APP ATTACK:

IARNROD EIREANN:
It’s easy to lose your train of thought when stuck on atrocious public transport websites that are updated once every decade and require you to enter estimated times of departure and arrival, like a MENSA test for physics professors, when all you want is the bloody timetable. Irish Rail hope to make life easier with the IARNROD EIREANN app, a free ticket to see Ireland. The app provides real time train information, including delays (plenty of those), timetables, and even an augmented reality station location service. All aboard!

TOPDRIVER:
If a car is your preferred mode of transport, then strap in to the TOPDRIVER app for Android, which purportedly leads to 15% discounts on car insurance. The app, created by No Nonsense, uses a device’s GPS to monitor your driving. After 80km of monitored driving, you can check your TopDriver score, although you’ll need 800km of monitored driving to qualify for a 15% discount from No Nonsense.

TECH NEWS:

ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA
A government committee has recommended that social networks act quickly in cases of reported bullying. The report, from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, looked into the problems around cyberbullying in Ireland. The committee noted that an increasing amount of young children are creating social media pages, so networks such as Facebook should close down the accounts when the users are underage. According to a report out earlier in the year, there are more instances of cyberbullying in Ireland than elsewhere in the EU. A quarter of nine-to-16-year-olds have experienced some degree of online harassment.

BRING OUT THE BEAST
A new brand of headphones promise to bring out your inner werewolf. Monster DNA – a collaboration between entertainment honchos Viacom and headphone manufacturers Monster – is a new set of earmuffs from the boffins that brought us Beats By Dr Dre. Conceptually, the headphones block out external sound, so the quality is the same wherever you are. A lawnmower might suggest otherwise. Monster DNA is built to withstand a battering and come in a selection of four two-tone shades. The headphones are available from Harvey Norman, Expert Ireland, GameStop, Smyths Superstores and other electrical retailers nationwide at a retail price of €199.95.

STILL GOT THE BLUES FOR YOU
Logitech is pumping up the volume with a new set of wireless stereo speakers. The Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 steam music from computer, smartphone and tablets, without a spaghetti junction of cables mucking up your gaff. The speakers feature a touch disc for volume control. A Bluetooth pairing, and 3.5 mm input, are tucked away at the back. “The Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 were designed to resemble an object of art using shapes, materials, and colours that meld with the modern living space and complement the look of ultrathin laptops,” said Logitech’s Charlotte Johs. “And with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, these speakers are ideal for today’s wireless, multi-device lifestyle.”