Tech – Page 5 – The Review Studio

Thinkware Dash Cam X800

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Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You never think you need a dash cam until after you need one. I found this out a few years ago, and it wasn’t because of my bad driving but the dash cam did prove it was someone else’s bad driving. For that reason alone, a dash cam is a good idea. However, I didn’t realise until I bought the Thinkware Dash Cam X800 that my old dashcam wasn’t working and hadn’t been for 3 years!

The new X800 is an improvement on older dash cams (my old one wasn’t a Thinkware model) because the SD cards don’t need reformatting periodically in order to keep recording on a loop. So when I saw the X800 didn’t need reformatting every so often, I knew it was time to change!

Before we go into more detail about the dash cam, what is included in the box. Apart from the camera, the kit also includes a window mount, car charger (cigarette), MicroSD memory card and some wire mounts for installation. There are other accessories which are sold separately such as a rear camera, hardwiring cable and external GPS receiver too.

Setting up needs relatively little input from the instruction manual. The MicroSD card needs installing first, then the windscreen mount. The 3M adhesive mount prevents the camera from falling down in hot weather and allows you to position it perfectly on the windscreen. The charging cable, which appears to be extra long, fits into the cigarette charger and the cable mounts make it easy to fix if needed.

Now for the camera itself. Once mounted, all you see is the touchscreen and thankfully mine was already set with the correct date and time. All I had to set was the time zone and a few other preferences. The camera starts recording as soon as you switch the engine on, and you know it’s recording because the voice greets you and tells you to drive safely! It took a bit of getting used to but the LCD screen turns off automatically after 30 seconds of not using it. This is an option which can be changed in preferences though so that it is on constantly.

Driving is recorded in small files which are easy to find. From the home screen, choose File List and a list of all the files is listed by date and time, which you can find by scrolling through the pages. Tapping on a file plays it for you on the device. You can turn off the ability to record sound on the videos but I find it really helps when playing back. However, if you want to play back a recorded file without the sound, the screen has a mute button. There is also a zoom function to magnify an area on screen during playback as well.

An interesting advanced feature of the Thinkware Dash Cam X800 is the Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS). When the vehicle drives at 40km/h or above, the FCWS will detect forward collision danger such as if the distance to the vehicle ahead decreases after an initial collision warning. A similar warning is made using the urban FCWS (uFCWS) but this is only activated at 30km/h. Each of these systems can be switched off in the Settings.

Other features of the Thinkware Dash Cam X800 include:

Wintertime battery protection
PC viewer (see http://www.thinkware. com/Support/Download for details)
150 degree angle of view
30 fps frame rate
Super Night Vision
Parking Recording

There are numerous other options which can be bought to go with the X800 but for the time being, I’m happy with the camera as it is. A few questions you might be asking at this time:

Is it easy to set up?

I found I could set up the camera relatively easily without the manual. Some of the advanced features needed the manual to explain what they were but the manual is clear.

Does it record easily? Do I need to think about it?

Once you install the camera on the mount and the charging cable, the camera is set up to start recording as soon as you start the engine. You might want to look at changing the settings to suit you though.

Is it worth the price?

Currently for sale on Amazon at £169.00 it isn’t as expensive as some dash cams, and is probably an average price. The fact that it works with fleets of cars/lorries and has so many optional extras means that serious drivers will get a lot out of this model.

What doesn’t it do?

At the moment, it doesn’t seem to sync with the Thinkware Cloud software which downloads the recordings to a cloud server. There isn’t a lot online about this model yet though, so I’m hoping in time there will be more apps and online functions available.

There are a few other features I’d like to see that my previous dashcam had, like speed camera warnings and speed alerts.

Will it make me a better driver?

It won’t make you a better driver but from what I’ve seen already it will give you some reassurance when you are driving that you have proof of what’s gone on in front of you!

Overall…

The Thinkware Dash Cam X800 is a nice addition to your car kit, and I would say it’s probably a good second camera so if you’ve had a dash cam before and looking to upgrade, the features on this model would suit you. It’s also great for people who drive a lot with the advanced collision features. The lack of camera alerts or speed alerts is annoying though but if they get the Thinkware Cloud connection working that would make a huge difference to the usability. Just by plugging it in though, you have enough functionality to be able to use it straight away without any fuss.

The Thinkware Dash Cam X800 can be purchased on Amazon (currently for £169.00) at:

Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds Review

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Disclaimer: We received the earbuds for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own.

