Tech Trends puts Blackmagic’s most compact plug-and-play control panel through its paces. 

The DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel is incredibly small but professional. It fits perfectly next to a keyboard for simultaneous editing and color grading, and is great for use with a laptop for on location grading! 

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

Save

Save

The post Product Review: Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel appeared first on Tech Trends.

Standing desks are all the rage now and I have tested out several over the years but this is the first whole desk solution rather than one that sits on top of an existing fixed-height desk. This accessory style standing desk is always a compromise and really affects the amount of desk surface you have and when lowered still means you have a higher than standard desk surface, after extensive experience I am not a fan of this so was keen to test the Flexispot.

The Flexispot Adjustable Standing Desk Pro Series is all around a better idea and means that when it is in the lowered position it’s a regular desk plus you have the neat and tidy option to raise it up when you feel like stretching your legs. Everything on the desk remains the same and your workflow is not interrupted.

When it is in the lowered position it's a regular desk plus you have the neat and tidy option to raise it up when you feel like stretching your legs. Everything on the desk remains the same and your workflow is not interrupted.
Share on X

Enhanced structure and the dual-motor advanced lifting system boost the loading capacity and ensures the maximum stability even at the highest setting. Powerful dual motors enable a maximum lifting speed of 1.4”/s even under the full weight capacity of 275 lbs (EC4). All this is easily achieved with just the touch of a button.

I tried out the 24″ x 48″ desk with Pro 3-Stage frame and if you are like me like a large surface and run multiple monitors plus several laptops at the same time you know your cabling is pretty complex but the Flexispot’s simple height adjustment system means all that cabling stays in place.

If you are like me like a large surface and run multiple monitors and laptops at the same time your cabling is pretty complex but the Flexispot's simple height adjustment system means all that cabling stays in place
Share on X

There is no need to rearrange your setup each time to adjust the height and best of all you can rely on the desk to handle the weight of all this equipment. Flexispot claims the inbuilt motors can handle up to 220lbs (Pro 2-Stage model) and 275lbs (Pro 3-Stage model) which is a lot!

Steady, Quiet, Quick. Made with powder-coated steel tubing, our desk frame resists scratches and stains. The dual-motor lifting system and the enhanced structure could provide maximum stability even at the highest setting. With the energy-efficient LED display, our advanced keypad has 3 memory height presets and a programmable sit/stand reminder system. You can change positions with ease and get friendly alerts when it’s time to stand.

This Pro Series desk is built like a tank and inspires confidence that it can handle the heaviest of workloads. Even the thick laminate surface weighs a tonne but putting it together was a cinch. Be warned, it absolutely takes two people to move the fully assembled desk around as it is so heavy. However, the motors handled the load perfectly, and once the desk was where I wanted it and loaded up with my equipment It was a cinch to raise and lower it at will.

This Pro Series desk is built like a tank and inspires confidence that it can handle the heaviest of workloads. Even the thick laminate surface weighs a tonne but putting it together was a cinch
Share on X

Stylish Desktop Options. All-natural Bamboo surface, twice the durability and elasticity of ordinary wood. The carbonized technology that coats the tabletop with a water-resistant 2H lacquer, making it moisture-proof, insect-resistant, and scratch-proof.

The control pad mounts just under the front of the desktop and to one side where it’s easy to access but out of the way. As well as the expected up and down controls you get three height memory options and a sit-stand reminder function to literally help get you off your ass regularly through the workday. There is a huge variety of surface options inc. solid wood, bamboo or high-quality laminated 1 inch MDF or Chipboard, all of which look super sturdy and professional quality.

The control pad mounts to one side where it's easy to access but out of the way. As well as up and down you get three height memory options and a sit-stand reminder function to literally help get you off your ass regularly
Share on X

Bamboo

All-natural surface, twice the durability and elasticity of ordinary wood. The carbonized technology that coats the tabletop with a water-resistant 2H lacquer, making it moisture-proof, insect-resistant, and scratch-proof.

Solid Wood

Free of harmful chemicals and harder than wood, this solid surface is built to last. Designed for maximum durability, the eco-friendly desktop will last for years and help you adopt a greener mindset. It’s one of the most affordable choices for solid wood.

Laminated

Available in up to 10 different color options including black, white, maple, mahogany, custom graphite, marble grey, special walnut, ebony, oak and brown wood grain — making it easy to find the precise fit for your space!

Details and dimensions

• Rectangle tops are available in every size
• Contoured tops are not available in some sizes
• Laminate top thickness: 1″
• Natural bamboo desktop thickness: 0.7”
• Bamboo curved desktop includes two grommets for better cable management

Materials

• Chipboard – A sturdy material that holds up well under pressure, creates stable desks without weak spots.
• MDF(Medium Density Fiberboard) – Does not have knots or kinks that can disrupt the smooth surface.
• Bamboo Desktop -Truly environment-friendly bamboo desktop sourced from sustainable Forests. No pesticides or fertilizers are used

Flexispot offers a lot of desk options and a variety of desk designs to suit your needs but after reviewing the Adjustable Standing Desk Pro Series I can say that the quality is really excellent. The mechanisms are strong and versatile and the high-quality surface was easily as good as anything I have used in a professional office but the prices are incredibly reasonable. Check out the full Flexispot range here but the desk I reviewed costs $439.99 here. Thumbs up from TechTrends!

Moment Pebble

A new tool for modern mindfulness has been launched, combining the power of mindfulness and breathwork with the calming help of a tactile, illuminated, marble pebble. In a world vying for our attention, we have never been more educated, stimulated, connected… and exhausted! Globally over 1 billion of us feel the mental and physical impact of burnout and stress each year.  That’s why it’s never been more important to stop and take a moment for ourselves. Combined with the Moment Method course, the Pebble makes the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and breathwork simple, quick, and effective.

The Moment Pebble is a palm-sized, wirelessly charged, natural stone device that enables you to take 30 second moments of mindfulness – anytime, anywhere. With a gentle light that beats from within, it guides you through short mindful exercises that help you de-stress and re-energize. The idea for the Moment Pebble came from the lived experiences of the three co-founders Fiona, Alex and Charlie.

It was our experiences of extreme stress and the resulting mental and physical symptoms that brought us together and set us on our mission to develop a product that would help people STOP, and take a Moment, reducing stress in their lives. Our mission is to empower people to recognize that they have the power to shift their mindset to a more positive outlook in as little as 30 seconds, or a Moment. Although well-being apps are very popular today, they are embedded in our key source of stress, our phones. Our design brief was simple – create something that felt grounded in nature, made of natural materials, guided, unconnected, and a little bit magical.

As opposed to fully digital services such as Headspace and Calm, Moments are anchored in the physical world, away from connected devices that are often the source of our stress. We’ve all been spending far too much time in front of screens, especially when working from home during the pandemic and dealing with the challenges of home-schooling. Moment Pebble acts as a physical reminder to be mindful throughout the day; it’s a tool to bring calm to a busy life, something to reach for instead of your phone, for a self-imposed screen break.

The Pebble’s light sequence follows Cardiac Coherence Breathing, a proven breathing pattern that brings the nervous system into balance by stimulating the vagus nerve. The sequence is simple, breathe in for 5 seconds and out for 5 seconds, on a 4 breath cycle. This in turn activates the parasympathetic nervous system, resetting many of the negative impacts of stress. This includes calming heart rate, reducing blood pressure, boosting digestive health, and improving sleep quality.

Co-Founder of Moment Pebble Charlie Cadbury said: “I came up with the idea for Moment Pebble whilst listening to a Headspace session on focus. I immediately teamed up with an old friend Alex Strang and put plans into action to making it a reality. My personal experience of mindfulness, an MBSR course and talking to others led me to understand how easy it was to fall out of a regular practice. I also wanted to create something that was not linked to technology, believing the mobile phone is the problem not the solution to finding some space for yourself.”

The Pebble is supported by a mindful community and mental health experts. Dr. Gini Harrison, senior lecturer in Psychology at The Open University, specialising in harnessing technology to promote mental well-being and health said: “It’s a tangible thing in the real world, that isn’t connected to technology – which can so often be a driver for our stress and anxieties. Taking short moments can increase your capacity for mindfulness. By regularly practising these micro-moments you will become more aware and calmer.”

The Pebble’s design and function is deliberately soothing, easy to use and intuitive as CEO Fiona McKinnon explains “mindfulness and breathing are wellbeing techniques that are centuries old, we all know how to do them, we have just forgotten as our lives get busier.  The fact that Moments are quick and easy to do means that anyone from young children, those with learning difficulties, through to the elderly are all able to feel the benefits of holding the Pebble.”

The Moment Pebble & charging stone are made with natural stone. Every Pebble is individually marbled and hand polished to give a smooth tactile finish. The Pebble comes with short guided meditations and ideas to enhance the practise, such as smiling when you breathe, adding movement and music into your Moments and also NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) mediation to anchor positive feelings into the Pebble. The Pebble is portable and has an average of 3 weeks before needing to be recharged. The Pebble contains a small inner pebble casing that houses the electronic components.  Packaging and the booklet are made from recyclable card and paper. It comes with a USB-C charging cable.

We found the time away from a screen and the calming feel of the Pebble definitely helped us break our stress cycles. With something natural to help guide your thoughts, something that won’t ping or vibrate or suddenly ring as a focus for that ‘Moment’ it was easier to let go and stop cascading thoughts of work and time pressure. There is definitely something to this and we can see a benefit to those who are willing to use it regularly and who understand the need to interrupt damaging and stress-inducing behaviors and take control of our hectic modern lives. We can’t control the world we live in but we can control how we interact with it. Moment Pebble is a really interesting product and is available wholesale and direct to consumers for $81 from www.momentcompany.co

Yeedi Vac Station

The new Yeedi Vac Station claims to be an app-enabled, 3-in-1, home cleaning hero that vacuums, mops, and self-empties its dustbin for up to 30 days. “It tackles more, so you can worry less.” That’s a big claim and I happen to have a filthy floor so time to charge it up, hook it up to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (5GHz not supported) and test these claims!

30-Day Hands-Free Cleaning. Forget about vacuuming and bid adieu to frequent smelly dustbin cleanings thanks to the self-empty station which automatically disposes dirt in yeedi’s dustbin and holds up to 30 days of dust. No more sneezing or itching noses, perfect for family with pets and kids. Vacuum and Mop at the Same Time Yeedi vac station is versatile. It performs robust vacuuming and serious mopping at the same time with its industry-leading suction power and smart mopping system – leave your floor impeccably clean with a single run.

I have seen many similar-looking robot vacuums come to market and even tested out a few but always found the same flaw, they don’t deal well with, or sometimes fail totally on, mixed floor coverings and changes in floor covering from room to room. It has been a constant annoyance and in my opinion, virtually invalidates your purchase if your robot cannot move between hard flooring and carpets of different thicknesses. That is simply the way we live and robots are supposed to serve us, right?

I am stoked to say that the Yeedi Vac Station has no issues with this! I put it through my standard test on a slick hardwood floor with multiple rugs that vary from thin and smooth to 1-inch thick shag pile and was very happy to see that the Yeedi coped well with everything I threw at it. With the carpet detecting, ‘Auto Boost’ function on it actually did a great job cleaning the shag pile which, by its nature, hides the dust and dirt deep within its weave. I’d expect it to effectively clean hard floors but this flexibility was a wonderful surprise.

The Yeedi coped well with everything I threw at it. The 'Auto Boost' function did a great job cleaning the shag pile carpet while thin rugs and the hardwood floor presented no problems
Share on X

Featuring 3000Pa strong suction power plus the 4-stage cleaning system sweep up dirt, crumbles, pet hair and other ground-in messes from hard floor and carpet like a hurricane. Including Auto-Recharge & Resume yeedi vac station runs up to 200 minutes on a single charge making it a reliable helper for big house cleaning. It returns to the charging dock for recharge when low on battery and resumes cleaning where it left off for a seamless and complete cleaning cycle.

The unit clearly packs some suction power but was not too noisy although, if you have it set to auto-clean you will also want to set the do not disturb times. I haven’t yet had to empty the base station bag but listening to the self-empty system at work it sure sounds like it picked up a lot of sizable dirt particles. The three dogs that allow us to live with them certainly bring in a lot of grass and dirt particles plus large wood chips but after running the Vac Station a couple of times 95% of this visible dirt was gone.

The three dogs that allow us to live with them bring in a lot of grass and dirt particles plus large wood chips but after running the Vac Station a couple of times 95% of this was gone
Share on X

Because of our mixed floor coverings, I won’t be using or testing the mop function but from previous experience, this type of robot-mounted mop performs well in a touch-up & maintenance role, when used frequently, but is never going to be the tool you need for a spill. For that get out the old-fashioned mop and bucket!

It’s time to upgrade the random and gyro robot vacuums who bump around, miss spots and take forever to clean. Yeedi’s visual mapping technology works seamlessly with a floor tracking sensor to trace your space like a GPS for efficient whole-floor cleaning in a split second, day and night. Yeedi identifies your rooms and creates editable home map accordingly. Tap the map to choose a room to clean, and mark the targeted area you want yeedi to clean or steer away from by drawing up zones on the map as if you were painting on a graphics tablet.

The connected app worked very well indeed and let me control the unit without issue. The only weakness I found with this model was the app mapping. The robot performed fine and covered the floor area 100% but the app’s mapping function fed back a constantly shifting map of our home that was not very accurate. I’m sure this will improve with app and firmware updates so is not a deal-breaker for me, I’m happy that the floor is thoroughly and quickly cleaned. If you want to control how and when your robot cleans separate rooms this might be more of an issue but for me it was more than enough.

