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Is One Piece Worth Watching?

Alex
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Is One Piece Worth Watching?

If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you that I’m not a very fast reader. I go through phases (usually when on holiday) of absolutely devouring any literature that’s to hand and then completely abandoning the written word for months on end. For example, I only read two books last year and I’m currently only on my second book this year. All of that is to give context to the gravity of the task I laid out before myself not long ago.

When the world came to a standstill in 2020 I decided that I would try and read, from start to finish (or at least the most recent chapter) all of One Piece, Eichiro Oda’s magnum opus manga (a Japanese comic). At this point the long-running comic had nearly 1,000 chapters to its name, having been in print since 1997. I’d been debating getting into it for a while but since we all had nothing but time on our hands back then, and since one of my favourite YouTubers was starting a review series on it, I thought that there’d be no better opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. Suffice to say that by the time I got to the 50-chapter mark, I was a convert, and by the time I was nearing the newer releases I couldn’t stop myself from flicking through the pages at an insane pace.

Having fully caught up on what is the biggest-selling manga in the world I was a bonafide super fan so you can understand why I was filled with equal parts excitement and dread when I sat down to watch Netflix’s new adaptation of this gargantuan tale. Excited because I’m always keen for more One Piece content, but dreading the fact that this might be another run-of-the-mill, awful manga adaptation. There have been more live-action manga adaptations that you can shake a stick at and nearly all of them have been, not just bad, but some of the worst things committed to film. First came Dragon Ball Evolution (this one hurt most because Dragon Ball is my favourite series of all time), then Ghost in the Shell. Even Fullmetal Alchemist got taken for a ride. Hell, Netflix themselves are responsible for some of the worst offenders like their awful Death Note and Cowboy Bebop projects. In my opinion, the only series to successfully transition to the real world unscathed is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and that’s only because the producer spent 10 years planning it before getting the rights from the original author.

So, is One Piece any different? Did Netflix manage to catch lightning in a bottle, or is this just another failed attempt at bringing a beloved story to the small screen?

An Absolute Treasure

I’m overjoyed to report that Netflix did not, in fact, drop the ball on this one! It’s…good? Mostly? I mean, I don’t think it’ll win any awards or anything, but it is definitely head, shoulders, knees, and toes above the vast majority of other adaptations out there. So, what’s it all about? How much of the story does it cover? Is Chopper in it? The answer to that last one will disappoint everyone, sadly.

One Piece tells the story of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew as they set out to find a mythical treasure called, shockingly enough, the One Piece. The existence of which was confirmed by the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger just before he was executed for his crimes. Now, as the Golden Age of Piracy is well underway, thousands of would-be swashbucklers from around the world are out to find Gol’s treasure and claim his legacy for themselves.

No pirate can get very far without his crew by his side, however, and Luffy is no different. In this adaptation we get to see the beginnings of the Straw Hat crew as they make their way to the Grand Line, the starting point of Gol D. Roger’s journey and the path they must take if they are to claim their prize. Over the course of eight episodes, we get to meet swordsman and first mate Roronoa Zoro, treasure hunter and navigator Nami, sharpshooter and pathological liar Usopp, and chef and all-around pervert Sanji. Each of these will be a lifelong member of the Straw Hat crew and absolutely indispensable advisors to Luffy as they make their way towards infamy.

But it’s not just the Straw Hats that we meet. We also get our first glimpses of Garp, the legendary naval Vice-Admiral (and persistent thorn in Luffy’s side), Dracule Mihawk, one of the fearsome Seven Pirate Warlords, Red Hair Shanks, Luffy’s mentor and idol, as well as Coby and Helmeppo, fresh-faced naval cadets and best boys. There’s also a tease at the end of the series for a villain that will become a recurring character later in the series.

No expense was spared in bringing the East Blue to life.

It’s the way these characters interact with each other and the bonds they build together that create the enduring appeal of One Piece, and I’m using “appeal” in the loosest sense possible here. One Piece is a bona-fide media juggernaut. It is the second biggest-selling comic series in history (not manga, comic) with over 550 million copies sold since it began twenty-six years ago. For context, the current biggest-selling comic series is Superman with a little over 600 million copies sold. It’s worth pointing out that while Superman has sold more copies, it had a near 60-year head start! While our time with the crew is relatively short in this adaptation, we get a wonderful glimpse into what we can expect from each of them.

The casting, acting, and attention to detail are where this adaptation really shines. Special mention has to go out to Mackenyu (Zoro) and Jeff Ward (Buggy the Clown). I don’t think anyone brings their respective characters to life better than them. Mackenyu does a wonderful job of bringing across Zoro’s stoic indifference that masks his absolute faith and belief in his captain, while Ward as Buggy really breathes new life into the character. In the manga and anime Buggy very much gives off a vibe of being an early villain, someone who’s only a threat to our heroes because they haven’t quite found their footing yet. In the adaptation, however, Buggy is a terrifying menace who genuinely seems like he’s capable of terrible deeds. There’s more than a touch of Heath Ledger’s Joker in there but, you know what? I’m here for it.

Now that’s not to say that the rest of the cast aren’t great either. Emily Rudd does a fantastic job as Nami when she gets her chance to shine towards the end of this series. She almost perfectly captures Nami’s sense of desperation and loneliness as she confronts her past and the chemistry between her and Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy is a joy to watch.

Something that I initially found a little off-putting was the wardrobe and choice of character costumes. Each character, major, minor, or incidental is sporting the exact clothing they wear in the manga and anime. I found it a little jarring to see real pirates, people we expect to see in ragged, rough-and-tumble rags, dressed in vibrant colours with outrageous styles and cuts. Distracting as it can be, once you get over the fact that this is a world where the main character is made of rubber and there are fishmen hanging around, the wardrobe choices simply fade from your mind’s eye. If anything, you come to really appreciate the weird fashion because it shows that this adaptation was made with faithfulness to the source material as its top priority. Oda himself was even given the role of Executive Producer, being shown scripts for his approval well in advance of filming.

