Home Blog Page 149

Snapps: Showbox is still going strong

0

Over three years ago, we brought you the fantastic entertainment app that is Showbox. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was one of the first apps we ever reviewed. For an off the radar app, Showbox is still running surprisingly well. Here’s everything you need to know and how to download Showbox.

Get the latest and best apps to your inbox with the Goos3DLetter

download showbox apkShowbox is simply a data base of movies and TV shows that you can download directly to your Android Tablet, Smartphone or Android TV dongle. Once you download Showbox, you will have access to a seemingly unlimited data base of entertainment. What could be better? How about that such a resource comes at a cost of zero!

We admit Showbox operates in a legal grey area that only the open source of Android could create but still, there’s a lot of entertainment to enjoy.

How to Download Showbox for Android

Step 1. Download the APK

With the grey area that Showbox operates in it cannot be installed from the Google Play Store. You must manually download the installation file (APK) and then install it. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds. You can download Showbox.apk from their website.

Step 2. Install from unknown sources

Installing from APK is also known as sideloading an app. In order to sideload Showbox, you must set your Android handset to allow this. This is easily achieved by navigating to Settings > Allow installation from unknown sources.

Step 3. Follow on screen instructions

It’s that easy! Chances are it will run a quick update. The Showbox web site has more info on how you can stream to Chromecast among other things.

Now you have everything you need to watch the latest TV shows and movies on your favourite device. Being honest, Showbox, while being in a legal grey area, is really well designed. It runs smoothly and even lets you download items for when you’re on the move again. Funny how off the radar apps can be so good.

Motivating Marty: A journey to better health through tech

Most people who know me, know I love the odd bit of tech. Unfortunately, I also love the odd takeaway and I don’t love the gym. Next month, I turn 29 and I want to make sure I see plenty more of these birthday things. That’s why I’ve started my ‘Motivating Marty’ movement.

What is Motivating Marty all about?

While I don’t enjoy peeling myself off the couch for the gym, I actually like exercise – even the gym. Street running, or running in the park falls in behind 5-a-side football as my preference of exercise. I just don’t do enough of it. Then there’s my terrible diet. Another thing I need to address, but I’ve said it all before. Which is why I need motivation, motivation like the world watching for example. That’s why I’m adopting tech for the job.

Martin’s battle with this guy starts soon #motivatingmarty #withings #weighin #update

A post shared by Goos3D (@goos3d) on

How will tech help motivate you?

Well, through the wonders of technology, I’m connecting lots of different devices to social media. Take the Withings Smart Scales that I use to weigh myself. Using IFTTT, I’ve connected my weighing scales to Twitter.

Could you imagine having someone looking over your shoulder at every weigh-in, waiting to tweet out your weight to the world? Believe it or not, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Every time I stand up there, IFTTT fires my weight to my new dedicated Twitter account for the world to see. It might be your worst nightmare, but it’s a huge motivator for me.

I’ve connected my weighing scales to Twitter

Good lord. What else will you be using?

To improve that number that gets tweeted out, I gotta keep moving. I’ll be tracking my efforts using the Jawbone UP app. Jawbone are best known for wearables, but they also have a great app which links to my Huawei Watch. You’ll only get Twitter updates when I hit my daily step goal. No updates either means I’ve had a lazy day or forgot my watch.

But it’s not all about exercise. Actually, I’m sure many would say my diet alone is the easiet win for my health! Using MyFitnessPal, I’ll be tracking what I eat for major meals and of course for snacks. This will then be relayed to Jawbone’s UP app, where IFTTT flings it to Twitter. There’s no hiding at all for me.

Think you want to follow or help Motivate Marty?

The dedicated hashtag will be very important over the coming months. Everything I post on Goos3D’s Instagram with #MotivatingMarty will also be shared over to Twitter, again using IFTTT. If you think I’m taking it handy, let me know. The more support I get the better. There’ll be a dedicated Motivating Marty section for reviews of the latest fitness apps on Goos3D.ie in the coming weeks.

 

What’s on Netflix Ireland in April

The weather is certainly getting better, but there’ll be the odd time you have to stay in this April. Here’s the best of what’s coming to Netflix this month.

