A few years back, I had a choice to make. I had been sent a few smart speakers from Amazon and Google. While Amazon’s Alexa was good, Google Assistant was nailing conversational smart home control and so my mind was made up. It’s gotten pretty rocky since. So bad, in fact, I considered turning back. But with Google Bard growing in popularity, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has one final ace up its sleeve. Integrating Bard with Google Assistant.
The Problem With Google Assistant
You’d be forgiven for thinking Alphabet (which I’m just calling Google from here on out) and Google was a success story. But over the past few years, fairly hefty projects have been closed. While Google Plus wasn’t a surprise entry to that list, Google Stadia did die out at a shocking pace, just over 3 years after it was started.
Google does fail, and Google does introduce things that it grows bored of. And that’s what I genuinely thought Google Assistant was becoming.
I have two Google Nest Hubs, the ones with the screens and a few other speakers dotted around my home. I use them for timers, smart home controls, playing music and watching Netflix or YouTube while I cook. But more and more, Google Assistant has no idea what I’m asking it to do. Anything beyond the simplest of commands seems to confuse the system.
While that alone isn’t an issue, it worries me that this system should be getting better over time – not worse. That points to one simple assumption. Google isn’t really investing in this or giving it the time it deserves.
Now, Google could be preparing Assistant for the scrap heap, but it isn’t. And that’s solely down to the potential of Bard.
What is Bard?
Let’s ask Bard itself to explain it.
Imagine you have a personal assistant that can answer your questions, generate creative text formats, translate languages, and help you brainstorm ideas. That’s basically what Bard is, an amazing AI tool from Google that’s still under development but has already learned to perform many kinds of tasks.
Bard is powered by Google’s powerful artificial intelligence called LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications). It’s like having a giant encyclopedia and a creative writing expert in your pocket, all rolled into one.
Basically, that’s it. For the average Joe, Bard is a website where you can type in queries and prompts before getting responses and suggestions. But Bard is also a sign of how Google was kind of caught napping.
To show just how lax Google has become in recent years, ask someone about AI. “AI” has had a breakthrough year in 2023 and that’s down to Microsoft’s Chat-GPT. This year, 1 in 10 employees in Ireland have said they’ve used AI in work. That’s an emerging technology becoming a household name in the space of a few months and it was led by OPEN AI and Microsoft. Google was nowhere to be seen until very late in 2023.
That’s what Bard is. Bard is Google’s AI-powered platform. The funny thing is, that while it was second to market, at least in terms of perception, I personally believe it to be much more powerful than Chat-GPT.
Why does this matter for Google Assistant?
Bard and Google Assistant
Google Assistant today, is relatively rudimentary. A microphone recognises your voice and the words you’re saying. It looks up those words against an index of commands and tries to understand what best to do. This could be “Hey Google…turn on the lights” or “Hey Google…set a timer for 5 minutes”.
Google Assistant can do some fairly cool stuff too, including looking up the wider internet for recipes and bringing you through cooking it step by step. But Google Assistant is, pretty simple. If anything out of left field is thrown at Assistant, it tends to break down.
As I’ve said, in recent years Google Assistant is breaking down nearly as much as it completes a request. But with Bard integration, Google Assistant should be better able to comprehend user inputs. Google stops shy of saying Bard should “think” better about what it’s doing.
In October 2023, Google confirmed that it would be integrating Bard with Google Assistant; an AI-powered assistant. The reality of jus “how good” this combination is remains a mystery. On paper, it should be a massive step forward. I used to daily drive a Google Pixel 6 Pro and was impressed with features like being able to screen calls. Bard Assistant should be the savior of Google Assistant. Google has stated that Assistant lives on 1 billion devices. A colourful way of dressing up that stat and hiding what seems to be a lack of daily active users. But should Bard Assistant develop anywhere near the hype that Chat GPT did, 2024 could be a very exciting year for Google Assistant-powered devices.
I am a home brewer. Despite brewing for just under two years, I even had some credentials after winning an All-Ireland Gold Medal this year for a Black IPA I made. I don’t put my success down to being a naturally gifted beer recipe crafter. Instead, I believe it’s the fact I invested in good kit and adopted some brewing technology from day one.
I love a bit of smart brewing kit. My Tilt Hydrometer has become an essential part of my beer-making kit. From the very start, I opted for a refractometer over a hydrometer to measure my gravity readings. Why? Well, I didn’t see the point in wasting so much beer every time I wanted to take a reading or having to wait for a sample to cool. So I used a standard refractometer instead along with some necessary calculations. Naturally, I was excited to learn of Anton Paar’s SmartRef – a smart refractometer.
If you want one yourself, you can save 10% using the link and promo code at the bottom of this article.
So I got out my brewing kit, and brewed up a Czech Pilsner with Kveik yeast, purely in the name of science.
What is a Smart Refractometer?
A refractometer is a handheld tool that uses light to measure the concentration of substances in liquids, solids, and translucent materials. It’s like a tiny magnifying glass that tells you how much sugar is in your lemonade or how strong your saltwater solution is.
Here’s photo, badly taken, through the lens of a standard refractometer:
A smart refractometer, like the Anton Paar SmartRef, works on the same principle as a traditional refractometer, but with the addition of digital technology and connectivity features.
Now for the slightly sciencey bit.
A small sample of the liquid or solid to be measured is placed on the refractometer’s prism. Light from an LED source passes through the prism and into the sample. The refractometer measures the angle of refraction of light as it enters and exits the sample and converts it into the supported measurement of your choice. I opted for Specific Gravity, but the unit also supports Brix and Plato along with some other measurements across a few different apps.
