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BenQ SW240 PhotoVue Monitor Review

08/08/2018 By Hakan Can

BenQ SW240 monitor review

On the last day of May, BenQ introduced their latest PhotoVue photographer monitor to Press and attendees at Photoshop World. This new monitor, the SW240, adds to the PhotoVue family of monitors which we last saw at PhotoPlus Expo. The 24.1″ 1920 x 1200 sized 10-bit display is ideal for hobbyists or those looking at a career in photography. You see, the SW240 covers 95% DCI-P3, 99% of Adobe RGB, and 100% sRGB color space, which makes it the logical choice.  Want to know if this display hit its intended mark? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this BenQ SW240 monitor review.

Pros:
• Well-constructed monitor with thin bezel
• Great user experience with menu layout
• Plenty of port connections
• 16:10 Aspect Ratio (1920 x 1200 resolution)
• 10-bit Color Display
• 95% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB, & 100% sRGB Color Space
• On-display Color Mode HotKey
• Factory calibration report

Cons:
• Lacks 4K Resolution capability
• Lacks HDR10 capability
• No USB-C port
• No DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable included

Read:   Headphones: Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Review

Is PhotoVue for You? BenQ SW240 Monitor Review

BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the ASUS VN289
BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the BenQ SW240

Per the Press Release, “As the front runner of the professional monitor industry, BenQ has never slowed down but sought out further improvement for photographers, especially in the respect of the quality of color reproduction, viewing comfort and user convenience. The SW240 is no different; with its 99% Adobe RGB wide color gamut which offers an impressive range of vibrant colors, it’s the perfect piece of professional equipment, where the user can save money against other similar spec models, without a compromise on quality. With the help of BenQ’s Palette Master Element Calibration software, users can tune and maintain the color at its most optimal state and adjust the image processing chip in the monitor without changing the graphics card output data. It keeps the images consistent with its original copies, without being affected by graphic settings.”

SW240 Design, Features, et al

For a 24″ photography monitor, the BenQ SW240 sure seems to pack in a lot of features.

Even though it’s a thin-bezel unit, the SW240 appears no different than most monitors on the outside. But when you plug it in and turn it on for the first time, you’ll see just how different it actually is. It’s all about the colors. No, you’re not tripping on acid, because you didn’t take any acid. The color reproduction is just that good. It’s something very positive to be said about BenQ’s AQCOLOR Technology.

This 10-bit, non-HDR display with 99% Adobe RGB color space sure brings an image to life. If that color mode isn’t your fancy, there’s a hot key which can quickly switch the display to sRGB or Black & White.

Just take a look at each side-by-side comparison of the same “Colorful Birds theme” 8-bit images on the 28″ ASUS VN289 versus the 24″ BenQ SW240. Which ones do you prefer?

BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the ASUS VN289
BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the BenQ SW240

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I stated “8-bit” as my Nvidia GTX 970 graphics card isn’t capable of displaying a 10-bit image. (A 10-bit image can display 1.08 billion colors.) Can you imagine how much better the photo would be in 10-bit or even HDR for that matter? It’s a shame the SW240 can’t display HDR. Of all the features that I wish were in this monitor but aren’t, HDR is the one I would wish for the most. Regardless, I’d say it’s time to upgrade to a 10-series graphics card.

Now, the SW240 cannot display anything above 1920 x 1200 resolution. I know, this is a bummer, but hear me out. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio to properly display two A4-sized images simultaneously. This is huge for many photographers, and something I didn’t think of early on in this review. If this monitor had 2K or 4K capability, then the price would increase by a couple of hundred dollars or more from its current list price of $399.

Ask yourself the following question: Would you want to spend $600 or more on a 24″ monitor? I’m guessing No.

BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the ASUS VN289
BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the BenQ SW240

You may also be wondering why doesn’t the SW240 have HDMI v2.0 or DisplayPort v1.4 connections or HDCP 2.2 specs like its larger siblings, the SW271 and SW320. If the monitor doesn’t have a greater than 1920 x 1200 capability, then the monitor doesn’t need the higher version specifications.

All four PhotoVue monitors come with the Palette Master Element calibration software, but to get it to work, you’ll need one of the following supported calibrators: X-Rite i1 Display Pro, i1 Pro, i1 Pro 2, or the Datacolor Spyder 4 or 5. (A link to the first one is provided at the bottom of this page.) We won’t be delving into the operation of the Palette Master Element software or any calibration tool as we don’t physically have the latter. You can download the 17-page How-To Guide under the Support tab.

On the left and rear of the monitor is a healthy list of ports to connect a computer. See the images and bullet list below.

BenQ SW240 monitor review

BenQ SW240 Monitor Rear Ports Image

Rear Ports:
• AC Power
• DVI-D
• HDMI (v 1.4)
• DisplayPort (v 1.2)
• USB (Upstream)
• Headphone/Speaker

Side Ports:
• Two USB (Downstream)
• SD card slot

If you’re using a dual monitor arrangement, access to the left ports is a breeze. If your setup is like mine, that is the SW240 on the right, then connecting to the side ports requires a couple more steps.

The monitor also comes with a stand and base which can be oriented in both landscape and portrait arrangements. If you’re a fashion or runway photographer, the latter will come in most handy. See Pages 10-11 of the User manual. Add the optional SH240 shading hood to the monitor, and you can better focus on the imagery before you. See Pages 17-21 of the User Manual.

