Culture Night is one of my favourite night of the year in Ireland. It’s a night where the streets of Dublin often got closed to celebrate performances of different kinds. In this COVID-19 world, Culture Night’s date kind of snuck up on me and it was only the other day I saw a sign for it saying it was going ahead. This piqued my interest. How could culture night go ahead?
What is Culture Night?
Culture Night has been a national event for 15 years. It’s all about celebrating culture, creativity and the arts. It’s a night where many venues open their doors and welcome the public in free of charge. I’ve enjoyed whiskey tastings, wax sculptures, poetry and people dangling from a height on Dame Street over the past few Culture Nights.
Your first thought might be how can something like this go ahead in 2020. The truth is, it might be easier than ever to soak up culture from around Ireland and not just your own locality.
Two things are certain about this year’s event.
It’s going ahead
It’ll be like no other.
How Is Culture Night 2020 Going Ahead?
Culture Night 2020 has been totally reimagined so it can go ahead in a world being blasted by a pandemic. I’d like to think that this night is one of those shots of normal that your mind needs as we all live in isolation and often away from loved ones. The organisers will be paying artists involved in events and I hope that others volunteering can either receive some public donations or get their talents seen by others.
This year’s Culture Night will be split into two programmes:
On both of these webpages you’ll be able to dig down into events happening online from around the country along with real-life events that will be taking place in your locality. Offline events include things like tours of the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol and event the Bretzel Bakery.
Online events include a massive range of things for you to enjoy, from live music to virtual tours.
With the year set to be like no other, here are a few of the events which stand out to me. I do advise you get on over to the Culture Night website and check out what’s going on offline in your area along with either national or online events. With over 700 events taking place, this really is just a taster.
Kilkenny Arts Office Poetry Trail
I adore this solution from my native Kilkenny. Twelve local poets have their work displayed in shops throughout the city. You can also call 1800 272 994 for free and have a listen to their work.
The Welcoming Project
This online dance performance by Catherine Young Dance brings the stories of migrants and refugees to life. These people have made Kerry their home and this event is a fantastic example of how inclusion breeds new-age creativity.
The Bretzel Bakery
Not quite sure why this one is speaking to me so much. I do love food though. The Brezel Bakery in Dublin will be handing out sourdough starter culture for free from their shop on Lennox Street in Dublin. There’ll also be a video you can watch from a safe distance.
The City Speaks Podcast Tour
A good chance I’ll end up doing this one. This walking tour will bring you through Smithfield and is a 1.6km walk taking about one hour to complete. The walk will bring you around to see local street art.
Like I said, this is a very small selection of things, largely, in my own area. I recommend heading over to the Culture Night 2020 website and making a plan for yourself. If ever there’s been a year we need to take a few minutes and appreciate creativity and the arts along with each other, it’s this year.
Last week on Twitter someone asked me to refresh an article I did a few years back. It was the top Amazon Alexa Skills to install on your Amazon Echo device. I really need to get around to updating our own skill because I’m sure most houses now have some sort of Echo device in them. The Irish-specific features of what Alexa can do are always increasing. Today, Three added to that by launching Alexa prepay top-up, a “world first” for prepay customers.
What Is Alexa Top Up?
When I think of voice assistant and my perception of tech when I was younger, the smart home with voice controls was something only Bill Gates could afford. Today, Three launched a service which means prepay customers can top up their phones using voice control. Mad, isn’t it? All this voice control is powered by tiny smart speakers which have become remarkably affordable. For just €30 you can buy an Amazon Echo Dot which gives you access to all the voice controls in the home you want. You’ll need compatible accessories and smart plugs but once you have them, it’s time to image your Mr. Gates.
Do you remember back in the day when you’d have to go to a shop to buy a slip of paper to add credit to your phone? Ah, to be fair, it’s not that long ago I guess, but today Three customers with an Alexa-powered device, simply have to say “Alexa, ask My3 to top me up” and they can buy credit for their phone.
a safe and simple way for our customers to top up, all from the comfort of their own homes
Neasa Parker, Director of Consumer for Three Ireland
Three’s Neasa Parker believes things like this are signs of tech’s increased role in our day to day life saying “in recent months, many people have adapted to new ways of living and have increasingly relied on technology to stay connected to those that matter most, and we wanted to bring a safe and simple way for our customers to top up, all from the comfort of their own homes”.
How Does Alexa Top Up Work?
First thing you’ll have to do is download the free Three Alexa Skill. From there, you need to follow these steps:
“Alexa, ask My3 to top me up”.
When prompted, confirm the amount to top up “Top me up €20”.
Select “default card” or for example “card ending 1234” when asked by Alexa to confirm the card to use.
Alexa will provide an overview of the top up and ask for confirmation to proceed before then confirming that top-up was successful.
Finally, we have all the pieces of the puzzle. That means we can finally put it all together and pick a new games console. Considering the Xbox One and PlayStation 5 launched over six years ago, this isn’t like a phone purchase. Buying a games console is a commitment for many years. So which one suits you best? Here’s everything you need to know about which games console you should buy in 2020.
What Consoles Are Going On Sale?
Unlike the PS4 and Xbox One, both of these consoles are launching in the same year. Any both companies is actually launching two versions of each console too.
