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Anker Nebula Capsule Review: Best Mini Projector on the Market

Marty
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0
Anker Nebula Capsule Review: Best Mini Projector on the Market

Growing up, I’d always wanted a man cave. You know? Gaming, movies and gadgets all in one spot in the gaff. While I don’t have a dedicated man cave, I do have quite a few gadgets, games and spend a lot of time watching movies. I dreamed of having a projector in my man cave, but always thought they’d cost too much. Like, they used to be the big feature on MTV’s Cribs, so how could I get one? The good news is, projectors have become very affordable and I’ve been testing out Nebula Capsule from Anker which is simply the best mini projector on the market.

What Makes it Great?

I won’t lie. My first impressions of the projector were a little meh. That’s because I dived in, trying to get all the ropey apps on board to work. You know the apps I’m on about, they sit in this strange grey area of not being illegal while you know they’re just not legal. Anyway, once I started using the likes of YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the Nebula Capsule projector started coming into its own. 

Projection Quality

Let’s get things straight from the word go here. You’re not going to be running a bootleggers cinema on this or anything, but the quality is mighty impressive. I’ve got mine on a shelf over the bed and it’s projecting to a wall about two and a half meters away. The effective screen size at this range is about seventy inches. Remember that later when we start talking about the price.

This isn’t the first projector I’ve owned. That title goes to one I got from Amazon two years ago for about €100. The cooling fan was a little loud but speakers sorted that out. The projection quality wasn’t amazing though. While great in the dark, any light at all rendered the picture unviewable. 

While Anker’s Nebula Capsule mini projector won’t work brilliantly in sunlight, I’ve been able to watch movies with the curtains open or the lights on. Pretty impressive for such a wee little projector. 

So, with the picture nailed, it’s on to the second most important feature on a personal projector: the sound.

The Sound is Sound Too

While my first dip into the projector world resulted in the need of a speaker, my second dip in certainly does not. I will admit, I have a Soundcore speaker that I sometimes link up with the Capsule, but it’s just fine without it. It works especially well in the bedroom considering the duvet and pillows help improve the sound quality even more.

Quite remarkably, I’ve read a few people online say the fan is loud. I’m not too sure where this is coming from because my fan is silent. It might be down to my first projector sounding like a tractor at times, but I can’t for the life of me imagine anyone turning this on and their first thought being the fan is loud. 

There you have it. The two key features when considering a projector and the Anker Nebula Capsule rocks at both. But it doesn’t stop there as the design of this mini projector certainly deserves a mention

Incredible Design

I have to talk about design here. Why? Well, not too long ago, projectors were closer to the size of carry-on luggage and now, this projector from Nebula is the size of a Coke can. Literally! That’s actually what they’ve modeled it on to make sure it stays nice and portable. 

Yup, portable. The Nebula Capsule has a 5200 mAh battery built in which will give you enough juice to watch, at least, a full movie. 

Other nice little design features include a tripod mount fitting in the base, so you can get the perfect angle, and remote control. Even though, I’ve been using the Nebula Connect app more than the remote – an app available for iOS and Android from Google Play. 

Nebula Capsule: The Verdict

I still can’t really get my head around just how affordable technology has become in recent years. This mini personal projector probably sums this up the best. The quality this thing produces in amazing. The design of it is stunning. But I’ll admit, the price of it might leave it still out of reach for the average punter. 

With that said, if you’re on the fence and it’s just the price you’re hesitating over, you’re unlikely to get a better personal projector for a better price. If you want to totally change how you experience Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more at home – this is the way to do it.

Where to Buy The Nebula Capsule in Ireland

If you want to buy the Nebula Capsule in Ireland, on the High Street, you should pop into Brown Thomas on Grafton Street. They’re stocking the Nebula Capsule Pro which gives you some extra bang for your buck. 

If popping into Brown Thomas doesn’t suit, Amazon is probably the handiest place to pick up one of these mini projectors. You can order it online from them for €435. Don’t forget you’ll probably need to use AddressPal to route this through a mainland UK shipping address.

Finally, if you do think that’s steep, think about a seventy-inch TV. Could you really afford to have that space taken up? With this projector, you only use the space when you need it and it’s about the third the cost of a TV anyway!

Note: Nebula has launched a new Kickstarter campaign for the successor of their first Capsule projector. It’ll be a similar price with an improved Android TV operating system. Just so you know!

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Massively impressed by the first #ankeronboard event last night in #NYC They've grown from being a company focused on charging to a company that's poised to charge innovation. This is the Nebula II. Its @kickstarter campaign launched today and is already over 500% funded! Powered by Android TV, the Nebula II is a Coke can sized projector, capable of streaming 720p video and audio for 3 hours on battery. Of course, you can also plug it in! Check out their Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/2099924322/created . . #androidtvboxandchill #androidtvlampung #androidtvapp #androidtvosandroidvoicetv #androidtvboxq #androidtvboxpriceinpakistan #androidtvboxremote #androidtvboxm8s #androidtvsummit2017 #androidtvdongle #androidtvapps #androidtvboxescanada #androidtvlaunch #androidtvconsole #androidtvoreo #androidtvbox📺 #androidtvboxcanada #androidtvos #androidtvboxonline #androidtvboxmxqpro #androidtvboxsupport #androidtvmakassar #androidtv4k #androidtvbox210 #androidtvterbaeeekkk

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Google Announce A Brand New Google Chromecast

Marty
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Google Announce A Brand New Google Chromecast

I’ve got a smart TV and an Xbox, both of which support some level of streaming from a device like my laptop or smartphone. I never thought I’d need anything more until I bought a phone one day and was able to pick up an accessory for free. I grabbed a Google Chromecast and honestly think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever bought.

