Everybody, listen up. There’s a fairly unfit tech reviewer about to give you all fitness tips. Many home fitness fans seek the perfect plank, but how do you know you’ve achieved it? A new iOS app from a company called Exer has the solution.
Why Is The Perfect Plank So Important?
I don’t do enough planks. I don’t do enough because they’re damn tough. When it comes to staying in one place, I would say the plank must be the toughest way to do it. It’s tough, but it’s worth it. When you practice your planks your training your core strength. This means you can improve overall body strength, reduce the likelihood of injuries and more. Planks can improve your posture, your balance, increase your metabolism and even have a positive impact on your mental health too.
All of this only happens if you get it right. Get the plank wrong and you’ll get nothing. If you can achieve the perfect plank you’ll get results even faster.
What Is A Plank?
While there are variations of the plank, I’m going to focus on the basic plank.
To achieve this you support all your weight two points of contact with your toes and your forearms on the ground. You should be fairly straight and this whole move works best when you feel you’ve engaged your core. You want to hold your plank for at least 20 seconds but you will build stamina over time.
Now, all of that came from some Googles. Don’t be listening to me. Download this app for your iPhone or iPad and let some people who know what they’re talking about help you avoid the most common plank mistakes.
What Does Perfect Plank From Exer Do?
Exer is an always free platform, which offers premium content. The platform uses your iPhone or iPad camera combined with AI and thousands of hours of athletic analysis to provide you with realtime feedback on your workout. You don’t need any additional hardware, but it is currently limited to iPhone and iPad.
With plans to release a range of AI-powered personal trainers, they’ve launched with Perfect Plank. Launching Exer on Product Hunt, the company founder Zaw Thet outlines why he created the app, and more importantly, pushed to launch part of it early. With Covid-19, remains unclear “how long people will be forced to either stay home or will not feel comfortable going into a gym, studio, or clinic”.
Does Perfect Plank Work?
Well, it felt like it did! I set my iPad up and moved six feet back, got into position and felt the burn. One thing I’ve got to say is that in a small apartment it’s tough to get your phone back far enough. You’ve got to have your full body in the frame for the AI-trainer to tell you how you’re doing.
Once I was set up though, it worked really well. My virtual trainer gave me encouragement and feedback throughout my first plank attempt.
I made the mistake of starting with 1 minute 30 seconds and realised I’m going to need to build myself up. I couldn’t perform a plank for as long as I had hoped at all. When you’ve finished your plank workout, you can watch your session back. You’ll be able to see if you managed to reach a straight line, were your shoulders and arms in the right position and overall did you perform a forearm plank that activated your glutes and quads right through to your core to make this a great ab exercise?
The good news is (I hope) is that over time you can learn from the feedback, continue to train my core and increase the amount of time I can hold a plank. Who knows, maybe I’ll even upgrade to some new plank variations too.
In his Product Hunt launch post, the founder of Exer said an Android version is coming soon along with additional virtual trainers. So don’t listen to me when it comes to fitness, but in terms of tech I think this is pretty cool and a great way to learn how to perform the perfect plank at home.
People want alternative ways of getting around Dublin City and the surrounding areas. Whether it be to go shopping or just to visit somewhere like the Phoenix Park, cars, buses the Dart and the Luas are less appealing in a world going through Covid-19. So what alternative modes of transport are there for people trying to get around Dublin?
Why Do We Need Public Transport Alternatives?
The Covid-19 restrictions are starting to lift. It should be good news, but they lifted before plans for transport solutions in Dublin City were announced. To me, that was a bit of a grenade rolled across the city. Certain people could go back to work, but how would they get there?
I’m sure that there’ll be a time where Dublin Bus is jammed again. So jammed that it flies past me at the stop, refusing to pick anyone up. While I believe this, I also believe this is years away. From my apartment, I can see the top deck of Dublin Buses. Their capacity has been slashed due to social distancing measures. Even if we were to reduce these measures, the public do not want to share small spaces. Even if wearing masks as per government advice, bus services, rail services and other public transit solutions involve people being close together.
Public Transport Alternatives
With this in mind, people have started to look for alternatives to public transport. It’s the summer, so personal transportation, that isn’t a car, is a real option for city workers and dwellers. I hope some of this applied to beyond the pale, but it’s where I’m living right now so I’ll just use this example. So, if what are your alternatives to public transport in a city like Dublin?
Cycling
Cycling is the most obvious and most popular alternative to public transport in Dublin. I’ve been fantastically shocked by the number of people cycling in the city. I even saw a couple brave enough to take their tandem bike out in the city. Others have gone all-in on cycling and are proving that doing a weekly shop is no problem at all if you have a cargo bike.
A group of cyclists
Car usage in Dublin City is set to drop by 30% and Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, believes that cycling usage could increase ten-fold if encouraged.
Around the city, cycling infrastructure has been hurriedly put into place by Dublin City Council. Plans have been fast-tracked and further ambitious plans to encourage cycling in the city have been tabled. The city is so much better right now that even me and my partner took bikes out for a spin together for the first time. We’ve been living here for nearly seven years, and now is the first time it’s felt safe enough.
Yes I know I shouldn't have taken a pic on the bike, but for the first time of living here in nearly seven years, we felt safe enough to go for a cycle together in Dublin. It's brilliant. The new lanes are fantastic. Cyclist headstart green lights a stroke of genius. pic.twitter.com/lNAWZAktfc
As restrictions lift, cars have begun to return to the roads and some old habits are proving to die hard. Fingers crossed cycling sees a longterm win in the city.
But if you want to cycle, what are your options?
Buying A Bike
One retail space that’s largely survived Covid-19 restrictions are bike shops. The reason for this is that most are also repair shops that continued to operate on appointments. discovered a great tweet yesterday. The best time to buy a bike was three months ago. The second best time is now.
The best time to buy a bike was three months ago. The second best time is now
The first thing you need to look up is whether your employer offers the Bike to Work scheme or not. This is a government scheme which lets your employer help you buy a bike and related equipment worth up to €1000. You can use what’s known as a salary sacrifice arrangement to save up to 51% on the price of a bike and safety equipment like a lock or helmet. If your employer offers this scheme, you should get a quote from your local bike shop.
