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Sōlis SO-3000, SO-6000 and SO-7000 Chromecast and Bluetooth speaker review

When a company comes out with three Bluetooth speakers all at once, my interest gets piqued. Sōlis is an audio company that makes vacuum-tubed Bluetooth audio systems and has now branched out into the home wireless speaker market. Sōlis has three smart speakers that utilize Google Chromecast, WiFi wireless as well as Bluetooth: the SO-3000, SO-6000 and SO-7000 speakers.

What is it?

While home wireless speakers are a growing segment, their popularity pales compared to the totally wireless and portable Bluetooth speakers that can survive a thunderstorm, flood, hurricane—you name it. The main advantage that home speakers have over portable is (usually) audio quality. With rare exception, Bluetooth speakers made for the indoors perform and sound more refined and richer than portables.

While the three Sōlis indoor speakers have similar abilities, their differences are in size, design and—for one in particular—audio quality.

Each Sōlis speaker incorporates Google’s Chromecast—Google’s version of Apple’s Airplay (Sōlis does not use Airplay). The Sōlis speakers also incorporate Bluetooth which—for Apple device users like me—can be a bit more convenient and easier to pair and use than Chromecast, but at a cost in audio quality.

Specs

The three Sōlis  speakers share some identical specs listed here:

  • Wireless:
    Bluetooth 2.0
    Wi-Fi – 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant – Dual Band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz supported
  • Hi-Res audio compatible – Chromecast built-in supports hi-resolution lossless audio from select streaming services
  • Multi-room streaming and wireless control (with Chromecast)
  • Input: Auxiliary (AUX) input
  • Top-mounted control buttons
  • Supplied accessories:
  • External AC power supply
  • Auxiliary line in cord
  • Power: 120V AC 60Hz
  • Individual specs here:

SO-3000:

  • Two 3” full range stereo speakers
  • Power output: 2 x 18W RMS
  • Cloth-covered wooden cabinet with tuned bass port
  • Dimensions: 6.3”(H) x 11.8”(W) x 3.7”(D)

SO-6000:

  • Two 3” full range stereo speakers
  • Power output: 2 x 18W RMS
  • Wooden cabinet with tuned bass port
  • Dimensions: 5.5”(H) x 9.5”(W) x 7.1”(D)

SO-7000:

  • 2-way bass reflex stereo speaker system
  • One 5.25-inch subwoofer
  • Four 2-inch full range drivers
  • Power output: 2 x 25W RMS + 50W RMS Subwoofer
  • Wooden cabinet with high gloss black accent panel
  • Dimensions: 7.9”(H) x 7.9”(W) x 7.9”(D)

The audio specs for both the SO-3000 and SO-6000 are identical on paper. The practically sound identical too, so it’s not surprising. The only difference seems to be styling, meaning that the price premium of the SO-6000 over the SO-3000 is cosmetic only. The SO-7000 sounds much richer and fuller than the other two Sōlis speakers thanks to its built-in subwoofer. The additional bass is perfect for larger rooms. Although the other two speakers sound good, once you hear the SO-7000, it’s hard to switch back. The improvement is that pronounced.

Design and features

Each speaker has similar pairing setups with lights that indicate whether the speakers are connected or not. The SO-3000 and SO-7000 speakers have an identical left to right button array on top beginning with the Power button followed by Play/pause, Bluetooth pairing, and ending with Volume down and up buttons and Mode light. The SO-6000 speaker has the same button functions arrayed in a circle.

The backs of the speakers contain an AUX port, power cord port, and a small reset button. The SO-3000 and SO-6000 have bass ports while the SO-7000 has that built-in subwoofer mentioned earlier.

The SO-3000 is the more traditional looking speaker. It’s a rectangular-shaped box design that’s wrapped in gray speaker cloth belted by a gloss black band. It’s a conservative look that should blend with any decor. If you want a speaker to not be noticed, the SO-3000 is it.

Although the specs may be identical, the SO-6000 has a short, tubular oval shape that screams mid-century modern—right down to the wood grained exterior and pointed chrome legs. You either like the SO-6000’s appearance, or you don’t. I’m a big fan of mid-century modern, so I love the look.

The SO-7000 is the big boy of the group. Its cube shape is almost a perfect square giving the speaker a traditional, but purposeful look. The speaker is covered in jet black cloth with subtle shiny black accents.

