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Essential PH-1: Modular Phone’s may finally have a chance

Jon

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9th September 2018

Andy Rubin, the creator of Android has unveiled its long anticipated smartphone this week. Essential has announced the PH-1 and with almost no borders on the screen, dual cameras, and a flashy titanium and ceramic design. Add a funky looking camera and maybe the PH-1 can pick up the slack where Project Ara, Motorola and LG all failed.

essential ph-1

What seems most intriguing about the PH-1 is the plan to create a range of modular accessories that are designed to create an ecosystem with the phone. Something like the Apple range or the latest movement in Android with the dawn of AI based personal assistants.

But I digress. The phone itself is similar in idea to what LG attempted with the modules for the G5 or what Motorola have been attempting with the “Moto Mods”. With a range of magnetic connections on the handsets rear, the user would slip the module onto the phone and job done. The first couple of bits that have been seen are a 360 degree cam and a cordless charging dock – you know like Samsung.

Hype, Hipster or actually happening?

So why do modular phones keep popping up? is it because they sound like something we should have? are they nifty little ideas for investors? or is it the fact that with electronic waste growing we need something different? Most likely it is a nice niche where the general consumer could save a fortune by not having to fork out for a new handset each year.

Basically the idea is that upgrading your phone can be like upgrading your home Pc. Rather than forking out hundreds on a new device, just buy exactly what you need to bring your phone up to date. A new battery, better camera or a new display, if you want it you can have it.

The modular phone sounds like something you or I or any other customer would want to have, right?. Well time and time again we have seen the humble idea fall flat on its face like a toddler trying to make it’s first steps.

We ourselves loved the concept of Google’s Project Ara and it is still the most high profile failure of them all. The Lego inspired phone started out with the idea that all components both internal and external could be swapped. Yet later this transitioned to focusing on external, attachable accessories. Rumour was most customers could give a fluffy rat’s about upgrading the internal components. This was the beginning of the end as less the a year later the Google Pixel was released and the Ara was shutdown.

While the Ara was a rather disappointing failure, it still can’t even stand near the LG modular experiment which was shut down after one model due to a lack of interest. Only Motorola have been able to create something remotely successful.The company said it is seeing “strong shipments” of Moto Mods and the Moto Z phones they work with, singling out sales in Brazil and India in particular (why do we never get the fun stuff in Ireland)

Truly Modular?

Apart from the original idea behind the Ara, none of the other “modular” phones have ever been truly modular. Unfortunately the Ara was possibly too much too soon, sure we have covered craft phones like the Fairphone in the past which will allow you to get close to swapping out components. But the main move around the modularisation of the phone is becoming less and less about the longevity of the product and more about accessorising. Kind of a pity really but hey we have to start somewhere.

I mean I guess we can see this appeal, Apple have been creating accessories just for themselves for as long as I can remember. Samsung have gotten into the game over the last few years, now everybody wants to follow suit— so it makes sense to try to get as much of a return as you can from the handful of people who care enough to buy your device in the first place. Plus all the gadgets are literally made for just that phone which is nice but on the flip side when the phone dies as do the add on gadgets. Which kind of sucks.

Oh ya and to get sustained support from third-party accessory makers, the modular phone has to be something of a hit. For most phone companies, it’s hard to gain that level of traction. Really seems a case of all the eggs in one basket here.

essential ph-1 colors

No Frills attached

The lads at Essential do not seem to care about the struggles of the past. Just look at what Niccolo de Masi, the company’s president and COO said in an email to Business Insider:

“We’re not doing gimmicks. We’re doing meaningful innovation. We’re doing things with the accessory port that can’t be done internal to a phone, like the 360 camera for instance, which would have to stand alone or snap-on. We don’t like the modular phone description, because ours are not cosmetic changes. Our innovation provides meaningful experiences for the user.”

Now when you look at the spec sheet of the PH-1 you can see these guys mean that. The PH-1 is stocked with the highest end specs. Like the Samsung S8 we can see an edge-to-edge front display 5.71-inches and with a QHD resolution. You get a Snapdragon 835 processor powering it all. 128GB storage, 4GB RAM, 13MP dual camera setup, magnetic connector to make the phone modular and a premium body made of titanium and ceramic. And running Android expect this to hit the market at about €700 beans.

After having our hearts broken by the Ara we hope the PH-1 delivers.

Essential PH-1 Specs

OS	Android 7.1.1
Model	PH-1
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Adreno 640 GPU
Display	5.71″ QHD LTPS LCD (2560×1312, 19:10)
Cameras	Rear: 13MP f/1.85 Dual RGB + Mono Front: 8MP f/2.20
Memory	128GB UFS 2.1 4GB RAM
Battery	3040mAh Fast charging
Network Connectivity	UMTS/HSPA+: 1, 2, 4, 5 6, 8 GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz CDMA EV-DO Rev. A: 0, 1, 10 FDD-LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66 TDD-LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 TD-SCDMA: 34, 39
Other Connectivity	WiFi 802.11a/b/h/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Ports	USB Type-C, Power Pins, Nano SIM
Fingerprint Reader	Yes
Size	141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm 185g
Materials	Titanium body Ceramic back Gorilla Glass5
Colors	Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths

Final Score Review: Die Hard Meets Football in Sky Movie

Marty

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8th September 2018

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Final Score Review: Die Hard Meets Football in Sky Movie

Have you ever seen a trailer for a movie and thought it would be complete shite, but still you end up watching it at it’s not all that bad? No? Really? Well, it’s just happened to me. Sky Cinema has just released their latest original production called Final Score. Here’s what I thought about it.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

What Is Final Score About?

It’s impossible to ignore the most obvious comparison when it comes to Final Score. It’s Die Hard at a football game. The movie mainly takes place in West Ham’s old football ground; Upton Park – also known as The Boleyn Ground. An ex-soldier, Michael Knox, attending a game with his ‘niece’, the daughter of his fallen comrade. During the game, she wanders off and while she’s gone it transpires that there are heavily armed Russian criminals holding the packed stadium to ransom in order to find a former political leader in the crowd.

