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You are here: Home / 2016 / Archives for October 2016

Archives for October 2016

12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date Announced

10/27/2016 By Hakan Can

12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD release date

SyFy’s 12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD Release Date is Set for January

Available this January on store shelves and online everywhere comes SyFy’s 12 Monkeys Season 2. The 12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD release date is set for January 17, 2017. List pricing for the 13-episode Blu-ray™ and DVD sets are $49.98 and $44.98, respectively. The Blu-ray™ set includes a Digital HD copy. If you haven’t seen 12 Monkeys Season 1 yet, it’s available on Amazon for $23 and $21 for the Blu-ray™ and DVD boxed sets, respectively. Seasons 1 & 2, along with single episodes, are currently available on Digital HD. Single episodes are available for $1.99, with the complete season going for $19.99.

[envira-gallery id=”6614″]

You can order 12 Monkeys Season 2 as well as Season 1 at any of these digital stores:

  • Apple’s iTunes Store
  • Amazon
  • Google’s Play Store
  • Sony’s PlayStation Store
  • Vudu
Read:   Mr. Robot Season 2 Release Date Announced for DVD/Blu-ray

PRESS RELEASE

From the mind of Executive Producer/Showrunner Terry Matalas comes SyFy’s 12 Monkeys.

Per the NBC Universal press release: “12 Monkeys, starring Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, and Todd Stashwick, follows the journey of James Cole, a man from 2043 sent back in time to stop a malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys from destroying the world. Joining forces with Dr. Cassandra Railly in the present day, Cole must untangle a conspiracy that’s been spun throughout centuries. As Cole, Dr. Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to discovering the truth they will learn that there are not only deadly consequences for mankind… but time itself.”

12 MONKEYS – SEASON 2 TRAILER

 

Read:   Game of Thrones Season 6 Release Date Announced for Blu-ray/DVD

12 MONKEYS – SEASON 2 EPISODE INFORMATION

  • Episode 1 – Year of the Monkey
  • Episode 2 – Primary
  • Episode 3 – One Hundred Years
  • Episode 4 – Emergence
  • Episode 5 – Bodies of Water
  • Episode 6 – Immortal
  • Episode 7 – Meltdown
  • Episode 8 – Lullaby
  • Episode 9 – Hyena
  • Episode 10 – Fatherland
  • Episode 11 – Resurrection
  • Episode 12 – Blood Washed Away
  • Episode 13 – Memory of Tomorrow
  • Extras – Inside 12 Monkeys: Season 2, Gag Reel, and Webisodes
  • Features – “Primary”, “Bodies of Water”, and “Blood Washed Away” Podcasts
  • Commentary – “Memory of Tomorrow” with Executive Producer/Showrunner Terry Matalas and Actors Amanda Schull and Aaron Stanford

12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD release date

Read:   Silicon Valley Season 3 Release Date Announced for Digital HD

12 MONKEYS – CAST INFORMATION

  • Aaron Stanford as James Cole
  • Amanda Schull as Dr. Cassandra Railly
  • Kirk Acevedo as José Ramse
  • Emily Hampshire as Jennifer Goines
  • Barbara Sukowa as Dr. Katrina Jones
  • Todd Stashwick as Deacon
  • Tom Noonan as Pallid Man

BLU-RAY™ & DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION

  • Street Date: January 17, 2017
  • Formats: Blu-ray™ with Digital HD, DVD
  • Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1)
  • Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French 5.1 DTS
  • DVD Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Subtitles: English, French, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Total Run Time: 558 Minutes
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
  • Studio: NBC Universal

Now don’t you think it’s time you start watching SyFy’s best show?

All photos and video are the courtesy and property of NBC Universal Home Entertainment.

12 Monkeys Season 2 DVD release date

Read:   American Horror Story: Hotel Release Date Announced for Blu-ray and DVD

Filed Under: Blu-Ray Releases Tagged With: 12 Monkeys, Blu-Ray, DVD 10/28/2016

Gaming: Plantronics RIG 400HX Headset Review

10/26/2016 By Zach Can

Plantronics RIG 400HX headset review

Plantronics RIG 400HX Headset Review

Plantronics was founded during the early 1960’s, and they had the opportunity to design NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s headset as he went up to the moon and spoke his iconic words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Since then they’ve been making and designing audio equipment, having diversified and are now in the gaming arena with headsets for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Recently, I had the opportunity to test one of these Xbox One headsets. Let’s take a closer look in this Plantronics RIG 400HX headset review.

