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Spotify Wrapped: Look at Your 2017 Listening Habits

Marty
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Spotify Wrapped: Look at Your 2017 Listening Habits

This time of year is amazing for roundups. Later, we’ll be looking at the 2017’s YouTube sensations, but we’ve already got Spotify’s Wrapped featured to play with. Wrapped shows Spotify users what they’ve been listening to over the past 12 months with the breakdown hitting home with some hard truths for some music listeners:

It’s a genius bit of marketing from Spotify; hardly surprising given their history of unique billboard ads, also set to continue into 2018.

Check out your Wrapped selection and let us know what you think.

Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot: Which Should You Buy?

Marty
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Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot: Which Should You Buy?

I’m calling it, right now. Smart personal assistants like Google’s Home Mini and Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo Dot, are going to be huge this year. Just check out the Google Search Trends for their key devices:

 


On the surface, the two assistants would appear to do the exact same thing but there are some subtle differences. Here are the unique points on each.

Why the Google Home Mini or Echo Dot

First thing’s first. There’s very little reason to go and fork out the bigger price for the top models on offer by Google and Amazon. Both really just offer bigger speakers than the Home Mini and Echo Dot, so that’s why we’re not looking at them. If you are a complete audiophile, considered the heavy hitters but for most they are overkill.

Why Buy the Google Home Mini

For many, the first thing you’ll do when you get a personal smart assistant is ask it a mad quesiton. General knowledge questions are where the Google Home truly shines. Results are powered by Google’s own search engine which you might remember we’ve shown to be creepily powerful already. It’s extremely unlikely that you can ask your Google Home Mini a question that will end without an answer.

Because it’s built by Google you can also tie the Home Mini into your Google account much more seamlessly than you can with the Echo Dot. Finally, if the word “seamlessly” appealed to you there then you should definitely go for the Google option. While both are not easy to pick up in Ireland, at least Google’s Home app is because the Chromecast is supported here. Amazon’s app has to be sideloaded which also removes the ability to get automatic updates.

Why Buy the Amazon Echo Dot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPXS7rC1PWo

If this is an early wade into the world of connected technology but you’re handy enough with tech in general, the Echo Dot might be a better choice. The reason for this is that it’s roughly half the price of the cheapest Google Home device. It is important that you know how to get up and running with an Amazon device in Ireland considering it doesn’t have official support.

Both devices have “apps” in someway shape or form, but the Echo and Echo Dot boast an impressive array of extensions for you to download. Hell, even we’re on there. If you have other connected home devices, the Echo Dot does work slightly better with the likes of WeMo Smart Plugs.

The Verdict

This is a really weird situation to be in. Personally, I prefer the Echo Dot but I’m more likely to recommend a Google Home Mini. My reason for that is user experience. While neither are readily available in Ireland, getting the Echo Dot up and running can be really difficult for some users who then have a really negative experience with their first smart assistant. Both options are so similar, but the Google Home Mini is a much safer choice.

Whichever you’re choice, here’s how to get the Google Home, a process which can also be applied to the Google Home Mini and how to get the Amazon Echo Dot.

 

5 Apple Watch Apps to Try Out

Neal
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5 Apple Watch Apps to Try Out

If you’ve taken our advice and picked up a shiny new Apple Watch, you’re probably now wondering what are the best apps to get the most out of your new wearable. Well, look no further as we compile our list of the top 5 Apple Watch apps to try out.

Nike+ Run Club

nike apple watch app

Nike has done a great job with this free watch app. It offers lots more functionality than the Apple Workout app and other Fitness apps on the market. It’s free with no subscription plans and ad-free throughout. Worth a look just for that at least. With New Year resolution planning set to start soon, this could the be push you need to get fitter and/or lose some of your unwanted cuddly features.

ProCamera

Always wanted to get in those group photos? Tired of using selfie sticks and getting pictures up your nose or looking like a drone took the picture? ProCamera is the answer to these and more to these pressing problems. It’s a feature-rich app that allows you to control your phone’s camera remotely via your watch. You’ll have to hand out There really isn’t enough space to list all the app features and suffice to say you should find every camera setting/function you should need. ProCamera is available from free and runs up to €3.99.

Twitterrific 5

Twitterrific

This is a super smart app. Instead of displaying all your twitter feeds on the watch screen which would be unusable, it focuses instead on notifications (this feature is €3.49). These can be configured individually on the iPhone app so you get a haptic notification on your wrist if, for example, you get a new follower or dm. This is one of those watch apps that has a well thought out design and is not just a scaled-down version of the main iPhone app. If you check your twitter feeds frequently during the day, which let’s be honest, most of us Twitter users do, then this is a must-have for those sneaky twitter checks when really you should be paying attention to someone.