None of the Sōlis speakers are portable. Each needs to be plugged in at all times. These speakers are made for indoor use—they are not water resistant and can’t be dropped or treated roughly.

Chromecast requires wifi to operate, and setup is fairly easy and straightforward. An advantage of Chromecast is that it can stream higher resolution files than Bluetooth—but any audio quality differences are more noticeable on the SO-7000. Also, since Chromecast utilizes wifi, it provides a more stable connection than Bluetooth.

Although it was developed for Android devices, Google makes iOS versions of their Home and Play Music app, so I was able to utilize its functions. Chromecast’s setup is through the Home app. Music is then played through the Play app. I don’t subscribe to Google Music, so I wasn’t able to stream anything except their radio stations based on musical taste and any music purchased from Google. To use Apple Music, I had to use Bluetooth.

I did run into Bluetooth interference when the SO-7000 speaker was located in my dining room, but once I moved the speaker to my studio building, the issue disappeared. Despite much trial and error, I was never able to figure out what was causing the interference.

Using Bluetooth vs Chromecast made me realize that Google has some work to do. Since both are built into each Sōlis speaker, I figured that switching between them as they played would be easy and give an accurate audio picture of how they compare. I was wrong. Keep in mind that I am using Google Home and Music apps on my iPhone. I do not use Android devices, so YMMV.

First Bluetooth: Switching between speakers could not have been easier—except when it wasn’t. As music played through the Apple Music app, all I had to do was tap the appropriate speaker in the Bluetooth list. Since all the speakers could be simultaneously connected, they all were listed. Here’s where it gets weird—music would play through one speaker (the SO-3000) and I could then switch to another speaker (SO-6000). So far, so good. However, when I switched back to the SO-3000 speaker—no volume. So I would then switch back to the SO-6000 speaker that had just played—no volume there either. The same was true when I added the SO-7000 speaker into the mix. Only when I paused the song and re-hit Play, did the speakers play. I’m not sure if this is a function (malfunction?) of Bluetooth 2.0, but it was annoying.

Chromecast has its own quirks. Even though I could successfully switch between each speaker, Chromecast required me to first disconnect one speaker before I could move to the next one. Plus, sometimes, the song would restart rather than pick up where it left off when I disconnected the previous speaker. I’m not sure which is more maddening. My conclusion is that is you want to use the Sōlis speakers in different rooms as separate speakers with the option of connecting as a wireless system, you will be better served by Sonos, Heos, or another dedicated system. If you just want to combine the speakers as a home unit, Chromecast performs that task just fine by creating what they call a “Group.” Once I created this group, all three speakers worked flawlessly together.

Note that Chromecast requires a home wifi network to work. Bluetooth does not.

Enough griping about music streaming! Despite the time required of switching or combining speakers and dealing with the quirks of each option, the Sōlis speakers offer good sound for almost any situation. Plus most people won’t purchase all three speakers at once. I just wanted to point out that using more than one speaker concurrently throughout the house may not go as smooth as you’d like.

So, how do they sound?

No matter what music I played among the three speakers, it was the SO-7000 that stood out. Bass dance tracks like Ultravox’s “Accent on Youth” from their “Rage in Eden” album or “Sweet as Honey” by the studio band Honeyroot from their album “Sound Echo Location” have more bottom end to get your feet moving and the bass is more accurate sounding. When played on both the SO-3000 and SO-6000, these tracks exhibited a boominess that wasn’t present on the SO-7000 speaker. This was fairly consistent no matter what songs I played. Only an ultra bass-heavy track like Brian Eno’s “Written, Forgotten” from his album “Small Craft on a Milk Sea” tripped up the SO-7000. There is such low bass on this track that the SO-7000’s subwoofer slightly buzzed when the volume was set high. However, it still sounded better than on the SO-3000 or SO-6000 which exhibited all kinds of buzz from the bass.

The bottom line is at normal volumes, All three Sōlis speaker sound good until they are pushed past comfortable volume levels. Just don’t listen to the SO-7000 first, because it will spoil the fun listening to the other two speakers. They just can’t measure up to their big brother.

What I like

In addition to Chromecast, it’s nice that Bluetooth is an option. At this point, any wireless speaker that does not include Bluetooth is a waste of money, so kudos to Sōlis. The speakers’ styling is classic and tasteful, no matter which speaker is chosen. Audio quality is good to better than good depending on the speaker.

