Morally, I don’t know how to feel writing this article. At the end of the day, it’s absolutely newsworthy stuff. We’ve learned a lot about the progress Rockstar Games had made with GTA 6, but it still feels a little wrong. I don’t think ironic is the right word, but you know what I mean. A game dedicated to breaking the law in a virtual world, subject to a massive, and undoubtedly illegal, leak.
But I’ve decided to press on and write this. A summary of what has happened, and what we’ve now learned about GTA 6.
What is the GTA 6 Leak
On Sunday, a GTAForums user going by the handle “teapotuberhacker” posted 90 videos from a test build of GTA 6. While some doubt surrounded the authenticity of the video, they have been verified. The biggest confirmation came today when Rockstart Games tweeted this statement.
So it’s legit. The leak happened. It sucks for Rockstar. For gamers, it’s a double-edged sword. We know there’s a GTA 6 on the way, which is amazing. But I can feel for Rockstart having this released without their consent.
The good news is that Rockstar confirmed everything will plough on. With that in mind, what do we now have to look forward to?
What We’ve Learned from the GTA 6 Leak
Now that the veracity of the GTA 6 leak has been confirmed, we have learned quite a bit about the next generation GTA.
GTA 6 is in Vice City
From tags in the code to VCPD patrol cars, it looks like we’re going home to Vice City. This isn’t the biggest shocker given it was strongly rumoured already. But I for one am delighted we’re going back to Vice City. More great music alongside an even bigger version of one of the coolest cities on earth.
Lead Characters
GTA 6 will feature two lead characters. The female lead is named Lucia while the male is Jason. They’ve got a real Bonny and Clyde vibe to them crossed with that scene in Pulp Fiction.
Inner City Transport
Some clips show Jason using the underground. It looks like driving isn’t going to be the only way to get from A to B in Vice City.
We Have No Idea When This Gets Released
Despite this absolutely massive leak, we are none-the-wiser as to when the game will be announced officially. Lots of the footage is reportedly from 2017. This would suggest we’re close to a release than we are to the project starting. Many, myself included, will surely hope that’s the case.
There is still some debate about the impact this will have on production. Everything from morale to additional security measures and workflows could delay production. For now, I’m off to play Monkey Island. I’ve waited 30 years for this one (well… I’m only 34 but you get the idea).
Disclaimer: Airthings sent me this doohickey for free to test out. It’s not going to flavour my review which is ultimately; love it, but it’s a bit pricey. Read on for more details.
Maybe it’s an age thing. I say that about nearly everything now that I’m hitting my mid-30s. I just let out an audible laugh. “Hitting” says I. I am in my mid-30s. At 34, there’s no wiggle room on that. But to be fair I knew I was firmly in my mid-30s when I got excited about an air monitor landing in for review. The Airthings View Plus to be precise.
Why Care About Air Monitoring?
I brew beer. I can tell you that a lot of people that brew beer care a lot about the craft. They measure ingredients to the gram and boil to an exact degree for a duration down to the second. Yet, some of these meticulous brewers chuck in whatever water comes from the tap without a second thought.
Beer is 95% water.
If there’s something that’ll impact your beer, it’s water.
So, what else do we consume a lot of but never really think of the make-up? Ah yes. That lung stuff; air.
I used to think that controlling the air in my home meant HEPA filters and big expensive fans like my (still very beloved) Dyson. To be fair, it makes sense. Air is bad, big fan turns on, air is good. Simple right?
But since I got the Airthings Wave Plus, I’ve realised it can be as simple as opening a window. I’ve just moved and airflow is a bit of a problem in the new place. I’ve woken up groggy a few times. Hungover almost. After doing some reading, the mornings after nights I wasn’t out (honestly, there were a few) that feeling was coming from high CO2 levels.
Monitoring the air in your home, means you can work out why you’re feeling the way you do.
Airthings View Plus
This monitoring was made possible by the Airthings View Plus. Now, I had an idea of the problem because of my Dyson, but the Dyson is a bit more passive with information. It solves the problem to an extent and doesn’t proactively seek to bother you with it.
The Airthings View Plus sends notifications and links into the world of IFTTT. IFTTT, I’ll come back to later on.
But in terms of monitoring, the Airthings View Plus is robust. This small little unit can be mounted by the included stickers, permanently with screws or just left in a room. You charge it via USB-C but then won’t need to worry about the battery for up to two years. Then, it’s connected to your WiFi so you can keep up to date with the air at home.
Airthings has an app and a dashboard with the latter being a bit more palatable in terms of data digestion. On the device itself, you can choose the insights you most want to know and have them presented to you via the on-board e-ink display.
This wee device can monitor all of the following:
Radon
Radon is bad stuff. It’s bad stuff but also very common. To give it the proper scary description, the HSE describes Radon as a “naturally occurring radioactive gas”. Radon is the main source of radiation exposure in Ireland. Ireland ranks eight-highest in the world for the average concentration of Radon and the EPA provides a map for you to check out your home area.
Wonderful, eh? It gets better.
Radon has no colour, odour or smell. So the only way to know if you’re at risk or not is by getting a Radon detector. The Airthings View Plus is one such detector.
I won’t lie. Researching this article, this section scared me a bit. So it was cool to learn all this and see my home Radon levels being quite low.
