Did you ever go to Knock when you were younger? It didn’t do much for my spirituality, but I actually did do that pilgrimage. I’m not a big fan of religion, but there’s one pilgrimage I’d love to do; Mobile World Congress. Mobile World Congress to smartphone fans is like Knock to the religious types. With the 2018 event just about to kick off, here’s what we can expect to emerge from one of tech’s biggest gatherings.
Samsung at Mobile World Congress
Samsung is effectively headlining Mobile World Congress this year. Last year, they rocked out on stage with some tablets but this year they launch the brand new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. Last year Samsung showed us a few tablets, likely giving their twin flagships some extra test time after the Note7 started exploding.
You could argue that the new Samsung flagships are hardly big news considering how leaky they have been in the past few weeks.
Samsung is really focusing on their camera for the launch of the S9, claiming it’s been ‘reimagined’. Considering only the S9+ will have a dual lens, that means the reimagined camera on the S9 will largely depend on software. Considering the physical appearance of the S9 being incredibly similar to the S8 and the core launch feature being software related, I’m calling it; Samsung’s flagship launch will be underwhelming.
Apple at Mobile World Congress
Apple doesn’t go to Mobile World Congress; that would be way too mainstream for them.
Sony at Mobile World Congress
Sony regularly updates their flagship smartphones; every six months to be exact. The mind boggles at how they create a flagship and then squash that flagship into a compact model; something I’ll be looking at more closely soon. They’ll be launching the next suite of flagships at Mobile World Congress 2018, namely the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact.
Sony tends to be the unsung heroes of smartphone manufacturers. Last year, I got to play with the Sony Xperia XZ Premium and was blown away by the quality or the phone, camera and positioning of its fingerprint sensor; I honestly don’t understand how all manufacturers don’t follow suit. Maybe it’s the regularity of their releases takes the sting out of their innovation, but their efforts at MWC 2018 will surely grab some headlines.
Pre-MWC leaks show that Sony will chop the bezels off their flagships, the one thing that seemed dated on the XZ1 range of smartphones. They will also likely move towards the tall and narrow style. My Samsung Note8 was the first tall and narrow style phone I’ve ever had and it’s great! Long may this last. In fact, Sony should also be debuting wireless charging on their new flagships too. Allelujah.
Sony also has a lot of very exciting Google Assistant-enabled earphones on the way too, so I’d imagine these will be floating around MWC too.
The Others at MWC 2018
While Apple always steers clear of MWC, HTC and Huawei will be missed, opting to avoid the noisy launch of Samsung’s Unpacked event. Of course, they’ll be along later in the year with their latest gadgetry. LG will be on hand to release their new smartphones but they’re so hard to get in Ireland, it’s hardly worth looking at them just yet.
Nokia, on the other hand, might have something worth shouting about. Last year they stole the show with the revival of the Nokia 3310 which, admittedly, was less exciting when it launched. Maybe they’ll do something crazy again an revive the classic ‘banana phone’ made famous by Neo in the Matrix.
Their range of Android smartphones have received rave reviews and I’ll be hoping to get a look at what they have to offer in the coming months.
Finally, Google is unveiling Android Go; their operating system for low-spec smartphones. We should also get a look at some hardware to go with the OS too.
The Mobile World Congress Conference
MWC isn’t just about gadgets and phone launches. The conference itself is a massive centre of innovation and insight into the latest tech.
Biometric Access
The conference itself will be debuting facial recognition access. Super cool and super creepy. The idea is that you’ll be able to rock up to the entrance and get in by having your face scanned. MWC organisers are obviously aware of the creepy factor and will let attendees opt out of this too.
5G
In the past week, Three announced their plans to roll out 5G technology in Ireland while Vodafone and Huawei claimed to have made the first 5G call. As you might imagine, 5G is going to be a massive talking point at MWC too, but don’t expect anything interesting to emerge from Barcelona on it this year. Most of the talks are those boring infrastructure and security talks; bleagh.
Formula 1
This is the first year that the FIA’s Formula 1 series will have its own area. I’m a massive F1 fan and it’s really hard to ignore that there’s a revival taking place in the sport right now, much of which is coming from the letter ‘E’.
Esports
Last year, F1 organisers launched their Esports series which pitted the world’s top video game drivers against each other. The game from Codemasters is remarkably realistic and F1 seems keen to capitalise on a new generation of F1 fans through this medium.
Former World Champion and current number one driver at McLaren, Fernando Alonso, is on-hand at MWC to take part in a panel discussion titled The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Alonso even started his own Esports team after being bitten by the gaming bug in 2017.
Formula E
While many were upset to see F1 engines drop back to V6s and the weird noise that comes with it, you should try watching Formula E! Silent engines. It’s mega weird, but it’s just another way our world is changing because of tech. There’s even a social aspect to this sport, where fans can vote for drivers to gain an advantage. Here’s what the sport is all about.
And lots more…
That’s all just the tip of the iceberg. We’ll be keeping a very close eye on the news breaking from Mobile World Congress 2018 so give us a follow on the old Tweet machine.
Ok, it’s official. The selection of smart assistants not on the market is incredible. While the title of this article suggests this is a three horse race, Amazon has four Echo smart assistants while Google has three ranging. While rumour has it that Spotify is on the verge of entering the smart assistant space and companies like Sony and Mobvoi offering alternative Google Assistant hardware, I’m going to focus on the big three manufacturers.
