No point hiding it, me likey the Sony! Look I know they have not always been perfect (far from it) but there has always been something soooo close about their flagships products. Thankfully the mid and entry level products have always been solid phones for their prices, especially versus the competition at the price point. Well as of today Sony’s brand new smartphone, Xperia L4 is available to buy. This latest model the Xperia L4 is the first L Series from Sony to have a triple camera, as well as boasting Sony’s signature 21:9 display. The entry-level smartphone is available to purchase from selected retailers across Ireland for €199 SIM-free.
Bang for the Buck?
Sleek 21:9 Wide 6.2” display for more browsability yes it’s a word, multi-tasking productivity, as well as wide angle entertainment
First L series model to have a triple camera with bokeh effect for creative expression
Browse all day with a large 3580mAh battery with fast charging support
The new Xperia L4 is now the newest model in the L series has a sleek stylish design which fits perfectly in your hand, so you can browse and connect in comfort.
Benefiting from a 21:9 Wide 6.2” display, normally reserved for premium models, the Xperia L4 lets you see more but scroll less. You can also increase your browsability with Sony’s multi-window UI which allows you to run two apps simultaneously, as well as the Side sense function which lets you switch between your favourite apps effortlessly. There is also a large 3580mAh battery to keep you connected even during a busy day.
You can even get creative and expand your photography skills with the triple camera; offering a 13MP main lens, 5MP ultra-wide lens and 2MP depth camera for a beautiful bokeh effect. This is the first Xperia in the L series to offer a triple lens camera, allowing you to capture high quality images from two angles: wide and ultra-wide. There is also the opportunity to capture video and images in the dramatic 21:9 ratio.
Offered in either black or blue, the Xperia L4 is available to buy now from the Sony online store as well as local retailers, priced at €199 SIM-free. Please check operators and retailers for individual tariffs.
A comfortable fit
The Xperia L4 may have a large 6.2” display but it still fits in your hand perfectly, thanks to its sleek 21:9 wide aspect ratio, clean design, and slender form.
See more, scroll less
The 21:9 Wide 6.2” display offers a greater viewable screen area for web browsing, reading, maps, video, messaging, and more.
Big screen entertainment
The cinematic aspect ratio of the 21:9 Wide 6.2” display2 takes you deeper into movies, TV shows, games and mor
Triple camera for triple the fun
Get creative with a triple camera featuring 26mm wide-angle, 17mm ultra-wide-angle, and a depth camera for beautiful bokeh effects.
17mm ultra-wide-angle camera
26mm wide-angle camera
Depth camera
Long lasting battery
With a long lasting 3,580mAh battery, the Xperia L4 gives you all the power you need to stay connected.
Fast charging
The Xperia L4 is compatible with the optional Fast Charger (UCH32C), so you can quic
Video playback format – H.263, H.264, H.265, MPEG-4 Video, VP8, VP9
Camera – Triple Camera
Rear Camera –
13MP
5MP
2MP
Camera Features – HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo, LED, Photo flash, Photo light, Video light, up to 4x digital zoom, up to 10FPS burst shooting, Panorama, Bokeh effect
Video Recording – Video stabilization
Front Camera – 8MP
Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, Stereo recording
RAM – 3GB
Memory – 64GB
External Memory – microSDXC support (up to 512 GB)
TikTok, formerly known as musical.ly, is a social media platform. On TikTok, users can create videos up to 15 seconds long and combine these videos with music or other audio. The goal is to generally create a funny video and you can combine 4 videos to make a combined 60-second clip. Borrowing several entertainment concepts to create the core attraction of the platform. It combines elements from the now-defunct Vine, Instagram stories and, believes it or not, karaoke. Yep, music and singing, or perhaps more so miming, make up a massive part of TikTok. And if you haven’t heard of it before the lockdown then you surely have by now. All them dances, short videos and general tomfoolery on the internet right now is probably coming from TikTok. Jesus even myself and Goosed have our own accounts now! BTW the Goosed Channel has the good stuff so be sure to checkout Mr Martin doing his thing.
Ok as you would expect, people at home with sweet f all to do means people are on social media more than ever. Stats from recent reports have shown things like Facebook usage is up 42% while Instagram is up over 30% but the big winner is of course TikTok. In March the platform showed downloads increasing 27% in March compared to February, with gross revenue for this period rising by 21%. TikTok was the most popular non-gaming app worldwide in February 2020, ahead of big names like WhatsApp and Facebook and marking the app’s best month ever.
Less surprisingly the longer a country is in lockdown the more likely they have been to try a TikTok as in Italy we have seen downloads increasing by 35% from March 16-22 compared to the previous week. Essentially, with nothing to do for a few weeks, what better way could there be to waste time than on TikTok?
But its just for the kids?
Ughhh you’re to old for TikTok, if you’re over 18 it’s not cool to be on the app, yada yada yada. Yup it sure did start as a younger persons app, much like Bebo, MySpace, Vine, Instagram, Facebook, basically you name it they all started with a younger audience until someones Ma decided to give it a shot. Although please don’t tell my mother, the worlds not ready to see that.
So anyway, TikTok is a hit with the kids, with about 40% of the users between 16-24 globally and roughly 50% under 34. It won’t be long until business’ crack to code and it goes the route of YouTube and Facebook, selling ad space but for now enjoy the jollies.
Other stats we have seen say those who have the TikTok app installed open the app 8 times a day. 90% of users visit more than once per day, and they spend an average of 52 minutes on the platform but of course these numbers are skewed by the fact we are all at home in our PJ’s looking for something new and fun to do.
