Four years, eh? Where does the time go? On the anniversary of possibly the most important Games console of our generation I thought I’d share a personal piece. Something that shows that while it’s likely halfway through its life-cycle it’s still the single greatest piece of tech in my life!
There isn’t really a lot that I can say about the Nintendo Switch that hasn’t already been said numerous times. From how it changed our perspective on handheld vs home console gaming to how it helped Nintendo recover from the failure of the Wii U, even to how it pays tribute to one of the most beloved figures in the games industry, no stone has been left unturned in discovering everything there is to love about the little machine. With so much coverage and exposure, you could be forgiven for growing bored with, or worse, indifferent towards Nintendo’s latest hardware release, but not me. Somehow the Nintendo Switch has remained my number one piece of tech since its launch in 2017 (possibly even before if I’m being honest). It’s by no means perfect, it will never live up to the raw power of the Xbox or Playstation families, nor is Nintendo’s online service anything to write home about, but all told, there’s nothing anyone can say to change my mind that this is the most important piece of gaming hardware we’ve ever seen.
Love at First Sight
Imagine the excitement of seeing this for the first time.
New gaming launches are always special, Nintendo consoles in particular. I remember the lead up to the launch of the Switch as clear as day. I remember being blown away by the October trailer, showcasing the possibilities that a hybrid console could bring. I recall waking up in the wee hours of a January morning (4AM!) to watch Yoshiaki Koizumi proudly bring us through his latest project in more detail, walking away from my desk in work to ring Gamestop about a pre-order later that same day. When launch day finally rolled around, I knew I had to take a day off work to dive right into this thing. My anticipation even got the better of me when I tasted (you read that right) the Breath of the Wild cartridge; that turned out to be a mistake. I couldn’t wait to get it home, fire it up and lose myself in Hyrule again. Once I’d gotten it out of the box and removed all the peelies (taking the time to savour the sensation) I knew that my relationship with this console would be a long and happy one. I remember sitting in front of my telly, daring myself to mimic the people in the reveal trailer and undock it and continue my gaming seamlessly with giddy excitement.
Seeing Double
I was never one to double-dip when it came to games. I always viewed one copy of a game as enough. Why would I need more than one anyway? You can only play one game at any one time so what’s the point? Well, that was pre-Switch Alex. Suddenly, I felt the need to re-buy any game I had the chance to. There were the obvious ones like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, games that were trapped on a console that practically nobody owned but were always going to be insanely popular whenever my friends were over. But I soon found myself desperately wanting to rebuy even the big genre-defining games. Eventually I ended up with games like Shovel Knight, Cuphead, Dark Souls and The Witcher 3 (ironically I still haven’t given in to the memes and bought the Skyrim port); each of which I’d already put dozens, if not hundreds of hours into but now felt I had to have again because of the boundless possibilities the Switch itself presented.
Two Shovels are better than one
My duplicate library would really come in handy when my girlfriend and I moved in together. No longer would I have to find ways to entertain myself when Love Island or Strictly Come Dancing was on (not hating on either, just not my thing). I had plenty of familiar, hugely fun games right on the small screen in front of me, waiting to be played. In fact, my Switch has really put its money where its mouth is where off-TV gaming is concerned. It’s been on every flight I’ve taken since 2017 and it’s always the first thing I pack if I’m heading home for a weekend. It even kept me company on jury service where I was able to knock out a few dungeons in Link’s Awakening while waiting to be called up!
Feast or Famine
A console lives and dies on the range of software it can offer and the Switch isn’t just living; it’s thriving, though not without a few hiccups. Coming right out at launch with the most ambitious Zelda game to date was an easy way to cement it as an instant hit and going from strength to strength with Mario Odyssey, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and even a new Animal Crossing (which lead to possibly my favourite friendship of 2020) only further solidified its place in gaming history. Throw the aforementioned ports of blockbuster games from years gone by into the mix and it’s plain to see that there really is something for everyone. But unfortunately, it’s not all good news. As I mentioned earlier, the Switch does have its problems, most notably the lack or any real backwards support for its predecessors. Nintendo’s refusal to bring their classic N64 or Gamecube titles to their retro collection series like they’ve done with NES and SNES games seems like a big, missed opportunity to score brownie points. Their alternative strategy to, in one case, bundle their older games together has even been met with some criticism for being anti-consumer. Similarly, the lack of any streaming apps (apart from YouTube), something that seems to be a given on any new web-enabled device these days, is baffling. And sure, it can be a little frustrating that ports of newer, more demanding games like Doom or The Witcher might not look as pretty on the little console that could, but you know what? None of these issues matter to me.
So what?
To me the Switch represents far more than the next generation of Nintendo consoles. It represents a new generation in gaming. A generation where freedom is valued over graphical prowess, being able to play best-selling titles wherever you are on the big or small screen. A generation where accessibility and player choice are at the fore (there are five different controller configurations for the Switch right now!). A generation where, admittedly not for the first time, we really don’t know what Nintendo will do next.
So sure, the Switch isn’t anything new at this point, and we’re already looking at what its mid-life successor, the Switch Pro might be. But right now, what’s not to love?
Also, just to prove to you that I did, here’s me tasting my copy of Breath of the Wild all those years ago. Enjoy.
It really is the most bitter substance in the world!
We’re still waiting for electric scooters to be legalised in Ireland, despite yet another seemingly false dawn. It’s no secret that shared scooter companies are circling with massive interest to see what’s happening. One such company is Bolt, who today has confirmed they plan to roll out a public scooter share system in Ireland.
For Or Against Shared Scooters
I’m wary of electric scooter share systems. They bring massive challenges with them, most of all for vulnerable pedestrians. However, those challenges aren’t with the scooters themselves but the users and technology is fast advancing to govern how scooters are used by members of the public, right down to where they’re parked.
For this reason, I’m leaning towards supporting shared scooter systems. After using them in Germany, they are an incredibly fun way to get around a city once the management of them isn’t forgotten. Bolt is a particularly interesting company too because they are more focused on the overall transport picture instead of just making money from scooters (which no doubt they will also do).
Bolt To Bring Shared Scooters To Ireland
Today, Bolt has announced that they plan to introduce a shared electric scooter system to Ireland. They join a long list of companies that plan to do the same, but are perhaps the company with the most interesting vision for an integrated transport and delivery system.
Luke Mackey from Bolt said, “our data from similar sized cities shows that offering micromobility services like scooters alongside ride-hailing can replace up to 11% of car trips under 3km. Integration with the wider public transport system would only increase the value add to the public who can mix between cars, micromobility, rail and bus in one app”.
The interesting thing here is the potential value for the customer. For example, you’ll be able to do part of your journey in a taxi, something that you can already do with Bolt, and complete it on an electric scooter. Overcome the M50 part but not waste money sitting in city center traffic.
