If you think back to the Brexit vote, you’ll remember hearing about an increased interest in Irish passports. The population of Britain sought a lifeline, allowing them to remain EU citizens. America has rocked the world by electing Donald Trump as their 45th President. Sure enough, the people of America are looking get their hands on Irish passports too.
Through the wonders of Google Trends, we dive into the minds of the American public.
Americans search Google for Irish passports
Over the past week, Americans have shown an increased volume of searches for “Irish passports”. It’s hardly surprising considering over 10% of the world’s largest nation claim to have Irish roots. Shocked at the fact their president has come through accusations of sexual assault and racist remarks, these Americans are looking for a safe haven. Sure, who wouldn’t want to pop on over to Ireland and have the craic.
A large proportion of these searches can be attributed to Massachusetts. Well known for its Irish connections, Massachusetts, with state capital Boston, has a population where over 20% claim Irish heritage. The majority of Google searches for “Irish passports” has been focused in this general area.
…and they’re not just coming for a visit
What’s even more interesting is the confirmation that these searches are not simply a few holidaymakers. A similar trend has been seen in American’s searching for “Irish citizenship”. The search habits of the American public would indeed suggest that many with Irish roots are abandoning ship.
Fortunately, we won’t be the only place taking in poor unfortunate Americans who didn’t want Trump. As news emerged about Canada’s Immigration site crashed.
The secret service will have their work cut out for them with the election of Trump to the White House. A quick look at the fastest rising searches in Google paints a disturbing insight into America’s private searches.
Now, go prepare your small American flags for the waves about to start appearing on our shores, seeking refuge from Trump.
Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton aren’t the only snakes going to battle this week. The highly anticipated premier of Planet Earth 2, narrated by David Attenborough, has brought the TV moment of the year. Enjoying viral success is a video of an Iguana trying to escape from a scary number of snakes.
Snakes on a plain
In the video we see a baby Iguana taking a leisurely stroll through a rocky landscape. Unbeknownst to the iguana, a few on-lookers had dinner in mind. We see Racer snakes suddenly appear from the rock and shoot towards the Iguana who, literally, runs for his life, while we can online imagine he was screaming “nope” over and over again. As he runs from a couple, more seem to start leaking from the rocks in a frenzy to beat their buddies to a tasty meal.
At one point, it looks like the Iguana is done for when a couple of snakes get a hold of him. The snakes appear to be hunting in a pack, but are actually only hunting for themselves. This leads to them getting tangled up and the iguana makes a swift escape. An unnerving scale of the rock wall and he makes his escape, joining his comrade.
Planet Earth
Planet Earth was highly successful when it came out ten years ago. And before the release of the sequel, David Attenborough said Planet Earth 2 would be ‘like nothing we’ve ever seen before’. After one episode, it has already lived up to the hype.
But not only has Planet Earth lived up to its name, the internet has exploded with parodies of the Snake vs Iguana video. Here’s our favourites.
Ozzie Man Reviews
Naturally, The Jalal’s ‘Run’ made an appearance
Our favourite one
https://youtu.be/o5b22yYpilg
In all seriousness though, if this first episode, and the media it’s drawn is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat for whatever else Attenborough has up his sleeve for the rest of Planet Earth 2.
Elon Musk is Goos3D’s favourite genius, entrepreneur, philanthropist and honestly, potential super villain. Well anyway, he’s back at it again with the announcement of the 2017 Tesla Model S to coincide with an Irish launch and Irish Tesla test drive dates.
The Model S has benefited massively from constant innovation and creativity since its inception in 2012. It slowly became a beacon of hope for the green energy movement in the motor industry. This is solely down to the utilisation and integration of new ground-breaking technology at every step, but the look has stayed the same since day one. Now let me break that down for you. Four years ago, think about what you looked like, how you dressed and how your hair looks etc. Would you be happy to be seen like that now? Likely not, well then you get the idea.
