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Unblock Netflix Part 2: InvizBox Go

Marty
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Unblock Netflix Part 2: InvizBox Go

We recently brought you news of Indiegogo campaign, Keezel, a box which could unblock international versions of Netflix along with plenty of other features. Now we’re bringing you a similar product, built here in Ireland! Let us introduce you to InvisBox Go.

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Given the connected world we live in, more and more public areas offer public WiFi. Connecting to these may save you some coin on your data bill, but you are leaving yourself wide open for cyber attacks. Following the Snowden leaks, more and more people are also concerned about who can see their info. InvizBox Go seeks to solve that problem.

hacking gifImagine the scene. You are sat in a coffee shop looking to connect to their open WiFi, but there is a classic computer hacker looking guy in the corner smiling at everyone connecting their devices to the shops WiFi.

You don’t want to play right into his hands with all your private data now do you?

InvizBox Go sits between your devices and the cafe’s open WiFi. If you’re interested in the super technicalities of how secure all of this is, you should check out this Ars Technica article covering the InvizBox Go’s older brother. As always, we’ll be keeping this focused on why this makes the everyday persons life better!

Unblock Netflix

What appears to be one of the most common desires of smart devices users, is once again made easy by the InvisBox Go. The InvisBox Go can trick your connection into thinking you are elsewhere in the world using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). This is great if you are Spanish, German, Chinese etc and want to watch some stuff from back home, but get smacked in the face with a geoblocked message, as you can simply side step this hurdle.

Extend your WiFi

A lot of problems were around for a long time before everyone started noticing them. Every Tom, Dick and Harry uses WiFi now and is finally realising how frustrating a poor signal can be. Just as frustrating is having a black spot in your home that’s simply too far away from the router to get a good connection. The InvizBox Go has a smart feature where you can use the device as an extender. It basically sucks the internet in and throws it back out again at full whack from it’s position, giving you a little extra range.

Charge your device

The InvisBox Go, as with the Keezel, can provide emergency power when needed. So if your phone dies when you’re out and about, plug into the InvisBox Go and power it back up.

The long term

Just like the Keezel, InvizBox Go is currently going through a crowdfunding process. Backers will receive one years free premium VPN access. Following that first year, you can continue to use the device for free or sign up to the premium service for €4 per month. This will be required to unblock Netflix.

Should I invest in Keezel or InvizBox Go

With two very similar options, this is the toughest questions. All tough questions are solved by tables.

InvizBox Go Keezel
Cost to Back €89 €88
Delivery Included Not Included
Premium VPN 1 year 1 year
Premium VPN Price per month €4 €4.50
Delivery Date February 2016 December 2015
Pros Irish, slightly better value, proven track record or delivering crowd sourced projects Design is gorgeous
Cons You’ll have to wait a little longer Don’t know how much delivery will cost, first time crowd sourcing  project

and….

Right fine we’ll get off the fence. It’s really close between the two devices. While they match up on spec, the Keezel is designed to perfection aesthetically. With that in mind, the InvizBox Go is still in the prototype phase and is being created by a team familiar with the crowdfunding method. Their first device, the InvisBox, was a logicl first step and relatively successful. Finally, they’re Irish, so call us biased and all, but we love Irish companies like this.

You can support the InvizBox Go through their Kickstarter page.

Web Summit 2016 Lisbon: Irish tech will survive

Marty
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Web Summit 2016 Lisbon: Irish tech will survive

Does Web Summit moving to Lisbon for 2016 suck? Yes, absolutely. Is it the end of the world and the Irish tech industry? Absolutely not; here’s why.

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Over the course of 5 years, Web Summit has grown from a small conference that just under 400 people attend its first year, to an event which expects 30,000 attendees this year. It’s easily the biggest date on the Ireland’s tech calendar, but today it was announced it won’t even be on the calendar in Ireland next year.