Some Stormy Seas

As brilliant as I think One Piece is, I did find a few faults. For one, while there is a huge number of practical effects, there’s a very obvious tinge of what I call “Green-Screen Lighting”. It’s clear a lot of the time that these characters aren’t on a grand voyage across the seas, they’re on a facsimile of a ship in a massive bathtub. As with the wardrobe, this isn’t a huge issue, but it does lower the quality of the show ever so slightly.

Secondly, I think this adaptation suffers from “exposition whiplash” (Jesus, I’m full of the makey-uppy buzzwords today). In the first 150 chapters or so of One Piece (yes, I’m aware that that’s longer than most manga run for in their entirety) there’s so much to set up and so many characters to introduce that you really only get a whistle-stop tour of each location and side-character so we can focus on the core crew. Ordinarily, you’d spend a good bit of time on each of the Straw Hats’ “home island” in order to round out their back story a bit more but if that was going to be adapted to this series, we’d have ended up with about 30 hour long episodes, as opposed to the eight we got. In the end, what we have is a story that feels pretty rushed and very concerned with getting the real meat of the story started. That’s fine and all, but…

The real story doesn’t even start. Hell, the exposition still isn’t finished! I’m not going to spoil anything, but the Straw Hats have one island left before they reach the Grand Line and that’s where the adventure truly begins in my opinion. It also introduces some crucial recurring characters that expand the scope of the world even more. If it was up to me, I would have ended the adaptation after the events of this island, so we have a satisfying resolution to the East Blue Saga as well as an enticing cliffhanger for the seasons to (hopefully) come. Anyone who’s watched the anime or read the manga will know what I’m talking about here and I’d love to know if there are many who agree or disagree with my sentiment.

Finally, and this is really nit-picky, Arlong just doesn’t look right. McKinley Belcher III’s acting is great, the costuming looks good, but the overall package just doesn’t sell. Something about the proportions of his body and the way the prostheses on his hands look don’t sit right with me. This isn’t to say that all the fishmen look off. Kuroobi and Chew look fantastic despite having, presumably, the same prosthetic and make-up team as Arlong. The saw-faced menace of the East Blue just doesn’t do it for me.

I’m Going to be King of the Pirates!

While it’s not perfect and, in isolation, I don’t think it would set the world on fire, the live-action One Piece adaptation is a fantastic realisation of an even more wonderful world. If you’ve ever been curious about One Piece as a series or if you’re just in the mood for a feel-good romp in the Golden Age of Piracy, I cannot recommend it enough. If you’ve already watched the live-action and want even more One Piece you can find the subtitled Japanese release on Crunchyroll every week for as little as €4.99 a month, or you can read the manga fortnightly on the Shonen Jump app for less than €3 per month. Unfortunately, if you want to find the English release of the anime you’ll have to get access to the American Funimation catalogue. Sadly, there’s Very Probably No (VPN) way of accessing that from Ireland. I guess we can only sit back and wait until this PIRATE adventure comes to our shores.

Spigen iPhone 15 Leak Confirms New iPhone Has No Mute Button

Marty
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Spigen iPhone 15 Leak Confirms New iPhone Has No Mute Button

A most bizarre move by Spigen on the eve of Apple’s iPhone 15 launch. Spigen, a South Korean access manufacturer, has all but confirmed some of the new iPhone 15 phones will ditch Apple’s long standing mute switch. While this change been rumoured for some time, it’s so strange to get such a blatant leak by a case maker the night before Apple launches their new flagship phones.

In a public post on the company’s Instagram page, it simply said “something’s different” with a picture of a new case. Have a look for yourself.

The picture shows what appears to be a new iPhone 15 case with a new button in place of the mute switch.

Is this really big news? For normal folks, no. But for massive Apple fans, this is goodbye to a feature present from the very first original iPhone. Personally, I like the physical mute switch, but I’m not overly bothered by this change.

iPhone 15 and USB-C

A much bigger change tomorrow is Apple finally succumbing to logic. The iPhone 15 Series is said to finally be the iPhone that moves towards USB-C. Apple has, at long last, been forced to say goodbye to their proprietary Lightening Charger under pressure from the EU. It’s about time to be honest as we move towards a single connector working for all phones.

No longer with the flex be heard in the office of someone looking for an “iPhone cable”. Unless the worst comes to pass.

It has been rumoured that Apple was creating a special USB-C cable that will limit generic USB-C cables from working efficiently. We’ll find out more about that tomorrow.

It’s been a while since I played the iPhone launch rumour mill game, but here are some other things I think we can expect to see:

  1. Apple will retire the “Plus” name and possibly launch with just three phones in the range
  2. The iPhone 15 Pro will have the best processor again with the A17 Bionic while the iPhone 15 will lean on last years A16 Bionic
  3. Apple’s USB-C connector won’t be the silver bullet we all want it to be. They’ll build in some stupid barrier to all existing accessories just working.
  4. The iPhone 15 will launch in Ireland with physical SIM devices that support eSIM.

Ring RTC1000 Rapid Tyre Inflator Review

Marty
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Ring RTC1000 Rapid Tyre Inflator Review

Not all tech has to be a sexy-looking iPhone or AI-powered smart assistant. In fact, the best tech in the world will do one job and do it well. Already two or three times, having a portable car tyre pump has saved my backside.

So, I figured it’s time I wrote about the one I have. The Ring RTC1000 Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator

Benefits of a Tyre Inflator

Having a tyre inflator in the boot of your car can be a lifesaver. I just got a phone call from my better half. One of the front tyres has a slow puncture. We haven’t had a chance to get it fixed yet. So every couple of weeks, we need to pump the tyre.

Don’t come at me. It’s been a busy few months which is why this is on the long finger.

Anyway, the tyre was really soft. She pulled into a petrol station to get it sorted. As you can guess, the on-site tyre compressor was out of order. Luckily, I told her we had the tyre pump in the boot and talked her through using it for the first time.

So that right there. That’s the obvious benefit. You have a pump when you need one. Even at home. But there’s another benefit, albeit a little bit petty.

So many service stations charge for air these days. I get it. Service stations struggle to make money. But charging a Euro for 3 minutes of air is just a little rich in my eyes. I rarely even have a euro on me these days, though some have even forked out for their tyre inflators to accept card payments.

I really feel the maths doesn’t work out on that.