The Model S needed and upgrade and boy did it get it, bringing the 2017 Model S more in line with the Model 3 and Model X versions. Gone is the faux front grille, which is replaced by a new front fascia with slightly reshaped headlights and a sleeker, more streamlined look. Not a bad start. The 90D and P90D models also boast an increased driving range. The 90D, with its 90-kWh battery, improves from 270 miles to 294 miles on a full charge, The P90D sees range go from 253 miles to 270 miles.
One should expect that due to the lack of mechanical improvements, it is the Model S onboard computers that are creating a more efficient output and increasing travel time. And at approved service station ports a full charge is estimated at ten minutes, so grab a coffee and a sambo and off you pop again. These numbers haven’t yet been published on the EPA’s website, although Tesla’s own site says they’re EPA-official.
A huge significant change here is the modification of the onboard charger from 40 to 48 amp, which may not sound like a lot but charging purposes it really is. A standard phone charger is 1 amp while a fast charger is 2 amp, so its 24 times more powerful and faster than your “super fast charger”. Tesla says it enables quicker charging than before when connected to a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 power outlet or to a Tesla Wall Connector. At the moment there is no exact figures released in terms of the output here but the old 40-amp system was estimated to deliver 29 miles of range per hour of charge. You can expect more than 30 miles per hour for the new car. This change won’t affect the amount of time it takes to juice up with Tesla’s Supercharger network of quick chargers
One on the biggest new features joining the Model S arsenal this year is the HEPA air filtration system (High-efficiency particulate arrestance) which to you and mean is essentially a fancy name for an air filter which removes pollution and allergens from the air. It supposed to mean everything runs smoother and more effectively, almost like something one would see on a high-end gaming laptop (not really but closest comparison we could come up with).
Of course, all these new toys come at a cost. Sure enough, the 2017 version of the Model S is €1400 pricier across the range, the standard model starting at a what they call reasonable €81,000 with the supreme model with a whole six extra miles to give an extra €4000, why bother. If your so inclined to hit the top shelf, the Model S P90D breaks the bank at a bone crushing €110,000. Affordable me hole.
So as rumours will have it, these new bits and pieces will go into production as the companies California base with immediate effect. With the new update being visual as well as internal this is pretty much the first time owners will not be able to apply an over the air software update, similar to that of a phone. Here’s hoping those with the current Model S need an update and leave a few second-hand motors lying about for the rest of us. Or, of course, you could take a look at the Tesla Ireland: Model 3 launchModel 3 which looks to be a much more affordable idea altogether.
Test drive Tesla in Ireland this December
No more will Irish drivers need to shop for Tesla in the UK either. Musk’s company just announced the availability of the electric car in Ireland. A dedicated website is now available showing actual pricing. You can even book test drive slots in early December.
People are becoming more aware of their online security than ever before, and watching Black Mirror won’t do anything to slow that.
What is Black Mirror?
Black Mirror is a series which focuses on the threats we face because of new technology. Each episode looks at how technology has made an impact on our lives – usually in a negative way. Black Mirror is great because it carries out this social commentary without you even noticing. Once you step back from the story for a moment, you realise the tale fits into your life somehow.
The series started out on Channel 4 and for a long time was available on 4OD. When Channel 4 opted to discontinue the series, Netflix saw the potential it had. Black Mirror was commissioned for another two six-episode seasons. Better still, Netflix is also streaming the previous seasons too. This means you can watch the eerily prophetic episode where the British Prime Minister has sexual relations with a pig.
The Netflix era of Black Mirror
With the series returning, we want to give you a quick overview of Black Mirror series three and what the main themes the show covers.
Nosedive
Lacie Pound lives in a world where everything you do leads to you being rated on a social media network. Your rating, out of five stars, dictates who you can hang out with in life and what you job you get. You might not like your coffee, but you still share a picture of you enjoying it to improve your rating.
Seeking a new apartment, Lacie must up her rating to secure the apartment of her dreams. One subtle observation the episode makes is how invasive personalised targeted advertising can be as Lacie leaves the apartment. Still, this is far from the worst parallels the episode makes with reality.
Peeple is an actual iOS app that allows you to rate others using the service. The app is strikingly similar to that seen in the show. Also, we all know someone who lets their food and coffee go cold while their Instagramming it. Nosedive hits home and will likely do the same for you.