Google has just released a brand new Chromecast and the best thing is, the price stays the same at just €39. Here’s what you get.

What is Google Chromecast?

All the way back in 2013, Google realised that people wanted to stream from their laptops and mobile phones to TVs. Some didn’t have smart TVs and Miracast systems weren’t consistent enough to catch mainstream attention. 

That’s why Google released the Chromecast, a simple plug and play device that lets you stream media over a WiFi connection. That was any screen with a HDMI port which could now be made smart, thanks to Google. More importantly, this meant you could easily sling YouTube and Netflix from your phone or laptop to any old TV with a HDMI port.

Google has toyed with a few different versions of Chromecast, including Chromecast Audio which focused purely on making your old speakers a little smarter.

Today, Google has announced the third generation of Chromecast and here’s what you get for your €39.

What Can Chromecast Do?

You can probably guess from what I’ve said so far, but basically Chromecast lets you sling content from your phone or tablet to your tellybox. In Ireland, we get to enjoy YouTube, Netflix, All4 and, since the recent update, we can even enjoy casting RTÉ Player from mobile, although you won’t be able to skip ads. Unfortunately, Sky doesn’t let you sling Sky Go, but if you sign up to Now TV you can cast from their mobile app to Chromecast.

The New Chromecast Design

Chromecast is no bigger than it’s second generation predecessor. Still, Google has managed to squeeze in a 15% improvement in hardware speed and now this third generation Chromecast supports 1080p streaming at 60fps. Will this be noticeable to everyone? Not at all, but if you are a spec nerd you’ll be liking how all of that sounds.

In terms of beauty, well…it’s beautiful?

Who am I kidding? Sure, the Chromecast is lovely, but you’ll have it stuffed down the back of the TV never to be seen so don’t worry about how it looks.

On the other hand, the Chromecast home screen, visible when you’re not streaming, shows gorgeous pictures from around the world and will now also show some of your own best shots if you’re using Google Photos.

Ok Google, Play Peaky Blinders on Netflix

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that most people with either a Google Home or Google Home Mini don’t know this beautiful life hack.

If you have a Chromecast on the same network as your Google Home or Home Mini, you can ask it to stream content to your TV. I come in from a day at the office and ask Google to play whatever it is I’m binging on lately on Netflix. Naturally, Google Assistant obliges. 

This is one of those tech things that makes you feel like we’re all living in the future.

If you ask your Google Home some other questions, you’ll now also get visual answers on your TV. Love it.

Where to Buy Google Chromecast

Well, first thing’s first. I would strongly recommend you don’t buy a Chromecast from CeX. It was a first generation Chromecast I spotted in CeX costing more than a brand new one from Google that lead to me asking just “how good is CeX for value“.

The new third generation Google Chromecast is now on sale from Google direct and from Harvey Norman. As I mentioned at the start, you’ll be able to grab this for just €39 and I do honestly think it could be one of the best purchases you’ll ever make, especially if you have a Google Home.

Full review of the new Google Chromecast coming soon, so be sure to give us a follow.

eSports for Dummies: Seriously, They’re Proper Sports

Neal
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0
eSports for Dummies: Seriously, They’re Proper Sports

Image result for esports

Yup eSports are now officially a thing! Think back a couple years, the notion of a professional gamer was somewhat laughable, yet now they are one of the biggest growing “sports” with online viewing number growing by the day, so luckily we have put together our eSports for dummies guide!

Traditionally, eSport games have been dominated by team based 3D multi-player online battle arena style games such as Overlord, Dota 2 and League of Legends. Whilst these games are still hugely popular, Battle Royale games such as CSGO, H1Z1 and relative newcomers such as Fortnite, PUBG & Call of Duty have grabbed huge player numbers, legions of fans, their own eSport Leagues and gaming events. The biggest tournaments such as League of Legends World Championship and Dota’s The International play to packed global venues and massive online audiences. The best teams and it’s stars have a global fan-base and have even created their own brand and online stores for their loyal fans to purchase merch i.e. branded merchandise mostly consisting of “street style” hoodies, t-shirts and phone covers.

Is there much money in it ?