Why is Web Summit moving to Lisbon

Without stating specifics, given the issues with WiFi and public transport surrounding the RDS venue in previous years,  give Web Summit founder, Paddy Cosgraves words an obvious context. Cosgrave stated”if Web Summit is to grow further, we need to find it a new home. Our attendees expect the best“. The RDS is not the only party to blame for the loss of what Bord Failte claim is a €35 million event. Hoteliers of Dublin who inflate prices beyond recognition have also player a part.

  While these are the generally accepted reasons for the move, WiFi can be dodgy at most big events, and hotels will always take an opportunity to make money. It’s likely the RDS is reaching a headcount limit that Lisbon can overcome.

Reaction to Web Summit’s move to Lisbon

The news of the move has been received with widespread anger and disappointment. Government officials have described their feelings at the move from disappointment to embarrasment. Twitter is naturally where the majority of the public’s mourning has taken place.

Why this is all an overreaction

Without over complicating things, the tech industry was here before Web Summit was created and will remain long after it’s gone. Sure enough, Web Summit was and will be (for this year) an amazing tech event for people to attend in Dublin – we’ll be covering the event too remember! Let’s not forget that Web Summit itself has grown at a ridiculous rate over the past five years. It would be complete insanity to consider it will not be replaced by another event or series of events.

If you think Web Summit vanishing from the Irish calendar will stifle the emergence of Irish startups, just stop and think for a second. What is the likelihood of these small companies meeting a compatible backer during 3 days of cold calling face to face? Slim. Place this along side Ireland’s still booming tech industry, owing largely to tax breaks, coupled with an increasing willingness for startups to turn to crowdfunding, and you still have the conditions which encourage growth and emergence of new companies.

Web Summit has achieved great things and to a certain extend made tech cool, with companies all over the country and world funding people to attend this conference with insanely expensive tickets.

Web Summit has created the space in the calendar, but it’s move to Lisbon and the subsequent move into this space by the many other events such as the Startup Gathering, may very well be what develops tech in Ireland more than anything.

Google Trends Ireland: The year so far

Marty
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Google Trends Ireland: The year so far

search history gifIs this you whenever your search history gets mentioned? Your search history can tell alot about you, as can that of a nation. Google Trends provides some great insight into how Ireland searches Google and what the nation is thinking about.

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What have Irish people been searching for on Google?

Top Google searches

facebook google searchStraight to it! The most common searches wont surprise anyone too much. These are the kind of searches that everyone makes as soon as they turn on their computer. Top spot is held by Zuckerberg’s Facebook, followed by Google themselves and YouTube.

News and weather are the only non traditional online services that people are searching for the most in Ireland.

Growth in searches is where things get more interesting. Here are the searches, in order, experiencing the greatest growth:

Windows 10

windows 10 google searchSo all Microsoft had to do was release a free version of its operating system to generate a bit of buzz. Windows 10 tops the Rising Google Trends list following their free upgrade program which is still open. This is extremely interesting, as 1250% increase in searches suggests there are a huge amount of everyday computer users seeking to upgrade their operating system. A few years ago these users wouldn’t have considered it possible they do this themselves. Technology is going in the right direction.

Conor McGregor

conor mcgregor google searchLove him or hate him, the Notorious Conor McGregor has a distinct ability to make the headlines. While his rise to the top of the UFC has been meteoric, his rise in the Google rankings has been equally impressive with an impressive 130% increase in searches. We’re sure if he could give it all up for the title of top rising search term in Google, he would.

Showbox

Show Box APKIs it legal or isn’t it? No one seems to care about the app that’s so deep in a grey area it needs a safe-word (50 Shades joke there). Showbox sits in third position on the rising trends table. Just like Windows 10, this shows people are adopting technology to consume entertainment in new ways. Go you. You can get Showbox for Android by following this guide.

