Tag: Featured

By August 31, 2016 Read More →

Survivor Power Bank Unboxing

vlcsnap-00037The Survivor Power Bank is a £56 Power bank and that might sound like a lot for a power bank however there are some who need to rely on a power bank in the most extreme environments and the Survivor looks to be a good fit for those.

  • Capacity: 10,050 mAh
  • Standard USB power outlet to device: 10 W (5 volts @ 2.1 amps)
  • Provides up to three full recharges for iPhone 6s Plus, one full charge for iPad Air 2
  • Even charges iPad Pro up to 95%
  • Great for camping or business travel
  • LED fuel gauge
  • Rated 6.6ft (2m) drop protection
  • Built-in LED emergency flashlight
  • In the Box: Micro-USB charging cable, user manual
  • Weight: 8.4 oz (238 g)
  • WARRANTY: Guaranteed for life. See www.griffintechnology.com/warranty for our full warranty policy.

https://griffintechnology.com/intl/survivor-power-bank

 

Posted in: Accessories, Videos/Unboxings
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By August 24, 2016 Read More →

Honor 8 arrives in all it’s beauty

Honor8 EN [55177]Today we saw the launch of the latest in the line of Honor phones. Each year improving over the last with more style and value packed in. This year we see greatly improved looks, commendable specs and some of an new approach to make the Honor stand out in it’s price range.

Honor’s newest flagship device, the much-anticipated Honor 8, has officially launched in Europe, bringing state-of-the-art mobile and camera technology into the hands of digital natives, at a price tag of just £369.99.

Every generation has its own idols, its own point of view on the world and its own rules. The Honor 8 has been specifically designed by Honor, the leading e-commerce smartphone brand for digital natives, to meet the ambitious, fast-paced lifestyles of this generation. It combines breakthrough design with supreme speed, high-quality camera capabilities and smart functions, making it the perfect match.

 

Premium materials and design

Encased in glass, which is made from fifteen layers of Process on the back, the handset’s sleek 5.2 inch design has an unrivaled finish. Within the layers are lithography and 3D grating coatings that come together to create lots of fine prism lines. Although invisible to the human eye, these generate bright colours for a stunning visual experience. Thanks to its 2.5D curves, the glass fits seamlessly into a diamond-cut metal frame making the device exceptional to hold, and acts as a protective layer against occasional drops and rough handling.

Two cameras join forces for extreme quality

Following with previous models, the device holds a dual camera with two 12 MP sensors; one RGB sensor to capture colours and one monochrome sensor for detail. Minus an optical filter, the monochrome sensor captures three times more light than normal, improving the dynamic range of the image and reducing noise – even in darkness – delivering unparalleled picture quality. The two sensors also enable photographers to utilise a range of filters, from setting focus after the shot to changing the appearance of the Bokeh effect.

On top of this, the Honor 8 camera supports an extensive set of functions and filters, from light painting and beauty mode to panorama frames, slow-mo, food mode, HDR, super night and water mark. In a world where we now turn the camera on ourselves, the Perfect Selfie mode will enhance every smile, pout or pose which, when combined with an 8 MP shooter on the front, promises a shareable snap. Perfect every photo or finesse video content with a whole host of editing tools to make your content stand-out whether you post it on Instagram, add it to your blog or print it for your walls.

Power in your hands                                                                                                     

The Honor 8 has been built with a Kirin octa-core CPU chipset containing an i5 co-processor, which work in tandem to increase processing speeds, response times and battery life, making sure you are powered-up when you need to be (4x 2.3 GHz). Supporting this further, the device supports Wi-Fi connections on both bands (2.4GHz/ 5 GHz).

 

Smart features at your fingertips

Knowing that speed is key, Honor has made sure you can access a full set of functions in the blink of an eye with its unique Smart Key function: the fingerprint sensor acts as a multi-purpose button, where you tap, double tap or tap and hold to start apps like WhatsApp or Pokémon Go. Everything you need to keep your daily routine ticking is at your fingertips. Its Type-C USB sets a new standard in charging ports, bringing an end to fiddling with cables, as the plug fits in no matter how you turn it, on top of enabling super-fast charging in only 30 minutes from 0-50%. Honor 8’s fingerprint sensor has a self-learning capability, meaning the more it is used the faster it will perform, reaching less than 0.4 seconds.