PM2.5
PM stands for Particulate Matter. It’s basically the dust and crap that’s in the air. See Mum, I could have been a scientist if I was arsed.
PM2.5 is very small, so don’t expect to see it with your eyes. It’s the reason you have to dust at home once a week. It builds up on your furniture. It also ends up in your lungs and can make you quite sick. If you’re near a busy road or building site, you could see this value increase on your Airthings View Plus.
According to the HSE, being exposed to PM2.5 can cause asthma, eye irritation, headaches and more.
You can tackle high levels of PM2.5 by vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum, avoid burning solid fuel, quit smoking and close windows during rush hour.
CO2
Air quality at home is a real balancing act. Closing your windows can protect you from external PM2.5 but then CO2 starts to build up from people breathing. There’s no winning.
Many say ignorance is bliss, but it’s really not. Ignorance is ignorance. The Airthings View Plus helps you manage your home air quality. It’s been brilliant for us in the new apartment. We can close the windows and bunker down for rush hour, but then get a reminder to open them again to ensure we’re getting optimal amounts of oxygen.
High levels of CO2 are also a broad indicator of poor air quality. Alone, CO2 can also ruin your sleep, leave you groggy (this was me) and even cause drowsiness. It’s bad stuff. You should know when there’s too much of it in your gaff.
Humidity
It’s not overly uncommon to find mould in accommodation in Ireland. This is often caused by poor ventilation and high humidity. If you keep your humidity levels below 60%, mould can’t germinate.
Are you seeing the power of this information now?
The bad news is that you might need to head out and buy a dehumidifier to manage really high levels of humidity in the home.
Temp
Well it’s nice to know how warm or cold it is, right? But there’s a benefit to this info too. Optimal sleeping temps are way below 20 degrees.
Pressure
Have you ever heard someone say their knee could tell you the weather? It’s a thing. It’s all about air pressure. I’m not saying that guy in the pub wasn’t talking shite most of the time, but for this one, he’s bang on.
Air pressure affects Radon levels and can indeed cause headaches, joint pain and fatigue. Having a monitor like the Airthings View Plus means you can know more about how you’re feeling. It’s incredibly valuable.
VOC
Farts.
Like, VOC is other things, but it’s also farts.
VOC stands for Volatiles Organic Compounds. To be fair, farts probably aren’t the primary source. VOCs come from paint, fuel, nail polish, perfume, candles, cooking, and the list goes on and on. The cleaning products you use can cause VOC spikes at home. Knowing you have high levels of VOCs is the first step. Next, you need to work out the source.
Check your timings. What happened around a spike? Did you light a candle? Did someone fart? Laugh all you want, it’s important to know that.
Now, deal with the issue. I know you can’t kick your roommate or dog out for farting, but you can blow out the candle, or open a window after doing your nails.
Airthings and IFTTT
I mentioned Airthings being proactive. It is, and that’s great. But sometimes you need a little more drama to get the message across. IFTTT is an amazing platform that lets you connect your smart home. Personally, I think this is the ultimate example of how IFTTT can help you at home.
I have a LIFX smart bulb in the living room. This is also where I have the Airthings View Plus at the moment. IFTTT lets these two things talk and work together.
It’s generally recommended that a CO2 level no higher than 1000 ppm be allowed at home. To be on the safe side, I set a threshold of 800 ppm in IFTTT.
When the CO2 levels breach 800 ppm, my LIFX light flashes red 10 times. It’s time to open the windows.
When levels go back below 500 ppm, the light flashes green 10 times. If it’s a bit cold or noisy, the windows can be closed again.
A very intuitive example of how you can proactively monitor and control the air quality of your home.
You could get more clever here too. Connect your air purifier to a smart plug controlled by IFTTT and Airthings levels. See, cool isn’t it.
Airthings Isn’t Perfect
Airthings is nerd heaven. Lots of data and lots of insight. But there does need to be a lot of willingness to learn on your behalf. Some of the data isn’t easy to understand. A personal pet peeve of mine is the timeline graph. It’s never clear what time of the day you’re looking at so it can be tricky to narrow down the data.
At €299, the View Plus isn’t cheap. It’s really not cheap when you realise it just tells you the problem. Dyson air purifiers often have very similar data, but also solve the problem.
However, air purifiers are often expensive, so it’s not all bad that you can split out the sensors from the machine and only get the solutions you need.
Airthings View Plus: The Verdict
This is the very top-of-the-range air quality monitor from Airthings. Quite literally, it’s life-changing. The information it gives you cannot be ignored. It’s a bit of an Irish thing in my eyes. We just don’t like to think about things like the air, despite it being something we breathe every second of every day.
It’s a pity it’s pricey. And that it can only inform. But that’s a start. I can see these things getting cheaper and I hope I can see all of us care a lot more about the air we breathe.
A video of Irish Dancing crew Cairde giving it the hop, two, threes at Buckingham Palace has gone viral all over again. To the tune of “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, the group are seen dancing outside Buckingham Palace on TikTok and Twitter.
This video going viral again has provoked two types of response. For those who aren’t all that fond of the monarchy’s legacy of colonialism, it’s humourous. For royalists, it’s highly offensive.
While I can somewhat understand both sides here, the truth is the video is neither. It’s being taken out of context. Cairde recorded the jig in early 2022 at Buckingham Palace. They’ve recorded many similar videos around the world at well know landmarks.
