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JBL Link Music Review; Bring the Noise

Alex
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JBL Link Music Review; Bring the Noise

The term “Smart Speaker” is one that went out of use almost as quickly as it came in. From day one people ignored the real title and started calling them Google Homes or Alexas (which isn’t even the name of the device!) regardless of whether they were even made by Google or Amazon in the first place. However, in our ever-more connected world, these devices are more and more being referred to as Speakers. The Smart label isn’t necessary anymore as increasing numbers of audio devices have some kind of Smart function built-in. My girlfriend and I recently had a conversation as to whether we’d be an Echo household or a Google Home household and, in the end, we settled on Google. That discussion was helped along by the lovely JBL Link Music that I received from our friends at The Sound Dome. It’s the best smart speaker experience I’ve ever had and I’m here to tell you why.

Out of the Box

Setting this speaker up isn’t unique to the device itself. It runs on Google’s Home platform and they are the ones to thank for the seamless, near-automatic process. I literally plugged the speaker in, saw a notification pop up on my phone (I’m using Android, Apple users may get different mileage) and I was away. The only thing I had to do was change the name and assign the speaker to a particular room in my house. In contrast, trying to set up an Amazon Echo device is an involved process that takes quite a bit of time to get to grips with. Even a side-by-side comparison of the home screen for the two ecosystems shows a clear winner in terms of useability. With Google, everything you need is right there, whereas Alexa hides all your devices and commands in sub-menus.

Google on the left; Amazon on the right

They say the room that adds the most value to a house is the kitchen and a similar principle can be applied to Smart Speakers. That’s where you’ll get the most value from them. They were made for the kitchen counter. Whether you want to set timers for cooking, play music or podcasts while doing the dishes, or use the kitchen as the central nervous system of your lights and appliances, you’d be hard-pressed to finds a room where they are more appreciated. That’s where I set up the JBL Link Music and it works a treat.

Everything Just Works

Something the JBL Link Music offers over our old Echo is its sensitivity to voice commands. Even while playing music, all you need to say is “Hey Google” and it responds without any issues. The timers are simple to name and set up, and the alarms are always clear and easy to recognise. In comparison, if an Echo is playing music at any volume above a whisper you have to practically shout at it to get it to respond. It’s funny the first time you jokingly get angry at Alexa for ignoring you, not so funny the 20th time. There have even been times when our Echo will acknowledge our request but refuse to carry out a command. “Alexa, turn off the lamp” “Ok”, the lamp remains on. I’ve never had that problem with any Google device.

While not a deal-breaker for many, it’s always nice when your devices look well and fit with the rest of your home’s aesthetic. Gone are the days when a guest would see your sound system and assume your speakers are good because they’re big. The JBL Link Music has a beautiful, modern design that screams “Premium”. Even the experience of taking it out of the box is a joy. Soft padding and individual compartments let you know straight away that this is a top-of-the-line gadget. If you feel it’s a little too grown up for you, check out our latest review of the JBL Pulse 4.

How does it Sound?

Of course, the most important aspect of any speaker is the sound. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how Smart or good-looking a device is if it can’t produce high-quality audio. I’m happy to report that the JBL Link Music is one of the best speakers I’ve had the pleasure to use. Its size really lends itself to deep earthy basses without crackling and the highs are crystal clear. The Google Home app also lets you set your own EQ balance as well so you can fully optimise the speaker to its environment.

This thing is loud too. Living in an apartment complex we’re always conscious of our noise levels so the JBL Link Music has rarely been over 50% volume. Even then it’s more than enough to hear throughout our home and even when we’re outside on the balcony. Again, even at high volumes, the sound performs wonderfully with no breaking of the signal and no overload on the internals at all. In comparison, if an Echo Dot is above 50% volume, it will noticeably struggle to get the sound out of its speakers. It will crackle and vibrate until there’s a not-insignificant amount of loss in quality.

The Goosed Verdict

This speaker will blow you away. If not with sound, then with just how much better it is over its non-Smart counterparts. The audio range is phenomenal for a speaker of its size and it never struggles whether you’re listening to podcasts, lo-fi hip hop, or the latest Royal Blood album. The Google Home integration makes it the ultimate “plug and play” smart speaker. You can find it online from our friends at The Sound Dome right now.

One Trick To Help You Find Live Twitter Spaces To Join

Marty
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One Trick To Help You Find Live Twitter Spaces To Join

I’m hooked. I can’t quite explain why the whole Clubhouse phenomenon passed me by without much interest, but Twitter Spaces has me hooked. This week, the social media giant Twitter announced that they were opening up their Spaces feature to anyone with over 600 followers. I’ve been floating between rooms for a couple of days now and have had one complaint. It’s really hard to actually find conversations to join.

I’ve just discovered on little trick that helps you search for and find all current active Twitter Spaces.