But having my own tyre pump in the boot means I never have to worry about either paying or scrambling around the car looking for a Euro coin.

That wasn’t a rant, I swear. But now that I’ve got you thinking you need a tyre inflator, which one should you buy?

What’s Important in a Tyre Inflator?

There are a surprising number of things to consider when buying a car tyre pump. You want it to be neat and tidy. It’s going to sit there, in your car until you really need it. No point in it being massive.

It should be pretty fast at pumping up a flat tyre too. We shouldn’t always obsess over the idea hat time is money, but still.

There are wireless tyre inflators on the market today too. Obviously, that means there are also wired models. Which one suits you more or what’s the benefit of wireless?

Ring RTC1000 Tyre Inflator Review

All of these things are important to think about. And all of these things are the reason I love the Ring RTC1000 Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator.

Design

First up, this is a neat and tidy tyre inflator. It’s just 225mm x 205mm x 95m in size and weighs just under 1.5kg. The RTC1000 is wired, which is fine for me. It cleverly has the 3.5m long cable on a spool. So when you’re done, just wind it back up. Again, adding to the neat and tidiness of it all.

This tyre compressor runs off a 12V in-car socket (that’s the outlet we used to call cigarette lighters).

The business end of the inflator is the 70cm air hose, designed to be kink-resistant and fold away neatly when not being used.

Overall, the design has been very well considered. However, the RTC1000 does fall down slightly in one area. The brass screw stem valve connector does indeed mean you can reach awkwardly placed tyre valves. But I find screwing it on and off a little tricky. It’s not a massive thing and does still work perfectly.

If you over-inflate your tyre there is also a quick deflation valve.

Ring aims products like this at car, mobile home and motorbike owners. But the kit also includes three piece adaptor kit for bicycle tyres, balls and other inflatables. So it’s just a handy thing to have really and packs away in a tidy storage case.

Functionality

Yes, it pumps tyres. But there are some other nice features here too. There’s a generously sized backlit display on the RTC1000. Here, you can see what measurement of pressure you’re using (PSI, BAR and kPA), the tyre pressure and a status bar showing how close to full the tyre is.

A single crown dial lets you dial in the perfect pressure for your car. There’s a massive power button and a light switch too which makes night operation nice and easy. There’s even a small divot where you can leave your dust caps.

Perhaps my favourite feature of the RTC1000 is that it cuts off itself when your target pressure has been reached.

For such a small machine, this inflator is so fast. I drive a Kia Cee’d with 16-inch alloys. It’ll inflate an almost flat tyre in just under two minutes.

It’s worth noting that it is really loud. Most tyre compressors are loud by their nature. But it’s worth remembering if you think you’ll be regularly using this in a particularly quiet area.

RTC1000 Verdict

My other half is by no means a princess. She’s well able to handle herself and I knew she’d never hesitate to use a piece of kit like the RTC1000. But even if you weren’t overly comfortable with the likes of this, it’s super simple to use.

You are much better off having the likes of the RTC1000 tyre inflator in your boot, than not. Simply put, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get a flat right where sort it out. So this can buy you time, offer convenience and even save you some money. The RTC1000 is available on Amazon.co.uk for less than €50.

The Mirror Review: Acrobatics and Tech Anxiety at Chamäleon Berlin

Marty
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The Mirror Review: Acrobatics and Tech Anxiety at Chamäleon Berlin

I crack my fingers over the keyboard, wondering. Wondering what I took away from my annual trip to IFA in Berlin. The annual tech conference is where I immerse myself in the tech world every year. I meet companies and find out what reviews I’ll be doing for you, in the coming months. But as I crack my fingers I feel the urge to do a very different review. One of theatre. A review of The Mirror, now showing at Chamäleon, Berlin.

What is The Mirror?

I’m your typical modern-day hipster type. Go to Berlin and “take in a show”. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself in for in picking The Mirror, but I like to be impulsive. People had asked me what my plans were so I needed a quick synopsis. “It’s kind of like a small-scale Cirque du Soleil by Aussies”.

It was a bit reductive, but the truth is I nailed it.

The Mirror is by Gravity & Other Myths, an Australian acrobatics and physical theatre company. The show combines spoken word interpretations of contemporary classic music, with vibrant beats and breathtaking acrobatics. I mean that last bit quite literally. Gasps were common amongst the crowd as there was a real sense of fear amongst us as we witnessed truly dangerous moves.

There’s another layer to the show. A smartphone wanders around the artists throughout the two hour long show. The phone’s camera is relayed onto a large LED wall for all to see.

Why the Mirror is Brilliant

“I live for your applause” is echoed repeatedly by Megan Drury towards the end of the show. She’s the singer on the stage, the voice of the act outside of the acrobatic grunts and signals. Over and over she repeats it until the audience gives way and gives applause. A few of us don’t as the true meaning of the show finally lands.

For me, The Mirror began as a celebration of humanity. The acrobatics were absolutely mesmerising. I was completely enthralled by the movement, the risk and pure art I was witnessing. The show starts with a radio on stage. A simpler media form that entertained for years. Then, the screen (or mirror) emerges onto the stage. As it does, it quite literally doesn’t take centre stage. It’s to the left and somewhat out of the way. But it grows in stature. Moving closer to the audience and being more centred.

As the intermission comes, the screen is dead centre. The artists are backstage stretching and preparing for the second act – all of it is on camera. We can see them all. They interact with us, showing us their favourite YouTube videos or games they’re playing.

The second half is more playful. It’s more simple. It’s focused much more on the phone camera and the screen. The Mirror is a commentary on how social media and mobile phone screens have taken a dominant position in our lives.

In the first half, I remember noting the highest arrangement of acrobats was three people high. Now, with The Mirror on stage, they go to four high. The eternal urge to do more on social media, to impress strangers and gain clout is happening before our very eyes.

“I live for your applause” was not a simple request. It was a cry for help from another person lost in a social media landscape of peer-to-peer torture. It felt genuinely uneasy to feel the ripple of applause meet the words amongst the audience.

