2016 saw plenty of games consoles rebooted, and not in the restart sense of the word. Microsoft delivered the Xbox One S, Sony the PlayStation 4 Pro and even Nintendo dropped the NES Classic. There was nothing new about any of these consoles. But just two weeks into 2017, we have the Nintendo Switch and boy is it different.
What has everyone talking about the Nintendo Switch?
Nintendo broke the gaming mould and started from scratch with the Switch. Essentially, the biggest talking point and justification for the name is that it has two modes. The Nintendo Switch allows you to switch between playing at home or on the move. When it’s docked into the base, you can play Switch games on your TV. If you’re heading out, the whole system doubles up as a screen and controller. You can continue your game on the move and even have others join in. Personally, I love the linking together of consoles, but right now can you think of anyone else that will have one?
Here, it’s actually easier if you watch Nintendo’s launch promo clip.
One aspect of the Switch that’s causing a small bit of a stir is the battery life. Nintendo has stated the Switch will last for between two to six hours, depending on the game. This has received a mixed reaction from gamers. Is it a portable console you can dock, or a home console you can travel with.
Umm… a 2.5 hour battery life is not a portable system guys…. #NintendoSwitch
It wouldn’t be a Nintendo launch without Link. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been announced as a launch title, so you’ll be able to get it from day one. If you’re lucky enough to get a console that is.
Other launch titles include Mario Kart, Just Dance and Bomberman. There’ll be a few more games focusing on showing off the Nintendo Switch’s unique talents, drawing on the talents of the console’s controllers. Unfortunately, this section is pretty small owing to the small library of launch titles.
Nintendo Switch controllers
This is another rather unique aspect of the console – the controllers. The Joy-Con controllers are capable of controlling a console in your sitting room or the local coffee shop. For some games, one Joy-Con controller even lets two people play. Every concept of the Nintendo Switch is just a bit mad and great.
As with most aspects of Nintendo’s latest venture, there is a catch. Joy-Con controllers are likely to set you back €80, making them a very costly peripheral indeed.
How much will the Nintendo Switch cost in Ireland?
GameStop, who are currently holding a pre-order for the Switch, have the console priced at €320. All you’ll need to part with is your first born, as this is likely to be a very popular console. Should your first born not hack it, you can also pick up a console in Smyths for the same price. If all else fails, Amazon should have a decent number of units to sell through.
When does it launch in Ireland?
The Nintendo Switch is hitting the streets 3 March, but be prepared to fight for it. These things will be gold dust soon enough.
We’re dusting off the rumour mill and getting into position for 2017. The first to emerge in this year’s race is the HTC U Ultra. Typically, all you normally get this early would indeed be rumours. HTC made the unusual move of just saying “feck it” and announcing their latest flagship altogether.
What are the talking points of the HTC U Ultra?
Straight of the bat, most people will be talking about the earphone situation. Remember the furore Apple created by removing the 3.5mm jack? Well, HTC has wandered straight into the same battle. Now Apple received a lot of grief from the public over the 3.5mm jack. But HTC refused to learn from someone else’s mistakes. Behold.
We’ve opted for HTC’s stock images here for one very good reason. You can now search every inch of the phone yourself looking for that 3.5mm headphone jack. You won’t find one. HTC are instead shifting priority towards wireless audio. Don’t worry, HTC hasn’t gone as batshit crazy as Apple did with AirPods. For HTC U Ultra users, your future is full of USB-C and Bluetooth headphones.
Secondary screen
It’s not a completely new concept to have a secondary screen. Samsung has something similar with their Edge range, but HTC goes farther. The secondary screen is two inches wide. It’s handy to have, but ultimately, the secondary screen does nothing too exciting. The screen acts a shortcut for favourite contacts and shows you notifications. The best you can hope from here is Spotify controls, but that’s pretty cool.
…but it does come with an assistant
Perhaps Siri made assistants cool, but the Google Assistant that came with the Pixel made them cool. Known for their custom Sense software, the HTC U Ultra will launch with Sense Companion. There’s still not too much known about that, but it’s something we’ll be keeping an eye out for.
The HTC U Ultra in numbers
Now, for the more traditional numbers game that accompanies a new phone launch.
Display
The new HTC boasts a whopping 5.7-inch screen. That’s bigger than the already massive Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge screen. Add to that the secondary screen, and you have more than enough screen real estate to play with. Slightly worrying is the 3000 mAh battery that powers the whole thing.
Power
That’s not a huge battery and that is a huge screen. This is usually a terrible combination. One the plus side, you do have Fast Charge 3.0 for when you do get stuck. There’s no wireless charging option which is now a genuine problem. When you charge wirelessly, you can use the USB-C port for headphones – a benefit should Samsung go down the same route.