Image result for ninja gamer

Epic games, creators of the Battle Royale style Fortnite game phenomenon, announced last year it would provide a $100 million prize pool for the 2018-2019 Fortnite eSport season. Tickets for eSport events sell out in minutes and viewers for these events on sites such as game streaming site Twitch, regularly pull in hundreds of thousands of viewers on a daily basis. Traditional sports channel ESPN, now frequently airs eSport events. According to ESPN president Jimmy Patero, “We believe it is ascending….eSports has got be to a priority of ours”). In 2018, total revenue from eSports is estimated at $900 million and is projected to easily break the $1 billion barrier this year. With this in mind, many of the biggest games released last year and planned for 2019 will have game modes designed for eSport competitions. Game creators and the entertainment industry in general are beginning to appreciate the huge untapped audience for eSports. CES 2019 has several exhibitors showcasing eSport related products along with plenty of talks on the rise of eSports. There are even discussions taking place for eSports to be included in the Paris Olympics 2024 as a demonstration sport which would give it a pathway to becoming an official Olympic sport in future games.

Is it actually a sport because it not athletic really ?

Image result for esport vs sport

Well it all depends on how you define a sport. To be a top eSports player, you need to practice constantly, have almost unrivaled hand/eye coordination, abundance of skill and concentration levels to match and beat the very best fellow elite gamers. Oh, it also helps to be on the young side as like most other sports, your skills degrade over time. So if you haven’t jumped on-board the eSport bandwagon just yet and you have just opened a bunch of age 30 birthday cards, its most likely too late for you unfortunately.

Who are the biggest eSports stars and how much do they earn ?

Top stars such as Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Tahasomi, Johan “n0tail” Sundstein and Amer “Miracle-” al-Barqawi have yearly earnings of roughly $4 million. And this is just in earnings from the events. Many eSports stars stream to their legions of fans on a daily basis via platforms such as Twitch or YouTube. One of the most popular Twitch streamers and occasional eSport player, Ninja, can reach 250K daily viewers on his live gaming stream. Ninja’s earnings last year were around $10 million from streaming and sponsorship alone.

Realistically, only the very best elite eSport players will earn this kind of money, so don’t be dreaming about your Ferrari 488 or Hollywood crib just yet. However with a bit of luck, lots of dedication, patience and plenty of skill, it’s perfectly possible to make a pretty good living as an eSport player.

So how I become an eSport player ?

Image result for how to qualify for esports

Unfortunately getting the odd top Ten place in Fortnite or PUBG won’t cut it. To be the best, you need to beat the best, regularly. Best advice is usually to specialize in one game at first, lock yourself into your bedroom for up to 6 months accepting only food & water whilst practicing at least 18 hours a day. Ok perhaps that’s slightly excessive and probably psychologically damaging but the point is you need to practice, practice and then practice some more. Try to network online with fellow players and of course beat them into utter humiliation as often as you can. When you think your good enough, enter yourself into any eSports events staged locally to you and go from there. If your winning these events, you will get noticed and begin to get a name for yourself. Having a strong online presence and large following will also help you get noticed and hopefully snapped up by an eSport team.

Do we have eSports in Ireland ?

Yes, although truth be told, eSports is still very much in its nascent stage here but growing rapidly. Drogheda Game Jam is on end of January, Gamerfest has events planned for early 2019 in Limerick, ESTARS has a Fortnite event planned for Dublin in February and the Dublin Games Summit will be held next July. Keep a close on social media as new eSport events are announced throughout the year. No reason also why you can’t jump on a plane across the pond to our nearest neighbors in the UK where the number of eSport events and teams is much bigger.

Did you know that Goosed.ie has it’s own channel? Fancy taking on one of the lads in a game of FIFA19 or Fortnite? Drop us a line and let the games begin.

Where are the Cheapest Countries to Buy Apple Products?

Marty
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0
Where are the Cheapest Countries to Buy Apple Products?

Have you ever heard of the Big Mac index?

The Big Mac index is a method of comparing different currencies from various countries by looking at something you can buy in each country. As you might imagine, the McDonalds Big Mac is one popular item to compare as it’s available in many places.

Earlier this week, I spotted a cool website emerge called The Mac Index which does something rather similar. Instead of burgers, this website lets you compare the price of Apple products in different countries, so if you’re planning an Apple purchase and need to plot some holidays, it could pay you to keep reading.

Where is Cheapest to Buy an iPhone XS?

Let’s kick things off with one of Apple’s flagship smartphones; the iPhone XS 64GB.

To pick one of these up from Apple Ireland, you’ll be handing over €1,179. Now, if you were to be heading towards the United States, or know someone taking a trip to New York or the likes, you could buy the very same iPhone for just €871. That would be a saving of nearly €310. Sure, wouldn’t that nearly be a seat for one leg of a flight to the States?

If you wanted to keep things a little closer to home and order from Apple UK you could still save a packet. That same phone from the UK would set you back €924. That’s still €255 you get to keep in your pocket.

I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I could find same-day return flights for a lot less than that using something like Google Flights and save money along with having a nice day trip to the UK.

Which Country Sells the Cheapest Apple Watches?

Moving away from the phone end of things, what about the Apple Watch Series 4?

Well, Apple Ireland will ask you to part with €439 for one of these watches. We’re just the 15th cheapest country where Apple sells directly. Compare this to the €340 you could buy this from Apple is Australia for, and you get to see just how stung we are in this country.