High specs at an affordable price

The Honor 8 is available from August 24 on Honor’s vMall for an incredible offer of just £369.99, including an anniversary package worth £69.99 (while stocks last).

Shoppers can choose from three colors: Pearl White, Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue. At Amazon, the Honor 8 will be bundled with an Amazon Fire TV Stick free of charge (while stocks last). With stocktrades.ca you can get a deeper report of your investments.

Selected online retailers like Clove, Ebuyer and Expansys will also stock the Honor 8 Sim-free along with it being available on contract exclusively at 3 in the next coming weeks.

Key specifications

  • Kirin 950 chipset in flagship-grade 16 nm FinFET production
  • Four 2.3 GHz high-performance cores and four 1.8 GHz high efficiency, energy saving cores
  • 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard memory, expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card
  • 3,000 mAh(Typ.), 2900 mAh(Rat.) battery
  • 2-inch Full-HD LTPS display
  • 12MPx2 main dual camera with separate RGB and monochrome sensor, capturing more, HDR mode, Slow-Mo, pro-mode, etc…
  • 8MP front-facing camera
Posted in: News, Phones
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By August 22, 2016 Read More →

Kodak enters the next frontier with the SP360 4K 360° Action Cam

2016-08-22 (1)The Kodak Pixpro 360 4K Camera is the world’s first and most complete 4K recording device to capture stunning 360° immersive videos and still images without the need for multiple cameras.

Natively compatible with Facebook and YouTube 360 video products, the Kodak Pixpro 360 4K captures 360-degree field of view in multiple directions via its dome-shaped lens design and can be panned not only 360-degrees horizontally, but also up and down with a host of different vantage points and views for playback post capture.

It is easy-to-use and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand or pocket for extreme portability, as well as being NFC and Wifi enabled so it can be used everywhere and anywhere.

Powered with a professional-quality BSI Image sensor for better videos, the 12MP BSI CMOS sensor and advanced optics helps the device capture rich, detailed images in 4K (2880:2880), and also includes features including time-lapse video, burst mode as well as 4K still photos.

2016-08-22

 

SPECIFICATIONS SP360 4K:
Effective Image Sensor Pixels – 12.40 Megapixels
Total Image Sensor Pixels – 12.76 Megapixels [1/2.33” BSI CMOS]
Lens Focal Length 0.850 mm [ 35mm film equivalent ] [8.20 mm]
F number – F2.8
Lens Construction – 7 groups 9 elements
Optical Zoom – Fix Focus
Field of View Max. 235 Degree (Without Lens Cover)
Focusing Range – 50 cm — ∞
Anti-Handshake – Electronic Image Stabilization

