Tag: gadget

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Technology

HP Goes Slick

The box

I have been in the market for a new laptop. Currently, I use a MacBook Pro. Loyalty is a not factor because I have had different brands over the years. My needs change or evolve when it comes to work devices. 

Given a chance to test the HP Spectre gave me an opportunity, why not? I know the HP brand but I am not familiar with the companies product line.  Certainly, I did not think they had a stylishly designed product that would fit my needs.  I had a pleasant tech surprise. 

My Impressions 

The Box

My initial reaction: A nice finish, pleasing to the eye, and easy to put under the arm in a rush with the leather case.

Battery life is good. The flat keyboard is comfortable with a responsive touchpad. The overall performance, fast, while easy to use.

While I was using this Spectre I broke my arm, then in a cast for 7 weeks.

I had a mixed impression of the facial ID system. Without glasses, fine, there were problems wearing glasses for identification. I used the ID code.

The portability factor, weighing around 3 pounds, worked for me while traveling around Italy and France on a working holiday. I used the tablet feature for spontaneous on set conversations. When writing I put in the table top setting. The tent mode was good for breakfast meetings.

I had a touch screen PC in the past. Using one again reminds me what I missed about them. They are intuitive and easy to use. The 13 inch backlight screen is sharp.

Staying in the premium league for Spectre, the Bang Olusen speakers are good for those like me who listen to music while working.

The  Modes 

Working in the South of France 

I had no problems with heating while simultaneously keeping many windows open.

HP is positioning the Spectre for those searching for a style with reliability in their PC’s. You will not be ashamed sitting at a cafe using this slick device.

To my surprise, even the accessories were well designed. 

Lastly 

About this review, sadly, I broke my and ended in the hospital and with a cast for almost 2 months. I did not have the opportunity to really put the Spectre through a more rigorous test. However, overall, I liked the PC. 

Quick Specs 

Intel Core CPU, Intel UHD Graphics, Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, micro sd port, 13 inch touch screen


Categories
Technology

Affordable Listening

Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

The first thing you notice about these Skullcandy Ink’d wireless Bluetooth headphones is how light they are. Initially this can give the impression of them being cheap and disposable. But you will soon find that the opposite is true and the design grows on you. They are a flexible collar-style fit and extremely comfortable. What’s more, after a short while you barely feel that you are wearing them. This makes it easy to go about your daily duties, at work or jogging in the park, with ease. The slim low-profile design means not attracting attention. They easily blend in to whatever you are wearing.  

As for the quality, Skullcandy’s Ink’d is a consistently decent sound quality that compliments its already comfortable design fit. For one, it avoids the treble and bass push you get from many contemporary headphones so has a balanced decent clarity sound in the midrange. The drawback on reduction in bass means these aren’t going to be the greatest headphones for every type of music. However, it still competes well against other neckband-style Bluetooth headphones on offer. 

It also functions as a headset for making and receiving cellphone calls with an instant pause on the music as notification. The integrated remote is on the left side of the neckband and the controls are large and easy to operate by touch. When fully charged, the battery life is somewhere around seven hours which is pretty good. Perhaps the only drawback is that it’s missing extra features like magnetized buds and there’s also no way to adjust the cord lengths. Overall though, better than it looks and definitely competitive in its price range. 

By Steven Yates

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Technology

IFA 2018 NEWS from Twitter

IFA 2018 coverage sponsored by Canon Camera/Werbung


Sex in 2018 
Categories
Fashion Technology

IFA DAY Day One

IFA 2018 coverage sponsored by Canon Camera (WERBUNG) 

A day full of surprises at IFA.   The market for consumer electronics is going strong.  Many brands are becoming design focus as technology moves into every room of the modern house. 

I was in a state of shock when an IFA colleague told me the new Blackberry is good. is there a need for Blackberry in the age of Apple and Samsung? According to him, “YES”!

Polaroid, the vampire device that cannot be killed is moving into the digital era with it iconic point and shoot camera. I was waiting for Partridge Family to roll up riding a Psychedelic Colored bus. 

It is all about streaming and talking to a device, audio.  Google Google Everywhere! The wave of the future is voice activation.  Google Assistant is going to be in your living room to obey and serve.   At the same time Amazon’s Alexa is preparing to take control of life as we know it. It feels like a war is brewing between the two tech titans.  Personally, I am ready for VO in my house.  I still get up to turn off a light.

Bang and Olufsen introduced a small but powerful motion censored audio device, the Edge.  It did not wow me like last years sound wall.  The circular speaker detects movement in the room and can be controlled by a touch or movement.   The specs and materials are what a buyers expects from the high end Danish Brand, all top notch and cutting edge. 

