It’s not every day you see real innovation in the world of education tech, but Olive for Education has just launched something that could genuinely change the game for Irish students and at the perfect time.
With Senior Cycle Reform just around the corner and digital fluency now more essential than ever, Learning Wallet arrives like that student who somehow always has their homework done and manages to make it look easy. And if the name rings a bell, it should—Ian Gaughran, CEO of Olive for Education, was just on the Goosed.ie Podcast talking about how they’re reshaping the Irish classroom, one device at a time.
So… What is the Learning Wallet?
Think of it as a full-blown EdTech starter pack, a laptop, built-in security, digital learning tools, and full support…all for as little as €16.99 per month.
It’s been purpose-built for junior and leaving cert students, designed to help schools transition to the much-needed 1:1 student device model. That’s right, no more scrambling to find a working computer in the school library to type up a project the night before it’s due.
With 40% of grades in the new Senior Cycle coming from continuous assessments, we’re not just talking about typing a few essays here and there. Students need reliable, personal access to devices not just for learning, but to actually get their grades.
A Real-World Solution for Real-World Problems
Let’s be real: a decent education-ready laptop in Ireland will usually run you between €600 and €700. With limited state funding available, a lot of families are either footing the bill themselves or relying on school raffles and bake sales to bridge the gap.
Olive for Education’s Learning Wallet levels the playing field. The subscription model doesn’t just make the tech affordable—it includes tailored software, data protection, remote support, and (most importantly) peace of mind for both parents and teachers.
As Ian said in the launch announcement:
“No student should be left behind simply because of cost or access. With the Learning Wallet, we’ve built a complete solution with equity in mind.”
A National Push Meets a Local Solution
This launch ties directly into the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, which aims to boost digital literacy in every classroom in the country. But policy alone can’t modernise education schools need scalable solutions, and that’s exactly what Learning Wallet offers.
Already supporting over 10,000 students across 50 schools, Olive for Education is proving that this isn’t just a shiny pilot project. It’s the real deal. And it’s backed by over 40 years of combined experience in education and EdTech.
Why This Matters
As someone who’s spent way too long reviewing phones, laptops and wearables for everyday consumers, I can tell you one thing: tech only works when it works for people. The Learning Wallet isn’t just a clever bundle it’s a practical, scalable answer to one of education’s most pressing challenges.
So whether you’re a teacher trying to avoid another IT nightmare, a parent sweating over back-to-school costs, or a student who just wants their own device without borrowing their sibling’s Chromebook this is worth checking out.
Boards.ie is one of Ireland’s longest standing online landmarks. What started out as a forum for people playing Quake back in 1998, today remains one of the biggest online meeting places for nearly every interest imaginable online. But the waves of online surfing have changed dramatically in recent years, leaving Boards.ie fighting for its life. Today, the platform announces a subscription model to try to save itself.
The Problem With Boards.ie
A few years back, Boards.ie updated the technology the platform ran on. It was a desperate attempt to keep the site alive, moving from ageing technology. But now, technological advancement is really harming Boards.ie.
In a post on Boards.ie, the team highlights that “Google’s algorithm have had a dramatic impact, cutting our traffic in half almost overnight”. This was part of Google’s March update which included the addition of Google AI-overviews to Google search results.#
You wouldn’t believe the impact this has on sites like Boards.ie and even ourselves here at Goosed. Organic traffic has been decimated as AI harvests data and surfaces answers without people ever having to visit a website anymore. With the reduction in traffic comes less revenue from ads; ads which can simple only make money when people visit the website.
The answer, is a new Boards.ie subscription model.
Boards.ie Subscription Model
To make up for the loss in ad-revenue, Boards.ie is now launching a hopefully platoform saving subscription model. Ads are being enabled across the website to increase revenue. But ads don’t always mean the nicest experience (trust my – I know the irony – I resisted launching them on Goosed for years).
So Boards.ie will offer a paid ad-free subscription model starting at €6 per month, with options to pay monthly, quarterly, twice yearly or annually. The longer your subscription, the bigger the saving.
Plan
Price
Monthly
Monthly
€6
€6
Quarterly
€16
€5.33
Twice Yearly
€28
€4.67
Annually
€50
€4.17
It’s hard to see this as being an unfair move from Boards.ie. While ads aren’t nice, servers aren’t free either. And massive companies like Google, effectively acquire large quantities of online content from sites like Boards.ie without offering anything in return.
Boards.ie isn’t being paywalled either, to be fair. The content remains available to everyone, the difference being whether or not you see ads in between the posts. The platform is looking for a mix of paid members and ad revenue to save the site.
The Future of Boards.ie
While this change might seem simple, the future of Boards.ie is very much in the balance. Right now, the goal is 2,000 paying members to keep the lights on alongside the ad revenue and some other upgrades to modernise the site. But the post that brought this news spoke frankly about Boards.ie’s future.
“Boards.ie has stood the test of time for over 20 years. Now, its future is in your hands. We have a short window to make this work – and we hope this subscription model gets us over the line. But if no workable solution is found, we will have no choice but to close the site in the months ahead – something we truly hope to avoid”.
