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Irish Times
12-08-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Growing up, I always thought I'd live in the city where I worked – blame Carrie Bradshaw et al
'I love people our age; we're so depressing,' I said to a friend, also in her early 30s. I can't remember what we were discussing, but I'm sure it revolved around the usual topics: saving money , spending too much money, recipes for batch-cooking that I never make, or the impropriety we witness on our commutes to the capital . What I was referring to is a shared understanding among our particular cohort of 'young millennials' that we've done everything right – we moved out of our hometowns, we got degrees, we've made steps towards building a career – but we've been shafted. And it's not a 'woe-is-me' attitude, as it's often dismissed it's a pragmatic reaction to finding ourselves way behind our parents' generation when it comes to 'traditional markers of progress' identified in an EY report as a stable job, home ownership and the steady accumulation of wealth towards retirement. READ MORE Many of my peers who want to stay in Ireland are making tentative plans on how to buy a house – a goal made more pressing by the sizeable chunk of our wages that is transferred to our landlords' accounts each month. And it's only those with long-term partners – how dull! – or who have lived with family who can even fathom owning a property in the first place, unless you go in with a friend – which, given the roommate showdowns I've witnessed and/or experienced over the years – I can't advise. Growing up, I always thought I'd live in the city where I worked – blame Carrie Bradshaw et al – and when that turned out to be Dublin rather than the bright lights of New York city, I figured I'd have a fair chance of building a life in the capital. Fast-forward a few years, and I'm finding the path I've led myself down throughout my 20s has led to an expanse of desert punctuated by tumbleweed. I now find myself trying to roll back my expectations to a life that's more realistic and attainable. [ I'm a millennial and serial renter, but I've found a way to put down roots Opens in new window ] With that in mind, my partner and I have come around to the idea of settling outside Dublin, where we might be a more likely to afford a house in the future. We're at the stage of trying to set a savings figure to work towards, but the goalposts keep moving. We went from thinking we might eventually swing a two-bed newbuild with Government supports, to realising we'll be lucky to find a terraced doer-upper that is habitable. It all seems out of reach – and that lack of control breeds apathy towards the situation and keeps us stuck where we are. With financial pressures and the high cost of living , many people in our age bracket find it hard to find fulfilment within their jobs, with many creative and educational posts and those in non-profits paying too low to live off while renting in a city, or a commutable distance from one, where most of those types of job are based. [ How Gen Z is taking a different approach to money - and what others can learn from it Opens in new window ] This lack of control has led young millennials to focus on aspects of life that are within our control, and that comes down to how we spend our free time. We are into our passions, whatever they may be. I know voracious readers, screenplay writers, artists, film aficionados, hikers, cyclists and actors, all of whom find joy and meaning in what they love, even though they're not getting paid for it. Without the traditional milestones, perhaps we're freer than the generations that went before us. We are not as restricted to tick off arbitrary boxes, and Gen Z are even freer again. The position we are in also precludes one-upmanship as we're all pretty much in the same boat and doing our best not to sink. And doesn't it stand to reason, for people who lived through a pandemic just as they stepped out into the world, that our idea of success and happiness has shifted? We have inherited the perceived wisdom that measures such as wealth and success in a traditional sense have never made anyone happy. Maybe, if I could, I'd go back to my student self and tell her to be a bit more realistic, to aim for a slower paced life outside of a city – but there's no way she would have listened.