The Mirror at Chamäleon Review: The Verdict

When I booked my seats, there was a reasonable number of seats free. I was a bit surprised given the reputation this club theatre has. But when I arrived, the venue was full. While I feel lucky to get a seat, there was still a few seats scattered around Chamäleon on a Saturday night. So what, you say?

Well, I’m shocked. In Germany’s capital city, this show should be sold out absolutely every night. I met some people at another event in the city who asked what I thought because they had heard so much about it. I urge you, if living in Berlin or visiting for a trip, to go see The Mirror. Take note of the message at the show’s core and enjoy the stunning acrobatics from Gravity & Other Myths.

You can book your tickets online for a variety of prices. Or, if you’re a student, you can arrive just before the show for a further discount should empty seats be available.

Can Irish App Hiiker Challenge at the Very Top?

Cian
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Can Irish App Hiiker Challenge at the Very Top?

I try to spend as much time hiking and biking in the outdoors as I can, but when I’m not, I’m usually at home trying to find new places to go and things to see. So I end up spending a lot of time online using route planning apps like Komoot, Ride with GPS, and Strava. When an Irish team startup got into the industry with an app called Hiiker in 2020 it caught my attention. Since then they’ve grown quickly and have users all over the world, but it wasn’t until recently that I got a chance to fully test it.

What is Hiiker?

Hiiker is a freemium hiking app that helps you plan, find, record, and share your hikes. There’s a free version of the app that’s available on Android and iOS devices, as well as a website, but in my experience, it’s best used on your phone. Users can upgrade to Hiiker Pro +, but unlike many other apps, the free version is more than enough for casual users. More on the premium features later on.

Finding a hike

Finding routes to hike on hiking apps can be quite difficult. Strava shows popular sections and heat maps of activity, while Komoot shows points of interest, making it fairly unintuitive to find a full route to try. This is one thing that Hiiker excels at. Rather than cramming in every hike, trail and lookout nearby, they’ve added full routes that are easily found by swiping around the map. On top of this, they’ve added a sensible filter system so you can find a trail of your preferred length, difficulty, and type. These are really smart and simple decisions that Hiiker have chosen and they work so well.

In my experience, the user interface on hiking apps needs to find a balance between having an appealing visual aesthetic that’s easy to use and having all the details and stats easily accessible to find if a hike is the one you want to do. This is one area where I found Hiiker to be lacking as the screen feels full, but also light on information like elevation profiles and also prioritises things like star ratings and map layers over essential trail info.

Planning a hike

Planning a hike along a custom route on a smartphone is normally very tricky to do, small screens and my fat thumbs just aren’t ideal for the job. So I often go to my laptop to do it, but the Hiiker interface on my phone snaps exactly to where I want to the trail go and is brilliantly easy to move and edit my markers. This alone will encourage people to make the move to Hiiker, but where it really shines is in the maps available.

Some of the extra maps are part of the premium subscription, but if you’re a map nerd, it’s well worth the €6.49/month or €49.99/year. The Historic Six Inch OS Map for the 1800s was my favourite to play around with, letting me know what was in the area 200 years ago. Ireland is the best-served location with additional maps, but there are some really fantastic ones available for different locations like the USDA Forest Service Map, UK Ordnance Survey Map, and country-specific topographical maps. The maps are available to use offline (even with the free maps on the free version) and you can even print them if that’s your navigation method of choice.

One thing that I was surprised by was how informative it is when you share a hike. I sent a couple via WhatsApp and the link in chat showed some key info about the trail. It’s a small detail, but one that is so handy, especially if you’re sharing lots of hikes with some friends.

Recording a hike

Recording a hike with Hiiker works like many others, there’s nothing quite outstanding about it, and it’s quite a functional experience. During my review period, I recorded my hikes with the app on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and also separately on my Garmin Venu 2 Plus. My phone was about 10% off accuracy-wise, but I put that difference down to the hardware rather than the software. Navigating while out on the trail worked well until I started looking at the elevation section and was quickly lost. I like to know how much of the climbing I’ve done and what I’ve got left to do, so I’d love to see Hiiker add a dot to the elevation profile that shows my progress along the route. It’s a small detail but one that can make a big difference when you’re out of breath on an exposed slope and want to know how much suffering is left.

Hiiker also gives premium users the option to share their live location making it easier to stay safe while hiking. You just share a link from your hike with your friends or family and they can see where you are on the trail, it’s a great way of being able to quickly raise the alarm if something goes wrong and send help.

Reviewing a hike

Once I’m home, showered, and fed, I like to have a look through the stats of the hike. All the essential information is there, but it feels more unintuitive when compared to Strava, as the details that you want to know (distance, elevation, time) are towards the bottom of the page with maps and connected trails prioritised above this.

I’d also like to see some integration with Garmin in the future so that I don’t have to track on two devices and can get all my data in once place, but again this is nitpicking and for a lot of users it won’t be a priority.

Who’s it for?

That really indicates who this app is currently aimed at. It’s best suited for people to find and plan hikes, share with mates and be able to navigate as they go. Data geeks will feel it’s lacking a bit of depth, but this is such a young app with so much potential as the basics work and work really well. It’s not the quiver killer of hiking apps just yet, but with some more data depth, integrations with Garmin devices, and a visual refresh, Hiiker will no doubt be challenging for the top spot.

If you’re looking for a free app to help you go hiking, then this is it.

Download Hiiker here for Android or iPhone.

TikTok’s NPC AI Live Trend is Confusing and Intriguing

Marty
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TikTok’s NPC AI Live Trend is Confusing and Intriguing

Keeping up with TikTok trends is tough. There’s something relatable to some of the more creative trends, but this latest TikTok Live trend is just bizarre. As bizarre as I find it, people love it; both creators and content consumers.

What is the TikTok NPC AI Trend?

Right now, TikTok creators are going live and broadcasting streams pretending to be an AI or NPC. NPC stands for “non-playable character, a character in a game that usually has odd dialogue. GTA is the best example of this. For this trend, TikTok creators “emote” when people give them rewards. These rewards are TikTok currency that can be traded in for cold hard cash.

The ignition point came with TikTok content creator “Pinkydoll”, who gained sudden popularity on Twitter as clips of her peculiar random catchphrases and exaggerated movements left commentators baffled. This discovery on Twitter shed light on the peculiar realm of TikTok “NPC” live streams.

