Here at Goosed.ie, we’re always on the lookout for tech that makes the world a better place, honestly tech gets a bad rap sometimes, iRobot and Skynet automatically spring to mind. So I always love finding Tech For Good and over the years we are lucky to have met a bunch of great companies in this space and recently I found another, Shane Collective. Launching globally on December 17th, this brand spanking new platform is all about creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
A Revolutionary Tool for LGBTQ+ Safety and Inclusion
Finding safe and welcoming spaces can often feel like a challenge, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals in regions where inclusivity isn’t guaranteed, gay rights aren’t always human rights in some countries even in 2024. That’s where Shane steps in. This web app allows users to search, rate, and review places, businesses, and services based on their LGBTQ+ safety and inclusivity standards, which to be honest is pretty cool, most people take for granted propping themselves up on a barstood on holidays but for some it’s not always so straight forward.
So having had a pokey about and meeting the founding team, the bits that stood out for me were:
Shane Certified Locations: Businesses and organizations that meet their LGBTQ+ inclusivity standards receive the Shane Certification.
LGBTQ+ Safety Filters: Easily search for places that are “LGBTQ+ led,” “trans-inclusive,” or equipped with “gender-inclusive toilets.”
Anonymity and Privacy: Users can leave reviews and ratings without creating an account, ensuring their privacy and safety, particularly in some of the worlds more hostile regions.
A Mission Rooted in Real-Life Challenges
Something I really like and appreciate here is that Shane Collective’s mission is deeply personal. Inspired by the founder’s own experiences navigating life, the app was designed to make a range of tasks—like traveling, meeting friends, or finding a safe restroom—easier and safer for LGBTQ+ people. “This web app is a first step on a long road toward true LGBTQ+ safety and inclusion,” one of the founder’s told us.
The Shane team is made up of LGBTQ+ folks and allies who understand these challenges faced by members of the community. By leveraging technology and community trust, they’ve created a platform that uplifts safe and inclusive businesses while fostering connection within the LGBTQ+ community.
Global Reach and Local Impact
The app’s global potential is pretty much led by local impact. Already, over 90 businesses and organizations have been Shane Certified, including Dogpatch Labs in Ireland, Hotel Arpoador in Brazil, my little startup StatrDraft and Angel City FC in the USA. These certifications are issues to highlight businesses committed to inclusivity but also help LGBTQ+ individuals find safe spaces wherever they are.
You don’t need to create an account to use it, some people like to remain anonymous, so cool, still have at it. Simply visit getshane.io to search for inclusive spaces, leave ratings and reviews, or support LGBTQ+ businesses.
What’s Next for Shane?
This is just the beginning, not gonna lie with the right traction I reckon they take off. While the web app is already an invaluable resource, Shane Collective has announced that a mobile app will launch in 2025. This future iteration will include advanced features like safe navigation tools and emergency safety measures to empower LGBTQ+ individuals even further.
Final Thoughts
The Shane Collective is a perfect example of how tech can create positive change. By combining solid technology with community-driven insights, they’re making the world a little safer for people who need it. We’re excited to see how this platform evolves, what are you waiting for? Head over to getshane.io and see for yourself.
There’s a large chapter in this story I haven’t documented; the final chapter. A bittersweet end to a very long story. It came early in 2023. So my apologies for being very late with this final update.
Taking the DPC to the High Court
The story picks up at years of inaction from the Data Protection Commission (DPC). My complaint was submitted back in 2018, requesting that the Church delete my baptismal records as they were now inaccurate. I’m not Catholic, so why should they hold a record stating I am.
By 2022, nothing had happened. I was getting no closer to a decision being made. What started out with a simple goal, a new challenge, had entered the fray. To reach a conclusion, I would have to shift my focus from the Church, to the DPC itself.
So I brought in a legal team, a sentence which I still enjoy saying. I was now represented by William McLoughlin Bl instructed by Gibson and Associates solicitors. I was now taking the DPC itself to the High Court, as the DPC was failing to complete the investigation into my complaint and that was unlawful.
This went through a lot of small updates. Brief mentions and general updates I really don’t know a lot about, even being through the process. This is why you get a legal team.
All the updates don’t really matter, because I never did get my day in court. I’m sure, purely by coincidence, the DPC started to move on making a decision with my complaint. This deemed my request for a judicial review was no longer needed, and so my case was dropped.
Now the focus was the DPC’s decision and that decision finally came in February 2023.
DPC Rules Catholic Church Can Process Data Against Individuals Request
The key finding of the DPC’s decision which was published on 27 February 2023 was that the Archbishop, and effectively the Church, could continue to retain erroneous records even if individuals do not want the Church to retain them.