Sony Launch
Sony will launch two almost identical consoles. The PlayStation 5 will be the traditional looking primary console and be the more expensive of the two. The second, slightly cheaper console, will just be missing a CD-drive. That’s why it’s donning the name PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. If you live in an area with a really strong internet connection, the Digital Edition makes sense. The CD-drive PS5 makes more sense if you buy games, complete them and then trade them into a shop like CeX or GameStop.
Comparing PlayStation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
CPU
AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
GPU
Custom RDNA 2 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
Custom RDNA 2 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
GPU Power
10.28 TFLOPs
10.28 TFLOPs
System on a Chip (SOC)
7nm SOC
7nm SOC
RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
Performance Target
Up to 8K. Up to 120 FPS
Up to 8K. Up to 120 FPS
Storage
825GB SSD
825GB SSD
Expandable Storage
Yes. SSD Slot.
Yes. SSD Slot.
Backward compatibility
Yes. No definite list.
Yes. No definite list.
Disc Drive
4K UHD Blu-ray
Digital Only
Display Out
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
RRP
€499.99
€399.99
Microsoft
Microsoft will also be launching two totally different consoles. The first is the Xbox Series S. This is the “entry-level” console in their range. This lower-priced console will trim back on visual performance, running games at 1440p at 60fps. It also maxes out at a 512GB SSD hard drive, but both can be expanded to 1TB. Considering the Series S has not disk drive, you may as well expand that memory as soon as you buy.
The Xbox Series X runs 4K at 60fps and has a 4K UHD Blu-ray disk drive. It’s also a chunk of change more expensive but more on that later.
Comparing Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
CPU
8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz 3.6Ghz w/ SMT Enabled
8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz 3.4Ghz w/ SMT Enabled
GPU
AMD RDNA 2 GPU 52 CUs @ 1.825GHz
AMD RDNA 2 GPU 20 CUs @ 1.565GHz
GPU Power
12.15 TFLOPS
4 TFLOPS
System on a Chip (SOC)
Custom 7nm Enhanced SOC
Custom 7nm Enhanced SOC
RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
10GB GDDR6 RAM
Performance Target
4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS
1440p @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS
Storage
1TB SSD
512GB SSD
Expandable Storage
1TB Expansion Card
1TB Expansion Card
Backward compatibility
Yes. No definite list.
Yes. No definite list.
Disc Drive
4K UHD Blu-ray
Digital Only
Display Out
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
RRP
€499
€299
Comparing Games Console Prices
As you can see in both comparison tables, there’s not an insignificant gap in pricing between all options going on sale. Here’s a simple comparison.
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
€499.99
€399.99
€499
€299
The two PlayStations don’t have much between them in terms of hardware and performance. The decision makes more most people choosing between PlayStation consoles will be the internet connection they have at home. If you have fast broadband, the PS5 Digital Edition will be fine. If you’re in a rural area with poor internet connectivity, the disk-drive on the PS5 will be essential. Of course, there are other scenarios where that disk-drive comes in handy. If you’re big into movies your PS5 could be your DVD and Blu-ray player.
When it comes to the Xbox Series X and Series S, there’s a much bigger gulf in the pricing. Both consoles have the same difference as the PlayStation consoles. The Series X comes with a disk-drive while the Series S is digital-only. As you might imagine, the bigger price difference suggests the two Xbox consoles will have more disparity between them than just disk-drives and you’d be right. Graphic performance, processing power and built-in storage all takes a hefty step down alongside the price drop.
There’s going to be a lot of variables that impact your choice of purchase. I can see parents opting for the Xbox Series S but it’s critical that if that’s you, you understand how important a good internet connection is. Also, buying games on a digital-only console means no trade-ins. Trade-ins are a great way for kids to learn the value of their games and they often trade in three games to get one new game back. That’s all gone with digital-only consoles and the long term spending could be much higher.
Microsoft Payment Plan
When it comes to being careful about how much you pay for the console, pay attention to the payment plan option Xbox is launching. Xbox All Access is a 24-month plan where you pay off the console over two years without paying anythig up front. You also get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Access included. However, you end up paying over the odds over two years. It’s affordable in the short term but just be aware you will end up spending onver €100 on top of the regular retail price.
Which Console Should You Pick?
This really isn’t an easy question to answer. Personally, I’ve been an Xbox One owner for years and have been living that digital-download life for quite some time. I also have Virgin Media’s 1GB broadband so I can download games really quickly. Naturally, that would leave you thinking I’m going to buy myself a new Xbox at least, but no. I’m making the jump to PlayStation 5.
My reasons are quite simple. When I bought my Xbox One, I didn’t really have any gamer mates. Now, I have a few friends with PlayStations so it’s a safe assumption if they upgrade it’ll be to the Sony console. Because I’m used to the digital-download way of life it makes more sense to me to pick up the cheaper PlayStation 5. It’s all the power of next-gen consoles at the best price.
But I can’t stress enough that picking out a console will vary wildly based on your own personal circumstance. Want to ask me a question directly? Find me on Twitter or TikTok and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Which console should I buy if I’m a casual gamer?
If you’re a casual gamer, the Xbox Series S is more than enough. You get to experience next gen gaming at entry level prices. The only exception here is if you have super slow broadband. Then you’ll need a console with a disk-drive. If you don’t want to stretch to the €500 that will cost, it’s a great time to pick up an old Xbox One or PS4.
My internet is slow. Which console is should I buy?
For me, the key here is the disk-drive. A slow internet connection means slow game downloads. You don’t want to miss a game launch because you needed to leave your console downloading overnight do you?
Which console is the best value?
