
Major broadband provider offers huge Wi-Fi speed boost – you just need to flick a button in the app
A major UK broadband provider has just introduced a brand new feature that's sure to please fans of Netflix, Disney+ or just about any TV app.
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New feature puts your streaming apps in the fast lane
Credit: Alamy
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Feature now available to selected EE Broadband customers
Credit: EE
And it's all possible with a simple flick of a button in an app.
EE has announced that Stream Mode is rolling out to eligible broadband customers over the coming weeks.
When activated within the EE app, it cleverly to minimise buffering and improve viewing quality throughout the home.
The feature puts live streaming uploads in the fast lane too so its quicker to share videos on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Read more about Wi-Fi
It's all part of EE's WiFi Enhancer service.
The firm already has a Game Mode and Work Mode for power players and those working from home respectively.
WiFi Enhancer is included as standard with the Made for Gamers and Busiest Home broadband bundles.
Or you can add it on as a £5 per month 30 day rolling basis.
Most read in Tech
Luciano Oliveira, Director of Product of Home & TV at EE, said the tool is designed to give customers "even more control over their broadband experience".
"Whether its binge-watching boxsets or watching live sport, Stream Mode puts streaming apps in the fast lane, so customers can enjoy uninterrupted entertainment, even when the whole household is online," he said.
"It's all part of our mission to create a smarter, more personalised, WiFi experience, and it's only available on EE."
How to boost your Wi-Fi speeds and get the best internet performance
Little-known objects that can disrupt your Wi-Fi
People don't realise how many objects around the home can impact their Wi-Fi signal and slow things down. Here are some you may have missed.
Microwaves (when they're running)
Baby monitors
Fish tanks
Mirrors
Bluetooth devices
Cordless phones

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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Barry O'Sullivan: ChatGPT is not your friend
Artificial intelligence is a broad umbrella term for computer systems that perform tasks that we think of as requiring human intelligence – and, despite all the fuss about it lately, we've been using it for decades. There are AI systems that learn, that can process natural language, that can play complex games and be strategic, that can interpret visual scenes and images, and so on. We use AI systems every day. Some examples include satellite navigation systems in cars and mobile phones, voice assistants such as Amazon's Alexa, the features of streaming platforms such as Netflix or Spotify that suggest what you might enjoy next, news items on social media feeds are selected for us using AI, and even the Google search engine itself. AI is ubiquitous in our lives. The term itself was coined in 1955 by John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon, in a proposal for a summer project at Dartmouth. An interesting connection to Ireland: McCarthy's father, John Patrick, was from Cromane in County Kerry and emigrated to the USA where his genius son was born. Since its widespread release in November 2022, OpenAI's ChatGPT has probably become the most widely talked about artificial intelligence technology in the world. It is an example of a Large-Language Model – an LLM - which can generate plausible text in response to a question or search query, often referred to as a prompt, on every conceivable topic. ChatGPT, and other similar chatbots, such as Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude, can write very sophisticated answers in terms of content style. For example, one could ask for an essay on the 1916 Rising written in the rhyming style of Dr Seuss, and ChatGPT will generate a response instantly and rather brilliantly. ChatGPT is a cutting-edge chatbot, built using state-of-the-art machine-learning AI methods. It has been trained on everything one can possibly read in electronic form: the entire worldwide web, digitally available books, research papers, policy documents, newspapers, and many other electronic materials. In a sense it has read everything humans have ever written and which can be accessed online or in digital form. The technical achievement in producing LLM-based chatbots, like ChatGPT, is astonishing. They seemingly have read everything that the entirety of humankind has produced and they can instantly respond with sophisticated and plausible answers to any question we would like to pose. Does that mean that these systems have superhuman understanding and expertise? Are these systems truly artificially intelligent? In a word: No. The problems of chatbots While ChatGPT and other LLMs can instantly generate sophisticated answers, they suffer from a number of problems. They don't really understand what they have read. Instead, informally speaking, they