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You are here: Home / 2017 / Archives for March 2017

Archives for March 2017

Clarity Smart Speaker Preview

03/31/2017 By Hakan Can

Clarity smart speaker

Preview: The Clarity Smart Speaker with Voice-Enabling by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

Back in January, I had the pleasure of attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. Every year manufacturers introduce what they believe are their latest and greatest gadgets. One couldn’t help but notice the volume of voice-assisted devices. I heard a statistic that between the CES2016 and CES2017, the number of voice-assisted devices grew from the low double-digits to over 600. That’s some serious growth. The one piece of electronics I didn’t see was that which offered both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Now it’s the end of March and such a product is almost upon us. Introducing the Clarity smart speaker, a portable touchscreen smart speaker with the voice-enabling services of Amazon and Google.
Clarity smart speaker

Read:   Triby Review: Alexa Smart Speaker

Introducing Clarity: Design and Features

Available in early summer, the Clarity smart speaker hits the retail marketplace. But what exactly is Clarity?

Per the Indiegogo campaign: “Clarity is a three-in-one wireless speaker and touchscreen Android system with voice control. It has two 5-watt speakers, superb audio quality, and Internet radio, and is the first smart speaker of its kind. It’s powered by Android with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functionality, so Clarity can connect with any of your devices! Now you can stream Pandora, Spotify, Soundcloud and other apps or watch videos easily and portably. Get personalized answers from Alexa or OK Google to do everything from catching up on the latest news to controlling Smart home products.”

Come late June, we’ll all get to see this Android controlled smart speaker with a 7″ touchscreen which can access Alexa, Google Now, and Google Assistant. I for one am looking forward to seeing such a product.

Clarity can stream your favorite music from Pandora, Spotify, Soundcloud, and others. It will also act as a smart home hub controlling devices from the following brands:

• Amazon Alexa
• hue personal wireless lighting
• ecobee
• nest

• wemo
• tp-link
• Samsung SmartThings
• Insteon

[envira-gallery id=”7758″]
Read:   Here are the Audio-Technica Headphones set for release in 2017

Clarity Specifications

• Powered by quad-core CPU
• 16G internal memory with expandable storage via µSD cards
• 7-inch multi-touch screen with 1280 x 800 resolution
• Two megapixel camera
• Two 5-watt speakers
• Advanced near and far field capabilities
• Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Google Now enabled

• Dimensions 326 x 110 x 160mm
• Light weight of 2 lbs
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow w/OTA updates
• WiFi (2.4G and 5G Dual-Band) and Bluetooth (4.0) connectivity
• 1600 mAh Li-Poly battery providing six hours of audio and 2.5 hours of video playback
• I/O Ports: µSD, Aux Port, Mini USB, DC Port
• Power DC 12V – 1.5A adapter
• Contents: Speaker, user manual, charging cable

Clarity smart speaker

Read:   Here are the JBL Portable Bluetooth Speakers set for release in early 2017

Summary

As you can see and hear, the Clarity smart speaker has much to offer. At $199.95, this touchscreen smart speaker is well-priced in what will become a competitive marketplace. If you act within the month of April, you can have your very own Clarity for 25% less.

 

Have you heard about the Clarity smart speaker with Amazon Alexa and Google voice assistants? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear what you think. Clarity comes with a one-year warranty.

• Follow Clarity Speaker on Twitter
• Follow Clarity Speaker on Facebook
• Follow Clarity Speaker on Instagram

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Clarity’s home page to see their latest announcements, and please check out our previous speaker product reviews.

FTC Disclosure: This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Pan Ocean (HK) Technology © 2017.

Read:   Libratone One Click Speaker Review

Filed Under: For the Home, Speakers Tagged With: Amazon Alexa, Clarity smart speaker, Google Now, touchscreen speaker 08/21/2018

Gaming: HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

03/26/2017 By Hakan Can

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

If you live in North America and are into Gaming, then you’ve probably heard of HyperX. By now, the high majority of us are familiar with their DRAM and Cloud headsets. But even after being on the market for five months, there are still those who aren’t aware that HyperX has entered the gaming keyboard sector. Back in October of 2016, the Alloy FPS keyboard with Cherry® MX Blue switches was introduced. Four months later, this same keyboard became available with Cherry® MX Red and Brown switches. Do you want to know how this mechanical gaming keyboard ranks with us? Without any further delay, welcome to our HyperX Alloy FPS keyboard review.HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