If your employer doesn’t offer this, you’re best to visit your local bike shop and have a chat about your needs with them. Try support a local bike shop instead of a big chain like Halfords. Reason being, your local shop will give you some amazing advice and also be there when you need help in a few months.
Not into buying a bike?
Bike Share Schemes
I don’t own a bike in Dublin. Instead, I use bike share schemes. There are two traditional bike-sharing systems. One is Just Eat sponsored Dublin Bikes. These operate from stations around the city where you can rent your bike from.
There’s also another service called BleeperBikes. These are a dockless bike-share system. That means you can find them and park them in designated areas in the city. The benefit is that you could park one outside your gaff. The downside is someone will probably rent that before you need it again!
To unlock your BleeperBike, you need to scan a QR code using the BleeperBike app. It’s more expensive than Dublin Bikes so I’ve found having both memberships beneficial. Dublin Bikes for when I can plan a little more or BleeperBike for when I need convenience or am cycling from somewhere not services by Dublin Bikes.
Obviously, the thoughts of using a bike share system right now won’t appeal to everyone. Crews from both Dublin Bikes and BleeperBikes are giving the fleet regular wipe downs, but do carry wipes. I give my bike a full wipe down and sanitise my hands afterwards before heading off on my journey.
Electric Bikes Or E-bikes
The electric bicycle has been a long-standing concept, but they’ve hit the big time in recent years. E-bikes bring the best of both worlds to you as a commuter. You still get exercise in the open air, but it doesn’t take as much effort or time when you have an e-bike. This is all down to the fact that electric bikes have a motor built in to assist you in getting from A to B. With the assistance of an electric motor supporting you you’re also likely to cycle long distances.
Tower E-bikes are a popular electric bike maker
E-bikes are not like an electric scooter, Vespa or motorbike. The main reason being that they are classified as pedal-assisted vehicles and not mechanically propelled vehicles. The official title they are given is pedelec. This means they do not need tax or insurance. You do not need a driving licence and they do qualify for the government Bike to Work scheme too. The benefit is that you get to feel all superhuman. Acceleration is really quick and you might get to a top speed that you wouldn’t normally. They are a hybrid of man and machine and you will still feel that you’re exercising. Just getting up that hill won’t be as hard. They come in a range of body types, from electric mountain bikes to fat wheel bikes.
Because of the on-board technology and battery production costs, they are more expensive than the average bike. This means more upfront cost and that it’s advised to plough some additional cash into your lock.
Moby Move: E-bike Sharing
Moby Move secured a licence to operate a similar service to BleeperBike late in 2019. They were planning the final touches to their service when they realised they needed to launch early. The reason being frontline staff needed to get to work and, in some cases, were taking three buses to get there.
This is Gabriel from Tallaght University Hospital, in his own words we are “saving him three buses a day” 💪 That's why we are doing this Gab, thank you Sir. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eaX0a00eQ1
Moby Move is almost identical to BleeperBike except that these aren’t normal bikes. They’re ebikes. While the network is quite small now, this is one of the most innovative public transport alternatives in Dublin. You can enjoy getting from A to B without the full effort of cycling while also not having to fork out the cash for an ebike.
This is going to be one of the most exciting ways to get around Dublin for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.
Electric Mopeds
Another growing trend, particularly in markets outside of Ireland is electric mopeds. These are Vespa style scooters. The popularity of these on mainland Europe cannot be ignored and they are also available in countries like Germany under a moped share system. You unlock your moped using your phone, retreive the helmet from under your seat and pay for as much time as you use.
NIU electric mopeds supplied by Lion Mobility in Ireland
In Ireland, there are no share systems in place yet, but private ownership has increased in recent years. I recently spoke with Shane Mullarkey from Lion Mobility and their plans for Ireland. Lion Mobility are bringing the very popular NIU electric mopeds to Ireland.
These mopeds are amazing and can either be charged at a designated point or you can eject the batteries and charge them at home. The range varies depending on the model, but if you were to be looking to navigate through Dublin City, their entry-level model would have plenty of range to meet your needs.
The massive challenge these mopeds face is the licence required to drive one. Despite being relatively small motors and offering a fantastic alternative to those who need to cover more ground in Dublin, you must have an AM class drivers licence to ride an electric moped. This was automatically included with all driver’s licences until 2006. Now you must undergo an AM theory test and 16-hours of motorbike level training. The team at Lion are hopeful that the benefits of electric mopeds will soon been seen in a city desperately seeking out congested public transport alternatives.
E-rides: Electric Personal Micromobility
And this is the controversial one. Arguably, e-rides hold the greatest potential to take people off of overcrowded public transport. E-rides include electric scooters, Segways, hoverboards, u-wheels, powered mini scooters (go-peds), and powered unicycle. All of these vehicles are classified as MPVs in Ireland but cannot be insured or taxed. As such, the Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána have interpreted the law to rule these vehicles as illegal on Irish roads. And they meant it too. Earlier this year, I spoke with an electric scooter rider who was stopped by Gardaí. He ended up in court with five penalty points and a €300 fine for driving uninsured. He was treated as if he were driving a car without insurance.
Today, you’ll still see plenty of these vehicles on the road, particularly electric scooters which have proven very popular in cities like Dublin. Lifting restrictions in the UK has seen micromobility trials fast-tracked to June 2020, meaning electric scooters will be legal on the road a year earlier than planned. Unfortunately, plans in Ireland have been delayed because of delays to government formation. I’m sure these will be a popular choice once legalised considering how many people seem to be aware of the illegality but continue to use them. Their biggest adversary is not having a government and some commonly held misconceptions about some vehicles like electric scooters.
Testing An E-Bike In Dublin
Alternate Transport Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Dublin Bikes cost?
To become a member of Dublin Bikes costs €25 for the year. After that, your first half an hour is free. Up to one hour is charged at 50c, up to two hours is €1.50, up to 3 hours is €3.50, up to 4 hours is €6.50 and every half hour afterwards is charged at €2. The system is designed to be most beneficial for those cycling from station A directly to station. However you can lock your bike freely using the onboard lock and key.
How much does BleeperBikes cost?
