Hands-on review: Plantronics RIG

Plantronics has been in the headset industry for quite some time now so its no rookie when it comes to creating great gaming audio peripherals. Owners of next-gen consoles have pretty limited headset choices right now and are left with expensive sets or … non-existent ones. The RIG, so far, seems to be a worthy headset – and an affordable option to boot with the price being slashed down to only $99.99 (about £60.83, AU$111.63).The RIG works with the PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC/Macs to chat with other players but like many other headsets, it doesn’t quite have Xbox One support. Rather, there’s only side chat available – though you can still use the headphones with the new Xbox console.During CES 2014, the RIG was on the show floor hooked up to a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One where I was able to have a quick hands on.The design is simple and unassuming but does not take away from the fact that these are quite comfortable over-ear headphones. The cups are cloth and made with memory foam to better fit to your ears – plus probably won’t feel sweaty after hours of usage. Cleaning the cloth may be a problem though since the cups don’t seem removable. Tearing is also something to factor in but the cups seemed durable enough.The headband doesn’t look like much yet feels comfy – but more time is needed to see how well the headband holds up after hours of music on-the-go or gameplay to determine whether or not they’ll end up squishing your head. A bit more time is needed to also test out the durability of the headband especially since they’re touted to be portable. The RIG […]

By |January 15th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Review: Updated: Sony PS4

IntroductionThe PlayStation 4 is the most powerful games console on the planet. With more graphical power than the Xbox One, 32 times more system memory than the PS3 and a firm focus on pure gaming experiences rather than media mojo, it has established itself as the next-gen console to beat.It’s a games console built by gamers for gamers. It won the hearts and minds of many from the word go, with lots of prospective next-genners left feeling alienated by some of Microsoft’s bizarre policies and choices for the Xbox One – many of which were reversed as a result of a backlash.Coming in at $549.95, the PS4 is also $50 cheaper than the Xbox One, making it appear terrific value. It doesn’t come with the PlayStation Camera (the One does come with Kinect) but this can be bought separately for $89.95 if you so wish.Why the PlayStation 5 could be the cheapest games console everThe differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are actually evident before you even switch them on. Despite the two consoles both sporting similar half-matte half-gloss finishes and containing very similar internal components, they really couldn’t be more different.For a start, the PS4 is small and sleek in comparison to the enormous VCR-like square cuboid of the Xbox One. And this means that the PS4’s box is half the size and weight of the Xbox One. The Sony console can be extracted from its packaging and plugged in and booted up in a couple of minutes.Xbox One on the other hand comes in a huge, hulking box. It’s fiddly to open and unpack, and it’s full of little compartments, cardboard and plastic to get in the way and make a mess […]

By |January 15th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Hands-on review: Lenovo Y50 review

Everyone knows Lenovo for its leading business and hybrid laptops (and sometimes both with the ThinkPad Yoga). But did you know that the Chinese vendor also makes gaming laptops? Amid the Alienwares and Origins of the world, it’s easy to forget, but not for long.This is the Lenovo Y50, the successor to the company’s Y510p gaming notebook and a first for Lenovo in several ways. Lenovo recognized that, even in the gaming clamshells, thin is most certainly in. But the vendor also hopped on another growing trend: 4K.Yes, the Y50 is Lenovo’s first 4K gaming laptop – that’s Ultra HD, or 3840 x 2160 – though it doesn’t come standard (1920 x 1080 does, however). Lenovo didn’t have all the details in time for my visit to its flashy CES 2014 installation. What I know so far is that the Y50 will pack up to an Intel Core i7-4702HQ CPU, the latest Nvidia GTX graphics chip and up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM. The Nvidia GPU is not standard, but at least the Y50’s fresh and fit new design is. This gaming laptop loses the room for dual graphics chips, an optical drive Lenovo’s interchangeable Ultrabay, but it also lopped off some considerable poundage and inches. Where the Y510p weighed 5.95 pounds and measured 1.41 inches thick, the Y50 comes in at just 4.7 pounds (5.7 pounds with optional touchscreen) and 0.94 inches. I’d say it was worth it.Four cheers for 4K gamingWhile it doesn’t come standard, Lenovo has beat many gaming laptop makers to the punch in announcing a 4K mobile rig. (Not to mention that it puts the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro’s 2880 x 1800 pixels to shame.) The Y50 might need the […]

By |January 14th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Hands-on review: Withings Aura review