A couple of years ago, we introduced you Coroflo, an Irish med tech company with a genius solution to support breastfeeding mothers. The product’s ingenuity has been recognised by Red Dot, winning the coveted award for Innovation for 2025.
What is Coro?
‘For many breastfeeding parents, one of the most stressful parts of the journey is not knowing if their baby is getting enough milk. That’s where Coro by Coroflo steps in. This Irish-designed smart nipple shield features a tiny built-in sensor that tracks exactly how much milk your baby drinks during each feed, sending the data straight to your phone in real time. Whether you’re navigating supply concerns, mixed feeding, or just want peace of mind, Coro gives a clear, clinical insight into your breastfeeding sessions, removing the guesswork and boosting confidence for new mums.
The Coro breastfeeding monitor utilises advanced sensors and proprietary algorithms to measure milk consumption with unparalleled accuracy. The accompanying mobile app provides intuitive insights and feeding trends, helping mothers understand atheir baby’s feeding patterns and build confidence in their breastfeeding journey
Coroflo Wins Red Dot Award
The Red Dot Awards are among the most prestigious international honours in design, recognising innovation, functionality, and outstanding aesthetics across products, brands, and concepts. Winning a Red Dot isn’t just about looking good, it signals global recognition from a panel of independent experts who assess everything from usability to long-term value. Past winners include everything from cutting-edge tech and medical devices to everyday household products, with awardees showcased in museums and publications worldwide. For any product, bagging a Red Dot means one thing: world-class design, officially recognised.
Coroflo has won the 2025 Red Dot award for Innovation. “It’s an honour to be here tonight with the team and to be amongst peers similarly committed to designing disruptive technology,” said Coroflo CEO, Rosanne Longmore. “Winning the Red Dot Award for Innovation is an incredible validation of our team’s work in creating a product that truly makes a difference to mothers when they need it most. We set out to solve a real problem, and this award affirms that Coro is not only innovative but also meticulously designed to meet the highest standards of functionality and user experience for both mothers and babies which has the potential to enhance global long term health”.
Coro is being celebrated at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany, and featured in the Red Dot Yearbook and online exhibition. I, for one, am delighted to see such an innovative Irish company being celebrated at this level.
For many years, we’ve been bringing you the countdown to Prime Day. Sending you off to the UK site to buy your wares. This year, Amazon launched its full Irish website to a somewhat lukewarm response from the shopping public. All of that means that for the first time ever, Prime Day takes place on an Irish version of the Amazon website. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s New for Irish Shoppers
Amazon Prime Day 2025 is making history as the first-ever Prime Day sale available directly on Amazon.ie. It comes just four months after Amazon officially launched its dedicated Irish website in March 2025, marking a significant milestone for Irish consumers who previously had to rely on Amazon.co.uk for much of their online shopping needs. I say much, but not all.
Indeed, many don’t like shopping with Amazon but I find it nearly impossible to avoid. The sheer volume of items I want or need and either can’t find on the high street or can’t find at a reasonable price – is shocking.
So while many will avoid giving Jeff Bezos more money for Venetian weddings, even more will likely be building up shopping carts in anticipation for the big sale. Running from Tuesday, July 8th to Friday, July 11th, this year’s Prime Day breaks new ground by extending to four full days – double the usual 48-hour format. This gives Irish shoppers 96 hours to explore hundreds of thousands of deals across more than 35 categories, from electronics and home goods to beauty and fashion
Getting Prime Access in Ireland
To access Prime Day deals, you’ll need an Amazon Prime membership. Prime membership on Amazon.ie costs €6.99 per month or €69.90 annually – significantly cheaper than the UK equivalent, which costs around €11 per month. New customers can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, giving you full access to all Prime Day deals without immediate commitment.
For those switching from a UK Prime membership, Amazon makes the transition seamless. Your UK subscription will be automatically cancelled and fully refunded when you switch to the Irish version, even if you’ve paid for an annual plan.
Some of the criticism that Amazon has faced since launching the Irish website is that the discounted Irish membership rate does mean the loss of some services too.
What Makes This Prime Day Special
Prime Day is popular simply because there’s the chance to bag some deals. Now, with all sales, it’s time for the buyer to beware. Plenty of online retailers play fast and loose with sales pricing. I’m not saying Amazon does this, but it’s worth looking at some pricing today for products you’re interested in and just make sure the savings are as impressive during the sale.
In fact, Amazon has included a neat feature for transparency. Here you can see they show the current price, the recommended retail price and the lowest price the product was at in the past 30 days. This doesn’t mean it’s technically the lowest price Amazon has ever sold this product, but it does give you an idea of how good the deal is. Like this beard trimmer I bought myself.
Also, it’s worth looking today simply because Amazon already has some great deals on products in the Prime Day pre-sale! But here are some other reasons it’s popular.
First-Time Irish Integration
This Prime Day marks Ireland’s debut as one of 26 countries participating in the global event, joining established markets like the US, UK, Germany, and France. The integration of Amazon.ie means Irish shoppers can now enjoy local pricing in euros, faster delivery through Amazon’s Dublin fulfilment centre, and no additional customs charges.