Finding Active Twitter Spaces

Spaces is still a little buggy and does have a bit of a rushed feel to it. For this reason, Twitter ironically doesn’t have a dedicated space in their app for Spaces. Writing is hard sometimes.

There is, however, a work around. So far, I’ve been finding rooms by searching for “spaces”, “#TwitterSpaces” or something along those lines. The search results bring a lot more people complaining about not being able to host than actually conversations to join. However, with some tweaks, the search results will return nothing but Twitter Spaces to join.

How To Search For Twitter Spaces

  1. Open the Twitter app
  2. Click on the search bar
  3. Copy this and paste:
    • twitter.com/i/spaces
  4. Hit enter
  5. Switch from “Top” to “Latest”

Now, you’ll see the latest active Twitter Spaces in chronological order. Look at how pretty it is:

For me, this is a game changer. With this, it’s much easier to find conversations and jump in for chats.

Rapid Antigen Tests: How To Use The Lidl COVID-19 Test

Marty
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Rapid Antigen Tests: How To Use The Lidl COVID-19 Test

Technology isn’t always about 5G and wireless charging. 5G may have been a poor choice to start this article with, but let’s keep going. Today, Lidl announced that they would start selling rapid COVID-19 antigen tests across the country. One of the more welcome items in the “weird aisle”, these “peace of mind” tests are a great addition to Ireland’s new reopening plan. The tests are not recognised for travel or as reliable as PCR tests used by the HSE, but they can offer a quick test to check for COVID-19. I actually used one of these over the Christmas period so here’s everything you need to know.

Are The Government Providing Free COVID-19 Testing?

Right now, you can indeed get referred by your GP for free COVID-19 PCR testing should you display any symptoms. If you do not have any symptoms, you can attend a walk-in test centre if you have one nearby. If you can’t do either of these, your options are private testing or antigen testing.

What Is Antigen Testing?

Unlike PCR testing, antigen tests do not need to go to a lab and can be administered at home. These are also referred to as “rapid diagnostic tests” or RADTs.

Where Can I Buy A COVID-19 Antigen Test?

From May 7th, Lidl will be selling COVID-19 antigen tests in their 168 stores nationwide. A pack of five tests will set you back €24.99 and due to an expected large demand, each customer will be limited to purchasing five packs of test each. That means you can purchase a total of 25 tests for €125.

I gave a quick look online for other websites selling similar antigen tests where packs of ten would cost you €130, so Lidl is offering these at a very reasonable price.

Are Covid-19 Antigen Tests Accurate?

No test for COVID-19 is 100% accurate. All we have is a range of tests capable of indicating some additional insights into our health. Antigen testing is not as accurate as the PCR test, which is a requirement for international travel and arrival in Ireland. Antigen testing can struggle to identify cases of COVID-19 where symptoms are not present.

Antigen testing can also have benefits over the most sensitive PCR testing. Check out these great video Alex shared.

So Why Use Antigen Tests During The Pandemic?

The idea behind antigen tests is that testing more regularly, even with the lower accuracy of antigen tests, can help us all better understand when we should isolate and/or get a PCR test. Antigen tests are often referred to as “peace of mind” tests because they are more accessible than PCR tests and provide a quick confirmation that you’re unlikely to have COVID-19.

I have to stress, antigen tests are not as accurate in detecting COVID-19 and are not a substitute for social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands along with following all government guidelines.

The Lidl COVID-19 Antigen Test

The test Lidl will be stocking has to be considered one of the coolest pieces of technology we’ve seen in a while. Manufactured by Boson Biotech, the test lets you live the life of a full-on scientist in your own home! While that’s very cool, there are some important steps you need to take to look after your test but also to ensure you give it the best chance of detecting COVID-19 if you are sick.

How To Store A COVID-19 Antigen Test

First of all, as soon as you buy your test and bring it home, it’s important you store it right. Every test is good for about 18-months once stored correctly at room temperature.

What Is In The Lidl Test Kit

A Boson Biotech Kit 1N40C5 – Similar to the one in Lidl

When you open the Boson Biotech kit, you’ll find a few bits and pieces inside. Included is:

  1. Sealed long medical swab
  2. Extraction tube
  3. Extraction liquid
  4. Sealed test strip
  5. Instructions

Along with these items, you’ll also need some tissues and cleaning products for your work surface and hands. Also, one item missing from these kits is a stand for the extraction tube. Be sure to find something to hold the tube before you start.

Once you’ve identified all of these items, it’s time to get testing.

How To Use A Lidl COVID-19 Antigen Test

You can carry out the test on your own, but I personally found it easier to have someone help me. One of the reasons being that they really need to “get in there” with the swab and someone else will likely do a better job with the angles than you will!

Once your ready to start here’s what you need to do.