Bolt is planning to provide 10,000 their electric scooters to Irish towns and cities. Along with being a sustainable transport solution, Bolt expects over 130 jobs are to be created on the successful roll-out of e-scooters in Irish cities.
These local operation roles would manage the charging, maintenance and distribution of the e-scooters.
For now, however, we simply wait for the legislation that will make the use of electric scooters on Irish roads legal.
Many expected Amazon.co.uk to struggle in 2021 when it came to the Irish market. Between expected delivery delays and customs charges Brough by Brexit and the “shop local” sentiment brought on by COVID-19, the e-commerce giant should have struggled in Ireland. However, we’ve surveyed the Irish public and found that, since January 1st and the completion of Brexit, 40% of Irish shoppers have bought something from Amazon.co.uk.
What’s changed? How much does it cost and why are people still shopping on Amazon.co.uk from Ireland?
The Era Of Online Shopping
It’s impossible to ignore how COVID-19 has shaped the appeal of online shopping in Ireland. Ireland is traditionally a slow market to adopt change and this is exactly why many Irish retailers were caught napping in 2020. The global pandemic brought with it nationwide closures for businesses and what is likely to be one of the toughest times any of those business owners would face. Naturally, the worst part of the pandemic is the numbers of lives we’ve lost, but there’s also a massive on-going non-health related impact too. People have closed businesses and many won’t reopen.
Some businesses, whether they were already selling online or just adapted quickly, changed their primary business model, effectively, overnight. As a big craft beer fan, for me one of the stand-out examples is The White Hag. This is a small independent brewery in Sligo that quickly launched beers online and held events over Zoom, including their annual beer festival. Why? Because pubs were closed. A massive revenue stream was gone. Events were canceled, but buying online was still an option.
Today, more people than in the history of Ireland are working from home. Quite logically that means people don’t need to leave the home. They don’t need to past stores on the way home from the office. And they know they’ll be home for the courier dropping off a package. The people of Ireland are shopping online.
Amazon.co.uk, Ireland and Brexit
It seems like forever that we were talking about Brexit and then, almost suddenly, it was a reality. January 1st 2021 meant the UK had left the EU. This also meant that shopping with UK retailers became more complex. Some of them were ready. ASOS, for example, had an EU warehouse they could now ship products from, circumnavigating potential customs issues for shoppers in Ireland.
Amazon.co.uk did open a shipping warehouse in Dublin, but this wasn’t for Brexit. Instead, it was to support local delivery companies with their own couriers. The plan is to open a fulfillment center, possibly this year, but right now shopping on Amazon.co.uk means you are shopping with Brexit customs arrangements in place. I’ve bought a few bits with Amazon.co.uk this year and was a bit surprised at how smooth the process is, even with customs charges.
On Saturday, I ordered something. I was told it would arrive on the following Tuesday, only to have it delivered on Monday. That a very impressive e-commerce experience with most of the processing taking place on a Sunday, behind the scenes.
So, just how are all the charges being calculated when you shop on Amazon.co.uk from Ireland?
Amazon.co.uk Import Charges
First of all, anything sold or fulfilled by Amazon to the Republic of Ireland, will have the UK VAT removed by Amazon.co.uk. They then calculate the VAT and import fees during the checkout process based on the delivery address using these rules:
where the value of your package is €22 or less, Irish VAT and customs duties should not be due
where the value of your package exceeds €22 but is below €150, import VAT may be due and customs duties should not be due
where the value of your package exceeds €150, import VAT and customs duties will be due
When you’re checking out, you’ll see these fees calculated. I was looking at a Canon camera which costs £389. The import fees, including import VAT is £81 making the total price just over £470.
You don’t need to worry about any other slips of paper arriving in a few days time. That’s your lot.
Are People In Ireland Still Shopping With Amazon.co.uk?
Simply put, the answer is yes. We surveyed people from around the country and found that 40% of them have bought something on Amazon.co.uk this year. This means they would have bought items from the UK and paid customs fees.
The reasons for this become apparent when we also look at research from PayPal who’ve found the shoppers in Ireland are turning to international markets for value and a wider selection of products.
I took a random keyboard from Logitech and compared the prices from Amazon.co.uk and Currys PC World. Amazon.co.uk would have set me back €50 while Currys PC World wanted to charge me €70. This isn’t always the case, as demonstrated by the camera I showed earlier so you absolutely should still do your homework before you make a purchase. I still encourage you to buy locally where you can, but it’s important that consumers and businesses alike don’t start to think that Amazon.co.uk is no longer a threat.
In fact, our previous research has found that, on average, 33% of people in Ireland shopped with the UK e-commerce giant, so their share has actually grown. People will still turn to Amazon for a wider selection of products unavailable in Ireland or products that are simply cheaper.
The data: We conducted a Google Survey which reached 252 respondents to find that 39.7% of people had “bought something from Amazon.co.uk this year”.
This article will be a sore find for some readers. Today, many still dream of turning on a PlayStation 5 and getting down to some gaming. The consoles are still really tough to find, but if you do manage to get your hands on one, here’s everything you need to know about getting started.
Set Your PlayStation 5 Up
This guide isn’t really a setup guide. It’s more what apps, services and games you should download to make yourself feel right at home. But, of course, you will need to setup your new console.
Sony provides a great guide online, but to be honest, the PlayStation 5 actually has a very intuitive setup wizard when you boot for the first time. Accessibility options are on by default too, which I thought was a nice touch.
Double Check Your HDMI Cable
As part of your setup, be sure to check which HDMI cable you’re using. Standard HDMI will work, but Sony ships the PS5 with a HDMI 2.1 cable. It’s really short, but it does ensure the best possible quality.
Keep Your Controller Wired In
While you’re setting up, try to keep your controller plugged in. It’s not fully charged out of the box so you may as well get that battery up to full juice as soon as possible.
Check Out Your Trials
To get the ball rolling, you can start out with some Sony trials. The last PlayStation I had was the PlayStation 2, believe it or not. I’ve only known Xbox Live for the past few years. I had to get my head around what these Sony services were all about.
PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus is pretty much the must-have subscription for your PS5 if you want to play online-multiplayer games. It also gives you access to a host of other goodies. PlayStation Plus can be bought for a year, 3 months, 6 months or just paid monthly. However, the longer you pay up for, the better value you’re getting.
Pay monthly: €9 per month | €108 per year
Pay tri-monthly: €25 every three months | €100 per year
Pay Annually: €60 per year | works out at €5 per month
PlayStation Plus does offer some more bang for your buck than just access to online gaming. This subscription also gives you access to popular PlayStation 4 games and even some new PlayStation 5 games too.
PlayStation Now
PlayStation Now is the slightly less important membership, or at least in my eyes it is. That said, I’ve paid for that too. While PlayStation Plus gets you online and offers some great games, PlayStation Now offers an incredible volume of games. This membership gives you access to over 700 games dating back to the PS2 era. You can even play on Windows PC if you like.