Using TikTok to engage
With more people on a platform, the ugly side of social media is always bound to rear its head and in a time where even Facebook has taken measures to remove fake claims and conspiracy theories, and to block advertisements from people who may try to exploit and amplify concerns over the virus, platforms like TikTok are being used to try engage the younger generation.
The World Health Organisation made its TikTok debut in March in an effort to combat misinformation about the coronavirus. By the following Monday, the account had already gained 162,000 followers and 1.2 million likes. As of 26th March, this increased rapidly to 919,100 followers with 4.5 million likes. From there the good people of the internet are making their message go viral by lip-syncing the video’s audio while miming hand washing, or dancing to the audio. Who says learning needs to be boring right?
The person behind the fame
One of the things I’ve enjoyed during quarantine is listening to podcast including people who are normally inaccessible for long form conversations and many more have been enjoying videos from their favorite celebs having a bit of fun and showing their personalities. Honestly watching Gordon Ramsey dancing with his daughter is wholesome as you are going to get and next time you see the swearing star on tv you might not take him as seriously.
Right now there are a bunch of celebs on the platform from Jamie Vardy to Kevin Hart, Jessica Alba to well..Gordon Ramsey. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike are uploading videos referencing the current situation. Users are posting about the importance of staying home and promoting governmental guidelines. Hashtags such as #thankyounhs which currently has 8.5 million views and #stayathome with 800 million views are being widely used.
Well if you haven’t started using TikTok, now might be a good time to give look like a fool and give it a try. In the last two weeks i’ve learned some footwork dance, some other dance, put my clothes on upside down and a couple of other things all in the name of harmless fun. Look times are mad right now and we’re all turning to our devices to connect and realistically it’s all a bit of harmless fun. Make a TikTok? Share it with us, we’ll make a compilation later.
Three’s youth MVNO, 48 Months, has just relaunched with a new look and shortened name. Now simply known as 48, this new network is Three’s effort in the increasingly competitive discount plan market. Vodafone has Vodafone X, Eir launched the very competitive Gomo and now Three enters with 48. Here’s everything you need to know along with how they compare with the competition.
Who Is 48?
I think we’ve all known someone who thought they were pulling a fast one over 48 Months back in the day. The network, an MVNO run by Three, targets younger smartphone users. That’s the name was all about. Between 18 and 22 was supposed to be the most exciting 48 months of your life. Many believed you had to be in this age bracket to be on the network, but no network would ever be that fussy!
While 48 is Three’s network to target the youth market, it’s open to everyone who believes they have a good offering that suits their needs.
The Cheap Phone Plan Market In Ireland
In the past six months, the cheap phone plan market has burst into life in Ireland. While 48 was still tipping along as 48 Months, little has changed in the past few years. Vodafone launched Vodafone X in 2017, but it did little to turn the market on its head. Late last year, Eir rolled a real grenade into the room with Gomo. While there were plenty of customer care issues, customers seeking a cheap phone plan couldn’t argue with Gomo’s €9.99 launch offer which is now just €12.99.
Gomo’s launch sent a shockwave through the Irish mobile market. According to ComReg figures, the launch quick gobbled up a fair bit of market share and handed it to Eir. It makes sense. You take unlimited calls, texts and data and charge very little for it. You can be sure the people of Ireland will answer with their wallets. Of course, there is a data fair usage, but 80GB isn’t leaving you too short on data either.
What 48 Brings To The Market
48 now brings two plans to the market. That’s a €9.99 plan and a €14.99 plan. While 48 runs on the Three network, you won’t have access to their “Unlimited” All You Can Eat Data. 48 claims this is “cause you don’t need it”. 48 also promises to give you “full control of your data”, meaning you can carry over unused data to the next month and donate it to charity.
Interestingly, 48 also offers a “try before you buy” 1GB SIM for free which you can order on their website. Let’s take a quick look at the new plans they have on offer.
What Are The New 48 Plans?
Right, so they’re offering a €9.99 plan and a €14.99 plan which means their either side of Gomo. But how do they stack up?
48’s new plans both give you 300 minutes and unlimited texts. The big difference between the two plans is going to be data. To be fair, it’s the only thing that any network can really charge for these days. First of all, 48 has now opened up 4G. This is something that wasn’t available on the network before launch.
In terms of data allowances, for €9.99 you get €20GB data with 7GB EU roaming and for €14.99 you get 40GB and 9GB data roaming.
How Do The 48 Plans Stack Up?
Monthly Plan Cost
€10
€13
€15
€20
48
Monthly Data Allowance
20
N/A
40
N/A
Gomo
N/A
80
N/A
N/A
Vodafone X
N/A
N/A
N/A
30
48 makes the argument that they’re really only trying to give you enough data that you need in an effort to charge less. In practice, some won’t see it this way. If you look at price per GB, Gomo is still leading the pack with 80GB for €12.99. That’s 16c per GB.
However, 80GB really is a lot of data and, to be honest, more than what many will need on a monthly basis. If you’re a very light data user spending most of your time on WiFi, 48’s €9.99 plan might just whet your appetite a little bit. Even though your paying 50c per GB, your monthly is €3 less than Gomo. There’s also the added benefit of knowing unused data will roll over or be donated to charity.
48’s New Plans: The Verdict
48 is further confirmation that the Irish phone plan market has become a scramble to grab customers who just want a cheap plan. On the surface, Eir’s Gomo is offering the best value plan. But if you’re willing to spend a little bit of time checking in on your plan, 48’s €9.99 is Ireland’s cheapest smartphone plan.
