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Nothing Phone (1): Can You Get It In Ireland?

Marty
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0
Nothing Phone (1): Can You Get It In Ireland?

A new phone is coming. I mean a properly new phone with some new ideas. This happens every now and then. Perhaps OnePlus is the most recent example of it. That’s the same OnePlus that was co-founded by Carl Pei. The same OnePlus that was bought up by OPPO and the same Carl Pei behind this new brand, Nothing. But is the Nothing Phone (1) really able to take on Apple? Is it actually different or just being driven by clever marketing. Will it be available in Ireland? I’m off to answer your questions now.

Is Nothing Phone Coming To Ireland?

I’m trying to make a habit of answer the big questions early in my articles. Where will you be able to buy the Nothing Phone 1. The Nothing Phone 1 is not coming to any Irish networks at launch. This immediately makes grabbing one of these phones a bit tougher. If you’re in the UK, there will be limited availability from July 16th.

The easiest way to buy a Nothing Phone 1 in Ireland is going to be online, direct from Nothing. The Nothing Phone 1 starts at €469 and appears to be shipping to Ireland.

What Is Nothing Phone 1?

Nothing Phone 1 is a new challenger smartphone to enter the market. It’s the brainchild of Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus. The company, which is really called Nothing, has lots of well-known investors, including Casey Neistat.

Nothing Phone 1 is trying to stand out in a market of phones that all look the same. To be fair, they’ve hit the problem right on the head. Phones are boring. To combat this, Nothing Phone 1 packs in decent specs, at a fair price, and wraps it in a unique skin.

The uniqueness of the phone is the back. The transparent phone shows the inner workings of your smartphone and more importantly the Glyph Interface. Despite plenty of chatter around the phone taking aim more at iPhone and other Androids, the phone’s operating system, Nothing OS, is just a custom Android skin.

Glyph Interface

So what about that Glyph Interface. This is a series of lights on the rear of the phone. You can customise these to play different light dances based on who’s calling. The one cool part I like is that the light next to the charger doubles as a charging-progress bar.

The truth is, this isn’t totally new. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge featured custom colours for contacts calling. You could see the glow when your phone was face down. I had that phone and never used the feature.

It’s left me wondering if the Glyph is just marketing. It’s great marketing, mind. People will be posting their Tik Toks no doubt. But ultimately, this wouldn’t be a big selling point for me.

Targetting iPhone or Android?

I’ve been a bit surprised to see quite a lot of talk about Nothing Phone 1 taking aim at iPhone. Sure enough, they’ve taken some design cues from Apple, but iPhone has a lot more than just looks keeping people coming back for more. Apple’s eco-system is the stickiest thing about iPhone. It’s the fact iPhone users will likely have another Apple product that works seamlessly with their phone. Adding another brand into the mix causes friction. Noone has time for friction.

Nothing themselves know their really targeting Android users. Yes, they’ve said they’d like to take on Apple someday, but who wouldn’t. At the end of the day, this is another Android phone that won’t use AirDrop or work perfectly with AirPods.

But that’s not to say it’s not going to be a great phone.

Nothing Phone 1 Specs

I’ve only seen one Irish journalist getting their hands on a Nothing Phone 1. I’ve not got to see one in person yet, so I only get to go on what I see on paper. The dual-lens 50MP camera should be good and is using a senor seen in other OPPO and OnePlus phones. They’re generally good shooters.

The Snapdragon 778G+, again, is the choice of OnePlus and offers plenty of power. There’s also a 120Hz display, but to be totally honest, that’s fast becoming a new standard. Don’t fret too much about getting caught in the rain. The Nothing Phone 1 is IP53-rated. That means a splash is fine, but don’t try filming underwater.

As you checkout on the Nothing website, you’ll see you also have the option to add RAM, ROM and even a pair of Nothing earbuds for €99.

All in all, the specs of the Nothing Phone 1 are…grand. I mean that in the most Irish way possible. The specs are ok. Solid. They’re not quite flagship though. And this is where it gets interesting.

Nothing Phone 1 is not trying to be the best phone on the market. Nothing Phone 1 is trying to be the best mid-range phone on the market. It wants to put a fun, affordable, phone out there for the Tik Tok generation. That’s obvious from the Glyph Interface and, arguably even more so, the price tag of €469. Will it be a massive success? I don’t think it will revolutionise anything major, and definitely not in Ireland. Despite their energy, Nothing is just going to be another phone. Nothing special.

I likely won’t be getting hands-on with the Nothing Phone 1 for some time, but chuck me a follow on Tik Tok and you’ll know fairly quickly if I do get one.

Is Nothing Phone 1 Waterproof

No. The Nothing Phone 1 is IP53-rated. This means it is protected from limited dust ingress and protected from water spray. It should not be submerged

Does the Nothing Phone 1 Come With A Charger

No. When checking out on the Nothing website, you can add a 45w charger for €35.

Can I Buy Nothing Phone On An Irish Network?

No. Nothing hasn’t partnered at launch with any Irish mobile network. You’ll have to buy directly from Nothing and get yourself a SIM-only deal instead.

Cant See Revolut Balance? Here’s How To Fix That

Marty
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0
Cant See Revolut Balance? Here’s How To Fix That

There seems to have been an odd update to Revolut lately. When you open the app your balance is blurred. It’s not obvious how to reveal your account balance either. But it is simple. Here’s how and how to turn this new feature off.

How To Reveal Revolut Balance

For privacy reasons, Revolut now hides your main account balance by default. To reveal your balance, simply flip your phone over and back. Now you’ll be able to see your balance, even if you’d rather you didn’t just check it.

Flip your phone over and back again to hide the balance again.

Revolut now hides your balance by default.