You can grab Twitterific starting at €0.49 right through to €5.49.

Dark Sky

dark sky app

We all love discussing/complaining/exaggerating about the weather in Ireland, so having access to the weather forecast on your wrist is one sure of staying ahead of the posse. Dark Sky is probably the best weather app on the market with personalised forecast notifications by the minute and detailed daily & weekly weather forecasting for Ireland. It can even be configured to tell you it’s going to rain in five minutes. Now that’s handy if you are wearing home your brand new yellow suede shoes that looked so good in the shop, or at least they did dry. Given the weather in Ireland, you’ll hardly feel too hard done by handing over €4.49 for this app.

Shazam

Shazam is hugely popular on phones and you could be on to a winner in terms of Apple Watch apps too. Benefits include the almost certain prospect of alienating your friends even more with your uncanny expert music knowledge. All joking aside (I hope), this is a well-designed app, simple to use and it’s arguably better fun using Shazam on your watch than on your phone. All that fun can be yours for free or €3.49 if you want to remove the ads.

 

Apple Watch Series 1: Not Just an Affordable Option

Neal
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0
Apple Watch Series 1: Not Just an Affordable Option

Trying to think of the perfect Christmas present for that someone special? Ask yourself, what phone do they have? If the answer is iPhone, or you have an iPhone and want to treat yourself why not consider the Apple Watch? You’re first thought might very well be the price but we can shave €100 off straight away. Now is a great time to look at the cheaper and just as enticing, Apple Watch Series 1.

Why the Apple Watch Series 1?

While all the glitz and glamour of Apple’s 2017 product launch sang the praises of the latest Apple Watch, the California gadget giant is selling the Series 1 from €279. That’s for the 38mm watch, while you’ll hand over €309 for the 42mm watch size. Generally speaking, these watches are aimed at women and men respectively. You can pick up two variants of these models, available in a Silver aluminum case with a white sports band or the space grey aluminum case with a black sports band.

Why not go for the latest one? Well, the Series 3 will grab an extra €100 out of your wallet versus this earlier Series 1 with the Series 3 model starting at €379 for the 38mm and €409 for the 42mm.

See? Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it.

Appetite Whet? Meet the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 1 was released in September 2016 as an upgrade to the original Series 0 watch released the year before. It was identical in all respects to the original model with the major exception that it came with a bumped up dual-core processor (called the S1P). This was a significant spec boost and helped overcome many of the speed issues which plagued the previous model (the updated WatchOS 3.0 also focused on performance).

Apple originally introduced the watch to the public as a fashion accessory, along with a top tier Hermés edition priced at over €10K. Oddly, this wasn’t a big seller beyond certain L.A. celebrities.

The relaunched Series 1 model came with a new marketing strategy and focus from Apple. It was now focused primarily as a fitness/sporting device, with the watch as a fashion accessory now playing understudy. Apple brought Nike onboard to produce special Nike branded watch faces and straps.

apple watch nike

The Apple Watch requires an iPhone to setup and work correctly, so if you’re an Android user, then you’re almost certainly better off sticking to Android Wear watches. You can still pick up the original Huawei Watch for a great price if you can live without contactless payments from your wrist.

What Don’t I Get With the Apple Watch Series 1

Externally there is no difference as Apple have not changed the design or form factor of the models over the years. Walking down the street, people won’t be able to tell which watch you have.

Internally is where you’ll find some changes as the Series 3 comes with various new features including:

  1. Series 3 has an inbuilt GPS and altimeter chips (climbers/skiers/hikers may like this).
  2. Series 3 runs on a faster processor i.e. S3 against the S1P on the Series 1.
  3. Series 3 is water resistant to 50 meters whereas the Series 1 only splash resistant (e.g. you can get it wet in the rain but that’s about it).
  4. Series 3 screen has a max brightness of 1000 nits. The Series 1 is maxed at 450 nits, i.e. half as bright outdoors.
  5. LTE option only on Series 3 (i.e. independent Cellular connection). However, no mobile operators in Ireland offer this service yet.

What Do I Lose By Going for the Apple Watch Series 1?

So looking at the list above you may well be thinking that that’s a lot of tech and you need all of it. Apple spends a lot of money on marketing to make beliefs like that come to mind you know. You should really stop and ask yourself if that extra €100 wouldn’t be better spend on some other gadgets. Of course, this will depend a lot on what you plan to use the watch for and your budget.