Ultimately all this information is combined to know when the beer is ready and to calculate the alcohol content of a beer.
Benefits of the Anton Paar SmartRef
So, that’s the general concept of how a smart refractometer works. Why is the Anton Paar SmartRef worth looking at?
Automatic Temperature Correction and Calculations
The beauty of using the SmartRef is that you can tune in your brewing setup along with getting more data from your sample. For example, when using a manual refractometer, you need to factor in temperature corrections. The Anton Paar SmartRef can do all that automatically for you when you take your reading.
Adding Science to Homebrewing
The SmartRef is also incredibly accurate. If you don’t know them, Anton Paar is a company that makes incredibly accurate measuring tools for scientists and food specialists. They make refractometers, polarimeters, viscometers, rheometers, density meters, and more for preparing and mixing samples. Their tools are used to test food, drinks, drugs, cosmetics, and beyond. By adopting a SmartRef into your setup, you’re adopting real scientific measurement standards.
Quick and Easy
Quick and easy rarely get mentions in homebrewing, so let’s take our chance. The SmartRef offers a wide and accurate range of measuring across many metrics based on your preferences. Not only does it do it accurately, it does it quickly. No more squinting into a refractometer or trying to see across a 100ml sample of wort with a hydrometer to roughly see a measurement. With SmartRef you get an exact measurement immediately in seconds from just a few drops of your hard work – 0.4ml to be exact.
Brew Meister App and More
I’m sure there’s a good reason for the approach, but Anton Paar has several apps for different jobs. For example, I use Brew Meister because I’m making beer. But they also have an app for winemaking, general lab measurements and even aquarium management. All of these apps have a free tier, but you can pay for premium access too. All of my testing was done on the free tier of the Brew Meister app. All except one test.
I also but a sample of a friend’s homemade honey against a large retailer’s own brand honey. Just for the craic. This was done using the Lab Meister app. With this you can spot if your honey has too much moisture which indicates poor seals on your beehives. Being a tech reviewer sure does make you learn wild things.
Even though there are a few different apps to use, you can use the SmartRef with all of these apps. Anton Paar does have another device though, so just double check you’re getting the best one for you use case you have in mind.
The beauty of these apps is that you can log lots of different data. I’m already using a few apps like Brew Father for general recipe tracking and Tilt for fermentation tracking. Brew Meister gives me highly detailed information on very small samples of wort. It means I can check my beer much quicker and much more accurately than I can with the likes of my Tilt (but that remains a critical part of my setup regardless).
As I’ve already mentioned, the best part of the apps is that they do a lot of the calculations for you already making brew day pass that little bit quicker.
Anton Paars SmartRef: The Verdict
The Anton Paars SmartRef is a useful addition to your homebrewing tool kit. It gives a reliable reading of your wort and beer during critical stages of the brewing process. It removes the need to wait for samples to cool down or for you to be squinting through a hard-to-see lens. For me, using a hydrometer or a standard refractometer was never all that accurate because they are hard to read. Now, the Brew Meister app takes a reading for me in a more accurate fashion than my Tilt Hydrometer.
I’ll still be using the Tilt, but this may very well replace the standard refractometer in my kit completely, with that being kept for emergencies only.
Now, I can’t ignore the fact this is a luxury device for homebrewers. My Dad was a homebrewer. He brewed off kits. He never had this kind of thing, but then he also wasn’t sure how strong what he was making was. He was happy enough with what he made, but I like the meticulous nature of building a recipe and brewing all grain. I like accuracy. And for that reason, I love the SmartRef.
Now, there is a downside to bringing all that science into your setup. While hydrometers and standard refractometers are relatively inexpensive, this is a pricey piece of kit at €299 direct from Anton Paar.
With that said, if you really want to get the best piece of kit for measuring your beer throughout the process, this is the winner right here.
Kids today are growing up in a completely different world to previous generations, including my own. There’s an expectation that smartphones, tablets and computers will play an increased role in children’s lives these days. This doesn’t come without risk though. I’ve looked after kids myself and fully understand the temptation to hand over a phone to stem a meltdown or buy 5 minutes peace, but I also understand that unlimited screen time brings problems too. So when I spotted StoryPhones I quickly realised there was a new experience for children.
What are StoryPhones?
StoryPhones are an entertainment system designed for children aged 3 to 8. They combine the functionality of traditional headphones with the capabilities of a portable audio player. Naturally, there is some hearing protection built-in with level limits you can set yourself. If you are familiar with Tonies and Toniebox, StoryPhones offer a similar concept but with the focus being headphones instead of a speaker.
The key concept of StoryPhones is the interchangeable StoryShields. These are magnetic discs that attach one side of the headphones. The discs contain pre-loaded stories, music, and educational content which are all sold separately. Children can easily swap out StoryShields to access a variety of content, ensuring endless hours of enjoyment.
What Stories are Available on StoryPhones StoryShields?
The creators of StoryPhones realised early on that content is key when it comes to making a product like this successful. The great news for parents is that StoryPhones secured a license from Disney. Classic family favourites like Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid are available to purchase for about €10 per disc.
Marty in a fetching pair of StoryPhones
Thanks to a partnership with Pinna, you can also buy educational StoryShields covering things like maths and reading development.
One particularly charming element of StoryShields is the ability to record your own discs. This means you can have granny or grandad read a story to your children even when they can’t be there to do it in person.