The only weakness I found was the app mapping. The robot performed fine and covered the floor area 100% but the app's mapping function fed back a constantly shifting map of our home that was not very accurate
Share on X

To conclude, simply for its ability to traverse and effectively clean different kinds of floor covering, I can safely say this is the best Robo-vacuum I have used. Apart from that, every other function works well and without any serious problems plus the price is very reasonable. For more info visit the Yeedi website here where they sometimes post discount codes along with links to their Amazon store where a Yeedi Vac Station will currently set you back $499.99.

Felaqua Connect Water Bowl from Sure Petcare

Sure Petcare products are back on the Tech Trends reviews list and today we are faced with the elaborate and very very niche Felaqua Connect cat water bowl.

Felaqua Connect links to your Sure Petcare App via the Sure Petcare Hub. Simply plug the Sure Petcare Hub into your home router and connect up to 10 Sure Petcare connected products, such as the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect or SureFlap Microchip Cat Door Connect.

Now there is a clear market for this in the older and tech-savvy pet owners who dote over cats with very specific diet control challenges, are often away from home for days at a time and have the cash to invest in an expensive system like this at $173 inc. Hub.

Felaqua Connect is the bowl that your cat would choose to drink from. Its wide, shallow bowl presents water in a way that is more visible and appealing to your cat. The bowl automatically refills from the reservoir as your cat drinks. No recirculating water, no filters to change, just clean, fresh water. Plus, receive notifications when the water needs changing.

The one problem here is that in my experience this kind of older pet obsessed person can often be found shouting and stabbing frustrated fingers at the wrong side of an iPad or failing miserably to send an email from a smartphone rather than mastering a networked, programmable, automated pet water bowl after absorbing the booklet of instructions the Felaqua Connect and Hub come with. Anyway…

Designed with leading veterinary behaviorists, Felaqua Connect is the smart water bowl that encourages your cat to drink. Felaqua Connect provides insights into drinking behavior by connecting with your cat’s microchip, highlighting changes which may otherwise be missed.

Basically, the Pet Hub wirelessly connects to the Felaqua and is itself hardwired to your router and connects with the app on your phone allowing you to monitor the drinking activity of your cat while controlling functions of the Felaqua Connect. The Hub comes in the cute shape of a cat’s head with ears that light up to indicate network activity.

Download the app, pair the Hub and Felaqua Connect then follow the onscreen guide. If you already have a Sure Petcare connected product, simply add it to your Household. The Felaqua Connect links to the Sure Petcare app via the Hub, which is connected to your home router. Each Hub can connect up to ten devices, including our connected doors.

Felaqua Connect has open access and can be used by any pet. The integrated microchip reader recognizes individual pets to monitor their water intake. You get extensive info on your cat’s drinking times and a multitude of settings keep you in control and up-to-date on water freshness and refill notifications

The bowl automatically refills from the reservoir as your cat drinks. No recirculating water, no filters to change, just clean, fresh water. Plus, receive notifications when the water needs changing.

Receive notifications and view the frequency, duration and times that your pet drinks within the app. Learn your pet’s normal pattern of drinking behaviour to notice changes which could be an indication of illness.

If you need this device it looks to me that it does an exhaustively good job but the complexity of operation might turn some off or prove frustrating and there is no question that this is a solution to a specific problem.

You can get your hands on the Sure Petcare Felaqua Connect for $100 and the Hub for $73 here.

Apricorn Aegis Padlock SSD – 2021

Three years on from my first review of this excellent and ultra-secure portable SSD drive, Apricorn has tweaked and updated it for 2021. These updates primarily focus on speeding the drive up and lowering the price. I’m happy to report that both of these objectives have been achieved! Take a look at the side-by-side speed test results below with the 2018 drive on the left and the new 2021 version on the right. The speeds are pretty much double across read and write performance.

Storage capacity has also doubled with the new model available in sizes from 240GB to 4TB but it’s the price relative to this jump that astounds me most with the 2021 version costing less per unit for double the capacity + double the speed of the 2018 version. RRP this year: 240GB – 4TB – $209.00 – $1,199.00 US these incredible prices also inc. a 3-year warranty.

Storage capacity has doubled in the new model but it's the price relative to this jump that astounds me most with the 2021 version costing less per unit for double the capacity + double the speed of the 2018 version
Share on X

Visually they are virtually identical except the new version is black rather than grey and the enclosed USB extension cable is very useful for those reaching down behind PC or Sever towers or struggling with limited laptop ports. The included security features are outstanding, see below for more detail.

Software-Free, 100% hardware-based 256-bit AES XTS encrypted, onboard keypad PIN authenticated, and ultra-fast USB 3.1 (3.0) data transfer speeds. All Data is encrypted on the fly and the PINs and Data remain encrypted while the drive is at rest. Completely cross-platform compatible and OS agnostic; the Padlock SSD thrives with Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and Chrome. It also thrives where software-authenticated encrypted devices can’t even function, such as embedded systems, machines without a keyboard, and equipment in possession of a powered USB port and storage file system. All internal componentry is protected from physical tampering with a layer of hardened epoxy, and its firmware is locked down to prevent any modifications making it impervious to malware attacks such as BadUSB.

Aegis Padlock Solid State Drive:

Where super-tough meets ultra secure you’ll find Apricorn’s Aegis Padlock SSD. Boasting a crush-resistant, aluminum enclosure that is water-resistant and impervious to dust and grit, this secure solid-state USB 3.0 drive is as tough as they come. With no moving parts, this drive is drop and vibration resistant, unaffected by high humidity and works in extremes of temperature.

Military-Grade 100% Hardware Encryption: Featuring AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption, the Aegis Padlock SSD seamlessly encrypts all data on the drive in real-time, keeping your data safe even if the hard drive is removed from its enclosure.

Software-Free Design: The Aegis Padlock SSD is ready to use right out of the box, no software, no drivers, no updates. It can even be utilized where no keyboard is present. Completely cross-platform compatible, the Fortress excels virtually anywhere, PCs, MACs, Linux, or any OS with a powered USB port and a storage file system.

Configurable: Create custom profiles and mass configure multiple Configurator-compatible Aegis devices at once with Apricorn’s new Configurator / Powered Hub bundle.

Embedded Keypad: All PIN entries and controls are performed on the keypad of the Aegis Padlock SSD. No critical security parameters are ever shared with the host computer.

Once again Tech Trends can't recommend Apricorn's products highly enough. When prices have dropped but capacity and speed have doubled and the excellent security and versatility remain the same we can only celebrate!
Share on X

FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Validated: The Aegis Padlock SSD’s FIPS 140-2 validation is the cryptography standard required by the US federal government for the protection of sensitive data. It covers 11 areas of its cryptographic security system, including physical security, cryptographic key management and design integrity. Tested and validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use by the Federal governments of the USA, Canada and others, the Aegis Padlock SSD Drive is based on Apricorn’s FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated encryption module as indicated by certificate #2835. The Padlock’s security policy is located on the NIST site at http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cmvp/ ocuments/140-1/140sp/140sp2835.pdf. The epoxy-coated boundary includes all encryption functions and all Critical Security Parameters (CSPs) such as PIN storage, encryption key generation and storage, random number and seed generators, and all firmware storage. The FIPS module is a complete encryption system, and all CSPs never leave the boundary and are never shared with a host system. By design, the HDD/SSD that stores the encrypted data is excluded from this boundary to both maximize affordability and product line flexibility in capacity and form factor offerings.

Lock-Override Mode: Designated for specific cases in which the drive needs to remain unlocked, e.g., during reboot, passing the drive through a virtual machine, or other similar situations that would normally prompt the Padlock SSD to automatically lock. When enabled, Lock-Override Mode allows the drive to remain unlocked through USB port re-enumeration and will not re-lock until USB power is interrupted.

Two Read-Only Modes: Perfect for accessing data on the drive in a public setting to protect against USB viruses. Particularly important in forensics, Read-Only Mode is ideal for applications that require data to be preserved in its original, unaltered state and can’t be overwritten or modified. The Padlock SSD has two read-only modes. One is set by the admin within the admin mode and can’t be modified or disabled by anyone other than the admin. The second read-only mode can be set and disabled by anyone with a recognized PIN.

Auto-Lock feature and Self Destruct PIN: With the Aegis Padlock SSD you can set the unattended drive to lock after a pre-determined amount of time. In addition you can pre-program your own unique Self Destruct PIN which, once implemented, instantly destroys all PINs, data and creates a new encryption key.

Brute Force Protection: The Aegis Padlock uses a three-pronged approach to protect against a Brute Force attack. The first step is to deny access to the drive until the drive can verify the user PIN. After several incorrect attempts, the drive will lock itself, requiring the drive to be plugged in again to input a PIN. This feature blocks automated attempts to enter PIN numbers. Lastly, after a predetermined number of failed PIN entries, the Padlock assumes it is being attacked and will destroy the encryption key and lock itself, rendering the data useless and requiring a total reset to redeploy the Padlock.

Wear Resistant Key Pad – Water & Dust Resistant: Designed with protection in mind, the Aegis Padlock’s ‘wear resistant’ keypad and case is impervious to dust, grit and water, and hides key usage to avoid tipping off a potential hacker to the commonly used keys.

Integrated USB 3.0 Cable: Never forget your cables again. Connect the drive at the flick of a fingertip.

Take a look at my 2018 review here for a bit more info on usage but once again Tech Trends can’t recommend Apricorn’s products highly enough. When prices have dropped but capacity and speed have doubled and the excellent security and versatility remain the same we can truly say there has never been a better time to pick up one of these Padlock SSDs and keep your personal and business data safe.

Check them out here Padlock SSD (2021) 240GB – 4TB – $209.00 – $1,199.00.

Lurera Anti-Anxiety Pillow

There is a lovely tech story behind this unassuming fluffy pillow. There is no denying that the Lurera anti-anxiety pillow is very tactile, and it is made to mimic the feel of stroking a pet or a (hairy?) human being.

It is a well-documented scientific fact that tactile touch (such as petting your lovely dog) can lead to significantly lower levels of anxiety, and I can certainly attest to the fact that often the only thing to get me through a stressful day is turning to our 3 Staffies for de-stressing pats. For them it’s a win-win and they certainly love these pandemic times that force us to spend lots of time at home and pretty much eliminated long-haul travel from our lives.

But back to the pillow. It’s not only the texture, but the Lurera also offers a heating pad and an actual heartbeat. Yes, a small device, tucked inside the pillow, when turned on, mimics the vibration and sound of a beating heart.

It’s not only the texture, Lurera also offers a heating pad and an actual heartbeat. Yes, a small device, tucked inside the pillow, when turned on, mimics the vibration and sound of a beating heart
Share on X

“The pillow consists of three parts all working together to help you feel that tactile touch. The cover is extremely soft, so you can pet it. On the back of the pillow there are two pouches: one for the heating pad to feel the warmth and one for the heartbeat device to imitate a living being. Using all 3 touches at once gives you the sensation of touching a pet or another human.”

The name was actually inspired by the inventor’s support dog, who she got as a puppy to support their son through his mental health challenges. They named the puppy Lurera, after an Irish lullaby his parents used to sing to their son as a baby.

The name was actually inspired by the inventor’s support dog, who she got as a puppy to support their son through his mental health challenges
Share on X

“I saw a report about two nurses in Brazil who wanted to help their COVID-19 patients who were forced into isolation to feel more comfortable. To mimic the human touch, they filled latex gloves with warm water and put them into the hands of the patients. The patients were comforted “as if someone were holding hands with them.” They called the method “little hands of love.”

I saw a report about two nurses in Brazil who wanted to help their COVID-19 patients who were forced into isolation to feel more comfortable
Share on X

The inventor wanted to come up with something that harnessed those benefits to help people that couldn’t get a therapy pet or were in isolation due to the pandemic
Share on X

The inventor wanted to come up with something that harnessed those benefits to help people that couldn’t get a therapy pet or were in isolation due to the pandemic.

“There are a lot of amazing ways one can improve their anxiety like eating right, exercising regularly and mindfulness practices. With the pandemic outside the door, endless zoom calls, work stress, those routines can be challenging to maintain. Especially if you are trying to convince your teenager to do it. I wanted my device to be a very low effort, something you could use while watching TV.”

You can pick one up from $59.95 here.

Gree Air Purifier for the Home

The new GREE Air Purifier is a sleek tabletop unit for the home that provides fresh, hypoallergenic air filtered through its 360-degree intake. A big plus for me is its ultra-low noise profile along with three fan speeds and a 1/2/4/8-hour timer meaning I could happily leave it on through the night or on the timer when out of the house. The unit is equipped with an infrared sensor that reads air quality in real-time and give you feedback with different light colors.

A big plus for me is its ultra-low noise profile along with three fan speeds and a timer meaning I could happily leave it on through the night or on the timer when out of the house
Share on X

Smart Reminder – When the filter needs to be replaced, the indicator light will light up. This ensures that you always use the air purifier in a clean and hygienic condition

The air purifier includes a true H13 HEPA filter that claims to capture 99.97% of fine particles smaller than 0.03 microns such as dust, pet dander, smoke, pollen. Living in the country, hayfever is an annual misery so the high-quality filter should help alleviate my allergies while in the house or at least the room the purifier is in. I can’t vouch for that specifically but after a few hours of use, the room definitely smelled fresher.

The air purifier includes a true H13 HEPA filter that claims to capture 99.97% of fine particles smaller than 0.03 microns such as dust, pet dander, smoke and pollen
Share on X

The Gree Air Purifier has three wind speeds, which can run with ultra-low noise levels (as low as 36 dB(A)) in a sleeping environment. The light can be turned off, so you can safely put it on the bedside table without affecting the quality of sleep. It also has a 1/2/4/8-hour timer function, which can be set according to needs.

