Andy Vandervell
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Articles by Andy Vandervell
The most valuable trait of top software engineers
Engineer’s Codex is a newsletter about lessons from real-world engineering. John Carmack, previous CTO of Oculus and creator of id Software (Doom, Quake, etc), was asked how AI will affect software developer jobs in the future. He had only one piece of advice: “build full product skills.” In fact, he’s beat the drum about this trait over and over, in tweets, podcasts, and his writing: being product-minded makes you an extremely valuable engineer.
Introducing PostHog Cloud EU
It's no secret that some popular analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, have fallen foul of GDPR regulations in the EU. That's one reason why we've enabled users to self-host PostHog, or to anonymize user data in a way which complies with GDPR. Today, we're making a third option available: hosting PostHog Cloud in Europe so that user data never has to leave the EU.
What we learned about hiring from our first five employees
Our CEO and co-founder, James Hawkins, recently joined Y Combinator to talk about the first five hires PostHog ever made, how we made them, and why. This is the story behind each hire, and the lessons we learned along the way. James and co-founder Tim (CTO) were frantically trying to hit their launch deadline, but there was a problem. They wanted libraries for mobile, desktop, and other programming languages, but they didn't have capacity to complete the work themselves.
Is your broadband connection being ‘throttled’? – Which? Conversation
The German research group Max Planck Institute reckons broadband speed ‘throttling’ is more prevalent in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. Is this another sign that Britain’s broadband is lagging behind? When driving on the motorway it’s fairly common to see temporary speed limits in place, normally because of congestion, an accident or poor driving conditions. In any instance, these limits are there to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
【ネタバレあり】「The Last of Us Part II」には、“考え続けずにはいられない何か”がある：ゲームレヴュー
ゲーム「The Last of Us Part II」の評判については、恐らく多くのことを聞いているだろう。インタラクティヴなストーリーテリングにおいて歴史的に名を残す“名作”である──といった具合にだ。 暴力の描写がどぎつくて道徳的に危うい、といった評価も聞いたことがあるかもしれない。殺しはダメなのかって？ それはどうだろうか。 社会正義のために闘う“ソーシャル・ジャスティス・ウォリアー”たちに迎合してジェンダーに関するプロパガンダを加え、前作のファンを裏切ったという意見もあったことだろう。誰もが今作について言いたいことがあるらしい。 わたしにもある。最近の記憶にあるほかのどんなゲームや映画よりも、頭の中に考えが巡って止まらなくなってしまう。ゲームの世界での“欠点”が気になって引っかかっていて、図らずも知恵の輪を解きたいような気持ちになってしまうのだ。 衝撃的だった前作 「The Last of Us Part II」は感染症によってゾンビのような怪物になり果てた人間がはびこる、荒廃した世界を舞台としている。前作が発売されたのは2013年だ。...
Why I can't stop thinking about The Last of Us Part 2
Naughty Dog / Sony You've probably heard many things about the The Last of Us Part 2. You may have heard it's a masterpiece – a landmark in interactive storytelling. You may have heard about its graphic violence and clumsy moralising. Killing is bad? We had no idea. You might even have heard it betrays fans of the first game, panders to "social justice warriors" and contains "gender propaganda". People have "opinions" about this game. I do too.
The new PlayStation 5 looks like a giant broadband router
Sony / WIRED A new console launch is always cause for excitement, even in the midst of a pandemic. Enter Sony with its big PS5 unveiling, imaginatively titled 'PS5: The Future of Gaming Show', which teased more than it satisfied, but gave us a good opportunity to see what the next generation of games will look like. Assuming you haven't already skipped to the good stuff, let's get to it. What did I miss?
The best ways to play board games online with your friends during lockdown
Getty Images / WIRED Tired of pub quizzes? Completed Netflix? As the UK’s coronavirus lockdown drags on, we’re all running low on ways to stay entertained and connected to friends and family. Enter board games – the perfect tonic to awkward Zoom calls about whether your local supermarket has flour. There’s no shortage of ways to play board games (and card games) online with friends, family or even total strangers.
Making sense of the rampant Xbox Series X rumour mill
Microsoft Few things excite gamers like the beginning of a new generation of consoles. In December, Microsoft confirmed its next gaming system is coming in 2020 and will be called the Xbox Series X – and that it's a large, monolithic box that's already splitting opinions.
