Tag Archive for: Nick Bright

Alcotraz

Alcotraz: Hide Your Beer!

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Marcus Bronzy recently attended Alcotraz pop up bar in London, the one place where you have to hide your beer! If you get found out by the guards there’s punishment!

This bar is a lot of fun, it’s definitely something different than what we have experienced before. It’s an immersive theatrical experience that gets you from the second that you arrive at the destination.

Alcotraz bar is inspired by Hollywood movies that have brought to life one of America’s most infamous prisons. Right in the heart of London. The bar is London’s very first immersive theatrical cocktail bar. It’s not an experience that stops once you get to the end, it’s a fully functional bar once it’s over. If you manage to escape the guards that is.

Alcotraz: Experience

Upon entering the venue you are given orange jumpsuits to get into the feel of Alcatraz. Then to get immersed further, you are thrown into real metallic cells. Making for an intimate place to perfectly enjoy a drink within an intimate environment.

When you’re sent to Alcotraz (or going there willingly) inmates (as you’re known) are sent into a world of exciting mischief as you smuggle in liquor. However, this is the liquor that will be used to make delicious cocktails, made entirely of your imagination! Why? As there isn’t a set of menus at Alcotraz, they’re all made up by the inmates!  Don’t forget this is a prison!

Alcotraz creates a range of tailored cocktails every night, it’s based on the liquor that is brought in by inmates. As well as your very own tastes. Again, just make sure that the warden doesn’t catch you! Don’t be too afraid though as there are some guards that are on the inside, on your side! They’ve got some creative ways of hiding contraband too, so take their advice!

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Alcotraz
Alcotraz

 All in all, we had a very enjoyable experience whilst at Alcotraz. Not Alcatraz, we don’t wanna go there!

To attend Alcotraz bar please click here!

To listen to the guys talking about Alcotraz please click here!

True Tone

iPhone True Tone Display

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What’s the benefit of this? It makes reading a lot more comfortable on your eyes and will help to use and the phone when in sunlight.

Your phone is able to do this as the sensors that are in your phone measure a lot of things! The ambient light, colour and brightness of the light around you. Takes a reading and then adjusts accordingly to what it feels will produce the best white light, thus showing the right setting for your eyes.

True Tone: However……

While this sounds awesome enough, the feature does have to be enabled!

To enable True Tone on your iPhone/iPad:

  • Settings
  • Display and Brightness
  • Turn on True Tone

Bonus

Don’t forget to also turn on Night Shift!

Night Shift is located in the same settings as True Tone and the phone also adjusts your phones display when using this.

The iPhone will use it’s clock and geolocation to adjust the colours to a warmer colour. The display will get dimmer when using this setting at a later time at night, to reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen. Making a more orange type hue to the screen.

The reason for this? Making the display easier to read when late night reading. Apple are looking out for your eyes when scrolling through instagram late at night!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Oculus Gloves

Oculus Gloves: Immersion crazy!

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Oculus Rift are looking to make VR a lot more immersive and we cannot wait! If their latest patents come to fruition that is. Oculus Rift are said to be working on a set of Oculus Gloves that provide haptic feedback, throwing a user into a world of immersion never seen before!

Oculus Gloves: How they work

The patents describe “tendons” within the gloves that mimic and simulate the sense of a realistic touch. All within the virtual world, so they’d tense and relax based on what your doing. Such as picking up a glass of water, or opening a door. While this sounds super cool, it won’t be the same as holding something in your hand though. As your fingers and hands are able to sense that your holding something through pressure in your fingers. Yet these designs from Oculus work in a different way. They work opposite, in the sense that the tendons will run along the back of your hand. Using the haptic feeback to offer resistance to your own movements.  Thus mimicking that your touching an object. So not the same, but pretty darn close!

The Oculus gloves are described by the guys over at Digital Trends as having string tied to the backs of your hands. Pulling at you and making the action of clenching your fists a little bit different. Yet in real life, you’d see the effect with your own eyes. Therefore if you’re in a VR world, the input in your eyes you’d experience the action of pulling differently. Your brain would be tricked into believing that your holding the object.

Patents don’t always mean that the product will come to fruition. But it is quite cool to imagine how this would be implemented! Imagine Call Of Duty picking up a gun or Forza, holding a steering wheel whilst racing around Imola. How cool does that sound! What’s even more impressive is that Tesla want to take this one step further and make full body suits!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Siri

Apple looking to make Siri better!

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As we have discussed on the show previously, the most impressive AI helpers are those from Amazon and Google. With Alexa and Google Assistant respectively. However, if you may recall that it was Apple who first introduced us to an AI that can help you in your day to day lives. Siri, was the first out of the gate. Yet, she is lagging behind her rivals when it comes to intelligence. Both Alexa and Google Assisstant can recall a lot more information and specific information. Siri on the other hand, sometimes can’t even answer basic questions. Only answering what you want if you ask her something in a very specific manner. She’s just not as good as her counterparts. With the release of Homepod, the lack of intelligence in Siri is even more obvious. Yet it’s vitally important to get this correctly, now more than ever, because of Homepod’s battle with Alexa and Google Home. That’s not to say that Siri isn’t intelligent, she can answer questions, she just isn’t good enough.

