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13 Reasons Why Review: A totally binge-worthy high school drama

Have you ever had one of those days that never seems to end? When finally they do, you’re so worn out, broken and just ready for bed that you collapse on your couch. 13 Reasons Why is perfect for evenings like this. Though, with the heavy nature of the show it would probably be better to leave it for a day when you’re not so…. deep let’s say.

What 13 Reasons Why does is bring you back to secondary school and it does it with style. The style may be dark and may bring up emotions that you thought you’d buried years ago (I swear to god I didn’t cry).

Never before have I watched a high school based TV show or film, that actually feels like being back in school. We all had our bullies, our bad and good days and that is what 13 Reasons Why does extremely well. The characters feel real, the action is well written and the relationships feel genuine. Of course, I’m barely scratching the tip of the iceberg, and what an iceberg it is. The mystery revolves around the death of High School Junior Hannah Baker and a set of tapes she leaves behind.

13 reasons whyWhat is 13 Reasons Why about?

The show opens with a haunting monologue delivered by Hannah Baker (Kathrine Lang). She explains the tapes and the reason behind them. They are a name and shame gallery of those who pushed the dearly departed to do the deed.

Each episode is a tape, each tape a person who somehow wronged Hannah and pushed her to her doom. For me, the mystery lies, as if does for Clay (Dylan Minnette) on why he receives the tapes. What has he done to Hannah to deserve this ornate revenge? This really makes this a must watch, even if that’s tough at times.

To my mind, no show or film has captured the devastating effects of bullying, depression and of suicide like 13 Reasons Why. Many moments had me feeling genuinely uncomfortable. Several examples spring to mind, though one stands out beyond them all.

Hannah Baker’s suicide

The show doesn’t shy away from such controversial moments, and by god did they make a good choice. Showing in all its gory, terrifying detail the death of Hannah really put a fine point on things. To me it speaks volumes; cruelty, loneliness and the holy host of depression, low self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness bring people to the brink of a wholly destructive choice. A choice that will affect the lives of some many, whether they know it or not, and by courting controversy the show runners have tried to dispel the myth of suicide. It is not glorious, it’s is not quick and painless.

By showing the deeply disturbing image of someone with so much to live for taking their own life (in extremely shocking and bloody fashion, too) it adds something. It doesn’t trivialise, it doesn’t glorify. If anything it seeks to horrify and in that it succeeds. The lack of music over the scene, the anguished cries and the sight. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t nearly break down in tears.

To a wholly cheerier topic

While it is a heavy series, I would highly recommend (if you couldn’t tell already) watching 13 Reasons Why. There are several things to watch out for in the show, creative editing techniques give flashbacks a clear and distinct difference. The camera work is fantastic and the cast is astonishing.

13 Reasons Why is an eye opening mystery show and probably the best piece of high school drama I’ve seen. A compelling and thoroughly thought provoking show

I give this series a rating of being entirely binge-worthy.

Boon: The best alternative to Android Pay and Apple Pay in Ireland

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We love nothing more than finding a new way for you to use your smartphone. Right now in Ireland, customers of AIB and KBC banks can enjoy Android Pay. Customers of KBC and Ulster Bank also got access to Apple Pay recently. These services let you can tap your phone when shopping and is the most innovative payment method seen in Ireland for some time. Unfortunately, there are plenty users out there whose banks don’t support Android Pay or Apple Pay. Boon is a great alternative.

What is Android Pay and Apple Pay

There is a fair chance that you tap your debit card on a regular basis. You probably even feel slightly inconvenienced when shopkeeper slots your card into the machine. Yes, we even view typing four numbers as a mild inconvenience these days. If this sounds like you, Android Pay and Apple Pay is right up your alley.

You no longer even have to take your Visa debit card out of your wallet. Instead, your card details are saved to your smartphone. Where you would normally tap your card, you now tap your phone. You will feel more than a little bit mad at first, but it is super convenient. Think back to the last time you were ordering a coffee. Everyone queuing on their own is probably WhatsApping people – phone already in hand.

aib android payIs that the only benefit of Android Pay?