Here’s my pick of the smart assistants on the market today and which one should get your hard earned cash.
First Thing’s First: Do You Have Amazon, Apple or Google Products Already?
From the outset, it’s important I point out the joys of creating a smart single-brand ecosystem in your home. For example, if you bought a Google Chromecast a few years ago and couldn’t imagine life without it, getting yourself a Google Home or Google Home Mini probably makes the most sense. If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, have a Prime membership along with their video and music streaming services, well Amazon is probably the best call. The only exception to this rule might very well be Apple.
Typically, Apple products work incredibly well together. If you have a MacBook, iPhone and Apple TV, you’re enjoying a seamless integration of services. I don’t believe the Apple Homepod adds to the Apple ecosystem as much as the other devices do. So without further ado, let’s kick off with the Apple Homepod.
Should You Buy an Apple Homepod?
You could argue that Apple either joined this party really late or pioneered the whole thing. You might remember there was a time when talking on a handsfree kit in an Irish town would have left the locals thinking you were stark raving mad. Today, everyone knows you’re not talking to yourself, but to your earphones; well, in most cases anyway.
Smart assistants have enjoyed a similar journey to the handsfree kit, with many afraid to look like a crazy person talking to their phone like it was a friend. Today, it’s slightly more commonplace and that journey started with Apple. Siri was introduced to the world when they launched the iPhone 4S in 2011. This was a groundbreaking inclusion which changed how people viewed smartphone interactions, shifting from robotic inputs to more natural language. You can watch the entire segment on Siri below:
Apple’s Lost Ground
Now, don’t get me wrong, voice-controlled smart assistants have been around much longer than Siri has, but it was Apple’s assistant which main the idea go mainstream. This is what makes the Apple Homepod launching in January of 2018 so odd. Amazon released the first Echo smart speaker in 2014 with the first Google Home competing in the market since 2016. There doesn’t seem to be any real reason for Apple’s delay in getting a speaker to market, except perhaps the bad memories of the failed iPod Hi-Fi.
The Homepod’s Weakness is Siri’s Weakness
To compound the problems of lost ground, Siri hasn’t gotten a whole lot smarter in recent years. Chances are, no sooner will you have uttered “hey Siri” and a quick command and you’ll be frustrated with her attempts to achieve your task; or more likely whatever she thinks she heard. Siri has never recognised voices very well and us poor Irish people suffer worse than most.
The Homepod’s Price is Too Big a Barrier
It’s really important that I point this out. Of all the smart assistants in this post, I haven’t had a chance to try out the Homepod. Even so, from afar it’s easy to spot some pretty massive issues. From experience, I know Siri only ever looks like the smart one in the group when compared to Microsoft’s Cortana; which incidentally hasn’t made this list at all.
Incredibly, the Apple Homepod will only work should you have another Apple device in the home; along the lines of an iPad or iPhone. Finally, to top it all off, the Homepod will set you back over €360. Apple has touted the speaker as being one of the best on the market and I will have to admit that I haven’t tested this one, arguably, purchase saving feature. But given the price, quality and sound offered by the competitors, I doubt the Apple Homepod can offer enough sound quality to make up for the other shortcomings.
Should You Buy an Amazon Echo?
The Amazon Echo in its packaging
With the Apple Homepod set aside, we’re already getting into the business end of the smart assistants on the market. Amazon has really gone gung-ho into this area of the online world and created three great options along with a few overpriced ones too.
The Second Generation Amazon Echo is Fantastic
You might remember a while back that I put together a review of the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. This was an epic battle between hardware and price considering the software on both devices was almost identical:
Now, you can either watch that entire video or let me tell you that the Echo Dot won. There was a sizeable price difference between the Echo and Echo Dot which just couldn’t be justified on upgraded hardware alone. I recently got myself the second generation Echo which has an upgraded speaker and a lower price. This changed the game completely and now for around €100, you can pick up a quality speaker boasting incredible sound and a very smart assistant.
The Perfect Smarthome Hub
This isn’t really specific to the Amazon Echo itself, more the Alexa range of assistants in general. Alexa would be a terrible person to join your table quiz team. Her general knowledge is pretty poor. The big strength comes with controlling smart tech at home; say hello to the internet of things.
I picked up some Energenie smart plugs for €25 (granted I already at the necessary hub), synced them with my Echo and suddenly converted my apartment into a smart home. The Alexa app can, at the touch of a button, scan your home network for other smart devices and when discovered you’ll be able to talk your lamps into turning off.
Amazon Admits Ireland Exists
Up until the very end of 2017, if you wanted to pick up any of the Alexa-powered smart speakers, you would need to use Parcel Motel as Amazon only delivered these devices to the UK. Android users could sideload the Alexa app onto their phone for setup, but not download the official app from the Play Store. If you think that’s bad, poor old iPhone users would have to change their location settings or settle for using the Alexa app website.
Thankfully, Amazon finally looked across the water and admitted that Ireland does indeed exist. They now offer delivery to Ireland and also made their official apps available in the Play Store and App Store. Even picking up an Echo from a physical store has become much easier with the likes of High Street stores including electronic superstore Currys.
