Category: #Reviews

Review – The One Plus 7, First class at reasonable money. #OnePlus7 #Tech

The One plus 7 comes with a striking white and red box with the 7 logo clearly displayed, the red team continues to the charging cable supplied. This smartphone is a Mirror gray reflective with a gloss finish, this has an Aluminium frame with a comfortable feel and balance. The 6.41 inch model has a curved glass panel weighing in at 182 g. The unit is not listed as certified IP rating water or dust resistance, while made of Gorilla glass.

This lack of IP rating may be due to cost associated for the manufacturer keeping the cost down. One plus phones originally started in 2013 and are listed as a premium smartphone, the company initially sold only via invite system. These can now be purchased direct from Oneplus or via the main networks. This model is a dual sim allowing 2 sim cards in the unit, this allows the use of a private sim card and a work number or the option to use a local number outside of Europe when roaming.

1 / 16

Dimensions: • 157.7 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm (6.21 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)

This comes in the box with the standard accessories you would expect OnePlus 7, Power Adapter, Type-C Cable (Support USB 2.0), Quick Start Guide, Welcome Letter, Safety Information and Warranty Card, LOGO Sticker and a clear plastic case. The case is a nice touch allowing the use of the phone straight away without the worry of scratching.

Key specifications One plus come with a high spec for the cost of the unit in comparison to other models, The Ram at 8 GB with 256 GB internal storage would match many laptops CPU Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 (Octa-core, 7nm, up to 2.84 GHz), with Qualcomm AI Engine Operating system – OxygenOS based on Android™ 9

Additional Features Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass UltraShot, Nightscape, Studio Lighting, Portrait, Pro Mode, Panorama, HDR, AI Scene Detection, RAW Image

Battery The USB C charger is a fast battery charging at 20W. This has a non-removable Li-Po 3700 mAh battery. The battery life exceeded high spec smartphones when used with a high volume of calls. The Oneplus phone lacks the wireless charging option but the phone will charge to about 80% in 50 minutes and a full battery in 90 minutes using the 20 Watt charger supplied.

Audio Dual stereo speakers Noise cancellation support Dolby Atmos Note this model does not come with a 3.5mm jack plug but has stereo speakers and active noise cancellation with dedicated mic.

2 / 14

Camera The main camera is a 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS Note the Sensor is a Sony IMX 586 giving excellent quality. 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm, depth sensor Front Camera16 MP with a Sony sensor IMX 471 Video, 2160p@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS

The older Oneplus phones came with excellent specification build sturdy often let down by a poor camera, this model with a 48Mp camera has supersedes many of the premium phones given excellent footage. The design of the camera has notched design, this protrudes from the back of the phone which can look a bit out of place. Once a camera casing has been fitted the camera looks ok with the case taking any knocks or bangs. The result of this design using Sony sensors has resulted in excellent quality backed up by abundance of software to boost the picture.

Unlock Options • In-display Fingerprint • Face Unlock The fingerprint unlock option worked efficiently, this was instant to touch and unlocking the phone. The face unlocks took longer to get used to but worked.

Warranty The OnePlus phones come with one (1) year which is a disappointment for a quality brand and product.

Conclusion The common trend of One plus continues in the high specification at a reasonably price, the speed of the smart phone is a noticeable difference to many manufacturers, the Snapdragon 855 with the 8GB ram with the ram boost ensured this is fast and smooth in operations. The previous one plus phones theme of build solid (taking a knock or two) continues, with the Gorilla® Glass (while not IP rated) this model has a tendency to leave finger marks on the glass panel but is comfortable to hold and solid in one hand. The screen gave excellent video quality watching YouTube / Netflix.

