic developer, said in an X post that infrastructure issues were causing outages across Claude services. A few hours later, he reported that things were back to normal.

Representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and xAI did not immediately return requests for comment.

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As of this writing, ChatGPT and Claude AI were back to normal, according to their respective status pages. That appears to be the case for xAI’s Grok and Google’s cloud services as well.

AI services often rely on the same cloud computing services, and, as TradingKey points out, this can lead to infrastructure outages across multiple services when things go wrong. Still, it’s unusual for multiple AI services to experience problems at the same time. Avilla’s comment about infrastructure issues could point to problems with cloud service providers such as Amazon or Microsoft.

Though none of the companies involved has yet to confirm a common denominator for the morning outages, Quartz reports that Microsoft Azure problems, which coincided with the outages, may have been a contributing factor.

Omar Gallaga has covered technology, digital culture and other topics for outlets including CNET, NPR, WIRED, Texas Monthly, MSNBC, Consumer Reports, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic and the Austin American-Statesman, where he was a longtime tech reporter, editor and podcaster. He lives in the Texas Hill Country.

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Code discovered in audioOS 27, the HomePod operating system, shows references to a four-speaker setup, new calibrations, and a “Party Mode.”

HomePod owners have been clamoring for a more robust sound system since the original model debuted in 2017. Stereo pairs are phenomenal, but lack the robust audio capabilities of full surround sound systems.

According to a post on the MacRumors forums from user pdfu, the code is available in audioOS 27. It can be found in beta 8 for the second-generation HomePod.

First, there are direct references to tuning files that reference front and rear left and right positions. Front HomePods will handle the audio as usual, while rear HomePods will attempt to fill the space with omnidirectional audio.

These settings only apply to second-generation HomePods but do reference an unreleased model, which may be the new HomePod mini expected later in 2026. The rear channels would also be used for system sounds and Siri.

Depending on what is being played, the HomePods would work together to sync audio for the best effects. Movies and multi-channel audio get dialogue processing, bass management, and dynamic range control.

Spatial audio is also at play, syncing audio differently based on if it is on or off.

Party Mode appears to be a new setting for stereo-paired HomePods. It would focus on spreading the audio around more ambiently rather than focusing on centering the mix on a single perfect listening point.

There is no indication of these features arriving with the OS 27 release cycle. Given the references to unreleased hardware, the features could be waiting on the new HomePod mini, at the least.

The user updf is known for sharing code discovered in betas and has shared things like the Siri AI waitlist being present in the release version of iOS 27. They’ve also shared the file path for finding the code for yourself if you’d like to verify it exists on your own.

Search for file strings like:

• /Library/Audio/Tunings/AID12001/VAD/SoundAutoConfigStrips.plist
• /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SoundAutoConfig.framework/XPCServices/soundautoconfigservice.internal.xpc/soundautoconfigservice.internal
• /Library/Audio/Tunings/AID12001/VAD/speaker_multichannel_movie_surround.austrip
• /Library/Audio/Tunings/AID12001/VAD/speaker_stereo_party_mode_on.austrip

New Jersey has legalised plug-in balcony solar up to 1,200W, barring local governments from requiring approvals and stopping landlords from blocking installation. Germany wrote the same right into its civil code in October 2024 and now has 1.31 million registered systems at 1.34GW.

New Jersey has legalised plug-in balcony solar. A new law bars municipalities and landlords from blocking portable panels that plug into a household socket, InsideEVs reported.

Governor Mikie Sherrill signed it this week. It takes effect in six months and caps systems at 1,200W. The panels run through an inverter that stops feeding the grid during an outage, which keeps line workers safe.

Local governments can no longer require licensing or approvals, the governor’s office said. Landlords must be notified 14 days ahead and may still restrict placement and size.

The pitch is bills. Sherrill said the units cost a fraction of rooftop solar and can shave up to $50 off a typical monthly bill. Electricity prices have been climbing across the state.

It passed unanimously in both chambers in June. Around 40% of New Jerseyans rent or live in apartments, a group that has never had a way to lower its own power bill, according to advocacy group Permit Power.

Germany settled this two years ago, after its market had already started without one.

Tenants and condominium owners have had a legal right to install since October 2024, written into the civil code and the condominium act. A landlord must give documented reasons to refuse.