Firstly, let’s put aside the LTE Series 3 because none of the Irish mobile operators offer the eSim for this yet. So this leaves the choice between Series 3 GPS (non-LTE) and the Series 1 model – Apple doesn’t sell the Series 2 directly anymore.

Let’s take the typical reason Apple thinks everyone should have an Apple Watch; fitness. If you’re into running, swimming or climbing GSP and a water-resistant watch might be tempting. Well assuming you don’t plan to swim with your watch on, you can still track GPS data with a Series 1 model once you bring along your iPhone (which let’s be honest most would do anyway to receive calls/messages).

Some of the other Series 3 features are welcome, particularly the brighter screen and faster processor, however, they are really not that noticeable in day to day use so it’s hard to justify the extra €100 over the Series 1 on these features alone.

What can you do With an Apple Watch Besides Fitness Activities?

The big plus point for the Series 1 model is that it also comes with the same operating system as the Series 3 model. So this means that even if your not a fitness fan, an Apple Watch can still be a very useful and fun piece of technology using the built in apps, features and functionality while, most importantly, still being supported by Apple.

Apple’s own app highlights on the watch include the ability to receive and reply to messages, Siri (Apple’s AI talking virtual assistant), the ability to receive and make phone calls (aka Dick Tracy), Apple Pay, Workouts app, a heart rate sensor and the option to choose from a large selection of watch faces with configurable complications (i.e. app shortcuts).

Similar to the iPhone, there is an app store where you can download thousands of watch apps (200,000+ apps currently available to download e.g. Facebook Messenger and Instagram to name a few).

There are a wide variety of straps available on the apple store, ranging in price from €59 all the way up to €609 if you really want to splash out. Obviously, as we know, the internet is kinda big these days, so you can find a huge selection of cheaper straps for your watch online.

Am I Buying an Apple Watch Series 1?

Sure! Why not? Appearance wise the Series 1 and Series 3 are identical (both now only available in the aluminum case). The Series 1 has a stunning OLED screen, curved at each corner with Apple’s usual premium build quality to the fore.

apple watch series 1

Unless GPS, water resistance and some of the other features I’ve covered above are features you feel you can’t live without, then the Apple Watch Series 1 and an extra €100 in your pocket is a great choice and won’t disappoint. It also means you could use the money saved to buy a different watch strap of your choice and add a personal touch to your new watch.

Generally speaking, you’ll always pay around the same for Apple products, but don’t forget to check their UK store, Amazon.co.uk and the value of Sterling where you could save a packet when ordering through Parcel Motel.

Closer to home, you can pick up the Apple Watch through a wide variety of places, including:

Life Without Google: Are Firefox and DuckDuckGo Worth Trying?

Marty
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0
Life Without Google: Are Firefox and DuckDuckGo Worth Trying?

I was recently joking with a friend that Microsoft browsers are arguably the most effective pieces of software for achieving their goal. That might seem like a crazy thing to say about both Internet Explorer and Edge but what is their sole purpose? When you get a new machine, you use them to install Google Chrome. They achieve this task brilliantly.

I recently found myself in that situation of using the default browser to install Chrome but then I hesitated. I remember seeing Firefox had launched a new browser, Firefox Quantum, and it was getting rave reviews. I decided to try something new and give Quantum a go before going one step further. Not only was I going to ditch Chrome, I was going to throw out Google Search altogether. You’d be forgiven for thinking there are no alternatives to Google but the truth is there are plenty. My weapon of choice for this test would be DuckDuckGo.

So, if you’re a Google Chrome and Google Search dependant person, is it worth your while making the jump across to unknown territory?

Firefox Quantum: Is Moving to Firefox Hard?

I didn’t feel the move across to be too difficult. Firefox can easily import all your bookmarks which does make like just that little bit easier. The avst majority of plugins I use or very close alternatives were also available for Quantum which made another critical step in the move much easier; passwords. LastPass is available for both browsers. This meant all those passwords that I feared I would lose moving to Firefox were remembered by LastPass and easily moved across – another headache avoided.

I wanted to be teetotal in my move too. I changed the browser of all machines I use on a regular basis inlcuding my smartphone. This meant downloading Firefox’s mobile app. Again, I didn’t feel any inconvenience in this whole moving process at all.

Right, so the moving process TL;DR: It was probably a little easier for me than most because I’m actively using services that backup information, making moving around much easier. Still, I couldn’t see any stage of the move being a particularly big pain in the arse for many.

Firefox Quantum vs Google Chrome: Which Browser is Best?