If you know someone in Oz, send them a few packs of Tayto to keep them sweet and ask them to bring you a nice pressie home from down under.

Where to Buy a Cheap MacBook Air?

If you’re after an Apple MacBook Air, you’ll be €1379 lighter if you buy in Ireland. Prepare to be really mad if you just bought one recently and had family home for Christmas from Canada.

With Ireland coming in at 18th most expensive place to buy a 1.6GHz 128GB MacBook Air, Canadians can buy the very same device for just €983. That’s a jaw-dropping saving of nearly €400. 

I knew there were price differences to be expected and deals to be had when you travel, but that kind of money would boil the blood if you bought recently.

Buy Apple AirPods in Australia

Back to the Australian family you have abroad now. If you’re shopping around for Apple AirPods and they’re coming home soon, you better be really nice to them.

Ireland is just the 14th cheapest place with an Apple retail store, either online or physical stores, to buy Apple Airpods. To buy these here in Ireland will cost you €179. The very same gadget would cost you just €130 down under.

Not as dramatic a saving that time, but still a sneaky €50 to be saved should your travel plans overlap perfectly.

If you’re planning a big Apple purchase and just happen to be travelling or have family travelling, it’s worth checking out The Mac Index to see if there’s something you can pick up while saving a small fortune.

…but it’s worth noting

Buying outside of Ireland and the EU does change your rights as a consumer. For example, Apple openly calls out Irish consumer law on their website because you are covered for certain defects for up to six years. This only applies if you buy in Ireland. Buy from the States and you’re down to one year of manufacturer warranty. Just worth noting.

Life After Windows Phone: What Phone to Move To

Marty
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Life After Windows Phone: What Phone to Move To

I decided to abstain from my Friday evening off from writing to pay my respects to Windows Phone. Born back in 2010, Microsoft’s champion to take on the might of Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS has finally fallen. Today, Microsoft announced that Windows Phone, now referred to as Windows 10 Mobile, will no longer be receiving security updates from 10 December 2019.

I’m going to go through what this all means for you if you’re a Windows Phone user and also give you some suggestions on which phone to pick up next.

What’s Happening to Windows Phone?

For many years, Microsoft has struggled to get their mobile operating system off the ground. In the most genuine way possible, I want to say this was a real shame. Windows phones were really nice to use. I actually quite liked Microsoft’s mobile operating system. For me, it was like a cross between the simplistic iOS operating system Apple created, but with the customisation and power that Google’s Android system brought to the table.

Unfortunately, the general public didn’t agree with me. Microsoft simply couldn’t sell enough Windows Phones which brought a massive issue along with it beyond the lack of sales revenue. Without users, app developers had little reason to port their apps onto the Windows Phone operating system. Typically, iOS is the priority with Android running a close second, but then few would bother with Windows Phone due to the small pool of users.

The crackers were showing as early as 2017 when one of the team leads tweeted this message:

After struggling on for many years, Microsoft is finally pulling the plug. From 10 December 2019, Windows 10 Mobile will no longer be receiving security updates.

What If I Have A Windows Phone?

Microsoft’s announcement that they would no longer be releasing security updates for Windows 10 Mobile (Windows Phone to me and you). Technically, that means you’ll be able to use your phone after 10 December 2019. The big change is that it’s massively recommended you stop using it. 

The security updates Microsoft issue, patch gaps in their operating system which can be used to compromise your data. 

Microsoft themselves are actually advising that you move to Android or iOS where they will continue to develop their own apps. This is by no means a bad thing. Remember the incredible Seeing Eye app they’re developing? Windows Phone dying out is far from the end for Microsoft on mobile.

The Best Phone for Windows Phone Users

Right. You’ve got plenty of time until you need to make the big move from your Windows Phone, but there’s no harm in starting to think about it already. Here are the best options for Windows Phone users looking to change to Android or iOS.

Huawei P smart 2019

You won’t have to wait too long to make this move if it tickles your fancy. I’ve yet to get hands-on with the P smart 2019, but after Huawei’s impressive year last year, I expect this year’s rendition of the P smart to be one of the best in its price range.

Huawei is also the most iOS-influenced operating system in the Android ecosphere. That means if you liked the simplicity of having a Windows Phone, the P smart 2019 should appeal here. Also, Windows Phones were often a little lower down the price range, so here’s hoping the price helps too.

Be sure to give us a follow to learn more about the Huawei P smart 2019 when it launches later this year.

Apple iPhone 8

As much as Huawei does adopt iOS styling, if that’s what you’re after, you’ve got to consider an Apple original. After suffering the pain of seeing your beloved Windows Phone losing support, you should probably steer clear of some older iPhones, perhaps even the iPhone 7.

For that reason, I feel most comfortable suggesting you give the iPhone 8 a lash. That should be supported until at least October 2020 and even then, when iPhones no longer receive support it’s not as “end of the line” as Windows Phone is going in December.

