Reviews @ PLUGHITZ Live

Pro Cam 2-Pack Security Cameras (Nooie)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:26:09 UTC

Pro Cam 2-Pack Security Cameras

Nooie

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Jul 28, 2025

3.77 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The Nooie Pro Cam shines in several key areas, making it a worthwhile contender for home security. Its 2K resolution [metric31" class="UpStreamLink"> delivers crisp, detailed footage both day and night, aided by color night vision and a built-in spotlight for added clarity. The compact, stylish [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> blends seamlessly with indoor or outdoor settings, while the magnetic mount adds installation flexibility and strength. Users benefit from dual-band Wi-Fi or Ethernet [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, smart motion detection with human filtering, and integration with Alexa and Google smart displays for hands-free viewing. Rechargeable battery support, especially when paired with a solar panel, adds long-term convenience, and the ability to link multiple cameras to a single hub creates scalable protection at an accessible [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

While the Nooie Pro Cam offers impressive hardware and thoughtful [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, it's held back by several frustrating drawbacks that impact reliability. The wireless [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> between the camera and its base station can be inconsistent, especially through walls or in outdoor setups, causing lag or dropped streams despite advertised range. We also expereience frequent "ghost notifications," where motion alerts appear without accompanying video or logging, undermining the credibility of its smart detection system. Moreover, the lack of desktop or web-based access creates a significant gap for users who prefer viewing or managing their security feeds from a larger screen, and [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> can feel unintuitive for first-time users navigating through deeply nested app menus.

Result

Overall, the Nooie Pro Cam stands as a solid contender for home security, blending sleek [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> with practical features like 2K resolution, smart motion detection, and voice assistant compatibility. It's easy to [metric43" class="UpStreamLink">, scales well across multiple cameras, and offers convenient battery solutions with solar panel support. However, shortcomings in [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, lack of desktop or web-based access, and unreliable motion alerts hold it back from true excellence. For casual users or those looking for an affordable, app-based system, it offers meaningful peace of mind. But for more demanding environments, such as retail or business security, its limitations may steer users toward more robust alternatives.

Product Description

The Nooie Pro Cam is a wireless outdoor security camera designed for smart home protection, offering crisp 2K resolution, color night vision, and a built-in spotlight to ensure clear footage day and night. Powered by a rechargeable battery or optional solar panel, it delivers up to six months of operation per charge, with IP65 waterproofing for reliable all-weather performance. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), Alexa integration, and smart PIR motion detection with AI human recognition for accurate alerts. The camera features two-way audio and flexible mounting options, magnetic or screw-on, for hassle-free installation. Storage is handled via cloud or microSD (up to 128GB), and users can connect up to four devices through a single base station, making the Nooie Pro Cam an affordable and efficient solution for homeowners seeking seamless, solar-powered smart surveillance.

Value

When it comes to value, the Nooie Pro Cam lands firmly in the "worth considering" category for general home use. With features like 2K resolution, color night vision, smart motion detection, and voice assistant integration, it delivers solid performance at a competitive price point. Its rechargeable battery with solar panel support is a cost-saving bonus, cutting down on maintenance and making long-term use more sustainable. The ability to link multiple cameras through a single hub adds scalability without driving up costs, making it a great fit for homeowners who want comprehensive coverage without jumping into enterprise-level pricing.

However, for more specialized applications, such as retail monitoring or small business security, the camera's limitations become more evident. The lack of desktop or web-based access, occasional connectivity issues, and ghost notifications can hinder reliability and responsiveness in environments that demand higher precision. There's no advanced zone detection or multi-user permission controls, which are often necessary for managing commercial spaces. While Nooie's app-centric approach might suit casual users, those seeking robust, real-time monitoring in professional contexts may find themselves needing a more feature-rich alternative.

Connectivity

The Nooie Pro Cam system offers flexible connectivity options to accommodate various home setups. The included base station, which acts as a hub for the camera system, can connect to your network using either Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band) or a wired Ethernet connection. This dual-mode capability allows users to choose between the convenience of wireless setup or the stability and speed of a direct LAN cable. Opting for Ethernet is particularly beneficial in areas with crowded Wi-Fi networks or if your router is positioned far from where you want to install the base station.

Once the hub is set up, it wirelessly links with up to four Nooie Pro Cams or Doorbell Cams, extending coverage across your property. However, this wireless link between camera and base station tends to be more sensitive to interference and placement. Although advertised to work reliably at distances of up to 100 feet, real-world results show that the [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> can be affected by various cnditions. While the connectivity flexibility makes installation easier, users should strategically place both hub and cameras to maximize performance.

Range

The Nooie Pro Cam system advertises a reliable connection between camera and hub across typical home layouts, but in practice, the range between the camera and the base station doesn't always live up to the promise-particularly in outdoor installations. While it claims to work well within 65-100 feet, we experienced significantly diminished signal strength at much shorter distances. A camera mounted just 15 feet from the hub, placed outdoors with walls in between, often registers a weak or unstable signal. In fact, it can take upwards of 30 seconds to establish a connection in the app, while the Cam 360 we reviewed previously takes less than 5 to connect. This discrepancy suggests that the materials used in your home's construction and the presence of outdoor elements can significantly reduce effective range.

In contrast, the hub's connection to your Wi-Fi router fares much better. It supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, providing stronger, more stable coverage up to 100-150 feet in unobstructed conditions. This dual-band capability helps mitigate interference and ensures consistent performance for the broader system. When you take both legs of the connectivity chain into account, especially considering the real-world challenges of camera-to-hub range, it's still useful, but expectations should be tempered if you're planning outdoor placements.

Battery Life

The Nooie Pro Cam features a built-in 5000mAh rechargeable battery that supports either USB or solar panel charging, with advertised performance ranging from 3 to 6 months on a full charge. However, actual battery life varies significantly depending on environmental conditions and user habits. In low-traffic areas where the camera rarely detects motion, the battery can maintain a strong charge for extended periods. Pairing the device with a solar panel can further extend battery life, especially in sunny climates with consistent exposure, in most cases eliminating the need to charge.

In more active settings, such as near busy entryways or frequently trafficked yards, the battery may drain much faster. Frequent motion detection events prompt the camera to activate recording and notifications more often, consuming additional power. Regular live streaming also places a higher load on the system, drawing more energy as users check footage in real time. Combined, these factors can reduce battery life to just a few weeks in high-activity zones. So while the battery is efficient in ideal conditions, its longevity is closely tied to location and usage.

In our tests, the camera placed by the front door would need charging every 2 months, while the camera on the side of the house would generally last 4 months or more. his came about because of a combination of checking on the front door camera more often with live video and the significantly higher foot traffic of the front door versus the side yard.

Controls

The Nooie Pro Cam offers a modest but functional control interface primarily accessed through the Nooie mobile app, available for both iOS and Android. Once the camera is paired via the app, users can navigate to the settings menu to adjust general preferences such as video resolution (up to 2K), night vision toggles, and audio settings including two-way talk. The app also allows users to manage storage options (either cloud-based or via microSD card) and configure notification preferences for motion and sound detection. While the layout is intuitive, some users may find the initial setup slightly finicky, especially when pairing the camera to the base station or switching between Wi-Fi bands.

In terms of variety, the Nooie Pro Cam includes motion sensitivity adjustments, detection zone customization, and toggles for human-only alerts to reduce false positives. Users can also activate the built-in spotlight, rotate the camera view, and schedule recording times. These features are accessible through nested menus in the app, which, while comprehensive, can feel a bit buried for those unfamiliar with smart home interfaces. The camera also supports Alexa and Google Assistant integration, though voice control is limited to basic functions.

Learning Curve

In the early days of using the Nooie Pro Cam, most users encounter a moderate learning curve as they adapt to the mobile app's layered navigation and the camera's operational quirks. While the app itself is visually clean and logically arranged, locating specific settings, like motion zone adjustments or activating the spotlight, can require digging through multiple menus. Understanding the distinction between passive monitoring and active recording options takes a bit of trial and error, especially for users new to smart security cameras. Similarly, discovering how features like two-way talk or scheduled alerts integrate with live view can feel unintuitive until habits form around regular use.

Once users begin exploring beyond the basics, the depth of the camera's customization becomes both a strength and a challenge. There's a short acclimation period to grasp how and when the device triggers alerts, differentiates between human motion, and stores footage based on cloud versus microSD priorities. Alexa and Google Assistant integration further stretch learning demands, particularly since voice control options are limited and not clearly outlined during onboarding. Overall, while [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> itself isn't prohibitive, mastering the full suite of functions and ensuring optimal usage takes time.

Design

The Nooie Pro Cam delivers an impressively cohesive design experience across the camera, mount, and base station. The camera itself boasts a sleek, minimalist profile with a streamlined finish that complements both indoor and outdoor aesthetics. The smooth, matte surface has a natural color, unlike most cameras which are white or black, allowing it to blend into a home or yard with ease. Every curve feels deliberate, contributing to a device that's both visually modern and practically durable. Thoughtful placement of the lens and spotlight balances form with function, ensuring optimal coverage without compromising on style.

The mounting system reinforces Nooie's attention to detail. It offers a clever installation option: a powerful magnetic attachment for quick repositioning. The magnets in particular stand out as they lock the camera in place with surprising strength, even on vertical surfaces or under vibration from weather. The base station mirrors this polished design language with a compact, low-profile form that integrates well into any home environment. Its clean edges, intuitive indicator lights, and versatile [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> options show a clear understanding of user experience. The fabric-covered face softens the appearance to allow it to look good in a home or office setting.

Camera Quality

The Nooie Pro Cam delivers impressive recorded video quality, especially when stored locally on a microSD card or in the cloud. Captured footage consistently maintains crisp 2K resolution with accurate colors and sharp detail, even in challenging lighting conditions. Whether it's daytime shots of your yard or nighttime scenes illuminated by the built-in spotlight, the recordings hold up well for later review, offering a reliable sense of clarity and depth that justifies the camera's security promise.

Live streaming, however, tells a slightly different story. While the app and third-party integrations allow users to view real-time footage, the stream often defaults to a lower resolution, particularly when connection strength dips between the camera and the base station. Factors such as wall interference, distance, or network congestion can lead to pixelation, stutter, or delayed responses. Though it remains functional enough for spot checks, users relying on live view for immediate detail may find themselves wishing for sharper fidelity.

Build Quality

The build quality of the Nooie Pro Cam is a standout feature. The exterior design showcases a high level of precision, particularly where injection-molded sections meet. There are no rough seams or misalignments that might signal cost-cutting. Each component feels intentionally constructed, reflecting thoughtful engineering in both aesthetics and durability. The device exudes a smooth, cohesive finish that not only looks sleek but also enhances its weather resistance, lending extra confidence for outdoor use.

One of the most impressive physical features is the magnetic mount, which offers an unexpectedly robust hold. Whether attached to metal siding or a custom bracket, the base mount is solid. The magnets in the base grip firmly, minimizing any risk of the camera drooping or shifting from its intended angle over time. In fact, you'll need to try in order to remove the camera from the base for charging. This strength adds a layer of convenience during installation and maintenance.

The charging port is equally well-executed. It clicks into place with a reassuring firmness and resists wobble, delivering a tactile sense of security during recharges. The custom ring around the cable and matching indent on the camera help to prevent the cable from damaging the internal charging port. Overall, the Nooie Pro Cam's physical design feels more premium than its price point suggests, combining functionality with a professional-grade finish.

Functionality

The Nooie Pro Cam offers a respectable mix of features with some room for improvement. It captures crisp footage thanks to 2K resolution [metric31" class="UpStreamLink">, color night vision, and a built-in spotlight, delivering reliable day-and-night surveillance. Users can easily monitor activity through the mobile app, available for both Android and iOS, or via smart screens like the Echo Show. The camera includes human detection with AI assistance and supports two-way audio, giving it solid security chops for everyday use. However, consistent performance hinges heavily on ideal placement and signal strength. Despite dual-band Wi-Fi and the option for Ethernet, the wireless [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> between the camera and the base station sometimes falls short, especially outdoors or through walls, resulting in slow load times or dropped streams.

Another hiccup that affects usability is the frequent "ghost notifications." These are motion alerts sent to the app with no actual video footage to validate the event, or even a log of the event in the alerts in-app. While the smart PIR system is designed to minimize false positives, we have regularly experienced a noticeable number of these phantom alerts, which can lead to frustration and decreased trust in the system's accuracy. Combined with occasional connectivity struggles and inconsistent signal ranges depending on the environment, these functional quirks dim the camera's otherwise solid feature set. It's clear the Nooie Pro Cam has strong potential, but users seeking bulletproof reliability may want to weigh these limitations before committing.

Size & Weight

The Nooie Pro Cam strikes an excellent balance in size and weight, contributing to its overall ease of use. The camera unit is compact enough to be discreet, yet not so small that it feels flimsy or difficult to position. It fits comfortably in the hand and maintains a reassuring weight that conveys durability without being cumbersome. This weight distribution makes installation using the magnetic mount feel secure and deliberate, allowing users to adjust angles and locations without the device feeling unstable or top-heavy.

The base station complements the camera's [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> with a similarly compact profile. It's small enough to be plugged in behind a couch or desk, but large enough to maintain decent reception. Its solid [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> pairs well with its function, housing multiple wireless connections while maintaining excellent heat management and power efficiency. Charging both components is straightforward, aided by ports that click in confidently and don't feel fragile or loose during repeated use. The combination of practical size, balanced weight, and thoughtful design helps make everyday interaction with the Nooie system feel fluid, unfussy, and well-engineered.

Compatibility

The Nooie Pro Cam offers solid integration with mainstream smart home ecosystems. The mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android, is the primary hub for camera setup, customization, and monitoring. Its intuitive design lets users access live feeds, recorded footage, motion alerts, and camera settings directly from their phones. For added versatility, the camera supports streaming through Alexa and Google-powered smart displays such as the Echo Show or Nest Hub, allowing users to view real-time footage with a simple voice command. This hands-free functionality is especially convenient for home environments where mobility and quick access matter.

However, the system falls short when it comes to desktop or web-based support. There's currently no official Nooie interface for PCs or browsers, which can be a dealbreaker for users who prefer monitoring from a larger screen or integrating camera feeds into a broader smart home dashboard. This omission can limit usability for security-conscious homeowners or business users who rely on desktop workflows. While the mobile-first approach suits many casual users, the lack of cross-platform flexibility slightly dampens the overall compatibility score.

Setup

Setting up the Nooie Pro Cam is fairly straightforward on paper, with a guided pairing process via the Nooie app and a base station designed to connect seamlessly to your home network. However, in practice, the process sometimes stumbles due to intermittent connection issues between the camera and the base station. Users may experience delays during pairing or find that the app fails to detect the camera on the first try. This was our experience when pairing 1 of our 4 cameras. These hiccups aren't necessarily deal-breakers, but they can be frustrating, especially when you have to backtrack or restart the pairing process multiple times to establish a reliable link.

Once initial connectivity is achieved, additional setup tasks, like positioning the camera and testing its signal strength, can present their own challenges. The wireless range between the camera and the hub is sensitive to interference from walls or outdoor placement, which occasionally results in unstable connections that prompt re-pairing. Adjusting placement, switching Wi-Fi bands, or even moving the base station may be necessary to stabilize performance. Once a solid live stream is established, though, adjusting the camera is incredibly easy. The mount has a swivel, allowing you to adjust the angle of the camera even after the mount is connected to a wall.

Body Comp Scale (Withings)

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 17:23:10 UTC

Body Comp Scale

Withings

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Saturday Jul 26, 2025

4.71 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The Withings Body Comp scale delivers a robust suite of health metrics beyond basic weight tracking, including body composition, vascular age, and electrodermal activity, all powered by advanced multi-frequency bioimpedance technology. Its sleek, ultra-slim design and high-strength tempered glass platform ensure both aesthetic appeal and durability. Users benefit from seamless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, automatic multi-user recognition, and integration with over 100 health apps, including Apple Health and Google Fit. With a 15-month [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> and a vibrant display offering weather updates and wellness data, it's engineered for effortless, long-term use in any household.

Negatives

While the Withings Body Comp scale impresses with its range of advanced health metrics, it comes at a premium price point that may deter casual users or those seeking simple weight tracking. The initial [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> requires the Withings App and an active account, which adds a layer of dependency on external software. Additionally, while many features are available without a subscription, unlocking personalized insights and habit coaching through Withings+ incurs an extra annual or monthly fee, potentially reducing its value for users not interested in long-term app engagement.

Result

In summary, the Withings Body Comp scale presents a compelling blend of precision, design, and seamless integration that elevates it beyond a traditional weighing device. It excels at delivering actionable wellness insights through a clinically informed suite of measurements, intuitive app support, and long-lasting battery life-all wrapped in a sleek, durable form. While its price and reliance on external software may give pause to casual users, its rich feature set and multi-user support make it a standout option for health-conscious households and individuals seeking proactive engagement with their physical wellbeing.

Product Description

The WITHINGS Body Comp is a clinically validated smart scale designed for comprehensive health tracking. It offers precise weight measurement up to 50g and advanced body composition analysis, including fat mass, muscle mass, bone density, and visceral fat. Additionally, it monitors cardiovascular health through standing heart rate and vascular age assessments, and even evaluates skin protective function by analyzing sweat gland activity. With a high-resolution color display, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and automatic multi-user tracking, it seamlessly integrates with the Withings app to provide detailed insights into health trends. Its 15-month battery life and dedicated modes for pregnancy, baby weighing, and athletes make it a versatile tool for personalized health management.

Value

The Withings Body Comp scale positions itself as a high-value investment in personal health, offering more than just weight tracking - it functions as a wellness portal. For $229.95, users gain access to a wide suite of metrics including body composition, cardiovascular indicators like vascular age and standing heart rate, and electrodermal activity. These features are rarely bundled into a single device at this price point, especially with multi-frequency bioimpedance technology delivering clinical-grade precision. When paired with the Withings App, the scale becomes a longitudinal health tool, supporting proactive decisions and long-term trend tracking. For those invested in understanding and improving their health, the value is strikingly evident.

What makes the value proposition especially compelling is how the Body Comp scale integrates into daily life. It requires minimal upkeep, offers automatic data syncing via Wi-Fi, and supports up to eight users, making it ideal for households. The 15-month [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> minimizes interruptions, and the durable, seamless [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> means it will hold up through years of use. Compared to other smart scales, which often rely solely on Bluetooth or lack advanced health metrics, the Body Comp stands out as a complete health station. For its blend of [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">, [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, and forward-looking features, , it's not just a scale - it's a stepping stone toward longevity-focused living.

Connectivity

The Withings Body Comp scale offers seamless connectivity through both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, ensuring that users can sync their health data effortlessly. Wi-Fi allows automatic synchronization of weigh-in results to the Withings App without needing a smartphone nearby-a huge convenience for daily use. This connectivity also unlocks bonus features like delivering a localized weather forecast directly to the scale's display. Bluetooth functions as a setup channel and provides backup support when Wi-Fi isn't available. Together, these options provide a robust and flexible approach to keeping health data continuously updated.

Beyond syncing, the Body Comp supports up to eight individual user profiles via automatic recognition. This means families or roommates can share one scale and still have their data independently tracked. The scale integrates with over 100 health and fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Fit, making it easy to merge data across platforms. The combination of wireless syncing, multi-user functionality, and rich app compatibility makes connectivity a key strength for this device.

Battery Life

The Withings Body Comp scale is powered by four AAA alkaline batteries, which come pre-installed right out of the box for immediate use. Its standout feature is the impressive battery life-averaging up to 15 months of operation without needing a replacement. This extended autonomy makes it ideal for long-term use, especially in busy households where daily weigh-ins are common. With no need for charging or frequent battery changes, it offers a level of convenience that fits effortlessly into health routines without interruption.

What's particularly noteworthy is the balance of functionality and energy efficiency. Despite running advanced measurements like vascular age and electrodermal activity, plus syncing data via Wi-Fi, the scale maintains consistent performance throughout its battery lifecycle. That level of optimization speaks to thoughtful engineering designed to keep maintenance minimal.

Learning Curve

Once the Withings Body Comp is fully set up, daily interaction with the scale is smooth and largely automated. Stepping on it triggers immediate measurements, and the vibrant on-screen display shares weight trends, localized weather, and health metrics like heart rate and electrodermal activity. Users don't need to manually initiate syncs-Wi-Fi handles that silently in the background. For multi-user households, the automatic recognition feature simplifies the process even further, instantly identifying each user without confusion or setup steps.

After use, the real value comes through the Withings App, where data from every weigh-in is automatically compiled into graphs, trends, and health insights. Basic information like weight and BMI is easy to digest, while more advanced metrics like vascular age or skin response are accessible but might take a bit more exploration to interpret fully. The app's organization is efficient, though users unfamiliar with health tracking might spend a little time locating everything or understanding long-term trends. It's polished and powerful, just a shade short of frictionless for complete newcomers to smart health tech.

Manufacturer Software

The Withings App offers a sleek and intuitive [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> designed to make health tracking approachable even for beginners. Upon opening, users are greeted with clearly segmented dashboards that highlight metrics like weight, heart rate, vascular age, and electrodermal activity. Visual graphs help convey trends over time, and tapping into each section reveals more detailed insights without overwhelming the user. Navigation feels smooth, with logical menu placement and responsive performance, whether you're using iOS or Android. The color-coded feedback and personalized wellness tips, especially for Withings+ subscribers, add a thoughtful layer of engagement that makes the data feel actionable.

While the app is polished and mostly intuitive, the depth of health metrics can pose a mild [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> for users unfamiliar with bioimpedance analysis or cardiovascular indicators. Fortunately, Withings mitigates this by embedding tooltips and brief descriptions that explain the relevance of each measurement. Syncing is automatic via Wi-Fi, and users rarely need to intervene, except to occasionally update settings or switch between multiple users. Overall, the Withings App is user-friendly for most and rewarding for health-focused users, though those new to smart scales might need a few sessions to fully harness its features.

Design

The Withings Body Comp scale exemplifies understated sophistication. Its ultra-slim silhouette and squared proportions strike a sleek balance between form and function, allowing it to blend effortlessly into both modern and traditional interiors. The paint-free casing complements its high-strength tempered glass platform, offering a polished look with a soft tactile feel. The design eliminates visual clutter with no visible seams, distracting lines, or harsh transitions, giving the device a seamless aesthetic that reinforces its high-end character.

This scale isn't just about visual appeal; it's engineered for clarity and comfort. The large color LCD screen is crisp and easy to read from a standing position, showing health stats alongside helpful elements like local weather. Design choices like the gentle edge curves and smooth platform surface ensure a pleasant experience underfoot, even during daily use. Thoughtful placement of high-precision sensors beneath the glass means nothing disrupts the scale's clean lines. Overall, the Body Comp's design is graceful, deliberate, and ergonomically sound.

Build Quality

The build quality of the Withings Body Comp scale is immediately impressive, thanks to its ultra-slim profile and premium materials. The entire upper surface is smooth and uninterrupted, with no visible seams, joints, or rough edges to distract from the elegant, minimalist design. Its tempered glass platform feels solid underfoot, offering durability while remaining comfortable to stand on. Even the transitions between the glass and casing are seamless, which speaks to a meticulous attention to detail in the manufacturing process. It also means that handling the device will not produce any discomfort or injuries.

In everyday use, the scale holds up well to frequent interaction without showing wear or inconsistencies. The finish is paint-free, which not only prevents smudging and fading but also helps maintain a clean, polished look over time. High-precision sensors are embedded subtly beneath the surface, invisible yet highly responsive - adding to the sense that nothing was added without purpose. Overall, it's a testament to thoughtful engineering: the kind of product that feels as good as it looks, reinforcing the idea that quality health tech doesn't have to sacrifice aesthetic refinement.

Functionality

Using the Withings Body Comp scale feels more like stepping into a health routine than interacting with a device. Just by standing on it, users trigger a suite of measurements with no buttons or no setup each time. Behind the scenes, it silently syncs data via Wi-Fi, presenting real-time feedback on the display while pushing everything to the app for long-term tracking. Its automatic multi-user recognition means families don't need to remember profiles or reset anything. Even little touches, like displaying the weather, integrate it naturally into morning routines, turning a quick weigh-in into a seamless health check-in.

Functionality also shines in the scale's longevity and adaptability. Operating for over a year on AAA batteries, it's designed for passive reliability. Users can forget about charging and just focus on their health because of its long [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">. The [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> is intuitive and user-friendly, meaning minimal onboarding time and nearly zero daily friction. Once paired with the app, it continually updates without intervention, collecting metrics that feed into personalized insights. This blend of automation, durability, and ease-of-use makes the Body Comp a solid device, not for its flash, but for how effortlessly it integrates meaningful wellness tracking into daily life.

Size & Weight

The Withings Body Comp scale measures 12.8 x 12.8 x 1.1 inches (325 x 325 x 25.6 mm) and features an ultra-slim profile that makes it easy to slide under furniture or store vertically when not in use. Its weight feels solid but not cumbersome. Light enough to move between rooms, yet heavy enough to provide a stable footing during weigh-ins. Compared to standard analog bathroom scales, it's slightly wider and more refined in [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">. Against other smart scales like Fitbit Aria Air or Renpho's budget-friendly models, the Body Comp feels denser and better balanced, with the tempered glass top reinforcing that premium impression.

Most smart scales fall into a similar dimensional range, but few match the Body Comp's weight-to-durability ratio. Renpho and Eufy smart scales, for example, often weigh less and feel flimsier, with plastic casings and thinner glass surfaces. Fitbit's Aria Air is comparable in footprint but lacks the polished finish and high-strength glass of the Body Comp. This scale strikes a nice middle ground-it isn't bulky like Withings' advanced Body Scan model, nor as lightweight as entry-level alternatives. It's sleek without being fragile, compact without compromising usability.

User Interface

The Withings App interface is cleanly designed, balancing a modern aesthetic with functional depth. Upon opening, users are greeted with a dashboard that highlights recent metrics-weight, heart rate, vascular age, and more-with color-coded visuals that aid interpretation at a glance. Navigating through sections like Body Composition or Electrodermal Activity is intuitive, and tapping on any metric reveals historical graphs and health insights. Users can even unlock further health guidance through the optional Withings+ subscription, which adds behavior-focused missions and wellness content. While rich in features, the app doesn't overwhelm-it guides users rather than inundating them.

The Withings Body Comp scale itself mirrors the app's thoughtfulness. Its high-resolution 2.8" color screen is sharp and easy to read, even in low lighting, and delivers just the right amount of information during weigh-ins without becoming a distraction. Metrics cycle smoothly across the display, with subtle animations that feel refined. [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> is straightforward via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and once connected, the scale handles syncing automatically, storing up to 16 readings even offline.

For the app, introducing customizable dashboards would let users prioritize which health metrics they see first, which is ideal for those who focus more on cardiovascular data than body composition. A dark mode option would enhance usability during nighttime check-ins or for light-sensitive users. As for the scale itself, adding support for haptic or auditory feedback might improve accessibility for users with visual impairments. A few areas could benefit from slightly more customization, but the synergy between hardware and software is superb.

Setup

Setting up the Withings Body Comp scale is refreshingly straightforward. Right out of the box, it comes with batteries pre-installed, so you can step on it immediately to get started. However, unlocking its full potential requires pairing it with the Withings app (available on iOS and Android). Bluetooth is used initially to connect your smartphone, but after setup, the scale syncs automatically via Wi-Fi-no need to have your phone nearby at each weigh-in. The app guides users through each step with visual cues and prompts to select measurement units, enter personal data, and enable multi-user recognition. You can even assign profiles to household members, and the scale auto-detects who's stepping on it based on historical patterns.

Versus competitors, Body Comp stands out for its multi-frequency body composition setup and seamless Wi-Fi sync. Most budget smart scales rely solely on Bluetooth, requiring manual syncing and proximity. The Withings app feels mature, with rich insights and smooth onboarding, especially when compared to more basic interfaces or occasionally buggy pairing processes. The only slight hitch is that setup must be done via mobile (no desktop compatibility), but this is common among smart scales. Overall, for ease of setup, reliability, and integration quality, the Body Comp is as close to "plug-and-play" as a health gadget gets.

Usability

The Withings Body Comp scale is designed for convenience and clarity, making daily usability one of its strongest features. Stepping on the scale instantly initiates measurements - there's no need to press buttons or navigate menus. Its large color display presents key metrics like weight and heart rate in a clean, legible format, and even includes localized weather updates to enhance the experience. The automatic syncing via Wi-Fi means all collected data quietly funnels into the Withings App, so users don't have to remember to open an app or keep their phone nearby during weigh-ins. It's the kind of usability that blends into morning routines without requiring mental overhead.

Managing multiple users is seamless, with the scale automatically recognizing up to eight individuals and routing their data appropriately. No profile toggling or manual intervention is needed, which simplifies sharing among family members. Daily performance is consistent, even after months of use, and the scale rarely needs attention thanks to its long battery life and durable build. Compared to other smart scales that require frequent app syncing or manual input, the Body Comp feels like a set-it-and-forget-it device.

500Wh Portable Power Station with Lithium Battery Pack (Shell)

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 21:46:41 UTC

500Wh Portable Power Station with Lithium Battery Pack

Shell

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Dec 26, 2022

4.57 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> make this a fantastic addition to any camping or emergency preparedness kit.

Negatives

The only real issue with the Power Station is with the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the screen and the computer system that controls it.

Result

If you are looking for a solid backup power system, the Shell Power Station should be on your short list.

Product Description

The Shell Portable Power Station with Lithium Battery Pack is ideal for camping, power outages, and other outdoor activities. It provides a reliable energy source with its high-capacity lithium battery pack. This power station has an impressive peak output of 500W and three USB-A ports and one USB-C port perfect for powering electronics such as phones or tablets. The LCD display shows the current output level, battery life, and charging status so you can easily keep track of your power supply. It also features a convenient carrying handle for easy portability.

Value

Whether you are hoping for a great companion to take on your next camping trip or looking for a backup power source during a storm, the Shell Power Station is a great choice. The price does appear at first to be steep, but the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> that the product provides is in proportion to its price. It provides a lot of power in a very small package, making it a great product for so many people.

Convenience

Truly, the Shell Power Station's [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> cannot be overstated. Unless you had hoped to carry this device with you across a trail and to a campsite, everything about the product makes it a convenience to own.

Emergency Use

This was clearly our primary focus, as we are based in Florida and have had a strangely active hurricane season this year. Many people in our circle lost power during Ian and Nicole, for which this power station would be a life changer. The ability to power devices, like lights at night, as well as charging phones, would make the aftermath of one of these hurricanes a little more like normal life.

Outdoor Use

For those who are traveling, particularly campers, the ability to bring a large amount of power with them in a small package can also be game changing. Having a little light without the heat of a fire would be a benefit. Being able to charge devices, such as phones, can protect a car battery and save gas during an extended camping trip.

Supplemental Use

The most surprising use was for powering devices in places where we didn't have any accessible power. Our most useful scenario was powering cameras in a building with scarce power plugs. We've used battery systems in the past for this scenario, but the Power Station is the best implementation of the concept we've encountered.

Battery Life

Our testing was twofold for this product. We ran both our official battery test, as well as a practical test. The battery is 100 amps, which means it should be able to charge an equivalent amount of battery power in other devices.

Practical Test

During our ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2022 coverage, we used the Shell Portable Power Station as a supplement to our camera power. We had 6 battery-powered camera as part of our broadcast system, and as their batteries would run down, we would move the Power Station close to that camera and charge it back up using the USB-A ports. We also charged laptops throughout the event using the AC plugs. At no point during the event did we get close to running out of power. In fact, the screen usually read above 60 hours remaining on the battery.

Lumia 928

The Lumia 928 has a 2 amp battery and lasts about 7 hours on a normal charge using our battery tester. Without any charge on the phone, we were able to run the phone for 5 days 9 hour and 10 minutes on average across our tests. That works out to 129 hours and 10 minutes. Theoretically, using a 5.1 volt USB-A port, which was our port of choice, we should have access to 784 amps of power, which should power the device for approximately 343 hours rather than the 129 hours we saw. Essentially, we only received 38 percent of the power that we expected to receive over the course of the test.

While the math might not work out, it is important to remember that the system ran constantly, powering the device as if it were plugged into the wall constantly. Power efficiency is different under those conditions than they are while running all the way down, charging all the way up while off, and then running the battery down to zero again. Because of this, the power efficiency we saw was not terribly out of expectation for the size of the battery, the length of the run, and the charging scenario.

Design

Overall, the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Shell Power Station is solid. All of the ports and options make it a nearly perfect companion for camping, fishing, and hunting. It also makes for a great accessory for emergency situations. However, placing all of the ports across the same surface means that, if you need to plug a lot of devices into the various ports at the same time, which you can do, it can be unbalanced, potentially tipping it forward. We were able to make the battery tip over with cables in every port.

Its ability to charge from 12-volt or 120-volt power is a great addition. For campers, this means the ability to charge the battery while driving between destination in the car. For emergency use, it means being able to fully charge from the wall before an issue and top up later from a car. The charging port, however, is also in that front panel of ports, so it gets into the same mess if you are trying to charge it from a car while it is in use.

The display on the front gives a lot of information about the state and operation of the device. On the left, you can see how much power is being drawn at any moment, as well as how much power is being push in. In the middle, it shows a percentage of the battery that is currently left, as well as a battery graph showing current state. On the right, you can see how many hours are left based on the current draw.

There are some issues with the display, though. First, while it is very useful, it uses power itself. That means that some of the electricity you could be using to power a phone or light in the event of an emergency is being used to power this screen and the computer that makes the calculations, lowering its overall [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">. The screen does not appear to be controllable, so when it decides to turn on, it's on. Ideally, there would be some sort of control to decide for yourself when the screen is on and when it isn't.

However, the biggest issue with the screen is that the portion designed for displaying how many hours of operation are left has only 2 digits. For low power consumption, such as when charging a phone, there are days over which the screen says 99 hours remaining. There is no way to know exactly how much time is left until you get under 100 hours. It's a slightly petty complaint, but it was something that was a challenge during our tests.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly solid. There are no rough edges. There are no sharp seams. In reality, nearly everything about the production of the device itself is consistent, safe, attractive, and functional. The strength of the handle is far greater than it needs to be, ensuring that the handle won't break with standard use. The rubber underside of the handle is an added bonus because it makes it more comfortable to carry.

In reality, the only build complaint is a decision in the type and color of plastic used on the top of the device. For those who intend to use the Power Station as part of a camping or travel kit, the white plastic top will get dirty and discolored quickly. In fact, in our fairly short time using it in the wild, the white is already discolored, so prolonged camping usage will affect it quicker and harsher.

Size & Weight

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Power Station are very different. The weight is extreme but not unexpected. The size is surprisingly small, making it easy to store in your home or office.

Weight

The weight of the device is certainly higher than what you might be able to travel with comfortably. The good news is that this is not a product that is intended for standard travel. Instead, it is a product intended mostly to be left in place until an emergency arises. This means that the weight will not be a problem when it will not be moving around often.

On the other hand, for those who intend to use the Power Station as part of a camping kit, it might become a problem. You will not want to carry this device with you on a trip, as its weight will become unbearable in short order. However, if you are traveling in a van, camper, or other vehicle, the weight should not be a problem.

Size

The good news is that the size of the Power Station is actually quite small, especially for its capabilities and capacity. It will not take a lot of room in your garage or basement while storing in case of emergency, nor will it take up a lot of space in a camper or van.

Compatibility

Because of its wide array or ports, the [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Shell Power Station is all-encompassing. It has 3 USB-A ports, which is the cable that most devices have shipped with for years. It also has a USB-C port, which is quickly becoming the standard for all new products. It's got a 12-volt car power port, allowing you to power devices intended for the car, or to use car chargers for phones in the event the USB ports are already in use. It's also got 2 AC ports, so you can plug in just about anything else.

It is important to remember that just because you can plug something in doesn't mean that you should. For example, plugging a product in with a heating coil, such as a traditional blow dryer, is going to put a large drain on the system and could cause damage to both the Power Station and the appliance. Before you plug in a device into the standard electrical outlets, make sure that it is going to be compatible with the 500 Wh available.

Illuminessence Digit Smart Modular 3D LED Art Panels Starter Kit (Monster Products)

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 10:45:51 UTC

Illuminessence Digit Smart Modular 3D LED Art Panels Starter Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Sep 19, 2021

4.05 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Digit is great, the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are easy enough for anyone to figure out, and the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> proposition makes these panels a very attractive choice.

Negatives

The only major downside comes from the [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, but if you know enough to deal with the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi limitation, you are golden.

Result

The Illuminessence Digit is a unique and inexpensive way to create digital artwork that can be altered and adjusted at will.

Product Description

Digit is a modular lighting system that allows you to easily design your own illuminated 3D LED art. Build your own stunning structures with customizable lighting effects and patterns. Our custom engineered mounting system allows for effortless reconstruction through USB type-C ports, repositionable magnets, and 3M Command damage-free adhesives. With multiple white and RGB color ranges, Digit offers over 16 million color possibilities. Create everything from intricate designs to personalized messages.

The Monster Digit connects directly to your existing home Wi-Fi network and can be controlled using the included control panel or the Monster Smart app on your mobile device. This method gives you the greatest control of color, brightness, speed, patterns, and color-changing modes for the Digit and all of your Monster Smart lighting devices. You can also connect the app to your voice assistant devices, such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Virtual Assistant, for convenient hands-free control. Each segment can emit multiple different colors at the same time, making them multi-zone and offering greater customization. The segments also have the ability to react to sounds with the integrated music-reactive mic. Digit is compatible with the separately sold add-on pack and other Digit devices. With more segments you can create more stunning shapes and designs, you can even write words and custom messages.

Value

The Illuminessence Digit is a really great product for many uses. The most obvious use is for streamers looking for an easy way to create a unique backdrop. It will be important to remember that the backlighting could cause issues with your camera, but overall, it is a unique backdrop for a streamer. It also makes an interesting addition to a workspace. We currently have the Illuminessence Digit collections setup above our desks in our offices and, while providing a small amount of light, do add a unique atmosphere to the room. And, for the unique design element, the price (especially if you purchase through Walmart) is a great deal, especially when compared against other similar products from other brands.

Connectivity

Like many other connected home products, all of the Monster Smart Illuminessence products run on the older Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz spectrum. Based on feedback on our Unboxed videos, many people struggled to [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> their devices because of this limitation on [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">. This is because many modern routers and modems with Wi-Fi ship with 2.4 GHz turned off. This requires knowing how to change the settings on your router to turn on the feature, or potentially contacting your internet service provider if they restrict your access.

In addition to the limitations on your router, many mobile devices also prioritize the more modern 5 GHz over the older spectrum. So, if your device has connected to both, it is going to be on the 5 GHz by default. This means that you really have to pay attention while going through the initial [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> to ensure that you're on the right network.

Controls

The majority of the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> for the Illuminessence Digit are exposed through the Monster Smart app. From here, you have the ability to [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> your Digit (or other devices), turn on and off your devices, and set the state of the lights. As with all of the Monster Smart Illuminessence products, like items can be grouped and controlled together. So, even if you have several of the light groups throughout the house, they can be controlled as a single unit, using the exact same interface as for a single Digit group.

For the Digit, there are a number of options for how they can be used. Whether you are picking a solid color or one of the advanced patterns, it is all done through the same interface. When selecting a single Digit, or a group of them, you will be greeted by a set of three tabs (if they are on). The first tab is white, with a color wheel going from warm to cool tones. Your selected tone will be displayed in the center of the wheel. At the bottom is a slider for brightness, ranging from 1% to 100%.

The second tab is Color, which presents very similarly to the White tab. From here, rather than warm to cool tones, your wheel is a full color wheel. Here you can choose any solid color you want, which will be represented in the center of the wheel. At the bottom are two sliders, one for brightness and one for saturation. The brightness slider, just like in White, ranges from 1% to 100%. The saturation slider ranges from 0% to 100%, with 0% being completely white and 100% being completely the color you chose.

The third tab is Scene. This is where the Digit really gets exciting. There are 16 pre-built scenes with animations ranging from Sunrise and Sunset, which are fairly calm, simple gradients of morning and evening colors, to Hypnotize and Vortex, both of which are fairly intense. The more complex scenes can really show off the capabilities of the Digit's color regions. You also get the ability to create your own scenes, with 4 custom options at the top. You can also edit the pre-designed Scenes, though, so you can have up to 20 unique, homemade patterns.

In addition to the Monster Smart app, you can also control your Digit through the big assistants - Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri. Using the Digit with Alexa and Google is pretty easy, as they have a proper connected home platform integrated. The devices get added into the ecosystem and that gives these two full control. However, Siri, without a proper connected home platform, requires you to create individual tasks for each action you want to make available. This is not a limitation of the Monster Smart platform, but a limitation of Siri.

Not everything is ideal, however. The primary issue is in the solid color controls. While you can customize and save a named version of a pattern, you cannot do the same thing with a solid color. So, if you find a specific color that you really like, you will never be able to get it back if you change away from it. Another solid color issue is in the input process. You can only choose a color from the color wheel - there is no way to enter any color information manually. It would be wonderful to have some sort of manual entry, like a HEX or RGB selector.

Learning Curve

There is a slight [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> to the product, peaking at the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process. Because setting up an Illuminessence Digit requires you to know something about your Wi-Fi router, and possibly how to change settings and turn on features on that router, it can certainly be a challenge up front. However, once you have gotten past the initial setup, the curve flattens out nearly immediately.

It is very easy to use the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Digit. Turning it on and off, setting a solid color or pattern, and even creating your own pattern is easier than we have experienced on other products. Adding the ability to control them from Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri means that it is as easy to change the state of the Digit as speaking.

Design

There are many part of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Illuminessence Digit that are to be admired. However, there are some small decisions that could be improved upon in future iterations, or possibly through user manipulation.

Obviously, the concept of the panels is incredibly unique. Most LED panels like this are designed in simple geometric patterns and to be connected directly one to another with hidden clips. The Digit skips both of those limitations, creating a more diverse design philosophy. The panels are shaped like Rupees from the Zelda franchise, which just so happens to be the same shape as the pieces of a 7-segment display. Because of this, you have the ability to use the panels to create any letter or number, in the same way your calculator or alarm clock can.

While competitors tend to use flat panels, the Digit (and Prism) use short hills. This design, which produces a gem-looking structure on the Digit, about an inch high. This choice allows for a more textured appearance and more depth for the patterns that are available on the sets.

Unlike its cousin, the Illuminessence Prism, the Illuminessence Digit uses USB-C cables to connect the panels. This choice allows for a significantly wider design scheme, as the panels are not required to be placed directly next to one another with no gap between them. However, the same choice makes the more traditional set difficult. For example, if you want to create the letter "F," you'll need to deal with a 3-way join in the middle. Wiring this is impossible using the cables included in the box, because there is no way to prevent some sort of gap between panels. If the Digit also supported the clip system of the Prism, this problem would be solved, but it would severely limit the flexibility.

While the Illuminessence Digit is designed to be interacted with primarily through your phone or a digital assistant, the company still put a lot of thought into the design of the control unit. You are able to turn the unit on and off, change modes (white, color, scene), and even cycle through the settings all from the panel. The material on the front of the panel is different from the rest of the product, being covered with a silicon or rubber material. This makes interacting with it easier, while not making it stand out from the set. This is because the color is a perfect match.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Illuminessence Digit is far above average. The most common issue with products is in the injection molding, and we experienced almost no problems with any of the product we received. Unlike with the Prism, none of our Digit panels or the control unit had any misalignments. Normal misalignments can create sharp corners and seams. As the panels are designed to hang on the wall and not be handled regularly, this would not have caused any problems even if there was a slight issue.

The Digit panels connect together using short USB-C cables, not the connector clips of the Prism. The choice of the USB-C connecter, versus the previously common micro-USB, means that connecting them blindly is easier. The ports on the panels are solid and have no give to them, so there is little chance of a port breaking off of the internal board. The ends of the cables are also well-made.

The only issue we encountered was surrounding the adhesive strips on the back of the magnetic mounts. After our initial installation, the entire set fell off of the wall on which we installed it. A large portion of the issue came from the type of wall (highly textured wood) and the type of paint (bathroom matte) that we used on the old studio backdrop. However, this tape should have had some sort of hold, as these materials are not entirely unique to the studio setup (everything involved is part of normal home construction). Fortunately, the magnetic mounts have no electronics in them, so if you need to, you can drill through them and screw them into place.

Functionality

When using the Illuminessence Digit, the majority of your time will be inside of the Monster Smart app. This app looks similar to other home automation apps but brings features that those other platforms lack. One of the other connected home product lines we have in the office has an app that looks like a cousin, but it is missing some of the features that make this one fantastic. Fortunately, we were able to bring those products into the Monster Smart app, adding functionality that was unavailable in the native app.

Like many connected home apps, you can create rooms, like your living room and bedroom, to organize your components. This gives you the ability to sort lights, switches, and outlets into where they live in the building. You can then share that home with others, like your family or roommates. You can also create groups of like elements to control them together. In the case of the Digit, this is incredibly helpful if you have a lot of panels. Only so many panels can be run off of a single control unit. So, if you want to create a large and complex design, you will need multiple controllers. Being able to control them as a group makes that an acceptable trade-off.

The one primary issue in the functionality of the Digit is in the grouping process. If you want to create a group of Digits, you cannot hit the plus button from the home screen, the way you would for adding a physical device. Ideally, under that add menu, you would be able to create a group and then add your devices to it. Unfortunately, the process starts by selecting one of the devices that you want in the group and create it from the details screen of that device. The user experience for this functionality is backwards, and usually requires a little time for us to remember how it works if we have been away from it for a while.

Size & Weight

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Illuminessence Digit are nearly perfect. The physical size of the panels is large enough to be able to easily cover a space with the starter kit, while still being small enough to be able to take advantage of the customization capabilities. If the panels were any bigger, they would overwhelm the ability to create your own patterns and shapes. If they were any smaller, it would require a lot more panels to cover a normal amount of wall space.

The weight of the panels is a little higher than you might expect at first glance, though not as high as its cousin the Prism. Since this is not a product that will be handled on a regular basis, the weight is not too important, so long as the mounting system is strong enough to accommodate. While the magnetic mounting disks are strong enough to hold the panels in place, the weight could overwhelm the double-sided tape. In our initial tests, the whole setup fell off of a wall because of the weight of the panels and the material of the wall on which we installed it. However, installed on normal painted drywall, we had no issues.

Compatibility

There are two separate and distinct types of [metric29" class="UpStreamLink">: controllers and connectivity. On the controller side, the Monster Smart platform and the Illuminessence Digit are capable of being controlled by nearly every platform available. The Monster Smart app is available for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). Unfortunately, the app is not available for Windows (Microsoft Store), Amazon Fire (Amazon Appstore), or web. If the app were available through the Amazon Appstore, it would also be available for Windows, using the upcoming subsystem for Android.

The platform is also available through all of the major digital assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. With Cortana shutting down her connected home integrations last year, this means that you can control your Illuminessence Digit using your voice no matter what assistant you use.

The only place where there is a real [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> issue is with [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">. Because the devices use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, it does create a possible compatibility issue for those who either do not have a router that supports 2.4 GHz or do not have it turned on (as many modern routers default). For the most part, this is easily resolved by looking at your router's manual or calling your internet service provider (if your router is provided by the ISP).

Setup

Because of the issues with [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> can be very confusing. Because of this, we created a How To video on the process. The main challenges come from the use of the older 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum that has been waning in popularity in recent years. For many users, this spectrum is turned off by default on their wireless routers of integrated cable modems. So, to configure the Illuminessence Digit, users have to learn a little about their Wi-Fi network.

Another challenge comes in the fact that modern mobile phones automatically switch back to a 5 GHz connection if both are available. But, as part of the pairing process, your device must be connected to the network you intend to use for your Illuminessence products. This means that during the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process, you need to be very careful which network you're connected to when you start the process. There is a particular screen, which we point out in the video, where it will remind you to verify that you're on the right network, but it can still be easy to miss.

Other than this singular, yet prominent, issue, the software setup process is fairly straightforward and simple. First, you need the Monster Smart app for Apple or Android. Then, you make sure the Digit is in pairing mode (it will be blinking if it is in the right mode), you search for the Digit, you give it a name, and you assign it to a room in your home. That is the whole process - the Monster Smart app makes it as easy as it can. In fact, under some circumstances, the app might recognize the device is in pairing mode and do the first few steps for you and take you directly to the naming phase.

As for the physical setup, it is incredibly easy. Individual panels connect to one another using short USB-C cables. These cables, which come in the box, have color-coded arrows showing the direction of the flow of data. The arrows should always point away from the control unit, with the red color being closest to the control unit and the green away from it. The only struggle you will encounter here will be deciding exactly how to wire up a pattern, and what to do with the small amount of overflow cable. Sometimes, there is just enough cable to prevent the panels from being where you want because it creates pressure on the panel and therefore its magnetic mount.

The magnetic and double-sided tape hanging mechanism also makes installation, as well as adjustability, a literal snap. You can pop the Digits onto the wall with the sticky tape on the back of the magnetic mounts, and then on and off of the magnets once they are on the wall. Because of the hexagonal mount design, and the USB cables, you can even adjust the patters later by twisting and turning the panels around and moving the wires.

KZ ZS10 Pro Wired In-Ear Monitors (Linsoul)

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 10:15:50 UTC

KZ ZS10 Pro Wired In-Ear Monitors

Linsoul

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Saturday Sep 18, 2021

3.33 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is the shining star of these inexpensive earbuds, and the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> is adequate for basic vocal work.

Negatives

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are a little out of proportion and can fatigue your ears if worn for an extended period.

Result

If you are looking for a cheap, low-profile earbud for video production, these are worth a try. But, if you need detailed audio reproduction, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Product Description

KZ ZS10 PRO adopts a similar design to the ZSN and ZSN Pro. The mirror-finished, stainless steel faceplate is gorgeous. It's held on with three tiny star-shaped screws, features three tiny round ports, and has three engraved accent lines. The body is made of a colored, semi-transparent plastic, which displays the plethora of drivers and wires contained within. The fit and finish are superb and the body to faceplate mating is spot on. The nozzle is a brass-colored aluminum alloy tube, ridged on the end to hold the ear tip and contains a small silver screen. The ZS10 Pro is equally comfortable and good-looking. It is a fantastic-looking IEM.

Value

Because of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, the KZ ZS10 PRO is a decent buy at its price point. For those who are doing on-camera video work who need to hear people speaking, these are an earbud to consider. While the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> may not be good enough to master audio or to listen to music of almost any type, for vocals they are adequate. But, for any other usage, you'll likely want to pass on these and get yourself some proper in-ear monitors.

Design

The KZ ZS10 PRO are modeled after traditional in-ear monitors used in professional productions. Musicians and television reporters alike wear fitted in-ear monitors because of their [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">. These earbuds imitate some of the features of those in-ears, such as the ability to remove the earbuds themselves. You could swap out the earbuds, have multiple colors for different outfits, of just replace a single broken piece. You also get the replaceable ear tips like most earbuds.

But, while these are modeled after those high-quality products, they miss a number of the things that make a professional in-ear monitor the perfect production companion. Obviously, for the price, these earbuds will not be custom fit to your ears. The fit as they ship is pretty decent, though - especially when you consider the retail price. However, the small amount of potential customization is also missing from these earbuds.

For example, the piece that fits over the top of the ear is flexible but has no retention. The flexibility helps keep the earbands from breaking, but the lack of retention means that there is no way to create a more proper mold to the shape of your ear. If you're adventurous, you can grab a heat gun and reshape the band yourself, but that's not going to be a task for everyone.

Comfort

Because of the higher than normal [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> level is certainly diminished. The heavier earbuds will fatigue your ear faster than normal earbuds, even though these have earbands to offset the weight. In addition, the eartips that come with the product are not a perfect fit for everyone. I, for example, have a well-documented problem finding an eartip that fits me well. To be able to use the KZ ZS10 PRO regularly, I had to dip into my stash of aftermarket tips.

These are not going to be your go-to all-day earbuds. However, for short-term use in a live stream or podcast-type environment you'll likely not encounter enough of a problem to want to replace them. This is made even more likely if you are adventurous enough to custom-fit the earband with a heat gun.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is the best feature of the KZ ZS10 PRO. Despite the lower cost, these eabuds do not seem to have a single offset injection seam. There are no sharp edges to be found, and the fit between components is firm but removable. The joints where the earbuds connect to the cable, which is a removable connection, does not feel like it is going to come loose while wearing, and there is no jiggle or rotation in the joint. A slight pull on the cable, though, releases the cable from the earbuds for transportation or replacing the earbud.

The cable is also a surprisingly high quality. The whole cable is braided and coated in a plastic sleeve to prevent pulling from tension. The base of the cable is thick, with two sets of wire braided together. The parts leading from the junction to the individual earpieces are thinner, but still protected. The junction itself is a solid plastic with strain reliefs on all three entry points. The jack is made of the same material and also has a strain relief. The jack itself is a 90-degree cable, which is unusual but not totally off-putting.

Size & Weight

While the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> is a little higher than a normal pair of in-ear monitors, they are not too much for a comfortable experience. The earbuds are a little bigger than normal, particularly in the base. Part of the size is created by the removable nature of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, while some of it is intended to help produce the passive noise blocking (covering the ear canal completely helps outside noise from entering, passively blocking out the sound form being heard).

The weight of the earbuds is also a little on the high side, but not the heaviest earbuds we've tested. The extra weight is offset well by the earband. Earbands are specifically designed to take weight off of the inner ear and disperse it across the entire ear, and this one is definitely a welcomed addition. Even so, a few hours of use is probably going to be the maximum - they are too heavy for a full day's use.

Sound Quality

The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the KZ ZS10 PRO is not anything to get excited about, but it is also not embarrassing. The highs are a little tinny and the lows a a little muffled, making them not ideal for music. In fact, if you want to try and use these for music, you'll be incredibly disappointed. While the vocals might sound pretty normal, instrumentals are going to be distorted.

However, if you intend on using these exclusively for vocal use, like we use in the studio during [f5live" class="UpStreamLink">, then the sound quality isn't going to be a challenge. That's because the sound replication within the human vocal range is decent. There is a small amount of distortion, but not enough that the wearer is going to be annoyed (unless they are trying to master the vocals using them). But, for simply listening to someone else talk, they sound pretty good.

Illuminessence Prism Smart Modular 3D LED Art Panel Starter Kit (Monster Products)

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:46:51 UTC

Illuminessence Prism Smart Modular 3D LED Art Panel Starter Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Sep 5, 2021

4.1 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> is solid, the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are pretty easy to use, and the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> proposition is fantastic.

Negatives

The only real down is in the [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, but if you can get around the limitations of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, you're all set.

Result

If you are looking for a way to add unique digital artwork to a room or a streaming setup, the Monster Illuminessence Prism is a great choice.

Product Description

Prism is a modular lighting system that allows you to easily design your own illuminated 3D LED art. Build your own stunning designs with customizable lighting effects and patterns. Our custom engineered mounting system allows for effortless reconstruction through repositionable magnets and 3M Command damage-free adhesives. With multiple white and RGB color ranges, Prism's color possibilities are seemingly endless.

The Monster Prism connects directly to your existing home Wi-Fi network and can be controlled using the included control panel or the Monster Smart app on your mobile device. This method gives you the greatest control of color, brightness, speed, patterns, and color-changing modes for the Prism and all of your Monster Smart lighting devices. You can also connect the app to your voice assistant devices, such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Virtual Assistant, for convenient hands-free control. Each panel can emit multiple different colors at the same time, making them multi-zone and offering greater customization. The panels also have the ability to react to sounds with the integrated music-reactive mic. Prism is compatible with the separately sold add-on pack and other Prism devices. With more panels, you can create even more stunning shapes and designs.