Starting The Swab Process

  1. Clear a space on your table and give it a good clean.
  2. Wash and sanitise your hands
  3. Stand the extraction tube somewhere
  4. Open the sealed test strip
  5. Open the extraction fluid
  6. Pour the extraction fluid into the extraction tube
  7. Take a tissue and blow your nose
  8. Wash and dry your hands again. You can also use hand sanitiser
  9. Open the long swab package ensuring you don’t touch the soft tip
  10. Next is the highlight of the show. Taking the sample, so let’s break.

How To Take An Antigen Swab Sample

This is the bit some people might not like. I’ve had a wide variety of people shove swabs up my nose and down my throat, from my better half to big burly soldiers. None of them has done me any harm. At worst, it feels a little uncomfortable but it’s really important to do this bit right.

For these tests available from Lidl, you need to swap the back of your throat and you need to take a nasal swab too It’s important the tip does not touch your teeth, tongue or gums.Look for the tonsils or where they would have been.

  1. Open your mouth wide
  2. Swab your tonsils or where your tonsils should have been
  3. Swab the area 4 times
  4. Using the same swab, you now need to swab the inside of your nose
  5. Insert the swab into your nose until you feel resistance
    • This will be about an inch but less for kids
  6. Give it a ten swivels in place and then remove

Testing Your Swab

Now that you’ve done all of that it’s time to finalise the test.

  1. Open the extraction tube
  2. Place the swab into the tube
  3. Swivel it in the fluid for 15-seconds
  4. Pinch the tube to “grab” the swab
  5. Pull the swab through the pinched tube
    • This ensures all fluid is removed from the swab
  6. Close the extraction tube again
  7. The extraction tube will let you apply droplets of your test sample to the test strip
  8. Apply two drops to the section marked “S” on the test strip
  9. Set a timer for 20-minutes

Interpreting Your Antigen Result

meaning of lidl antigen test results
How to understand the antigen test results

Now that you’ve done all that and waited for the full 20-minutes, it’s time to take a look at your test result. If you see just the one line beside the “C”, your result is negative. Two lines, one on “C” and one on “T”, means your result is positive for COVID-19.

What To Do When Antigen Test Is Negative

If your result is negative, its important to remember that these tests are not 100% accurate and not as accurate as PCR tests. A negative result isn’t a guarantee you are free COVID-19. It’s crucial that even with a negative test you adhere to all government guidelines, practice social distancing, wear a mask and try to stay in well ventilated areas, preferably outdoors.

Me with my negative antigen test, similar to the one Lidl is selling

What To Do When Antigen Test Is Positive

Antigen testing can produce false positives. However, you should assume the test is accurate in the event your result is positive. This means the test has identified COVID-19 in your test. The HSE suggests that should someone have a positive antigen test, they should self-isolate. But this isn’t really for a test scenario where you’ve bought a kit to do at home yourself. In the UK, guidance is that your whole home should isolate together, which makes sense. After seeking clarity from the HSE we were told the following:

In the event of someone having a positive antigen test at home, “they should immediately self isolate and contact their GP for a confirmatory PCR test. They should take the PCR result as the confirmed result”.

Regarding a scenario where an antigen test is positive in the a multi-person home, “they would be considered close contacts and should follow that guidance (which is to restrict movements) until the PCR result returns and then act in accordance with that result”.

What To Do When Antigen Test Is Something Else

These tests can also just fail. If you get a single line on “T” or no lines at all, the test has failed.

Watch: How To Do A COVID-19 Antigen Test

In this video from the UK Department of Health and Social Care, you get to see a similar kit being used to administer a home antigen test. It’s not quite the same kit you can buy from Lidl, but it’s similar. Well worth a look before you do your test.

Update: Holohan Concerned With Lidl Selling Antigen Tests

At today’s Department of Health briefing, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, when questioned about Lidl selling antigen tests, said he was “very concerned” about people purchasing antigen tests and believing they are completely free from COVID-19. Holohan said he wouldn’t comment on supermarkets selling the tests as they were free to do so, but said it’s important we understand what people do with the tests.

While Holohan believed there is a place for antigen tests, their use should only be in a controlled environment according to the CMO. The risk these tests bring are false reassurances and Holohan went so far as to say they are “strongly advising people – don’t buy these and don’t use them”.

Updates: This article was updated 7/5/2021 to reflect guidance for home antigen tests and comments from CMO on antigen testing.

Ireland Loves Chipper During Lockdown

Marty
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Ireland Loves Chipper During Lockdown

There’s something I’ve noticed more and more when ordering from restaurants on Just Eat or Deliveroo. In the delivery, there’s a little flyer often saying something like “order directly with us and save 20%”. With high commission rates to delivery services like Deliveroo, restaurants are setting up their own apps, powered by Flipdish. Today, Flipdish has shone some light on Ireland’s favourite foods during lockdown.

Ireland’s Favourite Takeaway Food

Flipdish have mined the data of nearly 1.4 million food orders to find we really love chipper. This isn’t just Flipdish’s data either. I can support it with a stack of receipts and a rather big belly.