It’s probably still worth checking the price of the product you’re interested in on Hagglezon. This is a price comparison site for Amazon across Europe. Ireland was coming soon on the site, but has vanished, likely because there is no affiliate program in place yet.
Today’s Big Deals Feature
Amazon is introducing a new “Today’s Big Deals” feature, offering themed daily deal drops that launch at midnight each day throughout Prime Day. These limited-time offers will feature top brands like Samsung, Kiehl’s, and Levi’s, with deals refreshing as frequently as every five minutes during peak periods.
Supporting Irish Businesses
Amazon.ie’s “Brands of Ireland” page will showcase local companies during Prime Day, including well-known names like Barry’s Tea, Bewley’s, and Ella & Jo. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, helps Irish businesses reach both domestic and international customers through Amazon’s global platform
All of that means you should be able to bag some deals while somewhat supporting local.
Expected Deals and Categories
Based on Amazon’s announcements and historical patterns, Irish shoppers can expect significant discounts across multiple categories:
Tech and Electronics
Naturally, I’m particularly interested in the tech section of Amazon’s Prime Day sale. The likes of Eufy, SwitchBot, Aqara, Ugreen and more are the kinds of products I’d be looking for.
Home and Kitchen
It’s a great sale to pick up bits and pieces for the home too. Organisational things for the kitchen to Phox refills if you have a sustainable water filter.
Beauty and Personal Care
One of the big additions to Amazon launching the Irish site is the inclusion of beauty products. I’m assuming there were legal barriers to shipping these products internationally. You can expect to see sales from Arona Solid Perfume, Kinvara Skincare, Ella & Jo and TanOrganic.
Fashion and Lifestyle
There are plenty of clothing brands on Amazon too. From Levis to Amazon own brand clothing. You should be able to find some savings of up to 50% in these departments. Alongside this toys and games including LEGO should also be reduced.
Another section I’ll be monitoring!
Shopping Smart: Tips for Irish Consumers
You can already start prepping for the Irish Amazon Prime Day sale.
Before Prime Day Begins
Create a wishlist of items you genuinely need. This prevents impulse purchases and helps you track which products go on sale. Add items to your Amazon wishlist now to receive notifications when deals become available. I can’t stress this enough. Plan your purchases to make sure you’re buying something you actually want at a price that’s actually good.
Download the Amazon app for faster checkout and real-time deal alerts. The mobile app offers the most seamless shopping experience during busy sale periods.
During Prime Day
Check competing retailers – many Irish and UK retailers run counter-sales during Prime Day, sometimes offering better deals than Amazon. It’s also a good way to check if sales prices are actually good. For example, that beard trimmer I bought was €85 on the Boots website, indicating I was getting a good deal.
Act quickly on lightning deals – these limited-time offers often sell out within minutes, especially on popular tech items. Again, only if it was something you planned to get.
Payment and Delivery
With Amazon.ie, Irish customers benefit from:
One-day delivery on millions of items through the Dublin fulfilment centre
No customs charges on purchases
Local pricing in Euros without currency conversion fees
Easy returns through Amazon’s established network
The Euro pricing isn’t always a great thing as you might find some products cheaper on Amazon.co.uk. But if it is cheaper, and you choose to purchase over there instead, be sure to pay with Revolut and use the Revolut exchange rate instead of Amazon’s. You’ll save a small fortune doing that.
Make the Most of Prime Benefits
Beyond Prime Day deals, your Prime membership includes:
Prime Video: Access to award-winning content including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and live UEFA Champions League matches
Prime Gaming: Free games and in-game content monthly
Amazon Photos: Unlimited photo storage
Exclusive partner offers: Including discounted ODEON cinema tickets and free Deliveroo Plus Silver membership
You may as well get every single benefit under the sun if you’re giving Amazon your hard-earned cash.
The world of “artificial intelligence” is moving very quickly. Faster than most can likely keep up with it. There are two sides to the coin, which I’ll discuss briefly below, but the big new here is that Google Gemini now has more powerful video generation abilities through VEO 3 here in Ireland.
Google Gemini VEO 3 in Ireland
Google AI Pro subscribers in Ireland can now access advanced video generation through their Gemini subscription in the Google Gemini app and online. Subscribers simply have to type in what they want and tap the video option in the app’s toolbar. In just a few minutes, Gemini, using the VEO 3 engine, will generate an incredibly realistic video based on your input. The video is limited to 720p and landscape, 16:9 ratio. Which isn’t ideal for social media, to be fair.
However, in what is a significant leap forward for the platform, VEO 3 now also layers in sound.
As you can see above, I’ve been playing around with this and have to say it’s remarkable. For this video, I simply typed, “Create a video of a person parking their tractor up for the day and walking into a pub called The Gander Inn”.
The result is astonishing. What I’m most impressed with is the camera angle change. There are some artifacts which are impossible to ignore, but seeing the man walk out just has the angle changes is amazing. You could argue the scene doesn’t make sense, with him walking out and back in, but maybe he forgot his phone or just wanted another pint.
The key here is that a simple prompt generated a very realistic video, and that more complex prompts will generate better quality content that makes more sense. Or less if that’s your vibe.
