Author Archive: Gareth

Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.

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By December 15, 2015 Read More →

Asus Zenpad 8.0 Review

IMG_20151026_182344Christmas is normally a time that folks start looking for a cheaper tablet to appease a younger child or to slip down the side of an armchair for quick usage and there are a bunch of online lists of the best tablet to grab for not too little money. Over the has couple of years the Tesco Hudl has usually been the all rounder that many would pick up however this year there is no refresh and the Hudl name is a thing of the past.

This creates a gap in the market and there will be a flurry of tablets fighting to be the hit this year. From this tech enthusiast I would recommend avoiding the unknown and going with the trusted. Looking around the options there is no tablet that really ticks all the boxes however one tablet gets very close, it’s from Asus.

Having impressed everyone for the last few years, admittedly with Google supporting them, with the Nexus 7 devices Asus know how to put together a winning package. Some of their ventures between the Nexus 7 2013 and now have been a little forgettable however they are back with the Zenpad range and I urge you to check them out.

Most manufacturers will fill their devices with tech and you will have little to no option save for some storage options depending on your location. Asus have gone the other way with a confusing array of differing tablets that will fit your desired spec without inflating the price too much.

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At the lower end is the  £80 Zenpad C Intel Atom X3 processor with 1 GB of RAM, and 16 GB ROM. Moving up through various different price bands and losing the C there is a Zenpad 7 and 8 with a base model spec increase with 2-4gb of RAM, 16,32 and 64gb of storage and display sizes of 7, 8 and 10” inch size. You will have to spend some time to get your desired spec.

There is also a high end option called the Zenpad S that seems to have the strongest spec options however lacks the customisable hardware we will be looking at next.

In this review we will be having a look at the P022 Zenpad 8.0 with 2gb ram, 16gb rom, 800 x 1280 (189 dpi,) Intel Atom Z3560 processor. Asus were kind enough to provide the optional extended battery and an alternate cover. The covers and setup were previously illustrated in this Unboxing video.

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The extended battery comes with a simple, yet funny charge adaptor that clicks onto the battery with little fuss. I would suggest it is easy to lose based entirely on size however it does provide a handy alternative to using the tablet to charge the extended battery. In a sense you do never need to charge the tablet if you were to make full use of the extended battery every other day. Combined we are looking at roughly 14 hours of continual use or over a week of standby. The little adapter that magnetically grips the extended battery cover and charges it independently, hardly a fast charge I clocked a full charge at 5 hours. Increase Laptop Battery Life, Longer Battery Laptop Life.

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One additional add-on is the ASUS Audio Cover, a simple folio cover with an over-the-top cinematic, 5.1-channel surround sound built in providing the ZenPad with DTS-HD Premium Sound and SonicMaster technology provide further enhancement. I’m not sure where this might be useful however I love it exists. In saying that I would probably want to be able to use it everywhere.

One issue I would have is the alternate cover. I would have been fairly annoyed having purchased it as the clips are broken having removed it once. Given the nature of the extended battery the covers should have a more durable fitting method.

The tablet has a very standard layout, aside from the lines of the back cover. Here is a little gallery of the device’s notable edges:

Below is a video illustration of the Asus Zenpad benchmark scores and compared again a high end Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The Zenpad has a decent amount of power inside to keep things ticking over and for the money I hope to see if stand up well against an ageing super beast of a tablet, in saying that the innards of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 are almost identical to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S.

Asus have also included a fairly heavy overlay. This doesn’t intrude as much as Samsung’s Touchwiz or HTC’s Sense UI, instead it adds a number of features for helping the user get more from the device’s settings.

Take, for example, the screen settings. Ordinarily Android offers the ability to adjust the screen brightness with sensors above the screen measuring the direct light on the screen. In a step forward manufacturers have taken the brightness and contrast settings and allowed the user to pick from different settings to customise the look of the screen’s colour palette. Asus have taken another step again allowing a massive amount of freedom in boosting and subduing the colour palette to get the most out of the screen. Adding filters to help reading in the dark and reduce eye fatigue.

