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The Best of Dublin Culture Night: Top Tech Things to See in Dublin

Marty
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0
The Best of Dublin Culture Night: Top Tech Things to See in Dublin

Culture Night has become one of the best dates on the Irish calendar. For one night only, museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres around the country, throw open their doors to the public. With most of what’s on show celebrating the old, we’ve dug out our top techie things to do for Dublin Culture Night 2017.

MAKESHOP

This place is possibly one of the coolest spots in Dublin for tinkering and gadgetry. MAKESHOP is run by the Dublin Science Gallery and brings some of best in DIY tech under one roof. From the small computers used to hack ideas together called Rasberry Pi to app development workshops, you can find it all in MAKESHOP.

MAKESHOP will be offering free entry into their store on South Leinster Street, showing off the scientific side of culture. There are sure to be some amazing gadgets as the MAKESHOP team show off their favourite innovations from the past 12 months. It’ll definitely be a hands-on experience too.

Connector Studio

Connector Studio is a Templebar-based design studio. Over the past few years, they’ve come to the fore for running the Snapys. The Snapys is one of Ireland’s first smartphone photography competitions, focusing on Instagram and sponsored by Huawei.

Dublin culture night connector

On Culture Night, Connector will host a free pop-up photo gallery based on Instagram photos. This truly is the cross over from classical culture to the modern take on the art gallery. On the night, you’ll get to enjoy a wide range of entries in categories like Travel, Dublin, Ireland, Pets, Food and more. You might even get to enjoy time with VR headsets.

The event kicks off at 5pm and runs to 11pm.

Introduction to Geocaching

This one might be stretching our tech category just a little bit, but let’s just include it as our wildcard pick. Geocaching is a simple game where players hide and then seek containers called ‘geocaches’ at specific locations. The tech element is that these locations are tracked online within geocaching communities.

This is a little-known past time enjoyed by millions around the world who leave and collect gifts and trinkets from within these containers, leaving something for the next person who comes along.

If nothing else, the page for the event says “bring a torch” which adds an irresistible layer of intrigue to the Pheonix Park event. If you really get into it, check out the Geocaching Junkie, a blogger who shares their Irish geocaching adventures.

The Docklands Tour

The Docklands was once the world’s largest docks and a key economic location for Ireland through the ages. It seems only fitting that it’s here, Ireland’s modern economy has emerged from. In the Docklands, you’ll find some of the world’s biggest companies.

The Docklands Tour, hosted by Liam Cowley, a Trinity history graduate, will bring you through the history of the area right through to its modern technological rebirth.

Through to 10pm in the Dublin Science Gallery, you can enjoy SOUNDCHECK. If you’re on the look out for a really hands-on experience, SOUNDCHECK is for you. You’ll become a performer in the show, inventing instruments and exploring the world of sound.

dublin culture night

Check out their mad site but just be ready for your laptop to make loads of noise.

When is Dublin Culture Night 2017?

Culture Night, which Dublin Culture Night is a part of, will take place on Friday, 22 September 2017. There’s always a great buzz around town for the night so even if it’s not tech, get out and enjoy a bit of culture.

Has Your Data Been Leaked Online? This Tool Lets You Know

Marty
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0
Has Your Data Been Leaked Online? This Tool Lets You Know

No, that headline is not an attempt to scaremonger. There is a very large chance that your personal data has been leaked online in at some stage. Unfortunately, large leaks of personal data have become far too common. Soon after data leaks make the headlines, they are forgotten about. We wanted to find a way of making the risks real, so I thought I’d offer myself as a sacrifice.

Easily Check If Your Data Has Been Leaked Online

Checking if you’ve been involved in a data leak is extremely easy. In fact, it’s so easy it would be a great phishing scam. You visit ‘have I been pwned‘ and pop in your email address. You should be alarmed by such a system, but do allay your fears I’m going to let you use my personal email address – martinmeany@live.com.

has your data been leaked onlineOnce you enter the email address it’s checked against a database of internet users data that has been leaked on the likes of GitHub or the deep web over the years. As you can see from my results, it’s not great news. While I consider myself to be rather careful online, some of the services I use are not. I have had my personal data leaked five times. I’m sure you’re thinking “he must be on awful ropey sites” but they are likely sites you’re on yourself.

Let’s go deeper.

Services That Have Leaked My Data

LinkedIn

linkedin-leakThe online CV has become a popular way of showing the world how great you are at your job. LinkedIn provides the perfect place to show yourself off to potential employers. It’s also home to one of the biggest and most recent data leaks. In May 2016, LinkedIn had 164 million email addresses and passwords exposed. The data had been compromised back in 2012 before appearing in the deep web four years later. While the passwords were encrypted, this was easily cracked within the days following the leak.

