Leading real hands on tech review site in Ireland with technology, business news and more. Jim O Brien Tech.
Author: Jim O Brien/CEO
CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.
Webcams are back on the agenda again and with the likes of zoom and teams exploding during the pandemic most of us who worked in an office or worked from home would be using one now, the typical webcam on your laptop or PC today is rubbish being honest and after testing several webcams over the last few months it is easy to see why people now invest in such gadgets and they are not that expensive either and for many an important tool when conducting meetings and interviews and so on.
This webcam is a simple plug and play with no real technical knowledge required even to adjust the settings once installed it will fit onto any pc or laptop with a USB port and having tested on both my chromebook and laptop the results are quite remarkable as you will see even in the set up process in the full video review below.
The webcam comes with a tripod too so you can place it where you like which is a nice bonus, there is also a lens cover you can adjust the camera to turn the head and zoom in, you have 2K HD and a Wide-angle lens that allows for Two field-of-view options selectable, allowing you to adjust the field of view between 90° and 60°
The webcam has a dual mic built in too and noise cancelling which I noted worked well in comparison to other models here I have tested which is quite a few now.
For making a good investment in cryptocurrencies, it’s helpful to know how to calculate your return on investment. The top ten cryptos are most likely to generate a good ROI for you. One year ago, these same cryptos comprised the top 10 today, but four of those coins are not among the top ten today. They were Bitcoin Cash, CRO, Litecoin, and Chainlink.
Return on investment (ROI)
Most investors are always interested in learning about the ROI in the digital market. However, they are often confused about the value of a crypto coin. To maximize your ROI, invest in coins with high volatility. To do this, use a spreadsheet such as Google Sheets or Excel to calculate your ROI. The formula for ROI is simple: current price average price / total cost. In other words, if you invest $100 in a crypto coin and it appreciates to $150 in a year, you will earn a 50% ROI.
However, one should remember that ROI is a relative term and can change over time. It is not always easy to estimate long-term ROIs in cryptocurrency. The market is constantly changing and is not the same as five years ago. Additionally, new cryptocurrencies are being developed all the time. As a result, it isn’t easy to make a reliable long-term investment decision in this market. bit-indexai.io is a good place to start.
ROI is a commonly used metric for assessing the efficiency of investing in cryptocurrencies. ROI is calculated as a percentage, and positive values indicate a profit, while negative values indicate a loss. It is calculated by deducting Total Costs from Total Returns. Total Returns refer to dividends and share value at the time of sale; selling price is the only factor for cryptocurrencies. Total Costs refer to the total cost of the asset, including the initial purchase price and any other costs.
ROI calculation requires several steps. First, investors must consider their risk tolerance. If they’re avoiding risk, they should opt for a lower ROI. In contrast, those who want to reap profits more quickly should choose an option with a higher ROI. Second, they should take into account that cryptocurrencies are considered speculative assets. Thus, it is important to reduce the original price of cryptocurrency when calculating the ROI. The actual result should then be divided by the cost of investment.
As with any other investment, it is always advisable to read as much as possible about the cryptocurrency you are interested in. While it may seem tempting to jump in when the price is low, there is no need to rush into investing. Besides, investing in cryptocurrency is risky, so you must avoid trying to time the volatile market.
However, the returns can be substantial, with the leading cryptocurrencies outperforming the traditional stock market and commodities markets. The S&P 500 index, for example, has an ROI of 0.3 percent. Depending on the asset you invest in, you may get back three times what you invested. That’s a tremendous amount of money. Moreover, the risk is minimal compared to what you would get from investing in a large, established company.
Cryptocurrency ROI may be an effective barometer of the success of a cryptocurrency project, but it’s also important to know its limitations. You can learn these limitations from trading strategies for beginners. ROI doesn’t account for how long the investment has taken, so a 100% return on an initial investment sounds better than a 20% return on an invested amount. The same goes for annualized returns, which translate into multiple ROI measures. Investments that take longer than a year will have lower ROIs than those done over a shorter period.
Final Words
The most common method of calculating ROI is to divide the total cost of investment by the net income. This would be a simple calculation. In this scenario, the investor’s total investment cost would be $100, including $10 for personnel, regulatory, and research costs. Moreover, the investor’s revenue would be $300, and the investor would receive $200 for the investment. The ROI calculation for cryptocurrencies is not easy, but it’s a useful tool for evaluating the profitability of any business.
