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RHA MA750 Wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphone review

REVIEW – Four years ago, I reviewed the RHA (Reid Heath Ltd.) MA750 in-ear headphone (earphone). I ended the review with this, “With all the innovations and improvements resulting in the MA750, where do they go from here? Stay tuned.” We now have the answer to that question. The MA750 is now available in a wireless version, which begs the question: Is the MA750 Wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphone as good as the wired MA750?

What is it?

The RHA MA750 Wireless is just that, the popular MA750 earphone sans wires. Well, maybe that’s somewhat of a misnomer. The MA750 earphones are not truly wireless—each earpiece is connected by a wire that rests on the back of the neck. However, its all Bluetooth, so there’s no wire connected to the music source. 

Specs

  • Drivers: Model 560.1
  • Frequency Range: 16 – 22,000Hz
  • Battery: 12 hours
  • Codecs: AAC, aptX, SBC
  • Pairing: NFC / Bluetooth
  • Sweatproof: IPX4
  • Remote & Mic: Universal, 3-button
  • Weight: 41g
  • Manufacturer’s Warranty: 3 Years

Design and features

If you are familiar with the wired MA750 earphone, the new wireless version will not be a surprise. Both are identical in design and weight—except for the connecting neckband on the wireless.

The MA750 Wireless earphone has what RHA calls an Aerophonic design. It’s horn shape helps the audio sound more authentic with excellent sound isolation, says RHA. I agree with the sound isolation, but I attribute that more to the size and shape of the ear tips. Plus, I’ve heard many excellent earphones that were not shaped like the MA750.

The shell is constructed from stainless steel, making them almost indestructible. It also gives them a top quality feel. The cord wraps around the back of the ear which keeps them out of the way. Unfortunately, they are not removable from the ear piece. Attached to the right cord is a steel-plated in-line controller with two buttons that adjust volume along with a universal button that controls on/off, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause and answering calls.

Pairing for me became a bit tricky because the earphones had to be turned off and then the on/off button had to be pressed for over 5 seconds it initiates pairing. It was difficult to tell if the earphones were on or off, despite the lights. But once paired, it was all good. 

The Bluetooth signal strength was strong throughout all my listening sessions. I’ve used the MA750 Wireless earphones sitting and listening to music, as well as doing sweaty activities, like mowing my yard—in humid Central Florida—a 2.5 hour job on my property. Speaking of sweat, the MA750s are moisture rated at IPX4 which makes them okay for that mowing I have to do every weekend. The connecting cord around my neck never became uncomfortable and never got too warm when exposed to the sun.

It’s interesting that when I first tried the MA750s outside, they would not hold a signal for more than 10 seconds before breaking up. It was incredibly frustrating until I disconnected other Bluetooth devices from my iPhone. After that, the signal never hiccuped again. My guess is that the MA750s are sensitive to other signals from previously paired devices. To be fair, I do a lot of audio reviews and my iPhone’s Bluetooth listing can get fairly long.

The speaker’s driver is a dynamic design, meaning that visually, it looks like a tiny speaker. This is a bit surprising, because it has a sound signature much like an armature speaker. What do I mean by this? The audio is a bit treble happy. While the middle frequencies and bass are there and accurate, the higher frequencies can be a bit bright depending on what music is being played. The MA750 Wireless earphones are more accurate than forgiving. So, if you play lower resolution song files, you’ll know it and listening for longer periods of time can become fatiguing. However, if you mostly listen to higher resolution files or classical and quieter ambient music, the MA750s will delight you.

As usual, RHA provides many sizes and types of ear tips—silicone, flanged and foam. There should be no problem finding one that fits. Also included is a mesh carrying pouch and a USB-C to USB charging cord. Battery life is rated at an impressive 12 hours. There’s an LED battery indicator with a power saving auto-off function after twenty minutes of inactivity.

What I like

The MA750 Wireless earphones are built like a tank. They’re great for everyday use whether indoors or out.

What needs to be improved

If the higher frequencies could be tamed a bit, the audio would be close to perfect.

Final Thoughts

The MA750 Wireless earphones bright-leaning sound signature may not be your preference, but if you’re a fan of accuracy, wireless and durability, the MA750s may be what you’re looking for.

Price: $169.95 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The samples for this product were provided by RHA. Visit www.rha-audio.com/us for more information.

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RHA MA750 Wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 7, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer review


REVIEW – For quite some time now, my family has been into healthy eating with healthy ingredients and healthy ways to prepare food. When we heard about the Air Fryer and its concept, we rushed out and bought a pretty large one. Unfortunately, it got accidentally damaged, so I was really happy when I received the offer to test one.