Value

The Illuminessence Prism is a really great product for many uses. The most obvious use is for streamers looking for an easy way to create a unique backdrop. It will be important to remember that the backlighting could cause issues with your camera, but overall, it is a unique backdrop for a streamer. It also makes an interesting addition to a workspace. We currently have the Illuminessence Prism collections setup above our desks in our offices and, while providing a small amount of light, do add a unique atmosphere to the room. And, for the unique design element, the price (especially if you purchase through Walmart) is a great deal, especially when compared against other similar products from other brands.

Connectivity

Controls

The majority of the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> for the Illuminessence Prism are exposed through the Monster Smart app. From here, you have the ability to [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> your Prism (or other devices), turn on and off your devices, and set the state of the lights. As with all of the Monster Smart Illuminessence products, like items can be grouped and controlled together. So, even if you have several of the light groups throughout the house, they can be controlled as a single unit, using the exact same interface as for a single Prism group.

For the Prism, there are a number of options for how they can be used. Whether you are picking a solid color or one of the advanced patterns, it is all done through the same interface. When selecting a single Prism, or a group of them, you will be greeted by a set of three tabs (if they are on). The first tab is white, with a color wheel going from warm to cool tones. Your selected tone will be displayed in the center of the wheel. At the bottom is a slider for brightness, ranging from 1% to 100%.

The third tab is Scene. This is where the Prism really gets exciting. There are 16 pre-built scenes with animations ranging from Sunrise and Sunset, which are fairly calm, simple gradients of morning and evening colors, to Hypnotize and Vortex, both of which are fairly intense. The more complex scenes can really show off the capabilities of the Prism's color regions. You also get the ability to create your own scenes, with 4 custom options at the top. You can also edit the pre-designed Scenes, though, so you can have up to 20 unique, homemade patterns.

In addition to the Monster Smart app, you can also control your Prism through the big assistants - Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri. Using the Prism with Alexa and Google is pretty easy, as they have a proper connected home platform integrated. The devices get added into the ecosystem and that gives these two full control. However, Siri, without a proper connected home platform, requires you to create individual tasks for each action you want to make available. This is not a limitation of the Monster Smart platform, but a limitation of Siri.

Learning Curve

There is a slight [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> to the product, peaking at the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process. Because setting up an Illuminessence Prism requires you to know something about your Wi-Fi router, and possibly how to change settings and turn on features on that router, it can certainly be a challenge up front. However, once you have gotten past the initial setup, the curve flattens out nearly immediately.

It is very easy to use the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Prism. Turning it on and off, setting a solid color or pattern, and even creating your own pattern is easier than we have experienced on other products. Adding the ability to control them from Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri means that it is as easy to change the state of the Prism as speaking.

Design

To be blunt, we love this [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">. Everything from the ability to create a Triforce on your wall through the magnetic mount is well thought out. But, let's talk about the details.

The design of the panels is very unique. The triangular shape allows for a wide variety of interesting shapes, not the least of which is the Triforce from the Zelda franchise. The surface of the panel is not flat, instead acting a little like a short pyramid. The center of the triangle is just over an inch tall, made up of its own triangles. This texture allows the lighting patterns to look more textured that they would if the panels were flat.

While the Illuminessence Prism is designed to be interacted with primarily through your phone or a digital assistant, the company still put a lot of thought into the design of the control unit. You are able to turn the unit on and off, change modes (white, color, scene), and even cycle through the settings all from the panel. The material on the front of the panel is different from the rest of the product, being covered with a silicon or rubber material. This makes interacting with it easier, while not making it stand out from the set. This is because the color is a perfect match. The only aspect that would be nice is if the power were able to be plugged in to the short side (as it is now) or the long side, so the controller can more easily be placed at the bottom of a design.

The connection scheme is also highly considered. Being able to snap the pieces, both panels and controller, together in any configuration you want creates a fun canvas on which to design your own digital artwork. The mounts, being a hexagon, allows you to create patterns at regular angles, while still making the mount sturdy without the possibility of rotating on the wall.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Illuminessence Prism is far above average. The most common issue with products is in the injection molding, and we experienced almost no problems with any of the product we received. With a single panel, there was a slight misalignment on one edge with two pieces of plastic leaving a slight edge. This misalignment includes the corner of the panel, where the seam is pretty sharp. However, as the panels are designed to hang on the wall and not be handled regularly, this should not cause any problems. The main control unit does not have any similar issues.

The connector clips are equally well constructed. The plastic is thick enough to not bend while installing the lights and strong enough to help hold the panels together. The snap connectors fit into the gaps on the back of the controller and the panels perfectly flush, leaving no bumps to interfere with mounting. The connection also fits firmly enough to stay in place, but not so firm as to make it difficult to remove from the panels. This is important because the set is designed to be easily pulled apart and moved around.

Functionality

When using the Illuminessence Prism, the majority of your time will be inside of the Monster Smart app. This app looks similar to other home automation apps but brings features that those other platforms lack. One of the other connected home product lines we have in the office has an app that looks like a cousin, but it is missing some of the features that make this one fantastic. Fortunately, we were able to bring those products into the Monster Smart app, adding functionality that was unavailable in the native app.

Like many connected home apps, you can create rooms, like your living room and bedroom, to organize your components. This gives you the ability to sort lights, switches, and outlets into where they live in the building. You can then share that home with others, like your family or roommates. You can also create groups of like elements to control them together. In the case of the Prism, this is incredibly helpful if you have a lot of panels. Only so many panels can be run off of a single control unit. So, if you want to create a large and complex design, you will need multiple controllers. Being able to control them as a group makes that an acceptable trade-off.

The one primary issue in the functionality of the Prism is in the grouping process. If you want to create a group of Prisms, you cannot hit the plus button from the home screen, the way you would for adding a physical device. Ideally, under that add menu, you would be able to create a group and then add your devices to it. Unfortunately, the process starts by selecting one of the devices that you want in the group and create it from the details screen of that device. The user experience for this functionality is backwards, and usually requires a little time for us to remember how it works if we have been away from it for a while.

Size & Weight

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Illuminessence Prism are nearly perfect. The physical size of the panels is large enough to be able to easily cover a space with the starter kit, while still being small enough to be able to take advantage of the customization capabilities. If the panels were any bigger, they would overwhelm the ability to create your own patterns and shapes. If they were any smaller, it would require a lot more panels to cover a normal amount of wall space.

The weight of the panels is a little higher than you might expect at first glance. Since this is not a product that will be handled on a regular basis, the weight is not too important, so long as the mounting system is strong enough to accommodate. While the magnetic mounting disks are strong enough to hold the panels in place, the weight could overwhelm the double-sided tape. In our initial tests, the whole setup fell off of a wall because of the weight of the panels and the material of the wall on which we installed it. However, installed on normal painted drywall, we had no issues.

Compatibility

There are two separate and distinct types of [metric29" class="UpStreamLink">: controllers and connectivity. On the controller side, the Monster Smart platform and the Illuminessence Prism are capable of being controlled by nearly every platform available. The Monster Smart app is available for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). Unfortunately, the app is not available for Windows (Microsoft Store), Amazon Fire (Amazon Appstore), or web. If the app were available through the Amazon Appstore, it would also be available for Windows, using the upcoming subsystem for Android.

The platform is also available through all of the major digital assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. With Cortana shutting down her connected home integrations last year, this means that you can control your Illuminessence Prism using your voice no matter what assistant you use.

Setup

Because of the issues with [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> can be very confusing. Because of this, we created a How To video on the process. The main challenges come from the use of the older 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum that has been waning in popularity in recent years. For many users, this spectrum is turned off by default on their wireless routers of integrated cable modems. So, to configure the Illuminessence Prism, users have to learn a little about their Wi-Fi network.

Other than this singular, yet prominent, issue, the software setup process is fairly straightforward and simple. First, you need the Monster Smart app for Apple or Android. Then, you make sure the Prism is in pairing mode (it will be blinking if it is in the right mode), you search for the Prism, you give it a name, and you assign it to a room in your home. That is the whole process - the Monster Smart app makes it as easy as it can. In fact, under some circumstances, the app might recognize the device is in pairing mode and do the first few steps for you and take you directly to the naming phase.

As for the physical setup, it is incredibly easy. Everything clicks together using LEGO-like snaps with color coding and arrows indicating which direction the data should flow. The first Illuminessence Prism block will be the hardest to place on the wall, as you'll probably want to want to use a level to ensure the block is hung straight. But, once you've got the first one hung correctly, the others will naturally line up because of the snap-together design. So, it will be easy to build out a cool design without worrying about the pattern wobbling.

The magnetic and double-sided tape hanging mechanism also makes installation, as well as adjustability, a literal snap. You can pop the Prisms onto the wall with the sticky taps on the back of the magnetic mounts, and then on and off of the magnets once they are on the wall.

Aura Plug-In LED Night Light with Light Sensor (Vont)

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:23:13 UTC

Aura Plug-In LED Night Light with Light Sensor

Vont

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Jun 2, 2021

4.25 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are good for home use, as well as traveling, the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> is well thought out, and there is nearly no [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> because of the simple functionality.

Negatives

There is a slight issue with [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> under certain circumstances and a few improvements that could be made to enhance the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">.

Result

Is the Aura going to change your life? No. But, it's a solid product with a beneficial return on a modest investment.

Product Description

Feels cool to the touch even after extensive use, certified safe to use for long periods without any fire hazards for your peace of mind, without taking up too much space. Cutting-edge LED technology allows for it to automatically light up your hallways, closets, and corners when ambient light is not enough to illuminate your surroundings. Providing more than just warm night lights, we value your complete satisfaction with our products that all carry a lifetime promise of excellent quality, no less.

The perfect brightness: Our smart night lights provide just the right amount of light to walk around your house without turning your main lights on. Not too bright, not too dim. Just the right amount. Uses non-invasive warm light which is perfect for going to sleep. Smart illumination: Automatically turns on as the ambient light becomes insufficient. Intelligently adjusts itself throughout the night. Say bye to stubbed toes and say hi to a smarter home.

Energy efficient: These led night lights are super power efficient. Comes in eco-friendly packaging. No more hassle of changing bulbs. Save both the environment and your wallet. Extremely compact: Gorgeously designed with a modern minimalist look, easily fits in small spaces and does not obstruct other outlets. Has a life span of 10,000+ hours. We use 100% ABS which is fire-resistant. Lifetime Warranty: You can rest in knowing that this product is of utmost quality. Warranted for life, it is covered against loss, theft, and defects in materials and workmanship for as long as you own the product.

Value

At the $13 MSRP for a pack of 4, it's hard to find reasons to disregard these lights. The purchase is so small, and the imperfections so insignificant, that the Vont Aura is an easy recommendation. Following the review, we will keep using ours around the office because they really do provide a great [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> is the low light situations of our facility at night, or when filming.

Learning Curve

There is almost nothing to learn about the Vont Aura. The light simply plugs into the wall and mostly operates on its own. The area that does require some learning, however, is on placement. In our experience, as well as based on comments on Amazon, improper placement of the light can cause undesirable results. In our experience, being close to a shiny counter occasionally causes the light to turn off because it detects its own light. So you might need to experiment to find the the best location for the light to make it work as expected.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Aura is mostly sound. The light itself is slightly shielded to diffuse it, rather than providing a bright light. It can be plugged into the top outlet and the light shines down, or the bottom outlet and the light shines up. Both work well, and do not produce more light than desired. It also does not cover the other outlet, which is important in a bathroom.

The sensor is pointed straight forward and away from the LED itself. For the most part, this prevents the nightlight from detecting its own light, so it doesn't get confused. This [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> is not infallible, however, and occasionally causes the light to blink.

The body is also slightly set off from the wall. This may seem like a small thing, but it can be really beneficial. In my bathroom, I drape a USB cable over top to keep it off of the counter. It may not be the intention in the design, but it is beneficial none the less.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is fairly high. The majority of the seams between pieces are solid and smooth. There are no parts that pose a potential risk for scrapes or cuts, which is a positive. However, on all four of our units, the bottom joint is not completely flush. The two pieces are set apart ever so slightly, leaving a point of motion. Under most circumstances, this is not going to cause a problem, but it could expose the electronics to water if used in a bathroom.

Functionality

Generally, the Vont Aura functions very well. It is bright enough to provide guidance light while not being so bright that it is distracting at night. The built-in light sensor is also really nice, preventing the light from coming on if the room is already bright. If the room has a window, this means the light will be off during the day. If it doesn't, it still means that the light will turn off when you turn on room lights.

As mentioned under [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">, there is a slight issue with the light sensor. The exact cause is not entirely clear, but sometimes the light can flicker. After some testing and research on Amazon, it appears that the cause is the sensor. It occasionally picks up its own light, causing it to turn off. Then, once it is off, the sensor sees no light and turns back on.

By moving the light in the room, we were able to eliminate the issue. We also managed to solve it by placing a towel on the shiny counterto eliminate light reflecting back to the sensor and causing the flicker. If you're creative, you might also be able to adjust the sensor's sensitivity to reflection with a custom cover, but moving the light is probably easier.

Size & Weight

The weight of the Aura is not terribly important, as it is designed to be plugged in and left in place. However, the device is notably light weight. While this may not make a large impact at home, the light weight light makes it a useful choice for travel. It also means that there is little possibility of damage to the wall outlet from weight.

The light is also impressively small. Since there is little needed in the way of electronics and no moving parts, the entire device has a tiny footprint. That not only makes it good for travel, but has other positives. The smaller body means it's not in the way and doesn't cover the other electrical outlet.

Cam 360 Security Camera (Nooie)

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 09:27:47 UTC

Cam 360 Security Camera

Nooie

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Apr 7, 2021

4.27 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Almost everything about the Nooie Cam 360 is positive - the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are perfectly designed, the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not steep, and the [metric31" class="UpStreamLink"> is surprisingly great.

Negatives

The only area that could use improvement is [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, which relies on an older and often disabled spectrum of Wi-Fi on modern routers.

Result

This camera should be on everyone's shortlists if looking for a security camera. You'll end up just walking around the room making it follow you, or moving the camera with the live feed [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">.

Product Description

With 360° motion tracking plus motion and sound detection, Nooie Cam 360 can be your eyes and ears when you are out of the room. You don't have to sacriﬁce beautiful design to protect your home and loved ones or to make your home smart and efﬁcient.

Value

Whether you are looking for a camera for your home, office, or business, the Cam 360 is going to be a good choice. The price versus [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> is nearly unmatched in the security camera market. And when you add in the surprisingly good [metric31" class="UpStreamLink">, it is an even better [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Connectivity

The [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Cam 360 is one of the places where it could use some improvement. It runs on Wi-Fi, but not on the more modern 5GHz spectrum. Instead, it runs on the older 2.4GHz spectrum. The spectrum is within a range that does not require special licensing in the US, so a lot of products use it to try and keep the price down. The problem is that most modern routers and modems ship with 2.4GHz turned off, if it continues to support it at all. This means that you might need to know about your router's settings, and how to turn on the frequency option.

The other problem with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi is that the bandwidth is crowded with lots of other, non-Wi-Fi products. Cordless phones, headphones, intercoms, 2-way radios, and even whole ecosystems like XBee. With all of this congestion, there is the possibility that your cordless phone could interfere with the operation of Wi-Fi products on this frequency. It's one of the main reasons why Wi-Fi has generally moved away from the frequency, but because Wi-Fi never fully deprecates any old technology, we find ourselves in this position.

Controls

The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> scheme is designed to be simple, while accomplishing a lot. First, of course, is the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process, which is described in that section. For general day-to-day operation, there are four main sections: camera list, single camera, multi-camera, and playback.

Camera List

This is the state the app opens to. On the list, you get enough information to be able to navigate. There is a list on the cameras in your system, each with a name, signal strength, power switch, and thumbnail. The thumbnail is not live, but instead shows the last state the camera was in when you had the feed open. So, if you last looked in the daylight, that is what you will see, even if it is the middle of the night.

Single Camera

Selecting a camera from the list brings you into the live view of that camera. You can nearly immediately see a slightly delayed live feed from the camera. For the Cam 360, because of its ability to rotate, you can swipe your finger across the live video to get the camera moving. The motion control works like a flight stick, in that swiping left moves the image right, and vice versa. Swiping up and down work the same way, where the image moves the opposite direction. This can be a little confusing at first, but is easily learned.

Below the live image are four main controls. The first one, which looks like a camcorder, allows you to record starting right now and save it to your phone's camera roll. The second button looks like a DSLR camera and allows you to take an immediate snapshot and save to your phone. The third looks similar to a microphone (though you should not be embarrassed if you didn't identify it) and allows you to talk through the camera into the room. Activating that feature also activates the fourth button, which is a speaker. That allows you to listen in on the room - a feature that would definitely be useful if you are talking to someone in there.

In the upper right corner is a gear icon (though it looks more like a threaded nut), which takes you to the settings for the camera. From here you can change the name, turn on or off automatic recording, motion tracking, storage, sharing, and more. You can also setup Alexa and Google Assistant integration or remove the camera from your account.

Playback

At the bottom of the camera view, you can navigate into the ability to playback previous recordings. At the top of the screen, you can choose the date. If there are any recordings for the selected date, a timeline will display at the bottom of the screen. Here you choose what time of day you want to see the recordings from. Just above the timeline is the player where the selected time segment will play.

Multi-Camera

From the top-left corner of the camera list is a button that looks like a TV with a play button. While this would suggest it is for playback, it is actually for multi-camera view. On this screen you can see more than one camera's live feed. This view would be ideal for a security guard, but might not provide a lot of value for a standard consumer - until something is going wrong. Then being able to follow a problem through your home or business might become useful.

In the top-right corner of this screen is an edit button, which allows you to choose which cameras will appear in the view. The layout appears to support 4 live feeds, and recommends holding your phone in landscape mode for best viewing.

Learning Curve

The [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process is mostly easy and linear. The step-by-step instructions make it so that almost anyone can add a new camera into their system. The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> scheme is fairly straight forward. The navigation within the app is simple, as there is little going on (as far as the camera is concerned). This gives very little friction between plugging in the camera and being an expert in using the app.

Design

The Cam 360 has a generally well thought out [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">. The company made sure that the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> match the product's intention of being hidden in plain sight (small) without worry that it will fall over (heavy base). The color is also appropriately dull so it doesn't stand out in your room.

The only area where the Design doesn't hold up is in the location of the microSD card slot. It is hidden below the camera lens in order to protect the recordings, but is also not easy to interact with. The angle is nearly 90 degrees from the body, meaning that you almost have to have your finger behind the casing to get to it. If the slot was angled slightly upward, it would make the process far easier. Fortunately, this is not something you will need to do regularly.

Camera Quality

The [metric31" class="UpStreamLink"> is spectacular, especially for a security camera. While the photo and video quality may not be what we're used to taking pictures with our phones or DSLRs, they are far better than what we tend to expect from a security camera. Everyone has seen the still images from a security camera on the news when someone robs a convenience store, and the images are just clear enough to tell it's a person, but never enough to identify the person. With the Cam 360, you could easily identify people in the frame.

The above photo was taken using the Cam 360 on a phone with the snapshot feature.

Build Quality

Overall, the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Cam 360 is fantastic. The majority of the injection molding seams are flat and smooth. Even the point where the moving top meets the stationary base is smooth with little to no gap. On our device, the only area where the seam was not smooth was across the back, just over the speaker grill. The power port, which uses a rounded micro-USB plug, is sealed, leaving no place for sharp edges.

There is a place on the body where the edges are sharp, however - around the lens. On our unit, the bottom of the opening does not match up perfectly with the inside of the camera mechanism, leaving a slight edge. Normally this would not be a problem, as you should generally keep your fingers away from the lens of a camera. But under the lens, when it rolls upward, is the microSD slot. Of course, this means that you're going to need to have your fingers in this area if you're going to regularly record footage. As was mentioned in the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, the angle of the slot makes it difficult to reach, giving you plenty of time to scratch your fingers. Fortunately, this is not something you'll need to do often.

Functionality

The Cam 360 does everything it says it should do, and mostly does it easily. The [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process is easy and secure (more details in that section). The companion app works really well, making it very easy to access the live video from your camera. The quality of the live video is impressive, especially considering the compression that is used. The UI in the mobile app even shows how well the compression is running, with the bitrate displayed in the corner. Our camera averages 12K/s, which should render below standard definition, but somehow appears to be nearly HD quality.

It is also easy to scroll back through your recordings (assuming you have a microSD card installed). At the top of the screen is a date selector, and at the bottom is a timeline scroller. In the middle is the video player. Select your day and time, and the video will begin playing (as long as there is something to play - it's not able to predict the future). The only issue with the playback is that the seek time can be a little slow. From the moment you select the time you want to see until it starts to play can be upwards of 10 seconds.

The most impressive aspect of the camera is the motion tracking. The camera follows people around the room with ease. In lower light, the tracking was a little slower, but was still able to keep a person in the frame most of the time.

We only experienced one breaking scenario while testing the camera. At one point the app updated and our account was signed out. When we reopened the app, our camera was gone. While trying to go back through the pairing process, it failed. As it turns out, the camera was still on our account but hadn't loaded into the app. Closing the app and reopening it brought it back, but the camera had already been reset. It took some time to get back up and running, but since then, we have had no further [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> concerns.

Size & Weight

The Cam 360 is amazingly small, especially when you take into consideration how much it's able to do. The company has managed to pack a fully rotatable camera with Wi-Fi and microSD card reader/writer into a package slightly bigger than a lightbulb.

The weight of the camera is a little heavy, but that is on purpose. The base of the camera has to be heavy enough to keep it in place when the lens is rotating. This is because the camera is intended to be placed on a table or shelf, rather that mounted to a wall. A heavy base is the equivalent of a mount.

Compatibility

The Cam 360, along with the rest of the Nooie lineup, is definitely aimed at the mobile market. Its [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> is, therefore, also aimed at the same space. The apps are available for iOS and Android, and can be paired with Alexa and Google Assistant. The assistants even support showing the camera on smart screens like the Amazon Echo Show.

Conspicuously absent from this collection, however, are computers. Neither Windows nor macOS have native support for viewing the camera's live feed. If you wanted to view the recording, you would need to remove the microSD card from the camera and use a card reader to gain access. The company's website has an account icon in the top-right corner, but we were unable to log in with our account, so we assume that you also cannot access the camera from the web.

For security purposes, being able to access the video from a computer is going to make it more useful. Of course, ideally you will never need to retrieve the video from your camera for proper security reasons, but if you ever needed to send it to your insurance company or law enforcement, the versatility of a desktop or laptop would make it far easier.

Setup

The [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process for the Cam 360 is generally easy. The app walks you through the process step by step. After creating an account (assuming you're new to the Nooie ecosystem), you add a new camera and select your model - in this case the Cam 360. When the camera is ready, enter the Wi-Fi information for the network you will be using.

This is where the process gets interesting - rather that searching for the device, you hold up a QR code in front of the camera lens. This completes the pairing process without the possibility of accidentally finding and taking over someone else's camera. During another recent review, we accidentally pulled in someone else's security camera because of this exact problem. Obviously, creating a scenario in which someone else can access a camera within your home accidentally is not ideal, so this QR code pairing process is really clever and smart.

The only part of the process that is less than ideal is inserting a microSD card. The location of the slot, which is below the case on the rotating head, is a great idea because it protects it form someone stealing the card. However, the angle of the card slot makes it difficult to access, even when the camera is rotated fully upwards.

Power Cutie (Accell)

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 17:52:38 UTC

Power Cutie

Accell

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Mar 30, 2021

4 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Nearly every aspect of the Power Cutie is positive - from the initial [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> to the actual [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, a lot of thought was put into this product.

Negatives

The only place where there is room for improvement is in the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">. But, there is a workaround that will keep you happy.

Result

This is a fantastic companion for everyone's home office setup, and will be a positive addition if you return to the office in the future.

Product Description

The Power Cutie features advanced X3 MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) technology that provides the safest surge protection by detecting surge conditions and reacts by directing excess energy away from equipment through the electrical grounding system. The MOV's are encased in a fireproof material, fully containing the heat created by the power surge and eliminating the threat of fire. This advanced X3 MOV technology fully protects connected equipment from hazard during an abnormal or catastrophic surge event and provides longer protection lifespan than regular MOV.

Value

As we are just past the 1 year anniversary of "15 days to slow the spread," our home offices are more important than ever. And, with many companies committing to allowing employees to continue remote work after offices reopen (if they reopen at all), settling into those home offices is a good move. As most of us have a phone, a tablet, and at least one computer, having a small desktop power station like the Power Cutie is going to make your life easier. And, with a price point under $40 for a desktop surge protector with 4 USB ports, this is a good investment.

Convenience

The biggest benefit of the Power Cutie is certainly its [metric52" class="UpStreamLink">. Four full-power USB ports means you can charge all of your devices at once. Our tests included phones, tablets, and Qi chargers. In addition, there are 3 standard power outlets. We plugged in three laptops, plus devices into the USB ports, and experienced no power loss. When you take into consideration that seven high-draw devices all charged fine while plugged in, you can then assume that lower draw items, like speakers, will also work perfectly.

With all of this power available via a desktop device that only takes up about a 4x4" square on your desk, convenience is the name of the game. In our office, we have been regularly using to to power a tablet, several phones, an Amazon Echo Dot, and a laptop. We also plan on adding one to our review lab where we regularly have several Bluetooth speakers, phones, and headphones charging at once.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the ower Cutie is nearly perfect. It's incredibly small while still providing a bunch of outlets. Plus, the placement of the outlets is well thought out. The standard power outlets, which will be larger plugs and less likely to be changed regularly, are on the sides and the back. The USB ports, which will be smaller plugs and more likely to be swapped around regularly, are on the top and front.

As the purpose of the device is [metric29" class="UpStreamLink">, the design is intended to support that goal. It has a small footprint, so it doesn't take up a lot of space on your desk. It's also not very tall, so it can sit behind a monitor or speaker, keeping it out of the way. But, it is also designed to look attractive, with several color options and even baseball design, so if it is put somewhere visible, it will still look good.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Power Cutie is very high. The joints of the injection molding are all smooth without a single rough edge to be found. Even the rims around the power ports are rounded off, with their edges molded inside of the body. This is an advanced design technique that we don't even see on high-end, expensive products.

Another area where the Power Cutie shines is in the USB ports themselves. We have addressed in previous product reviews the common issue about USB ports being overly fragile. Oten, the only thing that is holding the ports onto the board is a little solder and prayer. We have, more than once, broken a USB port off of a product (and, in one case redesigned the product to fix the defect). In the case of this product, however, the USB ports are integrated into the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the casing, and the mold is intended to hold them in place. This will prevent them from breaking off of the board after extended use. Being on your desk, and designed to be interchanged regularly, that stability is a big touch.

In addition to the firmness of the USB ports, the actual body is solid, as well. If this were to fall off of your desk (and let's be honest, you're going to get your foot caught on the cord at some point), it could definitely survive the tumble.

Size & Weight

While it may seem like the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of a product like this might not be all that important, there is a problem that is caused by the weight. Usually, we complain that a product is too heavy, but not in this case. In fact, the weight is so light that a standard wall wart plug will tip it over. In our case, the power for an Amazon Echo Dot caused the device to tip backwards into the wall.

Fortunately, the company has a way to address the issue, though it is not ideal. On the bottom of the Power Cutie there are a pair of mounting holes. This allows you to put a couple of screws into your desk and hold it in place. However, the product comes with neither the mounting screws nor a template for installing screws if you already have some. The process won't be as easy as it would be if the components came in the box, but it should be easy enough if it is needed.

The size, on the other hand, is perfect. It takes up nearly no space on a desk and provides a ton of ports - far more than its small size would suggest.

Compatibility

The Power Cutie has a surprisingly wide compatibility. Of course, it includes three standard US power outlets (left, right, and back), so you can power anything, assuming you have the correct power cable for the device. However, it also offers four USB-A plugs (2 front, 2 top).

Often when we see surge protectors with integrated USB ports, they provide a limited amount of electricity. In the case of the Power Cutie, the USB ports provide enough power to charge 4 devices without dipping into "slow charging" mode. In fact, we managed to use four Qi chargers at once, all in full power mode. To continue stressing the system, we also plugged three laptops without any noticeable power drain.

The only real limiting factor for the device is its lack of USB-C ports. As more devices switch from USB-B to USB-C, the other end of the cables are switching quickly from USB-A to USB-C as well. As such, some of the newer phones in our collection only shipped with C to C cables, which have no value in the case of the Power Cutie. Hopefully a future model will also offer USB-C ports, either as an option or a replacement.

Tech3 3-in-1 Smart True Wireless Headphones (Motorola)

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 07:24:22 UTC

Tech3 3-in-1 Smart True Wireless Headphones

Motorola

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday Dec 17, 2020

3.96 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of these earbuds makes them useful in almost every scenario, and the impressive [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> makes them an attractive product.

Negatives

The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are the biggest issue with these earbuds, which creates a steep [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">. But, with a small amount of training, the control scheme becomes second nature.

Result

Being able to use these wired, sport loop, or true wireless makes these fantastic earbuds for most users in most situations.

Product Description

Wear these headphones however you want. Use them as wireless in-ear headphones for work (either bud may be used as a mono Bluetooth 5.0 headset), attach the sport loop for exercise, or connect it to your phone for unlimited use. These headphones are perfect while jogging or sweating it out in the gym. With an IPX5 waterproof rating, they are designed to withstand splashes of water coming from any direction. Included in the package is a magnetic cable management charging case, which allows you to use the headphones for up to 18 hours non-stop. The headphones come with swipe controls and an integrated microphone for seamless phone conversations. The earbuds are designed to fit your ears comfortably even when worn all day. Download the Hubble app to connect these headphones to Amazon Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant and access tons of useful features.

Value

When you consider the features that you get with the Tech3 earbuds compared to the price, these earbuds are a no brainer. While the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are a little unfortunate, and create a steeper than average [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">, it is easy enough to overcome with a little time.

Connectivity

The [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> options on the Tech3 far exceeded our expectations. Unlike other earbuds, these offer three different options for usage. Two of them are Bluetooth, and the third is wired through a 1/8" headphone jack. While the idea of wired and wireless options is common for headphones, it is unique among earbuds.

The first and most natural option is true wireless. The earbuds pair together and operate as one, like the many true wireless earbuds available on the market. These use Bluetooth 5, which is backwards compatible, but gains range and clarity when used on a modern device. Staying in the Bluetooth realm, you can add a cord between the two earbuds to turn them into sports buds. This is popular for runners because, if one falls out, you won't lose it. Also, it gives you the ability to loop the cord over the top of your ear, taking some strain off your lower ears.

What really makes the Tech3 unique is the wired option. Connecting to the middle of the sports loop with a magnet is a standard headphone plug. This gives a couple of major benefits. The first is that they can be used with devices that are not Bluetooth compatible, like the mixer in our studio. The other major benefit is that you can use the earbuds when the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> has been exhausted.

While there are many options available for these earbuds, there is one that is missing that would be appreciated - USB digital. As more devices are abandoning headphone jacks (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S20, Microsoft Surface Duo), the option to use USB digital would make these earbuds usable on any new device. Theoretically, Motorola could add this option through the magnetic pogo pin system, though it does not seem to be an option currently.

Range

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Tech3 earbuds is beyond what a standard user would need, but does not quite live up to the technical possibilities. The range was tested using an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Practical

In my two-story house, with the iPhone in one corner, I am able to use these earbuds in the entire house without reception issues. When leaving the apartment with the phone inside, I was able to get a short distance from the building before experiencing reception problems. Exterior walls are traditionally the enemy of wireless technology, but the Tech3 managed to break through in a small way.

Line of Sight

Bringing the iPhone outside, the earbuds were able to remain consistently connected at a distance of 490 feet. As the Tech3 supports Bluetooth 5, as does the iPhone 12, the maximum range is 800 feet. While these earbuds did not live up to that theoretical extreme, they performed admirably. Unlike full, over-the-head headphones, wireless earbuds do not have the ability to use the strap as part of the antenna array, which means your head will be part of the limiting factor.

Battery Life

The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Tech3 earbuds is very high for true wireless earbuds, and the case makes charging quick and easy. However, they fell somewhat short of their advertised battery life.

Formal Test (HTC 8x)

The advertised battery life is 7 hours, which we never actually hit, though we got within 4 minutes once. Running our formal test on the Tech3 earbuds, we averaged 6 hours and 35 minutes of playtime, recorded across three tests. There was some fluctuation in the battery tests, with one coming in just under 5 hours and another almost at 7 hours. The majority sat right in the 6 hour 35 minute range, with a single statistical outlier, which we attributed to the charging case.

On the other hand, the charging case exceeded the advertised battery life. While the packaging says that the case should add 11 hours of life to the earbuds, we got just over 12 hours added to our time. Usually, it was in 2 relatively equal portions, but did provide our highest and lowest battery life in one session.

Practical Test

As part of a normal workday, I listen to music, watch Hulu and YouTube, and participate in conference calls. I used the Tech3 earbuds during one of those workdays instead of the speakers on my computer. They almost managed to make it through the day, cutting out less than an hour before I left the office. 6 and a half hours is enough to cover most peoples' days, and the quick charging capability of the case would allow you to top them up during a lunch break, or while driving to the gym.

Call Quality

The [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> on the Tech3 earbuds is generally fantastic. In fact, the quality is on par with talking directly into the phone.

Receiver

This is the sound quality for the person the wearer is calling. The quality was nearly identical to that of talking directly into the phone. The receiver was able to tell when the call changed from the phone to earbuds but was not able to tell which device was active when a call was initiated while using the earbuds. This indicates that the difference between the two was minimal. Our tester said she would be happy to talk to someone who was using the earbuds.

Wearer

For the wearer, the sound quality is slightly better than directly on the phone. This is partially due to the fact that, because of the nature of fitted earbuds, outside noise is minimized. When paired with the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the earbuds themselves, it makes for a great call experience. In fact, I would prefer to use these over a more expensive headset designed specifically for phone calls.

Controls

All [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are done through rapidly pressing the Multi-Function Button (MFB), or holding it for a period of time. To turn the earbuds on or off, you press the button for 2 or 4 seconds, respectively. While they are on and connected, pressing the button for 2 seconds will trigger the Bluetooth Command action, which varies by device (Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana, camera shutter, etc.).

When receiving a call, pressing the button once will answer the call, while pressing it twice quickly will hang up. When not involved with a phone call, pressing the button once will start and stop music playing. Pressing it twice rapidly will skip to the next track, while three times rapidly will go back a track. The scheme does create a semi-steep [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">. Unfortunately, there's no control capability for adjusting the volume of the connected device.

In Bluetooth mode, the MFB is available on the flat surface of each earbud. This allows you to control the music or phone call from either ear. While in wired mode, however, the button moves to the center connector. The good news is that all the same commands work, except for the power on and off, since it's not needed.

Noise Cancellation

I tested the earbuds for phone use with a couple of everyday household background noises. The first was a fairly loud fan, which can often be heard using my computer on Microsoft Teams or Slack calls. Until sitting less than a foot away from the fan, the other party was not able to hear the sound at all. Once I was close to the fan, it took a few seconds for the system to identify noise from voice, but once it did, it was almost entirely eliminated.

On the other hand, the earbuds were unable to eliminate the sound of talking and laughing on television. This is likely because the human vocal range is fairly limited and trying to remove any voice would remove all voice. We have experienced the same thing when trying to clean up audio at CES because most of the background noise there also falls within the human vocal range.

Learning Curve

The [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> for the Tech3 is a little steep, but not unusual. The biggest issues come from the usage of a single multi-function button (MFB). All [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are done through rapidly pressing the same button, or holding it for a period of time. This command scheme is not intuitive and requires experimentation or actually reading the instructions (which is the smaller document). The good news is, if you use the earbuds regularly, you'll remember the commands easily enough.

Design

The unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Tech3 certainly sets them apart from other true wireless earbuds on the market. The most obvious aspect of the design is the ability to use them in three modes: true wireless, sports buds, and wired earbuds. While the standard true wireless mode isn't particularly special, the additional usages certainly are.

The ability to add a wire between the two earbuds makes it perfect for active sports like running. If an earbud happens to fall out, it won't be lost because it is still connected to the other one. There is also the benefit of being able to loop the cord over the top of your ear to reduce strain on your ears. The design that makes it happen, though, is even more interesting. It is done with a 3-pin plug, where one pin is offset from the others. This keeps you from plugging it in incorrectly. In addition, the Left and Right labels match up to keep things easy.

The wired usage is the truly unique part of the design. In the center of the cord that connects the earbuds is a magnetic connection with two magnets and 4 connectors. The paired cable has a 1/8" headphone plug on one side and a matching set of magnets and pogo pins to pair with the connectors. Through this connection you can use the earbuds with any device with a standard headphone jack, though standard headphone jacks are less prevalent these days. This can come in handy when you have exhausted the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> of the earbuds, or for devices that do not support Bluetooth.

Additional design focus comes with the case. Because of the collection of unique cables, the case has been designed to carry all of them in one disc. The connection cable and the headphone cable both fit snugly into the disc without overlapping or getting in the way. Most importantly, they will not snag on an item in your pocket or backpack and get damaged. A lot of thought was put into how to protect the cables and the earbuds together.

There are three design elements that make the Tech3 feel like it was in the works for longer than Motorola had hoped. The first is the charging port, which is a Micro USB and not a USB-C. As everyone but Apple switches to USB-C for mobile devices, these earbuds will mean you'll have to keep a Micro USB around longer. The second issue is the missing option to use USB digital to connect to a phone. The pogo plug design for the cable means that, in theory, they could have made a Lightning, Micro USB, or USB-C option, as well.

The last, and most important, is the design of the charging indicators. When charging the puck, the indicator light is so small that you have to look directly into it to see if it is on. Before reading the instructions, we weren't even sure there was an indicator, despite searching for it. Worse yet are the charging lights for the earbuds. You can only see whether the earbuds are charging by opening the lid on the puck and tipping it down to look for an equally small LED indicator. If the lid on the puck were transparent and the lights were slightly larger, the problem would be entirely solved.

Comfort

For earbuds, the Tech3 earbuds are surprisingly comfortable. Like almost all modern earbuds, these comes with three sizes of eartips that fit on the end of the earbuds themselves. This allows for a variety of fit options for different sized ears. I generally have trouble finding an eartip that fits properly, having only found a small handful over the years. While the eartips for the Tech3 are not perfect for me, the middle size still managed to stay in and remain comfortable for an entire episode of [f5live" class="UpStreamLink">.

While in true wireless mode, since there is no wire, the earbuds do suffer from the same problem as all true wireless earbuds - unaccompanied weight. However, because of their lesser [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, they do not put as much strain on the lower ears as heavier earbuds do. In either of the wired modes, however, you get the benefit of being able to pull the cord over the top of your ears to remove some of the strain.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Tech3 is incredibly high. None of the injection molding seams are sharp, a common problem with injection molding. That's made even more impressive due to the sheer number of seams, corners, and gaps on the earbuds. In the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the case, for example, there are a lot of seams for moving lids and gaps for charging and cabling, as well as the magnetic slots for the earbuds. The earbuds themselves don't have many exposed seams, as they are mostly folded into the design.

The plastics used are also of a high quality. Because the case has several moving parts, the possibility of breaking is higher than a case shaped like a tube. However, the hinges do not feel flimsy or easily breakable, though with some pressure you could eventually damage the doors. The exterior door would be easier to damage than the interior door, and, as such, the hinge is reinforced.

Most importantly, the charging port itself is solid. The electronic portion of the charger is strong, which is important because it is in the middle of the case, not near the bottom surface. That creates some pressure on the port, but it doesn't feel like it will break off of the board. The plastic surrounding the port is also thick, so you won't experience cracking around the port, a problem that has become common on even flagship phones.

Size & Weight

The overall [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Tech3 is below average. The earbuds themselves are about the physical size of traditional true wireless earbuds but are fairly light in weight. They do not feel empty like some of the cheaper earbuds but are not so heavy that they cause strain on the ears.

In sports earbud mode with the middle cord connected, they really shine in both size and weight. The cord that runs between the earbuds is extremely thin and lightweight but is braided to prevent damage. Compared to other sports earbuds we have tested, the Tech3 are far lighter and more comfortable.

In fully wired mode, despite the earbuds being slightly larger than the average quality wired earbud, they weigh less.

Sound Quality

The Tech3 offers two different ways to listen to music: a standard headphone jack and Bluetooth. Both offer benefits and challenges, and each has its own unique [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">.

1/8" Headphone

The analog headphone connection offers very clear sound reproduction. While the sound quality varied slightly between different devices playing the same songs, it has a lot to do with the audio processing of the device. The variations between devices did show the wide range of sound available on the earbuds. While the overall tone of the music may have changed between devices, the clarity of the music never did. The music always sounded good, notes were individually distinguishable, and the voice never sounded distorted. This also demonstrates that the earbuds are not trying to do any major equalization, meaning you should be able to listen to a recording the way the musician intended, without any added bass. The earbuds were also tested for vocal reproduction during an episode of [f5live" class="UpStreamLink">, and resulted in such a positive monitoring and editing experience, they may become a permanent part of the studio.

Bluetooth

While Bluetooth is known for degraded sound quality, the Tech3 manages to avoid most of it. Some of this can be attributed to Bluetooth 5, which adds additional bandwidth, allowing for more complex audio transmission. However, Bluetooth receivers can also cause audio loss, and Motorola seems to have chosen or designed a quality transceiver for these earbuds. The sound isn't quite as deep in Bluetooth mode as it is when plugged in, but the difference is not enough to be a disappointment.

StreamLIVE HD AV Mixer (UC9020) (ATEN)

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 19:17:40 UTC

StreamLIVE HD AV Mixer (UC9020)

ATEN

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Nov 2, 2020

3.07 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, including the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, are well-considered for the intended setup. The [metric13" class="UpStreamLink"> capabilities reduce stress, as well as bandwidth and latency issues, on a gaming PC.

Negatives

The [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is a bit steep, and the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> is lacking features that an average streamer uses regularly.

Result

If you are looking for an easy, all-in-one solution for simple streaming, the StreamLIVE HD is worth considering. However, if you need any features above simple graphics and switching, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Product Description

Create a professional, dynamic multi-camera production with the UC9020 StreamLIVE™ HD. It is the simplest, all-in-one TV-quality livestreaming studio that is small in size and big on capability. Everything you need for livestreaming is ready to just plug-n-play. No computer, monitor, or complicated software settings necessary. Capture, stream, and switch between two full HD video inputs over the Internet and instantly take your video production to the next level.

Value

The [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> proposition on the StreamLIVE HD is slightly below average. Everything that can be accomplished by the switch, and more, can be done through a computer for far less money. However, by using a computer for this functionality, you reduce the portability, as well as the overall [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> of the setup.

Another aspect that affects the value of the product is the streamer's intentions. An average setup on Twitch, for example, is a chromakey background for the gamer over top of the game being played. However, with the capability for chromakey being missing, the value for a Twitch streamer is greatly reduced. The lack of video playback also reduces the value in this scenario. This is unfortunate, because this hardware could be a perfect companion for the average Twitch streamer if only these features existed.

Convenience

For the casual streamer who uses two cameras or a camera and an input, the [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> of the StreamLIVE HD is very high. Not only does it give you physical controls to be able to switch between inputs, but it also takes a lot of the processing power off the streamer's computer. For a Twitch streamer, for example, it would allow the game to be played on the computer exclusively, with the output from the computer going to the switch.

In addition, network transmission is also able to be offloaded from the gaming computer. With the dedicated Ethernet connection on the switch, on-computer latency can be lowered for online gaming. It could also be a benefit for a slightly higher-end streamer who could use separate internet connections for gaming and streaming.

However, with the collection of missing [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">, such as video playback, it could prove less convenient than building a proper dedicated streaming setup with a computer and switching software. The streamer would have more fine-grained control over their output, as well as regaining those missing features. It is important to consider your intended usage before determining whether or not the StreamLIVE HD would add value to your setup.

Connectivity

The input connections for video on the device are exclusively HDMI. That means that if you are using more modern computer hardware, you'll need down converters to go from DisplayPort to HDMI, making you susceptible to input interference. If you are using professional cameras, which use SDI, you'll also need adapters to make them work. However, if the intention is to bring a pair of cameras in, or a camera and a gaming console, HDMI will be your standard input. Considering the target demographic for the device, that is likely going to be the case.

Unfortunately, the input for audio on the device is RCA (red and white, like on an old VCR or DVD player), and a single 1/4" stereo plug. The RCA plugs have little to no value for most streamers in this decade, unless perhaps they're streaming vintage videogames. The 1/4" connection could be used from a mixer, but will require an adapter, as mixers usually have left/right outputs. To make audio input more usable, XLR would have been better.

For output, the device doesn't use a standard screen, but relies on an iPad. While this does give the user the ability to use touch capabilities, rather than needing a mouse, it also means that you need to have and sacrifice an iPad to use the switcher. As many streamers use a tablet for their support content, such as chat, topics, and scripts, you would therefore need to have a pair of computers for the stream.

Controls

The StreamLIVE HD has two sets of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">: physical and virtual. When it comes to the physical controls on the hardware, anyone with any streaming or broadcast experience will recognize it immediately. Having full control over selected scenes, hard and fade cuts, and even a fader bar makes transitioning between inputs easy. The "Go Live" button and "Pause" button make the process of streaming and temporarily going dark under more emergency circumstances are welcomed additions.

The virtual controls, which are presented through the app, are not as user-friendly. The process of creating graphics channels is clunky, with no way to reset or undo a mistake. Because the interface is touch, fine control is difficult, especially when trying to crop a video input. The touch-powered switching controls also have slightly odd hit boxes, so we'd recommend sticking to the hardware (it's more natural anyway).

With more modern iPadOS versions you might be able to use a mouse for control, which we did not get to try. However, if the mouse works well (or at all) with the app, it will certainly make the virtual control scheme far easier. It would especially make the fine control features, such as input cropping, better.

Learning Curve

The [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is a little steep, even for those with experience with streaming and broadcast hardware. In fact, we required assistance from the company to get the device working for our testing, despite having decades of broadcast experience on our team. The labeling on the back for inputs is not entirely straight-forward, but makes sense once you understand the general wiring concept.

The software took some time to get used to, as well. The idea that having the switch connected to the iPad disabled internet access, even if the hardware was connected, created a number of challenges in initially configuring the streaming settings. It meant having to type everything in, rather than being able to easily copy/paste good settings from an external source. Creating graphics channels was also a challenge, as the interface was overly minimalized, and touch added its own challenges.

Media Streaming

The ATEN OnAir software which powers the StreamLIVE HD offers two stream destinations. These destinations use the industry standard STMP protocol, meaning you can easily target nearly any platform. For example, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch all use FTMP to push video to their platforms. For many low volume streamers, this setup will be more than enough to get the job done.

For more high velocity streamers, the limit of two destinations can potentially cause a problem. If you wanted to stream to Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch at the same time, you could not do it directly from the StreamLIVE HD . Instead, you would need a distribution service, such as Restream (which is the service we used while testing the product).

Another limitation of the stream destination system is that there is no way to interact with certain platforms that do not offer public RTMP, such as LinkedIn. If you want to stream to LinkedIn, you would once again need to use a distribution service. It would also limit the amount of bandwidth being used on the local network, which could also be a benefit.

The good news is that, whether we streamed directly to a platform or used a distribution service, we had picture perfect quality. There was the occasional data synchronization issue, but that happens with all services, and could have been caused by the water's connection and not the streamer's.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the StreamLIVE HD is solid. It is based on standard professional switching hardware used in live event production and television studios. For example, the scene buttons are in the center of the board, with the buttons turning green for preview (upcoming) and red for program (current). To the right are buttons for auto transition and hard cut, plus a manual transition bar above.

Because of the small and limited scope of the hardware, the board also includes audio controls. Those are to the left of the board. They allow you to decide which inputs are active, hard mute all inputs, and adjust the master output volume. Another unique feature is the ability to start, stop, and pause the streaming feature from the top of the board.

The software adds additional capabilities, such as adjusting the volume of each input individually, as well as adjusting the volume of the headphone output. You've also got virtual versions of each physical feature, plus the addition of scene previews.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the StreamLIVE HD was very high. On our unit, almost all of the seams were smooth, with little to no chance of catching anything on an edge or cutting your finger. Considering there are a lot of seams, that is an impressive accomplishment. The only seam that appeared to have raised edges was around the iPad holder. Just where the color changes from the dark grey to light grey was a raised and slightly sharp edge. Fortunately, it is out of the way during general use. Of course, this could vary unit to unit.

The ports on the StreamLIVE HD are also generally flush with the body, or inset where you would expect it. For example, the headset jack on the right side was perfectly flush, while the USB port was slightly inset to prevent weight pulling the port off the motherboard.

One of the places where the build quality missed just a little was in the sub control buttons (the rubberized buttons on the left under the volume control). On a couple of instances, we hit the button and it did not register. After some testing, we discovered that pressing the buttons at even a slight angle could cause the actuator to miss. Fortunately, the main control buttons for scenes and streaming (the plastic buttons on the right), are different from the sub controls and did not have the same problem.

Functionality

For very basic streaming capabilities, the StreamLIVE HD functions well. However, for anything above the very basic, the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> starts to lack. The issues with the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, particularly around touch-powered features, make it more difficult to implement more advanced features.

There are also standard functions that are available on most streaming platforms, both hardware and software, that are missing from this platform. The most important feature that is missing is the ability to play videos. Loading media into a channel and being able to play them directly from your control software is standard across platforms, from free and open source projects through broadcast studio systems. Not being able to do that here means that, for many users, it will not be an option at all.

Another missing feature that would really improve the reach of the product is overlays. Graphics channels are generally thought of as "scenes" in the software, so they are a full collection of video and still imagery. However, the ability to create a GFX channel with a transparent background to overlay over the Program channel would add a lot. Also, dynamic overlays using external data would be fantastic.

Size & Weight

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of this hardware is a complicated topic. It is fairly small and far lighter in weight than our traveling studio setup. However, it is still surprisingly heavy for its size. The weight, while slightly inconvenient, is actually a blessing in disguise. The weight is clearly part of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the switcher. It prevents the product from falling backwards because, with the iPad attached, it would be top-heavy. Add to that the HDMI cables, Ethernet cable, and power cable plugged into the back, it is reasonable that the device would tip over. A heavy base, which this product has, helps to prevent that possibility.

Compatibility

As part of our [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> experience, we were made aware of some [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> issues. We tried several computers, including a first generation Surface Pro, and a first generation Surface Book, as computer inputs. While the older computer (the Pro) was able to output to the StreamLIVE HD, the newer computer (the Book) was not. We tried adjusting the resolution, the refresh rate, and even turned off the internal display, without any success.

Unfortunately, we saw similar results with our cameras. The camera that we use for F5 Live: Refreshing Technology worked perfectly without any adjustments, some of the other cameras that we use for other events, such as CES, did not. While we were able to make a setting adjustment to make one of the cameras connect, the third camera never did show up in the system.

User Interface

Conceptually, the [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> for the app is solid. The only thing that initially stands out is that the app does not look like an iPad app because it uses a lot of controls from the Google Material design aesthetic rather than the Apple HIG. This is most apparent on the settings tab, where the switches and slides are definitely not Apple's.

At first glance, the app looks very much like the majority of switcher software, with a Preview (green) and Program (red) window, input channels, and a ring of green and red to indicate which input is in which state. You've got volume indicators and transition state, with virtual auto, cut, and fader bar. You can also see stream state and network stability to each destination. However, it is easier and more consistent to use the hardware buttons and fader bar versus the on-screen controls because of lag and hit boxes.

From the scene configuration screen, you can choose between existing templates and then customize those templates. You bring in one or two inputs and add image overlays and text, then set a name. If you are trying to do something very simple, such as a straight split down the middle, with each source being perfectly centered, this setup is easy. However, if you need to get very custom, the small size of the screen, the touch interface, and the massive delay on the video previews, can make it a challenge.

Setup

The initial [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> leaves a lot to be desired. During our setup phase, we were unable to get video from any of our cameras or computers. After a phone call with a representative from the company, we learned two things: the labeling on the back of the product is not entirely clear and there are some [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> limitations. Once we got through the labeling, we were finally able to get a device to show up. Once that happened, we tested a variety of cameras and computers.

The software also has some issues, particularly in the process of configuring a multi-camera view. Part of the issue is because of the touch interface, but some of it is because of the fairly steep [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">. The real software setup issue, however, was in dealing with the internet access setup. The iPad has internet access when it is not connected to the StreamLIVE HD, but is lost when plugged in. So, getting certain features configured, for example the [metric13" class="UpStreamLink"> destinations, required copying and pasting several times, from app to app.

Usability

The [metric45" class="UpStreamLink"> of the device varies slightly by intended usage. For those using it to stream or record from a pair of cameras, for example an interview with a camera on the host and guest and another on just the guest, the StreamLIVE HD is easy to use and could make the production really easy. Adding opening and closing graphics would be easy to accomplish, as well.

For productions that are more complicated, the usability is greatly reduced. No video playback and no chromakey limit the reach of the product. Also, a hard limit of 8 scenes and no GFX channels would make a complex production nearly impossible.

Worker Bee Cardioid Condenser Microphone (NEAT Mics)

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 14:37:50 UTC

Worker Bee Cardioid Condenser Microphone

NEAT Mics

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Jun 21, 2020

4.64 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The microphone has a truly unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and a [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> nearly unmatched in its price category.

Negatives

While there are no major issues, you should note that the mic does not have [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> and, as such, will pick up all sounds in a room.

Result

For recordings in the mid to high range, the Worker Bee should be on every sound engineer's radar.

Product Description

From vocals to guitars, Accordions to Zithers, and virtually any instrument in the musical kingdom, the Worker Bee collects and captures sound with amazing ease. Add exquisite craftsmanship, and engineering savvy from some of the most experienced minds in the recording industry, and the result is a microphone that is one of the most productive and versatile mics in its field - or any musically flowering landscape!

Value

Even at its original retail price, this microphone was an excellent value for the quality you get. At its current price, it's almost unfair. When compared to other microphones of this style and quality, it is less than half the price of its competitors. When compared to the designer's previous company, the Worker Bee is still less than half of its competitive price.

Connectivity

The Worker Bee uses the industry standard XLR connection. By default, this connection will plug into almost any mixer or PA system. Most modern mixers offer a USB connection, but if your mixer does not, you can also use a USB audio interface. If you are looking to bypass the mixer entirely, you can also plug the microphone into most interfaces directly. The Worker Bee does use Phantom Power, so you will want to look for a mixer or interface with that capability to get the full benefits of the microphone.

Noise Cancellation

The Worker Bee is not a consumer or communication microphone, like a Bluetooth headset, so its [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> is also different. However, it does feature the ability through its directional pickup. In our studio, the current broadcast computer is loud because of its cooling system. When we replaced our previous microphone with this one, we noticed that the amount of the fan noise that was being picked up was significantly lessened. That is because the pickup on the diaphragm is very directional, so if the noise is behind the microphone, it won't be picked up. In our case, all that can be heard is the sound bouncing off the back wall towards the mic.