Airbnb

AirbnbSticking with this theme is Airbnb. Crowd sourcing everything is a hot trend in itself with Indiegogo and Kickstarter leading the way. In terms of the public however, Airbnb is dominating the public heart. Up until recently, the cost of travelling would be inflated by accommodation. Airbnb allows people to rent out their own home for cash. So simple, and popular, it’s experiencing a 100% increase in searches.

Euro to Dollar

Because of insane fluctuations and people doing the bit of travelling, the exchange rate is up 60% in Google Searches.

Slimming World

Slimming World DublinFirst it was Weight Watchers, but now it’s Slimming World. Slimming World has become one of Ireland’s most popular ways to lose weight. So if you are considering giving it a go, now you know you’re not alone!

Now we must all wait patiently for the annual report to be released by Google in early January. Keep an eye on out social as we’ll be dissecting that as soon as possible.

 

 

Irish rugby players on social media

Marty
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Irish rugby players on social media

With the rugby world cup in full flight and the player taking a well earned break after the first round of games, we turn to the Irish rugby players social media streams for entertainment. We’ve pulled together the most entertaining social media feeds to keep an eye on.

Irish rugby players on Twitter

Sean Cronin is first in on our list as he’s quite possibly already scored an early win with hashtag of the tournament while portraying problems any lad away from home will feel.

Cian Healy is great craic to follow on the Tweet Machine, but he’s also showing his artistic side at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The man known on twitter as @ProperChurch has will be picking out one photo of Dan Sheridan’s photos every day and posting on Twitter with the hash tag, #DansFavouritePhoto.

Tommy Boooooooooowe. It’s always in the voice of Ryle Nugent, but cliches aside, Tommy is a great lad to follow on Twitter. We like him because he’s not afraid to have a laugh himself…seriously look…

Sean O’ Brien closes off our round up of the top Irish Rugby team tweeters. The tank that is O’Brien tops the list, dispelling rumours that rugby is for the lads from the big schmoke. We’re holding out hope that there will be plenty more farming references before the Rugby World Cup wraps up.

 

Irish rugby players on Instagram

The leader and captain of the boys in green is Paul O’Connell. He’s also leading the lines when it comes to Irish rugby players on Instagram. So far he’s let us know he’s none too pleased with the decor in his room and we’re expecting a lot more from the Limerick man before the Rugby World Cup closes.

Peter Shilton watching over me tonight. I’d rather Packie Bonner. A photo posted by @paul_o_connell5 on


Kind of a two for one special in the Kearney Brothers, Rob and Dave. Nothing like two brothers ripping the piss out of each other while representing their country on the biggest stage in sport.

@dave.kearney loving his new selfie stick!!

A photo posted by Rob Kearney (@robkearney) on

  Another leader in the team is Jamie Heaslip. He’s also pioneering what is certainly becoming the trademark thumbs up of the squad, while ripping the piss out of Johnny Sexton.

Off for the World Cup capping ceremony…sexton is doing his Kanye West face! #rwc2015 #shouldertoshoulder A photo posted by Jamie Heaslip (@jamieheaslip) on

Finally we come to the wildcard, Simon Zebo. He’s had some absolute Insta-gold, but has been a little quite in recent months. Still, Zebo’s tendancy to going with video content makes him worth the gamble. Watch this space for banter.

Quick selfie before the ✈️..not sure if @devtoner was ready ?

A photo posted by Simon (@simonzebo15) on

Feel we missed someone? Or are some of the lads worth following on Snapchat? Let us know and we’ll take a look.

UPDATE

How could we overlook Paddy Jackson. Paddy has some cracking Insta-posts despite being one of the latest members of Team Ireland to join the social platform, but his latest documentary on Ian Henderson is perhaps top of the pile!

An amazing creature A video posted by Paddy Jackson (@pjackson10) on

Unblock US Netflix with Keezel

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Unblock US Netflix with Keezel

It’s not much of a secret anymore that you can unblock US Netflix, and Netflix of many nations by using VPNs. Currently the process is a little too complicated, but Dutch startup Keezel aims to simplify everything.

