Month: May 2019

Review – The Skullcandy PUSH True Wireless earphones. #Tech #Skullcandy #TrueWireless #earphones

As much as I like my headphones I am really getting into the true wireless in ears these days now and have a great collection of such which is catching up with my huge headphone collection but they are not something that will totally replace headphones in general in my opinion.

The Skullcandy Venue are certainly one to look at and we have reviewed those here so be sure to check those out if you need some new cans but if you want some true wireless earbuds these are another contender to check out as they tick all my boxes.

Again well presented in a nice package these come with USB-C which is the right step to take these days and you also get a nice little charging case than can extend your battery life which is important if you are one on the go be it for commuting or training.

There is much talk about Apple and their Airpods which i have tried and they just don’t cut it volume wise and are too expensive and these are priced much better offering a better soundstage from my testing,not only that I think Airpods look ridiculous and some brands now follow suit with design but we do have some similar options coming out way but not looking like Airpods and its a thing we will have the get use too like it or not but thankfully Skullcandy have chosen a simple look and design with great execution.

These fit well in the ears and will not budge which was my main concern when the likes came along with other brands and now that I have tested countless pairs they have come along well since their inception and I tend to wear these alot when I go out now for a run or to the gym knowing they will not fall out like those Airpods do…

The fit is important and for some how they look and by size terms they are not too big nor too small compared to the many others I have tried but they are solid once in your ear which is great with the built in earwings.

 

Operational wise these follow the format of most with the one two or three taps to get things moving along and from my time of use they worked everytime as you would expect you can also get access to your voice assistant(three taps) should you use it. On pairing up for the first time you will press both earbuds together for about 5 seconds and you are good to go and reconnecting afterwards is very quick like the Venue.

The left side offers play and pause.volume down back track call/hang up and the right side again play and pause,volume up forward track. These do no auto pause when you remove them which is not a huge deal for me but some like that feature You can as mentioned use the tapping options to other important actions. One thing people ask quite often now is will such work individually and the answer here is yes but on the left side only meaning you can take calls and listen to music with one but not both ie you cant use the right side to do the same,the left side is the main earbud and the right tethers off it to keep it simple.

The sound signature here is once again good however not overly loud which is how I like my music as my follower know. First there is no lip latency as I call it when watching Netflix or You Tube,Across all genres from my playlist it was well balanced and an enjoyable listening experience overall even at high volumes there was no tinny sound or muffling to be found or any kind of distortion so overall I was happy bar the max volume level.Call quality is not on par with the Venue and at times I felt they were low and sometimes muffled. Again there is no app and i think its time skullcandy looked into this department as even cheaper brands are now doing it and it could add that bit more with EQ settings if your phone does not have one, Most don’t and we rely on third party apps which is some cases is quite useless. Nonetheless these overall are a great value for the price at posting 129 euros.

BUY HERE

 

 

Review – The Skullcandy Venue headphones with ANC. #Skullcandy #Headphones #Tech

Skullcandy is a brand I remember well from my late teens then somewhat I never seen them around but realigned myself with the brand two years ago and what they have on offer is certainly something to consider the next time you purchase headphones from what I have tested in the past.

The Venue borrow the design from the Crusher Wireless which is arguably one of the best noise cancelling headphones out there alongside the bass which people tend to like these days but for anyone thats looking for some new cans these are certainly something you should consider and they can be picked up pretty cheap these days for around €100 or so if you shop around.

The Venue offer great comfort all round and also offer a great listening experience for those who want to pick some up. I have been testing these two weeks now with several devices and the audio is excellent and its loud which is how I like my music.

 

There is simple to use controls on the Venue on the left side you have your power on/off and you have the ANC option which you will never turn off unless you require it and we also have a battery indicator,On the right side you have volume controls and your I/Os which is a 3.5mm jack and micro USB though I would liked to have seen USB C but this is not a big issue. You also have volume play and pause. The monitor mode is also handy which means you do not have to remove your headphones to hear the outside world or stop and talk to someone.You will get the battery life claimed by the Skullycandy and depending on your personal needs which for me is a once a week charge which is fine but there is headphones out there that offer much more in this price range but in fairness we all tend to keep the likes of headphones topped up.The buttons are easy to navigate and tactile and are easy to use blindly and a nice rubber touch to them.

