Yesterday we reported that TikTok was on the brink of a US ban by the Trump administration. Less that 24 hours later, and President Trump has signed off on a deal to secure the social media platform’s future in the States and may instil confidence back in users worried about the security of the platform, albeit with the fact nothing has really changed.
The TikTok Deal
Trump has said that be believes “it’s going to be a fantastic deal” and that he has “given the deal [his] blessing. If they get it done that’s great, if they don’t that’s okay too”. Now, I appreciate that’s hardly confidence inspiring from Trump but it’s about as much sense as he’s ever going to make.
The deal, which Trump insisted was critical to the future of the platform in the States, sees Oracle and Walmart take a 12.5% and 7.5% stake in the company respectively. The remaining 80% remains under the control of parent company ByteDance.
ByteDance retaining 80% would still mean the Chinese company is 40% owned by American investors and that TikTok would eventually be majority American-owned.
For people using the platform, the important news is that the US Department of Commerce said it would postpone the ban on TikTok downloads until 27th September because of “recent positive developments.”
But what’s actually changed and why is Trump all of a sudden so happy?
Dirty Business?
When Trump is happy I get suspicious. All along this escapade was apparently about national security but has anything really changed there? Writing for Tech Crunch, Jonathan Shieber has offered the opinion that “the deal benefits everyone except U.S. consumers and people who have actual security concerns about TikTok’s algorithms and the ways they can be used to influence opinion in the U.S”.
Who’s winning here? ByteDance maintains overall ownership for now. Oracle gets a massive platform that needs lots of technology to be paid for while Walmart, perhaps most worryingly, as Shieber puts it “gets access to teens to sell stuff, and U.S. customer data is no safer”.
Don’t for a second believe that this deal was ever about national security. This was a business deal where TikTok was a negotiation tool. Where have wee seen that before? (Looks to US-China trade deals and Huawei).
But for now, TikTok is going nowhere according to a statement on Twitter:
Today marks the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans race, previously named Grand Prix de Vitesse et d’Endurance or Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance. There are few racing events quite like Le Mans. In fact, the race makes up one leg of the Motorsport Triple Crown, completed by just British driver Graham Hill. I’m a motorsport fan, especially F1, and I’m having a lovely lazy Saturday on the couch with Le Mans 2020 playing on Eurosport in the background. Watching the teams rapidly pitting for fuel and fresh tyres, it got me thinking. Could Tesla take part in 24 Hours of Le Mans?
What Is Le Man 24 Hours?
Le Mans is the longest-running car race, in two ways. It’s both longest-running in terms of history and one of the longest-running in terms of endurance. Unlike most races which are determined by order or minimum time, the winner of Le Mans is decided by the car covering the longest distance. This method of choosing the winner is what cost Ken Miles a win in 1966, depicted in the movie Le Mans 66 currently on Sky Cinema and well worth a watch.
The trick with Le Mans is making a car that’s damn fast but above all else bloody reliable. The car needs to run for 24 hours straight without mechanical failure. The cars enter from several categories. There are two custom-built Le Mans Prototypes categories, LMP1 and LMP2 with LMP1 cars permitted to use hybrid technology. Then, onto the slightly more “every-day” cars we have the grand tourer (GT) classes, GT Endurance Pro and GT Endurance AM. These are the cars made by Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche to name but a few. This is the category that got me wondering if Tesla could run a car in Le Mans.
Could Tesla Enter Le Mans?
Now, when I ask “could Tesla enter Le Mans”, the real question I’m asking is whether or not electric cars could compete. Tesla is the “poster boy” for electric cars globally but they could very well disappear in the coming years as the world’s traditional car makers pivot from fossil fuels to electric. Anyway, here’s a run down of whether or not electric cars could really compete at Le Mans.
Do Le Mans Rules Cater For Electric Cars?