For this next clip, I used AI itself to help craft the prompt, adding an extra layer of thinking to the process and ensuring nothing got missed. I asked AI, “I want a veo 3 prompt that shows the power of veo launching in Ireland. I’m thinking something like a man running through a field of sheep, like a sheepdog. There’s an actual sheepdog sitting on a quad, like a farmer would be. The man is running like a sheepdog, barking and rounding up the sheep, impressing his dog on the quad bike.”
A small insight into how my mind works. AI then gave me the brief in full, which I pasted into Gemini with VEO 3 video selected. This was the result:
It’s obviously quite silly, but the content distracts from the fact it’s been AI-generated. The ridiculous outweighing the reality. But I’m looking for where it breaks down from being possibly a real video shot in a real field. And there are very few frames in there, like this.
Often, people will point out the flaws in generative content like this, but all I can see is how far it’s come in such a relatively short period of time. Videos have come from being utterly unusable to be nearly unnoticeably AI-generated.
The videos are ultra realistic. I often find myself spotting just one frame of object that gives it away before noticing other elements that show it as AI. But this is a massive improvement from where it was not that long ago. Which leaves the two sides of the coin I was talking about.
The Brilliant Power of Generative AI Video
As a content creator, this is empowering technology. I know that there’s going to be a day when I’m working on a video where there’s some sort of b-roll or panning shot of a landscape that the video would greatly benefit from. In fact, it’s a nearly never ending number of scenarios I could see this being useful in.
This technology, while not free, is unbelievably accessible for the quality it puts out. For those seeking to create content, it’s a very powerful tool.
But as the old adage goes, with great power comes great responsibility. I would never use AI-generated video for a crucial shot, or a shot demonstrating a product – because that’s just not real.
And this brings us to the flip side of the coin.
The Terrifying Power of Generative AI Video
Just as it’s exciting to see technology like this become accessible, it’s also terrifying. While I have no doubt that Google has baked in numerous safeguards to reduce the ability of extreme groups generating videos for negative use, it’s almost certain some will get through.
In fact, the simple existence of AI-generated video comes with the real risk that people either fooled by fake content, or cease to believe real content because it could be faked, even when real.
I encourage you to watch this great piece on “AI slop” that featured recently on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
It’s important that you are aware of what can be created by AI and start to educated yourself on how to be more critical of this type of content. Actually, you should be critical of every piece of content you consume, regardless of source.
Realistically, anyone who is against AI is fighting a losing battle. There are some very good arguments against the technology because of how fast it’s developing and its impact on the environment. The answer isn’t trying to stop it any more because that horse has bolted. Now, we need to ensure that AI is used responsibly, sustainably and with the public being given the skills to both make the most of it, but also identify AI generated content when presented with it.
One such way to familiarise yourself with the technology is, when possible, try to use it and see what it comes up with. VEO 3 is available to all Google AI Pro subscribers. Normally €21.99 per month in Ireland, Google AI Pro includes other AI-powered tools such as NotebookLM and cloud storage and is also available on a one-month free trial. Note, you may hit some limits generating videos due to resource limits.
I love some good headphones. From my Sony over ears, to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pros I was dailying until recently, my audio setup is in a good place. The reason I’m not dailying the Samsung buds right now is because I’ve been testing the Shokz OpenFit 2 ear buds that just launched in Ireland. And rather surprisingly, I might not be going back.
Design and Comfort: Refined for All-Day Wear
With working from home for the full week now and the odd spin around town on a bus, I find myself wearing either my over ears or in ears most days and for long periods of time. I’ve found my ears getting itchy and irritated, suffering from ear fatigue. Yes, that’s a thing.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 overcome this problem by completely reimagining what earbuds should be. These buds don’t sit over or in your ears at all in the traditional sense. Shokz has designed the OpenFit 2 buds to hook in over your ears and sit just outside the ear canal. There’s very little contact that could irritate the ear; something I’m noticing already.
This has been a typical design feature of all Shokz products. The company is famous for bone conduction headphones that allow you to maintain situational awareness while still consuming content, whether that be a podcast or some music while you cycle or run. But these are not bone conduction headphones. Instead, these buds sit just outside your ear canal where a speaker directs the sound into your hear. The quality of which, I’ll discuss a little further down.
Previous versions of Shokz were banded, but these are now two free earbuds, resting on your ear with looped support resting on the back of your ear. Weighing in at 9.4g per ear, the design of the Shokz is super comfortable and I’ve found myself wearing them for hours, even during sleep, without noticing them. At times, I’ve literally forgotten I was wearing them.
All of that leaves me with just one take. The Shokz OpenFit 2 are flawlessly designed.
Sound Quality
That comfort means nothing if the sound quality doesn’t meet expectations. This isn’t my first “near ear” audio solution. I’ve had both Huawei sunglasses and, more recently, the RayBan Meta Headliners, which both used a small speaker over the ear for sound. I thought the RayBans were pretty good, despite noticing that in louder environments, I was straining to hear calls and content.
The OpenFit 2 audio is streets ahead. I can’t quite explain how I can both hear my content perfectly, but also the world around me as I need it. Much like how my first time ever trying noise-cancelling headphones blew my mind years ago, so to does this new approach to awareness-focused earphones.
