Apple’s WWDC is over for another year. The centrepiece of the event this year was iOS 18 being announced with a plethora of new features. Every year I hear the same thing – “this is Apple’s most anticipated operating system update yet”. This year might very well actually be the most anticipated update to date, largely down to Apple’s entry into the Artificial Intelligence space (even if they call it Apple Intelligence). Naturally, this means curious consumers are considering installing the early beta releases of iOS 18, but is that a good or bad idea?
Is the iOS 18 Beta Safe?
iOS 18 beta is perfectly safe depending on what you intend to do with it. It’s important to understand which iOS 18 Beta is currently available from Apple’s usual release process:
Developer Beta – WWDC
Public Beta – iOS 18 Preview
Public Release – iPhone 16 Launch
As the name suggests, the Developer Beta is intended only for developers to test out their apps and software with Apple’s new operating system. Typically, this means this very early release of an operating system isn’t running on your day to day phone. Developers are installing it on test devices which are likely on left in the office and don’t handle any personal data or photos from your kids birthday.
I say that because the risks of you installing this operating system on your personal device is far greater than a developer that leaves that phone in the drawer of their desk after work every day.
Risks of Installing iOS 18 Beta
To be clear, this isn’t just about risks from the iOS 18 Developer Beta. This would come with installed any developer beta. I’ve run iOS betas myself in the past, from testing Focus mode to installing retro gaming emulators. But I nearly always wait for the early release beta and ignore the developer beta.
The reason being that you can brick (completely break) your iPhone by installing an early release of an operating system not intended for day to day use. Now, do I think the risk of bricking is high? Actually, no. It should still be extremely unlikely, however, it is possible. Even if you don’t brick your device, you run the risk of losing all your photos, contacts, messages and more.
Because the iOS 18 Developer Beta is intended for developers around the world to test their apps out, some of your apps might not work properly. Even if they do work, they likely won’t work efficiently. Another big issue with these releases is often dire battery performance. Again, developers are often at a desk with the phone plugged in, so battery isn’t a massive priority until the public releases. So, that’s some more food for thought for you.
Let’s not forget, many of the latest Apple Intelligence are not yet available in even the dev beta and these features require an A17 Bionic chip. When it comes to phones, you’ll also need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 when it releases to use the most exciting features. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro you would really want to think twice about the potential of bricking such a valuable device.
Revert iOS 18 Beta: Downgrade from iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17
If you’ve already managed to get the iOS 18 Developer Beta installed and are now panicking a bit, don’t worry too much about it. You can either continue on in the hope everything keeps working or downgrade your iPhone to iOS 17. But please note from here on out, I’m not taking responsibility for any issues you run into!
Power off your iPhone – this may require you to press two buttons (Power and Volume Up)
Hold the power button and while holding it
Immediately connect your iPhone by cable to your PC/Mac with iTunes installed
Open iTunes on your PC/Mac
A prompt will appear. Choose Restore.
The bad news is that this will wipe your phone completely. The good news is, that all going well, you’ll have your phone back up and running with a stable version of iOS 17.
When is the Public iOS 18 Beta Being Released?
The big point to remember here is when the much safer public beta is released by Apple. I would expect to see Apple’s public iOS 18 Beta released around mid-July, 2024. In 2023 Apple release the public iOS 17 Beta on July 12th, so use that as reference. It’s really not that long to wait.
There are countless ways to pay for everyday items these days. Just a few years ago, you’d have been laughed at for trying to tap your phone on a card terminal, let alone your smart watch to pay for something. But today, in some part thanks to Covid, paying with cash has become arguably the most unusual way to pay for things. At least that was until I got my payment ring. Yep. I pay for items by fist bumping card machines. I’ve been doing it for a few months, so here’s everything I’ve learned so far.
Payment rings are a surprisingly logical evolution when it comes to ways to pay for items. The growth in contactless payments and near field technology (NFC) has left us as this point. The technology that makes your contactless bank card tapable can be moved into other items too, like a ring.