No, there are a couple of scenarios where Android Pay is a life saver.

You forgot your wallet

If you’ve gone to work without your wallet, it’s not a problem. In the history of mankind, no one has ever forgotten their wallet and smartphone.

The other half has your card

You’re not supposed to go sharing your card with other people, but it happens. You can lend your card to the other half for shopping, while you tap and go with your smartphone. Genius.

You have more than one card

Does your wallet bulge? It might not be money, but your wallet can still bulge. If you have a debit and credit card with a participating Android Pay bank, you can add both to your smartphone. A handy way to save on wallet space.

Shopping online

Certain apps and websites will let you pay for items using Android Pay. This will be a convenient way of checking out and just in time for Christmas.

Are there alternativea to Android and Apple Pay?

It’s never nice feeling all left out. You’ll be envious of people tapping their phones in no time. Customers of Bank of Ireland, permanent tsb and N26 have none of these lovely toys to play with leaving many waiting. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

Boon: The alternative to Android and Apple Pay

Boon is a smart little app with one job to do. It allows you to tap your phone on contactless terminals to make a payment. Instead of being linked to your bank account, Boon depends on you topping up your account. The app also features automatic top-up to ensure you always have money on your phone. You can pay by tapping your Boon-powered phone anywhere that accepts Mastercard contactless.

Boon: Fees

There are a few costs associated with using Boon. You won’t pay any monthly fees for the first twelve months, but after that, it’s 99c per month. Reloading your Boon account is completely free when completed by bank transfer. This does take two to three days. Finally, you can also top-up with a debit or credit card. You’ll have credit instantly this way, but you’ll pay at least a €1 or 1% – whichever is more.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long until all banks bring us Android Pay. It’s only a matter of time before Apple pay is here too. It’s unlikely our cards will vanish for another while, but our dependency will.

Download Boon from Google Play and iOS now.

Table 19 Review: It’s no Wedding Crashers

Mel Brooke once said that the best comedies can be put into two distinct categories. Movies can put normal people put into uncomfortable or extraordinary situations. Or movies can put extraordinary people into normal everyday situations. So naturally, the wedding has been a fixture of comedies, since before Adam Sandler grew out his mullet.

The setting of Table 19

Weddings are a social minefield that border on either being mildly depressing or a real life black comedy. A tightrope one must walk while trying to keep balance in the face of a thousand different variables, drunk relatives, speeches before dinner, the mental image of your mother dancing to ‘Up-Town Funk’ on the dance floor seared deep into your retina’s and so on and so forth. The only real hope you have for survival is tying your tie around your head and going for it.

Table 19 focuses on one little table in the corner of a wedding reception. The table is ‘full of random guests that probably should haven’t have come.’ So, the scene is set. The cast is a typically motley crew of misfits and oddballs forced together as strangers. Naturally, they will bond and become friends by the end credits, a la The Breakfast club. Unlike The Breakfast Club, Table 19 has no idea what it’s trying to be.

Anna Kendrick plays by Eloise, who was the original made of honour until she got dumped. Dumped by the best man. Dumped by the best man, with a text message. Despite this, she feels obligated to attend and at the wedding, she meets another guy named Huck (Thomas Cocquerel). Huck looks like he’s crashing the party and so they hit it off almost instantly.

There’s a great cast

That’s about it for a plot, because the other people at the table are so one dimensional they contribute nothing to the main story. Everyone’s favourite lanky awkwardly charming geek Stephen Merchant plays Walter whose essentially every other Stephen Merchant character ever put on screen. Lisa Kudrow and Craig Robinson are a long-married couple who can sit through a dinner and never say a single thing to each other that isn’t an insult. And rounding off this ragtag group is June Squibb, as a little old lady, a sweet nanny that keeps a bag of pot in her room. And last but not least also Tony Revolori, from The Grand Budapest Hotel who plays a kid constantly trying to have sex with anyone he encounters.

