Tag: #review

Tech Review – The GGMM N2 (battery base) for your google nest mini 2nd Gen. #GoogleNest #Tech

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..

BUY HERE 

Tech Review – Zendure Zenpods with ANC and ENC #Zendure #Zenpods #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.

BUY HERE

 

Tech Review – OPPO Reno4 Z review. #OPPO #Reno4Z #Tech

I have been using the OPPO Reno 4 Z now for some weeks and it is a really compelling device for the money and one to consider, the cost to performance ratio has been a win for the consumer now with mobiles phones over 1000 euros are a thing of the past and more a status symbol these days as they where years ago when we paid silly money for phones, One stand out time for me was spending 800 lids on a Nokia 800 which had a dreadful battery life.

Of course 5G is the trend most are starting to jump on and I have a 5G sim and the service is mediocre and I shall not name the company I am with but for now I would not bother with 5G just yet as it is a poor service right now but later on we will come back to that when it is up and fully running. This device though has future proofed itself having 5G on board so for those who want to adopt 5G and get a cheap phone that packs it all the Reno4 Z is one to consider easily. One might argue there is several Chinese brands that have better specs for less well that is fine and valid until something goes wrong with it and no base here in Ireland to help you out with the logistics of returning such devices.

We wont bore you too much with specs but I have gone through the device with the unboxing experience below and a walkthrough of the features and then later on some videos and images from the device, overall it is a solid performer on both camera and video and you will be impressed and it makes for a great point and shoot camera with most shots turning out rather well and then you can yourself play with the settings to get the shots you want but it delivers well both day and night and for me it was a nice result.

The first thing you will note on this device is how light it is and this can be a good thing or bad thing it depends, I have multiple devices here and some rather heavy and some like this  which is light, I like to know my phone is in my pocket and with this you would forget it is there after a while but seeing both sides of the story here I do not mind you can argue too who wants a heavy device weighing your pockets down so either for me is fine it is down to personal choice really. OK it is not an aluminium framed phone but it does look good with the new term “glastic” back giving it a bit more of a premium look.

The second thing you will notice is the phones display at 6.57 inch with 120Hz it is crisp and clean offering great media consumption and also scrolling is a breeze with no lag, you will note it is not a metal build but it does not look cheap by any means at all nor does it feel cheap in comparison to others, there is the pill type dual camera on the screen which might not be for everyone same as the hole punch but this is subjective and fine with me as I have so many phones it does not bother me at all to be honest.

You get 8GB RAM and 128GB storage so there is plenty of room here for 4K lovers as it will eat up your memory quick and at this price point it is a good spec on the storage offering. Shooting video in 4K will be what you want to use to get the most out of the device and for all the camera settings to the max to get the best results.

Battery life is quite good I am a power user and crucify phone batteries and this one is good, if you are the average joe you will get two days but a power user will certainly not and once you start watching hours of Netflix and You Tube you will notice a quick decrease in battery life but you can top up on the go with a powerbank etc

Could a power user use it as a daily driver? Well I could and still do and it does all the tasks I typically do on a day to day basic with no hiccups at all and that is no mean feat considering the other devices I use this is a good valued smartphone that has 5G as a USP but it offers much more all round. For multitasking on a daily basis using the web, social media even gaming this device has served me well and when compared to more expensive devices it is just as good coming in much cheaper with 5G on board with a great screen which is an IPS LCD and better than others I have used. In short you cant go wrong really.. You can pick this device online or via three and eir for just €289.99

Review – The Urbanista Stockholm Plus. #Tech #Urbanista #TWS

Urbanista is a brand I have been using some years now and have been consistent with their sound and build quality and they are progressing as time goes on when it comes to their products too which is good to see. Their latest instalment the Stockholm Plus are no different but will appeal to a different kind of folk.. Coming from their LONDON which are the best they have to offer now they are slightly toned down on volume and bass this time but overall give a solid performance and look well too and are lightweight and generally give you good value for money. You can check out the unboxing here for more info..

 

 

These come in several colours and with new drivers,chipset and microphones giving you a crisp clear sound with most controls available on the buds bar the volume control which has been left out again however not a huge deal for me. The controls are easy to use although some similar but you will manage no problem after some use these are touch sensitive rather than buttons remember. We go through all the motions in the video review below anyway.. Overall they give a decent sound performance when it comes to instruments, direction,voice and direction and calls are good yet the volume and bass this time is lower compared to their LONDON true wireless which for me is their best earbuds to date.

 

UNBOXING

 

Urbanista sent us these to review with no compensation,influence or copy approval and are seeing this the same time as you.

 

Urbanista Stockholm Plus key features

  • 20 hours total playtime
  • 3.5 hours playtime
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • IPX4 protected
  • Type C charging
  • Stereo phone calls
  • Voice and music controls
  • Touch control
  • Voice assistant (Siri and Google Assistant)
  • Compatible with iOS, Android and Windows devices
  • Slim, colour matches charging case with LED battery indicators
  • Charging case reset button

BUY HERE – https://www.urbanista.com/stockholm-plus

 

 

Tech Review – iWatchpods i500 TWS and i500 TWS Pro #Tech #Audio #TWS

Clones are easy to find today and with demanding kids they want the best, the overpriced APPLE airpods which are not the best in the world in my book though some will argue that.  We have tried several pairs of these and more here and this company claims they are better than the other offerings out there, to an extent they are right especially with the pro version as you will see in the video review below.