There are new games added every month and it’s often fun to dip in and grab a game for the craic. I’ve been playing The Last Of Us Remastered which is a PlayStation 3 game originally. Some of these games have stood the test of time remarkably well.
This is good news too. Between the two memberships, you’ll have access to some classic games. It’s just as well because there’s a very limited selection of next-generation games on the market, to be honest. I’ve been playing FIFA 21 (and enjoying it more than the last-gen console version) and the incredible Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but you could count the number of next-gen games ready to rock on two hands.
Play Astro’s Playroom
While next-gen games are hard to come by, there is one that stands out as being surprisingly good. Astro’s Playroom is a clever inclusion from Sony and it comes pre-installed on your console. You may be tempted to delete it, and you can, but it’s a lot more than just ads or bloatware.
Much like why Microsoft used to ship Windows with games to teach you how to use new features, Astro’s Playroom introduces you to the inner workings of your PlayStation 5 and the Dualsense controller. It does all of this with what is frankly a brilliant, top-rated, stand-alone game!
Turn On Remote Play
I’ve already gotten great use out of this though I will flag it depends on a decent internet connection. If herself wants to watch the telly but you really want to play your PlayStation 5, Remote Play is here to save the day.
I’ve installed Remote Play on my iPad and my laptop. Basically, it means I can cast games from my console to my other devices and play without the main TV that the console is connected to. You will need either your PS4 Dualshock or PS5 Dualsense controller hooked up to your device unless you want horrible on-screen controls.
Here’s how to set Remote Play up on whatever device you’re using. You can also download the PlayStation app for chats and notifications on the go. It’s only ok, so I’m not giving it its own section.
Sign Into Your Social Profiles
I love saving the odd top bin goal from FIFA 21 and sharing it over WhatsApp with friends. Surprisingly, it’s bloody hard to get videos of your gameplay off the PlayStation 5. For example, you can’t just download from your PlayStation app (as far as I know). Signing into your Twitter account and your YouTube account are the only ways you’ll be able to get your videos off and shared.
Here’s one of my favourite goals since I got my PS5.
Other than that, it’s just time to go and explore. Some of the older games will keep you entertained. Stranded Deep has taken a shocking amount of my life already.
Cloud gaming is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around for longer than you think. When they first hear the phrase most people will immediately think of Google Stadia or Steam Link. It can be argued, however, that browser games like the old Flashgames of the late 90s and early 2000s are the precursors to these newest iterations on the technology (shout out to everyone who grew up on Newgrounds).
Anyone remember Bloons Tower Defence?
What we now think of as Cloud gaming is essentially the Netflix of video games. You pay for a subscription to a video game service that allows you to stream the game of your choice to practically any web-enabled device with a screen. Whether it’s your PC, your phone or your tablet, the promise of most Cloud Gaming companies is to have a seamless, consistent experience across all platforms. However, this hasn’t appeared to be the case lately. Stadia, Google’s offering, has been panned as being poorly optimised with buffering issues and high input lag (the length of time it takes between you pressing a button and your character doing something in-game). Steam Link also strongly recommends a wired internet connection on most devices for optimum play. Even streaming relatively simple games like Jackbox Party Pack is taxing over WiFi. To be fair, these drawbacks are understandable. Video games are reaching such unprecedented levels of graphical fidelity and mechanical complexity that it makes sense that it’s tough to stream an HD game over your bog-standard internet. These issues, coupled with recent news that Google would no longer be developing games for Stadia, could put the question of the viability of Cloud Gaming in doubt.
Hope is on the horizon
There is one company, though, that may have just cracked the issue. Microsoft. They first showed off their cloud gaming aspirations at last year’s Samsung Unpacked event with Myth showing off his ability to play on the go, streaming his favourite games to his Samsung S20 Ultra. Seeing as the service wasn’t launching in Ireland for some time I promptly forgot about this little showcase and continued with my life as normal. However, after watching this year’s Unpacked event I thought I’d give it a go and see what the fuss was about. Safe to say I was impressed. Extremely impressed.
Tech by Samsung and Nintendo, bamboo phone holder by Ikea
First thing’s first, to use this service, you’ll need a subscription to Xbox Gamepass. This is a service that really is a no-brainer if you own an Xbox or a gaming PC. You pay a monthly fee for access to an enormous library of first- and third-party titles that you can download and play at no extra cost. These include all first-party games on launch day. EA have also added their games to the service and and Ubisoft are rumoured to be joining them soon. I also played these games on my Samsung S20+ with a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, as a hardware reference (though that shouldn’t matter too much). The service does offer on-screen touch controls but for many games these may not be feasible.
Walk before you can run
I thought I would ramp up slowly, testing the service on smaller games before moving up to bigger and more demanding titles. I chose Donut County as my first test case and all went well. I booted up the app, selected the game and I was right in after a short load time. The game ran well and there was practically no input lag. Thankfully, Donut County is more of a puzzle game that relies on your ingenuity and creativity rather than lightning-fast reaction times so input lag wasn’t a factor. I was zoned out on the couch, leaning forward looking at my phone, but outside that I was playing an Xbox game. A perfectly run of the mill experience.
Low-poly indie gaming seems like the best place to start
And that’s the key, this was a normal gaming session that just happened to be on my phone. This is what Cloud Gaming should be aiming for. To be on par with everything else and so far, so good.
Ramping up slowly
Next, I thought I’d pump up the graphical fidelity a bit while staying in the realm of single player games. Ori and the Blind Forest seemed like a good benchmark with its detailed environments, colourful characters, and sublime animations. I was late to the Ori party, only playing at the start of lockdown but it quickly became one of my favourite games. I was praying that my experience wouldn’t be ruined by a bad stream.
Ori’s vibrant environments are a perfect test case for how Xbox Cloud can look
Thankfully, the stream defied all my expectations, and I was able to play Ori without any hitches at all. The controls responded as they would if I were playing on a normal Xbox or PC, the game ran at a minimum of 30FPS and it looked stunning. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this Cloud Gaming thing might just catch on.
We use live ammo here
Finally, it was time for the big boys to come out and play. I booted up (is that the right thing to say with cloud gaming?) Gears 5 to see how the cloud would handle a Triple-A online game. All seemed well upon starting the game and navigating the menu (something I admittedly had some teething problems with, having played Gears on PC for the last 4 years) and I made my way into a Horde match. I’ve never been one for the PVP modes in Gears and I thought it would be wise not to try and face off against humans for this test, rather I would play with them instead. I got myself into a lobby, chose my character and my class and it was ready to go.
