I’ve completely lost track of how many false dawns electric scooters have had in Ireland. Now, with the country opening up once again, to get around people have been forced back onto public transport despite the massive potential offered by electric scooters. In March we got a sneak peek at what the new micromobility laws would be, but still, electric scooter riders are running the gauntlet. Private owners and shared scooter operators have grown tired of waiting and today have written to Eamon Ryan asking things scoot along a little faster.
The Long Scooter Delay
Free Now, formerly Hailo and a plethora of other names, were among a number of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms calling on current Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, to “see that the proposed legislation for e-scooters receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks”.
It’s clear that right now is an excellent opportunity to stop kicking the can down the road as patience wears thin amongst the operators asking the Government to “commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation”. In the letter, included below, which is they also state that they “believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months”.
E-scooter Operators’ Letter To Eamon Ryan
We are writing to you as a group of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms. We are all hugely supportive of the work being undertaken by the Government to legislate for e-scooters as part of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Bill.
We were delighted to see that it is contained in the Summer Legislative Programme. Our ask is to ensure that the Bill receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks in order to allow passengers to enjoy the benefits of e-scooters in the Summer and Autumn. Multi-modality will be a hugely important element of our re-opening, ensuring that people have a range of transport options available to them. We would ask the government to commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation.
E-scooters have been found to be a safe and enjoyable transport mode. Many of the signatories to this letter have experience in other countries and understand the need to ensure that safety of passengers and other road users must be paramount. We believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months.
As the pandemic draws to a close we are keen to continue to support a safe re-opening. We are eager to work with government, regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that scooters are a safe, reliable and enjoyable option for passengers.
Back in July 2015, Amazon celebrated their twentieth birthday by launching Prime Day. They boasted that Prime Day would surpass Black Friday and after an underwhelming first few years with lacklustre offers, it’s fair to say this totally random day has become a significant sales event. Here’s everything you need to know about bagging a bargain in Amazon’s 2021 Prime Day Sales Event.
Reminder: We use Amazon affiliate links. These are the orange links across the site and in this article. When you click these to visit the Amazon.co.uk website, Amazon will pay us a commission for sending you over to them. It doesn’t increase the price for you at all, but by clicking our links, you’re supporting us! In this particular article, this also includes the link to Revolut. So thanks in advance!
Do Irish Shoppers Care About Prime Day?
Before launching into the tips and tricks of finding a great deal during the Prime Day sale, why are we even talking about it?
Amazon has never officially launched a website to service Ireland. Instead, shoppers based in Ireland do all their buying through one of Amazon’s other websites. The vast majority of Irish shopping is done on Amazon.co.uk so naturally, Brexit posed somewhat of a roadblock for all of this, or at least that’s what everyone thought it would be.
At the start of the year, we asked people if they had made a purchase on Amazon since Brexit along with all the complications that came with that. A surprising 40% of people said they had made a purchase at the time.
44% Of Shoppers Weighing Up Prime Day Purchases
Ahead of Prime Day we survey more people in Ireland, asking them if they planned to buy anything during the upcoming sale. 9% of people said they would definitely be buying something. 19% said they were on the fence but would certainly be taking a look at what’s on offer while a further undecided 17% thought a purchase would be unlikely. The remaining 56% said they had no plans at all to but anything.
With all of the perceived barriers to buying from Amazon.co.uk, 44% of people we surveyed were still weighing up the idea of making a purchase during the Prime Day sale. These are pretty remarkable numbers despite the facts that shops back here are reopening along with the persistent idea of “shop local” which often sits uncomfortably with those who do choose to shop with the UK online retail giant.
Prime Day Shopping Tips
Right, so all of that said, how do you make sure you’re getting the most from your Amazon Prime Day shopping?
Get Your Prime Membership
As the name suggests, the Prime Day Sale will require a Prime Membership.
Is Amazon Prime Worth It In Ireland?
It depends on how much you plan to use it, but I personally would say yes.
I’ve had Amazon Prime for some time now and still make fairly regular purchases on their website. Delivery is astonishingly quick with some items even been routed through their relatively new Irish distribution centre. But the shipping is only so fast because I’m a Prime customer so that’s one of the benefits. Along with the Prime Day Sale discounts.
On top of the fairly lively delivery times, you get Prime Video, Prime Reading, Prime Music and Prime Gaming which including Twitch benefits along with a few other bits and pieces.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Cost In Ireland?
Prime typically costs either £7.99 per month or £79 per year. That’s just over €9 per month or €90 per year.
Now, if you’re not nor have ever been an Amazon customer, I have good news. You can also nab yourself a free Prime trial which includes 4-months of Prime Music for free. All in all that trial will give you loads of time to clean up for the Prime Day Sale. Even if you’ve used up your trial, it might be worth paying for a month just to get the discounts.
As always, double check your prices before you buy though. Make sure you’re getting a bargain by visiting some retailers in Ireland online too. For example, if you’re buying a tablet, check out Harvey Norman before you hit buy.
