Monthly Archives: December 2017

Microsoft 2017 in review: Wins, fails, and WTF moments

Microsoft 2017 in review: Wins, fails, and WTF moments

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We gained the Surface Laptop and the Fall Creators Update. We lost Windows Phone and Groove.

Microsoft’s 2017 may as well be known as the year the company turned away from the consumer and, sadly, back toward the enterprise.

This past year was notable for two casualties: Microsoft’s phone business finally died, as did Groove Music, the music subscription service that Microsoft abandoned in favor of Spotify. In fact, you could argue that Microsoft’s software and services didn’t succeed nearly as well as its hardware, where a new generation of Surfaces and Xbox One consoles were generally well received.

But ennui clouded all but the brightest spots in Microsoft’s roadmap: the Surface Laptop, Surface Book 2, and the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. It didn’t help that management seemed to feel that staid enterprise Azure and Office 365 represented Microsoft’s future, either. Now, question marks hang over Microsoft’s plans for 2018. The spark is there, but will consumers care?
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Read full post here:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3243258/microsoft-year-in-review-2017.html

Apple in 2017: the good, the bad and the painfully inevitable

Apple in 2017: the good, the bad and the painfully inevitable

Phones, , ,

From the highs of the iPhone X to the lows of the iPhone X’s notch…

Apple is in its very own Groundhog Day. Every year, it releases great new kit, but is scoffed at by an industry that then clamours to copy every detail. Meanwhile, doomsayers predict the company’s demise as it racks up profits that’d fund several small countries.

But not every decision Apple makes is on the money – some baffle, some annoy, and some beat your wallet to a bloody pulp; and sometimes Apple manages all of those things at once.

Here, then, are Apple’s 2017 tasty bits and rotten cores as we saw them…
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https://www.stuff.tv/features/apple-in-2017-good-bad-and-painfully-inevitable

And finally: A future Apple Watch could get touchy with smart fabric

And finally: A future Apple Watch could get touchy with smart fabric

Wearables, , , , , ,

And other smaller stories from the last week

As our Editor Mike pointed out in Week in Wearable, we’re not entirely sure what day it is, but we think it’s a Sunday, which means it’s time for a look back at the smaller stories and rumors from the last seven days.

As you might expect it’s been a rather quiet one, though Garmin did use Boxing Day to announce the Vivofit 4 while more news surfaced on Apple’s glucose tracking ambitions.

But what else has happened? Read on, dear friends. Read on.
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Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/apple/apple-watch-band-smart-fabric-8449

Elephone P8 MAX Review: Elegance with Elevated Battery Life!

Elephone P8 MAX Review: Elegance with Elevated Battery Life!

Phones, , , , ,

Hello, gadgets lovers, we are back with a new dose for you. Today, we are going to study the features and functions of the Elephone P8 MAX 4G Phablet. The device is recently launched with the promise of long battery life and stunning looks. So, we thought it would be great check out whether this smartphone stands on its obligations or not.

The glamorous camera quality and other gazillion features are being advertised of the brand. But, no smartphone enters the market without our reliable and cool review. So, brace yourself for yet another study. Let’s begin-

Appearance & Body Features

Well, with the hint of metal and curvy edges Elephone P8 MAX Phablet’s body looks very cool. The device has an excellent metallic filming around the edges.
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https://technosoups.com/elephone-p8-max-review/

The 10 Main Differences Between the Leica CL and Leica TL2

The 10 Main Differences Between the Leica CL and Leica TL2

Cameras, , , , , , , , ,

Leica announced the arrival of a new addition to its camera portfolio, the Leica CL digital. It joins the Leica TL2 as the third camera in the company’s interchangeable APS-C line-up and takes its name from the original CL film camera released back in the 1970s.

In technical terms, the CL and TL2 are more or less on the same playing field. Both offer the same 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Maestro II processor, contrast detection AF system with 49 points, ISO range of 100-50000, 4K at up to 30fps, WiFi capabilities, and Leica L-mount. To find any differences, it is therefore necessary to dig a little deeper below the surface.