In addition to the noise reduction produced by the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the microphone, it receives additional capabilities through the included shock mount. If you really punch the microphone stand or the mic itself, you will get a loud noise. However, normal taps, including kicking the stand during recording, will not be picked up because of the mount.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Worker Bee is almost perfect. The body and shape are fantastic. For a video show or music recording, the microphone stands out in a compelling way without being distracting. The major identifying aspect of the microphone, and its entire line, is the black and yellow color scheme. It is reminiscent of another high-end audio brand, which gives it a quality feel upfront. But the design also lends itself well to photos and videos.

The only real issues we encountered with the design of the microphone came in the form of its interaction with the included shock mount. Unfortunately, because the microphone has a square base, it means that you can only rotate the mic in 90-degree increments. Our previous mics used a round base, which meant that we could rotate them to any position we wanted. It is far from deal-breaker, but if I had my choice, I would prefer full customization over limited options.

Build Quality

The overall [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Worker Bee is fantastic. Nowhere on the body are there are uneven seams, sharp edges, or unexpected pieces. The post that connects the diaphragm to the base does so in a smooth and even junction.

There is only one notable but uncommon issue that we have encountered. The issue is with the pop filter. It can be difficult to snap into place, popping off moments after you think you've attached it. If you do get it to snap on, however, it stays in place through any condition. In our experience, the trick to getting the pop filter to connect every time is to look at it from the side, ensuring that it is gripping the notch around the pickup.

Size & Weight

The Worker Bee is heavier than you might expect for its small size. Unlike its bigger brother, the King Bee, the body of the Worker Bee is very small. The height of the body is half that of the King Bee, making it far more portable. However, it does mean that the range of pickup is slightly smaller.

However, despite its small size, it still has weight to it. However, the weight is completely appropriate. Two of the important aspects of a quality microphone are the material of the diaphragm and the magnet. A quality neodymium magnet, when covered in nickel (which is required so it doesn't shatter) is going to be heavy. And the best materials to produce a diaphragm are also heavy. When combined, it produces a heavy product, but not without purpose.

Sound Quality

Over the years, we have used many different microphones in our studio. None of them have had the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Worker Bee. Between its directional [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> and the voice-centric pickup, the sound replication is amazing. We have used the microphone regularly for our 3000 Brigade Presents show for a while and have been consistently happy. Because of its custom-designed diaphragm and its overall [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, the microphone can maintain this quality across a variety of uses, especially for big sounds like guitar amps, drums, and sound effects.

The quality is the result of the partnership that formed the company: a world-class microphone designer and a word-class music company. The company focused on getting the pickup exactly right for the microphones and managed to hit the sweet spot.

King Bee Cardioid Condenser Microphone (NEAT Mics)

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 05:30:41 UTC

King Bee Cardioid Condenser Microphone

NEAT Mics

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Jun 9, 2020

4.57 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The unique and attractive [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and professional [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> are the standout features of the King Bee.

Negatives

There are no major issues with the microphone. The only things to watch out for come from the side effects of the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, such as the possible effects on cheap mic stands.

Result

If you are looking for a top-quality microphone designed for a diverse set of uses, from vocals to instruments, this is a great microphone.

Product Description

Just like a beehive, the King Bee is all about reproduction. Its large-diaphragm condenser design is ideal for applications requiring low noise and high sensitivity-the King Bee excels for vocals, drums, electric guitar, piano, and most acoustic instruments, including complex sources like saxophones, flutes, and strings. Thanks to custom Class A discrete electronics, careful mechanical design, and a precision, gold-sputtered microphone capsule, what you hear at the output is what the King Bee hears at its input.

Value

Even at its original retail price, this microphone was an excellent value for the quality you get. At its current price, it's almost unfair. When compared to other microphones of this style and quality, it is less than half the price of its competitors. When compared to the designer's previous company, the King Bee is less than one-third of its competitive price.

Connectivity

The King Bee uses the industry standard XLR connection. By default, this connection will plug into almost any mixer or PA system. Most modern mixers offer a USB connection, but if your mixer does not, you can also use a USB audio interface. If you are looking to bypass the mixer entirely, you can also plug the microphone into most interfaces directly. The King Bee does use Phantom Power, so you will want to look for a mixer or interface with that capability to get the full benefits of the microphone.

Noise Cancellation

The King Bee is not a consumer or communication microphone, like a Bluetooth headset, so its [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> is also different. However, it does feature the ability through its directional pickup. In our studio, the current broadcast computer is loud because of its cooling system. When we replaced our previous microphone with this one, we noticed that the amount of the fan noise that was being picked up was significantly lessened. That is because the pickup on the diaphragm is very directional, so if the noise is behind the microphone, it won't be picked up. In our case, all that can be heard is the sound bouncing off the back wall towards the mic.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the King Bee is almost perfect. The body and shape are fantastic. For a video show or music recording, the microphone stands out in a compelling way without being distracting. The major identifying aspect of the microphone, and its entire line, is the black and yellow color scheme. It is reminiscent of another high-end audio brand, which gives it a quality feel upfront. But the design also lends itself well to photos and videos.

Build Quality

The overall [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the King Bee is fantastic. Nowhere on the body are there are uneven seams, sharp edges, or unexpected pieces. The post that connects the diaphragm to the base does so in a smooth and even junction.

There are only two notable but uncommon issues that we have encountered. The first is, when moving the mic around on its stand, the tightening nut that keeps the microphone upright can loosen. That makes the mic dip out of its position a little. It has only happened once or twice, and the stand was in motion. Under normal circumstances, we have not encountered the issue, but if the mic needs to be quickly loaded from backstage to onstage during a performance, this might be something to keep in consideration.

The second issue is with the pop filter. It can be difficult to snap into place, popping off moments after you think you've attached it. If you do get it to snap on, however, it stays in place through any condition. In our experience, the trick to getting the pop filter to connect every time is to look at it from the side, ensuring that it is gripping the notch around the pickup.

Size & Weight

The King Bee is very heavy, and that is something important to know. In fact, the weight might be more than a cheap microphone stand can hold upright. One of our cheap test stands would slowly dip down over time with the microphone on it. However, the weight is completely appropriate. Two of the important aspects of a quality microphone are the material of the diaphragm and the magnet. A quality neodymium magnet, when covered in nickel (which is required so it doesn't shatter) is going to be heavy. And the best materials to produce a diaphragm are also heavy. When combined, it produces a heavy product, but not without purpose.

The microphone body is also large. The base is normal, but it has a tall body. The tall body is part of what produces the range that the microphone can reproduce, so once again, the size is appropriate. The long body [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> is why it is effective for everything from vocals to flutes.

Sound Quality

Over the years, we have used many different microphones in our studio. None of them have had the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the King Bee. Between its directional [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> and the voice-centric pickup, the sound replication is amazing. We have used the microphone regularly for our F5 Live: Refreshing Technology show for a while and have been consistently happy. Because of its custom-designed diaphragm and its overall [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, the microphone can maintain this quality, whether being used for vocals or for instruments, ranging from drums to flutes.

Sky Racket (Double Dash Studios)

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 05:33:01 UTC

Sky Racket

Double Dash Studios

Reviewed by Julian DeLisser on Wednesday Apr 15, 2020

4.36 out of 5

Summary

Positives

This game has a very compelling and vibrant color scheme. Not only that, but it also incorporates very catchy music that matches the child-like and fun aesthetic of the game! This game was not too complicated to start playing and can be directed towards all ages.

Negatives

This game lacked much of an established [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> and character identity. The game was also initially unclear as to what objects and enemies could be hit by my racket during gameplay.

Result

While this game is easy on the eyes and sounds wonderful, the gameplay was difficult to adjust to due to the lack of information on how to play the game. There were small blurbs on the basics of the game but learning the enemy's habits was purely the result of trial and error.

Product Description

Sky Racket is the world's first Shmup Breaker, mixing the classic genres of shoot 'em ups and block breakers! Blast bullets back at baddies while flying over whimsical worlds filled with vivid, kooky colors!

Value

The [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> of this game depends on whether you enjoy shoot'em ups and brick breakers. This game is a good option for people who play shoot'em ups and are looking for something new in the genre. The Brick Break elements that require you to reposition through the oncoming projectiles will either make or break the game for you.

Story

Because this game is so distinct in its content, with its unique character styles, goofy enemies, and original overall look, there was not a very clear, compelling [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">. I often found myself, when discussing the game with my friends, talking about why the enemies were the animals they were. First impressions also did not reveal much of value about the main protagonist(s). It is possible these questions could have been answered upon completing the game, but there was not much of a foundation to attach myself to after the first few levels.

Gameplay

Sky Racket mixes up the formula of classic side-scrolling shoot'em ups by having players reflect shots from enemies instead of shooting from the character model itself. The player then continues to volley those shots as seen in brick breaker games to clear the screen of enemies. The gameplay is very fast and requires the use of heavy multitasking. There are a lot of enemies to look out for, each with different abilities. Due to that, I had to hyper-focus on the game when playing it. This is definitely not a game you can idly play. The mechanics of this game were remarkably simple, however, in which you merely have to deflect balls and dodge incoming projectiles.

User Interface

Because this game is designed to be simple in its mechanics, there are not many facets to combating enemies. Other than swinging your racket and dodging, there are minor power-ups that you can collect (the only [metric38" class="UpStreamLink"> to speak of). There was no menu system to interact with whilst in gameplay.

Graphics

These graphics were very cutesy and retro! This game definitely caters to people who enjoy a high spirited throwback-type game. Colors were bright and the animations were very fluid. The main downfall I noticed was the opening sequence. It was not as crisp as the rest of the game. Along with that, the enemies seemed a bit inconsistent. There were cat sandwiches, ducks, sentient bananas, and things of that variety. While they were cute, these enemies seemed a bit random.

Sound

The [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> files attached to the actions in the game were top-notch! Not only that but the music for each level, including the opening sequence, was very upbeat! The audio overall matched the tone of the game seamlessly and kept me in the mood to keep playing.

Level-Up System

There is no [metric38" class="UpStreamLink"> overall for your character but there are temporary power-ups you can obtain during the levels. Although they are very fleeting, they can be very handy in completing levels. You could potentially complete the game without the power-ups but collecting and using them adds a layer of fun to the game.

My Beautiful Paper Smile (Chapter 1) (Two Star Games)

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 12:06:23 UTC

My Beautiful Paper Smile (Chapter 1)

Two Star Games

Reviewed by Julian DeLisser on Wednesday Feb 5, 2020

4.25 out of 5

Summary

Positives

While ambiguous, the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> this game revolves around is incredibly compelling and thrilling! The high contrast illustrations in this game were eye-catching and the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> was very challenging and thought out! The atmospheric feel of this game helped me immerse myself in the experience of the protagonist.

Negatives

The toggling between items became a bit tedious. Some items needed to be turned on and off repeatedly. Having to open my inventory every couple of seconds became a tad bothersome. There were also a few minor glitches in the game such as: being able to walk through closed doors and inventory issues.

Result

This game is a diamond in the rough in the regard that it straddles the lines between heart-wrenching and hopeful. This game has no problem establishing its identity outside of the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> or [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">. Both the story and gameplay are fulfilling in their way and do not overshadow one another.

Product Description

My Beautiful Paper Smile is a horror game about a child who is raised in a facility to wear a smile forever. In the facility, he and his friend are tested daily to make sure their smile doesn't fade into sadness. Dodge, run and survive your way through this dark adventure.

Value

For this chapter alone, I believe this game should run around $4.99. This price is based on the average pricing of other chapter-based games of this style on Steam. This length of this chapter is the appropriate length for an episodic indie game.

Puzzles

The [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> in this game were fantastically challenging without being *too* frustrating! Of course, everyone likes a challenge in a video game but no one likes to get frustrated. This game did a good job providing context clues in what to do at each portion in the game. There were very minimal sections where I felt I needed more guidance, and the puzzles were very creative and time-sensitive without coming off as tedious.

Story

The [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> here was very compelling. There are areas of sorrow, triumph, anger, doubt, and fulfillment. The dialogue in this game is direct without seeming rushed. There is also a modest but adequate number of characters as well. The game does not waste time in informing you of your mission and how to go about it. While the game gets right to the point in your missions and method, it still comes off as very mysterious!

Gameplay

The [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> was very easy to get used to for the most part. The movement of my character was very fluid and the usage of items was very user-friendly. The only pitfall in this area was the use of one specific item, which has to be used repeatedly - at the rate of every few seconds - and you have to open your inventory to toggle it off and on. The use of this item would have felt less bulky if there were a keyboard command for toggling the item. There were also occasionally closed doors that you could walk through and inventory glitches, such as when my inventory inexplicably changed, or when I would have more of one item than I picked up. I am not sure whether this was an error in the coding or an unexplained part of the game, though I did play an unfinished build. Other than that, the [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> and the sneaking in this game was fun and nicely challenging!

User Interface

The [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> of this game is well done, however, the game is not controller compatible. It is exclusively to be played with mouse and keyboard, or with controllers that can emulate a mouse and keyboard.

Environment

The illustrator of this game did a wonderful job of giving each room and section its own personality and identity. There is a very good balance between how each area looks in the game and how you, the player, can fill in the blanks to how it would look in person. Creating a game with no color that still has a way of not looking repetitive as you move throughout it must have been a great bout, but it was fulfilled beautifully!

Graphics

This game may be in black and white, but I would not have it any other way! It adds a great sense of individuality to the game. Where the developers could have copied and pasted background items in the game, you can see they hand-drew every last detail. That alone is very impressive. There are a lot of characters that look similar in a very intentional way. The combination of 2D and 3D [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> in this game was nice as well It felt like the developers put a lot of extra work into the very small details. This game consisted of a lot of cross-hatching, high contrast, and fun animation, striking a great balance between the retro-gaming feel and modern gaming.

Sound

The [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> in this game was phenomenal! Some areas included startling sounds but not too jarring and areas that were subtle but not too quiet. The developers also went the extra mile to add audio for the typed-out dialogue. No corners were cut as far as making sure everything in the game that could happen had a unique sound to it.

A Knight's Quest (Curve Digital)

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:54:58 UTC

A Knight's Quest

Curve Digital

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Nov 22, 2019

4 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> are challenging yet engaging, the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> drives the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">, and the [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">, produced by the [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design, is authentic.

Negatives

The [metric37" class="UpStreamLink">, particularly the sound effects, can be incredibly repetitive, the [metric38" class="UpStreamLink"> has less effect on the gameplay than expected, and parts of the [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> are clunky or ineffective.

Result

A Knight's Quest is a perfect match for fans of The Legend of Zelda series, with its [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> style and engaging [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">.

Product Description

A gorgeous action adventure on an epic scale. Play as Rusty - a kind-hearted, but clumsy adventurer who accidentally starts a chain of events which will destroy his world. Solve mind-bending puzzles, fight challenging enemies, defeat huge bosses and platform your way through a fantastic open world in this lavish take on classic action adventure games.

Value

All games have their issues, and A Knight's Quest is no different. However, none of the issues here are important enough to detract from the game. For example, repetitive [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> can be frustrating, but never detracted from the actual gameplay or the immersive nature of the [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">. For anyone who is a fan of the The Legend of Zelda franchise, this game is definitely worth trying out.

Puzzles

The [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> in the game are incredibly fun. They aren't so hard that they become frustrating, but they aren't so easy that you don't consider looking for a walkthrough. Most of the puzzles throughout the early part of the game feel like the training levels from Portal, which is the gold standard by which puzzle games should be measured. The only thing that would have made the puzzle system in A Knight's Quest perfect is if the game culminated in a more Portal style end puzzle. However, as the puzzles are not the only focus of the game, it is understandable that the game ends with a more game-appropriate game mechanic.

Story

Unlike with other indie platformer titles, the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> directly drives the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">. The game opens with Rusty, your character, splitting the world by activating a powerful stone, which finds its way into the sky. Your father, the mayor of the town, sends you and your friend to find a set of legendary heroes to help address the problem that you created. The various aspects of the game [metric35" class="UpStreamLink"> are the homes to the heroes, which are represented by the atmospheres. As the game progresses, your friend continues to research both the problem that has been created and the legends about the heroes you are looking for. That information is a consistent driving factor for the next phase of the game.

In addition to the main story, there are side quests for your knight Rusty. Many of them are fairly grindy, like mining for ore to be paid very little (or nothing, in my case). The side quests can either be fun or tedious, depending on your style, but they can add some diversity to the game. For example, mining for minerals adds a different element to the game but isn't terribly fun.

Gameplay

The game plays as a fairly classic 3D platformer. It involves a lot of walking/running to explore the world, as well as to get from objective to objective. As you begin or achieve objectives, you receive new or updated equipment, skills, etc. Those new items or skills are usually directly related to the task at hand. For example, in the Forgotten Temple, you get a sword and shield that gives you the ability to create small tornados. Those tornados are used heavily in the puzzles that follow, they are often to spin posts to raise, lower, or rotate objects in your path.

The game also involves a decent amount of fighting. You encounter hostiles throughout the land, as you walk. The battles can be simple but can also involve more specialized moves. For example, some enemies are protected by a power shield of sorts, and you must use a complimentary power to disable it. Once again, in the Forgotten Temple and beyond, the tornados are used to disable these shields.

In addition to standard hostiles, there are also bosses. These bosses are significantly harder to beat, but not just because their health level is higher than the rest. The bosses require the use of your powers at the right time to create more critical hits. You might be able to beat them by just wailing on them for a long time. But using a power, like the tornados, will lower your damage and the amount of time required.

User Interface

The [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> of the game is above average, but not ideal. Most of the game elements are where you would expect. Health and mana are in the top left. Special functions are in the bottom left. Boss health is across the bottom. Inventory, maps, etc. are all within the player menu. All the standbys are as expected.

The map is one of the best and worst aspects of the UI for the game. On the positive, you can set a quest as primary and see details about it easily. It also makes it easier to find, as it is highlighted differently than the other available quests. However, navigating the map with a controller (which would be the primary interface, as it is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch, in addition to PC) is clumsy. Setting a quest as primary is not always effective and can be difficult if quests are close to one another. Also, the primary quest is a separately interactable element on the map from the actual quest behind it.

The game adds a compass, which is a nice feature. It shows you where actions are and can point you in the general direction of your primary quest. However, this can be a little hit or miss. More than once, I had to change my quest and change it back for the compass to show it at all. This was particularly problematic when relaunching the game with a quest already started.

Environment

The [metric35" class="UpStreamLink"> is an expansive world with a variety of different unique atmospheres. There is a port, a small town complete with a blacksmith, a quarry, a rock environment, and more. Each area represents a different aspect of the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">, as each of the heroes resides in, and represents, a different aspect of the world. Some of the environments feel a little forced, but most feel authentic and natural. The forced ones tend to be the more intermediary areas, which are not supposed to be inviting, but instead, are designed to push you on to your next endeavor.

Graphics

The [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> in the game are of very high quality. While the character design is a little cartoony, it is very purposeful and well implemented. No elements of the game (character or [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">) have rough, clunky, or fuzzy edges. Whether in low light or high visibility areas, interactable elements are easily distinguishable from background elements. Most importantly, the game's [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> consistently create a genuine and consistent world.

Sound

There are three primary aspects to the [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design for A Knight's Quest: music, effects, and voice acting. The music certainly has its ups and downs. On the positive side, it is almost always beautiful. It matches the environment you're in, lends the correct energy to the task at hand, and helps to immerse you into the game. Unfortunately, it isn't all harmonious, as the music can become repetitive and grating if you are in an area for too long. For example, if you are having trouble with a puzzle, you might get to the point where you want to mute the game entirely. Don't, though, as you might miss something important. Repetitive music isn't a new problem in gaming, however - almost all games with a puzzle element have suffered from it.

The sound effects in the game are high quality, appropriate to the events, and somehow funny. Nothing ever sounds garbled or distorted, whether it's digital or human-produced. It would appear that a lot of time and care went into the creation of the sound effect pack, with consideration for every interaction. Like the music, however, the effects can get repetitive - especially when it's an action that occurs frequently. Sure, there are several hard landing sounds, but you're going to jump and bounce a lot (mostly because it's a lot of fun), and the "oomph" sounds start repeating quickly. Again, this is not a new phenomenon in gaming and is not a game or mood killer.

The voice acting is my favorite aspect of the game's sound design. The characters speak, but they don't use words. Instead, they do something between mumbling and Simlish (the language from The Sims). The voices are fantastic and manage to convey the attitude and personality of the character but they do not convey the information. And somehow, through all of this, the characters create humor without words. Bravo.

Level-Up System

The [metric38" class="UpStreamLink"> is pretty standard fare. As you accomplish goals or complete [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> elements, you get new abilities and rankings. As your rank improves, so does your collection of capabilities. For example, you can store more items in your inventory, which is a huge annoyance early in the game. But, generally speaking, the process of improving rank is far less important to the gameplay than the progression of the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">. If you follow through all the story points, you will receive the things you need to continue to the next one.

SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC Headphones (SHIVR)

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:58:34 UTC

SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC Headphones

SHIVR

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Aug 21, 2019

3.73 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, especially when using Bluetooth, is great, the [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> is the best we've ever encountered in a pair of headphones, but the [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> is the standout feature.

Negatives

The [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly poor (though the company says the problem has been solved), the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is fairly steep because of two multifunction buttons, and the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> leaves something to be desired for extended use.

Result

While there are a few issues, the SHIVR headphones are far better than their price point would suggest.

Product Description

No, your mind's not playing tricks on you. This is what true HD sound is supposed to be. You will have the luxury to savor a stunning feeling. Powered by Yamaha, the audio quality has never been this vibrant, this crystal clear until now. Until SHIVR.

While typical active noise-canceling headphones only use one mic to pick up and process ambient noise, SHIVR includes both feedforward and feedback mics. This ultra-advanced level of sound filtering provides the best noise-free experience in any environment.

Value

The features of the SHIVR headphones make them a great choice for ANC Bluetooth headphones. The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, especially on Bluetooth, is far above what the price point would suggest, but the [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> quality is really what sets them apart. In Bluetooth mode, the SHIVR headphones are a great deal.

Active Noise Cancellation

The [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> of the SHIVR headphones is certainly where they stand out from the crowd. Many low-cost headphones have promised active noise cancelation in the past, but none have ever truly delivered like SHIVR. We created several scenarios, both everyday and unique, to test exactly what would be considered noise and what would be removed.

Everyday Sounds

In our everyday tests, we used the headphones near items that make loud and regular noises. The headphones were able to cancel out a single air conditioner air handler, a group of four air conditioner compressors, road noise, and collective group voices. What it was not able to completely eliminate, though was able to greatly reduce, was singular voices. If a person was in the room talking, or a person was talking on television, those voices could be heard but were greatly reduced in volume.

Unusual Sounds

In our unusual tests, we found sounds that people might encounter, but not in a common scenario. None of the unusual sounds were able to be eliminated entirely but were greatly reduced, similar to the singular voices. These sounds included a desktop PC fan at full capacity and a garbage truck backing up and moving a dumpster. Both of these sounds are likely to be important in the moment, so not eliminating them is a positive feature.

Connectivity

The SHIVR has all of the connections that are required to make a good headphone but lacks one that would make it more attractive. Like most headphones on the market, the SHIVR offers a standard headphone jack, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The headphone jack allows you to connect the SHIVR to a variety of products, from most phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, handheld videogame consoles, and more. The Bluetooth connectivity allows it to connect to those phones and tablets that have abandoned the traditional headphone jack, in favor of a digital connection, or with a number of the other devices, but without the inconvenience of a cable.

SHIVR, however, lacks USB digital direct, which would offer the owner a more universal experience without the need to keep the headphones charged. With more devices leaving the standard headphone jack behind, including iPhone and Samsung Note devices, this leaves owners of those products with only the option to use Bluetooth. While Bluetooth [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> has gotten better in recent years, there is still a quality loss when going wireless. A USB digital connection would also give the 3D capabilities of the headphones a more robust experience.

Range

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> of the SHIVR headphones is beyond expectations. I tested the range using a paired Apple iPhone X.

Practical

In my three-bedroom apartment, with the iPhone in the center, I can use the headphones in all rooms without any reception issues encountered. In fact, I was able to leave the headphones in the apartment and walk outside without experiencing any issues. For a consumer wireless product, exterior walls are usually a signal killer, but the SHIVR survived. This means that I could do housework, walking around the apartment, even going outside, and not need to carry my phone with me, while keeping the music going.

Line of Sight

Bringing the iPhone outside, the headphones were able to remain connected stably for a distance of 245 feet. The headphones support Bluetooth 4.2, which means that their maximum range is around 200 feet. These headphones were able to go a full 25% beyond their maximum range, making them the headphones with the absolute longest range we have tested to date.

Battery Life

The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> of the SHIVR headphones is nearly as high as some of the other headphones we have tested but doesn't last as long as advertised.

Formal Test (HTC 8x)

Running our formal test on the SHIVR headphones, we averaged 16 hours and 55 minutes of playtime, recorded across three tests. All of the tests ran within a few minutes of one another, meaning that 16 hours and 55 minutes is a consistent result. Unfortunately, the advertised runtime is 20 hours, meaning that the actual runtime is almost 15% lower than the advertised life.

Practical Test

During an informational session day with our partners at AMRoc Fab Lab, the SHIVR headphones provided entertainment during periods of downtime. A single charge lasted more than the entire day, making them a perfect companion for the event. In fact, 17 hours of continual use would be enough for almost any scenario.

Call Quality

Unfortunately, the [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> on the SHIVR headphones leaves a lot to be desired. The quality on both the wearing and receiving end is questionable, but the receiving is the failure.

It is important to note that the model we tested is a pre-production unit, the company is aware of the problem, and says they have fixed it before going to market. We have not been able to confirm this with our tests.

Receiver

This is the sound quality for the person the wearer is calling. The quality was best described as muffled and "it sounds like you are talking through a towel." In our internal testing, it sounded a lot like there was a tin can involved in the process somewhere. The person we tested with said that she would never want to talk to someone for an extended period using these headphones.

Wearer

For the person wearing the headphones, the quality is a bit better, but still not acceptable. The sound quality was very treble forward, making everything sound very tinny. This is similar to what we experienced with the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> using the headphone cable, only on a grander scale. This quality was not poor enough to prevent using the feature, but it is certainly overshadowed by the receiver's audio.

Controls

While the SHIVR doesn't expose a lot of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, it does make everything you need easy to access. On the left earcup are two controls: the power switch and the MFC button. Powering on the headphones will automatically connect to the last device they were connected to. If this doesn't work, the headphones will automatically switch into pairing mode, so you can connect them to a new device.

The MFC button is a true multifunction button. Pressing it once will loop between ANC On, Ambient Sound, ANC Off. Double pressing the button will turn on and off the 3D sound capabilities. Long pressing the button will turn on and off the SHIVR logo on the side of the headphones. Multifunction buttons make for a simpler [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, but also increase the difficulty of the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">.

Inside the left earcup is a proximity sensor, used for automatically pausing and playing your media when you take off or put on the headphones. This control is the best part of the daily use of the headphones, as it makes switching between media and real-life seamless.

On the right earcup are three buttons: volume up, volume down, and media. While the volume buttons are obvious, the media button is another multipurpose button. Pressing it once will play and pause your media manually (though the automatic nature of the headphones makes this less common). Double pressing the button will skip forward one track, while triple pressing will skip backward one track. Long pressing will reject a phone call, while single pressing it (while the phone is ringing) will answer a call. This design also adds to the steep nature of the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">.

Learning Curve

Unfortunately, because the SHIVR uses two multifunction buttons, learning to use the headphones is not particularly easy. While some users will have no trouble with a single set of multifunctional controls, adding in a second set increases the complexity exponentially. Remembering how many times to press which button to cause which result is not natural for most people. After using the headphones for several weeks, I still sometimes forget whether double or triple pressing the media button will skip forward. There is certainly a [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> benefit to this decision, but it comes at the expense of the overall user experience.

Design

Other than the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> issue, the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the SHIVR is quite good. The materials used and the finishes of the surfaces make this look like a very fashionable and high-quality product. While the muted colors of black and grey prevent the headphones from being a real statement piece, the illuminated logo can be a conversation starter. While wearing them in public, I got questions about them when the logo was lit. When they are off, though, they do kind of fade into the background, which can be a benefit if you're not looking to talk to people about your headphones.

The swivel ear cups are a nice feature, allowing you to store them in the included case, but also for flipping one of the cups out of the way if it is not needed. This is a pretty common need for DJs but is also useful while traveling. Both the charging port and the headphone jack are located at the bottom of the right and left earcups, respectively, making it convenient for use plugged in, not creating and additional pressure forward or backward.

Comfort

The band on the SHIVR headphones is incredibly tight, putting a great amount of pressure on the wearer's ears. For most of our staff members, wearing them for an extended time was simply not possible because they inevitably began to cause headaches. Adjusting the headphones does not solve the problem, as it puts the band too far above your head, causing it to fall in front of your eyes. While looking like Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: The Next Generation can be fun for a short while, it doesn't make for a long-term solution. Wearing the headphones with a baseball cap can help some because you can push the headband back and use the dimple on the top of the cap to hold it in place.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is above average, but far from perfect. The majority of the injection molding seams are smooth, but some of them have sharp edges. Fortunately, the problematic edges seem to be within the adjustable headband, and not in a place where your hand is going to be while wearing them. However, there is a larger than expected gap where the headband adjustment rail connects to the earcups. Those gaps can easily catch hair, causing pain when you remove the headphones.

Size & Weight

The SHIVR headphones are surprisingly light, especially considering their features. Bluetooth headphones with active noise-canceling technology and longer batteries tend to be on the heavier side, but these are lighter weight than many headphones we have tested without ANC. This appears to be achieved by using very lightweight materials in the construction of the body, compensating for the added weight of a large battery and additional processing powers.

Sound Quality

The SHIVR offers two different ways to listen to music: a standard headphone jack and Bluetooth. Both offer their own benefits and downfalls, and each has its own unique sound quality.

1/8" Headphone

The analog headphone connection offers very clear sound reproduction. In listening to music through the headphones, both vocals and instrumental were crisp and clear. However, it was hard to ignore that something didn't sound quite right. Upon switching to just speech, the problem was made clear: these headphone emphasize treble over bass, making voices higher pitched than reality. The variation was not severe, and may not be enough for most consumers to notice. This was tested by using shows on Hulu, as well as while wearing them during a couple of episodes of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology. We had to stop using them during the show to prevent incorrect monitoring.

Bluetooth

Interestingly, the Bluetooth connection offers a clearer and crisper sound reproduction than the headphone connection does. The issue we noticed while using the headphone jack was not present while using Bluetooth. The tone of voice was almost indistinguishable between the SHIVR headphones using Bluetooth and our reference monitors in the studio. This does mean that, if your battery dies, you will have to sacrifice sound quality to continue using them hardwired, which is incredibly unusual.

IlluminEssence 16.4-ft LED Strip Mood Light Kit (Monster Products)

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 11:07:10 UTC

IlluminEssence 16.4-ft LED Strip Mood Light Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Jul 5, 2019

3.63 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The whole kit has top [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, while the remote has a wide variety of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, adding to the kit's [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> of the remote is not as far or as strong as would be ideal, and the kit's lack of [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> with external systems limits its appeal for a more connected home.

Result

If your goal is to provide a simple mood light capability to your home, you can't go wrong with the IlluminEssence. If you're looking for a way to expand the capabilities of your connected smarthome, this is not the product for you.

Product Description

Introducing Monster Illuminessence. Color-changing LED lighting for instant ambiance in one simple to set-up kit. There's no complicated device and software setup. Use this extra-long LED strip above or below cabinets, inside window frames, under a bar, under a bed, or in a ceiling soffit.

Value

For its price, this IlluminEssence kit is a better than average [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">. At a retail price of under $30, the extended length RGB LED light strip, plus the RF remote you get in the kit is on par or better than even an off-branded Chinese counterpart. However, this kit is not for everyone. The lack of smarthome or smartphone [metric45" class="UpStreamLink"> limits the appeal for those who are decking out their home or office with the latest and greatest smarthome products. Before making this purchase, consider what your intended use will be.

Connectivity

It is important to note that this is NOT an actual smarthome product. As such, its [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly limited. To control both the LED strip, you must use the included remote control. Out of the box, the remote is pre-programmed to control the strip but can be expanded or altered if you purchase other products in the IlluminEssence product line. The controls run on RF and not infrared, however, meaning that you do not have to be in line-of-sight, making the setup for more versatile.

This does mean that you will not be able to control the light with a digital assistant, like Cortana, Alexa, or Google Assistant. You will also not be able to control it with your smartphone. The only exception to these rules is that the light defaults to ON and clear white when power is applied. That means that you could use a smarthome product to control an outlet to turn the light on and off. You still will not be able to trigger a particular color or pattern without the remote.

Range

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> of the remote control is a little better than expected. In a three bedroom apartment, the remote is able to control lights almost from one corner to the other. Moving slightly closer, the remote begins to have full control over that corner light. In this same space, it is not unusual for Bluetooth speakers and headphones to fail on this same corner-to-corner test, and the signal strength of Bluetooth is theoretically significantly stronger and more resilient than the frequencies used by the IlluminEssence remotes.

Controls

The capabilities of the IlluminEssence remote control are surprisingly fine-grained. At the top is the obvious power on/off buttons. Below that is a color wheel, which allows you to choose an exact color to match your mood or environment. You can also reset the color to white by pressing the "power on" button again. In the center of the wheel is an indicator that shows when a command has been sent to the devices.

There are some adjustment buttons in addition to the static light features. On the left side under the color wheel is brightness control. Defaulting at 100%, you can adjust it all the way down to 10% of full brightness. In addition to resetting to white, the "power on" button will also reset the brightness to full. On the right is a mode control. It features five mood settings and three holiday settings. The moods are Club 1 and Club 2, which are both variations on strobe lights in different colors, with Club 2 being faster than Club 1. Then you have Lounge, Beach, and Sunset, all of which are gradual color changes. Lastly are Christmas, Independence, and Halloween, which are also gradual color changes, with the colors of their holidays. The center buttons control the speed of the modes, allowing you to slow down or speed up any of the programs.

Learning Curve

As the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are fairly straight forward, the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not terribly steep. In fact, most customers will have little to no trouble understanding how to use the products directly out of the box. There are only two features of the IlluminEssence lineup that will not be easily discoverable. The first is the function of the center indicator. The confusion is around the fact that it looks like a button, and pressing it does sometimes cause the light to change color, usually to green or orange. After using the light for several months, we still sometimes forget that this isn't a reset button.

The second aspect of the lineup that will cause some trouble is adding new products to the remote. It requires putting the remote into a receiving mode and applying power to the new light (bulb or strip).

Design

There are two primary components to the IlluminEssence Large Space kit: the LED strip and the remote control. Each component has its own unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

LED Strip

The design of the LED strip is pretty traditional. There's a wheel with a tape: one side has 3M adhesive, while the other has a series of flat tracked LEDs. The power and control lines are run along the length of the tape. This design allows the owner to adjust the length of the strip to their needs simply by cutting it at one of the junctions, which appears every inch or so. At one end is a connector to attach to power using a wall wart (power block).

Remote Control

The remote is designed to be small, without sacrificing usability. The back of the remote is rounded and fairly ergonomic, fitting into the palm of the hand quite comfortably. Unfortunately, the buttons down the center, the speed controls, are placed in such a way that it is easy to trigger the wrong feature. If you try to operate the remote with a single hand, you are likely to change the brightness of the lights or the mode by accident. This is because you are reaching across capacitive buttons to interact with another capacitive button.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the IlluminEssence light, like all products that bear the Monster name, is very high quality. The strip has no unexpected sharp edges or molding imperfections. The only part of the product line that does have production issues is the remote control. The seams between molded pieces are sharp and do not seal smoothly. In addition, the sensitivity of the buttons is inconsistent. Sometimes it takes a lot of pressure to activate a button, while in other cases, the color might change just by holding the remote.

Functionality

The IlluminEssence products do exactly what they are advertised to do, and they do it well. In fact, they do a little more than was expected, with the ability to add additional products onto an existing remote control. The expandability of the remotes and the ability for a single light to be controllable from more than one remote make the product line incredibly versatile.

In our experience, we encountered only two problems. The first is that, while the remotes are supposed to be pre-programmed for the lights in their corresponding box, some of our viewers have reported having to reprogram out of the box. It is important to note, however, that all of our remotes were correctly programmed. The second issue is the occasional skipping of commands. In expanding the capabilities of one of the remotes, we have seen that sometimes one or more of the lights will not respond to commands. This has been especially prevalent with this product. Whether that is because of the product or because of the order it was programmed is unknown.

Size & Weight

In reality, the only part of the IlluminEssence system whose [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> really matters is the remote control. The remote is very small; smaller even than most accessory remotes, such as a DVD player or surround sound system. However, the size makes sense for what it is. With the batteries in the remote, it is a little heavier than an average small remote control. The weight, however, is not unbearable or even unacceptable.

Compatibility

Unfortunately, the only [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> that the IlluminEssence products have is with one another. The system runs on its own closed ecosystem, meaning that it is not part of any smarthome system. While you can turn the light on or off using an external source, like a smarthome outlet, you can only control the colors, brightness, and modes from the system's own remote controls. It is possible that, over time, a hub control might be created, or a company like Harmony might work out the signal structure. For now, however, it is a closed ecosystem.

Setup

The standard [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> of a single mood lighting package is incredibly easy. In fact, there is absolutely no setup involved. All you have to do is plug in the light, in this case, the LED strip, and you are done. The remote control included in the box is pre-programmed to work with the lights that are part of the package. This means that you have no work to do to make everything work together.

If you are combining packages, however, things get a little more difficult, but not by much. Two individual kits can work in the same building without any issue. However, if you want to add a light from one kit to another remote, you'll need to pair them. Simply put the remote control into pairing mode and apply power to the light you want to add. Adding the light to a new remote does not remove it from its existing remote, meaning that you could have different remotes for different rooms or even different remotes for different purposes.

Usability

Based on what the kit is supposed to do, the product is pretty useful. The strip powers on to white when power is applied. This means that plugged directly into a wall outlet can make them controllable from a wall switch as well as the remote. When added to a smarthome wall outlet, they can even be powered on and off by voice or phone.

However, their lack of third-party control really limits its overall reach. With no ability to control the color of the light from your phone or a smarthome hub, it means that it cannot be used as part of an existing scene for a room, and cannot be included in any kind of responsive system. Ideally, some sort of additional hub that acts as a remote control, but can be controlled via Wi-Fi, would make these lights a more well-rounded solution.

IlluminEssence 2-LED Bulb Mood Light Kit (Monster Products)

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 09:11:30 UTC

IlluminEssence 2-LED Bulb Mood Light Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Jul 3, 2019

3.63 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The bulbs have a simple and elegant [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and the whole kit has top [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, while the remote has a wide variety of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, adding to the kit's [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

Result

Product Description

Introducing Monster Illuminessence. Color-changing LED lighting for instant ambiance in one simple to set-up kit. There's no complicated device and software setup. This kit contains two LED light bulbs and is ideal for small to medium spaces like bedrooms, offices, kitchens, or bathrooms. 2-LED BULB KIT Color-changing LED lighting for instant ambiance in one simple to set-up kit. There's no complicated device and software setup. The simple multi-touch RF remote can turn lights on, off, dim, and change colors for all lights at one. Select preset programmed moods like SUNSET or LOUNGE to relax; or CLUB for parties. Instantly decorate with light for the holidays with modes for Halloween, Christmas, and July 4th. Not in the mood for color? There's white light for everyday use. Perfect for small spaces like Bedrooms, Offices, Kitchens, and Bathrooms. Remotely Control All Lights at The Same Time Unlike more complicated, more expensive lighting systems, Monster has included a remote that works right out of the box with NO Set up required.

Value

For its price, this IlluminEssence kit is a better than average [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">. At a retail price of under $20, the two RGB LED lightbulbs, plus the RF remote you get in the kit is on par or better than even an off-branded Chinese counterpart. However, this kit is not for everyone. The lack of smarthome or smartphone [metric45" class="UpStreamLink"> limits the appeal for those who are decking out their home or office with the latest and greatest smarthome products. Before making this purchase, consider what your intended use will be.

Connectivity

It is important to note that this is NOT an actual smarthome product. As such, its [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly limited. To control the traditional LED bulbs, you must use the included remote control. Out of the box, the remote is pre-programmed to control both lights but can be expanded or altered if you purchase other products in the IlluminEssence product line. The controls run on RF and not infrared, however, meaning that you do not have to be in line-of-sight, making the setup for more versatile.

This does mean that you will not be able to control these lights with a digital assistant, like Cortana, Alexa, or Google Assistant. You will also not be able to control them with your smartphone. The only exception to these rules is that the lights all default to ON and clear white when power is applied. That means that you could use a smarthome product to control an outlet to turn the lights on and off. You still will not be able to trigger a particular color or pattern without the remote.

Range

Controls

Learning Curve

As the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are fairly straight forward, the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not terribly steep. In fact, most customers will have little to no trouble understanding how to use the products directly out of the box. There are only two features of the IlluminEssence lineup that will not be easily discoverable. The first is the function of the center indicator. The confusion is around the fact that it looks like a button, and pressing it does sometimes cause the lights to change color, usually to green or orange. After using the lights for several months, we still sometimes forget that this isn't a reset button.

Design

There are two primary components to the IlluminEssence Large Space kit: the LED bulbs and the remote control. Each component has its own unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

LED Bulbs

The bulbs are designed to be simple and easy to interact with. There are no buttons or switches. In fact, unless you knew that there was something special about the bulbs, you wouldn't be able to figure it out by looking at them. From a casual glance, they look like regular home light bulbs.

Remote Control

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the IlluminEssence lights, like all products that bear the Monster name, is very high quality. The bulbs have no unexpected sharp edges or molding imperfections. The only part of the product line that does have production issues is the remote control. The seams between molded pieces are sharp and do not seal smoothly. In addition, the sensitivity of the buttons is inconsistent. Sometimes it takes a lot of pressure to activate a button, while in other cases, the color might change just by holding the remote.

Functionality

In our experience, we encountered only two problems. The first is that, while the remotes are supposed to be pre-programmed for the lights in their corresponding box, some of our viewers have reported having to reprogram out of the box. It is important to note, however, that all of our remotes were correctly programmed. The second issue is the occasional skipping of commands. In expanding the capabilities of one of the remotes, we have seen that sometimes one or more of the lights will not respond to commands. This has been especially prevalent in the 16.4 foot LED strip. Whether that is because of the product or because of the order it was programmed is unknown.

Size & Weight

Compatibility

Unfortunately, the only [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> that the IlluminEssence products have is with one another. The system runs on its own closed ecosystem, meaning that it is not part of any smarthome system. While you can turn the lights on or off using an external source, like a smarthome outlet, you can only control the colors, brightness, and modes from the system's own remote controls. It is possible that, over time, a hub control might be created, or a company like Harmony might work out the signal structure. For now, however, it is a closed ecosystem.

Setup

The standard [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> of a single mood lighting package is incredibly easy. In fact, there is absolutely no setup involved. All you have to do is plug in the lights, in this case, the LED bulbs, and you are done. The remote control included in the box is pre-programmed to work with the lights that are part of the package. This means that you have no work to do to make everything work together.

Usability

Based on what the kit is supposed to do, the product is pretty useful. The LED bulbs power on to white when power is applied. This means that using the bulbs in a standard lamp makes them function as a regular bulb, whether you turn it on via the lamp's switch or one on a wall.

However, their lack of third-party control really limits their overall reach. With no ability to control the color of the lights from your phone or a smarthome hub, it means that they cannot be used as part of an existing scene for a room, and they cannot be included in any kind of responsive system. Ideally, some sort of additional hub that acts as a remote control, but can be controlled via Wi-Fi, would make these lights a more well-rounded solution.

IlluminEssence Small Space LED Mood Lighting Kit (Monster Products)

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 08:34:57 UTC

IlluminEssence Small Space LED Mood Lighting Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Jul 2, 2019

3.63 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The bulb has a simple and elegant [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and the whole kit has top [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, while the remote has a wide variety of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, adding to the kit's [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

Result

Product Description

Introducing Monster Illuminessence. Color-changing LED lighting for instant ambiance in one simple to set-up kit. There's no complicated device and software setup. The simple multi-touch RF remote can turn lights on, off, dim, and change colors for all lights at one. Select preset programmed moods like SUNSET or LOUNGE to relax; or CLUB for parties. Instantly decorate with light for the holidays with modes for Halloween, Christmas, and July 4th. Not in the mood for color? There's white light for everyday use.

Value

For its price, this IlluminEssence kit is a better than average [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">. At a retail price of under $15, the single RGB LED lightbulb and single RGB LED light strip, plus the RF remote you get in the kit is on par or better than even an off-branded Chinese counterpart. However, this kit is not for everyone. The lack of smarthome or smartphone [metric45" class="UpStreamLink"> limits the appeal for those who are decking out their home or office with the latest and greatest smarthome products. Before making this purchase, consider what your intended use will be.

Connectivity

It is important to note that this is NOT an actual smarthome product. As such, its [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly limited. To control both the traditional LED bulb and the LED strip, you must use the included remote control. Out of the box, the remote is pre-programmed to control both lights but can be expanded or altered if you purchase other products in the IlluminEssence product line. The controls run on RF and not infrared, however, meaning that you do not have to be in line-of-sight, making the setup for more versatile.

Range

Controls

Learning Curve

As the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are fairly straight forward, the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not terribly steep. In fact, most customers will have little to no trouble understanding how to use the products directly out of the box. There are only two features of the IlluminEssence lineup that will not be easily discoverable. The first is the function of the center indicator. The confusion is around the fact that it looks like a button, and pressing it does sometimes cause the lights to change color, usually to green or orange. After using the lights for several months, we still sometimes forget that this isn't a reset button.

Design

There are three primary components to the IlluminEssence Large Space kit: the LED bulb, the LED strip, and the remote control. Each component has its own unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

LED Bulb

The bulb is designed to be simple and easy to interact with. There are no buttons or switches. In fact, unless you knew that there was something special about the bulb, you wouldn't be able to figure it out by looking at it. From a casual glance, it looks like a regular home light bulb.

LED Strip

Remote Control

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the IlluminEssence lights, like all products that bear the Monster name, is very high quality. Both the bulb and strip have no unexpected sharp edges or molding imperfections. The only part of the product line that does have production issues is the remote control. The seams between molded pieces are sharp and do not seal smoothly. In addition, the sensitivity of the buttons is inconsistent. Sometimes it takes a lot of pressure to activate a button, while in other cases, the color might change just by holding the remote.

Functionality

In our experience, we encountered only two problems. The first is that, while the remotes are supposed to be pre-programmed for the lights in their corresponding box, some of our viewers have reported having to reprogram out of the box. It is important to note, however, that all of our remotes were correctly programmed. The second issue is the occasional skipping of commands. In expanding the capabilities of one of the remotes, we have seen that sometimes one or more of the lights will not respond to commands. This has been especially prevalent in the 16.4 foot LED strip. Whether that is because of the product or because of the order it was programmed is unknown.

Size & Weight

Compatibility

Unfortunately, the only [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> that the IlluminEssence products have is with one another. The system runs on its own closed ecosystem, meaning that it is not part of any smarthome system. While you can turn the lights on or off using an external source, like a smarthome outlet, you can only control the colors, brightness, and modes from the system's own remote controls. It is possible that, over time, a hub control might be created, or a company like Harmony might work out the signal structure. For now, however, it is a closed ecosystem.

Setup

The standard [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> of a single mood lighting package is incredibly easy. In fact, there is absolutely no setup involved. All you have to do is plug in the lights, in this case, the LED bulb and LED strip, and you are done. The remote control included in the box is pre-programmed to work with the lights that are part of the package. This means that you have no work to do to make everything work together.

Usability

Based on what the kit is supposed to do, the product is pretty useful. The LED bulb and strip power on to white when power is applied. This means that using the bulb in a standard lamp makes it function as a regular bulb, whether you turn it on via the lamp's switch or one on a wall. The strip works the same way, but plugs directly into a wall outlet, making it controllable from a wall switch as well. When added to a smarthome wall outlet, they can even be powered on and off by voice or phone.

IlluminEssence Large Space LED Mood Light Kit (Monster Products)

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 14:27:53 UTC

IlluminEssence Large Space LED Mood Light Kit

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Jul 1, 2019

3.63 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Negatives

Result

Product Description

Color-changing LED lighting for instant ambiance in one simple to set-up kit. There's no complicated device and software setup. The simple multi-touch RF remote can turn lights on, off, dim, and change colors for all lights at one. Select preset programmed moods like SUNSET or LOUNGE to relax; or CLUB for parties. Instantly decorate with light for the holidays with modes for Halloween, Christmas, and July 4th. Not in the mood for color? There's white light for everyday use. Monster Illuminessence is easy to install. LED bulbs simply screw into a light fixture. LED strips 3M adhesive simply sticks to your bed, bar, kitchen cabinet or anywhere you want to add instant mood and ambiance. Perfect for Living Rooms, Media Rooms, Large Bedrooms, Kitchens.

Value

For its price, this IlluminEssence kit is a better than average [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">. At a retail price of under $30, the two RGB LED lightbulbs and two RGB LED light strips, plus the RF remote you get in the kit is on par or better than even an off-branded Chinese counterpart. However, this kit is not for everyone. The lack of smarthome or smartphone [metric45" class="UpStreamLink"> limits the appeal for those who are decking out their home or office with the latest and greatest smarthome products. Before making this purchase, consider what your intended use will be.

Connectivity

It is important to note that this is NOT an actual smarthome product. As such, its [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly limited. To control both the traditional LED bulbs and the LED strips, you must use the included remote control. Out of the box, the remote is pre-programmed to control all four lights but can be expanded or altered if you purchase other products in the IlluminEssence product line. The controls run on RF and not infrared, however, meaning that you do not have to be in line-of-sight, making the setup for more versatile.

Range

Controls

Learning Curve

As the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are fairly straight forward, the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not terribly steep. In fact, most customers will have little to no trouble understanding how to use the products directly out of the box. There are only two features of the IlluminEssence lineup that will not be easily discoverable. The first is the function of the center indicator. The confusion is around the fact that it looks like a button, and pressing it does sometimes cause the lights to change color, usually to green or orange. After using the lights for several months, we still sometimes forget that this isn't a reset button.

Design

There are three primary components to the IlluminEssence Large Space kit: the LED bulbs, the LED strips, and the remote control. Each component has its own unique [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

LED Bulbs

LED Strips

The design of the LED strips is pretty traditional. There's a wheel with a tape: one side has 3M adhesive, while the other has a series of flat tracked LEDs. The power and control lines are run along the length of the tape. This design allows the owner to adjust the length of the strip to their needs simply by cutting it at one of the junctions, which appears every inch or so. At one end is a connector to attach to power using a wall wart (power block).

Remote Control

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the IlluminEssence lights, like all products that bear the Monster name, is very high quality. Both the bulbs and strips have no unexpected sharp edges or molding imperfections. The only part of the product line that does have production issues is the remote control. The seams between molded pieces are sharp and do not seal smoothly. In addition, the sensitivity of the buttons is inconsistent. Sometimes it takes a lot of pressure to activate a button, while in other cases, the color might change just by holding the remote.

Functionality

In our experience, we encountered only two problems. The first is that, while the remotes are supposed to be pre-programmed for the lights in their corresponding box, some of our viewers have reported having to reprogram out of the box. It is important to note, however, that all of our remotes were correctly programmed. The second issue is the occasional skipping of commands. In expanding the capabilities of one of the remotes, we have seen that sometimes one or more of the lights will not respond to commands. This has been especially prevalent in the 16.4 foot LED strip. Whether that is because of the product or because of the order it was programmed is unknown.

Size & Weight

Compatibility

Unfortunately, the only [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> that the IlluminEssence products have is with one another. The system runs on its own closed ecosystem, meaning that it is not part of any smarthome system. While you can turn the lights on or off using an external source, like a smarthome outlet, you can only control the colors, brightness, and modes from the system's own remote controls. It is possible that, over time, a hub control might be created, or a company like Harmony might work out the signal structure. For now, however, it is a closed ecosystem.

Setup

The standard [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> of a single mood lighting package is incredibly easy. In fact, there is absolutely no setup involved. All you have to do is plug in the lights, in this case, the LED bulbs and LED strips, and you are done. The remote control included in the box is pre-programmed to work with the lights that are part of the package. This means that you have no work to do to make everything work together.

Usability

Based on what the kit is supposed to do, the product is pretty useful. The LED bulbs and strips power on to white when power is applied. This means that using the bulbs in a standard lamp makes them function as a regular bulb, whether you turn it on via the lamp's switch or one on a wall. The strips work the same way, but plug directly into a wall outlet, making them controllable from a wall switch as well. When added to a smarthome wall outlet, they can even be powered on and off by voice or phone.

UnPlugged 10K Qi-Enabled Charger (myCharge)

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 15:31:22 UTC

UnPlugged 10K Qi-Enabled Charger

myCharge

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Jun 30, 2019

4.36 out of 5

Summary

Positives

This charger has a high [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> with nearly all portable devices, has a proportional [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, and has the best [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> with the lowest power loss we have ever tested.

Negatives

While the charger's [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> is great, the squared off corners on the USB panel and the slight gap around the front panel are a little disappointing.

Result

This is the best portable charger we have ever tested and should be strongly considered by anyone looking for a great charger.

Product Description

Extend the battery of your Qi-enabled phone with the Unplugged10K wireless charging portable battery. This 10,000mAh wireless portable charger is not only certified to Qi standard but also meets the Apple and Samsung Fast Charge standard; delivering up to 10 Watts of power. The 10 Watts of powers ensures the absolute quickest wireless charge on the market. Ditch your cables and simply drop your smartphone on the powerbank and charging will start upon contact. Additionally, two USB-A ports allow you to charge up to three devices at a time.

Value

The UnPlugged charger is the best charger we have tested, with the best [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">. The versatility introduced by the wide [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> and the long [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> with a very low power loss make this a great charger. Combine that with a retail price of $70, and you've got a great value. When you can catch it on sale, it becomes an even better deal.

Battery Life

Our testing was twofold for this product. We ran both our official battery test, as well as a practical test. The battery is 12 amps, which means it should be able to charge an equivalent amount of battery power in other devices.

Practical Test

We took the UnPlugged charger to two different events where we were unlikely to have access to power during the day. In the case of the domestic event, the charger lasted all weekend, even while using GPS a lot. To test the longevity of the battery, we ran Pokemon GO during the majority of the weekend without issue. For the international event, the battery lasted more than a full day. The change in longevity came from increased battery usage when traveling abroad (phones are constantly searching for their correct signal). In both situations, however, there was never a scenario where keeping the phone running was impossible.

HTC 8X

The battery on the phone lasted 6 hours and 15 minutes on a standard charge, using only the internal 1800 mAh battery. When combined with the UnPlugged charger (using Qi), the phone lasted an average of just under 34 hours. The additional 28 hours added to the lifespan represents a power loss of about 16%, which is far less than we have experienced with previous myCharge batteries running on USB. This loss is completely expected, as the Qi standard (or any wireless charging technology) is going to have inefficiency added by its nature. When running on USB, the power loss was under 5%, which is exactly what we expect from a direct connection.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the UnPlugged charger is simple and attractive. The body is a solid matte white, with the exception of the myCharge logo on the front and the rings to indicate the location of the Qi coil, both of which are printed in a medium grey. All of the corners are rounded, making it easy to carry in a pocket without fear of damaging the fabric.

The only exception is the USB panel on the bottom. While the bottom is mostly rounded, the panel that contains the USB ports has two squared off corners. For most users, the panel will likely be pointed upwards when using it, as it makes centering the Qi coil on your phones easier, and it exposes the USB ports for non-Qi devices. However, it does break with the otherwise focused and consistent design of the product.

