Search here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 93

Brexit: Irish Passports And A Surge In Searches From People In The UK

Marty
-
0
Brexit: Irish Passports And A Surge In Searches From People In The UK

If you ever want to check the date of the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote, I have a novel, if not slightly long-winded, way to check. Open Google Trends, type in “Irish passport”, change region to the United Kingdom and expand the date range to five years. Here’s what you get:

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”irish passport”,”geo”:”GB”,”time”:”2014-01-08 2019-09-01″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2014-01-08%202019-09-01&geo=GB&q=irish%20passport”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”});

See that massive spike in June 2016. That’s the time of the Brexit vote. The day when the UK voted to leave the EU and millions of Britons turned to Google to find out how could they get their hands on an Irish passport.

Google Trends offers a unique insight into the mindset of a nation. When Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, the exact same thing happened where people started to seek out their options towards making their second nationality a bit more formal.

First up is a crash course in how to read Google Trends data. For popular search terms, you’ll see a date which reaches 100 on the Trends chart. This is the peak of that search terms popularity. Elsewhere, where you might see the same search term was 50 on another day. This means, on that second day, that search term was 50% less popular than the first.

Google Trends isn’t showing you search volume. It’s showing you search popularity and over time, search prevalence.

Northern Ireland Shows Biggest Leap In Google Searches

Rather unsurprisingly, Northern Ireland has shown the greatest leap in interest for Irish passports.

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”irish passport”,”geo”:”GB-NIR”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2004-01-08%202019-09-01&geo=GB-NIR&q=irish%20passport”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”}); It would also appear that slightly more people are seeking out an Irish passport for the first time. This becomes apparent if we compare application and renewal searches.

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”irish passport application”,”geo”:”GB-NIR”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″},{“keyword”:”irish passport renewal”,”geo”:”GB-NIR”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2004-01-08%202019-09-01&geo=GB-NIR&q=irish%20passport%20application,irish%20passport%20renewal”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”});

Manchester And Liverpool Lead Searches In England

It’s hardly a massive surprise that when we shift focus towards England, both Manchester and Liverpool lead the searches for Irish passport information.

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“GEO_MAP”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”irish passport”,”geo”:”GB-ENG”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2004-01-08%202019-09-01&geo=GB-ENG&q=irish%20passport”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”});

When we run the same applying versus renewing comparison that we did for Northern Ireland, we see similar results. However, as you might expect, there’s less interest in renewals in comparison to first-time applications.

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”irish passport application”,”geo”:”GB-ENG”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″},{“keyword”:”irish passport renewal”,”geo”:”GB-ENG”,”time”:”2004-01-08 2019-09-01″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2004-01-08%202019-09-01&geo=GB-ENG&q=irish%20passport%20application,irish%20passport%20renewal”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”});

I’ve adopted a saying I heard years ago. You’ll tell Google things you wouldn’t tell your friends and family. I’m sure there’s plenty of people in these searches discreetly applying for their Irish passports while supporting Britains exit from the EU.

The long term consequences of a no-deal Brexit will far surpass a potential difficulty in ordering from Amazon UK here in Ireland. As Google searches are showing us, people are concerned to the point where they’re finally taking the plunge and getting themselves an Irish passport. Can we really complain though? We’ve been taking footballers from England and the rest of the UK on the granny rule for years. the granny rule

 

IFA Berlin 2019 Preview: What To Expect From Europe’s Biggest Tech Show

Marty
-
0
IFA Berlin 2019 Preview: What To Expect From Europe’s Biggest Tech Show

I’m gearing up for my second trip to IFA Berlin to check out the latest consumer electronics, gadgets and innovations getting ready to hit the market. If you could cast your mind back to the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, well I’m Charlie and Messe Berlin becomes the Chocolate Factory. Whether you’re prepping for a trip to Berlin yourself or are just interested in what I’ll be checking out, here’s everything you need to know about IFA Berlin.

What Does IFA Stand For?

In the run-up to IFA, there’s an exchange that happens over and over again.

Me: “I’m off to IFA next week”.

Friend: “What, like the Ploughing Championships?”

Never even dawned on me, but I can assure you, the IFA I’m going to has got nothing to do with the Irish Farmer’s Association.

Instead, IFA is pronounced like the name ‘Aoife’. As the event takes place in Germany, you might have guessed that the name is also German. What you might not have guessed is that the name dates back to a time when radio was the emerging technology. IFA stands for  Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin, which translates to the International radio exhibition Berlin. It’s also, affectionately known as the Berlin Radio Show.

What’s On Show at IFA 2019?

While some of the heaviest hitters in tech will be on hand in Berlin. You can expect to see innovations from Sony, Google, LG, DJI and Amazon to name but a few. I couldn’t possibly name all the brands on show because IFA feels like two Aviva Stadiums stacked on top of each other and packed with both gadgets and nerds.