1. Design

The main difference that sets these two cameras apart is the design, starting with the body.
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https://mirrorlesscomparison.com/preview/leica-cl-vs-tl2/

5 Smartphone Trends To Watch Out For in 2018

5 Smartphone Trends To Watch Out For in 2018

Phones, , , ,

Here’s what you can expect in phones next year

It’s the last day of the year today as we close out 2017 with a bang. 2017 turned out to be a banner year for smartphones, with brands releasing interesting new technologies and design trends that not only showed up in flagship phones but trickled down to mid-range devices as well. 2018 is already shaping up to be an interesting year as well, and you can expect these new smartphone techlogies to show up in a smartphone near you in the future:

Folding displays

While Samsung has been promising a phone with a folding display for quite some time, we may finally see a Galaxy phone with that technology this year. But they’re not going to be the only one with the tech, as rival Huawei already announced their intentions to make their own iteration of a folding phone.
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Read full post here:
https://www.unbox.ph/gadget/5-smartphone-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2018/

Microsoft Surface Book 2 vs Apple MacBook Pro : 15" and 15.4" models compared

Microsoft Surface Book 2 vs Apple MacBook Pro : 15″ and 15.4″ models compared

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

I have to admit, ever since Microsoft released the Surface Pro laptops, I have been a fan of these travel-friendly and light two-in-one machines. I have written about my experience with the Surface Pro 2 from a photographer’s perspective a while back, then we wrote a detailed Surface Pro 3 review and my experience with the first generation Surface Book pretty much sealed it for me as a very desirable machine for working on the go, thanks to its excellent performance, flexible design, a built-in memory card slot, superb touchscreen experience and plenty of connectivity options. Earlier this year Microsoft finally released the Surface Book 2, a second generation laptop specifically designed to challenge Apple’s MacBook Pro. Since it was about time to start replacing my aging Surface Pro 3, I wanted to evaluate both the new Surface Book 2 and Apple’s MacBook Pro to see which I would pick for my photography needs. So I bought both laptops and decided to run them side-by-side to see which one would be more suitable to use for traveling and post-processing images. In this article, we will take a look at both the Surface Book 2 and the MacBook Pro and see how they stack up against each other.
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Read full post here:
https://photographylife.com/microsoft-surface-book-2-vs-apple-macbook-pro

New Hyundai i30N vs Honda Civic Type R Comparison

New Hyundai i30N vs Honda Civic Type R Comparison

Cars, , , , ,

Hyundai has gone all out to make its first hot hatch a corker. But standing in the way of the Hyundai i30N is the brilliant Honda Civic Type R

*** Note : £1 = $1.35 (correct at time of post)

The contenders

Honda Civic Type R 2.0 VTEC Turbo

  • List price £30,995
  • Target Price £30,995

Recently confirmed as the best hot hatch in town, so it’s going to be a tough car to beat.
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https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-hyundai-i30n-vs-honda-civic-type-r/n16441

The Top 10 Wireless Speakers for TV

The Top 10 Wireless Speakers for TV

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

Here are our top picks for the best wireless speakers for TV that connect to your TV wirelessly and stream TV audio with enhanced sound clarity. They are designed to connect to your TV over Bluetooth connection and provide a much louder and clearer sound than the TV audio drivers. Some of these wireless speakers also come with a TV transmitter which can be wired to the TV and stream audio directly to the speaker – this is ideal if your TV does not support wireless Bluetooth connectivity. If you are looking to upgrade the sound quality from your TV and want a much clearer and well defined sound from a wireless speaker, be sure to check out our top picks for the best wireless speakers for TV below!

Be sure to check out our top picks for the best wireless home theater speakers if you want wireless surround sound speakers for your TV setup.
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https://www.bassheadspeakers.com/wireless-speakers-for-tv/

Androids don’t slow like iPhone, but maybe they should

Androids don’t slow like iPhone, but maybe they should

Phones, , , , , , , , ,

Approximately one year ago, Apple made a bad decision in not properly announcing their iPhone slowdown measure with old devices with bad batteries. This week, Apple’s bad-battery-iPhone-slowdown became public. Now several Android smartphone manufacturers are taking advantage of the negative feedback Apple’s received as a result of said revelation. Motorola, HTC, Samsung, and LG have each announced that they do not slow down older smartphones. But they certainly could – and maybe they should?