The sound signature is great it has to be said with all genres and from my track playlist which covers all music avenues inside and out and maxed out is where these shine and they offer really good base too which was nice to see. There is no app however which is something that would have been a bonus but you can use your own EQ or a third party to get that little bit extra should you not be entirely happy with the standard offering here. Another important factor to add is there is no lip latency with what you watch on your phone or tablet.

Comfort wise these are also great with a soft headband and cups to match and can be worn for long periods of time with no sweat issues but this might vary between people and the environment they are so for me it is indoors around the house or in bed catching up on my You Tube subs and listening to my playlists. The pairing process here is lighting fast and once you connect for the first time which is simple they pair instantaneously any other time with no dropouts at all and phone calls are crisp and clear too both ends on the few calls I got whilst using them. I also like the no robotic voice prompts on these which is not robotic.

 

 

 

The build quality is also robust and solid with a 90 degree swivel on both sides and some movement on the cups themselves to nestle nicely onto your head without that clamped feeling, Given they are mostly plastic with a matt finish they are solid and easy to maintain and should have a good long life once you take care of them and you do get a nice case to carry them in so there is no excuse to have these for at least two/three years or longer again this is down to the individual and how often they change cans but from my experince I still have the old crusher wireless and they still work and look like new so I cant see any difference here.

As seen above these come equipped with tile this is a great feature to have and all headphones should have this. Again a simple set up if you ever happen to misplace your cans at the office or home, it does happen…

Are they worth the wads (139 euro at the time of posting) is what you will ask next. Well yes Skullcandy have improved immensely over the years and with what’s on offer here as a whole is fair.

 

BUY HERE

 

Netflix is bringing studio quality sound to your TV. #Netflix #Audio #TV

Some of the most iconic moments in TV and film are defined by their score. Without its beautiful theme music, would The Crown be as majestic? Would the eeriness of Stranger Things come across in the same way? I have become a netflix addict of late and this is a welcome move and look forward to seeing the capabilities here as Audio makes a huge difference in my book.

 Often the subtlety of sound may go unnoticed, but it can have a profound impact on the atmosphere of a scene and fundamentally change how a viewer responds to it. The magical combination of sight and sound brings viewers closer to the story, and that’s why we support creative technologies and features like 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos® and Netflix Calibrated Mode.

 Netflix is excited to announce a new feature, high-quality audio, which takes sound quality to another level.  We gave it this straightforward name because it fits: high-quality audio delivers audio that sounds closer to what creators hear in the studio, so every little detail is captured for a richer, more intense experience. Additionally, if you have bandwidth or device limitations, we’ve made the feature adaptive so that we will deliver the best possible audio to match your capabilities. This is similar to what we already do for video.

The Member Experience

Most TV devices that support 5.1 or Dolby Atmos are capable of receiving better sound. Depending on your device and bandwidth capabilities, the bitrate you receive may vary:

5.1: From 192 kbps (good) up to 640 kbps (great/perceptually transparent)

Dolby Atmos: From 448 kbps up to 768 kbps (Dolby Atmos is available for members subscribed to the Premium plan)

Read more HERE

GTT CMO Gina Nomellini to Speak at CCT2019 Dublin. #CCT2019 #Cloud #Telecoms #Content

GTT Communications, Inc. (NYSE: GTT), the leading global cloud networking provider to multinational clients, announced today that Gina Nomellini, chief marketing officer, will speak on the keynote plenary at CCT2019 (The Cloud, Content and Telecoms Summit) on May 8 in Dublin, Ireland. The keynote plenary will address the topic “Digitalisation and What It Means for the Telecom Industry and the Future Role of the Cloud Provider and Carrier: Re-Defining, Re-Investing and Re-Building.”

Nomellini will join other industry leaders to discuss the impact of digitalisation on the carrier service model and telecom industry landscape. She will share insights based on her role leading GTT’s product development, product management, brand development and marketing communications. The panelists will also explorehow virtualisation and the advent of cloud-based technologies is leading to a paradigm shift in the way telecom services and networks are being deployed.