Doro Smartphone

I’m going out on a limb here, but I know I previously gave my auld lad a Windows Phone. It was a HTC built Windows Phone. Really nice piece of kit and it was actually his first smartphone. It was great because it was relatively simple and because of that I’d imagine that quite a few people might have been using these phones as first smartphones. 

Transitioning away from such a simple operating system, especially if it was a first smartphone, could be very tough indeed. Enter Doro.

Doro is a Swedish mobile phone manufacturer, specialising in smartphones for the elderly. The interface is nice and simple, along with being incredibly intuitive. One could easily argue that the Doro smartphone range is even better for older generations getting to grips with smartphones so keep them in mind. 

You can pick up Doro from your local Post Office and the usual phone retailers.

So how do you feel about Microsoft finally pulling the plug on their mobile platform? Are you a Windows Phone user? Join the conversation on Twitter and let us know.

FeiyuTech Vimble 2 Review: The Perfect Gimbal for Most

Marty
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FeiyuTech Vimble 2 Review: The Perfect Gimbal for Most

I’m a massive fan of gimbals. These little gadgets hold your phone steady when recording video shots. I’d argue they are fast becoming a holiday essential. The videos you record with a gimbal look stunning. So ahead of the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival, I got to thinking. If there was one accessory that could up your movie making game, it would probably be a gimbal like the FeiyuTech Vimble 2.

What is a 3-Axis Gimbal?

A 3-axis gimbal, often just referred to a camera stabiliser or simply just a gimbal, removes shakiness from the hand of a camera operator. Gimbals have become really popular in recent years, largely down to the growth of smartphones and mobile video capturing. With a lot of gimbals on the market, there’s a lot of choice out there. DJI developed the OSMO Pocket which has a camera built in, but can also be connected to a smartphone and a range of accessories.

FeiyuTech is another company specialising in video making accessories and I’ve been taking a look at their brilliant Vimble 2. To kick things off, here’s a video I made using the Vimble 2 at IFA last year.

The Selfie Stick With a Gimbal

While there are plenty of gimbals on the market, the Vimble 2 really stood out to me and at IFA last year It certainly didn’t disappoint.

Most impressive to me were the amount of extra features FeiyuTech crammed into the Vimble 2. On top of delivering great footage, the Vimble 2 also let me capture shots I’d usually have to let go. This is largely down to two great features:

  1. It’s a gimbal with a selfie stick
  2. It comes with a tripod

Yup, where the phone is held can be extended by up to 18 cm, meaning you can do some nice ground or aerial style shots. It’s also nice if you’re capturing some footage of yourself, meaning you don’t need the camera to be too close to you.

The tripod is also great for solo work. Mobile journalists and smartphone movie makers can rejoice with the flexibility this gimbal gives you. With Instagram Stories on the up and up, you can even use this gimbal to shoot vertical video. Neat, right?

Feiyu ON: The Vimble 2 App

Being brutally honest, for a long time now, FeiyuTech were being let down by their apps. The original Vimble 2 app was called Vicool and it was terribly disappointing. When I had my first FeiyuTech gimbal, the SPG, I wasn’t very impressed by the Feiyu ON app either. It was grand for iPhone users, but terrible for Android. 

Recently, they updated the Feiyu ON app and it is immeasurably better.  The connectivity is more reliable, the app looks better and functions better too.

The one disappointment that carries over from the older apps is a lack of 60fps video shooting. My Huawei Mate 20 Pro shoots gorgeous 4k at 30fps or 1080p at 60 fps. The Feiyu ON app will limit you to 4k at 30 fps or 1080p at 30fps. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from using your phone’s native video app while using the Vimble 2 but you will lose some functionality, like the hardware buttons on the gimbal.

Vimble 2: Specs and Compatibility

With the major callouts covered, there are some other specs worth noting on the Vimble 2.

If your phone is over 210g, it’s likely too heavy for the Vimble 2. I’d go out on a limb here to say it’s unlikely you’ll have a phone too heavy, but I’ve pulled together a list of phones that weigh over 210g. That weight limit drops to 200g if you’re shooting Instagram Story-style video, so here’s a list of phones that weight more than 200g too.

This gimbal is fitting with a non-removable battery that will give you about five hours of use and can get back to full charge in two hours. It’s also cleverly added a charge port near when the phone is held. This means, using a micro USB to micro USB cable, you can charge the phone while using the gimbal.

Just remember, if you are going on holidays, this can’t go into your checked luggage. It’s got to come on board with you.

It’s worth noting the camera placement on your phone might have an impact on how compatible this gimbal is for you. For example, I tried testing this out with a Sony Xperia XZ3 but this has a very low positioned camera. When sitting in the gimbal, the video captures the gimbal itself. The same actually happened while using the Mate 20 Pro, but only when using it’s ultra-wide angle lens. 

Just something to be conscious of.

Vimble 2 Price and Availability

Now that you’re totally convinced you need one of these in your life, you’ll need to know where to pick one up. Most good camera shops around Ireland now recognise the popularity of smartphone filmmaking and stock items like this. For example, Conns Cameras in Dublin will get you set up and give you the rundown on how to get the most out of it. You can also pick one up for less than €90 on Amazon.co.uk.

