Many of us now are working from home and it looks like it will be the new norm but working in the office is als not entirely ruled out either post pandemic but having said all that you need the tools that can be used in both and this new headset from creative is one to look at which is affordable and lightweight too, being wired though may put some off but there is still a large cohort of people out there that do like wired headsets and for me either is fine.
This headset has USB-C which is the new norm and can also be used with your mobile phone which is handy and can be used in a personal capacity to take calls do zoom calls and listen to music too so you are not confined to your PC either so in effect you could save money here to with one headset and remember it is lightweight too.
Build
The build quality is decent enough too and being lightweight makes it even better especially for long term use the cups are soft too a nicely settle on the ears which make for a comfortable experience overall.
Controls
This is a simple plug and play unit but it does have an inline control panel built in you also get some software to play around with that can enhance the experience and we show you this in the video review below with a standard set up and one connected with the software running, the controls are simple to use and nothing is complicated here at all.
Smarts
The headset comes with a built-in noise-cancelling boom mic and swivel-to-mute function along with SmartComms Kit’s auto-mute and two-way noise cancellation features that make online calls a breeze for users. From webinar presentations to conference calls, the Creative Chat USB offers quality audio and effective noise-cancelling capabilities that works to prioritize voice pickup over unwanted background noises
Audio
Built with a pair of 40 mm Neodymium drivers, the Creative Chat USB has been intricately designed to deliver excellent audio performance that precedes its price by offering a much bigger audio bang for the buck. So, be it for work calls or entertainment, users can expect nothing but high-quality and crystal-clear audio playback all day.
Multiplatform
The Creative Chat USB also works with gaming consoles such as PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch so again you are not tied down to one product to use this headset on so it is a win if you have all the above including a phone or tablet.
Conclusion
Overall this is a great affordable headset that is not restricted with it use case scenario and gives decent audio too and being light it is comfortable and even though it is wired it still offers more options than others out there with connectivity
With kids now back in school keeping in touch with them is probably the most important thing us parents think about however way to many kids have smartphones and this is part of the growing problem with bullying and an age limit to as how old should a child should be to have a mobile phone is another argument, there is alternatives like dumbphones but with pressure amongst kids and their peers make parents cave in and buy them smartphones only in the fear they will be isolated in school, this carry on still goes on for the same with clothes too and in my opinion you should be able to say no and the teachers need to be aware of this which I am sure they are but peer pressure wins and the teachers turn a blind eye to it from what I have seen.
Keeping in touch with your child has become much easier now and as mentioned we have dumbphones that can make and take calls and this is all a child should need until later on in their teens but there is also watches that can double as a phone and in this case this watch has a camera on it too which is even better than other offerings that has just a speaker.
You will need a sim card and not all sims will work either depending on your region so this needs to be taken into account and once set up with their own app you can control what goes on, there is no contact with the internet at all here and just a few parental controls, you can also add friends who have the app which could be beneficial but I do not know anyone else that has one as yet but perhaps after seeing my child with it some parents did ask about it and I told them where to look out for it.
Set-up
Set up is a not too difficult once your sim is ok to begin with you bind the watch and phone like most today and fill in a few parametres then you can toggle through the app as we have done in the video review below
Design
The watch for me is perhaps too big for some kids it is however well built and comes with IPX8 rating the colours are nice yet there is no buttons on the device only for the rear power on button there looks likes there is buttons on the side but these are false but still gives this a real watch look if you will..
Features
AI Precise Positioning
Thanks to the advanced GPS and its best-in-class GDPR compliant location-based services with a reliable 4G LTE data connection, Z1 always keeps parents up to date with GPS locating to let them know the whereabouts of their children through the precise tracking functionality on their own Android or iOS devices even without the need of a video call.
Wide Angle Camera For Video Calls And Photo Adventure
The front camera setup offers high quality HD video calls either by WiFi or 4G at any time. The 2MP 79° wide angle, f/2.4 camera supports fast auto focus, producing high quality video and images with 2 modes, Ultra HD and HD. It is a great opportunity to capture your relationship while taking a selfie to get into an adventure with sharing the photos between friends.
Video call on the imoo Z1 watchphone techbuzzireland
HD Retina Eye-Friendly Screen
Considering the eye safety, Z1 utilizes TFT and Super Retina Display, offering more refined resolution with richer and more accurate colors that is more friendly to children’s eyes.
IPX8 Water Damage Protection
Its water resistant outer shell fully protects the inside of the device with an impressive IPX8 water resistance rating along with an anti-fall protection.