The StoryShields contain several chapters per story which are skippable by twisting the disc on your childrens’ headphones. Included with my StoryPhones was Disney’s Minney Magical Tales which contains 7 chapters and is just shy of 36 minutes long.
One final StoryShield story disc worth mentioning is ZenShield. This special disc contains some chapters to help your children wind down with white noise, rainfall, piano and more relaxing tunes.
Kid’s Whistle Stop Review of StoryPhones
I gave the StoryPhones a test myself before handing them over to my 3-year-old niece for the real test. I do have to admit, the setting up was a little tricky. While the StoryPhones are a normal pair of both wired and Bluetooth headphones, they also connect to a StoryPhones app. The app I found to be a little difficult to get set up. I think the trick is to connect the headphones as a normal pair of Bluetooth headphones before trying to find them with the app.
After my bit of testing, it was over to my niece.
First of all, she loved the look and feel. They’re sturdy and built to last, immediately getting tested with a strong grab, bit of twisting and a few drops too. But once she put them on, there was no taking them away from her. They are super comfy too, according to her of course.
She immediately got the concept of StoryShield, likely because her and her brother have a TonieBox. The lack of a screen was absolutely no problem. She gladly jumped up onto the couch and just listened to Disney’s Minnie Magical Tales that came with the pack.
I’m looking forward to seeing what she makes of them in the coming months. Here’s what I hope to see.
Benefits of StoryPhones
Beyond the testing myself and my niece did the other day, StoryPhones offer plenty of other features that you might find helpful.
Bluetooth and Wired Headphone Options
While the StoryShields story pucks are a great idea, StoryPhones are also simply a pair of headphones for your kid to enjoy like any other pair when needed. This means if you’re heading away on a long journey, they can be connected to a tablet for movie time. I’ve mentioned TonieBox and Tonies a few times, and I should point out these are two totally different companies.
However, thanks to StoryPhones including a 3.5mm headphone cable and TonieBox having a headphone jack built-in, you can even let your kids listen to TonieBox stories privately. This is good for them to have some alone time and chill out and good for you if you’re really tired of some stories!
I want to repeat one point from earlier too. The StoryPhone app lets you be able to set a volume level limit for your kids’ headphones to protect their hearing. You can adjust these as they grow too.
Reduce Kids’ Screen Time
While I mentioned using the StoryPhones as regular headphones with a tablet, the real beauty of these headphones is that they enable you to offer your child some screen-free entertainment. It’s getting harder to keep kids’ screen time under wraps but that’s just what StoryPhones empower you to do.
Audiobooks can greatly benefit childrens’ development and offer you another weapon in your arsenal to keep your kids’ entertained without damaging their attention span. StoryPhones encourages children to use their imagination as they listen to engaging stories. By immersing themselves in the world of audio storytelling, children develop their listening skills, attention spans, and ability to follow complex narratives.
StoryPhones: The Verdict
I struggle to find a flaw with StoryPhones. At €99, perhaps the initial outlay for these headphones is a little on the steep side. That does make them €10 more expensive than a TonieBox. However, I see these as two totally different types of solutions for entertaining your children. I also imagine your kids will use StoryPhones a lot more making that investment worthwhile.
Once you have the headphones, the StoryShields are very fairly priced on average at €10 a pop.
Personally, I love the idea of anything that reduces screen time for young children. While tech-free time and physical activity outdoors remain crucial, there’s a time and a place for screens. But having an alternative might just encourage you and your kids to explore something that pushes their imagination a bit more.
StoryPhones are incredibly flexible in terms of functionality but durable in terms of build. For these reasons I expect these to be the goto kids Bluetooth headphones in your house for years making them a great purchase. If you’re specifically looking for TonieBox headphones, any wired headphones will work. If you buy these, they’ll work too and offer you similar screen-less entertainment on the go for your kids.
Bittersweet. We finally have the trailer we wanted from Rockstar Games for GTA 6. Sweet, is that it’s finally happening. Bitter, that we have to wait until 2025.
Rockstar’s path to this point hasn’t been straight. Leaks galore including one just last week have, for them perhaps, taking the shine of this launch. For the public, it couldn’t be more of a different feeling. Utter excitement has spread across the internet as Rockstar hit play on the GTA 6 Trailer on YouTube.
GTA 6 Trailer
For GTA 6, we’ve returned to Vice City, home to one of the best Grand Theft Auto games to date and definitely the best soundtrack – bring back Wang Chung please!
The trailer opens with Lucia, a prisoner soon to be one of our main charachters. Next we pan to a very Venice Beach-looking opening shot as a banner-toting plane flies by stating “Why 69 when you can Nine1Nine” – likely a nod to a company you’ll be involved with in the GTA 6 campaign. Some more shots of the city fly by before we see an awesome airboat, likely to be playable. The cast of NPC characters seem to be extremely diverse both in ethnicity and body shape, all of which look graphically stunning. Sidenote – there’s a lot of twerking in this trailer. Like an unusual amount.
It looks like the game is going to be set in the modern day, made clear by the fact that there are phones and social media. In fact quite a bit of the trailer is made of “social media” posts. If these are in-game shots, the graphics are stunning too. Take some time to appreciate the Thrill Billy Mud Club. I’d love to say I think these are in-game but they are likely shot for the trailer.
Look, I’m not going to break down the entire trailer – even though I have most of it. Go enjoy it for yourself. GTA 6 is undoubtedly the most hotly anticipated game in history. And it’s coming to Ireland in 2025.
