It’s happening again. Something gets said on Twitter by a celebrity and now the world is scrambling to find out what The Pattern App is. Is it evil? Is it a scam? Is it the must-see trend for July 2019? Well, fear not. I’ve installed the app so you don’t have to. Unless of course, you want to.
Why Are People Talking About The Pattern App?
Channing Tatum is the reason I’ve heard about The Pattern App. It’s one of those Tweets that just grew legs and seems to be blowing up online since it was posted. In just a couple of hours, this video has been seen nearly half a million times.
Tatum appeals to his followers for someone to explain how The Pattern App works. His reaction kind of echoes everyone once something new like this blows up online.
I don’t know if I’m late to this or if I’m early to this
Tatum explains that the app asks for your birthday and time of birth, before wondering how the hell someone should know that. Then he just asks, “how the hell do you know what you know about me Pattern?”.
Tatum lets us know that he’s currently in therapy and that the app was able to use very similar language to what he and his therapist were discussing. Naturally, this leaves the 21 Jump Street actor wondering if the phone is spying on him.
What the jaysus has left poor auld Channing like this? Is the app creepy? Or is Channing just being paid a fortune for a cryptic video to drive a rake of app downloads?
I Downloaded The Pattern App
Ok, so I downloaded the app. First thing’s first. Sorry Android users. This is an iOS-only thing. I have my trusty iPhone 7 on standby for just such an eventuality.
I’ve started the app and it just came up saying “it’s very nice to meet you”. The app continues to explain that The Pattern gives insight into the person you are and the relationships that you have. How you ask? Well, it’s all based on when you came into this world.
That’s where the app onboarding begins.
What Information Does The Pattern Need?
The app states that the info you provide is critical for it to work and that it has to be accurate. My biggest fear here is that the app is just harvesting my data for untoward use by someone halfway around the world. But this is Goosed.ie. I take these risks so you don’t have to.
First up is my first and last name, then it’s my date of birth and then it gets a little weird.
The next thing the app looks for is the time of day you were born at. The app claims it needs to be down to the minute and not an estimation. If you know, great. If you don’t you have the option to text someone. You can also skip this and remove some of the insights that The Pattern App provides.
A quick text to the mother and I’m ready to go again.
Of course, gender is an important factor here. You can choose between male, female or non-binary.
Next up, the app wants to know where I was born. Once you start typing, the app will suggest the best match.
Finally, you pick how you’d like to log into The Pattern. I’m going to go with an email address so I can block any spam easily should this go pear-shaped – one of my favourite Gmail tricks that one.
Once you create a password, a unique password never used before for security reasons, I decided not to add any other login methods. Mainly, this was because I was starting to get really suspicious about this app.
A quick selfie later and the app confirms some details before getting started on my Pattern.
The app is currently running the facts.
Results from The Pattern App
As I start this paragraph, The Pattern App is still running the numbers. A part of me wonders if this is going to be the moment AI blows my mind completely, or if instead, this is the moment I realise I’ve spent a half an hour looking at the equivalent of a Facebook app telling me when I’m going to die.
I’m going along with the people saying Channing Tatum is making money here somehow. The app itself is absolute nonsense. Don’t waste your time. It’s all astrology and the app just talks shite about vague things that will likely do more harm than good.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent a handful of weekends touring Ireland. It’s really not enough because every single time I do take the time, I say “it’s the most amazing country to explore”. Do I though? Do I f…. That’s why RTÉ’s new mini docuseries really peaked my interest. I’ve watched Go Outside and Play on RTÉ player. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Go Outside and Play About?
Go Outside and Play is all about finding Ireland’s peak Instagram spots. Those places that you just need to visit and pop a selfie at. The best part is that these locations are unlikely to have been popped into your Google Maps any time recently. They’re somewhat off the beaten track with even popular places like Glendalough hiding some of its most spectacular views from most people.
In this series, host, online-content creator and 2FM DJ Carl Mullan, visits some of Ireland’s most Instagrammable locations. These six places to see in Ireland include:
Coumshingaun Lake, Co. Waterford
Sliabh Liag, Co.Donegal
Three Castle Head, Co. Cork
The Spinc, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
Gougane Barra Forest Park, Co. Cork
Cuilcagh Mountain Boardwalk, Co. Fermanagh
Each location gets a five minute episode jam-packed with handheld YouTube-creator style video and some of the most beautiful drone footage of areas possibly seeing a drone for the first time. Go Outside and Play is bite-sized chunks about what you should do next weekend.
Most importantly, it’s an enjoyable watch too. Carl has been creating content online for the past few years and can turn anything into a gas story. From his car frequently breaking down to his ongoing attempts to land a Berocca in a glass of water from across the kitchen.
Watching Go Outside and Play, you’ll laugh at Carl being gas, but also discover some hidden gems from around the country that you usually stumble upon.
Away from this specific series, Go Outside and Play symbolises an exciting direction for RTÉ to head in.
Could This Be The Future of RTÉ?
Carl is someone who just gets creating content for modern audiences. It was watching a Casey Neistat video just last year that he decided he needed to grab a camera and start telling stories. Actually, it was this video:
So from watching that video, within 12 months, Carl was using all the skills he’d honed from just going and creating videos to create video for RTÉ Player.
It’s totally the Casey Neistat style too. Handheld cameras with secondary cameras and drones for cutaway and context. Without going too deep into it, it’s everything that you need to tell a great story.
I find this really interested. We’ve moved away from traditional TV content and instead moved towards blogger content, for want of a better title. Carl and a few lads armed with little more than DSLRs, a GoPro and a drone were able to shoot a video that would leave Failte Ireland feeling proud. All shot on a shoestring compared to more traditional travel shows.
This is a proof of concept by RTÉ. A test. That you can take someone who is really passionate about creating quality content, armed with consumer products and let them loose on the world to entertain the masses.
In parts, it’s slightly rough around the edges. You know that when that GoPro in episode one falls off the car, that was a genuine balls up. But it gets left in because life isn’t a perfect take. The episodes take on a level of authenticity because of it, an authenticity that often gets left on the cutting room floor.