As you might imagine, the film follows Knox trying to save the stadium while protecting his ‘niece’.

I can’t help but feel this is a movie of convenience. West Ham had just left their stadium meaning there was a lovely set for the filmmakers to use. However, that’s not a good enough reason to either like or not like this movie.

Final Score Cast

The big names in this movie are Dave Bautista and Pierce Brosnan. Bautista is best know as a WWE wrestler and for his role as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, though that looks to be coming to an end. Brosnan somehow got his name on the movie poster despite playing a minor role in Final Score. He has a few lines and only really starts to appear really late on in the film. I feel his inclusion was a coup for the Sky Cinema production and they wanted to sing about it. Don’t get me wrong, he’s grand like, but he just doesn’t do a whole lot.

Personally, I’d be lobbing Ray Stevenson on the poster because he’s in the whole thing. The Northern Irish actor, perhaps best known for his appearance in the Thor movies, but I know I know him best for his role as the bad guy in Dexter. We also get a look at Amit Shah playing stadium steward Faisil and Lara Peake playing Knox’s ‘niece’.

It’s a nice cast. Shah brings some humour to the table but Bautista’s size is nothing short of incredible. Watch out for him sitting on a bar stool to get an idea of how big the man is. To be honest, it doesn’t take away from his ability to nail an action role. This movie was made for him.

Is Final Score Worth the Watch?

Right, so here’s the trailer I saw:

My first reaction was that this was going to be bonkers and Brosnan hasn’t been in a good movie for quite some time. I was reluctant to give Final Score the time of day. But when you’re hungover, you’re a little more open to just watching something where you can easily follow the plot and I think that’s why I quite enjoyed this movie.

Earlier this year, the new Mission Impossible caught me off guard by being excellent and Final Score has gone and done the same thing. It’s ludicrous in parts, like totally insane. I’m talking Bautista riding a motorbike through Upton Park then eventually landing the same bike on the roof of one of the stands. The crowd’s complete inability to notice what’s going on around them is perhaps my favourite thing about the movie. At one point, Bautista literally swings across in front of the crowd, they see him and also see him land on the big screen in the stadium. When he lands, he gets into a fist fight, but no one notices because they are already back watching West Ham in a European semi-final (perhaps the most unrealistic thing about the whole film).

There are some scenes where the CGI is terrible, other scenes where Bautista takes on a ridiculous number of police officers and plenty of other madness throughout this nearly two hours action romp. But still, it’s actually not that bad at all.

It’s unrealistic and insane, but it’s also funny and entertaining

Sure, it’s unrealistic and insane, but it’s also funny and to be totally honest, it’s always entertaining. What more could you want from a film like? Sky Cinema originals haven’t been hit and miss so far, they’ve been miss but if you like action, you’ll enjoy this.

So What Are Sky Cinema Originals?

It’s a mad concept but in a chord-cutting world where many are now depending on Netflix instead of Sky TV, it’s a unique thing to see. Sky Cinema Originals, as you might have worked out, are movies produced by Sky. The difference is that when they are ready for release they are launched in cinemas and on Sky Cinema. That means Sky customers can watch a brand new movie in the comfort of their own home. Pretty neat.

Final Score: The Verdict

Don’t expect this to win any Oscars, but if you’re looking for something to pass the time and art an action fan, I don’t think this will disappoint. If you’re a Sky Cinema customers, g’wan sure.

The Women in Tech Awards – 22nd November

Jon

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6th September 2018

0

The Women in Tech Awards – 22nd November

The Dublin Tech Summit is quite rightly the fastest growing technology showcase in Europe. You think that would be enough to keep them happy. You’d be wrong because The Women in Tech Awards program, powered by Dublin Tech Summit, is Ireland’s foremost event dedicated to recognizing the innovation, leadership and achievements of women in Ireland’s tech landscape. Finally!

The inaugural Women In Tech Awards event is set to take place in the RDS on the 22nd of November this year. Speaking ahead of this ground breaking event, DTS says the aim of the WIT is to highlight the impact women are having in the tech industry and the success stories they can boast.

“Dublin Tech Summit as an ever-growing technology event and platform recognises the importance of not only promoting female tech leaders achievements but also the urgency to continuously support women in tech from day one of their careers. We [DTS] are eager to launch The Women in Tech Awards this April and introduce our audience to our Women in Tech Awards ambassadors as we continue to expand our support and showcasing of the incredible work being done by women in tech across the island of Ireland.” – Dublin Tech Summit

Bridging the gender gap

The Women In Tech awards are working towards bridging the disappointing gender equality gap that is easy to see in the tech industry, not only in Ireland but worldwide. As society strives to bridge the gap in gender equality it is events like this that show just how imbalanced the tech industry is. Women are statistically in the minority but despite this, there are achievements that need to be celebrated.

We attended this year’s Dublin Tech Summit and it was an incredible event. This year we saw the Women in Tech drive gender equality in a male-dominated industry. With a 48% female attendance rate we think it is safe to say the program was an amazing success. What we found incredible to see at the event was the sheer amount of young women who attended and having this kind of female representation at an event like DTS can only help inspire the next generation.

Women In Tech

As a result of this success, the Women In Tech awards was announced to showcase these extraordinary women and to try and improve workplace diversity.

The event itself will include 12 categories with awards for Trailblazer, Disruptor, IT Business Leader, Data Scientist and more. If you know someone who you think should be nominated for an award you can nominate them up to the 28th September here.