While that’s all well and good, a lot of that is mainly just Amazon making their hardware more available in Ireland, but the price difference does mean forking out a little bit more cash gets you a much better speaker, leaving the second generation Echo top of the Amazon smart assistant pile.
Should You Buy an Amazon Echo Dot?
While the second generation Echo is incredible, if you are brand new to the smart assistant world you might be seeking a very low barrier to entry. Coming in at less than €60, the Echo Dot packs a lot of punch while being the joint cheapest option alongside the Google Home Mini. It was the first assistant I had and I was extremely happy with it for quite some time. In fact, I still am as one of the big benefits of the Echo Dot is adding Alexa’s assistance to a second room without having to fork out the €100 needed to land the second generation Echo.
Should You Buy an Amazon Echo Show?
The Echo Show is cross between a tablet and an Alexa-powered Echo. With extra hardware comes some extra cost too as the Echo Show will set you back over €220. The killer blow for the Echo Show came in 2017 when Google revoked Amazon’s access to YouTube. Actually, YouTube was pulled from the Echo Show and Amazon’s Fire TV media players. To have a video player which cannot access the world’s biggest video database just seems to be more than a small waste of money.
Should you Buy an Amazon Echo Spot?
My Echo Spot is Great for Audiobooks
Johnny-Five proved to us all that we could fall in love with collections of circuits and solder. The Echo Spot is a sign of Amazon’s dedication to having a device everywhere in your home. The Spot is an adorable little Alexa-powered alarm clock, designed to be popped beside your bed. Unfortunately, the Spot is a reminder of the old days where Amazon don’t ship them to Ireland yet, but once again Parcel Motel will help you sidestep that little issue.
I picked up an Echo Spot the day they launched in the UK and being honest, I haven’t been blown away by it. The speaker is ok, somewhere between the first generation Echo and Echo Dot. It’s more than a little weird having the Spot’s non-optional built-in webcam staring at you while you sleep, so I’ve stuck a physical webcam cover over the front.
Personally, I’m just delighted I didn’t pick up the Echo Show as the Spot can do pretty much everything the Show can for under €140. Finally, I will admit that I don’t think I’ve really test driven the Spot properly, so I’m going to give it some wiggle room until when I really get to play with it.
Should you Buy a Google Home?
Ah, ‘The Big G’. Where would we be without Google? Who would we ask all these private and personal questions that we urgently need answers for? Google has revolutionised information. We no longer focus on knowing things safe in the knowledge that we can probably find out if we need to. Unlike Amazon Alexa devices, Google Assistant powered hardware would give you quite the advantage in a table quiz. Google are the masters of search, a lineage which makes the Google Home a very knowledgeable device indeed.
The Google Home is Getting Dated
Now that you know the primary benefits of Google Assistant power, should you buy a Google Home? In short, no. The Google Home is much like the Amazon Echo; it’s a first generation device. The sound quality is great, but it doesn’t stand up to the second generation Echo. Sure the search functionality is better, but you can get this same software in a smaller device, with a smaller price and plenty of audio bang too.
The original Google Home is rather pricey by today’s standards and will set you back about €150; €50 more than the second generation Echo.
Incredibly, even with so many offices in Ireland, Google doesn’t officially sell the Home smart assistant in Ireland despite, as confirmed in a private tweet to us by a reader, the packaging for the Google Home Mini saying it’s imported into the EU by Google, Ireland. Talk about adding insult to injury. Of course, if you are set on picking up a Google Home, Parcel Motel offers opens up that option through their virtual UK address.
Should you Buy a Google Home Mini?
Now, this is where things get really interesting. The Google Home Mini boasts a great quality speaker, falling in third behind both Google and Amazon flagship smart speakers. Priced at just under €60 it’s the joint cheapest device from the big three but does boast a better speaker than the Echo Dot.
If you have a Chromecast setup in your gaff, all you have to do is ask your Google Home Mini to stream YouTube or Netflix content to your telly and like magic you’re watching the latest episodes of Designated Survivor or a new cat video you’ve never seen before.
Again, you’ll need to order this through Parcel Motel if you want to get your mitts on a Google Home Mini, which is something I might actually be taking a little too personally. It’s really irritating to see there’s demand in Ireland for these gadgets and Google aren’t making it easy for people to pick them up.
So Which Smart Assistant Should You Buy?
I’ve left you with more questions than answers right? Ok, let’s sum it all up.
If you want a really simple smart assistant to take calendar commands, control some devices in your home without any hassle during the ordering process; pick up the Amazon Echo Dot.
If you have a Chromecast and you really just want to show off that there’s a gadget in your house that can answer most questions, the Google Home Mini might be the best gadget for the job. Just remember, buying these in Ireland can be tough.
If you’re confident that a smart speaker is something you really want in your gaff and you’re also hoping to start listening to some classy music while you have dinner, the second generation Amazon Echo is a perfect choice. This offers great sound quality at a fantastic price and you can order it straight to Ireland no hassle at all. Just always check if you’re getting free delivery to Ireland. If not, the €4 on Parcel Motel could end up saving you money.
If you’re a lunatic with far more money than sense, the Apple Homepod might actually get a look in. Just be aware, you’re spending too much for a low IQ smart assistant.