Number of Recording Pixels:
Still Image (1:1) 8MP: 2880×2880, (4:3) 4MP: 2304×1728, (16:9) 2MP: 1920×1080
Video Round Video: 2880×2880: 30fps (1:1), 2048×2048: 30fps (1:1), 1440×1440: 60fps/30fps (1:1), 1072×1072: 60fps/30fps (1:1)
Flat Video: (3840×2160): 30fps (16:9), 1920×1080: 60fps/30fps (16:9), 1280×720: 60fps/30fps (16:9), 848×480: 60fps (16:9)
High Speed Video: 720×720: 120fps (1:1), 1280×720: 120fps (16:9), 848×480: 240fps (16:9)
File Format:
Still Image – Exif 2.3 (JPEG)
Movie MP4 [Image: H.264; Audio: AAC [Stereo]
Shooting Modes – Still, Burst Shot, Movie, Time Lapse, Loop Recording, Hi-Speed Movie
Splashproof – Equivalent to JIS/IEC IPX5 (Body)
Shockproof – Up to 2m (With Lens Cover)
Dustproof – Equivalent to JIS/IEC (IP6X)
Freezeproof – 14° F / – 10° C
Status LCD – 1.0 inch TN LCD
Level Gauge – 3-Axis
ISO Sensitivity – Auto, (100 – 800)
Exposure Metering Method – Artificial Intelligence AE (AiAE)
Exposure Contol – Method Program AE
Burst Mode – Approx. 10fps (Full Resolution)
White Balance Control – Auto (AWB), Daylight, Cloudy, Flourescent, Incandescent, Underwater
Recording Media – Micro SD/Micro SDHC Card/Micro SDXC Card (Up to 128GB Support) [MMC Card Not Supported] * Use Class 10 Card or Better
Language Support – English
Jacks – USB 2.0 (Micro 5 pin USB), HDMI (Type D)
Wi-Fi – Yes (802.11 b/g/n)
NFC – Yes
Remote Control – Yes (via Smart Device), RF Remote Control (Sold Separately)
Power – Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LB-080, 3.6V 1250mAh, In-Camera Charging
Shooting Capability – Approx. 160 Shots (Based on CIPA Standards)(Wi-Fi On)
Battery Performance – Approx. 55 min. for Video (@ 4K/30fps) (Wi-Fi-On)
Operation Environment Temperature: 14° – 104°F / -10° – 40°C, Humidity: 0 – 90%
Dimensions – (WxHxD) Approx. 1.88 x 1.96 x 2.06 in. / 48.0 x 50.0 x 52.5 mm (Based on CIPA Standards) (Without Glass Lens Cover)
Weight – Approx. 3.59 oz. / 102g (Body Only), Approx. 128g (With Battery and Micro SD Card)
Supplied Accessories – Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, USB Cable, AC Adapter, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, Service Card, Lens Cover, Protective Cover, Lens Ring, Battery Charger, Carrying Case, Cleaning Cloth, SP360 4K Overview Card and SP360 4K Online Company Store Card
Compatible Devices – iOS Devices (version 8.0 and up) / ANDROID Devices (version 4.2 and up) supported. iPad mini 1/ iPad 2/ iPhone 4s and below not supported.

Posted in: Cameras, News
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By August 21, 2016 Read More →

Archos 50 Power Review

archos_50power_specsArchos are forever trying to find a sweet spot between bargain budget and quality products, Often having to take a step back on one particular feature in order to bring the whole price of the unit down to a more acceptable level.  It is difficult to say whether they have a hit more often than a miss however of late Archos products have really taken a step up over a few  years of substandard products. The image may never repair however take it from me they know what they’re doing.

This £139.99 phone is a little bit of a misfire from Archos this time round. There is only one killer feature inside amidst a specification list that really doesn’t excite. For the money, you will find better value however it will be lacking that killer feature that this phone has.

Looking around the phone, to the right of the screen is the sim card tray and a power button. The 50 Power can take both a Mini and Nano Sim, the MicroSD shares the Mini Sim seat so you are limited to two sims, or a Nano sim plus expanded storage.

IMG_20160814_162755

To the Left is a volume rocker. The sides of the device are rounded and really comfortable.

IMG_20160814_162832

On top is a 3.5mm headphone socket and little else.

IMG_20160814_162631

On the bottom, there is a MircoUSB port offset to the left and the microphone.

IMG_20160814_162615

The back has a LED flash plus the 13mp camera. There is a second microphone above the camera. The whole device is coated in a non-slip rubber that feels good in the hand.

IMG_20160814_162423

That killer feature is a 4000 mAh battery. The last few phones from Argos have featured fairly hefty batteries and this seems to be one staple they are determined to keep in their book. You can easily clear around three days of use out of this device and if it isn’t heavily used that could possibly stretch to four or five. While some manufacturers lean toward faster-charging solutions with standard size batteries, Archos have you covered if you don’t want to have to plug your phone in at all. Whilst it has a huge battery charge time isn’t massively increased as we have seen with other products. The 4000 mAh battery can go from 0 to 100% in two and a half hours of charging. Those with fast charge facilities on their phone may scoff at that, however, it wasn’t long ago that two and a half to three hours was a standard charge for a standard battery. In fact, some may have even been quite pleased to have that sort of charge time. Especially when you consider a 50% will last as long as the average phone on 100%.

 

Otherwise the device it’s fairly unremarkable.  I wish I could just say it’s a very strong device with nothing really wrong however it has a mediocre build quality, something of a bland design. Even Android has little in the way of enhancements save for the typical Archos additions.

