Monthly Archives: September 2017

ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC Quick Review: Octa-Core Ryzen-Powered Beast

ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC Quick Review: Octa-Core Ryzen-Powered Beast

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Desktop-grade processor in a laptop

How does an octa-core gaming laptop fancy you? With the ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC, you are dealing with a gaming laptop sporting a desktop-grade AMD Ryzen 7 1700 processor—making it the first 8-core gaming laptop in the world. How powerful is the Ryzen 7 1700? Aside from having 8 cores and 16 threads, it is almost 50% more powerful than Intel’s 7th-Generation i7 Processor.

As it has officially launched in the Philippines on September 28, we got our first look at ASUS’ latest ROG laptop. Let’s check out its specs:

ROG Strix GL702ZC Specs

New Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport vs Mazda 6 vs Skoda Superb Comparison

New Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport vs Mazda 6 vs Skoda Superb Comparison

Cars,

The Vauxhall Insignia has long been a company car favourite, but this new version will need to be great if it’s to fend off these rivals

*** Note : £1 = $1.34

The contenders

Mazda 6 2.2 150 SE Nav

  • List price £23,395
  • Target Price £22,641
  • Strong performance yet low emissions are likely to attract plenty of attention

Skoda Superb 1.6 TDI 120 SE Technology

136952-smart-home-vs-amazon-echo-original-vs-echo-tap-vs-echo-dot-vs-echo-look-vs-echo-show-vs-echo-2017-vs-echo-plus-vs-echo-spot-whats-the-difference-image1-9jgrpnfxm7

Amazon Echo (original) vs Echo Tap vs Echo Dot vs Echo Look vs Echo Show vs Echo (2017) vs Echo Plus vs Echo Spot: What’s the difference?

Audio & Video, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Amazon’s Echo lineup is insane at this point.

It wasn’t long ago that a voice-controlled speaker and smart home assistant was the stuff of science-fiction, but in a relatively short time, it has become reality. Amazon’s Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices offer just that and although Amazon isn’t the only manufacturer to build voice recognition and internet interactivity into household gadgets, it’s certainly one of the most successful.

The Echo family of products has grown rapidly over the last couple of years, with a flurry of new devices announced in September 2017 to add to the portfolio, meaning there’s something out there for everyone.

Here are all the Alexa-enabled Amazon devices compared to help you work out which one best suits you.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/smart-home/buyers-guides/amazon/136952-amazon-echo-vs-echo-2-vs-echo-plus-vs-echo-tap-vs-echo-dot-vs-echo-show-vs-echo-spot

Honor 9 Dual Camera Smartphone Review

Honor 9 Dual Camera Smartphone Review

Cameras, Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Huawei Honor9 (1)

The Honor smartphones are part of Huawei’s more affordable smartphone range, and the Honor 9 is a premium smartphone but at a more reasonable price. For example, an iPhone 7 Plus with dual cameras will cost you around £669/$870, whereas Honor’s top of the range Honor 9, with dual cameras, can be purchased for around £379/$493.

Features

The Honor 9, made by Huawei, features two cameras on the rear, and whilst some smartphones use two lenses to offer a wide-angle and a zoom lens, such as the LG G6, and iPhone 7 Plus, 8 Plus, and X, some, such as the Huawei P10, and Honor 9 use two cameras, one colour, and one black and white. By using two cameras in this way, they can offer sharper images from the black and white sensor (through lack of RGB filter), as well as more light collection from two sensors.

The Honor 9 updates the Honor 8, with a 12mp colour camera, and a 20mp black and white camera. Using this, Honor says the 9 offers 2x hybrid zoom with no loss in quality (when shooting at 12mp).
…
Read full post here:
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/honor-9-dual-camera-smartphone-review-31367

main_EQB-501

Casio Edifice EQB-501 hands-on: A modern, smart chronograph

Wearables, , , , , , ,

Smartwatches are here to stay, but for some, they’re an unnecessary annoyance. Constant bleeping, notifications and attention-grabbing might be your idea of a nightmare. However, it is possible to have a regular analogue watch that uses a smartphone’s smarts to keep it in time accurately.

