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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Piper in Tech

May 15, 2018 (Updated May 15, 2018)  
Piper
Piper
Camera & Photo > Surveillance & Security Cameras
5
6.5 (6 Ratings)
Tech Rating
Camera (1 more)
Available functionality
The app (1 more)
The sensors
Promising but glitchy
Im going to be frankly honest. When I first bought this system, I thought it was fantastic. It's only through regular and continued use that I've become a little more negative.

I bought this 4 years ago as I lived on my own and wanted some security, but didn't want to faff about with a standard wired in alarm. I found Piper at a fairly reasonable price and good reviews, so decided to give it a go.

I have the standard version as the night vision hadn't been released at the time. Firstly the unit itself is very handy as the camera can cover the entire of my ground floor (I have a small open plan house). The camera also means I can spy on the cat to see what she gets up to while I'm out. The notification options too are very good and all work very well, and the functionality available through the system is pretty comprehensive (like house stats etc). It also gives you a pet sensitivity option so you can lower the sensitivity of the motion sensors to account for pets. Which is great, apart from if you have your system on a lower shelf that your cat insists on walking past EVERY day and tripping the alarm...

Now for the negatives. The door/window sensors are terrible. You attach them, they work fine when you test them but then suddenly trip for no reason. Being woken up at 4am by a ridiculous loud siren because a sensor accidentally tripped is not a pleasant experience. To the point where I've turned the siren on my alarm off to avoid disturbing myself and the neighbours. The sensors also have a fairly small distance range from the system (an excuse to buy multiple systems dotted around the house I'm sure) and after a couple of years, some of mine have stopped working completely and new batteries won't fix them.

The app itself is very glitchy. Half of the time I open the app only to get a cannot connect message, when there's nothing wrong with the internet. So it means you often can't set the alarm or turn it off (another reason why I've disabled the siren) . I've also found that when the app does work, it takes time to load so I'm usually sat outside my house for 5 minutes before I can turn the alarm off to go inside. Not ideal.

In short I think this alarm is a good idea, i just don't think it quite works practically with some of the software and hardware. A shame as the functionality is quite impressive.
  
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
2018 | Biography, Drama, Music
In the search for a way to watch the 92nd Academy Awards live from Hollywood tonight I was led to a subscription for Now TV, which is basically the online platform for Sky Cinema. And there I found all the missing films I had yet to see from last year that aren’t available “free” on Amazon Prime or Netflix. I should really have worked it out before now that a free trial might be available, having assumed that a Sky subscription was beyond my means at the moment. Imagine my excitement to not only secure the Oscars but a 7 day pass to catch up on some big titles. It’s the small things in life…

Having made a 20 strong watch list, I wasted no time in heading straight for the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, winner of 4 awards last February, including one for Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury that I applauded very loudly at the time, without having seen it, due to my love for him as Elliot Alderson in my favourite TV show of the last 5 years, the incredible and mindbendingly brilliant Mr. Robot.

My connection to Queen as a fan isn’t an especially strong one; I have always thought they were fine, and enjoyed their biggest hits as much as anyone. But it is the story, charisma and undeniable singing talent of Mercury that attracts me. From the opening scenes it is apparent that what we are going to get here is a fairly straightforward, by the numbers recounting of events, punctuated by some serious tunes and some glorious 70s fashions. Having read that this was the main criticism of it going in, it really didn’t bother me at all to find it wasn’t going to make bolder artistic and dramatic choices. It was very much about sitting back and enjoying the show!

In fact, there is something comforting and unchallenging about its format that I liked. The pattern of abc that is a) some background to Freddy’s life, b) a build up to how they came across their big hits, and c) a rendition of that hit, didn’t strike me as cheap, but rather unpretentious and to the point. The whole thing clipped along nicely with very little dead air; Malek is a joy to watch in every moment; the clothes and scenery of the 70s and later 80s is a treat; and the music stands for itself, with you often forgetting how good the tunes are until you hear them in this context.