What needs to be improved

I would prefer that the Sōlis speakers incorporated Apple’s AirPlay in addition to Chromecast. Bluetooth 2.0 is sensitive to interference. The more recent Bluetooth 4.0—with better range and audio—would be a welcome addition. Any kind of an IPX water resistance rating would be nice. The price of the SO-6000 is inordinately high compared to its “spec twin” SO-3000.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an easy to use and portable Bluetooth speaker, the Sōlis speakers are not for you. However, if you want a stylish room speaker that you can set and forget, then any of Sōlis’ models should work. It just depends on budget and styling (SO-3000 or SO-6000) vs. audio quality (SO-7000).

Price: SO-3000 – $199.99 US, SO-6000 – $269.99 US, SO-7000 – $299.99 US
Where to buy: Best Buy
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sōlis.

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Sōlis SO-3000, SO-6000 and SO-7000 Chromecast and Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 3, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Scriba Stylus review

The digital stylus, reimagined. That’s what Scriba did, investing an impressive amount of research and design into building a stylus for creatives that’s not quite like anything else I’ve played with before. It’s definitely innovative, and there’s a lot to like. How does it work? Let me draw you a picture… or two… or three…

What is it?

It’s a Bluetooth-enabled stylus for your mobile devices that’s been  features a unique ergonomic design, “squeeze motion” technology instead of buttons, and haptic (vibration) feedback.

Hardware specs

  • Stylus weight: 16 grams
  • 200 hours of rechargeable battery life
  • Charges via micro-USB cable
  • Dynamic “squeeze motion” technology for extended app interactions
  • Haptic (vibration) app support for tactile feedback

What’s in the box?

  • The Scriba stylus
  • Micro-USB charging cable
  • 3 additional replacement silicone tips

Design and features

About Scriba

I spent some time talking to David Craig, Scriba’s founder, to learn more about the origins of the product. Based in Dublin, Ireland, the Scriba team set out on a mission to rethink the concept of the digital stylus from the ground up. It’s an impressive story that involves rigorous usability testing, industrial design, and the development of 136 different prototypes (136!) that resulted in a product that has since received numerous prestigious design and innovation awards. Check out the full story on their web site, which details their long journey. It’s a good read.

Overview and Walkaround

The Scriba is is based an open-framed, ergonomic layout that’s designed around the shape and movement of your hand. The barrel of the stylus is straight and rests along your thumb line, while the body is contoured to create a natural grip point for your pointer finger. The primary contact points for your thumb and pointer finger are enhanced with a rubberized surface to improve control.

You won’t find any buttons on the Scriba. The body of the stylus is flexible, and responds to squeezing/pinching between your thumb and forefinger. This enables what Scriba refers to as “squeeze motion” pressure-responsive technology, which provides airbrush-like control of stroke widths in drawing/painting apps. The Scriba stylus also utilizes haptic feedback, which uses a vibration in the pen to confirm other squeeze-based actions or alerts in compatible apps.

To charge the Scriba, unscrew the cap on the base of the pen and plugging in the micro-USB cable. You won’t need to do that too often, though: the Scriba stylus can go for an outrageous 200 hours of continuous use between charges  and 6 months of standby mode! Considering that the whole device barely tips the scales at a feather-like 16 grams, this is really impressive. The unit can be recharged in about two hours.

The Scriba utilizes standard silicone tips on the business end. The top is secured by a screw-on aluminum cap to keep it tightly in place, which is nice to keep the tip from popping off in the middle of a drawing session.

Apps and Compatibility

It’s important to note that the advanced features of the Scriba are dependent on using Scriba-enabled apps. A list of iOS-compatible creative and productivity apps are listed on their web site (Android and Surface compatibility are in development). Scriba is continuing to partner with app developers to expand their compatibility, so it’s worth watching their site for updates if you’re looking for specific app pairings.

Scriba also produces their own apps that fully leverage the features of the stylus including a paint program, photo app, and slide presentation tool. I’ll touch on these in the performance review below.

Performance

My weapon of choice for drawing is the Apple Pencil, which I consider the gold standard for creative pursuits. It sets a really high bar for control, intuitive use, and natural feel. After a month with the Scriba, I’m impressed with what it has to offer. There’s a lot to like about the Scriba’s innovative design, and a ton of potential in the future.