BenQ SW240 monitor review

BenQ SW240 Monitor Left Side Ports Image

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The SW240 Control Panel

The control panel on this monitor couldn’t be easier to navigate and customize, that is unless it accepted voice commands. I think I may have just given BenQ an idea for a future monitor. Much can be done within the on screen display menu so we’ll leave it to you folks to experiment with. Please see Pages 32-49 of the User Manual for more information.BenQ SW240 monitor review

Specifications (Partial List)

• Screen Size: 24.1 Inches
• Maximum Resolution: 1920 x 1200
• Backlight: LED
• Brightness: 250
• Native Contrast: 1000:1
• Dynamic Contrast: 20 Million:1
• Viewing Angle: 178°/178°
• Response Time: 5 ms (GtG)
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
• Display Colors: 1.07 Billion
• Color Bit: 10
• Display Area: 20.41″ x 12.75″

• Color Mode: Adobe RGB, sRGB, Rec 709, DCI-P3, B&W, Darkroom, DICOM, Calibration 1-3, Custom 1-2
• Color Temp: 5000°K, 6500°K, 9300°K, User Mode
• Gamma: 1.6 – 2.6
• K Locker: Yes
• Languages: 18 (English, French, etc.)
• HDCP: 1.4
• 3D-LUT: 14 Bits
• Delta E: ≤ 2
• Voltage Rating: 100 – 240 Volts
• Power Consumption: 55 Watts (On)
• Operating Temp: 0°C – 40°C

BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the ASUS VN289
BenQ SW240 monitor review
“Beautiful Birds” on the BenQ SW240

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What’s In The Box?

• Monitor & Stand
• Factory Calibration Report
• Limited Warranty Paperwork
• Registration Card
• Quick Start Guide

• Power Cord
• USB Cable
• DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort Cable
• DVI-DL Cable
• CD w/Driver and Manuals

Final Thoughts

The BenQ SW240 PhotoVue monitor is a giant leap above the traditional desktop monitor.

This 24.1″ 10-bit color display with its color mode hotkey produces an image in 95% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB, or 100% sRGB color space. That alone is impressive. And the menu is so simple to navigate and customize. Some of you may squawk about the $399 price, but I believe it to be fair.

With all of this said, this PhotoVue monitor from BenQ is a serious contender against high-end graphics monitors from other top brands. Minus the previously stated wished-for features like 4K and HDR, I enjoy using this monitor daily and can easily recommend it to all our readers who wish to learn more about photography.

Just between us, I can’t wait to part ways with the Asus and place another BenQ PhotoVue (or VideoVue) monitor next to it.

What do you think of this BenQ SW240 monitor review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

• Follow BenQ America on Twitter
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The BenQ SW240 photographer monitor comes with a three-year limited warranty on backlight, parts, and labor. If you’re looking for the latest SW240 manuals and guides, click the link here. Under the Software Tab, you’ll find the latest SW240 driver and Palette Master Element software. Don’t hesitate to head over to the BenQ News page to see their most recent announcements.

FTC Disclosure: BenQ provided Beantown LLC with one (1) SW240 PhotoVue monitor sample for review purposes. BenQ was not involved in the writing of this review although feedback to questions was provided. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador for the brand.

All photographs minus one are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2018. Side-by-side comparison photos were taken with the Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone.

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Filed Under: For Your Eyes Only, Hardware Tagged With: BenQ, monitor, Photography, PhotoVue, SW240, SW271 08/11/2018

Enermax Ostrog ADV Case Review

08/07/2017 By Zach Can

Enermax Ostrog ADV case review

Over the past year, Enermax has given us at Beantown a taste of their higher tier products such as the Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU. Now it was time we checked out one of their cases. The Ostrog ADV mid tower case comes in three distinct colors: red, green, and blue. It has some defining features such as its wide array of light emitting diodes, a variety of lighting options, and its tool-less design. So, is the case worth your hard-earned money? Let’s find out and take a closer look in this Enermax Ostrog ADV case review.

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Read:   Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU Review

Enermax Ostrog ADV Case Review

Design

Looking at the front of the case there’s a large acrylic window to the left with the standard black metal panel to the right. At the top of the front panel, there are three small metal mesh grills. These grills can be removed by pressing on the tabs to install your Blu-ray or DVD drives (or other various utilities.) Below this area is a large grill which can just as easily be removed. Behind that houses two 120 mm, 6-mode Vegas LED fans. The outline of the front panel is that of one giant LED strip.

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Moving to the top of the case are a series of buttons, lights, inputs, and one switch. On the lower row you’ll notice the restart button, hard drive activity LED, power LED, power button and the 3-speed fan controller. Fan speeds are 900, 1200, and 1500 rpm. The upper row features two USB 3.0 slots, microphone and headphone inputs, two USB 2.0 slots, and the lighting setting button. After that is a large metal mesh grill which is easily removed by a pull tab and outlined with another LED light strip.

On the back side panel of the case is your standard hole for the motherboard and removable grills for a video card. It’s worth noting that the video card grills match the color you’ve selected for the case. It should also be pointed out that your VGA card should not exceed a length of 414 mm.

Looking to install more fans, you can do so. Just check the specs below for the details.

The overall dimensions of the Ostrog ADV case are 19.41″ x 8.46″ x 20.31″. As you can see from these values, this case is quite a bit larger than the typical mid-tower case. The weight of the unit is 15.8 lbs.

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Specifications

Enermax Ostrog ADV case review

Inside the Ostrog ADV

Depending on the color you chose, the backing on the inside will match. Looking in from the acrylic panel are six hard drive bays with three smaller drive bays on top. There are plenty of gaps throughout the case to thread wiring and even to bundle up wiring, with rubber grommets offering additional protection. There’s a third fan (an Enerflo model) in the top left corner. Installation of my hardware into the case was a breeze which took about an hour max. Everything was visible and right out into the open.

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There’s ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX support, sufficient room around the top of the case to install water cooling, and the hard drive cage is removable for those huge graphic cards. There’s even plenty of color coordination inside to go along with the LED lighting making the case Pop.

Enermax Ostrog ADV case review

There are two issues worth noting. The first point of concern is the amount of space between the right-side case cover and behind the main board tray, where all the hard drives are stored and connected in. The website states “a comfortable cable routing behind the mainboard tray.” It didn’t feel like that. I have four hard drives, and the amount of space that they provide you is minimal. I literally had to force the wires in to get the case cover on, which in turn makes it difficult to get the case on.