I have used many of the One plus phones in the past, often better know by techies which want good quality and at reasonable price. The super-fast speed and display quality has an impressive gaming experience. Oneplus have focused on one or two models giving excellent quality, great specification with a comfortable feel. This is a smartphone highly recommended having used their phones in the past, this is a product that is first-class at a reasonable price.

https://www.oneplus.com/ie/7

Additional images and videos by Jim

Review – The i7 TWS headphone. A pile of rubbish, beware of similar.. #Truewireless #Tech

As I have mentioned on Twitter some while ago the product that arrived does not match the product in the description which was a pair of the said earbuds with a charge case but just one arrived in a shitty plastic pack with no English at all on the leaflet or instructions.

 

Now I do understand people do use just one earbud and you can buy such but this has vanished from Amazon at the time of post and there is so many variations or rebrands of these they are easy to find as PAIRS with or without the charge case,in most instances WITH the charging case.

Let’s not mistake the rip off of Apple Airpods which are a rip off in price anyway these are clearly just that with other colour options available but there is so many types labelled as with other names and brands of course it came from a china seller which might explain I can’t find it anymore on Amazon even from the link of the seller I was actually surprised it arrived in the first place.

There is One button on the side that in fairness is clicky and you can find it easily blindly and you know you have pressed it and it boasts a silver trim at the end and very light and it does stay in my ear oddly enough and a small LED light for connection and charge status but how does it perform? Well it does not do a whole lot unfortunately and at least they are honest in the main features section listed below. The sound was loud enough and ok on normal levels but after that forget it, tinny central is all I can say muffled and distortion. Calls the same and broke up after about ten feet away from my phone or laptop. Battery life is horrific with between 1 -1.5 hours.

It might be a good throwaway piece for whatever reason there is to have one here you can do so with lots of tech today like 10-20 euro dumbphones but other than that I can’t recommend it at all,well they might be good for younger kids if you do not want to splash out they have nice colour variants I won’t even bother listing the product on other sites where  PAIRS are also available but none on their own I have found but watch out for variants with similar names there is plenty of them and if the seller happens to read this, I have two questions. 1- Should I got two and a charge case?  2 – Where is your Amazon listing gone?

This is what I was meant to get via the email sent for review..

Perhaps the experience might have been better should I have got an actual pair and the charge case but on this basis if you do get offered a one pack offer,ignore it like the plague. I might also suggest if you do buy the advertised products with case included ask the seller and check their feedback on respective sites where available. If an amazon seller has a genuine pair they want tested do get in touch as I feel this one seller listing these as the name they did leaves a question mark for others who have the item on sale or perhaps branded with another variant like the i7s for example it is not fair.

Similar on offer to beware of with high cost in Dublin stores..Can be bought for 10 euros online.

Main Features:
High fidelity music for you  – NOT TRUE
English voice prompt, convenient for operation TRUE
One key to switch songs and answer / end call – TRUE
Works with all kinds of Bluetooth devices ( supports iOS and Android system ) TRUE
1.5 – 2H continuous playing time, longer duration than the most prevailing headsets – FAIR ENOUGH.

Looking for a job in IT or Tech,click the image below.

 

Review – TP-LINK Deco M4 Whole Home Mesh WiFi system by Liam Burke. #Wifi #Mesh

By Liam Burke.  Thanks to the nice people in Tp-link I got their Deco M4 Whole Home Mesh WiFi sytem (3 pack) to try out. It offers a single Mesh WiFi Network to cover an area of “up to 4000 sq ft” and will get rid of those nasty wifi blackspots in your home.

The system works by plugging in a base WiFi station into your existing router (using a supplied ethernet cable) and then adding the other satellite units around the house to blanket your home in lovely wifi and if you want more wifi i.e. down to a shed in the bottom of the garden you would just need to add an extra unit. Another advantage of using the Deco Mesh WiFi system is if your internet service provider is using a mobile network usually the best place to get the best LTE connection is upstairs or in a higher location, so by placing their router in the best signal location you get the most internet speed you can get and then using the Deco the best wifi over your home.