You can probably see why a controller is my preferred option
Gears 5 Horde mode seems to have a persistent issue for me and me alone, wherein picking up the Fabricator (the item that helps determine where you’ll set up your base) boots me from the game (even if I’m the host) so I took some time early on to refamiliarize myself with the controls. After getting my bearings and hunkering down behind cover I was ready to take on the Swarm.
I had only intended to play through until I died in the game, but I found myself so absorbed in the experience that I finished the whole match (about 40 minutes of play). I honestly barely noticed any difference between play on PC and play on Mobile. Truthfully, there was a small bit of input lag from time to time and the resolution dropped occasionally, but to be honest, I’m still blown away by how the service performed. It also must be said that neither of those issues were significant enough to dampen my experience. The thing that flummoxed me the most was using a controller instead of the keyboard and mouse that I’m used to.
The future is green
Safe to say that I’m a Cloud Gaming convert at this stage. But if you needed more convincing, I checked my battery level and my phone’s temperature (only to the touch, I didn’t get super fancy with it) after my whole play session. After about an hour and a half of total play time my phone’s battery had only dropped by 10% and it was in no way hot, or even warm to the touch. Again, I was using a flagship phone at the time so your mileage may vary but I was stunned at how low the power consumption was, especially considering I was playing one of the most detailed games on offer for the Xbox right now.
Will this be my preferred way to play going forward? No, I’ll stick to my consoles and PC for the time being. But if I find myself at a loose end with a stable 4/5G connection you can bet that I’d prefer to jump into a game of Escape or a race on Forza than mindlessly doomscrolling on Twitter. Cloud Gaming has come a long way, and it still has a distance to go, but I, for one, will be alongside it every step of the way. It is the future.
Rural broadband in Ireland is catmalogen. I would say people working from home has shown how bad it is, but the truth is we all knew. The difference now is that the Government is scrambling to quicken up the National Broadband Plan roll out to meet the demands of a decentralised workforce. Unfortunately for them, Elon Musk has other plans and the include Ireland. Starlink is the brainchild of Musk, founded under the umbrella of SpaceX, which seeks to offer high-quality internet to people around the globe. And it’s coming to Ireland.
What Is Starlink?
Starlink, simply put, is an internet service provider (ISP). For consumers, they are little more than another player in the market to take on the likes of Eir or Virgin Media. Of course, given Musk is involved, there’s more to it than that.
Starlink was founded in 2015 and is another example of how Elon Musk tends to see solutions and not care how wild they might seem. Traditional ISPs depend on copper or fiber connections to get you online. Starlink is building its own network of satellites to provide internet to people around the globe.
60 satellites pre-launch: Official SpaceX Photos – Starlink Mission
By it’s very nature, Starlink is a global offering and that means it’s coming to Ireland too.
Is Starlink Available In Ireland?
Starlink is indeed now available to order for Irish customers. I’ve tested the Kilkenny/Carlow area on the Starlink website and it’s confirmed a launch of the service in mid to late 2021. The rest of the country may be slightly different. You can sign up for Starlink today. It requires a €99 deposit, which is refundable prior to SpaceX shipping the hardware to you. The deposit confirms your position in the Starlink global queue.
Musk believes that Starlink will be available to most of the world by the end of 2021.
How Fast Will Starlink Internet Be?
It’s expected that Starlink internet speeds will match or exceed typical fiber speeds. Starlink Beta users were told they could expect speeds between 50Mbps and 150Mbps. Musk confirmed that the expectation is to double that speed to 300Mbps.
Is Starlink Free Or How Much Does Starlink Cost?
Starlink is not free. Actually, it’s one of the most expensive internet providers by Irish standards. To start the process of getting Starlink internet access, you’ll need to pay a €99 deposit. The hardware, which is usually free with Irish internet providers, will set you back €499 and to get it shipped costs €61. To top it all off, your monthly service will set you back €99 per month.
Your first year with Starlink will set you back €1847 and your second year for service alone will cost €1188.
I don’t want to underestimate how ambitious all fo this is from Musk and those prices, believe it or not, are quite reasonable. As someone who is often living with rural broadband, I’d pay that for a decent internet connection. The project faces plenty of challenges which is one reason Starlink requires a deposit. This is the same approach Musk took with Tesla. Which flags one word of warning. Tesla deliveries were vastly later than initially promised.
In terms of price, however, Musk did confirm that should things work out as planned and if they “don’t fail”, consumers can expect the cost “will improve every year”.
How Long Is The Contract With Starlink?
There is no duration for the agreement. So, there’s no 24-month contract or anything like that. The terms and conditions state that “you may cancel the Agreement and Services at any time”.
How Does Starlink Compare To Irish Providers?
It’s impossible to tell how the internet provider compares in terms of quality beyond the hope that new technology is better than what we’re using already. If you live in a built up area and already have access to something like Virgin Media, you’re probably better off with that. Starlink is really for those who have been neglected by ISPs in terms of internet speeds.
Starlink is notably more expensive, you own the hardware and are not locked into a contract duration. These are some of the big trends being bucked.
How Big Is The Starlink Hardware?
The Starlink hardware is about the size of a large pizza.
We’ll be monitoring the top questions on Starlink and updating this article with answers too. Hit us up on Twitter with your own questions and hit the bell in the bottom left corner to get updates.
Early in the pandemic, I took it upon myself to find the best face covering to wear. After finding a few decent masks, I settled on the Italian-made U-Mask to wear. The brand had become the mask of choice for may F1 teams so they had appeal. They were incredibly comfortable and, while pricey, promised to protect the wearer as a any medical grade mask would.
U-Mask’s integrity has been questioned in the past few days, so are they safe?
Is U-Mask Safe To Wear?
Before continuing, yes. U-Mask is safe to wear. While there have been some questions asked of the masks, none of them suggest that the masks were ever dangerous so to speak. The questions really focus on how effective the masks were not whether they were made from a harmful material. But let’s look closer at what has been asked about the mask.
Italian Government Ban U-Mask
On February 19th, the Italian Ministry of Health took precautionary steps and banned the sale of U-Mask Model 2 in Italy. The problem for U-Mask is that it’s believed they’ve taken advantage of the current global situation to sell a solution everyone wants. A comfortable mask, offering medical-grade protection that looks pretty cool.
The U-Mask website is excellent at selling the story. The multi-layered mask protects others, protects you and all of this while looking stylish. But the Italian Government wasn’t convinced and wasn’t convinced U-Mask had gotten the correct certifications to back up their claims. The certifications they did get were apparently from an unlicensed lab. Though I’ll be honest, I’m largely working from Italian media reports here and I don’t speak Italian.
The important thing to know is that U-Mask makes big claims about being a medical grade device that you can wear for up to 200 hours. These claims have had doubt cast over them.
U-Mask Response To Ban
I reached out to U-Mask and asked them what all of this meant. Here was their statement:
“The precautionary measure announced on 19 February 2021 by the Italian Ministry of Health regarding U-Mask is based on administrative grounds in Italy only and has nothing to do with the safety of the mask.