This will change for everyone but for me it’s the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. It ticks all the boxes of top specs at the right price. However, I do have the internet connection to enjoy it.
Why would I need a disk-drive?
For many people in Ireland, internet speeds are so frustrating that buying physical copies of games is more enjoyable. It also means you can trade the game in when you’re done with it. Also, don’t forget that a games console doubles as a DVD/Blu-ray player when it has a disk-drive.
This was always going to be the really interesting part of the PS5 launch. I say that because Microsoft took a two tier approach with their pricing across two very different consoles. Sony does have a similar approach in that there’s two versions of the same console, the difference being one has a CD-drive and the other doesn’t. For those of you with lightening fast broadband connections, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition comes in at €399.99. If you’re buying in the UK it’s actually a little cheaper at £359.99 giving you about a fiver if you were to pick out your console up North.
The more expensive model is the CD-drive version of the PS5. This is the standard model which is just called the PlayStation 5. This console will set you back €499.99 in Ireland or £449.99 in the UK. I don’t for a second think that you’re going to order in a PS5 from the UK to save €7 but at the same time, if you’re passing through Newry, why not?
When Can You Pre-order PlayStation 5?
That’s the brass tacks so far. There’s some more info we’re waiting on confirmation on, including pre-order. We’ll keep an eye out and update this article when pre-order opens.
A couple of years ago at Web Summit, I listened to a great talk on wearables. The guy speaking introduced me to the concept of the halfway test. If you leave your house and get halfway to your destination, what would be important enough to turn around an go home for? Your wallet, almost certainly. Your phone, maybe. Your smartwatch, most likely not. They are a nice to have. However, today smartwatches are shifting away from simply letting you know you have messages to being full on health devices. Fitbit recently launched the Sense, the first wearable which saw them confident enough to use terminology like “health monitor” instead of “fitness tracker”. Now, devices like the sense have passed regulatory review to identify Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
Fitbit’s Health Monitor
Fitbit has received Conformité Européenne (CE) marking in the European Union, for its electrocardiogram (ECG) app to assess heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation (AFib). This is a condition that affects more than 33.5 million people globally and one I’ve been tested for myself (and got the all-clear).
The Fitbit ECG App launches in October 2020 to people with the Fitbit Sense in several countries, including Ireland. Despite being one of the most preventible conditions, heart disease being the leading cause of death worldwide. AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of serious complications like stroke, can be particularly difficult to detect, as episodes can sometimes show no symptoms and is discovered by chance. Up to 25% of people who have an AFib-related stroke find out they have AFib only after a stroke has occurred.
Beyond Step Tracking
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, despite being one of the most preventable conditions. AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of serious complications like stroke, can be particularly difficult to detect, as episodes can sometimes show no symptoms. Some studies suggest that as many as 25 percent of people who have an AFib-related stroke find out they have AFib only after a stroke has occurred. Early detection of AFib is not just difficult but critical to people’s health.
Fitbit is ambitious here. The company’s co-founder, Eric Friedman says “helping people understand and manage their heart health has always been a priority for Fitbit, and our new ECG app is designed for those users who want to assess themselves in the moment and review the reading later with their doctor”.
Flying Blind
Our doctors are often flying blind when it comes to detecting AFib. I wsa donating platelets when a potential issue with my own heart was spotted. A nurse felt I had an odd heartbeat, my donation was stopped and I had to go get some proper testing done. An inconclusive EKG with my GP was followed by a 24-hour halter unit test which monitored a full day of my heart rate. I got the all clear, but it was an expensive and nervous time. The funny thing is that the cost of everything was about the same as the new Fitbit sense.
This is exciting because a consumer wearable could actually provide medical professionals with critical data if they buy into it.
As part of the process to be a recognised medical-grade device, Fitbit conducted clinical trials across the U.S. The study looked at how accurately Fitbit could detect AFib from normal sinus rhythm. The results were impressive, exceeded target performance, demonstrating the ability to detect 98.7% of AFib cases and was 100% accurate in identifying study participants with normal sinus rhythm.
Doctors are often flying blind when it comes to our day-to-day lives and diagnose us based on a short meeting. Dr. Venkatesh Raman, an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Georgetown Hospital in the US has long believed in the potential for health tracking wearables. He believes using “real-world, individual data to deliver more informed, personalized care” is the way forward, and is hopeful that Fitbit can help detect AFib earlier.
The Fitbit Sense will be the first wearable from the company to feature this new tech. All you do is hold your finger to the stainless steel ring on the watch while being still for 30 seconds to get a reading that can be downloaded and shared with a doctor.
For me, that means new-age wearables like the Fitbit sense are much more likely to pass the halfway test.
IKEA is famed for making affordable but stylish furniture. Today, the Swedish homewares giant announced they would be partnering with ASUS’ gaming division, Republic of Gamers (ROG) to develop a new range of affordable gaming furniture and accessories to bring the gaming experience at home to a new level.
Tapping Into Gaming
Believe it or not, gaming is still very much a growing industry. With about a quarter of the world’s population now considering themselves to be gamers, IKEA has noticed there is some unfed demand for gaming setups. It’s a genius move to target professional streamers and casual hobbyists alike, both often somewhat rich with disposable income. The “Twitch generation” is used to subscription models and in chasing down a tidy gaming setup, may turn to things like LIFX smart lights to up their visual game. IKEA claims to be “curious about how home furnishing could improve gaming experience and life around it” but the real brass tacks here is that they’re eager to tap into a rich market.