The screen is good. Using a Samsung Galaxy Tab S as my main tablet I am spoiled when it comes to screen tech in my life. The Zenpad, doesn’t quite measure up yet I would find it difficult to fault. The IPS display works well, has great brightness and contrast levels alongside some commendable colour representation. Movies and games look very well and there is no evidence of a limited viewing angle. The Tru2life additions give great options for the user to get the most out of the screen alongside some presets that enhance the most basic experiences.

Android 5.0.2 is whats at play here. Far from stock as the Zen User Interface is in full swing. Whilst I had initially thought Asus had really taken strides to enhance the user experience on the tablet I realised quite quickly that the Zen UI is for the Zen range as there are tools and options that are really designed for the Zenfone and there is no way they would put the level of effort into a camera application as they have here for such a poor camera optic.

The Camera isn’t terrible, however it’s about as far from award winning as you could get and falls in line with the majority of tablet cameras. Fit for purpose, little more. The front facing will work for video calls and the lesser quality will help disguise blemishes and not-quite-so-beauty spots better than most smoothing options. Yet those beautification additions are resident, turning the user into a mannequin, an obvious leftover for a better camera on the Zenfone.

Video quality is pretty bad and there do seem to be some bugs with the camera software itself when rotating the device. There are only two options for the camera, SD or 720 HD. Both feature a large amount of image fragmentions.

The front facing speaker is a welcome addition, there is only one however it proves to be loud and whilst hardly amazing quality will provide a decent output for sound when watching a video or playing a game. The user won’t accidentally cover the speaker but it would have really been a step up had there been a second speaker on the other side of the screen.

There is a bit of bloatware on the device, something I am not a fan of, especially when dealing with a 16gb were only 9gb being available. Most of the pre-populated apps are Asus’s own however the odd app like Trip Advisor pops up and isn’t removable. It can be hidden however it’s still there, and that bugs me.

In all the Zenpad range is a truly welcome move and entry to the market. Priced nicely with echoes of the Nexus 7 legacy here and there and no real compromises with the hardware. You are getting what you pay for and knowing upfront how well it should really operate. This is the device to replace an aging Hudl, a kids beaten up cheapie or something to slide down the side of the sofa for quick reference.

Posted in: Reviews, Tablets
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By December 15, 2015 Read More →

Sennheiser unveils new version of the HD 800

opopopThe Sennheiser HD 800 is cherished by music lovers throughout the world for its brilliant sound image and impressive spatiality. With the HD 800 S, the audio specialist now presents a new version, which even surpasses the listening experience of its predecessor: Acoustically, the proven transducer technology and the innovative earcup design of the HD 800 are still being employed, while the sound image has once again been further optimized in the medium and low frequency range. Sennheiser has also enhanced the equipment level of the HD 800 S with the addition of a symmetrical XLR4 cable. The color was also slightly changed: the earcups of the new model are resplendent in a premium matte-black finish.

Ever since its launch, the HD 800 has been a firm favourite among music lovers and audiophiles. Brilliant trebles, precise bass reproduction and a particularly clear sound image combined with a frequency response from 4 to 51,000 Hz – these are the outstanding qualities of the multi-award-winning HD 800.

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With the HD 800 S, sound reproduction has been optimized even beyond the high benchmark set by the HD 800. This is made possible through the innovative absorber technology that was first introduced in the IE 800. This patented technology ensures that the so-called “masking effect” is neutralized. This acoustic phenomenon, that diminishes sound quality, arises as the human ear is unable to perceive higher-pitched sounds, that have low-volumes, at the same time that sigificantly louder sounds in a lower frequency range occur. Through the application of the absorber technology, the energy of the resonances is absorbed, thus preventing any unwanted peaks in the frequency response and ensuring that even the finest nuances in the music remain audible over the entire frequency range.