I have been trying out the Edifier TWS1 Pro wireless earbuds for the last week and I’m really impressed with them. They are comfortable to wear and feel very secure in my ear, I had got out of the habit of listening to music on the go as my previous pair kept slipping out and I never felt happy wearing them, so I am really pleased to have found a replacement that do actually stay put.

The earbuds are really easy to set up, simply switch on the Bluetooth pairing, connect & go. The earbuds power off when placed in the case and the lid is closed and power on and connect automatically to your device the moment you open the case.

To use the earbuds you simply tap them, controls include play, pause and skip to the next track as well as adjusting the volume and answering calls.

The Edifier TWS1 Pro earbuds feature Qualcomm®’s second-generation aptX™ adaptive technology which combines aptX™ high definition audio and aptX™ low latency, and dynamically switch to the best option depending on different scenarios. I found the sound quality to be excellent, with no distortion and perfect for my rock and pop playlists!

The charging case holds the earphones securely with magnets and once placed in the case the earphones start charging automatically A single charge provides 12 hours of playback time and the case provides an additional 30 hours of charge, so in total you can enjoy 42 hours of playback before you need to charge, which is enough for most people. When it does run out of charge the case has fast charging capabilities and reaches a full charge within 40 minutes.

I wear my earbuds when exercising so was pleased to discover that the earbuds have an IP65 dust and water-proof test rating making them the perfect choice for any outdoor activity.

The earbuds have a RRP of £49.99 and are available in black, dark grey, ivory or pink from Amazon

TCL 30+ M Android Smartphone

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Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I am loving the TCL 30+ Smartphone that was sent to me this week! I am usually an iPhone user and have been for about 10 years so having never tried an Android phone before, I didn’t know what to expect.

Firstly, the phone looks like a smartphone. Its screen is 16cm height and 7.5cm wide whilst less than 1cm thick, comparable to other smart phones and at 184g it’s lightweight too. The screen isn’t too big for my little hands (and they are little!) and like other smartphones, it’s touchscreen.

If, like me you don’t like reading instructions and just want to get started with setting it up, then it’s easy. You don’t need a SIM card to get started and luckily the phone is already slightly charged so you can take it out the box and start the settings straight away. It doesn’t take that long to set up either. The phone asks you which wi-fi network you want to use so I chose my home network just to get started. Using the QR reader on the phone, it set up and sync-ed with my wifi easily. Next, there was the security which included a ‘pattern’ to open the phone and then the fingerprint recognition. This takes a few minutes as the phone has to build up your profile slowly. You can choose to open the phone with a PIN or face recognition though if you prefer.

There are ample apps already installed or more you can download yourself

Other settings which you can choose are your search engine preferences, G Pay (so you can checkout with your phone for payments), other additional apps like YouTube, Google Drive etc and setting up your Gmail account. It also makes it easy for you to transfer your old apps and data (including photos) from an old device to the TCL 30+.

I particularly liked the ‘Hey Google’ voice recognition. I used this a few times when my hands were full to do things like set up an alarm (the alarm noise was surprisingly soothing!) and ask questions which I was easily able to do from a distance.

Once the phone was set up, I started using it to see how it compared. There are actually 3 cameras; the main camera (50MP), plus two more cameras on the back to give a wider field of view. There’s also a video lens with features such as Steady Snap, Portrait Mode, Movie Mode, Stop Motion and various Filters. Additionally, there’s a 13MP ultrawide camera at the front of the phone, for taking selfies and video. It has features such as Face Beautification, Auto Capture and Touch to Capture.

The cameras are great quality, and to test them, I took the same photo (below) on both the TCL 30+M and my iPhone X. There’s not much difference, you can see that the quality is similar although perhaps slightly better on the iPhone when it comes to detail. The colours are less saturated on the TCL too.

There is 128GB of memory on the phone (which is the same as the new iPhone 13 Pro) and the ability to add a MicroSD card up to 1TB. If you prefer not to use a card though, the phone can link up with your Google Drive and you can store all your photos, files and apps on the cloud so there isn’t a huge need for an SD card unless you really want one.

There are so many features that it takes a while to find your way around all the apps etc but once you do they work brilliantly. The box contains a charger and Type-C cable which are the quickest way to charge the phone. The battery life is much longer than my iPhone too, lasting days instead of just 1 day so there isn’t a big need to keep charging it. The phone also comes with a clear plastic cover, a SIM card pin and a device bag.

