All posts by Matt Porter

Amazon Echo Dot, Press Release, Uncategorized

Joby Announces ‘Freehold’ Phone Case with integrated mount and loop

Leave a comment

JOBY ANNOUNCES THE NEW FREEHOLD™ PHONE CASE WITH FINGER LOOP AND MULTI-ACCESSORY MOUNT

Feel the freedom to create with new JOBY FreeHold™ smartphone cases.

  • Protective case with built-in finger loop for a secure, ergonomic hold
  • Innovative flexible wrapping arms grip the phone to a variety of objects for fun creative images and videos
  • Tripod adapter attaches phone to your favourite GorillaPod® or any standard tripod

JOBY, the creator of award-winning mounts, stands and grips designed to elevate the potential of the latest mobile and imaging devices, announces the launch of FreeHold – a protective smartphone case series with built-in finger loop and modular attachment system. With FreeHold, JOBY now provides a complete ecosystem of products for run-and-gun content creators, further solidifying itself as a leader in smartphone accessories.

Designed for mobile content creation, FreeHold empowers you to easily view and use your smartphone in new and fun ways. Capture and share the most creative images and videos.

FreeHold’s built-in stretch-elastic finger loop hugs your fingers, giving you a dependable hold while snapping pics or vlogging – so, you know your phone isn’t going anywhere! Say “bye-bye” to scuff marks and broken screens.

JOBY knows that smart photography is much more than taking selfies and requires hands-free capability to reach your fullest potential. Slide the finger loop down and witness the magic! Once the finger loop is released, a patented connection point is revealed. Here is where you can attach the two accessories: flexible wrapping arms and ¼” tripod adapter. These are included in both cases and in the complete kit.

You can purchase the Joby Freehold from Amazon here

Amazon would like to remind you that we are an Amazon Associate and earn a small amount from purchases made from our links.

 

 

Alexa, Amazon, Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Smart speaker with Alexa is currently under 20 quid with Prime on Primeday

Leave a comment

Heads-up!  The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is currently on special offer for Prime members on Prime day.

Amazon is stating this is a 62% saving on the RRP.  Which sounds like a great bargain.

Available in four colours, displayed below. Amazon has asked us to let you know that you can order via our links, when you do and you complete the purchase, we earn a very tiny amount of commission.

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with AlexaEcho Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa

 

  • Amazon’s most popular smart speaker a choice of 4 colours with a fabric design and improved speaker for richer and louder sound.
  • Voice control your music: stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, TuneIn and others. You can also listen to audiobooks from Audible.
  • Bigger, better sound: pair with a second Echo Dot for rich, stereo sound. Fill your home with music with compatible Echo devices in different rooms.
  • Ready to help: ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices and more.
  • Connect with others: call almost anyone hands free including UK mobile and residential numbers (from UK only), other Echo devices, Alexa app and Skype. Link your Vodafone account to make and receive mobile calls. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device.
  • Alexa has skills: with tens of thousands of skills, Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new skills like tracking fitness, playing games and more.
  • Voice control your smart home: turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors and more, with compatible connected devices.
  • Designed to protect your privacy: built with multiple layers of privacy protection and control, including a Microphone Off button that electronically disconnects the microphones.
Air Purifiers, Podcast, Review

Gadget Man – Episode 167 – Kebao Air 3 – Game Changing Air Purification arrives in the UK

Audio Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Having spent the summer starting new businesses, building websites and gadgets, as well as building global distribution networks and running the home for a short while, I return with my latest review and podcast episode.

This week I am talking to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the NHS England Track and Trace App (part ii) and most excitingly, my experience with the Kebao Air 3 which is a truly futuristic gadget!

Listen in to the stream and read on to find out more about the Kebao Air 3 Air Purifer.

Kebao Air 3: Game-Changing air purification comes to the UK!

Poor air quality has become one of the largest environmental risks to the health of people of the United Kingdom and with the Coronavirus Pandemic, it has become more important than ever that we breathe healthy air that is free from harmful particles and unpleasant viruses.

So, it was incredibly timely that I was recently contacted by Kebao to test their new ‘filterless’ air purifier, namely the Kebao Air 3.

The Air 3 combines sleek design with cutting edge technology, which in turn completely eliminates 99.99% of airborne pollutants, viruses, bacteria and allergens and consequently provides ‘Surgical Grade’ air and deodorisation.

Instead of using standard High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that can capture particulate matter of 0.3 microns or larger with 99.95% efficiency (a human hair is between 17 and 181 microns), the Kebao Air 3 is capable of eliminating particles down to a size of 0.01 microns. This is a big deal because COVID19 particles are around 0.12 microns in size, small enough to pass through a HEPA filter, but the too big to pass through the Air 3!