Class Mode 0% Distraction, 100% Concentration
Parents can have children focused on study time by simply setting a designated schedule through the imoo app to restrict a child’s use during designated times, making sure their children won’t be distracted in the class.
Battery Power And Stand-By
With a capacity of 740 mAH on a single charge it can last up to 2-3 days and also triangulates location using GPS, cellular networks and Wi-Fi hotspots for the most accurate positioning.
Conclusion
Overall is this an ideal piece of tech to have rather than a smartphone to keep an eye on your childs movements and so on with the video call feature it keeps things a bit more real for those that think they are missing out over a smartphone, the settings in the app keep you in control and are just right and not too complicated to use either and is a worthy investment this is also ideal for holidays or trips or if your kid is away so you can check in with them and vice versa. You can take photos if you like too and also keep an eye on the childs steps and track where they have been and where they are even of on the move or static.
See the video below for more
Buy here direct or on Amazon – The company sent this over to review with no payment or input and are seeing the review the same time as you.
The BuddyPhones school plus headphones are ideal for kids who need headphones for either school or just listening to music playing games, these being the cheapest of the two pairs we have in are probably the best option to start them off with and get going and getting use to headphones but these also have a mic that is removable and unlike more expensive headsets out there the mic is detachable which for me is a real win.
This headset is super light and made with mainly plastic all round and is also a robust product which makes it ideal for kids who tend to drop things and throw them around the place, these are also easy to clean and have no parts that could fall off and overall a solid product, the cups are small on these being aimed at kids yet comfortable and do not clamp onto your head either..
There is raised buttons on one side to by way of three circles that controls the music which is very simple and not a complicated setup. You can play and pause, skip and reverse tracks and change the volume which is great, this headset can also be used for gaming too which also works really well and also be used with your tablet and mobile phone and all the controls work just fine all the time.
Buddyphones school plus wireless headphones for kids. Techbuzzireland
The mic also works well not that kids would be taking any calls however for gaming it does a decent job too and the fact it can be removed is a real bonus.
BuddyPhones School+ offers 3 SafeAudiosettings to choose from. With the special StudyMode it can be tailored to the child’s educational needs, at home or at school. The new look has super comfortable fabric headband and sports all new style housing with dedicated sticker area. Their patented StudyMode helps isolate voices from other sounds, producing crisper, clearer vocals for studying or watching lessons. With the dual connection feature, the headphones can be used both wirelessly or wired, meaning there’s no interruption from your favourite video or music if the battery runs low.
This product was sent to us to review with no input or compensation paid and are seeing the review the same time as you.
The iPhone 13 is arriving this week and we have a huge range of cases and accessories for it and we look forward to checking it out, There is much hype over right now if you should upgrade from the iPhone 12, the choice is yours if you have the cash to splash but upgrading the the 13 pro which we are doing is certainly one option or go pro with last years iPhone 12.
Either way you need to case up as a drop is expensive regardless and PHNX formerly MNML have a range of cases to pick from and we are looking at the iPhone 12 line ones today with a full range of iPhone 13 pro cases dropping next week so stay tuned for that. These cases are minimalistic hence the name and do give you some protection and are ideal for going out or just being about the house and are super thin, they also protect the camera area of your iPhone an all ports accessible and keys and look really nice.
These cases will also work with wireless charging if you are concerned about that and are brand free, check out the video below for more and watch out for the mega iPhone 13 round up soon on techbuzireland.com where we give you a hands on review and look at the products and less of the stock image approach.
There is not many cases out yet for the new Samsung devices and the OG cases cost a packet one could argue if you can buy a phone at that price outright you can afford a case however hard cases do not really do it for me and I prefer TPU cases, some more cases and skins are on the way as we speak but today we check out the Foluu case which can be bought on Amazon.
This case covers all corners and has a lip on the front so the case can be placed faced down, also to note the cover display is also protected and the case does work with wireless chargers. The only exposed part of the device is the actual hinge so this is something to consider should you wish to purchase..
Geekmem is a new company that makes use of old mobile phones and this you will understand more when you see their products and it is a great idea and opens doors for more potential, some might shrug at the idea and say it is only a phone in a frame and considering things we have been asked to review like beakers,slippers and chewing gum this is actually tech so we leave the rest for others, we are a tech site after all, this however is a really neat idea and especially for those who like technology and we all know iPhone is a huge giant in the industry, phones do be recycled all the time but this brand makes better use of old devices and they have a few phones now on offer and going forward I would like to see more.