Pros:
• Attractive, red-on-black design
• Portable design w/detachable cable
• Solid-steel frame
• Cherry® MX switches (Red, Blue, Brown)
• Built for the gamer in mind
• Well priced at ~$100

Cons:
• No onboard memory
• Keyboard may be too heavy for some
• Keyboard may be too compact for some

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review

Per Marcus Hermann, Senior Business Manager at HyperX, “HyperX is pleased to expand our Alloy FPS keyboard product line to now include Cherry MX Red or Brown switches, along with the blue switches we introduced in 2016. Gamers who play FPS classics like CS: GO or Overwatch can now choose from a variety of Alloy FPS gaming keyboards including a linear switch, a tactile switch or something in between.”

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

HyperX Alloy FPS Design and Features

The Alloy FPS is a mechanical gaming keyboard with a 50 million push button life cycle. It comes with six different lighting effects (including a custom effect) to choose from. Of these, two in particular: “Wave” and “Explosion,” are the coolest. You can change the brightness (4 levels) to your liking.

This keyboard is compact, like those made by Coolermaster. Its exact dimensions are 17.4 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches and weighs 2.34 lbs. And in case you haven’t noticed, there’s no wrist guard/plate. You just don’t need one for the games this keyboard was designed to play with.

Flipping the keyboard over, you’ll notice a flat surface with two flip-up legs. The legs are nearly an inch wide with ample space for your thumb to open/close them. The mini-USB connection for the 6′ detachable braided cord is located at the rear of the keyboard. There’s even a USB charging port for your mobile phone battery.

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

The Alloy FPS keyboard comes with your standard Num-Lock, Caps-Lock, and Scroll-Lock, but it has another lock which is appropriately titled “Game mode.” Enabling Game mode disables the Windows key preventing any accidental press of the Windows key fatal.

Wondering about N-key rollover? There’s no need to. The Alloy FPS has 6-key/N-key modes and is 100% anti-ghosting.

You can also completely lock the keyboard out, for when you want to vacuum it or pull a key out. A key puller, as well as eight red key covers, are supplied as part of the package contents. It has the now standard media player controls such as “Previous”, “Next”, “Play/Pause”, “Mute”, Audio “Decrease”, and “Increase.” You can switch “WASD” to the arrow keys and vice versa. The keyboard also can “Increase” and “Decrease” LED backlight brightness and modes.

And before I forget, I’ve got to mention that this keyboard is portable. Within the package, contents is a terrific padded mesh carry bag.

All-in-all, it’s a nicely designed keyboard with an HX logo on the spacebar.

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

Read:   HyperX Cloud II Headset Review

Final Thoughts

Unlike many gaming keyboards, you don’t need software to work the lighting effects. As stated above, you can change the lighting effects using the Fn + Right/Left Dimming Keys. If custom lighting effects are what you desire, then look no further than the Alloy FPS.

The keyboard itself is beautifully designed with a sturdy build. The red LED lights are bright and vibrant.

The list price of the Alloy FPS Keyboard (whether it has Cherry® MX Blue, Brown, or Red Switches) is $99.99. See the Amazon link at the bottom of this post. If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch it for $20 less on sale at Fry’s or Newegg.

It’s a rare day when we can rave about a product and not say one negative thing, but this is how we feel about the Alloy FPS keyboard. We’re sure you’ll arrive at the same conclusion.

The Alloy FPS was the first keyboard put forth by HyperX and they hit it out of the gaming arena. We highly recommend you check out this product before making your next mechanical keyboard purchase.

HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard Review

Do you agree or disagree with any part of this post? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

The HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical gaming keyboard comes with a 2-year warranty. Should you need to reach Customer Support, feel free to call one of these two numbers: 714-435-2639 or 800-435-0640.

• Follow HyperX on Twitter
• Follow HyperX on Facebook
• Follow HyperX on Instagram

• Follow Beantown on Twitter
• Follow Beantown on Facebook
• Follow Beantown on Instagram

Don’t hesitate to head over to the HyperX homepage to see their current line-up of products. We hear through the grapevine that a mouse isn’t too far away.

FTC Disclosure: HyperX provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Alloy FPS gaming keyboard 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 © 2017.