Enter the latest Casio Edifice lineup. From the outside, they look like ordinary watches, but they’re far from it. Using an app on your phone, they’re versatile, accurate and can change timezones.

142048-smartwatches-hands-on-casio-edifice-501-hands-on-image1-nze4blytwx

Casio Edifice 501: Design

142377-tv-hands-on-humax-fvp-5000t-image1-ppoax57ted

Humax FVP-5000T preview: Freeview Play revisited

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

The Humax FVP-4000T was the first Freeview Play set-top box to hit the shelves when the new service launched in 2015. The FVP-5000T follows on from this box looking to upgrade the experience and giving customers a method for adding Freeview Play’s services to their TV.

Freeview Play is now widely available through TVs like those from Panasonic or LG, as well as set-top boxes, also from Panasonic, Bush or Humax. It’s in competition with YouView and there’s a great deal of parity between those two services, with both looking to bring you free-to-air channels and integrated free-to-view catch-up services with no need for a subscription.

While YouView is available through BT and TalkTalk offering enhanced services (like BT Sport or movies on demand), the Humax offering is designed to be as straight-forward as TV watching comes, but without sacrificing some of the nice features you want from a modern TV, like recording, pausing and rewinding live TV.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/reviews/humax/142377-humax-fvp-5000t-preview-freeview-play-revisited

2018-volvo-xc60-photos-and-info-news-car-and-driver-photo-676573-s-original

Volvo XC60 review: The best-in-class mid-size SUV?

Cars, , , ,

The outgoing Volvo XC60 continued to be the best seller in its class right up until the end of production. Whereas other “new” Volvos — the XC90, S90, V90 — replaced cars that were so old people had forgotten they existed, the previous XC60’s success presents a challenge for the replacement model: people liked the old car, so how can Volvo keep them happy, but change, move forward and improve?

Volvo XC60 review: Getting behind the wheel

The main weapon in Volvo’s arsenal is its new SPA platform — which also sits under the XC90 and V90. The XC60 will be one of the smallest cars (it’s 4.68m long) to sit on SPA, but the advantage of using the kit of bits that the bigger cars get is a range of diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, smooth 8-speed gearboxes, great crash performance and good proportions.

All of which means that when you get behind the wheel of the new XC60, you’ll find the drive far more enjoyable than in the old car.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/cars/reviews/volvo/142309-volvo-xc60-review-the-best-in-class-mid-size-suv

142351-smart-home-vs-nest-hello-vs-ring-video-doorbell-vs-doorbell-2-vs-doorbell-pro-whats-the-difference-image1-h9bwnanav3

Nest Hello vs Ring Video Doorbell vs Doorbell 2 vs Doorbell Pro: What’s the difference?

Wearables, , , , , , , ,

Nest announced it will be bringing out a video doorbell at some point in 2018, called Hello. The company already offers various smart home devices including its popular Learning Thermostat and various cameras for both indoor and outdoor, but a video doorbell has been a long time coming.

Ring meanwhile, dominates the video doorbell space. It offers no less than three options, comprising the Video Doorbell, Video Doorbell 2 and Video Doorbell Pro, with the latter offering the most comprehensive list of features from Ring.

Details are somewhat scarce surrounding Nest’s Hello at the moment but we have compared what we know about it to the three options from Ring to help you work out what the differences are.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/smart-home/buyers-guides/nest/142351-nest-hello-vs-ring-video-doorbell-vs-doorbell-2-vs-doorbell-pro

142376-phones-vs-google-pixel-2-vs-google-pixel-2-xl-image1-3xow0ahvlv

Google Pixel 2 vs Pixel 2 XL: What’s the rumoured difference?

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Google will announce two new Pixel phones at an event on 4 October, if reports are to be believed. It is thought the two new smartphones will be revealed alongside a new Google Home Mini, new Daydream and a new Pixelbook.