Although Pinkydoll was the initial focus of widespread attention, inquisitive Twitter users later found that other TikTok streamers were also engaging in similar behavior

The general public seems to enjoy the trend. You donate to someone who has thousands of viewers and they react to your donation.

It reminds me a bit of fans at a recent Post Malone gig. They threw a range of things on stage throughout the show and enjoyed the moment when he wore their sunglasses, hat, or similar. This is a very similar interaction that seems to be driving the TikTok AI trend.

What the Creators Think

I had a quick chat with TikTok creator Opal. She was tired after a live where she was doing this trend, “emoting” for rewards. She says “It’s properly profitable if you have a fan base that sends you expensive gifts”. She believes it’s popular because “it’s easy to follow what everyone else is doing and is sometimes addictive”.

It’s not all good though. Because the trend is a bit on the odder side, Opal says comments can go astray. “People will hate on you and make rude comments”, she says, but it’s not all bad. These commenters “will still watch your live for a while and give you attention to only get more viewers”.

While profitable for creators and it might seem odd, Opal admits it’s a tough gig. While she enjoys it she does admit “it’s actually tiring”. “I was live for 4 hours and now I’m tired and my body is kind of sore”.

Opal’s stats, posted to her Instagram story shortly after performing, show that in a single 4-hour session, viewers spent approximately $1200 on rewards. TikTok takes 50% of all of that, but that means it remains a profitable business for creators.

There you have it. That’s the whole NPC trend explained if you come across it on TikTok live.

Twitter Wars: The Future Platforms Taking On The Blue Bird

Jon
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Twitter Wars: The Future Platforms Taking On The Blue Bird

Twitter is dying? Since Elon Musk bought out Twitter, the social media landscape has started undergoing the biggest shift that we have ever seen. Zuck Versus Elon the battle that has been raging online and potentially in the ring has taken another step with the launch of Meta’s Threads, their alternative to Twitter. Here’s the thing, they aren’t the only alternative app to peek above the parapet in recent times with the intent of knocking the big blue bird off its perch.

Over the last 15 years or so, social media has become a huge part of our day-to-day lives, whether it be posting a pic of a bouji coffee place or catching up on the latest in the news, people like Fabrizio Romano to Donald Trump used the platforms to create their persona’s. Social media in general has revolutionised how we connect and engage with the world around us. Twitter over the last decade has been probably the most prominent platform alongside Facebook, however, since Elon Musk’s takeover the sharks have been circling. Poor Elon, his decisions since taking over Twitter have given rise to innovative alternatives like T2, BlueSky, Mastodon, and Threads. In this article, we will take a gander into the future of social media, focusing on Twitter and these emerging alternatives, and explore why the landscape is undergoing a transformative shift.

Why the Landscape is Changing:

There are a number of reasons why the landscape is changing. Partly it boils down to the evolving needs and preferences of users. While Twitter has thrived as a micro-blogging platform, some users desire a more robust and personalised experience. These changing expectations have paved the way for alternative platforms that offer unique features, catering to a broader range of user preferences. Basically, Twitter is a cesspit of the worst of humanity screaming for time and attention, saying inflammatory things or generally being controversial or downright incorrect for the sake of clicks, Piers Morgan anyone? And people want change.

There is also the demand for decentralisation. Current platforms like Twitter often face challenges related to moderation, censorship, and data privacy. Users are increasingly seeking decentralised alternatives that prioritise transparency, community control, and data ownership. This demand has prompted the development of platforms like T2, BlueSky, Mastodon, and Threads, which aim to provide greater user autonomy and control over their online presence.

The Competitors:

Twitter

Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the platform has undergone notable feature changes aimed at “enhancing” user experience and expanding its reach. One of the significant updates introduced is the expansion of character limits, allowing users to express themselves more freely within a single tweet. This change has encouraged deeper engagement and facilitated more meaningful conversations. That’s what Elon is going to say anyway. A recent survey from Pew Research Center shows that the most active Twitter users are posting less frequently than they have in the past. Top users’ average number of tweets per month declined by around 25% following the acquisition.

Twitter Blue, Gold and Silver ticks have also been a source of contention. The Blue tick used to be the symbol of a verified account, it’s now a paid-for subscription and let’s be honest who wants that? The Blue tick has been changed by the Silver and Gold tiered ticks, so a company like a Spar would be Gold as it’s an official business but Ryan Tubridy would be a silver badge, had to throw in an RTE reference…sorry, not sorry.

Since Musk’s buyout, his influence has been obvious for the good of the platform too, improved video capabilities and enhanced live streaming options, making Twitter a more interactive and multimedia-rich platform. Furthermore, there has been a greater emphasis on combating misinformation and enhancing content moderation, with the implementation of robust algorithms and community-driven reporting systems.

T2

T2 is an American social media company founded by former Twitter employees Sarah Oh and Gabor Cselle. It provides an authenticated network where users can make posts and interact in communities. It is currently in invite-only beta, though the contents on the site are publicly visible. As an American company, they did recently showcase at the Canadian Collision Conference in Toronto where they announced 5,000 invitations to the attendees making it one of the places to be for those in the technosphere.

It’s an up-and-coming social media platform that puts emphasis on privacy and user control. Built on blockchain technology, T2 enables users to own and monetise their data. The platform utilises cryptographic algorithms to ensure secure communication and offers features like encrypted direct messaging and decentralised content storage. T2 aims to empower users while fostering a sense of trust and transparency within the social media ecosystem.

BlueSky

Bluesky is a decentralised social media initiative that was first announced by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in December 2019. The project aims to create an open and decentralised standard for social media that would enable users to have more control over their online presence and data.

By the looks of it, BlueSky is an ambitious project being developed as an open and decentralised social media protocol. It aims to address the limitations of centralised platforms by allowing users to choose from a diverse array of client applications and service providers while maintaining interoperability and preserving the social graph. BlueSky envisions a future where users have greater agency over their social media experiences and can participate in shaping the platform’s rules and governance.

There is no official word on how long it takes to get on the platform from the waitlist, it could take weeks or even months. You will get an email when it’s your turn to come off of the waitlist, so make sure you are watching your inbox.