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver S Headset Preview

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware Tagged With: Alloy FPS, gaming keyboard, HyperX 08/18/2017

Introducing the Mezco One 12 Wolverine Action Figure

03/22/2017 By Hakan Can

Mezco One 12 Wolverine action figure

Mezco Toyz Introduces their One: 12 Collective Wolverine Action Figure in 2017

Available for shipment in Q3 2017 comes the latest creation from the folks at Mezco Toyz — the One:12 Collective Wolverine action figure. Wolverine is the newest Marvel Universe character to be added to their roster of deluxe figures.

Per the press release, “With a shadowy past the X-Men member known as Wolverine was a soldier, mercenary and part of the mysterious Weapon X program. His mutant abilities consist of animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor, and six retractable bone claws in his hands. The bone claws and his skeleton were infused with a nearly indestructible Adamantium compound to make him even more formidable while part of the Weapon X program.”

[envira-gallery id=”7660″]

Wolverine joins the One:12 Collective with a detailed outfit and portrait sculpture.

Scheduled for shipment in August 2017, pricing is set at $80 per unit + freight. Figures are deliverable only within the USA.

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Deadpool Action Figure

Mezco One 12 Wolverine Action Figure

Exclusive
• Newly developed body depicting Wolverine’s physical build
• Two (2) newly developed head portraits
• Over 30 points of articulation
• Hand painted authentic detailing
• Over 15 cm tall

Features
• Six (6) pairs of interchangeable hands including:
• One (1) pair of clawed fists (Left & Right)
• One (1) sword holding hand (Right)
• One (1) fist (Left)
• One (1) pair of posing hands (Left & Right)

[envira-gallery id=”7661″]

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Punisher Action Figure

Costume and Accessories

Costume
• Sculpted gloves on each hand
• Vambrace on each forearm
• Belt with sculpted pouches
• Shoulder pads
• Sculpted boots

Accessories
• One (1) Muramasa blade katana
• One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
• One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post

[envira-gallery id=”7662″]

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

The Wrap

Per Mezco, “each figure is packaged in a deluxe, collector friendly box designed with collectors in mind.”

If you’re a collector of deluxe action figures or a fan of The Wolverine, this X-Men figure may be perfect for you. Don’t hesitate to check out the MezcoToyz Marvel Universe page to see the latest Marvel character announcements.

Follow Mezco Toyz and Beantown Review on any of the following social media platforms:

• Follow MezcoToyz on Twitter
• Follow MezcoToyz on Facebook
• Follow MezcoToyz on Instagram

• Follow Beantown on Twitter
• Follow Beantown on Facebook
• Follow Beantown on Instagram

FTC Disclosure: This writer is not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Mezco Toyz © 2017.

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Old Man Logan Action Figure

Filed Under: Toying Around Tagged With: Action Figure, Mezco Toyz, Wolverine 05/19/2017

Review: Best Touchscreen Gloves — Moshi Digits

03/20/2017 By Hakan Can

best touchscreen gloves

Today is the Vernal Equinox. For those of you who don’t know what this means, it’s the first day of Spring. If you live here in New England, you wouldn’t know it was Spring. You probably think it’s still Winter with all the snow around. With that said, when an opportunity came along to test what could be the best touchscreen gloves for cold weather, I replied “There’s such a thing?” The short answer is Yes, there is such a product. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at one particular pair of touchscreen gloves in this Moshi Digits review.

best touchscreen gloves

Read:   Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

Are Moshi Digits the Best Touchscreen Gloves available today?

Fall and Winter present challenges to a tech-mobile lifestyle. Most of us are addicted to texting, some more so than others. Even as the temperatures get colder, we continue to text, regardless of our surroundings.

Picture this scenario. You’re outdoors in Cold City, USA. I happen to live just outside of Boston. Feel free to insert your city: Chicago, Minneapolis, Missoula, etc.

You would prefer not to text in 20-degree weather, but you just received a text, and you’re compelled to respond. We already established the addiction.

You receive a text, remove your gloves, respond to the text, maybe send another or two, put the gloves back on, and repeat the cycle over and over again. At some point, this removing and putting back on your gloves gets tiresome. Maybe, you decide to keep them off altogether and brave the elements. Now you’re just asking for trouble, i.e. frostbite.

What if there was a smartphone/tablet touchscreen glove for the cold times of the year? It turns out there are, with many choices available. This is where Moshi Digits come into play.

Read:   Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review

Moshi Digits

Made by a collective of elves, dwarfs, and the last surviving descendants of the Salem witches, these gloves are woven from long-forgotten mystical fabrics enchanted with Pixie dust.