We all need less dust, smoke, pet hair, and stink in our lives and the GREE Air Purifier definitely cleaned up the air in my office. It is attractive, quiet, and super easy to use
Share on X

We all need less dust, smoke, pet hair, and stink in our lives and the GREE Air Purifier definitely cleaned up the air in my office. It is attractive, quiet, and super easy to use. When the filter needs to be replaced, the indicator light will light up. The knob design makes it easy to replace the filter, and there will be no dust flying around like when you empty a vacuum. Normally, the filter needs to be replaced every 6 months. If you need more fresh air in your life you can pick one of these GREE air purifiers up here for $99.99.

NewerTech USB-C to HDMI Adapters

Connect your computer, iPad, smartphone, dock, or hub to an HDMI display, TV, or projector with this quality adapter

NewerTech, a leading provider of performance upgrades and accessories for Macs,  PCs, iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices since 1984, just announced the availability of the NewerTech USB-C to HDMI and USB-C to  DisplayPort Adapters. Stream sports, watch videos, play games,  or browse the internet on up to a 4K HDMI or display, TV, or projector with the NewerTech USB-C to HDMI and USB-C to DisplayPort Adapters.

Both are backwards compatible with earlier versions of HDMI and DisplayPort so you can connect your USB-C-equipped computer or device to almost any Display Port and HDMI-equipped display.

With both the NewerTech USB-C to HDMI and USB-C to DisplayPort Adapters, you can add a second display to extend your desktop “view space” and increase your productivity
Share on X

Both are backwards compatible with earlier versions of HDMI and DisplayPort so you can connect your USB-C-equipped computer or device to almost any DisplayPort and HDMI-equipped display
Share on X

NewerTech USB-C to HDMI Adapter Highlights

• See it all: stream sports, watch videos, play games, browse the internet,  or create digital signage walls on an HDMI display, TV, or projector
  
• Supports up to 4K maximum resolution
• Supports HDR for sharper images, brighter colors, and greater contrast
• Supports HDCP 2.2 content protection
• 3 Year NewerTech Limited Warranty

This is a simple but high-spec adaptor and gets the thumbs up from us and you can pick one up here for $22.99.

TEGO Adventure Kit – Personal Toolkit/Organiser

Whether you’re a frequent traveler, a beauty guru, an outdoor enthusiast, a cycling professional or a tech nerd, everyone deserves an adventure with little to no hassle. Launching on Kickstarter on Tuesday, August 10th. Tego is a customizable, waterproof, roll-and-go personal organizer that makes any adventure easy, organized, and clean.

Tego is a fully customizable, waterproof personal organizer made from recycled materials, for avid adventurers and anyone on the go. Adventure is a state of mind and Tego is your toolkit. This is the world’s most adaptable carry solution for all of life’s on-the-go essentials.

What you carry is as unique as your fingerprint – so we created pockets for everything. Tego comes with seven sections to start, but we won’t stop there! Let us know what types of sections YOU’D like to bring on your adventures. Tego is the world’s most customizable, waterproof roll-up-and-go personal organizer for frequent travelers, avid adventurers, and the curiously organized. Tego is made from post-consumer recycled materials; so while you’re out enjoying nature, you’re making sure others can too! Tego has you covered from A-Z and all the places you could want to see.

With 7 different modular sections to create more than 100 different combinations, your creative organization skills will know no bounds. You create the perfect configuration for all your carry needs, keeping essentials separated, tangle-free and easy to access. Tego will always be obsessed about what you pack, so you don’t have to be.

Features

• Customizable – Tego personalizes the packing experience, and is fully customizable with as few or as many sections as you need—mix-and-match from 7 different section types.
• Modular & Adjustable – Tego is completely modular and reconfigurable on the fly, so you can adapt your packing for short vs. long trips for greater simplicity and space efficiency and reduced clutter. Tego makes sure your travel items are safe and secure, no matter where you go.
• Clean, Neat, & Organized – Tego’s compartments separate your items and are designed with convenience, function, and efficiency in mind, and can be hung or lay flat so you have full visibility of your gear.
• Versatile & Multifunctional – Tego isn’t just for toiletries and personal care items—use it to make any of your essentials conveniently portable, like gadgets and charging cables, outdoor tools and gear, cycling accessories, and more.
• Durable & Made from Post-Consumer Recycled Materials – Tego is waterproof, durable, compact, and machine-washable, and sustainably made using post-consumer recycled bottles (average 2.69 bottles per unit). The company is Climate Neutral Certified.

Every section has a slide on one side and hooks on the other so you can create the perfect bag for any occasion, we tested them out and they are pretty sturdy
Share on X

Every section has a slide on one side and hooks on the other so you can create the perfect bag for any occasion. And just to make sure they are as durable as the rest of the bag, we tested them out and they are pretty sturdy. Each Tego also comes equipped with the famous YKK zippers (because they last forever).

Going on a weekend getaway? Take a section out. Off on a safari? Add a few. Tego adapts itself to you, not the other way around. Check out the Tego Kickstarter page here for more info and pick one up and the Tego Company page is here.

The post Summer 2021 Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

Qobuz – high res music streaming

While a large segment of music lovers still cling to vinyl and CDs the younger generation and those who live an on-demand, minimalist, and on-the-move lifestyle have embraced streaming for most of their movie and music needs. By now we are all familiar with Spotify, iTunes, and the evolving Google options and they are great for those who like music, but might not love it. True music lovers are the demographic Qobuz targets, streaming Hi-Res, and high-quality audio via some very well realized apps that will deliver a sublime listening experience no matter your lifestyle. For those running home music servers, Qobuz also provides a download shop so you can purchase and fully control the hardware streaming of your digital music.

Take a deep dive into the world of music and sound. Rediscover music’s history, its secrets, its roots and its influences, with original editorial content, available exclusively to our subscribers (articles, reviews, interviews, videos and more).

What impressed me most about Qobuz were the apps and web interfaces, all of which were pleasingly designed and packed full of engaging supporting content. Some offer digital booklets that accompany albums for those that miss the days of sleeve notes. Generally, the content and images offered are of excellent quality and paired well with recommendations for similar artists and albums. You can also subscribe to emails of music news and new releases or they offer a very nice online magazine covering well-curated industry news plus album and stereo hardware reviews.

The written recommendations provided by our discographers are not texts copied from record company blurbs, but original texts that aim to enlighten you, and to help you re-discover the world into which that album was born. At Qobuz, we love the album format. We celebrate more than a century of discography culture!

This being an audiophile product I expected a focus on classical and jazz but was so happy to find I could also find my favorite metal, pop, blues, country, and even 60s psychedelia. This is not a limited catalog by any means and I merrily jumped between Country Joe & the Fish, Dylan, Metallica, John Coltrane, Creedence, AC-DC, and Bach causing some odd looks from my coworkers.

Not all tracks are available in Hi-Res but depending on your needs you can seamlessly switch between different bitrates. This is a good feature for those switching between devices on data plans and those on fast broadband or home systems where every musical detail can be extracted and enjoyed. The interface really is great. It is very attractively laid out and easy to manage your library and connected devices. It recognized my external USB DAC and connected speakers and output a smooth and well-balanced sound even over good old fashioned wired earbuds.

Every week, the record industry delivers hundreds, sometimes thousands, of albums to our door. Our work is thus twofold: Every day, beyond the media hubbub, outside of the incessant stream of music news, we cherry-pick what is really interesting. We do this across every musical genre. This, again, does not sum up all that we do. Albums of the past constitute a huge, living museum that we work every day to curate and document.

It is a little more expensive than Spotify but at only $14.99 per month or $149.99 a year for the basic Studio Premier plan I think it is an incredible service. More plans are available for families or those wanting to mix streaming and downloads but the basic one serves up studio quality streaming up to FLAC 24-Bit up to 192 KHz, a surprisingly vast library and excellent apps for most devices. Sign up and enjoy a free 1 month trial with no strings attached here.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 Encrypted USB Flash Drive

Sorry if this is a bit ranty but wow! I genuinely, maybe naively, though this kind of bad design didn’t happen anymore. The user experience and practical usability of this drive are terrible – simply terrible. Let me frst explain how a USB drive should work for a busy user: You plug it in and it pops up in your finder window as a drive. If there is a software encryption feature, you plug in your USB drive and a password entry window opens, you enter a password, and then it pops up as a drive in your finder window. Oh if only life were so simple!

DataTraveler Locker+ G3 is easy for anyone to setup and easy to use, with no application installation required; all the software and security needed is built in. It works on both Windows systems and Macs so users can access files from multiple systems, without installing a program on every computer used.

Yes, I understand about hidden drive partitions, ISOs, and limitations with auto-running apps on certain computers but the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 claims to be “Compatible with: Windows® 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, macOS v.10.12.x – 10.15.x“ and in my judgment, this is true but misses the point. You can make it work, but wasting your time making it work is not what consumers expect anymore. Tech is supposed to do the work for you. I also found it odd that they do not provide any info on the encryption level or standards you get, only the below information.

Features:

– Hardware encryption — the best in personal security to keep your data safe
– Superior password protection — user sets a password to prevent unauthorized access
– Versatile — works interchangeably between Mac OS X and Windows systems
– Secure — drive locks down and reformats after 10 invalid login attempts
– Stylish — durable metal casing with built-in key loop
– Optional cloud backup — access data stored on DataTraveler Locker+ G3 from your personal cloud storage
– Co-logo program available1 — customize DataTraveler Locker+ G3 by adding your logo and/or digital files and instantly increase your organization’s brand recognition. The Customisation Programme offers unique packaging, custom profiles, colour adjustments, content loading and more, all with easy and convenient ordering

The first time I plugged the new Kingston G3 into my MacBook Pro nothing happened. Nothing happened the second or third times either, so I looked in my Finder settings to see if I could find out the problem. Yes, the box to show ‘External Disks’ was checked. WTF? At a loss, I tried ticking all the boxes for connected devices and wow, after ticking the ‘CD, DVD and iPod’ box a CD icon appeared labeled as ‘DTL+G3’. CD stands for Compact Disc for the younger readers out there. The ‘DTL+G3’ link finally got me into the drive! OK, I thought, I’ll cut Kingston a break as this must be a first-time setup quirk, and manually installing the encryption software will prevent this happening again.

DataTraveler Locker+ G3 offers cloud backup as an optional feature. Users can chose to automatically back up data from their DataTraveler Locker+ G3 to Google Drive, OneDrive (Microsoft®), Amazon Cloud Drive, Dropbox or Box, so if the drive is lost or stolen, their data is in a safe place.

I dutifully set up the software encryption, formatted it as exFAT and linked the drive to my Dropbox account for backups. So far so good, and the USB now showed up as an external drive called Kingston. I copied a file to the drive and it synched. I went to my Dropbox to check it was working and…. no new folder called Kingston or G3 USB or anything logical. Nothing. After some hunting around I found the new folder to which all my files synch in a folder abstractly called “Apps” and then inside a second folder called “USB-to-Cloud”, no mention of Kingston. I copied a second file to the drive and yes it appeared in this folder. Not ideal I thought, but I can get used to that.

Time to test the post-setup functionality; surely it will now be intuitive and user friendly. I ejected the USB in Finder and plugged it in again. No, it did not show up as Kingston or as an external drive. It showed up as a CD again and was called DTL+G3 again. No pop-up password prompt or anything to get me access to my files. I opened DTL+G3 and was presented once again with the install files for the encryption software. Out of pure frustration, I opened the software installer as I had done only minutes before and here, at last, was a password prompt. Yes, my password worked and the USB showed up as it should. Interestingly the CD named DTL+G3 was still there in Finder and accessible as a separate partition, which is exactly what it is. For your average user this process is unnecessarily confusing and for any user, it is a waste of time. For God’s sake why make using your USB complex in a world of “it just works”?

Put a lock on your personal data with Kingston’s DataTraveler® Locker+ G3. It’s a safe and convenient way to secure receipts, bank statements and other sensitive documents with hardware encryption and password protection for a double layer of data security. The drive locks down and reformats after 10 failed login attempts, so users can rest assured their data is safe even if the drive is lost or stolen.

To be fair to Kingston I borrowed a Windows 10 laptop and to my surprise found that all of the above seemed to apply to Windows too. To access an already set up USB you still had to enter a partition labeled as a DVD to then open the ‘DTLplus_Launcher’ app which then opens the password prompt which only then allows access to the drive. I checked that Autorun was enabled in Windows in the hope that it might automatically launch the password prompt next time I inserted it but… No this did not work. Nobody wants tech that doesn’t work easily anymore and especially if it actually makes your life harder, plus nobody wants a USB drive that requires a 26-page manual to use. I could not even wipe the drive and just use it as a regular USB.

Any Pros at all? Yes, the metal case is nice and solid but the cap is not very secure and will fall off and get lost within a week. Oh, and the LED looks like they forgot to cover it, just strange. A quick speed test with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test brightened my mood with 154 MB/s reads and 133 MB/s writes, which is very fast. I’m going to wrap this up now before I bore you all to death and sorry Kingston but I can’t recommend this device for anyone who wants to remain calm and peaceful while at work. I know that third-party hardware manufacturers face problems with both Windows and macOS but if you have a product design that doesn’t “plug and play” like this one doesn’t, then don’t make it!

If you decide this kind of pain is what you want in your life then check out the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 here and they sell for between $19.99 for 8GB up to $143.00 for 128GB.