I’ve been using Chrome for years and always had one complaint about it; it’s an absolute memory hog. Every tab you open and every extension you enable increases the liklihood of your machine having a complete aneurysm. Strangely, even after you close the tabs you’ve been using, memory still seems to be eaten up by Chrome. Firefox Quantum boasts that it requires 30% less resource to run than Chrome. I’m not going to say that those figures are exactly true, but Quantum definitely hasn’t slowed down my machine as much as Chrome.

The Mozilla crew behind Firefox Quantum also claim their lastest browser is twice as fast as previous versions. Again, Mozilla’s claims are difficult to confirm, but the browser feels a hell of a lot faster than Chrome. Personally, I’d say Firefox Quantum is even faster than Mozilla’s claims.

Quantum also jumps on a growing trend in digital at the minute; privacy. It almost seems silly saying privacy is a growing trend, but people are only really starting to wake up to how much of their data is shared online and just how much they are tracked on a daily basis. Quantum is one of the pieces of software, along with Apple’s mobile iOS system, to put the ability to enable privacy options into the hands of people.

Speaking of privacy…

What is DuckDuckGo?

When you feel sick, need to know how to convert miles to kilometers or you want to find out what other film that actor on the telly was in, you turn to Google. Regardless of browser or machine, there’s a fair chance your online question asking leads to a Google Search nearly every day. Believe it or not, there are alternatives out there to Google and one even has a funnier name.

Interest in DuckDuckGo soared back in 2012 following a Google Privacy Policy change. Firefox and Safari began to include DuckDuckGo in their list of search engines, leading to a massive uptake in the service. But just why are so many people switching over to DuckDuckGo?

Well, if you look at that tweet again, check out what they actually say: “we’ve no idea how many people that is”. DuckDuckGo doesn’t track users or store their search histories. If you’re privacy conscious and more than just a little tired of Google tracking every search you make, then DuckDuckGo is worth a try.

DuckDuckGo vs Google: Which Search Engine is Best?

Changing your search engine is a surprisingly hard thing to do, but I don’t mean the actual process itself; that’s easy. The difficult part is placing your trust into a different search engine. I doubted every search result DuckDuckGo returned because it wasn’t Google. The funny thing about Google tracking is that they use all that data to bring you really relevant search results and ads. DuckDuckGo still shows you ads but they are based on the words in your search results alone, not a combination of both which Google does.

What’s the impact of that? Well, here is me making a search for Deliveroo in DuckDuckGo and Google.

DuckDuckGo

search example duckduckgo

Google

 

eaxmple of google search

Google wins right?

Your personal data is worth a lot more than the inconvenience of looking through a few irrelevant search results. The part of my brain used to Googling things looked at the two searches and sided with Google. My new privacy-focused brain looks at the DuckDuckGo results and focuses on the fact they had no idea where I was, even with Ireland ticked. DuckDuckGo seems to respect the fact I’ve installed an AdBlocker a little more than Google too who’ve discovered a way to get their search ads around that software.

The Big Verdict

With all the tests carried out and after spending a few days using a new browser and a new search engine, what’s the final verdicts?

Firefox Quantum or Google Chrome?

Winner: Firefox Quantum

I was really impressed with Quantum. It’s damn fast, has some nice privacy options, easy to move over to and still provides, more or less, the same extension options as Google Chrome. It ticks every box for me so far and I can’t see myself moving back to Chrome any time soon.

Winner: DuckDuckGo

For me, I like the idea that protecting our online privacy is now mainstream. That’s why I’m such a massive fan of the Invizbox guys. Still, when I started writing this verdict I was leaning towards this duel being a tie. However, given how important our online privacy is there’s no room for complacency and to continue using the likes of Google Search is openly admitting you don’t care about your privacy. Now, if you like the personalised search results that come from being tracked through Google and honestly believe it’s a trade worth making, that’s fine. At least you are very aware of the transaction between you and Google where your data is the currency and Google’s search results are the product. You just need to ask yourself if that transaction is fair.

What do you think? Are you willing to make the switch and see how much you value your privacy?

 

 

Esports: Can You Really Make a Living Playing Computer Games?

Marty
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Esports: Can You Really Make a Living Playing Computer Games?

The world of Esports is growing at an explosive rate and it’s proving a mighty headache for mothers around the country too. For years, mammys around Ireland shouted up the stairs at kids to do their homework because “you’ll never make a living playing games”. Well, those days are well and truly gone as the new sports superstars of the world are gamers. So what are Esports all about and why have they become so immensely popular?