Of course, everyone is different. While I’m not at all suggesting these smart speakers are getting close to being human, you will get along with them differently depending on what your usage will be. Hopefully, this article acts as a decent starting point for which assistant you pick. We also had a chat about smart assistants on Episode 3 of Tech Yurt, the Goos3D.ie podcast, so feel free to check that out.
As always, feel free to holla at us over on Facebook or Twitter if you have any questions.
I’ve been watching in disbelief as yet another mass shooting makes the headlines Stateside. Now I know what you’re thinking. We’ve heard it all and I’m sure you’re wondering why the hell an Irish tech site is wading into the debate. Well, technology is intrinsically involved in politics these days. The election of Trump as President of the United States came amid accusations of Russian influence in Facebook advertising, though those accusations are now being questioned. When something horrible like the Florida shooting takes place, it transcends borders and enters everyone’s sitting room through smartphones, TVs and laptops.
Role of Social Media Prior to the Florida Shooting
Social media was also involved in the Florida shooting which saw 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz gun down and kill 17 people in his former school. Five months before the gunman acted, he commented on a YouTube video stating he would become “a professional school shooter”.
Role of Social Media After the Florida Shooting
With this YouTube comment missed, Cruz carried out his heinous act. Trump carried out his presidential duty and issued a statement:
Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign – there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!
Even in a moment where something so horrible has happened, Trump managed to use the situation to deflect things he’s directly involved in. If you thought that was bad, even more stunning was this tweet:
So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!
While Trump came dangerously close to blaming those involved in the Florida shooting, he did stray across another line. By linking mental illness to such an act of violence, Trump has demonised mental illness in a time when we are starting to be more understanding of how important it is to be honest and open about these things.
So, with social media giving us an incredible insight into the brain of Trump, what can we find out about the general public?
Google’s Insight Into the Thoughts of a Nation
Google Trends is an incredible website powered by what people are really searching online. A few years ago, a thought emerged that from analysing search trends, Google could even tell if people were pregnant or sick before they worked it out for themselves. People type things into Google Search that they dare not utter to friends and family, so that’s the best place to check the pulse of a nation.
The search engine provider has created a fascinating page dedicated to what people have been searching in the days that followed the Florida shooting.
Top Questions About Gun Control
What is gun control?
What can I do about gun control?
What did Obama do for gun control?
How many school shootings happened in 2018?
Why we need gun control?
In the week that followed the shooting, the number one searched term was “what is gun control’. This surely suggests that people are starting to think more about taking an approach deemed successful by Australia, Norway, Japan and the UK; ban high-powered weapons and heavily regulate the rest. In fact, the whole argument is brilliantly summarised by Australian comedian Jim Jefferies:
When the comedians are making the ost sense, you know you have a problem.
People thinking it’s time to act is supported by the second most searched term on the list being “what can I do about gun control”. This is followed by “what did Obama do for gun control”, indicating a large proportion of Americans are suffering from ‘buyer’s remorse’.
Many have been fact checking the ’18 school shootings in 2018′ which is why we carefully worded how we mention that above. In eight of those incidents, noone was hurt of killed.
Finally, American’s are loading up on new kinds of ammunition and searching for “why we need gun control”.
Gun Control or Gun Shopping?
Google Trends also cleverly positions search data for “gun control” and “gun shop” over the past twelve months versus the week after the Florida shooting.
Search Data for Past Year
Search Data Since the Shooting
Just look at that swing. The vast majority of states were searching for gun shops in the past twelve months without much interest in gun control. That’s been flipped on it’s head with almost every state now more interested in gun control. Except Kentucky, determined to be the Roscommon of America.
Emma Gonzalez is the Poster-child of a Young Gun Control Movement
While the search data from inside the US is fascinating, also interesting is the global trending terms. Emma Gonzalez, a survivor from the Florida shooting, has appeared on nearly every news outlet around the world, delivering a passionate speech demanding gun-law reform and calling BS on Trump and his government:
Gonzalez has given many hope that reform might be possible. Also trending is “march for our lives”, a movement of children and families marching to Washington DC on 24 March demanding gun safety. I was shocked to learn details of what school children in the US are drilled with. They practice situations where a shooter is coming into the classroom. I was worried about forgetting my homework:
When I was in school, I was worried about the homework I forgot to do. This kid is doing drills on how to deal with an active shooter. It's just mind-boggling that the US hasn't done anything to control gun ownership yet. https://t.co/3JkVCXu67u
While I would like to just sit back and ignore what’s going on in the US regarding gun laws, thanks to social media it’s an international story. While the impact isn’t directly felt on these shores, it’s impossible to ignore that this is happening in the developed world. Thanks to Google’s insights there would appear to be some sort of light on the horizon, but only time will tell if that’s actually a real dawn.
I’ve said it a few times, but when Dublin lost Web Summit it was hard to see how we would recover. After an incredible first year, Dublin Tech Summit has plugged the hole left in the calendar of annual Dublin tech events. With the event set to take place once again in April this year, the Summit has announced one of their headline keynote speakers.
Casey Neistat
How has this guy ever been brought to Ireland before? I know he was due to speak here last year but the conference never happened for some reason. Thankfully, Dublin Tech Summit will finally grant the people of Ireland what we want; Casey Neistat.