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It might seem like there’s a new Huawei Watch I’m talking about every month. But it may be for a very good reason. Huawei is ploughing innovation into its wearable division. Just look at the remarkable new Huawei Watch D announced at IFA 2022 that measures blood pressure. The latest addition to the Huawei family is the Huawei Watch GT3 Pro. It’s my favourite so far.
What is the Huawei Watch GT3 Pro?
This new watch sits in the third family of Huawei Watch iterations. The GT range is a sub-category within the third family where you tend to get a little more value in exchange for a some less specs. This is no bad thing either. Many of those top specs include eSIM and other features which haven’t landed here yet.
The reality is you’re not paying more than you have to for specs you’ll likely not be using.
Who is this watch for?
First of all, I’m going to reiterate something I’ve spotted in recent Huawei Watches. If you’re an iPhone user, don’t rule out Huawei. I’ve never seen the attraction of the rectangular watch face of Apple Watch. Huawei was the first smartwatch on the market I can remember that looked like a proper watch.
I’m an iPhone user. I’ve got the iPhone 13 Pro as my daily rider. My go-to watch is Huawei. When I tested the Huawei Watch GT Runner I was taken aback at how good the Health App had gotten on iOS. Sure enough, there are some features that just won’t work across iOS and Huawei, but lots that do. Chuck me a DM and I’d be happy to check if something you want is there or not.
It’s For Everyone
Whether you are in the market for a fitness watch, or a watch that’ll let you glance at messages, the Watch GT3 Pro is excellent. One thing you should be wary of is that (my unit at least) shipped with a leather strap. I wouldn’t personally work out wearing that one. Fortunately, I do have some old straps lying around here. They’re generally easy to get and not too pricey. But just remember, you’ll probably want to change up the straps between working out and going to work.
Similarly, you can get it with a metal strap. Same problem. Not great for working out, so keep that alternative in mind.
Big Sea People
Now, I’m no fan of deep water. So did I test this next bit? No. You’ll have to take Huawei’s word for it. The Huawei GT3 Pro has been through 200 rounds of water pressure testing. It’s complied with a really high engineering standard and can be worn by free divers heading up to 30 meters deep. It’s recommended you give it a rinse with some fresh water if you’ve been in salt water though. Also, don’t go into saunas and the like. Deep is good. Heat is bad.
To coincide with this, there’s even a new free diving mode built into the watch’s software. This will give divers real-time diving information and includes apnea training. Don’t know what all that means? Then, like myself, you’re planning on staying dry. Let’s move on.
Actually, before I move on. Many people ask if the Huawei Watch is waterproof. Indeed it is. Well, obviously.
Bluetooth Calls
One feature I love on the Huawei Watch GT3 Pro is Bluetooth calls. This might sound silly, but I find it so useful. Often, I’ll pop downstairs and leave my phone upstairs. This is usually when the delivery person lurking outside decides to call. Instead of breaking my neck running to my phone, I just tap on my wrist and take the call there and then. It works really well while I look like a discount James Bond in sweatpants.
Design
I normally start with design, but it’s a Huawei Watch. I think we’re at the point now where we know it’s going to look like a lovely watch and be built really well. The watch face is covered in an overflow curved glass that I’ve smacked off a few things. After a nervous glance, the watch always looked perfect. Thankfully. The leather strap edition, which is most readily available in Ireland from stores like Eir, has a titanium body. It’s light. It’s strong. It looks good.
One final note on design. The crown knob on the side is beautifully responsive. Likewise, the customisable button below is a great way to quick-fire your most used wrist features.
Software
As I’ve mentioned, the Health App is going from strength to strength recently. At IFA Berlin, I was told that Huawei now officially integrates with Strava – no messing around. If you’re running with iPhone, there are some oddities. There’s a cards app and I’m not quite sure what it does. I can’t see anything in Huawei Health to control it, so it may be a hangover from the Chinese version or just the Android version.
But overall the watch does what you want. Even though it’s running Huawei’s own Harmony OS, you’ll get notifications, can set alarms, and check vitals like heart rate and even arterial stiffness; that’s a new feature.
I couldn’t get the remote camera shutter to with my iPhone. That’s a pity. But as I’ve said at the outset, it works great with iPhone – not immaculately.
Battery
Just as I was about to say “I’m not giving battery its own section” I realised I have to. This is the Huawei Watch’s most impressive feature. A two-week battery life. Now, that’s if you tweak a few settings. If like me, you like to have some extra lights and bells and whistles, you’ll get 7-days from your battery.
That’s amazing. I’m glaring at you. Yes, you. The Apple Watch wearer. Charging daily? I couldn’t live that way.
When it’s time you charge, just pop the watch on any wireless charger. After an hour or two, you’ve got a full battery. No more worries for at least a week.
Huawei Watch GT3 Pro: The Verdict
I’m not looking forward to the next Huawei Watch review. I mean the one after the incoming Huawei Watch D. My reasoning is that the Huwaei Watch GT3 Pro is just brilliant. It’s most things to most people. So how can Huawei improve on this? It’s really the software that needs work. Strava is either here or on the way (depending on your location), but that’s just one part. We need more apps. We need Spotify and the likes.
But for hardware, design and battery, this is arguably the best smartwatch on the market.