Rings are great because you wear them and kind of forget they’re there until you need them. I’ve been engaged for years and got in trouble for saying a payments ring is great because “it’s a wedding ring that would actually be of some use”. Don’t make that mistake that I made!
But simply put, payments rings are just another piece of jewellery with the added functionality of being able to act just like that contactless payment card. Let’s dive a little deeper into how they work.
How do Payment Rings Work?
There are quite a few parts to making a payments ring work. You’ll find many companies on the market offering similar ideas including the McLear RingPay. But the one I got sent over for testing came from a German company called PagoPace. It’s a pretty nice looking ring made from ceramic materials, though the company has more recently launched silver and gold rings too.
Day one trying on my PagoPace NFC payment ring
The internal tech of the ring is naturally fairly protected, but just imagine it’s pretty much like someone melted down your contactless bank card and turned it into a ring; at least in terms of similar technology connecting your ring to the card machine you’re trying to pay on. Just like your bank card, you don’t need to charge the ring because all it’s doing is confirming card numbers to link your details to the transaction. Because the internal tech is quite simple, there are no added bells and whistles here. It’s just a payment ring. No heart-rate monitoring or fitness tracking.
Once the contactless transaction is complete, the payment is processed. This is where Curve comes in. Curve is another company completely unrelated to PagoPace. They play a significant role in how this particular payment ring works. So much so, I’ll give them some more focus.
Curve
I’ve had a Curve Card in my wallet for a considerable amount of time. I love it because I tend to have a couple of different banks accounts and, as a result, debit or credit cards. Curve lets me add all these cards to a single account and, quite conveniently, a single Curve Card. Then, using the Curve App, I can choose which of my many debit or credit cards is linked to my Curve Card. When I tap my Curve Card, I’m effectively tapping the card that’s linked to it. 4 or 5 cards in my wallet have now become just one.
PagoPaco uses Curve for its card management. My PagoPace ring is linked to my Curve Card. So when I tap my ring, I’m tapping my Curve Card. Even if you’re still just considering a payments ring, I highly recommend Curve. I’m eternally shocked more people aren’t using it.
If you’re following along with this so far, you now see why this is handy. This means my ring can effectively be any of my cards for payments by the flick of a switch in the Curve App. It’s also very good news that you don’t have to worry about an Irish bank officially supporting payments rings themselves. We all know Irish banks are pretty slow when it comes to adopting new ideas. Using Curve completely sidesteps that issue.
Are Payment Rings Secure?
I’ll be talking a bit about my experience actually using a payment ring in stores below, but this question is what I’ve been asked by most people. My answer is simple. Payment rings are as secure as a bank card and arguably more secure depending on your bank. If I was to lose my ring, I’d just have to open my Curve App and block the card. I get notifications every time I tap my ring for a payment, so it’s unlikely anything would get by me in that sense. By comparison, if you were to tap a card from most traditional Irish banks, you’ll get no notification at all.
Some people asked me if others could just walk up behind me and tap a card machine off my hand. I believe this to be a very unlikely scenario for a multitude of reasons, but payment rings like the PagoPace have a feature to reduce this likelihood even further. When paying, you have to place your fist over the card machine in a specific position and angle in order to pay. So your hand down by your side won’t work.
Payment rings also unlock a new way of being out an about. If you want to go for a run, you can leave your wallet at home and still pay for a coffee on the way home with your ring. So I could make a case that you’re less likely to lose your wallet on a run and in turn, these contactless payment rings offer some added security by their very design.
As with anything, there are pros and cons in terms of the security at play here, but ultimately, I would say there’s very little different in a security sense between payment rings and payment cards, at least in terms of negatives. Here in Ireland, the ring is also limited to €50 transactions.
But the part of this introduction and review that I’m most looking forward to is talking about the experience I’ve had to date with my payment ring; because it’s been hilarious.