The location of the battery test button and indicator is the only real issue with the product's design. Both the button and the indicator LEDs are on the same surface as the Qi charging coil, which means that you have to take your phone off the charger to test the remaining power for the battery. It would be more natural if the button and indicators were somewhere you could still use them while using the charger.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the UnPlugged charger is far above average. The body is almost entirely a single piece, save for a panel on the front. The body is made of textured plastic, making it fairly durable and also easy to hold without slipping. The texture also means that it will stay in a pocket without issue. You also don't have to worry about the incessant smudges that we have seen on previous shiny-body myCharge products, which is nice. The battery test button is flush with the front panel, making it difficult to accidentally press while in a backpack or laptop bag.

There are a couple of small manufacturing issues, however. The most prominent is the seam around the front panel. It is mostly flush with the body but does have a slight gap between the panel and the body, which lets in some dirt. Against a white body, a dark seam is unsightly and the trapped dirt could create problems for other items in a bag. The other problem with our unit is that the button is not entirely level. The top-right corner of the button is slightly exposed above the front panel, and that corner has begun to discolor because of additional contact.

Functionality

In our testing, the UnPlugged charger worked exactly as expected in most situations. The only time we experienced any issues is when we tried to use the charger in a bag pocket that was larger than the charger itself. The phone stayed in place for the most part, but when it did shift, it would often time turn off the charger. This is a feature of the charger, designed to prevent the battery from running itself dead when there is nothing to be charged. However, in this particular case, there was a phone trying to charge and it had simply shifted for a few moments. That meant that we had to keep a constant eye on the charger to see if it was still functioning.

Size & Weight

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the charger is right in the expected range. The battery, which is 10A, is lighter than the company's 12A battery we tested a few years ago but is heavier than another 10A charger we tested. While it is heavier than the other 10A battery, it is important to remember that this product also includes a Qi coil, while the other one did not.

As for physical size, the UnPlugged charger is almost identical to the previous 10A charger, which is impressive considering it does include that additional coil. That could be attributed to the advancement of battery technology, or possibly to a better [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> from myCharge.

Compatibility

The UnPlugged charger has the greatest [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> of any portable charger we have tested. It has 2 USB ports capable of 2.4 amps, meaning it will charge just about any device, including many tablets. The inclusion of the 2 ports also allows for charging devices which do not have wireless charging, which is definitely where this product shines. The included Qi charging coil runs at 2 amps, which is at the upper end of the standard. Between the Qi charging and the dual USB, nearly any mobile device can be powered from the battery. It also uses the standard USB micro-B port, which is the charging port you will find on most devices today (though it is quickly being replaced by USB C). While it includes a cable for charging, most people will likely have one or more of them already.

Macrotis: A Mother's Journey (Proud Dinosaurs)

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 11:13:46 UTC

Macrotis: A Mother's Journey

Proud Dinosaurs

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday Jun 27, 2019

3.94 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The game has a really detailed and engaging [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">, making the game more enjoyable. The [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> are of high quality, far higher than one might expect from an indie game in this price range.

Negatives

The [metric35" class="UpStreamLink"> is fairly static, conveying a semi-lifeless and disengaging feel. The game's [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design also leaves a lot to be desired. While the music is nice, the voice acting is inconsistent and narrative repeats if you have to replay one of the [metric56" class="UpStreamLink">.

Result

While the game does have a few drawbacks, they are easily overcome. The poor voice acting does not negatively impact the enjoyment of the game and can be turned off if it becomes too much.

Product Description

Help Mother Bilby, as she struggles underground to find her children, in this magical indie, 2.5D puzzle-platformer game. Macrotis: A Mother's Journey is an unforgettable adventure for those who love being challenged.

Value

The most important consideration for the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> of a videogame is whether or not it is fun, and Macrotis: A Mother's Journey is definitely fun. The second most important consideration is price. At only $9.99 for the game, it is a decent price. However, the game is a little short for the $9.99 price point, and the voice acting does occasionally make you want to walk away. This does not mean that the game is not worth purchasing, especially if you can get it on sale (which we have seen during the timeframe of this review).

Puzzles

The [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> in Macrotis: A Mother's Journey are both challenging and fun. The puzzles work similar to most platform puzzle games, in that they get progressively more difficult as the game advances. The early challenges are intended to teach the player about the mechanics of the game, including jumping, climbing, floating, etc. Later in the game, the puzzles begin to combine these factors into a more complex solution. Some of the early puzzles can be repetitious, while some of the later puzzles can be tedious. Overall, however, the puzzles themselves are a lot of fun.

Story

The [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> of Macrotis: A Mother's Journey is both heartbreaking and beautiful. The game revolves around a mother bilby, appropriately named Bilby, who has lost her children due to a flood. Your goal, as the mother, is to search for your children and rescue them from the flood. While not an in-depth story concept, the story itself drives the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> forward. It also keeps the game engaging. When you're thinking about giving up because the [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> get more difficult, the story and the goal help to provide inspiration to continue on your journey.

Gameplay

The game is a pretty straightforward puzzle platformer. Think along the lines of Super Mario Bros. 3, where you can go forward and backward, but only to a certain point. Once you complete a particular area, you move on to a new area. Unlike other games in the genre, such as the one mentioned, you never leave the environment to move between areas or levels. Instead, the game is more of an ever scrolling design, meaning the next area is directly connected to your current location.

To move throughout the game, Bilby must complete ever increasingly difficult [metric56" class="UpStreamLink">. As Bilby gets farther from her home, she encounters new items that make the individual [metric56" class="UpStreamLink"> more complicated and complex. While the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> is not original, it is implemented very well, making the game a lot of fun. When combined with the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink">, the more complex puzzles, and even the occasional mundane ones are enjoyable.

User Interface

As the game is a platformer, there is very little actual [metric34" class="UpStreamLink"> with which to interact. When you first start the game, you get a fairly standard menu, with Continue, New Game, Select Chapter, Options, and Quit Game. Once you get into the game itself, however, there is no non-game interface to speak of. There are no resources. There is no inventory, no skill points. In other words, there is nothing in the game to manage, so there is nothing outside of the game [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">.

Environment

While the [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> of the game are beautiful, the environment itself feels a little lifeless. There's movement, but usually only of the things that you are meant to interact with. The game is meant to take place in a lush and living [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">, but the game does not fully deliver on that premise. It's possible that the game engine might produce the limitation, or it could be an attempt by the game developers to put a greater focus on the active items. Either way, it reduces the authenticity of the world, but not enough that it harms the enjoyability of the overall game.

Graphics

Macrotis: A Mother's Journey is a 2.5D platformer, meaning that it is played as a standard side-scroller with 3D sprites and [metric35" class="UpStreamLink">. The [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> of the game are absolutely stunning, as is the art styling. In fact, this is one of the most beautiful indie games I have ever played. Importantly, there is a lot of diversity between the background elements and the interactable elements. This means that it is usually easy to figure out what parts of the game can be used, and what is simply decorative.

Sound

The [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design for Macrotis: A Mother's Journey is unfortunately where the game fails to deliver. The music throughout is fairly average - nothing to get excited about, but nothing that will distract from the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">. The real problem, however, is the voice acting. To move the [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> along, you hear Bilby's inner monologue often. However, the voice acting fluctuates from flat to melodramatic, never seeming to land anywhere near natural. It is often so bad that it distracts from the game and its goal. To ensure that the voice acting will eventually enrage you, every time you fail at one of the [metric56" class="UpStreamLink">, the inner monologue plays again. The repetition was occasionally annoying enough that I had to walk away from the game for a while.

S880DB Hi-Res Audio Certified Powered Speakers (Edifier)

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 18:28:00 UTC

S880DB Hi-Res Audio Certified Powered Speakers

Edifier

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Apr 23, 2019

4.29 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The S880DB speakers' [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are perfect for a desk or shelf, and their appearance is sleek and attractive. The [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> is made easier by the well-defined input panel on the active speaker. When it comes to [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, these speakers have it all. Their Bluetooth [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> is tied for the best we've reviewed.

Negatives

The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> for the S880DB speakers are not ideal because of the infrared remote control. The front panel also makes for a steeper than normal initial [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">. There are also some [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> issues that could be worked out.

Result

Even with a few minor issues and things to remember, the S880DB speakers are a great contender for a computer desk or shelf speaker in the home or office. The sound quality is great for music and is better than most stereo speakers for gaming. They definitely do justice to the Edifier brand.

Product Description

Introducing the S880DB the first Hi-Res Audio certified speakers from Edifier. These speakers are compact desktop bookshelf speakers designed to connect to computers, gaming consoles, and all types of devices. Achieve a full range of audio from the S880DB bookshelf speakers. These bookshelf speakers come with a wireless remote for controlling sound from any point of the room including from the comfort of your own couch or chair.

Value

The S880DB speakers represent great value for a variety of customers. Whether you're looking for a great pair of computer speakers for your desk, shelf speakers for your living room or bedroom, or even enhanced audio for your television, these speakers should definitely be a consideration. The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> is fantastic for its price and the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are great for their purpose. The only place you might be let down is in the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the remote control.

Connectivity

When it comes to [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, these speakers have it all. They offer your standard analog speaker interfaces, both 1/8" (computer headphone/speaker jack) and RCA (red & white connectors), via RCA and RCA to headphone cables. They also offer a host of digital connectors: fiber optic (TOSLINK), digital coaxial (RCA), and USB digital direct. That means that whatever you are hoping to hook these speakers up to, you likely have the correct hookup. For those devices that have none of these connections, the speakers also offer Bluetooth connectivity.

Range

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> of the S880DB speakers is fantastic. It matched our longest range on the practical and came close on the line of sight tests.

Practical

In my 3 bedroom apartment, I can place the paired device anywhere in the apartment and it will continue operating in the office without issue. The corners of the apartment often cause interference to the office, as there are several walls between, but these speakers dealt with the signal without any issue.

Line of Sight

Bringing an iPhone X outside, the S880DB speakers retained a stable connection for 165 feet. That is almost the maximum possible distance for Bluetooth 4.0, which is 200 feet. Considering these speakers must be plugged in, the likelihood of being used in a room that is 165 feet long is low, making this range perfectly within expectations.

Controls

As part of the only real [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> issue, the control system for the S880DB speakers is not ideal. All major interactions are done through a remote control puck, which is connected to the speaker via infrared. Making sure that the remote is pointed directly at the speaker can be difficult, depending on your desk or shelf configuration.

The majority of the controls are straight forward, while others are a little less clear. For example, it is easy to know that you are or are not playing audio, either by listening or checking your device. You can easily tell if you have successfully changed tracks, or adjusted the volume, again, either audibly or visually. You can also look at the front panel to determine what input is currently selected, as there is an LED panel showing the active input. However, there is one setting that cannot be determined at a glance: the active EQ setting. There is no indicator on the speaker, the remote, or on the device that will tell you if you have Classic, Dynamic, Monitor, or Vocal currently running.

Learning Curve

There are a couple of aspects of the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> that make learning to use the speakers a little difficult. The fact that the control puck is infrared means that you have to point the controller at the speakers. If you are not prepared for this, you might be surprised that the remote doesn't work at all when you press a button. Once you get the remote working, the next challenge is learning that the speakers are slow to respond. Changing the input can take up to a second, so cycling between inputs can be incredibly slow and delayed. You'll also have to know that the number of times that the active input LED blinks after a command indicates what it did. Because of these challenges, the initial [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is a little steeper than the average desktop or bookshelf speakers but, once you get used to the idiosyncrasies, using the speakers is fairly natural.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the speakers is mostly fantastic. Their [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are perfect for a desk or shelf, and their appearance is sleek and attractive. The white face paired with the exposed black speaker cones and LED panel creates a nice contrast. The light wood finish on the sides is a good complement to the white center panel. The technical design is also mostly a success. The rear panels on both the active and passive speaker are easy to interact with, as well as easy to understand. The [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> was made easier by the well-defined input panel on the active speaker, with detailed labeling on each input.

The only real design flaw is with the remote control. Rather than connecting the controller to the speaker via the built-in Bluetooth, it is connected via infrared. This means that the active speaker has to be visually available since infrared is line-of-sight. While it sounds like a small issue, it is really a major oversight. For our setup, this meant that the speakers had to be installed backward (left and right) and configured through Windows to invert them. This is because the primary speaker would have lived behind a monitor, with no way to use the remote control, and therefore, no way to change the input. This made for an initially negative experience as we tried to determine how to make the speakers work without having to completely redesign the desk.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the S880DB speakers cannot be faulted. All of the seams are straight with no sharp edges. The chosen materials are all quality. Even the etched design on the wood grain surface is straight and consistent. The only real improvement to the build quality would have been fully countersinking the screws that hold the cones in place. As it is, the raised screws provide a surface for dust to accumulate and become a bit of an eyesore over time. In addition, not all of the screws on our unit were properly set. At least one screw was more than a millimeter outset from where it should have been.

The remote, on the other hand, tells a different story. All of the seams of the remote are rough, and the seam around the infrared emitter is actually sharp. The panel for the emitter is set too far back from the edge of the ring, making the entire front assembly uncomfortable to hold. The gap around the battery cover on the back of the remote is wide enough to accumulate dirt and grease from your hand, meaning that the remote could become less than pleasant with regular use.

Functionality

We have performed an extended review of these speakers. They have been used on the studio editing computer to edit the majority of our CES 2019 interviews. They have also been used in our offices to listen to music for over a month. In that time, we have experienced no real functionality issues, other than those detailed about the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the remote control, and during the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> of the USB connection.

Size & Weight

These speakers are incredibly small. In fact, their size is so small that it completely betrays their [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">. Based on their size, you would never expect these speakers to sound as good as they do. Their size is perfect for their intended applications: on a computer desk or bookshelf. With such a small footprint, you won't need to sacrifice a lot of desk space, if you are using them in an office.

Despite their size, the speakers literally carry some weight. Each speaker is much heavier than you might expect, weighing in between 6 and 8 pounds, depending on left or right. If these were portable speakers, this would be a problem, but they are not. Instead, because they are intended to stay in one place, the weight is actually a benefit. A heavier speaker is usually indicative of a larger magnet, which typically produces better sounding speakers, which these definitely are.

Compatibility

While these speakers are designed to be shelf speakers, they are also incredibly versatile, making them compatible for almost any use you can think of. You can use the speakers with your phone, laptop, desktop, television, tablet, and more. Since the speakers are self-amplified, you can also use older audio devices, including turntables.

Sound Quality

The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the S880DB speakers is very good, especially taking into consideration their [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, as well as the lack of a dedicated subwoofer. Despite the lack of a subwoofer, the bass response range is surprisingly wide. When comparing the output to speaker sets that do include a subwoofer, they are able to produce sound in the lower frequencies better than would be expected, though it does not match an equally priced speaker with a dedicated sub. We tested the various inputs using the same song and compared the results against our top-rated speaker in this price range. All of the tests were performed using the included cables.

USB Digital

This is, by far, the ideal setup for the speakers. The reproduction range is greater and is produced with little to no distortion until the volume is near maximum. Even the bass response, which is naturally lessened without the sub, is better when using USB Digital.

Fiber Optic (TOSLINK)

The fiber optic connection maintains the high audio standard of the USB Digital connection. The only distortion we could create using the TOSLINK cable was by turning the volume up too loud, and even that was minimal.

Digital Coaxial

While we no longer test Digital Coaxial modes, the Digital Coaxial uses the same audio standard as Fiber Optic (S/PDIF), so the audio quality should be identical to the Fiber Optic response.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is often the last resort for audio input on quality speakers. The S880DB speakers, however, manage to handle the Bluetooth connection incredibly well. While the quality is far above what we expect from Bluetooth speakers, it does not equal the quality of these same speakers when connected via other means.

Auxiliary (1/8" or RCA)

As you might expect, the analog input represents the lowest range of audio reproduction on the list. This is likely because of the loss of fidelity going from a digital signal on a device, like a computer, phone, or tablet, to an analog signal in a headphone jack, and transferred to the speakers. There is plenty of opportunity for loss and distortion in that process, as well as in the quality of the cable. Using a higher quality cable than what came in the box, there was less of a loss, but it still produced the lowest quality sound available.

Setup

Almost every aspect of the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process for the Edifier S880DB speakers is incredibly easy. No matter your setup, one cable connects the two speakers together and one goes to the power. Then, you connect your input cable, either RCA, digital coaxial, fiber optic, or USB, to the speaker and the source. For everything but USB, your task is complete and you can begin using the speakers. If you plan to use the Bluetooth option, simply put the speakers into Bluetooth mode and pair your device.

Unfortunately, if you are connecting via USB, you will need to install drivers on your computer to make the speakers work correctly. This would be no problem if the drivers were included on storage within the speakers. The reality is that you have to go to the company's website and download the drivers, making a step that could have easily been skipped. Fortunately, this only needs to be done once per computer, so it is not a major disappointment.

Niffelheim (Ellada Games)

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 13:08:54 UTC

Niffelheim

Ellada Games

Reviewed by Adi Schiereck on Thursday Mar 28, 2019

4.44 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The artwork and the [metric36" class="UpStreamLink"> for the game are beautiful and give it a storybook feel. A fondness for the game grows once you understand the game, along with the epic background music. It seems to lure and captivate you into the world of Niffelheim and then soon becomes irresistible to play.

Negatives

They did not give instructions at the beginning of the game on how to move the character or even defined the main and side quest. You have to go out of your way to find how the game is played and, once you do find it, they don't tell you in an obvious way what the challenges are or how to be prepared for when they come.

Result

Niffelheim is a thrilling story and exciting game. The game transports to the land of the dead to help claim the Vikings right in Asgard. The game takes the player back to their childhood memories of simpler platforms and offers adventure for players of any age.

Product Description

Your avatar is a brave warrior who has fallen in battle. But instead of finding well-deserved peace in Asgard, his soul is trapped in the harsh world of Niffelheim. Survive in this hostile world, ransack the neighboring lands, explore dangerous dungeons and find your way to Valhalla.

Value

By the end of the game, Niffelheim had me craving more and looking forward to the multiplayer aspect of the game. Because of the beautiful [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design and strong [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">, the price point of $19.99 is completely justified, especially when you add in the [metric46" class="UpStreamLink"> aspect, giving additional ways to play and have fun. There is also plenty of room for additional content, either through expansions on the game or a sequel in the future. All in all, the game is fun to play once you spend some time getting to know the mechanics and it soon becomes addictive. I was even asked by multiple people what game this was when I was playing it due to them seeing how extremely entertaining it was.

Story

The [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> is very compelling. It starts with a short video about the death of a Viking warrior who wanted to go to Asgard. Unfortunately, he was intercepted by evil monsters, and now he must journey throughout the world of Niffelheim to get to Asgard and claim his rightful place. Along the story, you make allies with a murder of crows who tell you bits of the history of the world Niffelheim. They also work as messengers for an evil witch who sends hoards of skeletons to pillage your castles.

Gameplay

The game is made for older players and is not too graphic when killing animals or bosses. When playing it at first, it was hard to understand what was happening, but once it moves into the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> more you understand how it is played and you soon love the way it operates. The basic controls are letter keys like A and D, A goes left and D goes to the right. The controls are simple once you get the hang of how to use them. They also inform you as you play what keys do what, such as when you are battling a boss or gathering supplies.

The character in Niffelheim has an option to change to another not just the original Viking but also a Valkary, a Berzerker, and a Shaman. Each one has different stats to help with different aspects of the game. The downside to this is they sometimes lag when you are playing the game. The game has a time table for certain side missions but not for the main quest of getting to Asgard.

The only problem I experienced was the struggle to use both the keyboard and the mouse at the same time. This is because you're not using a small set of keys but often needed both hands on the keyboard to play. This presented a problem when foraging and other missions. The game is slow at times when you don't have any side quest to complete, such as what happened to the frost giants. At times I wished for more than just building up your castles and your ability stats.

User Interface

The user interface system is well made with simple to understand. You can use either just keys or a combination of both letter keys and the mouse. The main menu image shows you what you are getting into with the game and with simple, easy to understand choices. Luckily you can save up to four games (one for each of different character they have in the game). The inventory is set up in a clean and understandable manner with sections for weapons and tools, outfits, consumables, resources, and provision. You can both pick up, and drop items if you do not need them. During the game, when the characters interacted with one another, Niffelheim would show what key options could be used to win.

Environment

Niffelheim does an excellent job with the drawings and design of the game. The earth tones give the feel of an old storybook that you read when you were younger. The environment of the game changes along with the different lands, with second to mimic the real world. One moment the sky is clear and sunny then slowly it changes to a cold windy afternoon then a snowstorm at night. From the way the game is playing you can tell that time and love have gone into creating this game.

Graphics

Niffelheim is a 2D platformer with 3D graphics and sprites. Unlike some independent platformers, there is a good amount of diversity between the background and foreground design to allow easier identification of what is and is not interactable in the game. Even when the [metric35" class="UpStreamLink"> is dark, the characters are still easily discernable. Both the character and background designs are done with detail and care, adding depth to the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">.

Sound

The [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> design of the game provides a flawless backdrop for the story. It provides the feel of strength and fuels your drive to get to the conclusion of the game. The music has a Nordic feel that you are a warrior and help to submerge you into the game. The music is not heavy and overbearing but subtle and compelling. Even the battle music if subtle but gives the urgency at the moment.

Level-Up System

You have to build the areas you would like to level up in like in forage you have to build a station to create tools or weapons and every time you make a new item you gain the points that level you up. The other option is action, like fighting or mining you have to go out to the area and do the action to gather point to level up in that field. It is an easy system the point to level up. As you continue on your journey, you level up in different areas like alchemy, blacksmith, or mining.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer is used in the game through co-operative play. This aspect allows you to ally with other players to get the points, items, and defeat bosses that you would normally not be able to do yourself. It is kinda hard to communicate with others but using a communication app or server you can talk with other players. You can either host your own party or join a server, allowing you to get help on your story or help someone else through theirs.

Triple Driver Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones (1MORE)

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 13:14:01 UTC

Triple Driver Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones

1MORE

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday Dec 13, 2018

3.87 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Easy pairing, consistent [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">, and long [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> make usage seamless. Easy [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> and a gentle [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> make getting started simple.

Negatives

Imperfect [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, with a tinny sound, distorts music to a varying degree. Lower [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> prevent them from being a regular replacement for phone calls.

Result

If you are a regular jogger or runner and can get these headphones on a great sale, these headphones should be a consideration.

Product Description

1MORE's patented hybrid acoustic design allows dual balanced armatures to be uniquely inset in each chamber for lower distortion and higher fidelity. These dual balanced armatures coupled with an aerospace-grade metal dynamic driver provide an incredibly personal and vivid listening experience.

A high-resolution Bluetooth chip with LDAC transmission technology provides a meticulous wireless listening experience without affecting sound quality. LDAC enables 990 kbps of transmission speed which is 4 times higher than ordinary Bluetooth, allowing you to enjoy a lossless, audiophile-grade sound experience with the convenience of Bluetooth.

Value

The [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> of the 1MORE headphones is highly dependent on the price you pay for them. At the suggested price of $200, these headphones are not a great value, as the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> simply does not justify the price. However, we do see retailers (including Amazon), with prices around half of the MSRP. At that price (anything under $120), these headphones are worth a try, especially if you are a jogger or runner.

Connectivity

We tested the headphones with a variety of devices, including an iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and Microsoft Surfacebook. All of the devices paired on their first try and retained their connections until asked to disconnect. When powering the headphones on they connected to their active device quickly.

Range

The [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> on the 1MORE headphones is decent but is not the best we have seen. I tested the range using a paired Apple iPhone X.

Practical

In my three bedroom apartment, with the iPhone in the center, I am able to use the headphones in all rooms without any reception issues encountered. This includes areas of the apartment that previous headphones have encountered issues, cutting in and out occasionally. This means that I could do housework, walking around the apartment, and not need to carry my phone with me, while keeping the music going.

Line of Sight

Bringing the iPhone outside, the headphones were able to remain connected stably for a distance of 84 feet. The headphones support Bluetooth 4.2, which means that their maximum range is around 200 feet. These headphones did not reach half of that range in direct line of sight. While the maximum range is missed, 84 feet is a very long distance, and more than an average consumer will likely ever need.

Battery Life

The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> of the 1MORE headphones is not as high as some of the other headphones we have tested but lasts longer than advertised.

Formal Test (HTC 8x)

Running our formal test on the 1MORE headphones, we averaged 8 hours and 20 minutes of play time, recorded across three tests. All of the tests ran within 3 minutes of one another, meaning that 8 hours and 20 minutes is a consistent result. In addition, the advertised runtime is only 7 hours, meaning that the actual runtime is almost 20% higher than the advertised life.

Practical Test

This style of headphone was originally made popular for working out and, in particular, running. An average running time for a marathon runner is between 4.5 and 5.5 hours, depending on various factors. For any of these runners, the battery will well outlast a full marathon, and for the faster runners, could last for almost 2 full marathons. With that in mind, there is little to no concern over the battery life of these headphones in their intended usage.

Call Quality

The [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> of the 1MORE headphones is below average. In fact, the quality of audio during a phone call is even lower than the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> during music playback. Voices are muffled and sound far away. Even with the volume turned up to maximum, it can still be difficult to hear the other person. Like with music playback, the equalizer seems tuned to over-emphasize treble, which makes the audio sound tinny. As for the other party, they seem to be able to hear decently, though not great. The microphone seems better than the standard speakerphone on the iPhone X but not as good as the speakerphone on the HP Elite x3.

Controls

There are very few controls available on the 1MORE headphones. There is a power button, volume rocker, and multifunction button that serves as play/pause, Bluetooth command and call answer/hangup. This makes the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> very gentle. However, it would be nice to have an easy way to determine the battery life without having an iOS device, or while not being near enough to the device to verify.

Noise Cancellation

The [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> capabilities of the 1MORE are average. When tested on a phone call, the other party was unable to hear standard noises, such as the sound of typing on a keyboard or a ceiling fan. However, the microphone did not eliminate louder sounds, even as simple as a sliding glass door, or an outside door being closed. In a generally quiet scenario, the other party would have no problem hearing, but if you are in a loud area, including running or jogging on a sidewalk, there might be too much background noise to have an effective conversation.

Learning Curve

The headphones are really easy to learn to use. There are only 3 buttons: power, a volume rocker, and a multifunction button. The last button can play and pause music, answer or hang up a call, or trigger your assistant of choice (Cortana, Siri, or Google Assistant). For anyone who has used Bluetooth headphones before, these commands will be fairly routine. Even if you're new to Bluetooth, however, there simply aren't enough commands to trip you up.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of these headphones is strong, but not perfect. Based on a running headset made popular by a large manufacturer a few years ago, the 1MORE makes a lot of improvements to the concept. The neckband is slim and sleek, with a soft and easily bendable material used throughout. The main buttons are not on the top, as are others in this style, but on the inside of the left end piece. This puts the play/pause and volume controls right where your thumb will rest naturally, making it easier to use while working out. The length of the cords on the earbuds themselves is long enough to easily reach your ears without being so long that they are uncomfortable when hanging out of your ears. Also, the charging port has a cover, which prevents sweat from getting into it and either shorting the headphones or corroding the charging port.

Not everything about these headphones is a win, however. The power button, which is the only one not under the thumb, is located on the top of the band, rather than the bottom. It makes it harder to press the button, and even more difficult to hold it long enough to power it on. The place where the cord for the earbuds meets the neckband comes out in a straight line, which makes it an even distance when pulled up or down, but it isn't the best design. Instead, if the cord came out about 30 degrees sloped downward, it would put less stress on the cord when the earbuds aren't being worn.

Comfort

Thanks in large part to the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">, wearing the 1MORE headphones is very comfortable. In addition, the length of the cord on the earbuds means that there is no real pull on your ears from the neckband. In addition, the headphones come with a huge collection of earbud caps. While most earbuds come with only 3 sizes of the same style of earbud caps, these headphones come with 9 caps with varying styles, sizes and materials. Most people will be able to find an earbud cap that will work for them.

Build Quality

Overall, the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is very high. There are no sharp edges, no injection molding defects, and almost no cheap materials used. In fact, then only part of the headphones that gave any real concern is the cord between the earbuds and the neckband. On both sides, there are small nicks in the shielding and crimps in the cabling. As the thin cable is the most common point of failure for earbuds, using a cheap material here seems like an important oversight.

Functionality

During testing, we experienced no unexpected behavior. Pairings were successful on the first try, every time, on all devices. Once paired, the headphones were able to use all of their functionality, regardless of the platform. The only exception to this is when paired with a Surfacebook, pressing the multifunction button does not invoke Cortana. This is not an uncommon failure for Bluetooth headphones but is a disappointment for those of us who use headphones with a laptop or tablet.

Size & Weight

The 1MORE headphones are surprisingly lightweight, especially considering capabilities. Cable junctions, a long [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">, and more would usually make the headphones heavier. These do not suffer that same fate, partially because of the lightweight material used in the construction of the majority of the neckband. The headphones are also surprisingly small. The neckband is very thin. making it easy to carry. The cables for the earbuds are flexible, as is the neckband, making it possible to coil around your hand and then put into your pocket for times when you cannot keep them around your neck.

Compatibility

We experienced full compatibility on iOS, with all features working with no additional hardware or software needed. On Android, Windows 10, and Windows Mobile, we experienced all of the features except for the battery feedback capability, meaning we were unable to determine battery remaining. On Windows 10, we also could not invoke Cortana.

Sound Quality

The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> of the 1MORE headphones is fairly average for consumer headphones, though not necessarily for this price range. While listening to music, the vocals are clear for most performers, though do distort a little with a singer with a higher voice. The equalizer seems to be tuned with a bias for treble, creating distortion in already higher-pitched tones, including a tinny effect over a lot of the standard audible range. Overall, the distortion is not so great that it would ruin the listening experience entirely. However, it is enough that it could be a distraction from the experience, especially on genres like classical, which feature more tones in a higher range.

Backlit Full Size USB Mac Keyboard (XKEYLED) (Macally)

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:00:31 UTC

Backlit Full Size USB Mac Keyboard (XKEYLED)

Macally

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Dec 5, 2018

4.17 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Designed specifically the macOS, this is a good keyboard for Mac users. The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the XKEYLED is nearly perfect, and the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> is better than the included keyboard with a Mac or the built-in keyboard of a MacBook.

Negatives

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> leaves some room for improvement, and the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> creates a major decision point for potential buyers.

Result

If you are a dedicated macOS user and are not concerned about price, the XKEYLED is a fantastic keyboard. However, if the price is an important factor in your purchasing decisions, buying a comparable keyboard designed for Windows might be the better option.

Product Description

The Macally XKEYLED is a backlit full size USB keyboard specially designed for Mac. Plug and play, this keyboard doesn't require any installation software and is very easy to use! The keyboard has a standard layout with full size keys for a comfortable and efficient typing experience. It also has 16 convenient shortcut keys and a 17-key numeric keypad to increase efficiency and productivity. The keyboard has backlit in white, with 3 levels of brightness adjustment to suit different environment. Solid, easy to use, and functional, the Macally XKEYLED is ideal to use in all environments.

Value

The [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> of the XKEYLED is greatly dependant on what is most important to you in a keyboard. The overall quality of the product is high and would merit a recommendation on its own. However, the price of the keyboard is certainly a stumbling block. While everything in the Apple ecosystem is more expensive than its non-Apple counterparts, $60 for this keyboard is pretty high, especially when you consider that a keyboard with the same feature set from the top keyboard manufacturer for Windows PCs sells for $15.

Design

The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the XKEYLED is fairly simple, as the product itself is fairly simple. The key travel feels very natural, far more natural than an Apple-built keyboard. Unlike the chicklet keys on a MacBook, the keys are each raised at an angle that makes typing comfortable. The addition of backlighting of the characters, without major light bleed around keys themselves, makes seeing them in a darker room fantastic, a feature improved further with the easily adjusted backlight brightness.

The only aspect of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> that is a disappointment is the actual key movement. While far better than the current MacBook keyboard, the keys have more spring than a cheap keyboard would but don't even have the response of the older MacBook keyboard. With a slightly better key switch, the XKEYLED would be a perfect Mac keyboard design.

Build Quality

Overall, the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the XKEYLED is very high. All of the keycaps feel consistent, as do the switches that power the keys. No key feels different from the rest, which can affect any keyboard. The keycaps descend below the rim of the board, so there is no fear of catching something under a key.

The bottom of the keyboard is not quite the same story, however. Some of the injection molding seams are not flat, making it really easy to cut yourself or snag things. If you were to travel with the keyboard in a bag, the rough edges might cause damage to the inside lining of the bag.

Functionality

In using the XKEYLED as my primary Mac keyboard, I found that the keyboard itself functioned incredibly well. I especially liked some of the features that the keyboard had, which the MacBook keyboard does not. For example, the dedicated screenshot key is great, as are the cut, copy, and paste keys. I also really liked how easily the backlight brightness can be adjusted with just the Function key and the arrow keys.

The one thing that was a little strange about the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> was that the brightness adjustment process is completely different from the process for turning off the backlight. You would probably expect that, with three brightness settings, going down four notches would turn off the backlight entirely. Unfortunately, to turn off the backlight, there is a separate power button in the top-right, next to the key lock lights.

Compatibility

This keyboard is different from most, in that it is designed specifically for macOS computers. The big difference between a Windows and macOS keyboard layout is the support keys on the bottom row. The XKEYLED has a similar bottom row layout, with Control, Option, and Command being on the left side of the Spacebar, and Command and Option being on the right side. This keyboard adds another Control key, as well as a dedicated Save key, to the right as well. One key is missing from the standard layout, however: the Function key. That is, instead, above the arrow keys.

The XKEYLED mimics many of the standard Mac keyboard features while adding some new features of its own. For someone intimately familiar with the layout of the Function keys, you might be disappointed to learn that some of the keys have different behavior from what you're used to. Overall, however, the keyboard [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> is very high with Mac computers.

The one limiting factor is that the keyboard plugs in with USB-A, while most new MacBooks are shipping with only USB-C, so definitely verify your setup before purchase.

Setup

As with most keyboards, the setup process is very easy. For the most part, all that is needed is to plug the keyboard into your Mac and you're almost ready to go. macOS does have a keyboard configuration tool that will launch and ask you to press a few keys so that the operating system will know the layout of the keys on the keyboard. Once that is complete, the keyboard is ready for use. Our configuration took less than a minute from opening the box to being able to type.

FryPod Digital Air Fryer (GAF365) (Gourmia)

Thu, 24 May 2018 22:08:59 UTC

FryPod Digital Air Fryer (GAF365)

Gourmia

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday May 24, 2018

4.39 out of 5

Summary

Positives

It is the perfect [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> for a single person, or even a couple (depending on what you're making), and its very low [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> means that it is ready right out of the box.

Negatives

The only real issue with the FryPod is in its [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">. The quality of the plastic used in the front of the tray might be too low for the heat it lives around.

Result

If you are a single person or a couple looking to cooking healthy at home, this is an inexpensive yet quality product that will make it easy and convenient.

Product Description

Healthier cooking options are hard to come by these days. With rapidly increasing schedules and so many fast food options available, it's no wonder we all have less time to cook and prepare healthy meals that are good for our bodies. That's why Gourmia is presenting you with an amazing piece of technology that will change the way you eat and cook - The Digital Air Fryer Classic!

Value

At its MSRP, which is $130, the FryPod is a great deal for anyone looking for an easy and healthy way to cook at home. The going price on Amazon, however, is far below MSRP, making it an amazing deal. Having used it for several months, I would say that any price below $100 would make me buy one of these for my own kitchen. This is a wonderful product for any single person or couple.

Cleanliness

Cleaning the FryPod Air Fryer is fairly easy. The inside of the product is very easy to wipe down with a cloth. You merely need to get the inside of the rounded canister and the heating element at the top of the opening. The tray is a little bit more difficult to clean. It comes in 2 parts: the tray itself and the metal crisping insert. The tray wipes out easily, but the crisping insert does not. There is an indent in the center, a circle with a diameter of about an inch, that has a cross-bar over the top. This gap makes cleaning under it pretty difficult, though the mesh nature of the crisping insert makes it a little easier.

Packaging

Overall, the packaging for the FryPod is what you would expect. There are not a lot of individual pieces in the box; mostly just the fryer itself, the instruction manual and a cookbook. The box is way taller than the fryer itself, about 20% more height than the actual product. The extra space is taken up with styrofoam, which definitely kept the product from getting damaged during shipping. The only real annoyance of the packaging is the strength of the tape that holds the device together during shipping. Pulling all of the pieces of tape off took longer than actually opening the box and removing the components, Unboxed video included.

Learning Curve

The FryPod Air Fryer is incredibly easy to learn. In fact, since it is such a focused product, there is very little to know. Place your food in the tray, press the power button, set the time and the temperature and walk away. Once the timer expires, the fryer will beep to let you know. The only aspect of the product that you will need to learn is the idiosyncrasies of air frying as a method. For example, you should flip whatever you're cooking halfway through so you get an even cook. The good news is that the fryer comes with a great recipe book which gives ideas for use, as well as timings for commonly fried foods, such as chicken wings and French fries.

Design

The Design of the FryPod Air Fryer is perfect for a small kitchen. Since it's designed for small usage, likely a single person or a couple, its small footprint is great. The cooking tray is almost half the overall size of the body, meaning the design was optimized for usefulness. The placement of the control buttons, on a 45-degree angle facing upward, makes seeing them and interacting with them easier. The controls are also capacitive buttons, meaning that there is no seam around them for food to get stuck in, and no physical button underneath to wear out. The aesthetics of the fryer are also well planned: the black and silver coloring look modern while not standing out as inappropriate in a classicly designed kitchen.

No product is perfectly designed, however. While the controls are on the upward facing top panel, the screen is on the front of the canister body, facing toward your chest if placed on a standard height counter. This is despite the large space available on the angled top panel, which would have faced the screen toward the user's face, rather than their chest. As it is, when you are programming the fryer, having the screen and controls facing different directions is definitely frustrating.

Build Quality

Overall, the Build Quality of the FryPod Air Fryer is higher than the average kitchen appliance in this price range. All of the non-movable plastic seams are flat with no sharp edges, and the materials used all make the product feel premium.

The only issue we encountered was the seam around the cooking tray. After 20 or so uses, the upper corners moved out slightly. The gap does not release any heat from the system while in use, and it is not enough for anything to catch on the corners or to produce sharp edges. Over the following 20 or so uses, no additional adjustments have happened.

Functionality

All aspects of the FryPod work exactly as you would expect, making it the most usable kitchen appliance we have tested. The [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is not steep, meaning it was really easy to get going from the moment we opened the package. Once we tried it for the first time, we were inspired to try new recipes, which was made easy because of the straightforward nature of the device. The buttons all work well and trigger fairly easily. The solid-state buttons also make it much easier to use, especially if your fingers aren't entirely clean. The only thing that would make the functionality 100% is if the screen showed both statistics at the same time. As it stands, it flips back and forth between current temperature and remaining time; waiting for the screen to slip to the other number can be a real annoyance.

Size & Weight

The FryPod Air Fryer is the perfect size for its intention. At 2.2 quarts, it is the perfect size for a single person or possibly a couple. Its footprint is very small - about the size of a small coffee maker. This means that it doesn't take up a lot of space on the counter, so you don't necessarily have to put it away between uses. The weight is also incredibly low, which means that if you do need to take it off of the counter between uses because you have limited surface area, or while you are cleaning, it will not be inconvenient or difficult.

Setup

The FryPod Air Fryer is literally a plug-and-play device. Other than removing the [metric55" class="UpStreamLink"> and an initial cleaning before usage, there is nothing special that needs to be done before you use the product. Within 10 minutes of opening the box, we had our first batch of steak fries cooking in the tray.

Portable Car Pressure Washer & Jump Starter (Norshire)

Mon, 21 May 2018 19:34:20 UTC

Portable Car Pressure Washer & Jump Starter

Norshire

Reviewed by Michele Mendez on Monday May 21, 2018

3.89 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The unit itself is small, yet sturdy, and can easily be kept in the trunk of the car. It's easy to charge and has two USB ports for charging mobile devices. The unit charged fully in the advertised 3 hours. The included hoses connect easily to the unit and it is simple to use right out of the box.

Negatives

There is not an included carrying case for all of the accessories. The collapsible bucket from the video is apparently an add-on feature. The instructions are not in English. The included hoses and jumper cables are a bit short.

Result

Norshire is a simple to use and easy to bring along unit that can assist with keeping your car clean, as well as your devices charged. It would be especially useful for those living in an apartment/condo or for anyone who travels frequently because it does not require a water hose and it easily stores right in the car.

Product Description

Norshire combines 4 useful functions in one single portable device, including car washing kit, jump starter, warning sign and power bank. It makes your life easier, especially in emergencies, and saves you money. Meanwhile it saves more energy and water than traditional car washers.

Value

The unit price of $219 is reasonable considering the multiple functions built into this small vehicle accessory.

Convenience

It is easy to setup and start using the washer function, however the accompanying hose is not quite long enough, creating the need to move the unit and water bucket around while washing the car.

Having two spray nozzles for different levels of water pressure is nice, as is the brush with soap dispenser.

Having the peace of mind of being able to charge up any of your devices, as well as jump start the car in a pinch is a definite plus.

Learning Curve

Although there were no written instructions in English, it was very easy to use the unit straight out of the box. The built in voice assistant and speaker allow for quick battery status updates and a couple of simple instructions. The connections for both water and charging were self explanatory, as were the components themselves for washing the car.

Design

The size, shape, weight and portability of the unit are great. Areas that can use some improvement include the length of the included hoses and the plastic connector. And again, we want to ensure that the entire unit is watertight so as to withstand prolonged usage after multiple washings.

It would also be helpful to have some instruction included as to water remaining inside the unit after it has been turned off and the hoses disconnected, as that water does get expelled later when the power button is pressed to check the battery, or charge portable devices.

The warning sign function is a bit of a stretch. It is small and not easily seen when placed on the ground. It also has no lights for nighttime use and can easily roll due to the shape of the unit.

Build Quality

The main unit is lightweight but still sturdy. The compact design is easy to carry and store inside the car as long as it is charged up ahead of time. The nozzles are metal and good quality. It's nice to have the attached quick connections, one of which is metal and sturdy while the other is plastic and we are unsure how it will hold up over time. The speaker and voice assistance are clear and concise and keep you informed as to the current battery level and some simple instructions.

It is questionable as to the level of water resistance the unit maintains, as far as the electrical components are concerned. Although the internal portion where the water flows from hose-to-hose appears to be fully contained, the plastic housing over the speaker and around the charging ports does not appear to be watertight. With this unit having enough power for a jump start, we made sure to keep it from being splashed while it was being used to wash the car, as a precaution.

Functionality

Norshire boasts being a 4-in-1 utility kit that has everything you need to keep your car clean and safe.

It combines a car washing kit, jump starter, warning sign and power bank in one portable device.

Although we were not able to test the jump starter functionality, the washing kit and power bank functions both worked very well. It was simple to submerge the siphon into a bucket of water and rinse the car with the spray nozzles. The brush and soap dispenser also worked very well.

If we are able to utilize the jump start feature in the future, we will provide an update to this review.

Size & Weight

The unit weighs only a couple of pounds. It is easy to carry and move around while taking up little space.

Compatibility

It is easy to charge any brand cell phone, tablet, laptop or camera with the onboard USB ports and having two of them is nice for any road trip. The unit does not require any type of internet or Bluetooth connection.

Setup

It was fully charged right out of the box and voice assistant is easy to understand. All components are easy to connect and it was only a couple of minutes from box to usage.

MYNT ES Tracking Device (MYNT)

Wed, 16 May 2018 12:28:51 UTC

MYNT ES Tracking Device

MYNT

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday May 16, 2018

3.77 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The MYNT ES [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> are far below the industry standard, making it convenient to carry, and the [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> are some of the best we've seen.

Negatives

The overall size of the [metric63" class="UpStreamLink"> is incredibly small, meaning that if you lose your tracker in an Uber, or want to track an item through an airport, you are unlikely to get any pings other than your own phone.

Result

If you forget where you put your keys in your home, this might just be the tracker for you. If you tend to leave them at coffee shops, however, you might want to find a tracker with a larger [metric63" class="UpStreamLink">.

Product Description

No more spending time searching for keys, phones, or wallet hidden in obvious places. Lookup the location in the MYNT map, ring MYNT, and find it. Lose the hassle of looking for things, and start everyday with a fresh MYNT.

Value

The Value of the MYNT ES is very dependent on what you intend to use it for. If, for example, your usage is to find your keys or phone within your own home, the MYNT ES might just be the best choice for you. However, if you tend to lose your keys in public, and want the device to be able to track them down, the small [metric63" class="UpStreamLink"> of users makes the Value of the tracker fairly low. This is because, in our testing, the only hit you are likely to get is from your own phone when you walked away from your keys, but not if they happen to move (such as leaving them in an Uber).

Network

One of the most difficult issues to overcome for a tracker is the network. Without a large network of people running the app, finding your tracker if it is lost in an unknown location, or to follow it through an area (such as an airport) is far more difficult. You need a lot of people to be running the app to be able to ping the tracker.

Currently, the network is very small. While traveling to both CES 2018 and Collision Conference 2018, our MYNT ES was placed into luggage with the intention of tracking the bags through the airport. Unfortunately, the only times that the location was identified was when it was within range of our own test phone. We have also turned off Bluetooth on our phone around town, hoping to see if the device would ping anywhere. So far, only our phone is running the app.

While the market leader has accomplished a large network by integrating their technology into other devices, such as Bluetooth headphones, MYNT has taken a different tact. Since the tracking technology is based on blockchain, the company has implemented their own cryptocurrency: MYNT Coin. Even if you do not have a device, you can earn MYNT Coin by running the app. That is a good encouragement to expand the network, assuming they can market the coin. Currently, the app explains the different ways to earn MYNT Coin, but there is no explanation as to what you can use the coin for, and the company's website doesn't mention it at all.

Connectivity

Bluetooth low energy works differently from traditional Bluetooth. Your device must support this newer technology, and you must register the device through the accompanying app.

Apple iPhone X (iOS 11.3.1)

The process of pairing followed the instructions explained in the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> section of this review, for the most part. We did experience an issue pairing the device that was not covered by the instructions, however. We began pairing the device once, and the app closed unexpectedly after the phone's screen turned off. When we returned to the pairing process, holding the pairing button down did not play the music to indicate the tracker was in pairing mode. This was because the tracker remained in pairing mode without any indication.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Android 7.0)

The process of pairing followed the instructions explained in the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> section of this review. There were no issues with pairing this device.

Range

The range of the MYNT ES is far longer than you would expect from a device of this category. In a direct line-of-sight test, we were able to get a full 60ft from the tracker and still trigger the device to ring (and stop ringing). Within our offices, there is not a space where we lose connectivity. This range is almost as good as standard Bluetooth devices, such as speakers or headphones. If looking for your device with your phone, or vice versa, within your home or office, chances are you'll be within range.

Battery Life

The MYNT ES runs on a single CR2032 button cell battery. During the testing process over the past month or so, the battery has remained at 100%. While there is no real way to test the overall battery life in a real world scenario, the fact that the battery is still at 100% after testing indicates that the battery should easily last a year or longer under normal usage. Once the battery does inevitably die, replacing it is an easy process, with an easy to remove cover, but not so easy that it opens on its own.

Controls

Generally, the controls on the MYNT ES make sense. Once [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> is complete, long-pressing the single button will make the paired phone make play music. Pressing the "Ring MYNT" button in the app will make the tracker play music. Within the app, you can see the last time a device encountered your tracker and get an alert when you come back within range, making it easier to find if lost.

The one oddity to the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> that makes using the ES occasionally annoying is what happens when you tap the single button. Upon a single press, the tracker beeps. This would not be a problem if it wasn't so very easy to press, especially if attached to your keys. In a pocket, backpack or purse, the button seems to get pressed semi-often. This means that simply walking around with your keys can cause you to start beeping randomly. In case you're interested, an unsolicited beep from a backpack going through TSA at the airport will guarantee your bag is opened and emptied.

Learning Curve

If you complete the [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process in a single sitting, the learning curve is very small. There is very little that you need to know about how the tracker or the app work, as the app walks you through most of the standard process. However, if you don't follow the process completely the first time, you would normally have to intuit the process of resuming once the tracker is in pairing mode. Luckily, our [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> instructions explain how to recover.

Design

Like most trackers, there is not much in the way of design for the MYNT ES. The device is a rectangle with rounded-corners and a hole on one end for attaching to keys or other items. On the other end, it features a single multipurpose button. Other trackers' buttons can be hidden and unintuitive, but the ES makes its button obvious. On the upside, the button makes it easy to know how to use the device. On the downside, the more obvious button makes it easier to push on accident, which is detailed in [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">.

The design of the app is also fairly minimal. The interaction with the tracker itself is straightforward, but some of the other aspects of the app are not as obvious. For example, the FAQ and Support sections of the app are hidden under the Settings icon, while the implementation of the MYNT Coin, which is their closed cryptocurrency, is a primary tab, along with list and map (both tracker-related options). The app also explains how to earn MYNT Coin, but does not give any ideas as to why you want them.

Build Quality

The tracker itself is built fairly well. None of the seams are sharp, all of them fit flush together, even after opening the case to replace the battery. Even after carrying the tracker for over a month in pockets, backpacks and luggage, the seams have not even gotten any dirt in them. The only real issue is the ease of which the button is pressed. Possibly a different switch under the button would make it less casual to press, and instead only press when there is purpose.

The app, on the other hand, seems to have far less thought put into it than the device itself. Depending on whether you use the iOS or Android version, the behavior is different. The one constant is the large number of spelling and grammar errors throughout the app. On Android, we noticed spelling and grammar errors during the process of registering an account as well as transferring an account from another device. On iOS, there was a whole panel of the account creation process which was blank. On both platforms, the information about the MYNT Coin was difficult to understand because of the high number of grammar issues.

Functionality

The capabilities of the MYNT ES are pretty standard: the ability to know when it is in range of your device, to make both sides trigger the other, and to know when another device (not yours) comes into contact with your tracker. These features make the MYNT ES on par with most of the devices in this product category.

There are some features that MYNT does not allow, which would make the product even better. For example, an auditing mode would be fantastic. As it is, you can only log into your account on a single device. The company's website allows you to login to your account, but has no abilities once logged in. But, it would be great if your tracker were paired to your phone, but you could verify its status, and possibly even locate the device, from a tablet or PC. With an auditing mode, a parent could also keep an eye on the device while their kid carries it on their keys.

Size & Weight

The MYNT ES is physically one of the smallest Bluetooth LE trackers we have used. It is far smaller than the market leader and lighter weight, as well. This makes the tracker fantastic for attaching to your keys or other normally carried items. Normally, in a device this small, making it smaller has a negative affect on the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">, but in this case it does not seem to be an issue.

Compatibility

The MYNT ES works well on both iOS and Android. The standard [metric43" class="UpStreamLink"> process is easy, though stopping mid-process makes it less obvious, and operation is about as easy as you would expect. The lack of access from either a Windows device or from the web is a definite disappointment and limits the device's [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">.

Setup

The pairing process on the MYNT ES is pretty straight forward. You long-press on the single button to put the device into pairing mode, and use the app to find the tracker (it should be the only one listed, so long as you only try to pair one at a time). Once the device is paired, give it a name and you're done.

It is important to note, once the tracker is in pairing mode, there appears to be no way to take it out. If you stop in the middle of the process, the tracker will remain in pairing mode until the process is completed. This means that, when you come back to try pairing the tracker later, the device will not play the pairing music again, but it will still work as expected.

MPT-600 Magnesium Series Pro Tripod (Vivitar)

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:25:24 UTC

MPT-600 Magnesium Series Pro Tripod

Vivitar

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Dec 4, 2017

4.4 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The small size and light weight make the tripod easy to travel with, and the high [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> make for a great tripod.

Negatives

An inability to easily pivot the camera and a bit of give in the legs for heavier cameras could limit the tripod's appeal.

Result

If you are in the market for a quality tripod, the MPT-600 should be at the top of your shopping list.

Product Description

The Vivitar Metallic Tripods give you a high strength and lightweight solution for all your photographic needs. The metallic construction is extremely durable, providing solid performance that is compact and ideal for travel.

Value

The [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> proposition on the MPT-600 is very high for almost all camera owners. If one of the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> issues is important, especially the inability to easily pivot the camera, or you have a particularly heavy camera, then this tripod might not be for you. However, for most camera owners, the MPT-600 is a great option.

Convenience

The MPT-600 is small, lightweight and can handle a surprisingly heavy camera for its weight. The only aspect of the tripod that makes it less convenient is the size of the carrying case. If it were a bit more tapered, to match the shape of the tripod itself, it would be a perfect 5.

Stability

The MPT-600 is a very stable tripod at all of its moving points. The ball joint on the head is definitely the strongest of the moving parts. When the lock is turned, the joint does not move even a little. The extensions on the legs are equally sturdy; in our testing, no amount of pressure caused the legs to retract. The only joints that have a little give are at the point where the legs meet the base. If the camera on the tripod is on the heavy side, the legs can shift a little, especially on a slick surface.

Learning Curve

There are very few important moving parts of the MPT-600 to get used to. The only aspect of the tripod that is not immediately evident and will likely require reading the instructions is the monopod transition. Finding the leg that is removable is easy, as it is labeled directly on the product. Finding exactly where the head removes from the top of the tripod is less obvious. In fact, I had to read the instructions to find the exact point of disconnect. Once I had it, though, removing it was easy, as was connecting it to the monopod.

Design

The majority of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> points are a win for this tripod. The decision to design nearly the entire tripod out of metal rather than plastic makes it a great tripod, especially for its price. The adjustable feet, makes it easy to use either on a solid surface with the rubber base or on carpet with the extendable cleats. Our favorite design choice was the single removable leg and removable head, allowing the tripod to be converted into a monopod.

There are some elements that are not wins, though. The biggest issue that we have had using the tripod in the wild is that there is no easy way to just pivot the camera because of the ball joint. The joijt makes it realy convenient to set the angle of the camera and leave it alone, but if you are in a scenario where you need to adjust the position mid-usage, it is far from convenient. Since the whole head is removable, it would have been great if the head itself could pivot on its threading easier, adding this capability.

In addition, as mentioned in [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, the center of the tripod was designed such that the legs can squeeze into the center pole and the foam padding on the legs gets damaged. This was evident almost as soon as we received the tripod, as one of the legs was already indented from shipping.

The last thing that is missing completely is a centering pin on the removable shoe. Most tripods that we have used over the years, including $30 cheap tripods, have had the centering pin on the shoe. This ensures that the camera is facing forward on the tripod. With the ball joint head, however, the lack of a centering pion is not entirely unexpected.

Build Quality

Almost every smart [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> decision made on the tripod led to an equally smart material decision. Almost the entire tripod is made out of metal, rather than plastic, making for a sturdier product. The metal is also of a high quality, unlike some of the less expensive tripod on the market, which feel like they are made out of soda cans. Most importantly, the hinges are all held tight, with enough give to ensure they can be moved when needed. The joints do not feel as if they will loosen over time.

Unfortunately, not all aspects are as perfect. Two areas in particular leave a lot to be desired. The main place where plastic is being used is on the leg-extension clips. This is a place where other tripods we have used have broken, meaning it should not be a place where the least sturdy material should have been used. The second problem area is the foam used on the legs. During normal usage, all three of the legs have received indents in the foam, both from items the tripod has been packed near, and from the center pole of the tripod itself.