Topic:            Digitalisation and What It Means for the Telecom Industry and the Future Role of the Cloud Provider and Carrier: Re-Defining, Re-Investing and Re-Building

Event:            CCT2019; The Alex Hotel; Dublin, Ireland

Date:              Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 9:20 a.m. IST

Speaker:        Gina Nomellini, Chief Marketing Officer

Jabra ships Elite 85h headphones with SmartSound: exclusive AI technology for intelligent adaptive audio

Announced at CES 2019, Jabra is now shipping the newest addition to their Elite range of headsets: the Elite 85h headphones. The new headphones are engineered with Jabra SmartSound, based on audEERING context intelligence technology and include Active Noise-Cancellation (ANC) and Jabra’s HearThrough technology, which enables users to decide how much of the outside world penetrates through to the listener. Whether you are commuting, need to concentrate or are in a crowded place, SmartSound ensures the audio of the Elite 85h automatically adjusts to your surroundings to offer the best calls and music experience.

The Elite 85h headphones set new standards across the board, with 36-hour battery life (with ANC activated), crystal-clear sound with advanced 6-microphone call technology, 40mm custom-engineered speakers for top-quality acoustic experience and industry-leading durability. Together with SmartSound and intuitive Voice Assistant Control – the Elite 85h are the smartest ANC headphones on the market.

Like every Jabra device, the Elite 85h has been engineered to meet the challenges that users face in the real world. In today’s digitally-connected society, noise overload is considered one of the key factors affecting personal wellbeing. Jabra’s SmartSound technology tackles noise pollution in a way like never before. Jabra has an exclusive part ownership of intelligent audio analysis company audEERING, the world leader in audio AI technology. The relationship allows Jabra to include environmental adaptation into the new Elite 85h headphones, creating a personalised audio experience that goes beyond current Active Noise-Cancellation (ANC) solutions available in the market.

SmartSound, driven by AI technology  

Jabra SmartSound is based on audEERING’s context intelligence technology, which uses real-time acoustic scene analysis of environmental sounds. The technology can detect more than 6,000 unique sound characteristics and uses this to adapt audio output to each specific context. This means that when moving from a noisy train station into a quiet train carriage, the context intelligence technology will take notice and will automatically adjust the audio to the changed surroundings. It will select one of the three moments: ‘Commute’, ‘In Public’ or ‘In Private’ to guarantee a consistent quality for your audio experience. Users can personalise their calls and music settings even further through Jabra’s Sound+ app, which will remember your preferred settings within the mode for future similar situations.

Dagmar Schuller, CEO at audEERING said: “audEERING’s AI based audio context intelligence technology empowers the new Elite 85h headphones by Jabra to deliver the best call and music experience on the market. Users can be sure to get the most sophisticated product there is with reliable and innovative AI technology made in Germany.”

 The microphone solution combined with the Jabra Sound+ app creates a quick Voice Assistant access experience. Users only need to touch a button on the headphones to interact with Alexa, Siri® or Google Assistant™.

René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Jabra said: “One of the biggest challenges for people on-the-go is consistency in voice, call and audio quality in every environment, whilst ensuring the best voice interaction and connectivity that allows for either total concentration or relaxation. Our Elite range represents the best-in-class products for calls and music. We developed SmartSound, to ensure we can continue to deliver quality calls and music experience wherever you are. The Elite 85h is a revolutionary headset that will change the way we experience sound and cope with noise in the future.”

Key features of the Jabra Elite 85h:

  • SmartSound: Audio that automatically adapts to your surroundings
  • One-click access: Voice Assistant access at the push of a button
  • Four colour variations: Black, Titanium Black, Gold Beige and Navy
  • Battery: Up to 36-hour battery with ANC activated and 41 hours without ANC
  • Microphones: 8 microphones in total. 6 dedicated for calls, 4 for ANC and 2 hybrid mics for both calls and ANC.
  • Speakers: 40 mm custom-engineered speakers
  • Durability: Unique IP52 dust and rain resistance, backed by a 2-year warranty against water and dust
  • Personalise: Jabra Sound+ app for SmartSound features, including customised settings

Availability & pricing 

The headset will be available in four colours (Black, Titanium Black, Gold Beige and Navy), Available from April 2019 at selected retailers at MSRP 279,99 GBP. Find out more about the Jabra Elite 85h and SmartSound at: www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-85h.