What are Esports?

Long story short, Esports refers to the world of professional and extremely competitive computer gaming. Depending on the game and match type, Esports are either played individually or in a team. The growth in Esports comes as multiplayer games and internet connections become more plentiful around the world.

Now, consider your first reaction as you try to process the idea of Esports. It might be a scoff, a laugh or even disbelief. Your first reaction might be like this BBC news anchor who is quickly put in her place by colleague and Esports journalist, Julia Hardy.

 

Indeed, those number would make the ears of many prick up and take this movement seriously. The industry generated €600 million in 2017 and is expected to generate an incredible €1.3 billion in 2020.

What Games Can You Play Professionally?

Believe it or not, the most popular Esports games aren’t traditional sports like football ported onto a gaming platform. Actually, you have to go all the way down to 28 on the list to find FIFA representing as the top traditional sport.

Defense of the Ancients is a multiplayer game based on the hugely popular Warcraft III. The objective of the game is for two teams to battle their way across a map to each other and then destroy a heavily fortified target. DOTA boasts the biggest prize pool in Esports awarding €107 million in prize money to gamers so far. Other similar games like League of Legends feature in the list of most lucrative games, with LOL Esports perhaps generating the most interest of all online. To the general public, the likes of Halo, Counter-Strike and Call of Duty are arguably the better known of the games to feature in the top 20.

Can You Really Make a Living at Esports?

So if you’re a parent, should you actually start banking on your kids paying off your mortgage with a game of FIFA? Well, the full list of games is almost endless because any game where there is a winner and a loser can be played as an Esport. That means the potential to become a superstar is huge. Each game generates its own following and the interesting thing is that by playing at home in your bedroom you can benchmark yourself against the very best playing on the world stage.

As the 2017 F1 season came to a close in Abu Dhabi recently, so to did the inaugural F1 Esports Series, won by the British Brendon Leigh. Just prior to the final, F1 superstar Fernando Alonso announced he was launching an Esports team and that he had signed one of the finalists, Cem Bolukbasi, to his team. F1 has never been shy about splashing the cash in the past and their foray into Esports, along with the endorsement of Alonso, will give this particular Esport a massive boost. Sky Sports presented massive coverage of the series too, which is more good news for the sport as spectators play a crucial role.

Do People Actually Watch Esports?

people watching esports

Without an audience, emerging Esports will die, hence the importance of Sky Sports focusing on Esports. I’m sure they were just as interested to see how the public reacted to people playing computer games competitively on TV as the F1 organisers were. For the established Esports games like DOTA and League of Legends, attracting spectators has never been an issue. First of all, physical venues attract huge crowds who watch just like those who attend weekend football matches. In 2014, a whopping 45,000 fans attended the League of Legends 2014 World Finals in Seoul while other well-known venues like Wembley Arena has also hosted by Esports events.

The real beauty of Esports comes through how accessible they are to spectating gamers around the world. Being in a stadium provides you with the atmosphere and the comradery, but you can easily tune in and watch Esports on a games console, smartphone or laptop using services like Twitch amongst others. This ease of access has led to Esports generating a following reportdidly in the region of 145 million enthusiasts and even more casual viewers.

Esports in Ireland

So what’s the craic with Esports in Ireland? Well, we’ve had a professional team since 2012 thanks to Emerald eSports. Emerald eSports have players on their roster competing in Call of Duty, League of Legends, Halo, Counter-Strike and Battlefield, to name but a few but if you want to apply a really practical benchmark to how about Paddy Power? Paddy Power now allows their customers to place bets on Esports. While this raises moral questions around betting where young viewers may be present, from a business point of view this means there’s money around Esports in the UK and Ireland and that the future is very bright.

Earlier this year, Trevor Keane founded the Celtic e-Sports League, and envisions the growth of Esports in Ireland and the UK. The scope for growth in the industry is nothing short of breathtaking with the biggest UK prize pool standing at around €560,000 compared to the massive figures we discussed earlier in the US.

You can see why so many are excited by Esports and why big businesses like Red Bull are jumping in to capitalise.

Will Esports Be Big in Ireland?

Generally speaking, Ireland is often a few years behind technological trends, however, this is often caused by manufacturers not providing the hardware – think Amazon, voice search and getting an Echo Dot in Ireland. There are barriers to adoption which limit us.

Esports is different. From children to adults all over the country, there are no shortage of games consoles and PCs. It’s as easy to play DOTA or Call of Duty in Ireland as it is anywhere else in the world, so the outlook for Esports in Ireland is extremely positive.