In response, we have presented to the authorities new analysis and certification which you can find published here: https://www.u-mask.eu/certifications, confirming a bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) in both directions of above 99%.
We reiterate that U-Mask is a safe product, it does not harm health in any way and fully complies with the legal regulations for which it was registered.
We will continue to defend the quality of our products, our reputation, and the transparency of our conduct”.
U-Mask Opinion
We’re left with more questions than ever regards U-Mask. I’ve reached out to the HSE and will update this article as soon as I hear back. For me, the U-Mask Model 2 is comfortable and does provide a cool option in a world where we must wear face coverings. However, the claims the manufacturer makes are big and for those to be questioned means proper answers are needed. An Italian Wired article emphasises how little we know about the science in the masks and given the hefty price tag, that’s not great.
However, the masks being expensive and even quite vogue right now doesn’t mean you should be worried about wearing one. Just make sure you’re also keeping your distance from others, washing your hands and all that other good stuff. Guidelines on face coverings in Ireland suggest U-Mask is ok but I have asked the HSE for clarity. Considering I saw a guy pulling a t-shirt up over his face as “an acceptable face covering” suggests to me you could do a lot worse than U-Mask. I’m looking at you too vent mask wearers.
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Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming. After a prolonged absence (543 days to be exact) we finally got our first full Nintendo Direct in a long, long time. While there have been one-off special Directs like the Mario 35 event, the odd Smash character reveal and a few Pokémon announcements, we haven’t seen a full general Direct since September 2019! I know that may seem like it was the last time any of us outside in the real world but as I said up top it was a good year and a half ago. The drought was so long, in fact that many of us had completely given up on the idea of Nintendo Directs altogether.
But our prayers were answered, and we got a full 50-minute direct last night. Nintendo generally like to temper expectations in advance of going live and this time was no different. They assured us that everything we would see would be an update to about an existing game, or a game that was due out in the first half of 2021 (it should be noted here that Nintendo uses the April/March fiscal year, so we saw games due out in August). This turned out to be a lie but that just makes it more exciting!
Here’s everything that was announced and discussed at our (hopefully) first Nintendo Direct of 2021.
Super Smash Bros: Ultimate
The first update we were treated to was the announcement of the next DLC fighter in the Smash Bros. Fighters Pass Volume 2, Pyra and Myrtha from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The introduction was played quite seriously with Rex showing concern over his missing companion. However, the comedy was dialled up when it was revealed that Pyra had ditched him to join the fun. These characters seem like an odd return to form for Smash. It looks like one of their special attacks will allow them to transform into one another, each offering different move sets. This is interesting because, as long-time fans of the series will know, Zelda and Sheik used to have this ability up until Smash Bros 4. Why Pyra and Myrtha were merged into one as opposed to being Echo Fighters I don’t know, but I can’t wait to try them out and see how they fare! There are still 2 characters left to be announced this year so stay tuned to find out who they are.
Fall Guys
At long last, Fall Guys is coming to Switch. Launching this summer, I think the chaotic free for all game will be right at home on the little console that can. Fall Guys is perfect for short-burst gaming sessions, which is what the Switch excels at. If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare on a train, in a coffee shop or even chilling at home I can think of no better source of dumb mindless fun and now there’s no better place to play it than on the Switch. Nothing has been said about cross-platform play yet, but there are rumours that the developers will be rolling it out eventually.
The Outer Wilds
One of the best Indie games of 2019 is making its way to the Nintendo side of the street this summer. Developed by the aptly named Mobius Digital, the game centres around a dying galaxy that throws the player into a 22 minute time loop. It’s essentially Sci-Fi Groundhog Day with much higher stakes. Winning a number of awards and focussing on multiple short-loops this will be another perfect game for the Switch’s play-on-the-go niche!
Famicom Detective Club
Ok, I can’t be the only one who’s never heard of these, right? First developed for the Famicom Disc System in 1988 Famicom Tatei Club was a text-based detective game that played out in a similar fashion to modern visual novels or something like Danganronpa. While there was a prequel made, with both games ported to the Gameboy Advance as well as the Virtual Console on the Wii, the series never saw a release outside Japan. That’s about to change with this remake of the originals with new visuals and voice acting. Both games are due out in May and seem like a great time to launch yourself into a mystery novel that you can play!
Samurai Warriors 5
Launching this Summer, the latest addition to the ever-popular hack and slash series will continue the story of the warring Japanese states during the Sengoku period with a focus on historical figures like Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akeshi. A more historically focussed sister series of Koei Tecmo’s wildly popular Dynasty Warriors this instalment promises enormous “1,000 on 1” battles that have become something of a series trademark, as well as an engaging story and colourful characters. Not much is known about how this may differ from previous entries in the series but there will be more information out later this month!
Legend of Mana
Following the success of the remakes of other entries in the Mana series, the first spin-off game is getting the remaster treatment. This will be the first time Legend of Mana is available in Europe nearly 22 years after it first released in Japan. Considered by some to be one of the best PS1 games of all time, this classic RPG will be sure to keep old fans happy while bringing new players into the fold. Releasing this June, Legends of Mana will be sure to be one of the highlights of the year for anyone who loves an old-school JRPG.
Monster Hunter: Rise
The sixth mainline entry in the much-loved Monster Hunter series (the games are loved, the movie was crap) and the third to release exclusively on a Nintendo console this instalment promises to be one of the biggest and best yet. Ostensibly a game about hunting monsters, this latest version will have a larger overarching plot like its predecessor Monster Hunter World. Due out in March, this game will surely satisfy the craving that many Monster Hunter fans tend to get after a while. Rise will be made all the better for the introduction of new Palamute companions, a canine version of the existing Palico cats. These good boys will be key in Monster Hunter’s addictive combat and will serve as fast transport for the player-controlled Hunter. It has also been confirmed by the “Can You Pet The Dog” Twitter account that your Palamute will copy your character’s emotes. Adorable.
Mario Golf Super Rush
18 years. 18 gruelling years is how long it’s been since there’s been a Mario Golf game on a home console. I remember watching the viral marketing videos week after week for Toadstool Tour back in 2003 and I remember playing the game even more vividly. It makes me sad knowing that those memories are now old enough to drink. Anyway, Mario is back at the clubhouse with a new entry in the series and it looks like the best one yet. Of course, there are the standard golf games with quickplay, versus and story modes, but this time there’s an additional mode called Speed Golf which looks like a cross between a regular golf game and a foot race. Offering a very un-Nintendo-like choice between motion controls and traditional button controls this game is sure to be a hole in one. Polish your shoes and get ready to tee off on the 25th of June!