Get A Revolut Account
From ASOS to Amazon, and some other stores that don’t begin with A, I do shop on UK websites from time to time. One absolutely shocking thing I’ve learned is that, where possible, pay in Pound Sterling. Many websites, both Amazon and ASOS being prime (sorry) offenders, will set their own exchange rate when you shop in Euro. The rates are ridiculous. Not that long ago, I saved €67 just by switching to paying in Pounds on ASOS.
But how?
Well, all you need is a Revolut account (note: this is an affiliate link). Once you set up your account, you can get a virtual card immediately while waiting for a physical card (like my nifty Irish Cancer Society card). Once you have a virtual card with some money in your Revolut account and these card details added to your Amazon account, all you need to do is select “Pay in GBP”.
Your Revolut account will then pay in Sterling.
This isn’t a dramatic saving by any stretch of the imagination, but here you would have just saved about 40c. The bigger the purchase, typically, the bigger the saving with this trick.
What To Buy This Prime Day
Straight to it. I’m currently reviewing loads of stuff and I won’t be able to get it all done before Prime Day. However, I’ve tested these things to a point where I would absolutely recommend them. I can’t say for sure if any of these items will be discounted during the Prime Day sale, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for them.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Available in both 4G and 5G models, the Samsung Galaxy A52 is a remarkable mid-range smartphone that will keep Netflix hogs and budding photographers happy. Sorry, I should same people watching Prime Video just to keep these whole article on-brand.
So these I have thoroughly tested out over the course of two years and love them. The new Huawei Freebuds 4 are here now and just as good, but if you can pick up the old ones – happy days.
This is a belter of a speaker and something every summer evening barbeque could use. The sound quality is brilliant but so to is the light show! This is a good example of the savings to be had even today too. This would cost you €230 with Harvey Norman but is just €190 on Amazon UK.
If there’s one thing that gets popular around the time of big football competitions, it’s soundbars. The JBL Bar 5.0 just landed in for review and I’m loving it. The sound quality is fantastic along with some handy integrations with the TV so I only need one remote now. The little things in life.
There’s quite a bit of gaming stuff in this section! Generally speaking, JBL is knocking it out of the park lately with their audio products, including the JBL Club One. I’m also playing with the JBL Quantum One gaming headset. To be honest, it’s mainly being used in this house for conference calls because the sound quality and mic is so impressive!
I’m one of the lucky few who managed to buy a PlayStation 5 this year. While I stand by the fact it wasn’t really worth the hype, there are some mighty games starting to roll out. That got me thinking about the official Sony Playstation headset and just then the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 landed in. It’s even in the right colours for PS5!
I love this headset. It’s really comfy and, most importantly, wireless.
This has been the hidden gem in my life in lockdown and the one thing I have that I really want to review soon. The Cricut Joy is a tiny, but mighty, craft printer. It can draw using a marker or even cut out card. The idea is that you can make your own customised things. I’ve already made greetings cards and customised beer glasses with this.
A surprisingly lovely thing to have. You can buy the machine itself or all the bits and bobs that go with it on Amazon.
I say this every year. If you want to buy any of Amazon’s own products, Prime Day is the time to do it. From their Alexa-powered Echo to Fire TV and video calling with the Echo Show, it’ll all likely be discounted heavily for Prime Day.
Having Jeff Bezos listening into everything isn’t for everyone, but if you do want an Echo device, Prime Day is the time to get it.
I bought this after years of wanting to do it and love it. The Raspberry Pi is a powerful little Linux-based computer that can be used to control things or just to learn to code. I’m doing a little of both so I also bought this awesome starter kit from Freenova which is packed full of more circuits and resistors than my secondary school technology classroom.
This is an excellent hobby to take up if you’re enjoying the great indoors.
A random thing I bought that I could probably not live without now. Boom arms are great if you’re a podcaster with a nice mic or, like me, someone who likes to have their phone sitting in a certain way at your desk. I use my phone as a webcam while also shooting unboxing TikToks with it so I need to sit on my desk in funny angles. Now that the pandemic left me with a permanent workspace, this boom arm is a lifesaver. Not literally.
A little over a year ago, ring lights were for the influencers. I’ve been knocked for six at seeing how many people casually have these lying around their homes now. Of course, it makes sense. We’re on video calls more than ever, sitting at funny angles while ring lights offer the perfect solution.
I bought this one myself a few weeks back and with the additional tripod and phone holder, it’s already paid for itself a few times over.
Is your charging cable too short? That iPhone cable on the way out? Just sick of fighting with people at home over who owns which cable? For the love of your own sanity, buy a few more cables to sprinkle around the house.
Personally, I swear by Anker cables. They look pretty cool and are tough to break. Prime Day is a good time to stock up.