In May 2016, LinkedIn had 164 million email addresses and passwords exposed. The data was leaked online back in 2012 before appearing in the deep web four years later. While the passwords were encrypted, this was easily cracked within the days following the leak.

If you used LinkedIn it might be a good idea to head on over to ‘have I been pwned‘ and check if you were one of the 164 million people affected.

Dropbox

dropbox-leakEverybody’s favourite way of saving old memories until it gets full just to be forgotten about. Dropbox is popular with many as huge amounts of storage were given as perks with smartphone purchases. Unfortunately, Dropbox left the back door open one day in 2012. Like LinkedIn, four years later, customer data began to emerge online leading to the resetting of 68 million passwords to protect customer data.

Stop for a moment and consider the risks here. Smartphones were automatically adding every picture you took to a cloud server. Some lads in the middle of nowhere paid a couple of Euro and they could access everything. If you are signed up to Dropbox, we strongly advise changing your passwords and checking to see if you’re involved on ‘have I been pwned‘.

Interested in the other three services where my data was leaked online? Head on over to ‘have I been pwned‘ and type in martinmeany@live.com.

What to Do When Email Has Been Hacked

First things first – remain calm. There have been millions of others affected. You have about as much chance of winning the Euromillions as you do having your data picked from the LinkedIn hack. With that said, you do need to take immediate action. I personally know I have registered for a few services that offer a “Log in with LinkedIn” option. All of those accounts have now been compromised.

Change Your Password for the Service

It’s important that the password is complex to avoid it being worked out. The most secure form of protection is to not use a password at all. Edward Snowden, a man who has a fair bit of experience in the area of personal data and the likes, recommends switching to a passphrase.

Instead of using a password comprising of letters and symbols, a passphrase is much longer and easier to remember. Take Edward’s example in the above video – margaretthatcheris110%SEXY. While obviously ridiculous, this gives a huge amount of security while remaining easy to remember.

Change All Your Passwords

You know you shouldn’t do it, but you use the same password for lots of different services. Well, now it’s costing you. Your data has just been made public. Should you be the chosen one, would be hackers will attempt to use your leaked data to access other platforms. If your password for LinkedIn is the same as Facebook, that’s another account compromised. You can probably remember the last time you used Facebook to log into a service right? It’s a big deal if that account is compromised.

Should You Be Using the Service at All?

They just showed you how little they care for your data, so should you still trust them? It can be tough for a social media platform like LinkedIn, but Dropbox has alternatives like Google Drive. To date, they have no data leaks so surely they are more deserving of your trust?

Please do check out ‘have I been pwned’. If you’re lucky enough to have made it this far without your data being leaked online, you can set up an alert Your personal data online should be given the same level of protection that you would your bank details or PPS number.

 

Firemole: New Irish Fire Safety Gadget Launches on Indiegogo

Marty
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0
Firemole: New Irish Fire Safety Gadget Launches on Indiegogo

Back in May, we introduced you to Firemole. Firemole is a new Irish company out of Cork that has created a simple gadget that could save lives. It’s exciting times for the Firemole team as they’ve just launched their Indiegogo campaign to get the ball rolling.

What is Firemole?

Firemole is a small device that alerts you should a charger be getting too hot. If you were to look around your home right now, how many chargers would you find? Are they just plugged in constantly? Have you ever used your laptop in bed and felt the box part of your charger getting really hot? These are the very real scenarios that cause fatal house fairs on an all too regular basis.

How Does Firemole Work?

Simply stick a Firemole to the device or charger you fear might overheat and that’s the setup complete. Should that device’s temperature exceed 54 degrees an audible alert will sound.

In a world of connected devices, this version of the Firemole work independently, not requiring any apps or WiFi. This actually makes the device even safer, removing possible points of failure and ensuring a much easier initial setup process you can have faith in. Once installed, you won’t need to change the battery for 18-months.

Why Get A Firemole?

When we first came across Firemole, there had been a number of tragic deaths due to house fires in the Irish news. Firemole offers a practical and affordable solution to a lingering threat in every Irish home. That’s why we described the Firemole as “possibly the most important gadget you could buy” when we first wrote about it.

possibly the most important gadget you could buy

From the early orders already fulfilled by Firemole, device creator, Seán Ó Tuama, told us they’ve already been receiving really positive feedback.

What’s The Craic With Indiegogo?

In a true endorsement of Firemole’s potential, it’s creator wasn’t left short of offers from would-be investors. These investors were looking to take huge portions of the company, wise to the possibility that every home in Ireland should have these gadgets. Here’s their launch video:

Firemole has 3,000 devices ready to shop for Indiegogo backers. If you’ve ever wanted to see what crowdfunding feels like, this is the lowest risk as you’re guaranteed to get the product.