Playtest
Speaking of “hitting home”, the second episode is for the virtual reality and augmented reality fans out there. We follow the main character on his world travels, just before he runs out of money and joins up with a team testing an exclusive new gaming platform for cash. Playtest does make you think a little about how far we will go to achieve the ultimate gaming thrill. Personally, we’d go pretty damn far.
Shut Up and Dance
Probably my favourite episode of the lot and the one that made me change my own opinions on web security. Not too long ago, I had a tongue in cheek look at Mark Zuckerberg taping up his laptop webcam. Right now, my laptop, tablet, and smartphone all have the user-facing cameras covered with a security shield.
Shut Up and Dance follows a boy who’s webcam is hacked by an unknown group. After catching him in some compromising positions, the boy is quickly moved into a group of others in the same boat. With dirty laundry hanging over them, the group must carry out the anonymous group’s bidding to be released from their clutches.
What made this episode great was how simple it was for the boy to be caught out and just how far out of control the situation spiraled. Drama, twists and lots of yelling at the screen followed by you popping a post-it note over your webcam.
San Junipero
The entire way through San Junipero, I just wanted the episode to be over. It was slow, boring and I just couldn’t see where it was going. Then it ended and I was actually pretty impressed by it. San Junipero is one of the more futuristic Black Mirror episodes which might have been why it had been a bit of a slow burner. Also, it’s quite possible that it does suffer somewhat from the other episodes being incredible.
Men Against Fire
San Junipero signaled a shift in the episodes from social commentary on the present towards anxiety of where we’re going. Men Against Fire centers on a military organisation responsible for clearing areas of land filled with zombie-like “roaches”. It’s impossible to discuss this episode spoiler-free, but it’s well worth a watch. Plenty of twists and turns.
Hated in the Nation
Black Mirror absolutely kept the best-till-last. Sure, Shut Up and Dance was my personal favourite but Hated in the Nation is an amazing piece of TV. Themes like social-bullying and just how dangerous “keyboard warriors” can be. Even better is the episode’s portrayal of how the media deals with tragedy, fuelling mass panic to gain ratings. Seriously, the next time you’re watching the news, be conscious of that sentence.
Typically, Black Mirror finished this season by spilling into reality has a #DeathTo hashtag became popular on Twitter. We’re slightly nervous about the fact that we seem to be caught up in the trend too:
Some of you may be aware that Apple iPhone celebrates it’s ten year anniversary is next year. And everyone is expecting big things from Apple, as the iPhone is a milestone in their history. Quietly, Apple has just celebrated another big anniversary – the beloved iPod. The iPod became one of Apple’s most famous products, and arguably the first product to prove popular with the masses.
Why Apple gave us iPod
Up until iPod, everyone was still using Walkmans. A big, awkward device you would put your CD into and attach your headphones to. Steve Jobs looked at this design, and in typical Steve Jobs fashion, decided it was too big and too difficult to use. Jobs fashioned a small, compact MP3 player we now know as ‘iPod’. And even the bare minimum of devices that had flash memory, they could still only handle a couple CD’s worth of songs. Apple’s ‘portable jukebox’ came with memory options of 8, 16 and 64GB. Enough to easily hold over 1000 songs.
Jobs also got rid of the traditional headphone’s that went over your head. Apple leaned towards the legendary white Apple earphones. The white cable hanging down on display for everyone to see became a fashion trend as the iPod took off, starring in the device’s marketing campaign.
In terms of using the device, Jobs wanted it simple. The iPod shouldn’t just be a newer version of tapes and CDs, instead, it needed to be better. No more skipping through the songs you didn’t want to hear, the iPod was fitted with a screen and navigation wheel. This allowed users to browse their library of tracks. All without interrupting the current song they were listening to.
Not only did Jobs change how we listened to music, he changed how we purchased it.