Each unit is finished in a stylish white cylinder approximately 91mm x 91mm x 190 mm with a power port, reset button and 2 ethernet ports at the rear, it would be nice if there was more ethernet ports on the Decos. The top of each Deco has a ridged effect and has a TP-Link notification light which will alert the user to issues with the unit this is configurable on/off at certain times via the app which is handy if one is located in a bedroom where you may not wish to have extra lights.

The Deco system can handle up to 100 devices, so enough for the busiest of homes.

The setup was super easy thanks to the Deco app available from the Google Play Store or via the Apple App Store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tplink.tpm5&hl=en_IE

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417

Once the app is installed it guides you through the setup process, you will need to create a Tp-Link account first then register with it.

So for each of the Deco units you just need to plug it in and open the Deco app and add another Deco to setup the whole network, you will be up and running in no time. During the setup the app will check if there is an update to the Deco unit and prompt you to install it.

The great thing with mesh networks is that your devices just see one network as opposed to a using a wifi extender where you will have to add that network to each device individually.                  Also as the Deco support IEEE 802.11e and k/v your device will switch seamlessly to the fastest Deco in your network whereas if you use a wifi extender your device will have to negotiate a connection to it so that will take sometime if your moving around . Another trick the Deco units has is adapative Path selection which means the Deco’s will chose the best route and band for your data.

The Deco units support self healing, so that if one of the deco units develop a fault, the system will re-configure itself.

To get even better results with the Deco units its best to connect them via Powerline plugs, as if you use wireless mode and say your connected to the last Deco, your signal has to travel to the intermediate Deco units first before going to your router.

My set up

 

There are plenty of options in the Deco app i.e. enabling only a 2.4 or 5Ghz network or 

Setting up a Separate Guest network.

Blacklist to stop a device accessing the network.

Option to Update and also a virtual WPS button for each Deco unit.

The Deco can be configured in either an Access Point or Router mode.

A great feature is the parental controls will allows you to assign each device to a profile and then restrict that profile to general websites or specific ones and also restrict their time online.

Some other extras allow you to define A Quality of Service (QoS) so you can ensure specific devices always get the best internet and a Monthly Report so you can see how your network is behaving for the last month, what websites are most accessed etc. It would have been nice if there was more advanced features on the web based interface to allow for even more tweaks.

Its also compatible with Alexa which worked quiet well when I added the TPLink Router skill on my Amazon Echo Show 5 , for a list of Alexa keywords see 

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1569/

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/deco/deco-m4(3-pack)/

 

From the above table you can see the Decos gave increased speed to the locations that were furthest away from main router (Bedroom 3 and 4) where before I had very low speed or no internet at all and the signal strength was 100% in all of the house.

When I ran a speedtest in my back garden approximately 8 metres (25 feet) away from the kitchen I got 160 MBs and 4/5 Signal Strength, and I had no signal on either the 5ghz or 2.4ghz router, so if you use your wifi outside the Deco is a good solution for you. 

 

For the advanced users, there are options like 

Overall it’s a great piece of kit which spreads Wi-Fi all over your house and gives a lot more user options than the basic modem you would get from your service provider, and if you switch service providers you just need to plug the deco into the router that they supply to you and your up and running with no need to enter wifi passwords into all your devices.

For more info see here

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/deco/deco-m4(3-pack)/

Review – PACUM Your travel friendly packing machine. #Tech #Travel #Gadgets #PACUM

PACUM is the ideal kit for those who travel and again people going on holidays,this portable unit is a must have simple as that. Packing is a pain and so is the inclusion of purchases when we are away and run out of space and this simple device fixes that and better than I expected.

One handed use and minimal buttons you can not go wrong using this. There is several fittings included and one to use on other similar bags out there today. You can also inflate things with PACUM which is an added bonus as an example if you where to bring an inflatable toy on holidays you could pack it up and inflate when away and saving you looking for one to buy there is lots of options here.

The only downside if you will is the noise level but it is not that bad and better than a conventional hoover which most people would use to  pack things at home such as I would but other than that this is a must have if you travel. See the video below for more and how it works.

