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(l to r) Andrée Dargan, County Architect, Councillor Ossian Smyth and Donal Murphy, who stopped on his cycle home to try out the bench

Fix your bike or charge your phone? New 'smart bench' installed in Dún Laoghaire

Two of the benches will be installed – the first is already in place in Dún Laoghaire with a second one coming to Sandyford.

DÚN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN County Council has said it has sourced the world’s first Monna bench – a place to charge your phone, pump a flat tyre on a bicycle or just to sit down and have a rest.

Powered by solar panels, it has two wireless charging pads and two charging ports for phones.

It also two smart electrical sockets that provide energy for charging electric bicycles, bike repair tools and sensors that will collect data on temperature, humidity, energy production and how much energy it consumes.

The first one has been rolled out outside County Hall in Dún Laoghaire, with another solar bench to be located close to cycle paths in Sandyford before the end of June. 

Councillor Ossian Smyth, the cathaoirleach of the council, said: “People who are walking or cycling by, can stop off to pump up their tyres, fix their bike, charge their mobile device or just take a rest on the bench.

[The council] positively encourages all members of the community to cycle at all life stages and abilities as a mode of sustainable transport that delivers environmental, health and economic benefits to both the individual and the community.

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    Mute Just4 TheJournal
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 12:08 PM

    The article doesn’t actually state that the Jolla phone has been available for over a year now.

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    Mute Rusty Balls
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 11:26 AM

    The U.S. is a developing market? This will depend on functionality and price, if it can do what I need cheaper than all the rest then sure I’d consider it. But if it’s around the same price people will stick with what they know, established names.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 12:32 PM

    Very interested in this:
    http://www.ubuntu.com/phone

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    Mute Just4 TheJournal
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 12:05 PM

    I have one of these phones, it’s a mighty piece of kit :)

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    Mute Thierry Ratt
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 12:17 PM

    Go on nokia

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    Mute Divemapper
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 11:28 AM

    Another glorified Facebook machine. Fascinating.

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    Mute #Wynner
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 11:49 AM

    Lack of apps, Windows is bare enough in comparison to iOS and Android , its a bit meh

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    Mute Jay Toner
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 1:31 PM

    Nokia actually have a new Android based tablet out a couple of months called the N1. It’s their first independent tablet after their old service division was sold. They’re not allowed make cellular devices for a set period under the deal with Microsoft.

    Nokia had the edge over Android and iOs but they took their eye off the ball and didn’t push on with Symbian and Meego.

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    Mute Eoin Bathe
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 11:51 AM

    Any info on pricing? Looks a decent machine…

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    Mute OU812
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 11:38 AM

    Oh another O/S… goodie… That’s like someone wanting to bring out another Cola because Coke & Pepsi aren’t servicing the market well enough.

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    Mute Dan Harrington
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    Mar 2nd 2015, 12:31 PM

    Theres always room for Cavan Cola.

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