An Irish wedding is far more craic that Table 19

While the movie’s cast is clearly talented, the film is bland paint by numbers stuff. For example; when the cake is introduced, you know exactly what’s coming. You know the wedding cake isn’t making it to the end of the movie. And the entire movie is like that, we know exactly what’s in front of us, ahead of us, way up ahead, even what’s around the bend way before we should.

Prison Break returns after 7 years in solitary confinement

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Spoilers ahead

If you haven’t watched Prison Break at all or the new Season 5 episode, stop reading. There are spoilers ahead. While even the Season 5 trailer had decent spoilers in it, we’re not going to be held responsible for you ruining something.

Prison Break has been a far-fetched rollercoaster from day one. The entire series was nicely wrapped up 7 years ago which included the death of a main character. Typically, this stops nothing these days as the series returns with the dead risen.

What’s Prison Break all about?

Lincoln Burrows was arrested for the murder of a government official. With his brother sitting on Death Row, Michael Scofield plots to break Burrows out. Scofield is a genius when it comes to engineering. Covered in tattoos containing hidden maps, Scofield gets himself arrested to get Burrows out. Over the next four seasons, there are some ridiculous storylines. To be fair, if there was ever a show completely dead in the water to make a comeback, Prison Break would be it. Realism didn’t matter from the word go so why start now?

How can Prison Break be back with Scofield dead?

The first rule of TV and movies. Did you actually see Scofield die? No, of course not. That gives the producers all the rights in the world to concoct a mad tale of how he didn’t die at all. It’ll take some time for the full plot of how he’s alive to surface, but does it really matter?

What will Prison Break Season 5 be about?

Would you believe it? After four years of breaking each other out of prison, they have to do it again. Seriously, it’s like the people of Carrickstown and Summerbay not moving. Why would these lads go next nor near a prison? Anyway, sure enough, Scofield is alive and well. Actually, ‘well’ is a strong word. He’s locked up in Yemen, which isn’t great at all.

What characters return in Season 5?

Just one episode in, most of the band comes back together. Some, like Sucre, make little more than a cameo. Others, such as the strangely charming rapist T-bag, appear to be back for good. He’s even going to lose that god-awful timber hand too.

Will Season 5 be any good?

It’s so hard to tell. You have to turn off that part of your brain that’s constantly shouting “oh come on” at the TV screen. If you can silence that, then you might just be able to enjoy the new season of Prison Break. It should be more entertaining that the return of the X-Files, which was just weird. Prison Break is ridiculous but entertaining with plenty of funny bits too. To be honest, as weird as he is, the show is worth watching for T-Bag alone.

Prison Break Season 5 is now available to watch on Fox for Sky Customers. It’s on every Monday night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr9ESD9YGGo

OnePlus 3T Review: Like the old one but with a new hat

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The OnePlus is, as some of you may know, one of our favourites here at Goos3D. It seems like the world has taken note.  Earlier this year, OnePlus was forced to suspend sales of the OnePlus 3 because of a surge in demand. Unfortunately, instead of waiting a year to bring out the latest model (as they should) the fellows at OnePlus have decided to launch the OnePlus 3T. Sadly it’s the exact same phone as the standard 3 with a slightly better battery and bigger pricetag.

Now don’t get me wrong the old motto “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” comes into play here. If you aren’t already the proud owner of a OnePlus then, by all means, go for it. But if you are one of the many with the OnePlus 3 keep your money firmly in your pocket for now.

So what is all the hullabaloo anyway?

Design

After a couple of different styles used in the previous models, it seems to us like OnePlus now have a “type”. The OnePlus 3 and 3T are shockingly similar in design, so much so that you would be forgiven for not being able to tell them apart like Apple’s 5 and 5s, oh and SE models. But hey, at least a couple new colours are available with gunmetal grey and “soft gold” now a thing.

Image result for excitement meme

Literally, everything else about the design is the exact same, but I guess if you have a case for the OnePlus 3 then you won’t need to buy a new one.

Moving on!