I’ve recently started to use an Apple Magic Trackpad 2, but that’s not for everyone. Until now, I’ve been using my beloved Logitech MX Master mouse. It’s extremely comfortable and usually gets a nice discount during the Prime Day Sale. If you’ve been thinking of upgrading one part of your home office set-up, you might very well be surprised how much you grow to love this mouse.
Assuming you’re right-handed as that’s all they make oddly enough.
It’s about the size of a can of Coke, but this is arguably my favourite gadget of all time. It’s also possibly my most used gadget after my own smartphone. I have this in my bedroom and it converts an entire wall into a massive cinema-style screen.
If you’ve been thinking of getting a projector, this might well be worth considering. There are some drawbacks, like if all you care about is stunning resolution and the Android TV software is a bit iffy. However, most nights, I will watch some TV shows or a movie on this and you don’t think about any of this.
Our moment in the video game spotlight has finally arrived! Well, I say finally arrived; it’s been about three weeks now. Wrath of the Druids, the first of two downloadable expansions for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is here and with it, an excuse for the franchise to come to our fair Isle. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the first time a major video game has been set in Ireland (I feel like Gaelic Games Football for the PS2 takes that honour). It is, however, the first time a Triple-A, open-world game of this caliber has dipped its toe in our waters. And I love it.
First things first. If you have bought the expansion but are worried about where it fits in with the timeline of the main game, don’t be. The Irish storyline and setting are totally separate from the rest of the game so you can play it at any time you like. Having said that, there are a lot of crafting materials and pieces of endgame loot here so don’t jump in if you’re at all worried about making the game too easy for yourself. Other than that, the characters you meet and the feats you accomplish won’t change anything back in England so play at your leisure.
What’s the Craic with the Gameplay?
As you’d expect for Downloadable Content, the gameplay is basically the same here as it is in the base game. You’ll be sneaking, raiding, pillaging, and killing just the same as before. There are some lovely new additions to the gameplay loop though, and they feel awfully reminiscent of the Assassin’s Creed games of old. Dotted throughout Ireland there are seven ring forts that act as trading posts that will allow you to stockpile a variety of goods. These goods (clothes, jewels, ale, and books) can be traded in Dublin for weapon runes and some pretty sweet armour sets (the Egyptian and Iberian sets are two personal favourites). However, in order to bring these ringforts under your control, you have to first collect the deed from nearby cultists which allows you to add extra buildings and features to increase your income (similar to Monteriggioni in AC2). This will then enable you to go on missions to win the favour of local Irish lords. These quests all have optional objectives and can be obtained by visiting pigeon coops (again, serious Ezio trilogy vibes here). While 6 of these missions are required for the main story, they are totally optional, but they do reward you with hefty amounts of supplies if you complete all the objectives they offer. For the ultimate callback to the classic games (can they be called that now?) you collect these missions from pigeon coops found across the map.
Yes, all the pettable dogs in the game HAVE been replaced by adorable Setters
Some of the original activities from the base game have been given a fresh lick of paint as well. The cairns are back, for one. Don’t worry, they’ve been made way easier than the later ones in England. I think Ubisoft took a hint with that one. The Fly Agaric trials have been replaced with the Trials of the Morrígan (an ancient Irish war goddess) in which you’ll face off against the toughest enemies the game has offered to date. If you enjoyed the minute-to-minute gameplay of the base game you’re in for a treat here. There’s just more of the fun with less of the faff!
Story, Horse?
There’s a stable in Dublin that lets you buy one or both of Cú Chulainn’s horses
The story is very typical of Assassin’s Creed as well. Eivor is summoned to Ireland by her cousin Bárid mac Ímair, the real historical King of Dublin, to help him secure the approval of the new high king Flann Sinna. All is going well until it is revealed a group of druidic cultists (don’t worry, Ubisoft knows that there were no druids in Ireland in the 9th century, it’s just a flight of fancy) called the Children of Danú have plans to take control of the land. Naturally, it’s up to Eivor and her newfound allies to rid the land of this menace once and for all. As you’d expect, this all ties in with the series’ favourite hand-wavy sometimes-goodies-sometimes-baddies, the First Civilisation in one way or another and it offers some great storylines. There’s even one where you have to go and save the Book of Kells (at this stage only a couple of decades-old) from the cult.
They nailed the weather in fairness…
“And they became as Irish as the Irish themselves…”
The characters themselves are great as well, for the most part. There are two characters who were clearly not voiced by Irish voice talent (seriously, their accents are painful. What were you thinking, Ubisoft?). But the rest of the cast is either Irish-born and bred or they’re doing a damn fine job of putting it on! Flann Sinna really gives the impression of an auld lad who’s seen too much in his lifetime to be phased by anything, while the other petty kings are all reminiscent of that one group of lads down your local who can never agree on anything but at the same time, know everything.