We’ll be taking a closer look at the product itself really soon, so be sure to sign up to the Goos3DLetter to get the latest on this great idea or just check out their Indiegogo page.

 

Can I Use Amazon Prime in Ireland?

Marty
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0
Can I Use Amazon Prime in Ireland?

Online shopping is more popular than ever, though Amazon Prime in Ireland has yet to really take off. This is likely owing to the fact that it’s a primarily UK based company and service, but Irish shoppers can benefit from it too.

What is Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime is a premium service offered by Amazon, where users pay an annual or monthly fee to the online shopping giant for a few perks. These perks include one-day delivery, discounted prices, Prime Video (similar to Netflix), Prime Music (similar to Spotify) and Amazon Pantry, for purchasing everyday groceries.

Amazon.co.uk is the nearest Amazon site which offers these services and Irish shoppers can use some of the services with some only available thanks to a few tricks and workarounds.

Why is Using Amazing Prime in Ireland Complicated?

As I’ve alluded to above, Amazon Prime is a UK based service. That means in order to benefit you should be living in the UK. Thankfully there are workarounds which allow you to enjoy next day shopping and discounts on selected products.

Amazon Ireland work around amazon free UK delivery to Ireland

In recent years, given Ireland’s unique geographical situation with the UK, virtual UK addresses have become increasingly popular. Delivery providers such as Parcel Motel, Parcel Wizard and most recently An Post, allow shoppers access to a virtual UK address which will ultimately route packages to your standard Irish address. This service is offered for a nominal fee.

What are the benefits of shopping on Amazon Prime in Ireland

I first tried out Amazon Prime while doing my Christmas shopping. I was able to buy some really random presents that went down a treat. This was made possible by the shear volume of items that Amazon.co.uk has at its disposal.

Also, given the time of year, it was important I could be assured all my packages would arrive in time to be wrapped. The speed at which orders landed into Parcel Motel was simply amazing. Most of the items, even after the cost of a stay in Parcel Motel and shipping from the UK were substantially cheaper than shopping on the high street.

How much does shopping with Amazon Prime in Ireland cost?

The total cost of each order will vary a small bit, but as I mentioned above, it’s usually much cheaper than standard high street shopping. Down to some crafty timing, I did all my Christmas shopping with the Amazon Prime Trial. That meant I got all the benefits of a premium account for free. Once you sign up for the trial you can even cancel it immediately and still enjoy the full 30 days of premium membership.

Once you have finished your free Prime trial, you can choose a subscription that suits you. Amazon has softened up their structure a little but. Previously, you could only sign up for the service annually at a cost of £79 (around €100). Now, to compete with the likes of Netflix payment structures, you can pay monthly and get Amazon Prime with Prime Video for just £7.99 per month. To you and me, that’s about €9.50 per month.

Read on as we demonstrate how you actually save a fortune by adopting Amazon Prime.

How much can you save with Amazon Prime?

When you are shopping on Amazon in Ireland, free shipping is often an option on certain items. On others, you can expect to pay anywhere up between €15 and €25 for delivery alone for an average order. For this type of order, you will also be getting standard shipping, meaning you will likely be waiting over a week.

If you opt to shop with Amazon Prime in Ireland, you will get free next day shipping to your virtual UK address. Being realistic, this is two-day shipping as it does need to be relayed around a little. The price of a package staying in Parcel Motel is €3.95, so if you were to have a few packages a year delivered from Amazon UK to Ireland, you’d be saving money pretty quickly. On top of that, you’ll often see Amazon Prime items offer some sort of small discount on the normal price too.

Can Irish customers return items to Amazon.co.uk?

Fortunately, I can vouch for the returns process being brilliant. If something breaks or needs to be returned, Amazon doesn’t care that you purchased using a virtual address. Services such as Parcel Motel provide a reverse system where you can return items, though remember this will cost a couple of euros. I can testify to Amazon’s brilliant customer care though, as they did refund me the cost of my order and any Parcel Motel costs that were incurred in returning the item.

Summary of shopping with Amazon Prime in Ireland

While the process may not seem straight forward at first, there are huge benefits to shopping on Amazon Prime even if you are living in Ireland. If in doubt, why not head on over to Amazon and try out a free 30-day trial? I can personally vouch for the whole experience being great, though be warned you’re likely to end up buying items you never even thought you needed.

Best Mobile Multiplayer Games To Play With Your Friends

Dean
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Best Mobile Multiplayer Games To Play With Your Friends

A lot of the time when you’re at home on your phone you’re probably either scrolling through Facebook, creeping on Snapchat or Instagramming your dinner. Well, there are better apps on the App Store that allow you to game online with your friends. And some aren’t overly complicated like games such as Ruinscape or Clash of Clans. We here at Goos3D are going to give ye a few ideas that are easy on the mind and very enjoyable at the same time.