Go Outside and Play: The Verdict
First of all, you’ve nearly spent longer reading this than you would have watching the whole series. I meant it when I said bite-sized. The whole lot is thirty minutes, but it’s thirty minutes where you’ll have a laugh and likely plan your next trip. I also didn’t spot any ads on this, a small thing that makes a difference for me.
this show will inspire you to either travel or shoot
It’s also an exciting indicator from RTÉ as to where they go next. The gag in the final episode about one of the attractions rolling out the red carpet because they heard RTÉ was coming but would be surprised to see it’s not the Nationwide team is so on the money. Content creation doesn’t need a heap of expensive tech and a massive crew. It needs some personality, a story and a camera with a decent mic. The rest is up to you. It embodies everything I love about things like the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival. Content creation is uber accessible these days. No matter what happens, this show will inspire you to either travel or shoot.
What is a daily rider? Well, my current daily rider is the Huawei P30 Pro. In the world of tech reviews, quite a few phones come across my desk. The daily rider is the one that gets my sim. The one I actually use day today. It’s the phone I’ve put all my faith in. When Huawei sent me out the P30, the little sister of the P30 Pro, I said screw it and popped my sim in for two weeks. How would I fair using the cheaper Huawei option after using their flagship for months? This is my Huawei P30 review.
Huawei P30 Camera
Considering the Huawei P30 Pro boasts the best camera system on the market according to DxO Mark, there’s no point in starting anywhere other than this phone’s snapper. The P30 opts for a slightly different camera setup to its bigger brother. Removing the “Time of Flight” lens, the P30 should lose out some quality when it comes to bokeh style portrait shots. However, thanks to some really clever use of software, the gap here is tiny. In reality, the P30 and P30 Pro cameras are really tough to separate.
In terms of hardware, you get the same 40MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens on both phones. The P30 does have a 16MP Ultra-wide angle lens versus the P30 Pro’s 20MP Ultra-wide angle lens, but in practice, I couldn’t spot a quality difference between the two cameras. Let’s not forget, by the time you share most of your shots on your favourite social media platform, the images will be so compressed into equality.
Both phones also share identical 32MP front-facing cameras which are truly stunning.
There is one area the P30 simply can’t match the P30 Pro; zoom. The P30 Pro maxes out at 10x optical zoom and 50x digital hybrid while the P30’s Leica lens tops out at 5x optical zoom and 30x digital hybrid.
It’s easy for me to dissect these two stunning Leica cameras on paper, but I want to cut out the nonsense. Both of these cameras are stunning. Perhaps the P30 Pro is beyond stunning, but the P30 will, as we discussed on The Goosed Podcast, will also leave you eager to go for a walk, phone in hand, to snap some photos. There were even some shots I convinced myself were better on the P30 altogether. You also get some of the new standards in smartphone photography, including optical image stabilisation for video shooting, 960fps super slo-mo and low light photography through Huawei’s incredible night mode.
But what about benchmarking against Samsung? Well, the good news is that there’ll be a Samsung Galaxy S10 on my desk really soon to review and I’ll be comparing with Huawei’s flagship range.
Huawei P30 Design
For me, this is where things get really interesting. I haven’t used a smaller smartphone in ages. Yet, in a short space of time, I got to take a run with the Google Pixel 3a and the Huawei P30. What surprised me was now how little the smaller screens annoyed me but even how much I liked having a smaller phone. I accept these are just small by modern standards, but even so, it’s nice to have a little tip of the hat to the smaller phone days.
The Huawei P30 feels incredibly comfortable in the hand. It’s a little chunkier on the sides perhaps in some way thanks to the fact Huawei has decided to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that doesn’t feature on the P30 Pro. On the subject of sound, both phones still seem to carry through Huawei’s slightly underwhelming speakers for listening to music, but the P30 does bring back an earpiece, overcoming one of the pain points I had with the P30 Pro.
The small notch at the top like all notches, in reality, is practically unnoticeable. More noticeable is the ridge surrounding the camera which does affect the phone when left on a flat surface. I also noticed that whatever material this phone is made from, it will slip of nearly any surface you leave it on, so be careful.
But I can’t finish the design section without talking about colour. When Huawei announced that one of the colours would be called Breathing Crystal, I know I laughed. Notions. But then I got my hands on this P30 in Breathing Crystal. First of all, I personally love it. Secondly, so does bloody everyone else. So many people that I didn’t even know stopped me to ask about the colour. It is stunning and it’s nice to see something as common as a smartphone can finally turn heads again.
Huawei P30 Hardware
There’s a significant price difference between these two Huawei phones and the hardware section is perhaps where this is most noticeable. Naturally, the P30 has the slightly smaller battery at 3650 mAh, though like its bigger brother, it’s the software and smart battery assistance that makes this phone purr for hours, hours longer than most. While you also get to keep Huawei’s whopper fast charging, you do have to sacrifice wireless charging.
I don’t feel like this is a deal-breaker, but I really do like having wireless charging. If you have wireless buds that need charging, this also means you can’t use your P30 like Samsung S10 and S10 Plus users can, of course also alongside P30 Pro and Mate 20 Pro users. Wireless charging likely fell victim to the logistics of fitting bits and pieces in to the phone and as a result, the extra space means you do get a proper 3.5mm headphone jack.
Maintained is the in-screen fingerprint sensor, a feature widely becoming commonplace on smartphones.
There are two further important call-outs. Once again, there’s no Gorilla Glass, so I would recommend picking up a screen protector of some sort. Also, quite surprisingly, the P30 is only IP53 rated versus the P30 Pro’s IP68. This means getting caught in a shower with the P30 shouldn’t be a problem, just don’t bring your phone into the shower with you.
Other P30 Specs
The model I reviewed had 6GB RAM and 128GB memory. Loads on both fronts there, delivering a lightning-fast phone that doesn’t swallow up battery for sport. The phone will likely ship with Huawei’s EMUi 9.0 but is updatable to EMUi 9.1 out of the box. Also, despite current goings-on in the world of international trade, Huawei has committed to ensuring people buying these phones will continue to receive updates while also being able to access Google and Facebook apps.