[envira-gallery id=”6594″]
Pros:
• Modern design
• Compact & lightweight
• Soft memory foam earcups
• 40mm dynamic drivers
• Good stereo sound reproduction

Cons:
• Cup design may be too small for some users.
• No surround sound capability
• No Bluetooth capability (which is okay)

Read:   Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

RIG 400HX Design, Features, and Fit

The RIG 400HX is an entry-level gaming headset, designed primarily for Microsoft’s Xbox One, and is available in two patterns: all black or camo. With most of its components being plastic, they are much lighter compared to other headphones within their category. Due to their slightly smaller sized earcups, some users will and just barely have their ears fully enveloped. If you’re someone with above average sized ears, the earcups will protrude a bit.

This entry-level model itself is very basic. The earcups have a good looking pattern to them, nothing to get excited over, but way better than if it was a plain design. One neat feature is that the earcups are detachable, allowing them to be adjusted using a three-notch system. In this design, the lowest notch is the biggest while the uppermost notch up is the smallest. Because of this system, the earcups have a lot of ‘give’ which allows for the headset to conform better to your head. An interesting note is instead of one cable coming down from the headset; there are two cables just like those of ear buds.

The microphone is attachable (or detachable) and very adjustable. I was surprised that it was so easy to bend. One concern is that I’m worried about this mic’s bendability over time as it might start slipping and not retain its position. The cord itself is on the short side, about 4′ long. This is because the headset is made primarily for Xbox One. As you plug it in directly into the controller, it will never be far from your hands if you’re a real gamer.

The ear pads are made from memory foam. Whether you’re touching it with your finger or you’re wearing, they’re very soft. I haven’t had a pair of headphones this comfortable in a quite a while. These are fit for extended use.

The RIG 400HX has an inline volume control and microphone mute, efficient noise canceling and 40mm dynamic sound drivers. It has an overall weight of 7.4 ounces.

[envira-gallery id=”6595″]
Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review

Overall Performance and Final Thoughts

For an entry-level product, the Plantronics RIG 400HX gaming headset has good sound quality. When it comes to gaming headsets, there are plenty of things to remember when making comparisons. Don’t make the mistake of comparing entry-level gaming headphones to ones that are two, three, or greater times the price. There are reasons why an Audio-Technica or Sennheiser gaming headset lists for $200 or more. Entry-level gaming headsets must be compared with their peers only.

The main takeaway here is the RIG 400HX does a phenomenal job at being a budget pair of headphones while still retaining features the high-grade headphones have. Currently, on Best Buy and Newegg, the Plantronics RIG 400HX headset goes for $50. Oddly enough, the camouflage patterned RIG 400HX CAMO headset is priced a bit less, available for $45 at Walmart. At this price, and with the great features such as stereo audio, interchangeable cups, and more, what’s not to love?

If you just took a $300-400 hit to your wallet from purchasing your new Xbox One and need a comfortable headset to game for hours, then the Plantronics RIG 400HX may be just what you’re looking for. This 40mm-driven gaming headset with a $50 list price is worth a long look.

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Read:   HyperX Cloud II Headset Review

The Plantronics RIG 400HX gaming headset come with a one-year limited warranty.

Have you tried the RIG 400HX headset? Do you agree (or disagree) with any part of this Plantronics RIG 400HX headset review? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to follow Plantronics on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Plantronics Gaming website to see their latest gaming gear.

FTC Disclosure: Plantronics provided Beantown LLC with one (1) RIG 400HX headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Editor’s Note: My nephew (the author/reviewer) and his younger sibling (see images) liked this gaming headset so much that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever see them in my home again.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC 2016.