Words With Friends

The all time classic game of Scrabble. No matter how far technology has come, it has always stood the test of time. A lot of people have made a tradition of whipping out this destroyer of friendships at Christmas and other occasions. Now you can play it online with your friends. Words With Friends keeps Scrabble as simple as it always was. You get your letters which are each worth points and you make words until they’re all gone. The most points when your letters are gone wins. Generally, when someone gets a 100 pointer, that is around the time when

Generally, when someone gets a 100 pointer is around the time when friendships start to disintegrate and dictionaries get pulled out. And you have a chat section so that you can troll your opponent when you’re winning. There are no time limits so you can literally go hours or days without playing a move. I have actually deleted and reinstalled the app months later and my existing games were still active on the account.

This game needs a small amount of brain power but is very handy if you’re at the NCT centre and need to pass an hour.

Rating: 4/5

QuizUp

QuizUp is a quiz game that does what it says on the tin. It offers quizzes on hundreds of different categories. From general knowledge to movies like Star Wars, TV shows like the Simpsons and wider categories like Sport. The list goes on. You can challenge friends in real time to any topic and basically the person to finish fastest with the most points wins.

This game can suck you in for hours as you try and prove to your friend that you are smarter than them. And like Words with friends, there are chat rooms to go back and forth with your opponent about who’s got the bigger brain. This is a great game no matter what your field is and anyone can enjoy it.

Rating: 4/5

The game only losing points because it generally works best when both people are online at the same time.

Evil Apples

It literally started a riot when I started playing with friends

Probably the best craic for online fun with your friends on this list. Inspired by Cards Against Humanity, Evil Apples will really put your funny and filthy minds to the test. You can have as many people play in one game as you want. You all get cards with phrases on them as you must finish a given phrase. It usually ends up in nonsensical sentences, but one player from the group gets to pick the one they find funniest, and the first person to seven points wins. This game is brilliant when ye are in different houses but if ye are having a few drinks some night this is the best game to set the tone for the night.

The only downside is all players must be on at once to make the game enjoyable for everyone, but it’s definitely worth going online for. It’s an instant mood booster.

Rating: 5/5

I know I mentioned everyone has to be online at once, but it’s such a good game you have to try it to understand the sheer craic you get from it.

Basketball Stars

Probably the best online multiplayer basketball game you’ll find on a smartphone. Basketball Stars lets you play one on one with your friends or with random players around the world. You gamble fake money in games to upgrade your avatar. It’s super easy to learn the controls to dribble and shoot. There are always thousands of people online for you to play against and you can also play solo mode which is also pretty enjoyable.

The only downside is that it has been known to glitch and can cost you games.

Rating: 3.5/5

It’s good when you have a few minutes to kill, but the glitching takes away from it a bit.

Poker Stars

Who doesn’t like a bit of Poker? Register and get a game going with your friends on the very user-friendly app. We fancy the odd flutter here and there as you may have already read. If none of your friends are online you can always join a random table of Sit and Go and join a table for a few minutes and leave to kill some time. No major faults with this app except for if you get caught offline for a couple of minutes in the middle of a game you could lose out on a few chips, but them’s the rules.

Rating: 4/5

It can be a bit glitchy but if you have good internet where you’re playing you should be good.

Bonus: Premier League Fantasy Football App

It’s that time of the year again. The footie’s back and you know what that means? Time to get the fantasy football team back together. The Premier League App is actually quite handy and works really well. I used it all last year and had no major issues. The most annoying part is waiting for the bonus points and table updates at the end of the weekend, but that’s not going to be the difference between playing fantasy and not.

It’s dead easy to make your transfers and switch between leagues while scoping out other players’ teams. A lot of people stop playing fantasy after a month as they get lazy looking after their teams. But this app makes it so easy if you’re bored on the couch or at work and want to pass 10 minutes.

Rating: 5/5

I’ve used this for two years in a row and enjoy tinkering with my team before the weekend football because of this app.

 

Sony Xperia XZ Premium Review: This Is Living

Marty
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Sony Xperia XZ Premium Review: This Is Living

I’m a Samsung man. I used to be an iPhone man. My first ever brand-new smartphone was a HTC. But, back in the day, my first love was a Sony Ericsson K750i. I’m not sure what happened after that or why I never had a Sony again a question I’m asking myself ever more since I got to review the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

sony xperia xz rear

Why Pick The Sony Xperia XZ Premium?

