The Pamu slide mini are the second pair on offer from their well received OG pair which today still serve me well and are a worthy purchase and a solid performer considering the price and they also came in a first I have seen with a case that offers wireless charging for your phone too which was a neat touch and not seen since from me from any other, there is charging cases with many TWS earbuds but none that offer wireless charging.
To keep this short these are pretty much identical to the previous pair and you can read that review HERE and they still deliver as a whole coming in cheaper and the fit on these again is great and something I liked from the OG and the design which again remains the same and the difference being a smaller case yet offering wireless charging for the earbuds but none for your smartphone etc.
The Sennheiser Momentum 3 are best described as a high end set of cans with a luxurious finish which of course is reflected on their price but they are worth it if you have the money to spare. All features you expect to find are present on these headphones and at this price and they also come with an app to enhance the experience even more with the option to change the EQ settings.
You also get a nice travel case with these and also expected at this price and excellent for storing the product when not in use.
When it comes to comfort they shine here too offering noise isolation on the ears with really soft cups and the same for the headband, I did not suffer any head pinching after hours of use as I have seen some people say and this is most likely down to the shape of your head rather than the build quality of the headphones which is excellent. There is decent padding on the headband and it is an average amount of cushion to compare to others out there.
When it comes to controls you have all placed on one side which is the best way to do things and not split them, We go through all these in detail in the video review below and you also get auto play and pause so when you take them off they stop playing music and you also have more functions like three ANC modes which again is now a standard at high end headphones.
You also get tile integration which is also now seen on high end headphones and this is great for the forgetful type of if you happen to misplace or lose them.
When it comes to sound which is the bigger question these are excellent throughout and with their proprietary app you are in for a treat and they are loud which most know I like, The levels of ANC the highs lows and mids and great bass and one thing I noted is they are great for picking out background noise and something you might not hear watching tv or movies these pick it up and they are also excellent on voice calls too and overall it has been a great experience using these and they really put it up to their competitors but not so much on the ANC side however do a great job overall and I would easily buy a pair of these with my own money. Their price will come down and varies and we can expect a new model soon but if you have some cash sitting around and want a new pair of headphones these are certainly a pair of headphones to check out..
Groove recently announced their latest product called the music buds to their portfolio of affordable tech and these are really good considering the price they come in at with all the features you expect to find and no need to take out your phone to control the music and calls and also has the option to connect to your assistant on the go too with simple to use controls, the controls are once again a button and not touch based which is nice.
Again we have a clean design on offer here and the have a low profile too and do not stick out from your ears and offer a nice snug fit there is no ANC on board but they do a decent job muting the outside world and when at max volume you will not hear a thing anyway however in some instances they did get tinny and muffled but overall a good experince and max volume is my personal taste anyway and many would not keep at max level to get some kind of ambience.
The build quality is solid and the controls so easy to use which I like with your typical 1/2/3 taps to get things moving, we go through this in the video below anyway. There is nice bass present here and overall fairly well balanced from testing my usual playlist and I was happy enough with their performance and the battery life is also on par with their claims and with no ANC present it is decent battery life. For 25 quid lads you cant go wrong but I would like to see more colours from the company on their earbuds selection even White would be nice.
It’s been a decade since Urbanista launched the first of their award-winning collection of headphones, earphones and speakers, each named to reflect the unique atmosphere and qualities of different cities around the world. Now, ten years later, music lovers globally recognise Urbanista products for their sleek Scandinavian design and superior audio experience.
Urbanista was founded in 2010 and since then has launched 21 audio products named after the world’s greatest cities. CEO Anders Andreen comments: “I am extremely proud to have reached this 10-year anniversary milestone with a company that I have seen grow since the very beginning. Our tagline is ‘Designed for Life in Motion’ and we have been on a mission to provide audio products to compliment those that live an active life. We aim to offer products at an accessible price that are packed with features and, at the same time, allow our customers to express their own personal style. Thanks to a passionate team with a culture to always get things done have grown over 1900% in the last six years and have ambitious plans for the next decade to come.”