Functionality

Having used this tripod in various environments, it functions well in almost every scenario we have tried. We first used it for our main camera during our Collision 2017 coverage, and it worked great on the floor in the convention center, where the camera was stationary for 3 days. We have also used it as the primary tripod in the studio for the past few months with great success.

The only place where we have had any issue with using the tripod for a project has been during our Anime Iwai 2017 trip, where we used it for the 3000 Brigade show. As detailed in [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">, the inability to pivot the head of the tripod caused problems at the end of the show, where we were attempting to follow the action on the stage, without success.

Size & Weight

Of the myriad of tripods we have used in the studio and on the road, the MPT-600 is the lightest we have had. Even compared to plastic tripods, this one is surprisingly light weight. The tripod also collapses into a very small package, making it easy to carry. Luckily, the light weight and small size doesn't detract from the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> at all.

The only part of the package that is larger than you might expect is the carrying bag. Because it is made of a firm material, versus a more common thin fabric, the case takes up more room when packing than other tripods we have used.

Compatibility

Because cameras use a standard mounting thread, tripods, in general, have a high [metric29" class="UpStreamLink">. The only thing that can really limit which devices will work is their weight resistance. The leg hinges on the MPT-600 are fairly sturdy, accepting even our largest camera without trouble. However, when the large camera is on the tripod, and the tripod is on a slick surface, like tile, the legs can give just a little bit. A larger camera, or a heavy lens, might give some trouble, but for the majority of camera owners, this tripod will likely work with your camera.

Setup

Fortunately, there is very little setup required. The MPT-600 comes completely assembled in its carrying bag within the retail packaging. The only assembly that you might have is as part of the transition from tripod to monopod, which has a bit of a [metric8" class="UpStreamLink">.

Pankapu (Plug In Digital)

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 14:28:42 UTC

Pankapu

Plug In Digital

Reviewed by Ashton Olney on Monday Dec 4, 2017

4.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Great attention-grabbing graphics and creative levels design. Pankapu gives off a storybook feel, which makes the player want more after they have completed it.

Negatives

The lack of instructions or hints during new obstacles and challenges was a bit frustrating. I found myself facing off against bosses longer than necessary due to the lack of direction as to how to defeat them.

Result

Pankapu is a blast from the past. The game brings the player back to their childhood memories of platformers and offers adventure for players of any age.

Product Description

Jump into a neo-retro adventure with Pankapu: a taste of 90s platformers in an oneiric world. Pankapu is a narrative action-platformer that takes place in the dreams of Djaha'rell, a child troubled by a tragic incident. Upgrade your skills, find new competencies, switch your Aegis in real time in order to get rid of Nightmare's invasion: "Fight for the safety of your land, dear Dreamkeeper."

Value

To be honest I wasn't ready for the game to be over. Pankapu's storyline and ending had me wanting more. I would pay $11.99 to play this game because the level of design and details of the game really adds to the value. If there is a second game to this story I will be buying it in the future.

Story

The story is the first thing that got me fully into the game. The storybook theme brought the narration to life as the father read the story of Pankapu to the child. Throughout the game you get flashbacks of the child which was a nice addition, but was only limited to pictures and sounds. I didn't get the full story of what was happening. I used the connection of the characters in Omina and the child's flashbacks to get an understanding of what they meant. Each character added to the story with relatable personalities and some comic relief. Chii is one of the first characters you meet through the first level and he becomes Pankapu's friend and sidekick throughout the rest of his adventures. Chii provided some hints during gameplay and jokes towards the enemies, which was a nice little touch to keep the player's attention. What really surprised me was how detailed and interesting the storyline became in Pankapu. At first, I thought I fully understood the game and story, which in my opinion was a downside because I felt the story was straightforward. Pankapu was the hero that will save Omina, but there is a twist that changed the story altogether and even the end leaves the player with a cliff hanger. Honestly, I have never played a platformer that made me want more. I have to say that the story is what makes Pankapu whole.

Gameplay

At first, I felt that Pankapu was directed more towards a younger crowd, but as you progress through the story and levels, the difficulty increases. As a platform game, it provides great level layouts and obstacles. Combat was a big weakness. Most combat throughout the game could be avoided. However, when you decided to attack an enemy, point values would appear after each hit. It was unclear what these values mean since you didn't gain experience points or rewards for defeating an enemy. Without fighting the Hya'Nagi, which are the creatures that came from the Nightmare world, the gameplay became boring and uninteresting. On a positive note, each boss battle was unique and made the game more memorable. Each level had side objectives which added a little more of a challenge in the game. For example, Pankapu needs to find the Mudjins, which were inviable folks in Omina. This was easy enough and added replay value to the game. Overall the gameplay was not challenging enough with easy enemies and lack of obstacles.

User Interface

Pankapu's controls are pretty basic. You have jump, block, attack, and special which also counts for your air attack. In the beginning of the game the controls seem straight forward and didn't need much thought when completing the levels. As you progress through the story and start to level up, the controls can become a bit tricky. Your character is given aegises, which are your character's different abilities. When I was given a second aegise, the switch between them was simple with two-button controls. Though once the player is faced with a difficult level, switching between the aegises to get past certain obstacles can be challenging. I found myself losing track of which aegises I needed and sometimes hit the wrong control to get the correct one. Never the less I didn't think that this brought the game down in anyway. One down side was the pause menu, which was a tad sluggish because it literally turns each page of the book. I value the creativity, but this made accessing character information and other options more time consuming. This made me feel like I missed out on character information while playing. I found myself reading and navigating through options when I needed a break from gameplay. Now I do value the simplicity of the controls along with how fast and easy it is to change your abilities.

Environment

Pankapu does a great job with the designs and layout of the game. Omina in specific is eye-catching with vivid colors and a foreground that adds dimensions. Each level has the same hand drawn artistry, which illustrates the amount of thought and time the developers have put into the game's aesthetic.

Graphics

Pankapu's 2D design fits right in the world of platformers. The character Pankapu has the option to be customized to either dream or nightmare style characters. The only down side to this customization was the fact it was only enforced during gameplay. Whenever the characters interacted with one another Pankapu would be displayed as the original design. However; developers made sure to continue with the hand drawn artistry down to the smallest detail like the pause menu. The pause menu is designed as a book with hand drawn illustrations of each character. Overall the aesthetic of Pankapu was well thought out and creative.

Sound

The sound design of the game fits perfectly. The music sets the tone of the dream world, Omina and provides a soft, dream-like feel to the game. As great as the music is, it did feel a little overpowering when compared to other sounds in the game. I chose to lower the music to level 2 to appreciate the sound effects that had been created for the levels and characters. Upon altering the music volume, the gameplay along with the sound and music was excellent. The sound details in each level were very creative. For example, in the level "White Path" as the player jumped across platforms, each platform would resonate a unique instrument sound. To fully submerge myself into the story, I found that headphones greatly elevated the music, sound effects, and narration.

DKS-20 Series One Digital SLR Camera Travel Backpack (Vivitar)

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:13:58 UTC

DKS-20 Series One Digital SLR Camera Travel Backpack

Vivitar

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Dec 1, 2017

4.36 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The backpack has a lot of [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> features, a high level of [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> and a great [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

Some aspects of the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> could leave the owner wanting, but mostly not in critical areas.

Result

The DKS-20 is a great backpack with a lot of features to recommend it, and its flaws are mostly able to be ignored or can be worked around.

Product Description

The Vivitar Medium Sling Backpack is perfect to bring on an all-day photoshoot. Camera, laptop, and all of your photo accessories easily fit inside. Featuring a strap on the outside to easily carry along your tripod. Two cushioned shoulder straps for comfortable carrying. Side zippered pocketed for camera and lens allows for easy access and side Velcro pocket for memory cards and batteries. Light weight design allows for easy carry.

Value

The DKS-20, especially for the price, is a fantastic deal for most photographers. Unless you have a piece of equipment that eliminates the backpack's [metric52" class="UpStreamLink">, the [metric50" class="UpStreamLink"> proposition is incredibly high.

Convenience

There are a couple of features of the DKS-20 that set it apart, specifically in terms of [metric52" class="UpStreamLink">. The first is the side access zippers into the main compartment. They are designed specifically to allow a photographer to change lenses, and put them away, without having to remove the backpack or put the camera down. If a lens is on each side of the backpack, you can easily unzip the empty side and place the current lens in, then zip it up again, unzip the other side and remove the next lens.

The second big convenience feature is the tripod carrying pocket. The base folds into the bag when it's not in use, hiding it from view, but when it is needed, you fold the trey out and slide the foot of the tripod into it. Assuming the tripod collapses small, such as the Vivitar MPT-600, it makes carrying the tripod incredibly easy.

The last feature that is really convenient is the laptop pocket in the back. Being able to easily carry a laptop along with your photography equipment means being able to edit photos on scene, or makes traveling easier. For working on a show floor at a convention, carrying a camera, lenses and laptop is a lifesaver.

Design

The majority of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> elements on the DKS-20 are well thought-out. The easy access to accessories through the side pockets makes changing lenses on a camera a one-person process, without the need to remove the backpack. You can easily unzip one side and put a lens away, and then unzip the other and remove the other lens.

The idea of a customizable interior with something as simple as Velcro is a good idea, though, because of some [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> issues, becomes a little bit of a problem. The mesh pockets on the inside of the small pouch, the little pouch on the side and the big pouch on the back are all nice additions. The most unexpected addition is the laptop pocket on the back, which is perfect for traveling with a small editing setup.

The main issue we have discovered with the design is the top pocket. The angle of the top, and the surprisingly small bottom of the lid when unzipped create a scenario where it's fairly easy for larger items to fall out. While something smaller, like a lens cap or power cable are unlikely to be a problem, we have had microphones fall out of the pocket upon opening.

Build Quality

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the DKS-20 is above average, but could use some improvement in a few places. The majority of the construction is of great quality. The material that makes up the body of the bag is great, the seams are tight and the zippers are quality.

Unfortunately, there are some places that are below quality. The most obvious issue is in the Velcro, which is used in a number of places throughout the bag. The inside of the main compartment, where you keep your large camera accessories, is fully customizable with a series of Velcro tabs. If all of the compartments you build are not filled, the Velcro can let go and the majority of the backpack can collapse. Under the wrong strain, even the bottom of the small compartment, which is also secured with Velcro, can come loose, unleashing memory cards, power cords and video cables into the mix. If either the Velcro were stronger, or the dividers were more firm, this problem would be solved.

In addition, there are a few places where non-seam stitching is loose. On the side strap, there are 3 loose threads, the top handle has several and the "tripod foot pocket" tag at the bottom has begun to shred on the side. Luckily, none of the loose threads are in critical areas, and were easily solved with a lighter. The tripod tag is not as easy to solve, but it is completely non-critical, but instead aesthetic.

Functionality

In general, the DKS-20 works exactly as you would hope. The side access doors give the backpack a wonderful camera-specific capability that can aid in on-the-go photography sessions. The adjustable dividers make the interior of the backpack completely customizable, which means that it will work for any camera or set of accessories. The laptop pocket makes the bag perfect for a photojournalist, especially at an event like CES.

As noted in [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, the one part that doesn't function exactly as expected, or hoped, is the Velcro on the dividers. Unfortunately, it does not hold up to heavier equipment and empty pockets. The last trip we used the bag for, not all of our equipment was always needed, and the inner compartments, as well as the base for the small compartment, collapsed. This made traveling back more difficult, as the bag had to be rebuilt from the inside.

Size & Weight

The size of the DKS-20 may, at first, seem to be a little larger than necessary, but using it will change your mind. The backpack is actually exactly the right size for a photographer or videographer on the move. Having traveled with the backpack, it has proven to be a great travel accessory. For our uses, we are able to get all 4 of our cameras, the light shield for the primary into the large compartment, as well as the chargers, mics and video cables for all 4 into the small compartment, plus we can put our travel computer into the back.

The weight of the backpack, on the other hand, is slightly heavier than one might expect. Empty, it feels heavier than it should, but even when the backpack is full, it doesn't feel like it contributes to the weight of the equipment.

Compatibility

Because of the fact that the entire inner compartment is adjustable, it means that the DKS-20 is compatible with just about any camera configuration you might have. Because of the size of the main compartment, the only item that might be a problem is a large telephoto lens, simply because the lens itself is larger than the backpack. Otherwise, the backpack can hold just about any accessory, including a tripod, with ease.

Arena Gods (Supertype)

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:34:34 UTC

Arena Gods

Supertype

Reviewed by Austin Hinkle on Friday Dec 1, 2017

3.07 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Fast-paced gaming, cool mechanics, easy to learn and a fun party game.

Negatives

No music during the main game, repetitive, not a lot of map variations, and an unresponsive menu.

Result

ARENA GODS has potential and they have a great combat system in place. The fast-paced rounds are very fun and with four-players it allows for a lot of mischief. I wish they had multiple modes to try out, but they said they will add more when it comes out as well as new maps and weapons. Let it be known I am playing the early access version.

Product Description

ARENA GODS is Spectacle Combat, a top-down, arena fighting game where two to four gladiators compete to be the last one standing in an anything goes deathmatch spectacle. You are gladiator. Brave the arena and win the crowd to seize godhood!

Value

At its current stage, which is a very limited early access, the game is not worth the asking price of $15. However, at around $5, the price would be just right. Once the game is completed and released with a full array of music, maps, modes and weapons, the current asking price will make sense, and will be worth the investment.

Gameplay

The combat system is awesome: you control both your gladiator's left & right arms. You pick up either swords, spears, shields, helmets and/or other gladiator's limbs, all of which can be used as a weapon. Only the swords and spears can kill gladiators while they are standing; the other weapons knock them down and you can jump on them and use your fist, or the other blunt weapons to execute your enemies.

Another great mechanic is the ability to throw whatever you are carrying, but beware that the enemy can catch whatever you throw if timed right. You can also evade attacks or throws. The edge of certain stages has doorways that lead to the opposite side of the map, which thrown items will go through and end up just looping until the item collides with a wall or gladiator.

There was also a glitch that made the matches very fun: the game basically made it such that the arena had no walls and whenever a weapon was thrown it would go through the walls and would not collide with any wall it touched.

User Interface

The menu is very lackluster. There is a settings button, but it just gives you a message saying there are no settings until the full release. The menu is sometimes unresponsive when you use the controllers. Using a keyboard is a bad idea in my opinion as the keys you use are inconvenient to press. Sometimes the gladiator would not evade when you hit the evade button.

After the matches, it gives you a scoreboard displaying your round wins, kills, deaths, suicides, catches and deflects. Also, after each match, if you still have four players, you can jump right back in with Rematch button.

Environment

As mentioned in [metric36" class="UpStreamLink">, the environment is just sand, brown walls and brown pillars in the middle. The environment plays a big part in fighting people: you must know where the open doors are to watch where the weapons can come from or where to throw the weapons through. Beware, though, as you can kill yourself if you are not paying attention. Use the environment to your advantage.

Graphics

The graphics weren't outstanding, but they weren't terrible. The character designs are standard: one-character model with different colors. The weapons look cool, nothing amazing or ugly. The stages are generic, just sand and brown walls. Cutting someone's limbs looks nice as well, not much detail when it happens.

Sound

They have one song on the main menu, and it is catchy with a great beat. Unfortunately, this is where the music ends. The game would really benefit from adding music to the matches, when you're fighting with friends. I like the sound of weapons flying and colliding with other weapons or hitting someone, but I also would like music to go along with it, so you don't constantly hear weapons colliding.

Multiplayer

Four gladiators killing each other in awesome or silly ways is always a blast. This game supports local multiplayer like most party games. They do it well, though there is no variation of characters besides a different color and helmet for the gladiators. One second you will be yelling at your friend and the next you will be laughing with them. You will also think you're the best but then end up killing yourself, because your friend has adapted to you. There was one glitch where we started the game and a gladiator was not even controlled by the player, but instead was the controller by the game's AI. The character was fighting his controls, but we restarted the game and everything was back to normal.

Starpoint Gemini Warlords (Little Green Men Games)

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 19:04:55 UTC

Starpoint Gemini Warlords

Little Green Men Games

Reviewed by Nick Chiriboga on Thursday Nov 16, 2017

3.93 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Lovely graphics, expansive map and a good fusion of genres.

Negatives

Repetitive, clunky combat and long travel times.

Result

Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a very fun mix of a third-person space battle game and a 4X strategy game, blending the genres seamlessly. The game is hampered by repetitive side tasks and the (admittedly realistic) long travel times between areas.

Product Description

Strategy from the front lines! Starpoint Gemini Warlords combines 3rd person capital spaceship combat with 4X strategy and RPG gameplay elements. Build mighty war fleets and send them into battle or lead them into combat yourself. Become the Warlord and conquer the Gemini system!

Value

Considering the amount of gameplay available and the sheer length of campaigns and situations in Starpoint Gemini Warlords, $35 is a very reasonable price to ask.

Story

To be perfectly honest, the story is not something I paid much attention to. In the Solari Concord campaign, the story is more or less critical to progressing, until your character assumes control of the massive space station Concordia and the 4X elements are properly incorporated, at which point I was able to ignore the story with no pressure or consequence. The story itself is not bad, but not captivating, and can cause conflict with player actions. Once I was put in charge of the Concordia, I made peace with most of the factions that would let me, mainly in the area surrounding mine, for safe passage of my ships. When moving to progress the game, it was stressed that one of said factions was hostile and needed to be eradicated, forcing me to declare war on them once again and destroy an outpost or be stuck, unable to continue the story. I don't think it necessary to give every game alternate solutions, but allowing the player to end up in that situation is questionable design.

Gameplay

This game is fun to play. Flying around in space past planets and through asteroid fields with a fleet I created escorting me was simply awesome. It takes some time to get used to the controls (as there are a great many of them), but once you have a handle on things, the third-person ship flying, which is more or less the main core of the game, becomes satisfying and fun. Moreover, being able to delegate tasks to my ships and hired civilian fleets in real time as I engaged pirates in combat felt good. The strategy elements are incorporated so seamlessly that it never felt like two different games, or two different sections. Being able to assign tasks or handle things personally is a great feature, and more strategy games should have it.

Combat is clunky and disorienting, though the latter can ultimately be forgiven by the full three dimension spectrum of movement offered by a ship in space. What mars the experience is ultimately the repetition. For how expansive the galaxy is, I'm not much inclined to explore due to slow travel times. As great as the ability to delegate fleets is, I don't find myself able to do much with that power. The rush of curiosity and motivation eventually gives way to eye rolls as you come across the same type of encounter for the umpteenth time. The silver lining is that the game remains fun all the same, and at the least serves as a good thing to play when looking for a relaxing experience.

User Interface

I'm usually hesitant to award perfect scores, but Starpoint earns it. In third-person, the UI is minimal, allowing one to really take in the views and be as aware as possible in combat. The main feature of third-person mode is the game's context menu. Brought up by pressing middle mouse button, the context menu provides a dynamic array of options for the player, based on what is selected at the moment. Most of the time, this is used to engage the ship's autopilot, but also often used to activate a tractor beam or deploy boarding parties in combat, or to hail ships, stations and planets.

The crowning achievement of this game is the Starchart. At the tap of a key, a map is brought up, displaying the whole galaxy divided into a great many hexagonal regions, all tessellated together. Of course, the Starchart is used for navigation, allowing the player to quickly assign a destination that the autopilot will navigate to, but there is far more. The Starchart is the core of the strategy gameplay. Providing quick and easy access to all of the player's stations and fleets, the Starchart is where the management happens. There are many other menus to view outside of it, including the player's perks, research menus, diplomacy summaries and the like, but the Starchart wraps up the heart of the strategy gameplay smoothly and seamlessly, even allowing an option to pause the game while it is open, for those who don't wish for the world to keep moving around them while they micromanage.

Environment

Starpoint is gorgeous. Perhaps I'm easily impressed when it comes to space, but for how large the map is, it always felt right. Dust clouds, asteroid fields, planets, space stations and more are all lit up beautifully by the star system's twin suns. Even flying around and examining the Concordia impressed me. A nice detail is found when docking on a space station or planet. Despite not being able to disembark and walk around a la Mass Effect, the player is shown an animation of the ship docking in a spaceport that, to my knowledge, is unique to each place. A small detail, perhaps, but it breathes life into the game.

The ships themselves felt richly detailed, with many unique and distinct classes, such as destroyer, frigate and cruiser. Each faction has a different style of ship, and it makes each one easily recognizable and adds a layer of depth to the world.

Graphics

The game is a bit graphically intense, and more so if you want to really see the beauty of it. The loading times were very slow, which is somewhat excusable due to the magnitude of the map, but once I was in game, it mostly ran smoothly. Quickly moving across different regions occasionally did cause brief slowdowns as those sections loaded in, but it did not detract significantly from gameplay. Those with mid- to high-end machines should have fewer issues.

Sound

The sound design in Starpoint is good, but nothing thrilling. It is always a pleasure to see a well voice-acted game, as so many have cardboard characters. The ship's sounds felt right, as did the weapons and destruction sounds. The game's music was good and matched the tone of what was happening at the moment, with decent themes for both quiet exploration/travel and for combat. All around, it was enjoyable but not stellar.

MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity MegaPack (Mega Tiny Corp)

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 13:57:34 UTC

MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity MegaPack

Mega Tiny Corp

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Nov 15, 2017

3.92 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the case are properly proportioned for their usage, and the micro suction cups bring extra [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

The [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is the case's Achilles heel, with visible seams and quick, but minor, damage to the fabric on the wallet.

Result

The minor issues with [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> are far overshadowed by the case's [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">. If you have an iPhone and are looking for a new case, the MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity Case should definitely be on your shortlist.

Product Description

Mega Tiny Corp invented the Anti-Gravity Case, this is the only official version of the all new MEGAVERSE for iPhone 7/6S/6.

Now with more nano-suction surface area and swappable backplates, the MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity Case is one case with many uses! It's perfect for hands-free use and for selfies. It sticks even better to windows, mirrors, whiteboards, metal, kitchen cabinets, tile, flat car dashboards and more!

Value

The value proposition on this case is very high. For around the cost of a more traditional case, the MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity Case offers a lot more flexibility and some very interesting and useful [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">. In addition to the obvious protection of the phone, it gives you a variety of added features, such as a mirror, wallet or bottle opener. It even works without the attachments for navigation in the car.

Design

A lot of thought was put into the design of this product. From the minimized cutouts for the ringer switch, camera and charger, to the button covers and, most importantly, the micro suction cups, everything was considered. My favorite design aspect is the angled cut for the camera. Rather than being just a simple perpendicular line, it's as a slight angle, giving it a nice aesthetic. The accessories all carry that same angled design aesthetic forward.

Some of the accessories, though, have slight design issues. On the wallet, the hem between the first and second card holder sticks out a bit too far, making it difficult to remove a card from the bottom slot. If you try to remove a single card, or the back of two cards, the top will likely get caught on the stitching, making it difficult to remove, made more difficult if there is a card in the top. The top card slot is also fairly tight, so sometimes removing a card can be difficult there, too. The mirror and bottle opener have no real issues to speak of. The mirror is well-finished, and the opener fits a bottle cap properly.

Build Quality

Overall this product is built decently. Nothing about it feels like it's going to fall apart in your hands, or that it's going to fail on you. All of the exposed edges, such as around the charging port or ringer switch, are rounded off and not sharp. The suction cup plate is sturdy and does not feel like it will peel, and has not pulled away after several removals from various surfaces.

There are a number of issues, though, that might leave you wanting more. For example, there are noticeable injection molding seams running the length of the body, both front and back, and on the corners. After only a few weeks of usage, the corners of the wallet are rubbing a little thin, though that could be from the case's contact with other phones in a pocket.

Functionality

The MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity Case has a number of scenarios in which it would be useful. By itself, the case can be attached to almost any smooth, flat surface. It works great in the kitchen, attached to the refrigerator or microwave, which is handy when following a recipe or even watching Netflix while you cook. The place where it would be best used, though, is in the car, attached somewhere out of the way on the windshield to show navigation. Unfortunately, my windshield is too curved and the phone would occasionally fall off. Obviously this is not the product's fault, but it was a slight disappointment.

With the accessories in the MegaPack, the usage is increased even more. For some, the addition of a mirror makes checking your hair or makeup easy. For others, a bottle opener right at your fingertips can save a party. The most practical, though, is the wallet. With enough space to fit up to 3 cards, it eliminates the need to carry a wallet for most scenarios. It's not perfect, though, as the top slot is incredibly tight, and retrieving the card can be a challenge. The bottom slot is indented, meaning if you only have one card, it is hard to get out, or if you have two, the same issue applies to the back card. In some instances, removing the front card and sliding it behind the other is the best way to remove the back card. One feature that would make it better would be a slot on the side to place cash.

Size & Weight

The size of the MEGAVERSE Anti-Gravity Case is surprisingly small. The material is slim without feeling flimsy or unprotective. Without any of the accessories, it adds very little in the way of thickness or weight to the phone. Some of the accessories, however, function differently. The bottle opener and the mirror are both a little on the heavy side, but there is little to be done about that. The mirron, though, is still remarkably thin, adding almost nothing to the existing case. The bottle opener is thicker, though, as it must have enough space to open the bottle. As for the wallet, it is not as thin as the mirror, but not as thick as the bottle opener. It is also far lighter than either of them.

Compatibility

The company keeps its product offerings up-to-date with new releases as high-profile phones are released, While the model we reviewed was for the iPhone 6s Plus, the company offers models ranging from iPhone 5 through the newly released iPhone X.

Settled (Allen Dayan)

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 20:18:38 UTC

Settled

Allen Dayan

Reviewed by Daniele Mendez on Sunday Nov 5, 2017

3 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A thrilling story line that is aligned with user exploration to put together the different pieces of the story to see the big overall picture. The game metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> adds to the horror-based aesthetic and experience.

Negatives

Short game with very few [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> mechanics and not a lot asked of the player. There is no save function so this game is designed to be played in one sitting.

Result

Settled is a game recommended for players who are more interested in a great [metric32" class="UpStreamLink"> and less involved in normal [metric33" class="UpStreamLink">. It is a walking simulator with a single button action prompt and hints of adventure and exploration.

Product Description

Made in Construct2, Settled is a story driven game with hints of exploration. As you progress, subtle changes appear. Memories and nightmares act as new areas, although still remaining in the confines of the house. When you reach the end, the conclusion may not be what you expected.

Value

After accepting the game's flaws, it is a compelling story that did entertain me. You wouldn't really feel the need to play this game more than once - the story does not change - unless you want to share the experience with a friend. I believe that this game is worth its current price ($1.99 on Steam at the time of review).

Story

The game's main value comes from the story. The main purpose of Settled is to explore your surroundings to figure out how and why the little girl died, which includes picking up items around the house, remembering major plot events, and experiencing nightmares that project your feelings toward the death. This story is both uncomfortable and eerie, but you may not be prepared for how it ends.

Gameplay

There isn't too much involved in the gameplay; it lacks depth. It is a walking simulator with clicking actions that allow you to pick up or interact with your environment. Overall, gameplay isn't the reason you want to play or enjoy this game. There is no winning or losing but you do have to complete the game in one sitting.

User Interface

For being a short game with no real game settings, the user interface does its job. When beginning the game, there are only two options: press Space to start the game or Esc to quit. Be mindful that there is no way to save the game once you have started it, so do not quit to the title screen if you intend to finish playing. After starting the game, you are then presented with the few game controls: the arrow keys, the spacebar, and the Esc key (to quit/pause).

Environment

The primary environment involved in Settled is the two story house with multiple rooms to explore. You have no opportunity to explore other environments aside from dream simulations and brief memories but if you are observant, some of the environment may alter slightly. Note that your surroundings are very creepy and can leave you uncomfortable.

Graphics

This is an indie horror game that is advertised with its 2D pixel graphics. The graphics are intended to create a new level of mystery with less detail involved. Once the user chooses to interact with the environment, the graphics alter to more of a comic book style with more detail. I believe that the graphics are one of the defining characteristics to this game and really bring out the story.

Sound

The sound effects included in Settled really alter your emotions and flow perfectly with the storyline. I highly recommend playing this game with headphones to feel the full effect of the environment and the intended feelings toward the story. Be prepared for audio jump scares that, combined with the visual effects, has the power to creep you out.

Inmates (Davit Andreasyan)

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 14:39:46 UTC

Inmates

Davit Andreasyan

Reviewed by Nick Chiriboga on Friday Oct 13, 2017

2.63 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Captivating story and decent environments. Good audio quality and interesting concepts for a game of this genre.

Negatives

Slow movement speed and sparse puzzles can make this game feel more like an empty walking simulator than a true psychological horror/puzzle game.

Result

Inmates is a really cool concept buried in sometimes agonizingly slow gameplay that can leave the player unsatisfied. This game would have been markedly better if they didn't advertise "mind bending puzzles." The game is short, but that may be more of a blessing than a curse.

Product Description

Inmates is a story-driven, atmospheric psychological horror game. Featuring interactive exploration in a suffocating location, mind-bending puzzles and disturbing imagery. You wake up in a run-down prison cell and have no clue how you got there. You've convinced yourself this is all just a nightmare...

Value

I simply cannot envision paying more than $3 for this game. I want very much to like it, but good ideas ultimately can't save a bad player experience.

Puzzles

The game seems to have seven puzzles overall. One of them was a maze, two of them were not plot relevant and yield no reward, and only one is particularly challenging. The only puzzle that approached a status resembling "mind bending" involves a dream sequence in which the player character floats around a library that would make M.C. Escher proud, though the puzzle itself was not actually difficult plus the terrible controls and trippy environment left me with a headache. The game's description, to my mind, drew parallels to the Silent Hill games. Though it would be beyond unfair to compare a small time developer to one of the most iconic psychological horror/puzzle series ever made, it certainly didn't make up for the letdown of the puzzle aspect of Inmates. The best I can say is that the game had potential, and perhaps non-main story puzzles could have been better utilized to provide the player with better knowledge of the story, or rewarded the player in any way at all.

Story

The story is by far the best part of this game, although not all it could have been. The plot revolves around the player character waking up in a seemingly abandoned prison and setting off from his cell (almost all the cells are unlocked; so much for security) to figure out why he's there. The story is told almost entirely through radio conversations with someone named Ben. Perhaps the biggest gripe I have is that the developers did not heed the advice of "show, don't tell." The reason the story has a rating as high as it does is because I found the ending to be very unique, handling topics of mental health - Dissociative Identity Disorder in particular - in a way I have not yet seen. It is ultimately a bit silly, but it did not detract from the experience much. I won't spoil, but the resolution does make the player feel a bit better about the road to the end of the game. As an aside irrelevant to the story, the game has a very pseudo-intellectual thing going on with some of the notes the character can collect. Many of them say effectively nothing in highly philosophical or scientific terms, and it comes off as pompous.

Gameplay

Gameplay is the biggest weakness. The character moves at a positively sluggish pace, which I first attributed to the player character's complaints of a headache. This feels acceptable during the initial exploration of the prison block the player begins on, as the focus is more on seeing what each cell contains and looking for goodies. The main gameplay mechanic is the use of matches, which can be found scattered around the prison and used to briefly light up the area. The matches, however, are in a ridiculously abundant supply, so unless the player is playing with almost no brightness, one will have far more matches than are needed (I ended with upwards of 50 after starting to use them liberally). Ultimately, the matches do more to obscure your vision than to aid it, and are only bearable when the room is otherwise pitch black. Exploration is very unsatisfying; the cells are lined with writings of coordinates, cryptic phrases, astrological symbols, and more, but it quickly becomes clear that none of them bear any relevance to the greater story. Overall, it felt like some kind of punishment to actually play the game.

User Interface

The name of the game is "slow" with Inmates. I had the distinct misfortune of plugging in a controller as soon as I saw it was supported. When the control stick still moved the cursor around the screen at a snail's speed, I optimistically turned up the sensitivity. This accomplished nothing. The experience of the menu alone should have prepared me for the game itself. Though the controls are simple and straightforward, they seem unresponsive at times. Countless times, I needed to click on a door upwards of three times for it to open. Combined with the movement speed that made me wish I could push the control stick into oblivion, Inmates is very clunky and a pain to play. Even after switching to mouse and keyboard, I found no respite.

Environment

An abandoned incarceration center is nothing new to the horror genre (most games use an insane asylum, though Inmates used a prison). The cell blocks were bland and it felt as though there was never a reason to look toward the exterior walls of the prison. There seemed to be nothing to find anywhere but in the cells and offices, and thus the player's attention is always inward. As previously mentioned, there is an abundance of ultimately useless information scrawled on the walls of almost every cell, as well as many books on topics ranging from theoretical physics to philosophy to religion. That said, some neat looking shrines and the initial viewings of the wall writing did much to pique my interest and excite me for the rest of the game.

Graphics

I tend to not expect much from indie horror games graphically, as they all seem to have the same general feeling and level of detail, not too pretty, but not awful. This game did not exceed my standard, nor did it disappoint tremendously. Unity engine graphics are almost always passable, if not ideal.

Sound

I like to end on a positive note. The sound design of the game was very good, especially compared to just about everything else. There are few voices in the game, but those that are present are of decent quality. The voiced protagonist presents his lines well, with only a little awkwardness here and there. It was nice to have voiced characters that did not seem to be recorded on a microphone buried in mashed potatoes. The ambiance was acceptable, and one of the few contributors to a genuinely spooky feel.

PowerBulb USB Charging LED Light Bulb (Mega Tiny Corp)

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 15:09:38 UTC

PowerBulb USB Charging LED Light Bulb

Mega Tiny Corp

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Aug 28, 2017

3.86 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A great [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> with added [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> in the bedroom.

Negatives

A [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> that limits the usability of the bulb in certain fixtures, such as short-shaded lamps.

Result

Using this bulb in a lamp on a nightstand combines [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> with a great [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> to create a [metric52" class="UpStreamLink"> that standard chargers just can't match.

Product Description

PowerBulb is the world's first LED light bulb with dual USB ports that turns any lamp into a charging station. We created the PowerBulb as a simple, elegant solution to the problems we face when looking for convenient ways to charge our devices.

With MegaSmart Charging, PowerBulb automatically senses and sends more power to the device with the lowest charge. And the dedicated on/off button on the bulb allows you to turn the light off while continuing to charge your devices.

Value

At first thought, the cost of the PowerBulb might seem too high. But, when you think about what it is and what it does, the cost is actually lower than the components alone, with added [metric52" class="UpStreamLink">. On Amazon, the average cost of a USB wall charger is $10, and the average cost of a compatible LED bulb averages $10-$15. That puts the cost of the components at around $35, which is right about the price of the PowerBulb. The difference with this product is the bonus of not needing to run additional wires or have cords on the floor, behind a nightstand or a desk. For many, that benefit alone will justify the cost.

Convenience

The convenience will definitely vary based on where you want to use the PowerBulb. Its ideal scenario is as a bedside accessory. The warm light is perfect for a nightstand lamp, and the lack of cords running under the nightstand or under the bed means less cords lying on the floor. For a couple, one of these on each side of the bed allows for great reading light and the ability to charge a phone and possibly a tablet each, without having to run extra cords all over the bedroom.

Design

The PowerBulb is definitely a beautiful product. Everything from the curve of the globe to the color of the base is clearly shows that a lot of thought was put into this bulb. Even the soft touch material used on the base of the bulb makes it easy to grip when plugging in or removing a cable, as well as when putting the bulb into or out of a socket.

There are still a couple of things that would absolutely make the PowerBulb a better product. For example, the placement of the USB plugs makes using it in a lamp with a closed back and an open face, such as a desk lamp, difficult or impossible. If those plugs were accessible from both directions, perhaps on a hinge, it would expand the types of lamps that are usable.

Build Quality

Overall, the quality of the PowerBulb is top notch. The acrylic on the globe is clean, clear and free of imperfections. The soft touch rubber used on the base is a nice touch, which makes it easier to work with. The USB ports, a piece that is frequently loose on products, is seated and mounted firmly in place. Even the printing of the logo on the rubber is unscratched, even after traveling and testing.

There are a few imperfections in the quality, however. The intersection between the white ring and the acrylic globe, as well as its intersection with the rubber body have give. With just a little pressure, the joints will creak and the globe will spin just a little. In general, this is an issue that will infrequently be noticed, except when screwing the bulb into its new home.

Functionality

The PowerBulb might just work better than advertised. At 600mAh, the charger should be incredibly slow, and should create notifications on certain devices, such as the Lumia 635. We often test with that phone because it is one of the most sensitive phones to low power sources on the market. Even the Lumia did not complain about a slow charge, which was pleasantly unexpected.

The bulb itself also works well. It is both bright and warm, making it a perfect bulb for the bedroom. Fit into a bedside lamp, it provides a good light for reading or getting dressed, and does not create a light that will wake you up, like a cool bulb would (blue light tricks your brain into wanting to be awake).

Size & Weight

The bulb itself is physically large. In fact, it is large enough that there will be fixtures that the bulb will not fit inside. While the majority of places where the bulb height would become a problem are in places where the bulb would be of no benefit, such as a ceiling globe, there are some shorter lamps where the bulb will not fit.

The weight is also far more than a normal LED bulb, including many smart bulbs. The weight is going to cause some problems for smaller lamps, such as standard desk lamps with a flexible neck, where the bulb could drag down the socket or tip over the fixture completely.

Compatibility

lightbulb

The lightbulb uses a standard E26/E27 base, so you can theoretically use it in any light socket you have. The [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the bulb makes it very tall, meaning its [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> will limit its compatibility somewhat.

charger

The charger consists simply of 2 USB plugs - that makes it a nearly universal charger. Unfortunately the USB bus claims to support only 600mAh of power, much less than some devices need to charge. When used with our devices, however, we did not receive slow charging notifications, suggesting that the stated amperage is not correct - definitely for the best.

SuperStar Blaster BoomBox (Monster Products)

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 16:20:38 UTC

SuperStar Blaster BoomBox

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Aug 27, 2017

4.15 out of 5

Summary

Positives

This speaker has incredible [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> packed inside of a beautiful [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> asthetic.

Negatives

The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are bizarre and the build quality leaves something to be desired.

Result

Whether you want to use this around the house, out on the patio, by the pool or in a park, the Monster Blaster will not be a disappointment.

Product Description

The BoomBox is a legendary piece of music history that made portable sound a part of urban lifestyle. It took music to the streets and helped shape hip hop as we know it today. The Monster Blaster celebrates the classic BoomBox with a modern design and the latest in wireless technology.

Value

If you are looking for a powerful, portable Bluetooth speaker, the Monster Blaster is worth every penny. The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> is fantastic, the volume can easily fill a small or large room, or even rock outside, without sacrificing any [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">. The [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are definitely the low point for the speaker, but the [metric8" class="UpStreamLink"> is easy enough to navigate that it overrides the Controls.

Connectivity

The Monster Blaster has the connections you would expect from a Bluetooth speaker of its type, offers a couple of options you might be surprised to find, but is missing one that we had hoped would be included. The standard connections that it has are Bluetooth and line-in. That gives you almost all of the abilities you could want from the Blaster. In addition, it offers mic-in for karaoke usage, which falls right inline with the boombox [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> styling that Monster was going for. You can also plug a USB device, such as a phone or tablet, into the Blaster for charging. This means that the music doesn't have to end when your phone dies.

We were hoping that Monster would include USB digital direct on the Blaster. If we can use an analog 1/8" cable, it is quite disappointing to be limited from using USB digital. It would definitely be a nice addition to a product that is so focused on [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, from a company that also places a premium on sound quality.

Range

The range of the Monster Blaster is fantastic. It is the longest range speaker we have tested in both practical and line of sight tests.

Practical 1

In my 3 bedroom apartment, I can place and paired device anywhere in the apartment and bring the speaker with me wherever I am. It is not unusual to place the speaker in the kitchen with me, while my paired Surface Book is in the dining room or living room. I also use it with a Surface Pro in my bedroom and bring the speaker around with me as I clean.

Practical 2

On two separate occasions, our team has used the Monster Blaster to play music at a cast or crew wedding reception. In both scenarios, a phone or tablet was paired with the Blaster and carried around with a team member while the speaker was placed at the head of the reception room. Tables, people, uncontrollable electronics from both people and the venue, and we never experienced any interruptions in music at either wedding.

Line of Sight

Bringing a Surface Book outside, the Monster Blaster retained a stable connection for 250 feet. Considering the Bluetooth 4.0 standard has a 200 foot range, being able to outperform the standard is unbelievable. It does, however, explain why we had no issues in any of our practical tests.

Battery Life

Based on the sheer size of the Monster Blaster, the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> is not as great as you might expect. However, the battery life that we experienced was in-line with what the company says to expect, as well as enough for your events.

Nokia Lumia 928

During our formal test, we averaged 11 hours and 36 minutes across three tests. The company claims that you should expect up to 12 hours of runtime, so our experiences were right in the expected range. The 12 hours of expected life are not what you might expect from a Bluetooth speaker of this size.

Practical Test

While decorating for Christmas, hanging lights around the front and back of the house, taking boxes out of the attic, etc., our family decided to listen to music on the Monster Blaster. During the entire evening we had the speaker running and, when we were finished for the day, the speaker still had half of its power remaining.

Controls

While a lot of the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> elements are well thought-out, the controls are definitely the limiting factor for the device. Like many Bluetooth speakers, the power button serves more than one purpose, but it doesn't work as expected. To turn the speaker on, you long-press the power button, but to power it off, you simply tap it. I have, more than once, accidentally powered the speaker off when moving it. To put the speaker into pairing mode, you turn the speaker on first, then long-press the power button again. This is the control you would expect to power the speaker off, instead of entering pairing mode. The accepted convention is to hold the power button longer on power-on, if there is not a dedicated Bluetooth button.

The volume controls are well-placed and easy to access, but they do not behave as-expected, either. At this point, we have been trained that tapping a button produces an immediate response, but the volume buttons require one press to activate them, and another to change the volume. This kind of protection is unusual on volume controls, but would have made more sense on the power button.

The mode button, which switches between indoor and outdoor mode, works similarly to the volume controls. In fact, all 3 buttons work in harmony. Pressing and other the three buttons wakes up the panel, and the next press activates the control. If you press the mode button while the lights are off and then press the volume up, it will change the volume, but not change the mode.

Luckily, the bizarre control configuration is not a killer. We don't change the volume constantly, nor do we change the mode often. Normally, it is something you do when you first power the device on, and then set it down and enjoy our music.

Learning Curve

Because of the unusual [metric5" class="UpStreamLink">, it is not an immediate open the box and understand the system kind of scenario. However, the behavior is not so difficult to understand that you will not remember it nearly immediately. In fact, we were able to intuit the behaviors without having to read the manual ahead of time. Also, the buttons are well-labeled for their intent, so intuiting their intentions is fairly easy for anyone.

Design

Clearly, the Monster Blaster was designed to look and work similarly to a boombox, with better sound, and the Blaster definitely accomplishes its goal. While it looks a lot like a traditional boombox, it adds in more modern features, removes outdated features and solves some of the things that made old boomboxes terrible. For example, no need to fill the Blaster with a dozed D-cell batteries; instead it uses a rechargeable battery. No longer is there a cassette deck, but rather Bluetooth [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">. In sticking with the theme, though, you can connect your phone via Bluetooth and still carry it on your shoulder, though its [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> might make it a slight challenge. In keeping with the boombox theme, the system also offers a mic-in option to allow for karaoke usage, a popular feature of boomboxes of the 90s.

Functionally, the design performs as well. Its dual-facing speakers (front and rear) mean you can place it in the middle of a room and fill the space with sound. The angle of the speakers, facing upward on the triangular body, means you don't have to put it up high to get sound at human-level. The bottom-facing subwoofer takes advantage of the surface it is resting on to add additional bass to the system without requiring additional battery power. The placement of the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> on the end makes it easier to carry while playing, without fear of accidentally changing the volume or turning the speaker off completely.

Build Quality

Overall, the quality of materials and the materials chosen are adequate or better. The plastic used on the body is thick enough to take a beating without adding a lot of weight to the already heavy device. There are no sharp edges in the molding, there are no gaps between plastic pieces, and everything fits together as expected.

On the other hand, there are a few issues. For example, the rubber covering the power button feels incredibly thin, and 6 months in is already feeling like it will wear through. Similarly, the rubber flap that covers the charging port, line-in, mic-in and USB port, is beginning to wear thin as well. Within short order, it is likely that the rubber hinge will break, exposing the ports consistently. This will undo the waterproofing of the system.

Size & Weight

The Monster Blaster is neither small nor lightweight, but it is important to note a few things here. The [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, and volume capabilities, are only possible because of the larger size of the device. With cones on both sides, as well as the subwoofer on the bottom, it is completely understandable that it is the size that it is. In addition, to be able to power the many cones and retain the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> that we experienced, a large battery is also required. The battery is also going to add weight to the device, which it definitely does.

The upshot here is that, when you buy a speaker designed in the style of a boombox, you know the size and weight you are expecting. The reality of the Monster Blaster is that it is actually lighter and smaller than the 2 classic boomboxes we have in the office.

Sound Quality

The Blaster has 2 different ways of listening to music: 1/8" auxiliary and Bluetooth. Both offer what Monster is best known for: what they call Pure Monster Sound. The idea is that what you hear is exactly what the producer intended for you to hear. Similar to the USB mode on the Monster Elements, the Blaster offers two modes: Indoor and Outdoor. With the Indoor and Outdoor modes, you can adjust for standard or enhanced bass to support any environment.

Bluetooth

Traditionally, Bluetooth is the last resort for audio. However, with the Blaster, it is absolutely the way you are supposed to use it. Monster has taken every opportunity to ensure the sound quality is as good as possible. Even when turned up all the way, there is no distortion caused by the speakers or digital noise caused by Bluetooth. This was verified using a variety of devices running a variety of operating systems.

1/8" Auxiliary

While Bluetooth is the primary intent of the Blaster, line-in works just as well. You can direct connect your phone, MP3 player, computer, tablet: essentially any device that you might want enhanced sound from. Obviously, with line-in, there is the possibility to overload the input and create distortion by turning the outside volume up too loud. In testing, it required a tremendous amount of outside volume before the sound became too distorted.

Siege Hammer (MyDream Interactive)

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:56:29 UTC

Siege Hammer

MyDream Interactive

Reviewed by Innovation Lab [Makerspace @ SPC" class="UpStreamLink"> on Monday Jul 10, 2017

3 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Simple game mechanics, which are easy to grasp, with vibrant and aesthetically pleasing graphics and environments. Decent sound quality and effects and easy to navigate UI and menus.

Negatives

Player movement is disorienting, and seemingly unnecessary, as players can see the whole of the level from any angle. One type of enemy provides no additional challenge as game progresses, they just get more health. This makes for repetitive gameplay. Limited turret placement/variations during early stages of levels. This can be a strategic disadvantage during the last levels and makes the gameplay even MORE repetitive. Counter-intuitive gameplay. Even though players wield a hammer, it instead functions more like a gun as it is not swung, but 'thrown'. Lack of in-game music.

Result

A first-person VR tower defense game is something that I believe has a lot of potential if the game utilizes all its elements correctly, which is something that Siege Hammer does not do. The game has all the makings of a great VR tower defense, but is lacking in enemy design, challenge, and variety.

Product Description

Siege Hammer is a uniquely-designed strategic VR game where players take the role of Blip, the young hero who was raised by the wisps, and granted a magical hammer to defend the realm from Rok G'narek's evil invaders. Will you be the anvil... or the hammer?

Value

All in all, it's a solid tower defense with a neat first person shooter twist, but the game is just too dull and repetitive at the moment. I would only play this if I had very little else to do. Siege Hammer is just too short to be considered worth its current price ( $15 at the time of writing this review).

Story

The whole of the story is compressed into a single cut scene. Which, to my knowledge, isn't even voice acted. The story was itself isn't very memorable, and sounds like it could have been thought up in a minute by any amateur game developer.

Gameplay

Somewhat slow and repetitive tower defense. Gameplay mechanics are slightly counter-intuitive to the theme of the game. The hammer, on which the theme of the game is based, acts more like a gun or projectile than a tool. Turrets are built by simply pointing and clicking, rather than swinging your hammer to build and upgrade them, which might have added some character to the game.

User Interface

Menus are stylized creatively, and the player HUD is minimal but efficient. The number of Wisps the player has in their possession is indicated in the hammer itself, which is a nice touch and further adds to the immersion. One thing I disliked is that the indicator of your hammer's cool-down timer is a particle which is barely visible. I found myself forgetting to attack because I wasn't sure that I was able to.

Environment

While lacking originality and variation, the environments are aesthetically pleasing. The environment design ranges from three generic video game settings: Lush grassy forest area, snowy mountain, and a volcano level.

Graphics

Nothing too impressive, but I've seen worse from indie titles. Vibrant colors and slightly cartoony theme makes the game easy to look at. Particles glitch out occasionally, which is somewhat nauseating in a VR game, but it doesn't happen too often.

Sound

A distinct lack of music and Voice Acting makes this somewhat of a quiet game. Effort was put into the sound effects though. The ambient sound of the levels added some immersion within the VR headset, and using the hammer resulted in a very satisfying thunder sound effect.

Level-Up System

Again, standard tower defense upgrading system doesn't bring anything new to the table, but does its job efficiently. Playing through the game, the player will acquire Wisps, which are used to build and upgrade turrets. Turrets are built instantaneously when selected, but they cannot be built once a round has started.

Rowkin Bit Stereo (Rowkin)

Sat, 08 Apr 2017 00:23:00 UTC

Rowkin Bit Stereo

Rowkin

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Saturday Apr 8, 2017

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

These small, affordable earbuds have great [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, have an incredible [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> with a very high [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> level.

Negatives

The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> is terrible for most scenarios and [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> will occasionally fade, sometimes both ears, sometimes just one.

Result

If you intend to use these for short workouts or excursions, they are a great product, but they will definitely be a disappointment to those wanting all-day usage.

Product Description

The Rowkin Bit Stereo is the world's smallest, wireless, and convenient earbud. The earbud's small size makes it fit easily in any ear. Appearing like a small dot in your ear, the earbud is almost invisible. Bluetooth 4.1 technology enables you to connect the Rowkin Bit Stereo to any smart device. You don't have to plug your phone in to listen to music or deal with annoying cords. The tiny earbud has a built-in mic, so you can easily take calls. The Bluetooth 4.1 provides wireless connection to your devices. For tech-lovers who like to stay connected, the Rowkin Bit Stereo is a revolution in headphones you'll love to use.

Value

The Bit Stereo certainly has a very specific purpose: working out. If your intentions with the product match that purpose, then it is a great deal, especially at its often discounted price point. However, if you are looking for a Bluetooth earbud designed to last the day with you, then you will want to look elsewhere. The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> is the Bit Stereo's lone feature that really makes you second guess a purchase, but if your usage is going to stay within the 3 hours, then these are a great value. Just keep in mind that [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> can, at times, fade briefly.

Connectivity

As the Bit Stereo are a unique set of headphones, we tested the pairing process across a variety of devices and platforms with surprisingly varied results. The results below are in order of testing.

iPhone 6s Plus

Shortly after unboxing, the product was paired to an iPhone. It took two tries to get the headphones to pair to one another, but on the second try, they paired to the phone immediately. We then used them to listen to Groove Music for about an hour without any real issues. There was a single connection drop to one earbud, but otherwise, they stayed connected consistently and played audio without hesitation.

Lumia 635

As mentioned in Practical Test 1 of the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">, the second device that was used was a Lumia 635 at the gym.

Surface Pro

As mentioned in Practical Test 2 of the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">, the third device that was used was a first generation Surface Pro. The pairing process here was incredibly complex and took nearly 30 minutes to complete as the earbuds would not pair to one another properly. As we discovered after some experimentation, the earbuds tend to fair initial pairing if there is a Bluetooth device within range that is already in pairing mode - in this case, the Surface itself. Once the Bluetooth was disabled on the computer, pairing began working, though this limitation is not documented in the included manual.

Once the Bit Stereo were successfully paired, they did not hold their connection consistently. About once every 15 minutes, the earbuds would fade out, stay silent for 30-45 seconds, and would then fade back in. At first, because of the nature of the fading, it appeared to be coming from Netflix, but when the issue continued while using Groove Music on the tablet, it became clear the issue was somewhere between the computer and earbuds.

Lumia 620

Our official battery test was performed on the Lumia 620, so we attempted to pair the earbuds once again. To test the theory about initial pairing, we turned on pairing mode on the phone before trying to connect the earbuds to one another. As expected, the earbuds did not connect. Once pairing mode was disabled, the process was easy, and followed the steps that had worked previously.

During the test, we spot checked the headphones to ensure that they are actually playing. In our initial tests, we discovered that the earbuds were silent more often than not. After contacting the company, we were pointed to a reset option, which theoretically resets the earbuds to factory. After this process, and repairing, the earbuds stayed connected more often, though behaved similarly to the Surface Pro - going silent once every 15 minutes for 30-45 seconds.

iPhone 6s Plus

Having only had great success with this one device, we decided to pair it back with the phone to test it again. We had hoped that the earbuds simply worked better with iOS than with Windows, but we were unfortunately met with the same experience as the Surface Pro and Lumia 620: an occasional cut in connectivity every 15 minutes or so. This meant to use that the issue was not with the platform or the devices, but instead with the device itself. We reset the earbuds and repaired the devices again, and were met with the same behavior.

Range

The range on the Bit Stereo is surprisingly long. In fact, it is one of the longest ranges we have ever experienced. I tested the range using a paired Microsoft Lumia 650.

Practical

As a way of testing the range within a real-world scenario, I decided to wear the Bit Stereo while cleaning my apartment. At no point, while sweeping my 3 bedroom apartment, did I lose connectivity for longer than a few seconds, which is a [metric1" class="UpStreamLink"> issue that exists at close range as well. Bigger, more powerful headphones have not survived the same square footage in the past.

Line of Sight

Outside, in a direct line of sight test, the earbuds remained connected up to 225 feet. This direct range explains the success indoors, as well, as clearly the transceiver in these earbuds is very powerful. There is a tradeoff with such a strong [metric2" class="UpStreamLink"> in such a small device: [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">.

Battery Life

The [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> on the Bit Stereo is definitely not its strength. It did not do well on either our formal battery test nor our practical test.

Nokia Lumia 620

Running our formal test on the Bit Stereo, we averaged 3 hours and 10 minutes of playtime, split across three individual tests. The company spokesperson told me to expect 2-3 hours of battery life, so the product absolutely lived up to its advertised expectations. The problem, of course, is that the advertised life expectancy is not acceptable in itself. Another Bluetooth earbud set we are currently reviewing is averaging well over 8 hours, so less than half the battery life for over three times the price is shocking.

The product does come with a portable battery charging case, which helps under certain circumstances. If you are using them intermittently, you could place the earbuds in the charging case while not in use. Unfortunately, as you will see in the Practical Test, not all scenarios allow for mid-use charging.

Practical Test 1

One of the intended uses of paired earbuds like these is for use during workouts, so that is where they were tested. During a normal-length personal workout, I decided to pair with my phone and use the Bit Stereo for my whole gym visit. Unlike the other Practical Test, this one was short enough to fall within the battery life of the product. I was able to listen to music and use my Interval Coach app, which speaks during interval training, without losing power.

Practical Test 2

I recently decided to do a full cleaning on my kitchen one night before cooking dinner. Before working, I paired the Bit Stereo to my Surface Pro (documented in [metric1" class="UpStreamLink">). Once it finally worked, I decided to play some Netflix content while I worked. During the entire cleaning effort, the earbuds stayed connected and powered. Unfortunately, when I transitioned to cooking, the earbuds ended up dying, so I had to transition to something else. Luckily I had another pair of headphones available to switch to.

