We certainly had our share of gorgeous gadgets this month, from a spy’s dream drive to the lovely Microsoft Surface Book to the Samsung Galaxy S8, plus the usual sprinkling of more random tech.  

iStorage diskAshur 2 SSD

Testing out the new diskAshur 2 SSD 256GB from iStorage shows that industrial grade security need not slow down your workflow, or look unappealing. This very sexy little portable USB SSD features real-time AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption and software free design, setup and operation. Unlike any other portable drive I have tested before, this is platform/device independent and works across all operating systems including all versions of MS Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Chrome, Thin Clients, Zero Clients and embedded systems, any device with a USB port, in fact. Now THAT’s impressive.

DiskAshur from iStorage shows how industrial grade security can be efficient and look good
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As a media professional who is constantly moving large and rather important files around on drives this was a bit of a  revelation. On the subject of large files, I tested out the speed of the diskAshur 2 SSD via its built-in USB 3.1 cable and wow! Blackmagic Disk Speed Test read 310 MBps READ / 250 MBps WRITE with 5GB files. This is very swift indeed, specially when you consider the encryption involved. I think the drive is able to be so fast due to a dedicated hardware-based secure microprocessor (Common Criteria EAL4+ ready), which also employs built-in physical protection mechanisms designed to defend against external tamper, bypass attacks and more.

The diskAshur 2 SSD has a really nice keypad and each key clicks softly but confidently when pushed so you know when a number has registered. The keypad lets you securely access the drive with your own unique 7-15 digit PIN. Following the instructions to setup my personalised passcode was easy, but do choose carefully, as you’ll only want to do this once. When that is done you simply plug it into your computer, input your code and push the unlock button, and off you go! A really nice feature is that when you want to finish using the drive you simply use your computer interface to eject the drive and that is that, your data is automatically secured.

Input the wrong pin code 15 times and the drive automatically wipes out its data
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Unlike other solutions out there, the diskAshur 2 SSD reacts to an automated attack by entering the deadlock frozen state, which renders all such attacks as useless, and if you input the code wrongly fifteen consecutive times, the device assumes it is being attacked and will delete the encryption key and lock itself, rendering all data previously stored on the drive lost forever. At this point the drive can be reset to factory default settings.

You can pre-program the drive with a self-destruct function, handy for spies on the run
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And if you are on the run from the foreign spies or the KGB and need to ensure your data does not fall into enemy hands you can pre-program the diskAshur 2 SSD with your own unique Self Destruct PIN which, once implemented, instantly deletes the encryption key, all PINs, data and then creates a new encryption key! Below are a few more specs and you can check out the full spec here.

• USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable SSD
• Capacities up to 4TB*
• FIPS PUB 197 validated
• AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption – no software required
• OS & Platform independent
• Employs EDGE* Technology
• Available in 4 colours: Phantom Black, Ocean Blue, Fiery Red & Racing Green

RRP: £219 256GB version

Samsung Galaxy S8

When I first realised that the Galaxy S8 was entirely buttonless, I wondered whether I’d miss the functionality of the home button in any way, but the short answer to that has been a resounding “No”. The most impressive thing about this phone is its screen, and the fact that you don’t get a button, together with the gorgeous Infinity Display, means that every inch of real estate on this baby is pure, vivid screen. And that’s no bad thing in my book. Besides, for those – like me – who are upgrading from the previous Galaxy models, there is still the exact same button functionality, in the same place where the physical one used to be. So your brain soon gets used to it, and starts wondering why we ever put up with buttons in the first place.

Read Tech Trends full review here

RRP: £689

Microsoft Surface Book

In October last year Microsoft released an upgraded Surface Book with a Performance Base featuring a new, more powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M with 2GB of VRAM and a larger battery. They had not bumped the Intel i7 up from 6th generation to 7th but that was not a deal breaker and promises of a faster internal SSD and the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update hooked me in. Unfortunately these things do take time to arrive here in the UK, but as I unpacked it last week I couldn’t help but think it had been worth the wait.

Read Tech Trends full review here.

RRP: $2,799 / £2,399

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel

RRP: $995

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener

We like to stay sharp here at Tech Trends so were pleased to see that the AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener lives up to its claim of being ‘The Worlds Best Knife Sharpener’. A sharp knife is essential for opening all those ultra-securely packaged gadgets that arrive in the post, specially those those evil clear plastic blister packs that USB drives always come in. I tell you, a sharp knife can really save your sanity when trying to open one of those!