Android Authority
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Android Authority
Want a four-channel dashcam for less than $200? I recommend this one
Botslab G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam The BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam is a reliable four-channel dashcam for your road trips and commutes. It has a crisp 3K front cam, separate shooters for the driver and passenger, and a rear cam. It has some quirks, but for the price, it is a good option for capturing evidence and fun clips on the road. Dashcams are the type of products you hope you will never need, but they can be lifesavers when they do their job. It's a solid investment if you want something that can provide solid evidence in the case of an accident, or keep eyes on your vehicle when parked. I mean, it can even be fun to get clips of a fun drive! I've been looking to get a new, top-end dashcam for some time, so I was pretty excited to check out the BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel dashcam. We already tested the dual-camera version, and it impressed us. After a quick unboxing, the four-camera version looked even more fancy. Now, after a week of use, I am ready to tell you if it's staying in my vehicle or if another one deserves the spot. Be patient with the installation Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority If I'm going to be honest, I am not the handiest car owner. I know how to put air in my tires and how to put gas in the tank, but ask me to do anything else, and I'll be kind of stuck. Maybe you can identify with me, or maybe you are the handy type. Regardless, I decided to go out and install this camera myself to find out how user-friendly the process is. Luckily, BOTSLAB offers a good set of instructions to help you through the process. The included documents give you a good idea of how to install it, and the manufacturer offers its own video guides online, which come in handy. After studying the process a bit, I went out there and took it upon myself to get it all sorted. BOTSLAB offers a good set of instructions to help you through installation. Well, while I found the process simple, it was definitely time-consuming. You might be able to get it all done faster if you have experience with vehicle cable management, but the whole process took me about three hours. I kept watching the guide during the process and ran into some issues along the way. After some sweat and patience, though, I had it all installed. Getting started with the camera Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority After getting everything installed, it's just a matter of taking care of the finishing touches. I removed the stickers from the camera lenses, aimed the cameras in the right direction, made sure the camera was connected using the car socket that came included, and such. The camera will turn on as soon as you start your vehicle. You'll hear a tone letting you know things are running. Of course, you'll have to set it up the first time you use it, and luckily, this process is very simple. The screen will walk you through all steps, and it involves connecting it to your phone. It has a touchscreen, which makes interacting with the unit very easy and intuitive. I commonly review the settings the first time I use a product to see if there are any features I might like or ones I might prefer to turn off. I changed the loop recording to five minutes, as I quickly found that videos get a bit too cluttered in the menu when you have shorter recording times. I also decided to enable infrared lighting for the cabin cameras, as nighttime recordings with contrasting lights and shadows were not great. Time to drive! Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority OK, so now everything is set up and ready to go. Time to get recording! I drove a lot over a single weekend during my testing and got to know the camera(s) pretty well. Let's start with the video quality, which is definitely the most crucial part of the experience. After all, the whole idea of the dashcam is to capture content to use as evidence. The front camera can record 3K content at a 170-degree angle. I am pretty happy with the quality of the video if what you care most about is capturing general vehicles, pedestrians, bikers, and such. As a general camera, it works amazingly. And if you prefer to improve it to 4K, you can do so if you remove one of the in-cabin cameras. These are magnetic and connect via USB-C. You can just pull it off whenever you want. Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority That said, things get a bit tricky once you need to capture the minor details. For example, license plates are only noticeable within a certain distance. Mainly, you can pretty much only read them when at a stoplight and such. While driving, people keep their distance, and you can't really read the license plate from the recording. All other cameras are 1,080p, so the definition is not as strong, but it was usually good enough for what I needed. The rear camera will record any general accident or whatever goes on behind you. My rear window has a dark tint, so visibility is affected a bit. You can still clearly tell what's going on, but it's definitely something to keep in mind if your vehicle is also tinted. If you prefer, this camera can rotate to become a rear cabin cam. In this case, it will be clearer as nothing would be obstructing it, and it could be a great way to keep a record of what happens in the rear seats. The unique part of the BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam is that it comes with in-cabin cameras that can point at the driver and front passenger. While not amazingly crisp, they work well, and I managed to keep some funny moments with my friend. These are fun cameras, but they aren't only for road trip jokes and funny moments. The idea is that they will provide evidence, as well. I pointed them more towards the door, with the passenger/driver being more to the side. This will make it so that the captured video will also include what's going on right outside the door. Using the BOTSLAB app is pretty simple. The one annoying part is that it needs to connect to your