Beantown Review

Boston's Premier Digital Lifestyle & Consumer Tech Site

You are here: Home / Archives for review

Review: Antec’s SugarCube Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker

By

Introducing The SugarCube From Antec Mobile Products

A First Glance At The Powerful Mini Bluetooth Speaker

Antec is a big player in the PC Hardware space. Their mobile products branch, A.M.P., has made a name for itself throughout 2015 by introducing quality accessories for your mobile devices. One of this year’s additions to their catalog is the SugarCube, a portable Bluetooth mini speaker that can be taken with you anywhere. In addition to being powered with a 40mm driver, the SugarCube happens to look great with its compact design. But, does it deserve all the attention?

A Closer Look At The SugarCube

For the last week, I carried the mini speaker everywhere around Boston. I slipped it into my jacket and backpack and kept it nearby for any occasion. The portability of the SugarCube is definitely one of it’s best features. At 3.2 ounces, the added weight isn’t noticeable. And with a dimensional volume of 2 x 2 x 2-Inches, it can fit nearly anywhere. With that said, it does need a break to recharge after 6-8 hours of use, with a charging time of between 3-4 hours.

Upon unboxing, the SugarCube is immediately ready for use. All you have to do is 1) flip on the power switch located at the bottom of the mini speaker, and 2) connect your device to the mini speaker via Bluetooth sync or by using the included 3.5mm auxiliary cable. The case also comes with a micro USB cord for recharging the mini speaker when the juice runs out.

The SugarCube is compatible with all major operating systems: Windows 10, Apple iOS, and Android, as well as any laptop, tablet, phone, and mp3 player with Bluetooth capability. And if the music gets interrupted by a call, the mini speaker comes with a built-in microphone so that you don’t have to switch over to your phone to talk.

The smooth compact design is complemented by its rubberized outer layer and rounded edges. The mini speaker is small enough to fit on any desk or shelf. It comes in a variety of colors to fit gracefully into any environment.

Image Credit: Antec Mobile Products

If you do put the SugarCube down for a bit, the Bluetooth has a range of 10 meters (about 30 feet). In my little apartment, this was perfect. I could leave it in one room, take my iPhone 5s with me to another, and never hear any bumps in the sound, even from across the apartment.

That brings me to the real issue.

Read:   How The FixMeStick Cleaned My Desktop Computer, A Review

The Sound Quality

To test out the sound quality of the SugarCube, I used a playlist put together by Jam Audio. If you want to see the songs I used, check them out here.

The first thing I noticed with the SugarCube was how loud it could get. The output power is just 3 Watts. Unfortunately, the second thing I noticed was the distortion at high volumes. When it comes to bass, the speaker is great in regards to its size, but it’s important to remember that this is a small device, so it won’t be able to produce the kind of bass that will envelop you. After having turned the volume up, the mini speaker struggled with its range although sound had filled the room. With one of the songs on the playlist, Brass Monkey by the Beasty Boys, the SugarCube had difficulty with some of the deeper bass sounds. I noticed this with other songs that were punctuated with low-frequency bass as well. Even when I turned the volume down, it didn’t make a huge difference–the distortion still lingered.

In most situations, keeping the SugarCube just below the maximum volume solves the problem. It is a little disappointing that the mini speaker can’t fully perform at the highest volume.

In my review, the SugarCube was best used in an environment where you want music to be playing, but not having to fill the whole room. Studying, reading, cooking, relaxing, hanging out with friends any calm activities that beg for ambiance, but not filled with noise are ideal uses for this product. It’s better than built-in speakers in terms of sound quality, but it won’t surpass them in volume.

[Tweet “Antec is offering 30% off on all their products until January 10th. Just use the Code: NEWYEAR30”]

The Verdict

Overall, I’m pleased with the SugarCube. The physical design looks great, the portability is fabulous, and the sound isn’t too bad. But, if you’re looking for something with a rich, powerful sound, this mini Bluetooth speaker may not be for you.

At a retail price of $45, it’s a good buy! And at that price, it’s on par with other quality portable Bluetooth mini speakers. With an Amazon.com price of around $25, it’s an even better buy.

If you act now, Antec is offering 30% off on all their products until January 10th. Just use the Code: NEWYEAR30. That’s a pretty sweet deal! You don’t have to follow them on social media to get that discount. If you want to keep up with the latest from Antec or AMP, feel free to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you think the portability of the AMP SugarCube mini speaker makes it a worthwhile buy? Do you already own one and if so, what do you think of it? Did I get it this mini Bluetooth speaker review right? Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments section. Or better yet, reach out on social media.