Disable Revolut Balance Hiding

This appears to be a relatively new feature in Revolut. If you don’t like it, the good news is you can turn it off.

  1. Open the Revolut app
  2. Click on your profile picture
  3. Scroll down to “Hide Balances”
  4. Toggle feature on or off as desired

If you like the extra privacy, toggle this feature on. If you find it annoying, toggle it off.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2: Are Huawei Headphones Worth It?

Marty
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0
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2: Are Huawei Headphones Worth It?

I’m not going to beat around the bush. The answer to that question is yes.

I’m just back from attending Huawei’s Berlin product launch. As the company pivots away from mobile, these product launches have taken on new importance. For a few years now, particularly since the FreeBuds 3, Huawei has been knocking audio accessory making out of the park. The Berlin launch saw Huawei unveil some new laptops, smart office tech, a monitor and a new cool backpack and indeed some new earbuds. While there was a lot on show, this review will focus on the new earbuds; the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2.

What’s New?

It’s been quite some time since I tested out the first rendition of the Huawei FreeBuds Pro. They were a total departure from the in-ear buds Huawei had previously made. Away from the hard plastic bud, the FreeBuds Pro went for silicon tips. There was no shortage of innovation on show from Huawei with those buds, and the sequal continues that trend.

First up is a big partnership for Huawei. This has been the secret to a lot of their success in the past, particularly with mobile. The Huawei mobile range is still considered to produce the best cameras on the market. A large contributor here is the Leica lenses. Now, for the FreeBuds Pro 2, Huawei has teamed up with the incredible audio company that is Devialet.

Devialet has made some of the world’s most impressive, blockbusting audio accessories. For me, it’s a natural partnership for Huawei, trying to increase market share in the audio market.

The FreeBuds Pro 2 also brings Active Noise Cancelling upgrades with ANC 2.0, battery boosts and the ability to tune the audio experience to your own ear canal. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in lots of scenarios where I tested the bejaysus out of these buds in the past few weeks. Here’s what I think.

Testing

It’s not that long since I picked up these buds, but I’ve had a manic two weeks. I’ve been flying from city to city, attending gigs that have been cancelled for two years, and travelling, quite literally, on planes, trains and automobiles. These have provided a great testing environment for a new pair of earbuds, from sound quality and ANC to battery life and beyond.

Audio

The fact that Huawei has been making great audio without a partner for years is exciting. Now that they’ve teamed up with Devialet, things can only get better.

When it comes to the audio quality of the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2, it’s really hard to fault them. With the wild range of gigs I’ve been going to, my playlist has been diverse. Lewis Capaldi, Greenday, Rammstein and classic piano versions of Rammstein. All of these have been funnelled into my ears through the FreeBuds Pro 2. Every single note has been pitch-perfect.

I’m sure there are some absolute audiophiles out there that can tell you the intricate details about bass, mids and treble. I can tell you they’re all really good and the general sound quality is amazing.

Not only is that for listening to music. I’ve been using the FreeBuds Pro 2 for calls too and they’re excellent. That goes for both being able to hear others and how clearly they’ve been able to hear me. They are quite brilliant at blocking out background noise too. In one test call, I had my iPad on the desk in front of me streaming Formula One and you couldn’t hear engines or commentary coming through.

I never play with EQ that much but I did with these buds. I had a lot of fun tweaking the settings to suit my listening, so I recommend you do the same.

When it comes to calls, there’s another massive trick up the FreeBuds Pro 2’s sleeve. It’s not new, but it’s fast becoming an essential feature for me when picking earbuds.

Connectivity and Compatibility

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 offer dual-device connection. In a work-from-home world, this is so important for me. I can have my buds paired with both my phone and my laptop. If I’m listening away to music on my phone and get a Teams call, my earbuds I can move from one to the other without much hassle. I did have to pause Spotify on my phone myself. The good news is that there’s no fiddling around with pairing or swapping buds. Just pause and take the call.

In terms of compatibility, one question I’m always asked about Huawei watches and audio accessories is, will they work with iPhone? My daily rider is an iPhone 13 Pro and I’m testing a lot of Huawei gear at the moment. All of it works really well. From the Huawei Health app to the Huawei AI app, iPhone compatibility has gotten really good.

I’ve been able to pair the FreeBuds Pro 2 in the Huawei AI app on iPhone, customise the EQ, control all the gestures, everything. Hard as I tried, I haven’t been able to find anything that doesn’t work. So if you’re an iPhone user pondering about Apple’s AirPods Pro, this is a worthwhile consideration.

Design

I like the look of the FreeBuds Pro 2. It’s a highly subjective thing, so here’s a picture of them for you to decide for yourself.

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 look lovely

What I can vouch for is comfort. I used these out of the box immediately after getting them. I was boarding a flight from Berlin to Dublin. It was a brave move because I wanted a nap on the flight. I’m often wary of buds on a flight because I fear them falling out. However, the FreeBuds Pro 2 were super snug. I did a quick fit test in the app and that was confirmed.

The comfort comes down to Huawei’s engineering efforts, the silicon tips and the buds weighing in at just 6.1g.

I’m going to cover gesture control here too. At first, I was going to class the gesture set up as a negative. You pinch the stalk of the buds to control them or your connected device. Initially, I found this counterintuitive. But after just the first flight, I’d gotten used to the controls. While not many buds take this approach, the physical pinch is easier to remember.

  • A single pinch will play/pause or answer/end a call. Pinch twice during a call and you’ll reject it.
  • Pinch and hold adjusts the ANC level or enables awareness mode.
  • A double pinch on left bud goes back one track, on the right, it’ll bring you forward one track.
  • Volume is simple too; just swipe your finger up or down either bud.