have learned that particular sequences of words tend to occur with other sequences of words. In the AI world we say that these systems lack a commonsense understanding of the world. Whether the text is true or false means nothing to them. They often generate text that is misleading or downright incorrect. They 'hallucinate', meaning they invent things that are not true. There is no harm intended, but because they don't understand the world or what they are saying, they are essentially 'stochastic parrots', as a well-known research paper has described LLMs. The analogy I like to use comes from Killinaskully and specifically Pat Shortt's character Dan Clancy who sits between his friends in Jacksie's Bar. Ask Dan anything you want. He'll answer you earnestly and to the best of his ability. He might make up a few details along the way, unintentionally of course. Maybe you'd prefer him to close his eyes and recite his answer poetically with his hand on his heart and in the style of Padraig Pearse. No problem. While this analogy is somewhat facetious, it demonstrates the challenges that arise when one uses ChatGPT and other LLMs in specific settings. Barry O'Sullivan: 'If a user believes in a conspiracy theory, for example, the user could use a chatbot like ChatGPT to engage in a dialogue that has the consequence of confirming the user's beliefs.' Picture: LinkedIn The purpose of an LLM is to generate plausible text, ideally that the user will engage with so it can be refined further. One can get into a conversation with an LLM by tweaking the original prompt. For example, ask ChatGPT to tell you how to prepare a roast chicken, it will respond with detailed instructions, but you might feel that you'd prefer the skin to be a little crispier and articulate that. ChatGPT will offer up a revised response, hopefully a more acceptable one. It is easy to see how one can direct a conversation to get a desired outcome. While this is helpful to make sure that we have a good chance of cooking our dinner the way we would like it, if we are asking questions about things that are troubling us, or we're seeking advice, or we're trying to get reassurance about our perspective on things, using an AI tool that does not have an understanding of what it is saying can have significant consequences. AI chatbots, LLMs and systems such as ChatGPT, are being increasingly used to find information about personal matters, offer life advice, or even as personal therapists. The ELIZA effect refers to the tendency to project human characteristics onto chatbots. ELIZA was a chatbot developed at MIT in 1966 and simulated a Rogerian psychotherapist by rephrasing statements made by the user into questions which had the effect of prompting the user to offer up increasingly more emotional and personal details. 'AI psychosis' Recently, there has been a growing focus on 'AI psychosis', where users with mental health issues like schizophrenia can have paranoid delusions fuelled by chatbots, although there is yet no clinical literature on this. Chatbots based on LLMs can be prompted by users in a way that increases the chances of inaccurate information being presented to them. If a user believes in a conspiracy theory, for example, the user could use a chatbot to engage in a dialogue that has the consequence of confirming the user's beliefs. An LLM-based chatbot doesn't understand what it is generating as output, and is trying to find a response that the user will be satisfied with. There is no intentional manipulation at play but, nonetheless, this can be a harmful recipe. LLM-based chatbots can be used to re-confirm a harmful perspective that no real person would confirm unless they had a malicious intent. Adding in the narrative that these AI systems are approaching superhuman capabilities can give them a god-like status in the minds of vulnerable users. AI technology is extremely powerful and impactful, and, therefore, comes with enormous responsibility on those making it available to ensure that it can be used safely and ethically. There is much excitement and hype around AI at the moment. It is important that hype is challenged, that we keep our feet on the ground, and that we maintain a watchful eye on its impacts. Gaining literacy in AI is now an important life skill and one of the reasons that under the European Union's AI Act there are specific obligations on the providers and deployers of AI technology on this very topic. AI, in my opinion, has been an overwhelming positive technology, but we must pay attention to the risks and deal with these matters through technological advances as well as education and literacy initiatives. Barry O'Sullivan is a professor at the School of Computer Science & IT at University College Cork, founding director of the Research Ireland Centre for Research Training on Artificial Intelligence, a member of the Irish Government's AI Advisory Council, and former Vice Chair of the European High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence Read More Gen Z Student: Knowing my own essays will be graded against the work of AI is disheartening


Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Xgimi MoGo 4 tested to see if projector deliver enough entertainment on-the-go
Summer is here and the time is right for outdoor movie nights with a portable projector and screen. Xgimi is one of the world's most renowned projector manufacturers, offering a variety of machines, such as home theatre projectors like its famed Horizon series and portable options such as the MoGo series. It recently launched its eagerly anticipated Mogo 4 device, a fully portable projector with a built-in battery – there are no power outlets required. READ MORE: Xgimi Portable Outdoor Screen is a budget-priced projection display you can take anywhere READ MORE: TV or Projector? We compare six new XGIMI home projectors with Google TV and Netflix built in MoGo 4 everyday use Battery stamina for MoGo 4 is rated for about two and half hours of video playback in Eco mode or six hours of music playback. While that's plenty of time for most movies, sadly it means if you are watching an epic three-hour flick then you will need assistance from a plug or a decent portable power bank. But you also have the option of buying the firm's Power Base Stand accessory which effectively doubles the battery life as it has a built-in 20,000mAh power bank. MoGo 4 is a stylish matte silver cylindrical shaped unit that's not much bigger than a large can of Red Bull so you can easily slip it into a backpack or bag. It comes with a built-in stand and rotates 360 degrees so you can project onto a ceiling or wall with similar ease. It has a tripod thread underneath if you need more elevation or fancy slotting it on the optional Power Base stand. Xgimi MoGo 4 and the optional Power Base Stand accessory (Image: Xgimi) The projector comes with Google TV and apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ built-in. The user interface is intuitive to use and navigation is slick using the included remotes. Setting up the device is simple. Along with the fast and effective autofocus, there is a helpful auto keystone feature. This uses sensors and algorithms to detect any image distortion and automatically adjust it to a rectangular shape. It's quick and reliable. Image quality is pleasing, looking sharp in full HD on screens up to 70in in size. The Mogo 4 handles the faster motion of action sports as it does movies and TV dramas. Colours are vibrant and everything looks better than you might expect a portable projector too. Brightness is rated at 450 ISO lumens. This is all about fun on the go, and the built-in 6W Harman/Kardon speakers mean you don't have to worry about audio either. If you do wish to beef up your soundtrack, you can pair the device easily to a speaker using Bluetooth. MoGo 4 other features MoGo 4 has this detachable lanyard which houses a basic remote control (Image: Xgimi) There's a full-size HDMI port at the side of MoGo 4 for connecting a games console or laptop. You also get a USB port for connecting storage drives. I love the detachable lanyard which houses a basic remote control that means you can leave the standard remote at home if you are bringing the device on a weekend away or a camping can also control the projector using your phone. The main backlit voice controllable remote includes shortcut keys for YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and another that enables you to jump straight to any app downloaded from the Google Play Store. If you are using the projector to listen to music, a set of creative filters that magnetically clip onto the front of the lens turn the projector into an ambient art installation. The filter effects can be switched using gesture controls or the remote. Remove the filter and the projector returns to the Google TV home screen. Xgimi Portable Outdoor Screen The handy budget priced Xgimi Portable Outdoor Screen (Image: Xgimi) I tested the Xgimi projector outdoors using an inexpensive Portable Outdoor Screen that the firm recently launched. It includes a wrinkle-free screen large enough to display a 70in image and there's a rust-resistant aluminium alloy frame to clip the screen into. It only takes a few minutes to set it up. Ground stakes help keep it pegged into the ground and you can marvel as your garden is transformed into an al fresco cinema. Xgimi MoGo 4 verdict Overall, this is an excellent ultra-compact and easy-to-use portable projector that provides an all-in-one entertainment solution with Google TV smarts, Bluetooth audio, ambient lighting filters and a built-in battery. Pricing and availability Xgimi MoGo 4 costs €599 and the Portable Outdoor Screen costs €99, both from You can also buy the MoGo 4 with Power Base Stand for €679. And there's a higher quality MoGo 4 Triple Laser Projector with 550 ISO Lumens for €799 and a complete MoGo 4 Laser Outdoor Collection which is a travel-friendly Outdoor Projector Kit with Stand and Screen and a handy carrying case, all for €949. All of the firm's products are also available on Amazon. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.