Once the nominations are complete, the winners will be determined by an amazing panel of international judges (who we will cover in more detail) including:

Anne Ravanona, founder & CEO of Global Invest Her
Katia Lang, founder & CEO of the Fintech Times
Philip Konopik, Ireland Country Manager of Visa
Jules Coleman, Co-founder of Hassle
Gen Ashley, Director of Women Who Code, London
Joe Healy, Manager of High-Potential Startup Division, Enterprise Ireland

But that’s not all! If the award ceremony isn’t enough the night will also include a host of brilliant speakers who will collaborate for a panel discussion on diversity. We are absolutely delighted that something is being done to show how important women are and should be in the tech industry. If you want to find out more about the event you can check out their website for a full list of categories, partners, speakers and everything else.

Sony WH-1000XM2 Review: Are These The Best Wireless Headphones On The Market?

Marty

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5th September 2018

0

Sony WH-1000XM2 Review: Are These The Best Wireless Headphones On The Market?

I recently made the decision to dive into the world of audio. If you look online, you’ll find lots of audiophiles who simply love ripping the latest earphones and headphones apart, talking about the false base and ‘cans being too tinny’.

I think I know what all this craic means, but at the end of the day, everyday consumers like yourself might not care about all that. With that said, I do want to offer you some technical insights too, so I’ve turned to Christopher Barker from Displace Studios to give me an audio expert’s insight too – keep an eye out for his expertise as I review Sony’s flagship headphones; WH-1000XM2. Important to note that Sony has just launched the WH-1000MX3 at IFA 2018 but these will still be available to buy; maybe even at a discount price.

With that in mind, I had to pick a start point for my audio review journey and that starts with Sony’s flagship wireless headphones, fitting as so many smartphones have packed in the use of headphone jacks – something I actually agree with, but I digress. Here’s what I think of Sony’s WH-1000XM2 headphones.

Features of the Sony WH-1000XM2

The Sony WH-1000XM2 are so much more than just a pair of headphones and are stuffed full of features. First up, they’ve got active noise cancelling and I want to spend some time discussing what that is, because the experience is really something else.

What is Active Noise Cancelling?

The WH-1000XM2 headphones have a mic which scans your surroundings for noise patterns and continues to monitor your surroundings for those patterns changing. Along with the audio you actually want to listen to, the headphones also send a frequency into the can to intercept and cancel out the noise surrounding you.

The Sony’s were the very first active noise cancelling headphones I’ve ever tried out. I’ve got to say, it’s the most bizarre feeling in the world. They genuinely block out 85% to 90% of the noise that surrounds you – that stat is a bit finger in the wind, but it’s my way of saying they’re super effective. If you’re a frequent flier, these are even more impressive because they perform incredibly well with monotonous sounds – like the constant hum of jet engines.

My favourite thing about tech is when it provokes a reaction. I remember showing people Samsung Gear VR experiences and it blew their minds. When people put on these headphones and the active noise cancelling kick in, minds get blown and jaws drop. It’s truly incredible.

Christopher’s Take: My favourite feature on them was the multiple noise cancelling modes. The noise cancellation is on par with Sennheiser’s algorithm, but not up to Bose. It’s better than akg and light years away from Beats. Actually, I need to point out the WH-1000XM2 – while not perfect – are in no way are as offensive to the audiophile as the likes of Beats.

The Ambient Sound feature, which allows some external sounds in, is fantastic. I immediately thought of a use for them in the studio; drum practice. Playing along to a song or a beat with noise cancelling headphones, you’re left relying more so on the dull response from the drum you’re hitting to synchronise with whatever practice tool you’re using. But these headphones allowed a nice mix of environmental sounds and audio from your phone or whatever media device you’re using.

Other Features of the WH-1000XM2

Right, on with the show. As great as noise cancelling is, you don’t buy headphones to not hear something – if you get me.

Sound Quality

I’m no expert, but it did feel like I was able to enjoy music on a level I’ve never experienced before. Unlike their little sister earbuds, the Sony WF-1000X, the WH-1000XM2 didn’t have any lag when watching a video; thank Christ.

To be honest, that’s the extent of my knowledge. I’m just streaming music from Spotify or watching videos on YouTube so there’s likely even streaming variables that affect the sound quality before media even reaches my ears. For the average consumer looking for a great audio experience, you’ll get it with these.

However, like I said, I’m not an authority on sound quality, so back over to our resident expert:

Christopher’s Take: I found them to be relatively flat throughout the frequency spectrum, however, there is a slight bump in the low mids and low frequencies. Not necessarily a terrible thing for a modern consumer as this is the trend in consumer audio right now.

For studio usage or if you’re a true audiophile, this trend is a little annoying. Why? Well, you’re not listening to the work the engineers, musicians, producers have done, you’re listening to an augmented version of that work.

Battery Life

Battery life is a major talking point for wireless headphones. I’ve got another pair of Sony wireless buds and they give me three hours. They’re tiny and you do kind of get used to having short stints, but it’s far from ideal. The Sony WH-1000XM2 boasts over 30 hours of wireless listening. I was using these while I worked away and barely ever had to charge them. It blew me away. In a world where we’re so used to battery powered devices dying on us, the Sony WH-1000XM2 are unlikely to disappoint on that front.

Christopher’s Take: They are very comfortable, so wearing them for long periods of time is grand. Because of this battery life gets added importance and it seems that Sony got the WH-1000XM2 battery capacity is spot on.

Wires: Optional

In the impressive carry case, you’ll find an optional cable. Personally, I didn’t need it because I was testing these alongside the Huawei P20 Pro – I don’t have a headphone jack. For others, this has added importance, like for people, I dunno, that work in a studio perhaps?

Christopher’s Take: The output jack on the headphones is a must! Believe it or not, I have seen some without it.

Touch Controls

The controls, at first, are pretty cool. You swipe the outside of the right can to skip tracks, change volume and even access Google Assistant if you’re so inclined. I have to admit that once the novelty wore off, not having physical buttons was annoying.

Christopher’s Take: The ‘touch’ controls were a pain in the arse.

Sony WH-1000XM2: The Price

So you’ve heard me harping on about the price a few times. The reason for that is these headphones will set you back the bones of €400. It’s a lot of dosh, but they really are top quality. If you’ve ever thought about investing in a top-class pair of headphones, you’re unlikely to regret picking up a pair of Sony WH-1000MX2s.

Keep an eye on Amazon too. The price on these guys fluctuates – a lot.

Sony WH-1000XM2: The Verdict

Sound quality wise, while I’m no expert, I am happy to say these are the nicest headphones I’ve ever used. Now, such an experience comes at a cost but I have seen people walking around Dublin wearing the Sony WH-1000XM2. It’s a bit mad when you know how much headphones cost and you see people wearing them. It’s hard not to stare, but now I think I might be staring out of jealousy.

I fell in love with these headphones during my month with them. Is walking through the city and crossing the street while wearing noise-cancelling headphones very stupid and dangerous? Yes, very much so and you really should only be wearing these when at a desk or somewhere safe and stationary. But I got addicted to the noise cancelling and the audio quality. When walking I did start reluctantly turning to Ambient Sound mode for some added awareness of my surroundings, but all in all I just didn’t want to leave the warm and safe world of wearing the Sony WH-1000XM2.

There’s a reason loads of people, more experienced in audio than myself, have given these rave reviews. The Sony WH-1000XM2 are arguably the best headphones in the world. Not the best, wireless headphones, but the best headphones. Full stop.

I can’t imagine many people, even at this price, being disappointed with them.

Christopher’s Take: Overall 5 out of 10 for studio use. 7 out of 10 for regular consumer use.

Keep an eye on Amazon to see if the price drops on these headphones given the third generation is launching soon. The major difference will be Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration, something you could probably live without.

Tronsmart: Affordable Wireless Earbuds, Headphones and Speakers

Marty

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5th September 2018

0

Tronsmart: Affordable Wireless Earbuds, Headphones and Speakers

A while back two lads got in touch with me about a new website they were launching to support their phone and gadget shops. Without knowing too much about them, but gut said to go along for the ride. Today, they launch their new look brand and a new website to match and it’s called Wireless. They guys have sent over some of the stuff they’ll be stocking for me to check out and I’ve got to say, it’s been eye-opening.

Who Are Wireless?

A little part of me is waiting for the day where Goosed.ie starts getting comments like “why is everything you write about Dublin-centric” or something similar. We’ve avoided this so far, likely down to me being from Kilkenny and having a large part of the team based in Limerick too. In all honesty, this is why I love the idea behind Wireless. Run by two Tullamore-born twins and starting out as Fix My I – a repair shop in an industrial estate – the shop is now a hub for the latest tech gadgets. The lads have focused on their stores in Westmeath and Offaly which for me is crucial. Ireland needs tech stores to challenge norms and stock the harder to get phones, while remaining willing to bring in high quality and affordable gadgets for everyone to try out.

Today, they launch their new website, stocking the latest phones and accessories on the market. They’ve sent me some of the latest audio accessories from Tronsmart to test out, a new brand the lads introduced me to.

Who Are Tronsmart?

There’s a fair chance you haven’t heard of Tronsmart but just to give you an idea of their stature; their brand ambassador is Luis Suarez. Tronsmart is a South Korean company who killed it back in 2013 when they launched their T1000 Miracast device. This lets you mirror your phone on the TV way before Chromecast even existed. If you’ve been following Goosed.ie for a while, you’ll know I’m a firm believer than Asian smartphone manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi is great news for shoppers. Well, Tronsmart looks to be doing the same for accessories. Here’s what I’ve been testing out.

Tronsmart Encore Spunky Buds

Oh stop laughing at the fact they have “spunky” in their name. Wireless audio is something I’m currently developing a mild obsession for. I’ve been testing out the Sony 1000XM2, had a quick look at the 1000XM3 at IFA in Berlin. I’ve also been testing out the Sony WF-1000X, a truly wireless pair of earbuds which deliver incredible quality, but have some annoying features too – like substantial lag when watching videos.

This is why I was both apprehensive and intrigued to test out the Tronsmart Encore Spunky wireless earbuds. These were also completely wireless but cost a fraction of the Sony earbuds. According to Pricespy, you could pick up a pair of Sony WF-1000X earbuds for around €150 yet the Tronsmart earbuds cost just €55 from the Wireless guys. So how do they measure up?

Tronsmart Encore Spunky Buds Review

When it comes to earbuds, these are the crucial things I look out for. I’m going to be pretty hard on the Tronsmart buds too because I’m comparing them to the Sony buds which cost €100 more.

Sound Quality

The Sony WF-1000X combine great noise cancelling with incredible audio quality and frankly, considering the price difference, I hate little faith that the Tronsmarts could keep up. While the Encore Spunky Buds don’t have noise cancelling, the sound quality is great. I can’t say they’re on par with the Sonys but they are within reach of them and considering the price difference, that’s nothing short of incredible.

Personally, I can’t get my head around the fact that my Sony earbuds experience massive lag when watching video, the Tronsmarts are perfect. Again, given the price difference, this left me wondering how Sony ever let their earbuds get to market when Tronsmart nailed this for a fraction of the cost.

Battery Life

Not fantastic for either Sony or Tronsmart here. Both sets of earbuds give you three hours of playback. Now, the nature of wireless earbuds means you probably won’t be leaving them in much longer than three hours although considering I have a seven-hour flight to New York on the horizon I might change my tune on that one.

Both companies also sell their earbuds with a companion charge case. This means when you pop your earbuds into their case, they’re charging. The Sony case gives you an extra two charges, meaning a total of nine hours on the go usage. The Tronsmart earbuds give about 3.5 hours and again can be charged on the go, meaning you get over ten hours on the go.

Comfort

This is why battery life doesn’t matter too much. Totally wireless earbuds can wear on your ears. I’ve found that around the two-hour mark for both brands I needed to take a break. This was a tie in terms of comfort, however, the Tronsmarts were a little more comfortable to run with.

Waterproofing

The Sony WF-1000X are not waterproof, so you’re taking your life into your own hands if you even get sweat near them after a gym run. That said, I’ve used them in the gym and they’ve lived to tell the tale. The Encore Spunky Buds are IPX5 rated, so while they’re far from suitable for the pool, sweat won’t leave these banjaxed.

The Verdict

I’m no audiophile, but I can’t stand poor sound quality. I didn’t feel it was totally fair to put the Tronsmarts up against the Sonys, but they really stood up to them. If I’m being hypercritical, the Sonys look a little tidier and they do have superior sound quality and noise cancelling, but that’s just not the point. The point here is that for substantially less money, you can get a pair of Tronsmart Encore Spunky earbuds which will be more than enough for anyone who isn’t a total audiophile.

Tronsmart Encore Hydra Earphones Review

Coming in at just €34.99, the Encore Hydra earphones are certainly the right price. These are designed for exercise with an IPX7 water resistance rating meaning they’re capable of dealing with sweat and rain. Their wrap-around design means they’re perfect for running and other exercises where you’ll be moving plenty. Considering they have a twelve-hour playback battery too, these might just find their way into my bag for that trip to New York.

The one place these do fall down is sound quality. Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re fine but if you’re in a gym like mine where the techno music pumps loud, you’ll be straining to hear what you’re trying to listen to on your phone. These things come into their own when you run outside. Whether or not it’s by design, I’m not sure, but the audio profile of these earphones means you can enjoy your music while also being aware of your surroundings. It might be poor design or it might be a safety feature, but either way, for €34.99, there’s a place in the world for earphones like the Encore Hydras.

Tronsmart T6 Speaker

In a world of smart speakers is there still space for the humble bluetooth speaker? Well, the day this landed with me I needed it. I was streaming a match on SkyGo from my Mac to the TV and typically audio wasn’t working. I fired up the T6 speaker and was blown away by the sound – almost literally. Considering I have a Google Home which costs substantially more than this primarily because of the speaker quality, the T6 really stands up on its own two feet.

Using what Tronsmart call 360-sound, you can pop this in the middle of a can-drinking-circle and everyone will enjoy the same audio quality. I also can’t look beyond how much the T6 reminds me of a can itself, but don’t worry the features go beyond that.

The T6 has a massive bass output on the bottom, is water resistant and packs an impressive fifteen-hour battery. It can connect to other devices using an AUX cable or Bluetooth and you can even take calls on the speaker too. As much as I like it, I think Chris from the Wireless team does a great job explaining what life with the T6 is like. Take it away Chris:

On the one hand, I’m a little surprised just how impressed I am with Tronsmart but at the same time why am I? I’ve seen Asian manufacturers increase their quality by an incredible amount in recent years and Tronsmart is no different. My personal favourite from the lot here is the Spunky earbuds. Really, I should be kicking myself considering I paid so much for the Sony earbuds but in truth, I’m delighted to see tech progress this quickly.

Best of luck to the Wireless teams in Westmeath and Offaly. If you’re in the area, call in and see what gadgets they’ve got on offer for you. Naturally, if you’re not in the area, you can check out their shiny new site too.

The e-Nable Program – Using Technology to “give a helping hand”

Jon

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4th September 2018

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The e-Nable Program – Using Technology to “give a helping hand”

Over the last couple of months we have seen the technology industry as a whole take a giant ass pounding. Companies like Facebook and Google have been taking the brunt of abuse due to a range of controversies all stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. While pulling up companies who misbehave is something that we all have to do, it is important to remember that technology by it’s very nature has been created to aid and improve our lives. So much so that we probably don’t even realise it anymore.

That’s fine but remember this, technology is so much more than data mining and shady political bs and while shows like Black Mirror are great for making us think they don’t exactly show the true reasoning behind technological innovation. With this in mind we recently stumbled across a Limerick based open source volunteer group who aim to put the feel good factor back into tech. Using 3D printing the Open Creators Limerick group with the help of E-Nable have been printing prosthetic hands for children in need. Ya that’s right there are a bunch of Irish folk giving up their free time to use technology to improve kids lives and as ever the Irish media is too busy showing the bad rather than focusing on the good. That changes now.

So what is 3D Printing

Ok, so bare with me on this one but do you know when you are icing a cake?

You put the icing all melted and sticky into the bag, then you squirt it out and make your design. Basically that’s 3D printing in a nutshell but the icing is melted plastic, the bag is the printer and the cake is the thing you are trying to print. Simple.

Instead of traditional printing where ink meets paper on a flat surface, a 3D printer moves in an upward motion creating layer upon layer until the pre-set design is printed. Check out the video here to see for yourself.

The e-Nable Program

The e-NABLE Community is an amazing group of individuals from all over the world who are using their 3D printers to create free 3D printed hands and arms for those in need.

They are people who have put aside their political, religious, cultural and personal differences – to come together and collaborate on ways to help improve the open source 3D printable designs for hands and arms for those who were born missing fingers or who have lost them due to war, disease or natural disaster.

The e-NABLE Community is made up of teachers, students, engineers, scientists, medical professionals, tinkerers, designers, parents, children, scout troops, artists, philanthropists, dreamers, coders, makers and every day people who just want to make a difference and help to “Give The World A Helping Hand.”

How did it happen?

Way back in 2011 Ivan Owen created this mad looking metal hand for a cosplay outfit and when he got back from the convention he posted a short clip to YouTube. This short and simple clip made it’s way to a chap called Richard in South Africa who had lost some fingers in a carpentry accident. Using Skype, email and all that fun stuff the to began to collaborate to create something to help Richard and then they went one further and created a special assisted device for a young local boy who was born with no fingers on one hand. This began a ripple effect which would eventually stretch around the world

After creating the first prototype, Ivan realized that he would quickly outgrow the hand and started researching the use of 3D printing to create the next version. He taught himself how to use 3D printer design software and a well known 3D printer company, Maker Bot actually donated 2 machines to help get E-Nable of the ground.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Instead of patenting the design for this new hand and making a profit, Ivan decided to publish the design files as open-source so that people could download and print these devices for anyone that needed one too – anywhere in the world. This is how the E-Nable community started.

Around 100 people got on board, offering their printers and skills to help develop the program. In that first year the group had reached over 3,000 volunteers with over 750 hands created worldwide.

Now thanks to these people, their generosity and their ability to use technology for good, people can have hope. This program is the one place in the world where people with missing fingers, hands or arms can get help from people who are using 3D printed devices that can help them with daily tasks that are easier to perform with 2 fully functional hands. Oh and guess where their Irish operation is based?

The Fab Lab and the Irish connection

The Irish division of the E-Nable Community comes in the form of the Open Creators of good ole Limerick City! Working out of the amazing communal maker space the Fab Lab in town these bunch of lecturers, students, engineers and everything else in between can come together to create.

We actually caught up with Ruth and Jack who sat down and gave us the low down in our most recent episode of the Tech Yurt podcast which you can listen to here:

https://www.acast.com/techyurt/giving-a-helping-hand-through-3d-printing-e-nable-

While it’s still early days in Ireland and this group haven’t got the ability to manufacture at the same volume as other countries. That’s why they have put their noggins together to become one of the leading R&D areas of the group where they have solved issues like – Best materials for gripping on the fingertips and improving material choices, styles are placement of strapping for a better quality and more comfortable fit. These slight innovations are then shared to over 12,000 people in the E-Nable Community to help improve their designs. While this may seem trivial to you or me it is this attention and focus to create the best product for the kids that have led to Limerick’s high standing in the community. We are sure having met them and knowing the ability of the team, these guys could end up changing how prosthetic s are made forever.

What can we do to help

Well if you’re one of the few with a 3D printer and you would like to lend a hand (pun not intended I promise) then you can hit up the Limerick based division on their Facebook account and start putting your modelling skills to good use. If you haven’t got skills that you think will help remember this, each hand costs about €30 each so if you want to reach into your pocket and buy them extra material it will be going to a good cause.

Alternatively we also have our own Patreon account open these days. 70% of every donation we get will be pumped back into tech for good causes and the rest will help us grow. https://www.patreon.com/goosed

Remember even in the midst of all the bad press technology has gotten over the last number of weeks and months it is important to remember all the good that can be done. It’s like anything else really arseholes will always find a way of exploiting a system for their own personal gains but when you have good people with the right intentions, technology can literally be a tool to change the world for the better. We just have to decide which person we want to be.

Robots of the Future: They’re Here, We Just Don’t Recognise Them

Marty

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4th September 2018

0

Robots of the Future: They’re Here, We Just Don’t Recognise Them

That movie, Bicentennial Man with Robin Williams kind of set the bar for robotic home assistants. For years, I’ve seen the tech world keep up with Hollywood. I’m sitting in an airport writing this after going through a body scanner, just like the one in Airplane II: The Sequel. Closer to home, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey predicted iPad like tablets and smart assistants, though to be fair, I haven’t heard of Alexa straight up trying to murder anyone yet. But with Bicentennial Man, Hollywood threw an uncharacteristic ‘wobbly’ and got it wrong. Yes, the average home of the not-too-distant future and even present will have house robots. But they’ll look absolutely nothing like Robin Williams.

The Robot Housekeepers

You’ll see straight away that I’m using plural and that’s very deliberate. No one helper robot will be taking over all your housework any time soon. Instead, there are a plethora of ‘designed to function’ robots which can take on a range of your day-to-day house tasks.

iRobot: Roomba

Vacuuming is horrible. Personally, I would like to nab myself a rechargeable Dyson handheld but even then, the novelty will wear off and I’ll hate that too. The real solution is a robot and this isn’t a pipe dream, it’s very much the present. iRobot has been developing vacuum bots for six years! Their best-known robot is the Roomba which comes to life when you’re out and about, vacuuming around the house before parking back up in it’s dock to charge for it’s next cleaning mission.

iRobot: Braava

Being honest, the Roomba was no surprise to me; I had heard of it. Actually, many people have since a Roomba didn’t spot a dog poop on the floor and drove over it back in 2012. The result, well I’m sure you can imagine, but still, here you go:

However, the Braava is news to me. This is a cute little robot designed to take on the mopping after your Roomba has don’t all the vacuuming. I can’t ever over how amazing the thought of two robots tag teaming my dusty apartment is and again, this is now a reality. The Braava sprays water ahead of itself and then shimmys along, scrubbing stains as it goes.

Because of the limited water tank on-board, the Braava doesn’t have the self-parking charge station. The good news is, iRobot don’t expect you to buy a heap of these. Instead, the idea is that you let your Braava loose in one room, top him up with some more water and then let him off in the next room.

WindowMate

All going well, there’s barely a house job in the world that robots won’t be taking over. That includes cleaning windows. WindowMate has created a window cleaning robot, but they weren’t alone at IFA this year with several companies entering this space. There are obviously some usability issues around moving the robot from window to window, but check out the latest Goosed Ganders video below to see how easily the WindowMate clears permanent marker from a window:

Somnox: The Sleep Robot

If challenging what pops into your mind when you hear robot is your game, then look no further than the Somnox. This soft and cuddly robot is shaped like a kidney bean, but it’s been proven to help people suffering from insomnia get a better night’s sleep. These will start shipping in October and further challenge the thought of what defines robots of our future.

Smart Assistants

The usual rigmarole of new smart assistants was also on show in force at IFA. Google’s massive external stage let gave people the chance to win Google Homes from a giant bubble gum machine while Amazon delivered a keynote on how voice search is changing the world. I chatted with Huawei and Anker who are harnessing the power of Alexa in their own smart speakers, while Google Assistants, actual people, stood around the exhibition beside devices the digital Google Assistant also powered. I should add, there were hundreds, if not thousands of these Google Assistant people, signifying an insane number of devices which now offer voice control from either Amazon or Google.

These are additional robots in our home which automate as much as you’re willing to set up. Right now I have a Google Home and Amazon Echo Dot in my sitting room. Google can turn on and off the TV or let me stream Netflix effortlessly to Chromecast. While the Google Home can also control my smart lights, I let Alexa look after that. The too also remind me about various things, let me call other people I know with similar devices and help me set timers when I’m cooking, to name but a few of the features they have.

These are the simplest and most accessible robots of the lot and many have already invited these into our homes. Talk about the future being here!

The Human and Robot Relationship

And this brings me to my main point; what kind of relationship will we have with robots. I was chatting with Christiana Ball from iRobot, creators of the Roomba, who told me a story which really demonstrates what our relationship with robots will look like.

A customer had bought a Roomba but something went wrong and so they contacted customer support stating “my Rosie has stopped working”. Yup, they named their vacuum Rosie, much like we affectionately name our cars. Anyway, Customer care said they would replace the vacuum, but the customer became quite upset before asking for Rosie to be fixed instead of replaced. The customer had developed a bond with this machine that took over a menial task, a bond which seems similar to that of one built with a pet.

The customer had developed a bond with this machine

The Somnox sleeping robot is designed in such a way that affection is actually given to the user, by a robot. Personally, when I speak with either Alexa or Google Assistant I’ll say please and thanks, even though the AI doesn’t need or enjoy this and I’ve heard of many other people doing the same.

The future will have more advanced robots, but right now, you can have any number of robots in your home. You can also expect your family to build relationships with these robots so just be prepared for tears when your vacuum has to go away to the vacuum farm, far out of town.

The Somnox Pillow: A Cuddly Robot You Take to Bed

Marty

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1st September 2018

0

The Somnox Pillow: A Cuddly Robot You Take to Bed

A Dutch startup has created the world’s first sleeping robot. While this might sounds all fun and fluffy, literally and figuratively, the Somnox Pillow is actually solving a very real problem. I caught up with the team at IFA in Berlin recently to learn a little bit more about the Somnox pillow.

What is the Somnox Pillow?

The Somnox Pillow is the world’s first sleeping robot and the project has already raised over €200,000 on Kickstarter to come into fruition.

In simple terms, this is a pillow that breathes and can also play soothing music or sounds such as white noise. The science behind the Somnox Pillow largely rests on breathing patterns and the fact poor breathing patterns can sleep to poor sleep and even insomnia. Research has shown that one in three likely suffers from some sort of insomnia. Insomnia can lead to medication and possibly over-medication; a scenario everyone would rather avoid.

The Somnox Pillow is out to help with this issue, with the company’s missions stating they want to help 100,000 people achieve a good night’s rest by 2025.

Tech for Sleep: How Does the Somnox Pillow Work?

This is possibly the most cuddly robot you’ve ever seen and I can indeed confirm it’s just as cuddly as it looks. The designers teamed up with Auping to make this a super cosy device to make it almost irresistible to bring into your bed.

This cuddly robot simulates a relaxed breathing pattern and when you snuggle up to it, you subconsciously and naturally sync your own breathing to the slowed patterns of the Somnox Pillow. Combined with the comforting design of the robotic pillow and the soothing sounds it emits and the Somnox Pillow is a recipe for a good night’s sleep.

If you still have your doubts, you can read all the science behind how the Somnox Pillow delivers a good night’s sleep.

Somnox Pillow Price

Can you really put a price on a good night’s sleep? Well, actually yes you can. The Somnox Pillow will set you back a little under €565 including shipping to Ireland. Right now, this cuddly robot is available to pre-order with deliveries expected to land in October.

Somnox Pillow Review

I’m hoping to do a more in-depth review of the Somnox Pillow in the next few months, so drop your email below to make sure you don’t miss it.

In the meantime, let me leave you with a thought. One thing I’m certainly taking away from IFA 2018 is that we need to rethink what we believe robots look like. Sure, there were some classic humanoid-ish looking robots, but the most useful of the lot were either Roomba vacuums, window-washing boxes or this kidney bean shaped pillow by Somnox. Robots are coming, but you might not even recognise them.

Huawei at IFA 2018: AI Cube, Locator and Mate 20 Lite

Marty

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1st September 2018

0

Huawei at IFA 2018: AI Cube, Locator and Mate 20 Lite

Huawei is relishing their spot in the tech world right now. They’ve ousted Apple as the second biggest smartphone manufacturer in terms of shipments but are showing no signs of slowing down. At their IFA 2018 keynote presentation, Richard Yu announced a plethora of new additions to the Huawei family.

Huawei AI Cube

There are two ways to enter the smart speaker market. The first way is to develop your own smart assistant then develop your own hardware, before marrying these together to create something very special. Google and Amazon have already achieved this through their respective Home and Echo devices. This is not an easy route to take and even Apple and Samsung have learned that having either inferior hardware or software can be a recipe for disaster with Apple’s Homepod being rather disappointing because of Siri and no one caring less what Samsung do because we all know it’ll just be another Bixby powered piece of…

Anyway.

The second way to enter the market is to leverage one half of the formula that’s already been extremely successful and then add your own flair to the situation. This is what Huawei is going for with their AI Cube.

Huawei AI Cube: Features

The Huawei AI Cube is designed to tackle a few modern home problems. The first is entertainment.

Audio

The AI Cube can produce great audio, perfect for your living room and will be able to flex muscles to scare both Amazon Echo and Google Home devices for space on your shelf. Huawei’s own audio software, Histen, also features in the speaker to provide additional sound settings and quality controls.

Amazon Alexa

With the P20 Pro came Huawei and Amazon’s first public display of affection. Using screen gestures, you can quickly search for products that you see on the screen, but only through Amazon. Now, with the AI Cube, Huawei is providing a new smart speaker for Alexa to live within.

It’s a bold but understandable move from Huawei given the global smart speaker base is set to swell to 225 million units in the next two years. Given lack of love Siri gets and the outright hatred Bixby gets, Huawei has done the smart thing and focused on the hardware. Speaking of which…

Connectivity

The AI Cube also doubles as a router. Pop a 4G sim card into the speaker and you’ll enjoy download speeds up to 300 Mbps. Now, I know most people will never use it, but wouldn’t it be lovely to bring something like that on holidays with you and pop a sim card into it? WiFi, sounds and a smart assistant all bundled into one.

While all of this is extremely exciting, Huawei wasn’t done yet.

Huawei Locator

I lose shit. I lose shit, a lot. This is why I have a Tile on my keyring. Even when things are lost now, they’re not really lost – they’re misplaced. Huawei feels my pain and also announced their Locator at IFA 2018.

It’s very simple. You attach the Huawei Locator to something you don’t want to lose and it’ll track it around the world. The Locator uses four different major global navigation systems including the well-known GPS system along with nano SIM and eSIM technology. Combined with global roaming and near-real-time location reporting, it’s unlikely you’ll ever lose anything connected to the Huawei Locator.

The examples given at IFA included attaching the Locator to your dog or suitcase, but I remember a friend of mine having a much more convoluted setup for a device which was attached to his motorbike following the theft of his previous bike.

The Locator will notify users when it more than 10 meters away from a paired smartphone or when it leaves a geofenced area. It’s IP68 too so don’t worry if your dog is a bit mad.

Huawei Mate 20 Lite and Mate 20 Series

I wanted to see a handset launch and while I had my fingers crossed for the Mate 20, I wasn’t left to disappointed. All in the same Berlin keynote, Huawei announced the Mate 20 Lite. The spec to price on this thing is insane. Going on sale in October for €429 sim free, the Mate 20 Lite has ridiculous front-facing dual cameras with 24MP and 2MP lenses capable of delivering the elusive front facing bokeh effect. That’s where you’re nice and crisp but the background is blurry.

The front-facing cameras are actually slightly more powerful than the read facing 20MP and 2MP lenses. Huawei really is bonkers when it comes to camera layouts, but after seeing how well their mad ideas worked for the P20 Pro, I say keep ‘em coming.

The Mate 20 Lite will pack a 3750 mAh battery and all of this will be housed behind a 6.3-inch screen.

I’ll reserve further opinions on this until I get a full hands-on look at it, but early suggestions are this slightly high to mid-range phone is going to be an absolute beast.

It’s funny. I’ve been writing about tech now for a few years and I can only assume that how I feel about Huawei is something like what a football manager feels when he brings a youth player through from the development squads. Huawei has gone from the entry level underdog to an absolute world beater. Samsung and Apple have had it pretty easy for a long time, but it looks like those days are well and truly finished.

I’m still waiting on confirmation for Irish pricing and launch dates for both the AI Cube and Locator but will update this article when I get them.

KBC Launches New Banking App: Features and Benefits

Marty

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30th August 2018

0

KBC Launches New Banking App: Features and Benefits

KBC has just launched a brand new banking app and man, are they leaving the Irish competition in their wake.

Features of the New KBC Banking App

Right, well first off – it looks lovely and modern. This might seem like a fairly simple achievement, but customers of Bank of Ireland will tell you how frustrating a bank’s lack of digital ambition can be.

Beyond the looks, some killer new features peep out and as cool as they are, they are also suggesting a very interesting future lies ahead for KBC Customers

Card Details in App

I’ve found myself in this situation more than you might think. I need my card details but not my card. You know, you’re shopping online or trying to pay a bill over the phone or something and all you need is your card number and your CCV number. Maybe my wallets at home because I couldn’t find it and went to work with just Google Pay to keep me going (this happened twice last month). Now, you can still make online payments without reaching for your card.

This is great if you’ve forgotten your wallet (like me) or you’re too lazy to get up and grab your card from the kitchen table (also like me).

Instant Credit Cards

Another cool feature of the new KBC app is instant access to a credit card once you’ve been approved. I love the idea of this because I’ve been in that situation where you realise your wages just ain’t going to stretch. I think most people in Ireland are open to using more banking products like credit cards, but just don’t want to go through bank application processes. KBC has clearly spotted this and instant credit cards is the solution.

Once approved, your card appears in your app along with your number and CCV. You can then apply this to Google Pay or Apple Pay and away you go. This really is amazing stuff for the Irish banking market. Fingers crossed this works better than their onboarding did when I tried it out, but considering this is for existing customers, I can’t imagine there being too many complications.

Lost Cards

There’s an added benefit to this instant card functionality. If you lose your debit card, KBC can cancel that card, issue you a new one and have it appear in your KBC app. Again, you’ll have all the details you need to make online purchases but also be able to add your card to Google Pay and Apple Pay. Don’t forget, you can use these digital payment options up to your daily limit, not the €30 limit that your card has. You just might need to be stubborn with the people in the shop – trust me, I’ve lived it. One woman grabbed the card machine and refused to let me tap my phone for a €60 purchase.

The Future of Banking

The reason I think these improvements are exciting is because it’s paving the way for some really great innovation. Sure, these features are cool, but imagine being able to create a virtual card just for online shopping. No longer will you have to worry when a company loses all your data. Simply cancel that card and away you go.

Sure enough, Revolut is probably one of the few banks that can say they are ahead of KBC, but Revolut is failing the crucial litmus test – I wouldn’t put my wages into that account.

KBC is, once again, leaving the Irish banks in their wake. They’ve got a bit to go in order to catch up with Revolut, but at the same time, they are miles ahead in terms of trust. If you are looking for a new primary bank in Ireland and don’t want to go the whole hog with Revolut, KBC really has just reaffirmed its position as the best digital bank in Ireland.

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