There’s just more meat to the audio experience of the Shokz OpenFit 2 than these others near ear products. Despite that power, which offers you a fantastic audio experience, I’ve had no issues with leakage. By that I means, when I wear these at home, my other half isn’t giving out to me for flooding the room with my music.
The lack of leakage and comfortable compact design, lends to another great use-case; wearing these to bed. I’ve worn these sleeping a few nights and have found them to be the best sleeping headphones I’ve tried yet, particularly because they don’t irritate my ears, but also because they sit so securely on the ear.
Now, I’ve no doubt that some people will find the lack of isolation distracting, and that is a fair criticism. I’m not so sure that I’d fully enjoy a long commute beside a stag or a hen, trying to listen to a podcast depending solely on these buds. I’d never depend on them for a long haul flight, either, given that is mandatory noise-cancelling territory for me.
Naturally, this causes a predicament. I believe most people would have these buds alongside over-ear headphones, so you have the option for the best of both worlds. But that’s a somewhat pricey way to live your life.
But for this review, I’m just here to let you know that the audio quality of the OpenFit 2 is amazing, but the very design of these ear buds means they are a considered purchase for anyone who doesn’t specifically need awareness-friendly headphones.
Other Features
I’m going to bundle in the other features together here as they’re a bit more “quick fire”.
Battery
The OpenFit 2 battery life has been exceptional. I’ve never been caught without battery life and that includes nights where I’ve woken up with the buds still playing and they just get left on my bedside locker when I wake up. At some stage throughout the day, I’ll chuck them back into their case and they’re ready to go again.
I’ve never had a pair of earphones that seem to have an endless battery life. Shokz themselves say you’ll get up to 11 hours of continuous listening on a single charge, while the case gives you another 37 hours of charging. That means you’ve got a full 48 hours of listening between having to find a cable to charge.
Better still, when you do charge, even if it’s just for a few minutes, you’ll get loads of power. Just ten minute charging gives up to 2 hours playback.
Controls
Intuitive control surfaces is not something I’ve had the chance to say often with ear buds, but Shokz seems to have it licked. A customisable button on each side lets you control volume and skipping through tracks.
The buttons aren’t the “under the surface” capacitive type either. These are proper physical buttons. So even if you’re out for a run with gloves on, you’ve got easy control over your devices.
Multipoint Connection
This should be standard today, but it’s still not. The Shokz OpenFit 2 earbuds also support connection to two devices at the same time. This is great in the office. Listening away to music from your phone on the Shokz OpenFit 2, you can hear people around you if they call your name. If someone calls you on Teams, just pick up and your audio flips over to your laptop. It’s clever and convenient.
The Goosed Verdict: Shokz OpenFit 2 Are Perfect for Some
The Shokz 2 OpenFit take the best features of Shokz other products and layers in a range of new approaches and design ideas. The result is the perfect pair of headphones for some people in certain circumstances. And I hope that by reading this article, if that’s you, you’ve just twigged it.
I still believe if you travel quite a bit or like the cosiness of noise-cancelling, you’ll want a regular pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. But for the office, running, cycling, walking or sleeping – these are an incredible pair of earphones to have in your arsenal.
The biggest downside here is that these are pricey enough at €200 especially given I see them as being part of a two product solution for most
What’s surprised me the most is that I do daily drive two audio solutions; over-ear and in-ear. And now, I’m swapping my in-ear buds for these new OpenFit 2 buds. That’s how much I’ve loved them.
If you’ve ever tried to find a safe, welcoming space as part of the LGBTQIA+ community whether it’s in Dublin, Berlin, or Bangkok, you’ll know it can feel like navigating a minefield. That’s where Shane steps in, a brand new app from Irish trans- and queer-led start-up Shane Collective, launching globally on iOS and Android this June 24th, 2025. And no we are not Pride washing, let’s be very clear here, at Goosed we aren’t rainbowifying our logo for one month a year, we want to see amazing companies succeed and Shane is one of them apps that covers a need, and honestly a need I didn’t even know existed before, and I am glad I know now.
This isn’t just another map app with rainbow emojis tacked on. It’s built by LGBTQIA+ folks, for LGBTQIA+ folks—designed with safety, inclusion, and visibility at its core. Not long ago I had the team from Shane join us on the Goosed Podcast and to be honest I was shocked by how little I knew about the issues some corners of the community have when they travel, so this newly educated guy right here is about to break down, what Shane is, how to use it and why this Irish Start-up is nailing their colours firmly to the mast and saying enough is enough and its about time and we are here for it.
What is Shane?
Shane is your new digital wingperson. Whether you’re travelling abroad, looking for a queer-friendly café, or just want to feel safer walking home at night, Shane is packed with tools to help you move through the world with more confidence.
From community-rated inclusive spaces, to an emergency alert system that shares your live location with trusted contacts, Shane does what Google Maps and TripAdvisor never could—it centres you, the queer user.
