Review – The Skullcandy Method ANC with TILE. #Skullcandy #Method #Tech

The Skullcandy Method ANC are ideal for those who are fitness and more and with the addition of the tile feature they are a must have for fitness fans and commuters alike or even just the regular listener who wants that bit extra on top.

The Package like the Sesh and any other is the traditional black box look and is easy to recognise as a brand and Skullcandy are a well know brand in the audio business as I have said before. You can check out the unboxing below for all the information on what is in the box itself which you will find is more than adequate.

First of all fit here is fantastic,these will no budge at all no matter what you do due to the ear wings they fit perfectly in your ear and also provide some passive isolation which is always welcome you also get extras in the package which will ensure one fits you and once in the ear you will see what I mean by a perfect snug fit, They do have a small stem but thicker and dont look stupid like Airpods and you will after a few minutes forget they are even there.

Build quality is good as expected and of course we have the typical Black colour, Again as I have said before with many products I would like to see more colours or special editions and Skullcandy are know to do such with some products and they are really nice and buck the trend with the industry standard we see so often.

These come with TILE built in and this is a great feature to have on such a small pair of earphones typically the tile can be found in bigger headphones such as the crusher models and it is great to have this here and for those who are a big forgetful or have a habit of loosing things. Set up is simple for those who are familiar with the tile app and it could not be easier it takes a minute.

Controls are simple here which again is good for those on the move and familiar with similar earbuds you have one panel with all the buttons at hand to do everything and tactile easy to navigate blindly too you get that nice clicky feedback.

The pairing process is simple as always,the inline control panel is simple to use you have your power on/off,play/pause which is the centre button and one press to execute play and pause,Volume up and down are the obvious plus and minus buttons which are marked,track forward is one press of the plus button and reverse track is one press of the minus button.Two taps of the centre activates you voice assistant,Activating tile is one press of the centre and plus button you should do this ASAP..

There is a good level of passive noise isolation to begin with here once placed in the ear which is a good start and the ANC really helps out more, there is no audio passthrough so keep that in mind. Sound quality is great and well balanced and on the same levels as the Sesh I was very please with the outcome from listening to my usual playlist and my usual testing on You Tube and Netflix and there was no lag latency to be found either so for anyone thinking of buying these and want a more robust pair of earphones these would certainly be fitting in on the list of recommendations.

Battery life in on par with the manufacturers claims,you get no charge case here with these but a carry bag and you get micro USB charging rather than USB-C not a deal breaker but keep in mind, These are ideal for the fitness or busy person and being wired you get magnetised buds that sit nicely when not in use so there is no need to remove them,the clicky buttons on the inline control might favour some people more who are use to using similar which from my observation many do especially in the office environment over true wireless bud but you do have other choices from Skullcandy to fit your bill and wont be left disappointed with quality and cost.

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Review – Skullcandy Sesh True Wireless. #Skullcandy #Sesh #TrueWireless #Tech

The Skullcandy Sesh are the latest true wireless in their range which come in at an affordable price offering great features for those who do not want to fork out big money and wants something that sounds good and these deliver in these aspects, With the traditional packing you’d expect from the company you get all you need in the box from the get go which will not break the bank and what I found great with these was the fit.

These come with a charging case which is one that will not open on shaking or if left open your earbuds will not fall out and the case has USB-C charging which is most welcome in 2019 and an area where others are still playing catch-up on. The case is plastic with a Matt Black finish just like the earbuds themselves so a standard affair here which is no big deal, I Would like to see more colours though than the traditional Black or White options we tend to see these days.

The case has LEDs on the front to give you a battery status and whilst battery life itself here is not the best in the world it is sufficient at the price point and fine for commuter journeys and so on but you can use these in the gym or walking in the rain as they are IP55 rated but just keep in mind this is not the highest rating out there, The charge case is an average size like the buds themselves and are pocketeable.  These are also not difficult to take out or put in the box,some earbuds can be but this is just a muscle memory thing.

When it comes to fit these are a solid one, for me they fit nice and snug and do not budge when jogging or walking and with that have good passive isolation sealing out a good bit of the outside world but they do not have audio pass through which is fine at this price. They have been one of the better fitting ones I have tried of late and thats a good thing but everyone’s ears differ and there is extra tips in the box to get that perfect fit.