BleeperBike offer a variety of plans starting from their pay as you go plan. This is €1 per ride and requires a €4 top-up. Each ride is 60 minutes. You can also buy a one month membership for €12.50, three months for €25 or an annual pass for €75. Each of these plans gives you four rides of up to 60 minutes every day for 30 days. Finally, there is also a day pass available for €5.
What is the Bike to Work Scheme?
Bike to Work or Cycle to Work is a government scheme which offers a tax incentive to PAYE employees to cycle to and from work. This scheme started in 2009 and is organised with help from your employer if they have decided to take part.
Does my employer offer the Bike to Work scheme?
The Bike to Work scheme is optional for employers. If you’re not sure whether or not this is available, it’s best speak with your HR team. If you’re self-employed, you cannot avail of Bike to Work.
How much can I spend using the Bike to Work scheme?
The scheme applies to bikes and equipment up to the value of €1000. It’s important to note you can only use this scheme every five years.
What equipment can I buy with Bike to Work?
You can buy, new bikes and tricycles, new electric bikes (electrically-assisted bikes that require some effort to propel), cycle helmets, bells and horns, lights (including dynamo packs), mirrors, mudguards and skirt guards, cycle clips, panniers, luggage carriers and straps, locks and chains, pumps, puncture repair kits and cycle tool kits, peflective clothing and bike reflectors.
Can I spend more than €1000 with Bike to Work?
Yes, you can spend more than the €1000 limit on the Bike to Work scheme. It’s important to note that any amount above €1000 will be treated as a benefit-in-kind income tax charge.
My bike was stolen. Can I used the Cycle to Work scheme again?
Afraid not. The Bike to Work scheme can only be used by an individual once every five years.
How to e-bikes work?
Most e-bikes have a motor which assists you as you pedal. When you stop, the motor stops assisting.
How fast are e-bikes?
E-bikes can go as fast as you can pedal. The motors will generally assist you up to 45 kmph.
Can I get an e-bike on the Bike to Work scheme?
Yes you can. However, if the e-bike costs over €1000, everything over €1000 will be treated as a benefit-in-kind income tax charge.
Do electric bicycles promote fitness?
Yes. The assistance element of the e-bikes still need you to pedal the bike. This actually means you’re likely to cycle further distances and may even exercise more than a normal bike.
What make electric bikes so expensive?
The most expensive parts of e-bikes are the motor and the battery. These don’t feature on traditional bikes and do drive the cost up considerably.
Are e-bikes legal on Irish roads?
Yes. In 2019 the Minister for Transport opened a report into electric scooter and other electric micromobility vehicles. E-bikes were mentioned specifically to be outside of that report because they were not considered to be MPVs (mechanically propelled vehicles) due to the requirement for the user to constantly pedal the bike.
Are e-bikes mechanically propelled vehicles?
No. Because you must pedal to activate the motor assistance, e-bikes are not MPVs.
What is an electric moped?
Do you know what a Vespa is? Slap an electric motor on that and it’s an electric moped.
Are electric mopeds MPVs?
Yes. These are MPVs and required a licence, insurance and road tax. You can expect them all to be lower given the environmental friendliness and lower power ratings.
Do I need a licence to rider an electric moped?
Unfortunately, for the time being, yes. We believe this is on the table to be reviewed once a government is formed. However, now you must hold an AM category licence or undergoing training to acquire one.
Are electric scooters legal in Ireland?
Electric scooters, also referred to as kick scooters, are legal to own and operate on private land. You cannot use these on public roads. Check out what we’ve written about this in the past.
I spotted this randomly on Twitter and I loved it. It’s a tweet from Jurassic Park start Sam Neill. Himself and Helena Bonham Carter have created a short film called Das Fone Hell. In just 2 minutes and 19 seconds, they cover quite a bit. Here’s why short films like this are badly needed right now. I’m also going to dust off some of my critical thinking skills learned in college.
Being Starved Of Content
There have been calls for the WWE to stop filming shows because it’s not safe. Only a third of Germans supported the Bundesliga returning with “ghost games”. So why are these things still happening? With Covid-19 restrictions around the world still slowly lifting, we’re starved of new content. Our favourite shows have stopped filming and the vast majority of sports remain paused. But this is a first-world problem of the highest order. At the same time, Helena Bonham Carter and Sam Neill have shown it doesn’t need to be a problem at all.
Das Fone Hell: Our Relationship With Technology
The short film they’ve released is Das Fone Hell. Sam walks into his kitchen carrying “essential” groceries. He’s accosted by his phone (Carter) which he left at home during his ten-minute shopping trip.
The obvious theme to emerge from Das Fone Hell is our relationship with technology, specifically smartphones. The notification sound that plays as Sam places his groceries down will even trigger certain emotions for iPhone users. The look on his face shows the notification has triggered something in him.
The entirety of this short film brings up many topics, but this is the overarching one. It displays the separation anxiety caused by being away from your phone for just a few minutes. After all, before you leave the house you probably say “keys, wallet and phone”. It’s all about how much of a grip technology has over our lives and even if it disconnects us from people, the opposite of why we thought we wanted phones.
Smartphones: Meeting Needs Or Dictating Them.
Sam describes the last “Sam phone” he ever had as being an old feature phone. I’d wager it was a Nokia 3310 or something. What he means by this is, that was the last phone that met his needs. All he really needed was a phone that he didn’t need to charge and that “didn’t look silly in his pocket”.
when did phones start to dictate our needs instead of meeting them
Sam is trying to work out when did phones start to dictate our needs instead of meeting them. When “the phone” insists Sam list off the benefits it has to offer him. He lists off some of the nice to have things, like movies and music. He then gets onto the likes of purely addictive games like Candy Crush which have little to offer the brain.
“And you’re even a telephone” is the killer line that follows. The smartphone allows Sam to entertain himself in isolation, away from others. The fact this device started out with connecting people more than ever through calls has now been reduced to a footnote feature. Instead, the phone lets us play mind-numbing games or hear “Ariane Grande dropped a single”.
Do Smartphones Make Us Stupid People?
Even the title, Das Fone Hell, questions if smartphones make us stupid people. The title, is supposed to be in German. Perhaps a play to look artsier or more intelligent. I’d imagine that’s a deliberate take on classical European cinematic tropes. But “Fone” isn’t a word used in German. To refer to phones, Germans use “das telefone” or “das Handy”.