Display

We may have mentioned that this phone is much the same as the previous model, so no prizes for what that means for the display. It’s the same.

Again although it’s particularly lazy to release a phone with no real improvements the display was a big part of the OnePlus charm. Bright and sharp display with this fancy dual polarising layer designed to make the phone’s screen easier to see in the brightest. Also, a Gorilla Glass 4 graded screen protector comes installed as standard, which is a nice little touch.

Software

OnePlus’ custom Os, OxygenOS has been touched up slightly for the OnePlus 3T. For anyone who has not seen it, basically its Android but slightly more user-friendly. The system contains elements such as on-screen buttons to take you back and to the homepage alongside resized app icons to make the phone look cleaner and more uniform.

One thing did really bother us about the software though. Ever buy a Sony or Samsung and look at the storage out of the box and notice a good chunk is taken out with crap bloatware? Well, 15GB of the OnePlus 3T is just that, bloatware crap. A bit annoying but to be fair the phone does come in 64GB and 128GB models so you would still have plenty of room for activities.

But taking all this into consideration the OnePlus 3T did get the Google Assistant AI rolled out in the latest update. Again a nice little touch.

Camera

Finally, something that actually sets the OnePlus 3 and 3T apart. The latest model is rocking out a 16MP camera on the front and back. That is some serious selfie action going on right there.

As vain as it sounds just think about which camera you’re using more on your phone these days? Snapchat (link to that post), Skype and all the rest are all front camera heavy so it makes sense for manufacturers to pick up on this. Only the 2017 Samsung A5 and the iPhone 7 Plus have phones with front facing cameras matching the main body. Wonder how long this will take to change.

For budding photographers, the manual mode has been added to the OnePlus 3T to give the phone’s owners access to settings you typically only get on a DSLR. You can change the white balance, ISO, focus and shutter speed to fit specific needs for an image. To be honest most of us will never use that but its something specialist and for people into that kind of thing it’s a great selling point.

Again, like the OnePlus 3, the OnePlus 3T’s rear camera is covered by a protective layer of sapphire glass to prevent it from scratching.

Battery

Again same as the One Plus 3 but we won’t whine about that because the battery was outstanding anyway. The Dash Charge technology can charge the battery up to 60% in just 30 minutes. Great when you’re rushing out for a sneaky pint on a Friday night.

Dash Charge works by shifting the power management processes of the phone to the adapter so the OnePlus 3T doesn’t get hot when charging. Reckon we know of one brand at least who could have taken this advice. Fast charging while ensuring safety, such a simple idea.

Conclusion

It’s grand sure. To be honest, it’s a bit disappointing that not much has changed between this and the previous model which is very Apple of them. The exact company OnePlus has been going after since the beginning. The only real difference of note is the camera which is quite good.

The big pain is the price though the OnePlus 3 hit the market for €329 while the OnePlus 3T starts at €439 for what is essentially the same phone. Still a smashing phone but we can’t help feeling a little disappointed. Bad form lads, bad form indeed.

 

 

New Knights of the Old Republic game rumored to be in development

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Another day, another Star Wars rumour. Seems like we can’t go a day without some new leaked information about The Last Jedi or the future of the Star Wars franchise. Today is no different, with a new Knights of the Old Republic on the horizon.

According to Liam Robertson of the Unseen64 website (a treasure trove of information regarding cancelled games) BioWare Austin are developing a remake of the original KOTR. BioWare Austin are the studio behind MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic. This remake has apparently been recently spun off into their own re-imagining, re-boot, re-jigging of the KOTR universe.

No sources have yet to be quoted by Robertson but fans of the old canon will be disappointed as he did mention it will follow the new Disney canon. So no Luuuke Skywalker for anybody sadly.

As with all rumours, this project has to be taken with a pinch of salt. It does, however, seem like a good bet, with Robertson having a history being correct about these things and with the return of the original KOTR writer Drew Karpyshyn to BioWare in 2015.