FTC Disclosure: Antec Inc. provided Beantown with one SugarCube mini speaker sample for review purposes. We’re not paid ambassadors. Our opinions are purely our own.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Antec Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

Read:   The Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad from Enermax: A Review

How The FixMeStick Cleaned My Desktop Computer, A Review

By

What The Heck Is A FixMeStick?

I’m going to repeat myself for literary sake. What the heck is a FixMeStick? This was the exact question I asked when I first learned of the product, long before I began this FixMeStick review.

Now whenever I mention it, people ask the exact same question. Based on their responses, I’ve compiled a list of what the FixMeStick can’t do.

  • It doesn’t repair your car.FixMeStick
  • It can’t fix your love life.
  • It doesn’t pay your bills or college debt.
  • It has nothing to do with a selfie-stick.
  • It can’t actually fix you. Sorry folks.
  • And it definitely can’t keep your family from arguing during holiday gatherings. (How I wish.)

What the FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.

How Does The FixMeStick Actually Work?

Set it and forget it, as Ron Popeil of Ronco Rotisserie Oven fame used to say.

The FixMeStick works very much in the same way. (See the 6-step process below.) Once you’ve gotten through the initial steps, which take between 5-10 minutes, you can let the product do the rest. Some hours later, which varies for every user, you’ll see the results.

FixMeStick in action.As you can see from the image to your right, and the video below, the FixMeStick functions very much like a vacuum. It sifts through all your files, finds the infected ones, and cleans them.

The stick uses 3 of the most common anti-virus engines available:

  • Kaspersky
  • Sophos
  • Vipre

Now, the stick isn’t designed to work as a stand-alone item on your computer. It complements the internet security, anti-virus, and anti-malware programs you already use (or should already be using.)

Let’s say this is your first time using the stick and you’re using Windows OS. (It’s available for Apple OS too.) Run the RunFixMeStick.exe file. A dialog box will appear stating “The FixMeStick is good to go!” Now click the Reboot and Launch FixMeStick button. This leads to another dialog box with the FixMeStick License Agreement. Click the Accept and Run button.

Once running, you’ll see a Scan dialog box on your monitor. The scan goes through a 6-step process. Now register your product and proceed.

  1. Checking Internet Connection
  2. Checking For Product Updates
  3. Updating Malware Definitions
  4. Initializing Malware Scanners
  5. Scanning Computer
  6. Results

Once the scan is complete, you can choose to Clean Computer or See Results. Give both a try. Once cleaned, exit the program and remove the stick while the computer is powered down. Upon restart, go back to using your computer as you normally would.

Here’s a quick one-minute video on the stick.

 

How-To Set Up a Remote Connection.

From the Run FixMeStick dialog box, click the Settings tab. Then hit your keyboard’s Control Key 3X.  Click the Initiate Remote Support button. A new window will appear with a 9-digit ID and a 4-digit password. You should see a green light below the password stating “Ready to connect (secure connection)”. Provide these numbers to the FixMeStick agent and the remote connection will be established to your computer. Easy as pie. [Tweet “What the @FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.”]

Running Into Complications.

While unlikely, it’s possible that one of the three following scenarios occur.

  • The FixMeStick fails to update itself.
  • Scans are quitting unexpectedly.
  • Scans are freezing.

To remedy this, conduct a factory upgrade of the stick and you should be good-to-go. If you’re still running into problems, the visit the FixMeStick Support page and/or call 1-800-530-6125.

The FixMeStick Review Results.

My desktop and laptop computers consist of the following protection software:

  • A major internet security/anti-virus program. (Oddly enough, 1 of the 3 engines listed above.)
  • An anti-malware program.
  • And multiple cleaning programs.

After an overnight scan time of 7 hours, 23 minutes, it produced the following results for my desktop computer:

  • It caught the Trojan.W32.Generic!BT virus.
  • It quarantined two files: AutoPico.exe and KMSELDI.exe.

While the quarantined files are questionable in nature, the Trojan is not. The latter is a problem and good-sized one at that.

Read:   Patriot Announces Ignite Series M2 SATA Solid State Drive

Where to find the FixMeStick.

It’s more like where can’t you find this product. There are so many options available.