Some of you are shaking your heads wondering ‘What did he just say?’ You may have even said that thought out loud.

If you believe what I just wrote, just know that none of it is true. I mean, come on. Everyone knows that North America’s last community of elves and dwarfs died in the great San Francisco Fire of 1906. And there are no descendants of the witches of Salem, having been snuffed out since 1693.

Instead, Moshi Digits are dual-layered gloves. The polyester outer layer fingertips have conductive fiber with a micro fleece inner layer. To say these touchscreen gloves are soft and comfortable may be an understatement.

They also have this feature called GripTrak™. You see a pattern of dots and lines across the inside of the gloves. This feature adds a level of grip to prevent you from dropping your mobile device. Not all of us use shatterproof cases, so GripTrak™ comes in handy.

best touchscreen gloves
best touchscreen gloves

Two of us tested the Moshi Digits touchscreen gloves. We both found the gloves function as advertised. My niece enjoyed the gloves more than I, and she’s in a slightly colder environment. In her case, best use of the smartphone gloves is in the commute between college buildings.

My situation is a bit different. The accuracy of your texts with touchscreen gloves is dependent on how well you actually text. I say this because I don’t text very well. I’m a bit clumsy with the fingers. In my testing, the accuracy of the texts was no better with or without the gloves on. Either way, my texts survive with the use of the AutoCorrect feature.

Regardless, the gloves, and I do mean all ten fingers and thumbs, yield accurate results on the mobile screen. Some of us just need to focus more than others on what we’re actually typing.

I used the gloves while shoveling snow from the driveway and while driving. If you think the slip-free feature works well on a mobile phone, try it on a shovel handle or a steering wheel. It works too well.

A Few Drawbacks

While these gloves are manufactured for outdoor use, they aren’t meant for all day use, especially when it’s truly cold outside. In fact, I would limit wearing up to 30 minutes at any stretch when it’s below freezing temperature. Woven fabrics will keep your hands warm, but only for so long. The material is not ideal for blocking the wind, especially a cold wind. This is why I carry two pairs of gloves, one for texting and one for longer outdoor exposure.

As these gloves are fabric-woven, they aren’t water-resistant so don’t go making snowballs. I doubt you want to text with soak-and-wet gloves. On the flip-side, they are hand-washable. You can feel good about that.

Also, keep them away from Velcro, which is the enemy of fabric-woven products everywhere. A lot of Winter clothing have Velcro straps, so be mindful before making contact between the two materials. One material will fray the other.

Moshi Digits weigh in at 2.43 ounces and are available in two sizes/colors: dark gray (L/XL) and light gray (S/M).

Read:   Moshi Mythro Air Earphones Review

Conclusion

In our testing, Moshi’s Digits performed quite well. They happened to be super-comfortable too. In fact, these gloves are quite comfortable even after many hours of continuous use. Just be mindful of the outdoor conditions especially when you plan to be out for a lengthy period. At $29.95, these touchscreen gloves are well-priced in the marketplace in addition to outperforming much of competition within its category.

Do you think Digits are the best touchscreen gloves available today? Have you tried or currently own a pair of Moshi’s Digits? Let us know if you agree or disagree with our analysis via social media or in the comment section below. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

• Follow Moshi on Twitter
• Follow Moshi on Facebook
• Follow Moshi on Instagram

• Follow Beantown on Twitter
• Follow Beantown on Facebook
• Follow Beantown on Instagram

Don’t hesitate to head over to the Moshi’s Press Page to see their latest announcements, and please check out our previous Moshi product reviews. We believe you’ll find them most useful.

FTC Disclosure: Moshi provided Beantown LLC with two (2) sample pairs of Digits smartphone gloves, one in each color. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017-2019.

Read:   Moshi Vacanza Weekend Travel Bag Review

Filed Under: Wearables Tagged With: Digits, Moshi, touchscreen gloves 12/05/2018

Introducing the Mezco One 12 Old Man Logan Action Figure

03/18/2017 By Hakan Can

Mezco One 12 Old Man Logan action figure

Mezco Toyz Introduces their One: 12 Collective Old Man Logan Action Figure in 2017

Available for shipment in Q4 2017 comes the latest creation from the folks at Mezco Toyz — the One:12 Collective Old Man Logan action figure. Old Man Logan is the newest Marvel Universe character to be added to their roster of deluxe figures. Per the press release, “In the alternate future of Earth-807128, Wolverine has aged. Now known as Old Man Logan, he lives with his family in a barren wasteland trying to maintain as normal a life as possible.”

