Bose SoundSport Free

Photo credits to https://www.pcmag.com/review/356516/bose-soundsport-free

Do you wish to have wireless earbuds as great or even better than the Apple AirPods? Well, if that is your question, let me introduce to you, the Bose SoundSport Free.

Just like the AirPods, the SoundSport Free is cordless and is one of the best wireless earbuds out there. It is one of the best earbuds out there and given that the price reduced from $250 to $200, makes things more enticing.

First, let us talk about its advantages against the Airpods. It fits in more securely as it might not stay in their ears compared to others. For some people, the AirPods might just drop out when they are running and that might cause some damage to it too.

Like the similar SoundSport Wireless, the Free is also armed with Bose’s StayHear+ Sport tips and it comfortably locks them into your ears to maximize your sound quality. The control buttons, including volume controls are unified with the buds itself. The audio quality is way better compared to the cheaper AirPods, with more bass and well-off sound overall.

Photo credits to https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/headphones/headphones/bose-soundsport-free-wireless-bluetooth-headphones-black-10176400-pdt.html

The Free has 5 hours of battery life, not inclusive of the two additional full charges for another 10 additional hours. Because of that, the case is significantly more bulky compared to the AirPods’ case. It is also sweat-resistant which make things convenient when it comes to working out.

The earbuds are easy to lose as it is miniature but with the new “Find My Buds” feature on the Bose Connect App, it makes things way more easy. You can also use the app to update the earbuds’ firmware too.

For my personal opinion, I think that many should buy this wonderful product as it has great sound quality and price too. It also has ways to track and update your earbuds when lost or in need of a firmware upgrade too. Given that the price has also been reduced to $200, I think that this will be appealing to most.

Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony has been competing against other headphone companies, trying to make the best headphone as possible.

Sony WH-1000XM3 has already proven it. The headphone had undergone a lot of changes; it has been lighter, and the headphone has a softer touch on your ear.

Although it is lighter (in terms of weight) now, it is still heavier than some headphones. But the headphone is more comfortable now. It has a new quick-charging function, which gives 5 hours of usage from a 10 mins worth of charge. The ear cups and controls have a gentler touch and the carrying case contains a section for the USB and headphone cable. The ear cup of the Sony WH-1000XM3 has a more oval shape now, so it is more suitable to the ear.

(A picture of the Sony WH-1000XM3)

The headphone transmits clearer sound, a higher definition audio and louder bass. It also has a better noise-cancelling effect. However, the noise-cancelling has little flaws; the music might stop sometimes, or the noise-cancelling function might not work, making loud music be heard from outside.

Now you can set the auto-off function, where the headphone will turn off a short while after you stopped listening to music. By doing so, you can save battery. But you can deactivate the function, which allows the noise-cancelling effect to still be in place eventhough you are no longer listening to music.

(A picture of the Sony WH-1000XM3 in its packaging.)

Some functions of the Sony WH-1000XM3 are also extra and useless.

Details on the Product

It weighs 254g, can be bluetooth- connected, and has a long battery life.It also is available in black or silver.

In a nutshell, the Sony WH-1000XM3 is a very good headphone; It is comfortable, has a long battery life,  and better noise-cancelling effect. It has improved a lot from previous models. However, the noise-cancelling effect sometimes might fail halfway while listening to music and your ear might get warm after using it for a while.

So, should you buy it?

Yes, because it is a perfect headphone besides some flaws. It is also priced at $289.99, which is relatively a reasonable price in my opinion.

Credits:

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm3-review/

https://www.digit.in/audio-video/sony-wh-1000xm3-review-173357.html

BeatsX

Photo credits: https://www.apple.com/sg/shop/product/MTH52PA/A/beatsx-earphones-black

The BeatsX is a bluetooth wireless headphone released by Beats by Dre or known as Beats Electronics today. The BeatsX also has Apple’s new customized low-power Bluetooth chip, the W1, which is als0 included for the AirPods and PowerBeats3 Wireless. Best thing is, it supports automatic pairing with Apple devices updated with the latest versions of its operating systems. Some examples are IOS 10, MacOS Sierra and WatchOS 3.

Among the other Beats models, the BeatsX is the best model as it was the first to be designed by Apple and other engineering teams. Another thing, the BeatsX is the only one capable to charge using a lightning cable.

The BeatsX is rocking that neckband-style wireless headphones that became so popular with the Tone headsets released by LG. There is something better about this compared to other neckband headphones and that is BeatsX including a Flex-Form cable. It has two wires which are extremely malleable, sturdy and lightweight. Why the company decided to do this is because they want you to anchor both sides of the wires equally.