Louis CK: 2017

Netflix is becoming very well known for their original comedy specials. Louis CK will have two of these this year, the first being Louis CK: 2017. Louis’ comedy shows are usually offensive as hell and hilarious. This is definitely one show to keep an eye out for.

Louis CK: 2017 will air on Netflix Ireland on 4 April.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return

Mystery Science Theater 3000 first aired in 1988 and ran until it’s cancellation in 1999. The plot of the show is a bit mad. A captured janitor aboard a spaceship is forced to watch terrible movies. He builds two robots to watch the movies with him. The show then places you in a theatre behind the trio of movie watchers as then comment on the film. Like I said, it’s bizarre.

Still, the second lease of life on this show comes about off the back of a record-breaking Kickstarter. The campaign raised over five million dollars. So they’ve tapped into something special. You can see how mad it is for yourself on Netflix from 14 April.

Sandy Wexler

Adam Sandler signed up to create four feature length movies with Netflix. He’s just signed up for another four too. The only problem is, that none of them are very good. I really don’t expect too much from Sandy Wexler either. Still, you’ll probably watch it, desperately hoping for another Happy Gilmore to happen.

Check it out from 14 April.

Bill Nye Saves the World

There’s just something great about science shows. Mythbusters was amazing, including their new search for replacements. White Rabbit Experiment was a great first attempt for Netflix to enter the space too. Bill Nye Saves the World is a new talk-show, for want of a better word. There’ll be live experiments and the likes as Bill takes on common misunderstandings. You’ll see the likes of alternative medicine, sex and global warming tackled with science. Along the way, there’ll be special guests like Will Wheaton and Zach Braff. This is one of the highlights of April for us.

Bill Nye will start saving the world on Netflix Ireland from 21 April.

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On

Hot Girls Wanted is a six-part documentary looking at the lives of people affected by porn. This particular series focuses on internet porn, social media and virtual relationships. It’s far from a throwaway documentary filled with smut. Hot Girls Wanted looks at the fact many use porn as sexual education. The series premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Expect this to be an intriguing dive into life in front of and behind the porn camera.

Hot Girls Wanted airs on Netflix Ireland on 21 April.

Review: Remaking the Anime classic – Ghost in the Shell

Ok, confession time. This may utterly destroy my reputation as a film nerd. Anime as a whole is my cultural blind spot in my entire lifetime. I’ve seen about three full-length Anime features – Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Akira. I don’t have anything against Anime, which boasts some of the best storytelling and visual experiences in film. I’ve just never had the time to fully immerse myself in the world of Anime for whatever reason. Why do I mention this? Purely to show you how much of a blank slate I was walking into Ghost in the Shell.

Remaking a classic

One thing Anime fans love is a remake of a classic. The fact I’m coming in with a blank slate is probably a plus. I don’t have an emotional connection to one of the all-time great Anime movies. Here’s a recap if your slate is clean too.

Ghost in the Shell revolves around the Major (Scarlett Johansson). The Major is a woman who died under mysterious circumstances. Following her death, she is taken to Hanka Robotics. Here she’s picked for a secret project to put a human brain in a robot body or ‘Shell’. These ‘Shells’ are the ultimate anti-terrorist, launched in one of the most beautiful and artsy openings you’ll likely to see all year. Fast forward to a year later and she is the crown jewel of Section 9 anti-terrorism core. In the midst of investigating a string of murders, she comes across an Enigmatic hacker named Kuze (Michael Pitt). It’s now, her flashbacks of repressed memories begin.

Casting Johansson

The casting of Scarlett Johanson as the lead in an Anime movie was met with criticism. Many believed this casting to be an example of Hollywood ‘Whitewashing’. Considering that 90% of the cast and crew is of Asian descent, these claims are pretty unfair. It’s a simple case of getting a famous actress to help sell a movie. Johansson does have a challenging role as Major. Balancing the character’s humanity with her robotic form isn’t easy. She’s in an eerily calm state for most of the movie as she regards everyone with a cold glare, only caring about the job at hand. And while what she does with the character doesn’t always land it’s clear what her intent is

Ghost in the Shell is a classic dystopian movie

The look and feel of the movie reminds me so much of Blade Runner. A dark and alienating setting complete with nightmare like holograms standing over the city like monsters. There are some huge and nightmarish giant hologram adverts. The city is awash with strobe lights, dizzying colours everywhere you look. The people live in grim looking apartments, sprawled as far as the eye can see.