Battery

I always say it. I’m blown away by how small buds with ANC can pack in so much battery life. During my trip back from Rammstein I ended up getting a bus from Cardiff to Bristol and a delayed flight from Bristol to Dublin. Actually, now that I think of it, the flight over from Dublin to Bristol can all be counted in this one single charge of my FreeBuds Pro 2.

I just want to give you a more real feeling of how much living these buds keep up with, without you needing to plug in. The buds will give you nearly the full advertised 4 hours of playback with ANC turned on.

Realistically, you’re unlikely to ever go four hours straight with buds in your ears. You’ll pop them out into their case for a few minutes at some stage. During this time, the FreeBuds Pro 2 will power up really quickly. It’ll take 40 minutes in the case for a full charge, but just a few minutes will give you plenty of listening time too. One feature that iPhone users might miss is MagSafe charging. While the Freebuds case supports wireless charging, it won’t charge on the back of your iPhone.

With everything combined, Huawei state that you’ll get 30 hours of listening with ANC off, listening at about 50%. For me, you have loads of power to get through lots of travelling or work.

Are The Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 Worth It?

To determine whether or not these earbuds are a good purchase boils down to a few things. If you use earbuds every day for work and music with lots of travel, then absolutely. If you normally just wear €20 wired earphones and don’t care about bells and whistles or audio quality, well all high-end earbuds will be underwhelming for you.

Now, if you’re an iPhone user weighing up a pair of Apple AirPod Pro buds, this is where things get very interesting. The AirPods Pro will set you back €279. When the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 launch here in Ireland later in July, they’ll be just €199. As I’ve said, all my testing was with an iPhone 13 Pro and they work brilliantly.

Comparing Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 and AirPods Pro

Here’s a cheeky little comparison between Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 2 and Apple AirPod Pro.

SpecHuawei FreeBuds Pro 2Apple AirPods Pro
Form FactorHard shell + silicone tipHard shell + silicone tip
Listening Time (No ANC)6.5 hours5 hours
Listening Time with ANC4 hours4.5 hours
Weight (each)6.1g5.4g
ChargingUSB-C
QI Wireless		Lightning
MagSafe
ColoursSilver Blue
Silver Frost
Ceramic White		White
Bluetooth5.25.0
Waterproof RatingIP54IPX4
Price€199€279

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2: The Verdict

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 achieve in the audio category what Huawei achieved years ago with phones. Huawei is delivering incredible quality and specs at a fraction of the cost of their most obvious competition. In the mobile space, jumping from iPhone to the likes of a P30 Pro back in the day was a big ask. The jump eco-system loss from AirPod to FreeBud just isn’t as great.

If you’re in the market for a great pair of earbuds, these are a fantastic purchase. Even if you’re an iPhone user.

The FreeBuds Pro 2 will be on sale in Ireland from the end of July. Check out the Huawei website and socials for further updates. You’ll most likely be able to pick them up in more than a few high street stores.

Review: Choosing Ireland’s Best Banking App

Marty
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Review: Choosing Ireland’s Best Banking App

What feels like many moons ago, I wrote about Ireland’s best digital bank. I rated KBC as one of the best banks bank then, and still do today. The problem is that KBC is ramping up their exit from the Irish market. I’ve just confirmed they are waiving maintenance fees on accounts too which means they are pushing people away. People like me, who are now in the market for a new bank account. Obviously, I want a good value bank with lots of digital experience too offer. So where am I off to?

In This Article

Best Banking Apps in Ireland

I recently caught up with Daragh from Bonkers.ie to discuss banking apps in Ireland. I’ve had an account with them all at some stage, though some have since been closed. I’ve not used some of them in years but have been watching from afar to see how they’re getting on. y first ever bank account. I still have an account today and use both it and by Bank of Ireland app regularly.

I don’t think you should choose a bank purely based on app, but it is an important thing to consider. A good app keeps you informed of your finances. A good app makes you want to use it to keep an eye on your money. All in all, a good app helps ensure better financial health.

Revolut

For me, Revolut is a near slam dunk when it comes to being the best banking app in Ireland. The online-only bank has been pushing countless features out to improve the user experience for the past few years. Today, Revolut stands as a genuine alternative to traditional banks. The bank got a massive boost recently by officially becoming a proper bank. That means your money is as safe in Revolut as it is Bank of Ireland.

I also spotted loans in my Revolt app recently. I can now borrow up to €30,000 and apply for that within the app.

There are lots of great features that come with choosing a digital-first bank. Virtual cards protect your data when shopping online. You get cash back on purchases and discounts when buying from Revolut partners. You also get the features you’d expect like Google Pay and Apple Pay.

However, it’s not all good news. There are some issues beyond Revolut’s control. The bank uses Lithuanian IBANs which may still pose a problem for Irish customers. Some employers can’t or won’t pay wages into non-Irish bank accounts, despite this being illegal. It’s called IBAN discrimination. The same goes for utility companies not allowing you to set up direct debits with non-Irish IBANs.

The big issue some will have is the limitations that come with online-only banks. While Revolut is slowly rolling out credit products, there are no mortgages. There’s also no branch when you have an issue and sometimes, care over chat can be frustrating.

But Revolut is about to become my primary bank. The one the monthly money goes into. What I’m most looking forward to is the analytics and insights I’ll get into my spending. Well, I’m both excited and terrified.

You can join Revolut using my affiliate link (which may give me a kickback) or just join them directly. Which you choose has no impact on you, but I understand some people might feel funny about affiliate links.

The GoodThe Bad
Incredible AppLimited Credit Offering
Full Banking StatusNo Physical Branches
Special OffersIBAN Discrimination
International Exchange
Cheap To Use

AIB

AIB is probably the best of the bunch when it comes to the remaining traditional banks in Ireland. AIB has been an innovator in the Irish market, offering Google Pay and Apple Pay before many of the competition. The AIB banking app also introduced innovative features like Quick Balance that proved a real hit with customers.