With smartphones, we have translation tools so a mistake like this shouldn’t happen. Smartphones being in our pockets mean we don’t need to know as much these days. We just Google things instead. This fun with the title of the short film suggests that smartphones give us a false sense of intelligence to the point we don’t even use that technology in our pockets to look smart. Instead, we just plough on with being confidently stupid and hope no one notices.
I’ll accept some debate on this given that Neill is working on Quarantine Cinema as a series and “Das” is a prefix to all titles, but I still stand by my point.
Smartphones: Now Connecting Us More Than Ever
There’s a beautiful contradiction throughout all of this. This piece of film happened because we’re all in isolation, starved of content. This piece of film could only happen because we have smartphones. It’s been filmed, on a smartphone. It’s being watched, on smartphones. It’s being shared and written about (right now) because of smartphones. While the points the film makes are completely valid and should make us look at our relationship with technology, the power smartphones have to connect the world is nothing short of remarkable.
Personally, I’m seeing family more than ever because of isolation. We’re video calling regularly through Facebook Messenger. I’m even testing a Facebook Portal now to increase connectivity.
While technology does have incredible power to make us introverts, it also allows us to connect in new and meaningful ways. Which brings me to the final point.
This Is A Very Clever And Subtle Advertisement
Sam Neill snuck a wee ad into this as well. Neill is the owner of Two Paddocks Wine, a vineyard in New Zealand. Included in the “the essentials” Sam gets in his shopping is a bottle of Two Paddocks red wine. Now, I think Neill might have been trying to pop a bit of a joke at Covid-culture here too. After all, we’re not supposed to leave the house but for exercise or essential grocery shopping. Yet, we’ve all be drinking loads at home. He is definitely having a giggle at our interpretation of “essential” for sure.
But Neill also knows that a new piece of content, a short film, featuring him and Carter is going to pique the interest of a content-starved public in isolation. A film criticising the very device it was filmed on and used to share. It’s all very clever and entertaining. But it’s also powerful enough to make you question things. The amusing personification of the phone to make us feel like our phones are bothered when we forget this is gas. It’s the guilt we put on ourselves for forgetting something we’re and don’t deny it, addicted to.
Sustainability
Sony was the most ridiculous brand for this. They released a flagship phone every six months. Other brands, generally launch their main phone ever 12 months. Regardless, I’ll admit phone launches are all too frequent for the changes they bring.
In this story, Sam recalls there being a few phones in between his old Nokia-style phone and his new smartphone. “I don’t want to hear about those sluts”, says the smartphone before listing off “the three, the five, the eight”. This is calling out manufacturers for their excessive launching of smartphones.
Sustainability in smartphones is a massive issue. While brands like Fairphone try to make phones more reusable and upgradable, the big tech sector is more interested in keeping customers in an annual or biannual purchase cycle.
The Verdict
It’s just over two minutes long and I have thoroughly enjoyed picking this apart. There’s quite a lot that happens in such a short film. What do you think of it yourself? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch Das Fone Hell With Helena Bonham Carter and Sam Neill
It’s been an interesting few days for the future of electric scooters in Ireland. The question “should electric scooters be legal in Ireland” has appeared in the media once again. The reason for that is Covid-19 and the need for public transport alternatives. In the UK, micromobility tests have been brought forward by a year, and are now starting in June. But attitudes towards modern modes of transport remain mixed. As a massive advocate of micromobility, specifically electric scooters, I wanted to pull together some of the points I hear most and disagree with.
Electric Scooter Riders Are Irresponsible
Some are. I was an electric scooter rider, but I stopped when a rider got 5 penalty points for driving a mechanically propelled vehicle uninsured. I stopped at red lights, never used my scooter on footpaths or took a spin after pints. I was a responsible scooter rider. As are most people with electric scooters.
Unfortunately, some people don’t follow the rules of the road or common decency when using electric scooters. However, this extends to people using all kinds of vehicles using public roads, whether motorist, cyclists, scooterist or pedestrian.
Electric Scooters Are Too Fast
The electric scooter I have has a max speed of 25kmph. Beginner cyclists can reach speeds of around 20kmph. With a little bit of experience, the average cyclist can easily reach the same speeds as an electric scooter rider. I can confirm this in reality too.
From riding in Dublin, I was regularly overtaken by cyclists. Also, from testing out Lime Scooters in Germany which are limited to 20kmph, I can tell you they are too slow. A chain of frustrated cyclists gathered behind me in Berlin trying to overtake because they were all capable of much higher speeds. I’m genuinely more concerned about the government introducing speed limits on scooters which are too slow and cause accidents. There’s a reason you need certain engine sizes on the motorway.
Are Electric Scooters More Dangerous Than Bikes?
Absolutely not. E-scooters are inanimate objects. The focus should always be on the rider and not the vehicle. As I said earlier, some people will use scooters irresponsibly and others will be some of the safest road users you can imagine.
One thing worth noting here is the actual scooter itself. My electric scooter has been through various tests. For example, it has the CE mark to confirm it’s safe for sale in Europe. Also, my Xiaomi M365 has had some issues but procedures were followed to get these issues repaired and roadworthy again.
They Will Be An Eyesore In Dublin
This one is hard to argue with. I remember while testing Lime Scooters in Berlin, coming down to the Brandenburg Gate I did think to myself there was a lot of scooters around. Then again, there were also a lot of buses and cars too. Perhaps this needs some more consideration when we worry about visual versus air pollution.
Also, it’s crucial to note that this issue comes hand-in-hand with a public rental scooter service. I’ve argued before that this system might not suit Dublin, and maybe just private ownership should be legalised.
In this same space, it’s crucial that the accessibility needs of those with impairments are met throughout all Dublin City planning, regardless of whether that planning includes scooters or not.
Electric Scooter Are Too Quiet
Well, they are. As too are electric cars, electric bikes and regular bikes. This is one of the best examples of critics focussing on a perceived problem with a vehicle instead of the reality that it’s not an isolated issue. Now, as a pedestrian, I’ve been keeping an eye and an ear on this. E-scooters actually do have that same “whistle” that electric vehicles have.
Why Would You Pick Scooters Over E-Bikes?