When it comes to sound is probably most that matters for people and overall these where pretty good with a nice bass level present, On using my usual test case music, You Tube and Netflix these where pleasantly good all round especially with voice  giving you a crisp clear audio experience and good direction, With my music they where well balanced,as mentioned there is a nice bass element here that does not drown out the rest, With mids lows and highs these where fine and well tuned you could say offering a generic balance and again good directions and instruments where easily heard, They do have a slightly higher bass element than most earbuds of late I have tried which is what people like to see from my reading anyway and another thing to note there was no lag latency either.

I feel if there was an app you could fine tune some more but depending on how loud you listen to your music it will differ, As most know I love it loud and these get plenty aloud in a quite environment and watching the likes of Netflix is a treat making you feel part of the picture and immersed.

The controls on the Sesh are great end of story the easiest touch controls I have used in a while and nothing complicated, One thing I need to get out of the way first is that they will not work individually, If the left ear is in the box charging the right will not work but vice versa the right still works if the left is charging, This again at this price point is not a huge deal but needs to be mentioned as some folk like the option to use individually, , Now if they are just taken out of the ear they can still work on their own which is fine. Call quality is great and clear both ends where good on testing and calls are on both sides.

To change tracks is a joy to use and easy with the good surface area at hand to switch, One tap for play and pause on either side,same for calls answer and ending, Skip a track tap and hold for two seconds on the right and to reverse its the same on the left.Three taps activate the voice assistant, All these worked perfectly all the time and thats good to see.

If you are in the market for new earbuds from a known brand these are certainly worth the look,the battery life is on the lower end but you get 10 hours in total which is not bad at this price so overall they are a great pair of true wireless with USB-C and IP55 rating that are robust.

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Review – The Urbanista Paris True Wireless earbuds with wireless charging. #Urbanista #Tech #TrueWireless

Recently we have checked out some products from the good folks at Urbanista such as the Urbanista Stockholm True wireless earbuds and their latest speaker which is the Sydney bluetooth speaker which packs a punch..

One thing with Urbanista over the years I am testing their products is they are consistent with delivering quality goods and Audio at an affordable price and the same applies to their latest instalment we have hear today. And we also get some new features over the Stockholm version we last checked out which is most welcome.

They have the same profile as before and the same charging case only slightly different with USB-C charging and Wireless charging which certainly is most welcome and keeping up with the times which many still tend to leave out today at this price point.

These are more stable in the ears thanks to the buds provided with some extra size buds included and of course they have thrown in the USB-C cable, Again we have the touch sensitive area to control the earbuds which leaves you free from your phone which is nice…

The control will take a but to get the muscle memory right if you are not custom to the touch sensitive type but you will be fine, controls are simple after that and you have all you need one or two taps away.

The controls are as follows

TURN OFF VOICE ASSISTANT – Touch the R logo twice.

ANSWER A CALL – Touch the logo twice on the right (R) or
left (L) earphone.
END A CALL – Touch the logo twice on the right (R) or left (L)
earphone.
REJECT A CALL – Touch and hold the logo on the right (R) or left
(L) earphone for 2 seconds
PLAY MUSIC – Touch the logo twice on the left (L) earphone
PAUSE MUSIC – Touch the logo twice on the left (L) earphone
ADJUST THE VOLUME (+) – Touch the logo once on the right (R)
earphone
ADJUST THE VOLUME (-) – Touch the logo once on the left (L)
earphone.
SKIP A TRACK FORWARD – Touch the logo on the right (R)
earphone for 2 seconds.
SKIP A TRACK BACKWARD – Touch the logo on the left (L)
earphone for 2 seconds
On testing the call quality is great,crisp and clear and both ends of the call have same result, If you want to use individually it will have to be the left one, so when you put the right in the left will stay connected but not vice versa. Bluetooth connection seen me around 40/50 ft before I seen any sign of a break up.
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When it comes to sound they shine and have a nice level of bass here, Urbanista do not yet have an app but I feel they do not need one but would be nice going forward to customise your sound but for the price you cant complain. Overall the sound was well balanced with good direction and easy to hear separation with sound,music and instruments and with vocals you will not be shortchanged and there was no lag latency on watching my usual You Tube or Nextflix test reels.

