In addition to the flagship Xperia 1, Sony just announced the mid-range Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus. Each has a 21:9 Wide Full HD+ display with a borderless design. That translates to an expanded viewing area enjoying videos. It also means you can run two apps simultaneously and not feel overly cramped when doing so.
One of the MWC announcements that most captured my attention was for the new Lenovo Tab V7. An affordable 7” tablet, the Tab V7 is ideal for someone who doesn’t want the expense, or the juggling act, of carrying a phone and a tablet. It blurs the line between the two categories.
As Mobile World Congress 2019 gets underway, Qualcomm Technologies announced their new Qualcomm QCA6390 Connectivity system-on-a-chip (SoC.) This is the company’s most advanced integrated offering yet and it promises to provide improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance on both mobile and computing devices.
Once again we explored the New York Toy Fair, going in search of some standout products. I walked over five miles trying to discover the toys worthy of our “Gear Diary’s Best of” moniker, and … I think I found them. There were many great items to see, but these are the seven that stood out to us.
When I reviewed the original Jabra Move Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, I was impressed. For under $100, the Move headphones offered good sound without breaking the bank. Now Jabra has released the Jabra Move Style Edition. While still under $100, the Move Style Edition improves on the original Move headphones; they look more substantial without raising the price.
I loved my original Apple Watch but eventually stopped wearing it. Since buying the Series 4 Apple Watch, I’ve been wearing it daily. I’ve tried plenty of nice Apple Watch bands, but the Nomad Titanium Band (available in Silver or Space Gray) is in a league of its own. Sure, it’s pricey, but this is one beautiful and comfortable band.
Some months ago I had the opportunity to review the Honor View 10 smartphone. I was impressed with pretty much every aspect of the device and even more impressed by its price which brings it in at about half of what you pay for a new iPhone. Honor has done some amazing things with even lower cost devices, and today we’re looking at the Honor 8X.
As the end of 2018 was beginning to coming into view, OnePlus made it clear that the year was still had some life left. They released the OnePlus 6T, their mid-year iterative update that takes the best of their most recent model and further refines it. The phone won immediate acclaim, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts.
My home is filled with Amazon Echo devices but, as Judie and Carly reported, it was Google Assistant rather than Alexa that was on display at CES 2019. If the amazing JBL LINK VIEW I have been reviewing is any indication, there’s a good reason why. It is a fantastic device and Google Assistant is remarkably powerful.
I love reviewing items that offer a different take on known products. That’s what caught my eye when I saw the JBL Soundgear wearable speaker. Rather than wearing earbuds that isolate you, Soundgear surrounds your head with excellent audio. At $200 they are pricey. At $99.99, the Zulu Alpha Portable Bluetooth Speakers take a similar approach for half the price.
At home, I use a MacBook Pro connected to two large monitors. At work, I have a 27” iMac. It is a fantastic computer, but I don’t like that the ports and connections are at the back. That makes it difficult to quickly connect and disconnect peripherals. That’s where the $89.99 Satechi Type-C Aluminum Monitor Stand Hub comes in.
I’ve been impressed by OnePlus since Judie and I each bought the original offering. Since then, they have continued to deliver ever-more-powerful phones. I’m currently reviewing the OnePlus 6T. The phone is so impressive that my review has taken on a life of its own. In this short review, however, I want to look at the OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones.
When I arrived at my first CES, I quickly discovered that the long days and congested cellular networks caused my phone’s battery to lose its charge in no time. We raced around looking for external batteries. From a design perspective, the Coal Portable Charger is a throwback to the external batteries of that time. But that’s only part of the story.
Shure’s new MV88+ Video Kit is an all-in-one on-the-go video system. At $249, it includes a digital stereo condenser microphone, a Manfrotto PIXI tripod, phone clamp, mount, Lightning and USB-C cables. Just plug it into your iPhone or iPad, and you have a mobile studio no matter where your travels might take you.
Greg introduced me to Master & Dynamic at CES a few years ago. The small company produces high-end headphones, and they have received critical acclaim not only from us but from others who truly value their music. Now, Master & Dynamic has released the MW07 true wireless earphones, and we think they look amazing.
Samson just revealed their new Samson Satellite USB/iOS Broadcast Microphone. A small but powerful microphone, it pulls off a trick that far too few microphones can; it works just as well with iOS devices as it does with computers. Samson describes it as “versatile.” I describe it as “awesome” and hope to give it a try when it is released.
Audeze may not be a household name, but they are, in fact, a global leader in premium audio. Their iSINE headphones have received positive reviews and, as of today, are now available in a new Bluetooth version. Also, for those who already own iSINE headphones, their new CIPHER Bluetooth module will let Audeze fans cut the cord too!
Speakers and headphones with integrated smart assistants have become all the rage. The House of Marley is jumping into the fray but are doing so with a twist. Some of their new speakers and headphones leverage services like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant and do so using sustainable materials. Smart and socially responsible is a nice way to go!
I’ve long been a fan of V-MODA’s headphones. Whether it is their on-ear, over-the-ear, wired or wireless headphones, I’ve reviewed them all and have always been impressed. Their new V-MODA BassFit wireless headphones are a departure from previous offerings, but they’re all V-MODA! At just $130, the BassFit headphones are a great value offering superb sound and a great fit.
I finally traded my iPad Pro for the new, home button-less iPad Pro 11”. It is an amazing device that is faster than ever, has a larger, brighter display than ever and a new, updated design. Sadly, the new iPad lost the 3.5mm headphone jack. Thankfully, there is the new $59.99 Satechi Aluminum Type-C Mobile Pro Hub.
In addition to announcing the new Acer Swift 7 laptop, Acer just took the wraps off the $279.99 Acer Chromebook 315. With a 15.6” display and running on 7th Generation AMD A6-9220C or A4-9120C processors with Radeon graphics, the Chromebook 315 is a powerful Chromebook that is one of the increasing number of Chromebook that run Android apps.