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Impressive sound experience – outstanding technology

The improved audio quality of the HD 800 S is based on the high-end technology of its legendary predecessor. As before, the core of the new model is a unique transducer system which, as in the HD 800, is the source and guarantee of an exceptionally detailed sound image. Measuring 56 millimetres, it is the largest transducer currently to be found in a set of dynamic headphones. In spite of the size of the transducer, the patented diaphragm with its innovative ring design minimizes any distortion that might occur especially at higher frequencies – keeping total harmonic distortion to less than 0.02 percent. Meticulous attention was also paid to the design of the earcups. These are designed in such a way that the sound waves are directed to the ear at a slight angle. This ensures a particularly natural and spatial sound perception.

In order to achieve even better audio quality in the reproduction of audio sources with a symmetrical output, such as the Sennheiser HDVD 800, the HD 800 S comes with a symmetrical XLR4 cable.

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Luxurious materials for luxury headphones

“The HD 800 is in a class of its own. During its development, we took time to focus on every single detail,” explained Maurice Quarré, Director Business Segment Select & Audiophile at Sennheiser. And that is also true for the new HD 800 S. Like their predecessor, these high-end headphones from the audio specialist use only the highest quality materials – not least to optimally support the outstanding sound properties. For example, the transducer is embedded in a specially manufactured stainless steel gauze. For the headband, the audio specialist has chosen a design consisting of several layers of sound-attenuating plastic and stainless steel, while the connector contacts are gold-plated to ensure optimum contact. The earcups are made of high-quality, high-attenuation plastic, which is used in aviation engineering as a substitute for metal. It is precisely these components on the HD 800 S that feature a matte-black, silk-gloss finish, providing the new high-end headphones with a unique, silky luxurious look. In this way, the outer appearance of the HD 800 S is in perfect harmony with the exceptional quality of the sound image.

Like the HD 800, the HD 800 S is hand-crafted at the company’s German headquarters in Wedemark. It will be available from mid-December 2015.

By December 8, 2015 Read More →

Syma X5sc Explorers 2 Unboxing

vlcsnap-error161SYMA X5SC QUADCOPTER HD CAMERA is currently selling over at Red5.com. This modestly priced Quadcopter an updated, upgraded, bigger and better version of the popular Syma X5C Quadcopter with an HD Cam. This improved version still has all the same capabilities as the X5C, but with a few changes to get more out of its feature set. The rotor guards have been increased in size to further protect them from damage and the landing skids have been raised to give you the best possible viewing angle.

The Syma X5SC is a 2.4GHz Quadcopter with a built in HD 720p camera allowing you to film all of your flights, as well as taking some still images along the way.

This quad comes with a 6 axis gyroscope and 4 channel flight making it ideal for newbies who are just starting out on 4 channel flyers, as well as the pros who want to do some sweet tricks.

With a range of approximately 50 metres, boasting incredible stability, and indoor and outdoor usage, the Syma X5SC Quadcopter With HD Camera is worth checking out.

You can pick one up for only £58.95 here.

Check out the full review over at TracyandMatt.co.uk in the next week…

By December 7, 2015 Read More →

Whats new on Netflix 30th Nov – 6th Dec?

TWoNFLets take a look at whats new on Netflix 30th November to the 6th December 2015

By December 7, 2015 Read More →

Whats new on Amazon Prime 30th Nov – 6th Dec?

TWoAP 4x5Lets take a look at whats new on Amazon Prime 30th November to the 6th December 2015

 

By December 1, 2015 Read More →

Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router Unboxing

Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem RouterNetgear have sent over a Nighthawk AC1900 Modem router for testing and this thing looks the biz. Over a series of articles on Tracy And Matt we will be taking a look at the router and the functions of it as there is far to many to feature in an unboxing video.

Here have a look as the packaging and contents alongside how to put the good looking communication device together.