Cameras
The HTC U Ultra be capable of shooting glorious shots through the primary 12 MP camera. As has been the case for a few years now, HTC opted for Ultra-pixel technology again. In an unusual move, the front-facing “selfie” camera is actually even better. This camera boasts 16 MP, again using Ultra-pixel technology.
Memory
HTC will be shipping their 2017 flagship in both 64GB and 128GB units. Expandable memory will allow you to add up to 2TB of memory by Micro-SD.
Price, as is the norm, will be dictated by the model you choose. If you were to pick out a 64GB HTC U Ultra, you’d be shelling out about €700. By no means a cheap handset, but the real question remains – is it a great handset? Unfortunately, while it’s just been announced, you’ll have to wait until March at the earlier to get your hands on one.
You only ever get to make a first impression once. If you’re on the job hunt right now, you might not even get to make one in person. More employers are relying on LinkedIn profiles instead than CVs these days. That’s why it’s important to have a belter of a LinkedIn profile photo. There’s a new service that will scan your LinkedIn profile photo and tell you how you’re doing.
Say hello to Snappr
First of all, Snappr won’t help with you any cropping when it comes to your LinkedIn profile photo.
Instead, Snappr takes a scan of your lovely face and runs it through an algorithm. The Snappr team have been busy analysing thousands of photographs. More importantly, they’ve also been looking at what people think of these photos. The app judges your LinkedIn profile photo’s likability, influence and other subjective attributes.
What makes a great LinkedIn profile photo?
Well having me in it helps. No? Sorry, let’s just move on.
Snappr starts out by assessing your face. This involves focusing on your jawline, squinch and, of course, your smile. For those of you wondering, squinching is closing your eyes slightly. Who knew?
Next, the service shifts focus towards the actual composition of your photo. Composition considers how zoomed in you are, the rule of thirds and the background of your LinkedIn profile photo.
Editing is the final consideration Snappr makes for your photo. Again, these are technical photography attributes but are often easy to tweak. You’re looking at the likes of brightness, contrast and temperature. Basically, everything that today’s Instagram filters play around with.
The real idea behind Snappr
Photo analysis is just a side gig for the team at Snappr. Their bread and butter is becoming Uber for personal photoshoots. For now, you will have to make do with their analysis. Snappr is an Australian startup, not yet expanding beyond Oz.
So get to it. Check out if your LinkedIn profile photo cuts the mustard. The service might not always be free for new users. But if you use it now you will get free lifetime usage.
Once you decide you take your lunch, a mental countdown clock starts. You have to get everything done, feed yourself and relax. There’s nothing worse that some of that time being taken by someone complaining about their sandwich ahead of you in the queue. Bamboo is a new app, launching in Dublin, that is looking to give you some of your break back.
What does Bamboo do?
Bamboo partners with various eateries like Krüst Bakery around Dublin, with even more promised to join soon. The benefit of Bamboo is having your order complete before you even visit to collect your food. Once you place your order, you’re given real-time updates on its progress.
If you are using the Bamboo app to order and collect your food, you can even skip the queue. Payment is taken through the app, so all you need to do is skip, state your name and collect. As you order, you’ll also earn loyalty points which will be automatically redeemed with future orders.
Will the app takeoff?
I can certainly see the benefits of Bamboo being appreciated by those working in Dublin City centre. On the surface, it certainly feels like a nifty way of saving a few minutes on your lunch break. Us Irish are a strange folk though and we don’t like change. I can already see a few awkward situations where people are wondering who’s skipping the queue. Chances are a few people with Bamboo orders won’t charge to the front either. Also, I’m left wondering how well this will work during a busy lunch time rush.
As with all new things, we’re left with speculation around how well it will operate. Fortunately, we don’t have too much longer to way. You can download Bamboo now to whet your appetite. They will also be announcing new partners prior to launch, which you can check out on their site.
We love smartphones and gadgets, but we also appreciate massive safety innovations. For that reason, we’re going to drift from our norm a little bit. Last year, despite a general 20% drop in workplace deaths, deaths on farms remained high. Anyone reared on or near a farm, knows that a tractor’s power take-off (PTO) must be respected. Waterford brothers, Noel and Ger Hickey, have designed SafeShaft. SafeShaft is a PTO alternative looking to make the farmyard safer.
What is a PTO or power take-off?
You’ll find a PTO on the rear of most tractors. Simply put, the PTO is an outlet for engine power which can be used to drive other machinery. Often, the PTO is used for spreading slurry, fertiliser or cutting grass. As you can imagine, machinery capable of achieving these tasks require lots of power. While the PTO delivers this power, it remains one of the biggest dangers in the farmyard. Just take a look for yourself.
Demonstration courtesy of Lake Area Tech
That scarecrow didn’t stand a chance. Generally, PTOs do have safety features, but these often fail over time and are not dealt with quickly enough. With this in mind, the Hickey brothers set about designing a PTO alternative.