It is not everyday your average Joe knows what is inside your phone and this company gives you the opportunity to see exactly what makes up the inerts of a mobile phone by displaying them in a nice frame too.. Geekmem quote on their site.
The greatest joys of life are happy memories. Geekmem helps you document your precious digital products to your favorite specimen collection.
We’re living responsibly
Mobile phones contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper, zinc, etc. The pollution intensity of a waste mobile phone is 100 times that of ordinary dry batteries. If discarded arbitrarily, these elements will be released into the soil, groundwater, air, and surface runoff. Cause certain harm to the human body and the environment.
Stay happy times and keep happy memories.
You can make your home more environmentally friendly with Geekmem.
Check out one of their samples sent to us to show you in the flesh and click you can check out their full range at Geekmem.com
The company sent us this to review with no input or compensation paid and are seeing the review the same time as you..
RIWBOX is a brand that have super affordable headphones and more on offer for sale on Amazon and can also be purchased from their site directly and you can take a look at their entire catalogue. Costing around 40 euros at the time of press these are an affordable pair of headphones that also look good and come in two colours and are also easy to take care off. You can see a quick shorts unboxing here..
With a clean design and look they are simple to use with all the buttons on one side which makes life easy, there is three buttons that do all the controls which we go through in the video below. there is a ratchet style arm extension both sides and they is not much more movement here when it comes to the cups as they are locked into place..
Comfort is fine here even with long term use and that is important,no sweating like some headphones and they are also not clamped onto your head either, despite the lack of flexibility in general they did not cause me any problems during my testing.
When it comes to sound they are pretty good all round and better than expected for their price point and would easily please any teenager or adult, the volume is decent highs lows and mids and so on and ideal for watching movies and gaming etc.
There is no auto play and pause here nor an app or assistant access but you can take calls and control and quick access last call on phone.. Also to note you do get the option to use the 3.5mm cable which has an inline control should you run out of juice so overall for anyone an ideal package for them starting off..
RIWBOX send us these to review with no compensation paid or input and are seeing the review the same time as you.
The Soul Emotion Pro wireless are the latest on offer from the company and offer a array of features and this time around has app access which is excellent and we go through that more in the video review, with the SE pro you also get multipoint connection which is ideal for those who use more that one device at a time like me and makes life that much easier having this feature on board.
Design and Fit
These are a little big on the size however fit well in the ears and have a tiny stem for good measure also there is a nice grille on both sides which makes them look more premium and stand out, they will not come loose and can be worn for fitness if required but overall a comfortable fit and secure in my testing.
Check out the unboxing below for a better look
Controls
The controls on the Emotion pro are excellent and work every time with a decent touch sensitive area and larger than normal earbud it makes it work and not miss any commands and for me getting the commands right all the time everytime this is a win rather than tapping and getting no response so in that department we are good and we go through this and more in the video review and you can see how well they work alongside their app which is great.
soul emotion pro with app. techbuzzireland
soul emotion pro earbuds and case. techbuzzireland
Sound
Sound overall is great with the Emotion pro and their app enhances this experience for all, sometimes there was some distortion on high volume bass driven tracks and the odd disconnection but a software update should fix this but for anything else like Netflix You Tube and music they do a great job overall and no lag latency seen here either and also to note for calls they are good crisp and clear and with multipoint connection they are ideal for those who might use two devices at home or on the go like myself and they get an advantage here over other earbuds priced the same.
The EMOTION PRO touts SOUL’s signature precision sound, including a powerful 10mm driver and AAC codec. Its high efficiency battery also boasts up to nine solid hours of continuous use on a single charge and 36 hours of music, entertainment, and talk time with ANC off (28 hours with ANC on). The case is also equipped with wireless charging enabled for a more convenient true wireless experience.
Conclusion
Overall a solid pair of earbuds here with good looks and comfortable even though they are on the larger side, with their app and multipoint connection these are one to look at if you are looking for something solid and reliable that look good too..
Google have launched new home smarts as we know and they are a welcome addition and if you are already invested in Google hardwear even better in my eyes and as mentioned on launch day I would be swapping over to this kit throughout my home and have ordered extra hardware to complete a full set up..
The Nest Doorbell is the first product we look at today and we will go through all the features and what you can expect to get for your money as they are on the pricey side for some folk.
Build Quality
The Nest Doorbell is tall and thin compared to my old setups here, I have went through several video doorbells over the years and find them a must have in the home and the Google Nest doorbell is no different.. This is white and noticeable and anyone into tech would know it is a Google product with their stand out colour. It is also robust and it stands out with a big black circle up top holding all the hardware and a big white circle on bottom that illuminates once activated and there is a gap in between. It does blend in better on your wall if the right colour but not really a huge deal as many folk have such products on their wall no matter how silly some do look..