Photo credits: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beats-Dr-Dre-BeatsX-Earphones-Black/dp/B01LW9IKX7

These lightweight buds are also magnetized too. The only down side to it is that people with smaller necks may find that the cords are a little too long for them. Given that this earpiece is Bluetooth, people doubt their audio and voice quality but that is not an issue for the BeatsX. The headphones carries up to 8 hours of battery life, which is decent, but for some it may not be that appealing. The advantage is that, a five minute charge via its lightning port does give a usage of two hours.

In my opinion, I would get these headphones as it is much more convenient compared to wired headphones. Even though, the headphones might be a little too expensive for some people, but it is worth buying it as it has an improved microphone and charging ports. The price of the BeatsX is starting at $150 and is also cheaper compared to other models.

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless

The V-Moda crossfade 2 Wireless has a really good design considering its many joints and modifiable parts, making it suitable for anyone no matter their head size or shape. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has an amazing battery life, which can last up to roughly 13 hours of continuous use with a reasonable recharge time of 2.5 hours (2 hours 30 minutes).

Source :
https://www.google.com/search?q=v+moda+crossfade+2+wireless
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Its battery has a power of 430 mAh which is pretty impressive especially for a headphone. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has a width of 5.8 inches, depth of 3.3 inches, height of 7.8 inches, and a weight of 0.309 kilograms (309 grams). One of the best features of this headphone is that its bass is accompanied with a sub-bass of great quality. Also, this headphone has a really detailed and clear bass, thanks to its predecessor. Its General Bluetooth profiles are : Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Headset Profile (HSP)

The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has a sensitivity of -42 decibels (microphone) and a sensitivity of 107 decibels (headphones). Its impedance is 32 Ohm and its frequency response is 5 Hz. This new model is really well built, feels very sturdy, and has a highly bendable “Steelflex” headband that conforms to your head nicely. But it is heavy. Also, the headphone is nicely balanced and sounds relatively open for a closed-back headphone.

The headphones fold up to fit into the smartly designed carrying case which is provided upon purchase of this headphone. Overall, this headphone is really good, with an exception of its hefty price ($300+) and its heavy weight.

Milestone Pod

Over time, smart watches and fitness trackers are getting relatively trendy while foot pods hasn’t been as popular. However, this does not reduce the reliability and functionality of foot pods and you should definitely consider the Milestone Pod if you are looking for one.

To start off, it records a wide variety of information that will be very useful for your physical activities. You would be able to view these data after syncing the device to your iOS or Android device. It can measure a variety of information like running pace, distance, duration and it is pretty consistent too.

One of its big plus point would indisputably be its incredibly light weight. It only weighs a meagre 9 grams which provides immense convenience to runners.

It also has sensors which will start recording when you beginning running and stop when you are stationary. Its waterproof feature also means that getting caught in the rain will not be much of an issue.

The pod is Bluetooth – enabled so that syncing is available. However, it does not sync automatically and you have to sync it by opening the app every time you use the pod.

The pod is also fairly accurate and its calculation is about 93% or better. The device is not chargeable as it uses a coin battery which typically lasts between 6 and 10 months.

In conclusion, the pod would be a good consideration for new runners to try out. Though its functions are not as in – depth as modern smartwatches or other forms of trackers, it has an excellence performance given its very affordable price.

 

Photo Courtesy of : http://www.milestonepod.com/the-product/the-milestone-pod/

Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II

The Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II is the successor of the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear with the addition of Bluetooth.

Only just weighing slightly over 200 grams, it has plush memory foam ear pads and a really strong frame. Although it does not look sturdy, Bose has tested this in their labs and said that it can survive falls, bumps and grabs due to the materials used are like impact resistant, like glass-filled nylon and corrosion-resistant stainless steel. However light and hardy this headphones are, it does not feature active noise-cancellation, but the around-ear design will help a bit by blocking off some noise, just do not wear it too long in hot areas as your ears will go steaming but during winter or cold areas, this will do fine to keep your ears warm and comfy.