Knights of the Old Republic’s History

The original Knights of the Old Republic was developed by BioWare and published by LucasArts in 2003, and it is considered by some to be the both the best Star Wars and BioWare game created to this day. It was followed by a sequel, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords in 2003.

Miss Sloane Review: A thrilling mix of Suits and House of Cards

Miss Sloane is an attention-grabbing political thriller due for a 12 May launch in Ireland. I got a sneak peak at the film at a recent screening in Dublin. Here’s our spoiler-free Miss Sloane review to give you the heads up.

The plot behind Miss Sloane

Jessica Chastain plays Miss Sloane, a power and control hungry lobbyist. Lobbying is extremely popular in the States. It involves influencing government officials making decisions on important bills. Sloane isn’t just a lobbyist, she’s a damn good one, developing quite a reputation. She’s approached to drive a campaign to increase women’s interest in guns. Sloane is then approached by an opposing group who she teams up with. The rest, you’ll have to watch the film. This is spoiler free.

Is it Miss Sloane good?

As far as Hollywood stories go, Miss Sloane is fairly unique. Well, I say unique but I can’t help but feel it’s a cross between Suits and House of Cards. It’s got bits to make you giggle, gasp and question American politics. Yes, there’s even more, to question in the era of Trump.

It’s a cross between Suits and House of Cards

The movie feels a little long through parts and maybe some parts could have been cut out. In all, the film runs for two hours which is pretty standard. Even at two hours, there’s still enough throughout to hold your attention as the film builds up to a climax.

Where there negative reviews?

The film has already been released in the States and did receive some negative reviews. Remember, the film is based on the fictional Heaton-Harris bill to make gun laws more strict.

Some American’s don’t want you to touch their fictional guns

There’s a large proportion of American’s who don’t even want you to touch their fictional guns. Many saw the film fall short of projections and considered it a flop. Which leaves just one final question.

Should you go see Miss Sloane?

It’s a weird one because I felt like I was watching a long episode of House of Cards. That’s not a bad thing at all either. But I did feel more like this was suited to watching on the couch with Netflix. Still, it’s a great movie. Is it a ‘simply must watch in the cinema’ movie? Maybe not. You could wait for it to hit Sky Movies, Netflix or DVD. Either way, Miss Sloane is a two-hour political thriller well worth a watch.

The five best Chrome Extensions you should be using

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A whopping 71% of Goos3D’s desktop traffic is using Google Chrome. If you’re in the 71%, you can use Chrome Extensions. We take a look at the best Chrome Extensions and why you should use them.

What are Chrome Extensions?

Google Chrome lets you install Chrome Extensions to personalise your web browsing experience. There’s an insane selection of Chrome Extensions out there. Some are fun, others helpful with more being almost essential.

The best Chrome Extensions

For us, the best Chrome Extensions improve your browsing experience and provide insight into how your data is used.

AdBlock

I’m always surprised how many Chrome users don’t use AdBlock. Practically every website in the world is trying to cram ads down your next. Granted we don’t, but we’re sound. AdBlock, as the name suggests, removes the vast majority of ads online. You know that feeling when you can fast forward through a recorded TV show? AdBlock is the best Chrome Extension because it gives you that feeling online. Better still, it’s totally free.

If could opt for the premium AdBlock Plus, you can even block YouTube ads.

Get AdBlock for Chrome

The Great Suspender

Every time you open a new tab in Chrome, it’s like running another programme on your computer. Because of this, Chrome has gained a reputation as a bit of a memory hog. You might notice your computer gets a little slow or noisy when browsing. The Great Suspender checks through your tabs to see what you’re actually using. It then suspends anything it can to save memory and make your experience online smoother.

Get The Great Suspender for Chrome

Grammarly

Oh, how I love Grammarly. You’ll never truly know how good or bad your grammar is until you use Grammarly. This Chrome Extension scans everything you type. It then highlights grammar and spelling mistakes. Think of the last time you spotted a mistake in your Facebook status or email to your boss. Now ensure that never happens again.