The detail on display in Newgrange is second to none
The writing is top-notch Irish as well (as opposed to Oirish a la Shay from Assassin’s Creed Rogue). Many a sentence is punctuated with an “Ara” or two, “Feck”s are all over the place, and the odd cúpla focail are thrown in for good measure. In fact, most of the random encounters with the Children of Danú take place entirely as Gaeilge. It’s clear that a lot of work and research went into the daily life of the Irish people and it’s very much appreciated. Even from a design standpoint it really hammers home that this a completely foreign land for the Norse raiders despite having settled here for a hundred years.
The Goosed Verdict
The Giant’s Causeway looks fantastic but the coding around movement across so many steps is a bit weird
Overall I really cannot recommend this DLC enough to anyone who is a fan of the series. I feel like it’ll only become even more fun to explore when Valhalla gets its own Discovery Mode (a game mode designed purely for exploration and learning about the setting). Admittedly the €25 price tag may be a bit steep for some, but if you go for the season pass that’ll set you back €40 and it includes the reportedly bigger Siege of Paris expansion as well. Definitely check it out if you get the chance!
It’s often said that Friday evening is where you get exciting news because more companies think the people who publish the news are in the pub. Well, considering Nigeria has just banned Twitter and Facebook has confirmed Donald Trump will be banned for two years, there might just be some truth to it.
Facebook Bans Trump
Earlier today, Facebook announced that they would no longer turn a blind eye to politicians posting deceptive or abusive content simply because these individuals were considered “newsworthy”.
Now, the social media giant has confirmed that Donald Trump will serve a two-year ban from the platform. This comes as a result of a review conducted by Facebook into the former-US President’s “following his praise for people engaged in violence at the Capitol” earlier this year”.
The ban will apply to Trump’s Facebook and Instagram profiles.
New Penalties For Public Figures
Facebook has also created a new framework for punishing the accounts of public figures, learning from the influence these accounts have.
At the end of this period, we will look to experts to assess whether the risk to public safety has receded. We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest. If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded.
When the suspension is eventually lifted, there will be a strict set of rapidly escalating sanctions that will be triggered if Mr. Trump commits further violations in future, up to and including permanent removal of his pages and accounts.
Impact Of Facebook Ban On Trump
The ban is backdated from January of this year which means the former President’s accounts will be reinstated from January 2023, preventing Trump from using these platforms to communicate with his followers using Facebook or Instagram until after the 2022 U.S. mid-term elections.
It’s also important to note that this ban means Trump will regain access to these audiences in time for a potential run in the next presidential campaign.
Facebook stated that at the end of the ban, they “will look to experts to assess whether the risk to public safety has receded. We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest. If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded”.
Social media has had to negotiate some tricky water lately. While claiming to no be a publisher, platforms like Facebook and Twitter have had to step in when world leaders make inflammatory claims. This often irritates the leaders and their governments. Yesterday, Twitter deleted a post by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari stating it violated Twitter rules.
Today, the Nigerian Government struck back by suspending the use of Twitter in Nigeria completely for an undetermined period of time.
The Tweet By Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, posted a tweet from his account on Tuesday. It stated that “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand”.
Twitter responded by saying this Tweet “was in violation of the Twitter Rules. The account owner will be required to delete the violative Tweet and spend 12 hours with their account in read-only mode”.
On Wednesday, Twitter intervened and removed the tweet in question, replacing it with a “no longer available” placeholder.
Nigeria Suspends Twitter
Today, a press release, somewhat ironically released on Twitter via the official Twitter account of The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Nigeria suspended Twitter from operating in Nigeria. Prior to the suspension, Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed said that “Twitter may have its own rules; it’s not the universal rule” and that if the President is “concerned about a situation, he is free to express such views”.
Today’s press release states:
The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting l Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.
— Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021
The tweet is also interesting if you’re into Twitter Ratios.
It’s unclear how such a suspension will operate in reality. In tests conducted locally by Reuters today, Twitter continues to function normally both online and in-app.
This is a developing news story that will continue to be updated…
A quick article just to ask a question. It’s Pride Month. You’d be forgiven for forgetting that this isn’t a month for large companies to celebrate rainbows. Pride Month is of course a celebration of our LGBTQI+ community. It’s shining a light on society’s failure to accept members of the LGBTQI+ community, the struggles they faced in the past, and to act as a reminder that those days aren’t in the past. Today, friends, family and colleagues in this community still face oppression. Last year, Bethesda has made that nice and clear.
Bethesda And Pride 2020
As I mentioned, during Pride Month, companies often change their logos to show they support inclusiveness. We’ve done it for Goosed.ie in the past while also raising money for Pride charities.
The game studio, Bethesda, which was recently bought by Microsoft, did this for their Twitter profiles in lots of countries last year, including their primary corporate account. However, as highlighted by Jessica (@bananapixelsuk) on Twitter, they missed some accounts.
super excited for brands to support Pride but only in places where it's popular with their customers !! pic.twitter.com/nvkd7byoB1
Now while it appears that some people are getting mixed up by the timelines here, there’s something worthy of note.