 

If I was to criticise one thing about the phone is the screen is fairly disappointing, whilst it’s quite sharp at 294ppi, brightness appears very dull. There are no details on the Archos website regarding the Nit count however I dare say it is very low. You will have to run the screen at full brightness in all conditions. The speaker is largely disappointing also, being tinny and lacking any substantial depth. It really caters only for notification sounds and perhaps the odd YouTube video.

Benchmarks aren’t horrible. The device can hold its own against some of the budget phones out there, albeit at a lower price.

The camera is actually pretty good, certainly, it doesn’t pack the punch of maybe something like a Samsung, however, it does captured colours quite well. There isn’t any apparent noise however light levels can bleed into each other quite easily from intense sources.

There isn’t a host of options available here there other than things like gesture functions and HDR. The HDR didn’t really blow my socks off and probably won’t blow yours off either.
IMG_20160814_163641

Video quality is pretty poor however you could certainly make do if absolutely necessary.

The Archos 50 Power isn’t a terrible phone, far from it, it’s probably the blandest, middle of the road phone I’ve ever had to review. I think it’s slightly overpriced and the only justification for this price is the 4000 mAh. If that’s what you’re looking for above all else, this is the phone for you. A great backup or business phone but otherwise I couldn’t recommend it for day-to-day use and there are certainly better options on the market available now.

Posted in: Phones, Reviews
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By August 19, 2016 Read More →

Lumsing Smart Body Analyzer Bluetooth Digital Scale Unboxing

vlcsnap-00032Scales. More precisely Smart Scales. Most folks have a set and probably don’t think about how it is possible to enhance the feedback one receives from them, save for a little weight watching.

There is plenty of functionality in these scales, known as a Body Analyser. Instead of counting your fat chunks and adding them into a figure more depressing than your own figure, the Smart Body Analyser plots graphs to should you how the following is differing daily:

Body Weight
Body Water
Body Fat
BMI
BMR(KCAL)
Muscle Mass
Bone Mass
Visceral Fat

Given the lovely looking design and added functionality, the scales are certainly an interesting investment. We will have our review on the site in the coming weeks.

Lumsing have extended a little discount to our readers. If you purchase one before 23:59 BST on 31/08 from the link below you will receive 20% off

Product link: http://amzn.to/2aMSHKh
Discount: 20% off (£11 off)
Code: Q7XY6FX6
End Date: 31/08 23:59 BST

Posted in: Accessories, Videos/Unboxings
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By August 15, 2016 Read More →

Lumsing Portable USB Wall Plug Charger Unboxing and test – Discounted

vlcsnap-00028Lumsing have sent over their Portable USB Wall Plug Charger. This is a compact charger with four USB slots on the back and a single three-pin, UK plug opposite. Whilst this plug isn’t interchangeable with other region’s plug configuration the wall charger has a couple of features that might be of interest. The Charger can charge 4 smartphones, iPhone, Windows or Android alongside an iPad, Android tablet, Bluetooth Speaker or Headset simultaneously at full speed. This is compatible with almost any smart device with USB to DC 5V input. A built-in heat sink prevents the charger from getting overheating whilst charging. A unique surface treatment provides a textured grip and three options of colour, Orange, Blue and Grey.

You can grab one here and Lumsing have extended a 30% discount to our readers. Using the code 5MNSS2NL on any color will save you 30% if redeemed before 31/08/2016 23:59BST.

 

Update:

In response to some of the issue seen in the video Lumsing have been quick to correct:

The charger is 25 watt rather than 21 at the beginning of the video. With regard to the QC 2.0 charging port, the speed will only be super fast when a QC-compatible Android phone is connected for charging. That’s why there’s no huge amount of difference after 41 min of charging in your first test.

The smart plug meaning it detects what devices are plugged in and will adjust power accordingly for most efficient charging. This is upgraded from our old models that each port provides the certain power for iPad, iPhone and Android phone etc.

Having taken this on board I have compiled a list of the Quick charge compatible devices on the market.