I find that a sharp knife always comes in handy
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AnySharp claim that sculpting your old dull blades to the perfect 20 degree angle was no problem, and I duly tested this on some of my very old knives (I hate throwing knives away) I found the best candidate rattling around in my toolkit, where it had lived for about fifteen years or so. It was a serious challenge, but a few swipes across the tungsten carbide v section brought it right back to life. It works on most blades; hunting knives, kitchen knives and even serrated knives but maybe not your good old zombie machete. I was always a purist and favoured whetstones for knife sharpening but I am, well, a rather lazy man, so the AnySharp is a very welcome addition to the kitchen drawer. The best thing about it is its PowerGrip suction cup base, which attaches securely to any smooth surface or worktop without the need for any tools. Once it’s attached you can sharpen any knife safely hands-free! No whetstone does that!

Add endorsements from Jamie Oliver and (bizarrely) Jilly Cooper, plus a lifetime warranty and you’re laughing. Say good-bye to those raggedy tomato slices.

RRP: $22.99

You will rarely pass a Techie at work without spotting a fancy water bottle or filter bottle on their desk. We Technophiles take hydration seriously! Sitting in front of a computer for days on end with the aircon drying you out like an Inca mummy is no joke so Tech Trends is looking at two top level water filter devices, one very old school and one 21st century.

Black+Blum Eau Good Filter Bottle

This super elegant Eau Good Filter water bottle from Black+Blum uses a ancient traditional Japanese Binchotan charcoal to make your tap water taste great. Yes charcoal, you read me right, but this is no ordinary charcoal like for a BBQ, Binchotan charcoal was introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk and scholar called Kukai 1,200 years ago and is made by wood being placed in a kiln and charred at a relatively low temperature for some time, then, near the end of the process, the kiln temperature is raised to about 1000 degree Celsius to make the wood red-hot. The charcoal is then removed and quickly covered with a special powder made from earth, sand and ash, and this gives the charcoal surface a whitish hue. The rapid rise in temperature, followed by a rapid cooling, incinerates the bark and leaves a smooth, hard surface. If you strike it, you’ll hear a clear, metallic sound. Now this is sounding serious! This super charcoal has an incredibly porous surface with tiny cavities oriented in many directions. Just 1 gram has a surface area in excess of 500 m2 (about one tenth the size of a football field). It is also known as active carbon as the ions of contaminants are attracted to the surface of the carbon, where they will be held. It is also able to release minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium back into the water, which enhances its taste and health benefits.

OK so that was all quite complex but does it do the job? Tech Trends first flicked the charcoal and blow me down if it didn’t ping a bit like metal, popped it in the bottle, wedged it into the special locking bulge and filled it up. After leaving it for a few hours we quaffed it down and indeed it tasted a lot better that straight out the tap. It’s a winner! Five replacement charcoal sticks are £30.95 including a 10% discount but it probably works out cheaper than buying water, specially if you happen to travel a lot. You can take an empty water bottle through security and most airports now have handy taps to refill them at the other end, so with one of these you can avoid paying that ever-so-reasonable  who said good water was cheap.

• BPA free tritan, cork, stainless steel, silicon
• Includes x1 binchotan active charcoal filter (6 months life)
• Automatic email updates for when to boil and replace charcoal
• W 8.5cm  H 24cm  / W 3.3″  H 9.4″
• 800 ml  27 floz

RRP: £19.95

ZeroWater Filter and TDS Meter

This 12-cup water filter jug from ZeroWater looks much like every other water filter out there but what makes it a more high-tech drinking solution is its patented, 5-stage Ion Exchange Filtration system, which removes virtually all dissolved solids from your water. These solids may include minerals, salts, metals, chemicals and runoff. Mmmm runoff, my favourite non-specific dissolved solid! The ZeroWater filter is also the first in its class to benefit from a sealed lid and reservoir, which allows filtered water to be poured while water, which hasn’t yet been, filtered remains in the reservoir. This adds a further 2 cups of capacity to the 10 cups of filtered water in the jug. It also features a very cool one-handed, pull and pour button spout for easy pouring from the fridge or for filling bottles. Four additional stages of water filtration ensure larger particles and other impurities are removed.

Well I used the laboratory-grade Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter provided on our unfiltered tap water and got a reading of 078. I then filled up the jug and measured the filtered water and… dum dum duuuum! Got a reading of 000. So this seems to do a fine job of removing those unpleasant impurities from your water, and that can only be a good thing. Our water normally tastes fine if a little chloriney and after filtering through the ZeroWater tasted very different. It’s difficult to describe the taste but it is not unpleasant and definitely better than straight out of the tap.