If I had never owned a Smartphone before, then I would be overwhelmed by all the apps and what was on offer, but I think I would get used to using it very quickly. As much as I hate to admit it though, I can see why people prefer the Android over an Apple iPhone. A lot of the work is already done for you, it’s consistent (and I think easier to use) with a PC and all the modern features you want with a phone are there. You don’t even need to buy extra accessories like a phone cover.

As with every product, there are pros and cons. This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few things I’ve noticed after using the TCL 30+ for a couple of weeks:

Pros

The battery charges quickly and lasts for days!
Easy to set up
Lots of cameras with filters already installed
Already installed with loads of apps including Google apps and social media
More in-depth apps like Weather that also features satellite images, news etc

Cons

Not 5G
Takes a while to register fingerprint security when you pick it up
Response time is slower than I would like when using apps – they take a while to load up or to load more information

At a fraction of the price of an iPhone (currently £159 on Amazon) there are few reasons not to use it, especially if you prefer Androids or aren’t already a Smartphone or Apple user. This would make a fantastic Christmas gift for a teenager, or for anyone who wants to be able to access all of the apps, features and smartphone technology we’ve all come to expect!

Introducing the World’s Easiest Smartphone Ever!

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Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Say Hello to the swipe-free emporia SUPEReasy

emporia Telecom, a leading brand in the design and development of simplified smartphones for seniors, has revealed the World’s easiest smartphone – the emporia SUPEReasy.

This simplified device removes the need to swipe to operate – combining two screens, one to make calls and the second to scroll through for apps, with two physical keys for easy operation.

The SUPEReasy is built on Android 10 and provides a full, content rich and limitless smartphone experience. It is not stripped-down in any way, just simplified to offer the easiest operation and includes useful apps like a QR code reader, magnifier function and NFC for mobile payments.

It has a 13MP camera, a 5” touch screen with three quick dial icons and two large built-in physical keys for ‘answer/send’ and ‘end’ functions.

These physical keys are located directly below the screen for intuitive use. The device comes with a flat charging cradle, interchangeable back cover and emporia’s signature tangle-free headphones – making it a beautifully simple device for the user, regardless of age.

Included:

Two battery covers (one with an emergency button and one without it)
Desktop Charger
Display: Large screen with text that is easy to read & Touchscreen
Features: HAC: compatible with M4/T4 hearing aids and IP54 splash resistance
VoLTE: 4G mobile data connectivity
NFC: for contactless and cashless payments
System: Android 10

Making a phone call with a smartphone has never been easier. With real buttons for accepting and ending a call. Green to accept, Red to hang up – no need to swipe. And of course the tools to surf the web or snap a few nice photos. Everything made simply, SE = everything super easy.

Chris Millington, UK Managing Director at emporia Telecom explains the market opportunity behind this portfolio launch: “This is the first smartphone designed with a specific focus on making and receiving voice calls. Mainstream smartphones are based on the concept of ‘swipe to answer’ – this is often physically challenging for seniors due to age-related changes to circulation and moisture loss in the fingertips. The niche audience for this product is huge. Ofcom’s figures show that only 36% of people aged over 65yrs in the UK own a smartphone – so there are clearly critical barriers for the industry to address that have not really changed in the last 10 years.”

emporia invests heavily in senior insights including an ongoing research collaboration with Cambridge University. As such the business has amassed a deep understanding of the growing ageing population – specifically within the +65yr senior segment. Research shows rising demand and appetite for smart technology, but with an increasingly tactile experience. Studies show that physical buttons and responsive operation are key especially for those users who experience circulation or dexterity issues, meaning a traditional smartphone may be harder to navigate.

Chris concludes: “The pandemic has made our reliance on smart technology far greater – for daily functions including banking, parking and purchases, plus venue check-ins, health management, prescriptions and ticketing. Yet, smartphone penetration within the senior market segment remains relatively low. Our research shows that one of the biggest barriers to adoption is that seniors like physical buttons to answer and end voice calls. We have acted upon this insight with this device, which is not just ‘easy’ – it has revolutionised the design of smartphones. It combines powerful functionality with simplicity. That’s why, with a ‘what you touch is what you get’ design, we are able to offer a unique user experience for this important group.”

Ben Branson, CEO of Fonehouse added: “We are delighted to offer the new SUPEReasy across our retail stores and online. Our success with emporia smartphones over the last year has shown us how to address the needs of this growing customer segment. We find that older users are now often moving away from featurephones, this is a revolutionary step to help make the transition much easier.”