Here’s a taste of what Version 1 brings:
A global map with inclusive space filters
Community-sourced safety & inclusion ratings
Custom lists you can share with mates
Emergency alerts to share live location
“Shane Certified” businesses clearly marked
Points for contributing reviews and ratings
As for what’s coming down the line this summer? Get ready for…
An AI-powered Safe Travel Concierge (because what is life without AI these days)
Countdown-based emergency triggers
Automatic incident recording to the cloud
Real-time rerouting with in-app Safe Navigation
Designed for Real-World Safety
One of Shane’s standout features is its smart international design. Not every country is safe for LGBTQIA+ people and the team knows that. The app won’t show sensitive info in high-risk countries and won’t be available at all in places where being queer could cost someone their life. Seriously….this is an actual need in 2025 in some parts of the world.. madness. There are 2 worlds, the reality and the dream right? Personally I would love to live in a world where it doesn’t matter where you place your pecker, slam your ham or yano, don’t, you do you because it’s the substance not sexuality of a person that matters, right?….but the reality this is not the case and some parts of the LGBTQ+ community still cannot travel in peace (and probably less so now given the current political climate)
Privacy is also baked in. Users stay anonymous, and data collection is kept to a minimum—because trust isn’t a bonus feature, it’s the baseline.
As Tadhg Mac Mahon, founder and CEO of Shane Collective, puts it:
“Shane is the solution our global community needs. A tool for everyday safety, belonging, and visibility, in a world that too often overlooks us.”
Who’s Behind It?
Shane Collective is a fully remote team of 17, with members from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and around the world. It’s intersectional, international, and informed by lived experience at every level from feature development to accessibility. It’s almost like it was made by those with the need, for those with the need….sounds logical to me. It’s not tech-for-tech’s sake this is tech for good and we all know that’s an area I love because the world wants to paint technology as the thing that will end humanity, not a tool for us to leverage for our betterment.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re heading to Pride in London, Shane Collective will be in Soho on Friday, June 27th, at the Pride pop-up shop (7 Walkers Court, W1) from 4pm to 6pm. Swing by, meet the crew, and see how the app works.
Shane isn’t just a cool app it’s a necessary one. As someone who covers tech that matters, I can say with confidence: this is the kind of innovation we need more of.
Now available on iOS and Android—go grab it, and travel a little lighter.
I love start-ups, and I love Irish start-ups and over the last 10 years one of my key focus’ on Goosed has been finding the best and brightest of the start-up community and I think we have unearthed another gem. Anyone who has followed the Goosed Podcast knows that one of the things I love is finding who is at the cutting edge of Irish technology and I reckon SeeGap might just be the latest to add to our ever growing list of companies who Got Goosed.
Remember QR codes becoming relevant? Kinda seemed to happen during Covid for restaurant menu’s but they do so much more! Today we live in a world where QR codes have gone from being a novelty to a necessity, and the Irish Founded company SeeGap is taking things up a notch. You might not have heard of them yet, you might never really hear of them directly, but if you’re someone who cares about where your products come from, what’s in them, and how brands engage with you, then SeeGap something worth paying attention to.
The Seegap Journey: Innovating the Future of Product Engagement
SeeGap was founded with a simple yet ambitious goal: to change how consumers and businesses interact with product packaging. Recognizing the growing need for transparency, traceability, and digital connectivity, the company set out to bridge the gap between the physical and digital retail world. Ok let me break down a story, Remember Mars Delight? Remember when they gotten taken of the shelf? Because I sure do, and there was nowhere for me to reach out and ask for my favourite snack back. Or for the health concise of us, what’s the macros, what’s really in my food? Simply packaging and barcodes just don’t cut it and that’s why GS1 is just around the corner.
In the early days, SeeGap focused on developing smart packaging solutions that utilized QR codes and NFC technology to provide consumers with instant access to product information. As consumer expectations evolved, so did SeeGap’s vision. By aligning with GS1 standards and the global push towards 2D barcodes, they have positioned itself as a leader in transforming traditional packaging into interactive experiences. Just check out the pod below with David to find out the full story, its a good one, trust me.
SeeGap’s journey has been driven by collaboration with major industries, including retail, healthcare, and food production. By working closely with brands, regulators, and technology partners, the company has played a crucial role in helping businesses adapt to the new era of digital-first consumer engagement.
Who are Seegap?
Seegap is a technology-driven company that specializes in bridging the gap between physical products and digital experiences. They provide packaging solutions that enhance our consumer engagement through QR code technology. Their mission is to transform traditional product packaging into a dynamic, interactive touchpoint for brands and consumers alike. By integrating smart packaging solutions, Seegap enables brands to engage with consumers in real-time, offering interactive content, traceability, and transparency.
Their mission is to give brands direct visibility into who their offline shoppers are — what they care about, how they engage with products, and what drives them to buy again. In a world where over 80% of FMCG sales still happen in physical retail, this is a crucial blind spot most brands can’t afford to ignore.
Through smart packaging and a powerful analytics backend, SeeGap enables brands to:
Capture first-party consumer insights at the point of use or post-purchase
Build direct relationships with retail buyers without relying on third-party data
Understand why products perform (or don’t) across different markets or retailers
Run targeted campaigns based on real behavior, not assumptions
Convert offline buyers into loyal, digital audiences
Whether it’s improving product feedback loops, driving online conversions from in-store sales, or uncovering patterns across SKU performance — SeeGap helps FMCG brands turn packaging into a scalable data channel that supports decisions, faster innovation, and long-term brand growth.