My Experience With a Contactless Payment Ring
First of all, paying with a ring took some getting used to. Because of that secure position the ring needs to be in, finding the sweet spot on a card machine can be tricky at first. Remember as well, not all card machines are the same. If you’re paying for parking, the card payment point might be flat on the machine. Some petrol stations have them on the side of tills. However, over time I got used to nearly every card machine and rarely have a miss now. But when it doesn’t work, however rare it is, you look very silly and have to explain what you’re trying to do.
However silly that might make you look, it’s worth it for the reaction you get with the card machine processes payment after you’ll hovered your fist over the terminal. From Dunnes Stores on Georges street to the bars and cafes in Tokyo, I’d say 80% of people have reacted with astonishment as I use my payments ring. People are first wondering what the hell you’re doing as you reach in over the fresh pints you’ve ordered and hover your fist over the card machine. But that astonishment quickly turns too utter shock when they hear the beep that follows a successful transaction. Nearly every time ends up with a reasonably long conversation about the ring, how it works and PagoPace itself (hi Steffen if you’re reading this).
It’s been utterly enjoyable in the most part. I did have one flower vendor convinced I had scammed her by making the card machine beep through witchcraft, but one quick check later and I was on my way. Beyond the odd person thinking I’m ripping them off, the ceramic does need some care. My ring cracked slightly and I don’t recall dropping it. I’m not sure when this happened, which means I didn’t notice, which means it didn’t take a massive knock for the ring to be damaged. Not too surprising when you hear “ceramic” but something I have to include.
PagoPace Payment Ring: The Verdict
I love my payments ring. I love the reactions and wonder that follows when I pay with a ring. But it’s not all good.
A McLear RingPay will set you back about €90. The PagoPace even more pricey, starting at €120. That’s a sizeable payment for something your phone, wallet and maybe even your watch can already handle. I was also disappointed to find it cracked with no idea how that had happened.
If you were in the market for a nice looking ring or even, joking aside, wanted a more functional wedding ring, the price quickly shifts into a more favourable context. Also, if you’re like me, you might just treat yourself to the “extra” from time to time.
Beyond the pricing of it, I do love the PagoPace payment ring. It’s just very convenient. In a few years time I believe these things will be a lot more popular. Maybe banks will start to include them with credit cards as a bonus. PagoPace also does a version of the ring which supports Tesla keycards. As the world around us evolves to include more swipe access and contactless payments, added use cases for a ring capable of this NFC uses will also grow. It’s an exciting space.
It’s time for another big summer of football. If there’s a game on ITV you’re looking forward to or you’ve just had enough of Didi Hamann or Kevin Doyle (sorry lads, I actually quite like you, honest), you can tune their channels in on your Sky Box. We’ve got you covered with this simple guide to adding ITV to Sky.
How To Add ITV To Sky
ITV doesn’t come preloaded on your Sky box. However, you can manually add TV channels in settings once you know the configuration. Here’s how you do this.
Turn on your Sky box
Press “Services” on your Sky remote
Select “Options” from the menu.
Scroll sideways to the “Add channel” tab and enter these settings:
Frequency: 10.891
Polarisation: H
Symbol Rate: 22.0
FEC: 5/6
Standard: DVB-S
Modulation Scheme: QPSK
Once all of these are set, press the yellow button to find channels
Once the search completes, you’ll see loads of “ITV” options.
Highlight one and press the yellow button
Press the green button to save your settings
Finally, press the “Select” button.
How To Watch ITV On Sky
Now that you’ve added ITV to your Sky box, it’s time to tune into the football. Unfortunately, adding a channel manually doesn’t assign it a channel number. This means the only way to access ITV is through the Sky menus. Here’s how.
Press “Services” on your Sky remote
Choose “Options” from the menu
Scroll sideways to the “Other channels” tab
Highlight “ITV” and press the “Select” button on your Sky remote.
And there you have it. You’re setup and ready to watch ITV’s coverage of EURO 2020 on your Sky box.
Why Watch ITV Coverage of Euro 2024?
There has been a lot of talk about the pundits being selected for TV stations ahead of the World Cup. More specifically, the talks have focused on BBC and ITV because they both have stellar lineups. The heavy hitter for ITV is Roy Keane. He’s joined by Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods, along with Ian Wright, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Ange Postecoglou, and Keane’s old teammate Gary Neville.