The DPC deemed that GDPR contained a mechanism called “legitimate interests” and that this was sufficient for the Church to continue “processing” or retaining personal data like my baptismal record. “Legitimate interest” is an unfortunately vague element of GDPR. Simply put, if an organisation states that it requires your data to operate, it can retain your data.
Important sidenote here. My personal complaint against the Church was not the only one. Several others, it turned out, had done the same thing both before and after me. This meant that the DPC’s investigation and final decision was made against the Archbishop of Dublin, setting the precedent which I could assume in my own complaint which was against the Diocese of Ossory.
The Archbishop of Dublin made an argument on behalf of the Church with several points. This included the rather pedantic point that baptismal records are not a filing system because they are in chronological order and so not easy to find individuals. He also argued the records are a matter of historical fact and not solely about Church membership.
What really annoyed me was any mention of Canon Law. He mentioned that Canon Law requires permanent retention of these records. Canon Law is the church’s own internal law system which, in my eyes, doesn’t matter and shouldn’t even have been in consideration for the DPC.
To be fair to the DPC they did acknowledge the importance of Canon Law to the Church but also clarified it would not overwrite the requirements of GDPR. However, the DPC unfortunately did maintain that baptismal records are subject to GDPR but you don’t have a right to delete your records. Because the Church has legitimate interest to retain that data to operate.
So, what does options does this leave you with if you no longer want to be Catholic?
Leaving the Catholic Church with GDPR
The short answer to my opening question is that GDPR nor the Church itself offer a clear route to leave the Catholic Church. Which has left me with many other questions as deep and meaningful as “what is leaving the Catholic Church” and what does that even mean.
Simply because the Church has retained a document saying they believe something, doesn’t make it true. They continue to claim I’m Catholic in their eyes, but apparently do not use baptismal records to determine numbers in the Church. So I wasn’t being counted as Catholic, wasn’t practising as a Catholic and therefore I’m not Catholic.
But throughout all of this I did have one massive victory.
The Catholic Church Now Updates Baptismal Records on Request
When I initially made my complaint, the Bishop of Ossory said he would update a supplementary record in the Diocese of Ossory files that stated I no-longer want to be considered Catholic.
I wasn’t happy with this. I’ve studied history in college and know that one record can easily give the wrong context. By updating a supplementary record and not the original document, someone could view just my baptismal record and assume I’m Catholic.
After the DPC’s decision, I submitted a Data Access request to the Diocese of Ossory, because I wanted to know what they actually had containing my personal data. I got back a lot of stuff, including the letter that Dermot Farrell sent me back in 2018, communications between the DPC and the Diocese of Ossory and a supplementary file which documented my request to no longer be considered Catholic.
To say I was underwhelmed.
The Diocese of Ossory’s supplmentary record of people who no longer consider themselves Catholic. Redacted to protect private information. My name is misspelled
But this was the only record provided which stated I am no longer Catholic and was not in line with the process the DPC had outlined in its ruling.
The DPC stated that the original baptismal document could have been annotated, which was a suggestion from the Archbishop of Dublin himself. This was not done and only uncovered by myself after requesting my data through a Data Access request.
The actual baptismal record the Diocese of Ossory keeps in relation to my Baptism. Redacted to protect private information.
Seeing this original document updated was a great moment for me. It gave me the satisfaction that I had reached a point I was happy enough with. It answered that earlier question of “what is leaving the Catholic Church”, because this was enough for me.
But a really important point here is that if you want to do the same as I do, you should first request it be actioned, and then follow up with a Data Access request to ensure it has been actioned appropriately.
Is This The End?
Six years on from when I started this journey, it’s at an end. Or at least it’s at an end for now.
GDPR hasn’t gone through any major changes since 2018, but the understanding of the law and how it’s applied is constantly evolving. The interpretation of “legitimate interest” could change or GDPR could be completely overhauled at some stage in the future, opening the door to a new complaint.
Could I have achieved what I achieved with my baptismal records without GDPR? Possibly, yes. But I believe the pressure of having the DPC looking into things likely made the Church act upon updating documents. The Archbishop of Dublin likely offered up adding comments to baptismal records to show cooperation and provide an easy option for the DPC to find satisfactory, while the Church got to retain its records.
But for now, the DPC has decided that the Church can retain my data based on “legitimate interests” outlined in GDPR. Do I agree with this? No. I absolutely don’t. There were avenues to take this back into a new legal process, but I decided it was time to call it a day, at least for now unless some new precedence emerges that gives my complaint new life.
But, what I’ve learned over these six years is that whatever the Church wants to believe or document about me, doesn’t really matter, at least not to me. I was challenging a document that I believed was incorrect. I accept it’s a factually correct document in terms of stating I was in a church getting my head wet one day, but utterly disagree with anything that suggests I’m at all Catholic.