AIB does charge you fees for using your card in a machine, specifically when you insert your card to enter you pin. It’s an odd time to charge, but I guess it’s because the fee makes more sense on higher-value transactions.

When I spoke with Bonkers.ie, I laid it on thick that it’s really important that your banking app welcomes you in to use it. Again, the more you use it, the more financially healthy you should be. AIB is the only traditional Irish banking app to let you login using biometrics. That means no fumbling around for a pin or password.

The GoodThe Bad
Trusted BankFees You Wouldn’t Expect
Biometric Login
Quick Balance
Mortgages

N26

I was going to say that once we finish up with these two banks, things start to go downhill a bit. But that’s not really fair. N26 offers a great banking experience. N26 is a German online-only bank that used to be far superior to Revolut. However, the bank has been hampered by Revolut’s success and struggled to rise to the same level.

N26 is a fully operational bank but doesn’t offer credit in Ireland, or at least it’s not available in my account.

The GoodThe Bad
Good AppIt’s Just Not Revolut
Spending InsightsNo Credit Products In Ireland

An Post Money

And again, before things start to get negative, An Post Money deserves an honourable mention. It’s likely An Post Money benefits from the old An Post image not being built on old banking systems. Because of this, it offers a decent digital experience. On paper at least. I’ve not got to try it out yet, but it’s worth a punt.

Because I have a credit card with KBC I might actually give An Post Money a go until Revolut offers one.

The GoodThe Bad
Offer Credit CardsAn Post Is Unproven
Irish IBAN
Google, Apple and Fitbit Pay

Bank of Ireland

So, I’ll probably always have a Bank of Ireland account. But it’ll upset me every day I do. Bank of Ireland is a solid bank. I can’t argue with that. But the Bank of Ireland app leaves a lot to be desired. Even when the bank announced exciting updates to their app, it was all a bit underwhelming. The app’s design and features are still rather poor.

There’s still no biometric login and a lack of modern features within the app itself. My Bank of Ireland account and the app that goes with it isn’t something I like having. So once I can, I’ll be moving products out.

You absolutely join Bank of Ireland for the bank part, not the online experience.

The GoodThe Bad
It’s Very TrustworthyApp Is Ugly
Finally Offer Google and Apple PayNo Biometric Login
No Insights

Permanent TSB

The less said about this the better. Permanent TSB is another reputable bank. However, online or app experience isn’t their forte. Like Bank of Ireland, there’s no biometric login. Straight away, there’s that barrier to your banking. Permanent TSB does offer Google and Apple Pay but they have to be shamed here as the last bank to do so. They were dragged, kicking and screaming into the digital age.

While I rate Bank of Ireland pretty low, Permanent TSB doesn’t really offer any redeeming qualities. Full disclosure, I used to work here. But that’s water under the bridge. I can justify having a Bank of Ireland account, but struggle to see why I’d ever have a Permanent TSB account again. Unless, of course, I need a mortgage and they offer an amazing rate.

The GoodThe Bad
Google and Apple PayVery Few App Services
Not Much ElseDigital Laggards

Choosing A Bank After KBC

Finally, we come to the point where I tell you what bank I’m choosing. It’s a rather easy choice really, but it comes with caveats. I’m moving most of my major day to day banking to Revolut. Tapping in shops, getting paid my salary and sending money to friends. All that good stuff will be done through Revolut. I might even apply for a loan if I need to. Most people I’ve told seem pretty at east with my choice. And that surprises me. Maybe it’s because I’m the tech guy, but I think people are generally more at ease with the idea of banking more with Revolut.

But my savings will likely just transfer to Bank of Ireland. Bank of Ireland has bought KBC savings accounts. I’ve been informed it will just move over unless I do something about it.

I might look to keep a credit card, though I don’t use it very often. It did come in handy recently when I had to rent a car in Crete. An Post Money offers an interesting alternative there.

I guess the fragmented approach does make sense. No one bank offers the perfect solution. No one solution fits everyone. So don’t be afraid to shop around and not do what the family has done for years.

Not convinced? You can still read a great article over on Bonkers.ie comparing the banking apps in further detail.

Is Viral Binley Mega Chippy in Ireland?

Marty
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0
Is Viral Binley Mega Chippy in Ireland?

TikTok is truly throwing up some wonderful randomness into the world. The latest TikTok star to go viral isn’t an influencer or some kid who did a dance. No. This time, it’s a random chip shop that’s blowing up on the social media platform. Binley Mega Chippy is filling everyone’s TikTok feeds, even here in Ireland which is leading to some confusion. So just where can you find Binley Mega Chippy?

Where is Binley Mega Chippy?

Binley Mega Chippy can be found on Binley Road in Binley. I’m not joking, that’s the address. If you’ve seen Binley Mega Chippy and are tempted to make a bank holiday road trip, I have some bad news. Binley isn’t in Ireland.

I’m afraid Binley and the chipper in question is to be found in Coventry, over in the UK.

Now, that’s not to say it’s impossible.

How to Get to Binley Mega Chippy from Ireland

You could jump on a flight from Dublin to Coventry. It’s pretty cheap. A return flight to Coventry would set you back about €44. A taxi from the airport to the chipper and back would be about €40. The price of the chipper itself would be anywhere from €10 to €20, depending on what you’re in the mood for.

So it can be done, if you really want to.

Why is Binley Mega Chippy Going Viral?

The funny part of Binley Mega Chippy going viral for me is that I’m not even sure if the chip shop has a TikTok account. Seemingly hundreds of parody accounts have sprung up on the platform alongside a little song dedicated to the chip shop.