“When events turn against him Logan’s family and everything important to him is destroyed by the Hulk’s gang. Using his claws for the first time in years, Old Man Logan exacts revenge, sparing only the baby known as Bruce Jr. With his family gone, Old Man Logan heads off into the sunset with the baby vowing to set things straight.”

[envira-gallery id=”7628″]

Old Man Logan joins the One:12 Collective with a detailed outfit and portrait sculpture.

Scheduled for shipment in November 2017, pricing is set at $80 per unit + freight. Figures are deliverable only within the USA.

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Deadpool Action Figure

Mezco One 12 Old Man Logan Action Figure

Exclusive
• One (1) newly developed head portrait
• Over 30 points of articulation
• Real fabric outfit with intricate tailoring
• Over 15 cm tall

Features
• Six (6) pairs of interchangeable hands including:
• One (1) pair of fists (Left & Right)
• One (1) pair of Adamantium clawed fists (Left & Right)
• One (1) pair of posing hands (Left & Right)

[envira-gallery id=”7629″]
Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Punisher Action Figure

Costume and Accessories

Costume
• Leather-looking overcoat
• White t-shirt
• Sculpted belt with decorative buckle
• Workman pants
• Sculpted cowboy boots

Accessories
• Baby Hulk
• Removable cowboy hat
• Backpack
• One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
• One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post

[envira-gallery id=”7630″]

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

The Wrap

Per Mezco, “each figure is packaged in a deluxe, collector friendly box designed with collectors in mind.”

If you’re a collector of deluxe action figures or a fan of The Wolverine, this Old Man Logan figure may be perfect for you. Don’t hesitate to check out the MezcoToyz Marvel Universe page to see the latest Marvel character announcements.

Follow Mezco Toyz and Beantown Review on any of the following social media platforms:

• Follow MezcoToyz on Twitter
• Follow MezcoToyz on Facebook
• Follow MezcoToyz on Instagram

• Follow Beantown on Twitter
• Follow Beantown on Facebook
• Follow Beantown on Instagram

FTC Disclosure: This writer is not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Mezco Toyz © 2017.

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

Filed Under: Toying Around Tagged With: Action Figure, Mezco Toyz, Old Man Logan, Wolverine 03/22/2017

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Headset Preview

03/14/2017 By Hakan Can

HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset

The All-New HyperX Cloud Revolver S Headset

Days before this past weekend’s PAX East, we started hearing whispers that the folks at HyperX were set to introduce a new product at the annual gaming expo. Knowing what the HyperX product line-up was for the first half of 2017, we were highly confident that the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset was set to make its public debut. We were correct, and on March 13th, it became available for retail purchase.Having seen the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset two months ago at CES, we were looking forward to the released product. We weren’t disappointed.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

• Comfortable fit and attractive design
• Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio
• Directional drivers of 50mm size

• TeamSpeak and Discord Certified
• New, wider solid-steel frame
• Promotional Price of $149

Read:   HyperX Cloud Revolver Headset Review
[envira-gallery id=”7610″]

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Design, Features, and Fit

If you walked around many of the live streaming sets like EVGA‘s for example, you’d notice that the streamers were wearing gaming headsets from the HyperX Cloud family. This should tell you something about the brand.

This new gaming headset is the successor to the popular Cloud Revolver. The HyperX Cloud Revolver S comes with a near identical look to its predecessor, now with Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio, a wider, solid steel outer frame, and a matte black finish.

The first improvement you’ll notice with this Hyper Cloud gaming headset is the vibration that appeared on its predecessor is now gone. No more ‘twang’ sounds. Next, you’ll notice an advanced audio control box and the headset’s Dolby® Surround 7.1 audio capability. (More on sound in our full review.)

Headphone and microphone volumes are controlled by dials on the right with an equalizer button on the left. This equalizer button cycles between 3 modes: Vocal, Flat, and Bass Boost. You’ll find Dolby® Surround and microphone mute buttons in the center.

All-in-all, it’s a nicely designed controller.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

Read:   HyperX Cloud II Headset Review

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Performance

The Dolby® Surround 7.1 sound quality is quite impressive! I briefly got to test this headset with gaming, films, and music. Believe it or not, I was most impressed with Bluegrass music. No Joke.

Like its predecessor, the Cloud Revolver S comes with Circumaural, Closed-back Dynamic 50mm directional drivers positioned parallel to your ears. Frequency response remains the same at a range of 12 Hz- 28000 Hz.