If you’re interested in knowing the future price of BoringDAO, you’ve come to the right place. While the price of BoringDAO has a volatile history, there are some ways you can get a better idea of what to expect. These methods include on-chain and off-chain metrics, technical indicators, and market sentiment. However, it’s important to remember that past performance does not guarantee future results.If you’re wondering if BoringDAO will make the market in 2022, here are reasons why it’s a great investment.
What is BoringDAO (BOR) Crypto?
If you’re wondering, “what is boringDAO crypto?” you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a look at some of the key facts about this altcoin. It is currently ranked #14376 on the cryptocurrency market cap and has dropped 0.670000% in 24 hours. BoringDAO can be traded on five different exchanges. Currently, it is worth $0.033115.
The BoringDAO decentralized bridge between Ethereum and other blockchain assets offers a unique opportunity for non-ERC20 assets to maximize their yield-generating and utility. This decentralized bridge operates minting tunnels and performs bi-directional mapping between blockchain assets and ERC-20 tokens. BoringDAO has attracted much interest among cryptocurrency investors due to its innovative features. However, it is important to note that this project is not a scam.
BoringDAO (BOR) price is volatile.
Numerous factors can influence the price of a cryptocurrency. Supply and demand, market sentiment, and fundamental events are just a few of the factors that can affect the price of a BoringDAO. It is important to note that a currency’s past performance does not necessarily predict its future price. It is best to wait for a dip in the market before investing large sums of money.
To assess a currency’s volatility, consider its price index against other cryptocurrencies. BoringDAO’s index compares itself to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Tether. Price index graphs compare the value of an asset to a benchmark date, such as 90 days ago. By contrast, a coin’s index will increase or decrease based on the price of another stable coin.
Before buying this cryptocurrency, the most important thing to consider is the community’s activity and the project’s credibility. Since the BoringDAO community is relatively new, it is unlikely to have much exposure or marketing. However, as the project matures, its awareness score will increase. Also, if the project has a low credit score, it might be because a 13-year-old runs it in their basement.
It has a hard time getting on board with other crypto coins.Although it has been gaining popularity in recent months, BoringDAO has difficulty catching on with other cryptocurrency coins. To purchase this cryptocurrency, you must sign up for an account on a cryptocurrency exchange. There are several exchanges to choose from, and you can fund your account using a credit card or bank transfer. Another method is to use your crypto wallet to deposit the cryptocurrency.
While a BoringDAO token is a cryptocurrency, it is not yet a security token. The cryptocurrency is speculative, highly volatile, and sensitive to secondary activity. Therefore, the market price of BoringDAO may change significantly. Additionally, past performance does not necessarily indicate future performance. Before investing in BoringDAO, please check its legality and regulatory requirements and consult relevant Regulators’ websites.
A decentralized bridge that allows users to safely transfer crypto-assets from one blockchain to another to maximize the utilization rate of crypto assets. It has multi-signature wallets over 100% reserve and decentralized insurance. BoringDAO allows users to stake various assets, including real estate and other commodities.
First-time buyers can seek advice from other token holders who may have invested. Check its value on bitcoin trading software. Always make sure to note different price levels and support and resistance levels. Users should also verify their accounts Binance is one of the largest platforms for cryptocurrencies in the world. For first-time buyers, seek assistance from those who have invested in BoringDAO.
Final Words
The BoringDAO (BOR) blockchain is decentralized and scalable, with a triple-pledge mechanism. It will allow a high utilization rate of crypto assets securely. It will be backed by $BORING, its native utility token and governance token. This network is also working towards building BitcoinFi on a multi-chain. It will upgrade its security level when more Multi-Sig signers are onboarded. It is also planning to transition to permissionless signers in 2021.
Everything you do online today leaves a digital footprint. As the internet continues to grow, it is becoming more important for individuals and businesses to understand how marketing on the internet can grow your business. Software like Google News can fully automate and simplify your advertising strategies while giving you access to the biggest search engines that are available now on the market. You can also use software to expand your reach by targeting specific demographics or locations. Software is not a new concept in the field of marketing, but with the advancements that have been made recently in internet technology, using our own software can quickly grow your business.