Withings Aura gives us the atmospheric vibe that it’ll be the best sleep tracking device of 2014 because it’s designed to monitor rest and, believe it or not, actively increase the amount of sleep you get throughout the night.That’s better than the handful of sleep tracking gadgets out there right now, from the accurate Jawbone Up bracelet to the less-competent-at-sleep Fitbit Force activity band. The Sleep Cycle alarm clock, a simple iOS app for iPhone, does all of this for a fraction of the price too. But none of these devices nor apps go beyond basic minute-by-minute metrics and scores.Withings Aura takes sleep tracking to the next REM stage with a two-part system that we tested during our non-stop CES 2014 coverage. Off our feet and onto the demo bed, we found a soft sleep sensor tucked underneath the mattress and an odd-shaped, light emitting alarm clock at our bedside.The white-cloth sensor was physically flat, but the sleep patterns it detected came to life thanks to real-time data on a dedicated app. It told us about our body movement, breathing cycles and heart rate, even though it was buried 3 inches beneath a mattress.Light-emitting alarm clockThe more interesting component is what Withings calls the “bedside device,” a light-emitting alarm clock that looks more like a ship’s horn-shaped vent.Glowing from this vent-like opening is multi-colored LED dimming lighting technology, which the company says is “scientifically-validated light.” It glows a red or orange melatonin-inducing wavelength at night and transitions to a peaceful blue color to do the opposite by morning.Soothing sounds also play a part in the bedside device’s attempt to mimic the body’s circadian rhythm. There are relaxing frequencies at night for falling asleep and stimulating […]

By |January 14th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Review: Updated: Moto G

Introduction Motorola’s back, and it’s kicking off its global smartphone revival with the keenly priced Moto G handset. A mid-range handset with a low-end price tag and Android KitKat – okay Moto, I’m listening.First things first then, the Motorola Moto G price. You can pick the handset up in two storage sizes – 8GB and 16GB. The former will set you back just £135/$175 (around AU$190), while the larger size is still a very palatable £159/$199 (around AU$215).So where does this place the Moto G in the market? Well at that price it has the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Fame, Nokia Lumia 520 and LG Optimus L3 2 for company, but dive into the spec list and you’ll note the Moto G wipes the floor with them.In terms of design the Moto G takes most of its cues from the firm’s first, post-Google takeover handset, the Moto X. It’s hardly groundbreaking in terms of looks, but the soft, curved edges of the Moto G make it relatively attractive and the swath of plastic feels solid and well built.Weighing in at 143g the Moto G has a pleasing, well balanced presence in the hand without being overbearing, and while it may measure 11.6mm thick in the middle the tapered edges make it feel thinner than it is.Couple that with a rubberized rear plate which slightly hugs the side of the handset too, and the Moto G fits comfortably in the palm, providing a decent level of grip.The Moto G features a water repellent coating which means you’ll be able to whip it out in the rain without fear of a short circuit, but it is not waterproof – so no jumping in the pool with […]

By |January 14th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Review: Android 4.4 KitKat

IntroductionEveryone was expecting Key Lime Pie to serve as the delicious moniker for the next version of Android. Google surprised us all by bucking tradition and releasing Android 4.4 under the name KitKat.Version 4.0 started life as Ice Cream Sandwich, but the last three decimal additions came under the Jelly Bean banner. This new version was obviously deemed different enough to snag a new nickname, but not different enough to merit a jump to version 5.0. That 0.1 bump hardly does it justice. Don’t be fooled: this is an important step up for Android. KitKat is super-smooth, the UI is refined and elegant, there are improvements to the long-neglected calling and messaging side of the platform, a new focus on productivity, and your fortune-telling digital assistant is brought front and centre as Google Now reaches maturity.General surprise in the tech world wasn’t just based on the erroneous supposition that Key Lime Pie had to be next; there were also some raised eyebrows at the idea of Google entering into a tawdry cross-licensing deal with Nestle which would see a flood of Android-shaped KitKats hitting the shops offering buyers the chance to win Nexus 7 tablets or Google Play credit.According to Google the promotion was its idea and no money changed hands. With Nestle producing 50 million Android KitKat bars it certainly looks like a sweet deal for them.Naming conventions aside, the 4.4 update is about addressing some of the Android criticisms that simply won’t go away and it does so with aplomb.There’s a real focus on the consumer here, with a smattering of useful new features, a noticeable bump in performance, and some optimization to ensure that budget hardware is not left behind. Android 4.4 […]

By |January 14th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Review: Updated: Windows 8.1

Introduction and installationWindows 8.1 is here. And you can download it for free. But does it fix what was wrong with Windows 8?From Facebook to the full-featured Mail app and modern Outlook to a “peek” bar in the modern version of Internet Explorer 11 to the new Windows Scan app, you get all of the promised Windows 8.1 extras. We are still waiting for the proper touch versions of the Office apps but that’s the way things work in Microsoft’s new ‘continuous development’ world. And of course you get the interface changes and SkyDrive integration we saw in the Windows 8.1 Preview. The Start button is back, you can boot to the desktop and use the same image for your Start screen as your desktop background. SkyDrive is built in to sync files – on both Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT – as well as settings and the layout for your Start screen and desktop taskbar.But Microsoft’s second bite at the convergence of PCs and tablets doesn’t back away from what we still want to call Metro; in fact there are more built in modern apps than in Windows 8, more settings you can change without jumping to the desktop and more options for how you place modern apps on screen. The question is how well these two worlds sit together, and how much of an improvement Microsoft has been able to deliver in a year. Installing Windows 8.1If you already have Windows 8, upgrading to Windows 8.1 is very simple. It will be the first app you see every time you open the Windows Store and the installation happens very quickly. You don’t have to reinstall your desktop applications or your Windows Store […]