I’m not. And I’m not because I say I’m not. The Church has absolutely not right, legal or moral, to tell anyone what to do or what to believe. I respect if you’re opting into that of free will and find it pretty poor form they don’t show the same respect for letting people back out again. But that’s their problem not mine.
I’m happy to know that if my grandchildren ever stumble upon my baptismal records (I’ve no idea how that might happen), they will clearly show that I am not Catholic, and that’s what I set out to achieve (in a roundabout way).
If you were baptised and no longer consider yourself Catholic, I do recommend doing this.
Email your local dioceses and request they amend your records
I also recommend not baptising out of habit. The term I coined at the start of this was “passive Catholicism”. The Catholic Church does do good. I would never deny that. But I couldn’t remain a member of any organisation riddled with child abuse, coverups and utter hypocrisy. If I ever have kids, they won’t be baptised nor will they be attending any school overseen by the Church.
What Does the DPC Do?
One final note I have to add is the Data Protection Commission’s mission being unclear to me.
It’s difficult to not draw conclusions from the DPC kicking into action after a legal challenge was made in the High Court. In the aftermath of the DPC’s decision and finding that the Diocese of Ossory had not updated the original document outlined in the final decision, I asked the DPC if this should be highlighted to ensure all similar requests are handled properly.
The response from the DPC, honestly, left my jaw on the ground.
The DPC stated, “as an independent Office, it is not within the remit of the Data Protection Commission to examine an organisation’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with data protection laws”.
This was greeted with an audible “huh?” from me.
My understanding here is that the DPC doesn’t look at how organisations are handling data prior to the large scale investigation as that might compromise the DPC in such an investigation.
To me, it’s a missed opportunity to truly support the spirit of data protection and focus on prevention rather than penalising. Given the rather large fines the DPC has issued to tech companies in recent times, the incentive really isn’t to shift towards protecting data. Instead, it’s to punish poor data protection.
Thank You
Yep. That’s it. For now, at least. I want to thank everyone who’s been involved in this. From the support my my other half, family, friends, my legal team (love saying that) and the massive number of people who’ve dropped into my DMs and inbox asking for updates and how they can follow suit. I’m glad that this story has given you the blueprint for the paperwork side of disassocation with the Church.
A couple of years ago, when KBC closed, I lost my primary bank for daily banking. I made the call to move everything to Revolut. That meant salary going into Revolut. People were shocked every time I mentioned this because traditional banks were for salary, neo-banks, like Revolut, were for splitting bills. So I did a double take recently when a friend of mine said they too were getting salary into Revolut.
Revolut has grown, and is growing, massively in Ireland as people seek better digital banking experiences. Today, Revolut announced that they have reached 3 million customers in Ireland, adding to the neo-banks 50 million customers worldwide.
Revolut’s Growth
Revolut entered the Irish market in 2018 and by 2020 had 1.2 million customers. The appear of Revolut, in the early days, was splitting bills. You could go to dinner with friends, have one friend pay, and they sort it out later. I remember in the early days of Revolut, there would nearly always be one friend who didn’t have it while everyone else at the table nodded to “will I send you a split on Revolut”.
You could be sure that one person would be a Revolut customer the next time that question was asked.
This led to Revolut expanding their customer base to 2 million by 2022.
Revolut’s own data showing the neo-banks growth to 3 million since 2018
The Irish banking landscape lent itself to Revolut’s growing appeal over the years. Traditional banks were built on crumbling infrastructure and struggled to make even the most simple updates or innovations like mobile payments with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Revolut had digital in its DNA and was making short work of catching the core offerings of traditional banks.
One of the biggest logistical obstacles that Revolut overcame was the move to Irish IBANs in 2023. This overcame many issues, not least of which was IBAN discrimination. Employers who previously wouldn’t pay into non-Irish IBANs, despite European law stating all EU-IBANs should be accepted, could now pay all staff salaries into Revolut.
With that, the path was paved for today’s announcement, that Revolut has over 3 million customers banking with them in Ireland.
Revolut’s Customers in Ireland
Revolut’s primary customer base in the 3 million adult customers it has banking with them. This is around three-quarters of all adults in Ireland. On top of this, the neo-bank also has nearly 430,000 young customers on Revolut <18, approximately one third of all children in Ireland.
In addition to private banking, Revolut offers Business solutions too. These include a wide range of services like payments in store and invoicing. Nearly 28,000 businesses in Ireland use Revolut for their banking, up 33% in 2024 from 2023.