Functions and features

  • Panel lights indicate the function setting
  • 2 pump modes. “Eco-mode” & “Boost”
  • Pacum stops automatically
  • Double packing capacity in just over 1 minute
  • Height:86mm width:43mm depth:43mm Weight : 145g

Pacum is available now on the Masterspace website for GBP £49/USD $59.99 including shipping.

Review – The Instax Mini Link smartphone printer. #Instax #Smartphone #Printer

The Instax Mini Link smartphone printer is a great gadget to have in your arson and takes the idea from the Mini Li Play but just the printing element. The Mini Li Play had the ability to shoot pictures and print them off the machine there and then so in short this is just the printer as a standalone product and it is a great idea.

We can now take great images from out smartphones so why the need for a standalone camera?? In fact the Mini Li Play is my first camera then I got the Polaroid iType. OK they are not your typical DSLR but do the job but for me I have never used a camera and that applies to the majority of people today. Some have said to me why bother with a printer when you can just send the image via one phone to another which is a valid point but here is where I explained to them it is a great idea. So I asked when was the last time you handed in a camera for getting photos developed? Answer – Cant remember.. Same applies to me until recent months…

So this is like the newspaper equivalent of the app you read your new on with your smartphone it is a physical image you can hold and treasure and look at it time and time again and place it somewhere in your home or office and add to it, Again the argument crops up,sure you can add filters and so on with your app and I said  “true” but your not holding the image are you. I teased this question out on the night of the launch to see the reaction I would get and it is really a generation thing but people loved the idea that you can get your image there and then.

THE APP

3 / 7

The printer is easy to use and so is the app I go through the whole process in the video review below there is not much to it an no technical knowledge needed at all. You simply pair your phone to the printer and work from the app there. You have several modes and editing tools to choose from, Frame print,Collage Print,Match test,Party Print, Single Print,Video Print and Instax and within these you have settings to adjust things to your liking.

The printer also has motion sensors built in which is cool, You can tilt back and forward to zoom in and out, there is only one button on the printer that changes colour this also allows you to print the last image too but it does more than you think,Leaving the printer upright it allows you to return to home on the app saving you a few taps.

Overall this brings fun to the table given the images are small and the images come out great considering their size, I would say some would like larger images but this does a great job and the machine itself is pocket-able and comes in several colours too, it is also built well and is robust and simple to use and and ideal gift idea or just something to have yourself for special occasions and for the money you cant go wrong.

INSTAX Mini Link is available now in FUJIFIILM outlets nationwide, RRP €120.00 prices may vary by retailer. Or see https://www.fujifilm.eu/ie/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unboxing and 7 day review. The Google Pixel 4. #teampixel #madebygoogle #Pixel4

Having used and still use my Pixel 3a I was excited to see the new pixel devices launched this time around and was a keen fan waiting to see what new ideas google have to offer this time around despite seeing and trying to ignore leaks and also something we never talk about here as I find it annoying and clickbait. The Pixel 4 does come with plenty on offer but the main issue I see here and what people talk about is the new camera set-up. Google has done well with just one lens over the last of their devices and now they have introduced a dual set up and people continue to moan about missing the third lens. Google has fantastic AI features and nightsight being one of them the ultrawide lens omission is not a deal breaker for me as the camera takes fantastic photos and I can live without the ultrawide lens and fair play to google for not following the narrative out there with the great lens race.

I have been using the Pixel 4 now almost a week and just like my trusty Pixel 3a it is my main device so this means very heavy usage compared to the average user out there and so far I love it, I have the Black version which has a gloss finish compared to the matt finish on the other two options though the orange one looks really well and I might just get a dbrand skin for it but we have also a stack of cases coming in for the pixel 4 so stay tuned for the usual case round ups this week sometime.

The device feels much more premium than the pixel 3a which is welcome and given I prefer the bigger screen the Pixel 3a as mentioned has been my daily driver and now the pixel 4 will replace it and I have got use to using the smaller screen although typing can be a pain sometime with big hands but I can live with it as the device works perfectly fine in any other way I would use a smartphone.

