Category Archives: Tech News

Google Pixel Buds 2 review & comparison against the competition

Audio, Headphone, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my review of the Google Pixel Buds 2 which retail at £179.

The Key Features and Specifications

– Earbud weight 5.3g
– Sweat- and water-resistant (IPX4)
– Bluetooth 5.0
– Custom-designed 12 mm dynamic speaker driver
– Passive noise reduction
– Spatial vent for in-ear pressure reduction and spatial awareness
– Dual beamforming microphones and Voice-detecting accelerometer
– Earbuds: Up to 5 hours of listening time and up to 2.5 hours of talk time
– Earbuds with wireless charging case: Up to 24 hours of listening time and up to 12 hours of talk time
– 10-minute charge of earbuds in the wireless charging case delivers up to 2 hours of listening time and up to 1 hour of talk time
– USB-C charging port
– Qi-certified

Video Review

Conclusion

If you are looking for a neutral sounding wireless earphone, with a small footprint, IPX4 and that is usable for the gym along with Google Assistant features, the Google Pixel Buds 2 will fit the bill.

Rating 7/10

Useful Links

Google Buds 2 Click HERE.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Click HERE.
AirPods Click HERE.
NuraLoop Click HERE.

NuraLoop Wireless Earphones REVIEW – Personalised Epic Sound with ANC

Audio, Headphone, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my review of the NuraLoop earphones. The NuraLoop retail for £199. Nura the company behind the NuraLoop have set out to re-invent the headphone by ensuring every user has their own personalised sound profile. To protect their I.P. Nura have a number of patents in force. Their first headphone was the over ear Nuraphone. To help with its funding, Nura started a Kickstarter, which became the biggest ever Kickstarter in Australia. In addition, the Nuraphone was worlds first headphone to have features added in July 2018 via a software update which includes automatic noise cancellation.

The special sauce is the personalised hearing test that occurs during setup. With its special mics , two on each earbud , these help carry out an otoacoustic hearing test. With passive sound isolation from the ear tips, the inner microphone on each bud monitors otoacoustic emissions, by detecting the activity in the cochlea inside the ear to learn how your ear hears sound and the respective frequencies. This takes a couple of minutes, which then creates your custom profile. To see this in action, please watch the video below.The end result is terrific sound quality, some of the best ANC and decent battery life. To learn more about these jump over to watching the video.

Key Specifications–

– In box range of ear tips 10.5mm, 12mm, 13.5mm and & replacement filters, case, magnetic charge cable & 3.5mm cable,
– 16 hours battery life , 10 min quick charge for 2 hours,
– APT-X HD , APT-X, AAC , SBC
– Bluetooth 5
– IPX4 sweat resistance
– ANC
– Social Mode
– Immersive Control
– Customisable Touch Controls
– Personalised Sound

Video Review

Update 7th September 2020 – new firmware includes the following features based on Customer feedback:

– Manual On/Off mode – New setting to manually turn NuraLoop on/off. If you don’t want to use this method, the auto on/off is still the default method.
– Double Tap Button functionality – Further customise your TouchDials with double tap.
– Voice Calls – Improved reliability and enhanced clarity of voice calls.
– Plus – Additional bug fixes such as improved fit detection and reduced analog cable latency experienced by musicians.

This new firmware works extremely well in my testing and makes the nuraloop and even stronger recommendation.

Conclusion

Highly recommended 9.5/10.

Useful Links

nura on Amazon UK

nura website

Darkness strikes at Sunset over Dartmoor National Park – Shot with a Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

Android, Photography, Tech News

Last night, I went out to capture the sunset over Dartmoor National Park. Above Merrivale Stone Rows spanning 268 metres.

A few minutes later the sky turned blue and then this ominous cloud formation appeared over the Merrivale Stone Rows.

About 10 mins later, the skies darkened and I captured the moody view of Great Staple Tor.

The clouds did clear to allow me to capture the sun just as it set behind Great Staple Tor.

Before the sun set, I photographed the Merrivale Stone circle. There are some incredible landmarks around Merrivale on Dartmoor National Park.

Above, Merrivale Quarry and Great Staple Tor.

And finally, a shot of Great and Little Mis Tor. All the photos were taken using the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

Sunset and Shadows around Dartmoor National Park – Shot with the Huawei P40 Pro

Android, Photography, Tech News

Last night I went out to photograph the sunset over Dartmoor. It was a risk due to the clouds as to whether I would get the shots I wanted. Above Merrivale Stones, a long line of ancient stones covering a total distance of 264 metres!