Last year was my first IFA and I did expect all of the above, but I was bowled over with the number of home appliances on show too. You see, IFA is one of the world’s leading trade shows. That means there’s also quite a lot of the non-sexy consumer tech stuff on the floor. Washing machines, humidifiers fridges and vacuums also add to the wide variety of items that will line the halls I’m walking next week.

5G Technology

Now that we’re all happy and convinced that 5G isn’t dangerous how are we going to use it? This will be the first IFA since 5G has really taken off. I’m sure there’s going to be lots of 5G powered gadgets on show this year in Berlin and I’ll be hunting them down to get hands on with 5G tech for the first time.

Last year I skimmed over some of the lesser known phone brands, but this year I’m going to give them a lot more attention.

Electric Scooters And PEVs

Electric scooters have just been given the green light in Germany. As a result, it looks like there’ll be even more personal electric vehicles appearing at IFA 2019. Single wheel electric unicycles, scooters, bikes and even electric go karts will be on my list of must sees in Berlin next week.

An Actual Cool Air Purifier Drone

I couldn’t get over the sheer number of air purifiers at IFA last year. Looking at the product list again this year, there’ll be no danger of dirty air again in the exhibition. The difference this year is that one of them is bloody cool.

The Flying Magic Cleaner is an air purifying drone. It flies around your home cleaning the air. I’m slowly getting more and more worried about the amount of dust that appears in my apartment, even more so, the thought of how much is entering my lungs. This is something I’ll definitely be checking out. Imagine this flying around while my Eufy smart vacuum is cleaning the floor.

Smart Locks And Home Security

Last year I saw the tip of the iceberg when it came to home security. This year, there’s going to be a lot more of this at IFA. I’ve spotted countless wireless home security cameras along with a digital replacement for front door peepholes and smart locks from companies like Yale.

It’ll be interesting to see what reps on the floor have to say about this kind of technology with companies like Amazon’s Ring currently coming under fire.

Personal Cloud Solutions

Now, this is something that I could see becoming the new normal in a world where trust in tech companies is at an all-time low. Western Digital, or WD, are best known for their portable hard drives. At IFA they’ll be showing off their personal cloud solutions. Instead of uploading all your files to Apple’s iCloud or Google’s Drive, you setup a network drive at home, connect it to the WiFi and then access it from anywhere else in the world.

I really love this idea and can’t wait to look into it a little further.

Anker

Last year was when I met Anker and started reviewing their products on a regular basis. They’ve yet to let me down with all of their brands churning our quality products. I’ve been impressed by everything from the Liberty Air earpods to the Eufy smart vacuum. I’m looking forward to popping over to the Anker stand again this year and seeing what new toys they have on show.

Huawei

Just before I fly out on Friday, I’ll be heading over to the Huawei press conference at IFA. There’s been a lot of talk about the Mate 30 launch and how Google won’t support. However, at last year’s event, we got to see the latest Kirin processor and Huawei will launch the Kirin 990 processor at IFA this year. 

Huawei will have one of the biggest stands at the event, showing off a wide range of their smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables and non-cellular gadgets. I’ll be spending a bit of time over there for sure to see what they have on show.

Sony

Sony is one of the heaviest hitters at IFA every year. It’ll be interesting to see if they release and update to their WH-1000XM3 over ear headphones or maybe release a new smartphone. Sony views IFA as a big conference and usually drops something big at it, so watch this space.

Wine Gadgets

I recently revealed that I’ve turned into a bit of a wine snob thanks to the Vivino app. Technology can turn us all into wine experts so let’s lean into it. At IFA I’ve spotted at least two gadgets that’ll help you get the most out of your wine tasting experiences. One of them is the Vinaera Pro, an electric wine aerator that gives the wine the same flavour as letting it air for 45 minutes.

Next up is the MyOeno. We actually met these guys at Dublin Tech Summit a few years ago and I’m looking forward to seeing how far they’ve come. They’ll be in the IFA Next area, one of the most exciting areas for all of IFA.

Headphones, Earphones And More

I was looking through all the personal audio accessories and thought things were looking a little samey. Then I came across AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. These are a great concept for many scenarios. As the headphones lets you enjoy audio while also letting you hear your surroundings, they’re perfect for people running or commuting by bike or scooter.

Cosmo

Speaking of scooter safety, Cosmo will also be at IFA Next. These guys are creating some great cycling and scooter safety products. Things like smart indicators for your helmet which can also detect accidents and contact your loved ones to come get help. Cool idea right?