That’s no bad thing because I believe there’s a tonne of games out there eager to see what IKEA brings to the gaming table.
Gaming Specialists
It’s dangerous to go alone in the world of gaming. Get something wrong and your best-laid plans will simply fall flat on their face. That’s why IKEA will partner with ASUS’ Republic of Gamers. Together the companies will launch a series of products designed specifically for the gamers to bring improved comfort and gaming experience. Instead of the gaming setup being something relegated to “the gaming cave”, IKEA and ROG hope to “welcome gaming home through developing the new range of affordable and ergonomic gaming furniture & accessories, designed to increase performance while also blend in beautifully to homes”.
Personally, I don’t think this will just be individual units. IKEA could go down a similar route of their bespoke kitchen designs. This would definitely achieve the goal of building a gaming setup into your home.
When Does IKEA And ROG Partnership Launch In Ireland?
It’s all well and good, but I’m afraid you won’t be getting this range in Ireland any time soon. The new gaming range is developed in IKEA Product Development Centre in China, Shanghai and this is also where the new range will launch. This Chinese launch takes place in February 2021 with the rest of the world following in October 2021. This range is set to include about 30 items and I’m almost certain it will strike a chord with gamers nationwide when it lands.
Smartphones, they are all the same right? Wrong! Budget, quality, design, OS and much more all have to come together to make something that’s both beautiful and functional, yet more often than not, this point is missed. Last year something changed with the release of the Google Pixel 3a. A mid-price phone with some flagship specs. Google have just dropped it’s successor, the Google Pixel 4a and I’ve been lucky enough to have been hands on with this €389 handset. So let’s see how it stacks up.
What Is The Google Pixel 4a?
I’m not entirely sure how it came about, but last years Pixel 3a felt like Google had ordered too many camera systems to make flagship phones. The answer to this problem was to make a cheaper phone with lower spec but the same camera. The result was remarkable both in terms of value and delivering a phone with a great camera. Now, it’s quite possible that’s not really what went down at all and that the Pixel 3a was always planned to sit in the mid-range smartphone category. Actually, it’s likely. But regardless, it’s set an expectation for the Pixel 4a and boy god do the fine folks at Google deliver in spades once again.
Pixel 4a: Launch Date, Price And Where To Buy
It’s out now! The Pixel 4a showed up on the Google store recently with availability for pre-orders with open sales starting from October 1st. In terms of where you can buy the 4a, it’s going to be available both on the Google Store and through Vodafone. But the Irish network will probably just get the black 64Gb model and we are looking at online pricing at €389 but probably a little more expensive in stores as is the norm.
Design
The Google Pixel 4a is exactly what you would expect from Google. It’s a lovely little phone and the matte finish in my personal opinion is one of the nicer styles to the now usual glass and metallic styles of today. The pixel 4a is also small, coming in at 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm to be exact. So technically speaking its a smaller handset than last years Pixel 3a but it’s rocking a bigger screen than its predecessor. All in all this is a lovely looking and feeling phone, yano one of those that just fits nicely in your hands and you can reach all 4 corners of the screen without having to readjust your hands.
I also noticed how light the phone is and I found myself after coming from the Pixel 3xl, checking my pockets to make sure it was still there, which it was. Noticing it was so light I had to check it out and turns out its one of the lightest phones on the market, including the iPhone SE which comes in at 148g.
On the handset itself you will find the USB-C below with speakers either side, the green power button and volume control on the side and on top we get the now almost defunct 3.5mm headphone jack. This is kind of cool because it means when it comes to audio you can use bluetooth, type C and 3.5mm headphones. Oh and before I forget there is also the fingerprint scanner that is situated on the rear of the phone something which has become just part of the design of the Google handsets. Something we don’t see in the 4a is facial recognition, that’s one of the few areas the Google Pixel 4a trims the fat.
Another point to note about the design is the camera node on the back. It’s barely raised of the back of the phone and if you’re a caseless daredevil like myself it means unlike some other phones on the market that you can still use the phone on your desk without that annoying wobble. It’s not a major thing but hey they little details count.
Display
When it comes to the display on the Google Pixel 4a we get Googles first totally bezel-less screen and a punch hole in the top left hand corner which houses the camera, this even gets hidden with some very clever wallpapers. I like how this looks and the way the camera hole hides itself in the notifications bar means you would barely realise any screen real estate being taken up.
As I was saying about the wallpapers you get a bunch of preset fun options that hides the camera much better than a standard wallpaper, we’ve seen this in some phones before but for me it’s just one of those clever things that make a difference to how things look. Using one of these wallpapers means the camera looks like it just fits.
The 5.8″ display is an OLED, Full HD+, 1080 x 2340 resolution that boasts Gorilla Glass 3 that helps keep the screen protected against the basic scratches and markings that you can get from lobbing it into a pocket with keys. True this is older than let’s say what the OnePlus Nord is rocking but hey this is all about Google making savings and trimming the fat and here the Gorilla Glass 3 is more than enough to do the job it’s asked to do.
With the resolution how it is we get lovely popping vibrant colours but swapping over from the TCL 10 Pro it did feel a little smaller when watching Spurs All or Nothing in bed. As per the norm now we also get the always on display and here we we the usual time, date, alarms and all that good stuff.