GTA 6 Launch Date
Rockstar has only committed to 2025. A pretty large launch window to be aiming for. But history gives us a fairly good idea when to expect GTA 6 dropping. While Rockstar hasn’t given an actual date, all previous Grand Theft Auto games have launched in the second half of the year. Most launch around September or October. So my money is on Grand Theft Auto 6 launching in October 2025.
A horrible day in Irish history, for many many reasons. I’m not going to go into the details, plenty of proper current affairs news outlets will discuss that. But one area I’m interested in is the impact smartphones is going to have in the fallout of the Dublin riots.
An Garda Siochana has today requested that members of the public contact Store Street Garda Station if they have any video footage from the Dublin riots.
In a post on Instagram, the Gardaí said they are “appealing to the public for video footage and content related to last Thursday’s serious public disorder in Dublin City Centre that will assist in our ongoing investigation”.
The post continues with details of how this will be done, saying you should “send your contact details to [email protected]” before adding they “would be very grateful if you could also help us by sharing this message with those you know”.
They also pointed out that you should not send footage yet, just make contact to say you have some form of digital content that may be of interest.
I reached out to the Garda Press Office for clarification on one point; would members of the public risk losing their personal devices in the event their footage be deemed of interest. This will not be the case. The Press Office confirmed that once you get in touch, “appropriate arrangements will then be made for downloading of the relevant footage only”. In addition, they stated that the “handing over of personal devices will not be required.”
This is an interesting development from Gardaí but not a massive departure from common practice. We often see requests for dashcam footage when a serious crime has been committed. Given the public outrage towards the riots and the quality of smartphone cameras today, it’ll be interesting to see what fruit this bears. This comes alongside fast-tracked plans to introduce body cams and the use of AI-powered facial recognition technology following the Dublin riot.
Spider-Men, Spider-Men, PS5 exclusive Spider-Men! That’s right, Peter and Miles have swung their way back to the virtual streets of New York City and this time they’ve left the old jet-engine roar of the PS4 behind for good. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the latest (and so far, 5th not counting re-releases) step in Sony’s long farewell to the PS4, fully embracing the power that the current generation of hardware can offer. It certainly makes full use of the beefiness of the PS5’s internal systems in the graphics and performance department but do the story and gameplay manage to capture the same magic of the first title? Does it iterate more on the franchise than Miles Morales did? Is Spider-Man the bodega cat still around? The answer to these, I’m happy to report, is a resounding yes! I’ll be doing my best to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can, but I’ll probably be spoiling Spider-Man 2018 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales so if you haven’t played those you should go do that before coming back here!
First Impressions are Everything
Spider-Man 2018 had everything going for it when it launched. It promised an exciting, engaging way to navigate the NYC skyline. It was being developed by long-time fan favourite devs, Insomniac Games. It was able to effortlessly ride the wave of Spider-Mania that the Marvel Cinematic Universe revived. Given those three elements, it was almost guaranteed that the game would succeed both commercially and critically. And it did! I loved the game so much that I upgraded to the next-gen version when the PS5 launched and fell in love all over again.
Again, when the shorter follow-up, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, launched it was able to ride the hype train that newer, fancier hardware brought with it. While it may have played it safe in terms of gameplay innovation or major changes to the established canon from the first game, it was absolutely one of my top games of the year.
Insomniac’s third Spider-outing, similarly, does not disappoint. I already knew I was going to enjoy the game but the news that it would be a PS5 exclusive title only excited me more. It was finally time to see what a fully realised New York was like without having to ensure it wasn’t too grand for the PS4 to handle. It almost goes without saying for many games these days but when I first booted it up, I was greeted by the settings menu asking whether I wanted to experience the game in Performance or Fidelity mode. I initially chose Fidelity mode because I knew I’d most likely change over to Performance mode once I’d seen the full glory of the graphics. I just prefer a higher framerate if I can have it.
Mr Sandman…big on my screen…
The initial impression of the graphical side of things was impressive. Glass and reflective surfaces were suitably ray-tracey and the detail on some of the textures was a thing of beauty. I don’t think it was an accident that Sandman was the chosen villain to start the game with. A behemoth made up of millions of tiny particles. What better way to show off the fancy new tech you’ve been playing with recently?
As I mentioned in my Miles Morales review you could hardly think of a better environment to show off graphical fidelity than New York City. What with its myriad reflective surfaces, its abundant traffic, and its bridges spanning over the East River showing off what Insomniac can do with regards water physics. You’re able to get a better view of the city than ever this time around due to one of the game’s biggest mechanical changes!
Amazing Gameplay
The key strength of this franchise since day one has been its traversal mechanics. The ability to swing and crawl and launch yourself off practically any surface was mind-blowing when we first got our hands on it. The fact that this new way of moving was balanced with the need for something to latch on to (unlike some previous games where you can inexplicably web-swing from thin air), with the opportunity to achieve some truly breakneck speeds if you timed your swings right was a marvel (no pun intended). Thankfully the same web-slinging we all know, and love is back with the addition of a few unlockable abilities to help you quickly gain altitude or speed. Same old same old.
Well, it would be if it weren’t for the glorious return of Spidey’s iconic web wings, straight from his early days. These are an absolute revelation. They allow for consistent straight-line speed ideal for chasing baddies on the run, as well as being a relatively relaxing way to get around New York. Now, these wings aren’t for flight, only gliding. This means you can be limited in your travel distance if you don’t plan your route properly. Thankfully there are plenty of wind-tunnels, updrafts, and slipstreams that will carry you along or give you a little altitude boost as you go. In fact, thanks to these it’s possible to glide from the southernmost tip of the financial district all the way up to Peter’s new home in Astoria.