The most important thing to note is that from all these things, the real secrets of IFA 2019 won’t be revealed until I walk the floors of Messe Berlin. Follow me on Twitter along with the Goosed account on Twitter for all the latest news straight outta Berlin.

“Sorry Me Hole” Is Trending After Man Dumps Matress In Boghole

Marty
-
0
“Sorry Me Hole” Is Trending After Man Dumps Matress In Boghole

I’m not going to lie. I thoroughly enjoyed typing that title. It’s one of those incredibly Irish moments, isn’t it? One of those moments where you forget about Brexit. You forget about Trump, and you just sit back and appreciate the fact we’re living on a wee island that can avoid all the shite. We come from the land that churns out poets like Yeats, Heaney, Beckett, Boland and Montague. Now we can add red van man to the list.

She’s right you know. We’re a great wee country.

This is the story of a man driving a “one five two” and another man driving a red van. Mr. One-Five-Two from Ballinagar Offaly, decided to drive out the road and dump a matress in a bog hole. Unfortunately for him, a man driving a red van spotted him and was having absolutely none of it.

The red van guy recorded his put down of Mr. One-Five-Two and it’s absolutely glorious. The full, uncensored, video has appeared on Twitter. Now, if you’re sensitive to bad language, someone being caught rotten and, I better mention, the dropping of “c-bombs”, this isn’t the video for you.

For some, this video is important because it’ll shift some merchandise. Hairy Baby t-shirts certainly didn’t miss a trick.

For me, it’s the fact stereotypes are being smashed makes this bigger. It’s the culchie with a van berating a softspoken gentle-looking man about the environment. The result is a video which is hilarious but also raising awareness about how we are all responsible for looking after our planet.

What Is Flytipping?

Today, I live in Dublin but I’m from a small parish called Clara. Not the one that’s a twenty-minute drive from Mr One-Five-Two in Offaly, but instead the one in Kilkenny. I like to go for a walk when I’m home and there’s often trash being thrown in dykes and ditches. It’s shocking that so many people think it’s acceptable to put down their window and throw out their bag of McDonalds or similar.

This is called flytipping and it’s a very serious problem in rural Ireland. In recent years, there have been more and more recycling centers opening with very fair prices to get rid of things like matresses. Still, people thing it’s better to dump their garbage out the countryside. Videos like this can unite the country in understanding this simply isn’t acceptable.

Now, to end on a lighter note, one of my favourite bits is where the guy in the red van puts down the dumper by saying “driving around in your 152”. Is that not just the most Irish way to call someone out? The year of their car. Brilliant.

Twitter Account Of Jack Dorsey, Twitter CEO and Co-founder, Hacked

Marty
-
0
Twitter Account Of Jack Dorsey, Twitter CEO and Co-founder, Hacked

If Jack’s account isn’t safe, well then, just who’s account is? Twitter CEO and co-founder, Jack Dorsey had his account hacked today which led to a plethora of racists tweets from his account.

Jack Dorsey’s Account Tweeting Racist Stuff

Today at about 19.30 Irish time, Jack Dorsey’s Twitter account blew up into a barrage of racist tweets.

jack dorsey racist tweets

Some of the tweets mentioned another Twitter user’s account who claimed responsibility for the hack.

Less that two hours after the tweets were sent out, Twitter confirmed their CEO’s account was compromised from their comms account.

How Could The Twitter CEO Have His Account Hacked?

It’s difficult to understand just how his account would have been compromised. I would have imagined that the CEO of Twitter would have enough sense to enable two-factor authentication. That means, to gain access to the account, hackers would have needed Dorsey’s password and his mobile phone or at least a cloned version of his SIM.

Tech Crunch spotted that the rouge Tweets were sent from a service called Cloudhopper. This means it’s entirely possible that it was an approved third party app which was compromised and not the core account.

Anyway, it’s a fairly embarrassing thing to happen for a social media platforms CEO. We all know Facebook hasn’t covered itself in glory and Twitter themselves have been under the spotlight for their leniancy towards Donald Trump. Here’s hoping we get some more detail on what actually happened here and that Twitter locks things down.

Mate 30 Pro Might Launch Without Google Apps

Marty
-
0
Mate 30 Pro Might Launch Without Google Apps

Last year was the year of the Huawei. The P20 Pro landed into the Irish market followed by the Mate 20 Pro. While the former was brilliant the latter was sheer perfection. 2019 should have seen more of the same and everything seemed to be sticking to form with the sublime P30 Pro. Now, with the launch date of Huawei’s Mate 30 Series getting closer, a well-documented issue caused by President Trump and a frosty standoff with the Chinese government means Google is no longer permitted to do business with Huawei, causing serious launch issues for the new series.