What is it?

The Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer is a 2.2-quart oil-free air fryer. Just in case anyone is not familiar with the air fryer concept, here is a description from Wikipedia: “An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer via the Maillard effect.”

“The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor.”

What’s in the box


1 x Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer
1 x Instruction/Cookbook

Design and features

The Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer is a round cylindrical form that measures 9.5″ x 7.5″ x 12.5″ and weighs approximately 5.4 pounds. It has a slanted top with the controls, a front blue LED display and a bottom half removable 2.2-quart basket pan. The basket pan includes a removable drip tray. Both the basket pan and the drip tray are made of a relatively lightweight metal and coated with a non-stick surface. The handle and a part of the exterior form sort of a semi-circle around the pan that matches the rest of the exterior of the fryer. It is the same plastic and color as the rest of the fryer so that it all matches when the basket pan is in the fryer. The removable drip tray is also metal and because it is removable, it makes it easier to clean the basket. In my experience, when cooking foods like chicken, there always is some residue from the food left stuck to the tray despite the non-stick surface. This is also the same when making french fries. When I am done using it, I pour water into the basket high enough to cover the drip tray and I leave it for a few hours. It then cleans quite easily with just a sponge.


On the slanted top, there are controls for raising or lowering the temperature and the cooking time. In the middle in between the controls, there is the power button. On the back of the fryer, there is an air vent.


On the top front of the fryer, there is a blue LED display that shows frying time and temperature. The fryer can be set to a maximum of 400 degrees, and 30 minutes for any single cooking cycle. If more time is needed,  a new cycle can be started.

Here is a quick video of the fryer in action:

The pictures below show seasoned, raw chicken being placed into the fryer and the nicely browned result after being fried.


Once you get the timing right, the foods come out of the fryer properly cooked and in the case of the chicken, soft, and tender and with an abundance of flavor. We also use it for fries, sausages, and many other types of meat as well as vegetables.

What I like

  • The look and design of the fryer
  • The controls and the easy to read digital display
  • The compact design
  • Its ability to properly fry food

What can be improved

  • Currently, cooking cycles are limited to 30 minutes

Final thoughts

The Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer is just simply a nice, compact, sleek and good performing air fryer. The first one I owned was not digital, so I really appreciate the digital functions on this one. It is not the biggest fryer and it does not have a large capacity, but for my family, it is just right. While it will probably take months before I can more reliably ascertain its ability to withstand almost daily use, I am giving it a thumbs up for now, and I will provide an update should anything change.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Gourmia.

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Gourmia GAF365 Digital Air Fryer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 6, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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iQunix Noma Laptop Stand review

REVIEW – With laptops adding more cores and getting thinner and faster, the heat build-up is real in todays portables. The convection built into turbo-charged laptops works much better when there is a clear higher-level place for the air to flow. iQunix has developed a very simple yet eye-pleasing stand called the Noma. I was sent one to test and am here to report my findings.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The iQunix Noma is an aluminum “L” stand that allows the stack effect to cool your laptop – increasing it’s life, and giving you better performance and better battery life. (Heat is the enemy of all electronics. Lowering the operating temperature by only a few degrees can help.)

Setup

The Noma stand arrives as three pieces of high-quality aluminum that fit together with the (included) screws to form a 10” long ramp that raises the far end of your laptop 3” off a flat surface. This slants the keyboard 18º from the surface, and holds the outside edges 7.25” apart. Every place that would touch your computer or desk is covered by a grippy silicone pad in a neutral beige. I put it together in maybe 4 minutes after opening the box and photographing the pieces. There are no instructions included.

What’s in the box?

  • 2 ramps with silicone pads
  • 1 connector that attaches securely to hold legs, also with pads
  • 6 countersinking hex-driven machine bolts
  • 1 Allen wrench to fit the screws
  • 1 marketing card

Design and features

I was a bit surprised to see the stand come disassembled, but really appreciate the nod to less air in a package. It would have taken twice the cardboard to surround the 10”x7.25”x3” stand fully assembled, rather than the 11.75”x1.75”x3.75” unbleached cardboard box that arrived. It would be nice to know if the tiny piece of styrofoam that held things for shipping was as highly recyclable as the rest of the packaging.


The pieces fit together precisely. There is a lip across the base of the crosspiece that the legs sit against, and the holes line up to where the weight of your laptop rests on that solid lip, rather than the screw posts. With no give or play in these joints, I can’t imagine ever having a screw get lost or need tightening, but it’s nice to have a few extras.