Bodycam is cashing in on arguably one of the most hyped PC games in quite some time. The hype stemmed from a clip released last year teasing a game called Unrecord. This photorealistic first person shooter was teased and then launched with an entry on Steam which went on to be wish listed by over 600,000 people. Some wondered if the whole thing was a scam or vapourware.
Now, a competing game studio has capitalised on that popularity and released Bodycam; a first step towards dismissing fears that photorealistic games like Unrecord won’t happen. But does this excitement alone make Bodycam worth a purchase, particularly when it’s still in early access?
What is Unrecord?
As I mentioned, Unrecord is a game that, as of yet, has only really been teased with a trailer. It’s a first-person shooter with two big unique angles. You are watching through a body cam, and it’s ultra realistic. Before I go any further, you should check that trailer out here:
Teaser trailer for Unrecord that set the internet alight
Now that you’ve watched that, I have to point this out. That’s a game. All of what you saw there is gameplay. It’s hard to believe, but this is the power of Unreal Engine 5.
An absolute testament to the apparent leap in realism Unrecord is bringing is most visible in the accusations that this trailer was faked. Shot in real life with real actors. But it wasn’t, at least not to the best of my knowledge.
Now the internet and gamers waited. Some debate sparked around whether or not first-person shooters this realistic should exist or not. More of a debate in the United States to be fair.
But while the game devs keep working on Unrecord, Bodycam has snuck onto the market.
What is Bodycam?
Bodycam is, well, it’s the exact same premise as Unrecord really. The game is a online multiplayer first-person shooter where you view everything through a bodycam. The camera movement is designed to be realistic and the graphics make an attempt to follow suit with realism.
Admittedly, the game is in Early Access on Steam, and you can now pick it up for €30. But I don’t recommend you do that.
Many of the reviews I’ve read so far really dial up the “don’t play this if you’re easily disturbed or don’t like violence” angle. It’s over doing it to be honest. A few minutes into playing Bodycam and I quit because the gameplay was utterly awful. I get what they’re going for, but games should be playable first. Bodycam isn’t.
On top of the sluggish and frankly unplayable controls, the graphics are only ok. Now, I’ll give my dues to the game devs because the game looks good despite a relatively small install file size. But it’s a far cry from the game that Unrecord promises to deliver. I can hear the fans at their keyboards now: “give it time”, “you’re just bad this FPS” or “noob”. Fair points, but this review is for the average Joe getting tempted by a pretty trailer and Youtube influencers.
I’m gaming on a respectable setup in a AMD Radeon 7900 XTX and Ryzen 7 7700X CPU. Still, it was only ok. Not – “OMG life has changed” good, which I had expected.
For me, Bodycam is a cash in job on the hype job. And fair play to the devs for bringing out a product that’s gotten so many gamers interested and parting with their money for Early Access. Indeed, I’ve read the comments of countless people on Reddit who are delighted with the Bodycam so far. Youtubers galore are playing it saying it’s excellent. But Youtubers rarely refuse video opportunities either and Bodycam has piqued the interest of people around he world.
Considering it’s a cash in job, the game is relatively good. But I just don’t see this game as being fun. And I definitely can’t recommend anyone parting with their money for Early Access to Bodycam. At least wait for this bun to bake a little longer in the oven.
If you’re reading that headline and thinking this doesn’t affect you – think again. Ticketmaster has been hacked; allegedly. Why allegedly? Because Ticketmaster, the company owned by Live Nation, has yet to confirm what the rest of the world is pretty darn sure about. Time is of the essence here too, yet the live events ticketing giant is staying quiet.
Update 01/06/2024: Ticketmaster has confirmed the company has “identified unauthorised activity within a third-party cloud database environment”.
Knowing that every second counts now for you, a likely owner of at least one Ticketmaster account, what should you be doing to keep secure?