The American Ban On Google Working With Huawei

As seems to now often be the case, it’s all largely been caused by Trump. I’ve written about this ban in-depth before and also covered the ban, as expected, being lifted at the time. Trump claims this is all about national security, but what really happened was a Chinese phone manufacturer got caught in the crossfire of a trade war. As a result of a trade ban, Google was no longer allowed to trade with Huawei. In short, it meant that Huawei devices would no longer receive security updates and Huawei phones would no longer ship with standard Google apps like the Play Store, YouTube and Gmail.

Things calmed down and the U.S. Commerce Department granted a ninety-day license was granted to Huawei and the P30 series started rolling off the production line again with all the goodness of Google including the latest version of Android.

What Does Google Not Supporting The P30 Series Mean?

While things blew over, problems remained around the license.

First of all, the initial ninety-day license extension granted to Huawei has expired. This isn’t a big problem as it has already been extended by a further ninety days.

The bigger problem is that the extension only includes existing Huawei devices. Huawei will continue to ship and sell the P30 series with all the bells and whistles, but the soon the launch Huawei Mate 30 Pro isn’t covered. Officially, that means if you are looking to buy one of the Mate 30 Series phones, it will ship with an open-source version of Android but none of Google’s official apps, including the Play Store, YouTube and Gmail.

Now, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll be able to sideload APK files onto the phone, and that’s well and good for customers comfortable doing that, however not everyone will be.

Will The Mate 30 Pro and Mate 30 Series Still Launch?

Huawei confirmed that regardless of whether or not the license they currently use is amended, they will push ahead with launching the Mate 30 Series.

When Does The Mate 30 Series Launch?

Huawei will be hosting a press conference at IFA 2019 in Berlin. I’ll be there lapping up the latest innovation Huawei has to offer. I’m afraid, you won’t get to learn anything about new smartphones on that day. Instead, like last year, Huawei will use IFA to launch their latest processor, the Kirin 990. This will be the processor which drives the Mate 30 Series, the series which will launch in Munich on 19 September.

Once again, I personally think this will blow over. It’s turning into a bit of a catchphrase when it comes to this whole situation, but I standby those words. I’d be surprised if the Mate 30 Pro doesn’t launch with full Google support and goes on to become the best phone of the year, much like its predecessor

Is 5G Dangerous? Google Searches Soar For New Mobile Network Dangers

Marty
-
0
Is 5G Dangerous? Google Searches Soar For New Mobile Network Dangers

5G is coming. Actually, the fifth generation of mobile internet is already here thanks to Vodafone. With 5G in Ireland, I’ve seen there’s a sharp increase in people searching Google with one simple question. Is 5G dangerous and does all this innovation come with unannounced health hazards?

Welcoming the New 5G Network

5G stands for the fifth-generation wireless network. We’ve gone through lots of change to our mobile networks over the past few years. The big benefit has been data speeds increasing while data costs are decreasing. Right up to 4G, all of these networks operated on the same radio frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. I’ve also written about everything you need to know about 5G, which you might find handy.

If you’ve ever been trying to use your phone in a crowded stadium or even on a DART platform during busy commuting hours, you’ll know the problems that come with networks running on these spectrums. Over time, these networks have become incredibly congested. For mobile providers, the solution is moving towards high-frequency spectrums. This is what drives 5G technology. Providers are moving towards new networks running on a built on frequencies of millimetre waves.

I really don’t want to get too bogged down in the science, but these new millimetre waves come with both pros and cons. While we’ll benefit from reduced congestion, this new 5G network produces a signal which is more easily absorbed by our physical world. By that, I mean buildings, trees, bushes and other infrastructure. All that means is that we need more or what we commonly refer to today as masts. The good news is that 5G masts are much smaller and require very little power so you’ll find them in odd and unusual places. At this year’s Dublin Tech Summit, I saw some tape created by Siemens which can actually carry signal like a mast. It’s mad stuff. Mad, but very cool, stuff.

However, all this talk of different frequencies and increased numbers of masts combined with our still incomplete knowledge of how mobile phone signals impact our health have, very naturally, led to people asking a simple, understandable question.

So, Is 5G Dangerous?

Do you remember the little stickers with lights we used to put on our mobile phones? They only worked on 2G handsets which would send bursts of energy to cell towers from your phone. I always felt uneasy knowing that a sticker with some lights could be powered by the energy generated during a phone call. “That can’t be good for human health”, I always thought to myself. Surely that’s electromagnetic radiation and it’s right beside my head!

Now, those little stickers don’t work any more because 3G and 4G networks don’t work the same way. But, considering how many of us have smartphones, I’d wager there’s a tiny percentage of us out there that actually know the fine details of how mobile networks work. So it’s no surprise that people are worried about the biological effects of this new technology and are now Googling if 5G is dangerous.