Get Grammarly for Chrome

Ghostery

While we don’t show ads, Goos3D does track your site usage. We use this data to ensure we’re creating good content and to show you more relevant content on Facebook. Ghostery is one of the best Chrome Extensions to give you more insights into who is tracking you. When you load a page, the extension icon will show you how the site is tracking you. You can then click the icon to get even more insights.

Ghostery then goes one step further and allows you to either trust or block a site from tracking you. Even using Ghostery for just a few days will give you a better idea of how sites are tracking you.

Get Ghostery for Chrome

Truman Grade

As you’ve probably guessed, we take online privacy fairly seriously. We’ve written about it a few times. Truman Grade is a brilliant Chrome Extension to give you a quick look at a site’s security. The extension rates sites based on risk, security, privacy and visibility. The extension comes with both a free and premium tier but offers plenty for free.

Get Truman Grade for Chrome

Snapps: Pacemaker is an amazing DJ app for iPhone and iPad

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We’ve all had that moment in the nightclub where we know we could do what the DJ is at, right? Well, I’ve been that DJ in the past and it’s absolutely true. Of course, tech plays a part in breaking down the barriers here. Pacemaker is a DJ app for iOS devices that’ll let you live out your DJ dreams.

Who is the Pacemaker DJ app for?

If you like a good tune and fancy yourself to be a bit of a mixologist, and have Spotify, then Pacemaker is for you.

What does Pacemaker do?

Pacemaker lets you chop up and mashup any songs you can find in Spotify. The app holds your hand through the whole process too. To earn the title of DJ app, Pacemaker beat matches songs when mixing between tracks. It actually does this when skipping along the song timeline too.

The app also steers you towards the best songs to mix together. You’ll have suggestions waiting for you when you’re picking the next track. Even better, Pacemaker has an indicator showing how well matched all tracks are. So you’re less likely to ruin the craic with a lemon of a song.

Sharing your mixes

The most important part is letting everyone see what a killer DJ you’ve become. This means that you can share your mixes within the app. You can also send links to friends, but they can only play them through the app. This is the only real downside to the Pacemaker DJ app. You need the app which means you must have an iPhone or iPad to play mixes.

Plenty to play with for free

Still, if you do have an iPhone or iPad and Spotify, you’d me mad to not download Pacemaker. It will also mix music from iTunes and you can add some flair by purchasing effects packages. At the very worst, it’s a couple of hours living your dream as a DJ and conducting the drops. At best, you’ll create a banging Saturday night playlist for your gaff party.

Snapps: Walk Against Humanity is Cards Against Humanity mashed with fitness

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First things first, I presume you’ve heard of Cards Against Humanity right? The card game for horrible people where the funniest answer wins? Well, now someone has created a fitness app that’s definitely inspired by the game. Will a horrible fitness app like Walk Against Humanity help to motivate Marty?

What does Walk Against Humanity do?

Walk Against Humanity does the usual stuff you’d expect from your fitness tracker. It’ll track your steps and even map out where you’ve been. The real reason I’m interested in the app is how it motivates you. Much like hooking my weighing scales up to Twitter, it’s all about shame. The app dishes out plenty of abuse when you’re not achieving your goals. Many describe the tone as snarky.

If you’re a little bit more delicate and want to steer clear of the abuse, you can opt for nuggets of trivia instead.

One slightly different take on some other fitness apps is the leaderboard. As you’d expect, you can line yourself up against friends. Actually, if they’re not pulling their weight you dish them out burns through the app too. Walk Against Humanity also lets you measure up against others in your area. Nice bit of social competition there, encouraging you to take over your locality. There’s a bit of a Pokémon GO vibe off that aspect.

Walk Against Humanity Ireland: How to download the app

If you’re on iPhone, happy days. Head on over to the app store and download the app and get stepping. It’s a freebie too.

Android users, strangely, don’t have Google Play Store access for the app yet. Surely, it’s just a matter of time, but you don’t have to wait either. You can download the Walk Against Humanity APK file and install the app yourself. Just allow installs from unknown sources and you’ll be up and running in no time. See what I did there?