camera via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the latter can be a bit slow to connect. That said, it's not supposed to be something you do often, but since I also use these clips for fun, it became a bit of a nuisance. You can also use the app to get a live view, change the settings, view your trajectory, and more. I also love that it gave me details like my speed and even the altitude, which is pretty interesting, given that I live in the mountains. Extra features: The good and the bad Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority OK, let's talk about the one feature that annoyed me, and it seems like it will continue to bug me. The dashcam is powered by AI, and one of its features is Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that can recognize 'aggressive driving' and alert you. It pretty much tells you to chill whenever you're going a bit too nuts. If I am being honest, I am a very calm driver. Some say I drive like a grandpa! That said, I live in the mountains, where there are plenty of curvy roads. And I swear, this thing is telling me my turns are too aggressive on every single curve. Some of these are 55mph roads, and I must keep up with the speed of traffic. I can't help but make some steep turns. And the thing is, I don't even have to be going at the speed limit. Sometimes I am going like 35mph, but the curvy roads still trigger the alerts. Thankfully, you can turn these alerts off if you encounter the same issues I did. BOTSLAB's ADAS system was hit and miss for me, but the voice commands are handy. Of course, this should not be an issue if you live in a normal city with mostly straight roads and square blocks, though. In a way, it's nice to get the driving tips in the city. It will also let you know if you are breaking too hard, accelerating too harshly, and more. Additionally, it lets you know when the car in front of you starts moving, just in case you get distracted at the stoplight. It will even tell you if you have been driving too long, so you can take a break and avoid driving fatigue. Another interesting feature is the voice commands. You can request certain actions using your voice. And you don't even need to use a hotword, like you do with digital assistants. Just make your request, and it will do it. It works surprisingly well, too. I have been making requests, even with music on, and they work every single time. You can ask the BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam the following commands: Video start Take photo Show front camera Show rear camera Inside video on Turn on screen Turn off screen These voice commands can be helpful, but don't mistake these for AI-like functions. You have to use the specific phrases, so you must remember them. For example, saying something like 'start the video, please' won't work like saying 'Video start.' Maybe this is something that will change with time, but for now, I very commonly forget the exact wording in the available commands. Because of the implementation of AI, the camera can also notice 'emergency' situations and start recording separately, keeping these specific videos separate and easy to find in the app. This is a nice addition that can prove to be helpful in the case of an actual emergency. The thing is, it can be a bit too sensitive out of the box. It was going off when going over speed bumps or when driving over potholes. You can actually change the sensitivity for this feature in the settings, though! I reduced it to 'Low' and haven't been bugged as often since. Should you buy the BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam? Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority The BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam has its quirks, but when you compare it to its main competitors you're getting a ton of value. Other 4-channel dashcams of this quality cost well over $200. The BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam goes for $175 directly from BOTSLAB. And you can often find sales both from the manufacturer and on Amazon. As a dashcam, for security purposes, I found it to be reliable. The 3K video is good for capturing quality content both during the day and night. If you care for license plate readability, it's not amazing, but it works well if the car is close enough (about 8 feet or less). The peace of mind is priceless, really. I know I am prepared for any accident or legal battle. If you're in the market for a 4-channel dashcam that isn't overpriced, I would definitely recommend the BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel. I also loved that I could have some fun with this camera, though. Some of the funniest moments with my friends happen during drives, and it's really cool that now I can save these clips and keep them as beautiful memories. I also love long drives on countryside roads, so being able to capture those road trips is priceless to me. The BOTSLAB G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam is both functional and fun. If you're in the market for a 4-channel dashcam that isn't overpriced, I would definitely recommend it. The extra features require a bit of tuning or getting used to, but I wouldn't consider any of the downsides actual deal-breakers. If you want something a bit more toned down, the dual-camera BOTSLAB G980H ($219.99 at Amazon) is also a great pick. Botslab G980H Multi-Channel Dashcam Good quality video • Four-channel covers inside and outside of vehicle • Good price for the value MSRP: $175.00 Four-channel dashcam that won't break the bank. See price at Amazon Positives Good quality video Good quality video Four-channel covers inside and outside of vehicle Four-channel covers inside and outside of vehicle Good price for the value Good price for the value Helpful setup guides Cons You can only read license plates from closer distances You can only read license plates from closer distances Limited voice commands Limited voice commands ADAS is hit and miss Follow
CBC
01-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Flooding hits NYC, water gushes around subway
Floodwaters hampered commutes in parts of New York City on Thursday after heavy rain sparked flash flooding in some areas.