Last year, the accounts for Bethesda Russia, Bethesda Middle East and Bethesda Turkey remained with the standard logos. Why? Well, these countries and regions remain largely oppressive of the LGBTQI+ community. I’ve spoken to friends on this who enlightened me to the fact when they book holidays they must check local laws. While Ireland has become somewhat accepting of the community, outside of our borders may not be so welcoming.
Bethesda And Pride 2021
Have they learned from their mistake? Well, no. The idea of Pride is to show support for those members of the LGBTQI+ community who need it most. To insist on change for tolerance. I use the word “tolerance” reluctantly because that’s the lowest possible bar for what should be expected.
Russia has laws against the publication of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationship” and that’s exactly what Pride Month should be seeking to challenge. If you’re not willing to support Pride in Russia or other conservative countries, the minimum you should do is just stay out of it.
Bethesda remains in the “we’d like to show our support of Pride where it suits us” camp.
2020 vs 2021 Bethesda during Pride Month.
I guess they learned their lesson… of only changing the main account to rainbow colors lol pic.twitter.com/po0zbrH56A
Mandatory starting of an article about Huawei with “they’ve had a tough time of it”. With that out of the way, Huawei is continuing to press on in the fallout of the Google Play Services ban. Their answer is to plough on with their own eco-system that is getting better and better with time. Today at a virtual launch event, the Chinese tech manufacturer announced the new Huawei Freebuds 4 and, arguably even more importantly, the Huawei Watch 3 which is running HarmonyOS, their own operating system.
Here’s everything we learned from today’s virtual launch event.
HarmonyOS
Today also marked the global launch of HarmonyOS. However, HarmonyOS has been in development since 2016, long before the US restrictions. Speaking at the launch Huawei Managing Director in Ireland, Byron Ma, said “HarmonyOS is not simply our response to the US”. Instead, HarmonyOS is being positioned by Huawei as the missing link between Huawei devices to complete a closed-loop eco-system. The biggest benefit of this is seamless transitioning between different devices.
The “closed-loop” bit might sound like a bad thing, but I’ve been testing lots of Apple products and their fairly closed eco-system is incredible. If Huawei can achieve something similar there’s a real challenge to the fractured world of Android. Whether or not this was kicked off or sped up by the US ban is somewhat irrelevant. Now, the focus will be on how quickly Huawei can develop HarmonyOS and the Huawei AppGallery.
Obviously, the biggest benefit here is if you are using a Huawei phone, watch, tablet and laptop. The big drawback is that Huawei AppGallery is still very much a work in progress so time will tell just how much of a challenge Huawei can present in this space.
Huawei Watch 3
The Huawei Watch has been around since 2015. I bought the first one which ran Android Wear at the time. It was great because it looked like a watch before a piece of tech. It’s developed quite a bit since and had multiple variations.
Still, the watch launched today is just the third new complete redesign and of course is the first watch featuring HarmonyOS. Key new features include a rotating crown control and a very intuitive looking Grid Launcher which makes access to apps much easier.
It is also the first Huawei Watch to feature eSIM. While there has yet to be an Irish network to provide this service, the potential is massive. It means you’ll be able to go for a run and leave your phone at home but have full access to your phone number.
There are loads of other features from fitness to general wellbeing, including skin temperature monitoring which in a pandemic-focused world will be of massive interest to many.
Right now, I’m only unboxed the Huawei Watch 3 Pro and had a quick look at it. It’s gorgeous but you’ll have to wait for the full review coming in a few days.
Huawei Watch 3 Pro Unboxing
Huawei Freebuds 4
Like many, I’ve had my fair share of conference calls over the past year and a bit. My goto audio accessory of choice has been the Huawei Freebuds 3. Naturally, I’m excited to test out the Freebuds 4 which Huawei has launched today and sent over for review.
While the Freebuds 4 look largely similar to the Freebuds 3, some subtle improvements have been made with these buds. Weighing in at 4.1g Huawei has focused on comfort with these new buds. They call this Air-like comfort and I have to say after popping them into my ear you do feel the difference.
Again, these just landed in so I’ve only got to unbox them and do one or two calls. No review just yet, so you’ll have to follow our social channels to make sure you don’t miss that.
The key features I’ll be keeping an eye on are the improved Active Noise Cancelling, sound quality, and, perhaps today most importantly, the call quality provided by the buds.
Huawei Freebuds 4 Unboxing
Huawei Lauching Monitors In Ireland
An interesting development at the Huawei launch today was the inclusion of the Huawei Mateview. It’s hard to look at tech these days without seeing how it can benefit a work-from-home mentality. Huawei has spotted that there are a lot of people with home office setups.
Huawei Mateview Monitor
The Huawei Mateview is an impressive 34-inch 4K+ true colour monitor retailing for €699. With a single cable you can connect and charge your laptop. It will of course work with most professional setups but remains but the idea here is to provide you with a monitor that seamlessly lets you turn your phone into a desktop or to give you the perfect monitor for your Huawei laptop. You can even project your mobile screen to enjoy a more wireless life.