It’s the self-proclaimed “biggest documentary in history”. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness was the perfect formula. Take some bonkers people, add some bonkers big cats and let a bonkers storyline play out. Add to this the fact the entire planet is locked indoors and you’ve got a mega-hit. Maybe they were right. Maybe it’s the biggest documentary in history. So maybe, it’s not too hard to wonder why they’d add one last episode. The shame is that they really shouldn’t have.
How Did They Film A New Episode Of Tiger King?
We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, so most people are wondering how the even recorded a new episode of the Tiger King. It might have been better if they just chopped up old unused clips, but instead, it’s all-new, shot in isolation.
The producers signed up Joel McHale to host interviews with some of the stars from the show. They then sent everyone iPhones, AirPods and, I assume, tripods. I would imagine they then called them on another number to converse on speaker while the iPhone and AirPods recorded video and audio.
It’s innovative, to say the least. However, from years of supporting the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival, I’m not at all surprised that mobile can produce high-quality video quality. The problem with this new episode of Tiger King is the content.
What Is The New Tiger King Episode About?
No longer is this a fly on the wall documentary about the bonkers events at several big cat zoos. This new episode is a one-to-one interview where Netflix are just poking the beast. They’re really trying to drain the bottom of the barrel. The questions aren’t at all hard-hitting either. In truth, McHale just acts as a go-between for people on social media and the people from the show.
If I’m honest, there was one particular question that was warranted. Saff Saffery famously had his arm ripped off by a Tiger in the show. Throughout the show, he is referred to by an incorrect pronoun. Despite being a transgendered man, Joe Exotic and others referrer to him as she/her. His reaction to this is probably the only bit of decent insight or new news to emerge from the new episode. To save you watching the whole episode for just this part, he’s not all that bothered, claiming others seem to be more bothered by it than him.
The New Tiger King Episode: The Verdict
To be frank, it’s a damn shame they bothered with this. Unless something amazing happened after 20 minutes you should avoid this. I say that because I actually turned it off. The show just lets some of the other stars from the show take pot-shots at the mains stars.
If Netflix is going to dip back into isolation productions, I hope they don’t forget the importance of content and storytelling.
I saw a meme two weeks ago. “Who drove digital innovation in your business?”. The answers were “your CEO, your CTO or COVID-19?”. I laughed but it’s true. Businesses and arguably society, in general, has crammed years of digital innovation into a matter of weeks. How many mammies knew what Zoom was in January? But this rapid innovation is happening everywhere it’s needed. As you might imagine, this also includes the medical field where ventilators have become some of the most critical hardware on the planet.
The Importance Of Ventilators
With the spread of COVID-19 also came a spread in need for ventilators. According to the World Health Organisation, 80% of people who get COVID-19 will recover without requiring hospital treatment. Within that 20% that do require hospital treatment, a smaller number will need ventilation. Take Boris Johnson, for example, one of the most high profile cases to date. He was admitted to the hospital and required oxygen but not ventilation. However, for those who require a ventilator, it’s a life-saving piece of technology.
In severe cases, the virus damages the lungs and the body’s immune system fights back. The result is actually fluid entering the lungs, making breathing difficult leading to the body’s oxygen levels dropping.
Ventilators push air with increased amounts of oxygen into the lungs, while also adding heat and moisture to match the patient’s body temperature.
Before writing this article I never really thought about the technicalities around how a ventilator works but they are fascinating. I know understand how complex and important they are.
The Scramble For Ventilators
For many weeks, some of the biggest headlines have focused on ventilators and how difficult they have become to source. In mid-March, the UK government called on all manufacturers to investigate if they could change their factories to develop ventilators. In the US, New York hospitals have struggled to get enough ventilators to get them where they’re needed most. Tragically, medical professionals in Italy had to make terrible decisions when it came to their ventilators. With limited ventilators, Italian doctors had to decide who they prioritised to get access to these life-saving machines.
The Galway System
The Galway System, developed by The Inspire Team, is a method of ventilation which allows for the safe ventilation of two patients from a single ventilator. The Galway System was developed to give medical professionals an additional choice before having to prioritise patients when limited ventilators are available.
The Inspire Team, a team based at NUI Galway, are a group of engineers, clinicians and academics in Galway. They are working our of NUI Galway, NCAD, University Hospital Galway and also include local Multinational MedTech Companies and MedTech Start-Ups.
Instead of focusing on building new machines, they concentrated on getting more from existing resources, effectively doubling the capacity of existing machines in an emergency. The solution which has been shared as open-source technology under the name Galway VentShare and they hope it will be adopted globally, offering the information on how to do it for free.
How The Galway System Works
In short, The Galway System adds a splitter to the outputs and inputs of the ventilator system. With added flow monitors and dual redundancy filters to ensure the risk of cross-contamination is minimised, the system has been tested and proven to ventilate two separate lines off a single machine.
The Galway System Explained By A Doctor
Here’s a more in-depth, technical and medical, explanation by Dr David Hannon.
Everything required to make this work is usually available in hospitals. For example, one of the valves being used is a regular fitting for ventilators to limit power for use on children.
It’s The Last Option
This solution hasn’t been designed as a plan A. Instead, the Galway System from VentShare is a solution to slot in before prioritising young and healthy patients over older patients. But when it comes to making that decision, what fantastic option this is to have from the Galway-based team.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, with so much negativity going about the place these days we’ll be taking any chance to show the positive stuff that’s happening around the country in a time like this. PPE is a major issue for the whole healthcare system right now and amazingly it’s not giant corporations or the government stepping in to cover the need, it’s people like you and me that have a little bit of talent and the right tools. What I’m talking about is 3D printing. Up and down the country, people, small business, colleges and more have been sharing open-source designs and all these people are using their newfound time and skillset to 3D print PPE to help front-line staff through the COVID-19 crisis.