Apple, iPod, iTunes
Introducing iTunes. Not a lot of people are aware that Steve Jobs did not create iTunes. In 1998, SoundJam MP was developed by a man called Bill Kincaid. In 2000, it was purchased by Apple. SoundJam allowed you to rip CD’s onto your computer to use as MP3 files. In 2002, Steve made a deal with five major record labels allowing Apple to sell digital copies of their albums. Later on, this would move on to selling and renting movies, TV shows, and Apps. In April 2003, we saw the launch of the iTunes Store. The idea was that one album wouldn’t be worth 10 dollars and another is only worth 5 based on popularity. Jobs introduced a fixed price for all the music, offering singles for .99c each. Although in 2007, they tiered pricing.
As the years went on, the iPod began to evolve. They became more compact. They had more memory. Better quality sound. The first big change we saw was the introduction of the Nano. A thin sleek device that fits perfectly in the small pocket on your jeans. Soon after, they brought out the fifth generation iPod, with a bigger screen for watching videos. At this point, Apple was very much involved in MP4 and was looking to provide the best possible experience for its users.
The birth of Touch
In September 2007, following the release of the iPhone, Apple released its sixth-generation iPod, its third generation iPod Nano, and its new iPod Touch. A product Apple hoped to completely replace the classic iPod with. Even their Nano’s had touch screen on them. Apple could see that the world was transitioning from click to touch. The Touch initially only had 8GB and 16GB, but came with 32GB the following February due to the popularity of the new iPod.
In April 2008, Apple overtook Walmart as the biggest music vendor in the US, at this point selling well over 1 billion songs.
Skip to 2010. Apple has six generations of iPod, four generations of Nanos, four generations of Shuffles and is has the fourth generation Touch, selling over 275 million products since its release in 2001. At this point, Apple has nearly taken over the digital music industry. Last year saw the release of the sixth generation Touch which comes with the same processor as the iPhone 6s, an A8 chip. This is more power than most phone service out there.
And it’s not stopping any time soon…
15 years down later, the iPod is still on sale today. In a time when everyone’s phone has a built-in music player or streaming service, it’s still going. There were rumours floating around that Apple had discontinued it, but they weren’t confirmed. Realistically, Apple may discontinue the device in the future. But they still have a firm grip on the digital music industry and as long as they do, iPod will probably still be around. Parents also appreciate having an option of a gaming and entertainment device that isn’t a phone for their kids.
But we won’t ponder over whether or not iPod will be gone in the next few years or not. For now, we’ll just say, Happy Birthday iPod.
Ok, to set the record straight, Martin has it wrong. Sure, the Mega Drive was a great console in during its time. But if you want to strike the perfect balance between retro and quality, look no further than the Sony PlayStation. Just hearing the intro makes me feel like a kid again.
When you think about it, the Sony PlayStation brought so much to the gaming community. Slick gameplay, next generation graphics, and memory cards were all part of the package. But what sets the Sony PlayStation apart from every other retro gaming console, are the games. There were so many incredible games available that just couldn’t be on the list. Classics like Resident Evil, Gran Turismo 2, Parappa the Rapper and Spyro all deserve to be here on merit alone. Narrowing it to just five is close to impossible task. But we’ve done our best.
Wipeout – Next Generation Gaming
Wipeout was one of the poster games for the Sony PlayStation when it was launched in Europe back in 1995. And in many ways, set the tone for what was to follow for the Japanese giant. The basis for the game was very simple. It was set in the year 2056, and allowed you to choose from a number of racers to compete in a futuristic race league. Try to picture Star Wars pod racing through Tokyo, and you’ll get the idea.
While it had the pod racing feel visually, the gameplay had an heir of Mario Kart about it. While racing around the tracks, you were able to pick up different power ups to help you finish first. Speed boosts, shield enhancements, and weapons were all there, available as random pick ups around the track. The soundtrack also set it apart from other games. Big hitters Orbital and The Chemical Brothers contributing to an acclaimed gaming soundtrack.
It was and is a seriously addictive 3D-racer that spawned numerous sequels across multiple platforms. Wipeout has to be in the collection of any self-respecting Sony PlayStation gamer.