Now, in this article, we will cover six specific points of how software can help improve your business’s growth rate quickly and howretail software solutions plays crucial role in growth of any business.
Streamline employee tasks: Employee task management can be a daunting task. It can be difficult to keep track of who is responsible for what, when they are supposed to do it, and where they should find the information, they need. Software can help to simplify this process by automating many of the tasks employees must complete each day. This helps to reduce the amount of time employees have to spend on paperwork and organising their tasks. Additionally, it can help managers monitor employee performance more easily.
Competitive advantage: Software is better equipped to offer a competitive advantage than hardware because software can be updated and improved more quickly. There are many companies that offer field software as a form of a competitive advantage. Some of the features that make software better than other brands include: faster loading times, customizable designs, and user-friendly interfaces. All of these features make it easier for customers to use the product and find the information they need quickly. In addition, these features help companies differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Pursuing a sales lead: Software is better than ever when it comes to following leads. With the help of retail software solutions, businesses can easily keep track of their sales leads and analyse their performance. This way, they can identify which leads are productive and which ones need more attention. Additionally, software makes it easy to follow up with leads and closed deals. Finally, it provides administrators with detailed reports that help them understand the success of their marketing campaigns.
Cost Effective: Software has become a major trend in business, and with good reason. Automating routine tasks can save businesses time and money. For example, a software company may have an accounting system that automates the process of creating invoices. This saves the company time and money by freeing up staff to do other tasks. In addition, software can automate processes that are not particularly labour-intensive but that could still result in cost savings. For example, a company may have a system that automatically orders parts for manufacturing.
Better ROI: Software is an important part of any business, and it is especially important in the volatile market today. It can have a huge impact on the ROI of a business. By improving the efficiency of an organisation’s software, it can save time and money. It can also help to improve customer service and increase efficiency within the company. In some cases, it can even take over manual tasks that were previously done by employees. This can save money on salaries and benefits, while also allowing the company to focus on more strategic initiatives.
Maintain good customer relations: Managing customer relationships can be a lot of work. Thankfully, there are software solutions that can help you do it more efficiently. One such solution is Relationship Management Software. This software can help you keep track of all your customer contacts. It can also help you respond to customer inquiries in a timely manner. Additionally, the software can automatically create follow-up emails for you. This way, you’ll never miss an opportunity to win over your customers
As a business owner, you know that the benefits of using software are endless. From streamlining your day-to-day operations to helping you expand your reach and grow your business, there are countless reasons why software is essential in today’s world. With so many options available on the web, it’s important to find the right one that will help your business grow and succeed. Thank you for reading
Need a new affordable pair of earbuds that are clean,simple to the point and get the job done exceptionally well, these guys should be on your list, earbuds these days are getting better in the lower end department and offering decent audio too with most of the features you expect to get, there is some that want it all for nothing but we are getting there with the cost to performance ratio with a lot of tech these days.
The Cute Meet 300 ENC are clean and come in a really cool case too with an unusual placement of the USB-C port mind you, however let this not be a caveat and listen more. These do not look cheap they are clean with a small sten and fit really well, there is no tips here as they are a one piece unit like airpods which are still overpriced and not up to standards no more compared to others out there and even some that come in under half their price, I have tested the biggest range of earbuds here in Ireland and my ears don’t tell fibs, Yes you can argue everyone’s ears are different but go ahead.
When it come to sound they are decent it must be said, nice bass so keep that in mind,highs lows and mids are fine and for music and depending on your source they do really well and are decently loud, my music source is YouTube and it is where I test most if not all my earbuds, for movies and gaming they are also fine and they also have a gaming mode too there is no lag latency either, and can be used individually so they have it all really including your skip and reverse track,volume control and more and access to your voice assistant.
Eppfun Cute Meet 300 ENC techbuzzireland
Check the video review below for more and how to operate the Eppfun Cute Meet 300 ENC
Key features:
1. Metal materials and special appearance technology give you better touch and visual feeling. Super small earphones designed for comfort and secure fit.
2.13mm size speakers give you a strong base and Qualcomm APTX HD brings you with clear sound.