The Big Apple Slowdown

Apple found that after a certain period of time, an aging iPhone battery could result in a device facing abrupt shutdowns. When this happened, a user would likely bring their iPhone in to an Apple store to find that their device either needed a new battery, or to have its performance reduced. In other words, they’d either get a new battery or have their phone slowed down voluntarily.
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https://www.slashgear.com/androids-dont-slow-like-iphone-but-maybe-they-should-29513170/

Garmin Vivofit 4: Everything you need to know about Garmin's latest fitness band

Garmin Vivofit 4: Everything you need to know about Garmin’s latest fitness band

Wearables, , , , , , ,

A year of battery life makes this a powerful fitness tracker

Battery life has historically been the Achilles heel of wearable tech, but the new Garmin Vivofit 4 is breaking the mold (yet again) by offering an entire year on a single charge.

While fitness trackers have struggled to differentiate in the past year, Garmin’s latest offering goes big on specs, while not compromising on battery life. Read on for a more detailed rundown of what the Garmin Vivofit 4 has to offer.

Design and specs

As we mentioned, the big story here is a year of battery life – which pretty much blows the competition out of the water. Yes there are sacrifices, and there’s no heart rate monitor here to name just one omission (forget about GPS as well), but the Vivofit range has always been aimed at the simpler end of the market.
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Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/garmin-vivofit-4-review

ASUS X756UQ/K756UQ review – looks good but fails to impress with everything else

ASUS X756UQ/K756UQ review – looks good but fails to impress with everything else

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

We often criticize the mid-range and low-end 17-inch notebooks because they often cost more than its 15-inch alternatives while offering less powerful hardware or even subpar image quality. This is exactly the case with the ASUS X756UQ, which is advertised as a multimedia machine but fails to impress as one mostly due to the 17.3-inch TN panel. We can immediately think of a much better multimedia solution that’s not only more portable but considerably more powerful as well – the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580VD.

We recently reviewed the latter with the pricier Core i7-7700HQ CPU but you can easily get the Core i5-7300HQ version that costs just a tad more than the ASUS K756UQ, which drags behind with a ULV (ultra-low voltage) processor (Core i5-7200U) and a GPU that’s more of a multimedia-centric solution – GeForce 940MX. So in this case, we can’t think of a reason why you would buy the X756UQ, although it’s seemingly solid notebook with a good build, good input devices and uses aluminum for the most part. Unless, of course, you really want a 17-inch notebook.
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Read full post here:
https://laptopmedia.com/review/asus-x756uq-k756uq-review-looks-good-but-fails-to-impress-with-everything-else/

Cloudfone Next Infinity Quattro Review: A Win for the Local Brand?

Cloudfone Next Infinity Quattro Review: A Win for the Local Brand?

Phones, , , , , , ,

A Closer Look at Cloudfone’s Best Device Yet

Local brand, Cloudfone, is looking to grab a bigger slice of the pie with their new Next series line of smartphones. Armed with 18:9 displays with good looking spec sheets to boot, they’ve definitely caught the attention of the tech scene in the Philippines; with arguably the best devices that the local company has ever put out. We’ve been using their quad-cam equipped Quattro as our daily driver for about a week and it’s time that we share our thoughts on whether it’s worth shelling out your hard-earned cash on this device.