Siri Hiring

So to battle this, the guys over at Thinknum have noticed that Apple have been on a Siri hiring spree. Hiring as much as 161 different positions to help improve Siri. There’s been a steady increase in Siri related job positions since the summer of 2016, however, there’s been a surge, since February of 2018. The positions are for engineers. Engineers that are geared towards helping Siri answer her weaknesses in answering simple general questions. Other positions that are available are for Siri’s Proactive Intelligence. This is basically Siri’s ability to anticipate the type of info that you may need. A further two other positions are for SiriKit developer framework and speech generation. While it may be some time before we see any improvement on a consumer level, this definitely shows Apple’s intent when it comes to AI.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

EuropaCorp

Netflix purchasing Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp?

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Luc Besson he released a visually impressive film called Valerian last year. Releasing through his own film company, EuropaCorp. It is being touted as one of the most expensive independent movies ever made. However, on release the movie wasn’t well received by critics. Valerian didn’t show the same promise that the money that got put into it. As a result, according to Variety, EuropaCorps prospects of staying alive are dwindling.

Netflix, EuropaCorp Saviour?

However, there could be a lifeline in from Netflix. EuropaCorp are said to be in “advanced talks” according to reports gathered by Slash Film. Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp is one of Europe’s largest indie film studios. Founded in 1996 and has spawned many famous films. The thriller Taken is a EuropaCorp production, a favourite of many! The Sci-Fi film Lucy was well received by critics too, hitting 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. So EuropaCorp are no slouch when it comes to movies. However, the company is said to have taken on significant debt. Therefore have been downsizing American operations to return to French language films.

According to Slash Films reports the talks between the streaming giant and EuropaCorp began in January. With the intention of a multi picture deal being considered. However, Netflix are now said to be wanting the whole company and want a total acquisition of EuropaCorp. If the acquisition were to go ahead, Besson, would remain with the company as the central creative entity.

So, Netflix is serious about making movies. We may see Netflix either in the cinema. Taking on the cinema from people’s homes. Or both!

If this aquistion were to happen as scheduled in the summer. We’re very interested to see what Netflix can do with a movie studio under it’s wing. Netflix Originals have done very well on the platform and if they can replicate that success with films. That would be a very bold move from Netflix to Hollywood indeed.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Four Thieves

Four Thieves – A whole lot of fun!

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Four Thieves is like no pub you have seen before! It’s unlike anything we have seen before, we’ll say that much! If you want fun on a Friday night head down to the Four Thieves pub as we can guarantee if you’ll have fun! There is so much to do there besides drink copious amounts of alcohol. So much more, if you’re a big kid, you’ll love it. Ok I’ll stop hyping it up now and actually tell you why we think that it’s so good. It’s impressed us. Can you tell?

This pub has a lot of games inside it, there’s a whole room dedicated to it! There’s Moonshine Racing which is remote controlled car racing, Virtual Reality Booths, Mini-Golf and Retro Arcade games! The beers that the guys sell here are all brewed from their own on-site brewery. Great food available, lots of different events on weekly, it’s no surprise that the pub picked up a best pub nomination from Time Out just two weeks after opening!

Food

Four Thieves Food

Four Thieves Food

The guys over at Four Thieves have created great dishes taking influence from great British pub food and also the vibrant street food scene made with seasonal, fresh locally sourced ingredients! It’s so good it’ll make you want to stop gaming to grab a bite to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a bit more about those games we were telling you about:

Moonshine Raceway

Four Thieves Raceway

Four Thieves Raceway

The Moonshine Raceway is an intense RC car race against 10 other players, in a game that’s described as the hottest “true to life motorsport experience”

 

VR

Four Thieves VR

Four Thieves VR

The VR venue at Four Thieves is the UK’s only dedicated virtual reality installation, available to the public! There has a range of different games available to you whilst at your time at the pub.

Brookhaven Experiement

In this game you step into a deserted town square, at night and a lone. Fight a swap of Zombies armed with just a pistol and a flashlight. You can even change the theme with this one, ask the guys there to be put into the storm drains, or the reservoir.

Longbow

This game is a classic! It’s a simple protect your castle with a bow and arrow game. Shoot hoards of enemies as they attack your castle with your trusty bow and arrow.

Slingshot

Your tasked with making sure that a giant is fully functional. You’re the technition and it’s your job to make sure it works. The twist. The way you check that it works is by firing bowling balls at towering stacks of crates in the warehouse.

 

 

Plonk Golf

Four Thieves Golf

Four Thieves Golf

Plonk Golf is a crazy golf game in the middle of a pub that’s dark, but it’s filled with a lot of colour to keep things crazy. (Alongside the obvious when it comes to crazy golf) The crazy golf does cost £6 a game, no pre-booking though, just turn up and get swinging.