The Future of Revolut
Today, Revolut offers a massive range of solutions in a user-friendly app making banking easy. I’m a massive believer in looking after your financial health and one massive part of that is actually wanting to open your banking app. Revolt has made monitoring finances, but also applying for financial products incredibly easy.
And this is where the future of Revolut lies, answering the biggest question being asked of the company to date. Can you get a mortgage with Revolut.
Revolut has just reorganised its leadership, including Maurice Murphy moving into a Head of Lending role focusing on the European (and Irish) lending. Murphy says Revolut “will continue to bring the very best lending products to the market. In addition, we’ll soon be adding to the solutions we offer for shorter-term borrowing needs, and of course keep working hard on our imminent entry into the Irish mortgage market”.
I know some of you will hate the idea of shopping with a massive retailer like Amazon, but let’s face it. There are times when you just need to shop on Amazon and this close to Christmas is absolutely one of them. So if this is you, you’re probably looking at Amazon.co.uk in disbelief right now as you see abnormally long delivery times, even for Prime customers. It appears to be a bug, but here’s what we know.
Update: This is likely not an Amazon-specific issue. Holyhead Port’s closure caused a massive backlog of packages.
Long Amazon Delivery Windows
Right now, I’m looking at a SwitchBot on Amazon.co.uk. I’d normally expect this to be delivered in 2 or 3 days. If I was to order it, Amazon is currently saying it wouldn’t be delivered until 28 December 2024.
Even looking at the likes of an Amazon Echo Pop, on my Amazon Prime account, and I’m getting the “arrives after Christmas warning”.
Yet, I’ve already ordered one or two items which have arrived well inside the initial delivery date. So what gives?
Well, there are potentially several things at play here.
Amazon Prime Promotion
Amazon could be giving priority to Amazon Prime customers. These are the customers paying a premium fee for access to extra services and faster delivery.
But I am a Prime customer and I’m still seeing unusually long delivery times for many items.
Post Black Friday Sales Hangover/Christmas Demand
Amazon has turned Black Friday into a week-long sales event. It’s extremely possible that the Amazon delivery network is completely overwhelmed. Just the other day a delivery driver passed me training a new driver. I’ve never seen this before. While incredibly anecdotal, I could imagine that a shortage of drivers at Christmas combined with extremely high order volumes has left the Amazon delivery network choked.
It’s not unusual to see Amazon delivery times extended around Christmas. But it is unusual to see delivery dates fluctuating wildly. I’ve just ordered something that wasn’t coming for two weeks because I’ve suddenly got next day delivery. After I ordered it, the same item jumped to being delivered next week.
We are also getting dangerously close to Christmas. So while the 10th of December might seem early, it’s not unusual for ecommerce sites to start cutting off orders in the next few days.
Confused Delivery Algorithms
It’s almost certain that this is some sort of “bug” in how Amazon estimates delivery times. Because Amazon Ireland hasn’t launched yet, we piggyback on Amazon UK. All of their delivery time calculations likely aren’t optimised for cross-channel deliveries.
The result? After a busy shopping period and heading into even more last minute Christmas shopping, the calculations have stopped adding up and have become incredibly conservative. Amazon claims to be massively customer-centric, so it would make sense if they are taking an approach of “under-promise, over-deliver”.
I’ve reached out to Amazon for comment and will update this article as soon as I hear back.
13/12/24: Updated article to include Holyhead Port closure information.
Generative AI is a powerful tool. Some will argue that AI is overblown and over-exaggerated. Indeed, I myself would often say that in some ways, even with that name “artificial intelligence” being a bit exaggerated. But then there are bits of “AI” that are truly incredible. You’ll see that we’re testing our own in-house tool to help with creating content these days, streamlining our processes, making our writers work smarter, not less.
At the core of much AI chatter is OpenAI’s Chat GPT, but now much talk is shifting to that same company’s latest venture; generative video and Sora.
What is Sora?
Sora is a generative video model developed by a OpenAI. The model is designed to generate high-quality videos from text prompts. Sora’s capabilities have been showcased in various demos, where it has produced impressive videos that rival those created by human videographers. Minds have been blown by what Sora has created.
None of what you see in the following video is real. It’s all made with Sora.
How does Sora work?
Sora uses a combination of natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision techniques to generate videos. When given a text prompt, Sora’s NLP component analyses the input and generates a sequence of frames that correspond to the desired video. The model then uses its computer vision component to render the frames into a cohesive video.
When you created a video with Sora, you are leaning on billions upon billions of frames that the tool has already processed to understand how they should be pieced together, pretty much the same with text generation works with OpenAI.
Ethical Questions Around Generative Video
Using an AI-generated figure like Sora blurs the line between genuine human creativity and corporate-designed content. Viewers may not be fully aware that Sora is a digital construct, raising questions about honesty and consumer trust. But also employment.