The FixMeStick comes at three price points. You can choose $9.99 for the one month trial or $59.99 for one full year. Both of these choices allow for the product to be used on up to three computers. The third and final choice, an all-you-can-eat option, allows for the use of the product on an unlimited number of computers for $299/year.

You can purchase yourself one here on the FixMeStick website at the prices stated above. If you would rather use one of your favorite retailers, feel free to check out the Find a Store link and choose. Retailers in North America are pretty well represented on their heat map.

Note: I have seen significant discounts during holiday sales, so you may want to subscribe to those Fry’s and Newegg newsletters.

Here’s a partial list of major online retailers:

The warranty is a pretty good one. It comes with a 45-day return policy with a money back guarantee. And did I forget to mention the unlimited free support?

Conclusion.

Initially, I had doubts about this product and its claims. Heck, I was already using 3+ software programs to keep my computers safe.

While it took longer than expected to scan my desktop computer, (more than twice the time according to the FixMeStick literature,) it did so while I slept through the night. So, it never interfered with my daytime work. The FixMeStick did catch the Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT virus. None of my current software programs were able to do this.

The scan on my laptop produced no viruses, which is a good thing.

So…can I recommend this product to you readers? Oh Heck Yeah! Who wants an infected computer that allows for unauthorized remote access? Certainly not I.

While many of you (myself included) may feel that the $59.99 price is too steep, might I suggest looking at the 30-day purchase. After all, the product does come with a 45-day return policy and money back guarantee. It’s tough to beat a guarantee like that.

In the end, the decision is yours. Regardless of how you proceed, always and I do mean ALWAYS, protect your computers.

All photos and/or videos are the property of and copyrighted to FixMeStick Technologies.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown LLC received one FixMeStick for review purposes. We are not a paid sponsor or ambassador of the product.

The Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad from Enermax: A Review

By

Inspirion 15C S2

Introducing the Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad

What can I say about fans? We’ve been using them all our lives, so much so that we take them for granted. They’re used in so many places, so many applications that we often overlook them. So how does this relate to a laptop cooling pad review? Stick around, you’re about to find out.

It’s Summer here in North America. Many of us wake up with a ceiling or floor fan cooling us down in the house. Ignoring you bicycle riders out there, we drive to work in our cars, cars which use 1-2 engine cooling fans. We arrive at our workplace, where the air-conditioning employs the use of cooling fans. At said office, we perform our daily tasks on our desktop computers which use no less than 2 cooling fans. And all this takes place before lunch. We can skip the afternoon and evening as they continue on this track.

Now think about this for a moment. Without adequate cooling, none of these devices would function for very long. And we can count this time in minutes on 1 or 2 hands.

This brings me to the following thought. Your desktop computer uses many fans to keep everything functioning. Yet your laptop may only use one, or none in most cases. So why should you expect your laptop to function as advertised when there are so many horror stories out there involving overheating? The answer is You Shouldn’t. Hence the need for proper laptop cooling.

A Bit of Research

While conducting research on laptop cooling pads, I noticed two things:

  1. There was a shortage of written reviews.
  2. There was an abundance of video (YouTube) videos.

To my surprise, Enermax is not widely known for its laptop cooling pads/products. After searching under the phrase “Laptop Cooling Pads” on Newegg, Enermax appeared only 3X in the Top 50 listed products. This is quite unusual as they’re well known for their cases and power supplies, both of which heavily rely on cooling fans. If there’s one brand out there that knows cooling, it’s Enermax.

Within this Top 50 search, the high majority of cooling pads listed are poorly constructed, cheap, and flimsy. This is one reason for their low pricing, typically in the $20-30 range. If you’re in the market for a cooling pad, it is highly suggested to get one that is well-constructed and durable. Having owned 3 cooling pads over the past decade, take it from me. Firsthand experience will show you the need for this type of product, and a well-constructed one at that.

Features, Specifications & Pros/Cons

There’s plenty to like about the Aeolus cooling pad, and little to dislike. The biggest benefit is that proper cooling extends the life of your product.

The Pros are as follows:

  • The Enermax Aeolus is the most durable, well-constructed cooling pad on the market today.
  • There’s smart cable management on the upper two feet. All 4 feet (edges) are non-slip rubber.
  • There’s an extending USB port
  • A moveable magnetic 4-color, 4-pattern (Sparkle, All-On, Flash, & Off) super-quiet LED fan. With this moveable fan, you can target the cooling more effectively.
  • The pad has a wide cooling area capable of handling 17″ laptops.