Cloudfone Next Infinity Quattro Specs
Snakebyte Game Pad S Pro Review: Switch Pro Controller on a Budget

Snakebyte Game Pad S Pro Review: Switch Pro Controller on a Budget

Audio & Video, , , , ,

Budget Third-Party Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

I’ve had the Nintendo Switch for quite some time now and it’s easily one of my favorite gadgets from 2017. One of my gripes with the device, however, is that the included JoyCon grip is a little small for one with gorilla-like paws like me and can be uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time. While we review a ton of high-end gadgets at Unbox, I’m a little thrifty when it comes to my own spending and am unwilling to shell out for Nintendo’s Pro Controllers that cost somewhere along the lines of Php 3,500; depending on whether or not you get a Special Edition one or not. I caught wind of the Snakebyte Game Pad S Pro while stalking one of the Nintendo Switch Facebook groups and it was getting pretty good reviews, so I decided to pick one up myself to see the Php 1,495 third-party controller was any good.
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Read full post here:
https://www.unbox.ph/gadget/snakebyte-game-pad-s-pro-review-switch-pro-controller-on-a-budget/

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Land Rover Discovery Sport review: Still the best 4×4 by far?

Cars, , , , , ,

Land Rover used to have a slogan: “The best 4x4x far”. This was when a Land Rover was the domain of your local farmer, or rich landed gentry. But at what point did a Land Rover become the default vehicle of the upwardly mobile?

Take a look out on the street. It’s noticeable that Land Rovers and Range Rovers are everywhere. And whether you’re city-bound or out in the country, the Discovery Sport is the main reason for the apparent Land Rover takeover – it’s the company’s best-selling car. Until the new Defender rocks up sometime in the next year, it’s also the most affordable Land Rover, too.

The SUV sweet-spot

So what’s the appeal of the Discovery Sport? Why are they so popular? There’s Land Rover’s image for a start. A few years back, SUVs took a bashing – they were the vehicle everyone loved to hate, because of their gas-guzzling, space-blocking qualities.
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Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/cars/reviews/land-rover/143115-land-rover-discovery-sport-review-still-the-best-4×4-by-far

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MSI GV62 7RE Review

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

MSI GV62 7RE: Detailed Review

This year NVIDIA introduced one of the best gaming GPUs for budding gamers in the form of the GTX 1050 Ti. With lower TDPs and much lower heat signatures, the relatively new 4GB GPU is a hit among casual gamers and is available in most entry-level gaming machines. From what I have seen thus far, this entry-level GPU can take on most AAA games with ease when paired with a latest Intel HQ processor. MSI, which is a well-known brand among the gaming community also has two of its laptop series – GL and GP offering the GTX 1050 Ti. MSI has launched its GV series, which sits between the GL and GP series laptops when it comes to price. On the surface, the laptop looks quite simple, but after using the machine for almost a week, I can tell you that it is quite powerful. How powerful? Well, read on and find out!
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Read full post here:
https://www.digit.in/reviews/laptops/msi-gv62-7re-review-124567.html

Top 10 Wireless Home Theater Systems of 2017

Top 10 Wireless Home Theater Systems of 2017

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

Here are our top picks for the best wireless home theater system that deliver superb 5.1 surround sound performance and can sync wirelessly without the need for excessive speaker wiring. These home theater systems are designed to deliver cinema-like sound quality in your living room and are relatively easy to setup without massive wiring that a traditional 5.1 home theater system setup requires – they also support wireless streaming over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections. Most of the wireless most theater systems on this list have rear speakers are able to sync wirelessly to the central unit to avoid running wires through your entire room, although they may require a separate power source or wired directly to the wireless subwoofer.

How we choose

Our experts have tested these systems to ensure that they provide a quality sound listening experience and deliver great value for money. We have indicated the connectivity functions of each wireless home theater system to help you make the right choice for your home audio setup.
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Read full post here:
https://www.bassheadspeakers.com/wireless-home-theater-system/

Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo v Kia Rio SLi comparison

Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo v Kia Rio SLi comparison

Cars, , , ,

While SUVs are the flavour of choice in recent years, the humble hatchback continues to be a popular option for first-car buyers, downsizers and those with just no need for anything bigger.

Light cars are perfect for urban dwellers thanks to their compact packaging, and the competition remains red hot as manufacturers pump more and more kit into their tiniest offerings.

Two well-known nameplates in the segment are the Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio, and in this comparison we have the top-spec versions of each car, both starting a smidgen under $23,000 before the obligatory on-road costs.