Naturally, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are likely to differ in physical size, as they did last year and as is suggested by their names, but what else might be different? Here is the Pixel 2 against the Pixel 2 XL to see how they compare, based on the speculation.

google-pixel-2-ngay-phat-hanh-tinh-nang-gia-ca-va-moi-thu-can-biet-2019684

Google Pixel 2 vs Google Pixel 2 XL: Design

macan-pp-2984

2017 Porsche Macan Turbo with Performance Package review

Cars, , , , , , , , ,

Before we go any further, you need to know one number related to the blue beauty seen here. No, it’s not 440 — the amount of horsepower this particular 2017 Porsche MacanTurbo has. Nor is it 4.2, which is how quick this little crossover SUV is to 60 miles per hour. It’s not even 169 — its top speed. It’s 96. As in Ninety-Six Thousand Dollars.

I’m going to pause to give you a second or two to absorb that number.

It wasn’t all that long ago that people wondered if buyers would pay 50 grand for a Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, mostly because it was so small. And here we are, just seven years later, and Stuttgart is asking nearly double that amount for this compact CUV.

And you know what? Porsche isn’t crazy.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2017-porsche-macan-turbo-awd-review/

 

2017-Fiat-500X-Trekking-front-three-quarter-06

2017 Fiat 500X Trekking review

Cars, , , , , , , , ,

After being so very disappointed by the Fiat 500L when I reviewed it a few years ago, I was totally prepared to hate the 2017 Fiat 500X. But curiosity eventually got the best of me, and I recently found myself behind the wheel of Fiat’s little jellybean-shaped SUV. At the end of a week of testing, what most surprised me was just how much I liked the 500X.

No, the X isn’t the best performer or the highest tech vehicle on the road, though it is roughly on par with much of its competition. However, it performed almost every task asked of it with a flair that just left me grinning all week long. This is a car that’s just bursting at the seams with character and personality that makes this average performing compact SUV one of the better vehicles in Fiat’s lineup.

98efb83c100b4b16c9c268c3fe0e708c

Three levels of Uconnect technology

The 500X’s dashboard is home to one of three tiers of infotainment hardware; the Uconnect 3.0, 5.0 or 6.5 systems indicate the screen size as well as the level of sophistication offered to the driver.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/auto/2017-fiat-500x/specs/

Amazon Fire TV (2017) hands on review

Amazon Fire TV (2017) hands on review

Audio & Video, Wearables, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The streaming device to beat them all? Amazon’s new Fire TV box has a fresh design, supports 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos sound, and costs just £69.99/$91.

Amazon is mounting an all-out assault on your home. Not content with an impressive selection of new, Alexa-powered smart speakers to fill your house with sound, there’s also a new Fire TV to take care of your video needs.

There’s a new design, an upgraded set of specs and a knockdown price to put the fear into everyone from Apple to Roku. Is the all-new Fire TV the ultimate 4K streaming device?

Design

Amazon has ditched the traditional box design seen on the last-generation Fire TV (now discontinued).

Instead the all-new Fire TV has taken a design cue from the Google Chromecast Ultra, and takes the form of a small, square box, complete with attached, dangling HDMI cable. It’s no longer a set-top box, more a streaming dongle.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/amazon/fire-tv-4k-2017/review

H2x1_NintendoClassicMiniSNES_image912w.0

SNES Classic Edition Review: Gaming’s finest era returns for round two

Wearables, , , , , , , , , , ,

It probably shouldn’t come as much of a shock that the NES Classic Edition was as successful as it was. Nostalgia can be a powerful thing and, in this case, it was so powerful that even Nintendo was caught off guard. Now that the NES Classic has served as something of a proof of concept, Nintendo is ready to see if lightning can strike twice with the SNES Classic Edition, hoping to draw in an entirely new generation of gamers.

With that in mind, I have to admit that I was never super excited for the NES Classic Edition, despite how cool it is. I was born in 1987, almost two years after the original NES launched here in the US, so by the time I was old enough to actually fall in love with video games, it was already on the way out. I still had enough exposure to the NES to appreciate some of its more well-known titles like Super Mario Bros. 3 and River City Ransom, but it was never a console I played extensively. No, the consoles I grew up with were the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/snes-classic-edition-review-gamings-finest-era-returns-for-round-two-27501824/

 

HGST Deskstar NAS 4TB review – speed and safety without breaking the bank

HGST Deskstar NAS 4TB review – speed and safety without breaking the bank

Computers & IT, Wearables, , , ,

The HDD market is shrinking and this is mostly due to the fact that prices of SSDs are going down with every passing day. Nonetheless, HDDs still have some merits that should not be overlooked – they boast long life and low price. Their capacity is also important, considering the fact that file sizes have a tendency of growing and thus occupy more and more disk space.