The second issue and one probably unique to us is the top piece of the case was cracked upon delivery. This crack could a problem with the design of the top piece, or it could be a packaging or shipping issue. We’ll never know for sure, but it’s something we passed along to Enermax.

A replacement part was issued, but when it arrived, it was missing a ton of wiring, a couple of the wire caps, and even the power button. Fortunately, we saved the original top piece, taking the missing materials from one and transferring to the other. We were a little disappointed that the new top piece didn’t incorporate the missing materials.

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Conclusion

All-in-all, the Ostrog ADV is a fairly well-designed case which we enjoy using to this day. It’s vibrant and color-filled with red LED lighting. We did notice a couple of things that were a cause for concern. Some paint chipped off when we removed the video card grills, and a there’s a shortage of space to plug in your hard drives. We feel this latter one may be a big issue for consumers.

The Enermax Ostrog ADV case lists for $120 and is available for purchase at Fry’s, Newegg, and Amazon (see link below.) If you need an upgrade and some additional room in a mid-tower computer case, plus sick bright LED lighting, this is it.

[envira-gallery id=”8836″]

What do you think of this Enermax Ostrog ADV case review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

Don’t hesitate to head over to the Enermax homepage to see their current line-up of products. The Enermax Ostrog ADV case comes with a 1-year warranty. Should you need to reach Customer Support, click on this link.

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FTC Disclosure: Enermax provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Enermax Ostrog ADV Red chassis 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 Enermax or Beantown LLC © 2017.

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Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Hardware Tagged With: Enermax, mid-tower case, Ostrog ADV, Ostrog Advance 08/09/2017

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

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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″]
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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

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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
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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.

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

Sit or Stand? The ErgotronHome Hub27 Desk Review

11/10/2016 By Hakan Can

ErgotronHome Hub27 desk review

Review: The ErgotronHome Hub27 Wall Mounted Desk & Organizer

As an “honoree” recipient of the 2016 CES Innovation Awards, the Hub27 from ErgotronHome is like a murphy bed for your desk. Ideal for dorm rooms, small city apartments or any cramped spaces; the Hub27 is a wall-mounted desk that folds up to maximize space and optimize organization. With a thoughtfully engineered design and customizable features, the Hub27 is the perfect way to take control of a tight or disorderly space. Organize your clutter with this innovative product. Let’s take a closer look in this ErgotronHome Hub27 desk review.

ErgotronHome Hub27 desk review

Pros:
• High-Quality Materials
• Customizable Inserts
• Minimalist Modern Design

Cons:
• Heavy Construction

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Design Features

I was pleasantly surprised with the intelligent design and sturdy construction of the Hub27. The dimensions of the Hub27 are 27.3” W x 20.3” H x 3” D.

When I initially viewed the product online, it appeared to be lightweight, perhaps made of plastic. But when a large package arrived at my address, I tried to pick it up and knew right away that this was a heavy-duty product. The white cabinet is made out of metal, and the drop down desktop is frosted glass.

The inside of the desk reveals horizontal sliding bars, which allow you to snap on a series of white plastic organizers that help you contain your cables, store your pens, dock you iPad, iPhone or any other electronic devices. The Hub27 need not be limited to storing electronic devices. It can be used as a kids craft station, an artist dock, kitchen storage, dorm essentials, or in a small home as an office setting. Additionally, at the base of the unit, there is a trough for collecting extra cable and keeping your desk neat and tidy. Two latches on the sides of the frosted glass allow you to adjust the height of the desktop.

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Installation

In total, this unit weighs almost 40 pounds, so you have to be mindful when choosing its location on your wall. During my installation, I was initially concerned about the weight pulling it out of the drywall; I attempted to align the top screws with studs in the wall, but because of the tight placement in my particular space, I could not find one that lined up correctly.

After using a level to ensure the unit was mounted evenly at both ends, I secured all four points in the sheet rock with the included drywall screw set. After fixing the Hub27 to the wall, I gave it a slight push in every direction to ensure that it was tight. I was impressed with how well it held to the drywall without a stud to support it. The manufacturer sets a weight limit at 25 pounds, so I would not treat this as a high chair, but the 25-pound limit proved to be more than adequate for a laptop, cell phone and many of the miscellaneous items that you would store in a desk.

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Conclusion

What I find coolest about the Hub27 is the versatility of its application. This product is sold and advertised as a home desk, but that does not mean you can only put your laptop and pencils in it. The Hub27 would work great in a kitchen, garage, home studio, or really anywhere that you need to save space in an efficient way – the applications are endless.

The thoughtful design and quality construction materials used to create the Hub27 far exceeded my expectations. My reservations about the weight pulling it out of the drywall were quickly dispelled after the install.

All in all, this is a very cool and highly useful product that would significantly improve any space you placed it in.

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The list price of the Hub27 is $349.99. It’s currently available on Amazon (see link at bottom) and Staples. In the USA, the HUB27 comes with a 5-year limited warranty from date of original purchase.

Do you own a Hub27? Do you agree (or disagree) with any part of this ErgotronHome Hub27 desk review? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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

FTC Disclosure: ErgotronHome provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Hub27 desk sample for review purposes. These writers opinion are 100% their own and not a paid product ambassadors.

Editor’s Note: This review was co-written with Elliott Hall who tested the product.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2016.

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Filed Under: For the Home Tagged With: ErgotronHome, Hub27, standing desk 11/15/2016

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.

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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.

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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™

Read:   New Trident Samsung Galaxy Note7 Case Models Are Introduced

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

Gaming: Gamdias HERMES 7 Color Keyboard Review

09/21/2016 By Zach Can

Gamdias Hermes 7 Color Keyboard Review

Review: Gamdias HERMES 7 Color Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Gamdias, Gamdias, Gamdias. Does the name sound familiar? If it does congratulations, either you’re familiar with the brand or you’ve read our recently published HERMES RGB Keyboard review. If you haven’t heard the name, then shame on you! While rather new to the marketplace, Gamdias is a good, up-and-coming gaming company who stand by their motto of “Gaming Art in Motion.” Believe it, their HERMES keyboards and ZEUS mice look crazy all lit up with these zany lighting effects. In this review, we dive into one of their ‘art-pieces,’ the HERMES 7 Color mechanical gaming keyboard. So without any further delay. Welcome to our Gamdias HERMES 7 Color Keyboard review.

