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jumpAgrade: Bringing Leaving Cert Grinds into the 21st Century

Jon

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20th September 2018

jumpAgrade: Bringing Leaving Cert Grinds into the 21st Century

Ah the Leaving Cert, the state exam billed as the most important written test any of us will take. The one that will decide our futures, what college we will go to and what jobs we will work until the day we retire, well so we are told anyway. For me the Leaving Cert was a complete and utter mess. I tanked the exams in epic style ending up with my tenth choice on my CAO form. For what it’s worth I wanted to do Human Genetics but ended up doing Product Design…a bit different but all’s well that ends well. Anyway, you can imagine my excitement when I flicked through this years companies picked up by the Google Adopt a Startup and I see a Limerick based, tech solution who aim to improve the grinds system for Junior & Leaving Cert students. For those of you who don’t know Limerick is a hotbed for startup companies right now and jumpAgrade are just another example of an amazing solution to a problem we didn’t even know existed.

So what is jumpAgrade?

jumpAgrade is an online grinds platform aimed at second level students over the age of 13. The goal is to give students practice questions and personalised feedback to help improve their grades. They have a team of hand selected tutors across every topic ready to help with any subject at Higher or Ordinary level. As a company they are aware that each student learns differently and it’s difficult for teachers to tailor a plan specifically for each student. That’s where jumpAgrade comes in.

Remember the grinds you did back in the day? 5,10,15 of ye sat in a classroom with a young teacher looking to earn a couple extra pounds doing the same coursework. Even if that’s not the area you are having problems with. It’s exactly this scenario that jumpAgrade are going up against.

How does it work?

When a student starts their study journey they will complete a “needs analysis”. Using the results from this, the team of handpicked tutors assess the specific challenges facing a student (example if someone is weak on Geometry) and create personalised worksheets for each individual student on a weekly basis.

When a student completes the worksheets all they need to do is take a picture on their phone, upload it and wait two days for feedback. Again which is personalised to cater for each student. Speaking from experience Irish and German weren’t my thing in school, it was boring and because I was at the lower end of the class, teachers generally ignored me. There was a day in fifth year I was told ” You should probably drop to pass, I can’t help you” to which the response from a cheeky git came “Well you never really tried”. I can see why someone who might be at the lower to mid end of a class would see a benefit from having help that it built to help them on an individual level. God knows some of us need it.

Speaking on that Irish class story and I remember doing a grind or two and I noticed that there is always one person in the class looking to make sure they get that A1 so it’s not like jumpAgrade couldn’t help these kids hit their maximum potential too.

The personal touch

It is that personal touch and attention that makes a difference to students. Studies have shown this extra attention can make a student feel more confident in their ability to take exams. Couple this with learning in a manner tailored to suit that students needs and you have something with a real benefit to anyone sitting exams. As we all know it’s near on impossible for teacher to give this level of attention to 30+ students in each class, jumpAgrade are filling that gap.

“By applying cutting-edge machine learning, we can observe trends in students’ learning patterns to provide insights to educators about how to tailor teaching methods to suit different learning styles. It’s 21st-century learning for 21st-century students.” Ethan O’Brien -CoFouder

The platform also offers parents a dashboard which lets them see how the feedback is helping their child progress. It works in all web browsers and on all devices so no installations are necessary.

Pricing

The pricing to be fair is very reasonable and comparable to traditional grinds with each subject costing €25 per week for the core service but they also offer a 20% discount to anyone doing multiple subjects. Any parent reading this will want to know, what bang do I get for my buck? well here is what the core service gives:

Detailed personalised feedback
Free one week trial
Maximum convenince online, meaning no more scheduling and no more travelling to grinds
Expert tutors across all subjects
SMS and email notifications
Parents CC’d in emails so they can see the progress too
Pause your subscription anytime
Exam focused worksheets which lead to reduced stress in the real exam

A new generation of students

I’ve said it before and will say it again, the education system today is out of tune with the students it’s trying to help. We have seen in recent times calls to ban smartphones from schools. We still use expensive paper books that need to be replaced annually rather than simply using a tablet and online learning resources or downloadable PDF’s and other not so modern technologies. jumpAgrade is challenging the tradition a bit by tapping into how the generation actually behave. As they said themselves it’s 21st Century learning for 21st Century students. We forget this might be the first generation who have had access to Google at their fingertips at all times. Things like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, smartphones and the internet in general are underused resources in our education system and these are the exact tools that we can use, like jumpAgrade help each student on an individual basis. Technological disruption is set to fundamentally change the way we look at our educational system and now with the brilliant backing from the Google Adopt a Startup program, jumpAgrade could well be at the forefront.