It’s been a long time coming, but Amazon is officially shipping from their Irish base since last week. The massive fulfilment centre is based in Baldonnell Business Park and brings with it the creation of 500 new jobs. While Amazon opening such a centre will be met with mixed emotions, during a cost of living crisis, the e-commerce giant will be offering some of the cheapest paths to purchase for Irish shoppers.
One of the big benefits of this new centre is the simple fact millions of products will now be stocked in Ireland. From the centre, products will be shipped to Ireland and the rest of Europe.
Update: Amazon.ie is now live, giving shoppers in Ireland access to 200 million products from the Irish distribution centre with faster deliveries and easier returns
By stocking items here in Ireland, customers will now be able to avail of faster deliveries, landing to your door seven days a week. Not all products will be available, but you can be sure the list of items will grow as Amazon assesses demand.
I’ve had a look through the range and the fastest delivery I could see was two days. This suggests that while the first delivery has been completed, Amazon is likely soft-launching their Irish fulfilment processes.
The First Delivery
Amazon has gone through great effort to describe the first delivery in detail. I’ve been told that the first delivery, was completed last week, was to a customer in South Dublin. They ordered a laptop stand and monitor connector. The order was packed at the new fulfilment centre before heading to the Amazon delivery station in Rathcoole.
Is Amazon a Good Thing for Ireland?
It’s hard to know whether or not Amazon is good for Ireland, or indeed the wider planet and society. They offer a lot of affordable goods and quick delivery times. Their customer service is excellent and often leans towards the customer being right when there’s doubt. However, the company has had more than its fair share of controversies over the years. From how they treat their staff to societal impacts, the cost of cheap home deliveries could be a human one.
I’ve tested my fair share of smartwatches over the years. Perhaps, no more than Huawei. Today at IFA in Berlin, Huawei launched their latest smartwatch; the Huawei Watch D. But this isn’t just another fitness tracker. This marks Huawei’s first foray into medical-grade fitness wearables. I got my hands on the Watch D in Berlin. Here are my first impressions.
On a humourous note, while editing this article, I mistyped 172/88 instead of 127/88 as my blood pressure into Google and nearly gave myself a heart attack on the spot.
Measuring Blood Pressure on Wrist
So as you might expect with a watch, the Huawei Watch D measures blood pressure from the regular wrist position. You’ll need to sit in a specific position to ensure accuracy, but this is a medical device. It should be as accurate as getting your blood pressure measured with your GP.
The Huawei Watch D uses a mini pump to apply pressure on the wrist and is accurate to plus or minus 3mmHg. Just last night, the watch was awarded its CE rating and when it becomes available to the public, it will be a fully certified medical device. It’s been confirmed to me that it’s coming to the Irish market too, coming in Q4 this year.
While measuring heart rate is fantastic for working out, measuring blood pressure marks an important development for wearables. Now, with the help of the Huawei Watch D, you can spot early signs of Hypertension. With constant monitoring you can gather much richer data.
Might be something for me to get checked out, but a rest might also bring it down. I was out last night.
You can also connect with family members. Imagine how much easier this makes it for an elderly loved one to check their blood pressure daily. A watch with a 7-day battery that reminds them to do it as often as required.
You can even connect to their Huawei Health App to help them monitor their health and remind them of missed checks.
Built-in ECG
In addition to the ability to measure blood pressure, the Huawei Watch D also supports ECG measurement. I first tested this on the Fitbit Sense and is a featurealso available on Apple Watch. Measuring ECG helps you understand if your heart has an unusual rhythm that could be a symptom of a wider issue.
One issue I had with Fitbit Sense was forgetting to get my ECG. Huawei have designed the Watch D to continously monitor your ECG and prompt a full test when needed.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed for the Huawei Watch D, though it’s rumoured to be coming Saturday morning at IFA. It’s likely the watch will be a bit more expensive than other smart watches given this is medical grade. The watch is also noticably bigger than other smart watches in the company’s portfolio. But it’s still rather stylish. I’d argue is likely more stylish than most blood pressure monitors.
To be honest, I’m really excited about testing this. This is a real insight into my own heart health sitting on my wrist. As a first device of its kind on the market, I’m impressed so far. Given it’s coming to Ireland I’ll likely be testing it properly in Q4 so keep an eye out for it landing through our TikTok.
As you may have guessed from my previous work, I was lucky enough to get a PS5 at launch. In fact, I’m still lucky because there’s still a shortage of consoles due to the ongoing chip shortage that’s affecting many electronic manufacturers. What’s more, Sony announced this week that the PS5 will be getting a 10% price increase in most regions outside North America. So, if, like me, you’re one of the 17 people in the world who actually own a PS5, you’ve probably been wondering what the craic is with the recent changes to PS+ and how it might affect the way you think about purchasing games. The good news is that I’ve been investigating the various benefits and drawbacks for the last couple of months, so you don’t have to.
What is it?
The new PS+ system is more than just an update to the existing plan. It’s a complete overhaul of how Sony will be handling their store, catalogue, and online offerings. While the old school plan from the PS4 days is still on offer, with the only difference being its name (it’s called PS+ Essentials now), there are two new tiers that players can opt in to if they so choose. I should mention here that these plans are also available on PS4 so it’s not just we lucky few who can avail of them.