Posted in: News, Videos/Unboxings
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By November 29, 2015 Read More →

What’s new on Netflix and Amazon Prime for the week the 23rd – 29th November

TWoNFLets take a look and see what’s new on Netflix and Amazon Prime for the week the 23rd 29th November.

 

 

By November 27, 2015 Read More →

Garmin NuviCam LMT-D review

Garmin nüviCam £309.99

Picking an in-car satellite navigation system is a very difficult choice at the moment. What with mobile phones becoming so much more competent at being companions on the road. It seems a bit futile for you to spend money on a decent, dedicated GPS system. However this has not stopped Garmin from producing a high end unit that dwarfs older units from years gone by.

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Looking around the device, on the top there is nothing but a large shutter button, allowing you to snap a quick and easy picture. Obviously not whilst driving as that would be dangerous, however if a moment were to present itself whilst you are parked then you can grab it quickly and easily.

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The back features the power button, a grill for a speaker that is easily fit for purpose and inside a magnetic circle are some ports for connecting the charger and mount. One of the handiest features is the NuviCam’s ability to just pop onto it’s mount to start charging. No need for fiddling with MicroUSB connector or a proprietary connector every time. A powerful magnets guides you in and clamps the two together with a satisfying connection. This great mechanism eases the burden of having to remove the unit from view every time you leave the car.

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On the bottom are three ports, one for a mircoUSB when connecting the unit to a computer or power source outside the car. There are two MicroSD card slots. The first is an expansion port for storage of maps whereas the second is dedicated storage for the dashboard camera. A simple and tidy solution. A 4GB card is included as standard for video recordings.

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The Garmin is a massive device first and foremost. A 6 inch screen fills a huge unit however this size allows the NuviCam to capture so many desirable aspects of in-car equipment that you would not normally have access to. Not only does it tell you directions and find local services but it integrates with your phone via Bluetooth, it records your journey via camera, preserving important maneuvers to SD card for easy playback when required and barks orders at you to help or correct your driving.

The device is easy to set up, has a fantastic holder that connects to your dashboard with minimal effort, alongside a very simple to use interface.  One thing I can’t sing praises about is the wiring, the power cable and microphone cable are incredibly difficult to conceal. Whilst one is a double width cable that you cannot easily conceal in dashboard seams. The other is so fine it slips out with a simple knock or shudder. However you can forgive this because the rest of the unit works so darn well and there might also be cars out there that have particular troughs that can accommodate. Here is, rather crude, video to illustrate the nuisance wiring.

Whilst we are on the topic of video here are some examples of the in built camera:

As you can see from the footage in the video above the picture quality on the inbuilt DVR is exceptional. A wide angle lens captures everything you could need on the road right down to the fine detail and most importantly number plate information from a considerable distance. Videos are recorded at full HD 1920 by 1080 resolution at 8mb per second. The quality is perfect level of detail and you should hopefully only ever have to use the footage in the instance of any car accidents. Click here to know when do you need a car crash report. A already mentioned it is pretty handy to be able to hit the button to allow you capture a still image along the way in case of something interesting ahead of you. I can’t imagine too many instances that you would need to grab a still image, however it a nice feature to throw in. The 4gb card in included and this is great for about an hours worth of footage, if you were to upgrade to a larger card, say for example 64 gigabytes you can get almost 18 hours of storage.

The screen is excellent, on paper a 6” screen sounds pretty hefty for a portable device however it makes sense when in use as it really has to rival the screens built into the dash of modern cars. One criticism is that modern day smartphones tend to use swipes and gestures to navigate around the menus and the user may find that they are swiping unnecessarily as a Garmin does not support swipe-like movements.

Whilst driving with a camera I noticed that there were a number of warnings as I’d progressed through my journey. There were things like Lane departure notifications, speed limit warnings, proximity collision alarms and whilst these are very handy they become a little annoying from time to time and distracting whilst driving. They were easy enough to turn off and on again whilst parked however I was unable to find a way to vocally interact with these warnings perhaps including the voice command “shut up” may have be a good idea.