What is GS1 and Why Does It Matter?
GS1 is a global organization that sets the standards for barcodes, including the familiar EAN/UPC codes you see on retail products. These standards ensure seamless product identification across the supply chain, making it easier for businesses and consumers to track, verify, and engage with products.
One of the key advancements in GS1’s standards is the rise of 2D barcodes and QR codes, which allow for much richer data than traditional 1D barcodes. Instead of just identifying a product, these codes can store detailed information about ingredients, allergens, expiration dates, sustainability efforts, and much more. This shift is where Seegap is making its impact—helping brands utilize GS1’s evolving barcode technology to create smarter, more interactive consumer experiences.
Why is This Shift Happening?
Consumer behavior is changing. one are the days when people blindly trusted marketing buzzwords slapped on a box. Now, consumers demand transparency, sustainability, and convenience all at once. People are demanding more information about the products they buy, whether it’s verifying ethical sourcing, checking allergens, or accessing user guides. Here are the key drivers behind this shift:
The Rise of Conscious Consumers – People are more mindful about what they buy, from the food they eat to the clothes they wear. Shoppers today want to know exactly what they’re buying, where it comes from, and whether it aligns with their values.
Retail and Regulatory Evolution – Industries such as food, healthcare, and cosmetics are facing increasing regulations that demand more transparency in labeling and product tracking. QR code-driven solutions like QS1 help brands stay ahead of compliance requirements.
The Mobile Digital-First Lifestyle – We live on our phones and modern consumers expect instant access to information. QS1 taps into this behavior, making it easier than ever for consumers to get product information in just one scan.
Brand Engagement and Loyalty – Companies want more than just a one-time sale; they want ongoing relationships with their customers. QS1 gives them a direct channel to offer personalized content, discounts, or customer support, right at the point of use.
What Does This Mean for the Consumer?
For everyday shoppers, this shift in barcode technology means easier access to the information they care about, all about convenience. Instead of Googling reviews, searching for manuals, or trying to decode ingredient lists, everything you need is instantly available through a quick scan.Instead of searching for product details manually or relying on outdated packaging, a simple scan can provide:
Instant product verification – Ensuring authenticity and origin. Know exactly what you’re buying and who you’re buying from.
Detailed ingredient and allergen information – Helping consumers make informed dietary choices.
Eco-conscious decision-making – Brands can showcase their sustainability initiatives transparently.
Digital manuals and tutorials – No more losing paper guides; everything is accessible via a scan.
Loyalty perks and brand engagement – Exclusive deals, personalized content, and customer support are just a scan away.
The Future of Smart Packaging
Seegap’s work with GS1 standards is paving the way for a future where packaging does more than just sit on a shelf, it interacts, informs, and enhances the customer experience.It’s a shift towards a more transparent, interactive, and consumer-friendly shopping experience.
As more brands adopt this technology, we’re likely to see an evolution in how we interact with everyday products—turning packaging into a gateway for digital engagement, making shopping smarter, safer, and more connected.
So next time you pick up a product, check for a QR or 2D barcode—your next scan might be your gateway to a whole new level of product engagement.
So, the next time you pick up a product with a QR code, give it a scan—you might just be stepping into the future of retail.
A couple of years ago I tested a Eufy robovac. It’s an easy sell – never vacuum again. However, just a few years ago this wasn’t the case. As cool as the robovacs were, you still had to have a regular vacuum. How else would you clean the stairs or the car?
I gave up on those older robovacs that would just bash themselves off everything in sight to navigate your home, hopefully hitting all the dust. A couple of years later and that tech has come a long, long way. so far, in fact, that I’ve been left calling this the most complete robovac on the market. The Eufy E20. A robovac that does it all.
Disclosure: This product was gifted to the author. This means it was provided free of charge to be reviewed but the brand supplying it did not insist on a review, nor do they have any control over the content within this review.
Design
Where I live has stairs, and I have a car. So you might be wondering just how exactly a robovac can tackle that. Simply put, it’s down to clever design. The robovac comes in two parts. The driving bit and the vacuum bit. This is clever, because when you separate the two, the vacuum bit is a regular “stick vacuum”. Included in the box is everything you would need to run around the house giving a regular vacuum job. I mostly use this on the stairs – the biggest barrier to some buying a robovac at all.
The Eufy E20 is the first robovac solve the problem of cleaning stairs and cars. Picture: Marty Meany
When you pop it back into the driving shell, it becomes a full on robovac, capable of automated cleaning around the home. One nozzle is fitted into the machine itself for handheld use, so it’s always nearby and ready to go if you need some quick handheld cleaning. I think the idea here is that you would leave the other “stick” accessories elsewhere in the home where you’d use them. Because one oversight is that Eufy has absolutely nowhere for you to put any of the accessories. Which seems odd given there is a full sized self-cleaning docking station which could be home to some accessories.