Mastodon

Marty, the founder of Goosed.ie, is a fan of Mastodon and has already explained the platform, but here’s the tl;dr.

Mastodon is a free, open-source social media platform that’s gaining popularity as an alternative to the likes of Twitter and Facebook. It allows users to post text, links, images, videos, and audio on their profiles or in public feeds Mastodon is a federated social network that operates on the principle of decentralisation.

Instead of relying on a single server or company, Mastodon consists of interconnected instances, each with its own rules and moderation policies. This decentralised structure fosters diverse and self-governing communities, enabling users to find spaces that align with their interests and values. Mastodon encourages open-source collaboration, making it a customisable and inclusive alternative to Twitter.

Threads

Threads is not yet available in Ireland or other EU countries due to concerns over GDPR and privacy rules but went live in the UK at midnight on Thursday. The launch of the platform, created by Facebook and Instagram owners Meta, was brought forward by 15 hours and made freely available in 100 countries and holy fuck a duck has it taken off.

Threads is Meta’s newly launched app that rivals Twitter, placing its primary focus on sharing short snippets of text on the free conversation-based platform. The Zuckerberg-backed platform is standalone, though, it is an online hub that’s linked to Instagram (and requires an Instagram account to sign up). Threads is a social media platform designed to enhance conversational engagement. It builds upon the concept of Twitter threads, enabling users to create threaded conversations that are easy to follow and engage with. Threads encourage meaningful discussions by providing features like topic-based categorisation, inline replies, and improved thread navigation.

With a focus on fostering in-depth conversations, Threads offers a refreshing alternative for users seeking a more interactive and engaging social media experience.

The Goosed Verdict

We can see the next era of social is coming, platforms like Twitter and Facebook are on their knees much like MySpace and Bebo were when these current big hitters came to town. TikTok is the obvious next-gen platform that has come to prominence in recent times taking some of the wind out of the sails of Instagram, so much so Insta Reels are more often than not a TikTok that’s been reposted. Now it’s Twitter in the firing line and in a world where users are sick of bots and misinformation alternatives are emerging that aim to meet the demands of the modern user.

Whether it is the quest for greater privacy, control, or more engaging conversations, platforms like T2, BlueSky, Mastodon, and Threads offer unique approaches and features, outside of Threads of course which is not EU GDPR compliant as of yet but still seems to have had major uptake. Which platform is going to take the crown is yet to be decided but what we do know is that the future of social media will likely witness a more decentralised, user-centric, and transparent ecosystem, where individuals have greater autonomy over their online presence.

Embracing these emerging alternatives, while recognising the core strengths of platforms like Twitter, will contribute to a more dynamic social media experience for all. Now if we could just get some regulation in place around news sourcing regulation and user verification it will be a whole new online world.

Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The Best of Both Worlds?

Cian
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0
Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The Best of Both Worlds?

I had a voucher from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket earlier this year and decided to spend it on a watch. I wanted something that would help me keep a record of the exercise I was doing and also encourage me to be more active. As an Android user, the Apple Watch was out and as someone who goes on multi-day trips where charging isn’t guaranteed, I needed something that would track for days on end, which ruled out most of the Android-based Wear OS options. That left me with one stand-out brand to go for – Garmin.

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus strikes a balance between smartwatch and fitness wearable so it ticked lots of my boxes, it was also in budget at  €449 but you can find it now for €399 from Harvey Norman. Garmin has a huge choice of watches with many specialising in specific sports like running, golf, and swimming with extremely detailed data, but the Venu 2 Plus is more of a generalist. I don’t focus on one particular sport, I ride bikes, run, swim in the sea, and kayak, so this is a good fit for me.

Design

The design of the Venu 2 Plus is fine. It’s not going to win any awards or be very memorable, but it does the job and looks well when you’re out on the trail or walking about town. I went for the 43mm model, a middle-of-the-road choice, it doesn’t look too small on my wrist nor is it too bulky. The AMOLED screen blends nicely into the back bezel and stainless steel body–overall I don’t think anyone will hate how this looks. The build quality is brilliant though, I’ve put it through its paces and had a fair share of tumbles and it’s still looking brand new.

SpecsGarmin Venu 2 Plus
MaterialsGorilla Glass 3 & Stainless Steel
Display Size1.3”
Weight51g
ScreenAMOLED

Smartwatch Features

The Venu 2 Plus is what I like to think of as a leave-your-phone-at-home watch because I can head off to the shops, pay for things through Garmin Pay and listen to music through Spotify without needing my phone nearby. And when I do have my phone connected by Bluetooth, I can take calls and use my voice assistant. Personally, this isn’t my cup of tea, but it’s good to have the option there thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone.

I’ve never been much of a watch wearer and expected to wear my Garmin when exercising and not too often outside of this, but the daily tracking of my steps, sleep, and body battery has me hooked and I’ve now got the dreaded watch tan. Garmin’s Step Goal is adaptive, if you exceed your target, it adjusts so your target is higher, and vice-versa if you don’t walk too much. Seeing my step counter a few hundred short of hitting my goal gives me the little nudge needed to walk instead of hopping on the bus.

The sleep tracking and body battery monitoring have been a surprise hit for me. I thought they were gimmicky when I first found out about them, but with five months of data, I can see patterns and how lifestyle changes (and a few pints) can impact both.

Fitness Features

Just three button presses are all that’s needed to start recording your activity and you’re ready to go. During the activity, you can set custom data fields so you get the info you need at a glance. I’m not too fussed with pace or heart rate as I’m not training for anything, so mine are set to show distance, elevation, and time. Once you’ve stopped recording, the watch displays a breakdown of the activity, syncs up automatically with your phone, and then goes back to monitoring your health in the background.

If you’re looking for a more regimented approach to your exercise and training, the Garmin Coach helps you train for a 5k, 10k, or marathon. The feature is pretty useful as it breaks down your goals and gives you a custom training plan of long and short runs, and the coach is with you during the runs alerting you to upcoming targets. All in, there are 25 preloaded apps for specific sports and on-screen workouts for the likes of HIIT and yoga.