Kết quả hình ảnh cho HGST Deskstar NAS 4TB

SSD manufacturers such as Samsung now offer devices with capacities of 2TB (M.2 type) and even more but their prices surpass most people’s budgets who desire higher operational speeds. It is namely here that HDDs and RAID configurations, increasing the operational speed, come into play. We’ve received a Deskstar NAS by HGST (Hitachi) with 4TB of capacity and in the lines to follow you will find out all essentials about this model and whether there is any sense in having a RAID configuration these days.

Retail package

In addition to the 3.5-inch device, the package also carries eight screws needed for the installation process, as well as an installation guide.
…
Read full post here:
https://laptopmedia.com/review/hgst-deskstar-nas-4tb-review-speed-and-safety-without-breaking-the-bank/

Amazon Echo (2017) and Echo Plus hands on review

Amazon Echo (2017) and Amazon Echo Plus hands on review

Audio & Video, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Amazon is aiming to major on sound quality despite an ultra-low price with its new Echo and Echo Plus speakers.

Amazon’s continued effort to put Alexa everywhere is continuing apace with the launch of a host of new Echo devices.

There’s an all-new, more compact Amazon Echo, an Echo Plus with upgraded smart home functionality and an Echo Spot bedside speaker complete with video calling (due in the UK in 2018). The Echo Show, already on sale in the US, is also on the way to the UK.

The Echo and Echo Plus aim to major on sound quality, with Amazon claiming improved audio quality from upgraded speaker drivers.

With multi-room functionality baked-in, and a new cheaper entry-point of just £89.99/$117, Amazon is pitching its Echo speakers as the most affordable multi-room audio system on the market.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/amazon/echo-plus/review

FLM Ballhead Review (CB-58 FTR, CB-48 FTR and CB-32 F)

FLM Ballhead Review (CB-58 FTR, CB-48 FTR and CB-32 F)

Cameras

 

FLM CB-58 FTR

The CB-58 FTR is the biggest and the most capable full-size ballhead made by FLM, a company based out of Emmendingen, Germany that specializes on tripods, tripod heads and accessories. The professional-grade CB-58 ballhead is proudly made in Germany using high-strength, lead-free aluminum and its components are CNC-milled and then hand-polished with the highest precision to guarantee smooth movements and precise adjustments. The unique design of the CB-58 FTR incorporates a total of five different knobs that control different features of the ballhead (discussed in detail below), which is pretty unique, since most ballheads on the market typically come with two to three knobs at most. The ballhead can be purchased in a number of different clamp configurations, but the one that I received already featured the SRB-60 Arca-Swiss compatible quick release clamp.
…
Read full post here:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/flm-ballhead

The most stolen cars in the UK

The most stolen cars in the UK

Cars

As new figures show the number of cars stolen in the UK has risen by nearly a third in the last three years, we reveal the models most at risk

The days when you could break into a car with a coat hanger might be long gone, but car crime is on the rise again; according to data collated by RAC Insurance, the number of vehicles stolen in the UK has risen by 30% in the past three years.

The worst region for car theft in 2016 was London, with almost 26,500 thefts reported by the Metropolitan Police. However, the area that has seen the biggest increase in car crime is West Yorkshire, with thefts rising from 3561 in 2013 to 5597 in 2016 – a leap of 57%.

Below we count down the 10 most popular models with UK car thieves. Is yours one of them?
…
Read full post here:
https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-most-stolen-cars-in-the-uk/n17028

Asus Zenfone 4 (2017) Review: Serious OnePlus 5 rival?

Asus Zenfone 4 (2017) Review: Serious OnePlus 5 rival?

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Zenfone 4 is one of Asus’ first smartphones to make it to the UK in some time, besides the super-expensive Zenfone AR that is. Boasting a feature-packed dual-lens camera and the nifty ZenUI OS, the Zenfone 4 is an enticing mid-range mobile and possible alternative to the OnePlus 5.