Twisted Metal World Tour – Carnage in a Box
Oh, this brings back memories. If you had a copy of Twisted Metal World Tour, you were instantly one of the cool kids in school. The concept here is one of pure carnage, basically the Hunger Games on wheels. Set in 2006 in Los Angeles, the proclaimed ruler of the Earth, Calypso, has invited 14 of the world’s best drivers to compete in the 2nd Twisted Metal contest.
Twisted Metal represented one of the best things about the Sony PlayStation. The ability to pick up a controller and have fun within minutes of pressing the “On” button. If you have never played it, you are missing out.
Crash Bandicoot – Who Needs a Hedgehog!
While Crash Bandicoot has obvious links back to a certain blue-haired hero, there is little doubt that it paved the way for platform games on the Sony PlayStation. The plot centres around Crash, a Bandicoot who has been mutated by Dr. Neo Cortex. Crash must travel across the three Wumpa Islands to foil Dr Cortex’s plans for world domination. (Sound familiar at all?) Helping Crash along the way is a spirit guardian called Aku Aku, who has left traces of himself throughout the islands to make Crash stronger against attacks, and in some cases invincible.
What made Crash Bandicoot so great was that is entertaining. While the style of game was that of an old school rolling platformer, it touched on the 3D gaming potential of the Sony PlayStation. Sure, the graphics were boxy, and the storyline was borderline plagiarised, but it was still fun. I defy anyone not to play the “Hog Wild” level without a wide grin on your face.
Tekken 2 – Fighting Sim Royalty
Around the time of the launch of Sony PlayStation, the first iteration of the Tekken series was facing stiff competition from Virtua Fighter to be the best 3D fighter simulator available. The release of Tekken 2 soon put that battle to bed.
The game follows on from Tekken, where eight fighters competed to win the King of Iron Fist Tournament, and challenge corporate mogul and martial arts kingpin, Heihachi Mishima. Eventually, the story is that Heichachi’s son, Kazuya, wins the tournament and fights his father for control of the family business.
Two years on, and the Mishima Corporation are more powerful than ever. Kazuya rules his empire ruthlessly. Rumours of dark side emerge, and a second tournament is called for, with a course 100 times larger than the first. Calls are answered by the original competitors, and some new additions, as well as a father hell-bent on revenge.
Fighting simulators usually follow the same format, just with different characters, moves, and backdrops. Where Tekken 2 differentiates itself, is in a back story that would rival Game of Thrones. (Well, not quite, but it’s more solid than anything else out there). You find yourself playing while being genuinely invested in the paths each character takes.
It was also the first fighting game to have 2 characters hail from our own Emerald Isle, which was a nice touch.
Final Fantasy 7 – The Greatest Ever?
No matter what your personal gaming tastes are, there is no denying that Final Fantasy 7 is one of the best games released on the Sony PlayStation. The Final Fantasy series had been around for years by the time FF7 was released. This was the first of the series to use 3D graphics, utilizing the power of the Sony PlayStation at the time.
The story is built around Cloud Strife, anex-memberr of an elite military force Now turned mercenary, he is hired by a group called AVALANCHE, a sort of Greenpeace type rebellion. They exist to fight against Shinra, who, ironically, Cloud used to work for. Without giving much away, the story intertwines itself beautifully into an epic narrative that has yet to be surpassed by anything else since.
The gameplay is simple, yet addictive, flowing through as well as any RPG you can think of. The the turn based battle system allowed room for tactical combat. The Materia system is used to enhance your character abilities throughout the game. It could be as simple or as complex as you like, without compromising your chances of finishing the game.
There is no question that FF7 was a game that changed the RPG landscape. It also placed the genre at the centre of everything Sony PlayStation could do. The depth of the story, the 3D graphics, character development. All these elements lent themselves to a game that will be remembered by many as the greatest ever.
If you aren’t lucky enough to own a Sony PlayStation, Square Enix have recently released the full version on Google Play. Be warned, it will take up most of your free time, I don’t remember much else about 1997.
Everyone has that little sick part of them that loves being scared. You know that feeling, the one where you try to pay for something with your card, not knowing if you have the money or not. Should you find yourself seeking similar thrills, there’s a great new service that will help you find some scary movies to watch.