Read:   Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Review - SonicPro Headphones

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: gaming headphones, Plantronics, RIG 400HX, RIG400HX, Xbox One 03/06/2017

Mr. Robot Season 2 Release Date Announced for DVD/Blu-ray

10/22/2016 By Hakan Can

Mr. Robot Season 2 DVD Release Date

Available on store shelves and online everywhere comes USA Network’s Mr. Robot Season 2.0. The Mr. Robot Season 2 DVD release date is set for January 10, 2017. List pricing for the 12-episode DVD and Blu-ray™ sets are $34.98 and $49.98, respectively. The Blu-ray™ set includes an UltraViolet – Digital HD copy. If you haven’t seen Mr. Robot Season 1 yet, it’s available on Amazon for $24.99 and $16.99 for the Blu-ray™ and DVD boxed sets, respectively. Season 2.0, along with single episodes, is currently available on Digital HD. Single episodes are available for $2.99 (HD) and $1.99 (SD), with the complete season going for $24.99 and $16.99, respectively.[envira-gallery id=”6550″]

You can order Mr. Robot: Season 2.0 (along with Season 1) at any of these digital stores:

  • Apple’s iTunes Store
  • Amazon
  • Google’s Play Store
  • Sony’s PlayStation Store
  • Vudu
Read:   Game of Thrones Season 6 Release Date Announced for Blu-ray/DVD

NBC Universal’s Mr. Robot Season 2 DVD Release Date is Set for January

PRESS RELEASE

From the mind of Executive Producer/Showrunner Sam Esmail comes USA Networks MR. ROBOT.

Per the NBC Universal press release: “Winner of the Golden Globe® for Best TV Drama, Mr. Robot follows Elliot Alderson (Golden Globe®-nominee and Primetime Emmy® Award winner Rami Malek), a young cyber-security engineer who becomes involved in the underground hacker group fsociety, after being recruited by their mysterious leader (Golden Globe®-winner Christian Slater). Following the events of fsociety’s 5/9 hack on multi-national company Evil Corp, the second season explores the consequences of that attack as well as the illusion of control.”

MR. ROBOT- SEASON 2.0 TRAILER

Read:   Banshee Season 4 Release Date Announced for DVD/Blu-ray

MR. ROBOT SEASON 2.0 EPISODE INFORMATION

  • Episode 1 – eps2.0_unm4sk-pt1.tc
  • Episode 2 – eps2.0_unm4sk-pt2.tc
  • Episode 3 – eps2.1_k3rnel-pan1c.ksd
  • Episode 4 – eps2.2_init_1.asec
  • Episode 5 – eps2.3_logic-b0mb.hc
  • Episode 6 – eps2.4_m4ster-s1ave.aes
  • Episode 7 – eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme
  • Episode 8 – eps2.6_succ3ss0r.p12
  • Episode 9 – eps2.7_init_5.fve
  • Episode 10 – eps2.8_h1dden-pr0cess.axx
  • Episode 11 – eps2.9_pyth0n-pt1.p7z
  • Episode 12 – eps2.9_pyth0n-pt2.p7z
  • Feature 1 – Careful.Massacre.of.the.Bourgeoisie.1984-VHSrip.mp4
  • Feature 2 – Behind_The_Mask_Mr_Robot_2.0.Mov
Read:   Silicon Valley Season 3 Release Date Announced for Digital HD

MR. ROBOT CAST INFORMATION

  • Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson
  • Christian Slater as Mr. Robot
  • Portia Doubleday as Angela Moss
  • Carly Chaikin as Darlene
  • Martin Wallström as Tyrell Wellick
  • Michael Christopher as Phillip Price
  • Stephanie Corneliussen as Joanna Wellick
  • Grace Gummer as Dominique DiPierro

BLU-RAY™ & DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION

  • Street Date: January 10, 2017
  • Formats: Blu-ray™ with Digital HD, DVD
  • Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1)
  • Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French 5.1 DTS
  • DVD Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Total Run Time: 593 Minutes
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
  • Studio: NBC Universal
Read:   American Horror Story: Hotel Release Date Announced for Blu-ray and DVD

Now don’t you think it’s time to watch the best show USA Network’s has ever aired?

All photos and video are the courtesy and property of NBC Universal Home Entertainment.

Mr Robot Season 2 DVD Release Date

Filed Under: Blu-Ray Releases Tagged With: Blu-Ray, DVD, Mr Robot 10/12/2017

Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

10/19/2016 By Hakan Can

Moshi Avanti headphones review

Lightweight, Modern, and Stylish — Moshi Avanti

How many times in your life have you heard the phrase ‘less is more?’ I’m willing to bet that the high majority of you have heard it dozens of times. For weeks now, I’ve been wrestling with how to best describe (in one sentence or less) the Avanti on-ear headphones from Moshi. After trying out these headphones for a few weeks, the phrase ‘less is more’ is an appropriate one. You see, these compact, lightweight supra-aural headphones produce quite the punch with their HD40 drivers. Are compact and lightweight what you’re looking for in your next headset? Let’s take a closer look in this Moshi Avanti headphones review.