While often referred to as a YouTube star, Neistat shot to fame before YouTube even existed. He and his brother created a video back in 2003 called “Apple’s Dirty Little Secret”, a video that three years before YouTube even arrived online, received six million views in its first month.
The video was all about how the brothers ousted Apple for not having a battery repair programme and suggesting people were better off buying new devices if their battery dies. A couple of years later, Neistat discovered YouTube, uploading his first video on when to use emergency brakes on the subway:
You can already see the style of his videos which remains to this day; highly produced but where absolute perfect quality is not the goal.
Today, Neistat has nearly nine million subscribers to his YouTube channel, which leaves his well outside the top fifty but still a prolific online content creator. His vlogs are really fun to watch, his tech reviews are unorthodox and his style is unique. Give him some of your time and you won’t be disappointed:
What Else to Expect from Dublin Tech Summit Speakers 2018
While Neistat might not be topped in terms of celebrity, Dublin Tech Summit does promise to deliver a fantastic range of speakers on a range of tech topics. The two-day conference will explore global technology trends with speakers from companies such as Shazam, Microsoft, NASA and The Bitcoin Foundation. The conference is also committed to empowering particular groups within tech including students, women in tech.
Be sure to follow us as we’ll be covering the two-day event along with enjoying the evening tech-entertainment.
I remember when I was younger and being told to turn off the PlayStation because I needed to get outside for some exercise to be healthy. I always hoped that some sort of study would come along and just say FIFA 2001 was actually fantastic for the development of young brains. While that study never did come along, science didn’t let me down completely in finding some good in computer games. So, if your office is earphone-friendly or you’re trying to get an important essay finished in college, listening to soundtracks from games can help you get super focused.
Why You Should Listen to Video Game Soundtracks to Get Shit Done
Listening to something while you work or study can be helpful for a load of reasons. Personally, music not only removes the noise and distraction that surrounds me but also gives me some rhythm and momentum. I’m usually writing, so I opt for music that doesn’t have lyrics – they distract me way too much. I like soundtracks, you know, tracks from Hans Zimmer and the likes which just give off epic vibes. Even so, there was one soundtrack I was pointed towards a few years ago which seems to help me get shit done faster than anything else on Spotify; the soundtrack from Far Cry 3:
Now, there’s plenty of science out there to show music can be your friend when trying to get work done. Even more interesting is the thought that game soundtracks can boost your focus even more. When you play a computer game, the music is designed to keep you driven, focused and in a space where you can solve problems.
Like, if you’re a gamer just remember the last time you were stuck trying to solve a puzzle and didn’t want to go to bed until it was sorted. All the while, in the background, engaging music is discreetly playing to keep you focused. Just imagine treating a work problem with the level of focus you give to unlocking a door in Broken Sword or Monkey Island (two personal favourites).
Quick sidenote on how much of a big deal gaming music has become. They even have dedicated concerts, one of we I went along to a while back and was blown away by:
Now that you’re totally convinced you can take over the world, but only if you have the right soundtrack, here are some belters to help get shit done.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Created by Aussie synth duo Power Glove, this soundtrack is a massive throw back to pulse-racing 80’s synth music. To be honest, if I left the list here and called it quits with just this track, you’d be getting more work done than ever. Go ahead and enjoy this collection of synth bangers building up and jumping into life:
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo is an iconic game that defined the Xbox as a console that could finally stand toe to toe with Sony’s PlayStation. The soundtrack that accoompanied this pivitol moment in gaming was equally epic adding incredible context to far away worlds:
FTL: Faster than Light
Hands up. I’ve never played this but I’ve seen plenty of people recommend the Faster than Light soundtrack for getting shit done:
This could have gone to any Streets of Rage game. I can’t remember any soundtrack that better held my attention than Streets of Rage. That change when the boss came in, the movie-style synth and the rhythm that just kept you going.
Just try not to jump up and start beating people with pipes:
Did I miss something really obvious here? I’m sure there have been games with belter soundtracks, the likes of FIFA and Gran Turismo coming to mind. However, when it comes to distraction-free yet motivaional tunes, I think these are some of the best. If I did miss one, let us know below.
We’re counting down the days to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. There’ll be gadgets galore emerging from the annual tech event along with some of the most anticipated smartphone launches of the year. Included in the agenda is the latest Galaxy S9 flagship from Samsung. Here’s what we know so far from the generous helping of rumours and leaks that are floating around.
Leak: The S9 Will Be Very Similar to the S8
Evan Blass is a regular leaker of smartphones and at this stage, I’m pretty sure manufacturers like Samsung are just feeding him leaks. Regardless, this all means that when he leaks something it’s usually true. Sure enough, he leaked the Samsung Galaxy S9 quite some time ago:
At first glance, there would appear to be little or no difference between last year’s flagships and the S9 range. This leak was given even more credibility through a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) chat. A user claiming to have spent twenty minutes with a ‘close to production Samsung S9’ confirmed the Blass leak to be accurate. The AMA leaker has since deleted their comments but can still be found; nothing is ever really deleted from the internet.
According to the AMA leaker, the S9 is practically indiscernible to the S8.
Between the Blass leak and the AMA, it’s become apparent that Samsung continues to resist the urge to remove the headphone jack from their smartphones. The S9 is going to push sound as a key feature too, with Dolby branded speakers pumped out equalised audio. This is likely to be all show and little substance in the way of delivering an amazing audio experience. With that said, it’s not like the audio will be terrible and is apparently better than the S8.