What is Shudder
Shudder is a dedicated movies streaming service for horror movies. One €4.99 monthly subscription gives you access to a curated selected of horror movies on your laptop, iOS or Android device. We were going to try to not mention Netflix in this article, but it just makes things easier. Shudder is Netflix for Horror. Shudder does, however, have a much more beautiful website and app. The little details are sublime, like how some buttons shake when you hover over them. While I find this important, the depth of the movie library is much more important.
Shudder has more than enough scary movies to watch
Whether you’re into movies that mess with your head or just good old fashioned gore, Shudder has you covered. The horror streaming service is pretty coy when it comes to saying exactly how big a streaming library is available to users. If it means anything, it passes the ‘Night of the Living Dead’ “test”. Users are greeted by 35 categories lovingly referred to as collections in Shudder.
Shudder Collections
Shudder’s collections make it really easy to find the perfect scary movies to watch. Some collections are pretty typical, ranging from “Psychos and Madmen” to “Zombie Jamboree”. Other collections are a little more specialist, namely “Gross Anatomy” which uses the “Human Centipede” as its primary image though the movie isn’t available.
If you feel that a particular movie is missing, they do facilitate users submitting movie requests. With that said, there is no shortage of scary movies to watch for varying taste levels of gore.
Shudder TV
Shudder TV is genius. As a man who recently got Sky, I appreciate just lashing on a TV channel and watching whatever is on. Shudder TV is an always-on streaming channel where you can just sit back and let the professionals pick your afternoon viewing. It’s never been easier to find the right scary movies to watch.
Shudder is worth it if you’re a hardcore fan
Let’s be honest here. If you are considering the likes of Shudder, you are likely a fan of horror. Scary movies aren’t exactly a niche market, but at the same time, you probably have another streaming service at your place. If this is the case, you already have access to some scary movies. Shudder is for those of you who want lots of horror in your life and some of the really gory stuff too. Shudder has some social aspects to it too with reviews and comments available on all movies. So if you like the adrenaline rush that comes with horror movies, get on over and try our Shudder. Of course, there’s a free trial.
Apple has just finished up their Apple event where they unveiled their three new MacBook Pro laptops. Yesterday, we also had an event from Microsoft, who had a bit more to show off. We take a look at the top products these two heavyweights presented to the world and see who comes out on top.
What Apple bring to your desk
Apple’s lowest spec laptop at $1499, is the new 13″ MacBook pro. Nothing too much for Apple to brag about here. We get the usual spiel about it being the thinnest and smallest MacBook Pro to date. But it’s Apple’s next product which grabs the spotlight.
It’s essentially the same as the new MacBook Pro but with a new feature we haven’t seen yet – the new ‘Touch Bar’. These is the most unique feature we’ve seen on any laptop in a while. The Touch Bar interacts with different apps you are on. While you browse the web, it acts a toolbar. You can answer calls on it which we can only assume is connected to your phone. Other features include volume control and switching between tabs, among other handy uses. It also acts as a bar for emojis, which is both nice and completely mental.
Another feature that was added is the fingerprint scanner. This can be used to unlock your laptop, and easily switch between users by just scanning your finger. Even if you aren’t logged out of the previous users profile. It also works with Apple Pay, meaning you can make a purchase online and authorise payment with a finger print. Apple has also upgraded the touch pad with a larger one with integrated force touch and haptic feedback.
But in typical Apple fashion, they’ve made a big change. They’ve controversially gotten rid of all previous ports and replaced them with 4 USB type-C ports. In a couple of years, this will prove very handy, but for now, if you want this, be willing to invest in a couple of adapters. This one comes in at $1799.
And finally, we have the star of their show. Basically, everything you’ve read above, but with a 15″ screen and a better processor. For this, you’re looking at $2399
So nothing particularly special from Apple at their latest event. Anyone with current MacBook need not upgrade to one of these for maybe a year or 2 when the price drops.
Can Microsoft bring a bit of life into this article for those of you still reading
Firstly, Xbox live is getting an upgrade. You can now stream live on your account. You can also set up new challenges and tournaments for your friends to compete. Not being a massive gamer myself, it’ll be interesting to see if this takes off. But the way things are going, live streaming looks like it’ll be the next big thing is social networking in 2017.