Camera
Now you might think that a modern phone using 1 instead of 4 cameras is going to be a downgrade, but this isn’t really the case. Just because a phone is bouncing out more cameras doesn’t always make it better, sometimes it’s just a case of adding lens to up the price and make something out to be more than it actually is. In terms of the cameras themselves, we get a 12mp main camera which can shoot in 4K video at 30fps, 1080p at 30fps, 60fps and 120fps, and 720p at 30fps, 60fps and a super-slow 240fps.
Granted I totally understand you probably won’t be blown away by the idea of 12mp camera but Apple were rocking this for years and when you do a side by side comparison against the majority of the Pixels competition you genuinely won’t be disappointed. What I like about the 4a is how beautifully simple the camera is to use. It’s really just as simple as point and shoot and Google’s smart software will do the rest.
There is also a portrait mode but if that ain’t your thing you can use the in built editing software to do some nice little photo tricks to make things look even sharper.
Just look at that photo, the night sight is brilliant. When you are taking a snap in the dark you have two options. Firstly you can use the fancy exposure control and brightness control which will give you a preview of how your finished shot will show up. We also have night sight which in my humble opinion is one of the best of the lot that we have seen in any phone to date.
The photo I took above is an example of Night Sight in action and this was taken at midnight, btw follow myself, Martin and Goosed for more tech magic on social media, or TikTok because Martin is killing it over there. When using Night Sight you need to hold onto the camera for a couple of seconds to be fair they look gorgeous.
Night Sight has an additional mode built into it: astrophotography, which debuted on the Pixel 4, and there are several criteria you’ll need to meet in order for this to work. This can only be used in basically pitch black with no residential lighting around and you will need a bit of patience. Point at your starts he screen will read ‘astrophotography on’. Hit the shutter button, and the handset will take your pic and you need to wait about 2-5 mins for the photo to process.
Battery life
Not going to lie it’s not perfect but it sure is one of the better batteries in this price range. The Google Pixel 4a is using a more than reasonable 3,140mAh battery which is again bigger and better than last years model and sorry to be picking on Apple but their new SE is only using a 1,800mAh, make of that what you will.
In terms of lifespan, the fine folks in Google estimate 24 hours of life, which is never going to be the case when you factor in usage but to be fair in my tests we managed to rock from 8am to 10pm without needing a charge, unless I went on a Spotify bender, in that case I may have had to the use the fast charge to get us through.
Something minor again that I really did enjoy was the estimated time remaining on the battery bar up the top of the screen, this shows once the battery is on it’s last legs or you’re using the battery saving mode. Another place Google trim the fat is with the complete lack of wireless charging but we do get fast charging.
Performance
When it comes to power and performance, the Google Pixel 4a stacks enough sauce to do everything you might want with a phone. Inside the phone it is powered by the Snapdragon 730, 6GB and 128GB of storage. Not going to lie, something like the OnePlus Nord both has a stronger spec sheets overall. The Nord has more RAM and more storage and 4 cameras instead of 2 but this is not about going into a spec war this is about delivering class and function at a good price which the Google Pixel 4a does in spades.
We are also working off Android 10, which is quick and easy to use and they have this new gesture control that you can use instead of the button navigation at the base of the screen and so far I still haven’t quite mastered it but I do like it.
In other news Google Assistant is as is the norm these days is becoming more and more important and on the 4a you can summon El Googlio by swiping up from the bottom corner of the screen or of course say Okay Google, which is great considering this is hooked up to my Google Home.
The Goosed Verdict
Once upon a time, buying the €1,000 phone was the standard bearer, what you needed to show status and it’s what you needed to spend to get something worth buying. That’s no longer the case and phones like the OnePlus Nord, TCL 10 Pro and the Google Pixel 4a really go to show that if you want a solid phone for day to day use that has everything you need, then you no longer need to break the bank. That’s music to Santa ears I reckon.
The Google Pixel 4a isn’t a flagship phone and thankfully it doesn’t even try to be, the 4a compromised but it does so in a way that gives you what you need in a phone! Google don’t make light versions of premium apps and nor do they ignore the snazzy buzzwords in the market just to ramp up the price. Genuinely i’ve moved to the 4a permanently from more expensive phones and i’m very happy with this choice. The only real reason you would have to choose a €900 phone over this €389 beast is the lack of 5G, waterproofing, wireless charging, or expandable storage but think about it…do you really need any of them?
To put it simply you get an awesome camera, classy screen and solid battery life, plus some charming bits of software trickery all wrapped up in a lovely looking device. The Google Pixel 4a is one of the best phones you can get your hands on right now and that has nothing to do with the price tag.
Spec Sheet
Display: 5.81-inch 1080 x 2340 OLED, 443 ppi with hole punch camera
Dimensions & weight: 5.7 x 2.7 0.3 inches; 144 grams
Battery: 3,140mAh
RAM and storage: 6GB; 128GB
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Rear camera: 12.2-megapixel, 1.4 μm pixel width, dual pixel phase detection autofocus, OIS and EIS, f/1.7 equivalent aperture, 77-degree field of view
Video: 1080p at 30, 60, or 120fps; 720p at 30, 60, or 240fps; 4K a 30fps
Front camera: 8-megapixel, 1.12 μm pixel width, ƒ/2.0 equivalent aperture, 84-degree field of view
Other: Stereo speakers, headphone jack, USB-C, no wireless charging
Supports 4G but not 5G
Includes 18W USB power adapter and cable in box, no headphones in box
Writing this post is a big old gamble. I don’t think TikTok is going anywhere anytime soon, but the United States has fixed crosshairs on the Chinese social media platform, just like they did with Huawei. The company must sell US operations before September 20th or risk being banned in the “Land of the Free”. But this post is a gamble because the States makes up a large proportion of TikTok users. Trust me, I can tell from the amount of both pro and anti-Trump stuff being posted. I’m banking on the platform remaining damn popular in the coming months and years. While some are closer to leaving TikTok, if you’re thinking of poking your head in the TikTok door, here are some of the best accounts I follow.