Moshi Avanti headphones review

Pros:
• Modern, minimalist design
• Compact & lightweight
• Soft, yet firm fit
• 40mm neodymium drivers
• Very good sound reproduction

Cons:
• Fit may be too firm for some listeners
• No wireless capability

Read:   Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT Headphones Review

Moshi Avanti Headphones Review – Modern Design

For many of us, myself included, Moshi is not a brand I associate with headphones. Sure, they’ve got a handful of earbuds in their product lineup, but those of us who are familiar with the name are familiar because of their cases, bags, cables, and battery packs. So this was as much an introduction for me as it probably is for you now.

The first thing you notice about the Avanti on-ear headphones is that these aren’t your typical headphones. Gone are the heft, the weight, the size, and the volume of what you’re used to wearing. Notice I made no mention of missing features. The Avanti is a compact, collapsible, lightweight, 40mm neodymium driven pair of headphones. Let’s start with the design.

The Avanti headphones weigh in at 5.85 ounces. For most of you out there, this is significantly less than what you’re currently wearing. The headphones come beautifully packaged in a box usually reserved for a headset at twice the price. The box is worth saving. The package contents include the headphones, a 4.3′ light gray cable with red and silver metallic labeled connectors, a user manual, and hard carrying case.

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When first introduced, the Avanti was available in two colors: Burgundy Red and Caramel Beige. One week ago, a third color–Onyx Black was added.

The headband is made of a very sturdy and narrow piece of tensioned stainless steel. Don’t try bending it as 1) it will take quite a bit of effort and 2) you’ll make the entire headset unwearable. On the inside of the headband is thin, leatherette-wrapped padding. My first thought on seeing such thin padding was that this wouldn’t do. Well, I was wrong. The padding was more than enough to comfort my head. I’m sure you’ll come to the same conclusion.

Attached to the headband are two more pieces of stainless steel which not only make the headphones collapsible but also adjustable. The headphones collapse in one direction, allowing it to fit in the above-mentioned hard carrying case. The earcups are adjustable via a highly-engineered and unique sliding mechanism. As a degreed mechanical engineer, I rather like this design as there’s no sound when you’re trying to achieve the perfect fit. And the mechanism has enough friction in its materials that it won’t self-adjust. The earcups pivot as to provide an even better seal against your ear. If the earcuff positions were fixed, which they are not, this would have made for a poor design.

The earcups are leatherette-wrapped, rectangular-shaped with an angled design that fits the ears quite well. The padding is rather comfortable with the headband providing enough force to stay on your noggin. The one downside I noticed is the larger your head is, that is larger than mine, the applied force on your ears will be felt more towards the top, less on the bottom.

The 4.3′ cable has several features in its inline control that allow for complete headphone functionality. This control has a condenser mic, along with a multi-function single button for the following: Music Play and Pause, Song Forwarding and Back to Previous, Call Answering, Call Declining, and Call Waiting.

Read:   JAM Audio Xterior Max Speaker Review

Audio Performance

Amazon Music Playlist:
• Lady Gaga – Born This Way
• Lana Del Rey – Born To Die, Paradise
• Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events

• Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
• John Coltrane – The Ultimate Blue Train
• Rush – Clockwork Angels
• My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

As we often state here at Beantown, when reviewing headphones, the most important performance factor is the quality of sound. From the list above, I tested the Avanti with a broad range of music. I also tested them against a few headphones I randomly selected from my collection. The results surprised me.

The short story is that I decided to retire my House of Marley Liberate XLBT and B&O Play H6 headphones from future testing. By the time you read this, you’ll have missed the giveaway on the latter. The Avanti outperformed a $299 (formerly $399) pair of B&O Play high-end headphones.

The sound across the 15 Hz – 22 kHz spectrum was quite good. I was impressed with instrumental sounds particularly Alex Lifeson’s guitar work on Clockwork Angels and most impressed with Lana Del Rey’s vocal reproduction on Paradise. Sounds felt more lively with the Avanti than they did with the other headphones. If you’re in the market for headphones with strong bass, I believe you’ll like what comes out of these headphones, but I would fully understand if you chose headphones dedicated to strong bass.