This HyperX gaming headset comes with an attachable uni-directional, noise canceling mic with a frequency response of 50 Hz-18000 Hz.

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset Review

In Summary

This new gaming headset offers plenty of features at a $149.99 price point. Feel free to compare it against other brands and models at this price.

The headphones support Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and numerous mobile and virtual reality devices.

Within each package comes the Cloud Revolver S headset w/1M Cable, a detachable NC microphone, and an advanced audio control box w/2M cable.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

The HyperX Cloud Revolver S gaming headphones come with a 2-year warranty. Should you need to reach Customer Support, feel free to call one of these two numbers: 714-435-2639 or 800-435-0640.

• Follow HyperX on Twitter
• Follow HyperX on Facebook

• Follow HyperX on Instagram
• Follow HyperX on YouTube

Don’t hesitate to head over to the HyperX homepage to see their current line-up of products.

Feel free to follow Beantown on Twitter, Beantown on Facebook, and Beantown on Instagram.

FTC Disclosure: This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2017.

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

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: Cloud Revolver S, gaming headphones, gaming headset, HyperX, Kingston 05/08/2017

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review

03/04/2017 By Hakan Can

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review

Moshi Vortex Air–Solid, Premium, and Bluetooth

Let me tell you a brief story. Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending my very first Toy Fair NY at the Jacob Javits Center. As great an experience as this was, my trip didn’t end there. I still had a multi-hour Megabus ride back to Boston to endure. Lucky for me, I remembered to bring along Moshi’s new Vortex Air Bluetooth in-ear headphones to demo on the return leg. This 4½-hour stretch of time did not go to waste. So without further adieu, let’s take a closer look in this Moshi Vortex Air headphones review.

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review

Pros:
• Modern look and midweight design
• Highly comfortable fit
• Terrific sound reproduction
• Well priced ~ $120

Cons:
• No wall outlet plug included
• No carry pouch included

Read:   Moshi Mythro Air Earphones Review

For once, I was able to ignore the bumps, the braking, the acceleration and deceleration of the bus’s journey and focus on the music.

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review – Solid Design

The design of the Vortex Air headphones is one which is mid-weight (0.98 ounce) and easy to operate.

Upon examining these headphones, you’ll notice the solid construction of the Vortex Air. Even though the headphones are made of RigidBody™ steel alloy construction, they weigh in at just under 1 ounce. While this may or may not be lighter than what you’re currently using for wireless in-ear headphones, still, you’ll barely feel them in your ears. You’ll only notice the music. I know this to be true as I’ve typed much of this review while wearing the headphones listening to The Black Keys.

As of today, the Vortex Air headphones are available in one color: Dark Steel. Should additional colors be introduced down the road, this post will be updated.

(If more than one color were available, your mobile device would recognize the color of the headphones. This is how pairing operates with the Mythro Air. Your mobile device would list all colors and recognize them as individual devices.)

The 5 Things You Need To Know for Operating the Vortex Air

  1. To power on the Vortex Air, press and hold the (single) button until the blue light appears. It will only take a few seconds for it to appear.
  2. To power off the Vortex Air, press and hold the (single) button until the red light appears. Again, it will only take a few seconds for it to appear.
  3. To pair the Vortex Air to your mobile device, hold the (single) button until the blinking blue light appears. It will take about 5 seconds for it to appear. Then head to the Bluetooth Settings on your mobile device and pair the earphones.
  4. On the volume controls, volume up and down is controlled by pressing the upper and lower silver tabs. The center tab controls answering calls, playing or pausing the track, and forwarding and reversing the track. To forward and reverse the track, be prepared to press 2x or 3x quickly or the desired result won’t be achieved.
  5. Play time lasts for 8 hours at 50% volume with a 100 hour standby time. Charging the headphones takes approximately 2 hours. You’ll notice a pulsing red light while charging.

You’ve got to appreciate a pair of headphones when there’s little that you need to know for proper operation. It couldn’t be simpler.