 

Lady Chastity’s Reserve

Solve the sordid secrets of Lady Chastity’s vineyard in time to win her fabled bottle of aphrodisiac wine, but hurry, she doesn’t suffer idiots lightly. This new immersive gaming experience promises to be an entertaining and exciting challenge for you and your friends.

The game has been described as ‘the next generation of the ‘escape room’ format, offering surprising challenges throughout, while involving a ‘Punchdrunk’ twist with a comedic tale of mystery. This immersive story plunges players into the action, much like a dark ‘Secret Cinema’. Lady Chastity’s Reserve is proud to be dubbed as ‘the Crystal Maze on crystal meth’.

 

Events

Four Thieves Events

Four Thieves Events

Four Thieves hosts different events each week, so there’s always something on for you to check them out! They host the very best comedians and even take part in an you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it quiz hosted by Boogaloo Stu!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brewery

Four Thieves Brewery

Four Thieves Brewery

So, the guys over at Four Thieves brew their own beer, a whole 40 casks! That’s 1440 pints! So therefore there’s a steady flow of craft ale at the Four Thieves Pub. The Four Thieves has its own Keg pale ale and their own brewer fresh lager – a Czech style pilsner, served straight into the glass in the bar.

 

 

 

To attend Four Thieves please click here!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Mobile World Congress

Episode 269 Best of Mobile World Congress

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nintendo labo

Nintendo Labo: Get Creative With Cardboard!

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Nintendo Labo

This is Nintendo Labo and they’re giving you new ways to interact with the Switch, with cardboard.

So, what exactly is it? It is designed to help you get creative with the Switch. Create all different kinds of gaming add ons with the variety kits that are available. Such as fishing kits, play piano or even the most impressive one that we have seen an AR Robot kit!

Nintendo are calling the cardboard kits, ‘Toy-Cons’ and are designed to be solely used with the Nintendo Switch. Just by following the onscreen instructions that are displayed on the Switches touchscreen.

The Toy-Cons are so versatile that you can either use the Toy-Cons independently of the screen itself and you watch what’s occuring on screen. I.e: Fishing. Where all the computing is done inside the joy-con controller, or by using the whole console itself to find new ways to play! An example of this would be the use of a motorbike, whereby the switch is placed in the center of the ‘Toy-Cons’ and ‘Joy-Cons’ are placed either side and the accelerometer acts as a steering mechanism.

The most impressive of the lot was the use of a HUGE contraption, with the Robot ‘Toy-Con’. This cardboard accessory is HUGE and is placed on a users back and utilises cables to detect a users movement. From the imagery online this game looks incredibly immersive and we cannot wait to check it out!

Nintendo Labo: Customization

Most of all, the ‘Toy-Cons’ are cardboard and come pre-printed with designs. Therefore users are able to colour them and customise them as they wish! Furthermore if you’re a computer whizz and know how to code, then you’re in luck! You can even create your very own games that interact with the Nintendo Labo! So, get those thinking caps on!

Nintendo Labo

This is Nintendo Labo and they're giving you new ways to interact with the Nintendo Switch, with cardboard.It's called the Nintendo Labo and is designed to help you get creative with the Switch. Create all different kinds of gaming add ons with the variety kits that are available. Such as fishing kits, play piano or even the most impressive one that we have seen an AR Robot kit!Find out more here:howtokillanhour.com/gadgets-tech/nintendo-laboMarcus Bronzy Nick Bright DJ Ace

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Thursday, 25 January 2018

What do you think of the Nintendo Labo? Get in touch and let us know via our socials!

To purchase the Nintendo Labo please click here!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

Episode 266 5 Fun Apps For February 2018

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Hello Neighbor

Hello Neighbor: A stealth Horror

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Hello Neighbor

Thanks to the guys over at Tiny Build we were able to check out Hello Neighbor (Steam)!

What is ‘Hello Neighbor’ I hear you ask? Well it’s not a game that requires you to knock on all of your neighbors homes and introduce yourself. Nor is it a knock down ginger game.

It’s a game all about mystery. A mystery of your creepy neighbor.

You play as a young boy, playing with his ball in the street, when all of a sudden he hears a strange noise coming from his creepy neighbors home. It turns out that he’s hiding something in his basement. This intrigues you and you want to find out exactly what he’s hiding in there!

This is where you, the player, come in. It’s down to you to use your wit and problem solving abilities to maneuver yourself to discovering what is unknown.

Hello Neighbor: AI Intelligence

However, you always have to come up with new ways to get into the house and away from the creepy neighbor. The neighbor may be creepy but he is highly intelligent! If you get caught trying a potential solution one way, you’re unlikely to be able to do the same again! He remembers where you went and how you did it, so may lay down traps for you!

This adds an element of replayability as it makes you think about what you’re going to next. Therefore making the game not as linear as others as our game may not be the same as yours! He will learn and he will adapt, so it’s down to you to be one step ahead of the creepy neighbor each and every time!

To listen to the guys chatting about this on the How To Kill An Hour podcast please click here!

To purchase ‘Hello Neighbor’ on Steam, please click here!