The Cons are as follows:

  • I would have preferred a 200 mm fan over the 180 mm fan provided.
  • Offering feet (edges) in a variety of colors would have been preferential. The colors Blue and Purple come to mind. Red has a tendency to stand out.
  • Portability–see the section titled Traveling.

Technical Specifications:

  • Compatibility: 17″ Notebook (Laptop)
  • Material: Aluminum + Metal Mesh
  • Color: Black
  • Fan Size: 180 x 180 x 20 mm
  • Fan Speed: 900 rpm ± 150 rpm
  • Fan Noise: 18 dBa
  • Power Source: USB Bus Power +5V
  • USB Port: USB 2.0 x 1 (For Power Input)
  • Cable Length: 500 mm
  • LED Color: 4-Color (Blue, Red, Green, & White)
  • LED Modes: 4
  • Dimensions: 464 x 386 x 59 mm
  • Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lbs)
  • Product warranty for the Aeolus Vegas CP007 pad is 1 year.

My History with Laptop Cooling Pads

A decade ago, I purchased an HP laptop for my dad. On any given day, the laptop would just shut down after 1-2 hours use. On warmer days, the laptop lasted even less. At first I didn’t know the cause of the problem. After a bit of research, I came up with a solution, and an inexpensive one at that. How did I resolve this problem? Well, I purchased my first laptop cooler. Problem solved.

A handful of years later I purchased a second laptop, this time a Toshiba, for my mom. I’ll give you one guess as to what happened next. The very same problem with overheating and shutdown occurred. How did I resolve the problem this time? Well, I purchased my second laptop cooler. Problem solved.

If you’ve done any research on this topic, then you’ve probably come across numerous articles on laptop overheating. A quick Google search under the phrase “Dell laptop overheating” yields thousands of results. I mention Dell because 5-6 years ago, I had one of their laptops cook on my thighs. At that moment, I knew exactly how an egg or a pancake felt. Would you pour hot coffee on your own lap? I think not. You may have even seen the video of a Sony VAIO laptop whose battery caught fire during a work conference. Just imagine that starting on your lap.

So here’s my professional advice. If you or your company have purchased a pricey laptop, then I highly recommend you invest in a reputable laptop cooling pad. You’ve spent good money on the laptop. Now go spend a little more to cool its engines. And as I mentioned a couple of times already, do yourself a favor and get a well-constructed one.

If you’re a DJ, a heavy gamer, an architect or a designer, you already know what I’m talking about. Nothing is more frustrating than your laptop overheating, shutting down and losing your data.

BTW, both of my laptops mentioned above work to this day, although the batteries are pretty much shot.

Traveling with a Laptop Cooling Pad

I’ve been scratching my head over this one. Is the Aeolus cooling pad too big to take on a business trip? If you’ve actually seen/held the pad, then your immediate answer would be Yes. But the truth is, the answer is a bit more complicated than this. Let me provide two examples and discuss the challenges:

  1. Let’s say you’re taking a trip by air (or maybe rail–Amtrak still runs) for a few days or less. Typically, the suitcase you bring is a carry-on. Finding room for the pad, or maybe even fitting it into a carry-on will be a problem. Likely outcome–you leave the cooling pad behind.
  2. Let’s say you’re taking a trip by air (or maybe by car) and your length of stay is a week, or longer. The suitcase you bring may be quite large. Now there’s no space restriction in the luggage. If you came by car, your car’s trunk is like an ocean–there’s ample room. Likely outcome–you bring the cooling pad with you.

There’s also the matter of how long you’ll use your laptop for, and under what conditions. It’s these types of concerns, some minor, some not, that you should think about before you travel with/without a cooling pad.

Where to find the Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad

The Aeolus cooling pad is available for sale at a variety of websites, many of which are on the Enermax website. My advice is to look no further than Newegg and/or Tiger Direct. The price of the Aeolus cooler is $50. While some of you may think this is a bit pricey for a laptop cooler, I would say think again. Remember all that talk about construction and durability?

Should you happen to be at a large gaming convention like PAX East, then you can see the Aeolus cooling pad firsthand. Plus, you’ll have the chance to speak with one of their product specialists. A win-win in my book. If you would like more product information, please visit the Enermax website.