Introducing the HERMES 7 Color Keyboard

Gamdias Hermes 7 Color Keyboard Review

Read:   Gamdias HERMES RGB Keyboard Review

Design Features

I’m going to start off on a bizarre note. It has to do with the seven colors of the HERMES 7 Color keyboard, so I’ll get right to it. Unless I’m color blind, and I’m fairly sure that I am not, there are only six colors on the HERMES 7 Color keyboard: green, blue, violet, pink, orange, and red. Look at the pictures here and on the Gamdias website. Can you spot all seven colors? I’ve looked everywhere, and the theory I have is that the Num-lock “panel” lights up a different shade of red than the red that lights up the bottom row. Like I said, it’s a weird note about the lighting, but an interesting observation as the packaging states “7 Color.”

Gamdias Hermes 7 Color Keyboard Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES E1 Keyboard Combo Review

Moving on, the HERMES 7 Color keyboard has a pleasant aesthetic that I thoroughly enjoy; even more so than the HERMES RGB. The keys are raised, at which point you can see all the lights underneath them. The keys have metal plate stabilizers for added durability. I noticed some reviewers complained, but I believe metal plate stabilizers adds to the keyboard quite well. The HERMES 7 Color is not as compact as the HERMES RGB. The former’s exact dimensions are 18.03 x 8.66 x 1.73 inches. What it lacks in compactness, it makes up for in comfort. The former has a larger wrist plate.

The keys are a bit touchy; it doesn’t take much force at all (45cN) for it to register as a key press. Key presses are quite audible and might drive a few people mental if you’re in the same room with them. Aforementioned occurred with said reviewer using said keyboard while writing this review.

The HERMES 7-Color keyboard has its Windows key on the left side, not on the right side like that of the HERMES RGB keyboard. And now, the Fn key is on the right side of the keyboard, unlike the HERMES RGB, where it’s on the left. As someone who uses the left Windows key a lot, this design choice pleases me. If you like it on the right, like on the HERMES RGB, then great. What I’m saying is it comes down to personal preference.

Gamdias Hermes 7 Color Keyboard Review

Wondering about N-key rollover? There’s no need to. Here are the 21 keys: Q, W, E, R, U, I, O, P, \, 7, 8, 9, +, Enter, Backspace, F9, F10, F11, F12, Scroll, and Pause. (Yes, this took a bit of research.)

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Performance

When it comes to features, this keyboard is very similar to the HERMES RGB. It has the media player shortcuts, a keyboard lock, etc. There’s the “Gaming” lock/button which locks out the Windows key. There are options for brightness control, the ability to change the light pattern speed, and capacity to swap WASD to the arrow keys. The scroll lock notification is still missing from the Num-Lock panel while the key to right click on the keyboard is there. Each key has a 50 million button life cycle.

Gamdias Hermes 7 Color Keyboard ReviewBoth (HERMES 7 Color and RGB) keyboards have very stiff legs to pull up. The HERMES 7 Color legs aren’t as troublesome as the HERMES RGB, but still, I needed a flat head screwdriver to pull them up due to the lack of available finger space. Like the HERMES RGB, the HERMES 7 Color keyboard has Gamdias certified Kailh blue mechanical switches/TTC switches, and the whole thing is connected in with one USB.

They differ in lighting options, size, an extra feature on the HERMES 7 Color, the absence of any macro keys for the keyboard and the fact that the keyboard is not Hera-supported. The HERMES 7 Color keyboard has nine preset lighting modes, while the HERMES RGB has thirteen modes. A couple of these modes are the same on each keyboard. The nine lightning modes are as follows: Normal, Wave, Breathing, Circular Marquees, Marquee, Colored Ribbon, Rotation, Responsive Fade Out, and Ripple. My two favorites are the Colored Ribbon and Ripple as they have the most interesting patterns to them.

The keyboard also has five customizable profiles where you can choose which keys to light up. The HERMES RGB is the same way, but the HERMES 7 Color does this without the HERA software. One big difference is that each key on the HERMES RGB can light up with a unique color, while on the HERMES 7 Color, the color goes by row. As an example, the row containing the “Esc” key and “Pause Break” is green and only green.

[envira-gallery id=”6158″]

The extra feature on this HERMES 7 Color keyboard is the Consecutive Attack Mode which is activated as quickly as changing the lighting mode. Once it’s enabled, you just press and hold down whatever key you used to attack, and you won’t have to spam it anymore. The keyboard doesn’t have any special macro keys. Since I never use macros, it’s not a problem for me.

You can take the absence of the HERA software as a good or bad thing. Personally, I like its absence because I felt the software was a bit sluggish and buggy, though it got the job done.

Read:   Gamdias ZEUS eSport Laser Gaming Mouse Review

Conclusion

I truly like this HERMES 7 Color mechanical gaming keyboard. I like the feel, the aesthetic, and all the color schemes. This keyboard is going to be my principal gaming keyboard until such time when something significantly better comes along.

I don’t have any huge complaints with this keyboard. If I had to pick one, it would be the design itself, not on the keys, just the outside of the keyboard, the outline if you will, is somewhat plain.

The list price of the HERMES 7 Color Keyboard is $99. Fortunately, you can get it for around $50 at Amazon (see link at the bottom of this post.) If you’re looking for a replacement or just tired of your old keyboard, we suggest you pick this one up. In the US, each gaming keyboard comes with a 1-year warranty from date of purchase.