Naturally the higher the tier, the higher the cost with the base price remaining unchanged (€60 for 12 months). The middle tier is PS+ Extra which comes in at €100 for the year, and the top tier is PS+ Premium costing you a little more at €120. As before these plans can also be subscribed to for different lengths of time (1 month, 3 months, and 12 months) but you’ll get a better discount the longer you subscribe.
It’s also possible, if you wish, to upgrade to a higher tier than the one you’re already on. If you do this, though you won’t be buying a new subscription or paying full whack for a new plan. You’ll simply have to pay a pro-rated amount based on how long is left in your plan. For example, I usually renew my plan around January so when I upgraded in June, I just had to pay a little over €30 since half my current subscription had already elapsed. Similarly, you can downgrade tiers any time you like so if you’ve got your subscription set to auto-renew you’ll only pay for the tier you want.
Probably the best way to break down the tiers
As for what’s in each of the plans themselves, that is, in my opinion, where the real debate around value lies. Like I said, the base plan is totally unchanged. If you pay €60 for the year, you’ll still get two (or three if you own a PS5) games added to your library every month (as long as you have an active PS+ subscription) as well as access to all the usual online features that Sony offer. So online play, cloud saves, game help, etc. are all part and parcel for the lowest tier.
Moving up to PS+ Extra players get access to a curated catalogue of games from the PS4 era as well as access to the Ubisoft+ Classics library. This includes games like many of the recent Assassin’s Creed games, the Batman Arkham series, as well as some classic first-party games like Uncharted, God of War (2018), and Ghost of Tsushima (don’t worry, Knack is still there too).
Premium is where it’s at though. With the highest tier plan you get access to all the above-mentioned content, with the addition of a curated Classics Catalogue which includes games from the PS1 era all the way up to some PS3 titles (though because of the funky way the PS3’s architecture works, those games have to be streamed and can’t be downloaded to be played natively). You’ll also be able to download some games to try out for five hours if you’re having a tough time deciding whether you really want them or not (I tried Cyberpunk 2077 this way and decided that, while it’s basically fixed now, it’s just not for me).
It should also be pointed out that some of these benefits are PS5 exclusive so if you’re playing on a PS4 you won’t have access to Game Help or the PS+ Collection. You also won’t be able to play some of the PS5 exclusive games like Returnal.
Is it worth the money?
This is where I run out of facts, to be honest. But this is an opinion piece anyway so here it goes! I have always said that PS+ Essentials (what used to be the totality of PS+) is worth the €60 a year, even if, like me, you have little to no interest in online gaming. Cloud saves are absolutely invaluable from a peace of mind perspective and the two/three “free” games per month are absolutely worth the price of admission. Don’t get me wrong there can definitely be some stinkers added to the library now and again, or games you might just not be that interested in but there are some true gems given away throughout any given year that you’d be a fool not to subscribe to get them. Just this month gone both the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 remake and Yakuza: Like a Dragon were given away. Considering that both are still retailing for full price you’re saving €50 in one month alone. Now that’s value.
It’s when we get to the higher tiers, though, that things become a little less clear. In my opinion, PS+ Extra (the middle tier) is something of a space filler. It’s much more expensive than the Essentials package, but also not too far off Premium that it makes it a bit pointless. The only way I could see it being worth the money is if you’re a player who is only interested in the most modern, up to date games. If that’s you then go for it, to each their own and all that. Or if you prefer to emulate your favourite games from yesteryear then that’s fine too! But I don’t think there are very many people in the former category. Especially when you consider the fact that the PlayStation family has perhaps the strongest back catalogue out of the big three consoles out there at the moment (it’s a tough call between PlayStation and Nintendo for me). That’s why I think, if you’re going to upgrade to a higher tier, Premium is the only game in town.
I love retro gaming. Since getting my hands on Nintendo’s Online service I’ve played through every classic they offer. I fell for the marketing buzz and got the Super Mario 3D collection. I filled up every save slot on the Crash and Spyro remakes as soon as they came out. So, for me, I upgraded to Premium and immediately tore my way through the Jak and Daxter collection, games I hadn’t played since they came out 20 years ago. The Classics Collection is loaded with gems like those, like the Toy Story 2 game or Ape Escape. Even some of the PS3 classics like Far Cry 3 hold up exceptionally while streaming (though your mileage may vary depending on your internet speed). Yes, some of these games are available in the store for non-subscribers but there’s a comfort in knowing that they’re there for you to play at your leisure.
How does it compare to Gamepass?
This is where we come up against the whole service’s Achilles’ heel. While, on the surface, it may seem like the services are directly comparable they are very different beasts. Yes, they both host some of the best games of their respective platforms. Yes, they offer players online connectivity and free games every month. Hell, they even cost the same. But PS+ will not allow you to play all the big first-party titles at launch. Sony have even confirmed as much, and we have no reason to expect them to change their minds any time soon. They haven’t even given a roadmap for when games might even come to the service. For example, Horizon: Forbidden West launched in February, but we have no word on when it might come to PS+. On the other side of the fence, Gamepass gives players access to all first-party titles, big and small, as soon as they come out. Now the smartarses among you will point out that Xbox hasn’t had a major Triple-A launch in nearly a year (and you’d be right) there are some big games on the horizon like Starfield due to launch in a few short months, or the Elder Scrolls VI coming some time after the heat-death of the universe. The ability to play these games as soon as they drop is a huge perk that PS+ just hasn’t been able to step up to (though not without good reason).
