Need to add some peripherals to your laptop or PC well the Aukey 12-in-1 USB-C hub might just be the thing you need. We have covered several similar offerings before and in short these offer you more flexibility as laptops these days often come with the bare minimum ports especially if you use Apple Macs etc and this of course works with them and much more cost effective, these hubs allow you be more productive and connect multiple things at one go like several flash drives which is great for those on the go transferring data and so on and much more, you also have and SD card reader, sd card slot HDMI ports, USB-C ports and more however these is no micro USB port present on this hub which is a sign of the times and perhaps maybe one should have been present but all is fine regardless.
One thing that would have made this hub more sweet would have been on board storage too but it is a minor caveat as many available out there now do offer storage at this price point but if you just need a hub to connect and transfer data this is certainly one to look at, This hub though is great for someone with multiple products on the go like me as you can charge multiple devices on the go at the same time which is a gift. Check out the video for more below.
TCL like OPPO are new brands to the Irish market with mobile phones and both alike are something for the competition to look out for with what these brands have to offer for your hard earned cash. Earlier this year we checked out the TCL 10L and is a bargain for the money and one of the best budget priced phones out there right now offering great real estate on the screen and ideal for media consumption.
The TCL 10- PRO just ups the game here in all avenues which at the time of posting this is available for 399 euros which is simply another bargain should you wish to pick up a new smartphone.. The device was first priced at €499 with an Android TV thrown in but does not seem to be available now but shop around regardless.
The look and build quality of this device is one of my personal favourites, great almost bezel less screen and a smooth feel with no rough corners like some devices have, ie the corners can feel uncomfortable but not here on this phone it has a seamless smoothness all-round.. There is a small bezel top and bottom which is fine as the display on this device is fantastic and drops over the edge, You can change the screen settings with the Nxtvision app to your desire so it is worth checking this out as everyone eyes differ, the screen and how if drops arounds the sides is stunning..
Next thing you will notice is the camera array on the back,(64MP, 16MP, 5MP and 2MP ) again done well by not being a silly raised hump and it is flush with the rear of the device which means no rocking on a flat surface, I was pleased with the results the camera and video performance here and one thing some reviews need to note is to stop comparing to 1000 euro plus phones it is not the same cost just like many other devices out there and in some departments will not match up to such devices, this is a mid ranged priced phone and should be compared the same and stop using Apple/Samsung as a benchmark this is as bad as comparing ten year old Lumia devices which some still do today it is a moot point and just a yawnfest being honest. Comparing phones?? Just compare in the same price bracket and be done with it. For your money you are getting a capable shooter and video here lets just leave it at that.
Below are some video and camera samples of the device and you be the judge of how they fair out..
Multitasking on this device is a breeze. First up you have a sidebar/edgebar that offers you the options to add apps, contacts and even a ruler which is really handy this is great for quick access however you can also customise your own folders too and your home screen to make things even faster the choice is yours it is a great tool though overall for those who need to be productive, this bar can be turned off and this compared to others I have tried seen no accidental launches and works well.
For web browsing, social media emails and so on this worked really well for me giving it my daily abuse which is plenty compared to your average user as I would have more use case scenarios than most and it worked a treat for me with that huge display it was easy to work between apps switch screens and of course dual screen options this worked well with my workflow which also includes docs etc etc.
Who is this phone for? This phone is for anyone who is not fussy about specs given it has decent specs on board and want to save some money rather than go spend silly money on phones forced on you by shops or some media blue ticks stating otherwise there is just too much Apple and Samsung fawning these days not forgetting one trick ponies Huawei with a camera and no play store which nothing but positive reviews are seen consistently written by the same people which is another story for another day which has become evidently clear. The cost to performance ratio has come down on phones a while now and I have said it before there is NO NEED to spend over a grand on phone when there is plenty of competition out there like the Pixel A devices for example who are at the top of the game with photography which slightly edges this device in some scenarios but not on others for screen size for example giving you a better media experience.
A simple product that solves a minor problem for those with Google Nest mini has arrived and it is a great idea to break the restricted length of your cable length with placing it in your home this allows your to place your Google Nest anywhere in the house and it also looks really neat and will blend in anywhere in the home and again a simple product that is easy to use and just works and no tech know how to get going either it is a simple plug and go job and you are sorted.
This also has a really good build quality too and will last you simple charge the device for a few hours then you can place our next mini into it and then place your nest anywhere in the house so this means you are free from the cable length restriction at home or in the office / bedroom.
On the front there is some LED lamps to tell you how much battery life you have left which handy overall it is a clean well thought design and looks great anywhere and hides the cable, you can bring it anywhere if you like too it comes with a 10.000 mAh battery and will keep you cable free no matter where it is placed, this only works with the 2ND gen nest so keep this in mind. This does not effect how the nest mini will work at all. Check out the review below..
House of Marley recently announced their latest TWS earbuds called the “Champion” and I have been testing them out for a few days now and as expected I was impressed given the price the come in at. However there is bargains to be had in the true wireless market these days and great value for money these days and the cost to performance ratio is getting better all the time which is great for the consumer overall.