If you’re looking for that entry-level or lower-priced mechanical gaming keyboard, we can definitively say the Hermes 7 Color is a great choice. We recommend you check out this product before making your next purchase.[soliloquy id=”6139″]

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.

Feel free to follow Gamdias on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Gamdias website to see their latest gaming hardware.

FTC Disclosure: Gamdias provided Beantown LLC with one (1) HERMES 7 Color Keyboard sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and is not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC and Gamdias © 2016.

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Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Hardware Tagged With: 7 Color, Gamdias, gaming keyboard, Hermes 12/09/2016

Gamdias HERMES RGB Keyboard Review

09/10/2016 By Zach Can

Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard Review

Gamdias, what’s that? My friends, Gamdias is a relatively new company into the gaming hardware and peripherals market. It’s only been four years since they arrived on the scene. On the Gamdias homepage, they showcase their lineup of gaming keyboards, mice, headphones, mouse pads and other accessories. How do we know if their gear is worth your hard-earned money? Well, that’s why you’re, here isn’t? Below, we answer these questions. So without any further delay. Welcome to our Gamdias HERMES RGB Keyboard review.

Review: Gamdias Hermes RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES 7 Color Keyboard Review

Design Features

The HERMES RGB is mechanical gaming keyboard with a 50 million push button life cycle. It comes with 16.8 million colors and 13 different lighting effects to choose from. Of these 13, two in particular: “Wave” and “Rainbow Drops,” are very cool. You can change the brightness (4 levels) and speed of the effects to your liking. The brains of the keyboard lie in the ARM® Cortex®-M3 32-bit microprocessor. Unlike its sister keyboard, the HERMES 7 Color, this keyboard has a small, non-removable “wrist plate.” Again, in contrast to the HERMES 7 Color, this keyboard is more compact. Its exact dimensions are 17.3 x 6.7 x 1.46 inches. Personally speaking, while I don’t find the size of the keyboard uncomfortable, I think it would fare better with a slightly bigger “wrist plate.”

Flipping the keyboard over, you’ll notice three channels to direct the braided cable. While this is good design, the keyboard legs are not. Trying to raise the keyboard legs is not so easy as there’s hardly any space to insert a finger or thumb. The HERMES 7 Color is better in this regards. And unlike say the Logitech G710 series keyboard; the HERMES RGB has only one USB connector to plug into your desktop.

Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES E1 Keyboard Combo Review

The HERMES RGB keyboard comes with your standard Num-Lock, Caps-Lock, and Scroll-Lock, but it has another lock which is appropriately titled “Gaming.” Enabling “Gaming” disables the Windows key preventing any accidental press of the Windows key fatal. One thing that’s a bit odd is in the top right corner where it shows locks are enabled, it only has three: Num-Lock, Caps-Lock, and Gaming. Scroll Lock isn’t shown at all. The key is there and still toggles, but you have to remember if you left it on or off because it isn’t displayed. Fortunately, I don’t know a single person that uses it.

Wondering about N-key rollover? There’s no need to. Here are the 21 keys: Q, W, E, R, U, I, O, P, \, 7, 8, 9, +, Enter, Backspace, F9, F10, F11, F12, Scroll, and Pause. (Yes, this took a bit of research.)

Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard Review

You can also completely lock the keyboard out, for when you want to vacuum it or pull a key out. A key puller is supplied as part of the package contents. It has the now standard media player controls such as “Previous”, “Next”, “Pause/Play”, “Mute”, “Audio Down”, and “Audio Up”. You can switch “WASD” to the arrow keys and vice versa. Another strange quirk is on the lower left of the keyboard where the Windows Button would be. It’s missing. There’s no actual Windows key, having been replaced with the Fn key. Now, it turns out there is a Windows key, but it’s shared with a “Game” key with the Windows logo beneath it.

On the HERMES 7-Color keyboard, the Fn key and the Windows key are still there. I don’t know about you, but I’m used to the left Windows key. On the right of the keyboard is the only remaining Windows key next to a “right-click” button. It performs the action of right-clicking on the mouse. The icon is a little strange looking, kind of like a pair of headphones eating a string. Seriously.

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Performance

I had hoped to get through this Gamdias HERMES RGB keyboard review without mentioning anything bad, as the keyboard is quite good.

Speaking of that good, the keys press smoothly and evenly. And the sound they make when pressed it just right. They’re not loud, soft, or annoying. This keyboard utilizes ABS plastic key covers and Kailh blue switches. These switches require 45cN of pressure to actuate. These key covers are made of one plastic, while the lettering of another. You’re going to have to work very hard to get the lettering to come off.

[envira-gallery id="5871"]

Sadly, and this is my personal take, HERA is a bit of a pain.  This software has to be installed if you want to use all the keyboard features. These features include the following: macros, re-assigning keys, customizing the keyboard lights, setting up sounds and timer, editing the alarm sound for the timer, and setting macro timers. It’s a slow software, with some glitches. The problems with it are a bit larger than I would have liked.

I want to enforce the hardware is great, but the software is not up to par. The software saves every change into 1 of 6 profiles which are stored into the keyboard itself. The HERMES RGB keyboard comes with only two macro keys “G1” and “G2,” not as many as say the Logitech G710. You can trick the HERMES RGB keyboard and assign two macros into each of the six profiles for a total of 12 macros. You can assign the sounds to different keys to give yourself a makeshift soundboard. I found the timer function unnecessary for my needs.

Read:   Gamdias ZEUS eSport Laser Gaming Mouse Review

Conclusion

The good thing is you don’t have to use the HERA software to enjoy the Gamdias HERMES RGB keyboard. You can still change the lighting effects using the shortcuts Gamdias placed on the keyboard. But, like I said earlier, you wouldn’t be able to customize them.

My biggest complaint on the HERMES RGB keyboard is the missing left Windows key; it bugs me. And hopefully, you can overlook the delays and bugs in the HERA software. The keyboard itself is beautiful and sturdy. The LED lights are bright and vibrant.