IMAGE GALLERY COMPARED TO THE PIXEL 3a

4 / 12

The Pixel 4 has no notch this time around and many will like that but it does have a big forehead and a small chin but there is good reason for that forehead with all the new technology Google has put in there and one being Motion Sense.

Pixel 4 will be the first device with Soli, powering the new Motion Sense features to allow you to skip songs, snooze alarms, and silence phone calls, just by waving your hand. These capabilities are just the start, and just as Pixels get better over time, Motion Sense will evolve as well. Some will see this as a gimmick and LG tried a similar idea by waving the hand over their device and it did not work out well given they had a visual indicator on offer for now it works occasionally but I feel it is something when improved it will be something I will use more and it is great to have options to pick your phone up less.

Google Assistant has now got deeper integration which means less taps on the phone and again this is a good move,One thing with voice assistants is how deep this works and now Google have stepped things up in this department and it is welcome I like it.

Another new built in app which I really like is the built in recorder which will be handy for journalists or bloggers on the go. Pixel 4’s new Recorder app records meetings, lectures, jam sessions—anything you want to save and listen to later—and simultaneously transcribes speech and identifies sounds like music and applause. You can easily search within your recordings to quickly find a specific word or sound. All of this happens on-device. We’re starting with English for transcription and search, with more languages coming soon.

We wont bore you with the specs details as we all know them now but we do go into things some more in our video review and you can also check out the images samples and videos we have taken over the last few days and it is clear and simple the camera is once again something special on this device even from a point and shoot perspective. Full details on the pixel 4 here

IMAGE AND VIDEO GALLERY

Review – The JBL TUNE 120 True wireless earbuds. Great for the bass fans. #JBL #TrueWireless

Bass is a thing many of crave for in headphones or earphone and lacks being honest overall in the true wireless sector. Some manufacturers have an app to get around the EQ settings and this particular set of earbuds is one that has no app to mess about with the settings but that is OK on the bass side of things .

Looks – These are on par with is whats out there true wireless are hugely popular today and there is many different design types and they fit in with them all have a nice ergonomic design they sit well in the ears.

Controls – Split between both sides again this a similar situation with many but easy to use, On the left you have your skip and reverse tracks and on the right you have play and pause music and you also have your assistant button on deck I favour this set up mind you as it takes one press to skip and double to reverse some earbuds make you use up to three taps. The controls are easy to find blind,soft and effective.

Sound – The sound is balanced but more central depending on what you listen too with instruments and voice central it is pretty clear and overall a good experience, As these are bass targeted they do shine on that aspect giving nice thumps and sounding much preferable over your standard listening experience. Calls are quite good and clear and have an element bass from my experience.

Build quality – Is on par with the rest however being a bright colour with a glossy type finish I hope they do not discolour over time like a similar colour case I have did, the case closure is strong with a strong magnet and the earbuds will not fall out as you will see in the video.

Battery life – 16 hours in total with a fully charged case and around 4 hours on their own which is mid ranged in this department..

Two things I dont like is they are Micro USB and No app but this is a common trend and should improve over time and become a norm..

For the money if you want a pair of true wireless that is affordable and deliver on bass these are the ones to take a look at.

BUY 

 

Review – The RHA True connect true wireless earbuds. #RHA #TrueWireless #Tech

The RHA true connects are the stem type earbuds only alot shorter than the typical ones like Airpods we tend to see around hence making them look better off the bat in my book, Presentation is excellent and the package contents are also top notch too especially with the earbuds choice which include comply foam tips.

The charging case is one of the most sturdy I have seen to date with an aluminium finish it looks great and makes a statement. Inserting and removing the earbuds is simple giving it has a tight enough opening gap it it will just require some muscle memory perhaps for some..

The case is also USB-C something which many true wireless manufacturers are far behind on so again you are future proofed here and you also have quick charge on board which again is something not seen to often in this space.