Doing the good work
Following the shortage of PPE to fight the current COVID-19 Pandemic many Irish people, companies and institutions have offered their skills to help the cause.
One of these techy heroes is Wexford native Cedric Aucher who plans on producing 100 face shields a week. Cedric will be working alongside his father and sister to create the 3D printed PPE and will be donating these shields to local organisations in need such as nursing homes and other public services.
We also have e-NABLE Volunteers in Dublin have been working around the clock to help supply their health heroes and first responders with much-needed face shields this past week.
“Here in 3DAssist Dublin, we’ve printed and delivered over 150 face masks to our local hospital. We’ve also sent over all our colleges PPE. Our local police force delivered our stock to the hospital, a real community effort. Be safe.”
3D printing is not the only way to make PPE! A good old mate of mine from back in the college days and is a bespoke furniture maker and owner of Studio Luden in Ennis has shelved all current projects and has been putting his handy skills to use, laser printing face shields using lightweight plastic which has been donated to the local nursing home and other public services.
An advanced manufacturing research facility based in University College Dublin has designed a face shield for medical staff working on the COVID-19 frontline in the space of a week and is already scaling up production. Using its expertise in 3D printing, known as additive manufacturing, I-Form is aiming to provide much-needed PPE to Tallaght Hospital.
Nigel Burke, an owner of 3D Printing Dublin, declared: “We want to get the message out that there are Irish businesses producing PPE. We’re here at home – use us.” His 3D Printing workshop in Rathmines is currently producing 120 PPE face shields per day.
Jacqui O’Connor from Med Scan 3 D, who usually make models of body parts, has six 3D printers on the go as nursing homes across the country cannot access the personal protective equipment they need during the health crisis. Jacqui is now 3D printing face shields and set up an online funding page to raise money for the project. She’s raised about €4,500 so far, and each face shield costs €15 to make.
Two students at Kinsale Community School (KCS) in West Cork have started making 3D printed face shields in order to protect front line staff as they go about their duties. Fifth-year student Oisin Coyle and Transition year pupil Shane Collins contacted their principal in recent days about the possibility of making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medics in hospitals. An assembly line was set up and the shields will be distributed to doctors, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare workers in the coming days.
So proud of our Students and teachers coming together (never closer than 2 metres though!!) to make PPE for our health care workers. #kcs4lifepic.twitter.com/toVLvySMs3
Back in the good old days I went to UL and did Product Design and Technology, at the time it was a small course hidden in the basement of the concert hall for us to go all mad scientist….things have changed and now the Rapid Innovation Unit at the University of Limerick is living up to its name by designing solutions to three critical challenges facing hospital doctors fighting COVID-19 in less than two weeks! They are currently pumping out intubation boxes for the University Hospital Limerick as well as the face shields.
A collaboration between UL & @ULHospitals Group has seen the design and capacity created to manufacture 100,000 face visors for HSE front-line staff. #MidWestTogether
The first batch of visors were delivered to UHL today. They say ‘The Limerick Visor: Front Line Heroes’ on them. pic.twitter.com/Mot4miT6oq
3D printers have become more affordable, for what a couple of years ago would be north of €1000 you can now get an entry-level machine for about €200. Like these:
XYZprinting da Vinci Mini+
A small 3D printer that costs about €350 and is purchasable on Amazon. It remains one of the most affordable ways to get into 3D printing, and also the easiest, thanks to an easy-to-use interface. Just because it’s a budget model, doesn’t mean it doesn’t produce good results, and the 3D printed objects it creates are very impressive considering the price – and size – of this 3D printer.
AnyCubic Photon
MSLA printers are coming thick and fast but none so far have achieved as low a price as the AnyCubic Photon which is about €300. Photon puts SLA technology into the hands of anyone who wants to give it a go on a budget. The included software is solid enough as is the user interface if all a bit simplistic, but you can’t argue with the quality of the resulting prints. You do however need to ensure everything is kept clean and resin is filtered and the resin bath washed between each print.
TEVO® Tarantula Pro 3D Printer Kit
Another simple and cheap printer that comes in at about €200 that prints 235*235*250. Perfect for home use and it’s upgraded special designed cooling fan shroud for efficient print cooling.
How you can help
If you want to help any of these good folks, luckily there are ways. Cedric Aucher is looking to raise the funds to be able to produce over 100 face shields per week to make the best use of his recently acquired 3D printer. You can reach out to the e-nable team in Dublin or any of the crews mentioned above to see what resources they need. Of course, if you happen to have a 3D printer just laying about at home you can always get the plans and get involved.
You might also be interested in The Galway System which can double the capacity of ventilators in an emergency.
This year we are expecting two new gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. We previously have taken a look at what we thought we know about the console but luckily and somewhat teasingly, Sony are drip feeding us with new information. This time around it’s the brand spanking new DualSense controller. Sony recently released a statement on their website as they begin sharing the new control with developers to integrate the new features into their games. They claim the features of DualSense, along with PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, will deliver a new feeling of immersion to players.
To be honest, this new design is getting some very mixed reviews for its look but personally I think it’s quite a slick looking bit of kit. Sony claim they have kept much of what people enjoyed about the DualShock 4 control all the while adding in some new features to go alongside its new look. It seems that touch and audio are going to be the two major developments with the latest control rendition.