This was a fairly routine task for which headphones or good speakers are a common accessory. The Bit Stereo were incapable of standing up to the challenge, forcing me to switch to a bigger, heavier pair of headphones, which were less convenient than the small-sized Bit Stereo.

Call Quality

Depending on which end of the call you might be on, the [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> is very different. If you are the one wearing the Bit Stereo, you will notice that the sound quality is nowhere near what it is while playing music. Everything has a ring to it, sometimes making it hard to understand the other person. The volume is also lower than what would be expected considering the volume of the same earpiece, connected to the same phone while playing music.

If you are on the other end of the call, however, the quality is great. In fact, the microphone is of such high quality that you can almost not tell the difference between talking on the phone or using the earpiece. The only quality difference comes from the [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> technology, which seems to be using a digital noise gate which is misconfigured, causing the very beginning of each phrase to be lost.

Controls

All of the controls of the Bit Stereo are contained in a single button on the earbud. In some circumstances, only one of the two will work, while in other scenarios either will work.

Dual-Side Controls

There are a couple of types of controls that will work on either earbud. First, powering the product on and off can and must be done on both sides. Long-press for 4 seconds to power on or off each earbud, but ideally at the same time. A single press on either side will play or pause the music or other media on the connected device. A quick double press will activate the connected device's Bluetooth command interface, usually Cortana, Siri or OK Google.

Single-Side Controls

Unfortunately, phone-related controls are only available on the primary earbud. This is because calls only come through on this earbud, with the other side being silenced. A single press will answer an incoming or end an existing call, while a double press will reject an incoming call.

Noise Cancellation

While talking on the phone, I decided to turn on a videogame with constant background noise. The other party was completely unaware of the game before I began speaking, as there was absolutely no sound at all. This is caused by a digital noise gate built into the earpiece. Once I began to speak, and the initial silence was broken, the other party was aware that something was happening, but could not identify the sound. It was masked enough that it was not an annoyance, but not eliminated entirely. The noise gate could be configured a little better to allow the beginning of sentences to not get cut off, but overall, the technology works.

Learning Curve

There are two main aspects to the learning curve for the Bit Stereo: controls and pairing. As the [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> are fairly simple, there is not a lot to learn. In addition, the scheme is similar to that of other Bluetooth headphones and speakers, so anyone with any Bluetooth audio experience will take to the control scheme quickly.

The pairing process, however, is not as simple. The instructions provided in the manual are mostly correct, though they do leave out one important aspect: if there is a device in Bluetooth pairing mode within range, the earbuds may not pair to one another at all, instead seeming to get confused as to which device it is supposed to connect to. This is not a big issue, so long as it is known. With it being omitted from the manual, it makes it a case of discovery to get the earbuds fully paired.

Design

The design of both the earbuds and the charging case are very well thought out. The earpieces are designed to give some flexibility to the fit, ensuring the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> level is as high as possible. The ridged design around the middle of the body gives something to hold on to while placing it in the ear or removing it from the ear. The command button is large enough to be easily hit, but small enough to still look good on the head of the earbud. In addition, there is a good amount of tactile feedback, so that you know, for a fact that you have successfully pressed the button.

The charging case is also incredibly well designed. The earbuds fit into the cylinder in such a way that they will not easily fall out or be pulled out while carrying it around. The magnets that hold the earbuds, as well as the two parts of the cylinder, are strong enough to keep them together.

The one real disappointment in the design, which is pretty difficult to ignore with the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink"> issues, is the inability to charge both the earbuds and the case at once. Considering there is no way to find out how much battery life is left on either the earbuds or the charging case, it is very likely that you will end up in a scenario where the case is unexpectedly dead just as the earbuds are dying, as well. Adding some sort of battery indicator to either, or both, or moving the micro USB port to the outside instead of the inside would make this a much better [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">.

Comfort

The Bit Stereo, like all modern earbuds, come with a small selection of fitted earpieces that fit onto the earbuds themselves. Personally, I often have issues finding an earpiece that fits comfortably, no matter the manufacturer. In fact, I have only found a single piece that has ever fit 100% comfortably, with this product being no exception to the rule. However, the smallest of the earpieces is one of the best fits I have encountered. This is because of the nature of the earbuds themselves. Because of the shape of the electronics, there is a lot of give to the silicon, making it a very customizable fit.

The only real issue is caused by the nature of product. Normal earbuds, whether Bluetooth or wired, have cords involved, which allows the wearer to move some of the weight of the product out of the ear canal and on the cable. Because the Bit Stereo has no cord onto which to place some of the excess weight, the weight of the electronics can put a strange amount of strain on the ear, making it uncomfortable under larger amounts of movement, such as exercise.

Build Quality

Every aspect of the build of these earbuds, as well as their accessories, is wonderful. The earbuds themselves are manufactured out of a quality metal, which did not scratch or dent while being carried in both a pocket and a backpack. When they magnetically snap into the charging case, they fit evenly in the tube, without any gap around the earbud. This helps ensure that the earbuds will not get pulled out during transportation.

The charging case itself, like the earbuds, was not damaged during transport, either in a pocket or a backpack, with other items. When the two pieces of the case snap together, there is no discernable seam between the two halves, giving nothing for external items to catch on, pulling the charger apart.

Functionality

Based on our experiences, the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Bit Stereo was a mixed bag. Our initial two pairings with a device, an iPhone 6s Plus and Lumia 635, went well. Both devices played music and Netflix audio as expected. There was little to no lag, and the headphones stayed connected, both to one another and to the paired device.

Unfortunately, after the first two devices, we were never able to replicate that behavior again. All subsequent pairings, including repairing to the original iPhone, were met with various levels of misbehavior. In some cases we experienced occasional, intermittent audio disconnects. In others, we experienced almost constant audio loss, where the exception was hearing something, not the other way around. Some of the workarounds provided by the company helped, though none of them solved the issues entirely.

Size & Weight

When it comes to the [metric28" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Bit Stereo, there are two different states to consider. First, consider the earbuds themselves: they are small, light weight and fit well. The earbuds are light enough that they do not feel much different from traditional earbuds. They are small enough to be easily carried in a pocket, even the little key pocket in your jeans.

Unfortunately, because of the [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">, you will likely not be able to take advantage of the incredibly small size. Instead, you will probably be required to carry the earbuds in the accompanying charging case. The case, while technically pretty small, does add a tremendous amount of size to the product based on scale. It will eliminate the key pocket as a carrying option, though it will continue to fit nicely into most other pockets.

Compatibility

The Bit Stereo paired with and produced audio from every device we attempted to use it with, though with varying degrees of [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">. Under all circumstances, all of the features were available on all devices, though not everything worked consistently nor did it remain consistently connected.

Sound Quality

For Bluetooth earbuds, the Bit Stereo sound far above average. A common issue with earbuds in general, but especially Bluetooth earbuds, is a lack of bass and an overabundance of treble. This tends to cause earbuds to be an unpleasant listening experience. This product, however, does not suffer from the overabundance of treble; in fact, the treble levels are about what you would expect. Unfortunately, the bass levels are a little below perfect. This is something that is mostly to be expected, though, as earbuds don't have the length to build bass response in a traditional manner, and Rowkin has not compensated for this. The sound is above average, and is not a limiting factor on the product.

Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin (Double Fine Productions)

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 10:06:08 UTC

Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin

Double Fine Productions

Reviewed by Troy Davidson on Friday Apr 7, 2017

4.38 out of 5

Summary

Positives

It's a point and click adventure in Virtual 3D! Made by Tim Schafer, a veritable Giant of the Genre (Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Broken Age). What more could one ask for? Putting on the goggles and being inside one of my favorite gaming franchises felt like walking into a theme park made just for me.

Negatives

If you have an aversion to VR, this game is no exception. While personally I didn't feel dizzy or disoriented, I did get a tinge of queasiness, which is my "VR Indicator" to take a break. Everyone will, of course, react differently.

Result

Great for fans of Psychonauts and newcomers. A delightful, colorful, deliberately concise VR experience, that'll test your wit and make you chuckle along the way.

Product Description

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is an all-new Virtual Reality adventure that takes players back into the mysterious and paranormal world of the Psychonauts for the first time in over ten years!

Once again players will assume the role of Raz, an intrepid young psychic and now fully fledged member of the Psychonauts - an elite group of international psychic secret agents!

The story picks up exactly where it left off at the end of Psychonauts (2005)-with Raz, Lili, Sasha, Milla, and Coach Oleander flying off to rescue Truman Zannotto, the Grand Head of the Psychonauts. Their mission takes them straight into the heart of the Rhombus of Ruin-a mysterious part of the ocean as deadly as two Bermuda Triangles back to back!

When the rescue party itself is kidnapped and held prisoner in the Rhombus, Raz is immobilized and must use only his psychic powers to reunite his friends, reveal the identity of the kidnapper, and free Truman before the madness of the Rhombus consumes all their minds.

Value

To be honest, when I finished this game, I was sad. I WANTED SO MUCH MORE. My head was full of the places and adventures I wished they would've let me experience. But then I remembered that I bought it for only $15 through PlayStation Plus. I was treating it like a game I spent $60 bucks on. When it comes to [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">, you get exactly what you pay for. Even though you'll want more.

Story

Written by the mad genius Tim Schafer, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin picks up where the original Psychonauts left off. I couldn't believe how easy and "snuggly" it was to fall back into this fiction. The premise is simple: the Leader of the Psychonauts is missing, and we've got to find him. Too bad all signs point towards the RHOMBUS OF RUIN, a Bermuda Triangle that fell into a Bermuda Triangle. Raz, the protagonist, is this great ball of heroic confidence and teenage insecurity that you can't help but relate to. One moment he's saving the day and the next he's wondering about his "new maybe not sure if it's official but he hopes it is" girlfriend, Lili. The story of this game sets itself up as a tantalizing bridge to the Psychonauts sequel, in development now. Also this game is riddled with that trademark Double Fine charming hilarity.

Gameplay

I'm pretty sure I squealed a little when I realized that Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin was a point-and-click adventure. It just made so much sense and lent itself perfectly with the fiction of psychic beings. You telekinetically grab, poke and burn your way through puzzle after puzzle. At times the game feels like it's holding your hand a little too much, which makes the experience feel more like a point-and-click adventure on rails. But what's more important is that the [metric33" class="UpStreamLink"> is fun and intuitive from start to finish.

User Interface

It's simple and effective. That's what I want most out of my VR games. Simplicity. Sitting down, no hand wands, just a standard game controller and your head. Every move felt natural and more importantly, in character. The PlayStation VR hardware is comfy and never got in the way of the game.

Environment

Is it still cliche to use the word "immersive" when talking about VR? Oh well I'm going to use it anyway: this game's environments were CRAZY immersive. From the inside of a Spy Jet, to a mysterious laboratory, to an underwater ship graveyard, each locale had me craning my neck to drink in every nook and cranny. But, to be more specific, the immersion tapped into a nostalgic side for me. There I was, inside a fictitious world that I had already fallen in love with 12 years ago. Wow.

Graphics

I absolutely love the artistry of this work. The Psychedelic Spy '70s motif gels perfectly with the story and its characters. Granted I'm basing my opinion on artistic choices over technical prowess. The graphic art design is so imaginative and dynamic that I felt transformed into a fellow Mind Traveler myself. But no, nothing in this game looks graphically "real" but it's not supposed to. It all looks like some wacky old forgotten Tim Burton cartoon, and that's great. That's '90s Tim Burton, to clarify... I ain't no fool.

Sound

The voice acting is top notch. Bringing back the original cast from Psychonauts lent this game an authenticity and continuity that truly benefited the overall product greatly. Every little Spy gadget "whiz" and "pzzzt" sound effect was present and accounted for. Add an original James Bond-esque score and theme song composed by industry icon Peter McConnell, known for Sly Cooper, Grim Fandango and Monkey Island, and you're left with a game whose [metric37" class="UpStreamLink"> is... quite "sound". Yea, I like what I did there.

Level Generator

Each new area serves as a level which had its own problem to solve. It's very straightforward. Solve the problem, then float to the next problem. I do wish there was even more to investigate in each of these areas. Some places let you tinker with various props strewn about, but still I wanted the freedom to further stretch my telekinesis. The areas were just so beautiful and interesting, that I wanted more silliness to do within them.

UltraAV Mini DisplayPort 1.2 Docking Station (Accell)

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:59:42 UTC

UltraAV Mini DisplayPort 1.2 Docking Station

Accell

Reviewed by Mark Lauter on Tuesday Mar 28, 2017

4.08 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The Accell Docking Station easily converts any tablet into a highly functional desktop machine without a cost in system performance.

Negatives

The DisplayPorts were a little sloppy, resulting in occasional display irregularities when bumped hard.

Result

If you're using, or considering, a tablet as your primary computing device, this Docking Station will enhance your day-to-day desktop experience.

Product Description

The Mini DisplayPort Y-Cable Docking Station greatly increases the number of ports available on your Mini DisplayPort enabled device. Connecting to your computer's Mini DisplayPort and USB 3.0 port, the docking station provides 2 Mini DisplayPorts, 3 USB 3.0 ports, and 1 Gigabit Ethernet port. The docking station is licensed by Microsoft's Designed for Surface program and is compatible with all Mini DisplayPort devices with Windows.

Value

Multiple monitors and high speed network access can turn a tablet into a primary desktop computing device. If your tablet supports USB 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.2, you can take full advantage of this Accell Docking Station with its duel DisplayPort outputs and integrated gigabit Ethernet port. If you travel around the world, the included collection of non-US electrical plugs will definitely be a bonus.

Design

The Docking Station is attractive and functional. One of my pet peeves is the short power cords that come with many modern laptops and tablets. I'm happy to report that the power cord is plenty long for normal use, and at about 18 inches each, so are the outbound USB and DisplayPort cables. It has three female USB 3.0 ports, one Ethernet port, two female DisplayPorts, one male USB cable and one male DisplayPort cable. That's enough for normal use and you can always chain USB hubs if you need more ports.

Unfortunately, all of the expansion ports are on the same side of the device. This means that if you want to mount the Docking Station under a monitor, your monitor and Ethernet cables will have to run to the front of your monitor all the time. Ideally, the more permanent connections would be mounted across the back with the USB and DisplayPort hookups, while the transient connections would be available in the front.

Build Quality

The Docking Station appears well built. Nothing rattles when the unit is shaken. It's light weight, but solid enough to easily withstand everyday-carry in a backpack or laptop bag.

Bumping the desk was sometimes enough to joggle the inbound DisplayPort connections in a way that resulted in the displays flickering or losing connectivity. The USB ports firmly hold USB cables and the ports feel solid with no wiggle when inserting and removing cables. The same can be said of the Ethernet port.

Functionality

It only took a few minutes to unbox and connect the Docking Station to my first-generation Surface Pro, running Windows 10 Pro. Because the Surface lacks Ethernet, the Accell is an ideal docking solution. Everything worked as expected with no disappointments.

USB Speed

I tested USB by copying a 500 MB file from the Surface to a high-speed flash drive. The goal of the test was to determine whether the Docking Station would slow down file transfer performance to the flash drive. There was no difference between maximum transfer rate over the Surface's built-in USB port and using the hub.

DisplayPort Video

With two 1080p monitors connected via DisplayPort, there was no visible performance cost on the Surface. Viewing a full screen 1080 video via Netflix on either connected monitor or directly on the Surface resulted in 9% to 12% CPU usage. This means the full video load is on the built-in video card, in contrast to a DisplayLink USB-powered video card, like in the USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station, that uses CPU to render video on the connected monitor.

Ethernet

The Ethernet connection performed at the same speeds as those measured directly on my laptop. Downstream speeds of a little over 100 Mbps were sustained.

Size & Weight

The device is light weight and small enough to be portable, though it's primary use case isn't as a portable device. It's small enough to fit on a desk, under or behind a monitor, out of the way. The height of the device is under an inch, meaning that it will easily fit under even a low monitor and expose the USB hub. My own desk is pretty full of techo-junk, but I easily found a place for the Docking Station.

Compatibility

The Surface Pro is 5 years old. That's practically pre-history in tech years. The Docking Station worked well, even with this antique tablet. It didn't require any special software - just plug it in and go. The DisplayPort on the Surface is dated, so the best I could do is extend displays to two monitors, one of which is the Surface's own display. This meant that the connected displays mirrored one another. With a Surface Pro 3 or 4, I would have been able to take full advantage of three extended displays.

USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station (Accell)

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:19:51 UTC

USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station

Accell

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Feb 17, 2017

3.58 out of 5

Summary

Positives

This dock is relatively small and is compatible with many current and older desktops, laptops and tablets.

Negatives

The device's design does not suggest it was a focus for the manufacturer, and the quality of the components with which the dock is built allow for physical imperfections.

Result

If you are looking for a way to improve the convenience of using your laptop or tablet as a desktop workstation, this docking station from Accell is definitely worth consideration.

Product Description

The Accell Universal Laptop Docking Station (K172B-002) greatly increases the number of ports available on your device from a single USB-A 3.0 port. This incredibly powerful dock provides DisplayPort, HDMI 1.3, 3.5mm combo audio/microphone jack, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45), and 3 USB-A 3.0 connections. The dock is compatible with any device running Windows 7 and up, or Mac OS 10.6 thru 10.11.

Value

While the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> and [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> leave something to be desired, neither of those aspects are nearly as important as the [metric25" class="UpStreamLink"> of the device itself. Fortunately, the device works better than is to be expected, especially for the price. While other docks like this run 25% more expensive for the same functionality, this one certainly sets itself apart on price and overall [metric28" class="UpStreamLink">.

Design

The design is definitely utilitarian. The product is essentially a small black box with ports on it. Nothing about the design is going to make the owner want to show it off, but that is not the point of the product. In fact, the point of the product is to move the product away from the eye, so utilitarian matches the product's intention.

Some thought really went into the placement of the ports on the device. On the back are your permanent connections: power, dock, HDMI, DisplayPort and Ethernet. On the front are your more transient connections: USB and headphone. Unfortunately, if you were to place this device under a monitor, so you can use the transient connections, it would force you to have cables or dongles for keyboard and mouse, which are designed to be permanent connections on this dock, stick out of the front. Ideally, I would have liked to see maybe the HDMI and DisplayPort connections stacked and a USB port made available on the back.

Build Quality

Straight out of the box, the look of the product is positive. The body looks well-formed, the cables are thick and flexible. Unfortunately, once the product came out of the box, perception began to change. The body of the box was a little damaged around the edges, showing the quality of the plastic body itself to be less than desirable. Fortunately, this is not a product that is designed to be featured on a desk, but more to be hidden away, so a little damage to the plastic isn't a killer.

The build issue that does cause some concern is the ports themselves. While many USB ports are tight and hold the plugs in place, these ports are all very loose. The included USB cable, plugged either into the docking port or into any of the standard USB ports, moved around in place. Other USB devices, including a microSD card reader and several USB flash drives, all moved around as well. The HDMI port suffered the same issue.

Functionality

We tested the functionality of the dock using a Microsoft Surface Pro running Windows 10 Anniversary Update. This tablet features a 3rd generation Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, with a single USB 3.0 port. Because of the single port, the Surface is a perfect product with which to use the dock.

USB Speed

We tested USB speed by copying one large and many small files from the internal storage of the Surface to a USB 2.0 and 3.0 flash drive. Both the 2.0 and 3.0 flash drive copied files at the same speed plugged directly into the tablet's USB port and into the USB hub built-in to the dock. The speed was not hampered by using the integrated video card, either.

DisplayLink Video Card

As most USB video cards are, the integrated card here is powered by DisplayLink technology. Over the years I have used several DisplayLink-powered cards to great success, including on this particular tablet. Because this card is USB-powered, it means that it will use resources built into the computer to power its capabilities.

Running no applications, the tablet sits at 4% CPU usage when running an external monitor on its integrated video card. The usage jumps up to 14% when running the second monitor through the dock. Watching a video through Hulu on the secondary monitor, powered by the integrated video card, CPU usage averaged 40%. When running the same video on the same monitor, powered by the DisplayLink video card, CPU usage spiked to an average of 70%. Surprisingly, RAM was not affected between the video cards.

Ethernet

As USB-powered Ethernet cards are not a new concept, the Ethernet connection worked at the full, expected speed.

Size & Weight

Since this product is not designed to be portable, its weight is far less important than its size, though its weight is definitely acceptable for its purpose. The size, however, is where this product really shines. The height of the body is the perfect size to fit under a monitor, exposing the transient connections and hiding the permanent connections. On all of our desks, in the office and studio, the box slipped nicely under our monitors and televisions.

Compatibility

Obviously the docking station requires that the laptop or tablet have a USB 3.0 port: the support of UDH, or 4K, video definitely requires the bandwidth. The video card requirements are pretty standard for most laptops, as are the processor requirements. A minimum RAM requirement of 4GB is also pretty standard, though using it with a machine that only has 4GB of RAM is likely to affect the performance of the computer fairly heavily. That performance difference is detailed in [metric25" class="UpStreamLink">.

Monster Elements Wireless Over-Ear Headphones (Monster Products)

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:30:04 UTC

Monster Elements Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

Monster Products

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Saturday Dec 10, 2016

4.29 out of 5

Summary

Positives

These headphones look and sound great, are light weight and can connect to any device in at least one of three ways.

Negatives

Both sound and microphone are average for phone calls, the control scheme isn't exactly intuitive and remembering how the controls work can be difficult.

Result

No matter how you want to use headphones, whether Bluetooth, analog or digital, the Elements are a great choice.

Product Description

Building on Monster's biggest lifestyle hit of 2015 - (the limited edition 24K) - Monster is breaking out an all new, all wireless headphone line destined to redefine the category. Featuring a distinctive styling and phenomenal sound only achievable by Monster, the Elements series is the definitive headphone for the cool, young and hip. Elements presents a pallet of designs inspired by the natural elements that exude a confidence and style embraced by top athletes, DJs and musicians. Elements headphones proclaim your discriminating taste and bold lifestyle.

Value

The feature set of the Monster Elements compared to their retail price makes this an easy decision. Their [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> makes them an attractive pair of headphones that can be worn as a fashion statement, and their [metric7" class="UpStreamLink"> makes them the best headphones in their price category. Whether you intend on using them in digital, analog or Bluetooth mode, you can be sure that the sound will be unlike any other headphones you can buy.

Connectivity

The Elements have all of the connections you might expect from headphones in their category, plus one that you might not. Of course, they offer the traditional headphone connection that almost all devices have had for decades, meaning you can use them on televisions, radios, computers, tablets and phones. They also offer the ability to connect via Bluetooth, so you can use them with many of the same devices, but without the inconvenience of a cable.

Where the Elements set themselves apart from most other headphones is their digital connection. In addition to charging them, the micro USB connection also allows you to connect the headphones to a computer, or other device that supports USB audio, and eliminate the analog connection entirely. Like Apple said when they removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, an all digital connection increases the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">.

Range

The range on the Elements is decent, but is not the best we have seen. I tested the range using a paired Microsoft Lumia 650.

Practical

In a 3 bedroom apartment, with the Lumia 650 in the center, I was able to use the headphones in all rooms. In the far bedroom, though, there were occasional signal drops. This is the part of the apartment that has the most walls separating it from the phone. In addition, there are a lot of electronics in the apartment. With all of that said, it means that I could pair the headphones, leave the phone just about anywhere and still be able to walk around the apartment, doing housework, and not have to carry my phone for the most part.

Line of Sight

Bringing the Lumia 650 outside, the Elements were able to remain connected stably for a distance of 65 feet. With the advertised Bluetooth 4.0, the technology could have a maximum range of 200 feet, though that is using lower bandwidth. Because more bandwidth is needed to get the desired [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">, the maximum is diminished. 65 feet, however, is an incredibly long range, and more than a normal consumer usage would call for.

Battery Life

Unlike most headphones, these have experienced a tremendous amount of use before writing this review. Because of this, we have had a lot of practical tests, but still performed our traditional battery test as well.

Practical Test

During a friend's wedding weekend, the Elements provided entertainment during down times. Throughout the weekend (in the hotel, traveling between venues, etc.), the Elements were used in Bluetooth mode for music, Netflix and more. By the end of the weekend, the headphones were just below half capacity. Based on this experience, it is difficult to find a scenario which the battery will not exceed.

Nokia Lumia 620

Running our internal battery test on the Elements, we averaged 25 hours and 23 minutes. of playtime across three separate tests. The company advertises 24 hours of playtime, which means that the battery lasted about 5% over the expected life. Obviously, running headphones for over a full day straight is an unlikely scenario, expect maybe flying around the world, but it is comforting to know that, if needed, you can spread that battery over a few days without charging.

Call Quality

The sound quality when used for a phone call is far below the quality when used for music, though it is above the average call quality. On the wear's end, the sound is a little bit muffled. During silences there is a slight, but constant hiss that is obvious. Most of that is a result of Bluetooth calls as a whole; a problem we see often with stereo headphones being used for phone calls. It seems to be an issue with the Bluetooth standard more than the Elements. On the receiver's side, the sound coming through the microphone is as good as the microphone built into the phone. Switching from the internal mic to the one built-in to the Elements was indistinguishable to the person on the other end of the call.

Controls

The controls on the Elements are split into two control groups: button and gesture. There is a single button and a single gesture area, meaning that these items are reused for several commands. These controls affect everything from power to equalizer, volume to track selection. Unfortunately, these controls are only active in one of the three connection modes: Bluetooth. Assumedly this is because of power requirements, though in digital audio mode, the USB cable would provide power and a connection to the device over which the commands could be executed.

Button Controls

The primary use of the button is for power. Holding it for a few seconds will power the headphones on, and will reconnect to a paired device within range. If you haven't paired the Elements with any devices yet, or you want to pair them with a new device, simply keep holding the button after it powers on to enter pairing mode.

Once everything is on, paired and connected, the button gives three more commands. First, a double button press will switch between equalizer profiles. The Elements have two equalizer profiles: Natural and Club. The Natural profile is the traditional "Pure Monster Sound" that sets Monster headphones apart, and Club adds bass to the mix. Second, while on a phone call, you can mute and unmute the microphone with a double tap. A long press will turn the Elements back off again.

For the three standard commands, the headphones will speak to you to let you know what they are doing. For equalizer mode, you will only get a beep to let you know the mode has changed, but the headphones will not announce the mode that they are currently in. Hopefully you will be able to determine that just by listening.

Gesture Controls

Between the two Monster logos on the right earcup is a Palm webOS-style gesture area. Here you can perform several single gestures to control a variety of aspects of both the headset and the paired device. Pressing the gesture area for 2 seconds will activate the paired device's Bluetooth command mode - Cortana for Windows, Siri for iOS and OK Google for Android. Swiping up will turn the volume up, while swiping down will turn the volume down. The volume controls are the only ones that do not affect the paired device, but instead control the volume inside the headsets themselves.

For audio playback, a single tap will act as a play/pause button - starting or stopping the playback of the audio on the paired device. A double tap will skip ahead a track, while a triple tap will skip back one track (restarting the current track or moving to the previous, depending on the media player).

For call connections, the same gestures have different results. A single tap will answer an incoming call or an incoming call-waiting call, while a double tap will switch between two active calls. Holding the area for 2 seconds will reject an incoming call or switch the call from the headphones to the handset. Here's where things get really interesting: pressing the gesture area AND the button together will redial the last call.

Noise Cancellation

While the [metric4" class="UpStreamLink"> is above average, the [metric6" class="UpStreamLink"> is average. While speaking on the phone, I tested average daily sounds. While sounds like water running and vegetables cooking were not distinguishable on the other end, sounds like a spoon tapping on a pan were clearly distinguishable and heard loudly. If you were using the Elements for phone calls while performing noisy activities, the person you are speaking to will hear much of what you are doing.

Learning Curve

There are a lot of [metric5" class="UpStreamLink"> available on the Elements, and they are very similar to one another, depending on the mode the headphones are currently in. Remembering the values of multi-taps on both the button and gesture area can be complex, especially if you don't use the features often. If you regularly use the media aspect, but not often the call, you might not remember, or even know, what the commands are, and they are not intuitive. Once you get a feel for the commands, though, they are fairly easy to use.

The only other real issue when first interacting with the Elements is finding the gesture area itself. There isn't a lot of physical diversity in the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> to allow for a lot of tactile feedback. Fortunately it does not take a whole lot of time to get used to the placement, and usage gets a lot easier.

Design

A lot of thought was clearly put into the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Elements. The finishes make for a very fashionable and unique look, which can make them not only a great pair of headphones, but also a statement piece. Wearing them in public, I have often received questions about make, model, etc. The individual swivel earcups are really nice for DJs, but also in scenarios like on an airplane where you want to keep your music playing, but don't want to miss the flight attendant.

The only really obvious issue is the placement of the two possible audio cables: USB and 1/8". The 1/8" connector is situated slightly in front of the bottom of the left earcup, mounted between the main plate and the cushion. This places the cable in front of your left shoulder, easily running the cable to a computer or media player. The USB connector, on the other hand, is situated slightly behind the bottom of the right earcup, mounted on the main plate. When using it for audio instead of charging, it brings the cord down onto your right shoulder and likely away from the computer you are trying to connect to. An easy solution to the problem is a longer USB cable, or ideally one with a tiltable micro connector.

Comfort

The Elements have been a fixture in the PLuGHiTz Live Studio for nearly a year and have experienced both short and long recording sessions. Under almost all circumstances the headphones have remained incredibly comfortable. The headband is just tight enough to keep the headphones on your head, and loose enough to not put too much pressure on your ears. The adjustable positioning allows for all head sizes without adding any additional pressure to the earcups.

The only issue that I have experienced is in wearing a baseball cap. If you don't place the top of the band behind the dimple on the top of the cap, it will put a lot of pressure on your head and, in fairly short order, will begin to hurt. The simple solution is to pay attention to where the headband sits on your head.

Build Quality

Working in broadcast means that we encounter and experiment with a lot of audio products, specifically headphones and microphones. The Elements have, without a doubt, the most attention to detail I have encountered on a pair of headphones in their price range. When the band is collapsed, all of the seams are level, with no open spaces to catch on clothing, bags or other items. When the earcups are closed for travel, the hinges are tight, preventing them from reopening on their own.

One of my common issues with headphones is the handling of screws. While many companies ignore them entirely, Monster has decided to use them as part of the look of the Elements. The exposed aspects of the screws are colored to contrast interestingly with the color they are within. For example, a red screw on a field of black.

The most important build decision, of course, is the material used for the earcups themselves. The chosen material is incredibly soft and durable with enough give to make sure the headphones remain comfortable.

Sound Quality

The Element shave 3 different ways of listening to music: USB digital, 1/8" headphone and Bluetooth. All three offer what Monster is best known for: what they call Pure Monster Sound. The idea is that what you hear is exactly what the producer intended for you to hear. There are no on-headphone adjustments to bass or treble, meaning that you hear the track exactly as it exists.

USB Digital

USB digital is the best way to use the Elements with digital music. Full digital audio from the source to the headphones guarantees that there is no place within the system that can create loss. When you combine that with Pure Monster Sound, you are going to hear exactly what you are supposed to hear with no adjustments, loss or interference. Using this method with music, the quality is astounding. When you use it with television or movies, such as Netflix, you will hear details that you may have noticed otherwise.

1/8" Headphone

1/8" is the best way to use the Elements with analog audio, though it can obviously be used with digital audio as well. When connecting to an analog source, such as a record player, you again eliminate the sources for interference and loss. Combined with Pure Monster Sound, you will hear exactly what exists - clicks, pops and everything. With a digital source, such as a phone or computer, it is always possible to introduce interference. The included cable and adapter will limit it as much as it can, but the source is converting digital to analog and then transmitting it over the cable, so anything is possible and will depend on the device.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is always the last resort for quality audio, as the maximum bandwidth for Bluetooth is far lower than that of USB, creating a need to compress the audio, and the possibility for interference is greater than analog.

In Bluetooth mode, the Elements have two sound modes: Standard and Club. Each mode has its own purpose and ideal user. The Standard mode is the in-tuned Pure Monster Sound. The Club Mode, on the other hand, adds extra bass, for those who enjoy that soundscape. It is best for electronica, hip hop and anything with an intentionally strong bassline.

Arctis 3 Gaming Headset (SteelSeries)

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:58:46 UTC

Arctis 3 Gaming Headset

SteelSeries

Reviewed by Adam Ertz on Tuesday Nov 29, 2016

4.17 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Very comfortable and surprisingly excellent virtual surround with a very clear microphone.

Negatives

The earcups are a bit hot after 7 or more hours, and the detachable USB connection cable comes awkwardly configured, which might have been better if the cable connection to the headphones was hardwired, as they tend to wear better and are more sturdy.

Result

Whether you're dominating the digital battlefields or just jamming to some tunes while in the park, these headphones have a great sound signature and are righteously affordable.

Product Description

Arctis challenges everything you know about gaming headsets with completely overhauled audio, a new mic design with unmatched clarity, and improved comfort with materials inspired by athletic clothing. Arctis 3 brings pure performance and style, featuring SteelSeries 7.1 Surround Sound.

Value

At a sub $100 pricepoint, the value of the headset is absolutely through the roof. The sound quality is akin to what you see in the higher-end gaming headsets but for a fraction of a price. In comparison to other top-tier headphone models, such as the Sennheiser PC355 SE, the Arctis 3 produces sound of the same quality for around one-third of the price.

Design

A very clean looking set of headphones: no frills, no RGB lighting, no excessive logo placement, just a more modern take on the classic headphone. Thankfully, SteelSeries saved all of the thrills for the [metric7" class="UpStreamLink">. The microphone mute button is conveniently located on the left earcup, along with a volume control wheel, allowing you to fine tune he volume or mute easily and quickly. The tangle free design of the cable is great and has a nice rubberized finish to it that allows for it to grip the edge of your desk so it doesn't slide around with minor head movements. The microphone extends out of the left earcup and is quite bendable allowing you to position it to exactly where you need to get proper pick up of your voice.

Comfort

The Arctis 3 is also extremely comfortable even during 7+ hour sessions of use, and the AirMesh ear cups offer a nice fit and are also extremely comfortable when wearing glasses. The headphones are lightweight and what weight there is to the headset is held up by the tension band that runs along the inside of the top of the band, allowing it to sit elegantly upon your head as though it were placed there by tiny angels.

Build Quality

It is almost entirely a hard plastic build, but all of the joint areas feel extremely sturdy and the whole headset feels very solid. Soft touch plastic is used on the outside of the earcups and the inner headband to provide a nice grip for removing them and holding the suspended headband in place once its on your head. The only issue with its construction is the retractable microphone. Typically this arrangement tends to wear out after a thousand or so removal and entries into the earcup with the pliable microphone boom. Hopefully that issue does not appear over long term use.

Functionality

This is where the Arctis 3 really shines: effectively blocking outside noise and providing a crisp, clear sound signature that doesn't clip even when at extremely high volumes or producing a wide range of sounds simultaneously. When you add in the overall [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> you have a very strong entry in the market for quality budget headphones.

Size & Weight

These headphones are appropriately sized: the earcups are large and able to cover the entire ear and even form a nice seal with glasses on. They rest on top of your head via SteelSeries tension band design that has been proven over the course of their Siberia line of headphones continually being heralded for its comfort.

They are extremely light for their size and even manage to feel incredibly light on your head.

Compatibility

SteelSeries's plan to bridge the gap between the users of headphones for console and PC gaming as well as allowing them to be used for mobile devices is executed masterfully. The Arctis 3 comes packaged with an adapter that will allow you to connect to any of these devices in a snap, quite literally. You simply detach the plug end from the USB cable and snap on the set of inputs desired for your device.

Sound Quality

Great sound quality, and the virtual surround setting is both immersive and well programmed. Often times with virtual surround you lose some of the clarity and the directional element tends to be indescribable and muddled; neither of those issues plague this headset. Music has crisp highs and mids while still maintaining nice deep lows. The SteelSeries Engine software on PC also allows you to boost that bass for more boom to your explosions or more wub to your dubstep. It also features an equalizer for those who want to really customize the listening experience to the utmost.

Setup

Out of the box setup has a minor complication, that being that 2 of the cables are already connected and, if you aren't paying close attention, you might not realize that what you are holding is actually three separate pieces instead of two. The only other setup issue comes in the form of the 7.1 surround activation card. Since the headset is not using USB to connect to the PC or other devices it cannot automatically recognize that the headset is surround capable. Once you have installed the SteelSeries Engine you will be prompted to tell the software what device you have connected and the Arctis 3 is not actually in that list, so you have to create an account with SteelSeries and enter the activation code in order to access the full set of features available.

D2 High-Performance Cooling Dock (SVALT)

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 13:29:05 UTC

D2 High-Performance Cooling Dock

SVALT

Reviewed by Kelvin McDaniel on Saturday Nov 26, 2016

4.58 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The D2 is incredibly well built. The first time I touched this unit I KNEW I wouldn't have to worry about my device sitting safely in this nearly vertical dock (when used as expected). It does a great job of circulating cooler air when my device needs it. When travelling it fits safely in the bottom of my computer backpack and I had no problems getting it through TSA checkpoints.

Negatives

The D2 is expensive and can be difficult to pick up because of its design. There are ways around this and normally you wouldn't be picking it up at all. I use the D2 as a portable stand and I've figured out how to make that work for me. Your mileage may vary. Until you get used to it you won't be certain that it is functioning properly.

Result

All in all I'm very happy with this dock. While it doesn't offer USB ports it does reduce my device's footprint and keeps it cool. I feel this outweighs several negative points covered below. At $279 (as of 11/19/2016) the D2 is quite pricey... but if you have the budget and value its convenience it will likely work for you. I have successfully integrated it into my travelling kit and I'm satisfied with its performance. Please note that I received a unit to use for this review.

Product Description

When running high-demand applications a laptop's built-in cooling system can fail to keep up, leading to processor throttling and slower performance. Heat meltdowns often occur at the office when using the laptop like a desktop, where the improved ergonomics of high-resolution displays and full size keyboard and mouse can help maintain your productivity, which is why the SVALT D2 has been designed to transform your laptop into a desktop workstation for maximum productivity where you need it most, at the office.

Design

The design of this unit is gorgeous and this thing feels HEAVY. I don't recall having seen anything combining functionality with both flair and style as the D2 does. Superficially it is so well done that I was very skeptical of how effective the it would be. The D2's high-end aluminum anodized finish flows seamlessly with my device and it looks like they are a matched set. When not in use it looks GREAT on the desk and evokes a very modern feeling. When in use it basically all but disappears from the user. My only two gripes here are that:

The AC interface doesn't sit flush with the D2's power port; rather, it looks and feels like it doesn't go all the way in.
The on/off switch is not intuitive. The first several times I used the D2 I couldn't tell if the fan stayed on or not. Also, Its hard to tell when the unit is turned off; this is because it is has a cycle-type switch which might have you going right past the "off" setting without realizing it. Its saving grace is that it has an auto-off feature so this only comes into play if you need to manually turn it off while the unit is still plugged in.

Build Quality

The build quality of this unit is SOLID. Almost completely so. I say "almost" because the fan grill seems to be a bit flimsy compared to the rest of the D2. If it had less "give" when picking up the D2 it would have been perfect. One way around this is to pick it up using the air output port in the front of the unit (which is not intuitive). Please note that normally you wouldn't pick it up at all.

Functionality

The D2 has about a 5 inch square footprint but when in use most of that is hidden by your device. Once you get the hang of the power switch it is "fire and forget" simple to operate. Its fan is typically quieter than what's inside my own device. Although my device is well balanced its design forces me to keep its heavy keyboard attached in order to use all its ports... which means that most less substantial and less costly dock alternatives typically won't work for me.

Size & Weight

As mentioned earlier this thing is HEAVY. When you pick it up it feels like a solid block. That's because it's machined from a single block of aluminum that ends up being about 2 pounds. The product page lists it at 4.8 inches wide by 4.1 inches deep by 4.1 inches tall. Practically it's slightly more than 5 inches deep because of the AC interface. Even so, it reduced my necessary desk footprint to about a third of what I would normally need for my Surface Book.

Compatibility

Although the D2 is made for the MacBook Pro I used a Surface Book with its screen pointing towards me. The combination worked right out of the box with no issues and I was able to use Windows Hello normally (significant because the cameras are upside down). Given this it should work with devices having a depth anywhere between about 0.3 inches to about 0.9 inches (give or take a little) and aren't top heavy. Anything is possible... but you'd have to try very hard to find something meeting that criteria that won't work with the D2.

Unfortunately, that width is incredibly thin. Many super-modern laptops fit this criteria, but laptops and tablets just a few years old will likely be too thick to fit. Before considering this product, definitely ensure that the computer you are purchasing it for is thin enough to fit in the slot.

Setup

Setup is easy: Set the D2 on your desk, plug in the AC unit, place your device and turn them both on. It's a simple as that. Inside the top of the box is a foam faux-roof which hides the AC plug and a hex screwdriver. The screwdriver is used to adjust the sliding rubber pad to accommodate thinner devices. If necessary, loosen the two screws until you can move the sliding pad, adjust as desired and then tighten the screws. Easy.

Withings Go (Withings)

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 14:36:02 UTC

Withings Go

Withings

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Nov 11, 2016

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The Go activity tracker is light weight making it comfortable to wear. The screen is great and allows for the possibility of a multi-month [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">.

Negatives

The quality of the wrist strap makes the device look worn out after only a few months of usage. The quality of the electronic puck can easily create skin irritation after the first battery change.

Result

While the device looks like an attractive option up-front, several months of wear has revealed that the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink">, and its effect on the durability of the device, do not make the Go a great [metric50" class="UpStreamLink">.

Product Description

Everyone knows that getting enough activity is crucial to good health. But measuring this activity shouldn't be a job. That's why Withings designed its latest activity tracker to be fun, easy-to-use, and accessible. Already honored with numerous design awards, Go features an always-on E Ink screen, a battery that lasts up to 8 months, and seamless pairing with our highly-rated Health Mate app. Simple on the outside, highly-advanced on the inside: Withings Go is perfect for anyone ready to give activity tracking a go.

Fit

The device has two states, both of which fit relatively well. While in pedometer mode, the clasp is tight enough to not worry about losing it. Whether walking or running, you can be assured that the device is not going to release and get lost. While in watch mode, the experience is very similar. The only difference is, because of the design of the clips, there are scenarios in which you might not get a perfect fit. If your wrist is halfway between two notches, it might be too loose, with no obvious solution. Luckily, the spacing between notches is not so great as to ruin the experience.

Value

The feature set and functionality of the Go would seem to make the purchase an easy decision. Unfortunately, the few negatives undo the positives. The lack of Windows [metric29" class="UpStreamLink"> means that not everyone will be able to use it, and some issues with the [metric21" class="UpStreamLink"> make it look like a bargain product. The real issues, though, stem from the issues with the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> which lead to issues with [metric18" class="UpStreamLink">. With an MSRP of $79, the price is at least $30 too high for the overall quality of the device.

Connectivity

Bluetooth low energy works differently from traditional Bluetooth. Your device must support this newer technology, and you must register the device through the accompanying app.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 9.1)

The process of pairing was direct and easy and is explained in detail under [metric43" class="UpStreamLink">. There were no issues connecting the device.

Range

Apple iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 9.1)

The range at which the Go was capable of syncing was not long, but long enough to be convenient. The ideal scenario for syncing is when the phone is in your hand or pocket, which is likely a common scenario.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 10.1.1)

Following the update to iOS 10, the range was left mostly unaffected. Initially the range slipped slightly, but recovered after another update from Apple. This was not the only device affected by a drop in range during this period.

Battery Life

Because of the decision to use an E Ink display (detailed in [metric21" class="UpStreamLink">), the Battery Life is beyond acceptable. Because of the E Ink display, the Go can run on a single button cell battery for up to 9 months. That is in comparison to other devices with LCD screens that require daily charging. We have not had the device for the full 9 month battery life, but it has been in use for several months without issue. In testing the battery on a meter, it still shows a nearly full battery.

Learning Curve

Device

The Go does not require very much interaction, which means there is very little learning to be done. Once the device is paired with your phone, there is not much you need to do to make it function. The only things to know are about how to read the display. The inner circle, shown in the photo as a person walking, shows where you are in your step goal. The person indicates you have not reached your goal, and changes to a star when you have accomplished it. The ring on the outside of the display shows the percentage of goal reached. The inner ring, which is blank in the image, shows how many times you have completed your goal today. By pressing the display, it switches to a clock instead.

Companion App

The Withings app is mostly straight-forward. For the most part, it is a consumption app, which displays the data collected by the Go, as well as other Withings devices. When paired only with the Go, it will show you your daily step and sleep goals and whether you hit them. From there you can also enter external data, like weight, activity and heart rate. The only slightly odd aspect of the app is the option to add food, which actually does not take place within the app itself, but instead within a partner app. Once you get past this one idiosyncrasy, the experience is very pleasant and easy to learn.

Design

The Withings Go has both a unique and useful design. The most notable aspect of the wearable's design is its screen. Rather than using an LCD screen, like many others on the market, the Go uses an E Ink technology, which provides a number of benefits. Operationally, the most important benefit is readability: E Ink can be easily read in just about any light. For daily convenience, however, E Ink means that the device has great [metric3" class="UpStreamLink">.

Another unique aspect of the Go is the various ways it can be worn. The traditional wear is, of course, on the wrist. From there it can detect steps and sleep patterns. It can also be worn like a traditional pedometer, on the hip, where it can detect just steps. This is made possible by the fact that all of the electronics are included in a small coin-sized piece that snaps into these differing pieces.

Comfort

After wearing the Go daily for several months, a few comfort issues have become obvious. First, the material that the strap is made out of is not exactly smooth. On a warmer day, having something on your wrist can cause additional sweating and the texture of the strap can cause a bit of chaffing. On a few occasions, my wrist would end up with a red ring around it, but luckily it never hurt and would go away within a few days.

Another issue that appeared, only after removing the battery once, involves the battery cover on the back of main electronic. Because of the style of battery cover, the process of removing it is likely to cause a little damage, which can then result in irritating scratches and blisters on your wrist. This type of battery cover is more designed to be used on something like a highway toll transceiver, where the damage is not in contact with your skin and therefore far less important.

Build Quality

At first glance, it would appear that the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> is just fine, but when you look under the hood, you might change your opinion. The material used in the strap is wrong on a number of levels. First is the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> issue raised earlier - the texture can easily cause skin irritation when you sweat. If the strap were properly smooth, it would be less likely to cause irritation. Second, the strap stains very easily. After only a couple of months of wear, the once bright yellow strap is now a wide variety of shades of dirty yellow, which no amount of cleaning has been able to correct. It makes the device look cheap, instead of like a high-quality wearable.

The electronic itself also has build quality issues. As mentioned in the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> section, the quality of the plastic and the design of the battery cover come together to cause another skin irritation issue. Once it has been opened once, the plastic stretches, causing uneven edges which scratch a lot. As I write this, I am dealing with a spot on the top of my wrist that was once a small blister caused by this build quality issue.

Unfortunately, the plastic quality also leads to gaps around the battery cover. This creates another possible point of friction, though it is mostly covered by the strap. The gap around battery cover, as well as the gap used for opening the cover, both accumulate stuff from the skin, especially when worn for exercising. In addition to the strap discoloring, so does the electronic itself. It is also a bit of a sanitary issue, requiring deep cleaning on a regular basis.

Functionality

The things that the Go is designed to do, it does well. The screen and the clock feature are easy to read, the step counter is fairly intuitive and the battery lasts an extended period of time. The ability to switch the Go from watch mode to pedometer mode is a welcomed addition. Even the companion app functions as well, if not better, than many of the others in the market.

The only real issue that we noticed was that the step readings reported by the Go sometimes differ greatly from other trackers worn during the same period. Usually the Go reported similar readings to other trackers, but occasionally it would report 10% or more steps than others. This suggests that perhaps the tracking mechanism is too sensitive, often counting typing motions as steps.

Size & Weight

While the [metric19" class="UpStreamLink"> of the Go leaves a lot to be desired, the device itself is incredibly light. In comparison to some other fitness trackers and smart bands, the Go feels almost non-existent. The weight, or lack thereof, adds to the [metric18" class="UpStreamLink"> of wearing it, whether as a watch or pedometer. The size of the screen is large enough to be easily read, yet small enough to not be heavy or tacky.

Compatibility

The Withings app, which is required for operation, is only available for iOS and Android. Other companies in the category have begun to embrace the Windows platform, including the biggest competitor Fitbit, but Withings is currently not available for the platform. Some 3rd party developers have built unofficial apps that interact with Withings data, indicating that there is a demand for Windows support. What adds to the surprise is that Withings is owned by Nokia, one of the largest hardware and software partners for Windows.

Setup

Configuring the Go was fairly easy. First, choose how you will be using it: pedometer or watch, and put the puck into the appropriate holder. Next, download the app on the device you plan to use it with. Once the app is downloaded, you simply follow the on-screen prompts and the Go is installed and ready to go. The only device interaction you will need is to press the screen once to put it into pairing mode. Once paired, the Go and app will sync, though it should have no data being a new device.

Prelude Headphones (Rosewill)

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:45:00 UTC

Prelude Headphones

Rosewill

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday Nov 3, 2016

3.13 out of 5

Summary

Positives

An attractive design incorporating beautiful beechwood with fairly comfortable earcups.

Negatives

The headband is a bit tight and the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired.

Result

While the sound isn't perfect, it also isn't enough to dismiss the Prelude headphones. The price is enough to consider these attractive looking headphones.

Product Description

Rosewill presents the Prelude Headphones handcrafted from selected natural beech wood adding warmth to the sound quality in exactly the same way that wood musical instruments performed. Through the unique, natural wood grain, you will love how they feel in your hands. Put them on, sit back, and enjoy your favorite sound of plucked strings, upbeat grooves or thumping beats while still looking classy.

Design

The most remarkable aspect of the Prelude Design is the earcups. They are made with genuine beechwood, which gives each pair a unique and classy look. The wood is beautifully polished to a shine with the Rosewill Music logo laser etched on each side. Normally, a logo so prominently placed would look tacky, but it naturally blends into the design of the wood.

A nice added design feature is the angled headband. While it might cause some trouble at first, because it doesn't initially feel natural, it is much appreciated for me. While a normal band goes straight up and over the head, this band sits forward, meaning it avoids the top of my hat without sitting strangely on my ears.

The cable that comes with the Prelude headphones is also a nice choice. Most headphones in this price category come with a standard 1/8" cable, but the Prelude headphones come with a braided fabric cable instead. This cable also has inline microphone and audio controls, compatible with many smartphones and media players.

The rest of the design, however, leaves a little to be desired. While the cups look classy, the rest is made of plastic and vinyl. The chrome look of the clasps adds a nice touch, but would have been better served with an actual aluminum, rather than metallic looking metal. The top could have maintained the classy look generated by the cups by using leather rather than vinyl.

The swivel feature on the cups is a nice, and unexpected touch, especially for the price. The feature is popular among DJs and live audio engineers, who need to be able to hear audio from their headphones as well as the room they are in. The angled band, however, makes this a little more awkward than normal DJ-style headphones.

Comfort

When you put the Prelude headphones on, the first thing you will notice is that the headband is not mounted at 90 degrees to the earcups. Instead, there is a slight angle that, if worn correctly, puts the band further forward on your head. This will avoid the center of a baseball cap or a headband, making it more comfortable to wear. It will also make putting them on the first time a little awkward.

After getting past the band, these headphones are fairly comfortable, assuming you like an over-the-ear headset. The material on the earcups is soft and the padding has a nice give to it. Unfortunately, the band itself is a little tight, and a little extra pressure is put on the ears. If you are wearing the headphones for a shorter period of time, less than 2 hours, this will probably not become a big problem. If you wear them for longer, though, your ears are likely to start hurting.

Though we did not have the ability to long-term stress test the Prelude headphones, we can make a few predictions about how they will wear with time. The two major factors that weigh into their comfort are likely to switch places. The headband will inevitably loosen up, making longer listening periods more comfortable. The earcup pads, however, will likely lose their covering, making them less comfortable to wear in general. The earcup issue isn't unique to the Prelude headphones, so it is not a limiting factor for purchase.

Build Quality

Physically, the Prelude headphones appear to be put together well. The vinyl across the band is stitched internally, preventing wear on the seam itself. The adjustable aspect of the band is tight, so there isn't concern about the headphones slipping while you wear them.

While the general build is good, there are some places where a little extra care could have been taken. In looking at the headphones, there are 8 screw heads visible. Matching caps to cover those screws would have been a nice touch. In addition to exposed screws, the wires that connect the speakers are visible where they run through a hollow channel in the clasps. Closing that channel, rather than leaving it open, would have also maintained the classic styling presented by the beechwood.

Sound Quality

The Sound Quality of the Prelude headphones is not going to set the world on fire, but you are likely not going to be upset about owning them, either. Upon first listening, the most obvious aspect of the audio is the bass. These headphones are tuned such that bass will definitely overshadow the rest of the audio experience. Rosewill is far from the first company to tune for bass, especially in this class of headphones, so it was not exactly a surprise.

The speakers used within the headphones, however, are not particularly bass responsive, so you end up with a bit of a muffled sound. The Sound Quality is not going to ruin your listening experience. In fact, the sound is reminiscent of what you would get from a waterproof speaker. With something waterproof, though, you expect to tradeoff a little fidelity for the benefit of being able to withstand the water. In this case, the loss of fidelity has no direct tradeoff.

GRAM Computer Case (Rosewill)

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:13:17 UTC

GRAM Computer Case

Rosewill

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Oct 30, 2016

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The case is fairly lightweight, and the aesthetic is not bad. It has a slightly aggressive styling, which makes it look nice under the desk.

Negatives

Placement and USB port availability of the front header is the major limiting factor of the GRAM. Using the header is clumsy and affects the look of the case.

Result

This case certainly has its market, and its price makes it fairly attractive. Before considering the purchase, though, make sure you aren't going to grow out of it quickly, and that items plugged into the USB ports won't catch on your chair.

Product Description

The Rosewill GRAM, a well-rounded mid tower fits an ATX motherboard, a 240 mm long radiator, 360 mm long graphics card, and supports up to 5 cooling fans. Double USB 3.0 ports ensure fast and smooth data transaction. With the Rosewill GRAM, you can build your gaming system in your own way.

Design

The look of the case is fairly standard, as you might expect from a case in this price category. However, Rosewill has added some design elements to make it more appealing than a standard black box. The acrylic side panel is nice, but not particularly unique in the industry. Where the case really stands out is the front panel. Sharp lines and no soft contours makes this case look like it was designed in the style of an 70s American muscle car. Unfortunately, they tried to do too much with the front panel, almost hiding the header panel and activity indicators. These important elements all face forward instead of up, making them difficult to access unless the computer is on top of the desk, as well as detracting from the aesthetic lines of case. These features would be better positioned on the upward slant just above the external drive bay.

Build Quality

Internally, the build of the GRAM is of a high quality. All of the joints and weld points are in place, and the frame of the case is sturdy. All of the spacing for motherboard mounts are proper, the drive bays are secure and everything fits snugly, as it should.

On the outside, however, there are some problems. None of the movable parts have level seams. The side panels, once removed and replaced, do not fit together perfectly. Even in the company's own marketing image on Amazon, the side panels rise slightly above the top of the body, and extend slightly beyond the back panel. This leaves two exposed aluminum corners that could easily snag on clothing or other fabric. There is also a strange spacing around the external drive bay door, making the clean, sharp lines of the fixed components lose their effect.