If you’re shopping for a Christmas present this year, maybe give a games console or some League of Legends vouchers a thought. Your kids could be paying off your mortgage in no time at all.

 

 

Christmas Gift Guide 2017: Easier Christmas Shopping

Marty
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Christmas Gift Guide 2017: Easier Christmas Shopping

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Unless you have to pick out presents for ten people and you’re drawing nothing but blanks. Don’t fret. You’re nothing alone. People all over the country are stressing about what Christmas presents they need to buy everyone. That’s why we’ve put together our 2017 Tech Christmas Gift Guide.

Here’s a taster of the full guide which we can email to you, destressing your hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts.

Firemole: Perfect Tech Gift for Dad

firemole tops our Christmas Gift Guide

We absolutely love Firemole, a Cork-based startup which created a small gadget that will no doubt save lives. You stick the Firemole to the charger of your laptop, MacBook or smartphone charger and it will warn you if it’s about to overheat. The idea here is that Firemole will alert you to the danger being caused by chargers in the home.

We all know Dad’s police certain areas of the home with great care. While the immersion takes the top spot, fire safety is a close second. Making sure things are plugged out and that smoke alarms are working will soon be joined by Firemoles being all over the house, making them the perfect Christmas gift for your Dad.

You can pick up one Firemole for €12.99 or nab three for €36.99.

SensatioNail Home Nail Kit

sensationail in goos3d's christmas gift guide

We love nothing more than seeing expensive things like nail care come into the home thanks to some technological advancement. SensatioNail is a gel nail treatment carried out at home with special nail varnish. The varnish is activated and hardened by an automatically timed UV lamp. The resulting finish lasts for up to two weeks; much longer than traditional nail varnish.

You can pick up the full SensatioNail starter kit in Boots for €70.

Lock Pick Set

Ok, I admit this is not exactly techie and probably a bit of a stretch to be considered a gadget. It’s also quite likely the most unlikely entry you’d ever expect to find in a Christmas gift guide. Still, who hasn’t wanted to learn how to pick locks? I got one of these a few years back and the feeling when you pick the lock for the first time is simply amazing. The funny thing is that it’s surprisingly easy.

Best of all, you can pick up this lockpick starter set for under €20, making it the perfect office KK gift or something unusual to pop into a sock for Christmas morning.

The 2017 Christmas Gift Guide

We’ve carefully trawled through the high street and the internet superhighway looking for the vet best Christmas gift ideas. We promise this guide will have at least one idea that will cross a name of your Christmas shopping to-do list. Pop in your details below and get the full guide.


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Experience Review: The Stella Theatre – A Trip Back in Time

Marty
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Experience Review: The Stella Theatre – A Trip Back in Time

Going to the cinema isn’t much of an experience these days. Messy seats, crap nachos and popcorn which, if bought by the ton, would require a mortgage style loan. Thankfully, retro is hot right now and it’s leading to some great alternatives. Token is one of the coolest experiences in Dublin with great food, beer and tons of retro games. Retro is now rocking in Rathmines as the Stella Theatre is a trip back in time to when your aul pair were courting.

We popped along to the Stella to check out their Back to the Future matinee; it seemed fitting.

What is the Stella Rathmines?

the stella rathmines

The Stella Theatre, which is once again being affectionately referred to as simply the Stella, was originally opened in 1923. When it opened, it could seat 1,283 cinema goers, making it Ireland’s biggest cinema at the time.

Today, the Stella has reopened after an extensive refurbishment process and it maintains much of its 1920’s charm. As I mentioned, we were there for Back to the Future and it did feel like we’d just travelled back in time. The place oozes class. You can sit in either a large and very comfortable red leather single seat or a two-seater couch. There is also a matching red leather footstool for extra comfort which opens up to store your jacket away. It really is the little things that make an experience great.

If sitting is a little too modern-day cinema for you, there’s also the option of a two-person bed when you can lie down and watch the movie. Each place costs €19 so single seats cost €19, while couches and beds cost €38.

Food at the Stella

I already mentioned Token as being one of the best retro spots in Dublin and one of their big selling points is their food. I’m far from being a foodie, but they’ve passed the test with plenty of people who know what they’re talking about, namely the Ketty, the French Foodie in Dublin. If you’re running any sort of experience in Dublin, Token has set the bar for food. Stella saw the challenge and took it on nicely.