Review – The Sony Xperia 10. It delivers for its price. #Sony #Xperia10

The Sony Xperia 10 was a phone that when I seen it first I was like hmmm that new aspect ratio is odd but I was wrong after trying it out, In fact it is a great idea given the device is much taller but it just works, Well for me anyway.. The 21:9 is a new era in screen size which in fairness might suit some and not others but its a difference depending on how you use the device and what for but for me my phone is like a body part I need it for business and pleasure if you will.

I am not going to bore you with specs but have a look at the unboxing where I go through them and the UI all in one video…

The Xperia 10 is a mid range device so lets get that out of the way and even though it has a unique aspect ratio it would pass for a higher tiered phone but its not under the hood, Having said that it is a good performer all round which is important for many and even a power user like myself I seen no problems during my test period which surprised me.

This device is aimed at the media consumers which most of us are but there is not much content out there to support this aspect ratio just yet this will change though. Nexflix being one platform you can use is one area where you can get to test the 21:9 and also You tube offers the same as well as the phones own camera you can create different aspect ratio videos  which is great..

Limitless is a series I was watching on Netflix and watched the rest with Sony Xperia10…And it was quite enjoyable with a good set of cans…

Today most productions are shot in 16:9 so in time this will change,the next problem is using the phone with apps that are not yet supporting this aspect ratio with either black bars on the sides or top and text cut off but its something you will have to put up with until these are optimized.

Asides that the phone delivers everywhere else by that i mean your daily usage be it surfing the web,emails social and so on and there was no lag to be found using multiple apps on the go at the same time, I tend to have several open when multitasking as I move from one to the other and it performed well here which was good. The height of the phone is something to consider with people that have small hands but it does offer one handed use which is useful here if you cant reach the top of the screen.

OK so moving on the phone is a quite capable phone for everyday use simple as given the form factor it works given it might take some getting use to but it delivers on the usual daily usage anyone would have even power users so the camera is the next feature people will wonder about and how the video performance is too well we have lots of samples to pick from in different resolutions including 4K and slow mo..

The camera performance was mostly good and better than expected but I did notice some instances when images looked washed out losing colour accuracy but getting the ideal shot would require the right conditions and if you have them you are fine but you can also edit afterwards which some phones now offer like the Nokia 9 for example which is one thing I question. Why do people want to spend time editing images when most of us just want to point and shoot and share not spending time editing afterwards. When using the camera on this device for the likes of Instagram and so on you have all the native tools you need built in on social apps if you are not happy.

The build quality is good on this compared to the L3 for example however Sony should start following other manufacturers and throwing in even the basic clear gel case as even now I find it hard to find a case in a store for it  but its just a small recommendation I am throwing out here it sweetens the deal a bit more and protects your device out of the box rather than waiting to find one in bricks and mortar.

Battery life was an area where I never got a full day but in fairness I don’t with many phones as I am a power user,the average user though should see a day with moderate usage. There is not many phones out there today that would see a power user see a full day but this did beat my expectations overall and I feel most will be happy enough but it does have quickcharge. The way I use my phones the poor X10 was probably begging me to put it down…

The X10 comes with Android 9 out of the box which is a good start and comes with USB-C which is good to see and most welcome when most of us now use USB-C whilst some manufacturers still send out Micro USB devices having said the the L3 is just that but at least Sony are making a move in the right direction alongside loosing that square design the X10 is nicely shaped and rounded off on the corners and does not have that sharp experience.

Is the X10 worth the money. Yes but there is others out there offering a bit more however if you want to consume media on a phone the new aspect ratio is great but might not suit all however as I said above the one handed mode is there to help you around this but for watching movies and so on this is the phone to do it on and if you have a good pair of headphones there is still a headphone jack available..

Review – The Sony Xperia L3. For the money you can’t complain. #Sony #XperiaL3

The Sony Xperia L3 is a 5.7” HD display resolution smartphone with a comfortable feel. The smartphone is hard to distinguish from most of the major brands in terms of size and feel. The thickness is fractionally bigger than similar other brands of phones, the corners are comfortably rounded as compared to some of the older Sony phone making it comfortable to hold.