Electric power has been creeping into motorsports for years. The current F1 cars are often referred to as the “hybrid era”, owing to the fact the cars benefit from huge amounts of electric power. While an electric-issue could rule a race over for most F1 cars, they’re not as dependent on electric-power as Formula E, a fully electric Grand Prix calendar. With all of this going on, electric cars still can’t legally enter Le Mans under current rules. But the rules are changing.
In 2024, Le Mans rules will bring a new racing class for electric vehicles. The rules will allow for both lithium-ion batteries, featuring in most electric cars like Tesla today, and hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen used in fuel cells has an energy to weight ratio ten times greater than lithium-ion batteries but haven’t seen as much adoption as regular lithium-ion batteries.
More generally, Elon Musk has never shown much interest in entering Tesla into motorsport and the truth is Tesla would be left with everything to lose in electric-powered sports and very little to gain. Beyond Tesla, there are other manufacturers very interested in entering electric cars for Le Mans. Among them are BMW and Audi, two manufacturers already featuring in Formula E.
How Would Electric Cars Work At Le Mans?
It’s on thing getting electric cars into Le Mans, but how would they work? Returning to the whole point of Le Mans being endurance, the question electric cars need to answer is refuelling. Over the course of a 24-hour Le Mans race, cars will pit around 37 times taking on fuel and new tyres while also swapping drivers from time to time. At this level, a pit stop takes about one minute. That’s one minute for a tank of fuel and a new pair of boots. Electric cars require lots of time to recharge and far too long for them to be able to compete with cars that only require a one minute pit stop.
In the early years of Formula E, a race needed two cars and the driver literally swapped car halfway through the race. The range of electric cars has improved to the point a Formula E race now requires and allows for just one car. Le Mans rules don’t and won’t allow for car changes and regardless, over 24 hours it would take far too many spare cars to be logical.
Project 424 Car
One former F1 engineer started Project 424 with the goal of running an electric car in Le Mans 2024. It looks like that particular project has fallen by the wayside, but it still gives us an indication of how electric cars would work at Le Mans. This early-stage project was still using a modular battery design, not hydrogen power thought that might change. The category this project had targetted was very much focused on the concept design end of Le Man cars, not the production road car categories. In short, the idea here would be to potentially have a car with interchangeable battery packs and purely focus on designing a car for Le Mans, not adapting a road car.
Will We See Electric Cars In Le Mans?
This is a matter of “when” and not “will”. While I don’t believe it’s going to be in the next decade or maybe even longer, the days of fossil-fueled cars are numbered. There will be a time when F1 is fully electric and so too will Le Mans. With the new rules of 2024 we may see some fully electric cars dipping their toe in the water and in the following years see electric cars improve year over year before challenging the others in the field.
But what about Tesla? Well, as I mentioned earlier, Tesla doesn’t really have a reason to compete in motorsport. They’re already the best-electric car on the road so they don’t need to compete to advertise the brand. Their research and development will likely be focused on things like the Tesla truck and expanding into other areas instead of motorsport.
Headlines I didn’t think I’d be writing, but sure look here we are. It’s just been announced that President Trump’s administration will ban Americans from downloading or maintaining the WeChat or TikTok apps. WeChat payments will be shut down from midnight Monday 21st September. TikTok will follow suit and be shut down on 12th November if there’s no deal. I guess, if you want a positive the new PlayStation 5 will launch in the States on the same day to fill that void.
Why Is Trump Banning TikTok?
The plan was for TikTok to be bought out by an American company. Microsoft was bidding but they were outbid by Oracle, a fittingly Trump-related company. The Trump administration believes that both TikTok and WeChat pose different threats to US national security but that both collect “vast swaths of data from users”. The US also believes that the platforms are active participants in China’s military and “subject to mandatory cooperation with the intel services of the CCP”.
Will TikTok Really Be Banned?
Who knows? I never thought the Huawei thing would end up being a reality and here we are. The funny thing is that for years the west kind of laughed at the Great Firewall of China. This was the name given to the ban on platforms like Google and Facebook for people accessing the internet in China. Yet, here we are with the “leaders of the free world” doing just the same thing. It’s just unbelievable.