Build quality is excellent and they sit nicely in your ears and the shorter stems look better in my book and make them really comfortable overall and with the simple touch area on the sides it is easy to control them blindly with the usual taps required to change tracks and reverse tracks and so on. You also have access to your digital assistant.

One thing they do not have is an app however this applies to the majority of true wireless earbuds and some the app gap will close over the next year one would think as it is more beneficial to the consumer and the company and yields better results all round.

When it comes to sound the only letdown was the volume level for me and again this could be addressed with an app, From my usual playlist all highs lows and mids where fine and clear and sound-stages balanced throughout,the bass could have been a bit deeper too but this is my personal preference. Call quality is good both ends and you cant use them individually bar the right side once the other is placed in the box, The calls come through on both sides which is great.  And finally battery life is good and just on par with their claim from my testing.

Top features

  • 5+20 hours battery, with fast charging
  • IPX5 sweat, splash and weather resistance
  • Secure, comfortable fit; ideal for active use
  • Stem design maximises call quality
  • Full device and digital assistant control via touch and mic
  • Durable flip charging case carries 4 charges
  • Supplied with Comply™ TrueGrip Plus and RHA TrueConnect tips
  • International 3-year warranty

Specifications

  • Driver: 6mm dynamic
  • Colours: Cloud White, Navy Blue, Carbon Black
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Range: 10m
  • Weight: 13g (buds only), 91g (in charging case)
  • Battery: Li-Ion, 5+20 hours
  • Charging: 15m: 50%; 1h40: 100%

BUY 

Review and comparison – The Edifier TWS1 VS TWS5 True Wireless earbuds #Edifier #TrueWireless #Tech

I have been testing the Edifier TWS1 and TWS5 over the last while and have also compared them. My result is based on my own ears and subjective if you will as everyone’s ears are different but from testing countless true wireless now I have a decent opinion to offer on such products which is fair and balanced and overall both these round up well for the price you pay for true wireless earbuds and these are my first two pairs to test from Edifier..

What are the key differences?

1. Chipset

The main chipset of TWS5 is QCC3026, which is sort of better than QCC3020 of TWS1. QCC3026 is the representative model of Qualcomm’s QCC series chips. QCC3026 adopts WLCSP packing which is smaller and highly integrated, which is helpful for the design as well as the implementation of the sound cavity and antenna system, as 3026 is even more difficult to produce.

2. Diaphragm(Sound)

TWS5 adopts wool felt diaphragm, and therefore the sound quality is closer to the balance of the low/middle/high frequency and performs more outstanding in audio resolution and dynamic, compared with TWS1.

3. Antenna

TWS5 adopts LDS radium antenna, which guarantees the RF signal.

4. Charging Solution

The playback time is basically the same but the three touch-pin charging solution of TWS5 (TWS1 only has two pins) ensures better battery management of the charging box. 

5. Size, Weight and Design

The size of TWS5 is larger than TWS1, and it is about 57.2g versus 41.1g of TWS1. This matters according to different user’s preference. Some may prefer smaller ones while others focus on material texture. TWS5 uses metal spray paint to enhance the texture of charging box, the indicator on it also looks better.

Things to note here is there in no USB-C and no app and the latter is something I think Edifier need to start looking at, not taking back their quality sound or products an app can give the user more control over sound and with Edifier offering quality sound in general this can only be a win for both the consumer and the company, USB-C is not a huge gripe with me but again a trend thats changing but these are older products so no huge deal to be honest right now Edifier can only excel from here on in.

Check the video below for more In short the TWS1 take the win from me by that is from my testing and my ears so some might not agree but in the long run for the price BOTH come in at you cant go wrong for your money in comparison to whats out there price much higher, I have been asked to compare both and these are my genuine thoughts and before testing I expected the TWS5 to win but the sound on the TWS1 was deeper louder and had good directional audio for me with a nice touch of bass..

BUY TWS1     BUY TWS5