How does SafeShaft work as a PTO alternative
SafeShaft works with Vacuum-type slurry tanks. These slurry tanks require power which is traditionally sourced from the PTO. The Hickey brothers believe that this transfer of power to a towed unit is the most dangerous. So, rather than draw power from the tractor’s PTO, SafeShaft powers vacuum-type slurry with a retrofitted hydraulic motor.
A hydraulic motor, two hoses and a sup of oil – danger eliminated – no more shafts
This hydraulic motor replaces the need for a PTO and requires a flow of 40L per minute. Its designers have yet to uncover if SafeShaft is a more efficient than a PTO. But they also stated, that in terms of efficiency, it’s certainly no worse.
Fitting the SafeShaft system
The SafeShaft system is not the only hydraulic system on the market. It is the only retrofitted solution available for Irish farmers. Fitting involves a plate to be added the tanker chassis. On this, is placed the new hydraulic motor. It is important to note that there is a fair commitment here. The original PTO powered motor must be completely removed.
Does SafeShaft have other benefits?
Of course, safety was the primary goal when the Hickeys designed SafeShaft. With that said, there are certainly other benefits. Trailers are much more flexible with this PTO alternative. This is due to the system ruling a PTO shaft redundant. Flexibility means filling in tight areas or spreading in awkward paddocks is no problem.
Finally, at a cost of €1,600, we’d also argue it’s pretty cheap considering the risks people face on farms.
We are well and truly in the middle of flu season. Chances are you know a few people who are smothering at the minute. It might be a good idea for them to get a medication app after their trip to the pharmacy.
If you’re not used to taking tablets, medicine is like organising how you eat Smarties. People are frantically Googling “flu” at the moment, just take a look for yourself:
trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”flu”,”geo”:”IE”,”time”:”2011-05-12 2017-01-05″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2011-05-12%202017-01-05&geo=IE&q=flu”,”guestPath”:”https://www.google.ie:443/trends/embed/”}); That increase towards the right is people Googling “flu” in January 2017. So, if you haven’t been sick already, chances are you will be.
On the flipside, if you do take regular medication, you probably remember missing a few doses. Research carried out by the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has found a 250% increase in polypharmacy between 1997 and 2012. Polypharmacy is the use of five or more medications by an individual. Ensuring doses are taken in correct doses at the right time is increasingly difficult due to the sheer volumes of tablets being taken. Thankfully, whether you just need help getting through a bad dose or to manage lots of tablets, there’s a medication app to help.
Benefits of Medisafe
Medisafe was created with one simple idea – “medicine can’t work when it’s not taken”. Worse still, people die every year from taking their medication incorrectly. Medisafe has loads of research showing the effectiveness of their app in helping patients manage medication. You can even add in supplements like vitamins too.
Unfortunately, I found myself in January with such a dose and on antibiotics. It’s rare I’m sick, so taking tablets is far from the norm for me. I turned to Medisafe and started punching in the details. Initially, I thought this would just be a reminder service, but it goes further. Once I entered Amoxicillin 5mg, the app gave me information though this dude:
The app also allows you to pick the exact colour of your medication. If you are taking multiple medications, this makes picking the right ones much easier.
There are even some social aspects. You could add a parent as a Medfriend in the app, so you know if they’ve forgotten to take their meds.
Does Medisafe work?
Personally, I can attest to it working. I can hear myself saying “oh god yeah my tablet”, every time Medisafe pops me a notification. I already would have missed multiple doses, and that’s just me taking one tablet, three times a day.
The free version of the app will cater to almost all of your needs. Upgrading to premium only adds some non-essential frills.
There are only a few things in life that make you feel really, really old. I’m afraid to say, this article is one of those things. Have you ever found yourself saying “that was twenty years ago”, thinking it was the eighties? Well, here’s a list of video games and all of these games are turning twenty in 2017.
Pierce Brosnan was my James Bond, and for that, I feel a little cheated. Irish allegiances aside, he was far from being the best actor to play James Bond. You could argue that his likeness played the lead character in the best video game of all time. GoldenEye 007 is widely considered to be one of the best games ever. A combination of great gameplay with the fantastic trigger controller made GoldenEye 007 immense.
Eagle-eyed readers will note that GoldenEye hit consoles two years after the movie release. So as the movie turns twenty-two this year, the game is twenty in August.
Grant Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto, lovingly know as GTA, was the game you couldn’t tell the mother you were playing. It was tough to stay on track and play the missions. The reason being it was so much fun to randomly kill people. It was even better if you could line up and mow the Hare Krishna to get a Gouranga bonus.
GTA has come a long way since its creation twenty years ago. The graphics are better and the cities are bigger, but the charm remains. We haven’t even hit upon the amazing theme song yet either.