Comedy: TikToks For Fun
I’m going to split up who I following into some different categories and I’m going to kick off with comedy.
@The_Black_Paddy
I don’t love every single one of these Tiktoks but this creator has made me giggle a fair few times. AKA Fabu D, following this TikToker gets you lots of Irish comedy. You know that observational type that laughs at everything stupid we do as Irish people. I’m including Fabu in this list, fully knowing that his jokes won’t make everyone laugh, but they work on me. Give him a lash.
@hummysvrcomedy
This account is just so stupid that whenever it appears I catch up on days worth of their posts. The entire account is dedicated to TikToks from virtual reality. From weird virtual parties to flat earth jokes made from virtual outer space. I’m going to give the same warning again. When it comes to comedy, I find this creator funny, you might not.
@semistupid
Ah this TikToker, for me, sums up the entire platform and why it’s popular. Splicing together some fresh recordings with footage from TV and movies, this creator makes loads of funny videos. It’ll make a lot more sense after you watch a few. The cut away style is really the strength of TikTok in terms of creatives and comedy.
@angryreactions
I’ve just recently discovered this account run by Oneya Johnson but so far I’m loving it. As the TikTok handle might suggest, this account is all about angry reactions. Oneya makes use of another unique TikTok feature in Duets. This means he sees videos from other TikTokers and posts a reaction video alongside the original. His being extremely angry. This one might wear thin after a while but for now I love it.
@tadhgfleming
It’s not my first time talking about Tadhg. Himself and the father and ever the wider family now are just hilarious. With 2.2 million followers, Tadhg might well have the biggest TikTok page in Ireland. His family mandess garners much interest. You might remember him going viral when his father, Derry, was chasing a bat around the kitchen. So viral he actually ended up on Ellen.
@miakhalifa
You might know Mia, you might not. That’s between you and your browser history. Today, Mia is creating some of the funniest videos on TikTok and now garners over 10m followers. She’s give hilarious takes on her past but also create some quality new content too.
@breeandclint
I think this is probably one of my favorite finds on TikTok. I never fail to laugh at the content these guys create from their New Zealand radio show. They let a lot of shit fly on the airwaves over there and the result is comedy gold on TikTok. From inappropriate jokes about the classic tune “Come on Eileen” to deliberately going silent on air to make a backup tape kick in, the spectrum for comedy here is broad.
@martyguilfoyle
You may or may not have heard that there’s a TikTok creator experiment going on in Dublin right now. I’ve not given it any attention except for knowing that Marty Guilfoyle, a well-known DJ, made headlines in there. It was an odd attempt to “cancel” a seemingly lovely man for no good reason whatsoever. He leave the so-called “Goat House”and to be honest, he may have been better off. I say that purely based on the fact I followed him before all of that and thought he was gas.
Give him a follow.
Facts: Science And Insights
@neildegrassetyson
Love a bit of science and deep thinking. It was Neil de Grasse Tyson who made me realise what my real taken on religion was when I opted to leave the church. He has a way of taking really complex scientific concepts and making them extremely palatable. Not only that, but he sprinkles loads of comedy in there too. I learn more than I laugh so it goes into science TikToker category.
@architectrussell
I honestly can’t get enough of this TikToker. Apparently he’s better known on YouTube but Architect Russell does two thing brilliantly. First, he’s cutting out a corner of TikTok for himself, focusing on how our cities, homes and shops are designed and built. He manages to talk about some of the most mundane stuff on the internet and make it really interesting. What he does even better is perfect loops. As his TikTok videos finish, they restart seamlessly, leaving you wonder how he managed it. As someone who is trying to make more TikToks, he’s wrecking my head.
@bobflavinofficial
If you want to get in on the ground floor with a TikToker, here’s your chance. Bob is one of Ireland’s best known independent auto-reviewers. I’ve watched some of his reviewed and what I love is that he’s just and Irish man giving his opinion on cars. There’s really no bullshit. The gas thing about Bob is that he’s just started answering general questions about motoring on TikTok. It turns out that there was noone really doing this and now Bob’s knowledge has led to him getting thousands of followers in just a few days. He’s gas, full of knowledge and growing fast so get on it.
@lucyedwardsblind
What I love about TikTok is that you can come across rabbit holes of learning. Honestly, you could spend two hours learning from someone elses lived experience and Lucy Edwards, a BBC Radio presenter, is one of those creators. How do blind people read emails, use an oven, find their phone or plug in their phone? Can blind people be afraid of the dark? See, you’re fascinated aren’t you. You can follow Lucy on TikTok and get answers to this and more.
@laurenoliviahoward
I love this humour. I adore it. Lauren has a series of videos called “my kind of humour” and it’s also my kind of humour.
There’s a shocking lack of tech reviewers on TikTok. At least, my algorithm has been very slow to show me tech reviewers. I just discovered this guy today!