The Web Wings are iconic, I will beaccepting no notes on this.
These changes to how you get about make fast travel even more redundant than it was in the first two games. Normally this would be a cause for celebration. Fast travel is kind of a last resort in a lot of games when the act of immersing yourself in a virtual world is a bit of an inconvenience. In Spider-Man 2 though it’s an absolute wonder. Usually, fast travel isn’t actually fast. It’s just fast-er than going on foot. In Spider-Man 2, though? It’s not just fast, it’s instantaneous. I only did it once just to experience it myself. I opened the map, held a button and I was immediately teleported to my destination. Absolutely no loading times at all. If there was any way to show off how far PlayStation tech has come, this is it.
Traversal isn’t the only mechanical change, however. Combat abilities that first appeared in Miles Morales have returned with a whole suite of tricks for Peter as well. He’s sporting his extra mechanical arms from Civil/Infinity War (depending on if you’re a comic or a movie person) to give him a hand whenever he’s in a pinch. Presumably made of some kind of nanotech, these arms appear and reappear in the blink of an eye so they’re not always hanging around out of Peter’s back. These arms allow you to launch enemies into the air, pummel enemies with a flurry of rapid blows, or even launch yourself towards an enemy and throw them towards the nearest solid object. Miles, of course, is still generating enough electricity to power an NYC borough so that’s his deal once again.
Now it won’t come as any surprise to anyone who’s seen any trailers for the game or, hell, seen the box art, that Peter joins forces with a Symbiote (spoiler alert, it’s Venom, bet you didn’t see that coming) during the course of the game. As you’d expect this unlocks a new suite of abilities for him to do some truly devastating damage with as the story progresses.
Now, the stealthy MJ missions that many people complained about in the previous game are back. However, these have also been given an update to allow MJ to deal some damage of her own. They’re nowhere near as tedious as they were last time, and I even enjoyed one or two of them. There’s even one where I found I was able to just run straight by a whole mess of enemies without any difficulty which got it over and done with quickly enough!
And that’s really it as far as core mechanics go. The rest is basically unchanged from the previous titles. The open world now includes areas on the far side of the East River, meaning there’s an even bigger sandbox in which to find collectibles, enemy bases, science experiments, and combat challenges. All of these are unlocked as you progress through the story and are then available to you whenever you feel the need to get some extra XP or upgrade materials. The combat is that familiar Arkham-style mix of attack, parry, and dodge that dozens of other games have used at this point. Again, apart from one or two new enemy attack types, no big changes here!
Too often, sequels will add mechanics or pad out the open world just for the sake of following a “more is more” design philosophy. I think a more conservative approach really helped Spider-Man retain a lot of what made the series great in the first place. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one or two additional extras that are definitely worth having!
Spider-Story Tme
The strength of the Spider-Man franchise, since its debut over 60 years ago, has always been its characters. Happily, that has carried through to the modern day. The character arcs we see in this game are excellent from start to finish. The most dramatic, of course, is Peter Parker himself who is taken to some dark places once he puts on his infamous black suit. He really embodies the “Bully Parker” we often see as his ego takes over while the Symbiote is whispering into his ear. Miles works as a brilliant foil here, doing his utmost to keep his Spidey mentor on the straight and narrow. He certainly has his work cut out for him, though, as Peter quickly goes to a dark place, eventually growing to a near-antagonist due to the influence of the black suit. I’ll keep some of the details close to the chest so as to prevent any spoilers, but Peter not only becomes more self-centered but also much more violent with his opponents. Safe to say this causes massive conflict within Miles as to when to step in and put a stop to Peter. The student/teacher dynamic can be a tough one to navigate when you feel like your teacher is in the wrong. Even tougher when your teacher is possessed by an alien bent on global domination.
Mary Jane gets a good story to herself as well. Caught between the want to do what’s right and the need to pay the bills she struggles with the idea of working for, inexplicably, the biggest selling paper in New York, the Daily Bugle. Unfortunately, the anti-Spidey rag is owned and operated by the Marvel equivalent of Alex Jones, J. Jonah Jameson. We also get an insight into how MJ feels about her relationship with Peter when it won’t always be certain that he’ll be able to hold down a steady job and pay the bills.
The Symbiote can exert an extreme degree of control over its host. Pic unrelated.
The Symbiote’s final host (i.e., this continuity’s Venom) undergoes a similar character change to Peter. Interestingly, we see that the change happens even when they’re not in possession of the Symbiote, growing to resent Peter for taking away what they see as rightfully theirs. I guess this is standard for Spider-Man villains all things considered. Spider-Man does what’s expected of him, someone takes personal offence to this, and that person then becomes moustache-twirling villain. This time, however, it feels much more personal, with Venom’s final goal acting as a perversion of the host’s initial vision of their place in the world.
The game’s deuteragonist, Kraven is also a well-rounded character in his own right. While he doesn’t really have much of an arc he’s very well fleshed out. His motivation isn’t as straightforward as “I want to hunt the ultimate prey”, even though that’s how it seems at first. He and his hunters really make for formidable enemies, and they really make for welcome additions to this Spidey-canon.