Battery

The battery has blown me away. I don’t want to worry about charging my watch every night and I don’t want battery anxiety when I’m heading out on a long cycle or hike. Using it as a smartwatch where you’re not tracking any activities expect up to 9 days of battery life and 24 hours of GPS tracking when you’re recording. Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra which is over twice the price, it would be easy to be disappointed with its 36 hours of regular use. One caveat though is that Garmin devices use a proprietary charger, USB-C would be a great upgrade.

Garmin App

Connect, the companion app for Garmin devices is a bit of a love-hate affair. It’s got buckets of data, but not many insights. All the stats and numbers are there, but it can be hard to interpret what exactly they mean and how they’re linked to one another. The design of the app isn’t great either, it feels very dated and miles behind the glanceability and slickness of Apple. I tend to use Strava or Komoot to look back on my past activities.

There’s also the option of downloading additional apps and watch faces through Connect IQ. This is another aspect where Garmn falls behind Apple and watches using Wear OS. There are very few extra apps to download, there’s no WhatsApp, Headspace, or Audible here, instead the offering is more focused on mapping and music apps.

Think of watches as a spectrum. On one end there’s the hardcore activity user that needs weeks on end of tracking and navigation, on the other end is the person who wants a device on their wrist that’s got the same capabilities as their phone. Garmin devices tend to lean towards the former and this is clear once you look through the Connect IQ apps.

Verdict

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus has been a great purchase for me as it strikes the perfect balance between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker for my personal needs. I’d love it if the Connect app was fully redesigned, it feels so dated compared to the watch and is fairly uninviting to use. All the data is great to have, but improvements could be made to make it more useful with insights. The battery is brilliant and more than enough for the vast majority of people and it makes it feel like a useful tool rather than yet another device that you have to worry about charging.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick Review

Marty
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0
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick Review

I recently built a gaming PC. It wasn’t cheap, but I’ve wanted to do it for years. The main reason was Microsoft Flight Simulator. I’m a sucker for a flight sim. Over the years, I’ve dabbled in Flight Simulator, but the latest one needed a more powerful machine. I was also going to finally have to upgrade my flight controller too. As I pour one out for my mid-nineties SideWinder Joystick, I opened the package kindly sent over by Turtle Beach, and started testing out the VelocityOne Flightstick.

This is a massive upgrade on my Sidewinder, aimed at putting the perfect controller with a wide range of buttons and motion control in the hands of flight sim fans and even space flight games like Star Citizen.

Design and Build Quality

Out of the box, the VelocityOne Flightstick looks great. The Xbox controller-style button in the middle immediately makes me feel this is more aimed at console than PC, but in reality, that isn’t the case – I’ll discuss that later.

In the hand, the stick feels good. While the base is a little plasticky to look at, the stick itself feels premium and almost soft to the touch offering a lot of comfort. Turtle Beach were clever in their design here. The stick itself is quite long, and would be too long only for they’ve included a rest for your hand to lay on. This is both adjustable in height and can be moved to the left or the right of the stick. The beauty here means this stick is perfect for both lefties and righties.

From the base of the controller, you can plug in your wired headset. A surprisingly handy feature for cable management but not surprising that Turtle Beach, famous for gaming headsets, would think of this. There are also some additional USB-C ports on the rear for add ons like the rudder pedals which I’ve not tested out.

One disappointing feature of the design is the controller’s stability on my desk. You can mount this controller, and I recommend you look into it if you’re buying this. At the extremes of the axis, the controller does tend to tip over. Mounting solves this, but it will come at the extra cost of a flight simulator controller mounting solution.

Overall though, this is a minor hiccup. The VelocityOne Flightstick is ultimately, a nice addition to my desk and comfortable to use for fairly extended periods of time.

Performance and Precision

The spring-loaded resistance in the stick feels great to me. Control inputs feel deliberate which probably exacerbates the tendency of the controller to tip over, as I’ve mentioned. For flight sims, a great controller will support just how immersive your experience is. Airbus flights, which fly a sidestick, feel most immersive. But I didn’t feel that immersive experience was broken when flying the likes of Boeing or Cessna plans which are yolk based.

To get the absolute most from your experience, I recommend you spend a lot of time mapping surfaces to your sim of choice. Little things like understanding how to lock the rudder so you can control the nose tiller give you even greater control over your aircraft.

Button Layout and Functionality

Here, the stick absolutely excels.

There is an abundance of buttons on this stick. An almost overwhelming number of buttons, 27 in total. In addition to these buttons, the stick has two “throttle” controls, suitable for throttle and flap settings, a POV hat button and a control wheel. The stick even has a screen on it where you can change settings and get in-game data to display, though I never managed to get this to work on my PC for some reason.

Everything is laid out perfectly for comfort and functionality. The slider controls have great range and support reverse thrust too. By that I mean you can pull back to zero, feel some resistance on the throttle and then lock into reverse.

As I’ve mentioned, you’ll benefit from some time spent on mappings. The default mapping between the VelocityOne Flightstick and Microsoft Flight Simulator was good, but not perfect. Every sim pilot will have preferences for controls they want on the stick versus the keyboard too, so make it your own.

The biggest win for me with this controller is the rudder control. You can buy rudder pedals, but you can also control rudder surfaces by twisting the stick. This was an awesome upgrade for me.

To be honest, the control surfaces were a real treat for me. I came from 8 buttons and a single throttle. Having a quick look hat, pitch control and even rudders completely changed my flying experience.

Compatibility and Connectivity

I mentioned the Xbox logo earlier. I’m not sure there’s anything on PS5 you’d wanted a stick for, but it’s not officially supported anyway. The VelocityOne Flightstick is specifically made for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10/11 PCs.

I’ve also used my Meta Quest 2 VR headset for flight simming. I couldn’t really come to terms with trying to use the stick while in the headset. I’m sure it’s possible and delivers an even more immersive experience, but it’s not straightforward.

There are some other accessories you might be interested in using alongside this stick. The most obvious is the rudder pedals or the mount I mentioned earlier.

Additional Software

Turtle Beach offer an app that connects to your stick. It’s a bit underwhelming to be honest. You can control light profiles and a few other things, but I found myself using the app once and then forgetting about it. That’s about it for this section.