If you really want to test drive one of these before you buy, come along to the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival where FeiyuTech will be on hand to demo their full range, including the Vimble 2.

The Verdict: FeiyuTech Vimble 2

I’m not going to oversell this. The Vimble 2 does a fairly simple task and does it very well. It removes the natural shakiness that your hand normally has when shooting video. I guess, what’s worth knowing is this is the best gimbal I’ve ever used. I remember at IFA people asking me about it and saying they were going to buy one because I wouldn’t stop going on about how much I love it.

Review: Vice – A Portrait of the Real 43rd President

Marty
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Review: Vice – A Portrait of the Real 43rd President

With The Big Short, the incredible depiction of the international banking crisis, in the rearview mirror, Adam McKay is back with another look into a dark and murky world. This time is the life and career of Dick Chaney, best known as George W. Bush’s Vice President. 

Who is Dick Chaney?

Did I know a whole lot about Dick Chaney before watching Vice? No. I knew the name but I’m not even sure I knew he was a Vice President – granted my American politics knowledge isn’t the best. I certainly didn’t know he was a businessman who pulled the strings of the 43rd President when George W. Bush rose to power, seemingly all to benefit himself.

What is Vice About?

In short, you’d be forgiven for thinking Vice is all about Dick Chaney. Much of the movie focuses on his rise from practically nothing to being one of the most powerful men in the world. Vice shows how he played people, how his wife drove him and the great, often evil, lengths Chaney went through to rise to power.

There are moments where you see the family man, immediately followed by some of the most heinous acts known to man. Vice shows how Chaney was capable of being a fantastic father, willing to make sacrifices for his family while ordering the bombing of families in Cambodia. 

a failed democracy where one man can have as much power as any dictator

Ultimately though, Vice is not about Dick Chaney. It’s a devastating assessment of American politics, a failed democracy where one man can have as much power as any dictator.

Is Vice Any Use?

I left this screening angry at how one man could pull the strings of the world, much to his own benefit at the cost of millions of lies. Throughout Vice we see the damage that Chaney inflicted on the people of America, from helping Fox News come to fruition as a conservative spam outlet to using focus groups to pinpoint terminology people could get on board with to support horrible moments in history.

I left angry, but I left delighted I had watched it. I studied history and love a good documentary, but I also see social media rising and understand that the attention of younger generations is very hard to grab.

Adam McKay’s style is distinctive. Actors constantly breaking the fourth wall as the director uses enough artistic license to splice the facts with entertaining uses of pop culture and a few memes too. Vice is one of those movies where you learn something without even knowing it. Actually, you learn something while having a few laughs along the way, because Vice does dish out some proper belly laughs too.

Sorry, but learning and laughing is a great thing.

We Need To Mention Christian Bale

Christian Bale should go down as one of the greatest actors we’ve ever been lucky enough to see on this planet. First of all, yes he did gain a shedload of weight to portray Chaney.

That’s just the start of it though. He’s captivating. Any actor who can bring me to feeling sorry for someone who, in my opinion, is a monster, has done incredibly well. While there are impressive performances across the board from the likes of Steve Carrell and Amy Adams, Bale just steals the show. 

I’m not surprised because he is amazing.

If you’re looking for a movie that’ll actually make you a little smarter about how the world works, go see Vice. Just be prepared to be a little angry when you leave. Vice is in Irish cinemas from January 25.

Vice Trailer

First Phone of 2019: Huawei Announce the New P smart

Marty
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First Phone of 2019: Huawei Announce the New P smart
Over the past few years, I’ve made no secret of how annoying it is to see smartphones being rolled out for the sake of it. Without major upgrades or innovation, many of the world’s phone makers were just going through the motions. Then last year happened. Google entered the Irish market with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL, Xiaomi also entered the Irish market and Huawei launched the two best phones we’ve seen in a long time. But they were flagship smartphones for people looking for the best of the best, most likely on contract. 
 
Huawei was straight out of the blocks on New Year’s Eve, announcing the Huawei P smart 2019. Considering you can expect to see the P smart 2019 launch in the sub-€200 price range and given that 2018 was the year of Huawei, I think this could be a very exciting phone for the price. Here’s what to expect.

Key Features of the Huawei P smart 2019

Between the info Huawei has already sent over to me and some of the news coming out of CES 2019 in Las Vegas, we already know quite a bit about the 2019 version of the P smart. Here we go….

The P smart 2019 Looks Great

Straight off the bat, the Huawei P smart 2019 looks stunning. To maximise screen size, Huawei has opted for the dewdrop style camera placement on the front of their mid-level. Along with the wee-bezels that surround the 6.2-inch screen, the P smart 2019 looks gorgeous.

Huawei has not only crafted the P smart to be aesthetically pleasing physically, but they’ve cleverly added some software smarts to make looking at this phone much more pleasant. Thanks to a new TÜV Rheinland-certified Eye Comfort Mode, the P smart 2019 will be grand for those of you who spend extended periods of time binging on Netflix or YouTube on your phone.