This could be for a host of reasons. I’m a big fan of e-bikes. You’ll need somewhere secure to keep it and they are priced than scooters. However, e-bikes are available on the government Bike to Work scheme, though are often priced out of being an option. They’re also fully road legal.
Scooters do have some benefits. You can fold them up which means they suit “last mile” travel. This is where you combine micromobility solutions with public transport.
I do find it interesting that the safety of electric scooters is questioned far more than e-bikes. Again e-bikes are perfectly safe, it’s the people on them can make mistakes – just like they can on foot, in cars or on scooters. But e-bikes are heavier and faster than scooters. They’re also not as easy to stop.
Scooter Riders Aren’t Trained
While it’s true, neither are e-bike or regular bike riders. While many focus on the differences between all of these vehicles, in my opinion, the similarities are far greater. A report commissioned by the RSA and Department of Transport recommended that scooters largely be treated like bikes.
Scooters Shouldn’t Be Allowed In Cycle Lanes
As the TRL Report suggested, decisions and rulings on the scooters should be made logically. That is to say, if there’s no problem don’t try to solve it. I’ve spoken with countless cyclists and see plenty of polls which suggest cyclists are more than happy to share cycle lanes with scooters. As one said to me, “I’d rather meet you on your scooter than in your car”.
Think I’ve missed a point? What do you think about scooters appearing on Irish roads and bike lanes?
Ugh! This is my absolute biggest pet hate. I despise being lured into trying out a new service online with a free trial only to have them ask me for my card details. I totally understand the idea behind it is removing that barrier to continuing after your trial. I do get it. But the truth is people often take trials to overcome an immediate problem. They also often forget and end up paying for a month or two before seeing that charge coming out of their bank. Thankfully this hasn’t happened to me in a long time because of these two simple steps.
Why Are People Getting Free Trials?
People are trialling more online services to have some fun in isolation. Take Kahoot for example. Kahoot is something used in a lot of offices and schools for learning. A central quizmaster organises a quiz and can have everyone else join in, using their phone to answer questions. It’s cool! It’s also been popular during isolation, as families host quizzes over Zoom. Naturally, this leads to people getting free trials when it’s their time to host.
When it was my turn I used these two steps to avoid accidentally paying for the full service.
Use Revolut’s Virtual Cards
I’ve been harping on about Revolut for quite some time. The digital-only bank recently announced that they had over one million customers in Ireland and also launched Revolut Junior, a bank account for kids. One of Revolut’s largely under-used and brilliant features is their virtual cards.
What Are Revolut Virtual Cards?
Virtual cards are brilliant when shopping online. Staying safe online is important, especially when it comes to your hard-earned money. To avoid using your main Revolut card, the physical one in your wallet, you can create a virtual card. The benefit here is that in the event your virtual card details get leaked online, as has happened this week with EasyJet, you don’t have to replace your physical card.
Avoid Accidentally Paying For Trials With Virtual Cards
Virtual cards can also be easily frozen and you can make as many ask you like. In Revolut, I have a card which I use purely for free trials. The card is nearly always frozen. This means it cannot process payments. When I signed up for Kahoot, they asked for my card details. I entered these virtual card details and unfroze that card in my Revolut app. As soon as Kahoot verified the card was active and real, I refroze it. Now in the event I forget to cancel my trial, Kahoot may try to take a payment but it won’t be processed by Revolut.
If, during the trial, you find that you really do like the service and want to keep it update your card details. I would recommend against unfreezing your card because there’s a good chance there somewhere in the past you’ve done this already.
Next up. Step two.
Cancel Your Trial Immediately
This doesn’t always work but when the service allows it, you are guaranteed not to pay a penny for your trial. After signing up for Kahoot with my virtual card and confirming that everything was working, I cancelled my membership. Your first reaction might be “but I want to use the service”. Most services will allow you to immediately cancel your trial, but complete the remainder of the trial period. After all, that was the agreement. In this case, with Kahoot, I had a seven-day trial. After cancelling, the trial was still active. The difference was that once the trial completed, Kahoot already knew that I didn’t want the service.
If you do want to continue with the service, you can usually easily reactivate too.
If you try either of these tips the next time you’re signing up for a trial, drop a comment below to let us know how you got on!
I miss sports. I’m a Liverpool fan. Two wins away from the first league in thirty years. I’m a F1 fan too. The new season was paused hours before it was due to start. All of that said, there are more important things to life than sports. However, there are plenty of people who get through to their workweek to live for sports at the weekend. The Hollywood movie scripts insist an unlikely hero emerge during times like this. Sure enough, Jelle’s Marble Runs is that hero.
What Is Jelle’s Marble Runs?
Jelle’s Marble Runs is a YouTube channel run out of the Netherlands. Founded by Jelle and Dion Bakker, the channel puts marbles through their paces. Yes, I mean marbles, as in those glass balls.
The channel is based on recreating popular track and field sports with marbles. Using various slopes and mechanisms, marbles compete in teams to complete indoor and outdoor courses the fastest or going the furthest. The marbles even swim underwater too. The closest real-world comparison is the Olympics. I personally believe if you’ve been left disappointed by the postponement of the real Olympics, you’ll like this. Come on, like it’s even called the MarbleLympics!
Unless you’ve watched it already, you won’t believe the effort Jelle’s Marble Runs put into their races. The Olympics-style track and field competition goes the whole hog with the MarbleLympics opening ceremony bagging nearly one million views.
More recently, Jelle’s Marble Runs has also branched out to Marbula One and Marbula E to simulate motorsports. Make no mistake, this channel has been born from some serious fans of marble racing. Today, such a sport has much more to offer a world starved of exciting live sport. Marbula E has actually been sponsored by a Formula E team looking to keep some screen time for sponsors.
But it’s the MarbleLympics which is truly the jewel in the crown of Jelle’s Marble Runs.
What Is The MarbleLympics?
This is the Olympics but with marbles. Also referred to as The Marble League, this whole event has incredible production values. Honestly, the effort that goes into it is remarkable.
In addition to the team overview, here is our current relegation system explained! #ML2020 Qualifiers will determine which teams will advance to the Main Tournament to compete for the championship, and which teams will be relegated to the Showdown (B-League). pic.twitter.com/z4Uo8rxtJu
— 🏁Jelle's Marble Runs🏁 (@Jellesmarbles) May 20, 2020
Teams have been drafted and the competitions outlined. It’s nearly time for the 2020 tournament to commence. Throughout the event, teams challenge to win gold, silver and bronze to score points for their team in the overall competition.