The headphones in the box are set to be wired AKG buds, just like the ones that come with the Note8. I can vouch for these; they’re great.
Leak: Bixby Returns With a Dedicated Button Again
I personally love my Samsung Note8. It’s the best phone I’ve ever bought; hands down. But Samsung decided to install a physical button which launches Bixby; Samsung’s smart assistant. The problem with this is that Bixby is a little crap. I’ve never really had much of a desire to use Bixby leaving that button to just sit there as a big pile of useless. Customising the button isn’t an option that Samsung felt they should bring to the table either. Bah!
The Bixby button returns on the S9 and I’m pretty sure that Samsung won’t want anyone customising what it does. The AMA discussion did fire up someone saying they customised what that button does on their current phone, but these features are shut down as they come out. We’ll wait and see what happens.
Rumour: S9+ Users to Get the Note8 Camera
It’s a real pity that Samsung hasn’t seen fit to bring the Note8 camera setup to all Galaxy users. Honestly, the camera on the Note8 has blown me away with a cracking dual-lens setup. As a result, the phone can deliver stunning deep images now famous thanks to the iPhone’s Portrait shot. Galaxy S9+ users, however, will get to enjoy the dual-lens setup and be able to take those quality bokeh style shots.
Now, the surprising thing is Samsung’s launch teaser.
The S9+ adopting the Note8-style dual-lens surely is great news, but will something else groundbreaking be in store for S9 regular users? Samsung’s Unpacked invite clearly implies a massive improvement in the regular S9’s camera. A reimagining surely needs a fair improvement to justify such a hearty call out. Given the lack of a second lens, it would appear that Samsung’s updates are going to be software based, not hardware. That’s slightly underwhelming as a key call out on a flagship launch.
The only possible challenge to my logic is that Samsung is focusing on the front-facing ‘selfie’ lens. There’s one massive leak from Samsung themselves suggesting this might just be their focus.
Leak: Samsung’s Take on Apple’s Animoji
According to a Valentines Day YouTube post on Samsung’s Korean channel, the next generation S-range will have some sort of take on Apple’s surprisingly popular Animoji feature:
The video suggests it’s all about getting your emotions across through your phone. Actually, I think that’s what the video suggests. It’s a little cryptic, right? The Animoji feature certainly was a random win for Apple with the launch of the iPhone X so it’s quite likely that Samsung will try and pull off something similar with their own front-front facing camera. Just how they will without the plethora of sensors and lenses available on the iPhone X remains to be seen.
Leak: The Fingerprint Scanner Moves
The Galaxy S8 fingerprint scanner positioning boggles the mind. It’s off out in the middle of nowhere. Actually, I felt the exact same about the Note8’s fingerprint scanner until the official Samsung case made finding the right position to unlock the phone second nature. Samsung obviously trawled through online forums and realised everyone thought their decision to land a fingerprint scanner to the right of the camera lens was pretty damn stupid.
The Galaxy S9 fingerprint scanner will, by all accounts, move below the camera lens. The same is true for the S9+ with two lenses and a fingerprint scanner lining up horizontally on the read of the device.
Rumour: The Most Expensive Galaxy Yet
Smartphones are getting bloody expensive these days. I’ve been harping on about how great the Note8 is but I really paid for the honour to have it. Take the good with the bad right. The Samsung Galaxy S9 will be about €120 more than last year’s model. We’ll hopefully have network pricing in the next few days, so be sure to sign up to our newsletter below.
When is the Samsung Galaxy S9 Officially Launching?
Samsung officially launch the next generation Galaxy flagships on 25 February 2018 at their annual Unpacked event.
Our Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy S9
As is often the case, whether or not the Galaxy S9 is worth picking up or not comes down to your own phone right now. If you’ve got a Galaxy S7, the Galaxy S9 is a cracking upgrade. If you’ve got the S8, you’ll be left wondering how Samsung can really call this an upgrade. The perennial churning out of phones seems to be a force of habit rather than neccesity, but manufacturers are raking in the cash because the demand is out there.
I’m sure the Galaxy S9 is going to be a cracking phone and the S9+ will be even better still. But, if you are in the market for a new phone, you’ll likely be just as well served by a Galaxy S8 and you’ll have a few bob left in your pocket.
You might remember there was a fair bit of outrage in 2017 when Snapchat launched Snap Maps. When you took a picture, it would appear on a map, allowing others on Snapchat who you aren’t friends with to see what you’re up to. The anger that followed was somewhat understandable as people thought their privacy was at risk. The truth of it all was that app users could turn this feature off, ensuring your snaps from the jacks remain within your private network. Today, Snapchat has released a new feature called Snap Map on the Web and I’m just waiting for the deluge of angry tweets to kick off again.
Snap Map On The Web
Right, so we’re pretty much all using WhatsApp, right? Have you tried out WhatsApp Web, which allows you to write and receive WhatsApp messages on your laptop? It’s really bloody handy getting to step away from the touchscreen every now and then. Snapchat has kinda gone and done the same thing.
Now, you can’t start uploading snaps from your laptop, but you can explore the Snapchat world by wandering around Snap Map on the Web and really hone your creeping game. Here’s what Dublin looks like; go on and have a wander:
I personally think this is pretty cool once you step away from the privacy scaremongering and can see the massive potential Snap Map present for event organisers.