Another issue is what is Sora built on? Sora is built from a mix of many existing images, artworks, and stories, it’s hard to give credit to the people who created those original works. These human artists often don’t get recognised or paid for their contributions. This raises ethical and legal questions: How do we make sure the artists who inspired Sora’s look, style, and personality are treated fairly and acknowledged for their work? Without clear rules on attribution, there’s a risk that companies using AI will benefit from others’ creativity without giving anything back.
Is Sora Available?
Sora has launched, but to limited markets and to a limited number of people. This is very resource heavy and OpenAI have restricted access to the platform. It’s not even available in Ireland at the moment. However, I suspect a VPN will get around hat issue, but it won’t get you past the fact Sora is not letting people create new accounts.
Even if you are an existing Chat GPT paid subscriber, you’ll likely have to wait to play with Sora. Because too many others are trying to do the same thing.
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
After 17 years of anticipation, the wait is finally over. The trailer for 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated sequel to Danny Boyle’s 2002 horror classic 28 Days Later, has dropped. The movie, set to hit theatres on July 20, 2025, reunites Boyle with Academy Award-nominated writer Alex Garland, promising a terrifying new story that explores the world created by the original.
A Haunting Trailer that Sets the Tone
The trailer, which has already racked up millions of views, is a masterclass in building tension and suspense. Set to a haunting reading of Rudyard Kipling’s 1915 poem “Boots,” the trailer takes us on a journey into the dark heart of a post-apocalyptic world. The increasingly manic voice, which some thought was created specifically for the trailer, is actually taken straight from the original 1915 reading, adding to the sense of unease and foreboding.
A New Story, a New World
The movie takes place almost three decades after the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, unleashing a deadly pandemic that decimated humanity. The story follows a group of survivors living on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, they discover secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.
The immediate feel the trailer gave me is very much The Walking Dead. Perhaps the bearded lead looking like a bit like Rick did that though to be honest. But we are at the “next phase of life on earth” part after the virus from 28 Day Later spread. Now, living in gated communities, some seemingly with new faiths, the world has found a new way to live.
A Return to Form for the Franchise
Fans of the original will be thrilled to see the franchise return to its horror roots. While 28 Weeks Later, the 2007 sequel, received mixed reviews, 28 Years Later promises to deliver the same level of tension and suspense that made the first movie a classic. The trailer’s use of eerie landscapes, creepy sound design, and a sense of claustrophobia all hint at a movie that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
28 Year Later won’t be pulling punches either if the blood-splattered television with the Teletubbies on it is anything to go by. The trailer for 28 Years Later is a promising start to what looks set to be a thrilling new chapter in the franchise. With Boyle and Garland at the helm, fans can expect a movie that will deliver on its promise of terror, suspense, and emotional depth.
28 Years Later is in Cinemas from 20 July 2025.
28 Years Later Trailer
Is Cillian Murphy in 28 Years Later?
Cillian Murphy returns to the franchise as an executive producer with some reports stating that he would return as Jim. However, Murphy doesn’t appear in the trailer. At least, not as the Jim we know.
One zombie in the trailer (below) bears more than a passing resemblance to the Cork-native. While I find the ultimate demise of Jim to be sad, if not expected, this could also be a red herring. Right at the start of the trailer to get chatter going while it’s just “another zombie”.
Could this be Jim, after succumbing to the Rage Virus?
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
Bluesky has experienced the explosive growth that many of us hoped it would. There’s been a massive desire for a life raft for those mourning the loss of what Twitter was before Elon Musk took over. Perhaps even a little before too. When Musk announced his plans to monetise Twitter, I cringed a lot. Now that the same, and by that I mean monetisation, is happening with Bluesky, I don’t feel so concerned.
Here’s why.
Bluesky’s Early Monetisation Strategy
Before I continue, we need to remember that as much as Bluesky is a life raft, it’s a business. And it does need to make enough money to survive. But the hope is that now we’ve seen how not to run a social media platform, we can learn the best and most cost efficient way to do it.
On the Bluesky GitHub, which is a public view of things in the works for the platform, a mockup has appeared. Now, Bluesky has stated this could be a million miles from any reality if what’s coming, but it could also be a hint for what Bluesky’s monetisation plans are.
One of the most interesting features is a Bluesky+ profile badge. The company has mentioned that it is working on better ways of verifying profile ownership beyond domain verifications.
I highly doubt this is what the final verification process will look like given the more open nature of Bluesky. I’d be shocked if verification was pay to play, but again, we can’t confirm or rule it out from these screen shots.