This time around we get an affordable pair of earbuds built around the same idea of the Redemption which are an excellent pair of True Wireless but more expensive however worth the money. We get that bamboo touch again and an in ear style this time around rather than stems, they did at first look like they would not stay in my ears but the right tips and they offer a snug fit and have not dropped out and give good isolation off the bat. The charging case is really nice and pocketable and has a touch of bamboo on top and this complements the earbuds which have a really satisfying click and make for easy commands too which is nice and one of the best controls I have used in a while and due to the surface area you will not make mistakes or accidental clicks.
When it comes to sound this is what most folk are here for and overall really good with a level of bass thrown in and these are loud too, you have most controls at hand here, they can be used independently too which is important for some and you get quick charge thrown in which is an added bonus they do have a decent battery life too. The sound though overall good and no distortion on high volume found in my testing highs,lows and mids good and good direction and crisp voice, same applies to calls which where fine on both ends and clear so overall there is no complaints here.
When people see the word “eco” or “sustainable” sign on tech they fear a loss of quality but that is not the case and something to expect going forward from all manufacturers of tech..
Over the last year there has been many examples of new earbuds on the market and I love to get my hands on what is new and what is different that is why we have the biggest range covered in Ireland to suit all pockets and suit everyone. These new earbuds are the latest on offer from Zendure who ran a successful Indiegogo campaign and people who invested in these will be happy with their investment.
These are light and have one of the best fits this year with the curved stem that rests around your ear lobe and they will not fall out end of story. The controls are also excellent too and one of the better ones when it comes to touch based TWS. Controls are simple to use and can be done so on both sides in most instances with the usual single and double tap approach and of course voice assistants controls too, there is no volume control or auto play or pause but this is fine when you see the cost other than that the controls present works a treat every time. You will see how they work in the video below.
Once in the ears you will notice a great seal too and here and noise isolation straight away but fear not you have got ENC built in which means environmental noise cancellation which is great for calls and these where fine for me on my testing both ends, you also get transparency mode and ANC all which is controlled on the left earbud. The ANC is quite good even outdoors and in a quite environment even better and for the money one of the best in class. Transparency mode works well too for those who commute or jog and is a vital feature today for safety. Battery life is also great on these and are on par with the most on offer today and you also get and additional 15.5 hours from the case and in total you get around 22 hours normal use, with ANC on around 18 hours with max volume which is how I use my earbuds to immerse myself, Also to note there is no distortion on max volume here either and 10 mins charge gives you 40 mins play which is decent. No lag latency noticed either during my testing.
When it comes to sound they deliver, loud, nice bass centred and good direction and from doing my usual testing on my music list, Netflix and You Tube I was impressed across the board they sound good to put it simple and if it is your first or second pair of earbuds you will not be disappointed. If you want a pair of earbuds that deliver there is no need to spend silly money on Apple alternatives these do a great job and perhaps better.
JAM Audio recently just launched an affordable pair of TWS with ANC on board and for the consumer it is good times for buying TWS earbuds as the prices are coming down with more features on offer, However what features you want might vary from others but ANC is one to have these days letting you get more immersed in your music and forgetting what is going on outside.
These come in at 99 quid which is not bad for a pair of earbuds with ANC on board and you have most of the features you come to expect from any pair of earbuds at this price, the sound is punchy loud and the controls work really well here too, overall the music experince is generally good with 10 mm drivers on board you can expect a decent listening experience no matter what you listen to here and in my usual testing they did rather well overall and if it is your first pair of TWS you will be pleased overall with what you get, Check out the video for more below as we go through how they work and the features..
Features include
· True Wireless – True Wireless means no wires. Anywhere. Ever. Whether you’re working, working out, or taking calls. Compatible with Bluetooth® devices and voice assistants.
· Active Noise Cancellation – Superb Active Noise Cancellation lets you tune out distractions and focus on your music, podcasts, or whatever you’re listening to.
· Battery Life – Up to 7 hours of playtime (Bluetooth only), or up to 6 hours of playtime with Bluetooth and ANC. Up to 28 hours total with case.
· On-the-Go Touch Controls / Hands-Free Calling – Control the Convo. Convenient touch controls mean you never have to stop taking calls no matter where you are in your day.
· Premium Sound – Premium sound performance combined with Active Noise Cancellation lets you appreciate every lyric, chord, and heart-pounding beat.
· No-slip tip – 4 sizes of soft, anti-slip ear gels provide a comfortable fit for your 8-hour+ day.
The JAM Audio TWS ANC are priced at £99.99 and available from uk.jamaudio.com.
There has been many attempts of eyewear going the full distance being smart and have not worked out for the best but this has given ideas to other means how you could use your glasses and here is one idea that is executed rather well and keeps things simple, With multiple options to pick from you are not stuck with a low stock selection but you can get several colours and several options to customise and different styles too which is great and the two we have today are the Navigator and Viva which both work the same and do a good job when it comes to listening to music in style with a relatively stylish pair of Sunglasses to boot.