We’re really excited about working with Google on the Adopt a Startup programme. It’s great for us as a Limerick company to be recognised at this level – it’s a real testament to our ambitions but also the growing number of exciting startups coming out of Limerick.” – David Neville Co-Founder

We know there is a lot of pressure to get the results you want in the Leaving and Junior Certs. If you or anyone you know is sitting the state exams this year and could do with a helping hand, then get onto the lads in jumpAgrade. Why not give the one week trial a shot…. it might just be the difference you need.

The Dulux Visualizer App: Simple Inspiration

Marty

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19th September 2018

0

The Dulux Visualizer App: Simple Inspiration

Disclaimer: This article has been sponsored by Dulux, but I didn’t let that sponsorship colour my review. The app is cool, check it out. It’s free!

Have you ever heard of the man-drawer? It’s that drawer in your house that’s got an old Nokia 3310, a charger for a phone that’s definitely not a fat Nokia charger for the 3310, some batteries that may or may not be dead, some instruction manuals for an IKEA table you built sans-instructions along with a dozen Allen keys there too. There’s probably a couple of sampler paint pots too, but the first step in picking a new paint colour for your home could now be augmented reality.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality has been on the increase in recent years and it got a massive boost in 2017 when Apple announced they were getting involved with AR at the iPhone 8 launch. Simply put, AR adds a layer of digital information to the world around you using the screen and camera from your smartphone. There are lots of fun applications for augmented reality, including the ability to make your dog talk, but it’s the practical uses which are most exciting.

Home improvement has been one area where AR is really excelling, from previewing how a new chair would look in your living room to helping you measure the size of rooms with a virtual AR measuring tape. Dulux decided to get in on this action, but rather than making the famous Dulux dog talk, Ireland’s most-popular paint provider has developed an app to show paint colours on your walls without the risk of spilling a drop.

The Dulux Visualizer App

Typically, the first step in painting a room was a combination of paint colour cards and those little mini paint pots. Usually, it took a few trips to the hardware store to find the shade you liked while your wall became very slowly covered in little sample squares and your man drawer filled with cards and pots. You still need those mini paint pots, but you should be able to dramatically reduce the number of trips it takes to find the perfect colour for your gaff.

The Dulux Visualizer app lets you visualise the walls of your home painted in any colour from the Dulux range. One quick picture and a colour selection later is all it takes to have a clear idea of what that wall will look like in a colour from the Dulux paint range. I’m pretty sure this will lead to you having a much better idea of which colours work and, more importantly, which colours don’t work. This all means the chances of that first mini paint pot you pick up being the colour of your dreams are much greater.

Getting Started

The Dulux Visualizer app has a massive benefit. If you’re a commitment-phobe when it comes to colours and decision making, it allows you to dip your toe into what a colour might look like on your actual walls. My advice is to take as many pictures as you can of the rooms you’re hoping to paint. Better still, you can even take panoramic style videos of a room and then save this to a project to test out colours later.

This is a good approach because you can create projects dedicated to a few different rooms and once you have all the pictures or videos taken, you don’t have to wander around the house to keep testing out new colours. Instead, you can browse through the massive range of Dulux paints and colours from the comfort of your own couch; that’s my kind of DIY.

Don’t know which colours to go with? Not a problem as the app has you covered for that too.

Getting Inspiration

If you have no idea what colour you think would look great, you can just flick through their options and get a steer on the latest home interior trends. But if you have a colour that’s taken your fancy, they’ve got an option for that with the colour picker option.

Think that red from a packet of crisps would look divine on the wall? Using the app, you can also scan real-world items to find out which Dulux paint colour is the nearest match, preview it on the wall and then find out where the nearest stockist is.