Picking a smartphone has become incredibly difficult these days. There’s a wide range of smartphones on the market from a load of different manufacturers, but that’s not the real problem. The real problem is that a lot of these phones are really similar. For that reason, I’m going to look at why you should pick the Xperia XZ Premium over any other phone on the market.

The Xperia Premium XZ Is Really Well Designed

Flagship smartphones are generally really well designed. The bigger the phones get, the harder it is to maintain great design. Personally, I’m a fan of big smartphones but even still, looking at the Xperia XZ Premium, I thought it was going to be too big. The rounded edges mean it sits really nicely in the hand and it’s got a lovely balance too.

sony xperia xz premium

Still, with so many smartphones on the market, manufacturers need to do better than balance. Sony implemented on stroke of genius with their mega-flagship phone. The power button, which more importantly doubles as a fingerprint scanner, is beautifully positioned on the side of the phone. Unlocking one-handed is incredibly natural. You might think this sounds like a minor feature, but this is the attention to detail that shows Sony has thought long and hard about the minor details.

Unlocking one-handed is incredibly natural. You might think this sounds like a minor feature, but this is the attention to detail that shows Sony has thought long and hard about the minor details.

xz premium mirror design-w1080

In a new world of phones trying to reduce bezel sizes around the screen, Sony built a beautiful lump of a phone. The button positioning and rounded edges ensure the phone is still comfortable to hold.

The only questionable element of the XZ Premium I tested was the mirror style design. Paw prints everywhere.

Sony Delivers Yet Another Stunning Camera

Like I said, I’m a Samsung man. I love the camera on my Galaxy S7 Edge. Even when I went to the park to take some test shots, I had a quick look and thought the two cameras were great. Then, I did a side-by-side comparison of the shots:

Sony Xperia XZ Camera Comparison

You can view a hi-res comparison over on Imgur, but the difference is incredible. The Galaxy S7 Edge 12MP Camera, which remember is a year older, appears washed out and doesn’t capture the same depth of colour. The Xperia XZ Premium captures vivid colours with a 19MP camera. Sony has always been known for stunning cameras, but it’s only now I really see it.

I took selfies of my lovely face but the difference between the Sony and the Samsung was negligible. Definitely not stunning enough to justify my face in glorious HD.

And The Other Bits

Remember I said there were certain bits that all smartphones just do now? Well the Sony Xperia XZ Premium packs an above-average battery that easily lasted me a day. That means it’ll last most people a day and a half to two days. It’s also water resistant for 30 minutes up to 1.5 meters and packs plenty of processing power. Like I said, all typical stuff these days.

But don’t let some of the mundane tick boxing take away from what I mentioned earlier. The Xperia XZ Premium is brilliantly designed and packs what is an amazing camera.

All in all, my couple of days with the Xperia XZ Premium was really enjoyable. That might sound a bit underwhelming but I can’t emphasise enough how much Sony had to do to impress me. A couple of years ago, when I was selling phones, some Sony phones were a nightmare. I’d sell one and it’d come straight back. The reason I mention this is because it’ll add to my final statement. Not only would I buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, I actually miss it.

Nokia 3310: The Good, The Bad And The Downright Disappointing

Jon
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0
Nokia 3310: The Good, The Bad And The Downright Disappointing

As we all know the Nokia 3310 has come back from the grave. Back in the day, we all owned one and we have all been very curious to see the new beast in action. While it won’t be replacing my Samsung S8 anytime soon it’s a fantastically awesome bit of kit to bring in the pocket during festival season.

Basically, our recommendation is simple: buy it for your Nan, your kid or as a spare. Just don’t expect it to become your sole device – it won’t. But at €60 I’ll happily stick it in my pocket for a weekend in a field with a bag of cans with the lads.

True to our word, here’s the good, the bad and the downright disappointing.

The Good

Battery

This is a given, surely? Without the big old touchscreen and all the trimmings that come with modern smartphones, the Nokia 3310 has a battery should last up to a month. On a single charge, to put that into context, that’ll probably 15 to 3fewerss charges per month vs any smartphone on the market.

This is obviously the big selling point for the 3310 and who can blame them. Simple and effective is all they are looking for. As I’ve said this phone has potential to be the festival maker.

No 3G at these events, your busy with your mates have the craic and whatever. The battery will see you through.

The Price

To be fair the Nokia 3310 is fairly cheap vs smartphones. However apart from maybe the Doro range, they are on the expensive side for a brick. Granted they look a damn sight better. So for €60 you can’t really go too far wrong.

Scenario A- Its clearly cheaper to replace than the phone your reading this on… true

Scenario B- Have you seen the Doro range? they are purpose built but they look hell nasty and granified. No way in hell while the 3310 is on the market will my mother be rocking anything other than the retro style icon.