The Kebao Air 3 does this using a brand-new type of 5-stage filtration. Stage 1 is a pre-filter which removes larger particles from the air and can be cleaned and reused for the lifetime of the product. Stage 2 uses a high-voltage negative charge to deactivate viruses and bacteria and retains the debris on charged plates stopping re-release. Stage 3 using a mind-blowing ‘Photocatalytic Oxidisation’ based on Albert Einstein’s ‘Photon Energy’. UV light initiates a stepwise free radical decomposition of organic compounds, which produces water and carbon dioxide as a by-product. The Air 3 has 48 LED bulbs and a Ti02 alumina ceramic photocatalytic ozone-free filter. Stage 4 uses 4kg of loose granulated carbon, impregnated with amines which absorb and decomposes any harmful gasses. Stage 5 Surgical grade, deodorised air is circulated through you room clear of 99.99% of harmful particulates!

The display shows air quality in two readings, the first two numbers are the temperature and humidity, the second set are PM2.5 and TVOC readings. PM2.5 is a measure of the number of particles less than 2.5 microns in size and are caused by burning fuel, chemical reactions and forest fires. PM2.5 particles are very unhealthy, causing eye, nose and throat irritations, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. They can also cause asthma, chronic bronchitis and heart disease. In the UK, air must remain below 25, the WHO recommends below 10, London’s average is 10, my house is currently 1 after having the Air 3 running for over a week!

The second setting is TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compound) which is another way of measuring air quality, again this was negligible at 0.02 after a week of running.

All of this amazing technology comes at a price. The unit is aimed at commercial enterprises who want to keep their staff and customers safe, so it would suit a restaurant or office space as it is actively cleaning the air the whole time. The price of £1600 reflects a premium commercial product, but I can honestly see it becoming something of a norm in the UK especially due to the current crisis!

The Kebao Air 3 is available to buy directly from Kebao

Stay safe

Audio, Edifier

New EDIFIER X3 – TWS MUSIC EARBUDS

Leave a comment

Edifier® International, prominent designers and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets announce the X3 earbuds.

The X3 are the newest offering in the TWS range from Edifier. Featuring the latest Bluetooth v5.0, the Qualcomm chipset delivers a faster, more stable signal transmission and low input latency. This technology keeps interference to a minimum, even with a transmission distance of 10m. The low power consumption also provides 6 hours of playback, with an additional 18 hours using the sleek charging case before mains power is required.

New EDIFIER X3 - TWS MUSIC EARBUDS
New EDIFIER X3 – TWS MUSIC EARBUDS

The microphone, with CVC V8.0 noise cancellation technology, is guaranteed to deliver a clearer sound during calls. It automatically reduces background and environmental noise to pick up the user’s voice accurately and ensure high clarity audio transmission with richer details.

Having been fine-tuned by a professional team, the high-fidelity aptX audio decoding technology delivers CD-quality sound performance in each range. Deep bass and tri-frequency balance are achieved across all music genres.

One-step pairing assures fuss-free usage, meaning the earbuds automatically pair to each other and the last paired device for a faster connection when removed from the charging case. The touch control on each earbud also offers easy access to various functions, including play/pause, next/last song and answer/hang up on calls. The voice assistant can also be activated by triple tapping either earbud.

Ergonomically designed to be lightweight and compact, the X3 brings maximum wearing comfort all day and comes with three different sizes of foam tip to provide a snug fit in the ear cavity. The IPX5 rating makes the earbuds water/rain and sweat-resistant, ideal for a gym workout or outdoor activity.

The X3 are available in black or white and are affordably priced at £32.99, making the earbuds extremely competitive with other leading brands.

Main Features:

  • High-Fidelity Apt X and tuned by a professional acoustic team.
  • Bluetooth V5.0 with Qualcomm Chipset to provide a better signal transmission.
  • Lower power consumption for 6 hours of playback time and extra 18 hours with charge case.
  • CVC 8.0 Noise-Cancelling Isolation Microphone.
  • Ergonomic, compact design with IPX5 rating.
  • One-Step Pairing for a faster connection.