Genius! Here’s a lovely Mighty Munch red on my living room wall.

Right, fair enough. I shouldn’t be left in charge of the styling given there’s a fair chance the room would end up being packet of Meanies green. No, maybe it’s best we leave it to the professionals.

Fortunately, the Visualizer app also provides you with access to colours picked by some real professionals who actually know what they’re at. Colour of the Year for 2018 is Heart Wood, but not only can using the Visualizer app help you pick a colour that’s on trend, it can also help you pick complimentary colours too.

Back in my college days, the bed sheets never matched curtains and the walls, well I can’t even remember what colours they were, but style was not my strong point. I’ve come a long way from those days and even I now appreciate a colourful cushion on the couch or a nice lampshade that fits in with the colour of a room. Complimentary colours; learn this and impress people. Within the Dulux app, the Let’s Colour section shows you a massive range of the hottest colours while also showing you extended palettes to match the primary colour that appealed to you.

Actually, the app makes impressing your mates along with getting their opinions pretty easy too. Or if there’s a someone special in your life that’s also involved in the decision-making process you can WhatsApp them the latest idea you have for the bedroom walls. It’s even possible to share that panoramic video you created. Think of all the arguments you’ll avoid!

The Verdict

As you can probably see from the example I’ve given, the app isn’t perfect. There are some imperfections in the preview, but the starting point this app provides is incredible. In the past, you would have had one tiny patch with the colour you thought you wanted and then made several trips, trying loads of different paints and holding up little cards to the wall.

Now, you can get a much wider preview of how thousands of colours might look like on your walls. I have it on good authority that this is a great indicator of how well the room looks in a new colour – I asked my other half.

Try It Out For Free

The Dulux Visualizer app ticks two of the most important boxes for us here at Goosed.ie

It’s a genuinely smart use of technology to do something just that little bit smarter and a lot better
It’s completely free to download

Go ahead and give this creative app a try, even if you aren’t looking to change the colours of your walls. You never know, you might be inspired. Download the Dulux Visualizer app for iOS and Android now – it works on both smartphones and tablets.

Google Adopt a Startup 2018: Wages, Snoring and Living Memory

Marty

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18th September 2018

0

Google Adopt a Startup 2018: Wages, Snoring and Living Memory

Every year, Google runs their now famous Adopt a Startup program. Startups from around Ireland and further afield are mentored by Google but also compete for a range of prizes, including Google Ads credit worth €10,000 and hot desking for three months at Dogpatch Labs. Over the past few years, some of my own personal favourite Irish startups have passed through the program, including Bamboo and Invizbox. Google has just announced the new intake of startups for 2018 and here’s who I’m excited to learn more about.

FlexiWage: For People Who Can’t Be Trusted With Their Own Money

By “people”, I, of course, mean me. FlexiWage is one of those ideas where you just think to yourself “well, duh! Why have we been doing this the wrong way for so long?”

Right, first thing’s first. You won’t be able to sign up and use FlexiWage yourself but you can pressure the hell out of your employer and beg them to adopt it. FlexiWage hands over the power of payday to the employee. We’re all used to jobs saying you’ll be paid on a certain date, the last day of the month or upon a full red moon rising on the Sabbath. Regardless of when you get paid, it just doesn’t seem to come at the right time. You know? Like, when you really need money!

FlexiWage lets employees dictate how their monthly wage is given to them. For example, you can have 50% delivered in week one to pay the bills and to do the “big shop”. Then you can have 16%(ish) paid out for the remaining three weeks to be spent on pints and the likes.

For the employee, the benefits are clear but there is also a geansaí load of reasons employers should be excited by this system too. This is a unique selling point to attract talent with and when used right, will lead to a happier workforce. It’s not the sexiest thing I’ve ever written about, but I can see employees, and as a result, employers, loving FlexiWage.

Nasal Medical: Snoring Aid and Flight Air Filter

Genuinely, I don’t snore. At least, I’m pretty sure I don’t snore, but loads of people do. It’s normal, but it can be annoying. Nasal Medical is a Dublin-based company who has successfully engineered a small device, designed to combat snoring. Cool huh?