• Certified* to reduce Lead, Chromium, & Mercury
• Premium 5-Stage Dual-Ion Exchange filtration system
• Ion-Exchange system that removes virtually all dissolved solids in your water
• The FDA requires the TDS level in PURIFIED bottled water to reach 000-010ppm. ZeroWater is the only filter in its class to achieve this level.

RRP: £39.99

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

The post August 2017 Tech Trends Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

Does Samsung’s latest smartphone push all the right buttons? Tech Trends gets down and dirty with the S8. 

I didn't miss having a home button at all
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When I first realised that the Galaxy S8 was entirely buttonless, I wondered whether I’d miss the functionality of the home button in any way, but the short answer to that has been a resounding “No”. The most impressive thing about this phone is its screen, and the fact that you don’t get a button, together with the gorgeous Infinity Display, means that every inch of real estate on this baby is pure, vivid screen. And that’s no bad thing in my book. Besides, for those – like me – who are upgrading from the previous Galaxy models, there is still the exact same button functionality, in the same place where the physical one used to be. So your brain soon gets used to it, and starts wondering why we ever put up with buttons in the first place.

After spending some time with the S8, I can say it's the best screen I've ever used
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Personally, I have always favoured Samsung SuperAMOLED smartphone screens and felt the colours and contrast were better than the competition, and after spending some quality time with the S8 can honestly say it is the best screen I have used. Blacks are dark and silky while colours are bright and bold but don’t feel fake. These qualities carry across from the interface to enjoying videos, games and photos and once you switch the default resolution from FHD+ to WQHD+ detail and sharpness leap to another level and the quality of this SuperAMOLED panel shines. You will not get tired of looking at your Galaxy S8, which is no bad thing considering how often most of us check our phones every day.

The quality of this SuperAMOLED panel shines
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Video plays smoothly and without lag or stutter
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Watching HD and 4K video is a great experience, the high quality colour and sharpness of the screen stand out at the maximum resolution of 2960x1440px but notably video plays smoothly and without lag or stutter at this resolution, which is very impressive when you consider the pixel density is 570dpi. That’s a lot of pixels to push around, so it’s clear Samsung have made sure the S8’s hardware is powerful enough to handle high quality media streaming video without a hitch. We can’t focus on the technical excellence of the screen without discussing its 18.5:9 display ratio, almost bezel-less design and curved corners that really help the S8 stand out visually and make it so comfortable to hold. I actually can’t stop fondling this phone! It’s so nice to hold and play with I keep picking it up to just feel it.

The S8 is so nice to hold and play with I keep picking it up to just feel it
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I was not a fan of the S7 Edge as all, as I found the edges quite sharp and uncomfortable but the Galaxy S8 is a pleasure to hold and use, smooth and glossy with a very nice weight to it. Some find the longer, narrower format odd but I enjoy the way it fits my hand better and it doesn’t mean we sacrifice any screen real estate with the S8 display measuring 5.8″ which is still big. The Infinity Display rolls cleanly off at the edges (in a far more tactile and pleasing way that on older Galaxy S models) and the curved corners of the screen mirror the corners of the device. Both these effects combine to make the eye and the hand flow around the handset and focus your attention on the content you are engaging with while your awareness of the edges are diminished. It really is a lovely piece of design with form and function working in harmony.

The curved corners of the screen perfectly mirror the corners of the device.
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The full width of the screen can be filled with your video or photo content
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The buttons appear and disappear depending on what you are doing and the full width of the screen can be filled with your video or photo content with a further tap on the screen, leaving nothing blocking or hovering over your images. YouTube already works with this feature and a little icon button pops up offering to get the interface out of the way leaving you to enjoy the film. This feels so liberating and fresh I think it will draw a new army of fans to Samsung.

The navigation buttons appear and disappear depending on what you are doing
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The main concern with the lack of a button on the front and smaller side mounted ON/OFF button is the new placement of the fingerprint scanner on the back of the handset. LG have had great success with this same feature and (while drawing some criticism from rather unimaginative elements of the tech press) reported very positive user experiences with a rear mounted scanner, so I am confident that S8 users will adapt. The new larger scanner is located next to the camera on the back of the phone, which is a comfortable place for the tip of my forefinger to rest, and while I do not personally use this feature (I’m an old-fashioned pin kind of person) conscious S8 users will also have access to iris and face recognition functions, as well as the good old “pattern swipe” option.