Final Notes

I’d like to thank the management at the Microsoft Store in Burlington, MA. They allowed me to use their largest laptops with the Aeolus cooling pad for review purposes. This way, you’re able to see photographic proof of how current product fits with the laptop cooling pad. The employees I interacted with were blown away with the Aeolus. It’s too bad that Microsoft Store doesn’t sell any laptop cooling pads. I bet they could sell plenty.

For those of you wondering if this laptop cooling pad was named after the sidekick in the Hercules TV series from 20 years ago, I have the following two responses: 1) Excellent memory, and 2) It was not. That characters name was Iolaus, not Aeolus. I bring this up because this question was actually asked to yours truly and I wanted to dispel any myths.

All photos are the property of Beantown LLC.

FTC Disclosure: A press sample of the Aeolus laptop cooling pad was provided to Beantown LLC for the purpose of this review. The sample in no way affected the authenticity of the review.

[Tweet “The Enermax Aeolus is the most durable, well-constructed cooling pad on the market today. #PAXPrime”]

Enermax Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad with fan lights blinking.

 

Review: 4 Big Reasons To Consider The Amzer Crusta Case for your iPhone.

By

Is Amzer Crusta the right rugged case for your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus?

Concluding three months ago in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, attracts gadget makers of all shapes and sizes showing off the latest in consumer technology. But, it’s not just the gadgets that attract the masses to this omnipotent trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Case makers such as Amzer utilize the trade show to showcase their newest offerings. Case in point (no pun intended), their newest offering is the Amzer Crusta (spelled Crüsta™) iPhone 6 Plus case.

While not a household name just yet, Amzer manufactures one heck of a rugged case. Don’t allow your unfamiliarity with Amzer brand to prevent you from considering the Crüsta™ case as a viable option for protecting your treasured investment. The question you iPhone 6/6+ owners have to ask yourselves is ‘would you protect your expensive investment with this case?’ Based on our lengthy testing, we can answer your question for you with an unequivocal ‘Yes.’ We came away impressed.

The recently released Crüsta™ case offers 4 layers of military grade protection. This multi-layer military grade protection consists of the following:

  1. A tempered glass screen protector
  2. An embedded tempered glass hard shell casing
  3. A thermoplastic rubberized ring with textured finish
  4. A 360 degree swiveling functional belt clip holster

Amzer’s own Kristäl™ tempered glass offers complete edge-to-edge protection with easy installation. We came away impressed by the hardness of this glass, which ensures protection from unwanted scratches and scrapes. According to Amzer, Kristäl™ provides “maximum touch sensitivity and optically clear adhesive for HD quality.”

The case also features a 1.1 mm thick tempered glass backing along with an inner hard shell. This inner shell and outer bumper ring have cutouts to ensure no unwanted dust particles or other foreign substances enter the device’s orifices by happenstance. It incorporates precise cutouts for easy access to all your iPhone’s critical ports and buttons. All the device’s physical buttons are easily accessible and functional.

The belt clip conforms to various positions and comfortably fits on your belt or pant waist without any noticeable discomfort. The iPhone 6 Plus case even comes with a handy microfiber cloth (a necessity for cleaning any fingerprints from the fitted tempered glass.

After our thorough review, we strongly suggest this case for those who are accident prone or severely paranoid. This covers a lot of you folks. We grade this case with high marks and believe that it suits most working professionals who look for that serious mobile phone protection. How many brands boast about 6′ drop protection? Off the top of our heads, we’re only familiar with two. This level of protection comes from the “high impact resistant thermoplastic material with nano air cushion technology.” Amzer tells all “it’s okay if you let go.”

The Crüsta case is available in a wide array of color combinations, 42 to be exact. Watch the video below to see the color lineup or visit www.amzer.com/crusta. We prefer the Black on Yellow color combination as it resembles the colors of our NHL franchise Boston Bruins.  The Crüsta™ case is available on the Amzer website as well as on Newegg at a cost of $45. If you’re looking to buy it for a little less, wait and check around a holiday. Amzer currently has a 20% off sale for Mother’s Day. Use Code MEMORIAL at checkout. The Crüsta™ case is available for use with the following mobile devices:

  • Apple iPhone 5/5S/6/6+
  • Apple iPad Mini 1/2/3
  • Samsung Galaxy S5
  • Samsung Note 3 & 4
  • Amazon Fire (Why? We have no idea.)

FTC Disclosure: Amzer provided BR with a Crüsta™ case to review during CES2015.