Does TikTok pose a very real threat? Possibly. After watching The Social Dilemma, I’m more on edge about social media that ever. But I also believe that Trump and his administration doesn’t do anything for the good of the people. At least not unless there’s something in it for him.
Will TikTok Be Banned In Ireland?
It’s unlikely that this action, if it goes ahead, will have any impact on Irish TikTokers. Hopefully, it might even mean the platform has fewer Trump-supporters on it which had started filtering into my feed lately. If you’re thinking of giving TikTok a look yourself, here are some of the best accounts to follow on it. Some might be American though so watch this space.
Update: In addition to the November shutdown date, it has been reported that TikTok will be removed from “TikTok will be removed from US app stores from Sunday”.
U-Mask are have had their certification methods questioned and have been banned in Italy. Learn More.
I was in Seoul last year and I saw people wearing masks regularly as they commuted. It was a foreign concept to me. The air and indeed the subway seemed clean to me. I looked into it and discovered in Asian countries masks do more than just protect others. They are a symbol that the wearer understands there is a health issue and that they are taking steps to protect others. Wholesome considering some of the scenes western society has created when it comes to masks. But my point is that the masks make a statement, so why don’t you make one too. I’ve been testing out a few premium tech masks, including the Closca Mask which I love. But even though I love it, after prolonged testing I can only wear it for a short period without it annoying me. I bought myself a U-Mask and I’ve yet to be annoyed while wearing it. I figured, I better write about it in case there are others out there willing to invest in a mask that you can wear for long periods.
What Is U-Mask?
If you’re an F1 fan you’re probably already familiar with U-Mask. Teams like McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Williams have all adopted U-Mask as their protective mask of choice. The company is born out of the Italian company U-Earth. They started out life as a biotech company, designing tech to clean air in offices, hospitals and several other industries too. U-Earth air purifiers can have an impact on the local environment akin to that of 276 oak trees, absorbing 71kgs of pollutants daily.
We believe that access to pure air is as much of a human right, as it is to have access to drinkable tap water and healthy food.
Betta Maggio
Founder and CEO of U-Earth Biotech
The company knew how to clean air so naturally when the world changed this year thanks to COVID-19, they saw an opportunity to produce something which can keep everyone’s air clean.
How Does U-Mask Work?
U-Mask is a two-layer mask.
U-Mask doesn’t seem to steam up glasses either when positioned right
U-Mask Outer Layer
The outer cover can be reused unlimited times, you got this for life. It should be cleaned regularly and can be washed at 40% with sanitiser and be good to use again and again. You don’t have to wash your U-Mask cover and every time you wear it. Instead, you just wash it when it gets a little dirty or you feel like it needs to be cleaned. The resealable bag packet the mask comes in means you can protect your mask in there.
This is an over-the-ear mask, which initially had me left a little apprehensive as I’ve found some of these uncomfortable. The genuine reason I bought it was because Lando Norris was wearing one every week while racing for McLaren F1. I liked the look, I was influenced and I bought it, forgetting about the ear thing. Yes, it has occurred to me that I could go all-in playing F1 2020 and wear a mask for hours building up to a full race.
But joking aside, my main reason for buying it off seeing an F1 team wearing them was comfort. I knew that F1 teams must be trying to keep their drivers and pit crews in top mental condition. Wearing a mask for a full race weekend is going to impact that. U-Mask supply these masks to several F1 teams and so I have to assume they are top-notch. And they are. After trialling a few different mask styles, I find myself reaching for my U-Mask more than anything. Like, you know your favourite pair of comfortable underpants and the underpants you only wear because you need to do laundry?
My U-Mask is absolutely on the “favourite” end of the spectrum. So much so I’ve ordered myself another one and this is all down to the design of the outer layer.
U-Mask Filter
Inside the mask, you’ll find your filter. This is the second reason I love my mask. Not only is it comfortable enough for prolonged wearing, but this mask protects others, like all face-coverings, while also protecting me. I’ve been in too many shops and seen too many selfish people without masks and thought “why am I protecting that idiot”. Now, I don’t care because I’m protecting myself too.