There are many security options available for keeping your phone content safe
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I was happy to see Samsung have retained a physical headphone jack
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I was happy to see Samsung have retained a physical headphone jack for those of us who don’t want to shell out on Bluetooth cans. Testing out the audio quality with a pair of excellent SoundMAGIC E10s I can report that it is much the same as on the S7 which means very good indeed, tight bass and smooth mids with no peaky treble led to a enjoyable session streaming Google Play Music. However if you are a bit old fashioned or an Audiophile like me you might want to store your music as FLAC on your device and the S8 comes as standard with 64GB of internal storage which is as much as most people will need for apps and photos. For those of us who have to have thousands of their favourite tracks on their phone, however, the S8 will also take a micro SDXC card up to 256GB. The included headphones performed well and tout the AKG logo, claiming to have been tweaked by the audio specialist, but to be honest I would always spend a few extra quid on a well-rated pair from another manufacturer to get best results as the on-board DAC is very capable.

The S8 comfortably got me through the day with around 30% battery left at bedtime
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Now on to grunt! Depending where you buy your Galaxy S8 it will be powered by either the Exynos 8895 or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, both very good CPUs whose strength lies in their power and efficiency. With a surprisingly small 3000mAh battery the S8 needs all the help it can get to keep you Twittering, WhatsApping and streaming media through a long day. I am probably a moderate smartphone user but am pleased to report that my Exynos 8895 version S8 comfortably got me through the day with around 30% battery left at bedtime, so power users might run into issues, but to be honest this battery should be enough to keep most people happy. If you do forget to charge it overnight the rapid charge feature really is fast, and will get you from 0% to 40% in half an hour, so plug it in while you shower and dress and you are good to go again.

While other smartphone makers are moving onto Dual Camera technology in their flagship handsets Samsung has not radically redesigned the S8 camera from the old S7 version, but after testing it out in some extremely difficult conditions and comparing it to the S7 it is clear a lot of work has been done on the software under the hood. The S7 had the best mobile camera I had used and I can say with confidence that the S8 shows improvements in some key areas. The 12MP Dual Pixel sensor now sports faster autofocus and a really impressive F1.7 lens which when combined with next generation image processing produces the best low light photos I have ever seen from a smartphone.

The S8's camera is the first one that I have confidence will capture the moment for me
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The photos are bright and clear with natural colours and fantastic detail. Low light was always the Achilles heel of mobile phone cameras with a high percentage of users expecting good results wherever they happen to be, but this is first time I have been truly impressed with low light results from any manufacturer. Below is a Twitter video and gallery of images we took on the S8 at Reading Festival last week and the ones taken inside the Samsung Hypercube 360 Experience are simply outstanding, considering the conditions were pitch black broken by crazy strobing coloured lights with infinity mirrors and dancing revellers all around.

Incredible Infinity Room @OfficialRandL – Hats off to @SamsungUK for this Hypercube setup #ShareTheStage pic.twitter.com/kkvjCOb9pB

— TechTrends (@techtrends_tech) August 26, 2017

Other software advances are clear to see in the evolution of TouchWiz (newly rebranded as Samsung Experience) which now looks sleeker and less childlike than previously. It has too many updates to discuss all of them here, but the two key ones that stood out for me were the much more stylish default interface, and the swipe-up to open the app drawer. All in all it feels a lot fresher and more modern that I had expected, and really highlights the poor design of TouchWiz going back several years. The one feature that drives me crazy, however, is that the new tap to wake function only works on the home button, not anywhere on the screen like on other devices. This is a small but significant niggle, and perhaps one that could be fixed with an app or patch.

The interface feels a lot fresher, stylish and more modern that I expected
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Samsung are really pushing their personal assistant Bixby
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With the S8 Samsung are really pushing their personal assistant Bixby, even giving it a dedicated button on the left side of the screen. This tech is pretty new and can be a bit frustrating, but after registering my voice by reading a few lines of text and following a brief tutorial I was able to use Bixby’s voice recognition to open Gmail, start an email to a specific contact and give the email a subject, which was pretty cool. I was also able to open WhatsApp, write and send a message to a specific contact, which even cooler! These technologies only improve with use as machine learning gets better with more data being fed in, so if you want to use Bixby and contribute towards its evolution go for it and your reward will be a better robot PA going forward.

There is much more I could discuss but to avoid getting hopelessly techie I will just finish by saying that I am very impressed by this phone, and it is easily the best Samsung smartphone to date, combining truly excellent design with powerful hardware and, yes I will say it again in case you missed it, an awesome screen!

RRP: £689

Tech Trends is a Samsung consultancy and media partner and this is a #sponsored post. However, we retain full editorial control and all reviews accurately reflect our experience in testing out the products.

The post Product Review: Samsung Galaxy S8 appeared first on Tech Trends.