We have both pair on offer from the company here and tested both out and both do a great job and the pros are really good and better than expected, I have found some pro models to be lacking in features but this pair does not and have ANC built in, Now when I say that it is not the best ANC in the world but it is there and works depending on your environment and you also get transparency mode too for those who commute or cycle with their earbud on even though you should not.

Below is the links for both products but check out the video review for more.. As always mentioned with clones I can not stand over how long they will last and from testing both these they seem solid and perhaps an alternative for parents to purchase for a stocking filler rather than spending silly money on the real thing.

I500 TWS    I500 TWS PRO 

Tech Review – Edifier G2 II USB gaming headphones. #Edifier #Gaming #Tech

Edifier recently launched the G2 II gaming headset and we have been testing it out and as expected with any product from Edifier no matter the price point they deliver on the audio aspect even at entry level prices which is the same for their TWS earbuds, One of their cheapest earbuds for example the X3 TWS that come in at approx. 35 euros deliver on sound and quality at this price point and excels others. With their gaming headphone range this is no different and this is an affordable headset that delivers.

There is a simple inline control panel that allows you to turn on/off the mic and switch on/off the RGB effects and a volume wheel on the side it could not be easier to use although there is no EQ built in for tone adjustment which is fine the sound that comes from the headset is well balanced and will immerse you into the gameplay and blocks all external noise. Comfort would be another factor here to weigh in on as most gamers spend hours on their gameplay and these are fine here too with the soft cups and headband , The mic is good too with clear sound both ends and overall it will be an enjoyable experience for whoever picks these up.

Main Features:

  • 7.1 surround sound offering 360° sound positioning, accelerating your advantage.
  • 50mm driver unit produces clear sound and excellent low-frequency performance.
  • Noise-cancelling detachable microphone for uninterrupted game play.
  • Dynamic RGB light effects.
  • Comfortable wearing for longevity.

BUY – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-Headset-Head-band-Black-Red/dp/B081S6FLWQ#ace-g0979249316

CLCKR stand and grip case review for the iPhone 12. #CLCKR #iPhone12 #Tech

The iPhone 12 has just landed and we have a range of cases in for review and today we take a look at the CLCKR stand and grip case, this case just makes life easier and allows you to use the device safely with a useful tool embedded into the case on the rear, you can watch media without having to remove the case in both portrait and landscape mode and it also allows you to hold the device in a safer manner too so overall it is a must have for the iPhone 12, this also works with the 12 pro and allows for wireless charging too, there is a decent lip around the front which allows the device to be placed face down and it does offer better grip.

Minimal Design, Maximum Protection – Protect your new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, Pro or Pro Max with 2metre/6.6ft drop protection and stay safe with antimicrobial protection, killing up to 99.99% of germs. The antimicrobial technology has been embedded into the products to durably keep the Case or Universal surface clean by controlling the growth of microorganisms on the surface.   

CLCKR is Universal –  CLCKR are celebrating the launch with two new Universal grips, designed to make the most of any device. The ‘Diagonal’ design is available in Black and Navy Blue and ‘Pebbled Lines’ is available in Black and Grey with Blue, Lilac and Coral colours launching in November. The universal grips also include antimicrobial protection and a 3M adhesive which is reusable and non-residual. Priced at £12.99 and available from: https://www.clckr.com/uk/universal-clckr

VIDEO AND IMAGE GALLERY

Tech Review – The Edifier X3 True Wireless #Edifier #X3 #TWS #Tech

Edifier recently launched a new pair of True Wireless called the X3 and these come in at a really affordable price but what can you get for this money these days as the cost performance ratio has come down in the last few months on TWS earbuds? Well after testing these Edifier has another hit on their hands with how these sound and as for their price you cant miss these even for a second pair of earbuds and certainly one to throw into the xmas stocking this year as TWS are the thing and there is no need to spend silly money on Apple products.

The X3 are the newest offering in the TWS range from Edifier. Featuring the latest Bluetooth v5.0, the Qualcomm chipset delivers a faster, more stable signal transmission and low input latency. This technology keeps interference to a minimum, even with a transmission distance of 10m. The low power consumption also provides 6 hours of playback, with an additional 18 hours using the sleek charging case before mains power is required.

 

The microphone, with CVC V8.0 noise cancellation technology, is guaranteed to deliver a clearer sound during calls. It automatically reduces background and environmental noise to pick up the user’s voice accurately and ensure high clarity audio transmission with richer details.

Having been fine-tuned by a professional team, the high-fidelity aptX audio decoding technology delivers CD-quality sound performance in each range. Deep bass and tri-frequency balance are achieved across all music genres.

One-step pairing assures fuss-free usage, meaning the earbuds automatically pair to each other and the last paired device for a faster connection when removed from the charging case. The touch control on each earbud also offers easy access to various functions, including play/pause, next/last song and answer/hang up on calls. The voice assistant can also be activated by triple tapping either earbud.