Acer unveiled new devices including a light weight laptop and new VR headgear.  The VR gear scared me a bit.  It look liked a  lot of tech packed into a headgear.  I will test it later.  

Asus surprised me.  I liked the look and specs of the Asian brands new PC’s, A new design DNA.  Look for more details later. 

https://youtu.be/M2_VE6nuFRY
Back to Life 

Images made with Canon G3X. 

Categories
Fashion

Football in Your FACE!

This is a Reposting of a past article!

World Cup 2018 is upon us. The biggest sporting event in the world has started in Russia. Teams from all over the globe compete to see who is the best national soccer club. Just in time for the festivities LG recently introduced its latest bean projector, the LG Cine Beam Laser 4K. My first impression, small, sleek, and room friendly. It does not overwhelm a space. The design aesthetic is modern, like an elongated droid. There are two color options: black or white.

A key selling point is the portability. Simply pick it up by the handle grip to move it from one place to another or room to room. It weighs about 15 lbs,  stands at 6.5” x 18. 5”.

The picture quality is what you would expect from a high end projector;4K Ultra High Definition with 8.3 million pixels able to project a clear image on a wall, ceiling, or side of a building. Aspect ratio is 16:9 to a maximum screen size of 150”. During the press demo I was impressed with the picture quality. The images were sharp and focus. I could only imagine watching “The Empire Strikes Back” on a large wall, immersed in the Battle of Hoth, that would be an experience.

The LG Smart TV operating is included along with remote control. I found the system interaction a bit awkward at first, it took some time to get use to the movement.

The laser lamp has a life span of up to 20.000 hours. The system contains all the extra one would expect from a device, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. I cannot give a review of the built in speakers because we were talking amongst ourselves while viewing the presentation.

Thew big downside: This is an expensive device. There are cheaper projector brands. The $3000 price tag makes this a luxury piece of technology, an investment. If you are a tech and tv enthusiast with money to burn, yes!

Commenting at IFA 17, I said LG had been making strides to step out of the shadow of its bigger Korean rival Samsung by introducing compelling products with stronger design signatures matched with higher quality.

The LG Cine Beam Laser 4K is available in stores.

Incase you have not heard, France over Croatia in the final.  However,,, the Croatian Players got our vote for SEX APPEAL!

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Technology

IFA Day 1 part 2

Categories
Technology

IFA 2017 Press Days 1

Black and Paper Highlights from IFA Press Day 1 August 30th.

So much to see and experience today from the world’s largest consumer tech fair, connected houses, smart devices, and wireless were the themes of the day.

Skullcandy introduced a new series of premium but affordable headphones.  Sleek, soft, and wireless, the Hesh listening devices have  long battery life.

Miele says it has taken cooking to the next level with The Dialog oven centered-on M Chef Technology.    The appliance offers 70% faster cooking time than regular ovens.  The Dialog can cook an entire meal at once; meat, green vegetables, and potatoes.  M Chef is an electromagnetic wave system that communicates with the food texture.  According to the company, food is cooked harmoniously resulting in better tasty meals.

Bang & Oluffsen’s Beosound Shape, a wireless speaker system with a bespoke design element for the wall with noise dampers.  The speaker’s fittings are wall mounted but in an unobtrusive manner.   As a music lover, I liked what I heard.

Robert Bosch introduced high end connected products the healthy mixer was a highlight.

Siemens displayed a connected home with a control panel from an automobile.

IFA is a yearly consumer electronics tradeshow in Berlin, Germany.

Images powered by Canon G7X

Categories
Technology

IFA 2017

IFA 2017 starts tomorrow.

Highlights for Black and Paper Day 1 of Press Dates

Siemens

Miele

Asus

Skullcandy

Bang Olufusen

Connectivity is the ongoing trend along with VR technology.   Stay tuned for more details.

Categories
Technology

IFA 2017 Coming Soon

Counting down to IFA 2017 has started.  The latest consumer electronic trends from connected homes, drones, smartphones, and vr are on the agenda.

Coverage starts September 30th from Berlin.

 

Categories
Technology

Tech Preview

With IFA Berlin only 6 weeks, the worlds biggest consumer brands are gearing up to show off their new electronics and services.  At the media briefing for the upcoming  event, Black and Paper got a sneak peak of the latest gadgets  brands will display in September.

The overall trend for technology, digital hardware and software is connectivity.  Everything controlled from a PC, smartphone, and tablet.