Huawei P30: The Verdict
I was shocked by how much I enjoyed using the Huawei P30. I was sure the smaller phone would annoy me. I was sure the slightly lesser specs would leave me feeling that I had an inferior phone in my hand. But no. The Huawei P30 feels like a smaller version of the P30 Pro. A smaller version that does cut some corners but doesn’t skimp on quality anywhere. While you’ll save a fair whack by buying a P30 over the P30 Pro, you’re unlikely to be left wanting for much.
Ultimately, if you want the big flash flagship with the best of the best spec, the P30 Pro is arguably the best phone on the market today. If you want a smaller phone. If you want a headphone jack. If you want a slightly cheaper phone. The Huawei P30 just might tick all the right boxes for you.
I don’t want to say it, but I told you so slash I called it.
Speaking on The Goosed Podcast, I predicted this whole saga between the U.S. and China which saw Huawei get caught in the crossfire of an international trade war, seems to be drawing to a close.
Speaking at the G20, U.S. president Donald Trump said U.S. can sell goods to Huawei once again. The move will bring an end to a month of uncertainty following Trump’s previous ban on the same.
While nothing has legally changed again yet this is great news for Huawei who has been rocked in global markets with losses over the next two years predicted to amount to $30 billion.
Huawei Ireland this week moved to restore some consumer confidence, guaranteeing existing devices, like this year’s P30 Pro flagship, would continue to receive Android operating system updates and maintain access to key apps like Facebook, YouTube and the Google Play Store.
Now we just have to hope everything gets resolved legally so we can move on and enjoy one of the best phones on the market again. Be sure to give us as follow as our P30 review is due going to drop any day now!
Last year, after many years of waiting, the Google Pixel 3 stomped onto the Irish market as a Vodafone exclusive. 2018 was an incredible year for smartphones with the bar being set incredibly high. Still, Google’s first phone to officially launch in Ireland was a stunner. Now, Google wants to bring something new but familiar to the table. This is my Google Pixel 3a review. A review of a mobile phone that brings more to the table than any other phone at a similar price point.
Where Did The Google Pixel 3a Come From?
To be totally honest, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL came right out of left field. Was this always on the roadmap? I’m not so sure. I get the feeling that Google had excess parts and wanted to build another phone. Actually, that’s very unlikely. Regardless, the Pixel 3a is an absolute stroke of genius. From the Pixel 3, Google takes the best feature – the camera – and trims the fat, making a lean mid-range mobile phone. That’s a mobile phone which leaves the other mid-range phones in its wake.
Google takes the best feature – the camera – and trims the fat, making a lean mid-range mobile phone
Yet Another Great Camera In A Pixel
Google has made quite the name for themselves when it comes to cameras. Last year, they were up against stiff opposition in Huawei’s P20 Pro and Mate 20 Pro. They all stood toe-to-toe with each other. In the end, there were features on the Pixel cameras which made them stand out and some features on the Huawei range which put them a hair ahead. All in all, the cameras were practically inseparable, visible in the DxO scores:
Huawei P20 Pro: 109
Huawei Mate 20 Pro: 109
Google Pixel 3: 101
Here’s how the Pixel 3a compares to the Huawei P30 Pro.
You can see from these shots that there really isn’t much in it. In fact, the Pixel 3 edged selfies for me, especially outdoors and especially if you wanted to take a wide-angle selfie.
The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will take photos that rival those from it’s bigger Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL brother. “Rival” might not even be strong enough. Put it this way, you’d be unlikely to spot the difference between Google’s flagships and these new mid-range value drivers.
Both the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL pack in the same tech. Your primary single-lens camera on the rear is a 12.2MP shooter capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps or 1080p video at 120fps. Swing the phone around and you have what is probably one of the best selfie cameras on the market. Unfortunately, you do give up wide-angle at this price point, but I genuinely feel like the Pixel 3a still takes lusher selfies than my beloved Huawei P30 Pro. Hurts me to say it.
There are my words on Pixel 3a’s selfies, now for some specs. The phone’s front-facing camera brings an 8MP camera with an 84-degree field of view to the table. When you link all of this hardware with Google Photos, one of the best photo management tools out there, you end up with a dream lineup for content creators. Overlay that with the price you’d have forked out for the Pixel 3a and you’re left with the best pound-for-pound smartphone camera on the market right now.
I’ll chat about the slightly slow processor in a while, but portrait mode facing in both directions remains impressive on the Pixel 3a, competing with the likes of Huawei, Samsung Galaxy S10+, and even both the iPhone XS and iPhone Xr despite the phone costing a fraction of their RRPs.
Night Mode
The Pixel’s ace in the hole is Night Mode. A late release for the bigger brothers of the Pixel 3a, you get this feature right out of the box. It’s bizarre that phones can see things in the dark that we have no idea about. The technology is mind-blowing. Once again, let me remind you that the price is also mind-blowing.
This was shot in my bathroom, in the absolute pitch black. With my bare eyes, I couldn’t even see the plant, but the Pixel 3a was able to see it and shoot it.
It’s not the best shot ever and it’s a bit blurry, but still – if you saw the darkness that I was in shooting this you’d be stunned.
Where Does Google Trim The Fat
Cool, so the pictures that you shoot with these new mid-range Pixel phones are whopper, but where is Google cutting the corners?
Display
I tested out the Google Pixel 3a which comes with a 5.6-inch OLED panel display. Nothing here to knock your socks off, but there is something worthy of mention. If you find flagship smartphones to be far too big these days, the Pixel 3a could very well be your dream phone. It’s a nice size to pop into your pocket without being too small to enjoy using.
There’s also a full on ‘forehead’ and ‘chin’ for at the top and bottom of the display. This cuts the costs for sure and might even be something we see on this year’s Pixel 4 range.
Wireless Charging
A feature that’s not for everyone, but it has to be called out because of another cool feature on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL give up wireless charging. This means you also cannot use these new Pixel phones with the wireless charging stand. That also means these new phones can’t double up as screened Google Homes. You can still enjoy everything that Google Assistant has to offer including the squeeze to ask functionality.
The battery itself in the Pixel 3a doesn’t disappoint. The phone’s 3000 mAh battery easily lasted me a day and might even get most people through two. In the box you’ll also get a 18W fast charger.
Water Resistance
After so long with phone’s having an IP68 rating, the Pixel 3a comes with no IP rating at all. That means no music in the shower, but also you should be careful if this is in your pocket during a downpour. Just something to bear in mind if you have become used to waterproof flagship phones.