Background to the Ticketmaster Hack
First up. What’s happening? Well, it appears that hackers have gained access to customer data. How likely is it? Australia is already engaging with Ticketmaster to try and find out what’s going on. A hacking group called ShinyHunters has claimed to have taken the customer data of 560 customers. It’s a massive hack leaving most people who’ve ever interacted with Ticketmaster affected.
It would appear that personal details such as name, email and possible shipping addresses have been taken. Partial payment details have also been reported to have been taken, but it does seem as if full payment details is safe for now.
But this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook I’m afraid. When a hack like this goes down, you likely have to update your password. The reason being that if you use one password for lots of different websites and services, those details are now likely on the deep web available to the highest bidder.
Identify How Many Ticketmaster Accounts You Have
This may seem an odd step, but I’m guessing there are a few others like myself out there. I had three Ticketmaster accounts. Two in Ireland with two different emails and one in the UK. This meant I was not involved in one breach, but three.
Reset Your Ticketmaster Accounts
Log out of your Ticketmaster accounts and set about logging back in. But this time, say you forgot your password. Follow the process to set yourself a brand new password. But before you do, consider this.
Get a Password Manager
I don’t know any of my passwords. Honestly. Well, I know one. I know the password for my password manager. If you can remember a password it’s already too easy. If you can remember a password, there’s a real chance that you’re using the same one in multiple places.
Instead, with a password manager, when I sign up for a service, I generate a random strong password using my manager. I have browser extensions, apps and plugins galore than then fill in the details for me when I need them. All the while, I have no idea what my password is.
I highly recommend that you take this opportunity to get a password manager when you’re resetting your Ticketmaster account. I recommend 1Password myself, but Keeper is a good alternative alongside Google and Apple’s own offerings. I would steer clear of LastPass. They’ve had some problems themselves.
And now, I’m about to give you the final step that makes using a password manager the greatest thing in the world.
Reset Every Account Using That Email and Password Combo
If you use the same email address and password combination for lots of different services and also Ticketmaster, you really should reset every account using these details. The reason is that hackers and other cyber criminals can easily get your email and password combination now and just try random websites. It could be relatively harmless like accessing your Netflix account, or a lot worse like getting into your email and gaining access to more accounts.
For this reason, you need to reset all your accounts. And, as I already recommended, resetting them with unique and complex passwords, ideally generated with a password manager.
This is all highly inconvenient, I know. I’ve been caught up in hacks myself. At this stage, you should probably assume you have too. Check websites like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email has already been publically leaked if you really want to know whether or not you’ve been caught up before. But, as I say, chances are you have been.
I spent days recently resetting all my passwords, and I recommend you do to.
I’m just back from a trip to Japan. Two weeks I was gone away. I plan to write up a review of all the tech I used when over there. But one of the most fascinating parts of my trip was seeing that in the two weeks I was gone, Dublin City Council managed to launch and close the Portal between Dublin and New York. Today, I overheard a tourist wondering if they were near it (they weren’t), and I broke the bad news to them. Little did I know that around the time I was talking to them, the Portal actually reopened.
In an effort to overcome what I described to the tourists as “us taking the piss”, the Portal will operate between 11am and 9pm here in Ireland. That’s 6am and 4pm in New York.
Blurring has also been implemented to overcome the piss-taking. If people get too close to the Portal, i.e. close enough to show stuff on their phones, the Portal gets blurred both here and over in New York.
My personal opinion is that shutting it down was largely an overreaction. Once the novelty wears off and the news stops talking about people grinding on the Portal, it’ll settle into what the creator, Benediktas Gylys, wants it to be: “As humans we are creating the Portals experience together. I invite local communities not only to enjoy but to care about their Portals and how other community members are approaching the sculptures”.
Timing is a beautiful thing, it really is. Martin is just about to nip off on a well-earned trip to Japan and we’ve recently been playing with Dublin-based Sim Local, co-incidence, serendipity, or good planning? You decide, so check back in a couple of weeks or keep an eye on Martin’s TikTok for how he gets on with using Sim Local the real road test.