Tales from the Borderlands
Set between the events of Borderlands 2 and 3, Tales from the Borderlands is a typical Telltale adventure game. Point and click mechanics with a character driven narrative, each of the five episodes reviewed very well when they were first released in 2015. The story revolves around Rhys and Fiona and how they came to meet and how they plan to make off with untold riches from the vaults of Pandora. Originally released over a series of months this version of the game will feature all five episodes in one package so there’ll be no waiting to see what happens next when it launches in March.
Capcom Arcade Stadium
A collection of old-school Capcom arcade games from the late 80s and early 90s with 32 games in total. 1943: The Battle of Midway is free to download, but the other 30 will be split into 3 packs of 10 that cost €15 each, with Ghosts and Goblins being extra as well for €2. The packs can be bundled together at a reduced cost as well, but it seems kinda shady to give us 3 different versions of Street Fighter II and claim it’s 3 different games, don’t you think?
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Stubbs is back in a rerelease of the classic Xbox game from 2005. Take control of Stubbs, a zombie out for revenge against the man who killed him, and desperately trying to reunite with his lost love. Bludgeon your enemies with your body parts, or eat their brains to grow your zombie army, do anything you can to hunt down the man who zombified you in the first place so you can “live” a peaceful life once more. Pick up something green before Paddy’s day this year when Stubbs shambles his way onto the Switch on March 16th.
No More Heroes 3
The long-awaited next instalment in the irreverent franchise from the mind of the legendary Suda51. Set 9 years after NMH 2 we’ll once again be following Travis Touchdown as he takes on a group of extra-terrestrial villains, posing as superheroes. If this game is anything like previous entries in the series, you can expect high-octane action with an abundance of toilet humour as the world-class assassin once again takes up arms against a world-ending threat. The wait for this game will finally be over when it releases this August.
Neon White
Demons have gotten loose in heaven and it’s up to you to put a stop to their rampage. You play as Neon White, an assassin who has been sent from hell to clean up heaven’s mess. Use Soul Cards to perform devastating attacks against the demons. But try to be quick about it, other assassins are competing to be the best demon slayer there is as well. Delve deeper into the mystery of their identity this winter.
DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power
Based on the TV show of the same name, follow Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and DC’s other heavy hitting heroines as they navigate the greatest challenge any teenager can face, High School. Follow the girls as their hero team defends Metropolis from all manner of villains and evildoers when Teen Power launches on the 4th of June.
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
The third spinoff of the PVZ franchise is coming to switch. Take on the role of a plant or a zombie in this fun, wacky third-person shooter based on the much-loved tower defence game. Each plant or zombie has their own unique abilities and roles to play on the team from healing to sneaking behind enemy lines. It’s refreshing to see that, unlike practically every other game published by EA, all cosmetics and unlockables can be obtained through gameplay alone. You can leave your credit card in the safe confines of your wallet! Crazy Dave is waiting to see you off on the 19th of March!
Miitopia
The 3DS classic is getting a port. Team up with all the Miis you’ve ever made or met and set out to put an end to the evil overlord. While it may appear simple, Miitopia adds in some complexity by adding in relationship stats for each pair of characters. These stats will affect how your Miis fare in battle so be sure to make everyone play nice. Get ready to go adventuring on the 21st of May.
Animal Crossing
Next week, a free update will be available for all Animal Crossing players that will add a variety of Mario themed outfits and furniture to your game. This will likely be the last major event for the 35th anniversary of Mario before the festivities are ended next month. Get the items while you can and have fun Mario-ifying your island!
Project Triangle Strategy
This yet unnamed strategy RPG will be launching in 2022 so it’s still a while away. You will follow Serona, heir to the kingdom of Glenbrook as the Saltiron war rages on between two neighbouring kingdoms. As the game progresses you will be forced to make difficult choices that will test one of three convictions. How these convictions are affected by each decision will shape the course of your game and the decisions of other characters you encounter. This game looks like a blend of Fire Emblem and Octopath Traveller, games that I absolutely love. I can’t wait to find out more info about this one! There’s a demo out now so you can bet I’ve already got it downloading.
Star Wars Hunters
Set between episodes 6 and 7, this free to play arena shooter will promise chaotic fun with a host of new and familiar Star Wars characters. Not much was announced about this game, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. One warning, however, this smells of a microtransaction magnet so consider yourself warned!
Knockout City
A fresh take on the team-based battle genre. This game seems to combine the art style of Fortnite, the team-based gameplay of most big modern shooters and the real-world rules of Dodgeball. Capture the ball and take out your opponents or use your teammates as a ball! Do anything you can to take out the opposing team. Remember the 5 Ds when Knockout City hits the Switch this May.
World’s End Club
From the makers of Danganronopa comes a side-scrolling action game that sees a group of students’ undersea adventure end abruptly when a cataclysm wipes out much of the surface world. Join a colourful cast of characters as you journey across Japan to find you way home on May 28th.
Hades
The winner of multiple Game of the Year awards, Hades is getting a physical release on the Switch. Delve into the Greek underworld to battle alongside ancient heroes and Gods to find your way to Mount Olympus. Along with a copy of the beloved game you’ll receive a limited-edition art book as well as a code to download the game’s phenomenal soundtrack. This was the go-to game for a lot of Twitch streamers last year and for good reason. If you haven’t gotten around to playing it yet, you’ve no excuse not to once it hits store shelves this March.
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection
Famed for its absurd combo menu and unrelenting difficulty, the Ninja Gaiden prequel trilogy is getting a bundled re-release on modern consoles. Follow Ryu Hayabusa as he hunts down the villains who wiped out his clan and his attempts to take back the Black Dragon Blade that was his signature weapon in the original games. While it doesn’t look like there have been many graphical upgrades to the games, they honestly don’t need much touching up. My fond memories of playing them on my Xbox 360 will certainly bump them up the wish list. The trilogy bundle launches on the 10th of June.
Bravely Default II
Confusingly the third game in the Bravely Defuault series, this will be the first one on a home console. The original on 3DS played with the idea of the using the technical attributes of the console itself to affect certain changes in the game. For example, the game will use Streetpass contacts to help build your main village, you also gain SP (points used to help in combat) by leaving the game on while the console is resting. It will be interesting to see if this new iteration uses a similar system, collecting consumables while the console is in rest mode. We’ll find out next week when Bravely Default 2 drops.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection
A reboot of the original run and gun platformer, this game has quite a legacy to live up to. Ghosts ‘n Goblins is generally considered to be one of the hardest video games ever made with punishing enemy placement and insane time limits. Will this newest iteration be just as hard as its predecessor? Or will the addition of companion characters make the game a little easier? Find out next week when Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrected hits the eShop.
SaGa Frontier Remastered
An interesting take on the idea of a remaster. SaGa Frontier originally launched on the Playstation in 1997. It featured standard turn-based RPG mechanics and featured 2D sprites moving and battling in prerendered 3D backgrounds. While this was standard practice in the 90s, the remaster really doubles down on the aesthetic. The result is an utterly unique, interesting looking game that promises to deliver the same multi-path story of the original but with a fresh new visual style. I’ll be excited to try it out when it drops on the 15th of April.