There are a lot of things the movie does right to create the dystopian setting. Still, there are areas it’s let down. It seemed at times, that the writers spelt out the movies message. It’s better to have some subtlety about these things.

Verdict

If you are looking to get into Anime, I feel that Ghost in the Shell is a good starting point. The movie is unlikely to leave a lasting impression on you, but it’s a good watch. You’ll also likely get a better grasp of manga and Anime.

How to Get the Amazon Echo Dot in Ireland: Buying It and Getting Started

Amazon has a long-standing history of kinda being in Ireland. We depend on Amazon.co.uk for our online shopping needs, using services like Parcel Motel to fill in the gaps. One of Amazon’s latest innovations is the Echo and its little brother, the Echo Dot. We look at what it is, how you can get the Echo Dot in Ireland and some tips to get you started.

What Is the Echo and the Echo Dot?

The Amazon Echo is a voice-controlled smart hub for your home. It’s about the size of a Pringles can. Powered by Amazon’s voice service, Alexa, you speak commands to control smart devices and services. My own personal favourite is Spotify, as the Echo also has built-in speakers. Once you sit down to dinner, just say “Alexa, play dinner music in Spotify”, and she’ll look after the rest.

The Echo Dot is a smaller, cheaper device with all of the functionality of its bigger sister. The Echo Dot also has a speaker built-in and while it’s not as good as the Echo, it’s great in a small space. Weighing in at €175 for the Echo and €60 for the Echo Dot, the Echo Dot packs more than enough punch to get you started.

Will the Echo Dot Work in Ireland?

We recently just got our paws on the Echo Dot and got it working really quickly. However, there are a few important things to note:

The Echo Dot Depends on Android and iOS Apps

Amazon finally provides official support for the Alexa App in Ireland. Just pop along to your relevant app store to download it for free.

 

Which Irish Services Available for Amazon’s Echo?

We’ll admit, the Irish content on the Echo is in it’s earliest form. RTÉ is the best-known service on there. There’s also an unofficial Dublin Bus app which is a very interesting concept. There are also loads of services that will work in Ireland, like Spotify and Fitbit. Down the line, we’re also likely to get the likes of Just Eat and Uber.

We’ve launched our own Flash News Briefing app which ensures you can keep up with the latest Irish tech news through your Amazon Echo Dot.

Where Can You Buy the Amazon Echo Dot in Ireland?

Amazon.co.uk is the best place to pick up the Echo Dot. They officially support the device in Ireland now, so you won’t neccessarily have to use Parcel Motel to get it delivered either. With that said, always check the delivery cost to Ireland as sometimes you can actually save money by shipping with a service like Parcel Motel. Buying Amazon products directly from Amazon ensures you’ll also get the best customer care should something go wrong.

If you’re looking for an official retailer to buy the Echo Dot in Ireland from, Littlewoods Ireland is probably the best spot. They are shipping the Echo Dot for €60.

Bonus: Testing Our App on the Amazon Echo Dot

 

 

 

Review: Iron Fist is the latest mashup between Netflix and Marvel

0

In short, the latest Netflix-Marvel mashup, Iron Fist, is terrible. I should elaborate a bit more I suppose.

Background to Iron Fist

Another step towards The Defenders series opens with our new hero Danny Rand walking barefoot through New York. Then it all goes wrong, Rand’s backstory is seemingly a crossover of Bruce Wayne meets Dr Strange. Rich boy’s parents die in a horrific tragedy, gets raised by warrior monks and trained to become something else. Oh, and with special powers of course. Anyway instead of being more zen warrior monk master, Rand AKA The Iron Fist just comes across as a pretentious prick who spent some time travelling the world, took a rake of drugs and is now so enlightened he feels the need to speak in random philosophical nonsense to the point you kind of want to slap him a good one. We all know that guy right? Has a drape hanging in his bedroom, maybe a little Buddha, enjoys himself some recreational and spews wellness lectures to anyone who will listen? Yeah, you know the likes.

Kung Fu fighting

So starting out Rand (Finn Jones) is trying to use his magic glowing hand and his Kung Fu skills to get into his old family business and confronts one of the two decent characters in the show, Ward Meachum who is essentially our poor hero’s childhood bully who now runs the family business. If you think this would break out into blue bloody murder and a series of karate based actions scenes of epic proportions, you will be sadly disappointed.