Here’s the full breakdown.

  • 1. Chipper – 26%
  • 2. Chinese/ Thai – 11%
  • 3. Pizza – 11%
  • 4. Restaurant/Bar/Grill – 8%
  • 5. Burgers – 4%
  • 6. Indian – 3%
  • 7. Sushi – 2%
  • 8. Lunch/Deli – 2%
  • 9. Butcher – 1%
  • 10. Greek  – 1%
  • 11. Grocery – 1%
  • 12. Bread – 1%

In terms of single item’s ordered, it’s no surprise that chips tops the list. I’m a demon for getting chips, fries, patatas bravas, pommel or what ever you want to call them delivered to my door. There’s always an excuse that can be made!

Sauce was next on the list. Considering most of us have the staples like ketchup at home, it was curry and garlic sauce to top this list.

  • 1. Chips – 19%
  • 2. Sauce – 15%
  • 3. Burger – 15%
  • 4. Pizza – 6%
  • 5. Sausage – 6%
  • 6. Coca Cola – 5%
  • 7. Kebab – 4%
  • 8. Curry – 4%
  • 9. Fish – 3%
  • 10. Milkshake – 3%
  • 11. Snack Box – 2%
  • 12. Onion rings – 2%

My only question is around battered sausages which don’t seem to have made the cut. I find this extremely unlikely and assume they’ve been rolled into regular sausages in this data set.

So, anything here look familiar? Thinking of grabbing a chipper later? You’re not alone.

More About Flipdish

There’s a chance you’ve used Flipdish without knowing. Instead of ordering through an aggregator site like Just Eat or Deliveroo, you download an app for your favourite chipper or take away.

Speaking today on the release of the survey results, Conor McCarthy, CEO and Co-Founder of Flipdish said “this survey demonstrates the great number of people using their favourite restaurants’ own website to order their preferred food and the benefits it has for restaurant owners during this unprecedented time. In total, over the third lockdown period, there have been just shy of 1.4 million orders placed in lockdown 3 using Flipdish technology”. 

So the next time you see that leaflet in the bag, it might be time to get downloading.

This data was sourced from Flipdish, upon a study of orders conducted through its platform between December 20th, 2020 to April 28th, 2021. 

New On Social: How To Use Twitter Spaces

Marty
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New On Social: How To Use Twitter Spaces

I’ve just journeyed to the middle of Twitter Spaces to test it out and see how it can be used. Like anyone who needs to learn anything about anything, I jumped in with an expert to learn from the best. Samatha Kelly, also known as the Tweeting Goddess, hosted a fantastic Twitter Space this evening and with the help of Joselin Mane, gave a fantastic tour of what you can do with this new feature.

What Is Twitter Spaces?

Twitter Spaces is a shared social media area where people can listen to a panel of speakers. When you join a Space, you can request to become a speaker, joining the panel for discussion.

Podcasting has enjoyed a big couple of years. The audio-only format has a certain appeal to it. It has effectively challenged an entire industry; radio. Clubhouse, an iOS-only platform similar to Twitter Spaces flew to the top of the download charts earlier this year but has since had an interest collapse. This was perhaps owing to the platform’s slow adoption of Android which is only now in beta. There’s also the ever prevalent issue smaller platforms have with them really just being a a simple feature for a social media giant to develop.

This is what Twitter has done.

Why Should You Care About Twitter Spaces?

Spaces have the potential to save Twitter. The social media giant has experienced some of the most turbulent years of its existence recently. The rise of right-wing propaganda and sock-puppet accounts have left many disillusioned with social media. This particular aspect has been a big issue on Twitter but Spaces removes the anonymity to a certain degree. Also, because only Twitter users with over 600 followers can participate, accounts need to have a bit of history and peer acceptance before they can be heard.

How To Use Twitter Spaces

To get cracking with Twitter Spaces there are a few must haves. You’ll need:

  1. A Twitter account
  2. A smartphone or tablet
  3. Over 600 followers

From here you can either join or start a Twitter Space.

Get The Most From Twitter Spaces

The benefit of joining experts like Samantha and Joselin is that you immediately get the pro-tips who’ve been beta testing the platform for some time.

Speak Or Listen

When you join a Space, you will be listening (unless you’re the host). You can request to become a speaker but then it’s up to the host to decide if you can contribute. Samantha suggests keeping your Twitter bio fresh and compelling along with avoiding anything that might put people off. You’re going to be judged quickly as the host is busy so make it good.

Emojis

You can contribute something no matter what your status in the Space. Even if you’re listening, you have access to the emojis. You can react with any of these during your Space’s run time and even adjust skin tone to match your preference. Joselin points out, if you’re a host, you even have the right emojis here to play rock, paper scissors.