Apricorn Aegis 3NXC

I have reviewed Apricorn’s excellent and user-friendly devices before but am particularly happy to balance my review of the 128GB Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 with a review of Apricorn’s brand new 128GB Aegis Secure Key 3NXC a versatile 256 Bit AES XTS Hardware-Encrypted USB flash key – the first with a built-in C-type connector. Basically this is a USB-C version of their 3NX Secure Key and is a worthy update in response to a market that’s moving towards smaller and thinner laptops and tablets that can’t accommodate a USB-A port.

The Aegis 3NXC is the most versatile hardware-encrypted USB on the market: it is compatible with PCs and Macs, as well as any operating system, including Windows®, Mac®, Linux, Android and Symbian. This provides an effective way of safeguarding data across today’s remote workforces, where employees are using a diverse range of business and personal devices to carry out their work. The device automatically encrypts all information as the user uploads it, with military-grade AES XTS hardware encryption.

Both the Kingston and Apricorn devices offer hardware encryption, 128GB storage capacity and fast transfer speeds so apart from the different USB connections we can only compare their usability and looks. First a note on encryption, Kingston does not provide any information on their website about levels or standards for the G3’s encryption while Apricorn provides abundant detail. The 3NXC features FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validation (pending Q4 2020). NIST FIPS 140 is the cryptography standard program required by the US federal government for the protection of sensitive data. Much more detailed security info can be seen on the product page here. Far too much to list here so take a look for yourself and below is a summary.

The security and operational advantages of the Aegis Secure Key 3NXC include:

– No software – so there’s nothing to keylog or to hack.
– OS agnostic – the device is completely cross-platform compatible.
– Onboard keypad – all authentication takes place within the device itself.
– All data, passwords and encryption keys are 256-bit encrypted at rest.
– No host computer is involved in setup, authentication or encryption.
– Forced enrollment – no default PINs ensures that data is not put at risk by employees who fail to change a factory set PIN before deployment.
– IP-68 validation against water and dust damage.
– Separate administrator and user access.
– Read-only options that can be enforced by the administrator or set by the user if allowed by policy.
– Highly configurable with policy such as time out values, Data recovery PINs, and programmable PIN lengths.
– Brute force PIN attack protection.
– Ability to automatically configure multiple devices remotely using Apricorn’s Aegis Configurator tool.

The Kingston looks like any other sleek little USB and offers no hint that it might feature encryption while the 3NXC looks like it is designed to provide exactly what it does, secure, pin protected data storage. Its integral keypad is a bit old school in a time of fingerprint ID but it is super practical and sturdy as hell with robust hardwearing keys and an all-metal build. Due to the keypad, the whole package is bigger than your average USB key but it is so damn usable that these observations are moot. Sensibly, Apricorn has shunned a losable cap for the USB-C connection and instead goes for a simple if unglamorous rubber sheath. But again practical wins the day and the sheath is easy to use and provides an extra level of protection for your valuable data.

Jon Fielding, Apricorn’s managing director EMEA, says: “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote and mobile working was on the rise, along with the associated risks to data. As the global workforce shifted from office to home practically overnight, the demand for our encrypted secure keys skyrocketed, as did the demand for our A-to-C adapters. We accelerated the release of the Aegis Secure Key 3NXC to provide an efficient way of ensuring that employees using MacBooks, iPads and Android devices can securely store and move sensitive data, wherever and however they’re working.”

The double-sided instruction sheet that comes in the box provides very clear info on how to set up a new admin passcode and separate user accounts on the device, and worked flawlessly for me. A full and easy-to-follow manual in several languages is also preloaded onto the key. One feature I love is that you can easily unlock the device in one hand before you plug it into a computer. This is just genius and means there is no fiddly pushing of buttons while the key is connected to the side or back of your computer.

This also means that you never have to enter the passcode on the actual computer, eliminating the possibility of someone getting hold of it via a keylog or other hack. A rechargeable internal battery means unlocking is a joy, simply hit unlock, enter your passcode and hit unlock again and it is ready to go in almost any device. This whole keypad thing might put some people off but compared to the confusing and overly complex way the Kingston manages access via software it is a winner and colored LEDs make it clear if the device is locked or unlocked when in use.

Despite the USB-C connection data the 3NXC’s transfer rates are limited to USB 3.0 speeds in the region of 80 MB/s read and 70 MB/s write but as I had to use an adaptor I only got 41 MB/s reads and 38 MB/s writes, still no slouch for everyday use but not as blistering fast as the Kingston. No doubt this would be faster in a native USB-C port with no adaptor in the way.

“USB-C is the first truly universal standard for transferring data between devices, and is set to take over from USB-A as the new standard on computers of the future. While most computers and laptops still offer both A and C connector ports, the number of manufacturers exclusively committing to type C is growing. We’re developing our products with this next generation of computers in mind – but we will continue to manufacture USB-A compatible devices for those who need them for the foreseeable future.” Fielding continued.

Another great feature of all the Apricorn USB keys I have tried is that they are compatible with PCs and Macs, as well as any operating system, including Windows®, Mac®, Linux, Android and Symbian. This incredible flexibility addresses the diverse security requirements of today’s remote workforces, with PC, MacBook, iPad and smartphone compatibility. Seeing as this device has the USB-C connection needed I plugged the 3NXC straight into my Samsung Galaxy S9+ running Android 10 and it connected seamlessly. I transferred about 8GB of video files off the phone and on to the USB in under a couple of minutes. Seamless greatness! When I say plug and play, this is what I mean.

Particularly suitable for highly regulated sectors such as defense, finance, government, manufacturing and healthcare, the Aegis Secure Key 3NXC allows businesses to support safe and productive remote working on a large scale, ensuring that all workers follow information security best practice and comply with regulations such as GDPR.

While not small the 3NXC is not big either, and I had no problem adding it to my keyring and toting it around in my pocket all day. The 3NXC comes in a range of seven storage capacities from 2GB to 128GB, allowing IT departments to closely align deployments with the storage needs of each employee. Prices range from £48 to £145.

Livescribe Symphony Smart Pen and Journals

I have been waiting for a product like Livescribe for years, and so enjoyed testing out the Symphony pen and special Livescribe journals. I am now a devotee. Easy-to-use with seamless connectivity, Livescribe enables you to take notes, draw up plans or doodle on real paper in a real notebook with a real ink pen, and immediately have every letter, number and stroke instantly backed up on your phone or tablet. Several similar products have come across my desk but none have ever got the job done as well as this.

You need to charge up the pen every day or so if used regularly, and enable Bluetooth on your device, but that’s it. The pen transmits your writing to the app instantly where you can store, review, share, and backup your notes to the cloud as PDFs, Text, Docx, or images. The smartpen can carry up to 8 lined journals (No.1 through 8) at the same time between synchs, but be sure to not use two identically numbered lined journals at the same time as your smartpen might muddle the two. You can even review your notes as a feed that breaks each comment down by time and date so you can backtrack more easily if your pages are a bit of a mess.

Symphony Smartpen:

– Transcribe your notes in 27+ languages.
– Auto-sync your notes to your favorite cloud services.
– Store up to 1200 A4 pages on our pen before you need to sync.
– Our pens give you access to our Livescribe+ application that syncs to your pen and opens the doors for your handwriting to go everywhere with you.
– Access to our free Livescribe+ app.
– 90-day standby battery life.

Via the app or a shortcut printed on every journal page, you can also activate audio recording that will synch together with your notes as you go. This is genuinely awesome and just like writing, is easy to use while brainstorming or during an important meeting where you don’t want to miss a word. As a journalist, this is incredibly useful. No need to start recording on your phone and then struggle to match the recording back to your notes later – it is all just there in the app.

A pen for every occasion. The pen that fits into your day like a cup of coffee. With you always, but lasting longer and doing so much more. From taking notes in your meetings, to the idea that came on the way to the next. Mix your writing and audio together to relive that moment of inspiration, using just your pen. Save time, the pen makes your handwriting searchable giving your more time to brew another cup.

The Symphony pen itself is a little bit chunky but feels good in the hand. The USB charging port is discreetly hidden in the butt end and the fine ink point is a pleasure to use. The journals are good quality and much like any standard notebook your company might hand out. The special thing about them is the unique lines, dots, and symbols on the pages that enable the pen to track your writing and the symbols act as short cuts for media recording and playback in the app as well as bookmark options. They are purchasable in numbers 1 through 8 so you can progress from book to book and keep building up an archive of notes with a possible max of eight hundred pages before you have to start over.

Livescribe Journals:

– Hardbound journal with rounded corners and an elastic closure strap
– Scientific, financial and statistical calculator
– 5.5″ X 8.25″ dot paper
– Includes a ribbon bookmark
– 100 lined sheets
– When you’re done with a journal, you’ll need to archive it from your smartpen or application before you use another journal with the same index number. For information on archiving, please visit the Tips & Tricks section of our website.

The ease of use is what endeared the Livescribe solution to me. Without even reading the instructions I charged the pen, installed the app and was off to the races. In summary, it just works and is very intuitive. It syncs with the cloud well and is now in my bag everywhere I go. The Symphony pen is $109.95 here and a pair of journals will set you back $24.95 here.

Petsafe Drinkwell® 2 Gallon Pet Fountain

If your dog is bored with still water in a good old-fashioned bowl, then try out the PetSafe® Drinkwell® 2 Gallon Pet Fountain which, much like a self-contained garden waterfall system, cycles water from the main reservoir, up through a pump and trickles it back down into the main bowl again. If your dog likes to drink from taps then this will be a big hit.

System Includes:

– 2 Gallon Pet Fountain
– Carbon Filter
– Foam Filter
– Fountain Pump with Adaptor
– Quick Start Guide

The free-falling water stream has an adjustable flow control so you can go from little trickle to a pretty impressive stream of deliciously cold water. It’s nearly silent circulation on the lowest setting but ramps up to a more splashy stream on the highest.

The free-falling stream of water encourages your cat or dog to drink more which can help prevent urinary and kidney diseases. The large capacity fountain is perfect if you have multiple pets or a big dog. The square fountain design is large enough for several pets to drink out of at the same time with minimal splashing.

Features:

– 2-Gallon Water Capacity – This BPA-free fountain is the perfect size for cats, dogs and multi-pet households
– Encourages Hydration – A free-falling stream of water entices pets to drink more and helps prevent urinary and kidney diseases in pets through increased hydration
– Filtered Water – Replaceable carbon filter removes bad tastes and odors while the foam filter catches pet hair and debris
– Customizable Water Flow – Adjustable water flow allows you to customize the stream for you and your pet, or turn it off for a quieter operation
– Easy to Clean – The pet fountain is top-rack dishwasher safe (excluding the pump) and specifically designed with no hard to reach places
– Compatible Filters and Pump – Fountain uses PetSafe® Drinkwell® Carbon Filter #6 (PAC00-13906), PetSafe® Drinkwell® Foam Filter #5 (PAC00-13711) and Drinkwell® Replacement Pump (PAC00-16977)

The pump also uses a carbon and foam filter to remove bad tastes and odors from your pet’s water keeping it fresh for longer. The main bowl is top-rack dishwasher safe and specifically designed to have no hard to reach places to make cleaning easy. PetSafe® has come up with a cracker here. One of my dogs is addicted to it, so much so that he will drink, paddle with his paws, and blow bubbles in the bowl for an hour at a time. Let me just say that he is definitely hydrated after a play session in the Drinkwell Pet Fountain, if his frequent visits to the bushes are anything to go by!

Self-assembly is super easy and the PetSafe® Drinkwell® 2 Gallon Pet Fountain is available for $64.95 and I guarantee your dog will have a great time but keep a mop handy just in case he dives in like my Holmes 😉

Evutec & Mutrics Audio Sunglasses

This summer’s latest cool gadget is a pair of wireless audio sunglasses, and this sleek-looking offering from Evutec & Mutrics promises the cool Roy Orbison look combined with banging tunes. The younger generation might not want to look like Mr. Orbison (or know who he was) so they might opt for the white or red options rather than the black I received. They are surprisingly comfortable to wear considering the arms are quite thick in order to accommodate the technology. Charging was super easy via a magnetic connection and the battery life was impressive. I got a full seven-hour day of listening out of my pair with a mix of music and radio. For such a lightweight device, this is great.

Specs:
– Hear the word around you Open Ear Design – The open-ear design Allows full awareness of your surroundings while you’re enjoying music. The unique design keeps you safe when you’re outdoors.
– Near-field Surrounding Sound System – Feel like “Dolby” surround effect with a special sound cavity and dual built-in micro speakers.
– Bluetooth connectivity for various devices – With built-in Bluetooth 5.0, the glasses can pair with devices with Bluetooth 4.2 or lower. They are compatible with multiple IOS/Android devices.
– Built-in microphone – Offer access to hands-free calls and Google/Siri assistance
– Interchangeable lenses – Replaceable lenses to meet your daily needs
– High-temperature resistance, sweat-resistance, safe driving – Adapt to various environments, can be used normally from -20°C to 70°C. Block up to 99% of UVA/UVB rays. IP55 sweat resistance.
– Long Battery Life – Charging one hour, use one week
– Comfortable to Wear – Ergonomically Redesigned Foldable Earphones for Easy Travel / Listening Comfort
– Ultra Slim Design – Mobile Phone Thickness Design, Flexible Material Frame and Very Light Like a Normal Sunglasses Weight. Exclusive US Style Design, Neat, Unisex, and Very Comfortable to Wear while Relaxing and Exercising
– Evutec Audio Sunglasses

The key feature of these glasses is the open-ear audio system. Music plays down and out of the arms and it is the proximity of the speaker to your ear canal that means you can hear the world around you as well as the tunes. For cycling or driving, this is a much safer solution than earbuds or over-ear headphones. The compromise is unfortunately sound quality though, and these glasses don’t sound amazing. They work fine but the lack of fidelity and bass means you don’t feel as immersed in the music as much as you might hope. Talk radio, however was much better, and listening while driving was great. Spoken-word is obviously not as dynamically demanding as music and worked a lot better for me with this open-ear system.