VelocityOne Flightstick: The Verdict

At around €130, the VelocityOne Flightstick is still a considered purchase. But, let’s be honest here. If you’re into flight simulators or the likes of Star Citizen, you’re going to be investing in a flight stick unless you already have one. I bought my Sidewinder back in the nineties and used it until this year. Controllers like this have staying power, and that’s to be considered when you’re buying.

Sure, we’d all love to have the Warthog HOTAS but that’s a pro-level controller. Also, it doesn’t have rudder control. Which is a massive plus for the VelocityOne Flightstick.

I can wholeheartedly recommend this stick. It’s plastic where it needs to be, but offers enough of a premium feel for me to know I’ll get many years out of this stick.

Prime Day 2023: Everything You Need to Know

Marty
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0
Prime Day 2023: Everything You Need to Know

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is just around the corner. As much as we all give out about Jeff Bezos, the man knows how to run a pretty impressive online shop and an even more impressive online sale every year. With just a few days left until Prime Day 2023, I thought it would be a good idea to pull together a few tips and tricks from my years of being an Amazon Prime customer. Hopefully. this can help you make the most of your pre-Black Friday 48-hour shopping spree.

Disclaimer: See the orange links in this article? They’re affiliate links to Amazon. When you use them, you’re supporting Goosed.ie. You’ll pay the exact same for anything you buy, but Amazon might pay us a small percentage for sending you over there. We really appreciate when you use these links, but also understand you might not like the idea of affiliate links. We don’t let that affect our content, but we wanted to be transparent about it.

When is Prime Day 2023?

Amazon’s Prime Day will take place across July 11th and July 12th in 2023. Ahead of Prime Day, we survey more people in Ireland, asking them if they planned to buy anything during the upcoming sale. 9% of people said they would definitely be buying something. 19% said they were on the fence but would certainly be taking a look at what’s on offer while a further undecided 17% thought a purchase would be unlikely. The remaining 56% said they had no plans at all to buy anything.

With all of the perceived barriers to buying from Amazon.co.uk, 44% of people we surveyed were still weighing up the idea of making a purchase during the Prime Day sale. These are pretty remarkable numbers despite the fact that shops back here are reopening along with the persistent idea of “shop local” which often sits uncomfortably with those who do choose to shop with the UK online retail giant.

I’ve already seen some Prime Day Deals appearing because I’m an existing Prime customer. Actually, that’s the next point.

Amazon Prime Membership

One of the main reasons Amazon runs the Prime Day sale every year is to promote Amazon Prime Membership. Prime Day offers some of the very best deals you’ll find online throughout the year. But the very best value is held back for Amazon Prime members.

Amazon Prime is a premium membership you pay for either monthly or annually. But, is Amazon Prime worth buying in Ireland?

This membership has grown in popularity as Amazon focuses a lot more on Ireland today than they used to. First, they started using local delivery vans and now there’s a dedicated warehouse in Dublin. This means much faster delivery on thousands of products. I’ve placed orders on some items as late as 8 pm and had them delivered at 11 am the next day.

Beyond this sale, that membership gets you access to year-round discounts, faster, cheaper and usually free shipping along with Prime Video, Prime Reading and Prime Music subscriptions also being included.

During the sale, members also get to see Prime Early Access sales. As I said, I’m already seeing Prime Day discounts on items when I visit Amazon.co.uk.

How Much Does Amazon Prime Day Cost?

Well, Amazon Prime Day will cost as much as you can keep control during the sales! The only definite is how much the Prime Membership itself costs.

New customers can try Amazon Prime Membership, free, for 30-days. That means you get to take part in one of the biggest online sales for no extra cost.

After that, you can either cancel your membership or continue it. To continue it will cost around €10 per month or €110 per year. I use Amazon quite a lot. I buy things that are just hard to find in my locality or when I just don’t have time to go shopping. So I actually have the annual membership. It means I get a free month on my membership too.

Watch Out for Lightning Deals

As the name suggests, lightning deals are time-sensitive, so it’s crucial to stay updated and act fast. Amazon releases new lightning deals every few minutes throughout the sale, so keep refreshing the “Today’s Deals” page to see the latest offers. You can also sign up for Amazon’s “Watch a Deal” feature, which sends notifications when specific deals go live.

To increase your chances of snagging a lightning deal it’s worth setting up alerts and reminders. Using Amazon’s mobile app will give you the biggest advantage here of grabbing the deal you want.

I also massively recommended creating a shopping list in advance. Tag up the items you’re looking to purchase and add them to your list. This way, you can quickly search for the products during the sale and check if any lightning deals are available for those items.

Remember, lightning deals are highly popular and tend to sell out quickly. I bought a Bosch cordless drill during the 2019 Prime Day Sale and I still use this every few weeks for DIY jobs. It was the top-selling product during that sale. While it was a bit of a lightning deal impulse buy, it’s paid off in the long term because I acted quickly on a great deal. For me, that’s the perfect example of buying something you know you’ll need at some stage for a great deal.

Use Your Revolut Account

From ASOS to Amazon, and some other stores that don’t begin with A, I do shop on UK websites from time to time. One absolutely shocking thing I’ve learned is that, where possible, pay in Pound Sterling. Many websites, both Amazon and ASOS being prime (sorry) offenders, will set their own exchange rate when you shop in Euro. The rates are ridiculous. Not that long ago, I saved €67 just by switching to paying in Pounds on ASOS.

But how?

revolut ireland

Well, all you need is a Revolut account (note: this is an affiliate link). Once you set up your account, you can get a virtual card immediately while waiting for a physical card (like my nifty Irish Cancer Society card). Once you have a virtual card with some money in your Revolut account and these card details added to your Amazon account, all you need to do is select “Pay in GBP”.

Your Revolut account will then pay in Sterling.

amazon pay sterling

This isn’t a dramatic saving by any stretch of the imagination, but here you would have just saved about 40c. The bigger the purchase, typically, the bigger the saving with this trick.

So there you have it – planning to make a purchase during Prime Day? Let us know on social media what’s in your basket and if you saved with our Revolut trick!

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