In the red corner we have the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo with its three-cylinder turbo petrol engine at $22,990, and over in the grey corner we have the Kia Rio SLi – powered by a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre petrol – also starting at $22,990.
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Read full post here:
https://www.caradvice.com.au/568791/suzuki-swift-glx-turbo-v-kia-rio-sli-comparison/

BEST PRODUCTS OF 2017

BEST PRODUCTS OF 2017

Cameras, , ,

In compiling this list of the best products of 2017, we’ve taken a few very important factors into consideration. We’ve looked at which products you, our valued customers, have been buying the most, which products have received favourable reviews from sources around the web, which products are both affordable and accessible, which products have broken new ground in terms of fulfilling customers needs, and which products excited the staff here at Park Cameras the most!

BEST DSLR CAMERA OF 2017

There’s no two ways about it, the Crown for Best DSLR released in 2017 belongs firmly on Nikon’s head. The D850 is head and shoulders above any other DSLR released this year, both in terms of feature set, specs, and excitement.
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Read full post here:
https://blog.parkcameras.com/2017/12/a-year-in-review-2017.html#more

2017 in review: The year in smartwatches

2017 in review: The year in smartwatches

Wearables, , , , , , , , ,

2017’s smartwatch heroes (& some disappointments too) : Looking back at the high – and low – lights

2017 may have been a dumpster fire of a year in many other respects, but in wearable tech it was a banger. Smartwatches in particular have really hit their stride this year, becoming more essential and showing signs of an even more interesting future.

From Android Wear 2.0 to the Apple Watch Series 4 and a host of others in between, 2017 brought us some great new smartwatches to play with as companies upped the stakes in both style and functionality. Smartwatches look better than ever, and features have started to stick.

With so much having happened, we’ve put together a little retrospective on all of the big moments in smartwatches through the year.
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Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/smartwatches/the-year-in-smartwatches

HP ProBook 430 G5 Review – the new reliable companion for your business

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

The Hewlett-Packard company revealed their new laptops from the ProBook 400 series which work with 8th generation Intel Core processors and are targeted at the small and middle business. The new series stands out with thinner profile and aluminum details along the construction. In addition, the laptops from this series are designed with the idea to be durable and are aimed to endure MIL-STD 810G tests as they also feature various security features including HP BIOSphere and HP Client Security.

For our review, we have chosen the HP ProBook 430 G5 model which is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 (Intel Gen 9.5) GPU, features 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD SanDisk SD8SN8U-128G-1006.

Its 15-inch display has Full HD resolution.
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Read full post here:
https://laptopmedia.com/review/hp-probook-430-g5-the-new-reliable-companion-for-your-business/

OPPO R11s review: Midrange selfie powerhouse

OPPO R11s review: Midrange selfie powerhouse

Phones, , , ,

A selfie phone that can do more

Last month, I flew to China for the OPPO R11s launch and got to spend time with the near-borderless smartphone. In the last few weeks, I’ve been trying out the international R11s, and this is my verdict.

The R11s is a follow-up to the R11 released last June. In this review, I’ll talk about my experience with the device and answer tough questions like: Is this R11 update worth it? How does the phone perform? Are the cameras better? What’s the point of a “Starry Sky” screen?
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Read full post here:
http://www.gadgetmatch.com/oppo-r11s-review-a-selfie-smartphone-that-can-do-more-price-availability/

Google 2017 in review: Hits, misses, and WTF moments

Google 2017 in review: Hits, misses, and WTF moments

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

Steps, stumbles, and seriously?!