Hard as Nails

Nokia’s have never before needed an OtterBox or any other case. So why start now? With a tough durable body, a plastic covered small display and everything else that comes with an old school Nokia 3310.

old and new nokia 3310 side by side

Basically volley that phone off a wall, bate it with a hurl or throw it at your little sister. The 3310 will be grand.

Kid Friendly

For any parent being able to contact your child is a big deal. As is internet safety and price for fear of loss or damage. It’s kids these things happen. By chance rather than plan the Nokia 3310 proves to be a great shout.

With literally zero internet access, a reasonable price and strong enough that you won’t have to pay to replace a cracked screen. The only thing you might have to fear is Snake, but I’ll get to that later.

Nostalgarama

2017 the year of the reboot, from classic PlayStation games, classic consoles like the SNES Mini and Atari, TV shows and now phones. This year has been great for bringing all the bits of years gone past into the modern era.
When you hold the Nokia 3310 you know you’re handling an icon of the industry. While it may look slightly different, it’s hard to not jump back into a time where monophonic ringtones blared from the back seats of buses up and down the country.
This came around in the days where “shifting young wans” was a thing all young lads tried to do and awkwardly enough. Messing around with the phone reminded me of some of the cringe texts I used to send when trying to lay on the charm. It was awful and that’s all I’m saying.
Before I move on though remember text speak?
Ugh no just no. Cutting out all the vowels to keep the message under 160 characters so you didn’t have to pay for two texts. Actually, a bit like Twitter really! Then Meteor changed that game.
In the name of good fun have a go deciphering this and tell us what movie this came from? Small hint: it came out the same year as the original Nokia 3310:
 “…Fthr 2a mrdrd sn. Hsbnd 2a mrdrd wiv. nd I wl av my vngance
, n dis lif r da nxt.” 

The Bad

Lack of covers

This might sound stupid but the things I don’t like about the Nokia 3310 I really don’t like. Seriously, whats with the complete lack of anything fun. We all had questionable choices of clip on fascias. Some looked class but if you were like me it was something like a football team crest, the word Eminem or something equally as dodge. Yea, I was one of them kids, not a proud fact but a fact none the less. Anyway when the world was covered in 3310’s each and everyone’s phone was totally customized and was apart of who they were.

I’m also just bitter that kids today don’t have the option to make as many bad choices as we did.

Lack of Apps

Stupid? Maybe, but the lack of a low level of internet access I feel hinders the Nokia 3310. Nobody texts anymore and only a chosen few even bother to call. The older generation is not happy to use smartphones because of the sheer volume of data. So hear me out, why can WhatsApp, Email and maybe Facebook not be preloaded apps here?

It would give the 3310 a nice holding ground for those who want to get more tech savvy without having to dive all the way in. It’s not bad we know brick phone and all that I just can’t shake the feeling Nokia have missed a trick here.

The Downright Disappointing

Snake

Bollox! This is not Snake and I am not happy about it. Whoever was in charge of this development should be fired and I want, no, expect heads to roll. First thing’s first. Two button controlling just make things boring. The snake moves in circular patterns and it’s just not right, it’s dull. The one and only thing that made the phone vaguely fun to use has been murdered and I for one am less than happy.

But that’s just me being bitter. All in all the phone is built exactly for purpose. No 3G, no Wi-Fi or any of that other fancy stuff like apps. So the Nokia 3310 ain’t going to change the world but it’s cheap, the battery lasts forever and you won’t have to teach your Nan how to use it.

The Nokia 3310 is available from a couple of places in Ireland like most phone shops and Littlewoods Ireland if you’re looking to get it SIM free. If you’re looking for the best price though, you can also pick it up on Amazon.co.uk and use Parcel Motel to get it delivered to Ireland. These are generally SIM free too.

Technology In Football: Celebrating 25 Years Of Premiership Football

Marty
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0
Technology In Football: Celebrating 25 Years Of Premiership Football

That “grand stretch in the evening” has turned inside-out which means Premier League football is on the way back. 2017 is a big year too as it marks 25 years of the Premier League, founded in 1992. Which got me thinking. The pitches might be the same size and the transfer fees bigger, but how much has Premier League technology and football’s technology, in general, has changed over the years?

Linesman’s Flag

There are some subtle things you might not notice in football. For example, did you know a linesman only covers one and one side of the pitch?

No linesman is complete without their flag. There are even some very strict rules on how the flag should be held when running. Back when the Premier League was created, flags were used to catch the attention of the ref and signal, semaphore style, as to what the problem was. Today, a linesman’s flag costs over €250 a pop. Why? because they can buzz the referee to notify them of an event in the game. While it’s pricey, it’s not as hilarious as the solution they found to wire up fourth officials.