The list price of the HERMES RGB Keyboard is $129.99. Fortunately, you can get it for $85-90 on any given day at Amazon (see link at the bottom of this post.) Don’t hesitate to head over to the Gamdias homepage to see their current line-up of products. The Hermes P1 RGB Mechanical keyboard comes with a 1-year + 2-months warranty.

If you’re looking for a mid-priced mechanical gaming keyboard, we can definitively say the HERMES RGB is a good one. We recommend you check out this product before making your next purchase.[soliloquy id=”5868″]

What do you think of this Gamdias Hermes RGB keyboard review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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FTC Disclosure: Gamdias provided Beantown LLC with one (1) HERMES RGB keyboard sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and is not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC and Gamdias © 2016.

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Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Hardware Tagged With: Gamdias, Gaming, Hermes, Keyboard 08/24/2017

Triby Review: Alexa Smart Speaker

08/23/2016 By Elliott Hall

Triby review

Triby Review: The Portable Voice-Enabled Smart Speaker with Amazon’s Alexa

Have you ever imagined the future and wondered what technology in the home would be like? Would we be floating around on Back to the Future II hover boards or living with a robot maid like The Jetsons? While the 21st Century has brought us flying jetpacks and iRobot vacuum cleaners, there is intelligent software residing in US homes, and it goes by the name “Alexa.” Alexa is Amazon’s wireless, voice-activated digital assistant. Alexa can be used to play music, set alarms, make calls, control smart lights, and so much more. Initially, the only product utilizing Alexa’s technology was Amazon’s “Echo” smart speaker. A new contender has entered the race following Amazon’s release of a free set of API’s that enable developers to integrate Alexa with any device that has a speaker, microphone, and Internet connection. Introducing Triby, the voice-enabled portable smart speaker from Invoxia.

Triby review

Triby Portable Smart Speaker

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Giveaway

Want to win this Triby? In cooperation with Invoxia, we’re giving away this Triby review sample beginning Monday at 11 PM through Noon January 10th. Enter the Giveaway. It could be yours soon after CES2017. If you’re heading to CES, please visit Invoxia at Booth 44303 at Sands Hall. Good Luck.

Introducing Triby

Triby is an alternate version of Amazon’s Echo; that utilizes the very same Alexa technology, but with a third-party design. Triby is a digital assistant capable of performing the same functions of the Echo, and even some unique ones. While this is not a review of the Alexa software, it is important to remember that Alexa is a lot like Siri, Apple’s voice-activated iPhone assistant. Though Alexa has far more capabilities than Siri, it is fundamentally similar software and is prone to the same issues you run into on your mobile device.

For instance: “Sorry, I didn’t understand the question I heard.”

The most important thing about Alexa is that it is a notable step towards a mainstream interface for controlling your smart home devices, the Internet of Things. With a little more intelligence, Alexa could become even more widely used software, across various devices. Now that Amazon has opened the door to third-party developers, there exists strong competition to the Echo, and that is how we find ourselves today with this Triby review.

Pros:
• Good Sound
• Screen/Message Board
• Alexa Technology
• Quality Construction
• Dedicated App

Cons:
• Bluetooth Issues
• Poor Battery Life
• Voice-Activation/Microphone Issues
• Magnetic Strips Could Harm Other Devices

 

Triby review

Triby Portable Smart Speaker

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Design

From a design perspective, Echo and Triby are nothing alike. The Echo is a tall, tubular speaker with buttons located at the top of the cylinder. You’ve probably seen the TV commercial starring Missy Elliott and Alec Baldwin.

The Triby has a much slimmer, square design, with ten buttons, a small e-ink screen, and a charging port. Though the design is unique with a modern/vintage combination, it is not the sleekest looking unit on the market.

The designers of Triby advise you to stick the device directly on your refrigerator, a central location in most homes, and somewhere that everyone in the house visits daily. On the back of the Triby are two vertical magnetic strips, which allow you to place it on any magnetic surface. Oddly enough, many fridges are not magnetic, but I found myself sticking the Triby all over the place from metal patio chairs to my dishwasher.

My only concern with the magnetic backing is that it could be harmful to some electronic devices such as your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop if you were to store it in your backpack or somewhere close to a similar device.

The Triby is wrapped in a non-skid rubber sleeve. There are four color options for the rubber sleeve (gray, green, blue, and red), so you can customize your Triby to match your personality or home décor.

Triby review

Triby Portable Smart Speaker

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Features & Performance

One of the features unique to the Triby is this sort of ‘modern-day sticky note’ style message board. From the Android of iOS app on your mobile phone, you can send messages or illustrations called “Doodles” from your phone to Triby. When the message is sent, the yellow message alert tab pops out of the side of Triby, and your message is displayed on the e-ink screen. Triby’s message board feature is a convenient alternative to texting for families who want to send messages to the home while they are away. It should be noted that the most recent message will be displayed. Past messages and read receipts can be seen via the app. Triby’s message board is one of the standout features that sets it apart from Amazon’s Echo, which does not offer an on-screen message function.

Triby review

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Now, according to publicly available data, 40% of US homes have removed their landlines. If you reside in the remaining 60% of US homes, Triby gives you yet another great reason to finally cut that cord. Through the integrated app, you can load contacts into your Triby and use it to make free Internet calls. Triby’s family phone is especially useful for parents, as children can access the pre-loaded contacts, and use the two dedicated phone buttons to safely call friends or family. Triby can handle voice recognition from up to 15 feet away. The one downside I found with calling on Triby is that it’s not capable of making or receiving emergency (911) calls.

For on-the-go music listeners, Triby has got your back. As a Bluetooth speaker, Triby excels! Though the device is small, the sound is big and warm. As with all Bluetooth devices, there can be a bit of ‘jumpy-ness’ to certain functions based on range, but aside from the occasionally sporadic volume adjustments, everything runs smoothly with Triby. If connected to WiFi, Triby can access Amazon Prime Music, iHeart Radio, Spotify Connect, TuneIn, and more just by a click of one of the two dedicated radio buttons. You can even assign your favorite playlists to the dedicated radio buttons and use them with Alexa disabled. Another great feature is that you can put multiple Triby’s on the same WiFi network and use them as an Intercom system. Each Triby receives a unique ID name.