Sharing

When you’re in a Space, you can share the hell out of it! Invite others by DM, Tweet it to your followers and copy the link to share on other platforms. Discoverability seems to be the big weak point for Twitter in their battle with Clubhouse. It won’t be the Achilles heel for Twitter though as people are already finding ways to find the best Spaces. I’ve saved several searches with Spaces + gaming or Spaces + tech.

Closed Captions

Instead of being a nice feature to be added later, fair play to Twitter who’ve launched Spaces with a great accessibility feature in close captions. Hit the three-dot menu button and you’ll be able to activate this. If you’re the host, be sure to point this out to everyone in the Space.

Twitter Spaces isn’t widely available for absolutely everyone, but if you do have a following this is a great chance to get out and try something new. Personally, I’m looking forward to hosting some Spaces myself. I’m wasting no time either. Join me and Bob from the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival tomorrow at 6PM IST (May 5th) for The Tech Space. Follow Goosed on Twitter so you don’t miss out!

TikTok Zero Followers Glitch: App In Birthday Loop

Marty
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TikTok Zero Followers Glitch: App In Birthday Loop

A glitch appeared in the TikTok app tonight. I’ve spotted it on iPhone 12, but it’s clear from Downdetector that mentions of app issues are widespread for the fledgling social media network.

The glitch is likely to alarm some creators, including popular Irish TikTokers who’ve grown sizeable followings, over the past year in particular. After opening the app, creators are seeing their follower count sitting at zero. As soon as they try and do anything, the app asks for you to confirm your date of birth and this loop goes on and on.

tiktok down detector

It’s unclear what has caused the issues within the app but it’s likely to be fixed shortly. Naturally, I’d predict that your follower counts are safe and that they’ll be returned to normal once TikTok sorts everything out. Probably.

For now, either kick back with a movie or keep frantically refreshing. Hell, if you really want to you could check our Reels on Instagram. Only kidding, we all know you won’t do that.

Discord Communities Coming To PlayStation 5 In 2022

Marty
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Discord Communities Coming To PlayStation 5 In 2022

Today, Sony has announced that next year will see a new partnership of PlayStation and the community platform, Discord. In a blog post on their website today, Sony European boss Jim Ryan says he believed the partnership will pave the way to “enable players around the world to connect with one another”.

While it’ll be next year before this is something we can play with, Ryan said both Sony and Discord “are already hard at work connecting Discord with your social and gaming experience on PlayStation Network. Our goal is to bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile starting early next year, allowing friends, groups, and communities to hang out, have fun, and communicate more easily while playing games together”.

With over 140 million active users every month, Discord integration will be a significant step for the console claiming to be “for the players”.

If you want to get up and running on Discord, we’ve just soft-launched our own Discord for all your tech chat needs. Come on in and say hi!

Is Returnal Any Good? Reviewing The First Big PS5 Release

Marty
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Is Returnal Any Good? Reviewing The First Big PS5 Release

I’ve had my PS5 a few months now. While the console is as amazing as Alex says it is, my personal experience has been disappointing. Sure, I’m enjoying PS4 games and the superior online experience versus Xbox, but the game selection is still very slim. That’s why I was excited to see a review code for Returnal land from Sony. I’ve logged a couple of nights of gamete and I’m going to weigh in with what I think of this first big PS5-only release. It’s good.

What Is Returnal About?

When Returnal starts, you’re largely in the dark about what’s going on. You assume the role of Selene Vassos, space pilot. After detecting a mysterious “White Shadow” signal coming from the planet Atropos, Vassos crash lands on martian soil. The game begins. Your goal is to explore, work out why you are finding your own corpse everywhere and, above all else, survive. As you adventure through Atropos, you’ll encounter a range of enemies, gather weapons and die. You’ll die a lot. And that’s part and parcel of the whole experience. Let’s talk about the gameplay.

Returnal Gameplay

Honestly, Returnal is like nothing I’ve ever played before. Some of the mechanisms in the game are just genius. There are about ten weapons for you to play with but no ammo for you to worry about. Instead, after some sustained trigger-happy gunfire, your weapon will pause to recharge. Like the classic Gears of War “perfect reload”, a well-timed tap of a button speeds up your recharge getting you back into battle.

There are loads of consumables to find on Atropos too and this is where things get really cool. Of all the things you can pick up, parasites are the coolest. These alien beings latch onto you giving you benefits while also costing you something. For example you’ll lose some health every time you pick up something.

Beyond these on-going mechanisms in the game, Returnal rather intimidatingly combines the two gameplay genres of rogue-like and bullet hell. Let me explain.

Rogue-like Games

This genre literally relates to another game called Rogue. In this game, once you died, you lost all of your items and progress and start over. Levels are typically generated from scratch on every restart too and this is exactly what Returnal does too. You’ve crashed landed on Atropos and your ship is thrashed. You leave and explore until you die. Every time you die, you wake up back at your downed ship as if you’ve just crashed.

The difference with Returnal is that you do keep some of your gained strengths or items. Dying is an important part of the progression within the game. Many times during my runs I wasn’t sure if I was dying over and over in the same spot of making ground. But something small would usually be gained to make the next run easier.