Another screenshot on GitHub showed potential pricing, again to be taken with a pinch of salt given this was all placeholder possibly only added to confirm designs.
Bluesky software engineer Dan Abramov says “Some of these are likely to make it, but please don’t take this as an actual list of planned features”.
just flagging that this is a UI mockup and the list of features doesn’t necessarily match what will be released. we need to get better at avoiding setting expectations via mockups since it’s open source so people poke at every branch
In a post on Bluesky Abramov added that “we need to get better at avoiding setting expectation
Sentiment the Difference
For me, what I find fascinating is how differently I feel towards Bluesky monetising versus how I felt when Twitter/X did. There’s a feeling of backing the future with Bluesky and a feeling that their pricing is fair. The hope is that models like this preseve the ad-free experience.
Here’s hoping that the outcome of Bluesky’s monetisation is sensible and user-friendly.
A couple of years ago I bought my first SwitchBot, a small button-pressing robot that I can control from anywhere in the world. I bought it to do one job, a job it turned out it couldn’t do. Now, I have 3 SwitchBots in my home doing daily tasks that make little aspects of my life, much easier.
I’m often asked, of all the gadgets I have at home, which would I recommend. So let me introduce you to the answer; SwitchBot and the three ways I’m using it in my home (including the one way I’m not, unfortunately).
What is SwitchBot?
SwitchBot is a Japanese company which gained momentum in 2016 as a Kickstarter campaign. The sole product of the company at that time was the SwitchBot bot itself. The SwitchBot bot is a small box which you can remotely control from anywhere in the world, once you have the SwitchBot Hub.
I often refer to my SwitchBot bot as a “little pokey bot” because effectively, that’s all it does. You give the command and your little robot bots it’s finger out and pops it back in.
Once I show you how I’ve used it, that will all make a lot more sense.
Why Buy a SwitchBot?
Funnily enough, the reason I bought a SwitchBot didn’t work, but I’ve since found loads of uses for it. Except for growing up in my parent’s home, I’ve lived in rental accommodation all my life. That gives me, a confessed gadget nerd, a challenge. I’ve got to retrofit and hack tech into my life that can be easily removed, leaving no trace. SwitchBot is incredible in this space.
One problem I wanted to overcome was heating. It costs a fortune when it’s on and it’s cold if it comes on too late. Old thermostats are useless at solving this problem and I couldn’t get a smart one fitted, nor did I think it would solve my problem.
So I bought my “little pokey bot” to flick on and off the switch on the wall of my heater. The only problem was that heaters use stiffer switches which the SwitchBot just wasn’t able to move. Heater switches it turns out are tougher to shift.
I’m left with a smart SwitchBot bot but nothing to do. So I started getting hacky.
3 Ways I Used SwitchBot to Make My Home Smarter
With the way I don’t use my SwitchBot out of the way, here are 3 ways I do use my SwitchBot, and absolutely love it.
Smart Controller for Immersion Boost
Ah, the immersion. Our most feared of all foes. Now, from the get-go, I have to clarify here that immersion wall switches are often as stiff as heaters. I’m using my SwitchBot bot on the heating control panel unit.
The layout of my home is a bit odd and my heating panel is miles away along with being hard to reach. Plus, it’s old enough so there is no smart integration, say if I want to have the water boosted in the evening while I’m out and about.
To overcome this, I fitted a SwitchBot to the control panel, just over the boost button. One press will boost my water for 30 minutes. If I press again, it will boost for 60 minutes. Once more will cancel the boost.
The SwitchBot app also lets me set up extra “scenes” so I can have a single tap on my phone turn into two SwitchBot switch presses.
Here it is in action.
My SwitchBot controlling the water boost
Through the SwitchBot app you can also automate how the bot operates. For example, I can have this boost the water every day at 6pm, or just 6pm on Wednesdays because I play football and need a later shower. Of course, you can just jump on your phone and heat the water when your in the dressing room too.
Remote controlling from outside the home will need a SwitchBot Hub – more on that later. Now, onto the second way I’m using SwitchBot in my home.
Making an Old Apartment Intercom Smart
This one I was super proud of. Year ago I had the Nello. This was a somewhat universal, if not a little buggy, black box that plugged into your intercom to make it smart. It kind of sort of worked, sometimes but I loved the idea and was chasing another solution since the company, unfortunately, went under.
In steps SwitchBot.
SwitchBot makes my existing apartment intercom smart
As you can see, I’ve jerry-rigged a SwitchBot onto my intercom. The top of a pen is keeping the button pressed in that would normally be pressed down by a received “on the hook”. This ensures people outside can’t hear in, and I don’t hear noise from the street.
The button this SwitchBot bot presses is for the front door of my apartment block. This is extremely cool for a couple of reasons.