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones Review

Read:   Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

Specifications

• Sound Pressure Level: 100 ± 3db @ 1kHz
• Driver Diameter: High-Definition HR8 (8mm) w/Neodymium Magnet
• Noise Isolation: Up to 23db
• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Range: 30 feet
• In-Line Control: 3-Button Controls w/Mic
• Codec: AAC, SBC, Modified SBC

• Headphone Frequency Response: 15Hz – 20kHz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -39db
• Battery: 100mAh Lithium-Polymer
• Play Time: 8 Hours @ 50% Volume
• Charging Time: 2 Hours
• Weight: 28 Grams (0.98 Ounce)
• Profile: HSP 1.2, HFP 1.6, A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5

Package
• Bluetooth 4.1 Headphones
• 3 Pair Silicone Ear Tips (S, M, L)
• 1 Pair Memory Foam Ear Tips

Contents
• Magnetic Clip
• 19″ Micro USB Charging Cable
• Quick Start Guide

Audio Performance

Amazon 
• Lady Gaga – Born This Way
• Lana Del Rey – Born To Die, Paradise
• The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
• My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

Music Playlist
• Muse – Absolution
• Zedd – Clarity
• The Black Keys – El Camino
• 30 Seconds To Mars – 30 Seconds To Mars

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Per Michael Leonhard, President of Moshi, “Mythro Air and Vortex Air are designed to deliver the ideal Bluetooth audio experience for the everyday commuter and traveler. Compact and light, our new Bluetooth audio lines are built with sound quality, ergonomics and battery life in mind to provide a pristine audio experience.”

As we often state when reviewing headphones, the most important performance factor is the quality of sound. I tested the Vortex Air with a broad range of music per the list above. In my review of Moshi’s Mythro Air, I made comparisons against the Monster iSport SuperSlim Bluetooth wireless in-ear sport headphones and the Decibullz Custom-Fit Bluetooth wireless earphones. Since the Mythro Air outperformed both competitors, there was no point to review against them again. Rather, I reviewed the Vortex Air against the Mythro Air.

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones ReviewIn the Moshi Avanti and Mythro Air reviews, I noted that “the sound across the 15Hz – 20kHz spectrum was rather good.” With the Vortex Air, the gaps (particularly with the bass) I noticed with the Mythro Air have been closed.

Having reviewed the Mythro Air, I already knew rock music would perform well. I was not disappointed. The playback of both Muse and 30 Seconds To Mars was incredible and performed per my expectations. So I needed to kick it up a notch.

Remember the Megabus ride I wrote about in the opening paragraph? This drive was the perfect opportunity to test the Vortex Air with My Chemical Romance and The Prodigy. Say what you want about these two groups, they are talented artists and have millions of fans worldwide. And having seen both groups live in concert, those memories are ingrained in me.

If I were in a less public space, I would have totally rocked out and started my own mosh pit. There aren’t many wireless in-ear headphones that can transport me back to a concert to relive it between my ears. While the driver would have objected, I so wanted to get up and mosh with the other passengers on tracks like The Prodigy’s Thunder and Take Me To The Hospital. The same can be said with tracks from The Black Parade.

The vocals of Lana Del Rey and Lady Gaga were sharp and vivid, just like with the Mythro Air. Throughout all the listed albums, keyboards and lower frequency bass and percussion sounds were pronounced and defined. The Vortex Air headphones blew me away.

There aren't many wireless in-ear headphones that can transport me back to a concert to relive it between my ears. Click To Tweet

I nearly forgot to mention that switching back and forth between music and incoming calls worked like a charm.

Read:   Here are the Audio-Technica Headphones set for release in 2017

Moshi Apps

Burn-In Tool App

Moshi takes the earphones/headphones market with a high level of seriousness, so much so that they offer an app which assists with the burn in of their products. The app called Burn-in Tool is available via Apple’s iTunes and Google Play Store. We’ve sampled dozens of earphones 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 Android-based Motorola Moto X Pure and Google Pixel mobile phones 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 plan to use Burn-in Tool, I highly recommend you place your mobile phone and earphones 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.

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Bluetooth Audio App

Currently available only on Apple’s iTunes, Moshi offers its Bluetooth Audio app. This app provides customized support for Moshi’s Vortex Air headphones. According to Moshi, this app allows for the following:

  • Use their proprietary DJ4two™ functionality that lets your friend listen to the same music you’re listening to so you can enjoy your commuting and traveling together.
  • Lets you adjust and save your preferred equalizer settings for a truly customized listening experience.
  • It provides battery level status, so you know how much power is left in your Bluetooth headset.
  • Lets you set the alarm when the battery life is low, lets you change your headset’s device name, enables auto power-off, and shows a list of accessories that are currently paired.