The console wars are long over, but the content wars are only just beginnnig
So, if you can only subscribe to one service it really comes down to a question of new versus old. Do you value the legacy of the PlayStation or the next-gen offerings of the Xbox? Only you can make that call when it comes down to it.
The Goosed Verdict
Is PS+ worth it? Yes and no. The upper and lower tiers are absolutely worth the money if you want what they offer with Extra kind of filling a gap that I would imagine very few people occupy. It’s not on the same level as Gamepass but it’s really not trying to be. If you’ve got a month or two left on your existing subscription, I’d highly recommend giving PS+ Premium a try since you won’t have to pay the full yearly price. And while you do that, I’ll be here reveling in my nostalgia with Mr. Driller and Locororco!
Disclaimer: I was invited to the LEGO Store in Dublin a day before it opened to check it out. On arrival, I was given a €50 voucher to spend, two small LEGO sets and was allowed to build a mini figure. I ended up buying a set worth a €170 and getting €50 off because I truly loved the shop and have always loved LEGO.
Did anyone grow up without that bucket of LEGO at home? The one that parents probably dreaded hearing being tipped out. In my house, as a kid, there was loads of LEGO. One day a massive LEGO Nasa Space Shuttle appeared. Years later, long after the shuttle was dismantled for parts, those parts were used in my new LEGO projects. I’m not sure there’s any “toy” quite like LEGO. These memories are why I turned into a child at a sneak peek of Dublin’s brand new LEGO Store. It’s on Grafton Street and here’s what you need to know.
Where is the Dublin LEGO Store?
The brand new Dublin LEGO Store is on Grafton Street. It’s right across the road from the Disney Store. The two shops share some kind of unofficial spiritual bond. The difference is that I want to speak with the LEGO store staff while I just want to tell the Disney team my favourite Disney character is Jafar.
The new Grafton Street LEGO Store is open from 9 am to 7 pm every day. The only exception is Sundays when they open an hour later at 10 am.
During the first few weeks, there will be a 30-minute browsing limit in the store. This is to ensure all visitors get ample time to take a look around.
Why is the Dublin LEGO Store So Special?
I’m studying consumer psychology at the moment. It’s all about how big brands make you buy more. It’s pretty scary stuff at times. So naturally, I did have this in the back of my mind in the shop. But there are very few techniques being deployed. It’s largely just bricks in boxes; take it or leave it.
That’s what makes the LEGO Store so special. It’s a portal back into your childhood. The difference is you now control the finances and no one can say no to you except your bank manager.
But my first experience was defined by the new team in-house. The staff are amazing, friendly and enthusiastic. You can tell it’s not just the launch day excitement either.
I was guided around the store by Evan, Neil and Serena. They already know LEGO inside out. During the interview process for the job, they’re asked what’s the first kit they’d buy and what previous sets they’ve built. But you can tell they really care about LEGO. They care about what you leave the store with and that you come back to get more. When the call came to say they got it, they couldn’t contain themselves.
Weeks later, they’re standing in the new shop and the excitement levels are as high as ever. They will make your visit amazing, I promise you that.
What’s in the Dublin LEGO Store?
The most important thing is that the store has a lot of LEGO sets. I mean, nearly everything imaginable. From the more modern take on NASA sets to LEGO sets designed to be a floral arrangement in your bathroom. There are simple kids sets and massive licensed products from Nintendo to Star Wars.
There is no other company in the world like LEGO
LEGO spans such an incredible range of brands, marrying they together in creative glory along the way. There is no other company in the world like LEGO. It’s just pure wholesome.
Beyond the kits, there’s a lot more to see that’ll make your trip to the LEGO Store in Dublin a worthwhile stop.
Print Your Own Minifigure
Upstairs, you can build your own Minifigure. Now, this wasn’t news to me. I always new you could pick the legs, body, head, hair and accessories of your liking to make a LEGO figure. What’s unique to the LEGO Store is its massive torso printer.
Just like ordering on a screen in McDonalds, you design your torso. You can add text, images, change colours and even draw designs if you’re handy enough. While that’s printing, you just pick out the other bits you need and build them once finished. Here’s my customer Goosed.ie figure.
Marty, the mini LEGO figure.
You can tell the team are friendly because they even laughed at my terrible Meany-figure pun.
To celebrate the launch, I got this for free. But typically, this fully customised LEGO Minifigure would cost you €12 and takes about ten minutes to print. There are also special Irish graphics if visiting from abroad seeking a unique souvenir.
Brick ‘n’ Mix
LEGO doesn’t actually call it Brick ‘n’ Mix which I think is the only slip-up! Instead, the official name is Pick a Brick. Again upstairs, is the wall of seemingly random bricks. Here, you get a plastic cup and fill it with as many bricks as you can. When you come back a second time, you’ll get a small discount for returning the same cup.
It’s largely simple traditional bricks that are available here, but there are some newer and quirkier ones too.
Brick ‘n’ Mix, trademark Goosed.ie
Interactive AR Points
While LEGO is a bit of a trip down memory lane, there are modern attractions too. Neil, the LEGO Store’s new manager, demoed this to me with the McLaren F1 LEGO set. You hold your LEGO set of choice up to the camera and it’s built in mere seconds on the screen in front of you. What impressed me most was Neil telling me nearly every set in the store will work with Digibox.