In recent times Marvel and Netflix have released some bangers, Daredevil and Luke Cage coming straight to mind. But both do the whole superhero thing just a bit differently to the norm, however with 13 one hour episodes to fill it just seems like Iron Fist moves painfully slow.  To put this dreadfully slow storytelling in context, one whole episode the hero is strapped down to a bed in a mental institution and in another he spends the whole duration making friends with some homeless chap who has no bearing on the storyline what so ever.

The flashback, the god-forsaken endless flashbacks of his parent’s death are almost used as filler and just plain get annoying. Ok, we get it your family are dead, now more of the glowing hand and fighting, please. Rand is billed as a master of Kung Fu, but the flashes of this proficiency are few and far between. And while we wait for the brawling to commence, there isn’t much lightness to hold the interest. Maybe just the slow descent into madness of Ward Meachum is as good as character development gets.

Commence Iron Fist rant

To be honest, I expected far more from Iron Fist and maybe I am just a bit bitter it wasn’t up to scratch, but it really is as shallow as a puddle while being as subtle as a sledgehammer. In comparison to the earlier collaborations like Daredevil, Luke cage and Jessica Jones (all of which will be coming together in The Defenders this summer) Iron Fist is just boring drivel.

I mean Luke Cage at least really looked at the racial profiling and stereotyping in the US, Jessica Jones gave us a cynical bitch type female hero rather than your normal lycra clad boob monsters and Daredevil– well it was just nice to see that franchise come back to life. But the Iron Fist is nothing, it does nothing it just feels like filler content between now and the big summer release and our hero is a basically a chap who seems to have had one to many mushrooms.

In short, I feel I have finished a national service by watching this so you won’t have too. I’ll take the keys to the city as soon as they are ready please.

Smartphones: Mid-range marvels

0

It’s that time of year again. The likes of Samsung and HTC have launched their latest flagship smartphones. But high-end iPhones and fancy Samsungs aren’t for everyone. So, what if you’re in the market for something a bit cheaper? We’re going to take a look at a couple of mid-range smartphones for under €250. Each of these nifty little numbers are great value for money. That’s great for you whether you’re a techie on a budget, want a second phone or just plain don’t give a ra’ts ass about the latest tech. Without further adieu, we present the mid-range marvels.

The obvious choice: Samsung Galaxy J5

Image result for samsung j5

Right, first up is the most obvious choice for a mid-range smartphone is the Samsung J5. Depending on the network you can find this sexy piece of kit for approx €180. There is the slightly cheaper option of the J3 model which is about €30 less. This is not the time to cheap out. Spending the few extra pennies will really see you reap the rewards. Housed in a beautiful slim body with a metal frame, the J5 sports a great screen for the price with a 5.2″ super AMOLED display. Seriously, for this money the spec sheet is very impressive. Most notable is the 16GB of storage and the 13MP camera. That’s iPhone 5s kinda specs for half the money.

At this kind of price, this mid-range entry from Samsung is a clear and obvious choice. Well worth the money.

The real winner: Huawei P9 lite

Image result for huawei p9 lite

Where the Samsung J5 might have been the obvious choice, for those who are in search of something a bit different the Huawei P9 lite is the real winner. The P9 lite we have seen going for in and around €250. That makes it the most expensive of our mid-range smartphones, but really this is a case of you get what you pay for.

In the last number of years, Huawei has made huge inroads into the Irish market, producing smashing products at discount prices. Stick a Samsung or Sony logo on anything Huawei make and it would surely cost at least €100 more. Ahhhh, the power of branding.

Anyway, the P9 lite is the baby brother of the flagship P9 and on the main specs is very similar to the J5. Memory, camera and display, all match up between the two rivals, However, the P9 lite is the only mid-range phone we can see with a fingerprint sensor. The battery is also a 3000mAh which is the same as the higher spec Samsung A5 2017. It also boasts a huge Octo-core processor again something seen in much more expensive phones.

Lovely phone to look at and feel, with really top notch specs to boot The Huawei P9 lite is as slick as your going to find on a budget.