Foxgloves are seen growing wild everywhere on Dartmoor. Above view of Great and Little Mis Tors in the background.

Just before the sun set, ominous clouds appeared creating some fantastic shadows over the landscape. Views of Great Staple Tor at sunset shown below.

All the photos were shot on the new Huawei P40 Pro.

Huawei Petal Search Widget – the new gateway to a million apps

Android, apps, Tech News

Huawei has a new search tool powered by the Petal Search engine that has been created in partnership with Global and European search engine leaders to offer Huawei users an innovative and diverse search experience.

Huawei, the global leading technology company, have announced the availability of the ‘Petal Search – Find Apps’ search widget, which comes pre-installed on the latest HUAWEI P40 Series and is already available for download via AppGallery. The new search tool offers Huawei users an open gateway to a million apps and a way to easily search for the things they need – including news, images and more – directly from the home screen of their device.

Gateway to a million apps –

It is now even easier for Huawei users to have the apps they want on their HMS devices.

1) Phone Clone – One easy way to transfer your apps, contacts, data, files and photos from your old smartphone to your new smartphone, in a few simple steps.

2) AppGallery – Huawei’s official app store with more than 420M monthly active users and a constantly growing list of apps. It features a 4-layer detection mechanism to ensure apps featured are safe to download and use. Simply browse and download the apps you need.

3) ‘Petal Search – Find Apps’ search widget – one of three ways in which Huawei users can find and download apps on to their HMS devices, alongside AppGallery and Phone Clone. Simply use it directly from the home screen of your device.

A new search experience

Powered by the Petal Search engine, the search widget brings an alternative search experience that locates and aggregates information, delivering the most accurate and relevant results for each user in order to enable them to fully personalise and manage their smartphone experience.

In addition to news, images and entertainment, the search tool lists apps from multiple sources – always listing the source origin. Huawei’s AppGallery is completely integrated into the widget and any apps already available in the AppGallery will appear at the top of any search in the new tool. Hundreds of new apps continue to be added to the AppGallery every week.

Created in partnership with global and European search engine leaders, including Qwant and Yandex, the ‘Petal Search – Find Apps’ brings together the best in hardware-based security and safety technologies, combined with the unparalleled privacy standards set by these leading privacy-by-design search engines, to ensure the highest standards of data privacy and security for Huawei users.

Availability

The ‘Petal Search – Find Apps’ search widget currently supports more than 40 languages and is available in 45 countries and regions, including the UK, with plans for wider rollout to even more countries in the future. The new search tool will come pre-installed on Huawei’s latest flagship HUAWEI P40 series, including the P40 Pro, P40 and P40 lite and for existing Huawei users, it is now available to download from the AppGallery by simply searching for Petal Search – Find Apps.

For more information on the search widget please visit:

https://consumer.huawei.com/uk/campaign/favourite-apps/?

Sony ZV-1 Real User Review – Sony’s new vlogging camera

Photography, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my review of the new Sony ZV-1 vlogging camera which comes with a 1 inch Sony sensor. It retails for £699.

Key Features

– The ZV-1 is designed for vlogging, featuring a vari-angle LCD screen, recording lamp for selfie-shooting, secure grip and easy operation.
– A premium camera, with Soft Skin Effect, natural skin tones and optimised brightness for faces.
– Record high sound quality – a directional 3-capsule mic and wind shield is supplied with this camera.
– Featuring Product Showcase Setting for perfect product review videos and Bokeh Switch for easy background blur control.
– Sony’s innovative Real-time Eye AF technology locks on and tracks people’s eyes, even when shooting 4K movies.

Video Review

Conclusion

Whilst not 100% perfect, it is likely the best video solution available. Highly recommended.

Useful Links

Sony ZV-1 on Amazon UK
Sony GP-VPT2BT grip on Amazon UK

Microsoft Surface 2 Headphones review vs Razer Opus

Audio, Reviews, Tech News,

Welcome to my review of the new Microsoft Surface 2 Headphones versus the Razer Opus Headphones. The Surface 2 retail for £239 and the Razer Opus £199.