Price & Availability: Specifications

Bluetooth version V5.0
Bluetooth protocol A2DP、AVRCP、HFP、HSP
Audio decoding SBC、aptX
Effective distance 10m
Playback time – Earbuds about 6 hours
Playback time – Charging case 18 hours
Input – Earbuds DC 5V 60mA
Input – Charging case DC 5V 400mA
Frequency response 20Hz-20KHz
Sensitivity 95 dB

The X3 is available from Amazon at £32.99

https://amzn.to/2G7KeBO

Custom T-Shirts, Gadget Man, Summer of Creativity, The Gadget Man

We Finally Launch Our Custom T-Shirt Store – tshirtslogans.uk

Leave a comment

My Summer of creativity continues with the launch of my much pondered Custom T-Shirt Store.

I was a massive fan of the 1980s Slogan T-Shirts such as ‘Choose Life’, ‘Go-Go’, ‘Frankie Say Relax Don’t Do It!’, ‘Frankie Say Arm the Unemployed’, ‘Frankie Say War! Hide Yourself’, ‘Save the Whale’ etc, so, to code a website to generate these for people nearly forty years after they were so popular, as well as having them printed and posted, finally ticks that box.

All text is customisable with 1 to 3 lines available to print.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how creative people can be!

You can also order mugs too!

Turtles all the way down
Turtles all the way down
Gadget Man, Technology, The Gadget Man

Modern Tech Gadgets All Homeowners Will Want

Leave a comment

We are living in the future. It’s just that we don’t realise it yet. There are more and more home gadgets coming out all the time, and some of them are seriously impressive. If you’re a homeowner who wants to be at the cutting edge of all that’s hot, then this is the article for you! We’re going to run through some of the best, most exciting, and most useful tech gadgets available for purchase. Install them in your home, and you’ll feel like you’re living in the future!

Pexels – CC0 Licence

Robot Assistants

Home devices such as the Alexa and Next are increasingly popular, and it’s not hard to see why: you can do so much with them. From dimming the lights to playing television shows and songs, these devices not only make the home more convenient; they also make it more fun. You can get as many as you need for your home, so why not have one in a couple of different rooms? There are new features coming out all the time on these devices, so you never know just what they’ll be able to do in the coming years. 

Clean Homes

Who wants to spend all of their time cleaning the home? Not us. They’ve been talking about technology that’ll clean the home for around a century, but it feels as if now, the time has finally come. There are some excellent robot vacuum cleaners available on the market. Perhaps right at the top of the list is the D77, which has some seriously impressive features. For instance, you can program it so that it can clean a variety of different floor types, and it’ll even empty its contents into another bin. A seriously cool gadget, and one that reduces the time you spend cleaning your home. Perfect. 

Keeping the Home Secure

The security of your home will be right at the top of the list of your priorities. And in this day and age, there are plenty of tech tools that can help to keep your home even more secure. There are tech-enabled deadbolts, for example, which can only be opened with a code or smartphone. Then there are services such as those offered by Minut, a company that specializes in smart home monitoring. This is especially useful if you rent out your property, since you’ll always know that everything is just as it should be. There are also video doorbells, so you can always see who’s outside of your home, whether you’re at home or not. 

Air Quality Assistance

There’s something that has a big impact on the quality of a home that many people overlook: the quality of the air. If you want to improve your air, then look at investing in a tech air purifier. It’ll automatically detect the quality of your air and make adjustments as and when it’s needed, and it can even remove bad odors too. It’s one of those things you won’t know that you needed for your property until you get one.

Gadget Man, Matt Porter, Smart Phone, Technology

4 Simple Ways To Make Your Smartphone More Unique

Leave a comment

We all carry a smartphone on us at all times these days and we rely on them for so many things. But if you carry something around on you at all times, shouldn’t you make it look good? A lot of people don’t really think about how their phone looks and they aren’t bothered that it looks just the same as everybody else’s phone, but if you want to make your phone more unique, there are some simple ways to customize it and make it your own. These are some of the best ways to personalize your smartphone and make it more unique.

Image From Pexels CCO License

Choose A Different Brand 

Everybody is walking around with iPhones or Samsungs, so if you want to set yourself apart from the crowd, why not go for something different? When you are choosing a phone, look at some of the less popular brands and see what they have to offer. In a lot of cases, the phone itself will be just as good as the well-known brands, but it will be a lot cheaper. You’ll get a more interesting phone that not as many people have and it will save you a lot of money at the same time. 

Get A Good Case 

Getting a good smartphone case is important because phones are fragile and the screen will easily break if you drop it. But you should also see your case as a good opportunity to personalize your smartphone and make it more unique. There are so many amazing cases out there, so when you are buying one, think about something that reflects you and your interests. For example, if you love cars, you can get some great Formula 1 Phone Cases online. You can also get custom made photo ones with pictures of your friends and family. The right case can make your phone a lot more unique to you while also protecting it from damage. 