Tekken 3
I think I had the PlayStation at the right time. This was another game I bought shortly after getting my grey console. Born and reared playing Streets of Rage and Mortal Kombat, Tekken 3 just felt right to me. The combos were tough, the characters were great and we even had Nina. I remember thinking it was odd that an Irish girl would become an international assassin. Must be from Mayo.
I remember thinking it was odd that an Irish girl would become an international assassin
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
My console history goes like Atari, Mega Drive, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. When the PlayStation kicked in, it came with a game. That game was Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. Croc was a mental mix between Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. You play a young crocodile trying to save some cute, furry little creatures known as Gobbos.
The game itself was simple but bloody charming. Croc was good, simple, innocent fun. It was also age appropriate at the time, so it was the parents choice. Croc also passed the time until I snuck GTA into the house.
Age of Empires
You learned a lot about life from early gaming. Age of Empires didn’t teach me a thing about history. It did teach me that if you hit a farm with a sword, it goes on fire. And a transport capable of carrying ten elephants, can’t carry eleven archers. With these little things aside, Age of Empires was and is a fantastic game. It was one of those cracking Microsoft games that often shipped with new PCs.
The game was based in history, but now it’s a part of history. While it celebrates turning twenty, you could still spend hours playing it. I feel a retro binge coming on, with my choice being between GTA and Age of Empires.
The Curse of Monkey Island
I can’t believe this is the list of games are turning twenty. I’d love to be wrong, but this is likely one of the lesser known titles turning twenty this year. Monkey Island from LucasArts was the first game that truly had me hooked. You play Guybrush Threepwood, a young swashbuckler. Guybrush is more or less a pirate with “L-plates”. The Curse of Monkey Island was a big step in the series because it moved from pixel to cartoon graphics. For the first time, Guybrush was also given a voice. Monkey Island might not be well known but many believe it inspired Pirates of the Carribean.
Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
At the risk of looking biased towards LucasArts, Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE fighter is one of the best combat flight sims ever. I touched upon my love of flight sims before, but this brought it to a new level. For a game turning twenty, the graphics are still pretty decent. This version of the game was more or less dedicated to multiplayer, but practice mode was still fun. In fact, the game was and is so fun, there’s still a dedicated online community playing away.
Gran Turismo
Yes, I can confirm that I had a PlayStation at the right time. 1997 also saw the release of Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo was the defining driving game of the nineties. It far surpassed the likes of arcade style Ridge Racer. The beauty of Gran Turismo lay in the detail. So detailed is the game, it took five years to develop.
You had to start at the bottom in the likes of a Honda Prelude, while earning new licenses and money. You bought new cars, souped them up and tore up the tarmac. The replays and cutscenes pushed the first PlayStation to its performance max.
This is by no means all of the games from 1997, merely my favourites. It also doesn’t mention this was the year we were graced with N64. In terms of games are turning twenty, notable omissions are Oddworld, Final Fantasy XII, Mario Kart 64, Fallout and Carmageddon. You can pick out your favourites of 1997 over on Wikipedia right after you stop crying about how long ago 1997 is.
I take issue with people saying they have a fear of flying. People suffer from a fear of suddenly not flying. When your plane stops flying, you have a problem. Still, pteromerhanophobia is one of the world’s best-known fears. SkyGuru is a brand new app designed to help you overcome your fear of flying.
Flying used to be new and exciting. Today, we treat planes like we do buses. For that reason, flying only makes the news these days when there’s a crash. This creates a world where a fear of flying is logical to some extent, but it’s not the root cause.
Us humans are a strange bunch. Most of the time, our biggest fears stem from the unknown. This is definitely true for flying. A flight attacks nearly every one of your senses. You have the feeling of turbulence, the smell of jet fuel and the sound of engines. The majority of people who step onto a plane have no idea what causes the feelings, smells and sounds.
Not understanding the details behind these sense provoking events causes anxiety for passengers. This is the problem that SkyGuru has set out to solve.
How does SkyGuru help with your fear of flying?
SkyGuru is a smartphone app that gives you some of the information the pilots have. The author of the app is Alex Gervash. Alex has been studying the fear of flying since 2006 and he also has over twenty years flying commercial airliners. His knowledge powers the app to help you overcome your fear of flying. Essentially, the app is like sitting beside a pilot who explains every step of your flight to you.
the app is like sitting beside a pilot
Think about it. You’re not afraid of driving because you’re in control and you know what’s going on. SkyGuru helps you understand “what made that noise” and “what’s that feeling”. Before takeoff, you enter your flight details. The app then downloads all the information it will need for your flight. Once onboard the app calibrates itself and you’re ready for takeoff.
