PRODUCT REVIEWS

AfterShokz Sportz 2

I go to the gym at least 6 times a week. Whether I am on the bike or the treadmill, my favorite headphone is AfterShokz. I also use it  when I jog or walk at the park or around the block. I have had the first generation of the device since last year and enjoyed it since then. I like it for its comfort and safety features.

The AfterShokz headphone rests outside the ear so I am able to also hear ambient noises such as incoming traffic, car horns, ambulances or other warning noises, potentially preventing accidents. When my ear is covered, my ability to hear these important sounds is restricted.

The technology behind AfterShokz is the patent pending bone conduction technology that “delivers stereophonic sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear.”

When I visited the booth of AfterShokz at the International CES 2013 I mentioned my good experience with the device. Kimberly Fabiano, the company’s Press Relations agent, informed me that there is a new generation of the product and they provided me a sample to review.

I love this new one even more. AfterShokz Sportz2 features 21 new improvements. They include being 30% smaller, lighter in-line controller with On/Off Switch; Added volume control; Built-in micro USB Charging port; and Smaller lithium ion battery with 12 hours playtime.

It also has an improved sound quality; a matte black wraparound headband – larger to accommodate more head sizes; and a 3.5mm gold-plated connector that fits iPhones, iPods, iPads, and most smartphones.

While it is my new favorite, I had expressed a wish to have a wireless version. Then as I write this article, I got the news that a wireless version, Bluez, is now available and in fact, being shipped. I look forward to checking it out too.


MOTORHEADPHONES

If you want to exclusively focus on the sound of the music that you are listening to; If you want to get isolated from all other noises except to what that you are currently enjoying; And, more important, if you are a rock/pop fan that “goes with the attitude that rock stands for”, then Motorheadphone is the right device for you.

I was there when the Motorheadphones were launched at the International CES 2013 in Las Vegas. I communicated with their Press Relations agent and expressed my interest in checking out the headphone for preview.

I received the sample product for review several days after the CES event. When I opened the package, it immediately became the headphone of choice for the younger generation who were present. Indeed, it shows a life style brand preference when you see and use it.

I love using it to listen to Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Belafonte, and the latest songs of singer/song writer Jason Myles Goss.  The latter’s “Heavy” which is like Rock sounds fantastic using the Motorheadphone.

Of course, I enjoy it best when I am alone in my room as I write my articles or browse the web.

It is designed to “deliver music louder than everything else BUT with the  range, clarity and TRUE rock reproduction you’d expect.”

It is smartphone-ready and equipped with the newly-developed microphone ‘Controlizer” with the “most advanced remote controls on the market.”

Although I have a sample, it will be available in the U.S. market only this April 2013.

WINDOWS 8 TABLETS

Every time I attend the International CES, I never miss checking the latest Tablets and Smartphones that are being launched.

I usually compare them to the latest IPAD and iPhone devices that came out immediately prior to the CES event.

This is true for International CES 2013. There are interesting devices that I thought are worth mentioning to our readers.

Let me start with the Tablets. There were no displays of iPADs at CES as expected. In fact, fully aware of this, I also attend the Macworld/IWorld conference in San Francisco, California yearly precisely to check on the latest Apple/Mac devices.

Last year, Microsoft announced that starting International CES 2013, it would stop participating in the yearly event. So, I also expected no involvement of Microsoft or Windows-based devices in this year’s conference.

In the case of Apple, the presence of Apple all over the exhibit areas is felt through the display of iPAD and iPhone accessories. This has been true over the last few years when Apple captured the tablet and smartphone market.

But in the case of Microsoft, it turned out to be untrue either. Found being launched and demonstrated were Windows-based Tablets and other devices.

Panasonic's 20-inch 4K Tablet

While iPAD is going smaller with its latest version, Panasonic offers the world’s first 4K tablet with its 20-inch Windows 8 tablet. Its display is absolutely stunning and is housed in a sleek, brushed metal and glass exterior. It still has to enter the market, but the demonstration was certainly impressive.

I understand that with Windows 8, it fully operates as a P.C. compatible with all the previous Windows applications.

The Razer Edge

They are calling this device the most powerful tablet in the world. This is because it has up to 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and Nvdia’s GT 640M LE.

It is actually a Windows 8 gaming tablet that works in four modes – tablet, PC, console and handheld.  

The Edge is capable of running most current PC titles at 720p at mid-range graphics settings. While its battery life is still an issue, the future of PC gaming tablets is unquestionably bright. So does Razer Edge.

Vizio's Tegra 4 (Windows 8 Tablet)

Vizio's new 11.6-inch tablet is based on a complete version of Windows 8 making it capable of running full desktop apps and even HD games. It measures at just 0.4-inches thick and weighs 1.66 pounds. It uses a 1080 p.

The reason why I am excited about Tablets that run the full version Windows 8 is because they all can run full PC applications including offline search engines.  This means that we can now create electronic libraries that can be stored, indexed, bookmarked, and retrievable offline without risk of being hacked or accessed online unnecessarily.