Cycling or driving alone is one thing, but if you want to use these on crowded public transport then be aware the open ear system means your neighbors will be forced to share your music taste. I know a lot of people are happy to share their tunes with a whole carriage of commuters but I don’t want to be that person. Bear this in mind if you pick up a pair of these.

Choose the look that best fits you. Featuring a selection of limited-edition colors – each sold separately – these replacement lenses are easy to interchange for a look that’s all your own with polarized options available. And they’re forged from premium materials to ensure they won’t easily scratch or shatter.

Connectivity was good and I had no problems hooking up via Bluetooth 5.0 to Android, iOS, and macOS devices and the on-arm controls are simple and work well. You can access Siri and incoming calls with the built-in microphone. Interchangeable lenses are also available so you can pop out the dark lenses for a polarized set if that kind of look appeals to you. Summing up, they are pretty good for private listening but unless you want to be unpopular, avoid wearing them in crowded social spaces. Take a look and pick up a pair from Evutec’s site for $129.99.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post August 2020 Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

The newly launched Neo 2 & Neo 2 Eye headsets from Pico Interactive are lightweight, untethered, deliver 4K, and look most like a beefed-up Oculus Quest. “Great!” I can hear VR enthusiasts and gamers around the world exclaim, but hold your horses. Closer inspection reveals these headsets are very definitely industry-only, at least for now.

To be fair, Pico never said otherwise, and that doesn’t mean the package doesn’t present a value proposition for developers, and maybe a teaser of what that big consumer headset we are all waiting for will look like.

The newly launched @PicoInteractive Neo 2 & Neo 2 Eye headsets from Pico Interactive are lightweight, untethered, deliver 4K, and look most like a beefed-up Oculus Quest
Share on X

Compatible with a wide variety Android peripherals, the Neo 2 features a comfortable and hygienic all-PU facial interface. A unique counterbalanced design allows for extended use, with plenty of room for prescription glasses. There’s also an SD slot for expanding memory and adding additional content.

Pico’s Neo 2 line includes two headsets: the Neo 2 and the Neo 2 Eye. Both are all-in-one (AIO) devices with 6 degrees of freedom (DoF), head and magnetic controller tracking, wireless & wired streaming from a PC, spatial stereo audio, and BT 5.0 compatibility. The slightly more expensive Neo 2 Eye offers integrated Tobii eye-tracking and foveated rendering powered by their Spotlight Technology. This system scans your eyes 90 times a second and uses your own retina position for cursor control.

Quality eye-tracking in an untethered headset is a big deal and enables companies to follow and learn a customer’s in-app behavior, enhance training efficiency, and improve productivity
Share on X

Quality eye-tracking in an untethered headset is a big deal and enables companies to follow and learn a customer’s in-app behavior, enhance training efficiency, improve productivity, and possibly increase user safety in busy, shared work environments. Along with the eye-tracking comes dynamic foveated rendering, another big deal for a high resolution untethered headset. This translates into improved battery life through refined graphics performance, reducing shading load in some applications by up to 72% while increasing the possible frame rate by a supposed 66 percent.

“Over the last two years, we have seen Tobii eye-tracking become a foundational technology that makes XR devices better and improves the user experience,” said Anand Srivatsa, Division CEO of Tobii Tech. “It is fantastic to partner closely with Pico on the extraordinary Neo 2 Eye and to enable enterprise and professional users to unlock greater operational efficiency, provide powerful user insights, enhancing training, simulation and product development capabilities.”

Pico Neo 2 Specs:

– Display: 4K resolution, 101 FOV, 75 Refresh.
– Components: 845 Snapdragon, 128 GB Storage, 6GB RAM, Micro SD Card Slot.
– System/SDK: Android8.1/Pico XR SDK/Qualcomm XR SDK.
– Design: 2 Electromagnetic Controllers (6 DoF), Hygienic Replaceable PU Face Inserts.
– Weight: Less than 340g without a headband, Counterweighted Battery for Maximum Comfort.
– Audio: Integrated Spatial stereo speaker, Dual Mic EC/NR, 3.5mm Jack.
– Connectivity: USB-C, BT 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2X2 MIMO Dual Antenna.

Using Qualcomm’s 845 Snapdragon processor with Boundless XR, the Neo 2 also allows content streaming from a VR-ready PC and existing PC VR platforms over wireless 2X2 MIMO 802.11ac 5G link with a common MIMO 5G router. I was also pleased to see they also integrated Firefox Reality and Hubs by Mozilla. Firefox Reality is an open, accessible, and secure browser built specifically for mixed reality (including WebXR support) to create a better immersive web browsing experience. Mozilla’s Hubs allows users to collaborate online around virtual objects, spaces, and tasks – all without leaving their headsets.

Using Qualcomm’s 845 Snapdragon processor with Boundless XR, the @PicoInteractive Neo 2 also allows content streaming from a VR-ready PC over wireless 2X2 MIMO 802.11ac 5G link with a common MIMO 5G router
Share on X

Before I get into how the Neo 2 Eye performed during my hands-on, it is important to address the inevitable comparison with the game-changing Oculus Quest as all my feedback – both good and bad  – is framed around that comparison. To be blunt, the Neo 2 feels like a Quest with upgraded hardware and capabilities. However, when you first start it up and are presented with a Quest-like environment and menu system, it quickly becomes apparent that the Neo 2 isn’t the most consumer-friendly headset. But that is only because the available content is not there – yet.

While the Quest may feature less powerful hardware, the content and software are what makes the device so damn user-friendly. It’s incredibly easy to jump in and start having fun. The Neo 2, on the other hand, is marketed as an enterprise headset, and while I have no doubt it would serve as a fantastic platform to build 4K resolution apps that can make the most of its impressive eye-tracking, rendering, and connectivity, the low-quality software and demos that are now available make the headset feel like a letdown when compared to the Quest. Most of the Neo 2 apps aren’t even in 4K, so apart from the menus, most of the content looked visually underwhelming.

the @PicoInteractive Neo 2 Eye is a very exciting, professionally supported, blank slate. It's an evolutionary step forward in untethered VR headsets on to which companies can build their own technology.
Share on X

I was disappointed that Pico sent this for a review missing any preloaded software, links, or instructions to demo apps that might have exposed the true capabilities of this impressive headset. But that frustration aside, the Neo 2 Eye is nothing to be dismissed, as it is clearly a very exciting, professionally supported, blank slate. Essentially, it’s an impressive evolutionary step forward in untethered enterprise VR headsets on to which companies can build their own technology.

“Few non-tethered headsets offer this level of visual quality, design and support,” said Henry Zhou, CEO of Pico Interactive. “We’re focused on ‘user first’ in all sense of the term and are constantly looking for ways to improve our product offering,” he added.

I did come across a few hardware niggles in my testing that might present an issue for some. For instance, there is no manual IPD adjustment, and I could not find the digital one in the settings. This was a persistent annoyance and it made me feel a bit like my head was stuck inside a glass jar, with my vision compressed slightly on both sides. If IPD adjustment is digital, however, this issue could be addressed by software updates so might not be a deal-breaker as the product rolls out.

Both the controllers and the headset are ‘functionally’ designed, which means they are bulky and practical while not being ugly. They are hard-wearing and meant for constant heavy use, but it is worth noting that after 30 minutes I did start to feel some discomfort, specifically in my cheeks and ears.

The battery is part of the adjustment strap, and the fact the weight is at the back of the head counterbalances the screen at the front nicely. I didn’t notice any neck strain at all while using the @PicoInteractive Neo 2 Eye
Share on X

On the plus side, the battery is part of the adjustment strap, and the fact the weight is at the back of the head counterbalances the screen at the front nicely. I didn’t notice any neck strain at all while using the Neo 2 Eye. The padding is also composed of a super hygienic design that is comfortable, easy to clean, and replaceable.

USB-C charging ports on the controllers and headset are practical and the firmware updates were quick and easy to install. The easy-access SD card slot will be a real time-saver for software testing or the quick swapping of demo content in a sales environment. All around the Neo 2 Eye is a practical solution for businesses, not a toy or gaming device.

When you consider that the Oculus Quest for business platform costs roughly $1000, the @PicoInteractive Neo 2 models actually offer more bang for your buck
Share on X

I have read some criticism of the high cost of the Neo 2 and the Neo 2 Eye, but as an enterprise solution, they offer great value for companies seeking a sturdy, visually-impressive headset that’s easy to use in a busy work environment – from a shop floor to an architectural office. When you consider that the Oculus Quest for business platform costs roughly $1000, the Neo 2 models actually offer more bang for your buck.

The Neo 2 is now available for purchase at $699 USD and the Neo 2 Eye for $899 USD. More information on both headsets is available here. As Pico focuses on enterprise, these headsets are only sold directly to companies via a dedicated sales team spread across the globe, including offices in San Francisco and Barcelona. For more information visit Pico Interactive.

This article originally appeared on VRScout.

Pico Neo 2 Eye Review: Untethered 4K VR In A Tidy Little Package via @R3Digital https://t.co/5qrpKKpQea pic.twitter.com/zhBOFywT7L

— VRScout (@VRScout) August 5, 2020

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals, and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post Pico Neo 2 Eye Review: Untethered 4K VR In A Tidy Little Package appeared first on Tech Trends.

As our lives have moved online, Internet traffic has boomed and affiliate marketing has become a huge business – worth more than $12 billion to brands and publishers. However, the online world is still a bit of a “Wild West,” with analysis suggesting that e-commerce merchants lost over $9 billion in affiliate marketing fraud in 2017 alone. It is also estimated that over 40% of ad traffic is generated by bots, with 1 in 5 websites visited exclusively by non-humans (hopefully not this one!).

The bottom line is that the marketing industry as a whole struggles with inflated and inaccurate traffic data (critical for setting publisher revenues and brand spend) thanks to fraudulent click traffic, bots, and simply out of date or incompatible data shared between publisher and brands. To tackle this problem, one of the industry’s largest agencies, PartnerCentric, has just launched a new set of tools packaged into what they call the Control Suite, a revenue and metric-focused platform that directly addresses the issues of traffic fraud, disparate attribution and provides new competitive insights.

“Early testing has delivered some impressive results with 135% increase in return on ad spend (ROAS), a 20% reduction in fraudulent traffic and time savings of hundreds of employee hours monthly in manual handling of coupon codes, retired content and more,” says PartnerCentric CEO Stephanie Harris.

These are rather impressive numbers, and as Tom Rathbone – VP of Strategic Initiatives for PartnerCentric and Control Suite – explains, they spell out some major disruption to stagnant legacy systems:

“A lot of the big names in affiliate marketing right now have been around in one form or another since the early days of the Internet, and really established the rules for how online marketing exists now,” says Rathbone. “But we don’t want to play by those rules, because we don’t think they are in the best interest of our clients and it doesn’t truly solve their problems. And in some cases, has created brand new ones. We see ourselves as bringing a new approach with Control Suite and we want to work with young and forward-thinking start-ups and companies who are interested in a fresh new way of marketing online and don’t want to be held back by established practices and the rules of the status quo.”

This disruptive approach also spills over to their software, and Control Suite represents multiple proprietary and patented new technologies which PartnerCentric have developed to shake things up in affiliate marketing and help their clients push the boundaries of what brands and online companies can do to better control and manage their marketing footprint online.

According to Rathbone, the company’s core differentiator is the creation of technologies that aim to solve industry problems that have always been considered “just the way it is.” and aim to go beyond the status quo. Control Suite takes this innovative approach and looks beyond those existing industry platforms, to where they are not focusing, adding value to clients’ campaigns.

“Control Suite is a package of tools that really sprang from the changing needs of our clients,” Rathbone continued. “As COVID hit, the entire industry felt the pressure to operate more quickly and more responsively to the fast-changing behaviors of online shoppers and customers. We saw an opportunity to roll out our newly developed technologies covering attribution control with Fuse, more brand awareness control with Top Rank, and the increased content and compliance control our Block & Filter and Content Monitoring tools offer into one package.”

There are a lot of useful tools packed into Control Suite, and these tools become all the more powerful and insightful for being integrated into a single platform where they can feed off the same data sets and combine their analytical strengths for better, more focused output.

“We want to offer more than the entrenched players in the market and help clients better build their brands online. PartnerCentric is working to gain a deeper level of understanding into the value that we can provide and that publishers, in turn, provide to our clients, so what we offer is a much better level of control over that. We say to our clients, you are a brand, you have these needs, we want to meet those needs by providing an actionable, ground-breaking level of insight, control, and understanding that you just don’t get from the status quo,” Explained Rathbone.

First off the bat is TopRank, a tool that provides competitive analysis of your presence on publisher sites and its effect on your conversion metrics. You can also use the tool to identify new competitors in the market and opportunities for new publisher partnerships. TopRank enables users to keep a closer eye on their competitors and be smarter about marketing spending and strategy. For a small, new company seeing where your big competitors are spending on advertising – and how that is working for them – is a powerful tool to guide a new brand’s disruptive marketing strategy. This in-depth knowledge gives you the ability to make every marketing dollar go further and to successfully negotiate better commission terms and placements.

