Latest news with #Barrat
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Top 20 pieces of tech Brits miss the most - including corded phones and film cameras
A poll of 2,000 adults found many long for the return of corded landline phones, while some say film cameras were ditched too soon Brits are pining for the days of cassette tapes, film cameras, and classic MP3 players, according to a survey of 2,000 adults that revealed a yearning for retro tech. The poll uncovered a desire for the return of corded landline phones, meanwhile, the nostalgia extended to early mobile phones, portable CD players, and even vintage typewriters. Virtual pets have not been forgotten either, featuring in the top 20 list, with six percent of respondents harbouring fond memories of taking care of them, despite confessing they didn't survive beyond a week. Four in ten admitted they view old-school tech through rose-tinted glasses, with more than a third acknowledging they ignored how painfully slow those devices were. Reflecting on the past 15 years, 81 percent of people recognise a significant change in the technology they use daily, with many now reliant on smartphones, contactless payments, and streaming services. Tech expert and former Gadget Show presenter Georgie Barrat has teamed up with Smart Energy GB – which commissioned the research – to put some of these nostalgic gadgets to the test. Barrat said: "There's something nostalgic about the gadgets we grew up with. But we often view them through rose-tinted glasses – we forget the long loading times, the fragile connections, and how unreliable they could be." "Energy meters are a great example of old tech that desperately needed an upgrade," she added. "The shift from analogue meters to digital smart meters brings lots of benefits – giving you a much clearer picture of how much energy you're using and what it's costing, which can help you to cut your bills." The study revealed mobile internet as the most significant technological advancement of the past 15 years. Navigation apps and contactless payments followed closely behind, with streaming services and smart home technology also impressing Brits. Despite these advancements, many still hold onto their old tech, with over a third still owning a landline, while others have kept kept cassettes and MP3 players. A surprising 20 percent even have a collection of VHS tapes gathering dust. Of those with retro tech still lying around, 34 percent still use it from time to time, while 23 percent have it stored away as a keepsake. Victoria Bacon from Smart Energy GB said: "In today's world, we rely on technology for almost every aspect of our lives – from staying connected with loved ones to managing work, finances, and our homes. "As with most new tech, smart meter performance is continuing improve, with new research showing nine in 10 smart meter owners now think their smart meter is reliable. "And because the technology behind smart meters was designed by top cyber security experts, you can be reassured yours has comprehensive security at its heart." TOP 20 FAVOURITE TECH FROM BACK IN THE DAY: Cassette tapes TVs with Teletext MP3 players Landline phones Film cameras Early mobile phones Burned mix CDs or tapes Polaroid cameras Portable cassette/CD players VHS tapes and VCRs Disposable cameras Handheld games consoles Typewriters Non-handheld games consoles CD-ROMs Non-portable CD players Floppy disks Fax machines Digital pets Reel-to-reel tape recorders
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pointless Celebrities star says breaking world record made 'boring TV'
Pointless Celebrities contestant Georgie Barrat has recalled breaking a world record in VR. Speaking to the format's long-running host Alexander Armstrong on Saturday, 19 April, the 35-year-old explained how her 26.5-hour Minecraft marathon didn't make for compelling TV material. Apparently, a producer on The Gadget Show (which Barrat has co-presented since 2017) even went as far as to label it "the most boring bit of television" the programme had ever created. "Fabulous to have you here," Armstrong told Barrat before her first attempt at Pointless. "Now you present The Gadget Show; I would like to know what's the gadget that we should all have?" She replied: "Well I love virtual reality. [VR headsets] are really, really good fun," before opening up about clinching a recognised world record. Read more: Richard Osman reveals he wasn't paid for the first four series of Pointless Richard Osman says Queen was 'very competitive and funny' when she played Pointless Richard Osman reveals Pointless swaps offensive answers for acceptable ones "So you're looking at the person that's been in VR the longest playing one VR game. "I played Minecraft for 26 and a half hours straight! Lucky I don't get sick, some people feel quite nauseous when they're in VR for too long," Barrat continued. "But I did it for The Gadget Show and at the end the producer said to me: 'That's the most boring bit of television we've ever made. I've got 26 and a half hours of footage of you just sort of sat in the corner with the VR headset on...' I'm like, 'I had a good time!' I built a lot of stuff in Minecraft in that time." Launched by Swedish developer Mojang Studios in 2011, Minecraft has gone on to become the bestselling video game of all-time, shipping over 300 million copies as of last year. Players spend their time exploring a "procedurally generated, three-dimensional" landscape, where they're supposed to unearth and extract raw materials, fashion tools, and build structures and machines in voxel form. Minecraft offers gamers two primary modes (survival mode and creative mode), plus three others (spectator mode, adventure mode and hardcore mode). Such is the franchise's behemoth status, Hollywood released a live-action adaptation titled A Minecraft Movie this month, starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Peacemaker's Danielle Brooks. At the time of writing, its box office haul has already soared past $662 million. Pointless Celebrities airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