The specialist: HTC Desire 825

Image result for htc desire 825

HTC is, in my opinion, the most underrated smartphone brands around. The M flagship series has repeatedly beat out top notch products for years now. The tech from the flagships eventually gets incorporated into the Desire range. The Desire 825 is no different, boasting HTC Sense and is HD voice ready.

Once again, like the previous models the 825 is working with a 13MP camera, a 5MP selfie cam and the now obvious 16GB memory. The main difference between this and the other mid-range smartphones shown is the display. The 825 is boasting a mad 5.5-inch display, making it perfect for those of use who love to catch up with Netflix on the go. For anyone who is in the market for a large phabletesque display on a budget could do a lot worse than the Desire 825.

Available for roughly €180 it is the cheapest large displayed phone on the market.

The outlier: Xiaomi Note 4

Image result for xiaomi note 4 review

Now this one you can’t buy from stores but if you don’t mind waiting around for a couple weeks then you have the opportunity to get something a little bit special.

Similar to the Huawei, Xiaomi is another Chinese brand looking to make big headway in the European market. The Note 4 is proving to be a rather successful model offering stupidly good specs for about €200 on a range of online stores. To be fair the spec sheet is like something you would see on a lot of flagship products. 32GB of memory, 5.5-inch display and a fingerprint scanner coupled with a big old processor. If it helps the battery is a 4100mAh making it one of the biggest batteries on the market. Nice!

The phone looks superb, acts amazingly and is priced beautifully. Just have to be willing to wait a few weeks.

So there ya have it, the four best phones money can buy for under €250.

What to watch next: Top 5 binge-worthy 90s TV shows

0

I am a huge fan of TV series and I’ve watched shows from all eras. From the Young and Restless to Game of Thrones. But sometimes I’m missing the inspiration to pick out something to watch next. I find myself in a position where I don’t know what to binge on anymore. So, I am going back to those classic 90s TV shows, which have more than 10 seasons and are perfect to pass a weekend. The best TV shows from the 90s that still have massive followings today, and their influence is felt across all of television.

So here is a top of the 90s series that need to make a comeback.

Seinfeld

A TV show about nothing that became about something and turned out to be everything. How do you explain Seinfeld to someone from Generation X? If you’ve never experienced the sarcastic and hilarious humour of Seinfeld, it is time to do so. Perfect for binge watching.

Friends

Friends is the best known of all 90s tv shows

Who doesn’t know Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey. F.R.I.E.N.D.S? The story of six aimless New Yorkers growing into adulthood. It’s been 13 years since the finale, but Friends is still watched, not on DVD anymore but on Netflix. Not many TV shows can say they defined a generation like Friends did.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons are likely the most famous family in the world. To watch The Simpsons in one extended viewing from start to finish is a rare and beautiful treat that you need to experience once in your lifetime. You will never forget it.

Sex and the City

What could be better than four fabulous women talking about men, sex, drinks and fashion? You could be surprised that you feel you can relate to a show almost 20 years later — except for, you know, the flip phones and lack of Tinder and Uber.

That 70s Show

Hello Wisconsin!

If those words don’t bring up memories of hanging in the back of a Vista Cruiser or “hanging and baking” in the basement, it’s time to get educated on a little piece of TV series we call That 70s Show. Yes, you’re now reading an article about series from the 90s about a show based in the 70s.

So, what do you think when someone says 90s TV shows? Is it one we missed out? Be sure to let us know.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date Ireland: Not just another new Samsung phone

Just how many phones will launch in your lifetime? Remember in The Simpsons where everyone got really bored with Nasa launching people into space? Well, that’s happened with smartphone launches too. All we ask is that you give the new Samsung Galaxy S8 a chance. Honestly, it’s not just another new Samsung phone. We’re here to tell you why.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 could be the nicest phone ever

Ok, first of all, I’ll admit I’m a Samsung fan. The Note7 was a disaster, but not just for Samsung. I saw the phone at its Dublin launch and fell in love. When the phone was pulled I wondered if I could love again. Looking at the Galaxy S8, I think it’s time to try for love again.

The Galaxy S8 design: Bezels are so last year

Coining the phrase “infinity display”, Samsung has killed the bezel. The bezel is the non-screen part of your phone’s body that visible from the front. Combined with the huge 18:9 ratio screen and you’ve got an incredible looking piece of kit. Yes, there are some fears around the increased chances of total destruction, but still – pretty.