At £450/$585, Asus’ new Zenfone 4 is placing itself as a direct rival to the latest OnePlus handset. They share the same UK asking price, as well as many similar features; both of these mobiles offer a dual-lens camera and a Full HD 5.5-inch display, for instance.

It’s a brave move to go up against the OnePlus 5, which sports some very strong specs for a very reasonable cost. Of course, the Honor 9already managed to impress us just as much in pretty much every respect, even undercutting OnePlus with a £380/$494 price tag. Great stuff, considering the excellent camera tech, powerful processor and solid specs.
…
Read full post here:
https://recombu.com/mobile/article/zenfone-4-review

Intel Core i5-8250U vs Core i5-7200U – two generations collide

Intel Core i5-8250U vs Core i5-7200U – two generations collide

Computers & IT, Wearables, , , , , , ,

Intel’s 8th generation is live and it is currently represented on the market by a few models equipped with the Kaby Lake Refresh chips. One such chip is the Core i5-8250U that we commented a few days back because it ranked 31st in our Top Laptop CPU Ranking.

The Core i5-8250U is the direct successor of the 7th gen Core i5-7200U but it has the characteristic tricks of the 8th gen up in its sleeve so we expect to see a big performance improvement in this comparison.

For the sake of this comparison, we will be using the newest iteration of Acer’s Swift 3 which is one of the first models to hit the market using the new Core i5-8250U. And as for the Core i5-7200U, we will be using the test results from the Lenovo Ideapad Miix 510 which scores impressively high for a 2-in-1 device.
…
Read full post here:
https://laptopmedia.com/comparisons/intel-core-i5-8250u-vs-core-i5-7200u-two-generations-collide/

Cyrus soundKey review

Cyrus soundKey review

Audio & Video, Wearables, , , , , ,
Kết quả hình ảnh cho Cyrus soundKey review

Say you were drawing up a list of possible contenders for hi-fi ubiquity only a few years ago. Only the very prescient put ‘portable DAC’ anywhere near the top.

And yet here we are. The prevalence of digital music, and the enormous storage capacity of some portable music players and smartphones (not to mention desktop computers), means we can access all our favourite music no matter where we are.

But what’s the point if it sounds unsatisfactory?

The majority of DACs and headphone amplifiers fitted to smartphones or laptops are the cheapest and most plentiful the manufacturer could find. And we all know what the results of that kind of policy are – just listen to the way your laptop neuters your favourite tunes when you plug your headphones straight into its socket.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/cyrus/soundkey/review

Fitbit Ionic: Essential tips and tricks

Fitbit Ionic: Essential tips and tricks

Wearables, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to get the most out of your Fitbit smartwatch

The Fitbit Ionic is the company’s first ever smartwatch taking in all of the goodies from fitness trackers like the Charge 2, Alta HR and Flex 2 and combining it with features like Fitbit Pay, an onboard music player, notification support and battery life that wipes the floor with the Apple Watch and Google’s Android Wear collection.

We’ve spent plenty of time getting to know the Ionic now, so we wanted to share some useful tips and little tricks for when you get your hands on your own Fitbit smartwatch.

Fitbit Ionic tips and tricks

Got any questions about anything we’ve included below? Let us know in the comments section.

Improve battery life

The Ionic performs pretty well on the battery front. Fitbit claims it’s possible to get up to five days, and in our testing we’ve comfortably managed to get around four days. If you do want to increase the time that you have before you need to reach for the charger, there’s a couple of simple things you can do.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/fitbit/fitbit-ionic-tips-and-tricks

2017 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Sport v Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d comparison

2017 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Sport v Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d comparison

Cars, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luxury car makers absolutely love producing mid-sized SUVs based on passenger-car platforms, because aspirational upper-middle class family types are buying them in droves.

2017 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Sport v Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d comparison

The newest entrant to the class is Audi’s second-generation Q5, which pairs clinical design with cutting-edge cabin tech and typically Teutonic execution.

Here we’re pitting it against the Mercedes-Benz GLC, essentially a high-riding C-Class alternative that brings a healthy dose of style and practicality alongside a badge to die for.