The people of TikTok just decided it was all too perfect to not accept it into their lives and now it’s viral. Owners are probably both confused and delighted as now they are constant queues out the door. I’m sure it’s leading to a crisis of potato supplies for chips.

It’s making me more broadly crave a bag of chips. But for now, I’ll have to dream of a trip to Binley.

You might well wonder why we’re writing about this. Here at Goosed we’re keen to try and explain the latest random things on social media platforms such as TikTok. You can follow us on our Twitter or Tiktok.

Nintendo Switch Sports Review – Wii Sports with a Modern Switch

Jon
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Nintendo Switch Sports Review – Wii Sports with a Modern Switch

Remember back in 2006 when Wii Sports took was the biggest gaming craze of the year. Just the mention of the word Wii sports reminds us all of the motion controlled chaos that was bowling with mates in a college gaff during an break hour. Firing up the Nintendo Switch with Wii Sports was possibly one of the biggest blast to the past moments I have had in my adult life. The motion control is still as simple and as fun as any one would remember and it’s this elegant simplicity that brings out the fun factor in this reimagined title.

Funnily enough Nintendo Switch Sports is first follow up to the 16 year old Wii Sports, Yeah 16 years old, I didn’t believe it either. Anyway Switch Sports is jam packed with old favourites we all remember as well as three new game types. Sure it’s not perfect, it never was back in the day and some of the new game modes are a bit boring, the old reliables bring back all the joy of putting your house at risk for the perfect serve. We already know Nintendo intend to release additional content and extra sports in the near future, so if six game modes don’t tickle your fancy, there is more due soon.

Now let’s get into it:

Overview

How to Reach A Rank | Nintendo Switch Sports｜Game8

Switch Sports as I mentioned is about fun not function, back in the day Wii Sports wanted to be more of a fitness based product, however they now no their place. In Wii Sports, you could see a graph of how well you were doing in certain sports, and you could see your progress over time, this is now swapped out online with a grading system where after a while playing any game you’ll be given your rank and over time winning or placing higher in online games will help you rank up. The higher the rank the higher the reward.

As of now you can play any 1 or 6 game modes:

  • Volleyball
  • Badminton
  • Bowling
  • Soccer
  • Chambara
  • Tennis

Volleyball, Badminton and Soccer (with a leg strap too) are all new game modes for Switch Sports with some of our old favourites due to come in later updates. These can be played on your lonesome, with mates in person and online and now of course you can play online globally against strangers. Each game is fun in its own way and I’ll go into more detail on these shortly but for now all you need to know is that they all work in their own right both for local single and multiplay as well as for online gameplay. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed the online game mode, unlocking new clobber for my character and all that but it wasn’t until I played in a room with friends where the nostalgic music brings you back 15 years and you’re swinging your arms like a maniac to hit the back hand. That’s where Nintendo Switch Sports excels, bringing family and friends together for short lived but epic fun.

Graphics and MII Options

How to unlock cosmetics in Nintendo Switch Sports - Polygon

Would it be Nintendo without a sharp, vibrant and colourful world? Switch Sports is no different, each game is set in a beautiful stadium with plenty of Mii Amibos in situ to watch the action unfold. In order to play you will need to create your player, and you and either import your own Mii which always looks kinda terrifying or your can use a Nintendo template with a range of hairstyles, eyes, clothes etc etc etc.

This is really fun if you ask me especially online, as there aren’t a lot of choices right now, Nintendo has said that you can unlock more customisation options online, which offers up a great incentive to keep playing, not too dissimilar to games like FallGuys where over time more users will have a wider variety of outfits and styles going on which will mean everyone will in time look totally different. Which is great and adds a level of personality not seen before in a game like this.

The New Game Modes

As I mentioned earlier there is are 6 sports on offer right now that you can play both locally and online. As we mentioned earlier Switch Sports relied on motion controls meaning you won’t be playing on the Switch Lite and this year there are 3 new game modes that have very very different ways to play than what we’ve dealt with in the past.

Volleyball

All the Sports Revealed for Nintendo Switch Sports At Launch

Let’s start by looking at volleyball. To be completely transparent this was the game mode I didn’t really enjoy at all. It’s the only turn based play system within Nintendo Switch Sports, where players take turns to bump, block, setup and spike. It’s slow, its clunky and the timing just isn’t right, after plenty of hours of gameplay I can only get the spike right with every other motion early or later, no matter what you do. Maybe that’s just me and maybe others will find this game mode fun but for me I found volleyball a bit to turn based to be enjoyable.

Football

Nintendo Switch Sports details: Release date, gameplay, new modes, DLC - Dexerto

Yano what the football is a new concept using the leg strap so I’m going to give it a bit more wiggle room than volleyball, solely because you can see something different in Switch Sports. Whether playing online, single or shooting mode you will need to Joy cons per person and this is probably what ads a layer of confusion initially.

With standard mode, playing online or in person as I mentioned you will need the 2 Joy Cons to play, the left hand controler manages direction, sprinting, these are done through the top and analogue buttons while swishing the controller allows you to kick the ball, the right controller manages camera direction through the analogue stick, a button allows you to jump, while also a swish of the controller allows you to kick, now swish both controllers at the same time and of you go with a diving header, which in fairness is quite comical, if unpredictable.

Then you have the shooting mode, where you get to wear the leg strap supplied in the box. We fully expect new game modes to incorporate this within the DLC because if this shooting mode is the only reason for the leg strap, it’s a bit pointless. Anywho, shooting mode is a bit of fun…just stand far enough back so you don’t boot a coffee table, it happens trust me.