In the meantime as a self-professed lover of leaving Ireland regularly I frequently get asked by people about to venture beyond the island “Will my phone work abroad. While some people may have heard of eSim’s or companies like Airalo, the reality is this is few and far between, but the good news is with companies like SimLocal entering the market, users’ options are about to get more accessible and more competitive.
Why an eSim?
Picture this you’re off on your next adventure, ready to soak up the sun and snap Insta-worthy pics, only to find out your phone’s as useful as a rock because your SIM card doesn’t play nice with your destination’s networks. Cue the frustration and frantic Google searches for local SIM cards that may or may not fit your phone. BOOOO
Better bet, either find a hotspot and get yourself and eSim or prepare in advance with Sim Local. This nifty app is your passport to hassle-free international connectivity. Whether you’re jet-setting across Europe, backpacking through Asia, or chilling on a tropical island, Sim Local has packages that cover a range of countries and from my own recent trip to the UK, they are super simple to use.
These days there should be absolutely no need for SIM card hunts and sky-high roaming charges. This app hooks you up with local SIM cards tailored to your destination, so you can stay connected without breaking the bank. I know it’s a line that makes everybody gag a little when they hear it but I could compare Sim Local and other similar providers to the Just Eat of international connectivity, just a few taps on your phone, and boom done!
Trust us, your future self will thank you when you’re effortlessly posting envy-inducing beach selfies instead of frantically searching for Wi-Fi hotspots while supporting Irish tech.
Why use an eSim?
We now live in a modern world where mobile connectivity is no longer a luxury but a travel essential. In this era of constant movement and exploration, staying connected is paramount for both work and leisure. For example, my work literally means as long as I have data and a laptop I have a job, which is brilliant…as long as I have data. I remember a few years back in Heathrow airport trying to remember if my phone was unlocked while trying to buy a sim card from a vending machine. The kicker? My phone wasn’t unlocked and I’d just thrown away cash on a valueless sim card, so I data roamed, and let me tell you, that was not a pretty phone bill a few weeks later. Hence eSim.This has seen the likes of Airalo and Holafly as the rising stars in the realm of eSIMs recently but there are many more options in the eSIM market for customers looking for the best eSIM prices and plans. Enter Sim Local.
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Dublin, Sim Local has been traditionally known for its airport stores offering local SIM cards to travellers (if they read this maybe ignore my Heathrow airport experience, I hold no grudges for my stupidy). This Irish-based company are now venturing into the eSIM market with a focus on offering a seamless eSIM experience along with competitive pricing and plans. Just to be clear this isn’t an ad in any way shape or form, but given the choice I will always choose and promote the Irish tech companies over international options, especially when the system works, so let’s see why we should Sim Local.
Avoid Data Roaming Costs:
Always a great start, While we can Roam like home in the EU or you get a pretty decent allowance this isn’t the case when going to the UK or Stateside or if you’re like Martin and upping away to Asia for a few weeks.
eSim providers like Sim Local remove the worry of expensive data roaming fees while you are on the move. Sim Local’s eSIM solution provides a cost-effective alternative, allowing users to stay connected without breaking the bank. Is there anything worse than being abroad and trying to find where you’re going just to realize, no internet, no map, and no Uber to get back?
Convenience Over Physical SIMs:
As someone lucky to review phones as a hobby I shouldn’t cry too much but here’s the thing, swapping out sim cards is a pain in the hoop, ever try finding one of those little pokeys when you actually need one? So when heading abroad save yourself a whole pile of hassle and swap a physical SIM with an eSim that you can set up very easily by following the instructions in 3 to 5 minutes. It’s honestly as easy as Settings, Sims, Add, and entering the details provided.
Keep Your Existing Number:
Another handy little reason for using an eSim sounds simple because it is. Keep your existing phone number active with Sim Local’s eSIM solution, eliminating the need for SIM card swaps and ensuring uninterrupted communication on platforms like WhatsApp. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, or you just have a relentless Irish Mammy (Hi Burns) who will call every hour to make sure you are alive while abroad, maintaining continuity in your contacts is so simple.