@georgereilly
The quality of George’s TikToks are top class. He specialises in all things Apple but has plenty of other things to talk about in the world of tech too. He even has a take on blue light glasses which I’ve just reviewed myself. With 305k followers, George clearly knows what he’s talking about but also knows how to create the right kind of content to get TikTok salivating. Only discovered today, I’m looking forward to following him.
@goosedofficial
Duh. It’s a shameless plug. I’m trying to grow the channel so g’wan over there and give it a follow for the craic. Two videos got a fair bit of attention so far. A Eufy robovac cleaning the floor and a P40 Pro fast charging. I’m trying to crack what makes things popular over there so all ideas welcome!
Honestly, it’s so hard to find decent tech reviewers on the platform. That’s kind of why I’m hoping to bring something to TikTok that isn’t there right now. If it is there and the algorithm just isn’t playing ball with me, please suggest some tech TikTokers to me!
So, give them all a follow and let me know what you think. Any questions about TikTok? Sure pop on and leave a question in the comment under any video and I’ll come back to you! Happy TikToking.
There’s a range of cliches I could kick this article off with given the world we’re living in right now. You know, like “new normal” and all that jazz. Right now, we’re staring at screens more than ever. A recent study by Sapphire Eyewear claims that our screen time has increased by 45% as a result of isolation during Covid-19. If your office job, from time to time you’d get up from your desk and have a face to face meeting from time to time with a fellow human. Those meetings are now video calls and combined with the rest of your workday, you’re eyes are taking a pounding. Some people end up with low prescription glasses but others with perfect vision have turned to blue light filtering glasses. These are a relatively new trend but the big question is, do they work and are they worth spending some money on? I got a pair of blue light glasses from an Irish company called Sapphire Eyewear and I’ve been testing them out to see if they’re worth it.
What Are Blue Light Glasses?
To understand blue light glasses I guess we need to understand blue light itself. Blue light is often attributed to the screens we sit in front of all day, but it’s around a lot longer than that. First, we get blue light from the sun and second comes the gadgets. This invisible light is produced by televisions, laptops, smartphones and tablets. All those kind of things.
Blue light causes an apparent issue by being a higher energy light which leads to particularly highly strained eyes. Overexposure to blue light also impacts our ability to sleep. The solution is blue light filtering glasses. You wear them during the day while working in front of a computer and at night to prevent the blue light from screens from keeping you awake.
These come in both prescription and non-prescription lenses and a wide variety of styles. Indeed, many spreadsheet toting business folk believe the blue light glasses market is set to exploding in the coming years. However, many still doubt whether these things work at all. Jon tested out Ambr glasses before and found them great, so I was interested to see how I got on with Sapphire Eyewear’s take.
Who Is Sapphire Eyewear?
Sapphire Eyewear is based out of Galway and Cork, founded by Dr Dearbhaile Collin and her husband Seamus Flynn. The story is awesome. The couple spent their honeymoon in Zambia and were shocked to learn a country with a population of 16 million people had just 48 qualified opticians. During the honeymoon, Dearbhaile noticed headaches she was having while researching had stopped. It was the starting point for a connection being made between screen-time, blue light and the impact on both the human mind and body.
Seamus is an optician with over 20 years experience. Over the past five years, he noticed an increase in eyestrain complaints. The result was all of this coming together with an offering of blue light glasses where a portion of the profits fund eyewear in the developing world.
To get tested, the Sapphire team sent over this lovely looking pair of blue light filtering glasses.
Rubino Transparent Blue Light Filtering Glasses
Let’s break down these glasses a bit.
Design
I can’t help but feel that Jurgen Klopp has made transparent frames the best looking frames on the market. The Rubino look quite similar to the Liverpool manger’s frames so that’s a good start for me!
In terms of design, these glasses are pretty cool. They are obviously only going to appear to certain people but the range Sapphire has on their website is broad to say the very least. The big test was taking part in various Zoom calls and I can confirm, compliments were had. Personally, the design on the temples wasn’t really for me but I only saw that when opening the box and it never occurred to me again.
The glasses are very comfy, stay in place requiring very infrequent adjustment. As you might expect, they’re shipped in a tidy glasses case and come with a cleaning cloth. Standard stuff so far.
Function
This glasses are suitable for people with or without prescription. If you do wear glasses normally, you can include the strength of lens you need and get a pair that meet your needs.
The big question is really about the blue light blocking. So does it work?
Do Blue Light Blocking Glasses Work?
Yes. Blue light blocking glasses absolutely do block blue light. Just check out this test.
The real question here is whether or not this has an impact on eye-strain and headaches. The answer to that question has stumped people much smarter than me.
Take Jon for example. He’s worn similar glasses and found they’ve worked for him. But let me place devil’s advocate here. This could be the placebo effect. I generally look at the larger picture. If you’re researching and buying eye strain and blame your computer screen, you’ll end up at blue light glasses eventually. When you buy a pair, you’ll likely also be trying to cut back on screen time and see results.
After digging around for some supporting science I found an article from The Texas Medical Centre concluding that there’s no data to support blue light filtering glasses work. It’s a common conclusion I’m uneasy with. In trying to leave the church I’ve discovered I’m agnostic and I think that’s how I feel about blue light glasses too. There’s no science to prove they work, but there also seems to be a lack of science disproving blue light filtering glasses. I said this to the guys in Sapphire who pointed towards a study where, in a study of twelve adults, wearing blue light filtering glasses, experienced improved “sleep efficacy and sleep latency”.