That Processor Though
This is once again more for those of you who might be attracted to the price and size of this semi-flagship. These new Pixel phones have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor on board. I didn’t notice this too much, except in the moment after you’ve taken a picture. You can visibly see the phone processing the images in front of you.
There was no massive issue as a result of this, but with prolonged use, I always wonder if a phone like this would end up getting clogged. Non-expandable 64GB memory says hello.
But there’s more…
That’s how Google trimmed the fat, but there’s one big plus with the Pixel 3a that I’m sure many will adore. It’s only got a bloody headphone jack.
the inclusion of the headphone jack kinda sums up the beauty of this phone
I think the inclusion of the headphone jack kinda sums up the beauty of this phone. It’s everything modern smartphones aren’t.
When every smartphone went expensive, Google has brought out this affordable option.
When every smartphone went big, Google brought out this neat and tidy option.
When every smartphone went wireless, Google brought out an option with a headphone jack.
Is the Google Pixel 3a Worth Buying?
The Google Pixel 3a is not a flagship smartphone, but it’s a bloody brilliant smartphone nonetheless. What Google has achieved here is simply fantastic. No longer do consumers have to make the take a lesser camera because of a limited budget.
That price tag is mind-boggling. While I appreciate there are corners cut, when I switched over to this mid-range Pixel 3a for a week, not once was I left feeling like I was using a cheap phone. But for a trip to Metallica where I knew waterproofing would be essential, I wouldn’t have been in any hurry to take my SIM card back out of the Pixel 3a at all.
Google Stadia Ready
If you happen to be a headphone nerd who needs and audio jack, with tiny hands and a love for both photography and gaming, the Google Pixel 3a should be at the very top of your list. Don’t forget, Google Stadia launches in Ireland in November and will be compatible with the Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. It’ll be interesting to see how the processor and battery hold up, but these new Pixels are on the release list.
There’s nothing worse than when you go abroad and have to pay through the nose for internet access. Sure the change in the EU regulations around roaming has made a huge difference. But what if your job means that you need more and what’s the craic when you have to go a bit further abroad? That’s where the Skyroam Solis and the Solis WiFi App comes in. It’s a simple premise. When you’re abroad, pay a single flat fee for 24 hours access and get WiFi in 100+ countries.
Ah yes, the tinternet, one thing we can’t live without in the modern world, and yet surprisingly it can be such a hassle wherever you go. If you’re like me and you work remotely or travel pretty much all the time, then searching for quality internet access gets old fast.
Sure you can roam but good luck with that. If you end up outside of the EU, you can also buy a local prepaid sim. If your phone isn’t unlocked or you not sure how much data you use, then neither of these are great, to be honest.
Having worked in a phone shop for more years than I would care to admit, this time of the year was always rife with holidaymakers coming back from far-flung destination with outrageous bills. I can’t stress this enough, do not roam outside of the EU it will cost you your first born. Between myself, Martin and Dean we could tell you some horror stories, who knows we might even chat about it in an upcoming podcast.
As we said you can also buy a local sim but before you do, make sure your phone is either sim-free or unlocked. Another problem you are likely to bump into is the fact that data limits in a lot of countries are very low when it comes to pre-paid solutions (believe it or not in the US the vast majority of people are bill pay, wonder why). Then again if you are travelling with a family or just use a load of data yourself again, good luck with that. A lot of countries don’t legally allow visitors to purchase a local sim and, though there are ways around this, researching them is a huge hassle.
We could just say use your holiday to switch off completely, enjoy your break from the day to day and reset. But sure then how else would you post that perfect Insta beach shot.
This is where a product like the Skyroam Solis comes into its own. It’s a 4G LTE mobile WiFi gadget that automatically works off local mobile towers, with no SIM needed. Up to five devices can share WiFi on one Skyroam Solis. Good idea or a family holiday or the business person on the go.
The Design
The Skyroam Solis will fit in the palm of your hand and the orange puck-like design is very minimalistic with a total of three buttons. The main Wi-fi button, battery indicator and the power button. The only other thing is the LED that flashes to let you know that it’s on or charging.
On the back, there is the USB-C port to charge the box and or charge your stuff using the inbuilt power bank. Charging the Solis takes about 8 hours but you do get 14-20 hours of use which is quite decent. I like that the Skyroam is so simple, once you have it on you can drop it back in your bag and do the rest on your phone. Whether that’s registering, activating your plan or just checking things like battery life and usage, it’s all done through the app so you won’t have to pull the thing out every 20 mins.
The user interface has its share of glitches and quirks. It’s optimized for smartphones, so if you open the page on a laptop it’ll give you a mobile-shaped screen in the middle of your browser tab. The main Status dashboard is simple enough. The centre of the screen displays either how much time is left on your current day pass, or a button to activate your next session. Below that is your location, how strong your current signal is, how many devices are connected to the hotspot, and your battery life.
How does it work?
Without getting too techical it uses virtual Sim tech to connect you to a nearby service tower. Doesn’t matter the networks as it will connect with over 300 providers. So basically as long as there is a mobile signal in the area you’re good, it won’t work on a plane or boat but then again that would be pushing our luck for now.
Also because of this, technically, Skyroam gives you unlimited data. Pick your package, pay the money and off you pop.
How the battery life?
According to the team they say 14-20 hours, which by my tests are pretty close. My travel bag consists of my Samsung Galaxy Watch, or the Armani smartwatch, the Mac, Bluetooth headphones, a phone or 3 and to be fair whatever I’m mucking around with at the time, so trust me the poor box got put through its paces.
The power bank within the device itself is 6000mAh and comes as standard with the USB-C to charge most of the latest device, of course until Apple drops the lightning and move over themselves. Heads up though, the Skyroam Solis used the same battery as the charger so you will reduce the battery life if you’re running the Wi-Fi and charging simultaneously.
How do you use it?
The Skyroam Solis is honestly super easy to get up and running. I love opening new toys and I love it even more when set up is stupidly easy. Who needs the instruction manual when the Skyroam itself it literally covered in its own instructions! Watch:
Once you’ve it unboxed, and played with it’s easy to get your package sorted:
To get WiFi, press and hold Power On (the side button).