If you are a Snapchat user, don’t worry. Publically posted snaps are off by default and you do need to turn them on.
So What?
Well, this is a really big step forward for Snapchat because now you can explore a world of content created by everyday people, practically in real-time. Right now, according to Snapchat, the app has newsworthy content about ten minutes before traditional news reporters appear on site. This is down to the content being created by people on the spot when something happens. While that does sound like a precursor to a Black Mirror-style world when we just capture every moment, it’s a hard fact to ignore. Whenever something simply fantastic or utterly horrible happens these days look around and you’ll see a lot of smartphones capturing the moment.
According to Jack Brody, lead product engineer, Snapchat want’s to turn how we view maps on its head. With Snap Maps, it’s no longer about where you are or where you’re going, but more about what’s happening there and what can you do. Snapchat is bringing exploring real experiences to more and more people. The surprising part of Snap Map on the Web is the fact you don’t need to log in or even need a Snapchat account to view the images and videos being made public by people in an area.
Snapchat Isn’t Making Bad Moves
If you are in any way at all interested in the business side of Snapchat, you’ll no doubt be aware they’ve been taking a pounding in the stock market. They’ve recently released a fresh design for their app which has received mixed reactions.
However, Snap Map on the Web and Snap Map in general, for me, polarises what Snapchat’s mission is. They are making exploring the world easier than ever, by bringing authentic content created by local people. There’s a feeling of authenticity to this that you don’t often get with social media apps or even traditional TV shows. Snapchat has claimed that 31% of UK Snapchatters watch TV for less than an hour a day, indicating people are consuming news and reviews in very different ways.
I’m reluctant to ask, but how do you feel about Snap Map on the Web? If you decide to post publically (remember that’s off by default) anyone in the world could find your images and videos by zeroing in on your location. Awesome way to share content or terrifying for privacy? Let us know in the comments below.
When you’ve been born in the very late eighties, it’s sometimes fair to feel a little bit cheated. I have no recollection of the Berlin wall coming down. Ray Houghton put the ball in the back of the English net on the day I was christened; again, no recollection of that event either. But they were close calls. I was around for them, but just too young to remember. Space exploration on the other hand, well I missed the best years which saw the likes of Neil Armstrong walk on the moon and utter famous words which to this day make the hair on my neck stand up.
Tonight, I watched SpaceX test a rocket. No humans were onboard. It all took little over ten minutes. Yet, I know I’ve just watched something on par with those great historical events that I’ve missed so far; the testing of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy.
What is SpaceX?
First of all, it’s not just “space” with the coolest letter of the alphabet stuck onto it. SpaceX is short for Space Exploration Technologies Corp. As you might imagine, SpaceX is focused on getting people into space, but it does go a little further than that.
Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, founded the aerospace company to make leaving the earth’s atmosphere more affordable and accessible. His ultimate goal was to see SpaceX facilitate the colonisation of Mars; our Elon doesn’t think small. And if the man wasn’t inspirational enough, just check out this heart wrenching showing his reaction to criticism from his heroes – couldn’t be further from the supervillain that I predict he’ll become:
But how can Musk and SpaceX make space exploration more affordable? It’s really simple: you reuse the rockets, duh.
When SpaceX rockets take off, they aren’t just jettisoned into space, oh no. Those damn things land. Watching the recent test flight of Falcon Heavy, the company’s largest rocket to date, I fell in love with SpaceX.
What is the Falcon Heavy Rocket?
Originally due to launch in 2013, the Falcon Heavy just made its maiden voyage. The Falcon Heavy design consists of two engines and a fuselage. The rocket’s design allows it to lift almost three times more than previous SpaceX rockets, nicely compared by the BBC below:
The maiden Falcon Heavy mission was not without bucket-loads of drama. The goal was to launch and return everything, minus an interesting payload, to earth. This meant that for the first time ever, two boosters and the core would need to return to earth in a single mission. Of course, knowing Elon Musk was involved meant there would be some extra sprinkles of fun on the mission too.
The Boosters
The boosters provided what was most certainly the most exciting moment of the whole mission. Following a successful separation from the core and their initial lift duties are done, the two identical boosters began their journey home. Remember, SpaceX is all about making this craic sustainable and affordable so these things needed to land safely back at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Madness.
As mad a thought as it is, nothing prepared me for actually seeing these two incredibly powerful pieces of engineering land in perfect sync together. Dare I say it, I was bloody moved by it all:
It's easy to let space launches pass you by as uninteresting, but when I saw those two @SpaceX#FalconHeavy boosters land in perfect sync, I realised @elonmusk and screw it, humanity, achieved something astonishing. That was epic. pic.twitter.com/IQIOXhz5gd
I was not alone. Everyone was caught off guard by how incredible a moment this was and to be fair, the landing really was a thing of beauty.
The Core
While the boosters absolutely take the title of the most exciting part of the mission, the core maintains the most nail-biting aspect of the Falcon Heavy’s maiden voyage. The core, which held the mission payload and sat between the two booster engines has yet to be recovered. Speculation on Twitter so far suggests many believe the core has been lost following SpaceX ending their broadcast shortly after the two boosters successfully touched down.