Huawei Mateview GT Gaming Monitor
Huawei hasn’t just waded into monitors but has also slotted into gaming monitors with the Mateview GT. While it’s aimed at PC gamers it will even work with all modern games consoles too. This monitor is a 2K ultra-wide curved monitor with 165Hz refresh rate. Included is a wee soundbar to meet in all the entertainment, but specifically gaming, needs you might have. This one will retail for €569.
I first found out about the two of these a few weeks back and wasn’t too optimistic about them hitting the Irish market. It’s amazing news to see them in the Irish launch event today and I’ll be sure to monitor (sorry) these for launch dates.
Ok. Three days in a row now I’ve spent the evening having a wee tipple outside. I think we could be heading into a run of decent weather. I’ve ruined it haven’t I? Well, in the event that the weather returns (or hell even keeps going) here are some of the best gadgets to get you through the great outdoors. Despite the mixed messages from Government, the outdoors really is the only place we have left!
Meater BBQ Heat Probe
First thing’s first people. If we are outside grilling the last thing we need to do is:
burn the meat
poison everyone
This is why I love Meater. I met the guys behind this smart meat thermometer at IFA a couple of years ago. I’ve used it a couple of times since and love it. It totally changed how I cook meat because it helped me understand how meat itself cooks over time.
Meater+ helping roast a chicken
Stick the probe into a steak, lash it onto the BBQ and keep an eye on your phone to see how cooking is progressing. The Meater will even suggest cook times based on what you’ve cooked and how you like your meat.
The Meater, or more specifically the Meater+, is a sure way to wow anyone who pops round for a BBQ. It’s available on their website for €109.
Harman Kardon Citation 200
I’ve had this a while and never really got to put it through its paces because of lockdown. The Harmon Kardon Citation 200 is a brilliant speaker. It can connect to your WiFi or be used more simply as a Bluetooth speaker.
The beauty of it all is that this can then be used for casting music. If you’ve got some friends over, build a Spotify playlist and queue up some music without having to pass a single phone around. Better still, it’s got Google Assitant built in so you can just holler your requests at the speaker.
See, social distancing at its very best.
The sound quality out of this speaker is extremely impressive and with a battery life of 8 hours, it will outlast most summer get-togethers. It’s a classy-looking piece of kit and the best part is that it’s currently available on the Harvey Norman website at the reduced price of €289.
It’s not waterproof. This is one glaring issue. If you want to overcome that, keep reading.
Google Nest WiFi
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden to bate out some tunes on a speaker like that, you’re going to need to make sure there’s WiFi. The first solution to a WiFi shortfall at home or in the garden is to slap on a hotspot. Most networks allow this and if you’ve got properly unlimited data then just go for that.
If this isn’t an option and you want to make your WiFi stretch just that little bit further, then a WiFi mesh system, also known as a WiFi extender, can save the day.
WiFi extenders come in a range of sizes and price ranges. You can pick up fairly respectable systems on Amazon for under €100 that will absolutely do the job. I’ve actually used this mesh system in my Mam’s house and have to say they are incredibly good at what we needed them to do.
But my personal system of choice is the Google Nest WiFi. Yes, for just the router and an access point, you’ll need to fork out €259 but from there on out adding new Google products is super simple through the Home App. More importantly, the quality of your WiFi signal will be vastly improved. You also get a Google Assistant built into the second access point. Which is neat.
WiFi extenders are the quiet hero of lockdown both for work and play at home.
Nebula Projector
One of my favourite questions to ask my better half is, “from all the gadgets that get sent over to review, what’s your favourite?”. It’s usually a clash ball between one or two different items, but this projector from Nebula, which is more or less Anker, is always up there.
We use this on a regular basis. It’s effectively the TV in our bedroom. It’s a fully functioning Android TV setup which means I can install Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and pretty much all major apps, though SkyGo still doesn’t work for me.
The one thing I will point out is that the projector, as great as it is, really excels in the dark. If you have street lights nearby or can’t wait until passing dusk to throw on a movie against the gable end of the house, this might not be the best purchase in the world.
But in the dark of night and probably with a Bluetooth speaker connected up as well to get a more cinematic experience going, this is an awesome piece of kit to have for warm summer nights. Rare as they may be in Ireland.
It’s also got enough of a battery to get you through most movies. Maybe not The Snyder Cut, but most movies.
Google Lens
It’s not all about eating, drinking, chilling, and raving this summer. I’ve already found myself out and about on quite a few walks and one app that I love is Google Lens. I think what impresses me most about this is the fact it’s free and after publishing a video about it on TikTok, I got quite a few messages from people loving what the app does.
A good friend of mine got in touch to say he had identified a tree that was in his garden for 15 years thanks to the app.
This is another scenario where my other half says she actually really likes a bit of tech too and I listen. She’s a great barometer for apps and gadgets so if she likes this, which she does, it’s a sure thing. Next time you’re on a walk check out the Google Lens app which is available on both iOS and Android.