The app walks your through every stage of your flight:
I’m a die hard fan of shows like Ice Pilots and Air Crash Investigation. From a young age, I’ve always had Microsoft Flight Simulator installed on my PC. I’m also a nosey passenger that enjoys a bit of turbulence. Still, SkyGuru was able to provide loads of information I would never have known during my flight. When queuing up, SkyGuru advised of what takeoff would be like. The detail is amazing, even telling me what the likely first turn would be after takeoff.
Throughout the flight, the app provides a lovely graphic interface of how the plane is moving. A fairly constant running commentary helps to paint you a picture of what’s going on around you. This could be details on speed or why you experience that sagging feeling. I was particularly impressed when the app informed me that the pilot was about to reduce engine power. I got this notification just as I could hear the engines powering back.
Is SkyGuru good value?
If you’re interested in knowing what’s going on with your flight, SkyGuru is expensive. But if you are deathly afraid of flying, it’s a great companion. SkyGuru helps you rationalise the events around you. That loud noise was the flaps retracting. The smell of jet fuel is totally normal. That falling feeling is actually the plane ascending slower than a second ago. If you have a fear of flying, this is the kind of info that will really calm you down.
SkyGuru is currently available to download for iOS. Android will also be available soon.
Many are ready to close the door behind them on 2016 and leap into a new year. Before we do, the Goos3D team have taken a look at the year that was 2016. Please do play this in the background as you read:
What were your tech highlights for 2016?
Martin: People are finally embracing video. I’m surprised Facetime didn’t break down barriers to people video calling. I guess the problem was not everyone has an iPhone. Almost everyone does have WhatsApp though.
Then you combine everyone having faster internet, more mobile data and better phones. The perfect conditions for people to adopt video communications. To top it all off, Facebook is empowering everyone to run their own live new channel with Facebook Live.
Jon: The VR movement – from Oculus (terrible) to Sony PSVR (rather good). It seems everybody is getting in on this race to perfect the VR experience. It’s just a matter of now hitting the three C’s: cost, comfort and content. But we’re getting there with no shortage in selection. The current VR leaders are PlayStation, Oculus, Google Daydream and HTC Vive. I’m just waiting for Nintendo to bring out a Wii VR.
Dean: To be fair, apart from the mobile front which has unfortunately been very calm this year there have been some huge innovations over the last twelve months. For me though it has to be the growth of the Dreambox or Android Box whatever you fancy calling it. Costing roughly €80 and with a good quality internet connection, the world can be your oyster. Every channel you could ask for, any event or game and best of all no more bills to TV companies. Now if only I could get a decent internet connection.
Gary: There have been many tech highlights this year as there have been celebrity deaths. But for me, 2016 is the year that wearable tech finally made sense for everyone. There have been so many great wearable devices released this year. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and Asus ZenWatch 3 topped the list as this year’s wearable “must haves”. Expect to see this trend continue in 2017. We expect the likes of Jawbone, Samsung and FitBit to release new fitness trackers.
Biggest tech flop of 2016?
Martin: I guess this is a no brainer. Samsung’s Note7 had the potential to be the greatest smartphone of all time. We were at the launch and to be frank the Note7 left us wowed. Like you know how the Great Gatsby wowed people. Now it practically doesn’t exist and blew some stuff up. The only other thing I could imagine putting here is the fact we’ve lost Pebble from the market. Up there with the celebrities we’ve lost is the first wearable I ever owned.
Jon: Pokemon GO.
Martin: Oh my god, yes. Pokémon GO was last year. I actually forgot about it.
Jon: Exactly. The fad of the year and could have potentially been something great. I was so excited about this. Gaming on the go what a great premise right? First, the screwed up the mapping system. Then they switched off third party maps. But worst of all, they never developed past the repetitive catching of Pokemon. Nor did they add the ability to battle or trade with friends. Two of the most important concepts from the classic Pokémon old games. Simply couldn’t keep up with the hype machine
Gary: Ok, bear with me here. Note7 was an about catastrophe for Samsung. But for the biggest let down of 2016, I have to go with the iPhone 7. There was a lack of innovation with hardware and design. Like who needs two different shades of black? They also took away our headphone jack. Utter madness. Hopefully, next year will be different, as it’s the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone. Just don’t be too disappointed again.
Dean: I think the lads have the phone side of things pretty much covered. Nothing new or shiny worth getting this year apart from maybe the OnePlus 3, but there have been far too many flops for my liking. Apple, as Gary said, had a stinker. the Apple Watch is an utter disaster. The hype machine as ever with Apple was massive with adverts taking over but the big thing none of them mentioned was what does the watch actually do? Well, the answer was pretty much nothing if I’m honest. The sales were actually so poor Motorola actually put off their releases until they believed the market was more prepared. Note to the lads, the world wants wearables just not shite ones.
What are your tech predictions for 2017?
Martin: I’m sticking with video. It’s grown a lot in 2016, but it’s going to improve even more in 2017. Again, it’s going to be down to the likes of Facebook Live and WhatsApp video calling.