When the extra officials got added behind the goals, they needed the same tech as linesmen without the flag. The solution was simple – the magic wand. A great example of “if it’s stupid and it works, it ain’t stupid”. I could be wrong, but surely it’s just a typical flag without the flag right?

Radios For The Officials

While the technology in flags is less than impressive, radios are very useful. The main limitation of flag signals was an inability to provide in-depth details of problems. Now, all major officials in Premier League games can communicate with each other. Well, they can communicate if they want to that is:

Video Assistant Referees

Many said it would never happen, but the success of having a video referee in rugby has finally spilt over into football. Video Assistant Referees (VARs) were tested out at the 2017 Confederations Cup, receiving mixed reviews.

Some believe it breaks up the play too much, but at the same time, it can mean the difference between winning and losing. In time, TV editors will have cut backs to studio and analysis for the breaks and they’ll barely be noticeable. In the stadium, there’ll be more mascots and problem solved.

Here’s how the system works:

Pitch-Side Advertising and Virtual Advertising

One of the more recent and coolest innovations in football would be almost impossible for you to spot. Advertising, which started out with simple boards pitch-side, is a massive source of revenue for clubs. To fit more advertisers in, these were upgraded to rolling ads and eventually LED ad boards. What you might not have noticed was the next cool step.

Football, Premier League football in particular, has attracted a global following. As you can imagine, Thai Liverpool supporters have little interest in what Barclay Bank offer in England. Virtual Advertising allows regional-based advertising for TV viewers. Seriously, unless you see this working you wouldn’t believe it.

Localised advertising is probably less jarring for international viewers but it also means more revenue for clubs. Which, going by the price of Neymar, is being spent responsibly.

Goal Line Technology

Goal Line Technology is, of course, the best-known innovation in football over the years. Seven hi-speed cameras stare at each goal to paint a digital 3D picture which knows where the football is at all times. Within a second of the ball crossing the goal line, the system sends a signal to the referee’s watch to inform them of a goal. It takes a lot of calibrating and isn’t foolproof, but it’s pretty impressive none-the-less.

The Goal Decision Watch, worn by the referee and linked to the Goal Line Technology, is the recognisable orange watch on the ref’s wrist:

orange watch worn by refs

Bonus Clip: 

Raging this story was before the Premier League. Back in the 1989/90 season referee David Elleray was mic’d up for a game between Arsenal and Millwall. The results were hilarious:

Practical Uses Of AI: Keeping Up With New Craft Beer Names

Marty
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0
Practical Uses Of AI: Keeping Up With New Craft Beer Names

Two things cannot be denied today:

  1. The potential impact of Artificial intelligence grows every day
  2. The selection of craft beers in Ireland is astonishing

Now, watch as I spin these two completely separate topics into one.

The Incredible Growth Of Craft Beers In Ireland

It’s estimated that Ireland has 90 microbreweries creating sweet tasty craft beers. That’s a whopping four-times the number from 2012. That’s why your recent trip to the off-licence was like browsing an old style sweet shop.

craft beers in irish off-license

With so many craft beers on the market, off-license fridges are jam-packed with a multitude of colourful cans and bottles. Even more creative than the packaging is many of the beers’ names. Everything from Galway Bay’s Of Foam and Fury to White Gypsy American Pale Ale, it’s only a matter of time until we run out of beer names. Unless… unless we become superhuman.

Using AI To Name Craft Beers

Janelle Shane is one of those amazing nerds who learns incredible skills but uses them for fun. We love her because she makes new technology like AI really relatable, using it to name Pokémon and create ancient proverbs. One of her latest experiments uses neural networks to generate names for craft beers. She was inspired to try this out after she read that US microbreweries are genuinely struggling to create new names for their craft beers.

Neural networks are really similar to artificial intelligence. They learn from huge collections of data to generate new material. For example, Janelle used hundreds of thousands of beer names in this experiment. Here are our favourites from the list of AI generated craft beer names:

IPA: Toe Deal

The beautiful fragrance of feet with the rush of gambling. Toe Deal would be a beautiful IPA should it exist. Personally, that’s one of my favourite labels too. Look at him there. Big toe dealer.

 

toe deal AI generated beer name with neural networks

Strong Pale Ale: Third Maus

Surely the one and only Deadmau5 could license a few crates of this for his next tour?

craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

 

Amber Ales: Ricia’s Donkey Brain

Some say Ricia’s developed the recipe for her Amber Ales by accident after blowing up a stil.

Ricias donkey brain craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

Stouts: Sir Coffee

All the class of a craft beer crossed with the subtlety of a Starbucks Coffee. Sir Coffee is the choice of craft beer drinkers who need a nap.