Functionality

The GRAM works as advertised. The fans are quiet and powerful, clearing a lot of heat out of the case in an efficient manner. We moved our studio computer out of its former case and into this one, and the computer functions slightly more efficiently because of the additional cooling. More importantly, the fans are quiet enough to not get picked up on our microphones even with the computer exposed to the room.

The real disappointment, though, is the front header. Its placement makes accessing the ports difficult, unless the computer is sitting on top of your desk. Ten years ago this might have worked but today, most people keep their towers below their desks to save work space.

Compatibility

For a more consumer-oriented case, the GRAM supports a wide array of capabilities, but not as much as one might expect considering its size. It supports two 3.5", two 2.5" and one 5.25" external facing drive bay. It has space for seven expansion slots and up to a 200mm power supply. The case also has room for up to two more fans, making a total of four.

Unfortunately, despite advertising room for a radiator within the case, there are no external hose ports, making high-efficiency water cooling not an immediate option. To accomplish it, you would have to custom cut holes in the back of the case to support external hardware.

Setup

The design of the inside of this case makes hardware installation fairly easy. An issue we had with the Rosewill CULLINAN case where the rubber grommet between the power supply and motherboard opening was not present in this one. The lip that holds that grommet in place seems to be wider, which keeps it in place while running cables through it. That was a nice change of pace, because that piece was not easy to put back into place.

As with many cases with metal side panels, getting them back on can be a challenge. The GRAM is no exception to this trend. When cables are run, they can get caught in the teeth that hold the panels onto the body, making it an adventure to wrangle the wires and the teeth. Luckily, the wire management included with the case made most of this a non-issue, and certainly easier than many other cases on the market in this category.

CULLINAN Gaming Computer Case (Rosewill)

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:13:12 UTC

CULLINAN Gaming Computer Case

Rosewill

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Oct 30, 2016

4.2 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A beautiful glass body and a sturdy steel frame with plenty of circulation and ventilation.

Negatives

Installation of components is the biggest downside, with limited cable management space, short header wires and an easy to smudge casing.

Result

This case is definitely one to consider for both form and function, just don't expect the initial setup to be a piece of cake.

Product Description

Inside this prestigious and stylish case, the chassis supports large motherboard capacities up to E-ATX. On the exterior, the CULLINAN incorporates three elegant transparent panels, harnessing the beauty of tempered glass. Allowing users to choose their own way is Rosewill's new motto for all gaming components. Users should be supplied with just the right amount of options to choose from and to build their own system design. The CULLINAN is the core component to ensure that your gaming rig shines and stands above the rest. In all, CULLINAN is an aesthetic masterpiece with capabilities only limited by your imagination.

Design

The first thing you notice about this case is that it is stunning. Whether the included lighted fans are turned on or off, the tempered glass makes this case look unlike anything incorporating acrylic. The reflection off of the glass and the way the light catches it from inside and out make this a case that should definitely be shown off. Moving the standard interface items, like power, reset and USB, from the front to the top makes the solid glass front a visual focal point, and puts the controls in a more convenient location. Small, but full-height ventilation is hidden on the sides, behind the glass of the face and the body. Even the covered top ventilation is done in a way that is mostly attractive. One of the things I was most impressed with is that Rosewill did not give up on the mounting side of the case. Normally, translucent cases only give you a view of one side, but the CULLINAN has glass on both left and right. The only place where the design falls down a bit is in the amount of space between the motherboard mounting plate and the glass itself. It is barely wide enough to house the included header cable, meaning that closing the side is a bit difficult.

Build Quality

Overall, most of the quality of the case is superb. The glass is thick, the tinting is just the right amount to allow you to see in while still being reflective. The case itself is made of a sturdy steel instead of aluminum, certainly capable of holding the heavier glass in place without issue. The build isn't perfect, though. The removable glass panels on the sides do not sit 100% flush with any of its adjoining sides. The variation is, in our example, very small, but it is enough to be noticeable if you really pay attention. Also, the vent cover on the top of the case is just slightly smaller than the panel that it covers. The piece that actually caused trouble, however, was the rubber grommet protecting the space between the power supply and motherboard. The sides that hold it in place are way too small, making it more likely you will pop it out while running cables.

Functionality

Overall, the functionality of the case, along with its included accessories, is what you would expect. The fans are powerful and quiet, and the fan controller on the front panel gives you some control over the process. Since moving one of our office computers into the CULLINAN, the computer has run more efficiently, as the case cools far better. The top header is also well-placed and easy to access, with good spacing between the USB ports and a separation between USB and audio.

The one thing that is a disappointment with the setup is in the lighting of the fans. The top header gives some control over whether or not the lights within the fans are on. Unfortunately, the only way you can turn the lights on is to have the fans at full power. Often, I would like to have the lights on, but have the fans at a lower power, but, alas, that is not an option with this controller.

Compatibility

The case is capable of supporting just about anything you might be interested in doing. It has three 3.5" and three 2.5" drive bays, has availability for seven expansion slots and can support up to a 200mm power supply. The back panel has grommets for tubing, and there is room enough for a 180mm CPU cooler, making water cooling an easy task. There is also room for three more fans on the top of the case, making a total of seven. The only thing you won't be able to include is an optical drive, as the case has no support for external accessibility, so a fully external drive will be your only choice if you still use optical.

Setup

While the design of the case makes most tasks within setup and installation fairly easy, there were some that were just this side of tedious. As mentioned in Build Quality, the rubber grommet between the power supply and motherboard is built with sides too small to hold it in place. If even a minimal amount of pressure is applied, such as while pushing the giant motherboard connector through, it is likely to fall off. This happened twice while testing in the office, and getting it to sit back in place once it is out is no picnic, either. If the lip that secures the grommet were just a bit wider, it would eliminate the struggle to get it back in place.

Equally frustrating was the right glass panel. The gap between it and the internal housing is just barely too narrow to comfortably hold the cabling for the top panel. This, combined with hard drive power and SATA cables, caused a bit of a struggle when replacing the panel. Just a little more space, even as little as a centimeter, would have made the whole process far easier to accomplish.

While talking about the top header cable, the pin structure is a little unfortunate. While not impossible to get everything installed correctly, it would have been nice if the available cable length coming to each pin, especially the power and reset pins, was longer. It was a tight race to get all of the cables connected, with the power pins requiring plyers to get enough leverage.

The last issue, which is completely unavoidable but does need to be mentioned, is the glass panels. While replacing the panels, you will need to clean them thoroughly. Fingerprints will end up all over the glass while removing the panels, and will get worse during the process of replacing them. Either wear gloves or use a cloth to prevent as much of it as possible. No matter how hard you try, though, you will need to clean them. We used an electronic screen cleaning gel, which helped reduce further smudges.

voilà! Tracking Device (Wistiki)

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 16:53:21 UTC

voilà! Tracking Device

Wistiki

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Oct 21, 2016

3.56 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The device is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry. The range is surprisingly long for a Bluetooth LE device.

Negatives

The design of the only button makes using it initially an act of courage, evoking concerns that you might break it. It is also only available for Android and iOS, with no Windows support.

Result

If you have Android or iOS, this might be a device to consider, but it is just one in a field of many like it. It might be worth waiting until a second generation of this model is released.

Product Description

Since keys are what we lose the most, we had to find a way to keep this from happening to you. Straight out of Philippe Starck's imagination, the voilà! fits perfectly on your keychain. Finally a connected object you can wear with style!

Connectivity

Bluetooth low energy works differently from traditional Bluetooth. Your device must support this newer technology, and you must register the device through the accompanying app.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 9.1)

The process of pairing followed the instructions explained in the Setup section of this review. There were no issues with pairing this device.

Samsung Galaxy S7 (Android 6.0.1)

The process of pairing followed the instructions explained in the Setup section of this review. There were no issues with pairing this device.

Range

As the voilà works off of Bluetooth low energy, it means that the device is only connected when it needs to be, and when it is within range of a Bluetooth low energy transceiver. The range is far lower than that of traditional Bluetooth, because of the lower energy availability. However, the voilà stays connected much farther than most other Bluetooth LE devices we have tried. In fact, when the device is in the middle of our offices, we can access it from almost anywhere within the offices. That has not been the case for other Bluetooth LE devices.

Controls

There is really only a single control on the voilà itself - a button that neither looks nor behaves like a button. Once you get past this design flaw, the controls are fairly simple: press the button on the device and your phone makes noise. That is the extent of the controls on the device. As for the app, the process is reversed: press a button in the app and the device makes noise, assuming you are within range of the voilà.

You can also locate the device using a similar process to a "Find my Phone" feature, assuming you are out of range. The lack of GPS in the device is compensated for because any time another Wistiki user encounters your device, it will report its location, making it easier to find.

Learning Curve

Mainly because of the poor design of the physical button on the voilà, the Learning Curve here is a bit steep. As stated in the Design section, activating this button at first requires a bit of a leap of faith. For everyone that we had try it, triggering the button was a challenge. Users had to be informed that greater pressure than would be expected was required to activate. Once aware of that nuance, operating the voilà became easier, but not exactly easy.

Design

There is little in the way of Design for this device. It is a simple rectangle with a translucent acrylic tip. It sports a single button that neither looks nor acts like a button. It is represented on the device by a dimple, shown in the photo. The dimple has little to no physical give, but does work on pressure. It takes a lot of pressure and a little faith when you first try it, because, in addition to there being no real feedback, the reaction of the button is heavily delayed. Even after being paired, pressing the button takes upwards of 3-5 seconds before the tone plays on the phone.

In an attempt to assure myself that I was not making a mistake, I asked several colleagues, friends and family to press the button after showing them where it was. Not a single person was willing to press the dimple hard enough to activate the switch underneath. Clearly this makes both the pairing process and operation of the device trickier than it needs to be.

Build Quality

The overall build of the device is sound. The metal body is flat and smooth in the way you would expect. There are no lumps or imperfections in any part of the body itself. The acrylic tip sits firmly on in place. The biggest issue with the build is that the seam where the acrylic and metal body meet is not level. There is a bit of a lip at the junction, part of which can be a little sharp. It's not enough to cut your finger, but it is sharp enough to scratch the inside of a pocket or handbag.

Compatibility

The device works extremely well on both iOS and Android. The Setup process is easy and the operation is smooth. The surprising lack of usage is in Windows 10. The app is not available for Windows, either desktop or mobile. This is a disappointment both because of the general interest of Windows users for IoT devices, and the ability to port an iOS app directly to the Windows 10 platform. Hopefully in time the company will release the app for Windows as well as iOS and Android.

Setup

The pairing process for this product is a little odd. It is made odder by the Design of the device itself. When adding a voilà to the app, you must press the button on the device until "a nice melody" plays. Luckily, the screen shows where the button is, because you might miss it at first glance. Once you get past the initial connection process, you assign the device a name and you are done.

Hub Ultra Power Bank (12,000 mAh) (myCharge)

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 05:43:25 UTC

Hub Ultra Power Bank (12,000 mAh)

myCharge

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Sep 25, 2016

3.88 out of 5

Summary

Positives

12 amps of power, built-in cables, fairly light weight and charging dock rather than cable.

Negatives

Missing a traditional USB port for charging non-traditional devices and a lot of potential energy loss.

Result

Don't let the loss of power dissuade you from this charger. The price, especially if you catch it on sale, combined with the overall convenience of the charger make this a battery pack to consider for work and portable gaming, like Pokémon GO.

Product Description

With a 3.4-amp shared output and 12,000 mAh capacity, this myCharge Hub Ultra HB12V power bank makes it easy to keep your USB devices powered and ready for use. An included 4-amp charging base with wall prongs simplifies replenishment.

Battery Life

Practical Test

During a convention weekend, our staff used this charger exclusively. Two employees with 3 phones playing Pokémon GO all weekend managed to use this battery all weekend without needing to charge it except for the initial charge. An iPhone 6s Plus was charged 3 times and a Galaxy Note 6 was charged twice. When we were done with the weekend and the 5 charges, the battery was nearly dead, but did register as a single dot (out of 4). The last dot, however, shows even when the battery is below charging threshold, so we are unaware of how close to dead the battery actually was. Either way, it more than accomplished our goal for the weekend.

Nokia Lumia 620

As with previous myCharge batteries, the amount of power we got out of the device was not nearly as high as advertised. Previous devices have shown around 25% power loss, and this one was no different. On the test device, the phone lasted 10 hours and 38 minutes using its 1.3 amp internal battery alone. Adding an additional 12 amps to the system, the battery should last 4 days, 12 hours and 47 minutes. On average, our tests produced 3 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes. This works out to a 26% power loss.

Unlike previous batteries, however, there is no clear culprit for where this power might be lost. At this point, our only explanation is that there is a common power regulation circuit between the 3 batteries we have tested from this brand, and it has an efficiency issue. While it would be nice to have that additional power back, this battery does seem to provide a lot of power.

Build Quality

The build of the Hub Ultra is mostly great. The metal body prevents getting damaged, the battery test button is properly inset to prevent accidental hitting in a bag and even the attached cables fit into body snugly but can still be removed easily. Essentially, all of the issues we have noted about previous myCharge batteries have been solved in this new model. The only real issues we discovered with the build of the device comes from the charging dock. First, the battery sits a little more shallow than would be ideal. If you change it in a higher traffic area like a kitchen, or if you have a pet that gets close to it, it is likely the battery will get knocked off. It's easy enough to overcome that issue by simply not charging it in a high traffic area. The other issue is that the way the charger sits on the wall can be an issue for certain outlets. In one of our outlets, the dock sagged forward when the battery was placed in it.

Size & Weight

For the size and battery capacity, the battery (minus charging dock) is really great. It is a heavy device, but not much more than you would expect from what it is. Trading off a little extra weight in exchange for a metal body and 12 mAh of battery capacity is one that many will personally accept. Knowing that the charger is safe in your purse, backpack or laptop bag is enough to accept the overall weight of the device.

Compatibility

The capacity is great for its design, but leaves a little to be desired. The included Apple and micro USB connectors make charging the most common devices easy, but if you have a non-traditional device, you'll be out of luck. While traveling, we had to carry a second external battery to charge devices like a Microsoft Band because it has a custom charger. It would be nice if, in addition to the two included cables, the battery also included a traditional USB port to allow other devices to be charged.

Trestle Laptop Backpack (STM)

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 23:58:24 UTC

Trestle Laptop Backpack

STM

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Thursday Sep 1, 2016

3.8 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A good design with great build quality, designed to make traveling with a laptop or tablet easier.

Negatives

The bag itself is small, meaning that it will only for if you have a small laptop or tablet to carry with you. Unfortunately missing the TSA laptop pouch.

Result

If you travel a lot with a smaller laptop or tablet, like something in the Surface family, this could be a good alternative to a traditional laptop bag.

Product Description

Designed in Australia, the Trestle backpack will fit, carry and protect your 13 inch laptop (most 11-14 inch laptops should work great) along with the rest of your daily essentials. The STM crew have come up with a unique tech cell construction that protects and organizes your laptop, tablet and charging accessories all in a soft-lined and strategically padded section.

Design

For the most part, the design of the bag is good. The main compartment is large and spacious, considering the overall side of the bag itself. The small top pouch is a good size for keys or a charging cable, or even a small battery pack. The front pouch is where things start to get good. Inside of this zippered pouch is another zippered pouch. This is great in an airport or on the plane, as a place to secure easily lost or stolen items because of the difficulty of reaching these items. In addition, a tight strap around the back allows you to easily connect the backpack to rolling luggage, making travel through an airport far easier. A small zippered pocket on the side works for change and other small items. One area that could use some work is the elastic side pocket, which is often used for water and soda bottles, is a little too small to be used for that. While the pocket itself is mostly big enough for its purpose, the opening makes it difficult to get the bottle in or out.

Build Quality

The overall build of this bag is superb. The seams are all well-stitched, neither the zipper teeth nor pull are made of cheap plastic and the fabric itself is thick. The material used to make the top handle, luggage strap and shoulder straps is secured well to the body and has just a little bit of stretch to it, which should help maintain the health of the stitching. The only part of the bag that appears to be of concern is the back strap. The clip that connects the two sides does not appear to be made of the same material as the zipper pulls, but instead of a cheap plastic. The straps connect to the shoulder straps with a pair of sliding connectors, which are equally unimpressive in quality. They are also held on, seemingly by magic which will certainly not stand the test of time.

Functionality

The bag does what it is designed for well, but it is not perfect. One feature that would make it closer to perfect would be a TSA-approved quick-open back panel. Most of the backpacks we have with a focus on computers all have a back section that folds open to prevent having to disassemble your bag for TSA screening. Instead, you open the back and remove the laptop from its own, private compartment. This bag, however, has the laptop compartment inside of the main compartment, meaning that you will have to dig past other things to get the laptop out at screening. This is unfortunate for a bag otherwise hyper focused on travel amenities.

Size & Weight

Unfortunately, while the space is well used, the bag itself is too small overall. It is designed to accommodate an 11-14 inch laptop, but the type of person traveling with a laptop is often not bringing a small one with them. While it is capable of carrying a Surface Pro easily, it is too small for any of the laptops we have in the office, and too small for any of the non-tablet computers we have in our extended group. Assuming the bag is within your size requirements, though, it is important to know that the weight is a bit disproportionately heavy. This added weight, however, is not enough of an issue to be terribly noticeable when it is full of equipment.

Compatibility

The bag is definitely designed for a specific size laptop, but the size it is designed for is a niche market. Fortunately, that niche is growing with the popularity of the Surface line and its competitors. Before considering this bag, you would want to measure your computer and ensure it is going to fit into the main pouch. You'll also want to carefully consider what else you're carrying with you, as you will find additional space limited for larger items.

mCookie Arduino Kit (Microduino)

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 09:00:00 UTC

mCookie Arduino Kit

Microduino

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Aug 31, 2016

3.92 out of 5

Summary

Positives

An easy-to-use magnet-based primary module concept and quick disconnect for secondary modules, with a lot of capabilities included in the kit.

Negatives

No ability to add Wi-Fi after purchase, and a number of viable radio options missing. A small but prominent issue with module connectors.

Result

If you are looking for a kit for education or simple circuit prototyping, this system is a great idea that is worth serious consideration.

Product Description

mCookie is Microduino's second generation smart modules. Using the all new implementation of magnetic connectors and pogo pins, they are now much easier to use. The various modules allow for a wide variety circuit designs.

Connectivity

The Basic kit comes with a CoreUSB and Bluetooth communication module, making connectivity easy, but not universal. The Expert Kit adds a Wi-Fi module, which is currently unavailable as an individual purchase. While this covers the standard case, unfortunately, there are a number of other communication protocols that are currently missing. For example, adding long-range communication with ZigBee, IoT communication with Z-Wave or Insteon, or even cellular connectivity with GSM or LTE, would all be great capabilities. Fortunately, because of the nature of the product, Microduino or another manufacturer could build a compatible module to add these protocols in the future.

Learning Curve

Unlike traditional Arduino implementations, this product requires no major wiring to accomplish the majority of tasks. From the base device, you can easily add complex capabilities like Bluetooth communication, or simple things, like LEDs and sensors. Major modules connect via pogo pins and magnetics, while smaller pieces connect via snap-in cables.

As far as the development environment, or IDE, the interface is not extremely difficult, nor is it entirely intuitive. While setting up the program, we did encounter a small issue that prevented us from deploying the software to the device, though the manual did have a step-by-step guide to configuring for deployment; we simply missed it. Once we worked through that particular issue, development and deployment became far easier. Ideally, though, I would prefer to develop and deploy using something more standard, like Visual Studio.

Design

The absolute best part of this system is the snap-together nature of the modules. Being able to literally snap on a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi module to add that capability makes the Arduino platform far more reachable for younger makers than jumper wires and breadboards. Second, and only by a little, is the lack of hard wiring for simpler things, like mics, speakers, LEDs and such. By removing the more menial aspects of circuit building, you can focus more on learning about the way the parts of the circuit interact and how to control them via software. A full Arduino might be more versatile, but the mCookie is a great way to learn one part of circuitry at a time. In addition, the modules are all designed to work with LEGOs, so you can even build simple robotics projects with your existing LEGO collection.

Build Quality

The build of the main modules is beyond sturdy. Being as little needs to be done to make them work together, it would be difficult to do something to damage them, other than scratching the circuits themselves. As for the smaller modules and their removable cables, some of them can be a little tight. While disconnecting an LED module, the connector got stuck in the board and pulling on it felt like it was going to break the wires, leaving the connector behind. Once the connector was removed, however, subsequent connections were far easier to remove from the same LED module. We also didn't experience this issue on all of the modules; it was sporadic.

Compatibility

The development environment is compatible with both Windows and macOS, as are the drivers that power the mCookie on the computer. This means that just about any computer you have will likely be capable of programming the Core. Adding the LEGO option means that you can also build simple or complex cases and robotics setups with any LEGO pieces. Where this platform currently lacks is in the extensibility of modules. There are radio modules that would make more complex circuits possible that are currently not available. These radios are available through more traditional Arduino boards, however. It would also be nice to have a module that allows you to use existing Arduino shields, essentially as build-your-own module.

Usability

While the Learning Curve is not steep, the usability might be, depending on your needs. As a learning tool, or even as a basic circuit prototype system, it is just fine. If your intentions are to use this in the place of a full Arduino board, however, you might find yourself wanting. Missing Connectivity options, a slightly clumsy Arduino IDE and small Build Quality issues could make the mCookie harder to use, or impossible to build certain types of projects.

SP-7260 60-Watt Multimedia Speakers (Rosewill)

Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:32:05 UTC

SP-7260 60-Watt Multimedia Speakers

Rosewill

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Jul 13, 2016

3.7 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Decent build quality and great sound quality for the price.

Negatives

Heavier than they should be with a few physical imperfections.

Result

So long as you don't plan on carrying these speakers around with you, they are a great value with a good look.

Product Description

High-quality audio performance, with clear sound at any volume to fill your room with big, balanced sound which makes it like staying in a studio
Use the Aux input to bring perfect audio performance to another audio source such as your smartphone or tablet
Punch Bass Ex Technology - Excellent Bass Response with Enhanced Soundstage, Crystal Sound Technology - Better Definition and Brilliance in the Mid and High Frequency
Wooden cabinets with excellence sound quality. Each cabinet with 1.5" tweeter for high and 4" woofer for mid to low depths. Ultimate-wide frequency range perfect for full-range multimedia
With its easy setup, just connect the speakers into your computer

Connectivity

These speakers have all of the connections you would expect, and one you might not. Being computer speakers, connecting them via a standard 1/8" inch connection is not only easy, but included. Using the cable in the box, I connected the speakers from the green jack on my computer to the dual RCA jacks on the back of the main speaker, which is a connector I wasn't expecting. Because of the RCA jacks, you could connect a non-amplified source as well, such as a turntable. In addition, I have my phone connected to an aux jack on the side of the main speaker so I can play Groove Music without running the app on the computer. There is also a headphone jack on the side, so you can go from public sound on the speakers to private sound on a pair of headphones.

Design

The understated design of the speakers is very pleasant. Light curves with a semi-matte finish makes the speakers look like they belong on a computer desk. The silver and gold accents matched with the honeycomb design under the woofer make the speakers stand out in a way that is not obnoxious, but instead adds a nice amount of color to a computer setup that would usually be all black.

Build Quality

The quality of the speakers is better than average. The body is made of a thick material, even the front mesh holds in place well when put under normal amounts of pressure. Unfortunately, the seams are not all even. There are some gaps that shouldn't be there and corners that should be level that are not. If you intend to put the speakers on a desk, which is the most likely intention for them, then these minor issues should not affect their behavior. If these speakers are intended to travel, however, the gaps could become worse under pressure.

Size & Weight

For their sound quality and volume capability, the size of the speakers is about right. They might be a little big for some computer desks, but for most they would fit and look good. As for weight, they are far heavier than one might expect for their size. In out studio, we have a pair of studio monitors just a bit larger than the Rosewills, but are far lighter, even though they are a far higher quality speaker. Of course, the weight of the speakers is really only important if they are being shipped or carried somewhere.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of these speakers is pretty great for what they are and at their price point. However, since they are simply a pair of tweeters and woofers, but are lacking a dedicated subwoofer, the producible range is not ideal. Super-low sounds are muffled because they are trying to be simulated via a standard woofer instead of being produced by the appropriate but missing subwoofer. For some types of games and video content this will be just fine, for example comedy movies or casual games. In using them for action games or movies, however, you will definitely notice the lack of sound range.

DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 active adapter (Accell)

Fri, 20 May 2016 16:18:16 UTC

DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 active adapter

Accell

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday May 20, 2016

4.2 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Great build quality, great video transfer.

Negatives

Slightly short DisplayPort plug.

Result

If your device has a flat side, this is definitely the adapter for you, but possibly one to avoid for angled devices like a Surface.

Product Description

The Accell Mini DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 Active Adapter enables your Mini DisplayPort supported computer to connect to an HDMI high-definition display. With HDMI 2.0 throughput up to 18Gbps, the Mini DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 adapter is ideal for when 4K video combined with a smooth, 60Hz frame rate is desired. Providing the highest performance available, this adapter is ideal for those engaged in high level computing, gaming and graphics.

Design

At first glance, the design of the product is sound. However, there are a couple of issues that can cause problems for some. First, the connecting cable is a strange length. It's too short to keep all pressure off of the device's port, but too long to always be able to keep it from being pulled off of a flat surface, like a desk or shelf. This can cause strain on the device port itself, which could, with time, cause permanent damage. It would be easy to prevent that issue by keeping the HDMI cable pulled close to the device, or place the device on top of the cable. When used with a Surface Pro, we wrapped the cable under the kickstand to prevent stress.

Second, the length of the plug is slightly short. Again, when used on the Surface Pro, which has an angled side panel, the plug fit completely and worked, but did not always stay in place. The pressure from the cable pulling downwards pulled the adapter out of the tablet twice. This will only be an issue for certain devices, however. If your device has a flat side, you are likely never going to experience the issue. However, if your side panel is slanted, like the Surface Pro, you might want to consider a slanted adapter.

On the other hand, one issue that is common with these adapters that we never experienced was the HDMI cable pulling out of the adapter. This port was solid and tight, preventing the plug from coming loose, meaning you don't have to try again during a presentation or movie.

Build Quality

Lots of adapters in this price point, especially products aimed at a consumer market that needs the adapter to make a device usable, fail on their build quality. With the Accell adapter, however, does not follow that trend. In fact, the physical quality of this adapter is close to that of a professional product. At no point did I feel like it was going to twist, fray or break. A similar product in the same price point that we previously used in our studio, purchased from a different manufacturer, broke after only 2 away shows. We have now traveled with this adapter for several months without any issue.

Functionality

As far as functionality, the most important part of this device is, of course, the picture quality. While using this, there were never any lines or interference in the picture, there was never any resolution drop or anything that would make this adapter a concern. The only things that made functionality an issue is covered in depth under Design. But, like we said in that section, so long as your device does not have a slanted side panel and you can secure the cable, don't let those issues affect your decision to purchase this adapter.

Size & Weight

As compared to some other adapters we have used in this price point, this one is a little heavier than most. The good news is, that weight is actually a positive. The weight comes from the Build Quality - because this adapter is made of sturdier materials and has a better HDMI port, it also comes in weighing just a little bit more. Personally, the difference in weight here was not enough to make it annoying to carry, nor did it feel like the weight would cause any trouble for the device itself.

Compatibility

Because of the nature of DisplayPort to HDMI, digital compatibility is not an issue here. If the device supports any DisplayPort up to and including version 1.2, this adapter will work for you. The only compatibility issues raised here have to do with the physical design of the DisplayPort plug. As discussed in the Design section, the plastic molding makes the plug itself shorter than some devices can use. The Surface Pro, with its slanted side panel, was able to use it, but it stayed loose and fell out on two separate occasions. Most devices will have straight side panels, though, meaning that the compatibility issue raised will not affect most people.

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim (Phoenix Online Publishing)

Mon, 09 May 2016 18:39:45 UTC

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim

Phoenix Online Publishing

Reviewed by Nakia Mann on Monday May 9, 2016

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Part RPG, part open-world adventure and part puzzle platform make Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim a truly unique experience in gaming. I was instantly transported back to the 90's, and I found myself frequently smiling ear to ear as I played.

Negatives

While the game doesn't have any major flaws, the controls, models and animation all have a few bugs. While I enjoyed playing the game it became less about finishing the story, and more about crafting and the puzzles. The case of the missing Vikings became an afterthought.

Result

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim is a great game to pick up and play for a little while. It's a fun platformer, that anyone can just pick up and go with. The learning curve is easy, and the game does a really good job of leading you in the general direction of where you need to go next. That being said, the game never really forces you to care about the story of the missing Vikings. There isn't enough here to keep a hardcore gamer glued to it, but to anyone new to gaming, or someone that's a casual gamer will find hours of enjoyment here.

Product Description

Action role-playing, puzzle solving, and crafting combine in this sprawling open-world fantasy epic, which invites you to take on a range of sweeping quests, battle unforgettable adversaries, and experience the adventure of a lifetime. An interactive, physics-based world of wonder bursting with colorful characters and exotic islands filled with tricks, traps, and treasures to explore awaits your conquest as you gather fantastical artifacts and equipment which can be crafted into playable vehicles and more.

Gameplay

It's hard not to get lost in the world of Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim. I spent the first few moments of the game just running, jumping and rolling around on the ground. The small island of Borja (where you start) is littered with tiny quests designed to teach you how to play the game. It was easy to learn, and the physics-based puzzles were fun to watch. The issues I had were just pacing and overall story tone. At no point do you feel compelled to search for the missing Vikings, and there are other times where supporting characters are clueless as to things that are happening literally inches away from them. I feel like the game has great promise, and it just needs a little polish in one or two aspects.

User Interface

The controls are easy to learn, and easy to execute... depending on the situation. While walking and crafting come easy, and the platforming aspects are fun, combat feels weak and clunky. With just a basic guard, roll and attack, there aren't any real opportunities to make it more interesting, and because of that I never really felt like the protagonist was in any real danger.

Graphics

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim is pretty to look at, however, the animation needs a little work. All of the characters are very stiff, even down to the facial expressions. Some characters look the same no matter what is happening at the time.

Sound

I don't exactly know how to describe the sound experience accurately so that someone who hasn't played the game would understand. The music at times is beautiful, and in most cases it properly sets the mood. However, there are points in the game where there is no sound at all. I wish there would have been voice actors; it would have helped set this game apart from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and given an extra layer of depth to the game.

BoomJacket Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (Altec Lansing)

Mon, 28 Dec 2015 19:19:26 UTC

BoomJacket Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Altec Lansing

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Dec 28, 2015

3.75 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Long battery life, great sound and nearly indestructible.

Negatives

Steep learning curve with deeply hidden controls.

Result

Whether you are looking for an indoor or outdoor Bluetooth speaker, this is a great option for a great price.

Product Description

The BoomJacket Bluetooth Speaker is EVERYTHINGPROOF- IP67-rated waterproof, sandproof, shockproof and snowproof construction; floatable and submersible providing a 50-foot range along with extra audio horsepower, 40 hours of battery life with spoken battery level, and powerbank support for charging mobile devices on the road. The BoomJacket also features a built-in universal mounting mechanism for easy attachment to equipment and structures.

Connectivity

This speaker supports one of my favorite pairing features on a Bluetooth device: NFC pairing. As long as you have a phone with even relatively modern technology, you can easily pair to the speaker with just the touch of the device. Unfortunately, not all phones released, even new phones, do not support this standard technology, so that means not all phones can pair this way. Luckily the manual process is almost as easy as the automated process.

Nokia Lumia 635 (Windows 10 Mobile Build 10586)

The phone detected the speaker and connected quickly through the manual process as this low-cost phone does not support NFC. It played music from Groove until the battery on the speaker died completely at which time the music paused automatically.

Nokia Lumia 928 (Windows Phone 8.1)

The phone was able to connect to the speaker immediately via NFC and the speaker asked for permission to transfer contacts. The phone remained connected through an entire episode streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 9.1)

The iPhone is one of the few high-cost phones to not support NFC pairing. Using the manual process, the phones was able to connect quickly and the speaker asked for permission to transfer contacts. The phone remained connected playing a full album through several music services without any signal drops.

Microsoft Surface Pro (Windows 10)

The tablet, running the most modern version of Windows, connected immediately via manual process. The tablet remained connected through several episodes streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Motorola Moto X 1st Generation (Android 5.1)

This phone took about 20 seconds to connect via NFC, between pairing and connecting, which was far longer than other devices. This appears to be Android-based and not a failing of the speaker itself.

Range

The range on this speaker is pretty good, but not quite what I might have hoped for considering its price point. The speaker does not claim any special range features, though, so it is not entirely unexpected. I was able to use the speaker almost everywqhere in my 3 bedroom apartment with the Lumia 928 in one corner, except the far corner, without any skipping or signal issues. Once I got outside, through exterior walls, the signal began to become a bit of a problem. This means that if you were to use this in or near the pool, it is likely that you will need to have your phone outside with you, but not exactly close. You could likely place it on a table away from the water and still have great reception without much issue.

Battery Life

As always, the testing process for battery life involved both our official battery test process to verify the claims of the company, as well as a practical test to determine if its lifespan is good enough to accomplish the goals of the product.

practical test

The BoomJacket has ridiculously long battery life. In this test, we used it for a full day in the office while breaking down the studio for CES. It was then used for a full day in the office during development work the next day. This speaker lasted through both of these long usages, while only ending up a little below half of the battery remaining. In fact, it took almost 3 full work days for the speaker to finally die. None of the devices we used with it lasted more or less than others, at least not in a way that was noticeable for this practical test.

nokia lumia 635

Running the battery test against this speaker, we got an average of 25 hours and 34 minutes of playtime across several tests. Unfortunately the company claims 40 hours of expected runtime, meaning that the speaker only lasted about 65% of the expected runtime. While any scenario that calls for a Bluetooth speaker to run for more than a full day straight without charging is ill-advised, it was a disappointment that the battery missed the expected by so much.

Call Quality

This speaker is definitely designed for its waterproof music capabilities, but it does offer the ability to make and receive phone calls, though not easily discoverable. As such, we made a few phone calls and were pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. The quality of the phone is not the same as playing music, but it is not offensive by any measure. The speaker quality is far above that of most built-in speakerphones, making it a good deal for the owner. As for the person on the other end of the call, this sound quality is also above average, both for built-in speakerphones as well as other Bluetooth speakers. This would serve you well for a speakerphone, in addition to its usual purposes.

Controls

Overall, using this speaker is very easy. There are only 3 buttons: power, volume up and volume down. Those buttons do exactly what you would expect: long-pressing the power button will turn the speaker on or off, and the volume buttons control the internal volume of the speaker, not the volume of the device. Unlike most speakers of this type, the BoomJacket does not have a Bluetooth button on it. Instead, the speaker always broadcasts its name for devices to find, meaning that if you leave it on while it is not playing, someone nearby might be able to pair to and play through the speaker. This could be especially annoying if you live in an apartment or condo.

In addition to no pairing button, the speaker also does not have a phone/command button. Instead of a dedicated command button, you have to rapid-press the power button 2 or 3 times to activate the Bluetooth command. For example, if you want to summon Cortana on your phone, computer or tablet, you would have to double-tap the power button. Equally, the power button doubles as the phone answering button. When the phone is ringing through the speaker, pressing the power button will answer the call. The same button will also end the call if it is active.

Another common control scheme for a Bluetooth speaker is the ability to play/pause the music directly from the speaker. With a waterproof speaker of this type, it is even more essential to have this capability. Imagine being in the pool with the speaker and needing to pause the music - the last thing you want to do is handle your phone. Once again, the power button doubles as the play/pause button. A short press will toggle the playing state while there is no active phone call.

Noise Cancellation

With a microphone comes the expectation for noise cancelation, even when the speaker does not focus on this particular feature. Luckily, the Altec Lansing has been thoughtful in regards to noise cancelation on the BoomJacket. While on a phone call, I tested typing on my computer with Cherry MX Blue mechanical switches about 6 inches from the speaker. The person on the other end of the call was mostly unaware of the noise while I was talking, but was able to hear them a little more while quiet. In addition, Cortana was not phased even a little while a television show was playing in the background, and was able to deliver my weather forecast without hesitation.

Learning Curve

Expanding on the Controls section, learning how to use this speaker is not easy or direct. The essential, obvious controls are right out front, but the other features are buried in multi-press and rapid-press commands. In addition to the commands mentioned before, there is also a multi-button command for disconnecting the active device (volume up and down together for 4 seconds) and battery status (power and volume up). There is very little chance that someone receiving this as a gift, for example, would be able to figure out how to access these features. In fact, it is more likely that someone would assume that those features are simply lacking, as did I.

Even reading the manual will probably not teach you those controls. As I sit here writing, only maybe 2 minutes after writing what those controls are, I cannot come up with which one does which. That is neither a good sign for learnability, and not a good indicator that some of these features will ever be used. While I appreciate the inclusion of a battery status command, something many speakers lack, I do miss not being able to easily determine how many buttons I must press and for how long I must press them.

Sound Quality

Altec Lansing is no stranger to quality audio products, and the BoomJacket does not disappoint. However, there are several categories that the company is trying to hit, and they have done a decent job of it. For example, while not trying to make an inexpensive speaker, they did try to make one that sounded good and was waterproof in a consumer-friendly price point (under $200). Some of this was accomplished via the lack of physical buttons (see Controls section), while others is accomplished via sound quality. While you're not going to get the quality sound you might get from some of our previous Bluetooth speakers that lack waterproofing, you will not be disappointed with the sound produced by the BoomJacket. Most impressibvely, this has not been accomplished at the cost of its durability. The sound quality and durability are more than worth it for the cost of the speaker, especially if you can get it on a discount, which puts it into the $175 range. This is a speaker that could easily be used outdoors by the pool or while camping, as its design would suggest, but you would be just as happy with it using it in your offic, bedroom or bathroom for music or television.

Flip 3 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (JBL)

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 16:22:56 UTC

Flip 3 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

JBL

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Dec 13, 2015

3.38 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Water resilient, great design and lots of color choices.

Negatives

Terrible phone quality, poor control placement and design, and steep learning curve.

Result

If you are looking for an inexpensive, water resilient speaker for music and video but not telephone capabilities, this might be worth considering, but should not be your go-to product.

Product Description

Sporting a durable, splashproof fabric and available in 8 vibrant colors, the Flip 3 is the all-purpose, all-weather companion that integrates music into every aspect of your life - from tabletop to poolside, from sunny mornings to rainy nights. The Flip 3 also features a built-in noise and echo cancelling speakerphone for crystal clear conference calls, and JBL Connect technology that can wirelessly link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together to amplify the listening experience.

Connectivity

This speaker does not support NFC pairing, which is not unexpected for its price point, but standard pairing is really easy to accomplish. A simple press of a pairing button puts the speaker into pairing mode, which is assisted by a tone and blinking light indicating pairing mode.

Nokia Lumia 635 (Windows 10 Mobile Build 10586)

The phone detected the speaker and connected immediately. It played music from Groove until the battery on the speaker died completely at which time the music paused automatically.

Nokia Lumia 928 (Windows Phone 8.1)

The phone detected the speaker and connected immediately. It played music from Groove for at least an hour uninterrupted by signal drops or hiccups.

HTC Desire 625 (Android 5.1 Lollipop)

The phone detected the speaker and connected immediately. It played music from Pandora and YouTube for several hours while on battery, in a car. We experienced a couple of signal drops, which were likely caused by Android itself, not the speaker.

Range

The range of this speaker is actually more than you would expect, considering the company does not claim any special range enhancements. I was capable of using the speaker anywhere in my 3 bedroom apartment with the sound source (Nokia Lumia 635) in the extreme corner. The sound quality was strong all throughout the apartment without any skipping or signal loss. I was also able to bring the speaker outside, through exterior walls and matal window shades. In fact, I managed to retain decent signal walking entirely around the outside of the apartment, including across 2 rooms, an exterior wall and a patio.

Battery Life

Practical Test

For this test, we decided to take the speaker with us in the car while doing errands for an afternoon. We used the JBL instead of the speakers in the car, streaming from a variety of devices we had with us, bringing audio from a variety of sources. Unlike the speakers in the car, this obviously did not turn off automatically when the car turned on, so we left it on while we did our running around. Almost all of the devices we used during our test worked extremely well (save for the HTC mentioned in the Connectivity test). Even without turning off the speaker while we left the car, the speaker lasted through all of our running around, and left the battery at 3/5 remaining after an entire afternoon of errands.

Nokia Lumia 635

Running the battery test against this speaker, we got an average of 12 hours and 45 minutes of runtime across several tests. The company claims an expected 10 hours of battery life, which this rating is far above. In fact, even our lowest result, 11 hours and 43 minutes, was well above the company's expected lifespan. With a battery this long, it would be very difficult to have a scenario in which the battery is not long enough. A party, pool event, picnic or even a full day of work will end long before the battery.

Call Quality

While the express purpose of this speaker is not phone calls, it is included as a primary feature, with the control being front-and-center. The call quality is very different, depending on which side of the call you are on. If you are not sitting directly in front of the speaker, but instead on the other end, you would almost not know that you are on speakerphone, let alone on a Bluetooth speakerphone. If you are the owner, however, you will be more than disappointed by the quality. When in phone mode, the speaker goes from a little muffled to drive-through ordering system quality. You would likely be better off using the built-in speakerphone function on your phone rather than using the Flip 3 in speakerphone mode, unless you are giving a presentation, in which case the microphone on the Flip 3 is likely better than the built-in.

Controls

Generally, the controls for the speaker are straight forward. A phone icon for answering a call, a plus and minus for volume control, a Bluetooth icon for pairing and commanding. Those are all big and front-and-center. The problem is that they are the exact same color as the rest of the speaker, and mounted against a mesh background, making them difficult to find upon initial searching (more about that in Learning Curve). Then there is a button that appears to be a warning sign, which is the power button (the 0/1 are turned 90 degrees from what you might expect). There is also a button that appears to be an hour glass, which also puts the speaker into pairing mode.

If you are trying to interact with the speaker in little or no lighting, or as a blind person, finding these controls would be very difficult. The 4 big buttons are not easy to find via feeling because of the mesh texture that completely surrounds them. The 2 smaller buttons are not physically diverse at all, being almost entirely smooth against the smooth part of the barrel body. The only thing you are likely to find with limited or no visibility would be the charging port, but only because there is a small notch for a fingernail.

Missing entirely from the control scheme is a way to force the battery indicator to show on demand. In our testing, the only way to get it to come back on was to power the speaker off, or put it into pairing mode. The problem with pairing mode is it stops your music and it cannot be backed out of - it either eventually times out or you have to power the speaker off anyway. Fortunately, most of the interaction with the product can be done entirely from the paired device, meaning you are unlikely to need to touch the hidden and missing controls at all.

Noise Cancellation

If you are including a microphone in a modern Bluetooth speaker, it is expected that there will be some sort of noise cancelation built-in. This speaker seems to have little to none. While on a phone call, I started playing both music and television in the background, and the person on the other end was able to hear it as soon as it was loud enough to be above a whisper in the office. In fact, the person on the other end was able to hear it louder than I was, though they were unable to identify what it was in any detail. The cadences were there to detect television or music, but nothing more concrete. If you are using this in telephone mode, you will want to do so in a very quiet environment.

Learning Curve

As was mentioned in the Controls section, there are some issues with the way this speaker works. There are a few buttons on it that are not immediately understandable, such as the rotated icon of the power button, or the entirely unknown icon of the pairing mode button. If you are not intimately familiar with the operations of a Bluetooth speaker, you might not immediately be able to turn this one on or off, and you might struggle to pair your phone or tablet, as well. The controls whose buttons are labeled well are both visibly and physically hidden on the body, making them difficult to locate. Once they are located, they overshadow the more important power button. For a product that is targeted at consumers, being able top pick it up and understand it quickly is important, and this device does not afford that capability.

Sound Quality

This speaker has a multiple mandate: be inexpensive, sound good and be water resistant. Unfortunately, those are almost mutually exclusive - you can do 2 well, but not all 3. Because of that, speaker companies must figure out where on the spectrum they want to be. This speaker has certainly decided upon inexpensive, with an MSRP of $99, but available above for $79. That means that either water resilience or sound quality has to suffer, or somewhere in-between. For the Flip 3, JBL decided to err on the side of water resilience and not sound quality. Compared to more expensive speakers in the same water rating the Flip 3 sounds muffled. The sound becomes even more muffled if both ends of the cylinder are not completely uncovered. The loss of sound quality is worth it, though, to get a speaker in the price point that is splash resistant. You're certainly not going to want to make it your primary speaker for your office, but as a poolside speaker, or something you use outdoors, you won't be disappointed by the sound quality.

Coast Guard (Reality Twist GmbH)

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:46:41 UTC

Coast Guard

Reality Twist GmbH

Reviewed by Tom French on Thursday Nov 12, 2015

3.25 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Great graphics, especially when travelling around with the ship. Has a lot of potential, and could see some great improvements that would only better the gameplay experience.

Negatives

The awkward story line, and time consuming boat travels make for a somewhat dry gameplay experience.

Result

Hidden behind a wall of hidden potential, Coast Guard makes me want to play but seems to always leave me a bit disappointed when I do. Through outstanding graphics, and a fairly interesting murder mystery theme, I expected a little more. I believe that the creators are on the right track, but have to iron out a few kinks first.

Product Description

Experience the extraordinary lives of coast guard officer Finn Asdair and his crew in COAST GUARD. Take on responsibility under the motto "Honor - Respect - Duty" and pursue dangerous criminals on the wide open sea.

Gameplay

There are two very different types of gameplay that exist in the game, and both of which have the potential to be exciting but seem to constantly fall short.

The most seen type of style is the puzzle theme. This involves you attempting to find some clues and solve a puzzle of some kind, like you are playing Scooby-Doo on a boat. You are forced to check out every fact and every clue before being able to make an official call on the situation. I think this bothered me a little more than I expected, but I think it was because of the way that it is handled. When trying to find clues you often times have to talk with your fellow shipmates, who usually tell you what to do. When you are ready to give your shipmates an answer, a multiple choice list will show up, and your job is to simply pick the correct answer. The setup is simple enough, but when you have not yet found the answer, it just simply does not appear in the list of available answers. There do not seem to be any real consequences for selecting an incorrect answer other than "Haha Finn, great joke. Seriously though, what is 'insert puzzle piece here'?"

The second style of gameplay is an interesting of mystery thriller. I really liked the style that the developers were going for with the scenery and scariness behind it all, but I always felt like I had a very specific objective to accomplish, and it was never any difficult to complete.

I would love to see a Coast Guard two, one that introduces a multiplayer aspect. It would be nice if there was a lot more open water that you can actually travel and find random things with a partner. Maybe your partner has their own boat, or maybe not, but in the end the two of you have to rescue stranded boats or possibly chase some pirates.

User Interface

Overall, the user interface is not bad, but there are some good and bad things that should be shared. The game is primarily a first person style, and all of the controls are exactly what you would expect them to be, except for space bar. I know, it's a simple key binding problem, but when I hit space in a first person game I always expect to jump instead of having my camera angle change. You have no idea how many times I accidently changed my camera instead of jumped. The game also utilizes a drag and drop system of interacting with important items from your inventory. The system is not bad, but it is a little annoying sometimes because the interaction is not as smooth as it could be.

Graphics

The game looks great, but has some demands from your graphics card. I was running this game with an NVidia 780, granted not the strongest of GPUs but still has some solid power behind it, and the game was able to bring my card to its metaphorical knees. The transitions were strange when I would notice a frame rate drop. Normally I will be running with roughly 60 fps, but when I travel to the bottom of the ship I will stay at a constant 10-15 fps. I had to learn the patterns of when and where my card would struggle, and tried to avoid those areas at all costs.

When travelling the seas, everything looks fantastic. From the water crashing against the side of the ship, from the various boats that you meet on your journey, everything has a nice look appeal to it. Although I had a bit of trouble with the controls of the camera, the different angles are really something to enjoy. My favorite position on the boat was manning the water cannons, those were both hilariously fun and great to look at.

Sound

The overall sound of the game seems quite pleasant. When you have to drive your boat around, the tempo of the music is fairly slow and relaxing. Whenever you have to walk around, the tempo sometimes picks up a little bit. There are no pop music boat parties going on, but to be fair you are a part of the coast guard. Maybe that could be a pitch for another game, "Coast Guard II: Party Time". All in all though, the sound seemed to fit quite well for the style of gameplay.

Style Power (myCharge)

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 04:01:35 UTC

Style Power

myCharge

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Sunday Sep 20, 2015

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Small and light weight, with a lot of potential power.

Negatives

An unfortunate power loss and built-in cable that can only be used to charge the battery, not a device.

Result

If you are out and need a quick charge, this might be worth picking up, but it should not be your go-to charger.

Product Description

Style meets power with the brand new 2000mAh Style Power portable charger. This stylish powerbank is the perfect solution for the fashionista who needs to stay charged on the go. Complete with an integrated USB recharge cable, the Style Power can be used approximately 500 times. A compact charger, the Style Power is perfect for a quick charge anywhere. Use your own cable to charge your smartphone, or other USB device, and use the integrated USB recharge cable to recharge your Style Power via computer, car or wall adapter.

Battery Life

As always, our testing was done in two parts: official battery testing and a more practical test. This battery comes in at 2 amps, which means it should be able to charge an equivalent amount of power in other devices.

Practical Test

I took this battery to an afternoon event as way of testing it in the field, and was disappointed at what it was, or in this case wasn't, able to do. Starting at about 25% battery life on my Lumia 635, I plugged in the charger to see if I could survive until my trip home. Less than 4 hours later, having not used the phone at all, the fully charged battery was dead, and the phone was only at 35%. Using Groove Music on my 45 minute drive home, the phone was dead before I arrived. Not the results I was expecting from a battery that is supposed t0 be rated at 2 amps.

Nokia Lumia 620

As with previous tests, we used running our battery test app, with the Style Power attached. On the test without any external battery, the Lumia lasts 10 hours and 15 minutes, fully charged to powered off. Starting with a fully-charged phone battery and Style Power, the average lifespan was 21 hours and 57 minutes. If there was no power lost in the process, an ideal situation that is impossible, the total 3.3 amps should give us about 26 hours. This means that somewhere in the process of using the battery, 4 hours of potential power was lost: equivalent to 25% of the added power lost. Other batteries, from other manufacturers, have averaged around 6% power loss, making this one far above the norm.

This is not the first time we have seen these types of numbers from myCharge, however. This indicates to our testers that there is something inherently wrong with the way myCharge deals with their power distribution. On our previous test we assumed that the loss was due to the fact the battery didn't have a power button, and had an always-on accelerometer. This battery has neither of those issues, meaning the issue is deeper than previously thought. This shouldn't necessarily deter you from purchasing the product, but it is definitely an important piece of information to hold on to.

Build Quality

The design and build of this battery is, for the most part, high quality. The sturdy plastic allows you to keep it in a bag without the fear of it getting crushed by a laptop or other device. Choosing plastic over metal for the body construction might sound like it would look or feel cheap, but it does not. There is even a power button, something not always found on batteries of this size, meaning that the battery is far less likely to drain while not in use. Unfortunately, while most of the design is well thought out, not everything seems to have been. There is a built-in charging cord, which is a nice feature. However, it only works for charging the battery, and cannot be flipped around to allow for charging a device, which means that you still need to carry a second piece to use it. Being able to remove the cable and use it to charge a standard USB device would be far more convenient, or not having it on there at all would lower the overall weight. Either of those choices would have been better than the choice made. It's not a deal breaker for most, but it is unfortunate for a device that otherwise is designed and built well.

Size & Weight

While this battery isn't nearly as heavy as others its size that we have seen, you will still know it's with you. The plastic body helps its weight a lot, but it is slightly offset by the built-in USB cord. The good news is, for its rating, the battery is physically small, making it far easier to carry around regularly. Unfortunately, you will likely need to put it in a backpack or purse, as it will not be comfortable in a pocket.

Compatibility

Based on its physical and battery sizes, the 1 amp output is not terribly surprising. It does limit the usability of the battery some, but not in a way that would really impact its usefulness. Any phone or MP3 player should be supported, as well as some Bluetooth speakers and smaller tablets. It may also charge some larger tablets, but it will not charge fast enough to offset the general usage of the tablet. That isn't what the battery is designed for, though, so if it works it would simply be a bonus.

20XX (Batterystaple Games)

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 03:28:52 UTC

20XX

Batterystaple Games

Reviewed by Tom French on Saturday Sep 19, 2015

PRODUCT PREVIEW

Summary

Positives

Solid gameplay with great graphics too. A strong sense of the MegaMan style which is bound to keep you playing again and again.

Negatives

The difficulty scaling is a little too extreme at the moment. While the game is based around being difficult, you have to be able to get through some levels in order to continue.

Result

Overall, a really great game that should only improve over time. While having a really solid core game experience, only tainted by some levels that are next to impossible, an easy pickup for anyone who enjoys the old school platform style of games like MegaMan. Just remember to not having any small objects accessible to you while playing because they may end up thrown.

Product Description

20XX is a co-op-friendly action platformer roguelike. Explore procedurally generated levels, collect new weapons and abilities, purchase upgrades, and battle mighty bosses in the name of saving the human race maybe!

Gameplay

"Tutorial complete, prepare to die". Never have I read a more true yet blunt statement given to me in a video game. This game, by no means, is not directed towards the impatient, easily frustrated, or quick to give up. If you consider yourself as a game who continues to go on no matter how unfair that fire trap may be, then you may have just found your next game. With a unique blend between the famous MegaMan and the infamous The Binding of Isaac, 20XX always seems to drag you back in.

While the gameplay overall is outstanding, there are still some problems with the difficulty scaling. The game is meant to be difficult, by no means expect to taste victory the first time picking up the controller, but at the same time some levels are just impossible. There are some paths that can be taken that will reward you with upgraded weapons, or money that you can use on upgrades, but more often than not they require you to run and jump through fireballs that will eventually just kill you. So, in the end you are left wondering if it is even worth trying to get the upgrades.

User Interface

The user interface is pretty straight forward and quite easy to grasp. The menus are clean and crisp, which is important when attempting to find something when needed. The in game interactions are not as clear, but easy to understand once you begin to see all of the icons. The first time that I saw three giant bolts I was intrigued, and I eventually found out that it represents money for upgrades. The first time that I saw a new icon I felt the obvious need to touch it to see what it does, which usually led to my death rather than success, but that is part of the fun in the game.

Graphics

Boasting an old school style of graphics that is seen in platform games through time, the overall impression is nice. Everything seems to flow very smooth, which is important when jumping from one death beam to the next within fractions of seconds of one another. Dangerous objects are usually shown in a different color shade that stands out a little bit from the level, which is clear to the player.

Sound

I am not sure what other types of sound that could really accompany a game such as this. Hitting the nail on the head with the different sounds is just another piece of the puzzle that explains why this game is so much fun to play. Your character makes a wide array of noises between shooting, jumping, picking stuff up, or simply dying. Even the background music that plays while you jump around like a crazy person is entertaining enough to keep you in the rhythm of the game. While it would be nice to hear more unique sounds come from enemies, there is plenty enough already that there is no void that needs filling but rather only improvement at this point.

Level Generator

One of the things that makes the game a bit more difficult is the randomness of the level before you enter. This allows the player to feel like they are traversing a new level each time that they play. This removes the ability to "learn a level", which always keeps things new and fresh. In a game such as this, it is the randomness that you encounter that inspires suicidal tendencies for your character, and always leaves you curses the developers for making something so cruel.

Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball (Erik Asmussen)

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 03:10:39 UTC

Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball

Erik Asmussen

Reviewed by Tom French on Saturday Sep 19, 2015

3.6 out of 5

Summary

Positives

The combination of the beating music and the quick paced dodgeball arena style gameplay lead to an incredibly entertaining experience that could have you playing for hours at a time.

Negatives

The lack of any real player base forces you to play against bots, unless you have friends to join you. While the single player experience is still fun, it is no match against a multiplayer match against real people.

Result

Truly a great game at its core. There was never a time where I was not having fun while playing. The UI is really easy to navigate, which makes creating and entering matches really easy. My favorite part of the game is the music in sync with the gameplay, which easily sinks the player into a fun dodgeball experience. However, with the lack of any player base it is difficult to find yourself playing for very long. So, if you can wrangle up a few friends this game is worth playing for hours, otherwise it is worth playing for a few matches against bots. The important thing though is that the game is worth playing regardless.

Product Description

100% bouncy projectile warfare on roller skates. Race around a neon-lit dance club, equip jetpacks and laser balls, and land ridiculous aerial stunt shots in a wide variety of online and offline game modes.

Gameplay

The quick style dodgeball fun is what makes this game stand out. It does not matter if you are in a small arena with friends, or a large arena with random people, the purpose of the game revolves around hitting others while not getting hit. There are a few game modes that require some special play, such as throwing the dodgeball into a hoop, but even in that mode you are spending most of your time striking other players. One of the great things about the dodgeball theme is that it is always satisfying when you hit someone, especially if you catch their ball and get to watch them explode instead of you. While there is a lack of map diversity, it is easily made up by the core elements of the game where you can easily forget that you have played the same map twelve times now.

The different game modes, such as point leader, are fun to play with. Being able to be the robot that everyone is chasing in attempts to stop you from getting any more take downs, is both exciting and terrifying. For the most part dodgeballs are readily available, but it always seems to be when you need one the most that they are all taken, and you are the only one without one. If you find yourself in that predicament, I would suggest you be ready to catch, otherwise you may be in pieces quite soon.

User Interface

The user interface (UI) is what allows the player to quickly get into the game without even thinking about it. This game's UI is very clean and straight to the point, it wants to put you into a game with minimal effort. The simple button style menu makes it almost impossible for the user to select an option by mistake or get lost in the menus, which it what makes it so great.

Graphics

While the game will not be winning awards for its graphics, the visuals of the game do stand out quite a bit. Immediately when entering a game red and blue patterns are laid out around the map, and you quickly need to establish which color you are. The robots look simple, yet have a great style about them that encourages you to hit them time after time. I don't know, maybe it is the smug look that they give you when you whip by them without a dodgeball, and then the cowardly look when finally throw a dodgeball in their direction. Hitting someone results in a grand explosion, which always put a smile to my face. It is easy to say someone is out and to reset them back to base, but the pure satisfaction of making someone explode in dodgeball is one of the most appealing parts of the game.

Sound

When I launched the game for the first time I thought that my ear drums were going to switch instruments, because the music was so incredibly loud. With the setting set all the way to max, good luck trying to hear yourself thinking, so first thing that I had to do was turn the overall sound down a bit. Now that I was at a reasonable level of sound, the music was amazing. The music is really intense techno that does not stop playing. It is a very integral part of the game because it is one of the elements that allows the player to slip out of reality and emerge themselves into a robot eat robot world. The genre of music is all out specific beats and patterns, so it was always easy to find myself syncing up with the music when running and throwing.

Multiplayer

As far as I can tell there is no real matchmaker system implemented other than to place players into a lobby and let them go. Sadly, this is necessary evil because the player base currently does not really exist. Occasionally when I log on I will be one of the only people online, which makes it really difficult to find a server that is not just bots. Which when you think about it is weird, robot controlled robots, but that is a different article in itself. If you were to play this game I would highly recommend that you have your play at the same time, and everyone get into a voice chat program so that you all can yell at each other when you eventually blow one another to bits. Get it, bits? While multiplayer is the basis around the game, often times you will find yourself playing single player, which is just not the same experience.

YouBeam (Tenderbox LLC)

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 23:32:57 UTC

YouBeam

Tenderbox LLC

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday Mar 16, 2015

3.67 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Small, lightweight and easy-to-use with great picture quality.

Negatives

A slow media browser requiring Java and a monthly service fee.

Result

If the ability to mirror almost any screen and play nearly any web video on your television is your goal, then this device is definitely one to consider.

Product Description

This tiny device easily connects to your TV and WiFi network. Once connected, it allows you to beam most internet streaming video directly to your TV (through the YouBeam Browser). The device is portable so you can easily move it from one TV to another, or travel with it and use it at hotels. Best of all, you get a FREE device with every paid subscription.

Design

The design is what you would expect from a streaming stick - small device with an HDMI plug and USB port. One of the things that this device has that most in its category don't is an external antenna. As this is a device that is likely to be stuck behind a television, reception is going to be one of its main hurdles to overcome. The inclusion of the rotatable external antenna does seem to alleviate this problem. We were able to receive perfect signal strength on this device from across the building - something we aren't capable of accomplishing with the Xbox One, PlayStation 3 or any phone.

Build Quality

The YouBeam is definitely a physically well-built device. The HDMI and USB aspects are molded in place solidly, preventing them from breaking even with consistent moving about. The company even went so far as to gold-plate the HDMI plug, helping to prevent corrosion and improving connection to the television. The antenna has a small gap between it and the rest of the body, giving a little wiggle room which could cause problem down the line, especially if you carry it with you for presentations, etc. Overall, however, there is little to be concerned about with the physical quality of this device.

Compatibility

First, let's get the physical compatibility out of the way; it connects to your television via HDMI. If you do not have HDMI, then chances are this product category is not for you. With that said, let's talk about streaming compatibility. For direct screen mirroring, the YouBeam is compatible with both Miracast and DLNA. This means it will work with just about any mobile device out there. We tested it with a variety of mobile devices, all with easy success. Included in our test were a Microsoft Surface Pro running on Windows 8.1, a Nokia Lumia 635 running on Windows 10 for Phones and a Motorola Moto X running Android 4.4.4. The two running published systems ran as expected, the Windows 10 device ran as well as could be hoped for an early preview build (screen did not rotate).

As for media source compatibility, it would appear that just about any website serving video files can be the source for the YouBeam. We tested big sites, like YouTube and Netflix, as well as smaller volume sources like our site and TPN.tv. All of the sites we tested were able to be detected in the streaming software and their media pushed to the television. This included Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight and HTML5-powered players. The only real downside in compatibility is in the streaming controller software itself. The program runs on Oracle's Java as opposed to native code. This means that you must have Java running on your computer to use the controller. Unfortunately, Java is a known security risk, so the decision to install this software should not be made lightly. Removing Java from the equation could make this a near perfect compatibility.

Setup

The setup of this device is a little tricky. First, your controlling computer must be using Wi-Fi. So, if your laptop is on your lap and connected via Ethernet: unplug it. You're going to connect directly to the YouBeam to configure your wireless settings, such as network name and password. If you have no password setup, this process is easier, though so is connecting to your home computers. Before you connect, you'll need to install and launch the YouBeam software, which is also a little tricky to get going. I had an issue where my license could not be found because I logged into my account and changed my password before configuring the software. I never did get to login with the changed password, but was forced to use the original one, which made it very hard, as I had all but forgotten what was originally set. Luckily, once the initial setup process is complete, the hard part is over. If you are considering this product for a friend or family member who is not technically savvy, be nice and set it up for them.

Playback

With its wide variety of connection options, we played content from a variety of devices. We tested streaming through the accompanying app, as well as screen mirroring on several platforms. I define picture quality by the sharpness of the lines, quality of the colors and readability of text.

YouBeam App (Surface Pro)

Browsing for media through the application is not fast. The amount of time it takes to render a page is surprisingly slow, though you will will not be using it to browse too often. I found that locating the content in Internet Explorer or Chrome and pasting the URL into YouBeam was far better. Once the media is located, initial playback takes a little while to start, but once the device has the media streaming, the video quality is top-notch. Ideally, the YouBeam software itself would be phased out in favor of a browser plug-in for Chrome, IE and Spartan or Windows service.

Miracast (Nokia Lumia 635, Windows 10)

There is a slight lag between interacting on the phone and the image on the screen updating, but that is likely due more to limitations in the Technical Preview for Windows rather than the device itself. The image quality was as good as on the phone itself, meaning the screen replication was a direct map. I played Netflix on the phone and watching it on the screen, and there was no lag, skips or jumps in playback. The quality wasn't as high as streaming on an Xbox One, but that has to do with the quality of picture Netflix streams to a mobile device.

Miracast (Moto X, Android 4.4.4)

The lag on the Moto X was slightly greater than that of the Lumia, but was still not enough to make using it impossible. The screen mirroring was also a direct mapping, leaving the picture quality high. Unlike the Lumia, however, the Moto X did skip occasionally while playing Netflix, but while the streaming behaved, the picture quality was as good as on the phone's screen. The skipping during playback is likely a function of the Moto X itself, and not a symptom of the device. The Moto X has displayed this symptom on other Miracast receivers.

Usability

The usability of the device is slightly varied by the intended usage. In using it for screen mirroring, the process of pairing and streaming is incredibly easy, and the quality of the picture is very high. It works with essentially all screen mirroring technologies, and does it well. On the other hand, using it for streaming through the YouBeam application is a little less than perfect. The software itself is not quick to use, requires Java and has a monthly fee. It does, however, do its job well - once the media content is found and streaming begins, the quality is high and does not skip or lag. The variance between this device and normal stick or set-top-boxes, being able to stream almost any media from any website, makes the service fee a potentially acceptable requirement.

Hub It Sync & Charge Station (EggTronic)

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:34:18 UTC

Hub It Sync & Charge Station

EggTronic

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Feb 24, 2015

2.2 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A great idea for expanding the capabilities of your computer and your desk.

Negatives

A design and implementation that definitely needed more refinement.

Result

While the idea is great, the implementation is not. Perhaps waiting until the second version is the best idea.

Product Description

Super Fast 3.0 Sync & Charge Station - Up to 10 x Faster than standard USB 2.0
7 High Powered Connector Ports - Simultaneous Sync & Charge of 7 Devices
Customizable Retractable, & Upgradable Charging Cartridge Connectors

Design

Some of the design issues are detailed in the Functionality section, as they prove to make the device difficult to use. Other issues are detailed under Build Quality, as they affect the physical condition of the device more than its appearance. That being said, the actual design of this hub has its positives and negatives. On the positive side, the ability to swap out modules and add new capabilities is a pretty cool one. The concept of being a portable, powered hub and charger is unique and useful. On the negative, the module system appears to be broken. Included inside the body are 9 ports: 4 for USB and 5 for power. Unfortunately, 4 of the power ports seem to be completely useless, as they are in the corners and do not have access to the outside of the body, nor are they positioned such that a Qi or equivalent module would be useful there. Only the center port seems to have practical use. Also, as a device that is designed to be portable and handled, providing only a glossy top cover is a disappointment. Since the cover is capable of being removed (to install modules), it would stand to reason that the cover itself would be interchangeable and customizable.

Build Quality

The real downfall of this device is its build. The USB 3.0 connector on the back is incredibly flimsy. We have tested 2 separate units, both of which broke within moments of plugging in the included USB cable. A simple alteration of the port's mounting mechanics could solve this problem, filling in the fairly large gap above the USB port to prevent pressure from snapping solder joints inside. In addition, the power plug appears to have been designed for a different device. The pin sticks out way too far for the length of the shaft, leaving most of the barrel exposed. The 3 included USB ports also seem to suffer from a similar problem to their connector counterpart, feeling as if they will break off at any moment.

Functionality

Due to the fragile nature of the device, the functionality is limited. While the retractors remain the best way to use them, even they are not perfect. The retractors work about as well as any retractable cord, often locking up and not spinning back inside. Pulling them all the way out and pulling can usually fix the problem after a few tries. If you are using the USB plugs, you will be disappointed to learn that they are installed upside down. While it wouldn't seem like a huge issue, devices that require space above them will not plug in to this hub without hanging over the end of a desk or table. Also, in our testing, we have experienced intermittent issues when reading/writing on a USB flash drive and using a wireless mouse concurrently - the mouse often fails to move. Under normal circumstance, however, the device seems to function as expected, with the noted exception. I have connected 2 phones, a wireless mouse, SD card reader and 2 flash drives and had little to no operational trouble.

Size & Weight

For a product that is, at least partly, billed as a portable device, size and weight are important. Fortunately this device weighs nearly nothing. Even with 5 modules installed and USB devices plugged in, you almost don't know that it exists. Unfortunately, the size does not match the weight. The device is absolutely huge - tall, wide and long. Considering a 7 port USB hub plus a Nokia Qi charging plate are about 1/4 the physical size, it seems a little overkill in its size. The truly unfortunate thing about the size is the amount of unused space inside (detailed in Design).

Compatibility

Because of the nature of the device, it is compatible with just about anything. It would seem that a device sporting USB ports would actually be completely compatible, but some of the design decisions make it less than universal (detailed in Functionality). The ability to change out USB and power modules means that it can be expanded. Our test unit has the new Qi unit included, meaning that I can even charge one of over 70 handsets and other devices. In the collection of modules available are Nokia, Samsung, Apple, Sony and Nintendo proprietary connections, plus Qi, micro, mini and full USB.

Tablift Tablet Stand (nbrite)

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:56:39 UTC

Tablift Tablet Stand

nbrite

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Tuesday Dec 23, 2014

3 out of 5

Summary

Positives

A sturdy body and unique design could make this a great nighttime companion.

Negatives

Some poorly considered design decisions limit the range and safety of tablets.

Result

While there are a lot of tablets this stand works with, it is incredibly important to know what you have and its dimentions before making a purchase. For my money, I would wait until the second version.

Product Description

The tablift is the perfect solution for solving the challenge of using your tablet hands-free in bed, on the couch, or just about anywhere other tablet stands don't dare go. The tablift works with virtually ANY tablet, full sized or mini.

Design

There are certainly major positives and negatives in regards to this truly creative tablet stand. Let's start with the positives. The thick, fully adjustable legs means that it can be used just about anywhere with ease. Much of the marketing material shows it in use on a bed, with the owner watching a video or reading. That scenario is completely possible and seemingly safe. The legs can be used wide enough to ensure stability and are sturdy enough to withstand normal movement in bed.

Now for the bad. The central piece of the holder, where the tablet sits, has 3 equally sized slashes in which to place the tablet. These fixed-width gaps guarantee that if your tablet is too large or too small, they will either not fit at all or will slide out. We tested a number of devices in the stand - some of which fit well, others were precarious at best. Then comes the strap and clip, intended to put pressure on the top of the tablet and hold it into place. Unfortunately, the strap tends to make some tablets fit worse than they do without it. For example, an HP TouchPad fits decently into the gaps with enough wiggle to make it unsafe, but as soon as you place the strap over the top, it pulls the tablet right out of the mount.

Build Quality

The body and legs of this stand are incredibly well built and sturdy. Once the legs are put into place, they will not move accidentally. This is important because you are entrusting your expensive electronics' safety to the stand. You can be sure that the base is going to outlast any tablet you own. The only issue with the build is the plastic clip used to secure the top of the tablet into the getup. The front lip is a bit small and could break off if enough pressure is placed on it. Depending on the tablet in its trust, this could eject the tablet under those circumstances. The clip does seem thick enough to survive most usage.

Functionality

One of the main functions of a tablet stand is the safety of the device it holds. This tablet stand does not create the type of trust one would need to be able to use it with an expensive or essential piece of technology. Having watched it eject more than one tablet from its grip, sometimes quickly, sometimes hours later, I would personally never use this device as it is with any device I was proud of or needed to keep safe. With that said, however, I would consider its use in bed where a fall is protected with a device which I do not care as much about. In this case, using it with a Kindle Fire or an HP Stream 7 where its potential loss would not be a major financial loss, would be acceptable, at least to me.

As an experiment, we made some adjustments to our review unit. Using another product we have in the office, we added four smaller versions of the legs as arms to cradle a tablet. This gave us a larger range of tablets that could be used with it, while also adding a much needed level of trust to the security of the device. This adjustment from the manufacturer could really turn this niche device into a stunner.

Compatibility

The requirement for compatibility with this stand is that the tablet fit within the set-width 10mm slots. However, you don't want the tablet to be too thin, as this can cause the top latch to pull the tablet up and over the ledge of the slot. Also, if the tablet is too short, the strap may not put enough pressure on it, meaning it can slide around within the slot. With all of that said, a large majority of devices on the market today fall within the ideal width for this stand. Older devices, however, might not fit well, or at all. For example, the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2, both popular with developers, will not fit at all.

EnergyShot Battery (myCharge)

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:31:06 UTC

EnergyShot Battery

myCharge

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Dec 17, 2014

3 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Great shape, incredibly durable, fairly light weight and a lot of potential charging power.

Negatives

Form over function choices cause a lot of the potential power to be lost with no benefit gained.

Result

This might be a good last minute product to pick up at the convenience store in a pinch, this is probably not the battery to purchase as a regular solution.

Product Description

9 hours talk time
LED battery indicator, shake to check battery level
High Efficiency Technology, maximizes power to your device
Fast Charging Technology, shortens charge time by 25% or more
Battery: 2000mAh Lithium Ion
Product Dimensions: 3.94 in x 1.56 in
Product Weight: 0.25 lbs.
USB port delivers 1.0A output

Battery Life

Practical Test

While using this charger on the road, it did provide enough power to keep my phone charged throughout most of the day, even with a constant barrage of phone calls, emails and texts. However, by the end of a fairly average day, the battery of both the phone and the EnergyShot were depleted, with still a bit of day left. This means that, for a more casual user, this battery should certainly help you through the day, it will not be the solution a convention attendee might need to do business throughout the day.

Nokia Lumia 620

Like with previous portable power solutions, we used a Nokia Lumia 620 running our in-house battery test, with the EnergyShot attached. Standalone, the Lumia 620 lasts 10 hours and 15 minutes from full charge. Using a fully charged phone battery, plus the EnergyShot, the average was 22 hours and 5 minutes. A perfect combination, which would be 3.3 amps, should last almost exactly 26 hours. That is a loss of almost 4 hours of potential power - just over 25 percent of the potential added power. Other batteries we have tested in the past have tended more towards the 6 percent loss range. That means this battery loses 4 times more power than our average external battery. When combined with the fact that it begins with less than double the power of this phone to start with, that is an incredibly disappointing loss.

The battery has no manual shut off, which means the device is constantly looking for something to charge. Of course, this takes energy to accomplish. In addition, there is no button to test the remaining power; instead there is a shake feature, which requires powering a sensor. Also, if this is in a bag, the constant shaking of the battery will constantly be testing the battery's life, which will also limit it. With 2 features added to make the device seem cool, rather than adding value, which consume power, it is no surprise this device loses so much of its potential energy.

Build Quality

Overall, the build quality of this battery is sound. The body is sturdy enough to be bounced around in your backpack or purse without it taking any real damage. The metal body and more matte finish means that it doesn't smudge and doesn't look cheap. Even the cylindrical shape makes it convenient to carry in small pockets. Unfortunately, there are a few design decisions that make this a tough call. There is no power button, which means that the device auto-powers. While it seems like a nice idea at first, it also means the battery is constantly running, even in a very low power mode, depleting the energy reserve. The accelerometer for battery level also means that the full 2 amps is not available for charging. A simple pair of buttons, or button/switch combo, on the bottom of the device could have alleviated this issue.

Size & Weight

While it would be difficult to consider the EnergyShot to be "light weight," it is not what I would call "overweight" either. It is slightly heavier than you might expect for its size, the body is constructed out of metal, instead of plastic, making the additional weight acceptable. You would certainly not notice the additional weight in a backpack, laptop bag or purse.

Compatibility

For its size and power rating, it is understandable that this battery only supports a 1 amp USB port. That means that it can charge any phone and some smaller USB-powered tablets. It may not, however, be able to charge more power hungry devices, such as larger tablets; at least not at speeds that would compensate for their power usage. The ability to recharge using micro-USB means that just about any existing charger you have, including your computer, can recharge the battery.

Sound Blaster Roar Portable NFC Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Creative Labs)

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:00:00 UTC

Sound Blaster Roar Portable NFC Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Creative Labs

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Wednesday Sep 10, 2014

4 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Incredible sound with quick NFC pairing and easy standard controls.

Negatives

A host of additional controls for unneeded and half-hearted features makes the speaker appear more complex than it truly is.

Result

This is a small but powerful speaker that packs a much larger punch than its size would convey. Definitely a product to consider if you are in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker.

Product Description

AMAZINGLY POWERFUL AUDIO PERFORMANCE. Mind-blowing FIVE Drivers powered by TWO separate sets of high-performance amplifiers. Features a built-in subwoofer for kickass thumping bass. Sports more features than any other wireless speaker and even outperforms speakers that cost over twice its price!
PORTABLE BOOKLET-SIZE. Defies the laws of acoustic engineering by shrinking the 5-driver system, a voluminous acoustic chamber, an intricate patent-pending heatsink system, a 6000 mAh Li-ion battery, and a host of killer features into a compact size that sits on your palm.
HD CONVENIENT WIRELESS. Supports aptX and AAC for high-quality Bluetooth audio. Comes with NFC Technology for convenient one-touch pairing. Bluetooth Link Security control allows you to configure the Sound Blaster Roar for different usage scenarios.
KILLER FEATURES. On top of the 'no holds barred' ROAR audio enhancement mode, Sound Blaster Roar also comes packed with a whole range of surprisingly useful features, including a built-in MP3 player, a voice recorder, a speakerphone, a battery bank, Bedtime listening mode, TERA BASS, and even a handy siren. Also doubles as a USB Sound Blaster for your PC or Mac.
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WORLDWIDE AND SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES. 1 unit sold every 30 seconds at launch during a 4-day cash & carry tech show. Customers kept coming back for more. An amazing piece of tech NOT TO BE MISSED! Don't take our word for it. Compare it with any speakers out there. We are confident that you will keep the Sound Blaster Roar.

Connectivity

The speaker sports NFC pairing, which makes configuring it for any modern phone, and some tablets, incredibly easy. Unfortunately, since not all manufacturers offer phones with modern hardware, it means manual configuration for those devices. Luckily, the manual pairing process is fairly easy, with just the long-press of a button to enter pairing mode, even if another device is actively connected.

HTC 8Xt (Windows Phone 8.1)

The phone was able to connect to the speaker immediately via NFC. The phone remained connected through an entire episode streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Apple iPhone 4 (iOS 7.1.2)

The iPhone, being a few generations old, running the current release of iOS, took almost 30 seconds to connect via manual process. This speed was replicated more than once. The player remained connected through an entire episode streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Microsoft Surface Pro (Windows 8.1 Update)

The tablet, running the most modern version of Windows and sporting current hardware, connected immediately via manual process from the settings charm. The tablet remained connected through several episodes streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

HP TouchPad (webOS 3.0.5)

The tablet, running an older, abandoned operating system, sporting older hardware, connected immediately using the manual process. The tablet remained connected through an entire album played from internal memory (webOS 3.0 does not have a Netflix application, nor Xbox Music support). The album played without and signal drops.

Range

The capabilities of this speaker are just about what you would expect for a device that does not claim any special range capabilities. I was unable to take the speaker form one end of my 3 bedroom apartment to the other without losing connectivity, but was able to keep a clear connection 2 rooms away. I was also not able to make it outside and still play music through exterior walls or glass. The overall range of the speaker, however, does not detract much from the intended purpose of the product, but it would have been nice to be able to move the speaker into the kitchen while streaming music from the computer.

Battery Life

To test the battery life of this product, we decided to test both with a practical and official process. This allows us to see how the speaker functions under controlled and real-world scenarios.

Practical Test

For me, the best way to test out a Bluetooth speaker in the real world is to run it in my office while I work. Often, while I write, I listen to music. Of course, this means I paired my phone, the HTC 8Xt mentioned in the Connectivity section, and streamed Xbox Music all day. The wonderful thing was, the battery lasted all day. While I program, however, I tend to watch (or listen to) Hulu or Netflix, while binging on a series. For this, I decided to pair my Microsoft Surface Pro with the speaker and continuously play video. Again, the battery was able to keep up with me, lasting longer on a charge than myself.

Nokia Lumia 620

Running our battery test against this speaker averaged just above 9 hours on a full charge. This is definitely more than enough juice to last through almost any event that you would have where power would be an issue. The results also corroborated our practical test's results, running longer than an average work day.

Call Quality

While you wouldn't expect a device designed for music to have exceptional call quality, you will be surprised to find that the ROAR has exceptional call quality. Tested on several phones from various manufacturers running different operating systems, the result was always the same: the sound quality on both ends of the call was top-notch.

On the speaker end, the speaker seems to use the entire 5-driver array, meaning you have the ability to really pump up the volume and sound quality. Even in normal volume, though, the sound is perfectly understandable. On the microphone side, the person on the other side of the call is able to hear everything clearly and distinctly. On a test call, the receiving person was unable to tell the difference between using the ROAR and speaking directly into the phone.

In addition to solo testing, we took this speaker out for a spin with a conference call. The speaker was loud enough for everyone involved in the call to hear clearly and the receiving end was able to hear everyone at the table clearly as well.

Controls

The overall control scheme for the speaker system itself is very straight-forward. There is a power button, a "ROAR" button, which is the sound boost feature, a volume up button, a volume down button and a call/pairing button. The power button is fairly self-explanatory: hold it down to turn the speaker on or off. The volume buttons also do exactly as you would expect. The ROAR button turns on and off the unique feature of this speaker: the sound boost (more about that in Sound Quality). The other button is a little less predictable, but still easy to use. While paired with a phone, or any device with a Bluetooth command set, pressing the button will trigger that command. On a Windows Phone 8.1 device, for example, it will trigger Cortana. Long-pressing the button will put the speaker into pairing mode, which will allow you to pair a device that does not have NFC (more about that in Connectivity).

In addition to the button on the top, there is also an NFC logo, which is indicated by (((nfc))). If your device is NFC enabled, like all modern phones in the last few years, and the feature is enabled, you can simply place your device on this logo and pair immediately. This prevents the annoying process of going into pairing mode, searching for the speaker on the device and sometimes entering a pairing code. Almost all of our devices were NFC-enabled, so we were capable of pairing without any real work.

On the back of the speaker is where it gets a little weird. There are a lot of controls here for features that are really unnecessary on a device like this. There is a panic alarm and voice recorder, plus a whole system for playing media internally. With play/pause, back, forward and shuffle/repeat options, plus a microSD slot for media, there is some potential for a stand-alone media player, but the device has no screen. With no screen, playing media from internal memory is almost completely useless. It's possible that using this to play music at a picnic or similar event with no particular plan for music would be successful, but that scenario is so uncommon that half-heartedly including this feature was not required.

Two of the features included, which are also on the back, which I really appreciate are the auxiliary input and USB charger. The ability for this speaker to be able to charge your phone while it is playing via Bluetooth makes this significantly more useful, especially during an outing.

Noise Cancellation

The noise cancelation on the speaker is impressive, but not perfect. The speaker was able to isolate both its own audio and background noises, though some background noises made it through. What was most impressive was its ability to isolate its own audio so well, preventing and feedback to the other caller.

Learning Curve

There is a split pairing of learning curve for using this speaker. The primary controls, found on the top of the speaker, are easy to use and completely natural. If only these controls existed, this would be a perfect 5, easy to use speaker. Unfortunately, with the addition of the controls on the back for features that are not required, the overall ease of use and ability to pick up the speaker and know how to use it is lost. Controlling media playback is almost impossible because of the lack of a screen to display what is playing, what is coming and what exactly is happening. The alarm controls are odd, appearing to have 2 separate ways to turn on or off the alarm, neither of them exactly accomplishing the goal as expected.

Sound Quality

Creative Labs has always been synonymous with sound quality. Their Sound Blaster family of products, of which this speaker is a member, has been THE name in computer audio since personal computers became popular. Their NOMAD and Zen MP3 players helped start the portable audio revolution.

The ROAR follows in the grand tradition of Creative quality audio products, producing incredible sound in a very small package. How they manage to fit a 5-driver array capable of producing sound this loud, this clear with the ability to add as much bass as this speaker can produce is beyond me.

The standard audio is perfect for normal music listening, video steaming and phone calls alike. With the addition of the ROAR feature, which is a bass boost, the speaker has the ability to fill a room with no problem, or add that extra thump if that is your style.

DNA Pro Over-Ear Wired Headphones (Monster)

Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:00:00 UTC

DNA Pro Over-Ear Wired Headphones

Monster

Reviewed by Nicholas DiMeo on Friday Aug 29, 2014

4.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Deep, true-to-life sound takes center stage, surrounded by a headphone that is quiet, comfortable and stylish. No batteries are needed for the noise isolation which keeps the headphones lightweight.

Negatives

The design of the headphones are made to definitely stand out, which made not appeal to those looking for a more subtle set. The finish on the cups are glossy, leaving smudges which could bother consumers who may not have the cleaning cloth handy. The low-end frequencies lack a bit of punch that most will desire.

Result

The Monster DNA Pro Over-Ear Wired Headphones are a great choice for those looking for a realistic sound profile, a sleek design and a comfortable fit, all in one headphone. At $299, they do sit on the upper-end of the consumer pro audio market, but back it up with high sound quality, durability and style. However, those looking for a deep bass response in their headphones shouldn't be looking here to satiate that need and its unique look may not suit everyone.

Product Description

With these Monster DNA Pro Over-Ear Wired Headphones, you don't have to choose between deep bass or crystal details. DNA headphones are tuned with Pure Monster Sound for a live music experience. The pillow-soft Advanced Noise Isolating cushions are comfortable for hours, keeping noise out and keeping your music from disturbing others. The headphones deliver live, studio quality sound without the need for batteries.

what's in the box?

ControlTalk Cable for Apple
Tangle-Resistent Coil Cable
1/4 Inch Adapter
Stylish Carrying Pouch
Monster Cleaning Cloth

Design

I can sum up the design of these in one sentence: the DNA Pro headphones stand out in the most unique way ever and I love them for this reason. The ability to throw out the playbook on how headphones are supposed to look, and get rid of the notion that everything must have a weird lower-case letter on it, is a bold move and one that works for Monster in this regard. Both the over-ear and on-ear models share this note of brilliance and also retain the shiny triangle-design on each cup. Some may find these to be a bit loud, in the design sense that is, and it may be a turn off for those people. However I absolutely love the look and have received more questions about them than any other pair I've worn in public.

Comfort

The headband is made of a rubber-like material with foam underneath it, making it comfortable while keeping the headphones in place on your head. The earcups themselves are made with extra padding on the outside of the unit, not only to prevent noise leak but to ensure they stay comfortable even in extended wearing sessions. As someone who wears glasses as well as contacts, I often find some headphones will press against the glasses in an uncomfortable way. With the DNA Pro, I did not encounter that problem, even during the nights of my live show, which usually involves me wearing the headphones for 90 minutes to two hours. Monster's statement of "pillow-soft" certainly holds true here and as one who is visually less-fortunate, I thank them for it. You can definitely tell a lot of thought was put into keeping these as comfortable as possible, and much like the design on the outside, Monster shines here, too. As mentioned earlier, the headphones don't weigh you down either and that, in part, is thanks to the passive noise isolation technology, so there are no batteries or extra electronics in the unit.

Build Quality

One thing I really don't like about fold-up headphones is when they don't stay open or closed, or when you feel like you might break them. The great thing about the DNA Pro headphones is that I did not get those bad vibes at all. Opening and closing the headphones has a certainty to it, that I meant to do it. The triangle shape of the unit's speaker enclosures are beefy, but in a good way. They have a great feel that is both durable and rigid. The headphone's cup arms are adjustable in length, as expected, and each click along the route is sturdy and doesn't move to the next one if you don't want it to. Added to the bottom of each speaker is a 1/8" headphone jack, so that you can plug in on whichever side is easier for you. And in true Monster style, you can plug in another set of headphones to the open jack so you can share what you're listening to.

Sound Quality

The Head Monster Noel Lee has been a huge proponent of Pure Monster Sound, which is Monster's idea of making sure you are hearing precisely what the artist intended for you to hear. And with all Monster headphones, that's exactly what you get; you "hear what the microphone is hearing" as Noel so eloquently puts it.

As far as sound response goes, the DNA Pro headphones get it almost 100% right. The highs are crisp, the mids aren't drowned out and the lows have a nice punch. However, given the size of the headphone, I did expect a bit more low-end response, but not in that bass boost sort of way. They do a pretty great job at replicating the full range of sound, even with the less-impressive depth of bass. What's nice is that the amount of power in these headphones stay inside the cans; there was not a lot of sound leak to the outside world from the DNA Pro.

track testing

Now, unlike some of the competition, these headphones aren't just for one genre of music. Monster says that the headphones are ideal for any type of music, so I decided to put that to the test. With the help of HDTracks, the leader in re-sampled and audiophile-quality music files, I was able to really dive into the true quality of these headphones. I picked a few tracks that had varied instruments, vocals and arrangements.

As always, I'm using my audio production machine to listen to the tracks, running a cable from my soundcard to an ALESIS mixer-amplifier, with the headphones plugged into the "PHONES" jack on the mixer. For comparison and to reflect a more common scenario, I am listening to the same tracks on Spotify, with the high-quality option enabled.

"Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake - Vocals are bright and the harmonies sound incredible. You can hear the entire layered chorus of the track and they're not overshined by the synth. However the Timbaland-produced track does lose a small bit of its flare at the end, when JT and Timbaland seem to like to change the style as a lead-out. There is a deep, driven bassline in this song and a bit of it is lost through the lack of deeper bass response in these headphones. The entire piece can still be felt but if those familiar with the song will notice a presence slightly missing.

"Unconditionally" by Katy Perry - Katy Perry's vocal range is always something that can stand out with nicer headphones and the DNA Pros are no exception to that rule. During the build-up to the chorus I also was able to pick out subtle guitar riffs which I usually am unable to hear. When the song moves into the ending bridge, the high-end mix of individual vocals could still be picked out.

"She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 - Adam Levine is always nice to listen to, no matter what you listen to him on. But it was an extra treat to hear him on this track with the DNA Pro headphones, as his voice has a tiny bit of soul in it and I was able to identify it through the verses. The bass flaw does stand out here, too, as the song picks up before the finale and I felt like I wasn't being driven to the end.

"Pretty Young Thing" by Michael Jackson - I had to go back to one of my favorite songs of all-time from one of my favorite musicians. The synthesized voice saying "pretty young thing" at around 2:15 is actually one of the cooler things to listen to on premium headphones. The iconic pop single really stands out on these over-ears and the entire song is crisp and clear.

Heroes & Legends: Conquerors of Kolhar (Phoenix Online Publishing)

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 09:00:00 UTC

Heroes & Legends: Conquerors of Kolhar

Phoenix Online Publishing

Reviewed by Tom French on Thursday Aug 21, 2014

3.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

There appears to be no leveling cap, which means you can turn a character into an absolute monster in a great way.

Negatives

The main story is incredibly linear: deliver "the artifact" from town 1, through town 2 into a castle, etc. Following only the story would make for an incredibly short game - play the side quests.

Result

I was incredibly impressed by the game as a whole. There was never a time where I felt like I was fighting against the game to accomplish a task, which is very important. I was drawn into the game and played it for quite some time. The battle system of the game is where the majority of your time will be spent, but it is for good reason. The developers of the game clearly knew their strong points and pushed that as much as possible. I would highly recommend this game to anyone, no matter age or skill; it's just a blast to play.

Product Description

In Heroes & Legends: Conquerors of Kolhar, a trio of adventurers set out to save the kingdom of Kolhar, along the way encountering hordes of enemies and finding new allies. Fighting with swords, sorcery, and elemental powers, players can craft their equipment as they gain experience and collect artifacts on their quest. The adaptable gameplay is easily accessible for beginners while offering plenty of variety and depth for experienced adventurers.

Story

Your adventure begins with a small group of people who are travelling together and manage to find a crystal of sorts. After investigation, it is found to be "the artifact." The storyline is driven by attempting to deliver the artifact to someone else, even though the magician of the party seems to want to keep it for himself and let chaos ensue. What happens if you do not deliver the artifact to the necessary parties? What if the mage wants to keep it for himself and rule the world with an iron fist? Who knows, because those events are not possible because of the incredibly linear story line. After visiting town one, you move on to town number two, until you eventually travel to a castle. If you were to only follow the main quest line, I feel like the game would end a bit to quickly and you would miss out on all of the fun adventures of raiding innocent merchants and being robbed by lone thieves.

Although the linear plot line, the raiding of "innocent" travelers should have caught your attention enough to want to deviate from the main path. After each mission you have three options that you can choose from, each of which will launch a different event. The first being the main story line, which ultimately is your main goal, and continues the adventure. The next event available is the side quest, which allows you to go fight things in random locations. Sometimes the event will have you protect a farm, while other times you will travel to the sewers to beat up giant rats. Overall, the side quests are exactly the same, where you fight stuff but sometimes with different reasons. The interesting part of the story is when you trigger a quick event. The event is just a question in which you pick one answer or the other, but they actually influence the game. You can choose to help a wandering merchant from a pack of goblins, or you can steal his stuff and run. You get robbed by a thief, you can give up the items in your inventory or lose health. Whatever you choose, the decision is not game breaking, but fun and advances the characters forward.

Gameplay

The beauty of the game does not come from its complex systems, but rather its simplistic ones. The game starts off with a few simple tutorials, and within five minutes you know how to play the entire game. There are quite a few icons during the level up process, and if for any reason you forget, you can simply hover your mouse over them and see what it stands for. There are few games that can be picked up so easily and enjoyable at the same time.

The place where you spend most of your time is in the battle scene. This is where the most complex features of the game exist, but luckily they are quite easy to master. Each time a rotation of monsters occurs, a new item appears in your inventory. You are only able to hold five items at a time, so if your inventory is full, the last item will be discarded. If an item is currently better than the one equipped to the character that you have selected, then a green up arrow will appear on the item; a downwards red arrow will appear if it is worse. The equipable items are a weapon and a shield, and the higher the number on the item, the better it is. Occasionally a potion or level up scroll will appear in your inventory, and you can apply it to a character.

Throughout my entire play through I managed to only lose one character to the pointy end of a sword. My mage, now a strange looking puddle thing, has paid the ultimate price for his adventure. Like any sane person I began to make arrangements for his family, but then I saw a little icon above his puddle that appeared to be a potion. At this point I was desperate; no one wants to confront the family of a dead mage, so I poured one of my health potions on him. Not only did he rise from the grave, but he came back with half health, which was quickly solved by a second health potion.

Now that my party was in good standing, it was time to start taking down some monsters. There is the normal attack every few seconds, but the fun happens when you use a character's skills. Each character can hold a maximum of five skills, each of which have quite a long recharge time. The mage has mostly damage things, such as a fireball that hits all of the enemies for silly amounts of damage. The assassin character had my favorite skills, which was instant death for any monster it hits. At the beginning of fights I just hit the instant death button, and watched her relax. The paladin character had a bit more trouble handling his enemies though, because he didn't really have damage spells. His kit was focused around giving the party health, damage and armor. Although the paladin was always the last to kill his monster, he was by far my most important with his team buffs. It didn't help that he could swing and miss the broad side of a barn door, but that just gave him more time to recharge his heal and buffs for his teammates.

I managed to play for a little over four hours, and now my characters are in tip top shape. Everyone's armor and weapons are high level, and I understand the recharge times of all of the skills to use them to their maximum efficiency. My mage was the first character to do it, but he reached level 100. I assumed that I am starting to have plenty of damage, so this must be the level cap; sorry Mr. Mage, but your reign of death and destruction must come to a halt. Oh boy was I mistaken. Ding! Mage man hits level 101, thus putting an end to my silly theories. The characters continued to climb in levels, and I never really saw a level cap. The monsters appeared to become stronger as my characters leveled up, but they couldn't keep up. I started to get to a point where my characters would barely lose health.

User Interface

Everything that I wanted to click on was easy to understand and did exactly what I expected it to. The user interface for a game is very important because it is what brings a player into believing that they are really controlling what is happening. The game was great at removing the barrier of "I don't know what to do next" to "all right let's move on to the next mission and beat up some things." The tutorial was crisp, clean and to the point, which really helped with getting the player into the game and onto the next battle.

Graphics

By no means were there realistic, high definition cinematic scenes, but the graphics were overall pretty solid. Everything looked to fit in the theme and was easily identifiable, which was the most important for me. The characters did not move very much overall due to the text based storyline in which you are given a picture of a character with some text on it, clicking the screen advances the conversation. The game however would feel a little out of place with a fancy and complex graphics system that allowed for a wide array of actions. As I said before, the beauty of the game came from its simplicity.

Sound

The soundtrack for the game was fine, nothing great. This kind of pairs up with the graphics in a big way, because the graphics were simplistic with little unexpected actions. There were not really any events that called for dramatic music to suddenly take over because the story was driven by the click of a mouse; nothing was controlled by a timer to allow for a sudden change in musical tone. This however does not mean that the music is poor; actually quite far from it. The beat kept me in rhythm with my characters during battle and allowed me to sync up with everything that happened in the game.

Level-Up System

I felt like the level-up system needed a little attention because of how important it is to the game, but also how incredibly subtle it is. Leveling up is quite literally the process of click one of three circles above your character's head. Each time a character levels up, the three available options are different, but it always comes in the same exact format of select one, two or three. There were a few times in which I forgot what the icons stood for, but I just placed my mouse over the icon and half a second later it would tell me exact what it is.

About an hour into the game, I could level up a character without thinking about it. I think one of the great options of the level up system is that there are usually two options that increase a characters damage or health, but there is usually one that increases things like event chance. It is easy to select damage every time you level up, which is exactly what I did with my assassin and she became a monster, but there is a certain pleasure in selecting more events. The game is 90% battling, but I feel like the 10% events are from leveling up my party to be more likely to find events.

Quest for Infamy (Phoenix Online Publishing)

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:00:00 UTC

Quest for Infamy

Phoenix Online Publishing

Reviewed by Tom French on Thursday Jul 10, 2014

2.5 out of 5

Summary

Positives

All items in the game can be examined; then, once examined, are usually quite hilarious and a pleasure to read.

Negatives

The user interface is sometimes more difficult then the actual monsters, which are near impossible already.

Result

Overall the game was quite solid. The interactions of characters and objects were significantly stronger than I would have expected, but the user interface often times made it very difficult to immerse myself into my character. The story line is simplistic, but made up for by the interactions between all of the characters and the environment. There were countless times that I found myself laughing at many of the witty jokes and remarks. For anyone that enjoys point and click adventures, or if you are willing to try out the genre with a bit of patience, Quest for Infamy is a good pick up.

Product Description

Return to the glory days of role-playing and adventure in Quest for Infamy, a humor-filled fantasy epic styled in the vein of classic PC RPGs, where you play the charming villain. Blending turn-based combat and spell-casting with puzzle solving and adventure, players can choose from three character classes-brigand (strength), rogue (stealth), or sorcerer (magic), each with unique storylines and adventures-in one of the largest retro role-playing experiences ever. Adventurers are invited to explore a world of hand-drawn wonder, as they wind their way through trap-infested dungeons, battle slavering beasts with swords or custom-made spells, and lie, cheat and steal their way to infamy.

Story

The story starts off in a small town by the name of Volksville. You have arrived on just the right day because an execution is about to begin. The main character is a middle-aged man by the name of Roehm, who appears to be a wandering traveler and Sean Connery doppelganger. The first storyline that you must walk is about the execution that will be happening later in the day. Your goal is to travel from shop to shop, speak with each person and learn more about the execution. However, no one really talks about the execution. Instead of learning about your goal, you learn more about the people of the town. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just not the goal I thought I was attempting to achieve. After speaking with everyone and learning about some of the very interesting characters, you stroll over to the execution. You witness a classic "I stole to feed my starving family" execution, which only adds a new depth of character to the mayor and townsfolk as a whole. Overall, the storyline added little complexity to the game, but added a lot of character qualities.

Gameplay

As I continued on my adventure I was able to leave the city of Volksville and finally get into a dark and scary forest. The townspeople must always be terrified since this forest is literally right outside of their little wooden fence. However, upon entering the forest I encountered a skeleton that apparently did not like me very much because it started to attack. I was brought to a separate combat screen that had four buttons on it and a small tutorial popped up. After reading through the tutorial, I figured it was simple enough, so I began my attack. I have never been so wrong in my life. I would use the stab attack: it was a miss. Discouraged, I would use the hack attack: again a miss. Wondering if I would ever make contact with the skeleton, I used the stab attack again, but this time I made contact. This is the first monster I have faced, so surely it should be near dead from just one hit, right? I look up to the health bars to see that I have managed to deal two points of damage on his forty-five point total. During this time of me apparently swinging like a mad man, the skeleton managed to take forty out of my forty-five health points. The next turn rolls around and I managed to die, not really understanding what had happened. A few fights later I was finally able to make contact with the monsters, but the combat system still seemed very luck based.

User Interface

Every game needs a way to bring the player's actions into the game itself. The user interface for Quest for Infamy feels like a never-ending boss battle which is impossible to win. The main screen has three buttons on it, all of which are difficult to understand what they do. It doesn't help that the load game button is also the options menu, so that loading a game appears to be the second function of the "restore infamy" menu. The in-game interface does not get much better, with the disappearing menu bar and strange icons. The merchant menu, where you buy and sell goods, is still a mystery to me. I have attempted to figure out the menu over and over, each time to accidentally buy something that I have no idea what it does because it has no description at all. The icons for buying items are a bag and a hand, with no description of what they do, which leaves guessing as the only option.

Environment

The game's true beauty lies in its rich environment, in which everything seems to play a part of your adventure. I am one who wants to click on everything and oh boy could I. There are four main interactions that you can have with an object: examine, use, talk and attack. When encountering something such as a wooden door, most would think that knocking would be the best course of action. In my adventures I was not a man who performed the usual, so instead of attempting to knock, I tried to attack the door with a heavy emphasis on tried. I was immediately told that I was a "dumbass" for trying to fight a door. Still upset that I could not fight the wooden door, I attempted to fight a Gargoyle statue. However, this time I was not called names but instead I was told that fighting a Gargoyle was a terrible idea. I must have hit a nerve because the Gargoyle shot laser beams from its eyes and killed me instantly, forcing me to load my last save.

My second time around I planned on taking things a little slower; maybe talk to some people instead of always letting my sword lead the way. I quickly discovered that talking to people had a higher result of finding information and a lower chance of getting laser beamed. I managed to travel around the entire town, talking to every individual from the giddy brew-master tending to his garden to the mysterious magic shop owner. Most characters were quite excited to share all they knew about their town, but the magic shop owner, "Mr. Magic," enjoyed telling me how much smarter he was than me. I mean, I guess I did try to fight his stone Gargoyle after all, so I guess it was fair.

Graphics

The main focus for Quest for Infamy is not to look pretty but to excite its players through its fun and engaging environment. The visuals of the game are sometimes difficult to recognize, especially friend from foe; occasionally it actually enhances the point and click by having to examine things in order to get its story. The character interactions are the only thing that really stood out to me, and that is probably because they are so vastly different from the game itself. The interactions between characters go into some strange realistic 3D head display. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it is just strange the first few times that you see it and takes some getting used to.

Sound

The soundtrack of the game is quite bland, often times just playing cricket noises to simulate nighttime. There does not appear to be any unique music to the game, which is slightly disappointing since this is a genre of game that can really thrive on good music; good music and a nice scotch, but I digress.

Justin 10,000mAh Power Bank (JB-30-10000) (Innovative Technology)

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:29:44 UTC

Justin 10,000mAh Power Bank (JB-30-10000)

Innovative Technology

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Friday Jun 13, 2014

4 out of 5

Summary

Positives

Good size, good weight and a lot of power, all in a pack that can charge almost any device.

Negatives

An unfortunate shiny surface makes the battery look battered and bruised easily, but does not affect the overall usability of the battery.

Result

While the physical device may, unfortunately, be prone to scrapes and scuffs, this battery is certainly one to consider if you travel a lot, spend a lot of time at conventions, or just have a lot of devices that you use frequently.

Product Description

Powerful Power Bank Recharges Smartphones, Tablets and Much More While On-the-Go
Dual Universal USB Charging Ports Charge 2 Devices Simultaneously
Bright Blue LED Power Level Indicators
High-Speed Charging via 2.1A USB Port

Battery Life

Our testing was twofold for this product. We ran both our official battery test, as well as a practical test. The battery is 10 amps, which means it should be able to charge an equivalent amount of battery power in other devices.

Practical Test

With the JB-30-10000 in tow, we headed to an all-day developer event. Obviously, at an event like this, power is at a premium. There are often not enough outlets for everything that needs to be plugged in, so devices run on battery all day long. Devices like MiFis tend to not last long, so an alternate power source is imperative. During the day, we charged 3 different phones and a MiFi. By the end of the day, the battery pack was still showing 4 out of 4 battery indicators.

Nokia Lumia 620

Using out Lumia test device, we ran our in-house battery test, with the addition of the external battery attached. On our normal test, the Lumia 620 runs around 10 hours and 15 minutes on a full charge. Using the full battery, plus the JB-30-10000, we averaged a little over 75 hours. Based on the 10 amp power pack and the 1.3 amps in the Lumia's battery, the overall charge should have lasted 7.7 times its normal length, in a perfect world. That would have the charge last around 79 hours, but with power loss through charge technology, this is a nearly perfect charge transfer.

Build Quality

The overall build quality is sound. The box is sturdy and is capable of taking a decent amount of abuse. Unfortunately, the finish is entirely glossy, which means that it is fairly easy to scratch. It also means that fingerprints show and stick around for a while. The power button is small and fairly flat the body, making finding it without looking difficult, but it does provide some protection from accidental shut-off while in a bag. The USB ports are a little tight, which makes removing the USB plug difficult, but it also prevents accidental unplugging.

Size & Weight

10 amps is a lot of power to pack into a small box, but this device manages to do it fairly well. While its weight is a little more than you might expect, it isn't unmanageable. It also isn't in the top half of the heaviest 10 amp power packs we have tested. In fact, it does come in under the weight of some of our older, smaller power packs. The physical size is about what you would expect. A little smaller than many 10 amp packs, which certainly makes portability a lot easier.

Compatibility

There are 2 USB ports: 1 amp and 2.1 amp. With these options, you can charge almost any device, from a wide array of phones to many tablets, e-readers and even gaming systems. It will, of course, not charge devices not capable of charging on USB, such as Microsoft's Surface. The pack can also be charged on USB, creating a perfect circle. The micro-USB port means you can use just about any charger you have around for any of your devices, so long as you don't have an Apple device.

Long Range Bluetooth Speaker Adapter (Amped Wireless)

Mon, 26 May 2014 18:21:14 UTC

Long Range Bluetooth Speaker Adapter

Amped Wireless

Reviewed by Scott Ertz on Monday May 26, 2014

3.8 out of 5

Summary

Positives

This receiver is incredibly easy to setup and even easier to connect.

Negatives

An inability to connect to an Android "project" device while connecting to the same device running an outdated operating system was disappointing to a technology hobbyist.

Result

While the sound quality produced by the receiver wouldn't cut it for a professional or audiophile setup, it is definitely a device worthy of being in any home's entertainment center.

Product Description

The Long Range Bluetooth Speaker Adapter from Amped Wireless is an International CES Innovations 2014 Honoree for Design and Engineering.

Long Range Audio Streaming - Stream music to your speaker system with any Bluetooth-enabled device, from almost anywhere in your home.
Superior Sound Quality - Enjoy your music at its best, with no audio jitters and superior sound quality.
Simple Plug and Play Setup - Plug your adapter into any speaker, pair your device, and start listening.
Compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device and any speaker with 3.5mm or RCA inputs.

Connectivity

The receiver has only one inconvenience in regard to pairing, but it is easily ignored. If the device is currently paired and connected, you cannot long-press the connect button and override the pairing. As most people won't be pairing the device to multiple phones, this will almost never be a problem for anyone other than those of us who test and review hardware.

HTC 8Xt (Windows Phone 8.1)

The phone, even running an experimental version of Windows Phone 8.1, was able to connect to the device immediately. The phone remained connected through an entire episode streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Apple iPod Touch 4th Generation (iOS 6.1)

The iPod, despite being a few generations old and running a version of iOS that is a full generation behind, was able to connect immediately. The player remained connected through an entire episode streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

Microsoft Surface Pro (Windows 8.1 Update)

The tablet, running the most modern version of Windows and sporting current hardware, connected immediately. The tablet remained connected through several episodes streamed on Netflix without any signal drops.

HP TouchPad (webOS 3.0.5)

The tablet, running an older, abandoned operating system, sporting older hardware, connected immediately. The tablet remained connected through an entire album played from internal memory (webOS 3.0 does not have a Netflix application, nor Xbox Music support). The album played without and signal drops.

HP TouchPad (Android 4.3.1)

The tablet, running a fairly modern version of Android on older hardware, was incapable of connecting. Because of a lack of connection, no play time or signal strength was logged. The same tablet, noted above, was capable of connecting and playing without issue. The process of trying to pair the tablet would cause the tablet's Bluetooth hardware to crash and the tablet would need to be rebooted to try again. We did attempt to pair the tablet 6 times without success, always with the same result. With Android's popularity on non-standard devices, it is disappointing that this tablet didn't work.

Range

Amped Wireless claims on the package that this device will give you up to double the range of a standard Bluetooth receiver. Based on our tests, that claim is mostly accurate. While a normal receiver in this price range will cover a room, or several rooms, we were able to leave the building with just under 100ft of range beyond the outside walls. Concrete block, rebar and stucco could not prevent us from getting decent range.

With the ability to transmit from outdoors to indoors, you could conceivably use this to power a multi-room sound system without having to leave your phone behind in a particular room. It could also be great for an indoor/outdoor system, maybe around a pool, with the same lack of restrictions.

Controls

This device has very little in the way of controls, which is exactly what you want in a device like this. With a single status LED and a single connect button, it is easy to figure out and easy to use.

Status LED

A red light indicates idle mode: nothing connected, no pairing in process. A solid blue light indicates paired and connected; a device is capable of streaming to the receiver. A blinking blue light indicates pairing mode; a Bluetooth-capable device can search for and pair to the receiver.

Connect Button

This button does exactly what you expect it to do - it puts the receiver into pairing mode. When the red status light is on, simply press the button, not long-press, and the LED should start to blink blue. Then the receiver is in pairing mode, and it is as easy as going into Bluetooth settings on the transmitting device. The only thing that would make this better would be the ability to force-disconnect a device from the transmitter; possibly through a long-press on the connect button.

Learning Curve

The wonderful thing about this receiver is that it doesn't do much, in a great kind of way. Because of its highly-focused capabilities, there is almost no learning curve required. Plug in the included audio and power cables, pair to your phone or tablet and start streaming.

Sound Quality

One of the well-known issues with Bluetooth audio devices is the fairly low quality sound. In the grand scheme of Bluetooth devices, however, this receiver is fairly average. It doesn't hinder the experience of listening to the streamed audio, but it doesn't enhance it, either. The frequency range carried and transmitted through to this receiver is adequate for everyday home use, but it isn't designed for any sort of professional or audiophile scenarios. Now, this is not to say the receiver is bad, because it is far from it. In fact, we plan to replace an extremely old Bluetooth receiver here in the office with one of these.