Moshi Avanti headphones review

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review

Burn-In Tool App

Moshi takes the headphones market with a high level of seriousness, so much so that they offer an app which assists with the burn in of their earbuds and headphones. The app simply called Burn-in Tool is available via Apple’s iTunes and Google Play Store. We’ve sampled dozens of headphones and have never seen any of these established brands offer such a tool. The closest app that comes to mind is Captune by Sennheiser, but it’s quite different than Moshi’s Burn-in Tool.

I used an Android-based Motorola Moto X Pure mobile phone and had no issue with the app. The one thing I will say about Burn-in Tool is the sound pattern is quite annoying and not meant for your ears. If you’re going to use Burn-in Tool, I highly recommend you place your mobile phone and headphones in some other room, close the door, and let them do their thing for at least four hours. If you need your phone at some point, you can always pause the sound pattern and complete the task later.[soliloquy id=”6518″]

Read:   Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Review - SonicPro Headphones

Conclusion

In my testing, the Avanti headphones are best when worn for an hour or two at a time. The long-term fit is a good one. Best use of these headphones is at home, office, and in transit. They are not (and we do not recommend them) for use in sporting activities like jogging. There are plenty of headphones on the market for that purpose.

At $199, the Avanti headphones are well-priced in the marketplace. As I stated above, I liked them so much that I’ve removed a pair of House of Marley headphones from my headset rotation and replaced them with the Avanti.

If you’re looking for a pair of on-ear (supra-aural) headphones which offer a minimalist design but not minimalist features, then Moshi’s Avanti is worth taking a serious look at. We give this headphone high marks.

Have you tried Moshi’s Avanti headphones? Do you agree or disagree with our analysis? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to follow Moshi on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Moshi website to see their latest equipment.

The Avanti headphones come with a one-year limited end-user warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Moshi provided Beantown LLC with one Avanti headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC 2016.

Read:   Game of Thrones Season 6 Release Date Announced for Blu-ray/DVD

Filed Under: Headphones Tagged With: Avanti, headphones, Moshi, On-Ear Headphones 12/05/2016

Preview: Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection

10/10/2016 By Hakan Can

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection

Manfrotto Expands Their Product Line for Fall 2016 with the Windsor Camera Bag Collection

manfrotto-windsor-reporter-bag-image-4-opt

For you bag, attaché, and backpacks lovers, just when you thought there would be nothing new-and-interesting between Back to School season and CES2017 comes this beautiful product line–the Windsor Collection from Manfrotto. Many of you mobile-phone-picture-takers may have never heard of Manfrotto, but we slightly older camera users certainly have. For you younger generation millennials, I highly suggest you get to know the brand. Before you know it, you’ll probably own one of their tripods, just like we at Beantown do, and maybe one of their camera bags too. If you’re fortunate enough, you just might get your hands on the Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection at the upcoming PhotoPlus or NAB NY expositions.

If you’re heading to PhotoPlus Expo, you can see the Windsor Collection in Hall 3B, Stand 555.

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection

Two days ago, the folks at Manfrotto unexpectedly caused my eyes to light up. You see, over the summer, I previewed a handful of Back to School, business and urban professional, and business travel bag collections from the likes of Case Logic, Speck, and Targus. I’ve added links below. All were beautiful, practical, and well-designed. And I’ve put many of them to good use. Unfortunately, I’ve gone months without seeing anything new in the camera bag aisle until now.

The Manfrotto Windsor Collection takes the standard boring and drab camera bag and tosses it out the window. As Manfrotto puts it, they’re “paying homage to vintage British style.” The top portions of each bag and backpack are made of a light gray synthetic fabric, with the sides and bottom made of nylon in a darker gray. If this isn’t attractive enough for you, open the genuine brown leather straps, and a tartan-patterned lining is revealed.  For those of you who not only care about the quality but the look of your bag, this collection says ‘Class.’

manfrotto-windsor-messenger-s-bag-image-2-opt

While each bag and backpack have something different to offer its user, they have much in common. All four products in the Windsor Collection have a water-repellent coating applied to them. While they are water repellent, I would suggest not getting them too wet as they are not waterproof.

The bags and backpack also have flexible, interchangeable dividers and incorporate the shock-absorbing Manfrotto Protection System. You can customize the placement of your lenses and gear while also having the ability to fold or pull out the dividers when needed. In addition to the modular design, the three messenger/reporter bags have a trolley strap to fit over a luggage handle. With the exception of the Messenger S bag which has a tablet compartment, each Windsor camera bag or backpack also holds up to a 13.3 or 15″ laptop.