Next up, Microsoft have entered the augmented reality game with Hololens. Hololens adds of another layer to the reality that surrounds you but at a huge cost. In more affordable news, the tech giant also enters to virtual reality space with a $299 headset – a fraction of competitors like HTC Vive. Keep on reading to hear about what computers will provide the power to these headsets.
Microsoft is set to take on Apple’s MacBook Pro with their Surface Book i7. Essentially the same as last years model, the Surface Book i7 gets an upgrade in the shape of a better processor, a better battery (up to 16 hours) and an extra fan. This seems like they may be trying to make it compatible with the VR headset. It comes in at $2399.
This article needs a star and that star is the Surface Studio. The one device that could move me from Mac. Beginning with the screen, it’s is 28″. It has 192 pixels per square inch, which is better than 4K TV’s. To put into context, it creates over 1 billion different colours. The screen is multi-touch with up to 10 points of touch. Memory-wise the machine comes with either 1TB or 2TB – the latter boasting a more powerful processor. Xbox wireless is also integrated for immensely gaming (a nod to possible VR gaming on Xbox in the future).
A Surface Pen accompanies the PC, but a new, interesting new product was also unveiled. The Surface Dial. In the trailer above we can see it in action. The user can actually place the dial on the screen and choose from a selection of items or options based on the program open on the screen. Not much has been revealed on this so we will have to see what the design team behind this is Microsoft has in store for its users. The dial will cost customers $99.
And finishing off with the Surface Studio, as you can see in the trailer, the screen can be adjusted. This isn’t a new feature we haven’t seen from Apple yet. The Surface Studio will set you back a dizzying $2999. That along with it being thinner and having a much better display, I think Microsoft wins this round in terms of development and innovation. And even the better trailer, which is a site to see itself.
Our verdict of Apple versus Microsoft
Apple will be looking at Microsoft, their biggest competitor in the computer industry, and will be worried. We can only expect Apple will have big things in store for the next Mac computer, but as of now, the ball is firmly in Microsoft’s court.
We’re a strange old bunch here in Ireland. If you’re on Facebook, you already know about Sunday Mass. Not just any old mass though, we’re talking about RTÉ’s televised Sunday Mass. For some reason, a Facebook page dedicated to this weekly televisual tradition has blown up in the past week. We’ve pulled together our favourite stats from the strange phenomenon which is now raising funds for Pieta House.
We want to let you in on a little secret. Goos3D.ie has a goal. Ireland is not short of great technology news sites like siliconrepublic.com to name but one. However, for the day-to-day person, some of these sites can be a little full-on. Goos3D.ie instead tries to get people excited about technology by making it fun and relevant. RTÉ have a new series coming with a similar goal – Making Ireland Click.
What is Making Ireland Click all about?
Making Ireland Click is a four-part series looking to explore why the public need to get cracking with the online world. Quite simply, the web makes like easier once you know how to work your way around.
Episode one of Making Ireland Click will focus on older generations interacting with the online world. This generation makes up some of the 300,000 in Ireland who are not active online.
How can I get involved?
The show itself kicks off on Monday 31st October, on RTÉ One at 7.30pm. If you are already confident online, be a champion for tech. Maybe your grandparents aren’t active online. Suggest sitting down with them this Monday to show the value of online. Share the Making Ireland Click website, or even Goos3D.ie and ask others to get their loved ones involved. The Making Ireland Click website is full of resources to make tech and online useful for everyone. It’s time to get Ireland clicking.
What made this episode great was how simple it was for the boy to be caught out and just how far out of control the situation spiraled. Drama, twists and lots of yelling at the screen followed by you popping a post-it note over your webcam.
While Crash Bandicoot has obvious links back to a certain 
Whether you’re into movies that mess with your head or just good old fashioned gore, Shudder has you covered. The horror streaming service is pretty coy when it comes to saying exactly how big a streaming library is available to users. If it means anything, it passes the 