TEN YEARS, TEN CITIES
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Urbanista has called on 10 influencers from 10 cities around the world to create individually curated city guides. From London to Tokyo, New York City to Sydney, the city guides are designed to help you discover what these local influencers love about the place they call home. The guides provide a glimpse of each city’s unique qualities that inspired Urbanista to name their products after them, including things to do, what to see, and where to eat.
The city guides include London, Paris, Athens, Sydney, Stockholm, Tokyo, New York, Barcelona, Berlin and San Francisco. Explore more at www.urbanista.com/10years.
INTRODUCING URBANISTA LONDON: BURGUNDY RED
Alongside celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Urbanista is proud to launch to market Urbanista London in an exclusive colour, Burgundy Red, available only at www.urbanista.com/london from the 19th October 2020.
Tuomas Lonka, Brand and Marketing Director comments: “As a fashion-forward brand, Urbanista is proud to bring stylish colours to its collection. We launched Urbanista London to market in four colours and we are excited to add the fifth addition of Burgundy Red, a colour perfect for the Autumn Winter season ahead.”
Priced at £129, these new earphones are packed with style and creativity and are inspired by the vibrant and busy city of London. With Active Noise Cancellation or Ambient Sound Mode, Urbanista London allows listeners to either completely block out the outside world or hear their surroundings without interruption to their listening experience. Also available in Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue) and comes with a sleek and slim colour-matched charging case.https://www.urbanista.com/uk/london
Instagram have dropped a nice little easter egg today which allows you to change the app icon which is pretty neat and this is something perhaps that could be done with other apps and gives you a bit more customisation to your home screen on your smartphone, the new change is on both Android and iOS and is simple to change and you have 10 options to pick from including the current one we all know.
All you need to do is go update your device and have the latest software at hand and go to settings then drag the screen down and you will then see the new change, All you do then after that is select the app icon you want and you are done, check the video below..
Google this evening streamed their latest event which was fast and to the point dropping some more tech goodness to the fore including new handsets which might look familiar on the outside but have changed under the hood. Also dropped was their new Nest Audio which is a larger version of their previous iterations and an all new Chromecast with Google TV so there is something for everyone here and if you have bought into the Google Eco System you will find something here of value.
Pixel 4a 5g and Pixel 5
These are their new devices which both sport 5G. The 4a has been well received and has been my daily driver since it launched, The 4a 5G comes with more power with a 3800mAh battery and ultra wide lens and an edge to edge OLED 6.24 inch display, the wide lens was one thing many people where giving out about with the 4a and now this has been addressed, You also get a 12.2MP rear camera and an 8MP front facing camera but we get no wireless charging here. The device will cost €490.89 and is now available to pre-order
The Pixel 5 is the one that has my interest though, A metal unibody, 6 inch FHD OLDED display more RAM same camera set-up and chipset the 765G this has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging which is really cool so you can charge your Pixel Buds on the go with the 4000 mAh powerpack inside the Pixel 5 and this comes in two colours unlike the 4a which is Just Black you get the option to buy Sorta Sage here which would be my preference of the two. You can pre- order this now for €618.71
To top things off if you order either device you get a free pair of BOSE headphones but this is a limited offer so you will need to be quick, again these devices are on the small side and there is no XL variant this year but I and typically use to using the bigger device but have been using the 4a now some time and have found it fine bar typing sometimes so the trade off is not bad having a less bulky device in your pocket. There is also cases now available to order too for both devices and as always I advise you pick one up..
Google Nest Audio
If you are a fan of their smart speakers this one is something to check out offering 50% more Bass which for me is a win and any Bass fan and even louder claiming 75% more volume plus it has a bigger footprint over the Nest Mini and that cloth like finish this allows more tech to be packed inside giving the user an enhanced experience. This is also now available to pre-order for just €99 and is aimed at music fans and of course you can connect to pre existing google homes in your house or better again get two of these for some real oomph in your home. Read more on their blog HERE
Google TV and Chromecast
A new look and style and updated this is ideal for the home or those on the go, I do bring my existing chromecast with me when travelling and it is a must have you have 400k plus titles to pick from and a Google Assistant built into the remote to do more things in the home as well as search what is on, This is also now available on the waiting list for just €69.99 You can see more on the blog HERE
The Xperia 5 II takes many of the leading features from Xperia 1 II, including a triple lens camera paired with ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for Xperia 5 II. Also included are Photography Pro with technology from from AlphaTM series cameras for fast and accurate AF/AE, Cinematography Pro “powered by CineAlta” for similar parameters and colour settings as professional filmmakers and a 21:9 CinemaWide display for viewing pleasure. In addition, superb audio features include High-Resolution Audio, a 3.5mm audio jack, and front-facing stereo speakers, plus a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform, all rounded up in a compact and beautiful, slim design to fit perfectly in your pocket. It also adds 120Hz Refresh display rate and 240Hz Touch scanning rate to give the smoothest and most accurate gaming experience.
“Sony’s heritage has been rooted in technology and engineering, and our portfolio has expanded to include the field of entertainment from music, movies, games and much more,” said Mitsuya Kishida, President of Sony Mobile Communications. “With this unique background, Xperia smartphones are feature-packed with Sony’s advanced technologies in a compact body, with a profound passion to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Capture perfect portraits and unmissable moments, always in focus
Taking a leaf out of its big brother’s (Xperia 1 II) book, Xperia 5 II is designed with technology from AlphaTM series cameras for razor sharp results. Perfect portraits aren’t always posed and creating clear, spontaneous shots is where Real-time Eye AF comes into its own. Whether you’re photographing fast-moving people or animals, Real-time Eye AF makes sure the most expressive part of the face takes centre stage, even when one eye is covered or the person is moving quickly.
Xperia 5 II captures unmissable moments by offering continuous AutoFocus that performs AF / AE calculations at 60 times per second, which enables you to shoot and store 20 shots (20fps) with high precision, accurate focus and optimised exposure.
The versatile triple lens camera, with three focal lengths: 16mm/24mm/70mm, captures beautiful landscapes and portraits, and lets you zoom in on distant subjects. The ZEISS optics are specifically calibrated for the Xperia 5 II and feature the renowned ZEISS T coating for reduced reflection, resulting in exquisite contrast and image rendering. Quality images are captured when shooting at low light with its 1/1.7-inch large sensor and noise reduction with Bionz X™ for Mobile engine.
Like Xperia 1 II, it offers Photography Pro, a user interface that was developed in collaboration with professional photographers and mirrors many of the manual controls available in AlphaTM series cameras including ISO, Shutter Speed and EV Indicator, whilst also providing RAW support.
In addition, Cinematography Pro “powered by CineAlta” now enables more choice for engaging, story-telling with dramatic slow-motion cinematography creation, making it the world’s first 4K HDR 120fps slow-motion movie recording in a smartphone which can capture and playback up to 5x slow-motion when set at 24fps. It also records in 21:9 ratio at 24/25/30/60fps enhancing cinematic expression. Eight different Look colour management pre-sets allow you to change the mood of your scenes to different cinema styles. Whilst Sony’s unique Intelligent wind filter technology uses award-winning audio separation technology to reduce wind interference for clearer audio recording.
Gaming on the Go
The combination of Xperia 5 II’s premium entertainment features enable it to become a mobile gaming powerhouse. It takes you deeper into the action with an immersive 21:9 display – and with Game enhancer, ultra-fast performance, 120Hz Refresh rate display, and precise 240Hz Touch scanning rate, Xperia 5 II sets you up with a strong advantage to win the game. All features have been developed in response to working with professional e-sports gamers to ensure the best experience.
The 21:9 display is wider than conventional displays, revealing more of the action – so you can see your opponents before they see you and give you the advantage, especially in first-person shooter games. Not only do you get an unrestricted view of your gaming action on the native 120Hz Refresh rate display, fast-moving objects are rendered clearly for seriously smooth gameplay. But the Xperia 5 II doesn’t stop there – with 240Hz Motion blur reduction, the display updates the image an incredible 240 times per second for blur-free action.
For games that require fast fingers, the Xperia 5 II gives you the edge. It supports 240Hz Touch scanning rate, which is up to 4x higher than the previous model – meaning the action happens exactly as you intended for precision control. Touch response has been improved by 35% compared with the previous model with the system recognising your touch at the precise moment you intended.
Game enhancer offers a range of features and settings to help you improve your gameplay and assist in achieving more wins with Competition set. You can share your best moments too, using screenshots, audio or video clips. HS Power Control also enables you to play longer and avoid overheating.
Taking your gaming one step further, connect a PlayStation®4 DUALSHOCK®411 Wireless Controller and play Android games for an authentic gaming experience. Xperia is the official smartphone of the Call of Duty®: Mobile World Championship Tournament 2020 and the Xperia 5 II is ready to answer the call. Whether you’re playing for fun or serious about winning the title, Xperia 5 II can provide an optimised quality experience with its unique tuning in collaboration with Qualcomm® Snapdragon Elite Gaming™.
Pocket Perfect for Entertainment
Xperia 5 II is perfect for movie lovers, with its 21:9 CinemaWide 6.1” FHD+ HDR OLED notch-less display, it puts the widescreen experience in the palm of your hand. Plus, with 5G connectivity you can download and stream content faster than ever. Colour reproduction when watching your movies is exquisite, inspired by Sony’s professional technologies used in leading Hollywood studio productions, Creator mode “powered by CineAlta” brings content to life exactly as it was envisioned. The X1™ for mobile engine brings BRAVIA HDR remaster technology to everything you watch to enhance the contrast, colour and clarity of any content, even streaming services. Whilst the 120Hz Refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and internet browsing.
Xperia is now synonymous with great audio and it hasn’t stopped with Xperia 5 II, enhancing the immersive entertainment experience. Watch a movie with Dolby Atmos® sound, tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, for a multi-dimensional surround sound experience. Music sounds better too with audio tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment to deliver a truly authentic listening experience. 360 Reality Audio hardware decoding optimises sound quality when listening to music on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL12. And new TIDAL subscribers will get 3 months of TIDAL Hi-Fi free when they buy a Xperia 5 II, including the 360 Reality Audio experience.
High-quality music can be enjoyed through the front stereo speakers or when listening with headphones either wirelessly or with the 3.5mm audio jack. The jack provides clearer left and right audio separation, reducing signal noise to an imperceptible 20dB – over 90% lower than USB-C headphone connections.
Whatever format you’re listening to, Xperia 5 II ensures you get the most out of your music. As well as High-Resolution and High-Resolution Wireless Audio, Xperia 5 II offers DSEE Ultimate which enhances the quality of your digital music using AI, including audio and video streaming services. It automatically improves audio frequency and dynamic range in real-time, taking each track close to high-resolution audio.
Compact but Powerful
At just 68mm wide and 8mm in depth, the Xperia 5 II is tailor-made for one-handed use – it has even been designed with a softer shape on the corners than its predecessor for a more comfortable feel for a perfect fit in your hand or pocket.
Its compact size doesn’t make it any less powerful, Xperia 5 II is powered by a high-capacity 4,000mAh battery with fast charge that charges up to 50% in just 30 minutes. With a strong heritage in developing battery technologies to improve the battery lifespan, Sony can confidently say that Xperia 5 II will have a healthy battery even after 2 years of usage
Built for speed, the Xperia 5 II can connect to super-fast 5G networks, enabling you to enjoy uncompromised high-quality downloads and seamless streaming – even of high-resolution files – quickly and easily. The Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform and the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF system empowers you to game, capture, multi-task and connect like never before with staggering multi-gigabit 5G speeds and improved performance with 25% faster CPU and GPU than the previous model.
Not only is it compact, it also provides peace of mind with IP65/68 water resistance and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 on both sides, making it sturdy as well as beautifully designed.
Accessories
The perfect accompaniment to Xperia 5 II is the Style Cover with Stand which provides a comfortable viewing angle when watching video content or gaming when paired with a controller. The stand is discretely built into the rear of the case, whilst still providing a slim hand fit design. Style Cover with Stand is available to purchase separately to match two colours of Xperia 5 II in Black and Blue.
Availability
Xperia 5 II will be available in Black and Blue in the UK and Ireland, shipping with AndroidTM 10 from Autumn 2020. Priced at £799/€899 SIM free. Customers can pre-order their handset from the Sony eStore.
PS5 rolls out in select markets including North America and Japan on November 12, followed by Europe and additional regions on November 19 which includes Ireland
The best games lineup in PlayStation history is coming to PS5, including Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Demon’s Souls – providing extraordinary experiences that showcase the future of gaming
On November 12, PS5 will launch in seven key markets: the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The global rollout will continue on November 19 with launches throughout the rest of the world, including Europe, Middle East, South America, Asia and South Africa. The PS5 Digital Edition will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of $399.99/¥39,980/€399.99, and PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray™ disc drive will be available for an RRP of $499.99/¥49,980/€499.99. Pre-orders will be available starting as early as tomorrow at select retailers.
Both PS5 models use the same custom processor with integrated CPU and GPU for high-fidelity graphics up to 4K, as well as the same ultra-high speed SSD with integrated I/O that will deliver lightning-fast loading. Both PS5 models also offer a deepened sense of immersion through the DualSense wireless controller and 3D audio capabilities, so players will enjoy the same transformative gameplay experiences regardless of which PS5 they choose.
“Since we first announced our next generation console last year, we have received astounding support from developers and gaming fans all around the world, and it’s truly humbling,” said Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. “Now we are just a couple of months away from launching PS5, which will offer a new generation of experiences that go beyond players’ expectations of how games can look, feel, sound, and play. We can’t wait for our fans to experience for themselves the incredible speed, the heightened immersion and the breathtaking games on PS5 when we launch this November.”
Adding to its growing games portfolio, SIE today unveiled several new titles coming to PS5, including:
Devil May Cry 5™ Special Edition (Capcom)
Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach (Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames)
Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
A new God of War title(Santa Monica Studio)
With titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Demon’s Souls, the breadth of unique gaming experiences coming to PS5 represent the best lineup in PlayStation history. Exclusive titles from SIE Worldwide Studios will be priced at launch from US$49.99 to US$69.99 (RRP) on PS5.
To support the PlayStation®4 community as they transition to the next generation when they’re ready, SIE will launch PS4™ versions of a few exclusive titles: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Sackboy A Big Adventure, and Horizon Forbidden West. While these three games were designed to take advantage of PS5 and its unique next-gen features like the ultra-high speed SSD and DualSense controller, PS4 owners will also be able to enjoy these experiences when they launch. The PS4 digital versions of launch games include a free upgrade on both PS5 consoles, while the PS4 disc versions of these games include a free upgrade on the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive.
In addition, SIE today revealed the PlayStation Plus Collection, a curated lineup of PS4 games that defined the generation, which will be available to PS Plus members to download and play on PS5. The PS Plus Collection features critically acclaimed games, including Batman™ Arkham Knight, Bloodborne, Fallout 4, God of War, Monster Hunter: World, Persona 5 and many more.
SIE also announced the price for the following accessories that will launch alongside the PS5 console:
Adjusting to the ‘new normal’ can be easier said than done and looking back at the good old days can be a nice reprieve from the realities of the pandemic. The past is very present in our culture, including in the TV shows we watch (such as Stranger Things and Hollywood), memorabilia we keep hold of from way back when, and the resurfacing of “Throwback Thursday” photos. It is clear we are a nostalgic nation.
A recent study by Currys PC World sent to us surveyed 2042 UK residents to unearth why the nation loves to reminisce on days gone by. From what decade we miss the most and how nostalgia makes us feel, to who yearns for the past the most, we reveal it all. Like me there is many collectors out there and I have one of the biggest collection of NOKIA devices in Europe and have other collectibles in mobile phones too but you could have something worth a few quid in your drawer and perhaps now might be a time to check, let us know what you have.
Old is the new “new”: Nostalgia can be your next side hustle
Even in today’s digital age, vintage gadgets can remind us of a time when life was as simple as the technology in our phones, games consoles, and music devices. And thanks to this nostalgia, you can make money selling vintage technology, on the basis they are in working condition. When it comes to buying vintage gadgets, people are willing to spend more money on older generations of phones (34%), followed by music devices (32%) and gaming consoles (21%).
Those old mobiles sitting in your drawer gathering dust may also be gathering interest. Currys PC World looked at some of the classic mobile phones and found that the Motorola DynaTac has increased in value by 147% between 1983 and 2020. The original iPhone has also appreciated in value by 264% between 2003 and 2020. We wanted to know who is willing to pay the most for vintage gadgets and here’s what was found:
· Over a fifth (21%) of top-tier earners are willing to pay more money for vintage record players than the latest technology
· Women are willing to pay more (30%) for mid-generation phones than men (27%)
· 28% of mid-tier earners sell their items on to make more money
· Over 1 in 10 people are willing to spend more money on mid-generation games consoles than the latest technology
· 35% of people aged 55+ are willing to pay out for mid-generation phones
The most nostalgic city in the U.K.
The nation is full of idiosyncrasies and it turns out that opinions on nostalgia are no different, as how we reminisce differs from city to city across Britain. Londoners love the most up-to-date games consoles (33%) and are willing to pay a higher price for it. Whereas Bristol, Birmingham and Plymouth (13%) are willing to spend more on vintage games consoles. When it comes to the most missed decades, Belfast longs for the 80s the most (47%) but Leeds (30%) and Liverpool (38%) miss the 60s the most. Sheffield residents miss the 90s (26%)– the decade that Spice Girls found international stardom – the most.
· Norwich residents are the most nostalgic in the U.K. (59%)
· Newcastle residents are the least nostalgic (11%)
· Southampton residents get the most stressed when thinking about the past (8%)
· Plymouth is a city of technology hoarders, as 43% keep their vintage technology
· 30% of Edinburgh residents give their technology away
The battle of the sexes: Women are more nostalgic than men
Reminiscing is a very personal experience and impacts some people more so than others. There are all sorts of things that can trigger nostalgia and bring on a whole host of emotions too. According to the research, it turns out that vintage games consoles are three times (14%) more likely to trigger nostalgia in men than women (4%), which could explain why they are almost twice as likely (12%) to buy them than women. Music, films and chatting to family are most likely to trigger feelings of nostalgia in women.
· Music triggers nostalgia in women (60%) more than men (50%)
· Men (6%) feel more stressed than women when reminiscing (3%)
· Men are twice as likely (14%) to see nostalgia as an avoidance of the present than women (7%)
Survey data was collected through Censuswide with 2042 participants across the U.K. All mobile phone value data was based on the original retail price and the highest asking price for a working model on eBay (25/05/2020). Mobile retail price data was sourced from:
Whether it’s because of the music, the fashion or the simpler technology, looking back to a bygone era is a popular pastime for the nation. With the right SIM-free phone, it’s easy to enjoy the simplicity of the past without getting lockdown with expensive contracts.