The U-Mask filter is reusable and self-sanitising with a life span of 150 to 200 hours of use. It doesn’t just block air contaminants on the mask surface either. It destroys them inside the mask thanks to a multi-layered design of the filter. This mask is working overtime to look after you. So much so that U-Mask is certified as a Class 1 Medical Device.
The filter, live the cover, doesn’t need regular cleaning. But from time to time you should wipe it down with disinfectant wipes. You can also buy refills for the mask and it’s important to note that the filters are unique to the mask.
Is U-Mask Worth It?
I was a little on the fence about forking out a fairly sizeable chunk of change for a mask given that masks are such a new thing we need to wear. I feel absolutely vindicated in my decision to buy the U-Mask. Actually, I love my mask so much I’ve just bought a new one and a pack of filters to keep me going.
Earlier I said my reason for picking the mask was the assumption that if it’s good enough for an F1 team, it’s good enough for me. That logic worked out. I’ve had a few scenarios where I’ve just left the mask on for an hour or two in the city instead of taking it off every time I leave a shop. Honestly, you forget you’re even wearing this mask. This is great too because some experts are already advising that on busy streets you should be wearing a mask anyway.
I also do like the fact it offers me some protection and that it’s been designed by bio-scientists who specialise in clean air. It does take the edge off seeing idiots not wearing a mask when they should be knowing I’ve got a layer of protection for me in my mask.
There’s an added feel-good factor too. When you buy a U-Mask you’re also helping to fund U-Earth Air Purifiers to Italian hospitals to fight COVID19.
You should wash your U-Mask when ever it is visibly dirty. The creators state it doesn’t need to be washed after every use.
How often should I change the filter?
The filter is tested to be effective for 150-200 hours. It’s hard to keep track of that kind of thing so I’d recommend airing on the side of caution. If your gut says the filter is done, swap it out.
Why is the U-Mask so expensive?
Expensive is subjective word. Disposable masks end up being more expensive if you plough through them. For me, I’m investing in a mask like this because it’s good for the environment but also because some added tech protects me as well as others.
Culture Night is one of my favourite night of the year in Ireland. It’s a night where the streets of Dublin often got closed to celebrate performances of different kinds. In this COVID-19 world, Culture Night’s date kind of snuck up on me and it was only the other day I saw a sign for it saying it was going ahead. This piqued my interest. How could culture night go ahead?
What is Culture Night?
Culture Night has been a national event for 15 years. It’s all about celebrating culture, creativity and the arts. It’s a night where many venues open their doors and welcome the public in free of charge. I’ve enjoyed whiskey tastings, wax sculptures, poetry and people dangling from a height on Dame Street over the past few Culture Nights.
Your first thought might be how can something like this go ahead in 2020. The truth is, it might be easier than ever to soak up culture from around Ireland and not just your own locality.
Two things are certain about this year’s event.
It’s going ahead
It’ll be like no other.
How Is Culture Night 2020 Going Ahead?
Culture Night 2020 has been totally reimagined so it can go ahead in a world being blasted by a pandemic. I’d like to think that this night is one of those shots of normal that your mind needs as we all live in isolation and often away from loved ones. The organisers will be paying artists involved in events and I hope that others volunteering can either receive some public donations or get their talents seen by others.
This year’s Culture Night will be split into two programmes:
On both of these webpages you’ll be able to dig down into events happening online from around the country along with real-life events that will be taking place in your locality. Offline events include things like tours of the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol and event the Bretzel Bakery.
Online events include a massive range of things for you to enjoy, from live music to virtual tours.
With the year set to be like no other, here are a few of the events which stand out to me. I do advise you get on over to the Culture Night website and check out what’s going on offline in your area along with either national or online events. With over 700 events taking place, this really is just a taster.