Much of the fear comes down to a single word; radiation.

The problem with radiation is that for years we’ve heard radiation comes with public health risks, including potentially causing brain tumours. It might be a stretch, but I’d even guess that the hit HBO show Chernobyl has but this front and centre of people’s minds. But I digress.

The important thing to know with radiation is that there isn’t just one type and most important when it comes to phones are both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a dangerous radiation. Falling into this category is UV light, the reason we wear sunscreen.

The radiation emitted by 5G is non-ionizing. These millimetre waves don’t have the power to damage our cells directly, much like they don’t have the power to penetrate buildings. For example, unassisted 5G signal won’t be great indoors but will be stronger outdoors.

Ultimately, a result of all of this, the incredible technological benefits of 5G will far outweigh what, to me, appear to be negligible risks.

Should You Be Worried About 5G?

Did you know that you’re supposed to wear sunscreen every day? Recently, I tested out a little gadget from La Roche Posay which showed me how much UV light I was being exposed to on a daily basis. I was shocked by the amount, quickly realising that the advice to wear sunscreen every day was far from fear-mongering. It’s extremely important.

Yet, some studies have shown that less than 20% of people wear sunscreen on a regular basis. People don’t care about this radiation despite how dangerous it is because it’s always been around.

People are far more concerned about 5G because it’s new. People are afraid of 5G for many of the same reasons we’re afraid of the dark. It’s the unknown. Yet, it poses a fraction of the risk that the sun does. If you want to worry about radiation exposure, start wearing more sunscreen and less tinfoil hat.

Vivino: Buy The Right Wine Every Time – Food Pairing Made Simple

Marty
-
0
Vivino: Buy The Right Wine Every Time – Food Pairing Made Simple

I’m a born again hipster. After years of fighting the urge to enjoy things like craft beers and avocado on everything, I realised it was the hipster life for me. I expanded my horizons and I tried new things. That led to lots of new foods and flavours I never enjoyed before. When I combined all of this with quitting smoking and the rebirth of my tastebuds, guys, I was in flavour country. I turned into the kind of guy who wanted to make sure when he cooked dinner, he was pairing the right wines with the right dishes. The problem was, I had no idea what I was doing.

So I did what I always did. I turned to technology to find a way of picking the right wine, every time. That’s when I found Vivino.

What is Vivino?

Vivino is basically Amazon for wine. It’s the biggest online marketplace for wine, but also boasts a mighty community of wine enthusiasts, a community with over 30 million users. From everyday grape drinkers to the finest sommeliers, Vivino’s community has them all. So what? Well, Vivino’s community means you can not only buy a huge range of wines online and get some help from people that know a lot more than you. You can also use the app to scan barcodes in the local off-license and get an expert opinion on the wine in front of you before you hand over your hard-earned cash.

How Does Vivino Work?

Over the past few years, Vivino and its app users have been rating and reviewing wines. Vivino also cleverly built an app which is not only insightful but incredibly user-friendly. If you want to pair wine with food, you’ve probably already thought about the simple choices. Having fish? Pick white wine. Having steak? Pick red wine. But food pairings can be much more complicated than that.

For example, would you put a sauvignon blanc with pork? Or should you pop a pinot grigio in the fridge to compliment your roast chicken? I’ve Googled it, and I don’t think either of those is supposed to work. Ultimately, I have no idea and that’s why I love Vivino.

So, when you’re in the off-license pondering foods and wines, ponder no more. Just crack open the Vivino app, and scan the label of the wine you’re looking at. The app will quickly be able to tell you the exact wine you’re looking at, before going into absolute overdrive on the information you’ll need to buy the right wine for dinner.

Buy The Right Wine Every Time

The principles behind Vivino are very simple. Every wine goes into a big database and then gets reviewed by a worldwide audience of wine fans with opinions. Because there’s a large number of aggregate reviews, you’re generally safe enough if you want to trust the public more than yourself. I know I do.

Buying the right wine every time is much easier when you use an app like Vivino because the sheer volume of information it gives you, but in a digestible manner, is incredible.

Review and Price

Once you scan the label, you’re first greeted with a star rating for your wine of choice and the average price you can expect to pay for it. Straight out of the gates, you’ll know if you’re buying quality or plonk and more importantly if you’re getting a deal or being robbed blind.

For me, this is the quick flash validation. I do rummage through the off-license for the right wine, but I don’t consume all the details. Instead, I’ll rapidly scan a few labels looking for a high-rating and price I’m happy with.

vivino wine rating

Further down the screen, you’ll also be able to read through individual reviews and, if you prefer, reviews of people you’ve friended within the Vivino community. You’ll also be able to see how the wine ranks globally.