As awesome as that is though, my eye was caught by something else they make. I travel a fair bit and I’ve always noticed that I seem to get sick after a flight. Years ago, when smoking was permitted on flights, fresh air was regularly pumped in to replace the tobacco filled air. With smoking bans came a lessened need to regularly purge air and as a result, more frequently recycled air circulated the cabin. It’s not much of a reach to then assumed this dirtier air could lead to flying being bad for your health.

Nasal Medical has also designed a special filter for just this scenario. Their Travel Filter is proven to block 98% of particle matter above 2.5 microns in size getting in through the nose. Now, I don’t really know what that means but it sure does sound like this thing is going to be a must-have for frequent fliers.

StoryTracks: Real Guided Tours Powered by Your Location

This appeals to me as a historian, and Irish man and as someone who enjoys a good yarn down the pub. StoryTracks provides you with access to authentic insights into an area through stories told by those who know the area best. When you attend a museum or a gallary, it’s common to pick up an audio guide which walks you around and explains what’s on show. StoryTracks is just like this, but instead of being a commissioned piece of work, it’s full of stories told by regular people.

“So what?” says you.

Living memory is one of the most beautiful things on the planet, but every single day that passes we lose the living memories of people who pass away. StoryTracks makes capturing the stories and yarns of these people, who’ve witnessed historic events or lived in historically significant areas, much easier. In fact, anyone can provide a story relating to an area so I would encourage you to sit down with your parents and grandparents, ask them what stories to they have to tell and get them involved in the StoryTracks project.

The Google Adopt a Startup program is now underway for 2018, with thirty startups vying to become the top dog in the eyes of Google. These are just my favourite three from the list, but there’s plenty more brilliance on show within this years line-up. Check them out at your leisure and bask in the glory of Ireland’s startup scene.

The 2018 Google Adopt a Startup Program Participants

Company	Region	Website
Madaster	European	https://www.madaster.com/nl
TWINO	European	https://www.twino.eu/en/
CornerJob	European	https://www.cornerjob.com/en/company/
Dashmote	European	https://www.dashmote.com/
Access Earth	Kildare	https://access.earth/
WeBringg	Dublin	https://webringg.com/
Accessible Mojo	Dublin	https://www.accessiblemojo.com/
BeautyBuddy	Kildare	http://www.thebeautybuddy.com/
BidRecruit	Dublin	https://www.bidrecruit.io/
BookGolf	Dublin	https://www.bookgolf365.com/
CableFlag	Dublin	http://cableflag.com/
Cx Moments	Dublin	https://www.cxmoments.com/
DroneSAR	Donegal	https://dronesarpilot.com/
EmployMum	Cork	https://www.employmum.ie/
FlexiWage	Waterford	https://www.flexiwage.com/
FreebirdClub	Dublin	https://www.thefreebirdclub.com/
Ireland Luxury Travel	Cork	https://irelandluxurytravel.com/
jumpAgrade	Limerick	https://jumpagrade.com/
KnowHowDo	Dublin	https://www.knowhowdo.com/
Nasal medical	Dublin	https://nasalmedical.com/
NoPlaceLike	Limerick	https://www.noplacelike.co/
Zoom Courier Software	Dublin	https://www.zoomcouriersoftware.com/
Ringotel	Cork	https://ringotel.co/
ShowHouz	Galway	https://showhouz.com/
Siren	Dublin	https://siren.io/
StoryTracks	Sligo	https://www.storytracks.ie/
TixServe	Kildare	https://www.tixserve.com/
Trustap	Cork	https://trustap.com/
UrbanVolt	Dublin	https://urbanvolt.com/
Wellola	Dublin	https://www.wellola.com/

New on Netflix: American Vandal Season Two Is Complete Shit – Five Stars

Marty

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16th September 2018

0

New on Netflix: American Vandal Season Two Is Complete Shit – Five Stars

Netflix is well known for hard-hitting documentaries and thought-provoking series with the likes of Making a Murderer and Afflicted. These successful series are one part fantastic writing and one part driven by the data generated by millions of people watching shows on demand. A fantastic example of this formula in action was American Vandal which has just returned for a second season.