Bullet Hell

Is another popular genre to emerge in the mid-nineties gaming scene. If the genre doesn’t sound familiar it would almost certainly look familiar. In these games you’re often dodging multiple points of fire from multiple enemies. It’s not unusual for the entire screen to been full of enemy fire.

In Returnal, you’re immediately taking on alien enemies capable of firing rows of energy orbs at you. Your job is to dodge and return fire. It starts out fairly easy to handle, but the enemy fire keeps growing and eventually, you’ll be taking on bosses and screens of death balls.

Is Returnal Fun To Play?

After the first few minutes of gameplay, I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be spending on this review. It was tough and I wasn’t sure how much I could mentally handle dying over and over again. Was I making any progress at all?

Practice Makes Perfect

But then I pushed through and the rewards started to roll in. It’s sometimes really hard to know if you’re making progress. While it’s really difficult to actually get lost, thanks to a great map system, it’s really easy to feel lost. I’ve had runs in the game where I live for 5 minutes and runs where I lasted well over an hour before dying.

On paper, I just didn’t think a game like this could be fun but then I realised I couldn’t stop myself going back for more. I can’t quite put my finger on what makes Returnal so much fun, but it a great way to pass a couple of hours every evening.

Life Returnal Each Run Eternal

Returnal has come in for some criticism since launch. Mainly, this surrounds the lack of both difficulty settings and any kind of traditional save option. Yes. By playing return, you’re playing the same difficulty as everyone else in the world. And, when you choose to play Returnal, you need to commit a fair bit of time for your runs in between deaths. The reason is very practical. You cannot save progress.

If you need to stop and take a break, the only way to do so is to pop your console into rest mode. If you load something else, like I’ve already done a few times, you lose your run. The next time you load Returnal, you’re back at the ship starting a new run from scratch.

I personally don’t get why people are criticising the game so heavily for this. The runs get somewhat faster with certain elements remaining unlocked and skills or items retained after death. At least enough is retained to ensure the game doesn’t become monotonous. Quite the contrary. At certain points I welcomed death.

This isn’t like Cyberpunk. By that I mean this is a great game. It’s not a rushed and incomplete game. It’s a fantastic game that’s brought some features to the table that some people don’t really like. While I thought I would hate this type of game I can’t wait to get this review published so I can wake up next to my ship and get going again.

The Verdict: Is Returnal Worth Buying?

At €80, return surely isn’t cheap. If you’re going to hand over that kind of money, it’s important you know that Returnal will likely leave you frustrated and wondering if you’ve made a mistake is parting with that kind of cash. The true rewards come as you push through the early doubts and learn the finer details of the in-game mechanisms that help you win key gunfights. Once you start to nail these aspects, Returnal quickly became one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had on a games console. Well worth a try.

Some Other Returnal Questions Answered

I’ve scoured the internet looking for questions on Returnal and I’ve gone and pulled together some answers too.

Will Returnal come to PlayStation 4

No. Returnal is a PlayStation 5 Exclusive. As of right now, there are no plans to bring Returnal to PlayStation 4, PC or any other platform.

Can you play Returnal online?

No. Returnal doesn’t have a multiplayer mode. There is an online mode that connects your game to a wider network in the game, but there is no multiplayer.

Does Returnal have a photo mode?

No. While visually stunning, there is unfortunately no photo mode.

When does Returnal come out?

Returnal is already available to download on PlayStation 5 or purchase from stores like GameStop.

How long does it take to beat Returnal?

You can expect to complete Returnal within 30 to 40 hours.

How big is Returnal?

Returnal will take up 56.101GB of your PlayStation 5 hard drive.

Samsung’s Newest Laptops are Here and they’re Mighty Impressive

Alex
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0
Samsung’s Newest Laptops are Here and they’re Mighty Impressive

Here we go again with Samsung’s third (yes, third!) Unpacked event of the year so far. The event promised us a look at the most powerful Galaxy so far which turned out to be a little bit of a misdirect. I’m sure a lot of folks were expecting a new phone with all the bells and whistles dialed up to 11. What we got however is something a little different.

The Galaxy Book Series

“True mobile computing”, that’s the promise that TM Roh, Samsung’s president of Mobile Communication, began the presentation with. How can laptops be more like Smartphones? Roh seems to think that this will come from a focus on Mobility, Connectivity, and Continuity. He offers seamless connectivity between all Galaxy devices, something we already see with Samsung’s phones, tablets, and wearables. This smells awfully like an Apple-like approach to a device ecosystem to me. That’s not exactly something that’s been a million miles away as of late, nor is it a bad thing. Seamless connections between devices are fantastic as long as you’re willing to invest in the minimum requirements.