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Why can’t I watch US Netflix?

When you sign into Netflix, the application uses your internet connection to see where you are in the world before only showing you programmes available for your area. This is largely due to copyright and agreements that only allow certain shows to be shown in certain regions.

So I can unblock US Netflix?

You can indeed unblock US Netflix, along with many other regions worth of Netflix, live TV and catch up services. So all you Irish in Oz who want to watch the GAA, listen up as you can get RTÉ Player too!

unblock us netflixAnd I need Keezel to do this?

Not necessarily. What you need is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Simply put, you connect to a VPN which then hides where you are and simulates your position to somewhere else. This is great for both privacy and getting access to some extra regions.

Why would I buy Keezel?

For the same reason we buy lots of things! Keezel is designed to make everything easy and more reliable. Free VPNs are notoriously unreliable, while also being difficult to find and set up. As paid ones remain difficult to set up, the majority of average users would be reluctant to pay for them. Keezel offers a relatively cheap solution to the problem.

How much does Keezel cost?

What does Keezel CostCurrently, Keezel is available on Indiegogo with options fast vanishing from availability due to its popularity. Normally the device with a years service will cost $149, but there is currently an option providing the same for $99. After the first year, you will look to pay $5 per month for the premium service though the free service will still work, albeit with fewer locations and slower speeds.

Is Keezel worth buying?

Absolutely. The device really simplifies a fairly complicated process to vastly improve your entertainment experience.

If you are from elsewhere in the world, and living in Ireland, you’ll be familiar with experiencing geoblocks and missing good old tv from your homeland. With the press of a button, Keezel can unlock all your home nation’s tv providers catch up services and free live streaming services.

Just as a side note, the Keezel also has three times the power capacity of an iPhone and can charge smartphones when your in a bind!

How do I get a Keezel?

As it is currently in the funding/early production stages, you can order your Keezel via Indiegogo. The company have stated they will ship in December 2015, but as with all crowdfunding, this really is just an estimate.

Google Fortunetelling

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Google Fortunetelling

Ever the trail blazers in viral technology, Google have created a new site designed to tell your future. We predict you’ll visit it very soon!

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Google FortunetellingGoogle Fortunetelling claims to make a good effort at predicting your future based upon your previous searches and your Google profile. Upon visiting the site you’ll be greeted with, what is a familiar search screen with a few small tweaks.

From here, as you begin typing you may notice that something is slightly usual about the suggested search terms, as some items appear here that few will ever search for.

google fortunetelling syrian crisisOf course Google cannot predict the future. Google Fortunetelling is described by Google themselves as a “fake site”, designed to overcome the growing apathy existing in society. Much debate surrounds whether or not nations should open their borders to allow refugees in, but regardless of your stance here, what is undeniable is they need help.

Google created this site to juxtapose the desire of the user to know what the future holds with the refugees who wonder if they have a future at all, before providing some links to help.

Please support the Syrian Refugees in anyway possible, through local initiatives or donating to one of these charities.

Dislike button coming to Facebook

Marty
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Dislike button coming to Facebook

They said it would never happen and back in the day, there were countless pages entitled “jeez babez lyk y dont facebook have no dislike button”, but the time is here. In what is perhaps the greatest technological advance since the telephone, the internet itself or modern day flying machines, Facebook are set to introduce the “dislike button”.

Facebook dislike gif

A friend is off on Monday while you have to work? Dislike Button

Is that a duck face your sporting in that selfie? Dislike Button

I support support sports team A but sports team B won. Dislike Button

Yes, you too could be disliking statuses and photographs on Facebook in no time. Speaking today at a Facebook Q&A, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, announced the social media site is working on. “I think people have asked about the dislike button for many years. Today is a special day because today is the day I can say we’re working on it and shipping it” Zuckerberg said.