“A great use case for TopRank is to track and quantify the correlation between publishers, share of voice, and performance. We want to show what moves the needle for a client, where the true value is. Should they directly push to compete on certain loyalty sites or market product discounts directly against a competitor in a certain month of the year? TopRank helps inform clients where their resources are best spent to get the maximum return – be that sales or brand awareness. We don’t just want insights, we are driving towards predictive and prescriptive actionable steps for our clients,” enthused Rathbone.

TopRank also offers the power to spot shifts in the market or competitors positioning for a big new release. Take credit cards, for example: when you see a credit card drop off the radar across multiple sites it could indicate they are preparing for the release of a new offering and have pulled marketing for compliance reasons, or maybe they need to refresh content with a new product and a new message. By inferring the reasons a competitor might have just pulled all their offers, it allows a brand using TopRank to plan accordingly: time their own releases differently so as not to get drowned out by the moves of the competition, for example.

The value for that brand is in spotting the trends as they’re happening, and being able to make their calculated moves accordingly. In other use cases, PartnerCentric uses TopRank to negotiate with publishers to increase a brand’s share of voice on targeted pages where they are underrepresented compared to competitive brands. That ability to do this at scale is a benefit to working with PartnerCentric and gives the brand more targeted exposure and reach. TopRank gathers a huge amount of granular data that can be leveraged strategically by clients across marketing, branding, and market surveillance.

Next up is Content Monitoring, a critical job that must be done to keep track of your content, monitoring it for accuracy and FTC compliance plus making sure it is up to date and positioned alongside suitable content on publisher sites. Nobody wants to advertise Caribbean cruise holidays alongside news of a recent shipwreck, and the coronavirus pandemic gave us plenty of examples of adverts that were perfectly appropriate in January (remember those carefree times?) but sounded tone-deaf or downright insulting amid the challenges that rocked the global community since COVID-19 hit. This is the sort of tool that helps you keep a handle on such things.

“Our Content Monitoring solution provides real-time actionable feedback that identifies and helps resolve any deviations from affiliate marketing messages and misuse of coupon codes,” Rathbone explained. “This job is so necessary that everyone has to do it, albeit manually, but our clients have saved over 300 hours a month by using this to automatically and more accurately identify and resolve outdated advertising, factually inaccurate copy or inappropriate placements. For example, if you are a phone company you can see if the publisher is placing you alongside content or other adverts for pre-owned phones when your promotion is actually for new handsets.”

The last key component of Control Suite is Block & Filter, a tool that pre-emptively identifies and eliminates fraudulent traffic and bots from reaching a client’s website. Brands typically see a 20% reduction in fraudulent traffic in the first month, eliminating payments for fake traffic.

“Poor quality traffic leads to skewed analytics, increased costs from retargeting, and an increased likelihood of fraudulent conversions. We’re committed to providing value to our clients above and beyond the rest – and we cannot do that while hand-waving away bots, crawlers, and fraud as a necessary reality of digital marketing.” Rathbone continued

A key function is to stop and redirect these clicks away from a client’s site so only clicks from real potential customers are logged. This keeps the data gathered pure and therefore more usable and insightful. This is not only useful for clients to individually monitor the quality of traffic a specific publisher delivers but then PartnerCentric also has the option to take action against a publisher who provides a lot of suspect or fraudulent traffic on behalf of all of their clients.

“We are tracking hundreds of millions of data points and are advancing our platform to use predictive analytics and machine learning to better track the correlation between variables and provide actionable outcomes that add value. We will also loop the results of those actions, back into our system, evolving our service, and ultimately providing better, more valuable insights to clients. It enables you to quantify aspects such as how much return you can expect from increasing your share of voice with various publishers. It takes us beyond AB testing, – valuable as that is – towards actions that can be recommended with a high degree of confidence in the outcomes, Rathbone concluded.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post Taking Back Control of Your Online Marketing appeared first on Tech Trends.

Helm DB12 Mobile Amplifier

I am excited to review two advanced audio quality boosting gadgets for mobile devices this month. The first of these addresses a key issue all smartphone or tablet users will have faced when trying to play music, movies, or podcasts over high-quality headphones or external speakers; volume. No smart device can output the sheer loudness of a separate Hi-Fi or dedicated media center amplifier meaning if you want to watch films or listen to high-quality music with friends you inevitably have to compromise on sound quality and volume.

The @HelmAudio DB12 provides a 12-decibel gain boost plus an optional 6-decibel bass boost
Share on X

The new HELM DB12 AAAMP Mobile Headphone Amplifier addresses the low-level volume our portable devices output, providing a 12-decibel gain boost plus an optional 6-decibel bass boost. This boost in gain is vital for power-hungry headphones like planar magnetic or high-impedance types, ensuring you hear the best quality sound and it also makes sure plugging your device into a portable battery-powered speaker or mini Hi-Fi gives you sound levels that will fill a room at a party or in a shared movie screening.

The @HelmAudio DB12 addresses a key issue all smartphone or tablet users will have faced when trying to play music, movies, or podcasts over high-quality headphones or external speakers; volume
Share on X

This is an in-line, analog amplifier and connects to your device’s audio out via male 3.5mm jack and outputs back to a female 3.5mm jack, as such it is easy to use and connects seamlessly via all the headphone or audio cables
Share on X

Two features make the DB12 such a success. This is an in-line, analog amplifier and connects to your device’s audio out via male 3.5mm jack and outputs back to a female 3.5mm jack, as such it is easy to use and connects seamlessly via all the headphone or audio cables you might already have. Also, key to the design is the integration of THX AAA Amplifier Technology which provides the power efficiency needed to deliver a rich, “unmasked” stereo field running off the DB12’s small, rechargeable battery.

Most amplifiers require power and extra cables. The DB12 is 100% portable with 6+ hours of battery life per charge and features exclusive in-line silver coiled (highest conductive metal) cabling delivering studio-quality amplification on the go with zero fuss.

Key to the design is the integration of THX AAA Amplifier Technology which provides the power efficiency needed to deliver a rich, “unmasked” stereo field running off the DB12’s small, rechargeable battery
Share on X

With over six hours of mobile playtime, the HELM DB12 AAAMP transforms your mobile device into a portable hi-fi audio solution. As a seal of its superior audio design and output, it has also achieved THX Certification, meeting the highest industry standards for its sound quality and performance.

“Working together with our partner in audio innovation, THX, we have infused the HELM DNA with some of the latest and greatest audio technologies on the market to create a world-class mobile headphone amplifier,” said Eric Johnson, chief executive officer of HELM Audio. Powered by THX AAA technology the HELM DB12 AAAMP provides +12 dB of zero distortion volume gain, improved stereo imaging, and clarity (true linear amplification), plus an optional user-controlled +6 dB bass boost. The ground-breaking DB12 is simple, the plug & play in-line amplifier delivers maximum volume, improved sound quality, and bass enhancement to any headphone on any mobile device.

In practical use, the amp is simplicity itself to use and that valuable boost in volume really does make your smartphone or tablet a useful media station. Hooked up to my demanding headphones it sounded bold and very pleasing. The same was true when connected to my Hi-Fi. I didn’t have to crank the volume as high as I would otherwise and the sound quality was more solid than when the DB12 was not connected. This is an analog amp so there is no digital magic going on inside to improve the sound and I did notice a tiny loss of fidelity in complex music tracks when using the DB12 but nothing that would bother anyone less of an audiophile than me and much less loss in quality than I expected from such a small battery-powered gadget.

In practical use, the amp is simplicity itself to use and that valuable boost in volume really does make your smartphone or tablet a useful media station
Share on X

The optional Bass Boost it offers is also great, offering a small but significant boost to the lower frequencies without muddying the mids and treble. Charging is super easy, the battery lasts a good few hours, and the metal construction and high-quality cable Helm use mean this is all round a great device. I love it and it will become an essential part of my tech travel kit.

Winner of an “Innovation Award at CES 2020,” the HELM Audio DB12 AAAMP is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand and plugs seamlessly into any mobile device (Android, iOS, macOS or PC supported) delivering analog amplification from your mobile device to any pair of 3.5mm headphones or an external speaker.

For those of us who don’t keep over 100GB of music files on their phone (hem hem) and prefer to stream from services such as Spotify or YouTube Music the DB12 will make a great difference when used with expensive, power dependant headphones. You know, the big ones that make you look like a Cyberman 😉

Specification:
• Studio Grade Amplifier with Bass Boost Powered by the Award Winning THX® AAA Amplifier Technology. Boost the Sound from your Mobile or Gaming device to your Headphones
• World’s First In-Line Audiophile Quality Headphone Amplifier That Fits In The Palm of Your Hand and a separate Bass Boost feature
• Delivers Maximum Volume +12dB for the Cleanest Signal, Improving Sound Quality and an Independently Controlled Bass Boost +6dB Turning any Mobile Device Into a Full Blown Studio Experience
• Plug & Play: No Additional Components or Connections
• Utilizes the THX AAA Lowest Distortion Rated Streamlined Amplifier
• Game-Changing Ultra-Clean Power Breathing New Life into Your Favorite Headphones Anywhere You Go
• 100% Mobile: Rechargeable Battery With 6-8 Hours Play Time

Charging is super easy, the battery lasts a good few hours, and the metal construction and high-quality cable Helm use mean this is all round a great device. I love it and it will become an essential part of my tech travel kit
Share on X

If you need to boost your mobile device’s audio then I can recommend you give the DB12 a try! They are available now for £199 now directly from the Helm website here.

Cyrus SoundKey

The second mobile audio device we are looking at this month is from the excellent British company Cyrus. The Cyrus SoundKey unlike the Helm DB12 is a DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter) for your smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC so it connects to the digital output on your device which is always some form of USB unless you are an Apple iOS user in which case it is most likely a Lightning port. I was blown away to find that the SoundKey comes with high-quality OTG USB adapters for all the different flavors of USB right in the box! If however, you are iOS user you will have to use a Lightning Camera Kit connector which Cyrus doesn’t supply as it is a proprietary Apple product.

I have tested and owned several Hi-Fi sized DACs and was blown away that most of the quality of these large, expensive devices has been boiled down into a tiny little USB key by @Cyrus_Audio
Share on X

I can attest that the boost in audio quality is huge and that once you have used an @Cyrus_Audio SoundKey you will never go back
Share on X

A DAC takes the digital audio info from the device and refines and improves it via special circuitry to make it sound better in every way. I have tested and owned several Hi-Fi sized DACs and was blown away that most of the quality of these large, expensive devices has been boiled down into a tiny little USB key like this. I can attest that the boost in audio quality is huge and that once you have used a SoundKey you will never go back. The clarity, sound stage, fidelity, bass response, and overall balance of your music and movie soundtracks will leap forwards. It draws power from your device but claims it is very low current and I have not noticed any impact on my phone’s charge at all during use.

Via my Galaxy S9+ MP3, Flac, and M4A files sounded so much better I was still re-listening to my favorite tracks three hours after first plugging in the SoundKey, I just couldn’t stop listening to how wonderful my old files now sounded. Streaming Spotify also sounded a load better, even when tested with mid-range earbuds. Hooked up to my MacBook Pro (which already produces very good audio) movies were so much more enjoyable with the breadth of the soundscapes wrapping right around me and placing me in the middle of the action. With Jurassic World, for example, plugging in the SoundKey showed off the excellent mix, every rustle in the jungle stood out and the cacophonous roars of the dinosaurs were more complex and chilling.

Hooked up to my MacBook Pro (which already produces very good audio) movies were so much more enjoyable with the breadth of the soundscapes wrapping right around me and placing me in the middle of the action
Share on X

SoundKey is an award-winning revolution in mobile music. Hi-Fi streaming services like TIDAL mean fantastic quality is available to subscribers, but phones lack the necessary hardware to get the best from this data. SoundKey unlocks that data, using our years of expertise in high-resolution DAC and amplifier design. Cyrus quality audio is now available to everyone.

If you care about sound if you truly love music and movies you have to get one of these. For under a hundred bucks it will change the way you engage with audio on your laptop or mobile device. Simplicity is the name of the game here, just plug the SoundKey into your macOS, Windows Vista+, Android 5+ and iOS9+ (all require OTG connection) device and it will work seamlessly. On computers, you will of course have to flip the Audio Output from ‘Device’ to ‘SoundKey’ but that is one click and you are done.

Simplicity is the name of the game here, just plug the @Cyrus_Audio SoundKey into your macOS, Windows Vista+, Android 5+ and iOS9+ (all require OTG connection) device and it will work seamlessly
Share on X

If you care about sound if you truly love music and movies you have to get one of these. For under a hundred bucks it will change the way you engage with audio on your laptop or mobile device
Share on X

Unbelievable Sound Quality
• Improved clarity, more realistic sound
• Works with Windows Vista+, Android 5+ and iOS9+* (all require OTG connection)
• 3.5mm Jack for headphones connection
• Robust aluminum casing
• Extremely low current, conserving your phone’s battery life
• Compatible with a wide range of audio format, including MP3, AAC, and FLAC
• Can handle High-Resolution audio files up to 24bit/96kHz
• Size 5.4cm x 2.3cm x 0.8cm
• Weight 18g
*Requires Apple Camera Kit for connection to iOS devices

Find out more here and I strongly recommend you pick up one of these Cyrus SoundKeys right now, you will never go back! Their British website has a dealer locator for several countries but they are also available on Amazon in most places for about $99 or £79.

Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Test

You might have noticed a lot of doggy tech in the last few review posts, well that’s because the tech for pets market is growing fast. We love our pets almost as much as we love ourselves and spend accordingly 🙂

I was super excited to try out @WisdomPanel Essential Doggy DNA test. I have a pack of pedigree Staffordshire Bull Terriers so was keen to see if their pedigree status was justified, as well as the expense
Share on X

In these crazy days there is nothing wrong with that! So I was super excited to try out Wisdom Panel’s Essential Doggy DNA test. I have a pack of pedigree Staffordshire Bull Terriers so was keen to see if their pedigree status was justified (as well as the expense!).