Kilkenny Arts Office Poetry Trail
I adore this solution from my native Kilkenny. Twelve local poets have their work displayed in shops throughout the city. You can also call 1800 272 994 for free and have a listen to their work.
The Welcoming Project
This online dance performance by Catherine Young Dance brings the stories of migrants and refugees to life. These people have made Kerry their home and this event is a fantastic example of how inclusion breeds new-age creativity.
The Bretzel Bakery
Not quite sure why this one is speaking to me so much. I do love food though. The Brezel Bakery in Dublin will be handing out sourdough starter culture for free from their shop on Lennox Street in Dublin. There’ll also be a video you can watch from a safe distance.
The City Speaks Podcast Tour
A good chance I’ll end up doing this one. This walking tour will bring you through Smithfield and is a 1.6km walk taking about one hour to complete. The walk will bring you around to see local street art.
Like I said, this is a very small selection of things, largely, in my own area. I recommend heading over to the Culture Night 2020 website and making a plan for yourself. If ever there’s been a year we need to take a few minutes and appreciate creativity and the arts along with each other, it’s this year.
Last week on Twitter someone asked me to refresh an article I did a few years back. It was the top Amazon Alexa Skills to install on your Amazon Echo device. I really need to get around to updating our own skill because I’m sure most houses now have some sort of Echo device in them. The Irish-specific features of what Alexa can do are always increasing. Today, Three added to that by launching Alexa prepay top-up, a “world first” for prepay customers.
What Is Alexa Top Up?
When I think of voice assistant and my perception of tech when I was younger, the smart home with voice controls was something only Bill Gates could afford. Today, Three launched a service which means prepay customers can top up their phones using voice control. Mad, isn’t it? All this voice control is powered by tiny smart speakers which have become remarkably affordable. For just €30 you can buy an Amazon Echo Dot which gives you access to all the voice controls in the home you want. You’ll need compatible accessories and smart plugs but once you have them, it’s time to image your Mr. Gates.
Do you remember back in the day when you’d have to go to a shop to buy a slip of paper to add credit to your phone? Ah, to be fair, it’s not that long ago I guess, but today Three customers with an Alexa-powered device, simply have to say “Alexa, ask My3 to top me up” and they can buy credit for their phone.
a safe and simple way for our customers to top up, all from the comfort of their own homes
Neasa Parker, Director of Consumer for Three Ireland
Three’s Neasa Parker believes things like this are signs of tech’s increased role in our day to day life saying “in recent months, many people have adapted to new ways of living and have increasingly relied on technology to stay connected to those that matter most, and we wanted to bring a safe and simple way for our customers to top up, all from the comfort of their own homes”.
How Does Alexa Top Up Work?
First thing you’ll have to do is download the free Three Alexa Skill. From there, you need to follow these steps:
“Alexa, ask My3 to top me up”.
When prompted, confirm the amount to top up “Top me up €20”.
Select “default card” or for example “card ending 1234” when asked by Alexa to confirm the card to use.
Alexa will provide an overview of the top up and ask for confirmation to proceed before then confirming that top-up was successful.
Finally, we have all the pieces of the puzzle. That means we can finally put it all together and pick a new games console. Considering the Xbox One and PlayStation 5 launched over six years ago, this isn’t like a phone purchase. Buying a games console is a commitment for many years. So which one suits you best? Here’s everything you need to know about which games console you should buy in 2020.
What Consoles Are Going On Sale?
Unlike the PS4 and Xbox One, both of these consoles are launching in the same year. Any both companies is actually launching two versions of each console too.
Sony Launch
Sony will launch two almost identical consoles. The PlayStation 5 will be the traditional looking primary console and be the more expensive of the two. The second, slightly cheaper console, will just be missing a CD-drive. That’s why it’s donning the name PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. If you live in an area with a really strong internet connection, the Digital Edition makes sense. The CD-drive PS5 makes more sense if you buy games, complete them and then trade them into a shop like CeX or GameStop.