Customize Your Wallpaper And Lock Screen 

The case makes a big difference, but you should also customize the wallpaper and lock screen on your phone. Usually, your phone comes with a default wallpaper, which will probably be pretty boring. If you want your phone to be unique to you, make sure to change it to something different right away, like a photo of your family and friends or a great picture of something that you are passionate about, like your favourite place. You can also make a live wallpaper with dynamic moving images, which is much better than a boring static picture. 

Add Widgets To The Home Screen 

You can improve the look of your phone and boost the user experience at the same time by adding a few widgets to the home screen. Most people already have things like a clock or the weather on their home screen, but why not add something more interesting?  You can get some great note-taking widgets to keep things organized or even use a custom widget-maker to create your own. 

Make these simple customizations and you can make your smartphone a lot more unique to you.

Drones, Gadget Man, Technology, The Gadget Man

What Practical Applications Does a Drone Have?

Leave a comment

Drones are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to capture footage with spectacular views. However, most people don’t really have a practical use for a drone outside of just being a hobby that allows them to take cool footage and potentially spy on their neighbours. So to help you understand drones a bit better, we’ve put together a list of practical uses for drones in the modern-day.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/H5IXIH254AU (CC0)
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/H5IXIH254AU (CC0)

Drones can be used to monitor large plots of land

Drones are starting to be used for surveillance purposes. For instance, farmers can use a drone with a camera attachment to inspect livestock that is spread over many acres of land instead of driving around to check on them. Similarly, private companies can use drones to monitor large and complex buildings, especially if they have connections such as pipelines that need to be monitored. Lastly, firefighters can also use drones to track wildfires so they know where to position themselves to help cull the flames.

Drones can be used to survey sites

If you’ve ever been involved in a building project then you’ll understand the important role that drone services can play. Professional services can help you survey buildings, structures and roofs for a variety of different purposes. In most situations, the drone footage can be used to perform inspections, but it can also be used to plan out a building or the placement of structures. Since drones can go fairly high and capture a wide-angle view of a specific area, it gives construction specialists an amazing view of the area that they can work with.

Drones are often used to record footage for different industries

High-quality cameras can easily be attached to drones these days, making them very capable machines that can capture footage from many different heights. This can be used for film purposes, such as capturing overhead footage of a filming location. It can also be used to showcase the area around a property that is being sold on the real estate market. This type of stock footage can also be sold and bought depending on the purpose it’s intended for. Some imagery from drones is highly sought after, such as sweeping overheard recordings of specific cities and night footage of iconic skylines. Drones can help us capture some amazing footage and it’s changed the video service industry in many positive ways.

Drones can just be used for fun

Like many new technologies, you don’t have to just focus on practical or professional uses. You could just own a drone and use it for fun! This can include racing drones with your friends, building an obstacle course or even just flying them around because you like the views that it can capture. There’s nothing wrong with using a drone for recreational purposes and there’s no limit to the things you can do with it–the limit is your imagination! Check out this article for cool things you can do with a drone to get some inspiration.

Audio, Edifier, Gadget Man, Headphones, Matt Porter, Review, Technology, The Gadget Man

Edifier TWS6 – True Wireless Earbuds with Knowles Balanced Armatures

Leave a comment

It’s not often I get to directly compare technology, but this month is an exception because I’m reviewing another set of wireless earbuds, this time from Edifier in the guise of the TWS6.

The Edifier TWS6 Earbuds come with Knowles balanced armature drivers which in turn, deliver great sound quality.  Without becoming too technical, Knowles is a world-leading manufacturer of ‘balanced armatures’ which use an electronic signal to vibrate a tiny reed that is balanced between two magnets inside a tiny enclosure. The motion of the reed is transferred to a very stiff aluminium diaphragm. This diaphragm is free of unwanted resonances in the audio band, allowing it to produce excellent clarity. They are also exceeding small components which mean that other functions can be added.

Edifier TWS6 - True Wireless Earbuds with Knowles Balanced Armatures

The earbuds connect using Bluetooth 5 which means they can also be used for handsfree calls with microphones in both left and right buds and provide excellent clarity using CVC noise cancellation when making calls.

As with most other wireless earbuds, the TWS6 have their own charger case which can itself be charged wirelessly by placing it on a charging pad which features in most modern cars or via USB-C cable. The buds are magnetically docked in the charger meaning they make good contact themselves and provide 8 hours of battery life but can be recharged three times before the case needs recharging itself

Edifier TWS6 - True Wireless Earbuds with Knowles Balanced Armatures

Playback can be controlled by tapping either the left or right buds and simply provide stop/start and track skipping, it would have been nice to see some more functionality, but generally, you have your phone at hand when listening to music, so it wasn’t a big deal.