Jon: Artificial intelligence is where I think things are ready to grow soon. AI is catching up with the hype after years of Siri and general disappointment. AI is showing its awesome potential in Google Translate and more in Amazon’s Echo. Echo is amazing, and now that’s got healthy competition from Google Home. Artificial intelligence is now being used in everything from driverless cars and medical innovation. Keep an eye on AI it’s coming in big.
Dean: 3D printing went a bit quiet lately in terms of new releases. I’m banking on a huge jump in 3D printed technology in the next year or so. The medical industry has taken this rapid prototyping tech to heart literally. Although 3D printing might not be shown in the next level of surgical devices it’s influence and adaptability cannot be undermined. Also as the tech develops home systems are going to reduce in price exponentially meaning the modern era version of a man in his shed inventing can come to pasture. They say great innovation happens in times of desperation sure with Trump at the helm over the pond lets wait and see what happens.
Gary: It’s already started to click this year, I’m expecting massive leaps forward for VR in 2017. The likes of FreeFly VR have made it accessible to the masses. You can add Sony pushing VR gaming into the PlayStation world and Google Daydream to that as well. I can’t wait for VR developers get their hands dirty with some imaginative ideas over the next 12 months.
What app did you use most in 2016?
Martin: My apps revolve around the car. TomTom Go and Nexar are on every time I drive anywhere. Of course, WhatsApp is up there too, but that’s a given.
Jon: I know it’s not an official iOS or Google Play Store app but I would have to run with Showbox. Stuck on the bus to work in the morning quick episode of SouthPark. Long break or journey catch a movie, fairly simple and effective. Officially speaking, it’s Snapchat. The filters, Bitmoji’s etc. this app takes the top spot for me, especially at toilet time.
Martin: Note to self – block Jon on Snapchat.
Gary: Unlike Jon, I’ve been using official means to watch my TV and movies, so I have to say SkyGo. Being able to have Sky TV, Sky Movies and Sky Sports, both live and on demand, anywhere and anytime. It just makes life that little bit easier. There’s something about watching Cersei Lannister blowing up the Citadel while waiting in line at the motor tax office that makes me love SkyGo.
Dean: Is PornHub out of the question? No, seriously I’m a man who likes my sports so a SkySportsNews is a huge one. That and SkyBet. They have to be worked as a pair though because online betting does give better odds fair but this can mean you make a stupid decision. The ability to check the latest news, injuries and gossip from the sports world is of paramount importance if like me you fancy yourself as the next Jp Mc Manus. Up 500 beans this year – just saying.
Is there one piece of tech you can’t wait to get your hands on in 2017?
Martin: The Nello is probably the one gadget I can’t wait to get my hands on. It’s a cool, disruptive little gadget that provides key-less entry for people in apartments.
Jon: All going well I am due to give a Tesla Model S a test drive at the end of January. That’s something that I am well and truly looking forward too. A smart, eco-friendly car that looks like an Aston Martin, this will be fun.
Dean: Honestly I have wanted a smartwatch for a long time. But I haven’t been able to believe there would be a return on investment. Google recently announced that they are going to release, not one but two, flagship smartwatches in the next year off the back of the success generated by the beauty that is the Pixel. Interestingly, they have announced they will be partnering with someone who has made smartwatches in the past much like the HTC partnership on the Pixel, but they wouldn’t say who. I would love if HTC got on board but more than likely we will see a Google-LG/Huawei partnership here. Either way, I want.
Gary: 2017 is going to be massive for mobile phones. After the Note7 debacle, I’m genuinely excited to see what Samsung bring to the table next year. They now have zero option but to really push the limits on innovation. They can only hope this revives some customer loyalty and trust. Expect Apple to do something big with iPhone for its 10th anniversary. Google will no doubt have another iteration of the superb Pixel device. Also expect big things from Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi.
What was your entertainment highlight of 2016?
Martin: Deadpool. Holy dickballs. What a movie. From a Marvel franchise I knew nothing about to being arguably the best Marvel movie of all time. Ryan Reynolds redeems himself from being a terrible Deadpool and a terrible Green Lantern. Good job Ryan.
Jon: Personally I like my gaming. The biggest source of entertainment I had this year was the latest release of the Uncharted Series. Solid game, beautiful detail and gameplay
Dean:Star Wars Rogue One is immense. Really before now I never ever even thought about how or who stole the plans to the Death Star. Lots of “oh yeaaaaah” moments of realisation throughout. Fair enough the beginning is a bit weak as are some of the characters but it really is more of a war movie from the franchise and the final act makes it all worth while. Also, just enough Vader to link with the movies of the past. I could go off on a rant but I’ll hold my tongue as Gary doesn’t really feel the same.