It also has a two-way microphone system and what Bose calls Adaptive Audio Adjustments which changes volume based on speech level and ambient noise.It pairs well with both iOS and Android. It also pairs well with Bluetooth enabled computers but for iMacs and MacBook Air, the sound quality it is not as good. There is a case that carries the headphone itself and some wires that makes it a wired headphone. That carrying case has a pocket to store the USB charging cable and a headphone cable to use in case the battery dies and you want to listen to the headphones in wired mode (that cable doesn’t have an integrated microphone, but that’s a minor omission). It boasts remotes buttons that are placed on the right cup that can answer calls. Tapping the middle buttons allows you to skip tracks forward and back when you’re playing music. This headphone uses Bluetooth 4.0 multilink. It has NFC tap-to-pair technology is also on board (Apple’s phones currently don’t support this feature but most Android devices do). But AptX streaming didn’t make the features list. AptX is supposed to improve the quality of Bluetooth streaming but it’s unclear how much of an impact it has (Apple phones currently don’t support this feature either but many Android devices do). It also has a 15 hour battery life(dependent on usage) and charges really fast.

The sound quality is really fine too but it is not bass boosted whatsoever so you will not receive any extra crispness, sparkle, and depth that you get from a really good pair of wired headphones. But the sound is still pleasant and smooth.It also has digital processing going on board the headphone. This one, Bose put in Active EQ and volume-optimized EQ. For volume-optimized EQ is designed to make your music sound better at lower volumes. Often, when you lower the volume, you lose the bass, and Bose’s digital processing makes things sound fuller and more detailed at lower volumes. Active EQ however, makes sure the incoming signal is complete and accurate and isn’t distorted. The idea is to get a more perfect transmission without boosting anything, the bass, for instance. The problem, of course, is that the quality of the digital files you’re streaming to your headphones vary but Bose is doing their best to smooth everything out and make it sound better.

All in all, this piece of headphones is not made for Techno songs or Pop songs, rather for softer songs instead.At a cost of 385SGD this is worth the price for its comfort and things Bose added to make this as reliable to Bluetooth connections.

http://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/09/01/35d677b5-4b15-4e3b-a0bf-38e9c9d36907/thumbnail/770×433/6f70c5a00deae056c93cfa705617d6b3/06bose-soundlink-around-ear-wireless-headphones-ii.jpg”

Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480

The Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is a computer keyboard that works with not only your computer but also your tablets and smartphones.

The Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 has a rubberised groove stand where you are able to slide in your devices. Above the ‘esc’ button is a dial that allows you to select the devices that you would like to connect to by Bluetooth. They’re labelled as 1, 2 and 3 so if you have many devices, you just have to remember which number is assigned to which device.

The device is 2cm by 29.89cm by 19.5cm which said to be rather compact width-wise and is longer in depth. However by placing your device in the groove stand, it would not take up much space on your desk.

The device weighs 821g and is not exactly the lightest keyboard to be bringing around. It also comes with 2 AAA batteries which are included with the keyboard and it is said to last up to two years depending on one’s usage.

The Keyboard is also compatible with almost every operating system and platforms such as the Windows 7/8 or later. However Windows Phone is not compatible although Windows PCs are.

The well-spaced keys and comfortable keys to type on make the device a much better keyboard than others. The keyboard contains shortcut keys like a Home button that works for all mobile operating systems.

In conclusion, the Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is a really good keyboard with a cheap price of S$59.00 and long battery life. You can easily switch up to 3 devices with a dial and is compatible with almost all devices. It adds simplicity to one if you’re not comfortable with the keyboard that comes with your device. I would recommend this device as it is really a great edition to your digital life.

 

Photo courtesy of http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480

 

Post by: Tan Yong Jian

Beats Studio Wireless

The Beats Studio Wireless is a great wireless headphone if you are looking to buy a new headphone. It comes in five different colours; red, blue, white, titanium and black. Despite being a premium headphone, it is made mostly out of plastic. The Studio Wireless comes with a cloth for cleaning, a cord if you want wired listening which sadly only comes in red, and a USB cable.

The headphone has a digital signal processor, three noise cancellation modes: adaptive, balanced and other. In the ‘other’ noise cancellation mode, you cannnot play your music as it is for blocking all noise when you want it to be in a quiet place.

The battery life for the Studio Wireless is at 12 hours and 20 hours for wireless and wired listening respectively. A five-light LED just below the power button shows the amount of battery left. For iOS users, connecting with Bluetooth will display a small battery gauge on your phone. This will be very useful as you need not take off the headphones to constantly check the battery left. The headphone can be folded up neatly and compactly to be kept easily in a small carrying case.

This headphone has a built in microphone for cell phone calls. One button on the headphone allows you to end or answer calls and change to different tracks. The volume control is just below the button.