When it comes to touch, Sony are redeveloping their haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud. They have also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow.
CEO Jim Ryan from Sony had this to say:
“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5. The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”
Traditionally you would think when it comes to a game control it would be a case of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Not this time, a new console means a new challenge and an opportunity to build off of the current generation, while taking into account the new features we were adding. For example, with adaptive triggers, they had to consider how the components would fit into the hardware, without giving it a bulky feel, so they created a design that changes the angle of the triggers, adds subtle updates to the grip and did it all in such a way that maintains a strong battery life for DualSense’s rechargeable battery, and lessens the weight of the controller as much as possible as new features were added.
In other news the “Share” button is gone in place of a new “Create” button which Sony claim is a pioneering new way for players to share their content with the world. But that’s all they have told us for now.
We mentioned audio is going to be a big deal this time around so the DualSense has it’s own built in mic, about time some might say. This will enable users to chat without a headset or use earphones that don’t have a mic in built.
Personally I quite like this two tone white on black design as it’s a big change from the single colour designs of years gone by. As you can see, they went a different direction this time around, and decided on a two-toned design. Additionally, Sony changed the position of the light bar that will give it an extra pop. On DualShock 4, it sat on the top of the controller; now it sits at each side of the touch pad, giving it a slightly larger look and feel. There will also be an all black design but that’s all we know for now.
Sony say they wanted to make a controller that is an extension of the user when they’re playing – so much so that they forget that it’s even in their hands, guess only time will tell.
What was the last meme to trend before COVID-19? Honestly, if you’ve ever played Fallout, I sometimes feel like I’m living it. The life we knew a distant memory. Not trying to be dramatic, instead, I just think it’s so crazy that everything I write now has roots in the completely different world we all find ourselves in. One of those things is Zoom’s growth from a piece workplace video conferencing software to a social network of sorts. But, with Zoom’s explosive growth to comes growing pains, and one such growing pain is Zoom Bombing.
What is Zoom Bombing?
Zoom Bombing is a very simple problem. However, simple problems can have quite large impacts. The good news is you can easily avoid Zoom Bombing and happily continue using Zoom to connect with friends and family. More on that later.
If you’ve hosted or taken part in a Zoom video call, you’ll have joined the call using a link or a meeting ID number. These numbers consist of between 9 and 11 digits. If you join by a link, those ID numbers are in there, at the end of a link that starts with “https://us04web.zoom.us”. I just did a quick Twitter search for “https://us04web.zoom.us” and immediately found people promoting their Zoom meetups. One is for a cycling group of all ages, including the password required to join and the time of the meeting. So it would be nice and handy for anyone to join.
And that’s exactly what Zoom Bombing is. Gatecrashers do quick and simple searches for Zoom links and join the video calls. Sometimes, it’s classic internet trolling, but it can also branch out into sexual content, racism and sexist content
Welp. Today I paid for a @zoom_us account and hosted my first virtual version of #SEObeers and I'm sad to say that after an hour we got bombed with a bunch of penis, racists and sexist pics and messages.
If you’re hosting a public Zoom meeting, you are responsible for taking the steps required to avoid this. Also, it’s in your interest because scammers don’t take long to find ways of using new trends to their advantage.
How To Avoid Zoom Bombing
Here’s how to avoid ZoomBombing, keeping your calls fun and safe, while also keeping us all connected in isolation.
Use Meeting Passwords And Don’t Share Them Publically
Using a secret password is the first step in protecting yourself and the meeting. Recently, Boris Johnson rather foolishly shared his Zoom meeting ID when tweeting about the first digital meeting of The UK Cabinet.
This morning I chaired the first ever digital Cabinet.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 31, 2020
The problem with this tweet was that the UK’s top powers were meeting in Zoom and they had publically shown their Zoom meeting ID. It’s in the top left corner of the browser. Zoom has released an update which some are referring to as “The Boris Johnson Update”.
Now, this wasn’t a massive deal because the session was password protected. Chances are even if the whole world tried to guess the password, and I’m sure they tried, no one would have gotten in.
That’s the power of a password.
When you host a Zoom meeting, set a password. This means your guests will not only need the meeting ID but a password too. If hosting a public meeting, don’t put the password in the same tweet as your meeting ID. You’ll need to have some sort of gating process. If you’re hosting a game of poker, WhatsApp the password to everyone. If you’re hosting online beers, maybe you could use a Google Form to get people to submit their emails addresses before you invite them.
A small bit of a barrier will go a long way towards keeping Zoom Bombers at bay.
Use The Waiting Room
The Waiting Room is like a bouncer. It’s the airlock. With the waiting room enabled you can add people one by one to the Zoom meeting. For example, you could request people use their real first name so you recognise them and not allow people in who don’t meet this requirement.
Never Ever Give Up Control Of Your Screen
Zoom has a functionality which allows other people in the meeting to control your computer. Just yesterday while working, I used this. It’s a very handy collaborative tool when you’re confident and sure you know everyone in the Zoom meeting. If you’re hosting a public Zoom meetup, you should never ever give up control of your screen. A Zoom Bombing gatecrasher or even worse a scammer might be waiting for the right moment to request access to your computer and have a look around to see what they can find on your laptop.
Practice A Zoom Call
Find someone you trust and arrange a Zoom call with them. Ask them to try and take control of your screen so you can see how to allow them, but also how to revoke their access later. Zoom is a brilliant platform with tons of functionality. Spend some time playing with everything it can do, but do so when you’re in a meeting with people you trust.