007最新作から『トップガン』続編、ディズニーやマーベルの新作まで：2020年に期待の映画12本｜WIRED.jp
CULTURE 2020.01.03 FRI 11:00 2020年も多種多様な新作映画が公開される。ダニエル・クレイグにとって最後となる007最新作、34年ぶりの『トップガン』続編、マーベルやDCの新作、ディズニーの実写版映画まで──。『WIRED』UK版が選んだ期待の映画12本をお届けしよう。 TEXT BY ANDY VANDERVELL WIRED(UK) INDIGO/GETTY IMAGES 2019年に大ヒットした映画作品も過去のものとなり、2020年を展望する時期となった。2020年は、マーベルとスターウォーズの作品が少なくなりそうであることには間違いない。こうしたなか、2020年に最も公開が待たれる新作を紹介しよう。 The Gentlemen（原題）...
The most exciting new films coming out in 2020
Warner Bros. We're barely into 2020 and we've already seen a glut of outstanding new films, including the Oscar nominated 1917 and Jojo Rabbit. Thankfully, January shouldn't be the peak of this year's roster as we've already scoured the 2020 UK movie release schedule and selected numerous dates to note down in the cinema calendar. Sadly, the coronavirus outbreak has already lead to one film, the new James Bond effort No Time to Die, being delayed until November.
The best board games (and card games) for adults and families
We can't stress this enough: never play Monopoly. We're in a golden age for board games, so there's no reason to suffer through it ever again. To help you get started, we've compiled this guide to the best board games (and card games) around, starting with the quickest and easiest and ending with more complex efforts for experienced and serious board game enthusiasts. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we earn a small affiliate commission.
The 12 best Amazon Black Friday deals, ranked
Amazon Today is the day. The real one. Black Friday is upon us and that means thousands upon thousands of so-called great deals that are often neither great nor deals. £100 off a rubbish product doesn't make it better, it's just cheaper. We're not interested in that. Instead, we've trawled Amazon's Black Friday deals to pick out the actual gems. Genuine deals on products we know are good because we've selected them in our WIRED Recommends guides, or bought them ourselves.
11 Of The Best Dystopian Novels Everyone Should Read
Looking for your next read? Peruse our pick of the best dystopian novels of all time and realise that things could be a lot worse At this point in world history, diving into the rich world of fictional dystopia seems like an exercise in masochism. But this selection of the best dystopian novels will remind you that no matter how bad things seem in the real world, at least we’re not being coerced into fighting to the death for entertainment.
11 of the best dystopian novels everyone should read
Doubleday / WIRED At this point in world history, diving into the rich world of fictional dystopia seems like an exercise in masochism. But this selection of the best dystopian novels will remind you that no matter how bad things seem in the real world, at least we’re not being coerced into fighting to the death for entertainment. For more inspiration, try our guides to the best sci-fi books and the best fantasy books and series.
The most exciting new films coming out in 2019 and 2020
Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor The biggest film events of 2019 have long passed: Avengers: End Game and Captain Marvel have been and gone, smashing box office records in the process. But there have been plenty of other highlights across the year – and not all of them have been Marvel films. Here we've rounded up the best releases that are still to come in 2019 and the movies you should be looking out for in the first few months of 2020.
Google confirms Stadia UK release date and price. Here's what we know
Google Not content with owning online video, internet search and the world's most-used mobile operating system, Google fancies itself a slice of the video game pie. Earlier this year it announced Stadia, and now it's finally revealed how much the Google "console" will cost, when it's coming out and the first games it will launch with. Here's everything you need to know.
The 10 iPadOS features that will transform your iPad experience
Apple It still looks and feels like iOS 13, but this year the iPad is getting its own operating system, signalling Apple's determination for the iPad to carve out a larger slice of our computing lives. And, be they big or small, there are numerous new features that will change the way you use your iPad and ensure the device features in our guide to the best tablets for years to come. Here's what you need to know. 1.
The unanswered questions from Game of Thrones season eight, episode four
HBO A slower episode for Game of Thrones this week, after last week’s Lord of the Rings-topping battle, but still high on intrigue and scheming. In fact, such were the numbers of unanswered questions set up by Monday’s episode, we’ve decided to collate them. Below are the questions that WIRED's Andy Vandervell and Will Bedingfield would like to see answered by the series' conclusion. Why does Jon never listen?