In terms of appearance, dogs are one of the most diverse species on the planet. Which is why it’s hard to believe a Yorkie and Great Dane are nearly identical on a genetic level. Thanks to the 15,000 years that have passed since humans and dogs learned to live together, there are now over 350 unique dog breeds, types, and varieties recognized worldwide. Through DNA testing, we can map the “ancestry”—or origin story—of your dog, from their breed breakdown to family tree, going back several generations.

The Essential DNA test Wisdom offer for dogs costs £99.99 and works for 350+ breeds, types, and varieties it also tests for 25+ genetic conditions, 35+ breed traits, and much more.

The Essential DNA test @WisdomPanel offer for dogs costs £99.99 and works for 350+ breeds, types, and varieties it also tests for 25+ genetic conditions, 35+ breed traits, and much more
Share on X

Through DNA testing, we can map the ancestry or origin story of your dog, from their breed breakdown to family tree, going back several generations
Share on X

Knowing your dog’s breed mix or pure breed and their genetic makeup empowers you to tailor training, nutrition, and care to their unique needs—helping you ensure a happier, healthier, snugglier pup for years to come. If you are a dog lover the information this test reveals is really valuable in caring for them.

The analysis of health conditions they show markers for is key to planning their medical care with your vet going forwards. For example, if they show a strong marker for hip dysplasia this can help you manage their exercise to mitigate the degeneration and to watch out for early signs of the disease and take early steps against it with supplements or drugs.

If the @WisdomPanel results show a strong marker for hip dysplasia this can help you manage their exercise to mitigate the degeneration and to watch out for early signs of the disease
Share on X

Results only took a couple of weeks and I was emailed a link to take me straight back to the online account where all my pets results were clearly laid out in categories with simply laid out results
Share on X

The test kits each have a unique ID number that you use to create an account for you and your pet online. Instructions for the procedure are clear and well laid out online, the interface really is well designed, and taking the DNA sample itself was easy peasy! I just roughly rubbed the small bristly brush inside the dog’s cheek, popped it back in the supplied tube and sent it back to Wisdom in the prepaid package. Simplicity itself. Results only took a couple of weeks and I was emailed a link to take me straight back to the online account where all my pets results were clearly laid out in categories with simply laid out results.

I was very happy to find that all three of my dogs were indeed 100% purebred and had zero health issues commonly associated with poorly managed breeding programs. All-round I was very impressed with Wisdom’s testing kits and services. From start to finish the process was well explained and simple to use, plus the prices are very reasonable. The Essential Dog DNA Collection Kit costs just £99.99 and includes everything I have discussed above and a Premium Kit costs $159.99.

Our algorithm considers over 17 million possible family trees that could have produced your dog’s raw genetic results. Looking at all of the trees together, the algorithm then determines the most likely breed breakdown and family tree for your pup.

I was particularly pleased to see the information they supplied on fur color as all my dogs are red. This was no mean feat and we had to shop all around the UK to find puppies that carried this rare gene
Share on X

Once your pup’s sample reaches our lab we log its arrival, and extract and purify the DNA from the sample that you collected. The DNA is then processed on our proprietary Illumina® Infinium® XT microarray, which tests for approximately 100,000 variants across your dog’s genome. Variants are places in the DNA that can vary between dogs, and the process of determining which particular variants a dog has is called genotyping. We then take your dog’s variant data and compare it to the largest dog reference database in the world: with over 350 breeds, types, and varieties built from a library of more than 1 million dogs.

I was particularly pleased to see the information they supplied on fur color as all my dogs are red. This was no mean feat and we had to shop all around the UK to find puppies that carried this rare gene. I have a soft spot for red animals so watch out all Highland cattle!

Breed info was also good and covered traits as well as a little on the history of the breed. Difficult to read but a wonderful outcome!

From start to finish the process was well explained and simple to use, the kits are easy to use, the website is excellent plus the prices are very reasonable
Share on X

In 17th century England, bull baiting fortunately declined in popularity. Sadly, however, a new ugly sport rose up to take its place. As dogfights became increasingly common, there was a real need for a smaller and more agile fighter. This new dog would be a better contestant than the larger bulldog and mastiff. Bulldogs were bred to reduce their size and, over time, they were also crossed with the Black and Tan Terrier, resulting in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Eventually, dog fighting was outlawed in 1835 and these devoted and loyal dogs were free to become home pets. From ugly beginnings … to a beautiful breed we’re glad are here today.

From start to finish the process was well explained and simple to use, the kits are easy to use, the website is excellent plus the prices are very reasonable. The Essential Dog DNA Collection Kit costs just £99.99 and includes everything I have discussed above. Also available is a Premium Kit for $159.99.

Olive Smart Ear

Our world is a loud place and I for one have lost some hearing in one ear due to being a stupid kid in a loud metal band. Whether your hearing loss is your own fault (hem hem) or not it can be an expensive and tedious problem to address with old fashioned hearing aids costing a fortune and often being overkill for the issue you have. Oh, and they tend to look like fleshy pink monstrosities, a bit like the alien Ceti Eel that crawls into Chekov’s ear in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, I might be exaggerating but it is not a good look.

We all hate to admit when we need help, especially men, but that’s what Olive Smart Ear is for. It’s a stylish single-ear hearing amplifier that re-engineers hearing for better conversations and enhanced listening. Be honest, we’ve all experienced it: the “What did you say?” from Dad at a noisy restaurant, the “Can you speak up?” from Grandpa during FaceTime calls, and the notorious remote control stealing so the TV can be on max volume.

We all hate to admit when we need help, especially men, but that’s what @olive_union is for. It’s a stylish single-ear hearing amplifier that re-engineers hearing for better conversations and enhanced listening
Share on X

The @olive_union Smart Ear uses AI to capture 99.8% of the sounds within your hearing range without distortion while dampening unwanted background noises
Share on X

Olive Smart Ear uses AI to capture 99.8% of the sounds within your hearing range without distortion while dampening unwanted background noises. Not only is it a modern and cool looking gadget, but it was also the CES 2020 “Best Wearable” award winner! The Smart Ear is a next-gen hearable for anyone with mild to moderate hearing loss and ensures they’ll never need to ask someone to speak up, turn the volume up, or be told they are shouting again (what if I like shouting?).

The Olive Smart Ear isolates, filters, and reduces distracting background noises, and amplifies the ones that matter most, optimizing the experience of everyday listening. Designed to enhance the surrounding audio for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss (less than 50 dB) but who aren’t yet ready for hearing aids – either clinically or emotionally.

Setting up the new Smart ear was a piece of cake and after a quick charge in its handy little USB charging dock, I downloaded the app to my phone, connected through Bluetooth, and was up and running fast. When you first activate it the Smart Ear performs a simple hearing test to personalize your device. Check out the video below for a demo of how simple set up is.

I downloaded the @olive_union app to my phone, connected through Bluetooth, and was up and running fast
Share on X

There is a simple Feedback Cancelation setting and a Volume slider. There is also an Equalizer so you can further personalize your settings and get the sound just the way you like
Share on X

Through their app it is super easy to control your Smart Ear with three simple modes that cover general listening situations; Default, Conversation & TV Mode. There is a simple Feedback Cancelation setting and a Volume slider. There is also an Equalizer so you can further personalize your settings and get the sound just the way you like.

Using the @olive_union Smart Ear definitely helped in crowded rooms, pulling the voice of the speaker out to the front and stopping me struggling to engage with the conversation
Share on X

I don’t have a problem hearing the TV as I’m usually in a quiet room anyway but the Conversation mode was a real help when chatting in a group in a loud room. Generally, I have an issue focusing on the speaker’s voice in crowded settings and often struggle to get more than the gist as background noise blurs together with the voice. Using the Smart Ear definitely helped in this specific situation, pulling the voice of the speaker out to the front and stopping me struggling to engage with the conversation.

Key Features:

• Personalized sound with simple hearing calibration: Provides users with an easy-to-use, 5-minute hearing test via smartphone with the included Olive Smart App (Android and Apple compatible) to customize audio and equalizer frequency settings, personalized to their own hearing profile.
• Designed to be seen not hidden: Eliminates any hearing impairment stigmas through modern design cues, borrowed from popular truly wireless earbuds that everyone is wearing.
• User-Friendly sound modes with feedback cancellation: Captures sounds you never realized were missing and avoid turning up TV volumes with preset “TV Listening” and “Conversation” modes. Three onboard mics capture high-frequency sounds while minimizing feedback for a clear, spectrally balanced sound.

With its simple and easy to use partner app on your smartphone, the personalization possible and the long-lasting battery the Smart Ear is a tantalizing option for those with low to mid-level hearing loss. Add to this the low price and help with hearing loss is now available to many more people for whom the old fashioned solutions large medical companies offer are out of reach. To be honest, the tech on offer from Olive is the same or better than many high-cost alternatives, and damn it looks so much better.

Help with hearing loss is now available to many more people for whom the old fashioned solutions large medical companies offer are out of reach
Share on X

The @olive_union Smart Ear is effective, small and modern looking and would easily be mistaken for any high-end Bluetooth earbud, which is exactly what it is
Share on X

• Performance: 16 channels / 16 bands Feedback Cancellation + Active noise reduction & Personal hearing settings Equalizer.
  FRR 200Hz〜6,704Hz
  Maximum sound pressure level　122.8dB＋3dB
  Average sound pressure level　116.5dB±3dB
  Maximum sound level
  48.0dB±3dB
  Average sound level
  40.3dB±3dB
• Power & Battery: Lithium-ion batteries with 7 hours + Charging dock: 14 hours
• Compatibility: Olive App & Firmware + Android & iOS smartphone
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy + Enhanced data rate（EDR）

The Smart Ear is effective, small and modern looking and would easily be mistaken for a high-end Bluetooth earbud similar to many of those I have reviewed here previously. With an MSRP of $299 USD the Smart Ear is available from QVC & B8ta, or you can pick one up direct from Olive Union here for a limited time discount price of $229.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post July 2020 Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

As such, if you are starting a new company, or you have an existing brick and mortar store, now is the time to take action and go digital. Here is a guide to setting up an eCommerce business smoothly and with minimal stress.

Get in touch with a web designer

The success of your eCommerce business is hinged on the attractiveness and functionality of your eCommerce website. Therefore, it pays to utilize the services of a professional web designer as opposed to building the site yourself using a free website building tool.

A web designer will help to ensure that online shoppers enjoy an optimized user experience through easy navigation and stunning imagery. As a result, the chances of these shoppers making a conversion will be greatly increased.

Take pictures of your products

Once the design of your website is complete, you will need to populate it with images of the products that you are selling. It is recommended to hire an expert photographer to take photographs of your merchandise to allow for uniformity. Further to this, online shoppers who are exposed to professional-looking images will subconsciously develop a better sense of trust in the brand in question and will be more likely to purchase what they see.

Invest in a vehicle fleet

It is possible to make use of the services of a third-party courier in order to deliver your customers’ orders to their door. However, doing so can often come with a host of potential problems due to poor communication or poorly maintained vehicles.

Therefore, several eCommerce business owners opt to invest in a company vehicle fleet of their own and deliver customer orders in-house. If you opt to go this route, it is vital that you keep track of vehicle maintenance requirements, registrations, route planning, and fuel efficiency. Consider investing in a fleet management software solution if you are battling to handle these tasks manually.

Set up safe, secure payments

Guaranteeing online shopping safety is an absolute non-negotiable for eCommerce websites. Without this guarantee in place, very few of your potential customers will be willing to convert. Take your time researching the various payment gateway options available to you and ensure that the one you choose easily integrates with your website for smooth, safe, and error-free payments.

Track important business metrics

You need to be actively tracking important metrics in order to maximize the success of your eCommerce business and make profitable changes thereof. Essential metrics to monitor include your sales conversion rate, average order value, the number of website hits received shopping cart abandonment rate, and the overall cost of customer acquisition.

There has never been a better time to embrace the world of eCommerce. Go for it – and good luck.

The post Setting Up an e-Commerce Business A Guide appeared first on Tech Trends.

I love covering this industry, the pace of innovation is awesome, and watching companies large and small vie for market share with powerful and revolutionary tech is inspiring. We have come a long way. Better, lighter, untethered HMDs: Check. Cheaper, easier to use VR solutions: Check. Better access to good VR content: Check (mostly).

And now we have high-resolution VR with hand and eye-tracking which is an important step towards breaking down a barrier that has been holding VR back from broader adoption in some industries. Low-resolution VR might be fine for games and low interaction immersion, but when you are training for one of the most complicated and dangerous missions mankind has ever faced, every detail matters.

Low res VR might be fine for games and low interaction immersion, but when you are training for one of the most complicated and dangerous missions mankind has ever faced @BoeingSpace know every detail matters
Share on X

The latest HMD launched by Finnish company Varjo steps into that gap by offering industrial-grade “human-eye resolution” plus hand and eye-tracking. The company has just announced a new partnership with Boeing on a VR training program using its new VR-2 Pro headset for astronauts on the Boeing Starliner program preparing for missions to the International Space Station.

The VR-2 Pro is the latest professional iteration of Varjo’s initial VR-1 model and after extensive development with partner pilot companies including Audi, Volkswagen, and Saab, it features improved Ultraleap hand tracking and 20/20 Eye Tracker tech as well as easy integration with affordable SteamVR content and peripherals as well as the OpenVR development platform from Valve.