What is American Vandal All About?

The first season of American Vandal focuses in on Dylan Maxwell and the accusations pointed at him where 27 cars belonging to teachers were vandalised. The costly prank left all 27 cars defaced with spray-painted penises; yes, that is the plural of penis, though the Latin “penes” is also acceptable. Season one surrounded two student moviemakers Peter Maldonado and Sam Ecklund investigating the story to find who really did it.

Season two follows a similar concept with the two filmmakers investigating a different case in another school. This time, American Vandal investigates a series of poop-related pranks starting with a tainted lemonade source which left the majority of the students at St. Bernardine’s school unable to control their bowel movements. Posing as The Turd Burglar, the prankster posted videos of the incidents to Instagram and tagged students, even going so far as to leave calling cards at the scene of the crime.

American Vandal follows the journey of two student filmmakers unravelling a deep web of dark secrets behind The Turd Burglar and the events within the school but also provides a very real commentary on the dark side of the relationship between teenagers and social media.

Is American Vandal Real?

Apologies, I should have cleared this up at the start. When the first season of American Vandal came out, it actually left many people confused, wondering if this story about a student spraying penises onto 27 teachers’ cars could be real. A lot of this was down to some fantastic acting from little-known actors like Jimmy Tatro and Tyler Alvarez, the latter carrying into the second season.

Spoiler alert, but American Vandal is not real. It falls into the mockumentary category, but it’s very well done. Netflix managed to put together a fantastic piece of entertainment here because they know the formula behind great documentaries. The same formula is what made you binge watch Making a Murderer but now it’s purely entertainment based on fictional events.

If you look up The Turd Burglar on Instagram, you’ll even find the account used by the filmmakers

I can honestly see how some people might sit down and, without even thinking, might believe this is a real documentary. If you look up The Turd Burglar on Instagram, you’ll even find the account used by the filmmakers to post videos and grab screenshots. Warning, semi-graphic stuff after you hit play:

Poor boys ☹️

A post shared by Turd Burglar (@theturdburglar) on Sep 14, 2018 at 8:50am PDT

So, Is American Vandal Based on a True Story

No. Look, I know Netflix did a really convincing job and the cast of American Vandal is great, but it’s complete fiction. American Vandal is not based on a true story, nor is it inspired by real events. Sorry.

American Vandal Review: Season Two Is Worth a View

I binged season two and I’m not ashamed of that. It’s so silly in parts but Netflix has mastered grabbing your attention. Regardless of this being fake, it’s a really entertaining series. Just like Making a Murderer, I found myself tapping to start the next episode, hungry to see how things panned out. It’s gripping but also complete nonsense, the latter does not matter one iota.

There’s also a more serious overtone throughout the second season of American Vandal that picks apart how we all behave on social media. Much of the filming cuts away to smartphone footage and shakey recordings and much of the detective work focuses in on the use of emojis and even looks back at the infamous iPhone glitch. So even amongst all the fiction, there’s plenty of reality for you to digest.

All in all, I fully recommend you hit play on this, seriously. It’s brilliant and full of shit.

American Vandal Season Two Trailer

Apple “Gather Round” Event – Iphone’s, Apple Watches & More

Neal

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13th September 2018

0

Apple “Gather Round” Event – Iphone’s, Apple Watches & More

Thanks to prior leaking and largely accurate rumors (including from our own Dean), Apple have surprised pretty much nobody in the tech world and announced 3 new iPhone models and a new Apple Watch at their annual hardware event. Granted, not everyone read the rumors beforehand so let’s run through everything exciting that Apple have announced to tempt us into chucking in our old phones & watches for shiny new ones.

iPhone XS & XS Max

Keeping with the tradition that iterative updates get the “S” naming convention, Apple have kept the iPhone X moniker from last year and appended an S, pronounced “Ten S”. The iPhone XS has a 5.8 OLED display which is the same sized display as the iPhone 8 Plus but in a smaller sized body. The iPhone XS Max comes with a 6.5 OLED display which as comparison is the same physical size as the iPhone 8 Plus but with a much bigger display. Both phones will be available in Gold, Silver & Space Grey colours.