Disable “Join Before Host”
As I said, you’re responsible for ensuring people who enter the meeting are there for the right reasons. This is why you shouldn’t use “Join Before Host” as you don’t have control. If you know for a fact the meeting is locked down, it’s a handy feature but only use it when you’re sure no one else has details to join. Otherwise, you need to be there to police it.
Lock Your Meeting
Everyone in? Lock the doors. You can lock Zoom meetings and stop additional users from joining. Another simple step that can prevent Zoom Bombers from ruining the craic.
Disable Screen Sharing and File Sharing From Guests
Internet trolls love nothing more than sharing their screens full of porn, racism and sexism to name but a few of their favourite things to share. By preventing screen sharing and file sharing, you’ve removed their chance to broadcast this kind of content to your meeting.
To control this, click “Security: on the bottom of your screen. Disable the option allowing participants to share their screens.
You’ll find the options for this by clicking the arrow next to Share Screen and then Advanced Sharing Options. Under “Who can share?”, click on “Only Host” and then you’re done.
Only Allow Authenticated Users
You can also set your meeting up so that only users who have confirmed email addresses with Zoom access can join. Generally speaking, scammers and trolls avoid doing things like this but it’s not a fool-proof way to avoid Zoom Bombers either.
None of these methods are fool-proof. Some aren’t easy and others alone won’t protect you. You need to practice some commonsense with Zoom access. But if you take all of these things and put them into practice, then you won’t go too far wrong. And once that’s all done, the good news is you can have fun!
Have Fun On Zoom
One of the most incredible things to emerge from COVID-19 isolation is how we’re all staying connected. Through various video calling platforms and whatnot, I know I’m seeing some people more than ever. It’s brilliant to see technology when used correctly, bringing people together.
I’ve already shown you how to turn yourself into a potato on Zoom but Zoom is a lot more than that. It’s bringing people together and breaking down social distancing. Just do your best to avoid Zoom Bombers and we’ll all be just fine.
Things are gone mad and we’re probably living in the most uncertain times in recent history, so when we get any good news we have to shout about it. With social distancing and facing a long Easter Weekend on your couch rather than the beach the fine folks of Google have given us that good news we need! Video games can be a valuable way to socialize with friends and family when you’re stuck at home, so Google are giving us all free access to Stadia Pro for 2 months..Nice one.
Anyone who signs up will get two free months of Stadia Pro with instant access to nine games, including GRID, Destiny 2: The Collection, and Thumper. You can purchase even more games on the store, which will remain yours to play even if you cancel your Stadia Pro subscription or when the trial finishes. Now some may be sitting there saying to themselves, “I’m already a Pro subscriber, so what’s the story for me?”. There’s more good news from Google here and if you’re already a paid Stadia Pro subscriber, Google will give you the next two months for free.
How to get started
If you’re new to Google Stadia, getting started is surprisingly simple:
In recent times we’ve seen the likes of Netflix and Disney+ have had to throttle things to relieve pressure on internet services. Naturally that means the responsible thing is for Google to do the same.
To reduce load on the internet further, Google are reducing default screen resolution is being lowered from 4k to 1080p and the vast majority of people on a desktop or laptop won’t notice a significant drop in gameplay quality, but you can choose your data usage options in the Stadia app.
Finally, as you give Stadia a try, check out these helpful tips for setting up your home environment and as Google know many are going to be totally new to their platform they’ve also posted a Getting Started Walkthrough.
It’s one of the most talked-about smartphone launches for quite some time. For that alone, I’m delighted the Huawei P40 Pro is ready to launch. I’ve been using Huawei phones for the past few years and I personally believe they’ve been a breath of fresh air in a very stale market. It really all began with the P20 Pro, before moving through a few quite remarkable phones and landing on today. Today, I’m using the P40 Pro and I’m here to tell you all about it.
Huawei Launch P40 Series
Obviously, because of the way the world is today, Huawei restricted the launch of the P40 Series to an online only broadcast. Prior to the event, Huawei had already launched the P40 Lite so this event would focus on the P40, P40 Pro and the new member of the family, the P40 Pro+. Huawei had sent me a P40 Pro to test out the day before the launch and I’ve been using it since. So without further ado, here’s what I think of it.
Does The Huawei P40 Pro Have A Good Display?
I always say that so many features on phones are totally down to individual preference. For example, some of you will insist on nerding out over the numbers and specs like screen pixel density. Others will fire more from the hip, looking out for design and what it’s like to watch a movie on. I’m not even sure what it is that I look for in a screen but what will say is that the P40 Pro has a brilliant screen.
On paper, it doesn’t have the 4K screen of some Sony phones or the pixel density of the Galaxy S20 Ultra or event the Galaxy S20+. However, in terms of innovation and experience, the P40 Pro screen really is something else. First of all, let’s chat about that overflow screen. When Samsung released the Galaxy S20+ with a 90.5% screen-to-body ratio, few believed we’d see better so quickly. Yet, thanks to a quad-corner overflow display the Huawei P40 Pro boasts an incredible 91.6% screen-to-body ratio. That tiny percentage has a massive impact on your experience when using the Huwaei P40 Pro.
Check out how much more screen is on show here, especially around the chin.
One of the key things that Huawei CEO, Richard Yu, alluded to during the launch of the P40 Pro was that this wouldn’t be a phone of “no compromise”. That phrase, “no compromise” has been a marketing rallying call for many products. But not for Huawei has decided to embrace compromise where it needs to in order to improve the overall user experience.