Sir Coffee craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

Stouts: Black Sink Stout

The pint of choice for plumbers around Ireland. Ironically, Black Sink Stout will do fierce damage to your plumbing.

black sink stout craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

Stouts: Pimperdiginistic The Blacksmith W/ Cherry Stout

Running local prostitution rings is a dying trade, which leaves many pimps branching out into other areas, like shoeing horses and shaping replica swords.

pimp blacksmith craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

Stouts: Cherry Coconut Mint Chocolate Stout

Bless the machine learning powered neural networks for this effort. It’s like they wrapped a bottle in velcro and chucked it into a barrel of craft beer related words. The result: Cherry Coconut Mint Chocolate Stout. A mouthful to say but I’d imagine that’s the only mouthful you’ll experience with this drunk.

Cherry Coconut Mint Chocolate Stout craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

IPA: Yamquak

Ok, so we took liberties with this one. First of all, yes yams are practically sweet potatoes. No, they don’t quack, but the chance to place a beak on a yam was just too much for me to ignore.

yam quack craft beers AI generated beer name with neural networks

What do you think of AI’s attempts to name craft beers? Personally, I think they did pretty good. You can read the full list over on Janelle’s site where she let’s neural networks be weird. Let us know in the comments what you think, or if you could do better yourself.

 

Amazon Prime Video in Ireland: Everything You Need To Know And What’s On

Marty
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1
Amazon Prime Video in Ireland: Everything You Need To Know And What’s On

With the rip-roaring success of the Top Gear inspired Grand Tour, Amazon Prime Video has officially landed in Ireland. While slow to launch an official Irish Amazon store which led to this our virtual UK address trick, Amazon’s increased activity means they’re is really pushing their video streaming service in Ireland. You’ll have spotted their ads on TV and on buses but with no shortage of services vying for your money, here’s what you need to know about Amazon Prime Video.

How much does it cost?

There are a couple of ways you can enjoy Amazon Prime Video. If you are only interested in Amazon Prime Video, it will cost you €5.99 per month. To celebrate the Irish launch you can enjoy your first six months for just €2.99 per month. If you are already an Amazon Prime customer, video streaming is included.

Unfortunately, to get the most out of Amazon Prime Video, you’ll need to contact customer care. They’ll update your location settings with the taking about five minutes. It’s time well spent as it unlocks loads more content for you to enjoy.

How can I watch Amazon Prime Video?

The most popular methods to view Amazon Prime Video is with your laptop, smartphone or tablet. You will be able to stream on devices like Xbox One but often will need to set your console to the UK to get the app. For now, if you have something like an Android box, you’re laughing.

To sweeten the deal a little further, you can also download Amazon Prime Videos and watch them later. This is a feature Netflix only recently introduced which is great for travelling.

Is Amazon Prime Video better than Netflix?

Both video streaming services are locked in a vicious battle at the moment. Original programs are being thrown out left, right and centre by the two. At the moment, Netflix is in the lead, especially with the recent addition of video downloads. With that said, Amazon does give you some great original programming, unavailable anywhere else.

What can I watch on Amazon Prime Video?

Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video provides you with a selection of popular TV and movies. Here’s our selection of top shows you can enjoy today:

The Grand Tour

We showed you how to watch The Grand Tour a while back. This article proved popular with Top Gear fans were hungry for Clarkson, Hammond and May. Now, it’s much more straightforward as all you need is a Prime or Prime Video membership to watch the show. Once you nail that much, you can enjoy the famous three touring the world every week. Lots of laughs, expensive cars and slightly cringe-worthy celebrity deaths.

Man in the High Castle

amazon prime video man in the high castleThis is a cracker of a show that came in somewhat under the radar. Man in the High Castle appealed to the nostalgic side of my youth, playing games like Wolfenstein. The show is set in a world where Hitler and his Nazis won the war. Following day-to-day “American life” in an Axis controlled world is fascinating.

Mr. Robot

Amazon prime video fscociety mr robotSometimes, television can actually be art. Mr. Robot will have you covering webcams and downloading encrypted chat apps in no time. The series follows Eliot, a cyber security specialist losing grasp of reality. As he does, hacktivists crash the banking world. Mr. Robot is arguably the best thing on Amazon Prime Video.

Startup

Startup wants to be Mr. Robot. It’s not quite as good but tries to make up for these shortcomings with lots and lots of sex scenes. A worthy watch to pass the time and to get more from your membership. Pretty sure you could play some sort of drinking game based on the amount of riding in the show too.

After a long wait, we can finally watch Amazon Prime Video in Ireland. It might not be the smoothest transition if you’re a Prime member already, but it’s worth the effort. If you’re new to it all, enjoy a free trial and discounted first six months. Yaay!

 

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