Connect your Skyroam Solis
On your phone or connected device visit the Skyroam site, register and pick your package.
Press the WiFi button on the top of the unit to start using WiFi.
How much does this orange disk cost?
There are a few ways to use Skyroam. A daily pass, their new monthly data subscription, or the new 1 GB GoData plan.
The box itself costs €150. If you don’t want a plan you can also pay-as-you-go plans with daily 24-hour WiFi access for occasional connectivity for €8 per day or you can get a monthly plan for frequent fliers for €80 per month.
Alternatively, you can also do daily rental of the product for €7.95 per day, so you get the device and the data. Which is grand if you only need it on a once off basis. This can be ordered online or if you are going Stateside, some of the top airports will have kiosks.
The app
This is only a recent addition, the Solis Wi-Fi app. With this users can connect their hotspot and WiFi account, just by scanning the QR code on the bottom of their Skyroam hotspot device. They can also monitor their data usage, check on connection speeds, and buy more data with just a tap. I gave it a shot just to check how much data I was using watching Netflix and it was pretty much exactly what I expected.
This isn’t the first Solis and as with any product, the first generation isn’t always perfect. I’ve been told from themselves that this app was created directly as a result of customer feedback. They have tried to simplify registration and streamline WiFi start-up each time a customer powers on their hotspot, so they can connect faster. Inside the app itself, users can do the following:
Manage their service and package
View status of things like battery, signal strength etc
Offline access to troubleshooting and coverage lists
Step-by-step guide
Who would the Skyroam be useful for?
To be honest, having played around with it for a few weeks now, it’s a very niche market.
Ok so here’s the list:
People going out of the EU with a locked phone
Regular travellers who need something better than crap hotel Wi-Fi
Families going abroad so a parent isn’t trying to hotspot their phone for the small people
Business travellers who need Wi-Fi to work
Prepay customers who only have limited amounts of data
Anyone still afraid of being charged mad money by going over roaming limits
That’s really it if you fall in any of those categories the Skyroam Solis could be just what you need. Otherwise, your phone will do just fine.
The Goosed Verdict
The Skyroam Solis is a pretty cool little device. The battery life is good, it’s well built and it’s reliable. I may have dropped the thing in a stream and low and behold it still works! I honestly can’t say much bad about it. It’s also significantly cheaper than racking up a huge roaming bill. For those that travel a lot, I can see the value. So on that basis, I would recommend it.
Realistically it depends on what you do and where you go. Right now if you travel mainly in Europe you already get free roaming, within reason. For most this is enough, there’s no need to purchase another device and pay a daily charge for internet.
It won’t be long until mobile providers start offering inclusive international roaming as part of their plans as standard. Put simply this will mean the offer of unlimited international data won’t be as enticing as it used to be. Until then we have the Skyroam Solis.
That’s it E3, the worlds biggest gaming show, is over for another year. The 3-day expo came to a close with some of the world’s biggest publishers and console manufacturers showing the titles that will be coming out later in 2019 and beyond. Some games are announced for the very first time during the show, and many are available to go hands-on with. There has been a lot of focus on the next gen of gaming after the announcement of the Google Stadia. So what did we get at this year’s event?
Xbox Project Scarlet
As we expected, Microsoft announced their latest console at E3 2019. Dubbed the Xbox Project Scarlett, the next-gen console news was announced with all the pomp and ceremony we have come to expect from the US giants. After Keanu Reeves made an appearance, we finally got a look at the hardware and the preview for Halo Infinite.
Microsoft unsurprisingly has dubbed this the future of gaming, a title Google is also hoping to claim with their Stadia “console”.
Anyway Project Scarlett is built around some solid hardware, including a new Navi graphics architecture and a Zen 2 CPU. The console aims to eliminate or at least minimize loading times to get you into the game as soon as possible. Just to put this into context, Microsoft has been claiming Project Scarlett is four times more powerful than the current most powerful console on the planet, the Xbox One X, four times better performance than the current generation in terms of load times, and the most significant generational leap in Microsoft’s console history. Big claims, indeed.
At the moment we haven’t any base pricing to work off but here’s hoping Microsoft learn from the past and lead with a price comparable to their main competition, Sony’s PS5. We expect to see this hit the shelves in time for Christmas 2020, the same time we hope to see Sony’s latest console.
Sony the no show
Speaking of Sony, this is the big one. Sony confirmed in late 2018 that it would not attend E3 2019 because it was looking for other “inventive opportunities” to connect with its community.
“PlayStation fans mean the world to us and we always want to innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers. As a result, we have decided not to participate in E3 in 2019,”
Since this announcement, they have released a series of State of Play videos with trailers, release dates, and the like. To be honest with the news coming leaking out that a PS5 is on the way it’s no surprise they decided to give it a miss this year. The main downside with their lack of attendance meant smaller games weren’t given a chance to flourish at the Sony booth. A partnership with Sony means smaller indie titles were likely unable to afford a space on the floor. Games like these were sorely missed, and we eagerly await the next State of Play for more news. With its focus also now turned to its next-generation console, a lack of new games is one of the main reasons why Sony decided to skip E3. Here’s a rumoured image that we found on the internet, which means it’s probably miles away, but it’s a beautiful looking joypad all the same.
Nintendo
Sadly we didn’t get a new cheaper or upgraded Switch 2 at E3 2019 and to be fair they did say they wouldn’t be releasing any hardware this year. Still, we hoped they might have cheekily given us a little teaser to excite us. It wasn’t to be, but we did get a major surprise or two.
Most interestingly for Nintendo fans was the teaser trailer for the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Right now we don’t know a whole lot about it, but it’s going to be good. Other games to get a lot of airtime in Nintendo Direct broadcast included the likes of Luigi’s Mansion 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remaster.
There was also the showcasing of Pokemon Sword and Shield, the two upcoming Switch titles. It looks to be a serious upgrade to previous title’s, the open world plain and roaming Pokemon visible more openly (unlike in our day where you spent hours wandering through random patches of grass) coupled with a brand new environment is contributing to the excitement around Game Freak’s Switch title. Also, the starter Pokemon are super cute; one’s an electric corgi….just saying.