Updated: In late August, Invoxia added a feature to Triby — an Alexa Tap to Talk mode. A number of users complained that Triby’s battery life wasn’t as long as they wanted. The issue was that the microphone was always on and waiting to hear the wake word. When charging Triby, there’s really no issue. You can either say the wake word or press the right side button to begin. When not charging, you must press the same button for Alexa to begin listening.

Activating the Tap to Talk mode is a snap. Make sure the Triby app is updated first. Go into Settings, and select Amazon Alexa. Here you activate/deactivate said mode. Check the upper left corner of the product screen for the microphone icon.

Speaking of Spotify, if you’re one of the first 100 to purchase a Triby beginning on Labor Day, you can get Spotify Premium for the next 3 months for free. Enter the Promo Code: SPOTIFY at checkout. It’s that simple.

[Tweet “As a Bluetooth speaker, Triby excels! Though the device is small, the sound is big and warm.”]

All in all, the design of Triby is quite good. The dedicated buttons make it convenient and quick to make calls as well as play music. The magnetic backing allows you to place the device in central locations in your home, without having to place it precariously or find table space. The message board feature is an excellent communication alternative for families or to leave a digital sticky note behind for the next user.

My only complaint about Triby’s on-screen interface is the lack of a constant battery meter. Since Triby is entirely portable, it needs to be recharged every 48 hours. It was inconvenient that I could not simply look at the corner of the screen and see how much ‘juice’ was left.

Lastly, and I am nitpicking here, it would have been nice to see a dedicated On/Off button for Triby. To power on the device, you hold the Play/Pause button for two seconds, at which point the screen will launch a prompt telling you that Triby is starting up. To power down the device, you hold the Play/Pause button for five seconds, at which point the on-screen prompt will ask for power down confirmation by pressing the first phone button. However, if you hold the Play/Pause button for longer than five seconds, nothing will happen, and you may find yourself pressing it a few more times while counting down the seconds to get it just right.

Ultimately, I found the On/Off functions to work fine but wonder why Triby’s designers did not include a dedicated power button among the other ten buttons.

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Editor’s Note

In my research on Triby, I encountered one particular Q&A between Triby Support. I felt it was worth sharing with you readers.

Question: “I already have an Echo near my kitchen. If I put a Triby withing ‘hearing’ distance of my Echo what happens when I say ‘Alexa’?”

Answer: “If your Echo is currently set to respond to the wake word ‘Alexa’ then, yes, both your Echo and Triby will respond to the same voice commands which could make things a bit tricky! That said, you could certainly change the wake word for your Echo to ‘Echo’ or ‘Amazon’ and keep Triby’s wake word as ‘Alexa.’ That way, you’ll get to deliver voice commands to the device of your choosing.”

Conclusion

Per Invoxia’s website “Alexa is capable of handling a wide array of tasks on a user’s command, from playing music from local and web-based libraries to searching the Internet for flight deals, to ordering a ride on Uber. And all of those skills, when packaged inside a portable speaker and communications hub, become Triby.”

Upon completing this thorough Triby review, I can wholeheartedly say I liked the Triby quite a bit. It is the first third-party product to use Alexa, and I thought it handled the challenge well. Additionally, Invoxia, the makers of Triby, included some extra functions that you will not find on the Echo. Just like Alexa, the Triby needs time to work out the kinks, but I think there is a bright future for both IoT technologies.

Triby is slightly more expensive than Echo, coming in at $199.00 from Amazon. Pick one up today and see if you can make your life a little bit easier through the use of a digital assistant.

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

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

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC and Invoxia.

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Filed Under: For the Home, Speakers Tagged With: Triby 01/03/2017

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU Review

06/20/2016 By Zach Can

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU Review

Until recently, today’s high-end PC would consist of the following components: Two GTX970 cards, an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and a Maximus 8 motherboard. But what’s going to power all of those elements? That’s where the power supply unit (PSU) comes into play. Unfortunately so many first time PC builders buy a PSU last with whatever remains of their budget, and that’s a tremendous mistake. You just don’t want to buy a cheap PSU. By doing so, you take the risk of doing harm to your entire system. I’m talking about damaging the hard drives, graphics cards, RAM, CPU, and the motherboard. Building a high-end PC will empty your wallet. But you don’t have to buy the most expensive PSU on the market, to meet your high-end PC’s needs. Enermax has an economy version PSU. Don’t be fooled by word “Economy,” this power supply unit is a beast. Let’s take a closer look at this Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review.

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review

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Design

We all remember what Peter Parker’s (aka Spiderman) grandad said: “with great power, comes great responsibility.” Running two GTX970 cards will require a reliable, hardy PSU to handle that kind of responsibility and Enermax’s Triathlor ECO 1000W 80 Plus Bronze PSU packs the punch of what many high-end systems would need. Now this Bronze certified PSU doesn’t have a Titanium or Platinum rating, it did come close to earning a Silver certification when Ecova Plug Load Solutions tested it. The Bronze has 84-88% efficiency at 230 volts. Enermax went with a +12V single-rail design which yields 83 amps of current. This volume of amperage can easily power three top graphics cards in your high-end PC with plenty to spare. Go ahead and build that 3-way CrossFire/SLI setup with the Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU.

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review

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All this power the PSU holds and the fans are barely audible. They’re silent if you’ve got an average pair of headphones on.

The Triathlor ECO PSU is semi-modular due to some cables already hard-wired: main ATX, one PCIe, and two CPU cables. The PSU comes with eight additional modular cables all fitting nicely in the supplied pouch. On my system, I added two cables.

It can get messy if you have a small case. I had to Tetris the cables in due to my GTX970 card taking up almost my entire case. If you have a big case, you won’t have this cabling problem.