There is no chime with the doorbell so this may be a problem for some, if you have a Goolge nest hub at home you are in business as you can watch a live feed or get notifications on the hub itself so you can see who is at the door if you do not have your phone at hand which is great, if you do not have a nest hub you need one in your house.
Battery life
You can use the nest doorbell wired or wireless which gives everyone an option, wired being better however I prefer wireless and you will get a decent run on battery life, on seeing results it seems average to the others I own but cant predict how long exactly but calculating so far it seems on par but we can come back to it in a few months and see how well it does, your traffic will of course impede on the battery life like with any tech product but you can use battery saving tips such as sensitivity and area zoning to minimise notifications this is something you should use if you have a busy pathway, we go through this in the video review down below. I would wager once a month here for the average user.
The App
As seen above the app is quite good, you do need to navigate around the app though to get the full benefits on the product and the best part most of the stuff anyone needs is free however you do need a Nest subscription if you want more but for the majority of people the package as is will be fine, there is lots to fiddle around with to get what your needs are and again we go through this in the video
Speaker and video
The video and audio quality is good here and on par with other known brands, tested both on my pixel 5 and Galaxy flip 3 and all worked a treat, I also tested from the Nest hub and again we can see this in the video review from our phone and nest hub both inside the house and outside and what you can expect to hear and see, you can toggle in the settings the quality you require the time frame and more and also pre-record messages if you like, the choice is yours here.
Things to try with Nest Doorbell
Set up visitor announcements: Visitor announcements use your Google Assistant-enabled speakers and displays (sold separately) to announce when someone rings your doorbell. If you have Nest Aware (sold separately), your visitors can even be announced by name. To set up visitor announcements, make sure you have a Display already set up with your
Google account. Open the Google Home app, tap on your doorbell and select “Settings.” From there, select “Doorbell” and toggle “Visitor announcements” on.
Optimize your video stream: In the Google Home app, you can choose to optimize your camera stream for battery life. Open the app and tap on your Doorbell, then tap the Settings wheel. From there, tap “Battery,” and “Battery usage” to adjust your setting for more recording, more battery life, or default, which balances the two. There’s also an option to turn on “Automatic battery saver,” which automatically conserves power when the battery life is less than 7 days.
Use quick responses or set quiet time: When you can’t get to the door or you’re away from home, use Quick Responses in the Google Home app to respond to someone, like “Just a sec, we’ll be right there,” or “You can just leave it. Thanks!” Tap on your doorbell in the Google Home app, then tap “More.” From there, choose your quick response. You can also set Quiet Time from the same place if you don’t want your doorbell to ring during a specific time.
Create Activity Zones for more tailored alerts: Nest Doorbell can identify packages as close to 8” from your door, and if you’d like the camera to focus on a specific part of what’s in view for extra-relevant notifications, set up an Activity Zone. To add an Activity Zone, tap your doorbell in the Google Home app, then tap the Settings wheel. From there, tap “Events,” “Seen Events,” and add a new Activity Zone.
View your 3-hour event history in the Google Home app: In the Google Home app, tap your doorbell, then tap “History.” From there, you can view your most recent event, or tap “Full history” to see what’s happened over the course of the last 3 hours.
WIth a Nest Aware subscription, you can view 30 to 60 days of event video history.
Filter your events by type: When you tap “Full history,” you also have the option to filter your events by type. Tap the “Filter” icon (an upside down triangle) in the top right corner to filter your events by device type if you have multiple cameras or doorbells, or notification, such as “Package,” “Vehicle,” “Person,” or “Animal.”
Add a Nest Aware subscription for up to 60 days of event video history: On our new cameras and doorbell, many intelligent features are available at no additional cost, but a Nest Aware subscription adds:
Some may find this product a little expensive in comparison to what else is on offer out there today however if you are already invested into Google it is worth the spend, for example I have moved to a chromebook and no matter where I am I can get notifications on it whilst working anywhere if my phone is not on it and it is all how things sync up together and overall as a home security feature it works well with all the features required for most without the need for a subscription and during my testing it has worked flawlessly when it comes to notifications and using all the features including the two way audio which has little or no lag compared to others I have tried in the past.
Notification feed
Image feed
Desktop on chrombook
BUY HEREBUY HERE Watch the video below for more and what you get for your money. Cant see the video click here