Gary: Game Of Thrones, without a doubt. Everything is now coming together in Westeros, and the latest series exceeded all expectations. It had everything. A magnificent script, revenge, back stories, dragons, more dragons, and two of the best scenes on TV in recent memory (battle of the bastards, and the citadel explosion). I cannot wait for April for the next instalment.
Entertainment flop of 2016?
Martin: Independence Day: Resurgence was shocking. I had the original on VHS. I watched it so many times. I even remember watching the Movie Magic episode on how they blew up the White House. I nearly turned off the sequel. Maybe if Will Smith wasn’t off wasting his time elsewhere, he could have saved the show.
Jon: Suicide Squad, a movie not about Will Smith that became totally about him. Oh and Harley Quinn, the walking talking sex puppet. Her character is far more interesting than what was actually conveyed. The less said about this utter shit show the better.
Dean:Well yes the Suicide Squad was complete and utter tripe. It just looks like DC really screwed up two titles which were harder to make a balls of but they somehow managed to do it. The Superman Vs Batman movie was the biggest let down. Literally everything even remotely good about this movie was shown in the trailers and don’t get me started on that Stepbrother style scene, jesus christ almighty. Blocklayers must have shed tears watching this movie. All it did was destroy walls. Throw Wonder Woman and an attempt of throwing everyone in the Justice league on the screen as fast as possible it just felt like DC wanted to create a Marvel style Universe in just one flick. It took Marvel ten years and a tonne of movies to do the same. Cop on.
Gary: At the risk of being excommunicated, Rogue One was…
Martin: an excellent movie. Can we move on?
Gary: No. Rogue One was a massive disappointment for me. I expected a lot from this movie, given that it was linking back to A New Hope. For me, it completely failed to deliver on the hype. No opening credits, poor characters and a severe lack of Vader presence made me feeling let down by Disney. Even a semi-solid third act in the movie couldn’t mask the blandness of Rogue One. Save your money, wait till it’s on SkyGo.
What was your most memorable series binge of 2016?
Martin: It was so very nearly Ice Pilots, but Suits passed it out at the death. I’ve been thinking about watching it for years, but now I’m stuck into it. I’m totally into the characters and the storyline. I just can’t stop watching episode after episode – it’s addictive. Now, to find a free online law school – or not. What’s the bar?
Jon: Oh dear, Westworld was my big one in recent memory. Two sittings of ten, hour long episodes was a pretty intense commitment, but it was worth every single second. Wow seriously if people haven’t watched it there is a new year’s resolution to get stuck into.
Dean: Luke Cage who just ripped up Harlem in ten episodes. A real salt of the earth hero and a release that was just so perfectly timed with the Black Lives Matter movement in the States. For the political power alone and the fresh take on the superhero genre, it had to be Luke Cage for me.
Gary: Finally, Jon and I agree. Westworld was great viewing, and something completely fresh. But my biggest binge this year was House of Cards. After a dull season 3, House of Cards returned to its former glory. There’s nothing better than watching Kevin Spacey play the expert puppet master over a cold weekend in January. Expect not to see or hear from me for about 3 days when season 5 is released.
What movie are you most looking forward to in 2017?
Martin: Knowing Jon is here, I’ll leave Beauty and the Beast to him. For me the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy sequel is top of the list. The movie itself is fantastic, but the first soundtrack got me through weeks of work.
Jon: This was tough for me. Anyone who knows me would tell you straight out, I am a self professed Disney fanatic. In normal circumstances means the live action version of The Beauty and the Beast wins hands down.
Martin: Whoa. I’m sensing a “but” Jon?
Jon: But unfortunately, Emma Watson annoys me. Her casting as Belle bothers me greatly. She doesn’t fit the bill but whatever. This year I can’t wait to see Logan, the final instalment of the Wolverine series. While the storyline just keeps Hugh Jackman in a job the trailer looks amazing. There seems to be something different about this superhero movie.
Dean: Pitch Perfect 3 oh that singing, the dancing it moves my soul. BAH sure thing, nope Im shocked it hasn’t been mentioned yet – the new Power Rangers Movie? The trailers look really impressive and tell me a man who didn’t pretend to be a Power Ranger in his youth and I will show you a lier, I just hope it doesn’t flop.
Gary: I’m finding it hard to choose, there are so many great movies due out. Lego Batman, Justice League, Transformers, Guardians 2. All movies I will watch in a premier seat in Odeon. But being a Marvel fan, I can’t wait to see how Spiderman Homecoming works out.
Martin: I’m so confused by the amount of Spidermen we’ve seen.
Gary: Yes, and the Spiderman franchise has flopped twice. This is either strike three or 3rd time lucky for Marvel with one of their staple characters. The trailer looks good, so I’m trusting that Marvel have got this one right. Finally.