With Wireless charging USB-C,good battery life and an IPX5 rating they have delivered once again and they come in some really catchy looking colours too to suit everyone at a really good price.

Update. Check out the All New Athens review..

Review – The Jabra Elite 75t True Wireless. Best in class for the money. #JabraElite75t #Truewireless #Tech

Over the last few months I have been using the Elite 65t and the 85h from Jabra which today are one of the best headphones out there of what I have tested to date, I have yet to try the Sony, insert long name here headphones which are said to be one of the best in class with ANC but for now so far the 85h have been for me. When it comes to true wireless Jabra have always been in a league of their own and this time is no different and if you are a bass lover these are what you want.

I have tested some 40 pairs of true wireless this year and more to come and gave these a good run in before I shared my thoughts as I normally do rather than rush out a review a day later or so as these need breaking in and I could see the difference over the hours put in. To put it short if you want true wireless with bass these are all you need, end of story..

The profile has got much smaller too from the 65t which is great and its amazing how they have changed and what they have packed in to the smaller package. Also to mention is their app which is still one of the best in the business from what I have tested so far this year and the app makes a world of difference and we go through everything in the video below.

The controls again are sweet, easy to use and tactile with a simple touch to change everything and works flawlessly every time plus you have got volume control built in too which is often omitted even from more expensive earbuds. The earbuds will not budge for those who are active an want to wear jogging or to the gym and they have got an IP55 rating with a limited two year warranty so these also important factors to consider.

When it comes to calls they shine and this is always expected from Jabra and they have 4 built in mics and wind protection which will work well especially if you are living in Dublin down in the docklands area where the wind tends to channel through. You can use the right side with the left earbud in the box but not the left so they cant be used individually and it is not a huge issue for me.

Music is where they shine the most for me, With the bass turned up you are in for a treat this time around and trust me on that one you do of course have the app to play around with to personalise things even more but when the bass drops..wow.. This does not impede any other music elements either they have great separation, great on highs,lows and mids great with instruments and direction and voice so for listening to You Tube or Netflix for example they will be above par for everyone and also no lag latency either..

Bluetooth range is listed as 10 metres however I got more this might be a factor for some to consider but not a huge deal,we are never too far from our phone and I test mine on a Google Pixel 4 for reference.

I would have liked to seen wireless charging present here and it is probably the only thing I can say bad about them and perhaps another colour or two but this could change going forward like they did with the 65t apart from that if you want a pair of true wireless with super sound,call quality and bass,look no further on the price you pay for these. .

Key features..

  • New compact earbud shape tested for comfort and secure fit
  • More than 7.5 hours battery life, up to 28 hours with the charging case
  • 4-microphone technology for crystal clear calls even in noisy and windy environments
  • Fast charging with USB-C
  • Reliable true wireless connectivity with no audio dropouts
  • Music your way with the customizable equalizer, available in the Jabra Sound+ app
  • IP55-rated durability and 2-year warranty against dust and water*
  • One-touch access to Amazon Alexa**, Siri® and Google Assistant™
  • Compatible with all Bluetooth audio enabled phones and tablets
  • The Jabra Sound+ companion app is compatible with iOS and Android devices

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Review – The @MNMLCase case round up for the Google Pixel 4 #Pixel4 #MNMLCASE #Tech

When is comes to smartphones there is all sorts of cases for all brands be it a flip case,fold,ones with credit card holders and more and we are not short of choice but what about someone that wants something minimal and looks good?? Well this company has you covered…to a degree but keeping it simple and looking good doing so.

The guys at MNML CASE have sent us a range for the Pixel 4 and they come well presented in a black box with a slide out drawer which is really nice attention to detail and also included is a branded sticker which I shall place on my already destroyed sticker fest laptop lid and you get a branded cleaning cloth and inside a pouch with your case and it is all simple and too the point which is what the company is and it looks well.