Main Features:

  • High-Fidelity Apt X and tuned by a professional acoustic team.
  • Bluetooth V5.0 with Qualcomm Chipset to provide a better signal transmission.
  • Lower power consumption for 6 hours playback time and extra 18 hours with charge case.
  • CVC 8.0 Noise Cancelling Isolation Microphone.
  • Ergonomic, compact design with IPX5 rating.
  • One-Step Pairing for a faster connection.

The X3 is available from Amazon at £32.99 – Check out the video review for more.

Edifier sent us these to review with no compensation or copy approval..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-Bluetooth-Canceling-Headphones-Waterproof-Black/dp/B086QK7TBN/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=edifier+x3&qid=1600099925&sr=8-2

 

Tech Review – Chromecast with Google TV set up and review. #Chromecast #Tech

Chromecast with Google TV is a new affordable streaming device that turns your TV into a smart one that is if you do not already own one as they are popular now and most come by default this way anyway but still you can boost it up with this cool pebble shaped device that now comes with a remote you can talk too like any Google product these days and it works really well and does not require a high speed internet connection either to stream.

This time however if you are familiar with Chromecast you get Google TV thrown in and the UI is great similar to Apple Watch Now and the experience is smooth. This is 4K ready and the picture is fantastic especially if you have a 4K TV and you will see this in the video below how clear this is and it really is a stand out picture and also sports Dolby Vision.

When it comes to the product it is once again a HDMI connection that is hidden behind your TV but still requires its own power source and this is one thing perhaps needs changing going forward.

How it works is that it will base your favourites on your subscription services and kept simple which is great for newcomers to the platform and as mentioned has a really appealing look to it and simple enough to navigate through .You also get recommendations as you would say on You Tube based on what you have watched before, also you can bookmark movies for watching later and you can also continue to watch same as Netflix and this is cool as some services do not offer this.

The real fun though is using the remote control and it works rather well with a simple to use remote nicely designed buttons that are tactile and rather than searching you can just ask your remote and you have to quick launch buttons too for Netflix and You Tube, so that is me sold right there. The Assistant on the remote will also allow you to control your existing Google Devices at home and you can also pair them. You can also use your remote like you would your assistant and again seen in video..

If you have the last version you will ask if this one is worth the punt and the answer simply is yes, I have been a long time user of Chromecast and bring it everywhere with me and this will certainly be replacing the old model.. You can pick this up now for 68.65

10 Things to Know About Chromecast with Google TV
1. Hello, Chromecast with Google TV

The all-new Chromecast with Google TV does everything your favorite Chromecast does and more, with help from the new Google TV experience and Google Assistant.  It brings together movies and shows from across your streaming apps and organizes them just for you.  It comes in three beautiful colors inspired by real homes: snow, sunrise and sky.

2. New Chromecast design, now with more power

Chromecast keeps its compact and thin design that neatly plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and hides out of sight.  Despite its size, Chromecast streams crystal clear movies in up to 4K HDR 60 fps.  It also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to make your watching experience more immersive.

3. Chromecast, now with a remote

Our most requested feature is here. The new voice remote can control your TV or soundbar, change the volume, switch inputs, and more. The dedicated Google Assistant button lets you search your favorite shows, get answers, and more with just your voice.  Plus it has dedicated buttons for the two of the  most popular streaming services today, YouTube and Netflix.

4. Google TV – Your movies and shows. All in one place 

Google TV organizes movies and TV shows from your favorite services into a single place. It’s easy to find what you want to watch across your apps, so you spend less time endlessly scrolling and more time enjoying content. Browse hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes through apps like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video and more.

9. Fill your home with music: multi-room audio

You can group Chromecast with other Nest speakers and displays in order to play synchronized music in multiple rooms. It works with your favorite audio apps, including YouTube Music, Spotify, and more. You can easily set up a speaker group in the Home app. 

10. Relive your memories with Google Photos

Enjoy a slideshow of your pictures from your Google Photos library right on your TV when your Chromecast is not being used or simply ask, “Hey Google, show my photos from Hawaii”. 

 5. Find your next favorite. Based on your favorites.

Get personal recommendations based on what you’ve watched and what interests you, from across your subscriptions and content available to you. All you have to do is ask the Google Assistant, “What should I watch” to get a list of popular movies and shows. Google TV’s Watchlist lets you bookmark movies and shows you want to save for later.

6. Do more on your TV. Just ask Google.

Ask for a specific title or search by mood, genre, actor, and more. Just press and hold the Google Assistant button and say:

  • Show me sci-fi movies
  • Dim the lights
  • Show me the front door 
  • Set thermostat to 18

7. Made with the environment in mind 

Chromecast breathes life into existing TVs and is designed with recycled materials, it helps keep waste out of landfills. And 49% of its plastic mechanical parts are made with recycled plastic, so you can feel good about watching TV.

8. The Chromecast features you love 

From the small screen to the big screen. Cast from thousands of compatible Android and iOS apps directly from your phone, laptop or tablet And mirror your Chrome browser tab to your TV, just look for the Cast icon in compatible apps.