After jumping head first into the hardware game last year with the Pixel phones and Home smart speaker, Google seriously picked up the pace in 2017. Not only were there two awesome new Pixel phones, but also smaller and larger Google Home devices, as well as a pair of Pixel-branded earbuds. And through it all, Google’s AI-powered Assistant got smarter and smarter.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Google took its share of lumps over the past 12 months, and proved that making great hardware isn’t as easy as it looks. Here are all the hits and misses in 2017:

Hit: Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL 

The Pixel phone was one of the best Android phones of 2016, and the Pixel 2is just as good, if not better. The Pixel 2 XL has a bigger screen and slimmed-down design, and both models have better chips and batteries.
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Read full post here:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3242212/google-year-in-review-2017.html

How to shoot 360 video: Tips and tricks for becoming a regular Spielberg

How to shoot 360 video: Tips and tricks for becoming a regular Spielberg

Cameras, Wearables, , , ,

Everything you need to know about 360-degree video

Everyone knows how to shoot video. You take a camera, you point it at something and you press a button. Simple. However, in the past couple years – thanks to the rise of virtual reality – we’ve seen a new kind of filmmaking emerge.

360 video isn’t as simple as regular video. In fact, you’ll have to rewire the way you think about cameras to properly shoot a 360-degree video. It can be complicated, and it can be tough to get started.

I’ve been using a couple 360 cameras over the past couple weeks, and I’ve learned a lot. The good news for you, my friend, is that I’d like to share my newly earned wisdom.
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Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/

2018 ACURA TLX A-SPEC FIRST TEST REVIEW: ACTUALLY SORT OF SPORTY

2018 ACURA TLX A-SPEC FIRST TEST REVIEW: ACTUALLY SORT OF SPORTY

Cars, , , ,

There’s more to this TLX than a new grille but can Acura differentiate itself from the competition?

All the way back in 2004, Acura launched one of its most beloved models: the third-generation TL. The new TL paired an attractive design with a powerful 270-hp V-6, a premium interior, and an abundance of standard features at a price that significantly undercut its German competitors. But as we found in our long-term test, the front-wheel-drive TL was undertired, and torque steered way more than we would have liked.

Acura’s solution? The A-Spec package. It didn’t give the TL any additional power, but it did include an aero kit, bigger wheels, stickier tires, and a suspension tuned by one of the engineers responsible for the first-generation NSX. It practically eliminated both torque steer and understeer, turning the front-wheel drive TL into a legitimate sport sedan.
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Read full post here:
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/acura/tlx/2018/2018-acura-tlx-a-spec-first-test-review/

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5 ways to get the best out of Amazon Alexa

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

Amazon’s Alexa turned out to be the holiday guest in millions of homes this year, and that means plenty of people getting to grips with everything their new Echo can do. Although she may be most often seen as a joke-telling, fact-searching assistant, Alexa can do plenty more than that. Read on for five things to do in order to get the most out of Alexa.

Curate your Flash Briefing

If you’ve ever wanted your own personal newsreader, Alexa is happy to help. Amazon calls its customized reports “Flash Briefings” and, out of the box, they include a fairly wide-ranging array of sources and topics. NPR, the BBC World Service, and the Associated Press all offer a variety of news, entertainment, science, and other stories, finished off with the weather report.

Spend a little time configuring things, however, and your Flash Briefing could be a whole lot more useful.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/5-ways-to-get-the-best-out-of-amazon-alexa-26512895/

TCL 65X3CUS Review - the 65-inch Curved 4K UHD Android Smart TV Monster

TCL 65X3CUS Review – the 65-inch Curved 4K UHD Android Smart TV Monster

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

The TCL 65X3CUS or the TCL MT58PX-LA is an Android TV powered Curved 65-inch display TV that although has a thin display profile is huge and will steal serious real estate in your living room.

It is running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow version of Android TV which means it is compatible with Android Apps that support the Android TV operating system. You can even connect your accounts and cast your content from your Android device if supported by the the App.

This Android TV can also be used as a a gaming device, an educational tool, a component that plays music and much more.

Interesting right?