Basically the ball flies by and you have to swing a big boot at the oversized ball on the volley to direct the ball towards goal. That’s really it for the football mode, online feels like people based Rocket League while shooting mode is a bit of craic allbeit short lived. Let’s see what the update holds.

Badminton

How to Play Nintendo Switch Sports Online Play Test

Badminton in fairness is a bit of a laugh, especially when playing locally with friends. Of the new games it’s by far the easiest to figure out, 1 Joy Con and swing, need more info??? There is none it’s that simple. What I loved about this game mode is the variety of shooting, so far it feels smooth and with the ability to perform drop shots you can force an opponent real or online into making mistakes you can capitalise on.

From my playing of Badminton so far, it’s much much faster then both soccer and volleyball, while those who will remember the chaos swinging of tennis from the older game, this feels far smoother and refined where rallys can seem to last a life time, with timing, alternating shots and feeling out your opponent more prevalent than in other game modes in Switch Sports. It will be interesting to see what the update bring but right now it’s only 1-1 unlike the 2-2 tennis, maybe there is something in that?

The Old Reliables

When it comes to the old reliables in Chambara, Tennis and Bowling, Nintendo Switch Sports brings back old game modes that we know and love, with very little change to what made them great. Light tweaks to the motion sensitivity and a lovely new arena’s but beyond that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Bowling

Bowling Controls and Tips - Nintendo Switch Sports Wiki Guide - IGN

Bowling is bowling, very simple and basically a carbon copy of what we had back in the day, bar the rolling head if you threw the ball backwards by accident. In Nintendo Switch Sports you can play both locally and online (versus up to 16 people) across 2 game modes.

Bowling is probably the best game of the lot, anyone can play it and the online lobby always fills up nice and quick. Motion controls are so simple, pick the direction and angle you want to throw, hold down the back button as you swing and that’s it. Well you can add spin and stuff like that but we’ll leave you master those mechanics yourself.

In special mode, mastery of these techniques is the key, every lane can have a range of obstacles in place, whether this is bridges, uneven flooring, moving pillars and more, learning how to curve the ball around or master a different floor bend all makes this mode utter carnage….and I’m all here for it.

Chambara

Chambara has three modes: Swords, Charge Swords and Double Swords. In the first two, you play with one controller and use the back button to block and swing the control to strike your opponent. Of course this is Switch Sports so you’re trying to knock your opponent off the platform and into the drink below.

You can also use double sword mode which requires 2 Joy Cons to play, which is the exact same as the above in terms of controlling, just with two swords instead of one. In fairness it’s really quick to play and it’s best of 3 so if a game to play in 2minutes or less is what you’re after this could be for you, take a few swings, drop your opponent in the water and walk away…easy.

Tennis

Nintendo Switch Sports Tennis: Tennis Perfect Serve

Tennis and Badminton are much the same when it comes to gameplay, although tennis possibly a little slower and more methodical as the ralleys won’t be as long as they would be when you play badminton. Now we all know and love the tennis mode from back in the Wii days but Switch Sport brings this mode back with a control system so basic anyone can play. Swing over head, backhand, forehand, topspin, just swing your JoyCon as if you were holding a racket and that’s tennis in a nutshell.

You can play this mode on your own, with one or 3 mates and the game is always 2 on 2. You can also play online and when it’s 2 people versus just you, you’re bound to have some fun.

The Goosed Verdict

If I’m being totally 100% honest with myself here, Nintendo Switch Sports is good without being great. It was never in a million years going to be able to succeed just because of how popular Wii Sports was back in the day, however taking expectations aside, Switch Sports is a fun title lacking in quantity not quality, sadly missing old memorable games like golf, boxing, baseball and basketball…….all of which could be coming as free updates later in the year alongside a an enhanced soccer mode with more leg strap support.

If you loved Wii Sports, then this latest rendition is right up your alley, Switch Sports is fun, fast and downright mental when you have a friend or group to play with. Sometimes we don’t need the sharpest of graphics or the detailed storyline, sometimes gaming can be simple with a smile and Nintendo more than anyone else understands this and Nintendo Switch Sports delivers just that.

Huawei Watch GT Runner Review: Good, But Pricey for Imperfection

Marty
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0
Huawei Watch GT Runner Review: Good, But Pricey for Imperfection

So, you’ve decided to buy a smartwatch? You might feel somewhat tied to Apple’s ecosystem if you’re an iPhone user. After my somewhat surprising migration to Apple, I know I felt that was inevitable for me. But after years of loving Huawei wearables, I stuck with them. The latest smartwatch Huawei has sent over to test is the Huawei Watch GT Runner. I’ve been putting it through its paces.

Huawei Watch GT Runner

I had a couple of Huawei watches sent over to test in quick succession. The Watch 3 landed in and was mega premium. However, it was suffering from extremely limited availability. The Huawei Watch GT 3 landed in next. It lived up to past iterations but didn’t do much to ignite my curiosity. A great watch, but I expected that much.

The Huawei Watch GT Runner is a different story.

For everyday users, the Huawei Watch GT Runner might still be a tough sell. However, some features compare brilliantly versus Apple Watch. Even for more dedicated athletes, the Huawei Watch GT Runner offers some features that measure up versus Garmin and other high-end workout watches

Design

The Huawei Watch GT Runner feels lighter than most Huawei smartwatches I’ve tested. It’s odd given that it is about 3g heavier than the Huawei Watch GT 3, weighing in at 38.5g. Overall, it’s a fairly premium vibe you get from the watch. Huawei has forever held onto designing their smartwatches around traditional round faces. This bucks the trend from big fitness competitors Apple and Fitbit.

But for me it’s crucial.

In terms of input, beyond the touchscreen, you can also control the watch using the crown (spinning button) or the button below.