Of course, at times it is almost laughable how well known facts and details are crow-barred into the narrative, with some of the darker elements glossed over, as if this were almost a Disney retelling. But, again, it doesn’t matter, because as an entertainment it is all so enjoyable. Not to say the dark side of the story isn’t touched upon, because it is to an extent, just that it is clear this is a celebration of a life and a talent, not an exposé. Which is fine. As with the superior Walk The Line, and the recently inferior Rocketman, we know a seedier story of Johnny Cash and Elton John exists, but we accept that revelling in the genius of the music is more fun than trawling through the trash.

Malek is a wonder to behold! It has to be said. Once you (and he) get used to the false teeth and bite down on the energy and drive of Mercury, it is impossible to take your eyes off him! He handles the dramatic moments and nuance of this fragile mind with ease, but it is the performances that stand out: his movement is so fluid and accurate that you forget at times you aren’t watching archive footage, which is some trick! Gwilym Lee and Ben Hardy as Brian May and Roger Taylor are also to be praised for this, despite having less to do. With Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon largely merging into the background inoffensively, much as his real life counterpart did.

There is some solid support too. Lucy Boynton is completely charming if largely uninteresting; Tom Hollander quietly steals several scenes as the lawyer who doesn’t just work for them but idolises them as much as any fan; and an unrecognisable Mike Myers is a lot of fun as the manager who missed out on the vision and lives to regret it. Honourable mention also to Allen Leech as the villain of the piece, who walks the tightrope of cartoonish nastiness with some skill, serving the story well in the latter half.

My favourites parts were, unsurprisingly, the genesis and evolution of the big tunes, which was invariably very satisfying. Love of My Life, We Will Rock You, We are the Champions and of course Bohemian Rhapsody are treated like holy texts, with fascinating detail and a reverence that never seems over-egged. Building to the climax of Live Aid; a twenty minute segment at the end of the film that brings a genuine lump to the throat. The magnitude of the event and its natural energy are so well realised, every minor foible of the film up to that point are forgiven, and you walk away from it feeling elated and glad that this moment exists in music history.

Artistically, it isn’t a movie to get too caried away about, but the art of creating a spectacle that pleases on a basic, uncomplicated level is. Director Bryan Singer knows a trick or two, and the trick here is what is left out. There just isn’t a moment to be bored, and I find myself wishing that films of this kind took a leaf out of that book more often. In conclusion, I think this movie will endure the test of time, which is a lot more than most biopic genre films can say. But who wants to live forever anyway?
  
The Space Between Us (2017)
The Space Between Us (2017)
2017 | Action, Sci-Fi
Story (2 more)
Characters
Making you feel connected to the Movie
Zero Consequences (1 more)
Timing of events
Fun and Exciting From Start to Finish
From the start of the movie it really grabs with how the world is perceived today. The earth is becoming a place that is environmentally unfit to live. Although it seems that the time doesn't really show that there is an urgent need to move off the planet.

The story starts with a group of astronauts leaving for Mars to test the living capabilities and seeing if we can survive. What we end up getting is a story about a boy born on Mars and not being able to leave the planet because he would be able to survive earth's atmosphere. You really feel for Gardener through out the movie because of how trapped his life feels. He only has one friend that is a robot and other that lives on earth and can only chat through computer. I know you have to give this kid a love interest, but he is supposed to be a secret. I don't know how he found his way in to a chat site that would give him access to earth, but they should have tried a lot harder. He knew he was a secret but he really could have told her everything.


Once he got to earth he found her really easily. For someone who has never been to Earth I find it hard to believe he could find his way around with no help.


Once he did find her it was nothing but stealing cars and running from the cops till they found his dad. Which no one got in trouble for.


With all the unrealistic plot points and timeline that really didn't fit. The story behind it all was very well told and was very enjoyable. The chemistry between all the actors and actresses was fantastic. The movie really did grab you and pull you in and allow you to feel for these characters. I like any movie that keeps in and focused.


I recommend that everyone see this movie if you like a little tug at the heart strings.