The simplicity of the stand belies its effectiveness. When using my mid-2014 MacBook Pro with 2.2 GHz i& and 16GB RAM to play a graphic-intensive online game (World of Tanks Blitz), I noticed it was much less warm than when I played it on the same desk flat. I’m not a fan of using it at the 18º angle for long periods of typing, but for bouts of tanking, it’s not too bad.

If there are additional sub-headings that you want to add in the main part of your review, use H3 titles. Examples that you might want to use but can remove if you don’t…

What I Like

  • Highly ecological design and packaging
  • Tight, well-designed parts
  • Simple and Effective
  • Works with laptops or tablets, from 9” to 17”

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing, really.

Final thoughts

I’m not normally one to put my laptop on a stand. Save for the aforementioned game, most of the stuff I run on my Mac is limited to web browsers, RSS feed apps, and text processors. Occasionally, I’ll edit some video in iMovie. But not of it even taxes this 4-year-old workhorse. If I regularly connected to external projectors for presenting (which tends to take more video power), I’d probably use a stand at the presentation area to keep the fans from powering on. This is the simplest, least expensive, and tightest fit/finish I have seen of any stand, however. If you’re in need of a one-trick pony like this, you will probably not find one better for this price.

Price: $19.99
Where to buy Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by company iQunix.

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iQunix Noma Laptop Stand review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 6, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Jese Air Fryer review

REVIEW – With more and more people looking for healthier ways to prepare food air fryers are becoming very popular these days. I have been researching them myself recently so when I got the chance to review the Jese Air Fryer I didn’t hesitate.

What is it?

The Jese air fryer is a fryer that uses 360-degree rapid and dynamic airflow instead of oil to fry foods.

What’s in the box?

  • Air Fryer
  • Quick start guide
  • Cookbook
  • Users manual

Design and features

Black with brushed steel accents the Jese Air Fryer has a modern design that would compliment any kitchen. It’s rather large because of its 3.5-quart capacity, so it does take up a little counter space.

The timer knob and fryer basket are located on the front of the unit. The timer knob is large, and the numbers are pretty easy to read going from 0 to 40 minutes.

The fryer basket is two pieces. There’s a release button on the handle that’s covered by a small plastic flap. To remove the basket flip the flap up and push the button.

The air fryer has an automatic shutoff feature. It will shut off whenever the basket is removed and will restart when the basket is replaced. It will also shut off once the timer has expired.

The temperature setting dial is located on top of the unit. The numbers on the dial are easy to read with temperature settings from 180F to 390F. And there’s even a handy quick cook guide printed above the dial.

There are also two indicator lights for power and heating.

The power cord is a nice length, and I like that you can wrap the cord around the base for easy storage.

I did notice that the fryer is pretty quiet when cooking. I was happy about this because in my research one of the main complaints was how loud some of the fryers were.

Jese is cool to the touch while cooking. The only place where it gets hot is in the back where the hot air vents are located. Just make sure that it’s pulled away from the wall when using it.

One of the things I liked about the Jese is its versatility. You can use it for frying, grilling, baking, and roasting just about anything.

For my first time using the fryer I wanted to start with something simple, so I decided to cut up some squash and zucchini. With the air fryer, you don’t have to use a lot of oil. For the veggies, I used 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and seasoned them with salt and pepper. I preheated the fryer for the recommended 3 min at 355-degrees. After about twenty minutes the veggies were done. They were delicious. They had a slight crisp on the outside but, the insides remained juicy and flavorful.

One thing about air fryers, you can’t just set them and forget them. You have to occasionally remove the basket during cooking and shake the contents so that they brown on all sides.

I decided to step it up for my next meal. I found an easy fried chicken breast recipe online. The fryer does come with a small cookbook but, I found that the recipes weren’t all that great. Fortunately, with the popularity of air fryers, there are tons of recipes available online. The chicken breast was fantastic. Total cook time was 14 minutes, flipping the breast halfway through. The outside had a nice brown crisp, and the inside was juicy and flavorful. Tip: use a spray oil (I used an olive oil spray) and lightly spray anything that you’re going to bread. This helps the breading brown up and gives it a little more crispiness.

In the past few weeks, I’ve used the Jese to make a lot of stuff. Fresh waffle chips, fried onion potatoes, frozen french fries, and frozen onion rings. I noticed that the frozen foods cooked up the best. They turned out crispier than the fresh foods I made. The fries and onion rings were the best I’ve ever made at home. But everything I’ve made using the fryer has turned out great. I can’t wait to experiment with even more recipes in the future.