  • HTC Desire EYE
  • HTC One M8
  • HTC One Remix (Verizon Mini 2)
  • Moto X 2014
  • Motorola Droid Turbo
  • Nexus 6
  • Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 4
  • Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
  • Sony Xperia Z3
  • Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  • Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
  • Xiaomi Mi3
  • Xiaomi Mi4
  • YOTAPHONE 2
  • Xiaomi Mi Note
Posted in: Accessories, Promotion, Videos/Unboxings
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By August 12, 2016 Read More →

Lava Brightsounds 2 Bluetooth Speaker Unboxing

vlcsnap-00025A very simple idea done right. The Lava Brightsounds 2 Bluetooth speaker is a mixture of three things, a Bluetooth speaker, a LED lantern and a power bank. Design to give you around 36 hours of playback and take a little rain the Brightsound 2 is a 5 watt single stereo speaker that should make any camping trip or festival more enjoyable.

Functions: Bluetooth, Speaker, Power Bank, Night Light
Radio Frequencies: N/A
Antenna: N/A
Speakers:Single Stereo Speaker (5 W Total output power)
Bluetooth: Yes
3.5mm Aux-in: Yes
USB charging port Yes

Operational voltage: DC 5V
Power consumption: 1 W
Batteries:Lithium -ion Battery
Weight:0.624 Kg
Warranty: 1 Year

Posted in: Accessories, MP3 Players & Accessories, Videos/Unboxings
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By August 11, 2016 Read More →

Logitech G610 Orion Red Review

rgbWhen reviewing a gaming keyboard it is incredibly difficult to actually benchmark a keyboard in some way to say whether or not you have a good or bad keyboard from a score that is accrued through various tests. A keyboard very much boils down to whether or not you like it, can communicate with the easily and it’s comfortable for you to be productive or enjoy some leisure time.

The Logitech G610 is an entirely different keyboard to the Logitech G510.  Where the G510 focused on additional features such as media, LCD screens, gaming profiles and programmable buttons the G610 loses all of that in favour of an entirely new hardware approach and a back to basics gaming experience that is determined to win the user over through performance as opposed to extra features.

g610-orion-keyboard

The G610 features Cherry MX mechanical switches. These are favoured by gamers and considered to be a standard as they are more consistent in feel and responsiveness, they can take more abuse than rubber dome keyboards. These low-noise switches have a linear keypress for rapid-fire actuation. Cherry MX switches are rated to over 50 million keystrokes and actuate precisely for a reliable gaming experience.

To be honest I find the G610 is a bit of a let down whenever it comes to included features. I love myself some extra buttons to be able to program for additional functionality on the computer and save for some Media buttons in the top right corner the G610 doesn’t provide any of that.  Of course you can program the function buttons on the top row from F1 to F12, however having some dedicated memory buttons is a great feature that most gamers these days will probably have started to rely on even if it is just for storing Memes. There isn’t even a wrist rest included in the box.

That said I would imagine including extra buttons and features would have ramped up the price of this keyboard drastically. Tearing out the membrane innards of the G510 and putting in a whole mechanical key array would ramp up the costs before you know it.

IMG_20160810_175652

 

How is the performance of a gaming keyboard when of all the media buttons have been removed?  It’s hard going, it takes a while to get used to especially if you have been using something other than a mechanical keyboard before. The travel on each key when pressing is a greater distance and can result in a multitude of errors especially when typing for a long period. When gaming the benefits are noticeable almost immediately.  The slightest touch of a button registers which results in near instantaneous reactions. Hardly ideal for typing a document however once mastered there is nothing quite like tapping away at a keyboard that emits a satisfying clack.

 

The look and feel of the keyboard it’s very simple with almost a no frills approach, aside from the backlight. There’s a lot of fun to be had here as the lighting flickers in uniform depending on how you have the keys set to light up. There is a dedicated button for the backlight however rather than being an on/off button, you have to press the button  number of times to dim the backlight and gradually turn the backlight off. A simple feature of holding the button in to turn the backlight off might be nice as if you leave your computer on 24 hours a day that means the backlight on your keyboard is more than likely going to be on with it. When the computer is locked the keyboard takes it upon itself to display some eye candy, lighting up keys and simulating a wave of light from left to right. The backlight is bright at the highest setting, every key is visible.