To give you some context to the size of the new Samsung phones, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are 5.8-inches and 6.2-inches respectively. Last year’s beast smartphone, the Galaxy S7 Edge was just 5.5-inches. Other than that, there’s loads rocking on the Galaxy S8 with screen improvements, camera upgrades – you know, the usual craic. We want to show you the really cool new toys that make this amazing.

You won’t even know your unlocking your phone

Some phone users unlock their phone over 80 times per day. Honestly, I think that’s a conservative figure. Anyway, at first look, Samsung would appear to have complicated unlocking your phone. The fingerprint sensor is up by the rear camera now as there’s no button on the front.

Samsung has a trick up their sleeve. The Galaxy S8 comes with two new ways of unlocking your new Samsung phone:

Iris Scanner

This was one of the Note7’s great innovations. To unlock your phone, you lined up your eyes with circles on the screen. We could probably add this to our list of James Bond tech that really exists. We’ll have to wait and see just how fast this is, but it was slower than fingerprint unlocking on the Note7. If it’s not fast enough for you, there’s one more trick up Samsung’s sleeve.

Facial Recognition

This is not the first time we’ve seen facial recognition on an Android phone. It is the first time it’s been done right. Early reports suggest that it’s fast and reliable, with Samsung sacrificing some security for user experience. For verifying payments and the likes, you’ll need to use retina scanning, fingerprints or your pin.

It’s got USB-C, a headphone socket and wireless charging

USB-C is the new standard port for new devices. Still, I wasn’t convinced Samsung would take the leap with USB-C since they left it off the Note7. Sure enough, they have and they’ve kept the headphone socket too. Personally, I’m delighted they’ve also kept wireless charging which has fast become my favourite thing about owning a Samsung. The official Samsung wireless charger is a kind of dock, but there’s also another dock you can get for the Galaxy S8.

Samsung DeX: A mad, but brilliant, notion

Admittedly, DeX is not going to be for everyone. DeX is a special dock that converts your new Samsung phone into a desktop computer. Immediately, I could imagine this being great for connecting to your TV at home. Really, DeX does aim to take the place of a computer. Will there be too many gaps for the Galaxy S8 to fill this job full time but time will tell. To be fair, at first look DeX looks pretty comprehensive.

Bixby: The new Samsung personal assistant

Samsung BixbyIrish people are not going to be talking to their phones anytime soon. Even with the international popularity of Apple’s Siri, Irish people just think talking to a piece of tech is a step too far. Still, Samsung don’t care and are bringing their own personal assistant to the party.

Called Bixby, your new Samsung personal assistant can carry out some simple tasks. If you’re looking at a photo that’s sideway, ask Bixby to rotate it. Naturally, you can then ask your assistant to send the photo too. The more connected devices you have, the more useful your assistant as Bixby can control the lot. Okay, so like Siri, Bixby is a bit of a gimmick.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Irish launch date and pricing

As is par for the course, the main retailers in Ireland are offering pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S8. The official Irish release date for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus is 28 April. You can pre-order now and get the phone eight days early. Here’s how the networks compare.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S8 on Vodafone

Vodafone will be offering their customers the Galaxy S8 on all their plans. Pre-order is open until 19 April and they even have pricing available already:

 €40 per month  €60 per month €80 per month
 €449 up-front  €249 up-front nothing up-front
 €1,409 over 24-months  €1,689 over 24-months €1,920 over 24-months

 

Head on over to the Vodafone site where you can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S8 now.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S8 on Three

Three should be seeing a lot of interest in the Galaxy S8. Most Three customers were recently able to leave their contracts and still can until 3 April. Right now, Three are showing the Galaxy S8 pricing with their current suite of plans. Just remember, you’ll never pay a bill on this monthly cost. Here are the actual monthly and up-front costs:

 €45 per month  €60 per month
 €399 up-front  €299 up-front
€1,479 over 24-months  €1,739 over 24-months

 

You can pre-order now on Three.ie.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S8 on Meteor and eir

While not offering the best value in the market, Meteor is still a popular choice in Ireland. eir’s pricing is a little harder to work out, but it’s not a million miles off from Meteor’s anyway. You can pick up the Galaxy S8 from Meteor through pre-order at the below prices:

 €30 per month  €45 per month  €55 per month €65 per month
 €549 up-front €449 up-front €349 up-front €349 up-front
 €1,269 over 24-months  €1,529 over 24-months  €1,669 over 24-months  €1,909 over 24-months

 

Meteor are now accepting Galaxy S8 pre-orders via their site.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S8 on iD Mobile

One of Ireland’s younger networks, iD runs on Three. iD is rather confusing, but they offer flexibility and transparency. While still a considerable unknown in the Irish market, it’s understandable if you’re hesitant. Still, it’s worth having them in the mix. iD are actually cheaper than some of the more established networks.

€54 per month
 €250 up-front
€1,546 over 24-months

 

You can pre-order your Samsung Galaxy S8 on the iD Mobile site or Carphone Warehouse’s site.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 may become available on other Irish networks in the coming days. Right now, we’re still waiting on Tesco Mobile and Virgin Media.

Snapchat Tropies: What they are and how to get them and how to boost your Snapchat score

0

Ah Snapchat, how did we live without thee. The daily pics on the bowl, the rude stuff and the general timeline of a hard night with your mates. Yes, Snapchat is great craic and our very own Dean is a connoisseur of some fine snaps. Add him you won’t be disappointed – munsterboy92. Anyway, in case you were not aware, Snapchat attributes a score to each person based on a “special equation combining the number of Snaps you’ve sent and received, Stories you’ve posted, and other factors.” As for the factors affecting your Snapchat score, we haven’t a notion.

Boost your Snapchat score

Recently it came to light that one way you can top up your Snapchat score by collecting the hidden trophies within the app. It does sounds very similar to the way game consoles add some extra spice to your life with achievements. Just like the PS4 trophies or the Xbox achievement system, Snapchat will unlock certain trophies every time the user reaches a certain milestone or performs particular acts. Nothing too adult in terms of acts of course.
So apart from the bragging rights is there any real purpose to these achievements? Well no, but that does not mean they aren’t a bit of fun.

How to boost your Snapchat score even more

So here’s the list and how to get them, let us know how many you have collected and see if you can beat us:

•    Video tape emoji: Send a video
•    Movie camera emoji: Send 50 videos
•    Video camera emoji: Send 500 videos
•    Sun face emoji: Send a snap with the temperature filter above 100° F
•    Snowflake emoji: Send a snap with the temperature filter below freezing
•    Flashlight emoji: Send 10 snaps with the front-facing camera flash on
•    Ogre: Send 1,000 snaps using the front-facing camera
•    Loop once emoji: Flip the camera once in a video
•    Loop emoji: Flip the camera five times in one video
•    Rotate emoji: Flip the camera ten times in one video
•    Hear no evil monkey emoji: Send a video without audio
•    Magnifying glass emoji: Send ten pictures that are entirely zoomed in
•    Microscope emoji: Send ten videos using zoom
•    ABCD emoji: Send 100 snaps with large text
•    Panda emoji: Send 50 snaps with the black and white filter applied
•    Moon face emoji: Send 50 snaps using night mode
•    Frying pan emoji: Send a snap between 4 and 5am
•    Lollipop emoji: Send a snap using five or more pencil colours
•    Rainbow emoji: Send ten snaps using five or more pencil colours
•    Artist palette: Send 50 snaps using five or more pencil colours
•    Email emoji: Verify your email address in settings
•    Red telephone emoji: Verify your number in settings
•    Happy devil emoji: Screenshot a snap
•    Sad devil emoji: Screenshot 10 snaps
•    Red mask emoji: Screenshot 50 snaps
•    Radio emoji: Submit a snap to a live or local story
•    Clapperboard emoji: Submit 10 snaps to a live or local story
•    Fax machine emoji: Scan 5 Snapcodes
•    Index finger emoji: Send a snap with one filter applied
•    Peace sign/two fingers emoji: Send a snap with two filters applied
•    Baby emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 10
•    Gold star emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 100
•    Sparkles emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 1,000
•    Circled star emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 10,000
•    Explosion emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 50,000
•    Rocket emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 100,000
•    Ghost emoji: Get your Snapchat score to 500,000
Happy snapping folks.