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review

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System Components

  • Intel Core i7-2600 CPU
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX970 Card
  • ASrock P67 Extreme6 Motherboard

Conclusion

If your wallet has already suffered an emptying blow due to pricey graphic cards, then the Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU packs on the power, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Currently on Newegg, the PSU sells for $125, and on Amazon, it sells for $133. The only other semi-modular, 1000W, Bronze-certified PSU’s around $100 are from Rosewill.

Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU review

Have you purchased and currently use the Enermax Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU? 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 Enermax on Facebook and YouTube as well as this very blog on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Enermax website to see their latest equipment.

The Triathlor ECO PSU come with a 3-year product exchange/repair warranty when purchased from an authorized dealer.

FTC Disclosure: Enermax, Inc. provided Beantown LLC with one Triathlor ECO 1000W PSU 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.

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Filed Under: Hardware Tagged With: Enermax, PSU, Triathlor 10/03/2016

Petzi Treat Cam Review

06/13/2016 By Elliott Hall

Petzi Treat Cam review

Introducing The Petzi Treat Cam from Petzila

Pets are like our children. When you are away from your animal, you feel responsible for their loneliness. People often joke, “I wish my dog had a cell phone.”

Well, we have good news for all you animal lovers.

For the past few months, there’s been a new product on the market–the Petzi Treat Cam. It’s an interactive, WiFi camera that allows you to send audio messages, stream live video, and toss out treats to your pet while you’re away. The Petzi Treat Cam is operated through a free app for iOS and Android that doubles as a remote controller and social platform. Let’s take a closer look in this Petzi Treat Cam review.

Petzi Treat Cam review

Pros:

  • Simple Software & Easy Operation
  • Interactive Jingle Summons Pets
  • Send Audio Messages
  • Live Stream Video
  • Pets Love It

Cons:

  • Low Quality Audio/Video
  • Large, Inelegant Product Design
  • Very Small Treats Only
  • One-Way Audio/Video
  • Price
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Giveaway

Like what you’ve read so far? It just got better. In partnership with Petzila, we’re running a giveaway from Noon September 3rd until 11 AM September 12th for the very Petzi Treat Cam we reviewed here. Enter the Petzi Treat Cam giveaway by clicking this link. Good luck.

Set Up & Design

As you unbox the Petzi Treat Cam, you might realize that this is not a piece of furniture you want on your mantel. The tall, white, plastic design is far from elegant. As you pull off the front cover, you reveal the treat compartment at the top and the AC adapter at the rear. Pour in some of the included treats, plug it in and find an ideal spot to place the device. The four-foot power cord makes finding proper placement slightly difficult. Once you find an appropriate place for your treat cam, use the included screws or Velcro to secure it. You will not want to leave the Petzi free standing, as your pet will very likely knock it down. [envira-gallery id=”4729″]

Now you are ready to set up the WiFi connection. The treat cam easily integrates with your home network. First, download the iOS or Android app and connect to the “Petzi_XXXX” network via your mobile phone’s wireless settings. Next, return to the app and enter your home network password and securely integrate the Petzi with your WiFi connection. In my experience, this process worked seamlessly on the first try.

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Remote Controller & Social App

Now that all your devices are connected, you can use your smartphone as a remote for the Petzi.

The free Petzi app will allow you to stream live video, take pictures, send audio messages and of course, launch treats. These functions work fairly well. The live video stream has a delay of a few seconds, so what you see on your phone is not exactly real time. Additionally, when you send audio messages, there are several seconds of delay before it is output by the camera. However, the delay is of little consequence, since your pet cannot see you and you cannot hear your pet – this is not Skype, after all. The picture function works consistently well, so you can snap candid photos of your unaccompanied pets as they await their treat.

[soliloquy id=”4710″]

The primary issue with the camera is that the Petzi does not always output the 720P HD quality that it boasts (though, this could be due to other factors such as your WiFi connection strength and speed). However, when the camera is outputting full quality video, you can get a great shot of your pet to share online or through the Petzi social app.

Aside from acting as a remote controller, your Petzi app allows you to set up a public profile for your pet. Similar to a dating or social media app, you input your pet’s name, age, species, a favorite treat, and more alongside a profile picture and description. Through your pet’s profile, you can post the images you take with your Petzi cam or images stored on your camera roll. Additionally, you can browse the app’s social feed featuring dogs and cats from all over the Petzi world.

[envira-gallery id=”4725″]
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Overall Performance

The Petzi Treat Cam has its strengths and weaknesses. As a camera, it falls a bit short. The video and audio qualities are less than satisfactory in an age of high definition, and there is a sizable delay in transmission. There is also the issue of the price. At a retail price of $170 this unit should perform better in aspects of design and media quality.

However, the primary function of this device is a treat dispenser and at that task, it performs fairly well. Aside from the occasional jamming of the treat dispenser, the Petzi Treat Cam has performed well for many people. It is an excellent way to connect with your pet while you are away from home. Animals love to interact with the Treat Cam, and its mild projectile launch allows your pet to have some fun and exercise in you absence.

[Tweet “It is an excellent way to connect with your pet while you are away from home. @Petzila”]

Overall, if you are looking for a remote treat dispenser, the Petzi Treat Cam is the best option, but if your focus is on the audio/video surveillance of your pet, then you are better off with a camera-centric device.

Have you tried the Petzi Treat Cam? Do you agree (or disagree) with any part of this review? Let us know on social media on our Twitter or Facebook pages. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Petzi website. Feel free to check out their Blog, Support Page, and Treat Shop.

The Petzi Treat Cam comes with a 1-year limited warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. Should you have questions about the product, feel free to contact their customer service department at (855)-738-9452.

FTC Disclosure: Petzila Inc. provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Petzi Treat Cam 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. The video is the copyrighted property of Petzila Inc.

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Filed Under: For the Home Tagged With: camera, Petzi 09/06/2016

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