These are two of the most appealing and popular models in their class, alongside the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, BMW X3 and the imminent MY18 Volvo XC60.

This particular comparison test is looking at both the Audi and Mercedes-Benz in their respective entry level diesel-engine grades. Given the former launched more recently, we demand it be better. But is it?

We have the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro sport, and the Mercedes GLC 220d.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.caradvice.com.au/579185/2017-audi-q5-2-0-tdi-sport-v-mercedes-benz-glc-220d-comparison/

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Review: Tech Masterpiece But It’s Not for Everyone

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Review: Tech Masterpiece But It’s Not for Everyone

Phones, , , , ,

It’s an Iconic Statement Device but Lacking in Certain Aspects

Xiaomi shocked the world when they unveiled the first generation Mi Mix last year. It heralded the future of smartphones: bezel-less, beautifully designed, and iconic. That “future” is today and we see that with the new flagships of other manufacturers like Samsung and Apple. Now that the giants of Korea and Silicon Cupertino have caught up, the big question is what’s next for Xiaomi? Enter the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.

Despite the limited number of stocks released, we were able to get our hands on a unit thanks for our good friend, Richmond Tan. We’ve been using it as our daily driver for the last week now and we’d like to share with you guys our review.

Before anything, here’s a quick refresher of the specifications.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.unbox.ph/gadget/xiaomi-mi-mix-2-review-tech-masterpiece-but-its-not-for-everyone/

Asus VivoBook E403NA Review

Asus VivoBook E403NA Review

Computers & IT, , , , , ,

When you’re shopping for a sub-$400 laptop, you usually need to compromise on screen and build quality. However, Asus’ $399 VivoBook E403NA gives you a 14-inch, 1080p display and all-day battery life in a lightweight aluminum chassis. The successor to the E403SA, one of our favorite budget laptops of all-time, the new laptop upgrades its predecessor’s processor to a newer model and adds a fingerprint reader for good measure. Budget-conscious shoppers will find a lot to like about the VivoBook E403NA, but if they’re willing to consider a larger laptop, they can get even more performance and image quality for less money.

Design

For a sub-$400 laptop, the Asus VivoBook E403NA has a fairly premium design, using aluminum on its lid and deck to go with the plastic sides and bottom. You don’t often find metal laptops in this price range or even for under $1,000, so this is a real plus.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/asus-vivobook-e403na#

Anker SoundCore A3102 Bluetooth speaker review: Inexpensive, but surprisingly not cheap

Anker SoundCore A3102 Bluetooth speaker review: Inexpensive, but surprisingly not cheap

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

This isn’t a great speaker, but it is a bargain. An off-the-hook price-to-performance ratio renders this small speaker a good value.

anker soundcore a3102 front

I’ve often wondered how little a speaker could cost before you hit the point where you’re just throwing your money away in buying one. I’m surprised to report that the floor is apparently somewhere lower than the $25.49 that Anker expects its SoundCore A3102 to fetch.

This isn’t a great speaker by any stretch of the imagination. But it won’t make your ears bleed, and criminey, you can buy three of them for less than the cost of one JBL Flip 4.

The SoundCore is solidly built. The rubber-coated enclosure measures 6.5 inches wide, 2.25 inches high, and 1.75 inches deep. There’s a micro-USB port on the right side for charging its 4400mAh battery along with a 3.5mm headphone jack and an integrated mic for when you want to use it as a speakerphone. Gently raised buttons on top are provided for power, Bluetooth pairing, volume, and play/pause. There are no controls for moving up and down the playlist on your paired device.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.techhive.com/article/3228249/anker-soundcore-a3102-bluetooth-speaker-review-inexpensive-but-surprisingly-not-cheap.html

Razer Basilisk Review: The FPS Mouse Reinvented

Razer Basilisk Review: The FPS Mouse Reinvented

Computers & IT, Wearables, , , , , ,

The basilisk is either a giant, fire-breathing serpent, or an easygoing little lizard that canrun on water as easily as it can run on a hard surface. Whether you favor the mythological or the biological interpretation, there’s no denying that the basilisk is a pretty cool animal and a worthy inspiration for Razer’s latest mouse. Razer claims that its Basilisk ($70) is the next major innovation in first-person-shooter gaming mice, featuring a novel new button and a way to adjust the scroll wheel’s sensitivity.