The backpack and reporter bag have two additional features beyond that of the messenger bags. 1) There’s an external tripod connection, so there’s no need for your tripod ever to be placed into the bag. 2) There’s a side pocket or water bottle holder. Why there’s no water bottle pocket on the messenger bags is a mystery. I suspect there was a design issue as the placement of the side pocket was too close to that of the shoulder strap connections.

Let’s preview each product one at a time; introducing the Windsor Backpack, Windsor Messenger S Bag, Windsor Messenger M Bag, and Windsor Reporter Bag.

Read:   Introducing the Targus Mobile ViP Collection - Premium Laptop Cases

Manfrotto Windsor DSLR & Laptop Backpack

[soliloquy id=”6415″]
Backpack Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Personal Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 18.11 x 12.4 x 8.66 Inches
• 15.35 x 11.81 x 7.48 Inches
• 7.87 x 9.84 x 5.91 Inches
• 14.96 x 9.84 x 0.79 Inches
• 6.69  x 9.84 x 5.51 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 37.39 oz

Read:   New Speck Apple iPhone 7 Case Designs Are Introduced

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Messenger S & M Bags

If you couldn’t tell, the two Windsor messenger bags are identical in every way except size; the ‘S’ is for Small, and the ‘M’ is for Medium. Whichever model you go with, you’ve chosen a beautifully designed bag.

[soliloquy id=”6423″]
Messenger S Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 9.45 x 13.58 x 4.33 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 3.94 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 0.39 Inches
• 8.66 x 12.6 x 3.54 Inches
• 4, Mirrorless
• 24.34 oz

Messenger M Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 12.99 x 16.54 x 5.91 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 5.12 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 0.59 Inches
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 4.72 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 32.8 oz

[envira-gallery id=”6464″]

Read:   The New Case Logic Urban Commuter Laptop Backpacks for Men and Women

Manfrotto Windsor Camera Reporter Bag

[soliloquy id=”6416″]
Reporter Bag Specifications:
• External Dimensions: H x L x W
• Internal Main Compartment: H x L x W
• Laptop Compartment: H x L x W
• Camera Insert Dimensions: H x L x W
• Number of Lenses / Type of Gear
• Weight

Values:
• 11.02 x 15.35 x 4.53 Inches
• 10.2 x 14.57 x 3.15 Inches
• 10.24 x 14.57 x 0.59 Inches
• 10.24 x 14.57 x 3.15 Inches
• 4, DSLR / Mirrorless
• 22.93 oz

Read:   Speck's New Business Travel Laptop Backpack and Bag

Final Thoughts

Pricing for the Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection is as follows:

• Windsor Camera Backpack
• Windsor Messenger M Bag
• Windsor Messenger S Bag
• Windsor Reporter Bag

• $169.99
• $139.99
• $119.99
• $129.99

At a price range of $120-$170, the Windsor Collection is reasonably priced when compared to product lines from other manufacturers. The bonus here is that these bags have style. For a list of compatible camera models for each product, please visit the respective Manfrotto product page, and look under Specifications. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Manfrotto website to see everything else they’ve got.

What do you think of this Windsor Camera Bag Collection? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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The Manfrotto Windsor Camera Bag Collection comes with a standard limited warranty.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Vitec Group Italia Spa (Manfrotto.)

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Filed Under: Apparel & Bags Tagged With: Camera Backpack, camera bag, Manfrotto, Windsor 11/23/2018

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case, Core 360, and Mountie Car Mount Review

10/04/2016 By Hakan Can

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case for iPhone 6s and Galaxy S7 …

… Plus Core 360 and Mountie Car Mount Reviews

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Want to know how we test the mobile phone cases and accessories we receive? Answer: I give them to my niece and older nephew for a couple of weeks. This way, any biases I may have are quickly eliminated. You see, they don’t care about brand names and multi-million dollar ad budgets. Don’t tell the public relations and marketing firms this. They’ll freak out if more teens adopt this philosophy. My brother’s kids only care about quality, reliability, features, and to a lesser degree, price. So when I had the chance to review a few cases and car mounts from a niche brand from Canada, I seized the opportunity. Let’s take a close look at the Caseco Shock Express Metallic case for the Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S7 as well as examine the Caseco Core 360 and Mountie car mounts.