Fitbit Sense
I am by no means a typically active person. As a tech reviewer, I feel there’s some level of laziness required in my life. But even I have been feeling the urge to get out and walk, particularly now that the weather is getting better. But if you don’t track all that activity, did it even really happen?
The Fitbit Sense slots neatly into the category of slightly pricey tech, but tech that I adore. It’s also handy because I like using Fitbit Pay in shops so I don’t have to fumble around with my phone codes because Face ID doesn’t work when wearing a mask.
This mega fitness tracker from Fitbit really is one of the best on the market and I guess that’s to be expected from a company that has cornered the market and made Fitbit a household name to the point where most fitness trackers are referred to as being “a fitbit” regardless of the manufacturer.
JBL Pulse 4
This is hot off the presses. Landed on the desk for review just yesterday but I’ve got to include it. I did say the speaker mentioned earlier is a classy little number, but the JBL Pulse 4 just bangs. I would love to see this speaker, full whack in a dark garden. If you’re leaning more towards mini-rave with a small, restriction-abiding, group of friends, then keep reading.
The JBL Pulse 4 not only packs in some awesome sounds, but it’s a full 360-degree disco light too. The lights can be adjusted and move to the music. It’s whopper. As I said, I’m not going all in to say it’s a slam dunk purchase given it just landed in, but it’s mighty impressive so far. When it comes to topping the list of cool garden gadgets this summer, this is it. It’s also waterproof which I excellent news. Because, you know. Ireland.
Smartphones, access to the world of information in our pockets. But we use them for cat videos and scrolling social media and that’s possibly why the smartphone isn’t for everyone. Some people like simple, some feel less is more and some want their phone to do what a phone should do, call, text and in modern times even WhatsApp. For those of the older school who want a simple phone with a modern twist, enter Emporia with their new Smart 4. Targeted at the older demographic with a simpler styling to your more traditional smartphones, the Emporia Smart 4 sports Android 10 in a phone that tries to find the balance between smart and simple. Something they do to great effect.
The Emporia Smart 4
Right, this phone is really for your Ma or Da or those who are absolutely tech allergic. Running that Android 10, with its 5″ display and large icons, this is a device built with simplicity in mind. As ever with the Emporio range the Smart 4 is compatible with hearing aids and has an emergency assistance button. Basically they know their audience.
In the box itself we get a physical manual so a user can read and learn the usability of a smartphone in their own time, full with walk throughs and step by step instructions and through partnering with An Post, this is a smartphone whose goal is about making technology more accessible to that older demographic.
Partnering with An Post
“We’re delighted to announce our first Irish network relationship with An Post Mobile. To have such a credible and respected network partner on board to help us introduce the S4 to the Irish market is key to boost our visibility in front of senior citizens. Working with An Post Mobile will enable us to reach a large proportion of seniors in Ireland and introduce them to the world of simple and easy technology and access a whole new world of communication, confidently and independently,”
The Emporia Smart 4 is available through an post for €140 with a pre paid sim plan that contains unlimited calls and texts and even data for a very reasonable €15 per month. Currently if you are with another provider, An Post will let you keep your phone number and you will get your first month free, fair handy if you ask me.
Michael Ahern, An Post Mobile Manager, comments: “2020 has shown just how important mobile communications are to the community and An Post is especially aware that many of our older citizens have gone for long periods without close contact with family, friends and neighbours. We see the introduction of the emporia S4 smartphone to the An Post Mobile phone range as another opportunity to make life just that little bit easier and safer for the older generation and their families.”
Features and Specs
Simple Layout
As a standard, the main nav menu contains big text and big icons for an easy to read display. Unlike standard Android, the Smart 4 uses a simple design that gives you an easy to read menu and your favourite apps are pinned to the main home screen. These can be changed to suit your needs but as a standard your homescreen contains:
Camera
Alarms
Calendar
Weather
Browser
With simplicity in mind, as this is a touch screen phone which may be outside the comfort zone of some of their users, they include what’s called a touch trainer to help you learn the basics of touch screen navigation. Things like tappings, swiping and generally stuff most common smartphone users take for granted are all accounted for and tbh having seen this in the hands of someone in their target age group, it makes a world of difference.
Removable battery
It kind of reminds me of the old Nokia phones as the removable battery returns for the first time in ages. In modern phones replacing a battery is a task I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, the Emporia Smart 4 does the right thing and allows the user to swap out the battery if they wish.
Emergency Button
It’s a nice to see feature, the emergecy call button on the rear of the phone can be activated by clicking three times. When the button is triggers, the phone will call your emergency contacts one by one until someone answers and will even change to loud speaker to make things a little easier. Now if you don’t need that feature you get a second back for the phone in the box which will cover the button and negates any accidental calls.