The concept is simple however once again we have proprietary charging which annoys me and most folk in the tech world but it is what it is and it can be forgiven, In short you pair your device to these glasses and the music comes out via a speaker on each arm, they are constructed rather well too. One thing to note though is external leakage and at high volumes those beside you on a train for example might not fancy your taste in music or whatever you might be listening to but you can turn the volume down and I feel best use case scenarios is at home in private, walking or perhaps less populated cramped spaces and be it public transport now with its limitations you would get away with it.
The sound is quite decent and not overly loud for obvious reasons, you are limited however when it comes to controls but enough is there to make them functional other than keeping your peepers safe from the sun, there is a touch sensitive are on each side to control the music with play and pause and skip track and you can access your voice assistant to and overall the sound is quite clear, you will not get the same effects are earbuds or headphones but its like two small speakers held up to your ears in short and they do a decent job, for the fashion conscious that is up to you if you decide these frames are one you can wear.
Overall these are not for everyone but it is still a relatively new technology and spending over the price these come in at is something many would shy away from especially from the likes of Huawei we are now seeing glowing reviews from which is nothing new here, in short you could buy a decent set of earbuds and sunglasses with the price they command.
Maximum Comfort For Your Eyes – optimized for wearing experience. Hoyee Eyes Smart Glasses are aimed at becoming your everyday glasses. They are built to be lightweight, durable and smart. Most importantly, they protect your eyes
Open ear design for safer listening experience. Enjoy music while being aware of the environment.
Anti impact polycarbonate lens with slight yellow tint scratch-proof layer, 100% UVA / UVB protection
Replaceable lenses. You can easily replace these lenses with your prescription. Purchase our prescription lenses here and we’ll send you the glasses with the prescription lenses installed
Bluetooth 5.0, providing better connection stability
Noise-canceling microphone, allowing high-quality conversation even when you are in a noisy environment
Two High-Res TWS directional audio speakers, providing amazing sound quality while minimizing sound leakage
Accurate touchpad embedded. No button on the arms for maximum simplicity. Enjoy smart features as if you are wearing regular glasses
Proprietary magnetic charging cable charges your glasses to 100% within 55 minutes
If you are in the market for a new TV forget about it because what this projector offers and comes in cheaper for screen size this is something to look at and more over this is portable and can be placed anywhere in the home not only this it can be brought anywhere too and you get a snazzy carry case to go with it.
I have done a 28 minute video on this as we do real hands on reviews and it will showcase what you get for your money. With all the ports available on this projector you can basically attach anything to it and get that huge screen effect on a blank walk or if you fancy buying a pull down screen it is up to you. OK one can argue a TV might have better clarity however for the screen size on offer here it is pretty dam good and easily replaces my TV it is so good I am buying one myself and something I rarely do based on reviews.
The M550 Plus 2.0 is different from other projectors due to its extended list of features as well as all the other usual features seen on a projector. Some of the unique features above and beyond the norm include:
Compatible with most Smartphones, tablets, laptops including IOS, Android
Smart TV with Android operating system (Android 6)
Aptoide TV & Google Play store installed (aptoide tv is similar to Amazon firestick / smart tv)
No drop-in brightness on battery power
Low Noise / Ultra silent (22 dB)
Auto Focus & Manual Focus (focus buttons on side of the projector)
Case / Bag (high performance durable carry case for projector and its accessories)
Tripod included
Smaller & Lightweight 650g
Power on and off using timer and re-start and auto shutdown automatically
Responsive remote (with a cursor feature)
Touch controls on the unit itself
Kickstand Built-in
RJ45 Ethernet Port
EU & UK plugs both included
Apps more easily accessible (no need to sign in to google)
Speaker mode (to listen to music etc from phone via Bluetooth)
Easily change the aspect ratio from the remote
3D options including converting your movies from 2D to 3D
QDOS is a brand that has many accessories for mobiles and are really affordable and we have covered many of these in the past, We also have a glass screen protector in for review which will be up shortly after this, the HYBRID PRO TECT case offers all the features you would expect from a phone case and feels really good in the hand too and it is slim giving you extra grip. Check out the video below for all the details.
Ultra-transparent case designed with a combination of 2 premium materials: Strong polycarbonate backing designed with scratch resistance, Flexible coloured TPU frame with air cushions to absorb falls up to 4ft
Unrivalled clarity, with micro-dot technology embedded in the polycarbonate back, stopping the Newton Ring effect
TPU frames are treated with anti-yellowing agents to avoid discoloration
Raised bevel edges protect the device screen when placed down on a surface
Raised TPU bumper surrounds the camera area for added protection
Precision cut-outs offer easy access to ports and buttons
Buttons offer great feedback with responsive touch
Soft edges for easy installation
Wireless charging compatible / Magsafe compatible
Perfectly showcases the design of the iPhone 12/ iPhone 12 Pro
Can be worn with OptiGuard™ Glass Protect tempered glass screen protector (OptiGuard™ not included) Review on this up next