I’m waiting to be convinced either way.
“The concern with blue light has really gotten to another level,” says Sunir Garg, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology who seems more concerned with the surge in interest in an unproven solution more so than the solution itself. And that’s a fair concern.
Whether these glasses work or not, it’s crucial that they are not sold as a miracle cure and that’s why I really like Sapphire Eyewear.
Should You Try Blue Light Filtering Glasses
Here’s the simple truth about blue light glasses. I can’t tell you, beyond scientific doubt, that blue light filtering glasses will solve your tired eyes or headache issues. From what I’ve read researching this article, from Jon’s experience and my own, the best I can come up with is “they might”. The phrase is “anecdotal evidence” points to some sort of positive impact but that’s the best I have to offer.
Here are some more facts though.
You Always Wanted Glasses Didn’t You?
I used to wonder what life with glasses would be like. Eventually, I got a pair because I was slightly, and I mean slightly, longsighted. I probably didn’t need glasses at all but I was happy to get a pair. Why? I thought they looked cool. They’d suit a certain look, an aesthetic, that I liked. With these glasses from Sapphire Eyewear, the lenses don’t need to be prescription so you could buy these purely because they look cool and they make you look smart.
As an added bonus, they might make using a computer that little bit better and help you sleep too.
You Will Help People In The Developing World
I already detailed how Sapphire Eyewear came about. Not only did the wife and husband team want to address modern eyewear issues but they also wanted to help the developing world. They’ve teamed up with Mission For Vision which means when you buy a pair of blue light filtering glasses another pair will be donated to people in need of eyewear in developing countries.
Once again, as an added bonus, these glasses you buy might make using a computer that little bit better and help you sleep.
The 20-20-20 Rule
If you want to reduce your headaches and eye strain without taking a chance on the glasses, try these steps:
Take regular breaks and…
Every 20 minutes, stare at an object at least 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds
Sapphire Blue Light Glasses: The Verdict
You can be sure that you’ll soon be hit by Instagram ads being run by some snake oil salespeople promising you the sun, moon and stars with blue light glasses. Many will oversell the benefits completely with assurances these glasses will change your life. Unfortunately, I just can’t tell you if they work or not.
What I can tell you is that Sapphire Eyewear is offering you
some really nice looking frames
at a very attractive price
which might reduce eye strain and
help you sleep
a way to help developing countries get eyewear they need
all put together by an experienced doctor and optician
You can pick up a pair to try for yourself over on the Sapphire Eyewear website with a non-prescription pair setting you back €55. A good price for a potential solution and knowing that you’ve helped someone in need.
It feels like you can buy anything and everything with a Google Assistant built into it now. Looking around my sitting room, I have a Google Assistant-powered soundbar, a Google Home in the kitchen and Google Nest Wifi which has an assistant in the bedroom too. In such a small space adding another smart speaker meant it needed to be different. The Marshall Uxbridge landed on my desk for review and I fell in love immediately.
Classic Marshall Look And Feel
I need to get this out of the way early. I’m totally biased in this review. Back in the day, I used to be in a band. I didn’t have the best gear in the world. My guitar was a Fender knock-off, my amp was a fourth hand little-known brand and my effects peddle, well I actually invested in a really good peddle. We used to do the odd gig, starting off playing at a teenage disco where I forgot the words to a Blink 182 song. A year or so later we were playing proper gigs where the headline act brought their rigs and we just plugged in. Here was when I fell in love with Marshall.
I was plugging into a Marshall half stack amp. Even if that means nothing to you, you probably know what I’m talking about. These are the guitar amps that feature on most rock stage concerts.
Isn’t that pretty. The funny thing about that gig where I got to plug into this for the first time was that I nearly blew the thing up. My really good peddle was turned up to ten and so was the amp so when everything got connected, everyone in the room gasped because of the deafening squeal. By the time the Mike Got Spiked guitarist made it to the stage everything was fixed and I was laughing away to myself. He wasn’t.
But that’s the amp that I fell in love with. I never got to own one, but this is what made my super biased when opening my Marshall Uxbridge smart speaker.
The Marshall Uxbridge Smart Speaker
Marshall has started to produce several smart speakers in different sizes. The Uxbridge is one of the most living room friendly designs. While it’s quite small and nowhere near the size of the speaker on the stage of rock shows, the sound is brilliant. It’s not the most remarkable speaker on the market but given the relatively small size of the box the sound outperforms expectation. I’m sure there are plenty of audiophiles out there who will dismiss the audio quality, but this is bringing charm and sound to the table.
The Google Home alongside the Marshall Uxbridge speaker
What it may be lacking in sounds for some, it may make up for with connectivity. The Uxbridge comes in two different models, so be careful to pick the one that best suits your own setup. The one I tested is the Google Assistant-powered speaker but it can also be bought with Alexa brains. The two speakers are not interchangeable, so make up your mind and stick to it. You can connect directly to the speaker by Bluetooth but most will play tunes by asking their assistant to play from Spotify or another music service. If you live in an iOS world, you’ve also got AirPlay too.
The Goosed Verdict
At the outset, I said it feels like everything can be bought with a smart assistant built-in, and I stand by that. In this case, the assistant is installed in a bit of nostalgia and great design. There are plenty of other speakers on the market which will deliver equal, if not better, sound quality. But few will look as awesome on your shelf as the Marshall Uxbridge smart speaker. The Google Home itself is a great speaker but it’s design is a bit vanilla.