Comparing PlayStation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
CPU
AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
GPU
Custom RDNA 2 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
Custom RDNA 2 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
GPU Power
10.28 TFLOPs
10.28 TFLOPs
System on a Chip (SOC)
7nm SOC
7nm SOC
RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
Performance Target
Up to 8K. Up to 120 FPS
Up to 8K. Up to 120 FPS
Storage
825GB SSD
825GB SSD
Expandable Storage
Yes. SSD Slot.
Yes. SSD Slot.
Backward compatibility
Yes. No definite list.
Yes. No definite list.
Disc Drive
4K UHD Blu-ray
Digital Only
Display Out
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
RRP
€499.99
€399.99
Microsoft
Microsoft will also be launching two totally different consoles. The first is the Xbox Series S. This is the “entry-level” console in their range. This lower-priced console will trim back on visual performance, running games at 1440p at 60fps. It also maxes out at a 512GB SSD hard drive, but both can be expanded to 1TB. Considering the Series S has not disk drive, you may as well expand that memory as soon as you buy.
The Xbox Series X runs 4K at 60fps and has a 4K UHD Blu-ray disk drive. It’s also a chunk of change more expensive but more on that later.
Comparing Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
CPU
8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz 3.6Ghz w/ SMT Enabled
8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz 3.4Ghz w/ SMT Enabled
GPU
AMD RDNA 2 GPU 52 CUs @ 1.825GHz
AMD RDNA 2 GPU 20 CUs @ 1.565GHz
GPU Power
12.15 TFLOPS
4 TFLOPS
System on a Chip (SOC)
Custom 7nm Enhanced SOC
Custom 7nm Enhanced SOC
RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
10GB GDDR6 RAM
Performance Target
4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS
1440p @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS
Storage
1TB SSD
512GB SSD
Expandable Storage
1TB Expansion Card
1TB Expansion Card
Backward compatibility
Yes. No definite list.
Yes. No definite list.
Disc Drive
4K UHD Blu-ray
Digital Only
Display Out
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
RRP
€499
€299
Comparing Games Console Prices
As you can see in both comparison tables, there’s not an insignificant gap in pricing between all options going on sale. Here’s a simple comparison.
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
€499.99
€399.99
€499
€299
The two PlayStations don’t have much between them in terms of hardware and performance. The decision makes more most people choosing between PlayStation consoles will be the internet connection they have at home. If you have fast broadband, the PS5 Digital Edition will be fine. If you’re in a rural area with poor internet connectivity, the disk-drive on the PS5 will be essential. Of course, there are other scenarios where that disk-drive comes in handy. If you’re big into movies your PS5 could be your DVD and Blu-ray player.
When it comes to the Xbox Series X and Series S, there’s a much bigger gulf in the pricing. Both consoles have the same difference as the PlayStation consoles. The Series X comes with a disk-drive while the Series S is digital-only. As you might imagine, the bigger price difference suggests the two Xbox consoles will have more disparity between them than just disk-drives and you’d be right. Graphic performance, processing power and built-in storage all takes a hefty step down alongside the price drop.
There’s going to be a lot of variables that impact your choice of purchase. I can see parents opting for the Xbox Series S but it’s critical that if that’s you, you understand how important a good internet connection is. Also, buying games on a digital-only console means no trade-ins. Trade-ins are a great way for kids to learn the value of their games and they often trade in three games to get one new game back. That’s all gone with digital-only consoles and the long term spending could be much higher.
Microsoft Payment Plan
When it comes to being careful about how much you pay for the console, pay attention to the payment plan option Xbox is launching. Xbox All Access is a 24-month plan where you pay off the console over two years without paying anythig up front. You also get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Access included. However, you end up paying over the odds over two years. It’s affordable in the short term but just be aware you will end up spending onver €100 on top of the regular retail price.
Which Console Should You Pick?
This really isn’t an easy question to answer. Personally, I’ve been an Xbox One owner for years and have been living that digital-download life for quite some time. I also have Virgin Media’s 1GB broadband so I can download games really quickly. Naturally, that would leave you thinking I’m going to buy myself a new Xbox at least, but no. I’m making the jump to PlayStation 5.