Competitive Pricing and Flexible Plans:
What I’ve enjoyed about Sim Local which makes them stand out in the market is the competitive pricing and flexible plans, offering the best online prices for eSIMs, a very similar setup to known competitors such as Airalo but with slightly better pricing in key destinations to Irish customers. With over 200 travel eSIMs covering all countries and regions, affordability goes hand in hand with convenience and connectivity, catering to the diverse needs of modern travelers and the ever-growing digital nomad culture.
Goosed verdict
In a world where staying connected is no longer a luxury but a necessity, Sim Local simplifies the process with its user-friendly app and competitive pricing.
In the ever-expanding world of eSIM providers, Sim Local stands out for its commitment to affordability, flexibility, and simplicity. So, whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a digital nomad in the making, make sure to add Sim Local to your travel toolkit. Your future self will thank you for it, one envy-inducing beach selfie at a time. Happy travels,
Reddit has exploded overnight owning to a quite remarkable story. Redditor RealladMalaga posted about their apartment now being the home of a massive KFC advertisement. On the surface, it just looks like another ad on a busy street, but the impact on this renter is massive. In the video they’ve posted on Reddit, it appears that someone is struggling to open an apartment window behind the banner.
In the post, RealladMalaga says “It’s pitch black inside because the only windows are on that side” and that they “can’t even open the window anymore”. The Redditor also says that there was no prior contact with the landlord and that the landlord has yet to respond to their query. It’s quite like the landlord doesn’t know the furore growing online either.
The apartment in question isn’t hard to find either. It’s located on O’Connell Street above Thomas Clarke’s pub.
Responses in the comments have called for action from a wide variety of bodies, including KFC themselves. However, it is likely KFC just booked the space without knowing how it would be implemented.
One Redditor highlights Dublin City Council’s minimum standards which are being impeded by this advertising. The stand-out areas of these standards being impacted are “that every room has adequate ventilation and both natural and artificial lighting.” Others have called for Dublin Fire Brigade to respond given the banner may be made from a flammable material.
Dublin City Councillor Michael Pidgeon has responded to the thread stating “this display does not have planning permission”, before asking the poster to get in touch with him to get it resolved.
This is the second time KFC has been in the news recently, after the ASAI called them out for having too much chicken in an ad. While this could be one of those “there’s no such thing as bad press moments” for KFC, but this does feel like it crosses a line, even for a slightly edgy brand. With the state of living in Ireland being pretty grim at times, this seems a step to far. But of course, some people have responded with glee, saying “omg the tower burger is back?”.
Images in this article are courtesy of Reddit, RealladMalaga and Google Maps.
From the early days of lockdown and TikTok getting popular, sweets have played a massive part. Shops and livestreams of shops bagging orders have been the norm. So it’s no surprise that the next random viral sensation is, yet another, sweet shop.
“That” TikTok sweet shop that everyone is talking about is the Burton & Bennett Snacks Ltd. The shop can be found in Brierfield in the United Kingdom. The shop has been set up by friends Paul Bennett and Gordon Burton. The charm is the select nature of their stock.
On the shelves are a couple of cans of drinks and a relatively small number of sweets compared to what you’d normally see in similar shops on the high street.
Image from the Burton & Bennett Snacks Ltd Go Fund Me
While many are taking the opportunity to mock the friends, I personally see this as a positive entrepreneurial venture between the two. They’re curating some of their favourite snacks and likely turning a small profit while they do so.
Could it all turn out to be an elaborate prank for a massive sweet company? These days it wouldn’t surprised me at all, but the pair seem genuine.
Viral Sensations
Unfortunately for the pair, I do feel quite a bit of their virality is stemming from negativity. However, they seem eager to stay positive.
Speaking to the Burnley Express, the two don’t seem phased by negative comments. Paul himself says, “We have had some negative comments but we believe that it just people being jealous. We are trying to do something good here for the community and to prove to people that anyone can do this”.
The pair’s first video has already racked up 1m views with a follower count growing steadily. Other TikTokers are visiting too, giving the page and the business further boosts.