Who Are The 2020 MarbleLympics Teams?
The MarbleLympics will feature sixteen teams in total. Some teams have already qualified based on their performance from The Marble League 2019. The host team has also gained automatic qualification.
MarbleLympics Team
2019 Finishing Position
Raspberry Racers
Marble League 2019 Champions
Green Ducks
Finished second Marble League 2019
Hazers
Finished third Marble League 2019
Team Galactic
Hosts
The rest of the field has yet to be confirmed
A further twenty teams will compete for the remaining twelve team slots at The Marble League 2020. They are
Mellow Yellow
Savage Speeders
O’rangers
Jungle Jumpers
Balls of Chaos
Midnight Wisps
Crazy Cat’s Eyes
Chocolatiers
Thunderbolts
Indigo Stars
Pinkies
Oceanics
Snowballs
Hornets
Rojo Rollers
Team Primary
Jawbreakers
Team Momo
Bumblebees
Minty Maniacs
Teams failing to qualify will enter the Marble League Showdown to face off for a qualifying space next year.
The Marble League Commentator
The entire Marble Racing Universe, and it really is a universe has a marble to represent most people you’d see involved in sports. There’s a full crowd of spectators, some neutral and some there for support the teams. There are referees and “TV producers” dotted around the courses. Most important of all is Greg Woods, the commentator. Woods is the real reason you can buy into this. He gives you back stories to each team and knows plenty of stats about how they’ve performed in the back. He nails it with factual commentary sprinkled with plenty of classic commentator tropes too.
He has even invented storylines where fans left the stadium because the coach was so poor. The fans returned after the coach was fired.
Marble League 2020 commentator Greg Woods
Is This Real?
Your reaction to reading all of this could leave your jaw on the ground. This is very much real. Actually, this is so real that hit US nighttime political commentary show, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver is sponsoring the 2020 MarbleLympics. During one of his latest shows, John Oliver discussed the gaping whole live sport has left in our lives. Understanding that this is a sizeable gap to leave in the world, he believes Marble Racing 2020 is going to be a big deal.
The 2020 MarbleLympics will being on 21 June 2020. Before a marble rolls, you can be sure of an impressive opening ceremony full of style and pomp. While some sporting events will almost certainly be back following the easing of restrictions following the Coronavirus pandemic, many will remain sidelined. Jelle Bakker and Dion Bakker have created a little piece of genius here.
Have you found yourself noticing more and more how often you have contact with strangers? Even remembering some things that we used to do that probably won’t happen anymore? For me, one of those things is buying items on websites like Adverts.ie. That’s going to change forever and today PayPal announced a new contactless way to pay in person to save you handing cash to sellers
The Problem With Marketplace Sites
There’s been a surprising increase in people showing interest in buying and selling privately. With many stores closed, people still want some bits and buying from others keeps cash flow going if you’re stuck. Take Adverts.ie for example. Interest in that site has been growing over the past 90 days. Officially, the site encourages delayed safe transactions with others, but there’s nothing stopping people arranging sales right now or for the past few weeks.
Adverts.ie is encouraging people to report ads they believe not to be complying with Government guidelines, and I second that. But once we start getting back to normal, we’ll all start buying on sites like this again, so how will we pay strangers? One of the most popular ways to pay on Adverts.ie is PayPal.
PayPal Benefits
PayPal has some big benefits over just using something like a bank transfer with Revolut or something similar (don’t do that by the way).
Peace Of Mind
The core benefit of using PayPal is the comeback you have on a dodgy purchase. Because you’re using a third party, you have someone to give out to. When you get caught with a bogus sale, you can open a dispute with PayPal who still have access to the money you sent to the seller. So there’s some peace of mind.
Contactless QR Code Payments
PayPal today launched QR Code payments in Ireland, promoting contactless ways to pay others in-person. Whether your paying in your local takeaway or buying second-hand goods, PayPal QR Codes let you quickly scan and transfer money to other people and businesses. QR codes are a very popular way to pay in Asia and offer an alternative to tapping your phone or cards on a card machine. It’s another indicator that trends, popular in Asia, may begin to appear here. First, it was facemasks and now, maybe, QR code payments.
QR code payments works both for retailers and for private sellers. PayPal’s John Kunze explained that “the rollout of QR codes for buyers and sellers not only incorporates the safety, security and convenience of using PayPal in-person, but also takes into consideration ongoing social distancing requirements, even as we start to see some restrictions be lifted around the world.”
How PayPal QR Codes Work
PayPal QR Code payments all lean on the PayPal app. Take your local farmers market for example. Someone who casually sales produce can print a QR code, place it on their table and have their consumers simply scan, enter the amount they’re paying and send money immediately.
PayPal QR Codes: For Sellers, Shops And Farmer’s Markets
This is great for independent business-people regardless of the fact it also has the benefit of minimising physical interactions with the customer. Also, there’s no passing of cash, handing of change or tapping of cards or phones on germ-ridding card machines. All the customer does is aim their phone camera at a QR Code that is printed or present on another screen.
Now, if you’re looking to buy something and pay with PayPal, you just need to open the PayPal app, click “Send” and tap the QR code symbol. The camera will open and customers can then scan a seller’s QR code and follow instructions to complete the payment.
the prompts to complete the transaction. Sellers can create a PayPal-generated QR code for by following the steps outlined here.
PayPal is rolling this functionality out to 28 markets around the globe including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Lady Gaga part-organised the amazing One World Concert. The event raised around €118 million for Covid-19 causes. It was an incredible event. I also noticed that I have become a bit of a headphone nerd while watching it. As all of these superstars from around the world played their well-known tunes, Lady Gaga came on the screen. I blurted out, “gas, I have those headphones”. Here’s what I think of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT. The first thing I’ll say is Lady Gaga uses them. That’s probably enough.
Why Is Lady Gaga Using Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT Headphones?
I asked this. One of the world’s best-known songwriters, singers and generally famous people is happy using these headphones while singing to a global audience. So, they got something.