Happy New Year from the Goos3D team
From everyone here at Goos3D, thanks for your support over the past year. We’ve grown in so many ways throughout 2016. More people are reading what we write and we’re writing and reviewing even more. We can’t wait for 2017 to kick off!
With the release of the first Star Wars spin off, Rogue One, we take a look at other spin offs we all want to see.
More Star Wars Stories
I’m a massive Star Wars fan. But mainly of the films. I was never one to delve into the canon books or comics. There is a massive Star Wars Universe out there that goes back centuries before Darth Vader ruled the Galaxy. Stories about how the Sith first came about, how the Emperor became the Emperor, the origins of The Rule of Two, the list goes on. When Rogue One came out, I found it surprisingly refreshing to get a break from the Skywalker saga that has been going on for almost 40 years now. We get a taste of what else is going on with other unsung heroes we haven’t met yet. And with a Han Solo film set to start filming soon, here’s a taste of what us at Goos3D want to see in the future of Star Wars.
Yoda
I think it’s a story we all want to see. In Empire, Yoda tells Luke he has trained Jedi for 800 years. It’s safe to say that Yoda has almost seen and done it all. He has seen Empires rise and fall. Jedi turn to the dark side and Sith brought back to the light. One question we all want to know is where is Yoda from? At no point is his home planet nor his species mentioned in the whole Star Wars saga. There are so many avenues Disney could go down with Yoda. Let’s hope they give the fans what the want.
Boba Fett
There were talks of a Boba Fett spin off being released but rumours say it has been scrapped. I for one would still be very much interested in seeing how one of the galaxies most efficient bounty hunters gained the trust of Vader.
We know that Boba is the son of Jango Fett. He was created along with 10 million other Clones we see deployed in Attack of the Clones. But Jango requested one clone be created just for him who isn’t motored to do and say whatever he was ordered. Jango met his demise at the end of AOTC, but we don’t know what happened to Boba afterwards. It’s likely this film would take place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. We could also be treated to a bit more Vader, who possibly could have groomed Boba into the bounty hunter he grew up to be. It would also explain why Vader seems to trust him so much.
The Emperor
In ROTS, Palpatine tells Anakin about a Sith called Darth Plagueis who was so powerful he could control the mediclorians in the force and even bring people back to life. After he thought his apprentice this, his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It isn’t said directly, but Palpatine is basically telling Anakin that he is the apprentice in the story. And that he can teach him this power and help stop Padme from dying, which Anakin has been dreaming of frequently, similar to his mothers death. I for one would be very interested in seeing the power of this Darth Plagueis and the beginnings of The Emporer’s rise to power.
The Rule of Two
The Rule of Two basically states that there can only ever be 2 Siths in existence at one time. The Master, and The Apprentice. It was created by Darth Bane, a Sith that existed long before the days of The Empire. He created it because he thought the Brotherhood of Darkness was weak. If there was more then one apprentice, he felt the weak ones would hold back the stronger ones. It also prevented the weaker ones from possibly over throwing the master and being ruled by someone weak. This all happened after a war between the Jedi and Sith that lasted about 3000 years, which in itself would make an epic trilogy. Think Lord of the Rings, but with lightsabers.
Darth Maul
Besides Vader, Darth Maul was probably the most badass Sith in the series. With the double-edged lightsaber and freakin horns, Darth Maul is one Sith that if you saw him, you’d probably turn and run before he even took the Lightsaber out. He was a scary looking dude, but there is a whole Dathomirian Zabrek race of him. Where did he come from and where did the Emperor find him? He is the first Sith we know of that the Emperor trained. A back story to Darth Maul would be awesome to see and would also give us a taste of the Star Wars Universe just as the Emperor would have been planning his take over of the Galaxy. It’s one worth thinking about.
As I said earlier, there is a massive universe spanning thousands of years worth exploring. Star Wars has been around for almost 40 years, and a lot of people would be more then happy if it stayed around for 40 more. Hopefully Disney will keep the universe alive. Tell us below what spin offs you’d like to see Disney take on in the future.
…but it does come with an assistant
Instead, Snappr takes a scan of your lovely face and runs it through an algorithm. The Snappr team have been busy analysing thousands of photographs. More importantly, they’ve also been looking at what people think of these photos. The app judges your LinkedIn profile photo’s likability, influence and other subjective attributes.
Snappr starts out by assessing your face. This involves focusing on your jawline, squinch and, of course, your smile. For those of you wondering, squinching is closing your eyes slightly. Who knew?
If you are using the Bamboo app to order and collect your food, you can even skip the queue. Payment is taken through the app, so all you need to do is skip, state your name and collect. As you order, you’ll also earn loyalty points which will be automatically redeemed with future orders.
Does SafeShaft have other benefits?
Medisafe was created with one simple idea – “medicine can’t work when it’s not taken”. Worse still, 
Is SkyGuru good value?