German landlords also cannot demand professional installation. New Jersey’s keep control of placement and size, and both regimes require written notice.

The scale is the difference. Germany had 1.31 million systems registered in April at 1.34GW, and the register is thought to capture a minority of what is actually installed.

The power limits differ too. Germany caps inverter output at 800W against 2,000W of modules, and between 85% and 89% of new systems run at the 800W ceiling. The module allowance is more than twice the feed-in cap.

New Jersey’s 1,200W limit is half as much again. Berlin companies have been building solar for renters on the tighter number for years.

The German market being copied is already cooling. Installations fell 14% year on year in the first quarter, to 64,633 from 88,948.

Britain got there a week earlier anyway. Plug-in kits became legal on 27 August, at around £400 for £70 to £110 of annual saving.

When Sonos launched its first headphones in 2024, the company got a surprising amount right.

Our review of the Sonos Ace praised their build quality, comfort, battery life and balanced tuning. There was also one rather obvious problem: headphones carrying the Sonos name could not really behave like another Sonos product.

TV Audio Swap worked with compatible Sonos soundbars, but users could not simply move music playing through their Sonos system directly to the headphones. We raised that issue again last month when a new Sonos headphone appeared in an FCC filing. Sonos apparently got the memo.

The new Sonos Ace Ultra cost $449 and introduce a redesigned 40mm driver, stronger Adaptive ANC, ten microphones, Bluetooth 6.0, longer battery life and Headphone Linking, which allows audio to move directly between compatible Sonos products and Ace Ultra over Wi-Fi.

Preorders begin September 1, with shipments scheduled for September 29, 2026.

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Sonos Headphones That Actually Work With Sonos

The original Ace used Wi-Fi primarily for its home theater connection with compatible Sonos soundbars. Normal music listening remained fundamentally Bluetooth or wired.

Headphone Linking changes that relationship.

When Ace Ultra are connected to a compatible Sonos system on the same Wi-Fi network, pressing the Content Key can move whatever is currently playing to the headphones. Another press sends it back. Sonos says this can work without a phone remaining in range, and Ace Ultra can also stream music over Wi-Fi from services available through the Sonos app. That could include music, television audio or even a turntable connected elsewhere in a compatible Sonos system.

There is an important qualification.

Headphone Linking launches as an Early Access feature. Sonos describes it as opt-in, provided as-is and subject to change during development. It requires compatible Sonos hardware, Wi-Fi and setup through the Sonos app.

We also would not describe Ace Ultra as a conventional permanent Sonos room or speaker endpoint just yet. This is a direct linking and content-transfer system rather than proof that Ace Ultra behave identically to an Era speaker on the network. Even with that distinction, it addresses one of the biggest complaints about the first-generation model.

New Driver and Stronger ANC

Ace Ultra retain 40mm dynamic drivers, but Sonos says the new transducer was engineered specifically for the Ultra and provides deeper bass and greater detail.

Sonos Ace Ultra uses 10 microphones to support adaptive active noise cancellation, Aware Mode, voice calls, and TrueCinema. The expanded microphone array also helps the headphones continuously account for changes in fit and surrounding noise.

Sonos says the new Adaptive ANC can deliver up to twice the noise cancellation of the original Ace at frequencies up to 65Hz. That qualifier matters; Sonos is not claiming twice the cancellation across the entire frequency range.

Adaptive EQ dynamically compensates for changes in seal caused by glasses, hair, fit and movement. Sonos has also expanded manual adjustment with both three-band and eight-band EQ through the app.

Our criticism of the original Ace ANC was not that it was poor. Sony and Apple simply isolated more effectively in some situations, and wind could create problems. Ace Ultra appear designed to narrow that gap, but performance will need to be tested.

Battery Life Reaches 35 Hours

Ace Ultra use a stated 1,060mAh battery and increase listening time with ANC or Aware mode enabled from 30 to 35 hours. A three-minute charge can provide up to three hours of playback, while a full charge can take as long as three hours.

Bluetooth moves from 5.4 to Bluetooth 6.0.

Lossless playback is supported over Bluetooth using Qualcomm aptX with a compatible source, as well as through USB-C. Sonos includes a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for analog sources and airline entertainment systems.

Spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, dynamic head tracking, TrueCinema and TV Audio Swap all return.