Pixel Slate review: a glitchy, mediocre Surface Pro imitation
5 / 10 Chrome OS is seven years old. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s not new anymore. It’s not a cute experiment. It’s shipped in millions of products. It’s used in tens of thousands of schools and businesses. But, judging by the Pixel Slate, it’s still an incomplete hodge-podge of neat ideas and square pegs. Worse still, in the Pixel Slate, it’s married to a tablet that combines all the worst parts of the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro.
New MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: which one should you buy?
The old MacBook Air was embarrassing. Woefully out-of-date with a terrible screen and an ugly, chunky bezel. Apple devotees have been pleading for an update for years, and now it has finally relented. So, after all that time and clamouring for a new iteration, how does the new, revamped MacBook Air compare to the MacBook Pro, the 12-inch MacBook and the old MacBook Air? Let’s take a look. We have to start with the price.
Review: Google Home Hub is a handy edition to your Google Home
Screens. You already spend a large percentage of your life staring at the black mirror in your pocket, but Google’s next frontier seems to be dotting lots of them around your home. Enter the Google Home Hub, a compact little home assistant with a 7-inch touchscreen which, as the name suggests, is designed as a hub to connect your world of smart home products and multi-room speakers. But do you need more screens for your smart home and, if so, is the Home Hub the answer?
iPhone XR vs iPhone XS: Why you should pre-order the iPhone XR today
Pre-orders for the iPhone XR are now open and, provided you haven’t already bought an iPhone XS, there’s a very good argument for getting an XR instead. And if you're considering which new phone to buy right now, take the time to read our guide to the best phones and our dedicated guide to the best Android phones. According to Apple, the iPhone XR has the best battery life of any current iPhone. Apple quotes 25 hours of talk time for the iPhone XR; five more than the XS.
This is how the Pixel 3 compares to the Pixel 2
Whether you’re an existing Pixel owner, or thinking about it, you're probably wondering whether to splash out on a new Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, or (if you don't have a Pixel 2) save £200 or so and get a Pixel 2 while you still can? That’s what we’re going to explore as we compare the Pixel 3 against the Pixel 2 (and the XL variants) to see how much things have moved on. And if you're interested, we've also compared the Pixel 3 vs the iPhone XS.
Amazon Fire HD 8 review: the best cheap tablet just got smarter
Cheap tablets aren’t lucrative. You can tell because the kind you can buy at big retailers feel like an afterthought, lumped with old versions of Android, unimaginative design and the bare minimum of features. Which is why the Amazon Fire series is great. Amazon, for its own reasons, takes these things seriously, and while there are still limits to what it can achieve for £80 (£90 if you want one without ‘Special Offers’ on the home screen), the Fire HD 8 is a great little tablet.
Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 review: the best cheap tablet just got smarter
Cheap tablets aren’t lucrative. You can tell because the kind you can buy at big retailers feel like an afterthought, lumped with old versions of Android, unimaginative design and the bare minimum of features. Which is why the Amazon Fire series is great. Amazon, for its own reasons, takes these things seriously, and while there are still limits to what it can achieve for £80 (£90 if you want one without ‘Special Offers’ on the home screen), the Fire HD 8 is a great little tablet.
iPhone XS vs iPhone XR and XS Max: Which iPhone should you buy?
As expected, Apple unveiled three new iPhones at its annual launch event, alongside a redesigned Apple Watch 4. You can read all our Apple launch round-up for an overview of everything, but here we’re taking a closer look at the new iPhones and the differences (and similarities) between the three.
How the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 compares to the S9 and Note 8
Modern smartphones often feel like an elaborate game of spot the difference. Squint really hard and you might discern which phone has the smallest notch, while those versed in the ancient art of the "spec sheet" can extrapolate the key details, but you have to know what you're looking for. This is especially true of Samsung and its most recent phones, the Galaxy Note 9 and the S9. Here's a quick guide to what's new in the Galaxy Note 9 compared the S9 and last year's entrant, the Note 8.
Westworld's finale is a messy but brilliant prelude to season three
After an exhausting finale, which tied up plenty of loose ends before throwing open some entirely new questions, season two is all over. Join WIRED's Andy Vandervell and Matt Reynolds for a dive into the season's final episode and a look forward to our hopes and fears about season three.If your thirsting for more things Westworld, then check out WIRED's interview with the show's co-creator Lisa Joy.
Westworld episode 9 recap: Vanishing Point is easily the darkest entry yet
The end is tantalisingly close, but we've still got a lot of loose threads that need tying up before this season of Westworld can be put to bed. In this latest episode, we get a rare glimpse of William's hellish family life while Ford increases his control over a perpetually confused Bernard. If you haven't got a clue what's going on, you can read our recaps on episodes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight.