Hint of Hipster

Scrolling down the screen, you’ll quickly start to see the information gets much more in-depth. You’ll get insights into the taste characteristics of the wine you’re looking at. Even if you’ve never taken part in a wine tasting in your life, you’ll be able to lean on the taste buds of people who do this week in and week out. The app also breaks down what people said about the wines.

Were they full-bodied wines? What was the sweetness of the wine? Which fruits, flavours and aromas were available. This is the real genius of the app if you’re a wannabe hipster like myself who likes to impress at the dinner table. You get a headstart and can call these features out yourself if you want to be that guy. I always want to be that guy.

wine characteristics vivino

A little further down, you’ll also see lots of facts and insights about the wine region your wine comes from. If all that’s not enough, beyond the styles of wine, you’ll even be able to see which grape varieties were used in the making of many wines. This type of granular detail won’t always be available, but when it is, you’ve got the ultimate collection of wine knowledge conversation fodder for the dinner table.

Food Pairings

We’ve arrived at one of the most important elements of the Vivino app. You’re serving up a cracking bit of steak, but the wine you’ve scanned is better matched with chicken. Move on and scan again. The app will tell you which foods are considered a good pairing with the wine you’ve scanned.

wine food pairings

Vivino: The Verdict

Vivino is one of those apps that’s been on my phone for years. I don’t pay for it, but there comes a moment or two every month, where my mind immediately turns to the app. I’ve often been seen scanning ten or more wine labels, looking for the best food pairing I can. People don’t always compliment the subtleties of my work, but I always notice how well everything compliments each other.

So if you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, download Vivino this weekend. It’ll empower you to enjoy food in a fun and effortless way and give you lots of stuff to impress your next set of dinner guests. Well, either impress or convince them you’ve now gone, full hipster. One or the other.

Vivino is a free app, available from both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Speck GrabTab: A Cheap & Cheerful PopSocket Alternative

Jon
-
0
Speck GrabTab: A Cheap & Cheerful PopSocket Alternative

There are a number of phone grip products in the world, PopSockets, iRings, Kickstands and many more. The reason is simple, phones are getting bigger, possibly too big for many of our hands and nowadays we watch more content on our pocket-sized devices than ever before. That’s why people want a better way to securely hold their phone or prop it up to watch a bit of Netflix. Until a phone manufacturer decides to incorporate a stand into their device we will continue to hunt for the best products on the market that will let you do just that. Recently we stumbled across a brand called Speck, they make cases and a few other phone accessories including their GrabTab a cheaper, flatter alternative to the PopSocket. If you like the idea of having a stand and convenient handle on your phone but don’t like the bulk and still want something flat enough to work wireless charging, then the GrabTab might be just what the doctor ordered.

What is a GrabTab

The Speck GrabTab is a new style phone holder that takes a different approach to a PopSocket. Unlike the pop-out mushroom handle or the iRing metallic flip-up ring, this is a credit card-sized sticker you attach to the back of your smartphone. On the sticker, there is a slide-up tab you slip your finger through.

There are two locking points on the tag, one to keep it open and the other to keep it closed, which you can see in the image here:

Image result for speck grabtab

As I said it’s a credit-card-sized sticker and about as thick as two credit cards stacked on top of each other and the back is a super sticky adhesive

Speck’s GrabTab is roughly the height and width of a credit card, and about as thick as three credit cards. A strong adhesive on the back allows it to stick in place, no matter the case.

The centre panel of the GrabTab slides up and locks gently into place. This creates a loop you can slide your finger into for a comfortable and secure way to hold onto your phone. It looks flimsy but the material is strong enough to use as a sturdy stand for viewing videos. Just push the loop down when not in use, and your phone will slide easily into your pocket or bag.

The Good Stuff

Image result for phone on face gif

Sometimes I like to lay in bed and watch something easy and sometimes I’ll be holding my phone above my head and splat, I’ve dropped in on my face, we’ve all done it lets be real here. Being the clumsy sort any help I can get to prevent myself dropping my phone is see as a win and to in fairness the GrabTab does just that.

It’s comfortable to hold and when you open the loop there’s a satisfying click that just lets you know your phone is secure. It’s the little things. The GrabTab is compact and when you aren’t using it doesn’t add much bulk to your phone and best of all, considering I’m also rocking the Speck Presidio Otterbox style case, I can still wirelessly charge my phone, something that’s not possible with most of the competitors on the market.

Also, they have some fairly funky designs, 90 in total which is cool because you can find something to suit your style and personality. Speck’s website has the entire collection divided up into categories: Fine Art, Fun with Food, Cosmic, Neon Nights, Basics, Chakras, Animal Kingdom, and Camo.