My reasons are quite simple. When I bought my Xbox One, I didn’t really have any gamer mates. Now, I have a few friends with PlayStations so it’s a safe assumption if they upgrade it’ll be to the Sony console. Because I’m used to the digital-download way of life it makes more sense to me to pick up the cheaper PlayStation 5. It’s all the power of next-gen consoles at the best price.
But I can’t stress enough that picking out a console will vary wildly based on your own personal circumstance. Want to ask me a question directly? Find me on Twitter or TikTok and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Which console should I buy if I’m a casual gamer?
If you’re a casual gamer, the Xbox Series S is more than enough. You get to experience next gen gaming at entry level prices. The only exception here is if you have super slow broadband. Then you’ll need a console with a disk-drive. If you don’t want to stretch to the €500 that will cost, it’s a great time to pick up an old Xbox One or PS4.
My internet is slow. Which console is should I buy?
For me, the key here is the disk-drive. A slow internet connection means slow game downloads. You don’t want to miss a game launch because you needed to leave your console downloading overnight do you?
Which console is the best value?
This will change for everyone but for me it’s the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. It ticks all the boxes of top specs at the right price. However, I do have the internet connection to enjoy it.
Why would I need a disk-drive?
For many people in Ireland, internet speeds are so frustrating that buying physical copies of games is more enjoyable. It also means you can trade the game in when you’re done with it. Also, don’t forget that a games console doubles as a DVD/Blu-ray player when it has a disk-drive.
This was always going to be the really interesting part of the PS5 launch. I say that because Microsoft took a two tier approach with their pricing across two very different consoles. Sony does have a similar approach in that there’s two versions of the same console, the difference being one has a CD-drive and the other doesn’t. For those of you with lightening fast broadband connections, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition comes in at €399.99. If you’re buying in the UK it’s actually a little cheaper at £359.99 giving you about a fiver if you were to pick out your console up North.
The more expensive model is the CD-drive version of the PS5. This is the standard model which is just called the PlayStation 5. This console will set you back €499.99 in Ireland or £449.99 in the UK. I don’t for a second think that you’re going to order in a PS5 from the UK to save €7 but at the same time, if you’re passing through Newry, why not?
When Can You Pre-order PlayStation 5?
That’s the brass tacks so far. There’s some more info we’re waiting on confirmation on, including pre-order. We’ll keep an eye out and update this article when pre-order opens.
A couple of years ago at Web Summit, I listened to a great talk on wearables. The guy speaking introduced me to the concept of the halfway test. If you leave your house and get halfway to your destination, what would be important enough to turn around an go home for? Your wallet, almost certainly. Your phone, maybe. Your smartwatch, most likely not. They are a nice to have. However, today smartwatches are shifting away from simply letting you know you have messages to being full on health devices. Fitbit recently launched the Sense, the first wearable which saw them confident enough to use terminology like “health monitor” instead of “fitness tracker”. Now, devices like the sense have passed regulatory review to identify Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
Fitbit’s Health Monitor
Fitbit has received Conformité Européenne (CE) marking in the European Union, for its electrocardiogram (ECG) app to assess heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation (AFib). This is a condition that affects more than 33.5 million people globally and one I’ve been tested for myself (and got the all-clear).
The Fitbit ECG App launches in October 2020 to people with the Fitbit Sense in several countries, including Ireland. Despite being one of the most preventible conditions, heart disease being the leading cause of death worldwide. AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of serious complications like stroke, can be particularly difficult to detect, as episodes can sometimes show no symptoms and is discovered by chance. Up to 25% of people who have an AFib-related stroke find out they have AFib only after a stroke has occurred.
Beyond Step Tracking
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, despite being one of the most preventable conditions. AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of serious complications like stroke, can be particularly difficult to detect, as episodes can sometimes show no symptoms. Some studies suggest that as many as 25 percent of people who have an AFib-related stroke find out they have AFib only after a stroke has occurred. Early detection of AFib is not just difficult but critical to people’s health.