First, for myself, if I’ve come home from a day at work or from doing my shopping, with hands full of stuff and keys buried in a bag, all I need is to tap a button on my phone. I’ve combined SwitchBot, IFTTT and Apple Shortcuts for the ideal solution, though you really just need the SwitchBot app.
My solution means I have a shortcut on my phone which asks me if I’m sure I want to unlock the apartment block, avoiding accidental unlocks.
The shortcuts I have include the Open Apartment Block shortcut with accidental unlock avoidance.
Second of all, it’s really handy for deliveries. If I’m on the way home, five minutes away, and get a call that there is a delivery driver at the door, I can buzz him in and say “leave the package at my door”. Obviously, I’d only do this if I was nearly home and knew the package was safe. Your mileage may vary with this based on your apartment block’s layout and how much you trust your neighbours (I’m lucky in this sense).
While I’m showing you this second, this is probably my favourite use for my SwitchBot. It overcomes a lot of problems, more than you might think until you have it solved and adds massive convenience.
I also have a SwitchBot Pro lock which is fitted to my apartment door. While I always carry keys, because not doing so is just too risky, I theoretically have full keyless entry to my apartment with all of this technology combined. SwitchBot bot for getting in to the apartment block and fingerprint or code access at my apartment door with SwitchBot Pro lock.
Now, for the final SwitchBot bot in my home.
Powering On My PC Remotely From Anywhere in the World
You might read this solution and think to yourself “who would ever need this”. Well, the answer is me. I travel quite a bit and also work remotely a lot. My home PC, which I’ve lovingly named PinkyBoi, is my base for work, coding, reading, researching, writing and gaming. So it has a lot of stuff I love installed on it.
I’ve started dabbling with remote gaming with Moonlight, which lets me stream my PC game library to my iPad wherever I am in the world. I also have a lot of media that I’ve ripped from my own sources over the years. This could be TV shows or box sets that I’ve gathered and digitised. With Plex, I can stream these from my PC to my mobile devices anywhere in the world. Yes, it’s just like having your own personalised Netflix service.
Unlike GeForce Now for game steaming or Netflix for media, I’m responsible for making sure the system is switched on when I need it. If PinkyBoi is turned off, well then I simply can’t stream any of my media.
And this is where my SwitchBot bot comes in beautifully. There are other solutions that achieve what I achieved, best known perhaps is a “Wake on Lan” solution, but I found these to be massively unreliable. With SwitchBot I can physically press the power button my PinkyBoi from anywhere in the world. Combined with Team Viewer, I can remotely control the entire machine from anywhere too, ensuring the complete remote access to my home terminal.
Remote power control over my home gaming PC
And yes, the eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that I have a shortcut on my phone for PinkyBoi too. This shortcut activates the PC and sets the LIFX Beam lights I have to gaming mode too. Just for the craic.
I’ve configured the SwitchBot to long press on the PC power button. This turns it on like normal, but if I press it again, it’ll shut everything down in that “nothing else works, hold down the power button” way.
With all of this excellent (if not slightly extravagant) usage of SwitchBot bots around the home, I’m sure you’ve been left ready to buy. Well, here are a few more tips to get even more out of your SwitchBots.
Yes, the SwitchBot Hub Worth Buying
In fact, I’d say the SwitchBot bots are nowhere near as awesome without buying the SwitchBot Hub. Treat yourself! Without the Hub, you won’t be able to connect to your bots away from the home. This is crucial for nearly all of the use cases that I have. In fact, to ensure full coverage, I have two SwitchBot Hubs in my apartment owning to the weird layout to make sure I have enough coverage for everything to work flawlessly.
SwitchBot Remote is Also Great
One thing I’ve recently added to my setup is the SwitchBot Remote; a Black Friday addition to my smart home. As the name suggests, this is a remote that connects to everything locally using Bluetooth.
My SwitchBot Remote in it’s cradle
This comes with a handy cradle to mount it on the wall, but the remote is free for you to take with you anywhere in the home – if that’s what you need. I don’t, so it pretty much stays there.
The top button, boosts my water once. It’s handy for that simple task and extremely reliable. I do have voice commands to “boost the water” using Google Assistant, but I’ve found it hit and miss. The SwitchBot Remote, never misses.
The bottom button is setup to unlock the apartment block. When I’m upstairs, this means I can immediately let delivery drivers in. In Dublin, while determined, they are super impatient and will drive away at 8am while I’m still putting my pants on. Being able to let them in quickly is the difference between getting a package delivered on the spot and spending an hour travelling to the depot to get my package.