The Not So Good Stuff

It’s only a minor issue but with the GrabTab the wee tab doesn’t always return to a perfectly flat position. Minor but an annoyance if you’re an OCD head it may annoy you. Oddly enough if you normally keep your phone in your pocket the pressure alone seems to do that job for you but if you are the type to leave your smartphone on a desk or in a bag throughout the day it doesn’t seem to have the same flattening effect.

Sure it’s not a big deal really, it’s just something cosmetic rather than functional but I know that will bother some folks. My main issue is that it takes up real estate on the back of your phone than a PopSocket does. Being around the same size of a credit card sticker means it takes up a decent chunk of space, even if this is offset by the slim design. Now if they ever make a narrower model we are onto a real winner but to be fair for under a tenner these are really small issues to moan about.

Vs the PopSocket

The most obvious question people will ask is, “are these better than a PopSocket”. Well no but they aren’t worse either, it’s just a different solution to the same problem. If you want a holder that’s totally customisable (including sticking your face on it), your not too bothered about wireless charging and you just need something simple and effective then a PopSocket is going to do the job just fine.

Image result for popsocket

On the flip side, the GrabTab has 90 different colour and design options aren’t bulky, offers a more secure stand and still allows wireless charging. So for me it comes down to what you are looking for, realistically it’s just a stand for your phone but for me the PopSockets bulky nature meant I can’t put my Google Pixel 3Xl in and out of my pocket without looking like a gowl (a Limerickism for those of you from outside the Treaty County).

The Goosed Verdict

Despite the minor flaws, I really like this product. The 90 different colourful options ad a more personal touch to that black or white box we do be carrying around all day. The slide to open-loop locks into place to create a secure kickstand to watch content without holding your smartphone, perfect for those upcoming Disney + binges in the near future. Costing around 10quid the GrabTab is definitely a sleeker alternative for anyone who would prefer to live without the bulk of a PopSocket or the protruding ring of the iRing. If you don’t like it sure it’s only a tenner but for me, the fact it’s cheap and I can still wirelessly charge through it has me sold.

iMua: The JustEat of the Beauty Industry

Jon
-
0
iMua: The JustEat of the Beauty Industry

OK we’re all on Instagram here right? Well, then you know the beauty industry is absolutely rocking it right now. In Ireland we have some of the most talented Make-up Artists and Beauticians around the world..they do say Irish Women are the most beautiful in the world so it should come as no surprise. Here’s the thing how are they all looking to find business now? Instagram. imua is a new directory website launching at the end of September to help people all over Ireland find a hair or beauty service, course or event near them. Think of it like a JustEat but for the beauty industry!

JustEat of The Make-Up World

imua is very clever, we order takeaway from a JustEat, UberEats or Deliveroo, we all know the process. This Limerick-based company has basically taken this app and brought it to the beauty industry.

The way it works is that MUAs, Nail technicians, lash and brow technicians, hairdressers, aesthetic clinics and more can promote themselves on the platform. Both the Salon or Artist advertise their services and users can search imua to find services in their area.

“We just want to connect the beauty, make -up and hair industry and make it fairer and more visible for all. That way the incredible undiscovered talent in Ireland can finally get the publicity and recognition that they deserve” Brenny wood – CEO

It’s a cool concept and the fact it’s coming out of Limerick is an added bonus for me. You might recognise Brenny’s name there, we’ve written about a few of his ventures in recent years including CyberSmarties and Horsesales.ie. I want to be clear this isn’t a sponsored post, even if they have sponsored a couple of episodes of our new podcast in recent times. We just think it’s a really cool concept and they already have over 300 registered artists registered, even though they don’t launch until the end of September. For each of these businesses, a customer will be able to see the following:

  • Bio
  • Contact Details
  • Social Media Accounts
  • Latest Social Post
  • Images
  • Services
  • Pricing

Beyond just booking appointments and finding new artists in their area users will also be able to find classes or events being held by the salons, artists & influencers. imua screen all new publishers and events being published and they also manage the ticket sales.

It’s simple, it’s literally JustEat but for haircuts, eyelashes and nails.

Government Set To Begin Process To Legalise Electric Scooters in Ireland

Marty
-
0
Government Set To Begin Process To Legalise Electric Scooters in Ireland

If you follow me on Twitter, I don’t need to tell you that I’m a big advocate of electric scooters in Ireland. While they are a green mode of transport that can whizz by rush hour traffic in congested cities like Dublin, they do find themselves in a legal grey area. Today, The Irish Times published an article which finally provided some insight into a report carried out by the RSA on electric scooters on our roads. Early indications would appear to be positive.

I’ve been using an electric scooter myself since January; the Xiaomi m365. Unfortunately, electric scooters find themselves in a legal grey area. In fact, in recent months Gardai seems to be hardening their stance on these and have begun calling them out as being illegal on our roads, categorising them as mechanically propelled vehicles. The problem is that you cannot insure or tax a scooter and as such they are illegal on our roads.