Fitbit is ambitious here. The company’s co-founder, Eric Friedman says “helping people understand and manage their heart health has always been a priority for Fitbit, and our new ECG app is designed for those users who want to assess themselves in the moment and review the reading later with their doctor”.
Flying Blind
Our doctors are often flying blind when it comes to detecting AFib. I wsa donating platelets when a potential issue with my own heart was spotted. A nurse felt I had an odd heartbeat, my donation was stopped and I had to go get some proper testing done. An inconclusive EKG with my GP was followed by a 24-hour halter unit test which monitored a full day of my heart rate. I got the all clear, but it was an expensive and nervous time. The funny thing is that the cost of everything was about the same as the new Fitbit sense.
This is exciting because a consumer wearable could actually provide medical professionals with critical data if they buy into it.
As part of the process to be a recognised medical-grade device, Fitbit conducted clinical trials across the U.S. The study looked at how accurately Fitbit could detect AFib from normal sinus rhythm. The results were impressive, exceeded target performance, demonstrating the ability to detect 98.7% of AFib cases and was 100% accurate in identifying study participants with normal sinus rhythm.
Doctors are often flying blind when it comes to our day-to-day lives and diagnose us based on a short meeting. Dr. Venkatesh Raman, an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Georgetown Hospital in the US has long believed in the potential for health tracking wearables. He believes using “real-world, individual data to deliver more informed, personalized care” is the way forward, and is hopeful that Fitbit can help detect AFib earlier.
The Fitbit Sense will be the first wearable from the company to feature this new tech. All you do is hold your finger to the stainless steel ring on the watch while being still for 30 seconds to get a reading that can be downloaded and shared with a doctor.
For me, that means new-age wearables like the Fitbit sense are much more likely to pass the halfway test.
IKEA is famed for making affordable but stylish furniture. Today, the Swedish homewares giant announced they would be partnering with ASUS’ gaming division, Republic of Gamers (ROG) to develop a new range of affordable gaming furniture and accessories to bring the gaming experience at home to a new level.
Tapping Into Gaming
Believe it or not, gaming is still very much a growing industry. With about a quarter of the world’s population now considering themselves to be gamers, IKEA has noticed there is some unfed demand for gaming setups. It’s a genius move to target professional streamers and casual hobbyists alike, both often somewhat rich with disposable income. The “Twitch generation” is used to subscription models and in chasing down a tidy gaming setup, may turn to things like LIFX smart lights to up their visual game. IKEA claims to be “curious about how home furnishing could improve gaming experience and life around it” but the real brass tacks here is that they’re eager to tap into a rich market.
That’s no bad thing because I believe there’s a tonne of games out there eager to see what IKEA brings to the gaming table.
Gaming Specialists
It’s dangerous to go alone in the world of gaming. Get something wrong and your best-laid plans will simply fall flat on their face. That’s why IKEA will partner with ASUS’ Republic of Gamers. Together the companies will launch a series of products designed specifically for the gamers to bring improved comfort and gaming experience. Instead of the gaming setup being something relegated to “the gaming cave”, IKEA and ROG hope to “welcome gaming home through developing the new range of affordable and ergonomic gaming furniture & accessories, designed to increase performance while also blend in beautifully to homes”.
Personally, I don’t think this will just be individual units. IKEA could go down a similar route of their bespoke kitchen designs. This would definitely achieve the goal of building a gaming setup into your home.
When Does IKEA And ROG Partnership Launch In Ireland?
It’s all well and good, but I’m afraid you won’t be getting this range in Ireland any time soon. The new gaming range is developed in IKEA Product Development Centre in China, Shanghai and this is also where the new range will launch. This Chinese launch takes place in February 2021 with the rest of the world following in October 2021. This range is set to include about 30 items and I’m almost certain it will strike a chord with gamers nationwide when it lands.