The Camera Should Be A Treat

The quality of smartphone cameras has started to blow my mind. I think we’re heading towards a day where those big DSLRs are a thing of the past, honestly. I could never say how good the camera is going to be until I’ve actually seen it, but on paper the P smart 2019 is looking good. Why?

Well, everyone is mad for this bokeh shots. They’re those photos where the subject is clear and the background is all blurry. Super stylish stuff. The P smart 2019 will have dual-primary lenses comprising of a 13MP and 2MP camera. It’s one of the more unusual setups given the 2MP secondary lens in the setup, but fingers crossed Huawei continue their new tradition of incredible shooters. 

Flip the phone over and you get a wide-angle 8MP. For both sides of this phone’s camera rig I’ll reserve judgement until I have a proper look.

Plenty of Power Under the Hood

The days of value mid-range phones being sluggish and laggy are gone. The P smart 2019 will be powered by a brand new Kirin 710 chipset. I won’t bore you with the details behind this chip, but trust me when I say Huawei has also made a habit of landing incredible chips to power their smartphones lately.

But the best chipset in the world will do nothing without actual power. Keeping in line with Huawei packing some of the best spec in without swelling the price, the P smart 2019 boats a 3400 mAh battery. That should be more than enough for fairly heavy users to still get a full day out of their new phone and maybe even two days for light users.

All in all, it’s a long time since a mid-range phone has gotten me excited. Ok, maybe some of the Xiaomi phones have shaken up that part of the market, but the P smart 2019 could be one of the first mid-range phones that starts to move the price of great smartphones down a few pegs.

Remember, there was a time where the most advanced phone on the market was the Nokia 3310. Adjusting for inflation, that phone cost about €230 back in the day. I hope we’re working towards that being the most anyone should ever need to pay for a smartphone.

Review: The Upside – Uplifting and Enjoyable

Marty
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Review: The Upside – Uplifting and Enjoyable

When I saw the trailer for The Upside, there was something very familiar about it. After a few minutes, I worked it out. The Upside is based on a true story which has already been adapted into a movie, a French movie which I’ve already actually watched. Even though I knew the story, I went along to a screening of The Upside and I’m glad to say it’s definitely worth your time.

What is the True Story Behind The Upside

The Upside is far from an original take on the true story behind the life of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo. In fact, The Upside is the third movie based on the story of how di Borgo, a wealthy French businessman, who following a paragliding accident, was left a diabetic quadriplegic. At the heart of the story which has now hit the big screen as The Intouchables in France, The Inseparables in Spain and now The Upside in Hollywood is the unlikely relationship between di Borgo and Abdel Sellou.

While di Borgo was the son of a French duke and born into great wealth, Abdel was a career criminal from Algeria. He crossed paths with di Borgo because he applied for the job of being his carer purely to meet the requirements to keep claiming his income support.

What is The Upside About?

If I was to keep things really simple, I’d describe The Upside as your classic buddy movie. Kevin Hart plays as Dell Scott (Sellou in this story) and Bryan Cranston plays as Phillip Lacasse (di Borgo). True to their real lives, the two cross paths as Scott, desperate to collect his unemployment benefit, seeks out work and stumbles upon the position of life auxiliary for Lacasse. Lacasse, tired of the usually clean-cut experts takes to Scott’s more direct, street style.

Naturally, from here, it’s all about their adventures together as they also battle with their own personal demons and problems.

Is It Any Good?

If you’re to ask me – yes, absolutely. I battled with the knowledge that there was a very good version of this movie out there already in the original French version. My biggest fear with the remake would be that it went all Hollywood. But The Upside largely stays honest to the true story at the core of the tale and rejects the temptation to go “big Hollywood”.

Cranston is his usual brilliant self and arguably, Nicole Kidman who plays Lacasse’s assistant could have been used to deliver something more. But of everyone in this movie, it’s Kevin Hart who delivers some of the deepest moments along with some of the best laughs. To be honest, the three of them together gel perfectly and make this a buddy movie that will lift your spirits. It’s a good old fashioned uplifting buddy movie.

Critics are largely slating the movie and I really don’t get it. Now, it could be down to the fact it’s a remake that doesn’t change much beyond the language being spoken, but I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to not pop into the cinema and check this out,

The Upside is in cinemas nationwide now.

Xiaomi M365 Review: First Impressions of this Electric Scooter

Marty
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Xiaomi M365 Review: First Impressions of this Electric Scooter

As soon as the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter went on sale in Ireland, I kind of knew I’d be buying one. Last week, I finally acted and bought one. I’m going to do a much more in-depth review now that I’m using it every day but after a few spins so far, I just want to let you know what my first impressions are.

Electric scooters which require human power to get them started, like the Xiaomi M365 does, are not classified as mechanically propelled vehicles. As a result, they are perfectly legal to use just like a bicycle and do not require tax or insurance. You can read more about electric scooters and the law in Ireland by reading my other article.

Things I Love About the Xiaomi M365

To get the ball rolling, I’m going to talk about why I love the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter.