The mouse isn’t quite as revolutionary as Razer makes it out to be, but that does little to detract from its comfortable feel, intuitive software and reasonable price. Despite a veritable glut of gaming mice in the last few years, the Basilisk feels very different from the other accessories that Razer has put out recently. While I expect it to be a polarizing peripheral, the ergonomic Basilisk demonstrates that Razer hasn’t tried every shape and size for a mouse just yet, and a little more experimentation could be a very good thing, indeed.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/razer-basilisk,review-4705.html

Alcatel A30 Plus Review: A Blah Budget Phone

Alcatel A30 Plus Review: A Blah Budget Phone

Phones, , , ,

Five years ago, the prospect of snagging an unlocked smartphone for less than $100 was almost unthinkable. But technology has come a long way, and it’s led us to Alcatel’s latest bargain, the A30 Plus. The first thing you’ll notice about this Android phone is its price — just $80, if you buy it throughAmazon’s ad-supported Prime Exclusives program. The standard unlocked version of the A30 Plus costs $130.

Truthfully, that price tag is the only thing you’ll notice. The A30 Plus is about as budget as budget gets. If you’re looking to spend as little as possible and don’t need a particularly fast or flashy smartphone, this device will get the job done. Still, other options offer better value.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/alcatel-a30-plus,review-4703.html

Best small cars 2017 (and the one to avoid)

Best small cars 2017 (and the one to avoid)

Cars, , ,

The small car market is one of the most fiercely contested – great news if you’re after this sort of vehicle. It means not only that there are stacks of models to choose from, but also that standards are incredibly high.

To have a chance of topping the class, a small car must be as comfortable on the motorway as it is in the city. It must offer a decent amount of equipment, enough boot space for weekly shopping trips and an interior that’s practical enough to cope with the demands of families. And it must, of course, be competitively priced.

To help you find the right small car, we’ve picked out our top 10 – and we’ve also named the one you should avoid.

10. Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz has long bridged the gap between small cars and mini-MPVs, and the latest version continues that tradition. It offers class-leading space and practicality and should outlast you with its outstanding reliability. It’s just a shame the ride is rather unsettled.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-small-cars-2018-and-the-one-to-avoid/n16997

Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 Review

Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 Review

Cameras, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Introduction

The Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 is a modern standard prime version of the classic Trioplan f2.8/100 lens, known for its ‘soap bubble’ bokeh and sharp focus. This updated Trioplan optic is manufactured using high-end coated glass made by Schott, features an iris diaphragm of 12 steel blades for a near-circular aperture, has a minimum focuising distance of 25cm, and comes in 9 different mounts, including Canon, Fuji X, Nikon, M42, Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, Pentax K, Leica M and Leica TL. The Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 lens costs €1,399.00.

Ease of Use

With a maximum diameter of 60mm and a length of 78mm, the Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 is well-suited to Sony’s full-frame mirrorless camera bodies. Weighing in at around 220g, it’s a surprisingly light lens.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/meyer_optik_gorlitz_trioplan_50mm_f2_9_review

22y7nDvGdA52awoNkL3N75-1200-80

Getac ZX70 review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Most tablets don’t last long in a harsh environment. Dust, water, vibration, heat and cold can all reduce their operating lifespan drastically.

Getac has looked to exploit this niche with its latest ZX70 Android tablet, designed to handle environmental extremes that would kill an Apple iPad in just a few minutes.

Depending on what options you take regarding memory and special features the ZX70 can cost more than £1,000 when configured.

A basic model with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is £674 excluding VAT (£809 including VAT), and one with the 4G option is a whopping £794 excluding VAT (£953 inclusive of VAT).

Adding a Barcode Reader, ATEX/IECEx certification, more RAM, more storage or a UHF RFID Reader pushes the cost well above £1,000. Pricing in the US starts at around $1,000, and the tablet can also be found in Australia for less than the local RRP of AU$1,319.
…
Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/getac-zx70/3