Conclusion

In my testing, the Vortex Air earphones from Moshi performed phenomenally. The production of strong, clear vocals, guitar, and bass was a breeze for the Vortex Air.

It’s easy to say that the Vortex Air are now my go-to Bluetooth headphones. I can only imagine how much better they would sound if I had accessed an equalizer. Finally, I had a pair of Bluetooth in-ear headphones that could play my music library the way I expected it to sound.

Moshi Vortex Air Headphones ReviewWhile these aren’t dedicated sport headphones, I still needed to test them during a cardio workout. The result was they performed quite well, holding in place when used with the memory foam ear tips. On the same workout, the silicone ear tips are likely to fall out from the constant movement, even with the use of the magnetic clip.

There was no issue when used during weight training or cycling. And the sound isolation from your surroundings is excellent.

Just like the Mythro Air, these headphones are quite comfortable even after many hours of continuous listening. As mentioned above, you won’t notice they’re in your ears after a short while. You can thank a minimalist design approach for this. At $120, the Vortex Air headphones are well-priced in the marketplace while outperforming much of its categories competition.

Have you tried Moshi’s Vortex Air 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.

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Moshi’s Press Page to see their latest announcements. The Vortex Air headphones come with a one-year limited end-user warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Moshi provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Mythro Air Dark Steel Bluetooth 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 © 2017.

Read:   Libratone One Click Speaker Review

Filed Under: Headphones Tagged With: bluetooth, headphones, In-Ear Headphones, Moshi, Vortex Air 03/06/2017

Introducing the Mezco One 12 Punisher Action Figure

03/03/2017 By Hakan Can

Mezco One 12 Punisher action figure

Mezco Toyz Introduces their One:12 Collective Classic Punisher Action Figure for 2017

Available for shipment in Q2 2017 comes the latest creation from the folks at Mezco Toyz — the One:12 Collective Classic Punisher action figure. This limited edition Classic Punisher is the newest Marvel Universe character to be added to their roster of deluxe figures.

Per the release, “When veteran war hero Frank Castle’s family is slain he vows vengeance becoming the Punisher. This Classic Version features the iconic black and white look the Punisher wore when first introduced. Meticulously developed to capture the intensity of the character and outfitted on a One:12 Collective body, the figure has impressive details. The final product creates a menacing look reflecting the characters severity.”

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Should you happen to be attending Toy Fair NY this February, head over the the Mezco Toyz booth and check out their current and future line of figures and dolls. You won’t be disappointed. Limited to 400 units, this figure is scheduled for shipment on April 1st. Pricing is set at $85 per unit + freight. Figures are deliverable only within the USA.

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Deadpool Action Figure

One:12 Collective Punisher

Exclusive
• 1:12 scaled, classic real fabric uniform with Death’s head insignia, white gloves, boots, and load bearing vest
• Three (3) head portraits including standard, alternative portraits 1 & 2
• Over 32 points of articulation
• Hand painted authentic detailing
• Highly detailed weaponry

Features
• Eight (8) pairs of interchangeable hands including:
• One (1) pair of fists (Left & Right)
• One (1) pair of holding hands (Left & Right)
• One (1) pair of posing hands style A (Left & Right)
• One (1) karate strike hand (Right)
• One (1) posing hand style B (Left)
• Over 16 cm tall

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Costume and Accessories

Costume
• Classic white armored skull load bearing vest with belt and knife sheath
• Sculpted white gloves on each hand
• Classic white boots
• White shoulder holster
• White thigh holster

Accessories
• One (1) knife
• One (1) revolver
• One (1) 9mm handgun
• One (1) tactical rifle
• One (1) sawed-off shotgun
• One (1) Display base with posing post

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

The Wrap

Per Mezco Toyz, “each figure is packaged in a deluxe, collector friendly box designed with collectors in mind.”

If you’re a collector of limited edition, deluxe action figures or a fan of Frank Castle’s vengeance-filled persona, this Mezco One 12 Punisher action figure is perfect for you. Don’t hesitate to check out the Mezco Toyz Marvel Universe page to see the latest Marvel Comics character announcements.

Follow Mezco Toyz and Beantown Review on any of the following social media platforms:

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FTC Disclosure: This writer is not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Mezco Toyz © 2017.

Read:   Introducing the Mezco One 12 Harley Quinn Action Figure

Filed Under: Toying Around Tagged With: Action Figure, Classic Punisher, Marvel Universe, Mezco Toyz, The Punisher 03/03/2017

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