3. IPX5 waterproof, you can use it anywhere Freely for sports.
4. 6 Hours Per Charging for Earbuds; Support up to 32 hours on vol 80% with charging case.
5. Qualcomm CVC8.0 calling noise cancelling and dual mic noise cancelling technology to give you clear calling.
6.Support Aptx Adaptive code Automatically switch codec between high sound quality and 60ms low latency.
In the last decade, brick-and-mortar stores have slowly started to decline in popularity. The truth is, many shoppers prefer the simplicity and convenience of online shopping. Additionally, the pandemic has only increased the popularity of eCommerce and sped up the decline of physical stores.
Since brick-and-mortar stores were on their way out, digital storefronts have started poaching stores’ clientele. However, eCommerce comes with its own set of issues, including cybersecurity.
According to a survey published by Irish telecommunications company Magnet Networks, 20% of respondentsclaimed to be unaware of significant cybersecurity issues within the industry. Moreover, the same report states that 43% of cyber attacks against Irish businesses can be attributed to unawareness.
If you couple this with Hiscox Insurance’s findings that 41% of Irish firms studied experienced a cyberattack over a six-month period, it’s easy to see why cybersecurity is such a big concern in Ireland.
The sudden surge in Irish eCommerce demands these businesses to tighten up their cybersecurity systems. However, the first step should be understanding the most significant risks Irish online businesses may face.
The Cyber Threats Facing Irish Businesses
1. Ransomware Attacks
In 2017 the WannaCry ransomware spread like a wildfire. By the end of the year, nearly 30,000 organizations were affected and many of them were organizations like hospitals, universities, businesses, and banks.
WannaCry caused millions of dollars of losses across the globe. And while many citizens and organizations were thankful the WannaCry scourge was put to an end later in the year, cybercriminals rejoiced because they saw an opening.
Ransomware locks the infected device and encrypts data stored on the device. Once the user turns the device on, they’re greeted with a “ransom note”. This “note” informs the user that if they want to see their data unencrypted they have to pay a certain sum of money, which is often in cryptocurrency.
However, paying the sum rarely gives the user access back. Despite that, people keep sensitive, valuable information on their devices, so it’s only natural they would want to pay. But what about the impact on businesses? Not only do many companies pay the ransom, but they also have to replace compromised devices. On top of that, businesses often have to pay a security firm that’ll make sure no confidential data was stolen or compromised.
2. State-Sponsored Attacks
The introduction of the Internet gave countries the ability to communicate with each other more efficiently, as well as the ability to wage cyberwars and launch cyberattacks.
These attacks are commonly known as “state-sponsored attacks”. Countries launch state-sponsored attacks for a few reasons, including:
Hunting for information they can exploit,
Exploiting businesses and people,
Exploiting vulnerabilities found in government systems.
Ireland has a long history of state-sponsored attacks, as well as the whole EU. For instance, in 2017, Irish electricity provider EirGrid became a target of a state-sponsored attack.
State-sponsored attacks are unpredictable and can cause severe damage if we do not have proper precautionary measures in place.
3. Phishing Scams
While some cyberattacks use complex software and have the backing of governments, others rely on social engineering and old-fashioned manipulation. One of the most commonly known social engineering attacks is phishing.
Phishing scams include manipulating the victim into giving out personal and financial information, which can be done in several ways, such as:
Promising a reward (a gift card, for example),
Creating a sense of urgency (fake Microsoft callers calling about a virus), and
Impersonating a family member or close friend.
Unfortunately, millions of people around the world fall for phishing scams each year. It’s easy to spot obvious phishing scams like the Nigerian prince scam, but nowadays cybercriminals know more sophisticated ways of manipulating users, and many phishing scams look and sound legitimate.
What Can Organisations and Irish Citizens Do?
While many cyber attacks can have a devastating effect on your business, there are some ways to prevent them from happening in the first place. However, a solid cybersecurity strategy requires time and effort. Thus, start learning and implementing new strategies to improve your chances against cybercriminals.
1. Use a VPN
Cybercriminals lurk on every corner of the Internet, waiting for an easy target. Unfortunately, in many cases, you don’t have to do much to become a victim. However, some practices may increase your chances. For example, many users transmit unencrypted data, whether they’re on a public network or while running their business, which can be extremely dangerous.