IMG_20160810_175530

 

The volume roller is large and responsive, it’s easy to find alongside the rest of the media controls that surround it. Hastily jamming your finger down in that area generally meets with the required function you’re looking for. Various other keyboards on the market have a small congregation of keys that are interlinked, this one goes for large and separate and therefore less room for error.

 

IMG_20160810_175635

One of the best features are the legs of this keyboard, there are three options. Laid flat on the rubber feet, setting 4 and setting 8. I am guessing the 4 and 8 are millimetre elevation. Also, cable and the connection between the cable and the keyboard is nicely reinforced. This keyboard will travel well and it built to last.

IMG_20160810_175539

 

Sound wise the keyboard is fairly quiet for a mechanical keyboard, it has a satisfying clack as you tap away, however, if like me you record a podcast fortnightly you have to be vigilant when typing or else the sound of the keys will be almost audible in the recording. As a gamer using a microphone and headphone setup

Logitech has a very simple to use interface when it comes to the software for the keyboard.  Everything is laid out very nicely and is very simple to navigate around. Icons are colourful and explanatory and there is a wealth of options available on how to set up the keyboard for various different profiles. It’s easy to switch between profiles to display various keys being highlighted when using a particular game, these profiles can be amended to the user’s preference or setup from scratch.

Would I carry on using the Logitech G610?  Unlikely, I don’t game as often as I used to and spend much more time writing. In all honesty, I’ll be moving back to the Logitech G510 once I finish writing this. The G610 will go to my stepdaughter who is an avid gamer playing World of Warcraft and League of Legends. The keyboard will easily benefit her and be a welcome upgrade to the aging and noisy Corsair she has been using.

Posted in: Desktop Computing, gaming, Reviews
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By August 10, 2016 Read More →

Tech Addicts UK Podcast – 10th August 2016 – Linking the Nexus rumours

Podcast logoGareth Myles, Gavin Fabiani-Laymond and Jay Garrett

RSS Link: http://mobiletechaddicts.libsyn.com/rss

Direct Download.

iTunes

Google Play Music

Show Notes

What have you been playing with?

Gareth:

Jay:

Reviewed:

Currently messing with AOC Q2781PQ 1440p monitor and Musaic MP5 and MP10 streamers as well as the Acoustic Energy Aego Sound3ar.

Gavin:

     In the Gavin’s Gadgets Lab

  • Samsung Gear Fit 2
  • Samsung Gear IconX – totally wireless in ear headphones, with built in fitness tracker (heart rate, distance, calories, time duration, no wires between the in ears)
  • B & O H5 in ear wireless headphones
  • Pioneer SE MHR5 headphones
  • Sony Xperia X Performance
  • Choetech Type C Adapter

Reviewed

 

Discussion: HOW “LIKE NEW” IS A SECOND HAND PHONE?

Discussion: The Nexus rumours and facts

Main Show URL: www.techaddicts.uk

Join the Discussion: https://goo.gl/spaces/6FF6jraF9KHiPUyA6

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @garethmyles ; @gavinfabiani ; @samjpullen ; @GadgetyNewsCom ; @JayGarrett

Web: http://gavinsgadgets.com ; http://GadgetyNews.com
Google Plus: +garethmyles ; +gavinfabiani-laymond  ; +samjpullen ; +JayGarrett

 

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By August 10, 2016 Read More →

Benq EW2775 Monitor Unboxing

vlcsnap-00024The BenQ EW2750ZLhas dual-stage bezels with a very thin panel border including a brushed effect.There is a mysterious button with metallic-looking blue logo towards the bottom right.

One of the more interesting approaches here is the panel uses 27” AU Optronics AMVA (Advanced Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment) technology, sporting a 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. This allows true 8-bit colour without dithering. The BenQ has a 178° horizontal and vertical viewing angle alongside a 3000:1 static contrast ratio.

This the monitor can cut out potentially harmful blue light without upsetting the overall colour temperature or balance of the image.

The mysterious button activates or deactivates the ‘Brightness Intelligence Technology’ (B.I. Tech.) combining ambient light sensing capabilities with a smart dynamic contrast algorithm. Allowing the monitor to adjust its own brightness according to the content being displayed on the screen whilst also taking into account ambient lighting conditions.

Posted in: Desktop Computing, Videos/Unboxings
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