@IsaacKLee SOUNDAY Question: What do you think of Lady Gaga’s headphone choice? I’ve been using the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for many years and was happy to see her rocking them. pic.twitter.com/xsl4YMNCjB
The ATH-M50x headphones are studio-grade monitor headphones. I do some recording at home, but I’m no Lady Gaga. If they’re good enough for her, they’re good enough for me. One thing worth pointing out is that I can’t be sure whether she wore the ATH-M50x or the ATH-M50xBT. The latter is newer and has can operate wirelessly.
Now back to the bits I can comment on.
ATH-M50xBT Design
I’ve been testing a lot of headphones lately. While I’ve tried the ultra-premium Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones, I personally prefer the Bose QC35 II or the Sony WH-1000XM3 which Jon tested out. From all of the headphones I’ve tried on, I think the ATH-M50xBT from Audio-Technica might very well be right up there with some of the best designed.
While there’s plenty of plastic on show, these headphones demonstrate that doesn’t need to be a bad thing. The plastic used right is a great material for sound quality and comfort. None of the plastic here makes these feel cheap. In fact, any doubts about these being top of the range headphones go out the window once you pick them up.
The thicker profile of the headband coupled with generous padding, perfect tightness on the head and leather cups left me forgetting I was wearing headphones at all. The multi-directional joints mean the cups can bend and twist in almost any possible combination. Also, if you want to pop them into your bag, they fold up nice and tight.
ATH-M50xBT Functionality
Most of the flagship headphones I’ve tested hang their hats on noise-cancellation. These headphones don’t bother with that. Now, the cups offer natural noise suppression, but if you are really investing in headphones to knock out the rumble of jet-engines, you might want to focus on the noise-cancelling headphones out there.
Wired Or Wireless
But the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT offers plenty. First up, the original wired ATH-M50x were absolute fan favourites. They had everything. But then people phone makers started to drop the headphone jack. While this wasn’t for everyone and definitely didn’t go down well with audiophiles. But Audio-Technica needed to react regardless and made the ATH-M50xBT. They come with a cable in the box but you can also go wireless if you like.
AptX
Not only can you go wireless, but you can enjoy AptX if your phone, like the P30 Pro, supports it. There’s no Bluetooth 5.1, instead, you just get Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery
Without noise cancelling, you get to drop the weight and increase the battery life per gram. Advertising 40 hours, the ATH-M50xBT don’t fall far short of that stat. The big drawback is that you only have a micro-USB port. That means these headphones will likely be the only reason you have to carry that cable around with you again.
Buttons
I always think it’s hilarious that something gets fairly close to perfection and someone includes something awful. The regular buttons and controls are great, but then Audio-Technica decided all headphone must have a button to activate your phone’s assistant. The ATH-M50xBT don’t seem to be able to do this if your phone is locked. Unlocking your phone, you must hold your fingers on the left can for what honestly feels like an eternity. Classic inclusion of features without a second thought for actual users.
While it’s hard to fault these headphones, man oh man did that stand out.
ATH-M50xBT Sound
All that’s great unless they sound horrible. The reason I started with Gaga is that, let’s face it, if they are good enough for her they’re going to be good enough for most. The quick and dirty reason for musicians choosing headphones like these is because they’re good quality but also neutral. Nothing worse than a pair of Beats by Dre that just pump your head full of fake bass.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT: The Verdict
These are a great pair of headphones. I have a small arsenal of headphones at my disposal and these are right up there. If I’m jumping on a flight, these probably get left at home. But sitting at the desk, going for a walk or something similar, these are just something special. Arguably, some of the best headphones on the market which leave noise cancelling.
When I was younger, I used to turn my nose up at Apple devices. Overpriced and oversimplified software sitting on underused hardware. I still feel that way about iPhone, but I have a MacBook Pro and an iPad. They’re probably two of my favourite gadgets. They work so well. Which left me a little worried when HP sent over the Spectre x360 13 to review. I use another Windows laptop fairly regularly and when you live a double OS life, MacOS usually wins. But I left my favouritism at the door and booted the Spectre up.
Spectre x360 13 Design
I hate when I say this, but this laptop is premium. The quality of the build is impeccable. You might remember there was a Bond movie a few years back that shared a name with this laptop and let’s be honest, this laptop is still Bond-worthy. It’s that full aluminium body design, durable joints and clever use of space. While the USB-C port on the corner of the body and the power button on the other corner are clever, the inclusion of a literally, jaw-dropping USB-A port immediately made me question everything about MacBook design.
Also part of the design is the fact this is a dual-purpose machine. Fold the screen right back and you effectively have a tablet. You get all of this in a body that weighs just 1.27kg. This is the 13-inch model and that weight makes it substantially lighter than the MacBook of the same size.
Thoughtful and premium is how I would describe the design of the Spectre x360. Right down to the stylus and leather laptop sleeve that’s included in the box. If privacy is a concern you hold, the Spectre has an ace up its sleeve. There’s a physical button that lets you switch off the webcam completely. No snooping. Almost ironic from a laptop originally marketed alongside a James Bond movie.
Spectre x360 13 Display
Now, I’m going to keep on making MacBook comparisons, but I really need to repeat that I love my MacBook. The Spectre display blew me away. I remember after turning on YouTube and switching the settings to 4K, I went back to my Mac to see how damn bad my display was. The 4K OLED screen is an optional extra that adds a sizeable chunk of change onto the price of your machine. I’m not going to say it’s worth it or it’s not because how important 4K it comes down to what you need the machine for. You might be rendering social posts in 1080p or looking to get the most from your 4K Netflix subscription.
What I will repeat again is that the 4K OLED is one of the best laptop displays on the market, if it’s not the very best full stop.
Back when I reviewed this laptop, the world was still normal and webcams were this weird thing that no one really needed on a laptop. HP has given the webcam that level of consideration. The lens is tiny. That’s good news for those of you who like slim bezels. Bad news if you actually want to have some sort of decent quality without hooking up an external webcam.