These days, cybercriminals can intercept and read unencrypted data without much effort. To make sure your data isn’t exposed, consider using a VPN for security.
For instance, ExpressVPN’s app actively encrypts the data your device sends out, meaning that cybercriminals will have a much harder time cracking it. You can also apply a network-wide VPN for your home or business to protect all the devices on the network in one swing.
2. Create Strong, Unique Passwords
Using the same password across multiple accounts will make your accounts more vulnerable to hacks. However, surveys show that most people still prefer using weak, easy-to-guess passwords.
One way to protect your accounts is by using a robust and unique password for each account. An even better option is using a password manager for your credentials.
3. Frequently Update Software
Software updates often contain various security fixes. Thus, to make sure your devices aren’t in danger, regularly check for available updates and update the software as frequently as possible.
Educate Yourself and Your Employees on Current Cybersecurity Risks
According to the aforementioned Magnet Networks survey, many Irish business owners lack awareness of current cybersecurity risks and dangers that could affect their businesses.
This lack of awareness means they often can’t identify the threat and are unprepared for an actual attack. This puts them at an immediate disadvantage, and it can severely endanger their business.
Thus, the first step should be educating your employees and yourself on the basic cybersecurity etiquette, the latest cybersecurity trends, and the dangers facing your businesses.
1. Subscribe to an Account Monitoring Service
When a data breach does happen, it’s essential to detect it as soon as possible. The longer the breach goes unnoticed, the more time the hacker has to tamper with the stolen data, and eventually sell it, or use it for nefarious purposes.
This is where account monitoring services can come in handy. Account monitoring services keep an eye on your accounts and inform you about potential security breaches or any other suspicious activity.
What’s more, you can choose between account monitoring services for individuals and businesses according to your needs.
2. Limit Access to Your Devices
There are no security software and cybersecurity education courses that can protect you if you leave your devices unsupervised. A skilled hacker needs only a few minutes to wreak havoc on an unattended device.
Thus, limiting access to your devices can significantly impact your overall security.
3. Set Roles for Each Employee
Letting your employees access all data at any time can result in security breaches. Fortunately, IT can set roles for everyone. This way, you can divide employees into groups and give them specific permissions based on their roles.
4. Secure Your Network
Without accessing the network, cybercriminals have fewer opportunities to harm your accounts. This is why it’s crucial to tighten up your network security.
For example, actions such as whitelisting trusted devices, setting a strong security key, and hiding your network can increase the overall security of your network.
Today, at the first-ever Shadow Spotlight keynote, cloud-computing specialist SHADOW detailed its strategic vision for the coming years and delivered on promises made to its community.
Now a global cloud-computing company chaired by Octave Klaba, OVHcloud founder, SHADOW is moving forward with a new cloud storage solution. With this re-launch, SHADOW positions itself as the definitive cloud platform for gamers, creatives, and businesses.
Shadow’s Power Upgrade, the best of our cloud-computing technology, available to everyone to play, create, and work on any connected device
SHADOW’s original product launched in 2016 offering the aim of allowing all individuals to enjoy the power of a high-end PC within the cloud. The revamped Shadow subscription service features an updated plan: while the starting price remains $29,99€ per month, we now offer a brand-new Power Upgrade, available for an additional $14,99€.
This new upgrade will help realize SHADOW’s plan to introduce and sustain a more complete and adaptable offering, suited to everyone’s needs, offering new technology at the best price. SHADOW strives to keep its promise: to democratize access to a PC with the latest components for as many people as possible, via the cloud, without needing to purchase a physical device.
So, what will be the configuration of the Power Upgrade?
An AMD EPYC™ 7543P CPU with 4 cores and 8 threads
The power of a high-end GPU, ranging from:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3070-class
NVIDIA’s equivalent graphic cards tailored for professionals
AMD’s latest RDNA 2 based GPUs, including the AMD Radeon™ PRO V620 GPU designed for cloud-computing and gaming
16 GB of RAM
The model of GPU included in specific Power Upgrade configurations will vary based on local data-center pick. Shadow will notably feature for the first time AMD EPYC™ processors and AMD’s latest RDNA 2 GPUs running innovative cloud streaming software solutions as part of its offerings. Details regarding GPU territorial availability are forthcoming.