Partnering with both Intel and Microsoft, Samsung’s latest laptops are here with an OS that we’re all familiar with. This is something that I’m sure will put people’s minds at ease. I, for one, was expecting a brand-new custom OS on these devices. Samsung’s eagerness to put its stamp on its devices’ systems has been a bit of a contentious point for me in the past. My watch can’t get Google Pay, for example, just because Samsung won’t let us choose to use the Android OS.

Galaxy Book Pro

Samsung’s thinnest laptop to date shows that big things can come in small packages

Seeming to be the more traditional laptop of the two models announced with a standard clamshell design boasting Samsung’s thinnest, lightest laptop to date. Offering an AMOLED display, this device will be sure to offer an experience similar to the best smartphones, including Eyecare filtering that will remove the harshest blue lights from the display to protect your eyes. Thankfully, all your favourite ports are here, with USB Type-B, USC-C, Thunderbolt, SD, and a headphone jack as standard. You can also connect up to 3 external monitors through the in-built HDMI port. The whole device is powered by Intel’s Evo chips with IrisXe graphics. In the ultimate post-pandemic move, the devices are focussed on video conferencing with dual mics and in-built intelligent noise-canceling. The redesigned battery offers between 16 and 20 hours of standard. The redesigned battery offers between 16 and 20 hours of standard use or video conferencing on a single charge, with 30 minutes of charging offering up to 8 hours of use. That’s pretty bonkers if you ask me. Finally, ensuring that connectivity is always guaranteed, the devices will be 5G enabled to ensure lightning-fast speeds when not in WiFi range.

Galaxy Book Pro 360

All that quarantine yoga paying dividends in the flexibility department

This model seems to fit more into the 2-in-1 category of laptops, offering everything the Pro model offers, but in a much more versatile package. It’s clear that Samsung’s research into the Galaxy Fold hinges really helped them make a best-in-class hinge for a full range of motion. This is something that I personally love. The choice between laptop and tablet is increasingly being made less and less relevant. Parts of this laptop have been milled down to being half a millimeter thick enabling the whole device to be just over 1Kg. That’s unheard of for a laptop of this kind and will do wonders for its portability. Equally impressive is the promise that this device will be “as thin as a smartphone”. Really impressive stuff here. In a lovely touch, this model comes with the Samsung S Pen right in the box, really encouraging users to be as productive as they can from the get-go. This model will be touchscreen-enabled while the other models will have an old-fashioned one-way display.

Galaxy Book

For those who are more function over form, this is the way to go

For those of us who might not have as much cash to splash, or not as much need for bleeding-edge tech, there’s also a more standard Galaxy Book model. While being a little chunkier and not having as much battery life the standard model is pretty much the same on the inside as the all-signin’, all-dancin’ Galaxy Book Pro. The only noticeable interior downgrade is support for LTE (or 4G) as opposed to 5G. As was pointed out during the presentation this would be ideal for students or offices who want great connectivity at a reasonable price.

Galaxy Book Odyssey

Sometimes it pays to stand out

Ok, this one surprised me. This is Samsung’s new laptop that’s focussed on gaming. The in-built NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti chip and the Intel TigerLake processer seems like it’ll offer a lot of bang for your buck. While not a huge amount is known about the new GPU at the moment there’s good evidence that it will offer solid 60fps gaming at 1080p on most current games. It’s not going to be able to compete with the beefier 3070s or 3080s but for a starting price of €1,150, you’re not likely to find much better in such a neat unit.

A handy spec-sheet for the Odyssey

That’s All, Folks

So that’s pretty much everything we know at the moment. The devices aren’t due out until mid-May with the Odyssey coming out in August so it’ll be a while before there are any hands-on tests but we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as always right here!

The Thousand Day Old GDPR Complaint: Leaving The Church

Marty
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0
The Thousand Day Old GDPR Complaint: Leaving The Church

It’s time I put pen to paper on an update here. It’s well over 1,000 days since I lodged my GDPR complaint against the Diocese of Ossory. Coming up on three years later, I’ve learned a lot but. Unfortunately, one thing I’ve not learned is what the outcome is going to be. Not even close. On a personal level, I have found more meaning than I ever thought possible in this whole journey as it’s become more clear than ever why I’m trying to leave the Catholic Church using European Data Protection law, also known as GDPR.

From the outset, if you have been following this closely, I apologise. There’s not a lot new here. But I think I do get my reasoning for what I’m doing better than I did previously.

The Quick Catch-up

I was born in the late eighties. Ireland was a different place. Ireland was a very Catholic place. As was the done, and expected, thing, my parents had me christened in the local church. I was a Catholic. Fast forward to my primary school days. I put up my hand and asked “how can all religions be right”, a point in hindsight I’m quite proud to have made. A point that Ricky Gervais makes better than a ten-year-old me could have.

As the years went by, I continued to keep the act up. I attended mass on Sundays and at weddings and funerals, I’d continue going to communion.