For me, I just hope people continue to respect the guys while also enjoying their curated selection of snacks. If they weather the storm that TikTok virality brings, they could be off to the perfect start at Burton & Bennett Snacks Ltd.
Back in January, I outlined my hopes that iOS 17.4 would make retro gaming emulation a lot easier on iPhone. I hoped this would be the case not least because retro gaming was the most obvious win for my Backbone One controller. The answer seemed to be AltStore and that developer’s gaming emulator, Delta. Sure enough, it was indeed the answer. Here’s the ultimate guide to getting retro gaming consoles like the Sega Genesis, Gameboy, Nintendo 64, SNES and lots more, working on your iPhone.
Step 1. Make Sure You’re in Europe
Yep. So this may annoy some people. Apple has finally given in and added app sideloading to iPhone from iOS 17.4. This means you can load apps onto your iPhone from sources other than Apple’s official App Store. This all follows pressure from the European Union to make stoke competition in the iOS app space.
But with all that bad news out of the way, I’m here in Ireland. Comfortably sitting inside the E.U. with an iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 17.4 ready to sideload.
Step 2. Install AltStore on Your iPhone
Now that Apple must let alternatives operate inside the E.U., alterantive app stores are much more valuable. No longer do you have to Jailbreak your iPhone. You just need a PC or MacBook, and iPhone and a few minutes to spare. AltStore documents everything on how to get started in a fantastic guide, but I’ll add in my two cents from the experience too. This is the first big step in getting retro gaming emulation running on your iPhone.
To install AltStore, you will need either a PC or Mac to download the AltStore server. On this device you’ll also need iTunes installed.
Delta is the first retro gaming emulator I found for iOS 17.4. From day one of this news emerging, AltStore seemed to me to be the biggest and best alterantive app store out there. So I like it. The same developers also make Delta, so by connection, I like that too I guess!
Now that you’ve got AltStore installed, open it up on your phone.
Delta will likely be one of the first apps you see in the “Browse” tap. Install this. It’s completely free to install with some cost later. I’ll have details below.
That’s it. Delta is installed on your iPhone.
Step 4. Import Game ROMs
Game ROMs are a bit of a grey area when it comes to retro gaming emulation. I’m not here to judge, so just go get your ROMs.
Open the Delta app and in the top right corner, tap the “+” sign. From here, I opted to choose “Files” and navigate to the folder where my ROMs were saved. Open the ROM you want to play and Bob is indeed your uncle.
Now, I mentioned that Delta is free, but there may be some charges. This comes down to what you want to do and more importantly, what games you want to play. I’m a Sega Genesis guy and unfortunately, this isn’t free yet, but it is inexpensive.
To enjoy Sega Gensis in Delta, you simply have to join the Beta. The lowest tier in the Beta is just €3 per month. A very sound price if you ask me. You just sign up to the developer’s Patreon, link your Patreon and boom. You’re in the Beta with access to Sega Genesis ROM loading.
Step 5. Play Your Old Games on iPhone
All in all, it took just a few minutes to get this up and running. I would have loved getting Genesis for free, but I’m also happy to support developers like the team behind AltStore and Delta. They are ultimately the reason why pressure on Apple to introduce sideloading to iOS happens. That’s no mean feat.
They are now also the reason my Backbone One is truly an incredible piece of kit. Of course, you can play without the Backbone One, but now I’ve gotten my hands on over 600 Sega Genesis ROMs and my iPhone feels like a portable gaming god. Do you have any idea what mid-90s Marty would have done with that many games. Not to mention how much more than €3 per month that all would have cost.
The next time I’m jumping on a plane, I’ll have over 600 classics to choose from whether it be Streets of Rage or Sonic. Just make sure if your ROMs are in iCloud that you download them before take off!
Look, before you say it. I know. Android users have this functionality for years. I made the odd choice to move my entire life to iOS and I really like iPhone. So forgive me for being really excited that one of the most annoying things about iPhone has finally been sorted. At least for us Europeans.