Upstairs, there’s a massive screen that turns you into a LEGO Minifigure. You can trigger special animations based on your movements too. Tip – put both hands in the air!
The Verdict
It’s a genuinely magical place on Grafton Street. Sure, I got to see the new LEGO Store a day early, got some free sets and a €50 voucher, so you could argue I’m biased. But instead of writing this article immediately, I built two LEGO sets. Whoops.
I adore LEGO and the new Grafton Street store just feels like a portal to wholesome. Whether you’re a big kid or just have kids, you’ll not be able to skip a visit here.
Now, what did I buy with my voucher you ask? Well, I quickly asked the team do I have €50 to spend, or can it be €50 off while I add my own money. My eyes lit up as it was the latter. I was torn between the McLaren LEGO set and the Delorean from Back to the Future. In the end, there could only be one.
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I met the love of my life 12 years ago. She’s the world to me. She’s also made me grow up quite a lot. That said, when I saw her grab our Dyson and start vacuuming the mattress, I did think she’d lost it. I was brought up to believe the vacuum was for the floor. But my better half was yet again (and as always) right. Dyson has provided some scientific data to prove her right too. Not that I needed it.
Why is There a Need to Vacuum a Mattress?
Every year, Dyson surveys over 30 thousand people to produce their annual global dust survey. I know that doesn’t sound very exciting. But now that lots of us spend a lot more time at home. According to the study, 95% of people are cleaning just as much, if not more, as they did during the pandemic. However, 40% of people only clean where dirt is visible.
Back to my missus vacuuming the mattress.
When I saw her do this first, I was worried. For her mainly. But then I saw the numbers on the Dyson vacuum. You see, I have a Dyson v12 Detect. On the back of this vacuum, there’s a wee screen that shows me the volume of dust being collected. As the vacuum ran across the mattress I could see the numbers increasing dramatically.
Dyson Detect display showing particulate matter being vacuumed
Basically, there was loads of invisible dust sitting there, where we sleep.
“It is a cause for concern if people only clean when they spot visible dust on the floors as many dust particles are microscopic in size”, says Monika Stuczen, Research Scientist in Microbiology at Dyson. “In fact, by the time people spot visible dust in the home, it is highly likely that there are dust mites in your home”.
How to Vacuum Your Mattress With a Dyson
So obviously, you can do this with any vacuum. I’m sticking with Dyson because it’s what I have and the range of fittings I have make it a doddle. There’s also the nimble nature of Dyson with a small fitting turning into a wireless handheld vacuum so quickly.
The first thing you need to do is remove all the bedding and give it a wash. I’ve also learned that this includes mattress toppers too. Well, I didn’t learn that because I’ve gone most of my life without one. As I said, she’s made me grow up a lot. Check the instructions, but wash as hot as you can.
If you’re using a Dyson, grab one of your mini-motorised tools. My weapon of choice is the hair screw tool. We use this a lot around the house. Handy for stairs and mattresses alike. If you don’t have a Dyson, grab whatever head for your vacuum that will let you get in close. You want good suction and make sure you get in everywhere.
Remember, if you’re using a Dyson Detect, keep an eye out for the numbers proving you’re cleaning up.
It’s a good idea to flip your mattress too, but remember to turn it back if it’s a “no flip” mattress.
Every now and then it’s a good idea to tackle visible stains from time to time too. Go easy with it, but bleach-based products can help you here.
How Often Should You Vacuum Your Mattress?
You’ll find lots of people online saying you should change your sheets once a week. Do people really have time for that? Now, again I’ll admit before my other half, I wasn’t the best at this. Now, I do sleep on fresh sheets fairly regularly. Realistically, changing every two weeks is good enough. If you have time, aim for weekly.
When you’re changing your sheets, just take 2 minutes to run the vacuum over the mattress. Do a proper deep clean and flip twice a year.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of test driving the latest of Google’s mid-range wonders, the Google Pixel 6a. The 6a is the latest of the brand’s mid-range smartphones offering similar performance as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro at a lower price. Sure yes, it’s smaller than the other two models but sure with its amazing performance, camera and price, sure what else could we want?
The Pixel 6a keeps most of the best features but trims the fat to bring the price to a rather reasonable €459. In a year where the new iPhone SE 2022, Samsung Galaxy A53 and other brands like the OPPO Nord are starting to close the gap in the mid-range race, Google has reclaimed the crown. If you’re like me and value the camera and battery over most other specs then I would recommend the Pixel 6a as still the best in class.
Design
The Pixel 6a essentially looks like the standard Pixel 6, just smaller, with a glass front, aluminium frame and plastic back, the Pixel 6a is lighter than the competition and probably second in class versus the iPhone SE for overall oompf factor.
Look, the Pixel 6a is still a sizeable phone but in comparison to the Pixel 6 Pro it’s perfectly small in comparison, the design in itself fits perfectly with the Pixel range, continuing with the boxy stylings of the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6. Some might say the standard Black (charcoal) colour is a bit unremarkable. Personally I like the black plastic look and if that’s not for you then we have Sage and Chalk. In common terms mint green and white/grey colour options which both offer some vibrancy to the handset.
The only major difference here in comparison to the other handsets in the Pixel range is the camera setup. The 2 camera sensors on the Pixel 6a are almost hidden on the left of the black bar that’s camouflaged by also being black. The flash on the other side whereas on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro the array of cameras is spread throughout the bar.