Westworld season 2, episode 8 recap: The show finally finds its heart
Well, that packed an emotional punch. Taking a break from last episode's revelation deluge, this latest episode goes in-depth on Ghost Nation – the mysterious group of painted warriors that had always lurked just on the edge of Westworld.If you haven't got a clue what's going on, you can read our recaps of thoughts on episodes one, two, three, four, five, six and seven. Now you're up to speed, WIRED's Andy Vandervell and Matt Reynolds will get to grips with Ghost Nation and episode eight.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom takes everything a step too far
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hit cinemas this week with an explosion of teeth, scales, lava, and increasingly tenuous plot points. WIRED's Andy Vandervell and Victoria Turk suspend their disbelief and dissect the latest film in the Jurassic Park franchise, which, like a genetically-modified dinosaur, is starting to stray a bit too far from its original DNA.Looking for more movies to watch? Check out WIRED's guide to the best films of 2018.
Westworld season 2, episode 7 recap: What is the Valley Beyond?
It certainly took its sweet time, but season two of Westworld is finally gathering pace as it steams towards the finale like a runaway train careering towards the Mesa Hub. See what we did there?If you haven't got a clue what's going on, you can read our recaps of thoughts on episodes one, two, three, four and five and six. Now you're up to speed, WIRED's Andy Vandervell and Matt Reynolds will grapple with the biggest revelations from episode six.
Westworld season 2, episode 6 recap: Phase Space is the best episode so far
Thus far, season two of Westworld was wilting under the weight of its labyrinthine plots and timelines. But, much like another famous HBO show, it’s just been getting its pieces in order to deliver some mind-blowing revelations in its final third.In our latest series following the show – read our thoughts on episodes one, two, three, four and five for background – WIRED's Andy Vandervell explores the huge developments from season two, episode six: Phase Space.
Mobile phone security – it's time to get serious
You need only examine the contents of your phone to see why hackers have moved to attacked mobiles. Not only is the phone itself very expensive, it’s crammed full of all sorts of personal data – contacts, calendars, email, texts, Facebook and Twitter – it’s a veritable treasure trove of compromising info. We’ve discussed potential malicious applications on Which? Convo before, but to underline the potential threat, last week saw one of the first mass virus outbreaks on smartphones.
Westworld episode 5 recap: So long Teddy, we hardly knew you
The fifth episode of Westworld didn't end well for poor old Teddy. WIRED's Matt Reynolds and Andy Vandervell say goodbye to the faithful-but-dim cowboy and get to grips with Maeve's new superpowers in the Shogun world. You can read their thoughts on episodes one, two, three and four to get you up to speed, but be warned that this article contains significant spoilers for all episodes of Westworld. Teddy gets a personality downgradeAndy Vandervell: Guy loves girl. Guy finally gets girl.
Westworld episode 4 recap: Is anyone still following this?
Four episodes in, and things are getting even murkier in season two of Westworld. WIRED's Matt Reynolds and Andy Vandervell are back to discuss and dissect. You can read their thoughts on episodes one, two and three to get you up to speed, but be warned that this article contains significant spoilers for all episodes of Westworld.
Android P Beta Program FAQ: How to download it and the compatible devices
One of the main attractions of owning a Pixel phone from Google, as opposed to a device from a third-party brand, is getting software updates much faster.
Westworld season 2, episode 3 'Virtù e Fortuna': Did Dolores kill all the hosts?
Westworld season two keeps collecting more plot threads in its third episode, which WIRED's Matt Reynolds and Andy Vandervell are back to discuss and dissect. You can read their thoughts on episode one and episode two to get you up to speed, but be warned that this article contains significant spoilers for all episodes of Westworld. It started in colonial IndiaAndy Vandervell: Colonial India, Matt. Clearly the perfect place to reminisce about the world before the EU ruined everything, right?
Westworld season 2, episode 2 'Reunion' review: what is the Westworld weapon?
In the second installation of our series dedicated to the second season of Westworld, Andy Vandervell and Matt Reynolds explore the true nature of the parks and get exceedingly geeky about Greek mythology.Be warned, this article contains significant spoilersMatt Reynolds: So, two episodes down and things are starting to get complicated. What did you think? Andy Vandervell: Starting? You're the king of understatement, Matt. This was a great episode. So great, in fact, I watched it twice.