The fryer’s 3.5-quart capacity is perfect whether you’re cooking for a family or just one or two people. However, with larger items like chicken breasts, fish or steaks you’ll probably only be able to fit 2 of each in the basket at one time. So cooking these items for a larger group will take some planning.

Clean up is easy. Because you’re not using a lot of oil the mess is minimal. The fryer basket itself is fully submergible, or you can just wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

What I like

  • Easy to use
  • Food tastes great
  • Versatility
  • Easy to clean

What needs to be improved

  • Can’t think of anything

Final thoughts

I love the Jese air fryer and have used it a lot in the past few weeks. I like the fact that it’s easy to use and the results are great every time. And it doesn’t hurt that it makes everything a little healthier without sacrificing taste. If you haven’t tried using an air fryer yet, the Jese is a great place to start.

Price: $61.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Jese.

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Jese Air Fryer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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RAVPower 16750 Updated Phone Charger Battery review

REVIEW – I know what you’re thinking. Another portable charger review. They’re all pretty much the same, right? No so, Dear Reader! Sometimes little details matter. I’ve got a updated design from RAVPower to show you what I mean. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

It’s a portable charger with 2 USB ports and a 16750 mAh capacity.

Hardware specs

  • 16750 mAh capacity
  • 4.5A Max Output
  • DC 5V/2A
  • 10.7 Ounces
  • 6.1″ by 2.4″ by 0.9″

What’s in the box?

You’ll get the charger, a travel bag, and two USB to micro-USB cables (one 24″, one 8″).

Design and features

Yeah, portable chargers are a pretty common commodity these days. But there’s some nice usability happening with this RAVPower model that I think makes it a standout.

Let’s start with some thoughtful convenience details. This charger ships with both an 8″ and 24″ USB to micro-USB cable, each of which has a little black band to keep it orderly. It also includes a carrying pouch with an external pocket for wrangling those cables, which has the support info printed right on the bag. Little details like this show me that someone is paying attention to user needs.

Portable chargers aren’t exactly sexy devices, but this unit has a nice ergonomic shape for easy handling. That’s a plus, especially when sliding it in and out of your bag.

Your power button, status indicators, and input/output ports are all located on one end of the device. Hold the power button down to see how much juice you have in the unit, or to start charging if it doesn’t kick in automatically when a device is plugged in:

Your power indicator lights, micro-USB charging port, and USB ports are all on the end cap. The USB ports uses something RAVPower called “iSmart technology” to adjust the output to your devices for smooth, stable charging. Each port sports a 4.5A max output with protection against overcharging or short circuits:

The whole charger is slightly bigger than my iPhone 6s, which means you can stash it just about anywhere in your bag. Here are some reference photos for sizing:

(In case you’re wondering, I happened to be grooving to some classic Steve Winwood albums while taking these pics today. Great stuff. The man is a rare talent.)

With a total of 16750 mAh. RAVPower measures that output as 5.3 charges for an iPhone 8, 1.3 charges for an iPad Air 2, and 3.2 charges for a Galaxy S8. Real-world measurements can be different, but these numbers align with what I see on comparable units. It will take 9-10 hours to fully recharge using a 2A or 2.4A power source.

I’ve been carrying the RAVPower 16750 Phone Charger around with me for about a month now. The power capacity is great. I’m charging the unit once every two weeks or so, and using it charge my iPhone a couple of times a week. It’s all good there.

I really like the 2 USB ports for charging multiple devices at once. I’ve been stuck in a couple of situations where my iPhone and Apple Pencil have both fizzled at the same time. Charging is fast, smooth and efficient.

And putting all of those ports on one end has a nice usability benefit. Check out the picture below:

I’ve got the charger inserted in a pocket in the main compartment of my backpack. With a long charging cable, I can charge stuff outside of my bag while I am on the train. It’s easy to get to those ports due to the simple design and adds a wee bit of convenience with the orientation of the ports on the end of the charger.

We’ll see how the durability holds up over extended use. My son has an older model RAVPower charger that has been going strong for over a year now, and he was a big fan. I expect similar performance here. I’ll keep you updated in the long term reviews!

What I like

  • Ergonomic, functional design
  • Ample power capacity with 2 USB ports
  • Long and short USB to micro-USB charging cables included
  • Nice carry bag

What needs to be improved

  • None to be found

Final thoughts

This little charger has made its way into my daily carry. Great power capacity, slim ergonomic design, and some nice usability features. What’s not to like?

Price: $35.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by RAVPower

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RAVPower 16750 Updated Phone Charger Battery review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 4, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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