The Pixel 6a is a very well-rounded build for a smartphone that truly looks more expensive than it really is and sure you can’t go wrong with an IP67 water resistance rating for good measure.
Battery
The Pixel 6a is rocking a 4410mAh battery which is very good at this price point and should do you the day. There’s no charger in the box, only a USB-C to C cable. If you don’t have one handy, you’ll have to buy a charging brick with a USB-C output or use another charger that you might have laying about. The Pixel 6a can get from 0 to 22% in about 15 minutes and can get to about 45% in under 30mins. When it comes to the battery life it’s worth noting what Martin mentions in his Pixel 6 Pro review.
It’s impossible for me to avoid reviews considering how widely covered the Pixel 6 series has been. I’ve noted many reviewers saying the battery life is much improved for Google’s flagship. To be fair, it has. The downside of that statement is that it’s only measuring against Google. There are plenty of better batteries on the market and charging just isn’t that fast despite Google saying it is. Adaptive Battery is clever, powering your phone more when you need it and slowing charge to 100% based on your alarm, but it’s still just an ok battery.
The likes of the OPPO smartphones and the One Plus Nord 2T still come with all the chargers in the box. Some include chargers offering up to 80w. They are capable of getting a phone to a full charge in 30 minutes. C’mon Google! This is the only place where you let down the side on this one. Right now, the Pixel 6a’s battery is holding the day easy, but it does seem to run a little hot when charging. The Pixel 6 Pro did show some heating issues during reviews too. It will be worth keeping an eye on over time if this leads to battery degradation long term, but for now, I’m getting to the end of the day without getting into the final 10%.
Software
When it comes to software if anyone knows how to run Android the right way it’s always going to be Google. Better yet Google is offering 5 years of security updates for the phone so there is a chance that we’ll get security updates until mid-2027. Pretty nice if you ask me.
We will also get 3 years of Android updates meaning the phone will get the latest version of Android until mid-2025. With the phone launching with Android 12 from the box, which is pretty good as the Android 13 update will happen sooner rather than later. Before I forget, with the Pixel 6a being Google and all, we’ll get new versions of Android before any of the other manufacturers.
Right now my wallpaper is the live space map, which is pretty class hovering above Ireland and whatnot. It doesn’t seem to use too much just a light bit of action and movement that is just lovely, while you can choose the pantones for icons, text font etc which adds a level of flexibility that really makes this variation of Android pop.
There is also Voice to Text and Live Transcribe which you can use in the recorder app which is streets ahead of the competition while there is a currently playing type feature that listens to whatever music is playing and displays the track and artist, all from an offline database stored on the phone. You can tap the song and start streaming it from several streaming services, not just Google’s own YouTube Music.
Camera
If there is something else that the A series is renowned for it’s the cameras. Traditionally the A range would get the same camera as the Pixel and Pixel Pro but low and behold with the Google Pixel 6a we get a change of approach. Sure this year we get the same chip as the flagships but this is the first year we didn’t get the same camera array.
Bit of a shame not going to lie, but having said that while the 50mp sensor on the Pixel 6 is nuts the main camera on the 6a really really good, yeah not as good as the big boys but the software for processing pics is of such a high level most of us wouldn’t notice the difference.
So what camera line up are we getting?
Simple, the Pixel 6a uses a 12.2mp f/1.7 Sony IMX363 sensor with optical image stabilisation which you might know is the same as what the Pixel 5a was rocking. The Ultrawide lens luckily is the same as the flagships this year with a 12Mp f/2.2 Sony IMX386 lens. That means the picture quality is still top-notch and comparable to phones that cost more than double what you would pay for the humble Google Pixel 6a.
To be fair the camera on this is so good you wouldn’t know it’s not a top-of-the-range handset and its streets ahead of anyone else in the same price point, even if the main sensor doesn’t have the biggest number in the world. Yeah there is no zoom lens (You get Google’s Super Res Zoom feature instead) but then again who does under €500.
Now in today’s TikTok era, if it wasn’t already a big deal, it’s time to look at the selfie cam! The big build-up for what is a standard 8Mp f/2.0 selfie camera. No bells and whistles and will do exactly what you need, clear straightforward point-and-shoot pics. We also get 4K video recording at 60fps. But wait there’s more, we also get a speech enhancement mode that isolates vocal audio and cuts out background noise. As far as camera setups go for the price we are onto a winner.
There are a couple of cool additional features too which include:
Face Deblur
Top Shot, which records a short video to go along with your photo
Camouflage changes their colour to better blend into a scene rather than cutting
Magic Eraser
Real Tone
The Goosed Verdict
The Pixel 6a is safe as houses and for under €500. It’s a dinger. Martin rightly said the Pixel 6 Pro is a contender for the phone of the year and if you want that power at a reasonable price the Pixel 6a is for you. Sure I’ve used the previous A-range models but I’ve moved from my OnePlus Nord to this as my daily driver.
Previous A-series handsets ran a little cheaper, normally tipping under the €400 price point but for a small increase, we are getting a hell of a phone. The only real downsides for me are the 60hz display and the slightly hot charging but when it comes to running Android as it should be. It is a Google Pixel after all and with the camera, software and styling of the handset well there’s no one else in that price range is going to beat them.