By |January 14th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Hands-on review: TCL Roku TV review

The TCL Roku TV is a natural fit for the No. 1 Chinese television manufacturer’s expansion into the Western marketplace. It joins the company, unfamiliar to many consumers outside of China, with the well-established Roku streaming platform.We got a chance to channel surf using their app-filled offspring at CES 2014. Both the 48-inch TCL 48E4610R and the 55-inch TCL 55E4610R run the new smart TV operating system that Roku users should be immediately familiar with. That means apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, HBO Go and Crackle are all pinned to the customizable home screen.What makes Roku even better is that it has just about every special interest streaming app too. From the more known food channel Chow and the anime channel Crunchyroll to the almost certainly unknown Vietnamese American Real Estate and esoteric sciences channel Occult TV, there’s no shortage of content for niche audiences.In fact, there are over 1,000 streaming apps here, giving Roku the ability to claim that its platform has “more streaming channels than other Smart TVs at CES… combined.” Those bragging rights were previously confined to set-top boxes like the Roku 3 or a streaming USB stick the size of the Chromecast. Roku’s integration directly into TVs like the TCL 48E4610R and 55E4610R gives you one more reason to consider its low-priced 1080p television sets.Roku TV updates, new featuresTelevision manufacturers haven’t been the best arbiter of app channel curation and deal-making. Not next to a streaming leader like Roku, and frankly, that’s why this partnership is in place. It’s the apps we want combined we the fluid interface that just works. So it’s a relief to know that Roku is being put in charge of the entire […]

By |January 13th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Review: Creative T4 Wireless

It’s been over five years since we reviewed the excellent Creative T3 2.1 speakers.I still have them in my kitchen at home and use them for bouncing around the kitchen to loud music while I cook.If you forget the perplexingly dismal Creative ZiiSound T6 system that Creative burped out a few years after the T3s and skip straight to today’s menu, the new T4 Wireless 2.1 system is Creative’s follow-up and it’s excellent.Packing two satellite speakers, Creative ‘Slam’ subwoofer, Bluetooth 3.0. aptX support and NFC for pairing, it’s essentially the T3 system reborn for the smartphone generation, and we really like them a lot.You can pump them full of your music using 3.5mm jack, optical in, Bluetooth and you can also plug in via USB and use the subwoofer as a functional plug-and-play soundcard if you so wish. The addition of NFC means you can walk through your front door, tap your NFC-enabled smartphone against the audio control pod and continue listening to whatever you had in your ears moments before.NFC gets a bad rap from some quarters, but for pairing audio devices it’s super-useful, and using Creative Multipoint, the T4 Wireless can actually pair with two separate devices at a time, making switching between sources super, super easy.Wireless operationTo avoid confusing anyone who isn’t accustomed to using Bluetooth speaker systems like this, the ‘Wireless’ aspect of this product’s name refers only to the Bluetooth functionality. The satellite speakers and the volume pod are all very much wired into the subwoofer (a browse through comments on Amazon reveal this has been a cause of some confusion since the product went on sale).Setting upThe T4 Wireless system didn’t make an immediate impact on set up. The […]

By |January 13th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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Hands-on review: CES 2014: Acer Aspire V5

We reviewed the previous version of the Acer Aspire V5 recently and weren’t terrifically impressed with it, but Acer has tried again with this updated model that we were shown at CES 2014. It’s a budget €599 (around GBP £500, USD $817, AUD $903) Ultrabook that makes several compromises to hit its price point. Most interesting is the fact Acer has responded to feedback on the previous V5 and has reintroduced an optical drive into the mix. At this price point it seems people still want a way to install legacy applications from disc. The drive also features M-DISC technology, which is designed to make discs resistant to extreme conditions as well as age. Essentially, it means your data lasts longer thanks to a modified layer on the disc. You need to buy special M-DISCs to take advantage of the drive, but the data can be read by any DVD drive. The 15.6-inch laptop comes with up to 16GB of RAM, plus a 1,368 x 768 HD LED-backlit display (not Full HD, note) with 10-point multi touch. The display features what Acer calls Direct Bonding technology for closer screen layering, which increases contrast ratio. AMD Radeon R5 or R7 graphics are included depending on the specification you choose, as well as one of the range of lastest-generation Haswell Intel Core processors. The trackpad is sizeable and reasonably responsive, while the keyboard is standard Acer fayre – nice enough to use, but not the best you’ve ever experienced. Appearance-wise, the V5 is utilitarian, but the silver lid does make it seem a little more distinctive than your average black laptop. The V5 comes toting Windows 8, though we’d expect it to have Windows 8.1 by the […]

By |January 13th, 2014|News, Phone Reviews|0 Comments
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