For example, many smartphone manufacturers are rushing to adopt 120Hz refresh-rate screens when the reality is 90Hz is plenty. If you’ve never through about your screen refresh rate, I can promise you this spec will make zero difference to you. If you’re a hardcore mobile gamer, it will make a difference. The key point here is that Huawei would rather go with 90Hz because they know 120Hz has a significant impact on your battery life. For me it’s compromise for the greater good.
Overall, the P40 Pro display is unique and allows you to be immersed in whatever it is you’re watching.
Huawei P40 Design
I wanted to bring the P40 Pro’s design in here next. It’s unavoidably linked to the display.
P40 Pro Is A Design Masterpiece
Indeed, I really like the display. The design is remarkable. For me, the dual cutout in the display for the front-facing camera isn’t a distraction at all. My first time using a phone with a display cutout for the front-facing camera was the Samsung Galaxy S10+ so I’m not surprised that it didn’t distract. The move to having a cutout front-facing camera means that Huawei once again relied on an in-screen speaker. The good news is this is much improved from last year’s P30 Pro and sound quality has massively improved too.
You could actually take this in-screen speaker quality improvement as a measuring stick for Huawei’s development over the years. I remember back when I was working in a phone shop selling the old P8 and P9 that the major issue with Huawei’s flagship phone was the plastic feel. The build quality meant the phone would rattle and vibrate when on a call. They weren’t bad phones at all, they were just missing something.
Broadly speaking, what impressed me about the P40 Pro design is that Huawei has managed to make a more premium feeling P Series phone. In the past, I’ve always felt the extra-premium feel was reserved for the Mate Series. After getting to grips with the Mate 30 Pro to test out Huawei’s Mobile Services and Huawei AppGallery, I’m glad to report the P Series is right up there in terms of premium build and design.
Now, the Huawei P40 boasts a brilliant innovative screen housed in an aluminum frame with a gorgeous matte material back. I’m very pleased with the back of the phone because, for once, whatever they’ve made this from isn’t an absolute fingerprint magnet. It might not be what everyone looks for but that’s a bugbear for me.
P40 Pro Design Flaws
As wonderful as the P40 Pro is, I’m going to call out the two design quirks I noticed. First of all, try not to leave your phone face down on surfaces. As was the case with the P30 Pro, the P40 Pro does not have Gorilla Glass. While the screen is supposed to be durable enough, I personally just believe screens not using Gorilla Glass are more susceptible to scratches. Sure enough, even in isolation and barely leaving the house, I managed to get a little nick on the screen. So my advice to you is, from day one, get yourself a screen protector, preferably a tempered glass protector.
Scratches can come about from your pocket, day to day life, or as I said above, leaving your phone face down. Leaving your phone face down becomes more likely because of the second design flaw in the P40 Pro. The camera array on the back of the P40 Pro is huge. Like, it’s obnoxiously big. For me, it’s not a problem but it’s a design quirk which might leave some users annoyed every time their phone is left on a table. It’s such a silly thing but how your phone rests on a table can bother some people.
Now, the reason the size of the camera array doesn’t bother me is that the P stands for photography and that camera array is packing some essential hardware that gives the P40 Pro its main selling point. Its camera.
P40 Pro Camera
There have been a lot of question marks looming over the P40 Series. With many questions being asked, few questioned the P40 Pro would have a brilliant question. That’s simply because Huawei has form here. For as long as I can remember, even in those early days with the P8, Huawei flagship phones have had fantastic cameras. That was brought to the next level with the P20 Series. Here we are, two iterations later and, to be honest, on paper the P40 Pro hardware is underwhelming. When compared to the P30 Series there aren’t that many dramatic departures.
Here’s a comparison between the P30 Pro and P40 Pro camera features:
32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Seflie Features
HDR
HDR
Selfie Video
1080p@30fps
2160p@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
The big jumps come in the selfie camera and the video ability of the phone. Video capture was a big focus of the Mate 30 Pro launch and it looks like this is the next evolution for Huawei. While this won’t be much of a big deal for casual weekend filmmakers, this will be music to vloggers’ ears. The big jump here is being able to shoot 4K front-facing video at 2160p@30/60fps. The reason that awesome is because you usually have to make a trade-off. If you want the highest quality from your phone video you can’t see the screen. Not any more as your selfie camera can shoot video just as well (ish) as your primary camera.
All of the video features aside, you’re really here for the photography – or at least most people will be. Not only am I mighty impressed with the P40 Pro camera, but so too are people who rate cameras for a living. The P40 Pro has once again been crowned the best smartphone camera on the market by DXOMARK.
The funny thing about this rating for me is that this isn’t just down to brilliant hardware. The P40 Pro is home to the Kirin 990 5G processor. I rarely nerd out over processors because I generally don’t believe it to be very consumer-friendly review material. However, the power of this processor is very important to get across. This processor allows your P40 Pro to quickly determine what you’re shooting, define edges and subjects while also choosing various settings like colour balance and white balance. The result is incredibly vivid shots and stunning bokeh Portrait images.
Here are some comparative shots between the two phones. Remember, for me the big difference here is the AI running on the Kirin 990 5G chip. While the P30 Pro is still impressive, the P40 Pro just outperforms it.