“We are proud to be delivering the technology that is pushing industrial training applications to their furthest reaches – even to space,” said Niko Eiden, CEO and co-founder of Varjo. “With our devices, astronauts can see and virtually interact with the switches and control panels inside their Starliner capsule and read the real-time data on their crew displays. Advancements like this have the potential to transform the way any pilot is trained.”

The Boeing Starliner has been developed in partnership with NASA and when the first crewed mission aboard the CST-100 Starliner takes place in 2021, the crew will have banked hundreds of training hours for each phase of the entire mission – including launching, docking, re-entering the atmosphere and landing phases – using Varjo’s human-eye resolution VR devices. Chris Ferguson, the company’s first corporate astronaut, and Starliner commander will soon start using the Varjo VR training system regularly in preparation for the program’s Crew Flight Test, which will be the first Starliner mission with humans on board.

When the first crewed mission aboard the @BoeingSpace CST-100 Starliner takes place in 2021, the crew will have banked hundreds of training hours using @varjodotcom human-eye resolution VR devices
Share on X

For the VR training to be effective, astronauts need to be able to read all the displays simultaneously while operating the simulated aircraft with their hands or controllers
Share on X

Imagine approaching the ISS in the Starliner spacecraft. Your speed is relatively low, but the ISS weighs about 420,000 kilograms. That’s the equivalent of more than 330 cars. And even though the ISS is weightless in space, it still has mass. And the spacecraft needs to be steered to a fine point at the docking port by following a cone-shaped path. Projecting the display panels and trajectory data precisely is crucial if VR is to be an effective training tool for such a vital operation.

I‘ve recently managed to get some hands-on time with a VR-2 Pro test unit and seen for myself what a huge difference Varjo’s high visual fidelity makes when interacting with control panels and virtual objects. It’s easy to see how this seemingly simple advancement – namely the ability to read text, displays, and buttons as you would in real-life – is crucial in making it possible to train for dangerous and precise procedures such as docking a space ship from inside a complex cockpit.

The spacecraft’s crew console consists of two displays, each about the size of an iPad, which shows mission-critical flight data such as the velocity and trajectory of the aircraft as it moves in space. For the VR training to be effective, astronauts need to be able to read all the displays simultaneously while operating the simulated aircraft with their hands or controllers. With earlier VR headsets, reading the displays in the immersive training environment was only possible when leaning in very close to the displays – but then the astronauts couldn’t see their hands, making it unsuitable for training.

With earlier VR headsets, reading the displays in the immersive training environment was only possible when leaning in very close to the displays but then the astronauts couldn’t see their hands, making it unsuitable for training
Share on X

The most important psychological effect of this human-eye resolution, however, is ‘full immersion’ by which I mean how real-life levels of detail better convince the brain it is operating in a real-world situation so that your brain is not wasting any effort suspending disbelief.

It stands to reason that full immersion like this should vastly increase the effectiveness of group practice for unplanned events and working together in simulated dangerous situations, while building the team’s responses and decision-making abilities, without ever putting the astronauts in danger. The Starliner team can thus perform all the routine interactions, voice, and switch commands, while being immersed in the same surroundings they’d see when sitting in the actual spacecraft.

The Varjo VR-2 is the only device to deliver immersive content in pixel-perfect clarity. This allows training for even the most challenging and safety-critical procedures of spaceflight, such as docking to the International Space Station, to be conducted in virtual reality. Further, the system extends the astronaut training program by enabling training through the two week-quarantine period in crew quarters before launch.

The most important effect is ‘full immersion’ by which I mean how real-life levels of detail better convince the brain it is operating in a real-world situation so that your brain is not wasting effort suspending disbelief
Share on X

The Varjo VR-2 Pro is the only device to deliver immersive content in pixel-perfect clarity allowing training for the safety-critical procedures of spaceflight, such as docking to the @Space_Station, to be conducted in VR
Share on X

Before I dive into my experience of using the headset, let’s look at the device specs for the VR-2 Pro. The HMD features a next-generation Bionic Display with resolution at over 20/20 vision (over 60 PPD / 3000 PPI), flicker-free screen refresh at 60/90 Hz. Combining two 1920 x 1080 low persistence micro-OLEDs and two 1440 x 1600 low persistence AMOLEDs.

Basically this means that each eyepiece uses two screens, one higher resolution in the center and one that covers the peripheral vision. The two are cunningly blended digitally with foveated rendering and optically transmitted through the carefully engineered glass lens in the headset. These combined optics feature a contrast ratio of (over 10,000:1) enabling the deepest blacks and individually calibrated colors, for outstanding accuracy and image quality across an 87-degree field of view. The lens design combines different refractive index lenses for minimal color aberrations, zero ghost rays, and minimal reflections and each surface coating has been designed to maximize the brightness and clarity of the light needed to achieve human-eye resolution.

The real power of the Varjio solution, however, is released when this amazing image quality is combined with their advanced stereo 20/20 Eye Tracker and the integrated Ultraleap hand tracking. Eye-tracking is now faster and more accurate with automatic user calibration – industrial-grade, sub-degree accuracy plus integrated 100hz stereo eye-tracking delivering unmatched accuracy and precision. The hand tracking technology in the VR-2 Pro is especially impactful for interacting with physical controllers and switches as part of their VR training but also makes VR navigation and freehand tasks easy, all together delivering a very natural and intuitive immersive experience.

The real power of the @varjodotcom solution is released when this amazing image quality is combined with their advanced stereo 20x20 Eye Tracker and the integrated @ultraleap hand tracking
Share on X

I tried out several demos which were impressive in very different ways and served to highlight various aspects and potential use cases for the tech. And perhaps surprisingly, the sheer impact of the VR-2 Pro’s resolution came across best in some of the most mundane settings. I was able to walk up and down a supermarket aisle checking out the products on the shelves, their prices, and label information while the eye-tracking monitored where my gaze was resting, highlighting which products I was actually examining at any given time.

I was blown away by how immersive that experience felt, perhaps because the setting was so familiar and relatable, as well as so beautifully reconstructed in VR. I could read every brand label and price tag from center aisle and as I approached the shelves it really felt like I could “reach out and touch” the various items level of reality. Tins, packets, and bottles of the familiar products were so crisp and well-lit I was staggered. Somehow even more impressive than this was the rendering of the shelves themselves and the packing crates the sugar was stacked on. The lighting, shadows and textures were so well rendered I spent quite a while pacing up and down just exclaiming “wow.”

The intuitiveness of the interface made the experience feel natural and much more immersive, as if you weren’t in VR at all, leaving you free to concentrate and learn the tasks at hand
Share on X

The next demo I tried was set in an airport control tower, where eye and hand tracking played a crucial role. Standing in a control tower you could look around the control center and out through the 360 windows while planes taxied around, took off and landed. Once your eye settled on a plane, terminal or control surface relevant info popped up and control interactions became possible through pinching your fingers. I could look at the computer screen and bring up the weather report, look at a taxiing plane and bring up its flight number and info. I could reach out to switch between feeds on the security monitor and identify parts of the terminal building and related information. The intuitiveness of the interface made the experience feel natural and much more immersive, as if you weren’t in VR at all, leaving you free to concentrate and learn the tasks at hand.

“Being able to see in high fidelity and interact without controllers revolutionizes professional VR. Varjo’s human-eye resolution visual fidelity is unprecedented. So is the accuracy and low latency of Ultraleap’s hand tracking. explained Steve Cliffe, CEO of Ultraleap, “The Varjo VR-2 Pro is the best integration of the two technologies and sets a new standard for natural user experience in VR. We’re very excited about the value it will unlock for demanding use-cases such as training, simulation and industrial design.”

I also got a taste of the astronaut training through a few airplane cockpit experiences, although they didn’t contain any interactive elements. The reason Boeing chose to work with Varjo on the Starliner training program became clear as the level of detail on the control panels was stunning. From a pilot’s seated position I could read every button’s tag and easily perceive the angle and position of flick switches. I could also clearly read the computer screens and the detailed flight info they displayed.

“We have seen first-hand what the power of human-eye resolution in VR can offer in terms of expanding the realm of applications for the enterprise,” said Urho Konttori, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Varjo. “Today we bring the Resolution Revolution overnight to nearly all industrial applications, unlocking the next level of professional VR. With VR-2 and VR-2 Pro, professionals can benefit from the industry’s highest visual fidelity and the most precise eye tracking joining forces with the leading hand tracking technology.”

Overall the quality of the tech was outstanding, also bearing in mind it was running off one Nvidia 2080 Ti GPU in a small but powerful micro PC. However, a few things stood out to me that are worth pointing out. The complex foveated rendering with the multiple screens and lenses was mostly unnoticeable while interacting in VR but when looking at static scenes I became much more aware of the separation between the crystal-clear center of my vision and the peripheral areas, the different resolutions displayed and the joins between these areas.

Today we bring the Resolution Revolution overnight to nearly all industrial applications, said @konttori Urho Konttori, Co Founder and Chief Product Officer of Varjo unlocking the next level of professional VR
Share on X

Building on Varjo’s advanced 20/20 Eye Tracker technology, the new products offer even faster and more accurate calibration performance, giving professionals access to precise eye data for applications such as consumer research or safety-critical training while delivering the most natural visual experience needed when designing cars, architectural projects, advanced simulations or research scenarios.

The effect was also noticeable when purposely pushing the boundaries of the eye-tracking but still small when you consider the amount of complex stuff going on and just like everything the next generation will be better. On the plus side, I experienced virtually no eye strain, even after a few hours of use and the HMD itself was cool and comfortable to use. Again considering the amount of tech packed into this headset it felt surprisingly light.

The reason @BoeingSpace chose to work with @varjodotcom on the VR-2 Starliner training program became clear as the level of detail on the astronaut control panels was stunning
Share on X

“The highest visual fidelity of Varjo’s HMDs enables a trainee to perform optimally within these safety-critical training simulations in VR. For instance, pilots are able to easily read all the gauges, dials, and switches in a virtual cockpit. With Varjo’s 20/20 Eye Tracker, we are able to accurately track and capture where trainees are looking, allowing us to measure and compare performance over time and across a student population. enthused Scott Schneider, CEO & Co-Founder of HTX Labs, “And with the VR-2’s built-in hand tracking technology, our users can train more naturally and effectively, removing the friction of controllers.”

The sheer improvement in resolution is amazing and enough to put the VR-2 Pro at the top of the list for any mission-critical use case. Yet the main significance of this technical accomplishment is how users will be more deeply immersed in the experience because their eyes and brains won’t be struggling to interpret a pixelated digital environment. The smooth and intuitive implementation of hand and eye tracking will also deepen the felt immersion and therefore improve the outcome for the user. Using both these technologies Varjo has delivered the most natural and intuitive VR UX I have yet experienced. If it looks real and feels real, our minds quite quickly accept that what we’re experiencing is real.

Hand and eye-tracking also deepen the felt immersion and improve the outcome for the user. Using both these technologies Varjo delivers the most natural and intuitive VR UX I have yet experienced
Share on X

If it looks real and feels real, our minds quite quickly accept that what we’re experiencing is real. The @varjodotcom VR-2 Pro is a game-changer
Share on X

The VR-2 and the VR-2 Pro are available for $4,995 and $5,995 respectively, sold together with Varjo’s software and support services starting at $795. Varjo truly is at the cutting edge of immersive technology and a company to keep an eye on as we all step into an augmented future.

This article originally appeared on VRScout.

The Varjo VR-2 Pro Boldly Goes Where No VR Headset Has Gone Before via @R3Digital https://t.co/fsrV8osRJL pic.twitter.com/X0FR4wKc5f

— VRScout (@VRScout) June 11, 2020

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post Varjo VR-2 Pro – High Res VR appeared first on Tech Trends.

A new report released today from a survey of nearly 200 professionals representing startups indicates boom times are ahead for the augmented and virtual reality industry. 

According to survey respondents, plummeting hardware and software costs, increasingly impactful applications outside of entertainment, and the ubiquity of mobile devices are contributing to the rise of immersive technologies with momentum in nearly every sector increasing and, importantly, expanding avenues for monetization. 

The survey’s fourth annual iteration from global law firm Perkins Coie was developed in collaboration with industry-leading trade groups, XR Association, and industry venture capital firm Boost VC. A few findings from the survey you might find interesting include: 

• In one of the survey’s biggest findings, respondents will increasingly seek to diversify monetization strategies and expand revenue channels for immersive technology compared to their 2019 levels.

• Expectations for AR technologies continue to outpace VR in terms of expected revenue, market penetration, and consumer adoption with three-fourths of respondents expecting the AR market to eventually surpass VR in total revenue.  
• Outside of gaming and entertainment, respondents expect the most disruption from immersive in healthcare and medical devices over in the next 12 months.  
• Six of the 10 top cities selected for their pioneering work in smart city immersive technologies are in the United States, including New York, Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco.  
• Respondents said that smaller devices and sleeker, more fashionable devices (tied at 42%) are the hardware improvements that will most impact consumer adoption of immersive technology in the next two years. More comfortable devices followed at 39%.  

You can find the full survey report here.

Tom Atkinson is Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @techtrends_tech

The post Report: Industry Weighs in on the Future of AR and VR appeared first on Tech Trends.

A recent infographic produced by London cybercrime specialists, EC-MSP, shows the full extent of the new cyber threats. With cyber-attacks and data breaches emerging as the world’s most expensive crimes, London businesses are well-advised to maximise their security levels.

Infographic by EC-MSP

The post Infographic: Is London the Hacking Capital of Europe? appeared first on Tech Trends.