Westworld season 2, episode 1: Journey Into Night raises a whole heap of questions
Sky/HBO After a year of TV with a noticeable lack of gratuitous Western-themed android violence, Westworld is finally back on our screens with the first episode of season two. In true Westworld fashion, however, the episode raised way more questions than it answered. Where does the line between host and guest end? What exactly is Delos up to?
Huawei P20 vs P20 Pro hands-on: Samsung has a real rival on Android again
Andy Vandervell / WIRED There is one simple reason many will like the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro: they both have a button on the front. It’s a good place for a button, especially one that’s a back button, home button and fingerprint scanner all in one. But wait, it also launches Google Assistant, so that’s four convenient features for the price of a tiny sliver of screen real estate.It’s a refreshing antidote to the “more screen at all costs” approach, and, on Android at least, it makes eminent sense.
The HTC Vive Pro fixes the screen-door-effect, but other problems remain
HTC There isn’t one kind of VR. Throw augmented and mixed reality into equation and there isn’t even one kind of ‘reality’. But the HTC Vive was the trailblazer for premium VR, beating Facebook-owned Oculus Rift to key features such as motion controllers and room-scale VR. Even now, Oculus’ room-scale solution – which allows the system to track your position anywhere within a fixed area – can’t match the Vive’s in either accuracy or size.
Why the Amazon Kindle Fire is shaking up the tablet market
At last, a tablet worth mentioning in the same breath as the iPad. As Amazon unveiled its slick looking new tablet, it showed the technology industry (at least the part that isn’t Apple) how it’s done. The Kindle Fire isn’t an ‘iPad killer’, but that’s a good thing. It’s not trying to be the iPad. While no UK release has been confirmed yet, the Kindle Fire will sell for $199 in the US. That’s $300 less than the cheapest iPad – a massive margin.
Is social media to blame for the London Riots?
As I sat on my sofa last night, digesting the footage on the rolling news channels and watching a rather laboured panel on Newsnight, my first reaction was to check Twitter to see what people were posting. What I saw showed everything good and bad about social networks. For the most part, people were reporting what was happening near them, tinged with fear, anger or bemusement that this could be happening. There were numerous photos and videos posted.
New Amazon Echo Plus and Echo Spot prove Amazon's smart home ambition
AmazonRemember the Amazon Fire Phone? It was a hot mess of an effort to enter the smartphone game, never to be repeated. But while Google is busy trying to unseat Apple and take back Android from Samsung and a cavalcade of Chinese upstarts, Amazon used its latest hardware unveiling to double down on its effort to own the smart home.ADVERTISEMENT The strategy? Choice. Lots of it.
What's new in iOS 11? The big features and supported devices
Getty / Cristina Arias / ContributorExciting as the new iPhone X might sound, it's the software that makes the iPhone tick. With that in mind, here's what you need to know about iOS 11, the upcoming version of Apple's mobile and tablet operating system.ADVERTISEMENT Want a quick rundown of what's new in iOS 11? Click here for our guide to its best features.When can you download the iOS 11 update?iOS 11 will be released today. The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X will all ship with iOS 11.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review: A great return for the original phablet
I swore off ‘flagship’ phones this year, ditching my weary iPhone 6S and dropping £200 on a mid-range Android phone with a battery the size of a small moon. I’m delighted with it to an increasingly boring extent. I’ll happily explain my wise choice to anyone who wishes they hadn’t asked, and even people who haven't: like you.ADVERTISEMENT But my newfound pragmatism isn’t immune to the curvy charms of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Apple ARKit demos are a tantalising glimpse into our mixed reality future
While large portions of the internet get excited about whether the upcoming iPhone has an OLED screen with an embedded fingerprint scanner, wireless charging or how many blades it has – sorry, we mean cameras – developers are mainly excited about one thing: augmented reality.ADVERTISEMENT If we're living in a simulation, this UK startup probably built it If we're living in a simulation, this UK startup probably built it At Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference in June, the company...
Apple ARKit demos are a tantalising glimpse into our mixed reality future
While large portions of the internet get excited about whether the upcoming iPhone has an OLED screen with an embedded fingerprint scanner, wireless charging or how many blades it has – sorry, we mean cameras – developers are mainly excited about one thing: augmented reality.ADVERTISEMENT If we're living in a simulation, this UK startup probably built it If we're living in a simulation, this UK startup probably built it At Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference in June, the company...
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