TCL 65X3CUS Review - the 65-inch Curved 4K UHD Android Smart TV Monster

TCL 65X3CUS/MT58PX-LA Specs
  • Display: 4K UHD IPS 3840 x 2160 resolution at 68 ppi with 60Hz refresh rate
  • CPU: 64 Bit 1.1GHz quad core processor
  • GPU: Mali T860 MP2 480MHz
  • OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • Audio: Harman Kardon Technology WDF125, Dolby MS11
  • Features: 94% Color Gamut, 178 degrees viewing angle, AC100V-240V
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi
  • Others: Google Cast, Screen Mirroring, LED Notification
  • Supported USB Device Media Formats: MP3, MKV, WMA, AVI, JPEG, PNG, BMP, H.265/H.264, MPG1/2/4, WMV, VC1, VP8, VP9, Up to 4K 60Hz 8bit/12bit, Mouse and Keyboard

Unboxing / Accessories

Accessories

The Toshiba 65U970 arrived in a HUGE rectangular box. Be prepared, it isn’t that easy to open. You also have to be very careful in unboxing it. In our case, it was a two man job to handle, carry, and set-up the Television.

Accessories Box

Accessories Box

Inside, you’ll find a pair of removable stands, the main body of the TV, remote control, power cord and documentation.

In our case, TCL was kind enough to add the premium remote and a game controller in the mix. Both have their own box and documentation. Each remote controller had their own set of batteries.

Build Quality / Design

Ang Ganda Besh!

Directional Pad for controlling the TV without the Remote

Directional Pad for controlling the TV without the Remote

USB 2.0, LAN port, HDMI 3, HDMI 2 (ARC), Cable in, Antenna-in, SPDIF, HDMI 1, USB 3.0, AV IN, Headphone jack

USB 2.0, LAN port, HDMI 3, HDMI 2 (ARC), Cable in, Antenna-in, SPDIF, HDMI 1, USB 3.0, AV IN, Headphone jack

AC In wall plug port

AC In wall plug port

The TCL 65X3CUS is built surprisingly well. It has metal frames, premium glass display, and lightweight but solid textured polycarbonate. The metal stands are deceiving in that they are thin but are surprisingly solid and heavy for their size. We tried our best to bend the stands but it won’t budge. It is strong.

Game Controller

Premium Controller

Premium Controller

Stock Controller

Stock Controller

The display curves and adds to that immersive feel. It does make it easier to view the images from side to side. Otherwise, I think it is a novel feature.

What differentiates this from other thin TVs is that the speakers are in front. The TV has an asymmetrical bezels where in the bottom bezel is the largest and it contains the speakers. All six of them. This design choice may throw people off. Honestly, when I watch content on this, I dim the environmental lights and the speakers disappear. I understand that this may be out of place when it is sitting on your living room. This is something to consider.

Audio Quality

3 of 6 Harmon/Kardon speakers!

3 of 6 Harmon/Kardon speakers!

The six speakers in front are harmon/kardon made and supports Dolby MS11. This means the TV supports a wide array of audio formats which make the audio playback of this TV versatile.

The six speakers are ridiculously powerful. It was so loud that in our living room we would limit the volume to just half its maximum volume. Any louder and our neighbors would have reported us to the barangay.

Powerful, well detailed audio!

The sound quality is equally as good. Even at max volume, there is little distortion and the details are well defined. The bass is prominent to an extent but the mids and the trebles aren’t far off. If you are not planning to connect multiple speakers to this TV, the speakers are good enough for most consumers.

Performance

Picture quality of this TV is great. It has a Curved 65-inch 4K UHD IPS 3840 x 2160 pixels that’s sharp and immersive.

Images are sharp, colors are vivid and punchy and the immersion is out there!

For us, colors are well saturated and punchy. It uses an ELED display so blacks are deep. When we first started it up and played high resolution streaming like on YouTube and Netflix, there was artifacting and frame rate drops but we were instructed to factory reset the television and this was fixed. We never had this problem again.

The display gets noticeably bright but we wish that it was a little brighter to withstand the harsh daylight coming from our windows. We could unfurl our curtains but it would have been great if it could stand on its own in bright daylight.

We did however selected the sports mode more often when watching videos with fast moving subjects.

Opening apps like Facebook and YouTube is seamless!

Inside, it is powered by an unknown 64 bit quad-core processor. Interestingly, it is coupled w/ Mali-T860 graphics that’s commonly found on octa-core MediaTek chips.