Shadow’s Power Upgrade will be available for pre-order this summer, and globally available* this fall. An Early Access period will also be available for selected users ahead of general availability, for which details will be shared soon. Users can already register to be notified when the pre-orders go live in the coming weeks by following this link.
In addition to the availability of the Power Upgrade, the Shadow base offer continues to benefit from new features that expand or enhance the experience. SHADOW recently released dual and remote screen updates, enhanced colors with 4:4:4 chroma subsampling**, and the release of Shadow VR in Early Access, the first ever VR experience entirely powered by the cloud. Today, we also unveiled its new look, and the redesign of its overlay interface, offering an even more intuitive and responsive experience.
Our Shadow cloud-based computer also has the added benefit of an embedded 1Gbps fiber connection. And finally, users can also add extra-storage options, easily upgradable up to 2 TB.
“At SHADOW, we believe that cloud technologies have the potential to bring technological freedom to all,” declared Éric Sèle, CEO at SHADOW. “That’s why today, we’re very happy to introduce a new milestone for our Shadow service, with our Power Upgrade.”
“It is with excitement that we start a great new cooperation with Shadow, supporting them both with our CPU and GPU lines in a powerful package. This is an important step in accelerating their technological and geographic development projects,” said Olivier Suinat, CVP Global Sales at AMD.
Shadow will be available this fall in Canada and Austria, among other territories
SHADOW also proudly unveiled today that the base Shadow subscription plan and its Power Upgrade will be available soon in new territories, including Canada and Austria, this fall.
Users in these territories will be able to enjoy SHADOW’s industry-leading cloud-computing features. Shadow availability in additional key territories will be announced in the future.
At this time, SHADOW’s network of data-centers is composed of eight units, located in France, Germany, the United States and Canada. More openings are planned in our roadmap.
For more information about the Shadow Power Upgrade and the evolution of the Shadow service, please check the dedicated blog post.
Today, with more than 150 talented people working either on site in the SHADOW HQ in Paris or remotely in North America and Europe, the company is actively recruiting for diverse roles. For those interested in joining the adventure, please visit SHADOW’s careers page.
Shadow Drive, the online-storage solution by SHADOW, available this fall
SHADOW’s vision and ambitions go beyond pure cloud-computing. Introduced today, Shadow Drive is a safe and affordable online-storage solution built in partnership with Nextcloud, the world leading open-source file-sharing platform. Shadow Drive will allow users to store their data while keeping it accessible from anywhere. Data will be accessible via web, desktop and mobile apps which will be unveiled soon. Shadow Drive is fully secured through traffic encryption and will be available in all markets Shadow operates in, through European operated servers.
Shadow Drive will be available for free with up to 20 GB of storage, while a premium version of the service will be available at $8,99€ a month, with up to 2 TB available.
Shadow Drive will be available in soft launch with selected users this summer, and available to all in Europe this fall, and soon in North America.
Our ambition to set personal technology free from its material boundaries is not just about cloud-computing. To go beyond, we have been developing Shadow Drive, our cloud storage solution, with the help of our prestigious partner Nextcloud, for which I thank Frank,” explained Éric Sèle, CEO at SHADOW. “We are very excited with this combined European effort.”
“We have a common vision with Octave and Éric, and share values of excellence, openness and European sovereignty. This partnership felt natural and we are very happy to help SHADOW achieve its ambitions,” said Frank Karlitschek, CEO at Nextcloud.
Curve Games is proud to announce the official release of the fast-paced, precision racer party game, Golf Gang. Launching today on Steam for £7.99 / $9.99 / €9.99, Golf Gang elevates the competitive mini-golf experience to a random battle of skill and strategy to deliver the fastest game of mini-golf you’ll ever play!
Race around the course at breakneck speed in this high-energy party game. Drink in its vibrant colours, amusingly ruthless environments, modifiers, and expressive golf balls to unveil a perfect mix of madness. Don’t believe us? Watch the chaos unfold in these short clips from talented players Baghera Jones, Mynthos, and Etoiles.
Developed by two brothers who founded the Lazy Monday Games studio back in 2015, Golf Gang is Fall Guys meets golf in this easy to pick up and play but hard to master game. Play solo speed runs or compete with up to 8 friends and family to see who can finish the courses fastest and with the fewest strokes possible in hectic multiplayer action.