Square Enix
The guys at Square Enix were always going to be busy at E3 with a lot of focus on the Final Fantasy lineup. We had the Final Fantasy VII remake, and they also revealed a 20th anniversary remaster of Final Fantasy VIII. This is alongside the remaster of the Final Fantasy Chronicles, so yeah lots of upgrading here.
It wasn’t just remaking the old stuff for Square Enix. They also unveiled two eagerly awaited titles such in Outriders, a new co-op shooter developed by People Can Fly, and Marvel’s Avengers created by Tomb Raider’s Crystal Dynamics. It looks fantastic to be fair
Complete E3 2019 games list
Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (new game and trailer)
Luigi’s Mansion 3 (new trailer and release window)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (new trailer, but delayed)
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield (new release date)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (new release date)
Super Mario Maker 2 (new trailer)
Astral Chain (new trailer)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (new trailer)
Cadence of Hyrule ~ Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Dragon Quest Builders 2 (coming to North America via Nintendo)
No More Heroes 3 (announced for a 2020 release date window)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6
Microsoft
Halo Infinite (release window, coming to Xbox Project Scarlett)
Gears 5
Blair Witch
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Xbox One and PC)
Bleeding Edge
Battletoads
Age of Empire II: Definitive Edition (PC)
Wasteland 3
Microsoft Flight Simulator (PC first, Xbox One later)
Minecraft Dungeons
Spiritfarer (coming to Xbox Game Pass)
12 Minutes (Xbox One and PC)
Forza Horizon 4: Lego Speed Champions Expansion
Crossfire X
Gears Pop!
Take-Two Interactive/2K Games
Borderlands 3
The Outer Worlds
Electronic Arts and EA Sports
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC, Xbox One, PS4)
Apex Legends Season 2 (PC)
Battlefield 5: Chapter 4 (PC, Xbox One, PS4)
The Sims 4 Island Living (PC)
FIFA 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC)
FIFA 20 Legacy Edition (Nintendo Switch)
Madden 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC)
CD Projekt Red
Cyberpunk 2077
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition
Konami
Contra Rogue Corps (Xbox One PS4, PC and Switch)
Contra Anniversary Collection
Bethesda
Deathloop (Platforms unknown) (Trailer)
Doom Eternal (Xbox One PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch)
The Elder Scrolls: Blades (debuting on Nintendo Switch; iOS, Android updates)
Fallout 76: Nuclear Winter (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC sneak peek)
Ghostwire: Tokyo (Platforms unknown)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PS4, Xbox One and PC)
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)
Commander Keen (iOS and Android)
Square Enix
Final Fantasy 7 Remake (PS4)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile)
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers (PC)
Circuit Superstars (Square Enix Collective, developer Original Fire)
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
Romancing Saga 3
Scarlett Grace
Dragon Quest Builders 2
The Last Remnant Remastered (coming to Nintendo Switch)
Trials of Mana: Collection of Mana (coming to Switch)
Ubisoft
Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
The Division 2 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
For Honor (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
Watch Dogs Legion (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia) (game play available)
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (game update)
Roller Champions (PC download available now, other platforms unknown)
Gods & Monsters (Xbox One,PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia and Switch)
Sega
Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Nintendo Switch)
Phantasy Star Online 2 (Xbox One)
SEGA Genesis mini console coming September 2019 with mini games like Mega Man:The Wily Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2, Ecco the Dolphin and 35 more classic games.
Namco Bandai
Tales of Arise
Dragonball Z: Kakarot
Code Vein
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
RAD
Various
Elden Ring (via FromSoftware)
Dying Light 2 (from Techland)
Way to the Woods (Team 17)
Dauntless (coming to Nintendo Switch via Phoenix Labs)
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (En Masse Entertainment)
Dead by Daylight (coming to Nintendo Switch via Koch Media)
New Super Lucky’s Tale (coming to Nintendo Switch via Playful Corp.)
Empire of Sin (John Romero multi-console game)
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Playtonic)
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (via Edelweiss and XSEED Games)
Last year, An Post scored some PR points by delivering a package to an island off the Mayo coast by drone. It was cool, but it did feel like a bit of a PR stunt. Like, we haven’t seen An Post deliver anything else by drone since have we? Drone delivery as a gimmick is about to make a dramatic departure from Ireland. Later this year, Flipdish and Manna.aero are teaming up to deliver your dinner to you by drone in Dublin.
No seriously. By the end of the year, you’ll be able to order a takeaway and have it delivered by air. You can’t spell doner without drone.
How Drone Delivery Will Work In Dublin
The idea is actually quite simple. You visit the website or app of your favourite local takeaway. You order online as you would normally, but when selecting delivery options, the choice of ‘drone delivery’ will appear. A drone that’s been parked up at the restaurant is loaded up with your order and starts it’s automated journey.
The service promised three-minute delivery time, made possible because drones don’t get caught in traffic. Instead, your dinner will whizz across Dublin City at 80kmph between a height between 100ft and 300 ft. Flying as the crow flies, your food will arrive piping hot, within three minutes of being loaded onto the Manna.aero drone.
When the food arrives, the drone will begin to hover over an open space at 100ft and notify you that your order is waiting outside. Once you accept, the drone will begin to descend, using lidar technology, similar to that used by Tesla, to measure how far from the ground the drone is. At about twenty-feet, the drone will lower your delivery using a biodegradable string before flying back to base to take on the next job.
Strict Legislation Is Helping Make This Happen
My first reaction here was along the likes of what your’s likely is. “Sure. Yeah, right. I’ll believe this when pigs fly”. Well, pulled pork is closer to flying that you might think and after speaking with Bobby Healy, CEO at drone company Manna.aero, I’ve been completely won over by just how real this is getting.
You can’t buy a DJI drone off the shelf and attach a bag of chips
“You can’t buy a DJI drone off the shelf and attach a bag of chips”, Bobby whipped before describing the two-year journey he’s been on overseeing the making of science fiction into a 2019 reality. Owing to events like the Gatwick drone incident, drone legislation has become ironclad which means companies like Manna.aero know the exact rules they need to play in, and create their business accordingly. Google’s parent company Alphabet has skin in this game too, launching Wing in Helsinki later this month. A lot of this seemingly futuristic stuff is happening because of very strict laws.