The watch itself remains light with a clever body featuring cutout sections. The lightness mission is further supported by the body being made from a polymer-fibre case.In short, that means light and strong. And that’s what this watch is all about. It’s supposed to be on your arm, unnoticeable, until you need it.

When you do need it, it’s packed full of smarts to give you your workout insights. It makes that data more readily available than ever before. I feel that the improved sensors is where the weight and price got a little inflated. So let’s look at what you get.

Fitness Tracking

I’ve mainly tested the Huawei Watch GT Runner hiking, cycling, lifting weights and even with a bit of swimming. Sorry, I’m just not into running (I understand the irony given the watch’s name).

There’s a long list of vitals that the watch can measure:

  • Heart rate
  • Sp02
  • Lactate Threshold
  • Sleep
  • Stress

Heart rate is one of the areas Huawei has invested heavily in. They’ve made a bold claim that the Huawei Watch GT Runner is able to take on chest strap monitors with 97% accuracy. This is all down to upgraded modules in the rear of the watch which keep contact with your skin to measure heart rate.

In the interest of transparency, I can only say this is what Huawei claims. I don’t have a chest strap for comparison. I can tell you that when I was hiking up a hill and felt like I could die at any moment, my watch said my heart rate was very high. To be fair, looking at me probably could have told you similar information.

Huawei also launched TruSport with this watch. This lets you measure your performance against other runners in your cohort. TruSport even gives you predicted performance insights and helps you train to the right level for your ability.

Even I, a guy not into running, think that’s pretty awesome.

But, the best part of the fitness tracking for me is a combination of the onboard GPS tracking and my realisation that the Huawei Health App is after getting very good.

Huawei Health App

One of the biggest issues through the years has been the Huawei Health app. Until now, it was just ok, missing lots of features from the competition. When heading out for a hike, I was surprised with just how much information I was getting. Next, it was how well the app was processing everything.

Huawei now even supports Strava. It’s been a long time coming and held a lot of people back from making the move towards Huawei as a genuine option for serious fitness tracking. But it’s still not perfect – more on that later.

huawei watch sunset feature

Hiking through Kerry, the watch was able to send me back the way I came if I ever got lost. I actually used the on-board compass given I’d no internet. I also appreciated the sunset feature, knowing we’d plenty of time to get back to our AirBnB. It tracked the whole hike too. My favourite thing of all was the video of the hike the app generates. It shows all your elevation changes, your pace at milestones and peak heart rate. It’s a nice clip to be able to share on your favourite social media platform. Did the workout even happen if you don’t share it?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cHnQ5BV5QQ0

Battery Life

The main highlight of Huawei watches for me is the design. Second is the battery. The two big wins for Huawei in my eyes. The battery of the Huawei Watch GT Runner is whopper. You’ll likely get the bones of two weeks from your watch if you’re a fairly casual exerciser. If you’re a bit more intense in your workouts, you can still expect a fairly impressive week-long battery.

This is all remarkable given Apple still celebrates an all-day battery life for their Watch. I honestly couldn’t imagine wearing a watch I need to charge daily.

While reviewing Huawei watches, I’ve learned that they are brilliant. But, while brilliant, there are plenty of shortcomings that many will consider deal-breakers. That’s why I recommend Huawei Watches, including the GT Runner only if you don’t want the following.

Music Support

Huawei doesn’t support the likes of Spotify. You can’t load up or sync music to your watch and head out. The on-board GPS tracking means you can get all the fitness data without your watch, but you’ll have to run in silence.

It’s a shame given the watch supports Bluetooth 5.2 connections and you can connect buds to it. Of course, if you have MP3s you can upload them to the watch. I couldn’t work out how to do it and let’s be honest; music syncing is a deal-breaker for many.

Payments

A few weeks ago I spent a €50 note that had been in my wallet for two years. Yup. Between Google Pay, Apple Pay and Fitbit Pay, through various gadget testing stints, I just never needed to open my wallet.

Huawei offers nothing in terms of payments through the watch. Just before the pandemic, I asked Huawei’s CEO if payments would be a priority, but nothing has happened since. There could be progress here in the future given Huawei has teamed up with Curve for their phones. Perhaps that could feature on their watches in the near future too. Still, it feels like a workaround and if payments are crucial, it’s another deal-breaker.

Linking to Apps

What apps you can link to and use with your Huawei Watch GT Runner is still somewhat hit and miss. If you’re on the fence, feel free to drop me a DM and I’ll see if I can link your platform of choice to the Huawei ecosystem. As I mentioned, many will welcome Strava integration, but even that’s not consistent.

I don’t use Strava much, but for this review, I wanted to test this integration. Strava doesn’t list Huawei as a supported device and I couldn’t find Strava within the Huawei Health App.

This is a common theme if third party integration is a crucial part of your workout. While the Huawei Health App is vastly improved, integration has not.

Huawei Watch GT Runner: The Verdict

The Huawei Watch GT Runner is an excellent smartwatch and a fantastic fitness tracker. At €299, it’s not a cheap purchase. The integrations also make it a risky purchase if you’re looking to use anything beyond the Huawei Health App.

If you’re not already in bed with the likes of Strava, then you’ve nothing to worry about. Just check the other missing links I’ve mentioned above. If they don’t apply to you, this is the smartwatch you’ve been looking for. As I said, I’m an iPhone user and that didn’t produce any unique snags for me.

The Huawei Watch GT Runner is available from Eir, Harvey Norman, DID and Euronics.

How to Get the TikTok Sad Face Filter

Marty
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0
How to Get the TikTok Sad Face Filter

It can be hard to keep up with TikTok sometimes. Just last week, it was all about the Dubai Porta Potty and we’ve already moved on. Now, the big trend is the sad face filter. But while TikTok has plenty of filters to help you shoot funny videos, there’s no sad face filter. So how are so many people posting hilarious sad face filter videos on TikTok? Here’s what they’re doing and how you can do it yourself.