The processor breezes through Android apps like they are nothing. In fact we ran 4K files and we’ve never had stuttering and or hang ups. The only time we had problem is because our Fibr connection couldn’t download 4K content fast enough. Otherwise, we are happy with the power of this TV.

In our gaming tests, we were able to run Asphalt 8 but it has some frame rate dips on all high settings but this is better than most. NBA 2K17 is only playable on ultra low settings but it crashes every now and then.

It also has single and multi player modes to play online and offline games with the use of a specific controller.

Software-wise, the TV boots w/ Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box. It runs YouTube, Netflix and Spotify very well.

Apple iOS devices can be connected to Android TV w/ the use of a downloadable app. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test it as we don’t have an iPhone as of this writing.

Lastly, WiFi and bluetooth connectivity is quite stable. We never experienced dropped connections with either.

  • Pros – Affordable compared to competing Curved UHD TVs, smooth, WiFi and Bluetooth, Good Audio, 94% Color Gamut
  • Cons – OLED is preferred, It takes two people to set it up, Heavier than it looks, We encountered artifacting once

Verdict

Priced at PHP 149,995/$3,001, it may seem steep at first but it is relatively affordable compared to competition with similar specs. It uses a beautiful UHD 60Hz Samsung Panel that works beautifully. The details and  the colors are breathtaking while the audio is loud with defined details. The curved display does add immersion but it is novel at best. If you have the budget, then by all means buy it! We recommend trying out flat displays first before jumping in. Otherwise, this is a great product from TCL!

(gizguide.com, https://goo.gl/Yxpa1b)

5 must-have accessories for your new Amazon Echo

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

So you found an Amazon Echo under the tree, and now you’re wondering what to do next. Amazon’s best-selling smart speaker line-up was its star of the holiday 2017 shopping season, with millions sold. Once you’ve got Alexa set up to your liking, however, there are some easy first-steps to wade into the smart home, accessories that address some of Echo’s lingering annoyances, and general usability improvements that needn’t break the bank.

An Amazon Music Unlimited plan everyone can use

We know what you’re thinking: if I’ve already got a Spotify subscription, or Pandora, or one of the numerous other streaming music services that Alexa supports, why would I bother with Amazon Music Unlimited? Not all such services are created equal on Echo, however, something particularly important if you have multiple people at home wanting to each stream their music.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/5-must-have-accessories-for-your-new-amazon-echo-26512906/

Best GPS watch 2018→ 10 Advanced GPS watch for Running in 2017-2018

Best GPS watch 2018→ 10 Advanced GPS watch for Running in 2017-2018

Wearables, , , ,

Best Golf GPS Watch 2018: Wherever you’re looking for a golf GPS watch that can precisely measure the distance from tee to green at all of your local requirements, or you’re in a golf GPS watch that features a digital scorecard, course odometer, and different “bells and whistles.”

Related to fitness trackers this smartwatch include smartphone notifications with distance and calories counts, GPS, step, plus heart rate measurements.

Golf GPS watches are the modern innovation in the sport of Golf, which combines technology and utility to provide a much useful Golfing experience in style. Golf GPS systems use satellites to pinpoint your exact location and then use this information to give you valuable info such as yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, tricky doglegs, and dreaded hazards.
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Read full post here:
https://www.compsmag.com/best-golf-gps-watches/

LG V30 Plus | V30+Review

LG V30 Plus | V30+Review

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

LG Singapore will be launching the V30+, skipping the V30 altogether. The difference is only in the storage size: V30+ offers 128GB while V30 only gives you 64GB. Fortunately, the confusion stops there, unlike the G6 that comes with variants depending on region. All V30+ comes with quad DAC, wireless charging.

On this day and age, smartphone makers try hard to differentiate from one another. Huawei has the dual camera Leica lenses, Motorola has the Moto mods, Sony Xperia has the super slow-motion, Samsung has the S-Pen.

What does LG V30+ offer?
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Read full post here:
http://musicphotolife.com/2017/11/lg-v30-review-best-audio-video-and-photo-experience/