The Payload
In 2017, Musk said the Falcon Heavy mission’s test payload would be the silliest thing he could think of:
Silliest thing we can imagine! Secret payload of 1st Dragon flight was a giant wheel of cheese. Inspired by a friend & Monty Python.
So, when Musk drove to The Kennedy Space Center in his red Tesla Roadster, he would also be saying goodbye to that motor. Right now, that car is hurtling towards mars with a Tesla Spacesuit manning the driver’s seat, listening to Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” on infinite loop.
That payload is still due to two burns over the next few hours to ensure it’s on a trajectory which will see it grabbed by pulls directing it towards Mars. Musk’s motor is going to have some serious mileage on it, but if the mission does fail and the Roadster finds its way back to earth, it’ll just be burning up in our atmosphere.
Still, if he has third party, fire and theft, he might just be covered.
Do you remember back in the day when your phone was used for just calling and texting? In fact, all it could do was text, make calls, play games like Snake and listen to the radio. Listening to the radio, ironically, taken away from us much to Dean’s dissatisfaction as he revealed on the Goos3D podcast.
What about the battery? The battery could last nearly a month. Yes, a whole month! Today, these are now commonly called ‘feature phones’. They had no internet or, at most, limited Internet connectivity. Connecting to the Internet, sending emails or booking Ryanair flights all had to be done on your home computer or in work when the boss wasn’t looking.
There is a lot of interest lately in getting back to the simple days of these feature phones. This is often referred to as going off-grid. The modern smartphone can play videos, take great pictures, download apps, check Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feeds and much much more. However, a movement has sprung up lately for a return to simpler and less connected phones. RTÉ’s Ryan Tubridy has recently been highlighting the risks of children using their smartphone and apps like KIK messenger, unwittingly interacting with dangerous individuals. Tubridy has also gone off-grid and is using a feature phone while documenting his experience and seeing how well he can re-adjust to a phone life with just being able to send SMS messages and make/receive calls. That said, team Goos3D did something very similar not too long ago for charity.
A current Kickstarter project to create a new feature phone called “The Light Phone” has raised double their goal, highlighting the huge interest worldwide for simpler feature phones amongst those who perhaps seek a simpler, social media less life. Sure heck, maybe a feature phone retreat for few weeks has benefits. Plus, let’s never forget who’d win in a drag race…
So, we’ve been looking into this and below is a list of some of our favourite cheap and very cheerful feature phones with just the basic features. All of these phones can be purchased from mobile operators on basic monthly or pay as you go contracts. Usually at reduced tariffs also, which is an extra reason to go with a feature phone! You could, of course, purchase these phones directly yourself (e.g. eBay, Amazon etc) and use your existing sim card. Remember to request your mobile operator to reduce your package rate to reflect that you don’t need a 3G/4G data allowance anymore.
Nokia 3310
Originally released in 2000, the original Nokia 3310 became one of the worlds most popular phones, selling over 126 million worldwide. Re-released in 2017 as a faithful recreation of the original with an updated screen, colour user interface and a battery that still last a month! Packed with old-school features such as the ability to send SMS texts, make calls, listen to FM radio and play the legendary snakes game. It’s a modern phone with all the great old school features you or your parents will remember. There is a 3G version of this phone but of course, that wouldn’t really be playing fair with your inner back to basics self. Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone currently have this on sale for €59.99, pay as you go contract.
Nokia 150
Another recent release from Nokia (2017), this feature phone has all the build quality and reliability you would expect from a Nokia phone. It features a 31-day battery, camera and flash, FM radio & MP3 player, SMS texts and voice calls.
Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone currently have this on sale for €29.99 on pay as you go.
Alcatel OneTouch/10.54
Simplicity at its best. The Alcatel One Touch/10.54 comes with an FM radio, camera, games, SMS texts and voice calls. Comes with a great battery that’ll last you 30 days standby time and a tasty price to boot. This phone can be picked up for €19.99 in Vodafone and Eir on pay as you go. Sure, what more would you need?
Alcatel 20.08
Another no-frills feature phone from Alcatel. Featuring an FM radio, MP3 player, camera and the ubiquitous ability to send SMS texts and voice calls. Long life battery is also a beneficial feature. This phone does actually offer very basic 2G Internet connectivity but don’t worry, the connection will be far to slow to surf modern web pages with any degree of comfort or patience. The big features on this phone are Hearing Aid compatibility and extra large keyboard buttons. So for those in need of such features, this could be a godsend. Available for €29.99 from Vodafone on pay as you go.
We have quite an incredible amount of data about ourselves online these days. Simply put, pleading ignorance isn’t an excuse anymore as educating yourself and your family is a key part of enjoying technology safely. While we applaud RTÉ’s insight into the dangers of KIK Messenger for children recently, little was done to educate parents on using apps like this safely.
But how do you know if you’re up to speed with keeping your online privacy in check? For example, if you’re a Gmail user are you in the 10% that use two-step verification? Or are you in the 90% of people who choose not to use this extra layer of free security?
6 February: Safer Internet Day
6 February is Safer Internet Day and we plan to bring you a few bits and bobs in the run-up to help you stay secure online. To kick things off, we have a lighthearted quiz from Google that’ll give you an idea how your fixed when it comes to cybersecurity.