What is the TikTok Sad Face Filter?

This might be fairly obvious, but I’ll explain it just in case. The sad face filter trend on TikTok is all about filming someone during a fairly mundane task or moment in their day. It gets funny because of a filter that makes the person in the video look like their bawling crying, no matter how happy they are.

It’s a really funny trend. So far, the best use of the filter seems to be friends asking for something simple, like a sip of a drink. This gets really funny because they say “yes, no problem” while the filter suggests the contrary.

Why is there no TikTok Sad Face Filter?

While TikTok offers a plethora of filters and effects to make hilarious clips, this latest trend has left many confused. The reason for the confusion is that there’s no sad face filter on TikTok. A closer inspection of videos already going viral with the sad face filter give one hint as to how it works. There’s no filter tag being added by TikTok. That tells us the filter is from another platform.

Yep, it’s a Snapchat filter that’s being used. Here’s how you can grab it.

How to Get the Sad Face Filter

If you’re looking to make a sad face video for yourself, here’s how you do it. First of all, you’re going to need Snapchat. Here’s where the filter can be found. You’ll need to shoot your video here and then upload it to TikTok.

  1. Open Snapchat
  2. Tap the emoji button to the right of the camera capture button
  3. Scroll to the right until you find the “sad face filter” icon (see below)
  4. Shoot your video
  5. When finished, tap the download/save button
  6. Open TikTok
  7. Tap the Upload box to the right of the camera capture button
  8. Select your “sad face filter” video
  9. Edit as required and tap next when finished
  10. Add a caption and post your video
That’s the icon for the sad face filter

The process of creating sad face filter content and uploading to Instagram is exactly the same. Just upload to your Instagram app instead of TikTok. Simply keep an eye on your clip length when recording and you should have no hassle uploading it.

The Amber Heard Connection

There’s absolutely no official connection between the sad face filter and Amber Heard. Heard has been in the headlines recently as she’s being sued by her ex, Johnny Depp for defamation. Snapchat had to state that it was purely coincidence that the filter become available around the trial during which Heard was famously seen crying.

As trends go on TikTok, this one is fairly harmless. I love the tricking your friend element of this, so go on and give it a go.

Is The Dropout Worth Watching on Disney+?

Marty
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0
Is The Dropout Worth Watching on Disney+?

Where do you start with the wild story behind tech startup, Theranos? After years of raising funds, the health-based startup was found to be built on layers of fraud and total lies. Fortunately, I don’t have to tell the story. The Dropout tells the story and is now streaming on Disney+.

What is The Dropout About?

The Dropout is based on an ABC podcast of the same name. It tells the true story of Elizabeth Holmes. A Stanford dropout who started a health-tech company. The company was called Theranos. The goal of the company was to make healthcare easier than ever. With just one drop of blood, a new machine, created by Theranos, could run hundreds of tests. The idea is lovely. The reality was next to impossible.

That didn’t stop Theranos from getting backed by some of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Over $600 million in funding went up in smoke when the project was exposed for being vaporware. Hundreds lost their jobs. More importantly, there were many cases of misdiagnosis amongst real-world patients.

Is The Dropout Worth Watching?

The Dropout is absolutely worth watching, particularly if you already have a Disney+ subscription. After Dopesick, this is one of the best things I’ve watched on the platform. It’s an insight into how money follows confidence above ability. How big business is often just a lot of nonsense. And how Silicon Valley is a minefield.

Not least of all, the show is worth watching for the fascinating character of Elizabeth Holmes. Amanda Seyfried nails the quirky mannerisms of Holmes and you’ll be left wanting to see interviews with her.

If you know the story, it’s worth a watch. If you don’t, then this is unmissable watching on Disney+.

The Dropout Trailer

What is the Dubai Porta Potty Trend on TikTok and Twitter?

Marty
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0
What is the Dubai Porta Potty Trend on TikTok and Twitter?

Stop looking. I don’t mean, “stop looking and read this article”. I mean for your own good just stop looking. Every now and then, the internet just decides it’s time to gross everyone out. There are lines not to be crossed, but the Dubai Porta Potty trend decides to go there. I’m going to try to explain this without giving too much detail and save you your weekend.

What is the Dubai Porta Potty Trend?

The backstory to this trend has been far from confirmed. Apparently, there are millionaires, reportedly from Dubai, paying for influencers and models to visit them. When they do so, they defecate on their faces. Yup. They’ve been paid to come out for a fetish.

The trend seems to have started with a graphic video, shared on both TikTok and Twitter. It appears to have been removed from the former, but I can, unfortunately, confirm it remains on the latter.

The video is as horrible as you would imagine, reminiscent of the “two girls one cup” video many years ago.

Don’t do it to yourself

Why, Just Why?

It’s really important to recognise that the internet operates on one piece of logic; don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story. Who knows how much truth is behind this story. I have many doubts about the backstory. For me, the video is very real and very disgusting. All it needed was a ridiculous story to justify sharing it.

Now, the whole story is gathering momentum as #DubaiPortaPotty trends on TikTok. People are posting funny takes on the story with some creative use of peanut butter and expensive brand handbags. Even these mock videos are rough enough, so don’t go looking for the original.

You might be wondering why I’m writing about this at all. There are ways to keep an eye on what people are Googling. And this is being Google’d a lot. It’s a compelling thing to stumble upon and warrant some further investigation. I would much rather you find this article with me telling you to go “no further” than the Twitter link. So, move on. Go back about your day.

Go enjoy something much more harmless like the sad face filter trend. Good, clean fun.

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