Garmin have included a Digital Traffic via DAB radio service. This has a DAB radio receiver built into the unit that allows the device to update itself with traffic information every minute. I found this to be somewhat accurate during rush hour. The Digital Traffic lifetime subscription is included with the new Nuvicam however this does not stretch to all countries around Europe, instead a handful including Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany. For other countries you receive standard RDS-TMC updates which aren’t quite as luxurious and only update every 15 minutes.

One handy extra feature is the integration of Foursquare point-of-interest locations that appear on the map. This is a nice use of relevant social networking to keep the Garmin system as an up to date platform.

When it comes to the voice commands I found it to be fairly accurate. I do not have a particularly broad Northern Irish accent and I did not have to make a much of an affort to “bend” my accent to help the system pick up certain phrases or words. Once you learn how it works you find it to be quite confident at picking up local requests. I did have an issue trying to find the nearest Smyths Toy Shop at one stage and it recommended Smiths Tours or some such over 300 miles away. Changing it to Smyths-Toy-Shop-Belfast sorted that out on the first try.

Comparing this to a smartphone app like Google Maps the Garmin is a very choice satellite navigation system. The differences are phenomenal. Having used Google Maps to navigate for the last few months I have found it I have made several errors whereas the Garmin has always kept me right I have not had to question its logic or lane placement when leaving a motorway. The roads around Dublin tend to be quite difficult for new drivers to understand and mistakes are often made along the way, the Garmin helped me navigate them very easily and in a sensible fashion that I was able to understand whilst not distracting me from my driving.

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Certainly the Garmin is more expensive than using your smartphone on the road. There is no doubt it is really for the road warrior as opposed to the casual driver. Having something like this in your car will require forward thinking as this is such a large, bulky device you will likely need to take it with you when leaving your car in a city centre for fear that it may be spotted and removed. It wipes the floor with smartphone and inbuilt car navigation. There is also the factor it does not impact on your phone’s battery life or data allowance and can be used across Europe without fear of extra charges and will actually serve as a bit of a talking piece for passengers in the car.

The Garmin Nuvicam will make you realise just how half baked the other options are and it is with a heavy heart I have to hand this back to Garmin.

By November 26, 2015 Read More →

Think ROMA for USB-C and USB 3.1 dual-connector flash drive

usb1With USB-C and USB 3.1, ROMA combines two of the latest high-speed connectors in one flash drive, encased in a highly robust and elegant gold or space grey aluminium body. This way, up to 64 GB of data can be easily shared between the latest MacBook and other devices.

Following its award-winning Lightning and USB 3.0 flash drive iKlips for iOS devices, Adam Elements now presents a new dual connector storage innovation for MacBook. ROMA comes with both a USB-C connector and a standard USB 3.1 plug, which can be easily swivelled around. This way, users can easily store up to 64 GB of data from e.g. the latest USB-C-only MacBook models. The files can then be shared with other USB-C devices, including the latest Chromebook Pixel, other new notebooks or even selected smartphone models. But also data sharing with older USB compatible computers is possible, thanks to the standard USB 3.1 connector.


USB-C for the latest MacBook, USB 3.1 for a variety of USB devices:
the 64 GB dual-connector flash drive ROMA by Adam Elements

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High-end connectors for fast data transfer
ROMA’s USB-C plug works either way up, so users will never need a second attempt when trying to connect it to their MacBook, smartphone or other compatible device. Whenever data needs to be moved to another computer with a standard USB socket only, the connector can simply be swivelled around, and a full-sized USB 3.1 plug is ready to go. On both ends, ROMA boasts high-end transfer speeds of up to 130 MB/s.