The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Mercedes' new CLA 250+ Sport is its most efficient and intelligent car ever but is spoiled by ‘chavvy' feature
IF no one else has the balls to say it, I will. Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world. Advertisement 5 With this CLA, Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world Credit: Supplied 5 There are 142 three-pointed stars in that front grille Credit: Supplied 5 The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features Credit: Supplied A leeetle bit chavvy. Just look at all the three-pointed stars on the new CLA. It's absolutely coated in them. There are 142 in that front grille, another 158 in the fancy glass sunroof, plus many more on the wheels, lights and dashboard. Advertisement READ MORE ROAD TESTS I gave up counting at 330. THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY!!! They should stick a MERCEDES sun strip on it. Y'know, just in case someone thinks it's a BMW. Strip away all that Burberryness and you're left with a truly excellent motor car. The most efficient Mercedes ever. Advertisement Most read in Motors The most intelligent Mercedes ever. Yet it's also the cheapest electric Mercedes ever. Mercedes reveals its new luxury EV with 'superscreen' passengers can play video games or watch Netflix on while on move It's got a 484-mile battery by the WLTP test. We nudged 400 in the real world. A clever two-speed auto gearbox for added efficiency. Advertisement All sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Rapid 800v charging to suck up 200 miles of juice in just ten minutes. So it's a proper long-range cruiser that's easy to live with. There's a video camera above that 14in central screen for Teams meetings. Advertisement You can watch YouTube and Disney+. Play Fortnite and Angry Birds. All of the above when parked up, obviously. There's a third passenger screen coming later that will cover up some of those bleedin' stars. Advertisement The 'Hey Mercedes' personal assistant wants to be your friend. We asked her to 'play Raye'. She did. We asked her to 'name that statue of the naked ladies to our left'. Advertisement She did. We asked her: 'Should I buy a Mercedes CLA over a BMW?' She's been taught well. She replied: 'Choosing between a Mercedes CLA over a BMW ultimately depends on your preferences and needs. The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features. Advertisement 'If you seek more details about the Mercedes CLA feel free to ask.' Hang on. I'm having a proper conversation with a car. Like Michael Knight and KITT. Just not chasing baddies. 5 The CLA comes with all sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Credit: Supplied 5 Oh look - another 158 three-pointed stars in the fancy glass sunroof Credit: Supplied Advertisement If you're rubbish at parking, no stress. Press a button and watch it shimmy in and out of tight spaces on its own. It's the first Mercedes to have a front trunk, 100 litres of extra storage space under the bonnet. Out on the open road, CLA is everything you'd expect a Merc to be. Advertisement Quiet. Sophisticated. Effortless. And so hovercraft-smooth you'd think it has air suspension. It doesn't. Steel. That's engineering at its best for you. Acceleration is nicely calibrated. Not silly fast. But enough. AMG will add a bit of spice later. Advertisement Actually, that brings me nicely to other versions. There's a smaller 335-mile battery on the way, an estate, 4WDs, and a new 1.5-litre petrol hybrid for those not ready to switch to electric yet. Bonus. The petrol doesn't have all the illuminated stars on the front grille because it needs more cooling. So it's less Burberry. Advertisement Tone down all the bling and I'd give it five stars. KEY FACTS: MERCEDES CLA 250+ SPORT Price: £45,615 Battery: 85kWh Power: 272hp 0-62mph: 6.7 secs Top speed: 130mph Range: 484 miles Charging: 22 mins Out: September