It can’t be ALL Good
As I mentioned, Spider-Man is a character with a 60-year history. That’s more than half a century of character arcs, suits, stories, and memes to draw from. It references iconic moments in the franchise’s history like the cover of Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man’s debut) and the Spider-Men pointing meme. That’s why I’m so disappointed to report that the variety of unlockable suits in this game really isn’t what I’d hoped for. Of the 35 suits available for Peter, a full 12 of them are from the movies. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the movie suits. The new take on the classic suit is great, Tom Holand’s first Stark suit is still one of my favourites, and the Raimi webbed suit is forever burned into my millennial brain. Miles, I have no such problem with. He gets so many suits that we haven’t seen before. Now, I’m sure we’ll see more suits in the future if there’s DLC or a title update, as we saw in the past but to have a third of Peter’s wardrobe taken up with stuff we’ve seen a million times before, especially when they don’t even take advantage of the new palette-swap mechanic is more than a little disappointing.
Pictured: An important piece of Spider-Culture
It’s also a bit of a let-down that the podcasts that will frequently play over Miles and Peter’s network aren’t saved in your collections menu tab as they were before. Often if you’re listening to a JJJ rant or a wholesome episode of the Danikast and come across a crime or a quest (side or main), the audio will cut out never to resume. It would be nice to be able to go back and hear what you missed out on. Spider-Man is, after all, known for his quips and jabs at Jonah so to hear him mouth off is always a treat.
Finally, (and this is less specifically a gripe I have with Spider-Man 2 and more a general annoyance with open-world games,) it’s very difficult to strike a balance between side-quest completion and story pacing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be wanting to explore all the side quests as and when they become available. Unfortunately, this can lead to some weird situations like Miles saying, “Oh I need to check on Pete right now!” followed by the player saying, “but I’m gonna go hunt for a dozen little Spider-Bots first,” immediately afterwards. Again, this isn’t a Spider-Man-only problem, but I think it would be beneficial if there were some missions that had to be followed up on immediately or that would only allow you to accept side quests you find along the way.
Final Recommendations
All those minor gripes aside I absolutely adore this game. In a year where we got some astonishingly good titles this one really stood out to me as one of the best. The fact that it’s a tight, contained narrative really helps as well. It doesn’t turn into a multi-hundred-hour slog like Tears of the Kingdom or Starfield. The move to better hardware has really paid dividends for Insomniac and this game was more than worth the wait. I’m so excited for any potential DLC we may be getting or, if not, their upcoming Wolverine game. If you liked the first two games, or just love Spider-Man in general you really need to pick this game up. The story will have you on the edge of your seat, tearing up or open-mouthed slumped on your couch. The gameplay is as tight and as fluid as ever. Also, as I said, Spider-Man the bodega cat makes his glorious return. What’s not to love?
Being a tech reviewer is a funny old job. I struggled to get excited about phone launches any more because they’re all a bit samey. Instead, I now find things like chargers fascinating. My annual pilgrimage to IFA in Berlin this year brought the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger onto my desk and I’m absolutely in love with it. It’s ideal for anyone who has a MacBook (or any USB-C charged laptop) and travels regularly with lots of different gadgets. While a bit on the pricey side, it will justify that price tag to many.
Why I Love Belkin’s 140w 4-in-1 Charger
I travel with way too much tech. I’m just back from a trek around Norway and I was regularly carrying my MacBook, phone, two powerbanks, the charger for my Whoop Band, earbuds and even a charger for my sunglasses – I know, ridiculous. The funny thing is, I’d even argue I was travelling light on this trip with no phones for testing and no iPad. Normally, this would mean I bring several chargers and EU adapters too.
Just before setting off, Belkin sent over the brand new 140w charger they had just launched at IFA. I was immensely excited because in the box you get a UK plug, along with EU and US plugs too. With the press of a button, I could plug this in in Norway, just like I had in Ireland hours previously. The real win comes with the number of ports Belkin has squashed onto this charger.
Here it is in action while I waited for a flight from Bergen to Oslo.
The BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Charger, as the name suggests, has four ports; 3 x USB-C and 1 good old-fashioned USB-A. They can all be used at the same time because the charger, despite its relatively slim profile, is massively powerful. MacBook owners will scratching their heads right now. The standard MacBook charger is about the same size and offers just one USB-C port. This is down to Belkin’s GaN technology and Apple only recently released its own GaN chargers.
Gallium nitride (GaN) is a semiconductor material that is being used in the development of new types of chargers. The science aside, GaN chargers are smaller, lighter, and more efficient than traditional silicon chargers. They are also able to charge devices faster.
Belkin is uses this technology to bring this one charger to beat them all across 4-ports.
BoostCharge Pro 140W: The 4-Ports
The 4 ports on Belkin’s charger behave differently depending on how many devices you are charging. Thanks to the combination of GaN and USB-C Power Delivery, each USB-C port has guaranteed power transfer rates. Basically, that means that no matter how many devices you plug in, each port will do at least what it says on the tin.
For example. The top, most powerful, USB-C port on the plug is the one I use for my MacBook because it can deliver up to 140w of power. My MacBook tops out at 87w so that’s plenty of power, while newer MacBooks and laptops can charge faster, using up to the full 140w. That is assuming you are only charging your MacBook, but if you are you could be getting from 0% to 50% battery in just 30 minutes in the right conditions.