The emporia SUPEReasy is available from http://www.fonehouse.co.uk and Amazon UK with an RRP of £200.

Silk’n Toothwave Electric Toothbrush

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Oral health is incredibly important and something that we need to take more seriously. I remember my parents telling me to look after my teeth as they will be the I my set I get and from that day I have cared for my pearly whites.

Over the years I’ve tried many electric toothbrushes but found them horribly abrasive or the vibrations far too strong. Tooth brushing should be a pleasant experience not one you dread.

As part of #worldsmileday I have been reviewing the Silk’n Toothwave electric toothbrush, the 1st toothbrush with patented DentalRF™ technology.

So far it’s been a great experience!

The Toothwave box contained the following…2 brush heads, 1 handle, 1 charging cable with USB cable & transparent bade, 1 USB wall adapter, 1 warranty booklet and 1 user manual.

From the moment I unwrapped the toothbrushe I knew I had something incredibly special as it’s stunning with its sleek white and silver colouring and a pop of lime green on the brush heads. It’s a very attractive toothbrush and significantly bigger and more robust than my usual electric toothbrush.

Charging took little time and the 3 intensity setting were easy to master. I used my Toothwave for 2 minutes morning and night and it didn’t feel like a chore.

The soft bristles were not harsh on my gums nor did it feel abrasive.Driven by innovation, the Silk’n ToothWave uses DentalRF™ technology.

This works by sending radiofrequency waves consisting of charged molecules, to the surface of each tooth, even reaching under the gumline. These molecules destabilise the strong bonds that connect impurity molecules to the tooth’s surface until they are detached and washed away. Impurity molecules get replaced by new, harmless water and toothpaste molecules, creating a strong protective layer.

After 6 weeks the Toothwave shows a significant reduction of tartar, stains, gum inflammation and bleeding compared to other electric toothbrushes.

This toothbrush is amazing and is a real treat to use. Gone are the days of my violent vibrating brushes and in their place is the beautiful Silk’n Toothwave.

Available to buy here https://www.boots.com/silkn-toothwave-electric-toothbrush-10280521

RRP £299

Oppo Earbuds Review

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Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I have been trying out these wireless OPPO Enco Free2 earbuds and I’m really impressed with them. They’re lightweight and are very comfortable in the ear, feeling nice and secure. I had got out of the habit of listening to music on the go as my previous pair kept slipping out, meaning I never felt happy wearing them out of the house, but I’m really pleased with the fit of these. With a choice of three sizes of silicone ear tips you can select the one that fits best, ensuring a perfect fit.

Pairing is really simple, open the charging case and the earphones go straight into pairing mode and then you simply add them to your device. Once paired they will re-connect whenever the case is opened.

The touch controls allow you to skip tracks, adjust volume and switch between the normal active noise cancellation and transparency listening modes. I thought that using a swipe to control the volume rather than a tap worked really well. Taking one earbud out of your ear pauses the player, resuming when it is replaced. The sound quality is fantastic, the sound is clear and the noise cancellation works very well and can be tuned within the app. The app also allows several different equaliser settings to be used meaning you can adjust the sound to suit.

The charging case holds the earphones securely with magnets and once placed in the case the earphones start charging automatically. The charge level is easy to see with an LED whenever the case is opened. I haven’t used them enough to run them down but the manufacturer claims up to a 30 hour run time (including the charge in the case) – impressive! Charging the case is done with USB C and a cable is included.

These earbuds are available in black or white with a dust and water-resistant design to stylishly go the distance and provide users with the ultimate listening experience come rain or shine. They strike the perfect balance between luxury and affordability with a RRP £89.99. Android and IOS ompatible.

Disclaimer: We received these earbuds for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own.

Edifier X3 Wireless Headphones

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Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

True Wireless Stereo Earbuds

Qualcomm® aptX™ audio decoding delivers high-definition audio with rich details
Compact and lightweight design for optimum wearing comfort
6 hours of playtime per charge and 24 hours in total with the charging case
Bluetooth V5.0 ensures a stable and faster signal transmission
IP55 rated dust and water resistance for outdoor activities
Easy operation by touch control

Immersive music experience

The crystal-clear sound offer you as close as possible to the sensation of hearing your favorite music live.

24 Hours Play Back Time

6 hours working time per charge for the earbuds, 24 hours of total playback time of full charge by the charging case. X3 wireless stereo earbuds brings extended playback time and enjoyment.