A Replaceable Battery Matters

One less glamorous change could become important several years from now.

Sonos says both the ear cushions and battery are designed to be replaceable. The original Ace already offered replaceable cushions, but Sonos now explicitly identifies the battery as serviceable as well. Considering how many expensive wireless headphones eventually become very attractive paperweights because their battery dies, we will take that over another blinking LED.

Ace Ultra weigh 322 grams, compared with 312 grams for the original Ace, and come in Black, Soft White, Agave and Sand.

The original Sonos Ace remain in the lineup at $399.

Sonos Ace Ultra Specifications:

• Drivers: Custom 40mm dynamic driver in each ear cup
• Microphones: 10 microphones for ANC, calls, Aware mode, and TrueCinema
• Spatial Audio: Supported from compatible services/devices
• Dolby Atmos: Supported with compatible content/device
• Lossless Audio: Via Qualcomm aptX over Bluetooth with a compatible device, or through USB-C
• ANC: Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation; Sonos claims up to 2× stronger ANC than the original Ace at frequencies up to 65 Hz
• Aware Mode: Yes, including Voice Boost
• Adaptive EQ: Automatically compensates for fit, glasses, hair, and other acoustic leakage
• Manual EQ: 3-band or 8-band EQ in the Sonos app plus Loudness toggle
• TrueCinema: Yes
• Dynamic Head Tracking: Sonos Intelligent Motion Processing with Dolby Head Tracking
• TV Audio Swap: Yes, with compatible Sonos soundbars
• Headphone Linking: Yes, over Wi-Fi; currently an Early Access feature
• Wi-Fi: Yes, specifically for linking into the Sonos system and streaming through Headphone Linking
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 6.0
• Battery: 1,060 mAh lithium-ion
• Battery life: Up to 35 hours with ANC or Aware Mode enabled
• Quick charge: Up to 3 hours playback from a 3-minute charge
• Full charge: Up to 3 hours
• USB-C audio: Yes
• 3.5mm analog audio: Via supplied USB-C-to-3.5mm cable
• Dimensions: 7.6 × 6.42 inches; ear cup width 3.57 inches; ear cup depth 1.77 inches
• Metric: 193 × 163mm; ear cup width 90.8mm; depth 45mm
• Weight: 0.71 lb / 322g
• Colors: Black, Soft White, Agave, Sand
• Replaceable components: Ear cushions and battery
• Included: Travel case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, documentation

Sonos Ace Ultra Competitors

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen have the same $449 list price, making them the most obvious direct competitor.

Bose offers CustomTune processing, its latest noise cancellation system, Immersive Audio, Snapdragon Sound connectivity, USB-C audio and up to 30 hours of battery life with Immersive Audio disabled. Its battery is also replaceable.

Bose enters the comparison with decades of ANC experience. Sonos offers five additional rated hours of ANC listening and a meaningful advantage for households already invested in its speakers and soundbars.

Without Sonos hardware in the house, that advantage shrinks considerably.

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are priced at $449.99 and remain one of the benchmarks in premium wireless ANC headphones.

Sony offers up to 30 hours of playback with noise cancellation enabled, LDAC, DSEE Extreme, LE Audio with Auracast, multipoint connectivity and an established noise-canceling platform.

Sony also allows charging while listening, which frequent travelers may appreciate.

Ace Ultra’s strongest counterargument is not another codec or DSP mode. It is the ability to interact directly with an existing Sonos system in ways Bose and Sony cannot duplicate.

The Bottom Line

The first Sonos Ace were good premium wireless headphones with an oddly limited relationship to the company’s own ecosystem. Ace Ultra address that issue while also adding a revised driver, stronger ANC architecture, longer battery life, Bluetooth 6.0, expanded EQ and a replaceable battery.

The $449 price puts them directly against two of the strongest names in premium noise-canceling headphones, so Sonos still has plenty to prove on sound quality and ANC performance.

But for existing Sonos users, Headphone Linking finally gives Ace Ultra a reason to exist beyond simply being another expensive pair of wireless headphones.

Price & Availability

The Sonos Ace Ultra are priced at $449 and will be offered in Black, Soft White, Agave and Sand. Preorders begin September 1, 2026 on the Sonos website, with general availability starting September 29, 2026

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