But you can have several devices plugged in at once and this changes how power is distributed by the charger. This diagram makes it much clearer than my words:
Here, you can see that if you plug your MacBook into the top port, and it supports it, you’ll get 140w fast charging. Plug your phone into the fourth port and the laptop rate of charging will drop slightly to 100w to distribute the charge rates evenly but fairly across devices that need more power; thank you USB-C Power Delivery (PD).
Travelling with a partner? They could charge their MacBook while you charge yours. Both will run at 65w, the top two ports’ minimum rates. All the while you could still charge a phone on the fourth port at 12w. Naturally, you could also plug your phone into a USB-C port for more power too.
Ultimately, this one charger with interchangeable plug fittings, was the only charger I used while travelling. It charged my MacBook, phone and everything else I carried, on trains, in airports and in hotel rooms for a week. It takes a bit of getting used to know my laptop charger is also my phone and wearable charger, but trust and you shall be rewarded.
What I Didn’t Like About Belkin’s 140w 4-in-1 Charger
I’m lucky enough to have been sent this to test out, but I can’t lose sight of the fact that most will need convincing on the price. This will set you back €165 from Amazon. That’s no small price for a charger. Realistically, you probably already have these chargers, so that’s really €165 for the nice-to-have consolidation of all those chargers into one device.
While it’s a technical marvel thanks to GaN and PD technology, it’s still a sizeable piece of kit. EU sockets never feel fully secure when holding in heavy chargers. I didn’t actually have any issues with this, but can’t help but feel someone will, or someone will have a socket somewhere this thing simply won’t fit into because of other plug layouts.
The only other thing I can think of is that while it’s environmentally friendly, I feel Belkin could have included more reading material in the box. The general market needs some more education on chargers. Companies just started dropping this from boxes and hoped everyone knew what they’d need to buy. Most people don’t really think about wattage and ports when charging. Understanding all of that is really what makes the pricetag on Belkin’s 4-port so justified.
Belikin BoostCharge Pro 140W Charger: The Verdict
This is a contender for one of my favourite pieces of tech in 2023. I travel quite a bit and have lots of different tech. This one charger frees up a lot of space in my bag. Not only that, Belkin makes good reliable products and is officially supported by Apple along with other manufacturers too.
I appreciate that it’s not cheap. But I also know some people out there will read this review, look at the features I’ve highlighted and think that price is a steal for the convenience this charger offers. It’s also not a bad gift idea for someone who travels a lot!
One other scenario is if you just need to buy a new USB-C laptop charger in general. Apple’s own charger is €105 so for a bit more you could get the only charger you’ll ever need.
Power Delivery technology is somewhat future-proofed too, so this will be your charger for many years to come.
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has taken us on countless historical adventures, from Renaissance Italy to ancient Greece and even briefly Ireland in good auld Valhalla. Now, with the release of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for the PlayStation 5, the series sets its sights on an entirely new and mysterious setting and the series goes back to it’s routes with a shorter less time dumping title. In this review, we’ll explore the sand-swept landscapes of Assassin’s Creed Mirage and delve into the intriguing blend of history and mythology that it offers.
Setting and Story
Assassin’s Creed Mirage transports players to the heart of the mesmerizing and enigmatic world of Baghdad. Set in a lush and vibrant interpretation of the Arabian Peninsula, the game offers an enticing mix of historical authenticity and mythical storytelling. The narrative is rich with intricate political intrigue, as you become embroiled in the conflicts between warring factions, all while uncovering ancient secrets that have the power to reshape the course of history. It’s a bloody great storyline with you taking our titular tile Bashim through a city that is in the middle of political upheaval and as anyone who has played in the past will know this is when the Order do their work.
Gameplay
The core gameplay mechanics that have become the hallmark of Assassin’s Creed remain intact in Mirage. As a nimble assassin, you’ll navigate the sprawling cities and treacherous terrains with grace, executing acrobatic parkour moves and employing a wide array of weapons and tools. Combat feels fluid and engaging, with new combat maneuvers that add depth to the experience. Really the game plays and feels so much like the abolsutely iconic Ezio series, which by the by is available on the PlayStation Premium package.
Graphics and Performance
Assassin’s Creed Mirage leverages the power of the PlayStation 5 to deliver a visual feast but then again Assasins Creed games have always been gorgeous, it’s one of my favourite things about them if I’m being fully honest. The environments are breathtaking, from bustling cities to the sprawling deserts. Character models are highly detailed, and the lighting effects contribute to a cinematic experience. Load times are virtually nonexistent, and the game runs smoothly, offering a next-gen visual spectacle that is sure to impress.
Open World and Exploration
The game’s open-world design encourages exploration, with a vast and detailed map to traverse, albeit nothing to the same scale as Valhalla, while Valhalla might be my second favourite PS5 game just after Spider-Man, even seasoned gamers will admit it was a beast of a game. The Arabian Peninsula and this Middle East feel is filled with hidden treasures, puzzles, and challenging obstacles. The freedom to roam and discover the world at your own pace is a highlight of Mirage, providing a sense of immersion that fans of the series have come to expect.
The Verdict
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a compelling addition to the long-running franchise. Its captivating setting, intriguing story, and a combination of history and mythology create a unique and immersive experience. With the power of the PlayStation 5 behind it, the game offers stunning visuals and smooth performance.
While it retains the core elements of the series, Assassin’s Creed Mirage introduces enough fresh ideas to keep the franchise feeling innovative and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned assassin or a newcomer to the series, Mirage is a journey well worth embarking on, offering a captivating blend of history, myth, and adventure that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.