However, if you are considering on buying this headphone, be prepared for its cost and costly repairs. This headphone costs US$379 and after about 6 months of using the headphones, some parts have to be replaced, which means paying more.

Photo Courtesy of : http://g.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/slideshow/2013/07/3014720-slide-i-1-after-five-years-beats-redesigns-studio-headphones.jpg

http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/08/15/08Beats_Studio_2013_35823632.jpg

 

Razer Blade 14

The Razer Blade 14 is another one of Razer’s gaming laptops. This laptop has made some huge improvement compared to some of the previous gaming laptops they have made. This laptop has a upgraded Nvidia graphics and hugely improved IGXO 3,200×1,800-pixel-resolution touch display.

The Razer Blade 14 has a price tag of $2,399 and it has a 14-inch, 3,200×1,800 screen. It has a 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-4702HQ. And it has a PC memory of 8GB 1,600MHZ DDR3 SDRAM. It uses a 3GB Nvidia Geforce GTX 870M for it’s graphics. It has 256GB of storage. It does not have a optical drive. As for networking it uses Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0. It’s operating system is a Windows 8.1 (64-bit)

It is 0.7 inch thick and weighs 4.47 pounds and can easily be placed in a bag allowing you to carrying the laptop to wherever you want. The keyboard and touchpad are great, welly placed and responsive. But for gaming you would most probably use a external mouse instead of the touchpad. It also allows you to go on social media and use it like a smartphone thanks to it’s touchscreen. It has glowing green keys which makes the laptop look even more flashy. It also has a Razer logo that glows from the back lid which makes the laptop look very good.

One of the best few features of this laptop is it’s new IGXO 3,200×1,800 display. It is such a great feature as it has such a high resolution screen together with touchscreen function. The new display is glass-covered, brighter, and very vivid, it has wonderful viewing angles, and it is a multitouch.

Games aren’t really meant to be played at such a high resolution though. Steam’s main UI seemed to be downscaling to lower-res. But, as for everyday usage, extra pixels are always good.

But sometimes after playing a game for half and hours causes the bottom of the laptop to get really hot. The battery life also drop quickly. It has around a 90 minute battery life when you play BioShock Infinite at medium graphics setting. Like all other Razer laptops, this laptop is also Razer Synapse 2.0-enabled, too, which saves game setting for the keyboards and peripherals in the cloud and allows deeper customization.

There are three USB 3.0 ports on the edge of this laptop, along with HDMI. It has Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.22ac Wi-Fi and a 2MP Web camera and a microphone which are slightly better than those in average laptops.

The Blade has around 4 hours, 20 minutes of battery life. As when playing games at different settings on battery power will result in between 60 minutes to 90 minutes of life.

So overall, in my opinion I think that this gaming laptop may have a few weaknesses but they are not very major and I think that the good points of this gaming laptop covers it. I think that this laptop is able to be carried around easily. The high res screen of this laptop and the high speed causes it to have a lower battery life but I think that it is worth sacrificing the battery life of this to have a better quality screen and performance of the laptop. So in conclusion, I think that this laptop is worth it to buy if you have the money, you are into gaming and travel frequently but just be sure to bring your charger due to the low battery life of this product.

Photo courtesy of : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419746,00.asp

 

 

Logitech MX Master

The Logitech MX Master is a high-end mouse which works on most surfaces, due to the Logitech Darkfield Laser technology. It has a rechargeable battery with a long battery life which lasts up to 40 days with just one charge, depending on how you use it. Charging it for just a very short period of 1 minute will make the mouse last for 2 hours. If you connect it with a micro-USB cable, it will continue charging while using it. Basically, you will almost never run out of battery. This mouse is comfortable, smooth and precise and costs US$100

Like some high end mouse, the Logitech MX Master has a speed adaptive scroll wheel which changes the speed of the of scrolling automatically, on whether you scroll quickly or slowly and also takes into consideration on the length of the page. You can connect the mouse wirelessly by Bluetooth or by using the tiny USB dongle which is provided. You can also switch between three different computers by using the Easy-Switch button (which you can change the controls) , which is very convenient. There is also a second scrolling wheel which enables side scrolling

If you are a Mac user, there is a gesture support for the multi-finger trackpad gesture which can be controlled using the mouse when holding down an extra key.

However, like all mice, it also has its some minor downsides. This mouse is only made for right handers and there is no left-hander option for the mouse. The battery is also non-removable.

Photo Courtesy of : http://img.clubic.com/07966047-photo-logitech-mx-master-wireless-8.jpg