Apex Legends
You read that right, the futuristic battle royale phenomenon is coming to Switch on the 9th of March and, as with other versions will be totally free to play. It promises the exact same experience as you’d get on all other platforms and will even be cross-platform ready when it launches. Again, while many of us may have Apex Legends installed on our home consoles already, the promise of taking the battle with you wherever you go is one that many of us definitely won’t be able to pass up.
The Legend of Zelda
Here it is, the penultimate announcement. This one totally surprised me. Unlike most of the internet I didn’t expect anything Zelda related in this direct at all. This year is the 35th anniversary of the franchise so I was expecting (as they kind of confirmed in the direct) that there would be a dedicated Zelda announcement to mark the occasion. While we sadly didn’t get any new information about the Breath of the Wild sequel (which we last saw during E3 2019), we did get a few other nice announcements.
First up, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will be getting new characters and new battle scenarios as DLC. This is a welcome piece of news as the base game features a plethora of characters that each play in their own distinct way. Honestly, learning how they play and getting good with them is half the fun of the game anyway so more characters to play with are more than welcome.
Next, we got the news that Skyward Sword HD will be making its way to Switch this July. While this is the single most divisive Zelda game with people either loving or hating it, it certainly is the exemplar of “The Zelda Effect”. Personally, I like this game. It’s not a blow-me-away epic like BoTW, nor is it a straightforward dash to the end like Ocarina of Time. It exists as a sort of transition point between the old school and new school Zelda games and many people think it suffers for that (and the fact that you have to do the same boss battle 3 different times). But I still enjoy it and I’ll definitely be picking it up as soon as it launches.
Finally, Aonuma San presented us with a pair of beautiful Zelda themed joycons. The right is modeled after the Master Sword, and the left after the Hylian Shield. Two of the most iconic symbols in gaming, now in the palm of our hands. I’m sure it’ll be tough to get a hold of these once scalpers get a sniff of them, but for collectors and Zelda fans alike these are an absolute must-have.
Beautiful, aren’t they?
Splatoon 3
To take us home, we were given arguably the biggest surprise of the whole show. Splatoon 3 is in development and will be launching some time in 2022. I’m not a huge fan of the series but I know it has a massive following in some circles. I know that this will come with a lot of excitement for a lot of people. Offering new game modes, new weapons, and all new environments this will be sure to please the kid (or the squid) in all of us!
Some of my favourite gadgets completely challenge how I think about things. A while back I got a Meater smart cooking probe. Suddenly, I understood how cooking, something I do nearly everyday, actually works. My mind was blown. Dyson sent me a Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier to test out for Pancake Tuesday. While that might sound odd, it has once again blown my mind.
Air Purifiers In Ireland
We’re a funny old bunch in Ireland. I remember attending my first big consumer electronic trade show in Berlin and asking “why are there so many air purifiers”. It turns out it’s a massive market that just never really got going in Ireland. I’d wager it’s down to us being somewhat of a skeptical nation. “Ah sure, I breathe the air everyday and I’m fine” kind of mentality.
But Irish interest in air purification is growing. Looking at Google Trends data over the past five years, there’s a clear increase in people searching for air purifiers. From May 2020 there has been particular growth and it makes total sense. With a global pandemic, people are both at home more (even those not working from home) and are more conscious about the air we breathe.
Even pre-pandemic, due to increased mobility of people in general, air quality has been on the agenda for some time. In December of last year, Dublin reached air pollution levels akin to those of the smokey coal era. It’s no joke either with air pollution causing over 1300 premature deaths in the country every year.
You’re still more likely to be in the bucket of people who’ve never considered buying an air purifier. However, now that I’ve got one I don’t know whether to be scared about what I’m learning or happy that it also fixes the problem.
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier
The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier packs in plenty of features and this particular model is probably the most useful one for Ireland.
The Dyson equipment looks incredible where ever you place it
Fan Heater
I live in a one bed apartment in Dublin’s City Centre, beside a very busy arterial street too. The apartment has storage heaters. This means they gather energy overnight and releases it as heat during the day. They’re somewhat unpredictable, but usually only run during the Winter months. The reason the Dyson was perfect for me is because, while it can cool, this particular model can also heat. A feature we’ll get much more out of in Ireland.
It also cools, but you know…we won’t need that much. Good to know though.
Bladeless
I said fan there, but this might be a bit like how people feel when vegan food is labeled using meat terms. The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier isn’t a traditional fan. As is often the case with Dyson technology, like the Dyson Corrale, they’ve looked at the solution on offer and completely reengineered it.
The result is a gorgeous looking piece of kit for your home, packed with technology to improve your living space. One of the standout features being that there are no blades. Obvious bonuses here for parents and pet owners along with those who just like cool looking gadgetry.
Air Purification
This is where the Dyson, not too literally, started to blow me away. You can monitor your home’s air quality in two ways. Either in the Dyson Link app or through the small on-device screen which gives you a quick overview.
The small display on the Dyson keeps you informed with an aggregated Air Quality performance indicator.
Sensing Technology
As I mentioned earlier, we tend to take air quality for granted in Ireland despite the fact it’s degraded significantly in recent years. For me, the most important feature on the Dyson is the sensing technology.
Using three different sensors, the Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier can detect:
PM10 level
PM2.5 level
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Temperature
I didn’t have a clue what all of these (temperature excluded) were, but I’ve looked it up. However, I’m not a doctor or actually in anyway trained beyond the ways of a Google Search.
What Is PM10?
PM10 measures particles in the air measuring 10 micrometers or less. These are impossible to see and are more or less a gas. Despite, or rather because of, their size they can be very harmful to your health.
What is PM2.5
As logic would dictate, these are indeed particles in the air measuring 2.5 micrometers or less. Given their size, PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into our lungs and cause harmful disease.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Because of where I live, this was the most interesting to me. Nitrogen dioxide is generated, typically, by the burning of fossil fuels. Basically, cars, trucks, vans and busses when it comes to what my machine can measure. I was interested to see if there would be spikes during peak commuter times and indeed their was. That pollution gets in somehow!
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
I had no idea what this was until I did some research. Another search trend right now is for people asking about “mould”. Black mould is a massive issue in many Irish homes with poor ventilation. While this is just one example of a VOC, the Dyson can detect this in the air and filter it. Another fantastic feature given the health impacts that VOCs like mould can have are grave.
Together, these measurements generate the aggregated Air Quality score, displayed in the app. You can also dive down into individual measurements too.
This was caused by cooking!