Texting in one hand is possible as the phone is not the size of a phablet. The weight in a pocket at 156 g is comfortable. The smartphone as you would expect from Sony is strong made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the right edge, which is used to lock the phone and allows contactless card payments via NFC. The phone has a single USB Type-C port at the bottom of the phone.

Key specifications

· 5.7in, HD+ IPS display, 18:9 aspect ratio

· Quad-core 2GHz MediaTek Helio P22 processor

· 32GB of eMMC storage (expandable via microSD up to 128GB)

· 3GB of RAM

· 13MP rear camera (f/2.2), 2MP (f/2.4)

· 8MP selfie camera (f/2.0)

· 3,300mAh battery

· Unlock in a touch, with built-in fingerprint sensor.

Display:

The display is a 5.7″ HD+ with 18:9 ratio which supports image formats: JPEG, GIF, BMP, WebP, WBMP, DNG This Supported video formats: MPEG-4 Video, H.263, H.264, H.265, VP8, VP9. The display is not a 4K screen as seen on the high-end models. When watching most movies, TV shows and photos this is not noticeable on the 5.7″ HD screen, when watching in a darker environment this display may not be a bright as on more expensive phones.

Memory and storage:

3GB RAM 32GB eMMC internal memory3 Up to 512GB microSD card

The Ram on the phone is the first sign this model is not a high-end phone which may not be noticed by everyday users, intense power hungry users may notice when using multiple apps simultaneously there may be a lag. Standard Android apps take approx. 300MB of RAM each ensuring the first app works ok but as you keep app open or don’t power down the phone, the Ram comes into its own, E.g. YouTube, WhatsApp, Spotify, Twitter, could take nearly 1 GB. Once you include Gmail, Maps Google photo, nearly 2 GB is used which results in software swapping the app. Normal users won’t notice any lag. Power hunger apps when tested, continually opening a large number of apps and swapping between results in a lag not noticed on the range of more expensive phones.

Operating System:

The Sony Xperia L3 comes with Google Android™ Oreo4 or Android 8.0 Initial release date 2017 with 9.0(Pie) released in 2018, now going on version 10 Android Q. the older operating software on this phone works solid but won’t excite.

Camera

The Xperia L3 is fitted with a dual-camera setup on the back of the phone, the rear camera is a 13MP aperture (f/2.2), 2MP (f/2.4) with a front camera 8MP (f/2.0) which is ideal as a selfie camera. As one would expect, Sony experience in camera and display stands out to give clear and crisp images. This model does not support High Dynamic Range. HDR which allowed the camera to process photos slightly differently than normal in order to capture greater detail from bright and dark areas in your photo. The software on the camera does not provide a great zoom option but the Bokeh-effect provided excellent portrait shots. The Video option shoots in Full HD (there is no 4K)

Battery :

The phone comes with a Non-removable Li-Ion 3300 mAh battery with a fast battery charging USB power delivery. Sony uses the Xperia Adaptive Charging”, which monitors your phone as it charges, this is to ensure the battery doesn’t degrade quickly. Sony data states a few minutes of charge should provide up to 2 hours of use before the battery dies. The 3300 mAh battery compares well to phones costing 3 times the amount e.g. Huawei P30 Pro with 4.200 mAh battery, Samsung Galaxy S10 at 4,100mAh, Apple does not disclose battery power but Xs has a 3.174 mAh, the Pixel 3 XL has a 3430 mAh battery.

Image samples..

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Setup

The setup is standard android setup with the annoying request to accept various T&C, this is the same in budget and high-end phones.

Conclusion

The Xperia L3 is a mid-range phone but has the look and feel of a more expensive phone. The Sony Xperia L3 has a fingerprint scanner on its side and dual cameras on its back. The operating system has been tried and tested to ensure it works but lacks a punch as seen on top end phones, the use of basic Apps work quickly and smoothly but can lag if multiples apps are open and opened with the unit not powered down or closed. The smartphone came with a variety of sensors, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, eCompass Fingerprint sensor, Magnetometer Step counter, Step detector, Significant motion detector and Proximity sensor. This is an ideal model in terms of design, a widescreen for watching a movie, reasonably good dual-lens camera with software that works well.