Miracles, Magic, and Mind-Boggling Technologies at Sin City III

Returning from the International CES 2013 Conference in Las Vegas, I brought with me samples of some of the amazing products that were displayed. Of course, the Press Relations (PR) representatives of the exhibitors provided the samples with the understanding that I would review them.

Product Reviews

i’m WATCH

This device earned me a new name when I demonstrated it to my barber. He called me, “JAMES BEN, Agent 008”.  In reference to James Bond, Agent 007 in the movies who had all these amazing gadgets with special features – not to having all these beautiful and sexy women.

Yes, it is a watch. Yes, it is also an alarm clock. It lets you display the clock in analog or digital format. It synchronizes time automatically and checks the weather in your favorite cities.

It also receives calls showing the caller’s name and number; makes calls by dialing the number or by calling from the contacts list.

i’m Droid 2 is the customized Android Operating System created by the i’m Watch team.  It supposedly makes the device the world’s most advanced smartwatch containing many revolutionary features.  Among them are:

1. Smart tethering – the device intelligently uses tethering connection to your smartphone; 2. i’m Cloud – this innovative system allows you to manage your smartwatch apps and data via the Internet. With the I’m Cloud Mobile, no need to go through PC or Mac, you just need your smartphone; 3. Compass - sets you on the right direction whenever you need it because it has an integrated magnetometer; 4. Accelerometer – it tells you all about how you are moving; 5. External sensors – due to Bluetooth you can connect to external sensors and control their functions. From the device, you can directly access pedometers, heart-rate monitors, and dozens of other sensors; 6. Speakerphone – it has a sophisticated audio system where you can speak freely and clearly even at the wheel; 7. SMS – the device informs you as soon as you receive an SMS in your smartphone. You can also read it directly from your wrist; 8. Email – You can read e-mails which are clearly on display; 9. Appointments – a complete management system for events and appointments; 10. Facebook – All your friends’ posts are displayed clearly and in real time; 11. Twitter – access the full list of your tweets and, with a quick touch, read your favorites; and 12. Instagram – see the snapshots of your friends registered on the photo-sharing social network;

Outside of these features that are immediately available and accessible, there are three others related to i’m Watch technology that expands its capabilities limitlessly: i’m market, i’m music, and i’m Developer.

i’m market is a treasure trove of apps ready to be downloaded and installed. i’m musicgives you unlimited access to millions of songs on demand and customized playlists. i’m Developer allows developers to tap into the wealth of available resources to develop any type of App.

It is indeed an amazing device. I am still in the process of exploring all its features and capabilities but I am very happy using it to date. Being named “JAMES BEN” even in this Digital Age gives me some semblance of invincibility. ur WATCH!

BRINNO

The top executives of Brinno were at the CES booth when I went to visit. They were ready to show me their amazing products. They made sure that some samples contained in a nice tote bag were given to me before I left.

The three products supplied to me were a Time Lapse Camera (TLC 200), a Peep Hole Viewer, and a Motion-Activated Sensor. I still have to install and test the last two, which go together.  But I have used, re-used and fully-tested the camera.

TIME LAPSE CAMERA

Cameras have been indispensable companions for many of us as we go on with our daily lives. From experiencing the analog way of recording images to the digitalization of both still and motion/video pictures, they were useful tools in recording, storing and retrieving vivid images that depicted our social lives or of those events that we wish to remember and probably retrieve as great memories.

Desktops, laptops, notebooks, ultra books, tablets/MacBook, and smartphones/iPhones – all have cameras capable of taking still photos and videos. They show that amidst the special features operated in these digital devices, the camera still plays a significant role.

Time Lapse Camera is unique in its simplicity, portability, user-friendliness, and usability in all weather conditions. It is a small camera measured at a mere 2.5 by 1.8 by 4.2 inches and 9 ounces. It makes time lapse photography as simple as your point and shoot. It is as easy as finding your target, framing it, setting the time interval, waiting, and then uploading the video onto your computer.

You can very easily determine how often you wish to take a shot. Cycle quickly through intervals of one, two, three, five, 10, 20, 30 seconds, or one, five, 10 minutes, or one hour on the menu. It has an adjustable and rotatable lens and fairly wide-angle view.

It can only be limited by the life of its four AA batteries and the size of its SDHC memory card, which supports as many as 32 GB.  I understand that “four AA batteries can capture 300,000 frames! That basically breaks down to one second interval will last around 3.4 days, five second intervals about 17 days, and so forth.” That capability should be more than enough to handle any video project that one pursues.

As I have said, I have used it and I love it. I plan to buy a couple of accessories that would make it even more useful – the Brinno ATH100 Weather Resistant Housing, and the Brinno Shutter Line. The first one is a casing that would make my camera weatherproof, which means that it could be used outdoors whether it’s raining or snowing.  The second one is basically a trigger for the shutter, which turns it into a stop motion camera! This is super fun for creating your own little films and makes it as easy as a press of a button. Having a 3-foot chord allows you to operate the camera without being close to it.

Next week I will deal with the latest on Tablets/iPAD and Smartphones/iPhones.