I’m Not Clammy Arriving in Work

A very practical one to start. Kicking off your day with a 35-minute walk to the office means you start your day feeling a little clammy. Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate the walk and know that it’s keeping me healthy, but it’s not nice to sit in the office after that walk feeling meh. Using an electric scooter means you stroll into the office, fresh as a daisy. For me, I also arrive with a smile on my face. Which brings me to my next point.

It’s. So. Much. Fun!

It’s Monday morning. The weekend is over. You have to go to work. While I’m sure the novelty could wear off, right now I look forward to jumping on my scooter and zipping my way to the office. There’s just something very fun about the Xiaomi scooter. It’s not rip-roaringly fast and I definitely don’t think it’s any kind of cool. But all of that doesn’t stop it putting a smile on my face.

It’s Faster

While it’s no Tesla…

…the Xiaomi scooter can zip along comfortably at 25kmph. Because you can also use bike lanes, you can slice your way through a busy city like Dublin without much hassle. The scooter has the added benefit of being super easy to hop on and off of, so if you rock up to a red light, it’s really easy to jump off and stroll across a street as a pedestrian before jumping back on again.

With the Xiaomi M365, I’ve turned a 35-minute walk into a 13-minute scoot. My goal is to get sub-ten minutes.

It’s So Simple

While I’m quick to point out the M365 is far from a toy and requires a lot of concentration to take a spin on, the beauty of it all is its simplicity. I’ll come onto this in a second, but maybe the lack of a display is a good thing? 

You jump on the scooter, give it two quick pushes, lash the throttle down and you’re flying along. It’s really comfy to stand on, more comfy than sitting on any bike seat and doesn’t take a genius to operate – I can attest to that.

It Makes Dublin Very Small

I live in Dublin City Center and I have a car. The car is great for when you need to collection someone from the airport or if you want to fly out to somewhere like Liffey Valley and do a spot of shopping. But inner-city public transport is only ok. For example, if I wanted to walk to the office, it takes me 35 minutes. To get the Luas, it also takes 35 minutes, depending on how long I have to wait for a tram to come along.

Having my own scooter negates this all together and opens up other parts of the city which aren’t connected with public transport at all. I know many people will read that and be like – “walk you lazy bastard”, but having a scooter just changes your mentality to nipping across town.

It’s Not Really A Heard Turner

I guess this isn’t going to be a positive for some people, but the Xiaomi M365, I think, is the most popular electric mode of personal transport in Dublin. I pass another scooter nearly every day if not two or three. After just a few days, I’ve noticed people say “there’s that scooter I was on about”. That’s the most common thing I overhear. 

Electric scooters are almost commonplace already. Most people still haven’t tried one though, so if you do want to grab the attention of your friends, offer them a shot.

Noone will turn it down.

Thinks I Dislike About the Xiaomi M365

As much as I adore the Xiaomi M365 and, dare I say it’s my favourite gadget purchase in a long long time, there are a few frustrations I can’t ignore.

Hand Signals

Telling people where you’re going is so important when you travel. Regardless of whether you’re a cyclist or a motorist, indicators and hand signals are crucial. I’ve noticed that hand signals are bloody hard to nail when you’re on this scooter. I’d imagine it’s like this on all scooters. Right turns have the added difficulty of you needing to take your right hand off the throttle.

I’m looking into a few solutions to this problem, from testing out the onboard cruise control to a helmet with indicators built in. There’s no shortage of Xiaomi M365 accessories out there, so watch this space as I make my way through the best.

It’s a Bumpy Ride

The M365 doesn’t offer any kind of suspension or shock absorbers. What you hit, you feel. In the dark, this is particularly noticeable as it becomes harder to avoid bumps and divots that regularly appear in Irish roads. I’ve already hit a hole so hard the bell on my handlebars dinged.

How I Am Supposed To Lock This, Xiaomi?

I’m being a little facetious here because there is one easy way to lock the M365. Using a U-Lock through the back wheel, you can secure your scooter to the usual bike stands. Still, I just don’t feel this is very secure and technically you can remove the back wheel somewhat easily.

I’m looking into a few other options to make locking my scooter a little easier and more secure, but I really hope Xiaomi didn’t think the software lock would stop some lad on the Quays making off with me scooter.

No Display

It’s a real shame there’s no built-in display on the scooter. To know how fast you’re going, you’ll need to get a phone holder and fit it to your handlebars. Real estate here is really limited, so you can only pick on accessory to have.

First world problem alert, I know.

Now I did find a Wear OS app which lets me link my Android Watch to the scooter which works really well. Again, given how I’ve struggled to scoot with one hand (seriously don’t even try it) the watch still isn’t the perfect solution. I’ll be testing out another scooter soon that does have a display, so I’ll let you know if I really need it or not. As I mentioned earlier, maybe this just feeds into the simplicity.

So, for now, that’s it. I’m doing a scoot commute every day so I’ll be powering through this review. I do have a few other things to look at, but for now, the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter looks like a lot of fun. Be sure to sign up to the newsletter below and give Goosed a follow on Twitter for the full review when it’s done.

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