Don’t miss out on an incredible first week (19th – 26th May) deal:
Technology affects almost every aspect of our lives, from transport, to healthcare, communication, manufacturing and more. It’s in our workplace, our homes, and our pockets, and it’s hard to imagine life without it.
Things that would have seemed impossible a few years ago are now taken for granted. Lights are turned on with our voices, the heating is controlled via a smartphone and movies and games are streamed to huge flat screen TV’s.
One of the most visible and enjoyable areas that technology has improved, is gaming. When the computer games took off in the 1980’s, no one could have imagined the power and immersive realism afforded by todays offerings.
But what exactly are these technological advances and what impact are they having on today’s games.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality gaming (AR) is the integration of games visual and audio with the players environment in real time. These games are typically played on portable gaming systems such as smartphones or tablets, in order to maximise the experience.
The most obvious and successful example of an AR game was Pokemon Go which became a worldwide sensation upon its release. By using a smartphones camera, gyroscope, clock and GPS, it created a unique location-based AR environment for the player.
The game sent players on the hunt for Pokemon monsters around their neighbourhood, and was able to display the creatures on screen in the user’s real-world environment. Another more recent example of AR is Nintendo’s Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, which transforms your home into augmented reality-enhanced race tracks.
While the game is expensive due to the advanced technology involved, it is a great example of the possibilities of AR, and the exciting future that lies ahead for this tech.
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR has been around a while and in many ways, it’s still waiting for the gaming world to catch up – and prices to come down! Having said that, there are plenty of great titles out there that are making use of this great technology, such as Resident Evil 4 VR and No Man’s Sky VR.
There are still limitations to this tech however, with gamers needing to invest in expensive headsets such as Meta Quest. The physical limitations of a gamers playing space is also an issue when they are immersed in a seemingly boundless virtual world.
Virtual Reality is an exciting technology that can take players anywhere and allow them to immerse themselves in a game. Whether it’s playing table tennis, fighting Zombies or a visit to the casino, the possibilities are endless.
Smartphones
The single biggest cause behind the explosion in gaming popularity is the rise of the smartphone. Thanks to its portability and ease of access, anyone with a smartphone has access to games anytime and anywhere they choose.
Last year, mobile games were responsible for nearly half of the video game industry sales, and that doesn’t include the download of free games. One of the biggest benefactors of the mobile gaming revolution are online casino games such, poker, roulette, blackjack and slots like Rainbow Riches.
Previously, if gamers wanted to play casino games, they would have to physically visit a land-based casino. But thanks to the internet and smartphones, gamers can enjoy these classic games from the comfort of their own homes.
With smartphones boasting fast internet speeds, powerful graphics and quality screens, casino games are an immersive and entertaining experience.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming has the potential to revolutionise the gaming industry. Thanks to fast broadband speeds, players are able to game in real time on almost any device.
Powerful servers in the cloud host the games, allowing gamers to access them online via their devices. This means that players do not need to invest in expensive gaming consoles and computers in order to play the latest games, all the processing is done in the cloud.
Also called gaming on demand, it is essentially a Netflix for games. And just like Netflix, there are plenty of competitors battling it out for market share.
Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Google, Amazon, Nvidia and Nintendo, are just some of the many companies offering gamers access to their catalogues through a monthly subscription service.
This tech also brings other benefits, such as the removal of boundaries when it comes to game design. So often designers are limited in their imagination by the processing power of gamers devices, but with huge cloud servers powering games, the sky really is the limit.
3D Graphics
Old online games were based on two-dimensional graphics which still retain a certain charm, but the onset of 3D has changed everything in the gaming world. Games are now more immersive, realistic, exciting and enjoyable.
Racing games, first person shooters and sports titles have all benefitted, with games such as Call of Duty, Forza and EA’s FIFA series all fine examples. Open world games have also utilised this technology to create best selling games such as the worldwide hit, Minecraft, with its creativity and endless possibilities.
The future of gaming
As technology continues to improve players can expect to see many more exciting improvements to their gameplay experience. With fierce competition driving innovation in the sector, companies need to utilise technology to create unique games that will attract players to their offering. The winners will be the gamers who get to enjoy even better, more immersive titles.