In the box were a large variety of interchangeable earbuds of different sizes including two different sizes of Memory Foam which I found really comfortable and they were less prone to falling out of your ears.

They are IPX5 waterproof and sweatproof, so if you get caught in the rain or overdo it in the gym, they will survive just fine.

Edifier TWS6 - True Wireless Earbuds with Knowles Balanced Armatures
As a child of the 80s, I was used to listening to horrible tinny music through headphones, so listening to today’s wireless earbuds in supreme quality still blows me away, especially when they are APTx and Dolby Atmos compatible which makes watching movies really impressive.
The Edifier TWS6 can be purchase through many online retailers for around £90 and thought they are great value for money.

You can currently pick them up on Amazon at this link

Another fab product from Edifier!

Matt

Edifier, Matt Porter

New Edifier S2000MKIII Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf 2.0 Speaker

Leave a comment

Feature Bluetooth V5.0 with Qualcomm aptX HD decoding and carry a Hi-res certification for components – the planar diaphragm tweeters and 5.5-inch woofers – normally found in HiFi level speaker models

Edifier® International, prominent designer and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets announces the S2000MKIII powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker. The Edifier S2000MKIII pays tribute to speakers from the past with its elegant wood side panelling, however the components inside are state-of-the-art high-end audio.

The S2000MKIII is designed for home recording and mixing, bringing a highly professional sound quality to a bookshelf speaker. The S2000MKIII features the latest Bluetooth V5.0 with Qualcomm aptX HD decoding. The chipset will wirelessly transmit lossless and high-definition music signals, so that the Bluetooth playback can obtain the same outstanding music quality as for wired digital transmission.

New Edifier S2000MKIII Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf 2.0 Speaker
New Edifier S2000MKIII Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf 2.0 Speaker

Only high-end audiophile components usually used in HiFi level speakers have been used for the S2000MKIII. This speaker holds a Hi-res certification; the planar diaphragm tweeters and 5.5-inch woofers normally found in HiFi speaker models, deliver clear, powerful tones and outstanding audio quality. The flat diaphragm provides a fast response rate that gives benefits such as excellent high frequencies that lower tiered bookshelf speakers do not provide. An aluminium cone woofer with Digital Sound Processing digital electronic crossover makes sounds unique and clear with high-strength, low-distortion and achieves incredibly loud and heavy bass. With RMS power of 15W for the tweeters and 50W for the woofers, these speakers are perfect for use in a large room or space over 50m² as well as smaller spaces where you really want to rock that audio.

New Edifier S2000MKIII Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf 2.0 Speaker
New Edifier S2000MKIII Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf 2.0 Speaker

The Edifier S2000MKIII active speaker allows you to hook up multiple devices to the same speaker. In addition to Bluetooth v5.0, there are also wired digital inputs plus wired digital analogue input to allow connection to multiple devices such as TV sets, TV boxes, Blu-ray players, games consoles, CD/DVD players, smartphones, computers, tablets and other devices.

You can change the sound of your speakers at the touch of a button. The S2000MKIII has four on-board Equalizer settings: vocal, monitor, classic, and dynamic. The treble and bass are independently adjustable according to personal preference and music/audio choice.

The smart start-up volume protects both your hearing and the speaker from harm; however, a 50-level high-precision adjustment of the master volume ensures a totally immersive listening experience when required. With the wireless remote included you can easily adjust the volume, switch the sound source, select mode and power on/off. To make using the S2000MKIII as seamless as possible, there is a clear OLED LCD screen for source, sound effect modes and volume. With the Display mode selected the input status of the speaker shows you which input you are using.

The speaker casing is made off a wood veneer while the volume, bass and treble knobs are made from metal and have a professional-grade feel.

Main Features:

  • Bluetooth V5.0 with Qualcomm aptX HD decoding
  • 5 ½” aluminium diaphragm drivers for ultimate bass response
  • Patent-pending planar diaphragm tweeters
  • Hi-res sound certification
  • High-efficiency Class-D digital power amplification
  • Electronic crossovers and dynamic control based on dual advanced DSP chips
  • Digital audio signal with a sample rate up to 24BIT/192KHZ
  • Listening pre-sets: Monitor, Dynamic, Classical, and Vocal
  • OLED LCD screen displays source, volume, sound effects modes
  • PVC side panels with matte black finish
  • Newly designed IR remote control

Price & Availability:

The S2000MKIII is available at £449.99 from Amazon Now!