Two days earlier, I had been in one of your usual cinemas staring at some nasty nachos and melted cheese. While the Stella is a cinema, the selection of food is incredible, so incredible that I ordered more than I planned. The portions aren’t massive, but they are supposed to be tapas style with three or four being plenty for two. Before you ask, yes someone was with me, hence the huge order:

  • Chilli beef nachos, guac, sour cream and melted cheese
  • Chicken taco with avocado, sour cream, spring onion and cajun mayo
  • Because brunch there was also sausage, fried egg and hollandaise
  • Slow cooked Sticky BBQ Korean pork taco with iceberg lettuce
  • Along with a Coke and a coffee

All of that came to about €35, which is class. Better still, I didn’t even mention that it gets brought out to your seat and placed on a table beside you. Most importantly, it was damn tasty. Unfortunately, it was too dark to snap a pic of the grub which does lead me to one tip. Arrive early and enjoy your grub before the movie starts. Eating in the dark is a little weird! Beyond that it’s a classy experience all around, exemplified by their drinks menu.

The Stella also has a broad selection of cocktails and beers on site but I had the car so I couldn’t sample them. From what I’ve seen in terms of selection alone, the drinks menu is just as impressive as the food menu if not more so.

Movie Selection

Much like the vibe of the cinema, the movie selection is largely retro too. We went along for Back to the Future but at 11.55pm that night, the more modern Great Gatsby which was probably amazing given the flapper style of the cinema itself. Midnight movies are a regular occurrence in the Stella along with screenings of classics, but contrary to popular belief, they will also be showing some of the latest movies too. The next entry in the Star Wars saga will have a huge number of screenings.

Verdict on the Stella

The Stella is an incredible experience. The food is amazing and for the experience you get, it’s great value. It might not replace your regular cinema for the weekly trip out, but you’ll find yourself coming back to the Stella again and again.

 

 

 

 

 

Best Black Friday Deals on Amazon

Marty
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Best Black Friday Deals on Amazon

It’s actually a little hard to believe that Black Friday is nearly here again. What started out as a single day of insanely priced gadgets, is now a week-long sales event for online retailers. Noone does both Black Friday and the days preceding it like Amazon.co.uk.

When is Black Friday 2017?

Officially, Black Friday 2017 falls on Friday 24 November. However, retailers love them a bit of Black Friday so the week preceding that date now also boasts plenty of largely discounted offerings, so Black Friday for many starts on Friday 17 November.

Don’t forget, you also have Cyber Monday. Black Friday, the week before and Cyber Monday are generally available in-store and online with the exception of Cyber Monday being largely limited to online retailers.

Why Shop on Amazon.co.uk?

Nearly every retailer goes bonkers for Black Friday but few go as big as Amazon. You might not think of Amazon as a great place for Irish shoppers to venture towards because they don’t officially service Ireland. Thanks to services like Parcel Motel and their virtual UK address, it’s really easy to order items to Ireland from Amazon.co.uk, even if they only ship to the UK. You might even get fast and free UK delivery if you’re an Amazon Prime customer.

The Best Black Friday Deals on Amazon.co.uk

If you’re more than a little tempted to pick up some discount gadgets from Amazon, here are the top three we’d be going for.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon loves nothing more than pushing their own produce throughout Black Friday. You can pick up both the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot for a great price right now. For most, we believe the Echo Dor is more than enough for most people and you can pick that up with a 30% discount right now.

If you’re still on the fence about which one to go for, check this out.

WeMo Smart-plug

You might have spotted our article in the Independent recently which celebrated how amazing the WeMo Insight Smart-plug is. Well, that plug is a second generation model with the model that came before it is a little larger and doesn’t track power usage. While this means you’re losing some great benefits, you can pick up this first generation smart-plug with a 49% discount.

If you’re also picking up that Echo Dot, this WeMo device is fully compatible with Amazon’s voice-controlled assistant. While a slightly different model, here’s what we thought of the WeMo Insight smart-plug:

Logitech K400 Wireless Keyboard and Touchpad

logitech k400

This will be of particular interest to Samsung Galaxy Note8 owners who also got the Samsung Dex. If you have Dex, you’ve probably been looking for a decent Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Actually, the need to have these things in the house these days is higher than ever as they connect to Android boxes, laptops and all sorts.

If that all sounds like you, the Logitech K400 is a must have gadget and now you can pick it up along with a 40% discount from Amazon. Still on the fence? Check out Jon’s look at some of Logitech’s best wireless accessories.

If you are looking to pick up a few gadgets even a few Christmas presents, head on over to Amazon’s Black Friday section. We’ve picked out three deals, but that section is jam-packed with rolling deals on timers so be prepared to part with some cash.