The video below provides a detailed look at both. The time index is as follows –

0:00s Intro
0:45s Hard cases comparisons
1:19s Headphones folding comparison
1:48s In the case
3:10s Headphone design differences
4:36s Headphone functions & differences
9:42s Sound quality
13:48s Companion apps
16:12s Conclusion

Video Review

Useful Links

Razer Opus headphones on Amazon
Microsoft Surface 2 Headphones

HiFiMan Ananda-BT Bluetooth Headphones review – Wireless Headphones from the Future!

Audio, Headphone, Tech News

Welcome to my review of the HiFiMan Ananda-BT headphones that retail for $999.

HiFiMan claim that these are the best sounding bluetooth headphones in the world. I would say they are the headphones from the future!

Key Specifications

– Open back headphone design
– Planar Magnetic Drivers
– Impedance: 35 Ω
– Sensitivity: 103 dB
– Frequency range: 8 Hz – 55 kHz
– Weight: 495g with microphone, 460g without mic
– Charging time: 2:40 hours.
– Bluetooth Life: 10 hours

The HIFIMAN Ananda-BT is the bluetooth version of the successful Ananda. Inside the Ananda BT there is a balanced amplifier and an integrated 24-bit DAC. The connection between the receiver and source can be made via Bluetooth with the codecs SBC / AAC / AptX / AptX-HD or LDAC. You can also connect via USB-C cable with support of 24 bit and 192 kHz sampling frequency.

For communications, a microphone is included which makes the Ananda BT a high-end gaming solution as well as using it for conversations with your mobile phone. The headphone will last around 10 hours with charged battery when connected to Bluetooth and takes about 2.7 hours to fully charge. Connected to the USB-C cable, you can either only stream data, for example, to protect the battery of your laptop or smartphone, only charge when the Bluetooth connection is at the same time, or both at the same time.

Sound, the Ananda BT is astonishing. Find out more from my video review below.

Video Review

Conclusion

A stunning sounding headphone of top notch audio grade, and its bluetooth. Highly recommended.

Useful Links

HiFiMan Ananda-BT on Amazon

Razer Opus Headphones review – THX Certified ANC Bluetooth Headphones

Audio, Headphone, Tech News,

Welcome to my review of the Razer Opus Headphones. These are THX Certified headphones with active noise cancellation and retail for £199.

Key Features

– THX® Certified Headphones
– Advanced active noise cancellation (ANC) technology
– Engineered for comfort
– Quick Attention Mode
– Auto Pause/Auto Play
– Drivers: 2 x 40mm dynamic drivers
– Weight: 265g
– Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
– Microphones: 4 for hybrid active noise cancellation technology, 2 for voice chat
– Wearing style: Circumaural
– What’s inside: Headset, premium carry case, airplane adapter, 1.5m length 3.5mm analog cable, 30cm length USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-A to USB-C adapter
– Battery life: Up to 25 hours
– Bluetooth® Codecs: AAC & APTX, 4.2, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP

THX has created a headphone certification program to further define premium sound quality in the personal entertainment space. Developed to provide a reference headphone listening experience, the THX Headphone Certification Program gives special attention to frequency response, low distortion, and exceptional noise isolation.

Headphones are tuned to ensure high frequencies, vocals, and bass levels are well balanced. This ensures dialogue in movies and vocals in music are clear, while maintaining deep, impactful bass output that doesn’t overpower the listening experience.

THX makes sure your headphones can easily playback high-resolution content at increased volumes without introducing unwanted distortion artifacts.

Video Review

Conclusion

A surprising pair of headphones from Razer. Lovely balanced sound, good looking and reasonably priced.

Useful Links

Razer Opus headphones on Amazon

Fiio K5 Pro – Desktop Amp/DAC Review

Audio, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my review of the Fiio K5 Pro which retails for £149.

The Key Features

– High-performance DAC AK4493
– Gain control switch with gain levels: Low 0dB, Medium +6dB and High +10dB
– USB DAC: 768K/32Bit and native DSD decoding | USB decoding chip: XMOS XUF208
– Variety of inputs: Coaxial / Optical / RCA line-in
– Variety of outputs: 6.35mm (1/4 in.) headphone out / RCA line-out
– Extremely powerful headphone amplification for a total power output of up to 1.5 W under a 32Ω load, and up to 20Vpp at 300Ω

Video Review

Conclusion

A fantastic value desktop amp. Dynamic, punch with great clarity that can drive nearly all headphones available.

Useful Links

Fiio K5 Pro on Amazon