If in Doubt, Get One
What I’ve learned from having my SwitchBots is that they solve problems in the moment of need. What I mean by that is that you’ll be sitting there wondering “how the hell am I supposed to do this when I’m not here” and boom! The SwitchBot is the solution. By having one at home, you can play around with a few different ideas and make your SwitchBot work for you.
I’d love to play with the idea of having a SwitchBot on my coffee machine, ready to pour coffee in the morning. It could be cheaper than smart bulbs where you have multiple ceiling lights controlled off a single switch. Important to remember than SwitchBot bots can turn most switches both on and off.
It’s also nice to know that you are buying into an ever-growing ecosystem of smart home technology. I now use SwitchBot bots, the SwitchBot Pro Lock, SwitchBot Remote, SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card and am hoping to expand to some other devices in the future. The SwitchBot Hub also has an infrared beamer in it for controlling devices like your TV at home.
It’s a clever ecosystem and one I’m thoroughly enjoying playing with.
Apple is stepping up its game—literally—with plans to make the Vision Pro headset more appealing to gamers. It appears that Apple to soon introduce support for third-party hand controllers, namely Sony’s PlayStation VR2 controllers, through a VisionOS update. This could be a game-changer for both gamers and developers.
A Potential Partnership with Sony
Apple is reportedly collaborating with Sony to make the PlayStation VR2 hand controllers compatible with the Vision Pro. While the partnership has been in the works for months, an official announcement has yet to happen. One possible reason for the delay? PlayStation VR2 controllers aren’t currently sold as standalone accessories.
For this partnership to work, Sony would need to tweak its controllers so they can function independently of the PlayStation VR2 system. If everything falls into place, the controllers will reportedly be sold through Apple’s retail channels, giving Vision Pro users a powerful gaming accessory.
This is good news for all 5 of Apple Vision Pro owners, but even better news for PSVR2 owners who have faulty of broken controllers and no way to replace them.
While gaming is a clear focus, Apple’s ambitions for the Vision Pro extend far beyond. Reports suggest that the PlayStation VR2 controllers could also be used to navigate the VisionOS interface. This opens the door to new possibilities for productivity tools and entertainment apps, potentially transforming the Vision Pro into a more versatile device.
However, Apple has an uphill battle. In June, Apple had yet to sell 100,000 units, so the Vision Pro hasn’t met sales expectations. Natural concerns such as the $3,500 price tag added to limited battery life, and front-heavy design. and of course a lack of peripherals for gaming.
A Boost for Gamers and Developers
By enhancing the Vision Pro’s gaming capabilities, Apple hopes to reignite interest in the headset and pave the way for a new headset in 2025 at a lower price point.
If the Sony partnership comes to fruition, gamers could look forward to using premium controllers designed for immersive experiences. Developers, in turn, would gain new tools to create captivating content, potentially turning the Vision Pro into a must-have device for gaming enthusiasts.
The elephant in the room for me is what does this mean for PlayStation 5 compatibility? Once Sony launched PC support for the PSVR2, I felt they were effectively stepping away from VR as a core strategy for themselves. Perhaps towards someone else making the headsets. Perhaps Apple? It’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility in a world that sees Microsoft moving away from consoles too.
YesMadam, a startup that became famous in India after being featured on the country’s edition of Shark Tank (like Dragon’s Den), has gone viral today after a leaked screenshot, reportedly of a company email. The supposed leaked email outlines that employees experiencing “significant stress”, would be leaving the company.
What is YesMadam?
Yes Madam is an Indian company that provides at-home salon and personal care services, including waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures, and spa treatments, delivered by trained professionals. Founded in 2016 by brothers Aditya and Mayank Arya, along with Akanksha Vishnoi, the company aims to offer convenient and affordable beauty services directly to customers’ homes.
The company featured on Shark Tank India earlier this year, expanding services across multiple cities in India, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
YesMadam’s Stress Survey
Employee burnout is a significant concern in India, with up to 59% of the nation’s work force experiencing it. It wouldn’t have been a massive surprise to see a company take an interest in how staff are doing with a survey. This is what YesMadam did, according to the supposed leaked email, from the company’s Human Resources Manager, surfacing on the internet today.
Shared by an Associate Director at IndiGo, Shitiz Dogra, the leaked screenshot states, “recently, we conducted a survey to understand your feelings about stress at work. Many of you shared your concerns, which we deeply value and respect”.
From here the email takes a most unusual twist.
The message continues to say “to ensure that no one remains stressed at work, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress” and that YesMadam is “committed to fostering a healthy and supportive work environment”.
The affected staff would then be contacted directly but action would be taken immediately.
Goosed.ie has reached out to YesMadam to verify the email is real and whether this is an operational error, and if not, what is the rational behind the move.