The Irish Aviation Authority and wider European Union Aviation Safety Agency have made it very clear that airspace is open for commercialisation and is encouraging the creation of services like drone food delivery. But there are very high standards that companies must live up to. That’s why, right now, there are only Manna.aero and Wing playing in this space.
Manna.aero has created a drone which Bobby describes as “beautiful in its ugliness”. Their drones are not designed to win beauty contests but instead are designed to be safe. Designed by a team of engineers hailing from Airbus and the military, Manna.aero’s drones are built with one primary function – never hurt anyone. The secondary function is to deliver you piping hot dinner.
Safety Is Key For Drone Food Delivery
Food safety means one thing but drone food delivery safety is a different kettle of fish. Once Manna.aero and Flipdish restaurants start delivering dinners in Ireland, they’ll only be doing so to those in locations which are safe enough. For example, I’m on Patrick Street in Dublin. High buildings and very little open space, means I, like many city centre locations, won’t be able to avail of drone delivery. Instead, it’s home with gardens that have a takeaway within two kilometres that will be able to enjoy dinner by drone.
While environmental obstacles are one thing, these food delivery drones will also feature a raft of additional safety features. Should an engine fail, the drone would be fine to continue flying. In the event that all engines fail because someone pucked a hape of hurling balls at a drone, it would deploy one, or if needed two, parachutes before safely landing back down to the ground.
Bobby also pointed out that beyond safety, operations like this can only succeed once the public is happy that there’s no invasion of privacy taking place either. Manna.aero and Flipdish has set high standards in both areas to ensure the public can only see the benefits of drone delivery.
Benefits of Drone Food Delivery
So why bother with all of this? Why should dinner by drone be anything more than a gimmick? There’s an almost endless list of reasons why delivering food by drone makes sense, but I’m going to pick out my favourites.
Piping Hot Food
Delivering your dinner as the crow flies means Flipdish and Manna.aero can promise three-minute delivery. It’s a whopper promise to make, but it does make sense. Drones can fly above congestion at 80kmph, drawing a straight line between your local chipper and your home.
Delivering your dinner as the crow flies means Flipdish and Manna.aero can promise three-minute delivery
Environmentally Friendly and Safe
You either get your takeaway delivered by cyclists, motorcyclist or someone in a three-tonne car powered by petrol or diesel. For the cyclists; they’re pretty green although they can be putting their lives on the line from time to time depending on where they’re delivering to.
The others are destroying the environment by being on the road all night. Drones are electrically powered and are extremely green. Even the string they use to lower your food will be biodegradable!
Think Beyond The Pale
The really exciting bit is when you think big. Bigger than Dublin. I many rural towns, delivery simply isn’t an option. It wouldn’t pay a restaurant owner to have a delivery driver on standby. A drone is happy out to sit there and wait all night for just one order. This opens up food delivery to a whole range of locations that wouldn’t have had it in the past. In fact, Bobby of Manna.aero believes this will be the biggest long-term area of demand for this venture with Flipdish, claiming they’ll be able to cover delivery to 90% of the population outside of Dublin.
Rural areas will also have much more space to accept deliveries. Double win.
No. Seriously, this is really happening…
It’s a bit mad to think that chicken wings have one final flight left in them before they get eaten. It’s even more off the wall to write this article knowing that this partnership between Flipdish and Manna.aero plan to deliver between 1000 and 10,000 dinners in Dublin before the end of the year. It’s not a gimmick. It’s not flash in the pan. Dinner delivery by drone is coming and it’ll be happening later this year.
Still have questions about having your dinner slowly lowered into your garden from a height? Drop your questions in the comments section and we’ll grab you answers.
Last year, the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL finally launched in Ireland as a Vodafone exclusive. I’m currently testing out Google’s midrange phone, the Pixel 3a, and early signs are this is an impressive piece of kit for the price. For gamers, it’s good to know because all of these phones will support Google Stadia gaming which launches in November. The Google Pixel 4 is expected to launch a month earlier in October and in a bizarre move, Google has already tipped their hat towards the Pixel 4’s existence. Here’s what we know about Google’s new flagship phone so far.
Google Announce The Google Pixel 4
Normally, there’s massive secrecy around the look and feel of flagship mobile phones. They are closely guarded secrets right down to the fine details. That’s why it’s quite unusual that Google has already released images of what the Pixel 4 will look like.
It’s really hard to know why Google has gone early here. Maybe they’re planning to release the phone before October? It could be that Google’s big reveal will be on the front of the phone and remains a secret. Or perhaps, after last year’s Pixels were the leakiest phones in history, Google just doesn’t care about secrets anymore. A ridiculous sentence I know.
There’s also the potential crossover between the incoming iPhone flagships and Google’s phone. The two would appear to have similar camera arrays which resemble that of the Mate 20 Pro. Perhaps Google wanted to beat Apple to the punch?
Regardless of the reason, we have something to work off and can start piecing together what to expect from the Pixel 4.
What We Know About The Google Pixel 4
Looking at the leaks that we’ve seen so far, here’s what we know.
Google Pixel 4 Camera
The standout feature that we can see from Google’s tweet is the square camera array. This is really similar to what we saw on the Mate 20 Pro last year. This is exciting because it means Google is starting to match incredible hardware with its extremely impressive camera software.
The new Google Pixel 4 will have three camera lenses on the rear with the fourth spot being taken up by a flash. If I was a gambling man, I’d wager that we’re looking at a standard lens, and ultra-wide angle lens and a lens similar to the time-of-flight lens seen on the Huawei P30 Pro. This lens would mean you can set up your Pixel like a Google Home but it would have hand gestures built in. This would be a development on the Pixel 3 which came with a stand turning your phone into a Google Home with a screen.
Pixel 4 Will Have An In-screen Fingerprint Reader
The Pixel range has usually gone for a recessed fingerprint scanner on the rear of the phone. The image Google released shows there’ll be no fingerprint scanner on the rear this year. We can also see there’s a protruding power button on the side of the phone. Power button-based fingerprint readers require a recessed button, so that only leaves two options.
Facial recognition
An in-screen fingerprint reader
Google’s front-facing cameras are usually very impressive. As much as I love my P30 Pro, even the front-facing camera of the Pixel 3a right now delivers better selfies. In theory, they could go for facial recognition security.