I know they are hardening their stance, because I was pulled over myself. A member of Garda Traffic pulled me over and informed me my scooter was illegal and that he had been informed to seize them on sight. Because of the grey area this modes of transport find themselves in, I was let go on my way without an offical warning.

It would appear that the government is edging closer to making a decision on electric scooters on our roads, at least according to today’s article in The Irish Times.

The RSA Report on Electric Scooters

While details of the report have yet to be seen publically, it’s believed that the government-commissioned report will recommend that electric scooters be made legal on our roads. After reviewing how scooters have been handled in other countries, the report is also believed to have highlighted significant safety concerns with these devices too.

In The Irish Times article, a source with close knowledge of the report said the findings were incredibly favourable towards electric scooters being allowed on Irish roads. They also highlighted that the report found it would be crucial for strict conditions around licensing, speed restrictions and visibility.

The Next Steps for Electric Scooter Legalisation

So what happens next? The Minister for Transport is expected to announce a two-month public consultation process starting on September 1st, concluding on October 31st. I myself am hoping to participate in this process.

It’s expected that people from all walks of life will feed into this process, including the Gardai, who according to the Irish Times article, are not best pleased with scooters on our roads. Frankly, I’m not sure where this is coming from and I’m not entirely convinced that it’s the wider Gardai that are all that bothered. Instead, it could be some top brass in Traffic which specifically dislikes electric scooters. But I’ll caveat that as being speculation at best.

What I Hope To See From Scooter Legislation

There are several things I’m hoping to see emerge from scooter legislation that I plan to bring forward to the public consultation.

1. Wider Personal Electric Vehicles

One important thing that needs to be addressed is the fact there’s more than just scooters on our roads. Personal electric vehicles includes electric scooters, skateboards, unicycles, bikes and one-wheels to name but a few.

Each will need specific laws to be addressed around speeds etc.

2. Speed Limits

I’m very much in favour of speed limits for all erides. For electric scooters, my biggest fear is that a really low-speed limit will emerge. This isn’t because I’m a speed demon, but instead because I’m into safety. Driving 50kmph on the motorway is dangerous and similarly, being limited to a low speed can be dangerous when you run out of bike-lane.

For me, 30kmph is the sweet spot for scooters anyway. My reasoning behind that is very practical. I often travel comfortably at 25kmph – the limit of my Xiaomi m365. Some might want a little more, but at 25kmph I can travel at the speed of an average cyclist. I will highlight that I’m overtaken by cyclists more often than I overtake cyclists.

3. Sensible Visibility Rules

It’s all well and good saying we need visibility rules, but these are not clear cut. There’s no need to make hivis mandatory as many studies show these can have negative impacts on cyclists.

However, lights should be a legal requirement, both on front and back.

4. Location Location

Electric scooters must be allowed to use both roads and bicycle lanes. I’ve discussed this with many cyclists and it’s an extreme minority who say electric scooters in bike lanes bother them. The general consensus is, “I’d rather have you on a scooter than facing me in a car”.

5. Shared Scooter Rentals

I’m fairly against the idea of shared electric scooter schemes. These are services like Dublin Bikes and are run by companies like Lime with Free Now also considering an entrance into the space. For me, electric scooters should absolutely be encouraged for private ownership. It’s critical that legislators also cater to shared scooter schemes. If they fail to, Lime and Bird will drop hundreds of scooters on Dublin streets and ruin electric scooter sentiments for private owners.

6. Logical Licensing

I’m not entirely sure what is meant my licensing. Needing a drivers license would be absolutely ridiculous. Requiring to pay road tax, while also leaning towards silly, I can get over. However, this, for me, would start to open a debate around cyclists being needed to do the same.

This last point is critical for me. The reason behind that is simply that scooters should be considered closer to bikes than cars, and any legislation should reflect that.

Like I said, I’m hoping to be involved in the process of bringing electric scooters into law. Keep following the old Goosed.ie machine to see what happens next!

1...929394...187Page 93 of 187

About Goosed

Welcome to Goosed.ie! We test the latest consumer electronics and tech from around the world to help you find gadgets that make your life just a little bit easier.

Must Read

Shokz OpenDots One Review: Excellent Open Ear Audio

Audio 0
Relatively fresh off the heels of IFA, there's a...

Gardaí Ask People To Stop Pranking Their Parents

News 0
Yesterday, we covered the emerging trend on social media...

AI Company Spends Over $1 Million on Ads Only For Ads to Be Destroyed

News 0
Friend, an AI-powered pendent claiming to be your smart...

Subscribe

© 2024 Goosed. All Rights Reserved.