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

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Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

Now I’m just going to come out and say it, this brand rocks! Over the past year, my niece and older nephew have received plenty of sample cases, mostly from well-known brands. While they like most, they’re not enamored by them. Then I gave my nephew the Caseco Shock Express Metallic case for the Samsung Galaxy S7. He instantly loved it and had plenty of positive feedback (see his words below) and for once, there was no negative feedback.Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

Pros:
• The case fits the phone snug and buttons on the side perfect.
• Pattern on the back is minimal.
• There is a custom “add-on” to the case for the speaker that propels the sound waves forward, a touch I haven’t seen on any phone case.
• The headphone jack is big enough for any aux cord or headphones plug which has been an issue for my last case.
• The case itself is pretty minimal, it doesn’t add too much weight or bulk to your phone.
• Pattern on the back doesn’t get smudged easily.
• Case has a studded design on the sides for a sure grip.
• Comes with screen protector.

Cons:
• None

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Other features of the Shock Express Metallic case include the following:

• Drop-proof, shock-absorbing construction.
• Meets MIL-STD 810G 516.6 military drop tests.

The same goes for the Shock Express case for the Apple iPhone 6/6s. In addition to what my nephew stated above, my writer Elliott mentioned: “the gradual bezel curves upward in the corners, giving the screen good clearance when face down while still keeping a thin design.” He did have one Con though: “It would be nice if the back of the phone were a little more skid resistant to keep it from sliding off tables when facing up.”

The Shock Express Metallic Galaxy S7 case comes in four unique colors: aquamarine, marsala, strawberry ice, and black, and lists for $29.99.

The Shock Express iPhone 6/6s case comes in six unique colors: aquamarine, marsala, strawberry ice, white, blue, and silver, and lists for $29.99.

[envira-gallery id=”6382″]
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Caseco Core 360 and Mountie Car Mounts

I’m skeptical when it comes to mobile phone car mounts. I’ve seen so many bulky ones over the years that I’ve been turned off to such devices. Caseco takes a much needed minimalist approach to the mobile phone (magnetic) car mount. You can go with the Mountie, which affixes to the AC/Heating vents, or you can use the Core 360 by gluing it in place on the dash. Both devices work as advertised, working well in our tests, holding cased mobile devices up to 1.3 lbs. These mounts receive our highest recommendations.

[envira-gallery id=”6383″]

There’s one downside I should mention regarding the Mountie, something I experienced firsthand. The spring which holds the device to the vent is quite strong. If you remove the Mountie from the air vent, be very careful as you may scratch the latter. I advise putting down a piece of tape first in the event you wish to remove your mount.

Both the Core 360 and Mountie offer 360 degrees of rotation. The Core 360 even tilts 30 degrees to either side.

Caseco Shock Express Metallic Case

Core 360 Magnetic Car Mount is available in two colors: black and black/red, and it lists for $39.99. Caseco Mountie is available in black only and lists for $24.99

Core 360 package contents: one car mount, two metal mounting discs, and one replacement 3M adhesive.

Materials: Anodized aluminum alloy
Magnet: Neodymium
Adhesives: VHB by 3M™

Mountie package contents: one spring-loaded vent mount and one metal disc with adhesive.

Materials: Hard plastic with rubberized coating
Neodymium magnet
VHB adhesive by 3M™

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Final Thoughts

Caseco manufacturers a variety of cases beyond the Shock Express. For instance, cases for the new Apple iPhone 7 also come in Clear, Glam, and Skin. And if you haven’t heard, Caseco makes what some consider the best winter consumer tech gift available, the Bluetooth Beanie. Check out the 30+ available styles.

As part of Caseco’s current promotion, all cases, pouches, and beanies are 15% off, with Coupon Code CASETOBER. If interested, act quickly as this discount lasts into Halloween.

Have you tried any of these Caseco products mentioned above? Do you agree or disagree with our analysis? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to follow Caseco on Twitter and Facebook as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Caseco website to see their latest equipment.

Everything covered in this post has a 1-year warranty with comes with free shipping to the USA.

FTC Disclosure: Caseco Products provided Beantown LLC with two Shock Express Metallic cases, one Core 360, and one Mountie car mount sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC 2016.

Read:   New Speck Samsung Galaxy Note7 Case Models Are Introduced

Filed Under: Automotive Tech, Case Protection Tagged With: car mount, Caseco, Core 360, Mountie, Shock Express 10/04/2016

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