In the world of sports gaming, the annual release of a new EA FC title has become a highly anticipated event. EA FC 24, the latest instalment in the series, is here to once again grace our screens with virtual soccer glory. But for those who’ve followed the series closely, you might find yourself in familiar territory. In this review, we’ll delve into EA FC 24 the newly titled game that replaces the iconic Fifa series, exploring both its enduring strengths and the incremental changes that shape this year’s gameplay.
Gameplay
When you first step onto the virtual pitch in EA FC 24, you’ll experience a sense of déjà vu. The core gameplay mechanics that have defined the series remain largely intact and by intact I mean they are pretty much the exact same as what we have come used too, and if you’re a seasoned player, the controls will feel like second nature. Passing, shooting, and dribbling are as smooth as ever, making it easy for both veterans and newcomers to pick up the game and start having fun right away.
However, it’s worth noting that EA FC 24 doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The gameplay experience is strikingly similar to last year’s edition, and the changes introduced are more of an evolution than a revolution. Some minor tweaks have been made to player movements, ball physics, and AI behavior, but these enhancements might not be immediately noticeable to all players.
Graphics and Presentation
One area where EA FC 24 continues to shine is in its presentation. The player models, stadiums, and atmosphere have been beautifully rendered, bringing a sense of realism to the virtual soccer world. The lighting and weather effects create a visually stunning experience, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of a thrilling match.
Modes and Features
The game maintains its impressive selection of modes, including Career Mode, Ultimate Team, and Pro Clubs or Clubs as it’s known these days (also my personal favourite game mode), offering a variety of ways to enjoy the game. Ultimate Team, in particular, remains a fan-favourite for most if not myself, I despise the EA push for micro-transactions which this game mode thrives on, allowing you to build your dream squad and take on online opponents. It’s in these modes that EA FC 24 manages to keep things fresh, introducing new challenges and events that add some excitement to the familiar formula.
The Verdict
In the grand scheme of things, EA FC 24 is a solid addition to the series, offering the same high-quality soccer experience we’ve come to expect. It’s a game that can be immensely enjoyable, especially for those who haven’t dived into the series in a while. However, for those who’ve been loyal followers, the changes might feel somewhat underwhelming. It’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and while this approach ensures a certain level of consistency, it can leave fans yearning for more substantial innovations.
In summary, EA FC 24 is a competent soccer simulator with impressive graphics, engaging game modes, and fluid gameplay. However, its similarities to the previous installment may leave some wanting more in terms of innovation. If you’re a die-hard fan of the series, you’ll still find much to enjoy, but if you’re seeking a significant leap forward, EA FC 24 may not fully satisfy that hunger.
It’s that time of year again when the leaves start falling, and the virtual gridiron beckons. Madden 24 has arrived on the PlayStation 5, promising more bone-crunching tackles, jaw-dropping touchdowns, and strategic football action than ever before. But is this iteration a game-winning drive or a punt to nowhere?
Madden NFL 24 is close but no cigar, always hinting at greatness but never quite achieving a standout year for the series. Following a relatively gentle revamp last year Madden NFL 24 primarily focuses on refining its core elements while addressing fan concerns, or at least attempting to. Credit where it is due, Madden 24 does bring in some notable improvement but, sadly even though glimpses of brilliance occasionally shine through and gameplay remains acceptable, the nagging sensation persists that transformative alterations won’t materialize until EA provides EA Tiburon with the necessary time and resources for substantial changes. More of the same so really, but let’s dive into the mud and see what it’s all about.
Graphics
Madden 24 on the PlayStation 5 is a pretty game, credit where it’s due the graphics are exactly what you would expect from the Madden series. The player models are incredibly detailed, from the sweat detail to the mud splatters on their uniforms. Stadiums look like they’ve been plucked right out of Sunday Night Football, with dazzling lighting and an attention to detail that immerses you in the game.
The animations are fluid and lifelike, and the attention to detail extends to the grass stains on the players’ pants. Madden 24 is a testament to the PS5’s power, showcasing the potential of next-gen gaming in all its glory.
Gameplay
Madden 24 sticks to the tried-and-true formula, the gameplay is as solid as ever, if not spectacular. The “Real Player Motion” technology ensures that players move realistically, making each tackle and juke feel authentic.
The Franchise mode is as deep as ever, allowing you to take your favourite team from the bottom of the rankings to Super Bowl champions. The Career mode also returns, offering a satisfying RPG-like experience as you rise through the ranks from a rookie to an NFL legend. I actually quite liked this mode, for me it took away some of the slowness of the other game modes such as Franchise.
However, Madden 24 doesn’t revolutionize the gameplay formula. It’s more of a refinement than a revolution, which might disappoint some long-time fans looking for a fresh take on the series, like myself.
Audio
The sound design in Madden 24 deserves some praise. The roar of the crowd, the crunch of helmets colliding, and the play-by-play commentary all add to the immersive experience. The soundtrack features a mix of classic tunes and modern hits that provide the perfect backdrop to your gridiron adventures.
One minor gripe is that the commentary, while solid, can get repetitive after a while. You’ll hear the same anecdotes and catchphrases more times than you’d like, but it’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise well-crafted auditory experience.
The Verdict
Madden 24 for the PlayStation 5 delivers a solid game, definitely nothing spectacular, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed my time playing it, the graphics are stunning, the gameplay is tried and tested and yet it just feels like its missing that something to take it from a good game to a great one.
While it may not bring a revolutionary change to the series, it’s a touchdown for fans who crave the thrill of virtual football.