So no more will you be forced to live in a world of positivity with Likes or passive aggressive silence.

Unboxing: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

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Unboxing: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

With a name that never seems to stop, we’ve had our first look and unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.

Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the full review, which will be available shortly.

New on Netflix Ireland: Narcos

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New on Netflix Ireland: Narcos

Sex, drugs, and blood in the place of rock and roll, describes the latest Netflix Original series, with season one now available to stream.

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Narcos on Netflix IrelandPablo Escobar. Yep, you know the name. Narcos is basically based upon the exploits of Colombia’s most notorious drug lord, also known as the “The Cocaine King”. The story of Narcos is told from the viewpoint of Gringo DEA agent Steve Murphy.

Narcos is a fast paced multi-timeline story telling show. That is, sometimes you’re looking back at events, or seeing part of something happening in the future etc. If this sounds familiar, it might well be ringing bells with Breaking Bad. One big point is that Narcos is shot half and half in English and Spanish, meaning lots of subtitles. So if you’re watching while browsing, you’re going to miss quite a lot.

While Narcos might not reach the heights of the aforementioned Breaking Bad, it certainly is receiving respectable reviews, with 77% on Metacritic, 9.2 on IMDb, 76% critic satisfaction and 94% audience satisfaction score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The best news is that it’s already been renewed for a second season, which is good considering this does suffer from the “Passion of the Christ” complex in the sense that you’ve a fair idea of the shows destination. Narcos is however all about the journey and that journey is a roller coaster.

If we were to have on gripe with the show, it’s that the mustaches look awful. Fans of Entourage will remember Vincent Chase’s flop movie Medellin, as his fat suit and mustache came under criticism. Still, we can’t help but feel that Pablo looked better.

Just remember, that while you’ll be greeted with a disclaimer at the beginning of ever episode with a disclaimer stating some events have been changed for dramatic purposes, quite a lot of Escobar’s life was really that dramatic.

Check out the trailer below to see if Narcos is the next show you should lose a few days of your life to. If it’s not for you, check out some of these other crackers on Netflix.

Best Irish Websites: PaperBear.ie – Popup Cards

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Best Irish Websites: PaperBear.ie – Popup Cards

Kicking off our monthly look at some of the best Irish websites is PaperBear.ie, providers of pop up greeting cards.

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The Company

paper bear pop up cardsPaperBear.ie, was founded by Katie Delaney and Aaron Dowling following a trip to Spain. Just a few years later and they now stock over 200 unique designs. These cards are simply amazing, and really need to be seen to be believed.

The team at PaperBear.ie are great too as they openly invite people to make suggestions, stating many of their newest creations “come from customer’s feedback and recommendations”.

Also commendable is the value this high quality cards are available for. I don’t think anybody has ever visited Hallmark and said, “Jesus that’s great value for a card that’s going to be briefly looked at before being locked in a drawer for years”. For the same price if not better, you can get quality cards from an Irish company that will really wow who ever you are giving the card to. Chances are they’ll be showing it off to people saying how wonderful you are. Double win.

The Website

Order greeting cards onlinePaperBear.ie is a clean site, with a general theme that really suits the overall company look and feel. Functionality wise, the site needs a little bit of time and work. Primarily, a little focus is required on the bundling together of cards in their special offers, as it’s completely manual at the moment and the homepage slider is non-clickable. With that said, the quality of the merchandise completely outweighs the few shortcomings of the site, and while we are a tech site ourselves, we appreciate a good greeting card apparently.

Delivery

It’s always best to have an few auld cards stuck away in a drawer somewhere, and in a real emergency, these cards could easily be considered a gift in their. PaperBear.ie encourages you to stock up a little, with free next day delivery on items over €10, 3 for €10 offers and 2 deluxe cards also €10.

Also, follow the team on their Facebook page. They can regularly be found at various markets, where you can go and see these cards in person.

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