St. Patrick’s Park Flowers, Shot on the Huawei P30 Pro
St. Patrick’s Park Flowers, Shot on the Huawei P40 Pro
Still impressive shooting from the P30 Pro, St. Patrick’s Park, DublinSlightly superior shot and object identification leading to sharper shots, St. Patrick’s Park, Dublin
The usual question I get asked is “I have a P30 Pro, do I need a P40 Pro?”. As a rule of thumb, when there’s a year between smartphone launches, the answer is no. While there are some nice AI-assisted features like Remove Passersby from your shots and the remarkable ability to remove reflections, I’m not convinced the camera offers enough to make the jump from the P30 Pro. But if you are running any other smartphone or even a P20 Pro, and you’re in the market for a photography-based smartphone, the P40 Pro has got to be top of the list.
Now, while it’s top of the list, there’s another massive question mark hanging over the P40 Pro, especially if you have something like a P30 Pro. What’s it like moving from a phone with Google Mobile Services to Huawei Mobile Services.
I’m looking forward to the day where I can stop writing this line and maybe the P40 Pro helps with it. Google can no-longer officially support Huawei smartphones. This means new launches like the P40 Pro won’t have Google Play Services and apps like YouTube and the Google Play Store. While many have seen this issue as being Huawei without Google, I can really see the tables turning over time. I have already tested the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, purely to focus on the Huawei Mobile Services side of things. While I stumbled through some app installations and just couldn’t install some services, overall it wasn’t too bad an experience given the pace Huawei has had to try and get into position to compete with Google and Apple.
There are certain aspects of using HMS which are well underplayed too. While some might scoff at the thought of promoting privacy considering some of the headlines Huawei has endured, the truth of the matter is if you think Huawei should be a concern, Google absolutely is too. What I realised while trialling HMS is just how deeply Google has buried itself in my life. Also, what shocked me is how relatively easily I removed it too. It still pop up as an issue every now and then, and I’m conscious that in isolation my need for Google Maps is lowered, but it’s somewhat liberating moving away from Google.
Instead of Google Assistant, I’ve installed Alexa as my personal assistant. One for the privacy people. You can’t wake Alexa as an assistant on your smartphone by saying the wake word. You have to bring the assistant to life using screen gestures so there’s no accidentally over-hearing your conversations because of a misheard wake word.
There’s been another funny side-effect of my switch to HMS and whether or not this is positive is up to you. Because my apps rely on Google Mobile Services for push notifications, I’m being annoyed by my phone less. For example, my Twitter feed doesn’t buzz at me every five minutes yet my WhatsApp notifies me every-time I have a message. I’m sure this is down to the fact I’ve installed WhatsApp thorugh the official WhatsApp website while Twitter was carried over by Huawei’s Phone Clone.
The truth of the matter for the P40 Pro is that some of you will buy it and adore it. Because of Huawei’s VIP setup service, you’ll be up and running with most of your favourite apps and you’ll enjoy this phone like people enjoyed their new P20 Pros and P30 Pros. As time goes on and the Huawei AppGallery continues to add new apps the focus will shift further and further away from what Huawei doesn’t support, instead shifting back towards the comparison between Huawei, Samsung and Apple.
Others will buy the P40 Pro and will immediately discover there’s a specific app they need that’s not available. One issue I discovered, was restoring purchased apps I’d paid for in the Google Play Store. Right now, it’s a no go though some app developers may honour refunds. For these reasons, the P40 Pro will just not be for everyone. If you’re really tempted but nervous, I’d recommend you buy online for the simple reason being you’ll have 14 days distance selling protection. As a consumer, this is EU law and it protects you when you shop online as you have the right to cancel and return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without the seller requiring a justification.
Huawei P40 Pro: The Verdict
It’s really tough to evaluate the Huawei P40 Pro purely because there are new variables in play. For the techies out there, there are fewer problems, but would I buy the P40 Pro for my mother? Huawei is going through a massive period of change. I’ve said myself that the benchmark I’m holding them to is Huawei Pay’s expansion. Yet, for many mobile payments doesn’t really matter that much. And that’s the problem.
The Huawei P40 Pro is the best phone on the market once again, once there’s not a really important app or service in your life that you simply cannot live without. Once the latter comes true, there’s an element of risk that sneaks into the equation. This is one of the most subjective smartphones on the market. One customer will brag about the camera to their friends while another will lament that they couldn’t control their LIFX lights.
So, without trying to be objective, what do I think?
What shocked me is that my SIM didn’t go back into my P30 Pro. A few months back, I thought I’d give up on the P40 Pro after testing. Instead, I’m fascinated by ditching Google and seeing how Huawei grows. The camera is stunning and, for me, is worth any smaller sacrifices in dropping some apps here and there. To be totally transparent, I am using my phone less whether that be because of the reduced push notifications or me not installing a few apps of lesser importance. I’m not sure that’s going to be a selling point for many but for me, it’s turned out to be a massive positive.
Somethings Remain Untested
As isolation eventually lifts, I think I’ll revisit this review again as I test some more camera features. I also want to test out life without Google Maps and whether or not I can still fly my drone. Also, I’ve not mentioned the battery at all in this review. My reason being that while it seems to be as impressive as previous Huawei smartphones, my lifestyle is just so different right now. I feel like I’m using my phone more than ever, yet the battery life is lasting longer than ever too. I’m just wary of testing some elements with isolation going on so I’ll update this article once further testing in normal life takes place.
If you’re thinking of buying but are still not sure about a certain app, drop us a message below or on social and we’ll test it out for you.
Huawei P40 Pro Launch Offer
The final thing I’ll mention for now is that Huawei is rightly sweetening the deal when it comes to the P40 Pro launch. The phone launches on Tuesday 07.04.2020 and will be available from all major Irish networks. While I’m waiting for pricing, Huawei is throwing in some nice freebies with your P40 Pro. You’ll get:
