Publication History For : Paul Smart
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A pair of small on ear headphones from a quality name Monster, these were sent to me to review from the QVC TV channel. So what have these headphones to offer well first of all the price is somewhat less than you might expect.
They are overall quite small headphones, similar to others that seem to be glued to the heads of lots of younger people in trains, tubes and even walking along the street. It seems that earbuds are now out of favour for those wanting better sounds. These are also very flexible or perhaps bendable and twistable are better words. Measuring when the headset is vertical produces 18cm from the base of the earpad to the top of the headband. There is 3cm of expansion/contraction on each side.
This is both a notebook and a tablet. It has touch screen ability as well as the latest HP touchpad technology. So is there anything in this unit that is not to like, well it is Windows 8.1 and there are cheaper units out there but nothing really.
The HP Envy Notebook X360 measures 38x25x2.3cm and weights 2.4kg. There is nothing on the back as the screen goes through 180 degrees. The right side has an SD card socket, two USB ports, HDMI port, Ethernet socket, DC input point and a Kensington lock port. The front goes down to only .7cm thick so has nothing, the left side has a +/- rocker for volume, beside this is a 3.5mm headphone socket and another USB port, finally an on/off flush button.
This is a small unit which Roberts describe as portable and indeed it works in all modes via six AA batteries but even when used in DAB or FM mode time between charges is not great, when used in Internet or UPnP mode even less.
The main body is 21x11.5x4cm this does not include the six piece rod aerial that would add 64cm to the middle figure the height when fully deployed but this is not required for Wi-Fi and UPnP use. As a portable the weight is important it is 781grams with the six ‘AA’ batteries inserted in its back (166grams). As a mains unit the story is good the single speaker is the left third of the front.
While a hairdryer is not the most important piece of electrical equipment to me I do not have hair down to my waist and anyone with long hair will certainly place such a thing higher on their must have list than the one compiled by myself.
This Braun hair dryer measures 21cm long by 20cm tall and 8cm wide at the back as little as 4.5cm wide at the front without the supplied diffuser fitted. It weights 780grams. All the controls are on the inside of the handle and are rubberised, nearest the base is the speed control, off, one and two. Either of the speeds are likely to disturb any false hair or wigs. Next a minus button and above that a plus button these are for heat.
Having looked at and used Epsons first foray into health via watch that lets you log your pulse as well as much more I am here looking at another device, this one aimed at those whose aim is to get fit as well as those who just try to survive.
This is somewhat larger at 4.5x5x1.5cm and it weights 51grams. The dial is round and has four buttons on the sides in the 2, 4, 8 and 10 o clock positions, the watch display is digital and will not be correct until it gets a satellite fix. The initial setup on the watch consists of language, units, height, weight, DOB, gender, year, month and day. Finally something that has yet to reach its sibling the Pulsense date format.
Marketed as DJ headphones these are rather fine on-ear offerings that have both 3.5mm and 6.3mm plugs. So what do you get for your money from the Pioneer HDJ-C70? As stated the sound quality is superb from the 40mm driver, the whole finish is quality.
It is up to 30cm from the base of the headphone pads to the centre of the padded headband, the headphone pads happily spread to 20cm. Each arm can flip through over 180 degrees to accommodate any style of wear I can think of – and others I cannot – and all in the weight is only 216grams. Having mentioned the maximum size there can be as much as 6.5cm contraction on the distance from headphone pad to padded headband so even say a child’s head could be accommodated.
This DSLR is only a little larger than their most powerful PowerShot unit. It is a full featured DSLR capable of capturing very good images and for those that require it also capable of capturing very good video images as well.
The Canon EOS 1200D Digital SLR Camera measures 12.5x9.5x14cm and weights 684grams without the neck strap. While you would probably attach the neck strap for those occasions when you are wandering around for hours taking images I preferred it without it when I was removing it from my bag to take images and then moving on. The hand grip on the right side is comfortable and although the scales do not lie it feels comfortable when being held.
Free Android Business Suite
Published in Misc
on
1 Mar 2015
It is rare that I review something that is Free in its early days I reviewed Skype when it was more or less the first of its kind. So why am I reviewing a free Android Business Suite, for one reason only, it claims 100% Microsoft Office compatibility.
This is a small A4 printer with a scanner lid on top, so small you think its only a printer but its a true All In One as it scans in colour and prints and copy in mono. This laser surely has a place in any small office if only for its diminutive size.
The Brother DCP-1610W measures 38x48x25cm with paper and cables attached so that is all the space you need, it’s not that heavy so even a wide shelf should accommodate it. Just allow a few centimetres on top of the 25cm height to allow items to be placed on the scanner flatbed.
This unit is the size of a 13amp three way adapter. It does have a 13amp plug but few things can be plugged into it. The main task is as a Wi-Fi extender it can also be used to play music via its one connection a 3.5mm socket.
Setting it up to extend your Wi-Fi is simple and if you have an area that is just about covered like maybe an attic room then this will help. It is 4.5x5x6.5cm when plug is inserted. The right side has a button to enter the required modes. The front has an LED to slow what is happening. The third connection is a 3.5mm socket on the underside and this allows you to connect a headset or a set of speakers so you can play music from anywhere else on your network.
This is actually a multi-function device as not only does it print, scan, copy but it also has fax. HP call it an All In One so that is why I must also. The OfficeJet series are designed for office use but assuming the slate grey colour passes the lounge police
The HP 6830 Officejet Pro All-in-One Printer measures 43x41x21cm these figures are with leads inserted in the rear but you will need a little extra space above if you use the flatbed rather than the sheet feed to scan or copy. While you can purchase this for under £100 it has a big selling point for those who need value it is stated to have running costs of 50% of lasers. It can be connected via Wi-Fi or USB. Any leads you use, power, USB, phone/fax are attached back left.
First a device from TP-Link that can charge two items at once and just for good measure is also a torch. Second a device called a Stylus Pen which amazingly has no less than six abilities, yes the size of a pen but with six different uses.
I must admit when I first read the label I missed the last ‘0’ and thought I have seen smaller 1000mAh units. Then the actual size came into perspective when I focused on the huge capacity. As with most such units it comes with a cable the smaller (micro USB end) plugs into the side of the unit and the larger end (standard USB) into a PC or a 13amp plug with a USB socket.
This is a tiny device that has two jobs, first to amplify the signal from your MP3 or other audio device and second to allow the signal to be shared so no longer will you need to see one earpiece in one ear and the other in another persons ear.
It is 2.5x2.5x1cm and weights only 15grams. It has an internal solid battery and can be used while being charged as well as when charged. The back has a micro USB socket to charge the unit; a 20cm micro USB to USB cable is supplied. The left side has a 3,5mm input and a 10cm 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable is supplied. The right side has two 3.5mm sockets so either one of two sets of earbuds of headphones can be connected. On a sheer health point not sharing earbuds is surely a plus point.
As most will know Naim produce quality high end audio products so a unit cost less than four figures is for Naim near entry level. This is a quality six speaker system in a single case however it is not a completely dumb unit.
This arrived with me just prior to Christmas and I spent far too long experimenting with it, when the online manual was located it answered some of my questions something that the online help system did not do. It comes with a fold out sheet that is basic assistance and for those using the Naim app may enable you to achieve most things. Of course you need to download the App entering MU-SO will not find it (on Android anyway) you need to enter MU.
A rather nice business notebook with a range of security features from both Intel and HP. The items not immediately available on this unit are available via a dock, so you not end up taking extra weight out and about with you.
It is 33.5x23x1.4cm and weights 1554grams. This unit has USB3 ports although you would only know it by speed of transfer as they do not have the blue middle bar that normally denotes these ports. The screen is 14inches and has a 720P webcam set at the centre above it. The default display of 1920x1080 is crisp and clear. The left side has a Kensington Lock connection, a USB3 port, micro SD card socket and an SC connector. The front is clear. The right side has a SIM card slot, 3.
The last item I reviewed from Pioneer was an excellent sound bar, here something much smaller in fact it is designed to give sound without wires and is something you may use when away from home or your office its called Free Me.
This is a small portable speaker at 15x8x3.5cm. Like other Pioneer products it is solidly constructed and as such it weights 360grams, which is quite a lot for a speaker unit of this size. The top and base are a neutral dark grey with the central 12x5cm area of the base rubberised to 1cm depth which raises the speaker grill that goes round all the sides by nearly 2cm from whatever it sits upon. There are five rubberised push buttons 1.4x.
A rather unusual piece of kit that can be used to solve problems that you thought were not resolvable. In effect this plugs into a USB3 port to give you HDMI, VGA and Ethernet connections and increase the range of your PC/Notebook.
It is 12.5x5.5x2cm and weights 78grams with the hard wired 10cm USB plug that flips out. Often when I get to review notebooks I mention that a docking station is available to add the bits that were not on the main device, this is normally a proprietary product and has a high price as it is manufactured for a single system so made in small numbers. Here a solution to solve most of the problems from a generic box that plugs into a USB3 port.
This is the last of five items requested from a press event I attended last autumn. I remember it being demonstrated around a course of obstructions to show its versatility and ease of twisting, only then was the extra feature unveiled.
It is 106x15x26cm, the middle figure the width is a maximum and does not apply to the top 64cm of its length. Unlike some other upright units I have looked at recently this will stand up when not in use either in its docking / charging station or on its own.
This is a slightly smaller unit than the offering I reviewed last summer, as a more basic version it lacks a few of the features but for anyone without something to play and or transfer their LPs on this is certainly well worth consideration.
It is 37x31.5x11cm and unlike the previous unit the deck on this unit is totally covered. All the controls and connections are on the back. A volume knob to allow you to monitor what you are playing or transferring. A USB socket and two hard wired leads one for mains and the other for phono Sockets. If you have a phono plugs to 3.5mm lead – cheaply available – you can plug the 3.5mm end into the microphone input on a PC or notebook.
While Doro phones are extremely easy to use and have lots of features to suit those with sight and or hearing problems why should those people have to accept a phone that does not have basic features that other able bodied have, none whatsoever hence the PhoneEasy 632.
It is 10x5x1.5cm when closed, the first figure increases to 19cm when flipped open for use. Unlike most Doro phones when in use the emergency button – although still there on the back – is not that obvious, it sits beside the speaker at top of the base half of the phone. Somewhat more unusually the camera is at the base of the top part of the phones back. The volume up and down buttons are on the right with the micro USB charge point on the left with the headphone socket beside it.
I saw a pre-production model of this unit back in the summer. Now finally as winter grips us all the chance to review it arrives. For me a first, a removable lens camera marketed with the ability to take selfies high on its tick list.
It is 12.5x6.5x8.5cm and weights 453grams without neck strap or flash attached. The lens it came with is a 14-42mm and the action is very smooth. The left side has only the neck strap anchor point while the right side has the matching anchor point as well as a rubber bung behind which are mini HDMI and AV out sockets. The base has a tripod screw and a door behind which is the solid battery and any SD card you insert. The face has just the lens and the light sensor.
I have looked at a number of high priced Smart TVs here something for a lot less with of course a lot less features it has Freeview and is an HD TV, but a lot of the extras like optical out are not included in this bargain buy.
The Blaupunkt BLA-40/233 measures 90x51x1.2cm the last figure is at the edges, the stand is 44x21cm and this raises it by 7cm from whatever you put it on. This is a terrestrial TV as it has an aerial input, it also has three HDMI and a USB as well as composite and component connections. So while it is not the very latest ‘Smart TV’ it can be tweaked with a PVR and something like a ROKU box to bring it up to date.
Another unit from Canons excellent PowerShot range. Here a small unit with periscopic zoom as this is a waterproof unit and this is essential for those wanting to takes images under water. It also takes excellent dry land images.
The Canon D30 digital camera measures 10.5x7x2/5cm and weights 210grams. My unit was metallic blue and black, the later mostly rubber with a thumb rest top left of the back and finger holds on the front. The right side has AV out and DC in both behind a door. The left side is clear, the base has tripod screw and a secure door behind which the solid battery is as well as any SD card you use. The front has the lens top left with the bar flash 1cm to its side.
Orbotix labs latest creation Ollie arrived with me a little late for Christmas but anyone with money to spare should still consider Ollie as he can do things that Sphero and Sphero 2 could not, sometimes he even has a mind of his own.
Ollie is round and 12cm long and is 8cm across. As with the majority of recent remote control items you need either iOS or Android to control him. When you remove him from his box you need to attach his tyres and then his wheel trims, easy to do and the steps required are explained in a full colour fold out sheet. Next download the appropriate App from either the IOS or Android store. There is a provided Micro USB to USB lead that you charge Ollie with. Once charged away you go.
Its been a while since I have looked at speakers from TDK. Here a small unit called Trek and then a larger unit designed to give 360degree sound. Both give good sound and the decision on which to buy could be made on size alone.
It is a near cube shape at 15x15x16cm, it weights 1.93kilos. It has a solid battery which lasts for a good time between charges. The middle of the front has three buttons, a larger one on the left for volume with LED’s that light around it. Towards the right two smaller buttons for connection type, Auxiliary or Bluetooth and then a dual Treble and Bass button both have LEDs beside them to show which part you are working with.
This is a DAB, FM, CD, SD, USB and Bluetooth sound system. There are many other systems that can do some of the things mentioned, but very few can record to SD or USB this system gives you the option to record to both.
The Blutune 200 DAB radion from Roberts measures 35.5x26x14cm, the middle figure the depth includes cables inserted in the back. The last figure the height does not include the rod DAB aerial which extends to seven pieces and 63 cm. The controls are either by the supplied remote control or the nine silvered buttons three rows of three and large silvered knob on the top centre of the unit. The central area of the front has a 7x2.
First a unit from Damson who I have reviewed items for in the past, this is a 4.1 speaker system in a single unit. Second a unit from Pioneer described as a Wireless (Bluetooth) Speaker System but again a unit in a single small case.
Hands up all who have not heard of 4.1 speaker systems? You are not alone, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1 and 7.1 are all quite common but 4.1 needs a little thinking about. This is a quality unit that looks rather like a slightly small rugby ball. This works with an internal rechargeable battery. It can take input via 3.5mm lead (provided) or Bluetooth it also supports NFC. There are two connections on the rear for the DC and Auxiliary inputs; it can be used while on charge.
I first came across a crippled version of Nero tied to a CD-Writer. I have used various versions ever since and I still do to write CDs, I know how it works and it has one very useful function that other writing software does not have.
Of course writing CDs is a very minor part of what this suite of programs does. To my mind there are two heavyweights in this are Nero and Cyberlink, both have very comprehensive packages filled with added value features. A very long serial number as well as other questions need to be answered before first use. Once past the hurdles above you get a Windows 8 type interface with the options being Manage & Play, Edit & Convert, Rip & Burn plus Backup & Rescue.
Reviewing a quality TV is always a pleasure it means my elderly 32inch offering can have a rest. This 40inch offering is just about the perfect size for my lounge and while exploring its secrets from my sofa I am still technically working.
If you are of mature years old like me then you think of Sound Blaster for sound cards and speakers but of course they do a lot more. Here I am looking at two headphone amplifiers and the second one is also a DAC as well.
Only a small proportion of headphones have the ability to amplify sound so if the level produced by your MP3 or SmartPhone is low that is what your output is. Here a small 6.5x3.2x2cm device that can amplify the sound you give it without destroying the original. The last figure includes the clip that can fit onto a pocket or belt, the device weights only 24grams. It is powered by its own internal solid battery that you charge by USB – lead supplied – and it also comes with a 3.
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