Functionality
That self-cleaning docking station is where your robovac (mine is called Piper by the way) comes home to charge after cleaning and even empties into a removable, but unfortunately not reusable, dust bag. I’m looking out for a reusable alternative.
Eufy E20 docked and charging in the self-cleaning dock. Picture: Marty Meany
I think the biggest leap forward in robovacs for me is that LiDAR has become nearly a global standard on these machines. No more bashing itself of everything. The E20 maps out my home and learns where it can and can’t go. In fact, it’s so good that you can ask it just to vacuum one area – great if you have an open-plan space and just want the kitchen done after dinner.
The combination of great design and function means that every evening, my home gets a great clean. An important note I nearly omitted is the cleaning quality of the E20 itself is perfect. Now, even with LiDAR, you will need to vacuum the “corners” of your robovac area once a week because all the clever design in the world doesn’t mean robovac get everywhere. In fact, LiDAR adds a little height to the device, which means under some cupboards become no-go areas for my robovac. But overall, this is the most complete robovac solution I’ve seen to date. It doesn’t lean on gimmicks, just clever design and functionality.
The App
Eufy has just released a new “super app” which is home to Eufy security and clean products. Until now these were two separate worlds. I’ve tested Eufy security products in the past and it is nice to finally have everything in the one location. Beyond that, I don’t really have too much to say about the app. It works and has all the information I could want.
One very niche issue I’ve found so far, and it genuinely won’t be an issue for most is, Home Assistant. I have just started building a custom smart home integration where I control all of my own technology from my own Home Assistant platform. Eufy doesn’t officially support this. Now, while I realise just how niche a topic this is, it’s problematic because everything else in my home, with the exception of my 12-year-old smart plugs which just need replacing anyway, worked straight away. For me, it’s unusual that this wasn’t considered and if you are a Home Assistant user, it’s a very considerable blocker – not to say I won’t work it out.
Noise Levels
I live in a pretty noisy area, but even so I don’t want a vacuum being noisy. This was a concern when I first ran the E20 because when it finishes the cycle and goes home to empty itself, it’s possibly the noisiest appliance I’ve ever had. To my pleasant surprise, Eufy thought of this.
The vacuum will only empty during assigned times. So if it does a clean at 2am and you’ve said this is a quiet time, it will skip until the next day. This is a thoughtful feature I really liked.
Goosed Verdict: Eufy E20 Robovac
Retailing at €479, but available for as little as €379 if you find it in a sale, the Eufy E20 Robovac is on the very high end of “regular vacuums” and the middle shelf of robovacs. Given this is a stick vacuum too, it’s an easy recommendation from me. I like to walk around my home in my bare feet and because I live in a city, no matter what I do that floor is nearly always covered in dust. Highly irritating in bare feet and, I’m sorry, but vacuuming every single day just isn’t going to happen.
The Eufy E20 means I can have my apartment cleaned every night while I sleep. Making a coffee in my bare feet with no annoying debris everywhere after making dinner last night. When the weekend rolls around, I can clean the car or spruce up the stairs. In general, my home is cleaner with less work, all thanks to the Eufy E20. Making it a strong recommend.
Our growing dependency on “Artificial Intelligence” platforms is clear to see. Just this week, An Garda Siochana has taken steps to restrict free AI access, I assume because it was becoming apparent it was being widely used. This means when a platform experiences technical issues, it makes a lot more noise. Today, both Perplexity Pro and ChatGPT subscribers are experiencing outages.
ChatGPT Outage
One quick look at the OpenAI status page shows us that there is an increased number of outages globally. This is an interesting time to see how many other services are affected. ChatGPT’s APIs are experiencing outages too. This means any 3rd party services which lean on OpenAI’s technology is also down. This can mean chat support bots and other “smart” features.
There has been no official comment from OpenAI yet. Oddly, this outage seems aligned, at least in timing, with Perplexity being down too.
Perplexity Outage
Perplexity AI is a “AI model aggregator” with an additional user experience layer on top. Basically, it takes all the tech from AI platforms and wraps it up in a deeper user-friendly experience.
Perplexity AI is rather popular in Ireland and the UK because it’s included as a benefit for Revolut customers. Unfortunately, those Perplexity Pro customers today find themselves without access to the platform.
I’ve reached out to the Perplexity team, but there is speculation that this could be linked to a recent post from the Perplexity team on Reddit outlining public abuse of promo codes to gain paid access to the app.
Posting on Reddit, a Perplexity representative stated they have, “noticed unauthorized distribution of some promotional codes” and that the company has “now deactivated those codes” and was “actively investigating how to resolve this as quickly as possible, which includes disabling unauthorized access to Pro”.
Speculation now centres on the possibility that this clean up mission may have removed access for valid customers who have signed up to the platform through channels like Revolut.
I do have to highlight that this is speculation, and I will update this article once I hear back from Perplexity. In fact, Perplexity has since posted in response to some customers stating “there are no problems with your subscription, it is likely because of the server outage (https://status.perplexity.com/) – will be back up soon. Sorry for the inconvenience”.
If you feel your access has been wrongly removed, you should reach out to their support at support@perplexity.ai.
Update 10/6/2025 – Comment from Perplexity stating there is a server outage and that Pro subscriptions are intact.