Check out some images first

1 / 15

For protection here you have a raised hump to surround the one on the device which is important, you will have the corners covered and the chassis on the phone but the screen will not be protected as there is no lip surrounding the front of the screen and there lies the question for who this case is for,more so those who prefer the naked feel and minimal look but not maxed out protection and this is fine.The buttons come through the side of the case making it look natural and there is no issue on function either, They also work with wireless charging which is great and they are brand free so it is just one colour all round and kept simple with access to all ports and speakers clearThe case is so thing it you will no notice it on at all yet it gives you some more grip and comes in a range of colours to pick from so if you are that one that likes things minimal this is the one for you and you should check out the range on their site.

MNML CASE

PIXEL 4 CASES

Review – The Nextbase 122 Dashcam. Affordable that works. #Dashcams #Tech #Nextbase

There is a wide variety of dashcams on the market today to suit all pockets be it cheap and cheerful and 4K options but in this field you typically get what you pay for but again this differs per brand. With Nextbase you get a good product no matter the price even if it is at the lower end which this one fits into.

Setup is as simple as ever however this one is not touch screen has a simple UI with a watered down software version of its superior yet easy to use and navigate, You can check out all this detailed in the video below and how to setup.

As mentioned this is not a touch based dashcam it is all manually controlled with simple well marked keys and easy UI ,You have your power key menu and mode on the left and behind those on the side your Micro SD card slot and on the right you have your up/down and OK key which is used to select a menu and navigate through it. An in typical Nextbase style you have the nextbase button which turns red to start recording footage on the go which you can then find on the device or when plugged into your PC to access files to share or save,there is no app compatibility here so no fussing around in that department. You also get intelligent parking mode to notify you of any bumps etc whilst you have been away from your vehicle,this is a handy feature.

DAYTIME FOOTAGE

Overall if you are new to dashcams you will find your way around with ease to use this, Given the quality is down to 720 footage here it is still good and reliable footage which can be used in any case given catching something special or just catching an accident on the fly once you hit the record button the file is saved and you have your footage at hand, this is on the cheaper end but a more reliable well known brand and it is worth the spend over sub 50 euro cameras because of the quality and assurance you have the footage and it does not get corrupted as is often the case in cheaper dashcams.

The 122 fully establishes itself as the standard entry-level Dash Cam, with improved 720p HD recording on a 5 layer glass lens and a 120° viewing angle, making it ideal for the younger or first-time driver. With free cloud video storage at mynextbase.com, be assured your footage is protected to a secure location. Our eyes on the road, your mind on the journey.

Key features: 720p HD resolution at 30 fps, 2” high-resolution screen, 120° viewing angle, free cloud video storage at mynextbase.com

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Review – AirFly Pro bluetooth transmitter, Great for travel purposes and more. #Travel #Tech #AirflyPro

AirFly Pro is a new gadget on the market which is ideal mainly for those who travel but it is not restricted to those people only as it can serve others once there is a free audio port available so you are not limited by any means, It can be used on an aeroplane for example or in your car you could also use your laptop or phone.

The idea behind this is to share your audio to more than one device so there is a caveat behind it to an extend being the other person connected has to listen to what you do which might not be for all but for example if you are on a flight or long train journey or in the car two people connected can listen to the same thing as you generally would with your headphones. These will work with any bluetooth headphones and not just for Apple Airpods.

You have the ability to stream your audio as you would at home once you have audio in ports so it can also be useful at home,I would listen to music at home myself but it is another option and again two can tango here. This can be also connected to games consoles which is great.

The product itself looks great and is pocket able and well built and easy to use and comes with USB-C charging which is great to see and you also get a little travel bag to store it in which is nice but you can also attach it to your key ring if you like but I would suggest using the travel bag given.  Over the few days testing I have had no drop outs which is promising.

  • Connect two pair of headphones to share music, movies and more.
  • New 16+ hour battery lasts as long as your longest coast-to-coast flight.
  • Use as an AUX IN adapter for your car, boat or non-Bluetooth speaker.

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Review The Twelve South Hi Rise 2 in 1 Wireless Charger. Premium but worth it. #Tech

I have countless wireless chargers here in the house but still I find the uptake rather slow here in Ireland, It is convenient yet a slower charge but no messing with cables and saving wearing your port down what have you to lose with your phone charging overnight??