Option two is an in-screen fingerprint reader. This has quickly become the new expected norm in the industry, featuring on Samsung, OnePlus and Huawei flagship smartphones.
More Pixel 4 Rumours
Because Google released these images, they also kind of validated something else we saw this week. Unbox Therapy showed off a cast version of the Pixel 4. These cast versions are used by case manufacturers in advance of new phones becoming available on the market. It’s why we have new Otterbox cases on the same day a phone launches.
Looking at the cast model, key things line up. The camera array, the power button and the top of the volume button, all match up between this and Google’s tweet.
So with that said, what else do we learn?
Google’s Pixel 4 Is Going Notchless
The Pixel 4 will be notchless. This is a double-edged sword because there is a speaker on the forehead of the phone. The Pixel 4 will just have a full-width forehead, similar to the Pixel 3 but not the Pixel 3XL which had a massive notch. This could also be a massive clue as to how you’ll be unlocking your new Google Pixel 4.
Will Google Pixel 4 Have Just Facial Recognition?
If Google is blocking off the whole forehead of the Pixel 4 for technology, they will likely add in a flood illuminator sensor. This first appeared on the Apple iPhone X when they moved away from fingerprint readers altogether. Perhaps Google will go down the route taken by Huawei with the Mate 20 Pro and have both face-unlock and an in-screen fingerprint reader. We’ll need to wait and see, but this cast leak would suggest face-unlock will be a big feature on the Pixel 4.
Ultra-wide Selfie Should Remain
When I took my sim back out of the Pixel 3XL, it was tough. One of the main reasons for this was the wide-angle selfie. It’s a great feature to get more of your mates or more of your surroundings into your shots. With the extra real estate for technology on the front, I fully expect this to remain.
Two Sized Pixels
No surprises here, but Unbox Therapy’s leak also shows that there will, once again, be two Pixels. I’d imagine there’ll be no major naming convention departures either so expect there to be a Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL. If there is to be a Pixel 4a, it’ll likely follow suit with the Pixel 3a and launch in 2020.
There’ll Be No Headphone Jack
When it comes to new normal, this is one of the biggest ones. From the cast models, it looks like there’s no headphone jack. Strangely, Google did bring this tech back for the Pixel 3a but it won’t feature on the Pixel 4 or Pixel 4XL. When it comes to sounds, both models will have dual cutout speaker grilles on the bottom of the phone, either side of the USB-C charge port.
Google Pixel 4 Release Date
So when does it launch? Right now, that’s an unknown. In previous years, Google has launched its Pixel range in October. Will the Pixel 4 follow suit? It’s really hard to know especially now that Google has tweeted so early about the new phone.
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I’m the third kind. I like to enjoy my games, but given the right scenario, I love nothing more than a good simulator. Flight simulator with a flight control joystick was my game of choice when I was younger, but now I love motorsports. It’s another great genre to simulate but you need the best racing wheel to really enjoy it. I got my hands, quite literally, on the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel for Xbox One and PC. More specifically, I got the Ferrari 458 Italia Edition with the additional Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On. I’m spoilt sometimes. Here’s what I thought.
What does the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Offer?
When I was younger, I used to play a range of racing games. The likes of Gran Turismo and Colin McRae Rally were my favourites. I had a Ferrari racing wheel back then too for my PlayStation and I absolutely loved it. It just changed how you looked at these games. Once you switch to the in-car camera and have the wheel in your hands, you really feel like you’re there. I should had, that wheel didn’t have force feedback and the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel does.
Force Feedback And The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel
Force feedback is usually just a controller shaking in your hand, but with this racing wheel it’s way more than that. The wheel fights you into corners and it’s damn strong. I’m halfway through a Canadian Grand Prix playing F1 2018 and when I last saved, I was sweating from fighting the wheel around the track.
Incredible Realism
As you might expect with force feedback comes awesome realism. The stock wheel comes with a standard looking car steering wheel. That’s standard if you usually drive a Ferrari of course.
To add to the narrative of being spoilt but also how much Thrustmaster cares about creating realism, I also got my mits on the Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On.
Look at that beauty.
I suffer from a few scenarios that make me want to do things. After I see a gig, I always crave playing drums. After I watch a race, I crave playing a racing game. F1 Manager offers some relief if I’m not at home, but nothing scratches that itch like loading up F1 2018 along with the F1 wheel. It’s just an incredible feeling.
Having a button dedicated to DRS, my team radio and both paddles and peddle controls all ads to the experience. Its really no wonder that the lines between gaming and real-life racing are getting more and more blurred by drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Here’s me having the craic on a hotlap of F1 2018 in Russia.
It’s Not All Good
Unfortunately, it’s not all good. Linking the controller to F1 2018 wasn’t straight forward. Some of the key mappings aren’t great despite the game recognising the wheel. Customising the mapping isn’t a massive deal, but I’ve never gotten it working perfectly. That means in the heat of the moment you press a button that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to and your race is over.
I also live in a one bedroom apartment. Having a wheel like this setup permanently, unfortunately, isn’t an option. If you’re tight on space, owning a wheel like this isn’t a walk in the park. You need to unpack it, set it up, race and then put it away again. In a perfect world, I’d have a man cave with a dedicated racing seat for this thing. I also have to admit, this isn’t going to be a problem for everyone.
What will be a problem for everyone is the price. The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel doesn’t come cheap. And you’ll have to pay for every additional extra that makes the experience better and better. For example, the wheel itself which comes with the standard Ferrari wheel and pedals will set you back €250. If you want the Ferarri F1 add-on, that’s another €170. That’s all you need if you’re an F1 sim enthusiast, but if you’re a rally fan looking for a gear stick and three peddle footplate, you can add on €180 for the gear stick and €170 for the pedals.
Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel: The Verdict
Okay, so let’s try and forget that price. The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel completely changes how you look at racing games. Hell, it totally changes how I look at both my own console and Google Stadia coming down the line. Will server-side gaming ever be compatible with somewhat niche controllers like this?
While it’s pricy, if your a big racing fan and you have space for a gamers den, this is kind of a must-have. You can pick up your new whip on Amazon below. As per usual, if you do buy through our links, we’ll get a wee kick back so thanks for that.