Filtering
Sensing all this stuff is one thing. What about clearing it up? The purifying technology in the Dyson is just as impressive. Also, because of their incredible engineering background, they bring a certain amount of authority and trust into the situation too. From their product demos I’ve seen that Dyson sometimes carries out their legally required tests and then goes even further to the higher level of testing they believe should be mandatory but isn’t.
Once the Dyson detects impurities in the air, it kicks into action. Sucking air in, filtering it and then passing it back out into your room. The filtering process involves the air passing through many different layers of cleaning to eradicate the different particles detected. A carbon filter removes gases and a glass HEPA filter removes 99.95% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.1 micrometers.
Living With The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier
With the Dyson in my apartment for a week, what do I think?
The Good
I love it. Like I said at the very outset, I love technology that lets me know more about how things work. We can only truly start to care about things once we understand them. Every second of your life involves air, yet we often do very little to care for it. The Dyson was my window into what the air in my home is like. But what did I learn?
Well, for Valentines I bought a painting kit for me and my partner to have a bit of craic with. The Dyson actually picked up on the paints in the apartment as VOCs. That’s how sensitive it is. The sensors taught me a lot.
Scented candles pollute the air a lot
Cooking causing massive pollution in the apartment
Outdoor pollution does impact internal air
That’s what I’ve learned in just a week with the machine. I can’t wait to find out what else triggers the Dyson to start cleaning the air knowing that previously it would have gone undetected and ended up in my lungs.
The Dyson Link app is great, offering both controls for your fan and insights into your air. You can also connect to an Amazon Alexa, though no support for Google, at least in Ireland.
The Downsides
There are really only two negatives that I can think of.
Volume
First of all, is the volume. It’s not a quiet machine when “goes turbo” which is what we’ve started calling it in the apartment. This is typically when cooking and the machine is set to “Auto”, basically cleaning the air as quickly as possible.
The flip side of this is that Dyson actually states the running volume of the machine is 62 decibels while the highest I’ve had it running is a little over 50 decibels. Also, if you’re a concerned remote worker, the noise is exactly the kind of background noise most conferencing technology and headphones removes.
The Price
Ok, like a plaster, just pull it off and get it over with.
The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier will set you back just under €600. And that is a massive amount of money, there is no two ways about it. It’s also important to note that buying the machine is pointless unless you’re willing to swap out the filters when the Dyson Link app tell you to. These cost in or around €80 and if you’re running the machine for 12 hours, you’ll get a year out of the filters.
The machine is designed for single room use. I’ve just tested this in our living area with an open kitchen but will be moving it to the bedroom too to learn more about the air in my home. But the idea here is that you really should buy one for the most popular rooms in your home. Typically the bedroom and the living room.
How can you justify the price? Well, it’s as simple as facing reality. We spend this kind of money on smartphones, TVs and other gadgets that, if anything, are more likely to negatively impact our mental health. This piece of tech is designed to improve your physical health. With you spending more and more time at home right now, it’s absolutely time to consider investing in an air purifier. Being totally honest, I’ve been a bit shocked at how quickly indoor air quality can deteriorate from just cooking dinner.
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier: The Verdict
I won’t shy away from this being the upper end of investments for your home. What’s changed for me since getting the Dyson is understanding the air in my home, that I’m breathing every second of every day. I can see commuter times raising lower air quality and cooking filling my apartment with a harmful atmosphere.
Now, having a machine that cleans it gives me peace of mind. If you don’t have any respiratory issues, count yourself lucky. One massive endorsement for air purifiers in general is that they are listed as a recommendation on Asthma.ie.
If you’ve been thinking about the air in your home more and more, I personally believe this will be a great purchase for you. If you’ve haven’t thought about it, it’s time to consider it.
While NO2 levels remain save, you can see where road traffic increases using the Dyson
If you’re a Chrome browser user, you may have noticed it likes to slow down your laptop with massive consumption of resources. Turning to extensions like The Great Suspender meant you could control how long tabs claimed these resources. Unfortunately, The Great Suspender ended up in the wrong hands and was filled with malware, but can you still use this Chrome extension safely?
Chrome Is A Hungry Hippo
I’ve swapped over to using Safari for most of my browsing these days. I’ve also tried to use Firefox or Brave browser more in the past. The reasons are manifold. From just not liking Google very much (well, beyond the Pixel 5) to privacy concerns, there are lots of reasons I try to steer clear of Chrome. The biggest reason is that Chrome is a hungry hippo when it comes to my laptop’s resources.
But I still have to use Chrome. Whether it be for work or some application that’s built specifically for Chrome. It’s the necessary evil that won’t go away. Thankfully, there was a solution to shut down unused tabs and save some of that memory. And yes, I do realise my leaving open 30 tabs at a time is not really Google’s problem. The solution, was The Great Suspender.
Story time: The Life And Times Of The Great Suspender
What is The Great Suspender? Why did it go rogue? It’s all a fairly typical tech story to be honest.
What Is The Great Suspender?
The Great Suspender is a Chrome extension which lets you set a certain period of time, after which Chrome tabs would be paused. So if I opened a website and didn’t come back to that tab for 30 seconds, it would stop eating resources. At the click of a button, it would re-load and let me continue where I left off. Beautiful.
The Early Days
The Great Suspender was a massive success. The extension’s developer likely never predicted how popular it would grow. Over 2 million people installed this extension. I understand that Google doesn’t really want features like this in Chrome, but you would imagine over 2 million people using something suggests it would be a fairly popular feature.
The Sale
With the unexpected success that came with The Great Suspender, the developer who created the extension was unable to dedicate the time or resources to keeping it maintained. Every time Google or Microsoft release a browser update, small tweaks would be needed to keep the extension running.
It’s not the developers fault. This is massively time consuming and I’m sure the number of users was weighing on them somewhat. So they sold it. There were plenty of suspicions about the sale of The Great Suspender. No-one knew who bought it, yet it was sitting in the browser of over 2 million internet users. The extension is open-source, which means it was never intended to make money. Why would someone buy it?
The Great Unsuspended Malware
That’s an awful heading. Sorry.
The mystery buyer did exactly what everyone feared. They modified the code to include malware. In the 7.1.8 release of the extension, a code update included scripts that tracked user behaviour among other things. While Microsoft pulled the extension, it would be re-introduced later without the malicious scripts. The damage is done though. The new developers can’t be trusted and now Google has also removed The Great Suspender from the Chrome Store.
So no more efficient use of Chrome. Unless….
Want To Keep Using The Great Suspender?
There is no out of date software which can really be used safely. Updates keep these bits of tech running safely.
You can still download version 7.1.6 of The Great Suspender from GitHub and install it manually using Chrome’s developer options. But this isn’t recommended. It’s an out of date piece of software and it’s only a matter of time until it stops working. Before then it will likely have security holes of some sort.
If Chrome is really doing that much damage to your browser experience, it might be time to try something else, like Firefox or Brave Browser.