Presentation to begin with here is the best I have seen in such an accessory in a long time and that alone for me is a great start with any product this comes in a quality material box and also comes with some branded stickers inside and we get USB-C out of the gate.

 

Like I say this is premium and there is a difference between such and cheap wireless chargers and for me having a good look is worth every penny and in this case this you get quality materials on top and no cheap plastic housing or anything like it.

This is made with Leather and Chrome and it has some weight to it which is a good thing you can feel the quality throughout. This is an upright charger so you cant have your device in landscape mode to consume media but you can still do all the things you need to do in portrait mode so no loss there, the phone will not move or budge once placed on the unit and look good doing so.

There is a nice trick up this units sleeve too with the removable oval piece which can be place flat on any surface giving you some flexibility too and not only that you can charge your Airpods or any other QI enabled device. The charge rate is up to 10-Watts but this is the norm however like I said most cheaper alternatives give you just 5-Watts and you can of course leave your case on your smartphone too which is ideal.

The question here is it worth the price, For me it is and owning multiple wireless chargers most of which are cheap and cheerful or ones that came with devices of old this will stand out and look good at any office desk or bedside locker unlike others on the market, After that it is up to you but this looks good has got a superb build and is multi functional and portable.

  • Elegant chrome and leather stand holds phone upright and visible on your desk
  • HiRise Wireless transforms to a desktop charger for the latest AirPods
  • Remove Power Disc to create a portable wireless charging pad for travel
  • Fast wireless charging up to 10-watts, even through most phone cases
  • Includes a 1.5-meter USB-C to USB-A removable power cable
  • Works with Qi wireless charging phones, including iPhone, Galaxy, and more

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Review- The JBL Reflect Flow true wireless earbuds. #Tech #JBL #TrueWireless

The latest true wireless in for testing is from JBL which are a well known brand in the audio industry,recently we tried out the Tune 120 true wireless earbuds which did not disappoint.

The Reflect flow are on the larger side this time around and might not suit everyone especially those with smaller ears. They come in a really cool charging case though which I like they sport BT 5.0 have an IPX 7 rating and quick charging but my only real caveat is micro USB charging.

Ambient aware mode is a welcome feature on the Reflect Flow and a welcome move and a feature starting to trickle throughout many manufacturers earbuds which allows you to listen to your surroundings or simply tap to allow the outside in for a conversation for an example.

The features on the Reflect flow are good but one or two shortcomings and options split between both earbuds. There is no volume control on these which some might find odd and there is no reverse track. On starting up you get that signature guitar string noise when plugged into your ears. The left earbud allows for ambient aware and skip tracks,the right earbud allows for play/pause and call options and holding for two seconds gives you access to your voice assistants.

There is no touch there is a button beneath the surface but this is fine as the area is big enough to hit the right spot for me and each command worked for me all the time every time which makes life easy on the go or just at home relaxing.

Sound quality is great across the board and these again deliver a great bass sound, treble is also better here,mids highs and lows all great too and another thing LOUD!! Dynamic sound is great especially watching films or you tube for example and overall sound is best classed as clean.Call quality is great,crisp and clear audio comes through both sides on calls but you can only use the right side independently this is common though as a whole in the industry. I noticed no lag latency either which is another important asset on any earbuds.

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Battery life is great up to 20 hours from the case 10 hours from one charge and ten mins quick charge will give you an hour, You have an LED indicator on the case itself too which is handy. My final gripe would be no app despite JBL having an app this would be ideal for you EQ settings but for the price I cant complain overall for where they deliver elsewhere.

  • Looks good. Sounds great: JBL Signature Sound combined with a stylish, sporty design; perfect when on the move or working out
  • Lasts a week’s worth of workouts: 30+ hours of combined playback with the included 20-hour charging case
  • Rugged and durable: IPX7 waterproof to survive even the sweatiest of workouts
  • Tune in, tune out: TalkThru and Ambient Aware technologies give control over your surroundings
  • Voice assistance: Easily connect to your phone’s voice assistant at the touch of a button
  • Ergonomic excellence: Comfortable, customisable design to fit almost any ear perfectly

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