Then Ireland had two massive moments; Marriage Equality and Repeal the Eight. I was now, in the eyes of a church that I had become increasingly out of touch with, a sinner.

It hit me.

Why Leave The Catholic Church?

I’m not a Catholic. I’m not even Christian. I’ve just been going along for the ride and doing what everyone else was doing around me too. There are fewer and fewer Catholics in Ireland every year, most apparent in a lackluster turn out for the 2018 visit of Pope Francis.

I’ve been asked so many times, “why are you doing this”, in the thousand days since I made my complaint. A lot of people believe I’m doing this for clout or as a bit of a PR stunt. I can assure you, while this story has literally made front-page news, that was not my motivation.

During my teens and twenties, I was living a life of what I now refer to as “passive Catholicism” and not really questioning my own beliefs. With Marriage Equality and Repeal the Eight, my own personal empathy to others in society, including close friends, who were increasingly marginalised by conservative church beliefs, left me at odds with the church I was a “member of” and I wanted out.

I was surprised at how difficult this was. Fortunately, GDPR came into being in 2018 and it appeared I had the mechanism to leave through “The Right to Be Forgotten”. I requested the Diocese of Ossory delete my records. The response was that this could not be done, and instead it would be noted that I no longer wished to be a member of the Church.

This is the Catholic Church believing they are above the Civil Laws of Ireland and Europe, laws which say I have the right to be forgotten among some other articles of GDPR giving me the right to request my data be deleted.

Church Abuse

I’m going to say this directly. I was never abused in the church nor was I ever even in a scenario where I felt nearly uncomfortable. But the term I used earlier which is so important here is “empathy”. I can empathise with those who have been abused. Innocent children raped and abused by priests in positions of power. I’ve watched documentaries which honestly, were tough things to sit through. Deliver Us From Evil documents the abuse inflicted by Father Oliver O’Grady. I was so incredibly lucky to make contact with the makers of Revelation, who provided me with access to watch their piece of work which left me speechless at how little wrong abused priests believe they’d done.

There have been many other things I’ve watched and read in the time since I submitted my GDPR complaint which helped me better understand why I’m doing this.

The Catholic Church believes Canon law is above Civil law. This is why a priest can confess to child abuse to another priest, safe in the knowledge nothing will happen due to the seal of the confessional. This is why paedophile priests, instead of being reported to local authorities, were moved from parish to parish where they could prey on new victims.

In a roundabout way, my GDPR complaint had become a proxy challenge on the very authority of the Catholic Church. And this is why I’m taking it very seriously.

With all of that said, how is it actually going?

My GDPR Complaint Is Paused

As of right now, my own case has been effectively paused. I’ve had discussions with solicitors and data protection specialists from around the globe, but as of right now the whole lot is paused. The good news is that this is happening because I’m not alone in this. Many others have lodged similar complaints and the Data Protection Commission has launched an “own volition” inquiry into how the Church handles the personal data of people who are, or once were, members.

What’s all of that mean? Well, instead of looking directly at my case, the DPC is looking more broadly at the Catholic Church, namely the Diocese of Dublin. Once they reach an conclusion there, the decision will trickle down to all other cases. Sounds somewhat positive right?

Max Schrems And The Oireachtas Justice Committee Hearing

The reason for this update is twofold. One, it’s been ages, and loads of people have asked me for an update. First and foremost, thanks to every single person who has messaged me. I truly hope we get a positive result because I know a lot of you are hoping to follow suit. Secondly, I’ve just been watching an Oireachtas Justice Committee hearing on the role of the Data Protection Commission in Ireland. Those speaking are the superstars of the data protection world including Max Schrems, Fred Logue, Johnny Ryan, and the Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon.

max schrems
Max Schrems

After two hours of watching this hearing being streamed live online, it became apparent why my complaint had been open for over a thousand days with very little progress. In his opening comments, Schrems highlighted “of ten thousand complaints the DPC will have six or seven decisions this year”. Schrems points out that this is 99.93% of all complaints will go undecided.

Ryan, speaking on behalf of the Irish Council Of Civil Liberties said that “in the three years since the GDPR was applied, the Data Protection Commission asserted its lead role in 196 cases but delivered decisions in only four”.

Dixon refuted many of the claims aimed at her organisation, stating some claims were simply “erroneous” but perhaps most poignant statement of the night went to Independent TD Thomas Pringle who claimed that there’s too many people saying something is wrong for the DPC to be justified their stand that claims railed against them are exaggerated.

This is why my complaint against the church is now going for more than one thousand days. The DPC is a complete bottleneck, incapable of making decisions. Well, incapable or capable and for some reason choosing not to. Perhaps in the hope of securing more budget on top of the €19 million funding the DPC was awarded for 2020. On the night, Senator Lynn Ruane asked, fairly, what the DPC could have done with the the other half of the funding it wasn’t awarded, and what would have been achieved.

Personally, I’m left wondering what the €19 million we’ve spent has achieved.

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