Dual-connectivity:
the USB-C and standard USB 3.1 plugs can be easily swivelled around

A perfect match for the MacBook
ROMA’s advanced connector technology comes encased in a both classy and robust design crafted from high quality materials. The flash drive’s casing is forged using a premium zinc-aluminium alloy. It is not only shock-resistant and dustproof, making it ideal for day-to-day use and transport. The two gold and space grey colour options give all enthusiasts a perfect match for the latest MacBook models. In order to make transport easier and add to the flash drive’s elegant design, ROMA comes with a brown handmade genuine leather strap, which fastens neatly onto bags and clothes. This way, ROMA serves as both a convenient storage solution and a stylish accessory.


An elegant storage companion:
ROMA in gold and space grey colours with handmade genuine leather strap

ROMA can be ordered directly from the Taiwan-based Adam Store at www.adamelements.com/store/. Starting in early December 2015, it will also become available at selected European retailers. The MSRP is £39.99.

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For more information about ROMA and detailed product specifications, please
 visit www.adamelements.com

By November 26, 2015 Read More →

Brilliant 4K UHD display now in 23.8 inch size

acMMD, the leading technology company and brand license partner for Philips Monitors, announces a new display with brilliant 4K UHD resolution. At 23.8 inches, the 241P6VPJKEB display completes the UltraClear 4K UHD line-up with a new, smaller model. This latest member of the family still packs the same dazzling performance as its larger siblings, with UltraClear 4K UHD, 1.074 billion colours, 99% SRGB colour standard, plus integrated webcam and microphone.

Sharpest, most brilliant picture ever
Despite its modest dimensions, the new monitor brings a real sense of space to users’ desktops owing to the sharpness and clarity of the 4K resolution. UHD delivers four times the resolution of Full HD, with 3,840 x 2,160 pixels – for detail like never before. This is extra screen space that people can enjoy however they like (such as with videos or gaming after hours), or use to be more productive at work. Finance wizards, for instance, can view more rows and columns of their spreadsheets without losing the sense of clarity or fatiguing their eyes; creatives working on high-res content can see more detail per inch of screen, and can zoom in for detail or scroll out for an overview perspective, even have four designs side-by-side for comparison and still maintain the vital detail; and geophysicists viewing scientific images can investigate finest details with greater precision than ever.

Albert Ulfman, Product Manager Philips monitors EMEA at MMD says, “The new Philips 241P6VPJKEB is one of the first 23.8-inch 4K monitors to arrive on the market. It offers amazing viewing clarity for every content, and is an excellent fit for the resolution-scaling capabilities of Windows 10. It’s part of the commitment of MMD to giving users a more enjoyable and productive viewing experience with the equipment on their desks.”

Colours and panel technology with performance to match
With 4K UHD technology under the hood, the other components in the display have some tough performance standards to live up to. But like the other 4K UHD displays in the portfolio, the latest family member is engineered to unleash the power of the 4K UHD viewing experience. Take colour, for example: this 10-bit display delivers rich colour depth with 1.074 billion colours for smooth, natural reproduction without gradations and banding effects. And with over 99% sRGB support, users can be confident that any and all of the one billion colours they see on the display are vivid and true to life, and that colours remain precisely the same across different applications. The technology of the panels themselves also measures up: the expansive, wide-angle view and super-high contrast abilities of advanced AH-IPS perfectly complement the sense of space of 4K UHD. AH-IPS is also ideal for applications demanding colour accuracy and high brightness at all times, like photo retouching and graphic design.

Connectivity features that matter
Apart from the power of 4K UHD, the new display is designed with features that matter to users in today’s ultra-connected and always-on world. The display supports MultiView, so people can connect and view images from two separate sources – a PC and TV feed, for example – at the same time. With MHL technology on board, users can enjoy mobile content from smartphones or other devices on the big screen, or use the USB 3.0 hub to hook up devices and recharge them fast. There’s also an integrated webcam and microphone to connect and collaborate more effectively.

The new Philips 241P6VPJKEB/00 display, with an MSRP of £369, will be available from November 2015.

More information on Philips monitors: www.philips.com/monitors

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