 

The iPhone X is Great News for Gadget Insurance Companies

Marty
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The iPhone X is Great News for Gadget Insurance Companies

My Microsoft powered laptop and Xbox just had the most frustrating drag race in the world. Which one could load the slowest? This would decide whether I wrote this article or continued playing Call of Duty World War II. As you can see, my four-year-old laptop won. Or wait, did the Xbox win? The laptop loaded first, but only just. Ah, screw this…

I’m Buying a MacBook

I’m putting this old girl out to pasture in the next few weeks and I’m making the big jump to buying an Apple laptop; a MacBook Pro to be exact. Anyone who knows me that this is a big deal. I’m not anti-Apple, but I do struggle to justify how much tech you get in return for your money. Not too long ago I carried out some research on how iPhone users not only spend more money online than Android users but they spend a massive three times more on average. This begs the question – are Apple users just more free spending with their cash?

Samsung Throw Serious Shade at Apple

Have you seen Samsung’s latest ad yet which throws serious shade at Apple?

It’s one of those ads where you kinda have to stop and ask “can they do that?”. The short answer is yes.

In case you missed it, Samsung takes aim at some of Apple’s latest innovations, highlighting that many of them have been available on Samsung devices for years. You’ll see bigger being better, waterproofing and wireless charging all make appearances.

This ad got me thinking, yet again, about Apple users’ spending behaviour.

The iPhone X is a Great Phone

I’m not going to pretend like I’ve had a chance to play with one yet, but as far as I can tell so far, the iPhone X has yet to disappoint many. The chrome sides, a clear hat tip to the iPhone 3GS are considered to be classy and the facial recognition seems to be working well. So, that negates the need for a home button and I’ve already accepted that Apple was right to remove the headphone jack on smartphones. They can feel vindicated for that.

The unavoidable jaw-dropper for the iPhone X is the price. The entry-level version of Apple’s mega-flagship will set you back €1,070…

jaw drop gif

Yup, it’s crazy money but I have the Samsung Galaxy Note8, which is itself ridiculous expensive, but only about €100 cheaper than the iPhone X. You could argue it’s cheaper to expand the memory of the Note8 but 64GB is a lot of memory and it’ll serve most.

We Need a Quick Reality Check

Samsung has kept this idea for a shade-throwing ad in their back pocket for quite some time. For years, their smartphones have been technologically streets ahead of Apple. Personally, I think they’ve played this card at a really weird moment. Yes, I can hear you now. “Ohhhh here he goes, he’s turning into an Apple head”, but hear me out. The iPhone X offers plenty of uniqueness that the Note8 doesn’t and visa-versa.

The iPhone X offers amazing augmented reality while the Note8 has a genuinely useful stylus – trust me it’s amazing. Samsung has had stronger moments in the past to play this card of one-up-manship but they waiting until they were actually on a more level playing field. It’s just an odd move to play this out between the iPhone X and the Note8 because they can genuinely go toe to toe, unlike the iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8 where the latter just has too much in the tank for Apple to compete with.

So What About the Phone Insurers

Right, well just like two wrongs don’t make a right,  two really expensive phones don’t make for good value. These are silly prices for smartphones. Yes, I’ve paid a silly price for a smartphone. I’ve accepted that and I’ve moved on. I’ve also insured it because, well come on! The damn thing is worth a small fortune. If you’ve bought a Note8, but especially an iPhone X, you really better be considering insuring it.

After seeing some early drop tests, the iPhone X might be taking the title from Samsung and the Galaxy S8 for most fragile phone on the plant. I missed Samsung getting another dig in at Apple after viewing that ad for the first time. The dude in the line, well his haircut is cut in the shape of the iPhone X’s distinctive “notch” screen. That is one of the unique design features of the iPhone X which has made repair costs for the uber-flagship skyrocket.

The Cost of Fixing an iPhone X Screen

To fix your iPhone 8 screen with Apple is fairly expensive. You’re looking at €181.30 in total. A fairly hefty fee for any device repair. Still, you can look on smugly has iPhone X users will pay €321.30 for a screen repair and an unbelievable €611.30 for repairs falling under the classification of other. Yup, you’d pick up a OnePlus 5 for that money.

If you’re buying with Apple, it might be worth considering AppleCare+ which dramatically reduces the cost of repairing screen and other damage for your iPhone X.

If you’re buying from elsewhere or from an Irish retailer, you really should pick a phone insurance company to cover you. Honestly. Actually, you know what? Stop reading this article right now and head on over to our other article that talks about phone insurers. Go on. There’s nothing else to read here anyway.

 

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