13mp Camera
The Emporia Smart 4 sports a very tidy 13mp main camera and even offers selfie capability with a 5mp front facing camera. To be honest it’s not something to write home about but for what the phone is, it’s a lovely and welcome addition. “Nana, show me the garden there will ya”
QR scanner & NFC
Honestly the Emporia Smart 4 surprised me. Looking at the phone you wouldn’t expect some of the features that are included. The latest model includes a QR scanner, yes a QR scanner! This will allow our elderly relatives use the likes of the Covid track & trace app with east.
“We know that mobile phone banking and contactless payments are increasingly on the rise across the UK and Ireland; even more so this year with a focus on contact-free due to Covid concerns. But this doesn’t make it automatically trusted. We want to challenge this misconception, and NFC and Google Pay in a mobile phone addresses this concern for seniors head-on.”
The NFC tech then allows contactless payments, not something new but definitely new to the 60+ age demographic. There is a 16 page, extremely simple step by step setup guide, or someone a bit more tech savvy can set up Google Pay in a couple of minutes and off you go, contactless payment is now an option.
Magnifying App
As with basically everything to do with the Smart 4, they have really thought about their target users and created features that are totally relevant and required. We have all someone in our family who cannot see anything on their phone if they have forgotten their glasses. The Emporia Smart 4 goes a step further, as our eye sight degrades, we need glasses to read, without them, simple things like menus or signs can be more difficult. That’s why we get the magnifier app, which does exactly what it says on the tin, magnifies what you’re trying to read to make it easier. Simples.
The Goosed Verdict
Due to the Covid Life, technology has become a greater part of our day to day lives. Whether that be for work, shopping or staying in contact, the times do be a changing. The market has been screaming out for a simple smartphone for seniors who wish to keep in contact with their loved ones.
The Emporia Smart 4 is a tidy phone, built to be easy to use but with a tidy 13mp camera, video calling capability and the ability to do Google Pay, this is a phone that is more than what you see.
Essentially the Emporia Smart 4 is a good option for those who value simplicity or those who find modern smartphones a bit too tricky, see anpost.com/mobile for more info.
I’m a big fan of Dublin Bikes. Bike ownership in Dublin is a risky business given that thefts are rampant and the state of our roads and road cleaning cycles means punctures are regular occurrences. This is why bike-sharing, and many forms of shared ownership, are welcome in the capital. But it’s not without risks too. Dublin Bikes recently launched their eBikes, which I’ve had trouble with already. Today, JCDecaux, the operator of Dublin Bikes, as issued a recall of batteries after three cases where the batteries short-circuited and damaged the battery casing.
The Dublin Bikes Battery Recall
In an email to customers, Dublin Bikes and JCDecaux said that due “to a defect being identified by the battery manufacturer” which can lead to “batteries overheating and slight material damage”. JCDecaux estimates that of 900,000 charges to date, “the incident occurrence rate is 0.003 per thousand”.
As a result, they have initiated a recall of all Dublin Bikes batteries in Dublin. It’s important to note that all of the recorded incidents were in other markets and none have been reported in Ireland.
How Popular Are The Dublin Ebikes?
From the recall notice, one number stands out to me. Just 396 batteries are being recalled. I’m one of those customers. Last week, I received my battery and took my first spin on my Dublin Ebike only to learn they don’t have temporary locks, unlike their regular Dublin Bike counterparts. It’s an unusual decision that cost me the price of a lock because I was in a hurry.
But just 396 batteries sold is a very small number, demonstrating that either the public isn’t interested or the €60 extra per year for ebike power on top of the regular €35 annual fee and what ever ride rates you pay is putting people off. I feel it’s the latter.
I posted the video above on TikTok and the service got mixed reviews. One trend to emerge from the comments is that Dublin Bikes “upgrading” 50% of their fleet to electric hybrids meant that regular non-ebike cyclists now often had to rent much heavier bikes. This is due to the motor and batteries on board for the ebikes that won’t have a battery to power them unless you’re an ebikes member.
50% of the Dublin Bikes fleet means that there are 1600 electric Dublin Bikes out there but this recall shows us that there are just 396 customers with batteries to make use of the service. This recall is likely to undermine this even further which begs the question of whether or not this service will require a price review.
How To Send Your Dublin Bikes Battery Back For The Recall
You can now book the return of your Dublin bikes battery online and, of course, JCDecaux will be covering all the costs. Once you get to the website select DublinBikes as the retailer. I popped down “other” as my reason for return and then use either your Dublin Bikes email or subscriber number in the order reference section.
You will need to send back the battery and the charger. The email to customers states that “batteries will be returned to users as soon as possible once the battery manufacturer in France, has inspected and made the necessary technical and firmware updates and the updated batteries are independently certified to EU standards”.
You can continue to use Dublin Bikes without batteries for now but rather surprisingly, there is no mention of complete or partial refunds for customers affected during this period of lost service. I’ve reached out to Dublin Bikes on this for further clarification.
You can also contact Dublin Bikes if you have any queries about this recall on the following details:
Phone: 1850 777 070 Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) If calling from abroad: +353 1 424 7605 email: contactus@dublinbikes.ie