Spectre x360 13 Input
The Spectre has a plethora of input options which both add to the usability and the overall design appeal of the laptop. The keyboard is practically flawless. A practical problem for me was switching from my MacBook. But, how quickly I transitioned is a great example of the keyboard’s travel and responsiveness being as good as you could hope for. Next up, the trackpad. Again, zero complaints here from me. Responsive and, arguably, more importantly, I didn’t get any phantom touches while typing. Also, having the option of a touch screen input works fantastically. Of course, this is nothing new but it’s not something a MacBook user generally gets to enjoy.
I’m no artist, but the stylus is responsive and could easily let you transition from paper to tablet.
Screen inputs beings me to the stylus. I love my Apple Pencil, but sometimes Apple just arrives at a solution with no logic applied, assuming they got it right. HP has thoughtfully designed their pen to be a natural extension of your input options that you’ll just reach for automatically in certain situations.
The fingerprint reader. So many reviewers will consider these to be a gimmick but I love nothing more than having a really secure password to my password manager that unlocks with a finger swipe. It’s another feature that made me think of Bond again. Q would be proud.
Finally, I want to give another mention to that USB-A port. Sure, nearly everything is USB-C now, but not having to reach for a dongle every two minutes is a lifesaver. It’ll be a thing of the past before long, but it’s great for external hard drives and charging other devices from your laptop.
Spectre x360 13 Performance And Battery
The specs on this laptop are practically maxed out for most users. Packing a quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core processor with Iris Plus Graphics. Now, if you’re after a high-end gaming laptop, this isn’t for you. But it’ll run most games without any problems at all, within logical graphic-settings reason.
The battery is insane. I fully charged mine when it landed. Despite fairly tough testing, In only charged the laptop again to factory reset before sending it back. I don’t believe you’ll get the “up to 22 hours” life promised through any sort of regular use, but 13 hours of fairly tough going is a walk in the park for the Spectre.
While there’s no integrated LAN port, you get Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) which means you’ll want for no speed.
Spectre x360 13: The Verdict
If I had to buy a new laptop in the morning, would it still be my MacBook? Until I tested the Spectre, the answer was yes. I wouldn’t have considered anything else. But the Spectre returned some faith into my mind about Windows laptops. They can be remarkable. They can be simply stunning. They can be beautifully designed and powerful enough to do anything.
I’m not going to pretend this is a laptop for everyone. Most people in the market for a laptop are in the sub-€1000 group. But if you’re self-employed and want a solid all-rounder that can do everything you need for work while also being perfect to stream Netflix, you’ve found your next laptop right here.
The Basic HP Spectre x360 13 will set you back €1299. The 16 GB RAM, 4K OLED display, and 1 TB SSD model will put an €1899 dent in your wallet. The last word on this laptop is that it can stand toe-to-toe with MacBook and it’s one of the very best pound-for-pound laptops on the market.
One thing has become abundantly clear in isolation. Technology, while often criticised for privacy and anti-social reason, has massive power to connect us all. I’d argue that tech, in general, has helped many reconnect with friends and family more than ever. Tech can also help you reconnect with an old friend you may have forgotten about. I’m not on about that kid from primary school. Instead, I’m on about the library.
Online Library Services
If you think libraries are “just” full of books, think again. In my opinion, the libraries of Ireland have done more to pivot and survive in a digital world than most businesses. At the start of this year, I teamed up with Rob from the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival and recorded a podcast in the Ballyfermot Library. They’ve built two recording studios on-site, free to library members with just a booking.
Naturally, that’s not much use to you right now as you’re in isolation, living with restrictions like the rest of us but Irish libraries have plenty of services online for members to make use of at home.
Read Newspapers Online With Your Local Library
I’ve seen plenty of people on Twitter saying it’s now more than ever we need reliable journalism. From the FAI scandal to Covid-19 facts, quality journalism is what keeps power honest. It’s why Donald Trump tries to undermine the journalism that doesn’t suit his narrative.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions, people are more likely to go online and get their news from social media or other websites where they don’t have to pay. This can be risky as there are plenty of news sites out there being bankrolled by someone to tell the story in a certain way. Paid journalists are a lot less likely to do this.
When you have a library membership, you also gain digital access to some of Ireland’s most popular newspapers. Today, I was able to read the Irish Independent on my iPad and start into a crossword. This experience was great. All I needed to do was screenshot the crossword and then fill it in using my Apple Pencil.
There are other papers on offer here too including the Irish Examiner, Daily Irish Mirror, Washington Post and even foreign-language newspapers. I previously looked for the German Nordwest Zeitung in Dublin but can now check this out using my library membership. Beyond papers, there’s a massive selection of magazines to enjoy too. This would normally cost you a few euro down the shops, but now you can read them all on your phone, laptop or tablet. All you need is a library membership.
To access all of this content, you need to visit the Press Reader website and download their app. All you need to do then is log in with your library membership by typing in your membership barcode number.
The library also offers another dedicated service for just magazines. It’s worth checking that out too as there are some more things in there to read not available through Press Reader.
Download Ebooks With Your Library Membership
Perhaps not too surprisingly, you can also download ebooks with your library membership. You might think this would be a total free for all, but there are limitations. For example, each online library only has access to a certain number of books. This is why you may come across certain ebooks which are unavailable to download. You’ll need to wait until someone returns their digital copy.
Regardless of this small drawback, ebooks are another brilliant feature made available by the Irish Library Service. Like newspapers, ebooks are made available through a third-party app which you can log into using your library membership number.
Download the BorrowBox app to start downloading ebooks. You can also download audiobooks through the BorrowBox app too.
Take An Online Course
If you’ve found yourself laid-off from work with nothing but time on your hands, isolation might be especially tough. You might decide that the best thing to do is upskill and learn something new for when restrictions start to lift again. With a library membership, you have access to learn a new skill and even a new language. Although I’m not convinced the latter is that easy to setup.
The online courses made available by the library are really easy once you have your library membership. You can learn things like classic calligraphy or modern Photoshop skills. Right there, you have two ways into a new design-based job. Of course, I’m oversimplifying everything massively, but having free access to these courses means you can dip your toe in the water and see if something feels right for you.
Getting A Library Membership
This is all well and good if you have a library membership, but what if you’re not a member already? The good news is that you can join your local Irish library online. Typically, there is a step which requires you to visit your local library in person but this is not required while libraries are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Once you complete your online membership application, you’ll have everything you need to access these brilliant online services from the Irish Library Service.