It may be an “S” year cycle but there is still plenty of new technology loaded into this year’s new models. Some of the highlights include –

A12 Bionic 7nm(nanometer) Chip, 15% faster.
New storage options – 64GB, 128GB, 256GB & 512GB.
Camera – Improved sensors on back & front cameras. Smart HDR software with A12 chip which Apple claim will produce much better photos.
Face ID now faster.
Better Battery – XS is 30 mins longer, XS Max is 1hr 30 mins longer.
Dual Sim option via eSim technology. China will have physical dual sims.
IP68 protection

Pre Orders in Ireland are available on the 17th September with deliveries from 21st September onwards.

Pricing starts at €1,179 64GB XS Model, €1,279 64GB XS Max Model.

iPhone XR

Apple also announced a new lower cost model (relatively speaking) called the iPhone XR. So called because R comes before S in the alphabet, in case your wondering. Yes we are confused too but who are we to doubt Apple’s marketing savvy.

Looking almost identical to the more expensive iPhone XS, it has similar innards but wrapped in an aluminum frame coupled with a 6.1” LCD screen instead of the more premium OLED display. This means slightly thicker bezels but really your unlikely to notice much. It has the same notch design which holds the Face ID true depth camera system from the XS model.

It is available at launch in 6 new colour options – Red, Yellow, White, Coral, Black and Blue.

New storage options include 64GB, 128GB & 256GB.

It doesn’t have 3D Touch but comes with the same A12 Bionic chip as the XS and a battery which lasts an hour & half more than iPhone 8 Plus.

Pre Orders begin on October 19 with deliveries from October 26.

Pricing starts at €879 for 64GB model

Apple Watch Series 4

Billed as “An Intelligent guardian for your health” the new Apple Series 4 watch further enhances Apple’s deep dive into Health monitoring & screening. The display is now over 30% larger with rounded corner at the edges and a thinner body than the previous Series 3 watch model. The overall size has increased slightly to 40mm & 44mm cases.

The big selling point is the introduction of 3 new monitoring features –

Fall Detection – It can detect if you have fallen via upgraded accelerometer & gyroscope chips. It then will notify emergency services and your next in kin contact number.
Electrocardiogram(ECG) monitoring via a new electrical sensor.
Optical Heart Sensors – Low Heart Rate notification & Heart Irregular Rhythm.

Some other highlights include –

New complications and watch face.
Digital Crown with Haptic feedback.
Black ceramic and sapphire crystal. Better cellular connection.
New S4 chip now a 64bit. Up to x2 as fast.
Same battery life as before (18 hours).
All existing straps will connect to Series 4.

Pre Orders begin on September 14th with deliveries from September 21^st.

Pricing starts at €439.

Anything else ?

You bet, we also got the date for iOS12 (Sept 17th ), Watch OS 5 (Sept 17th) and MacOS Mojave (Sept 24^th). Arguably best of all however, Apple invited Bethesda’s Gaming director Tom Howard on stage to showcase their new Elder Scrolls game called “Blades”, coming soon to iOS & Android mobiles. Hopefully very soon or even better this Friday, in time for the weekend.

Fancy hearing our thoughts?

Just in case you didn’t know we have our very own podcast where every week or so a couple of us sit down to chat about the comings and going’s in the tech world. Search for TechYurt on any podcast platform (other than Spotify) and hear us have our say on this years Apple Event!

Or click on the link below and listen now:

https://www.acast.com/techyurt/apple-special-event-2018-new-iphones-and-more

Apple Event: iPhone and Apple Watch rumours

Dean

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12th September 2018

0

With the 2018 Apple event looming, Apple are asking us to “Gather Round” as they unveil their new range of iPhone, a new Apple Watch and a new range of iPads later on tonight.

iPhone

It’s one of the most anticipated days on the tech calendar every year and this year we expect to be introduced 3 new iPhones, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and the iPhone Xr. Apple basically confirmed this when the names were leaked online.

From render’s we have seen online over the past couple of weeks, it looks like after 11 years, we are losing the Home button, and with that the fingerprint scanner.

“The Phone Xs Max will have a whopping 6.5 inch screen with the Xs coming in at 6.1 inches”

It seems like the 3 new smartphones are all going to be edge-to-edge, similar to the iPhone X design. This will be a big risk for Apple as last year the iPhone 9 Plus was their highest selling smartphone, meaning a lot of their users are still loyal to the Home button, including myself. The iPhone Xs and Xs Max are going to be fitted with OLED screen, while the Xr will have an LCD, so the Xr is likely to be the cheapest option. The Phone Xs Max will have a whopping 6.5 inch screen with the Xs coming in at 6.1 inches, with the Xr measuring 5.8 inches.

They are all expected to have a TrueDepth camera that enables facial recognition. This will likely be powered by an A12 processor. And they may offer duel-sim devices in some regions, which would be a first for them.

In some sadder news, rumour has it Apple are dropping their pressure sensitive 3D Touch feature. As an iPhone 7 user myself, this is by far my favourite feature on the phone. It makes replying to messages and opening notifications so simple, although developers were hesitant in including the feature in their app’s functionality. I for one would be very disappointed to see it go.

“The triple lens will also allow

Apple to take the next step in

Augmented reality”

The iPhone Xs Max’s camera is getting a big upgrade. It will now be a triple lens, with advanced 3D sensing and stereoscopic vision. This will allow the Len’s to take the phono from 2 difference angles and provide more depth in the final product and offer 3x optical zoom. The triple lens will also allow Apple to take the next step in Augmented reality, which they have taken a keen interest in in the past few years.

Some iPhone users over the past few days may also have gotten notifications, showing new features we will see in iOS 12, such as grouped notifications and screen time tracking. This feature will allow you to see what you are doing on your phone, such how much time you spend on social media, messaging and working.

And similar to last year, all 3 devices will be able to charge wirelessly. There has also been whispers that Apple will offer USB type C charging on all the new iPhones.

Apple Watch 4

We are also going to see what is in store for the Apple Watch 4. We will be getting an upgrade in screen size, increasing to 40mm and 44mm, up from 38mm and 42mm. This will in turn offer you a bigger battery topper the new Apple S4 chipset. Apple patents show that they want to implement facial recognition similar to their iPhones, however it doesn’t seem like it will be in this years model.

Some tech head thought that “Gather round” was hiring to a round faced watch, but this rumour seems to have been debunked already. The watch will be able to charge wirelessly, like iPhone, and there are rumours they may release a multi-device charging pad. Meaning you can charge your phone, watch and AirPods at the same time.

It will be available in Space Grey, Silver and Gold and will set you back around 329 euro.

New iPad Pro?

Now while we have already seen a new iPad unveiled this year, fans are still eagerly waiting for the next generation iPad Pro. The first generation was a showstopper and set the template for the next generation in tablets for all of it’s rivals. So the next generation could have a similar design to the iPhone X, meaning it will have facial recognition over a fingerprint scanner. It could be called the iPad X, however we find this unlikely.

The Apple Event will start at 6pm today and they will be streaming it on their YouTube Chanel here.

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

Jon

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9th September 2018

0

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

-

8th September 2018

0

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.

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iPhone XS & XS Max

iPhone XR

Apple Watch Series 4

Anything else ?

Fancy hearing our thoughts?

iPhone

“The Phone Xs Max will have a whopping 6.5 inch screen with the Xs coming in at 6.1 inches”

“The triple lens will also allow

Apple to take the next step in

Augmented reality”

Apple Watch 4

New iPad Pro?

Hype, Hipster or actually happening?

Truly Modular?

No Frills attached

Essential PH-1 Specs

What Is Final Score About?

Final Score Cast

Is Final Score Worth the Watch?

So What Are Sky Cinema Originals?

Final Score: The Verdict

Bridging the gender gap

Women In Tech

Features of the Sony WH-1000XM2

What is Active Noise Cancelling?

Other Features of the WH-1000XM2

Sound Quality

Battery Life

Wires: Optional

Touch Controls

Sony WH-1000XM2: The Price

Sony WH-1000XM2: The Verdict

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