From an ergonomics perspective, the form factor of the Scriba is marvelous. It sits naturally in your hand, requiring less pressure than typical-pen style designs to maintain constant control while writing or drawing. It also feels great when engaged in free-flowing hand/wrist movements you’ll use for drawing or painting. It’s so light that you are barely conscious of the weight of the device. And boy, is it comfortable… I was really surprised at how comfortable it is for extended drawing sessions.

I took the Scriba for a spin in my favorite drawing package (Procreate), to see how it would work. While pressure sensitive control is not available at this time, the control and precision for general work (sketching, inking, and linear airbrush effects) is excellent. The silicone tips provide the same challenges as other similar styli with respect to ultra-fine detail, but the fine point helps to overcome this issue. Here’s a sample piece I did that I was very happy with:

Taking the Scriba to work with Brushes4Scriba, Scriba’s paint program, shows the potential of the squeeze motion technology. If you’ve ever worked with an airbrush, this will be a natural fit for you. Here’s a sample shot of me playing with stroke weights in the Brushes4Scriba app:

You can set limits on the minimum/maximum brush widths variations and levels of transparency to create variations in stroke types for graphic-style illustration, like so:

You also have a variety of patterns to choose from that you can apply to brush strokes to give texture to your work:

I’m still getting used to the airbrush-style controls… here’s one I did after a bit more practice:

The squeeze motion technology, coupled with the haptic feedback, enable additional extensibility depending on the app you are using. All Scriba-enabled apps pair with the device by squeezing the stylus. Then you can use a “hard squeeze” to enable toggling between functions, moving between slides in a presentation, or as a remote to snap pictures (when using Scriba’s custom apps). Haptic feedback compliments the functions by delivering a vibration when these functions are used.

I also tested the Scriba in ZoomNotes to get a feel for how it works for general writing. Handwriting note apps are very dependent on software, of course, but I found the Scriba to be very comfortable and more than capable of performing general writing functions comfortable and effectively.

Here’s where we get to the greatest area of potential improvement for the Scriba stylus: app compatibility. You can use the Scriba like you would any silicone-tipped stylus in most drawing/writing programs and get all the benefits of the ergonomic form factor. The bluetooth-enabled squeeze-motion technology and haptic feedback, however, are only available in a limited set of apps at this time. I like where Scriba is going with their own apps, especially the Brushes4Scriba app, but they could use some refinement and are not available outside of the iOS yet. In speaking with David, this is the next hurdle for the Scriba team. I’m really looking forward to seeing where they go as their own apps evolve and we get more compatibility in the future. In the meanwhile, you’ll want to check the compatibility against any tools you intend to use.

If there is one other area that I would nitpick, it’s in the silicone tip. Silicone tips can sometimes get a bit dodgy when playing with ultra-fine details, like dotting your “I’s” in a note taking app. I’m also spoiled by my Apple Pencil, however. Compared to other styli I have used that are on the market, however, it’s got great detail control.

And that battery life? 200 hours of continuous use? I haven’t charged it since I got it. Amazing.

What I like

  • Wonderful, natural ergonomics.
  • Excellent control for free-flowing wrist/hand movements.
  • Absurdly light and comfortable for all-day use.
  • 200 hour battery life.
  • High potential in the squeeze motion technology for airbrush-style painting.

What needs to be improved

  • Mainstream app compatibility is limited but in development.
  • No support for Android or Surface devices (yet).
  • Native Scriba apps could use some refinement.
  • Silicone-style tip does have some issues with fine detail (typical for this type of stylus).

Final thoughts

I really like the Scriba Stylus. For creatives and digital note takers, there’s a lot to like in the ergonomics, control, and comfort that this design brings. Battery life is off the charts. There’s also a ton of potential in the squeeze motion technology, especially for those who are familiar with airbrush-style tools. I’m looking forward to seeing where Scriba goes as they evolve their own toolset and extend compatibility with other platforms beyond the iOS and other drawing, painting, and writing apps. It’s going to be fun!

Price: 65 Euros (About $80 US), with 8 Euros for shipping to the US ($90 US in total)

Where to buy: Scriba

Source: The sample of this product was provided by Scriba.

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Scriba Stylus review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Apple AirPods review

When I first saw the Apple AirPods announced during the iPhone 7 launch event, I thought they looked awesome but vowed to never buy them. Why? I thought they were overpriced for just a wireless version of Apple’s headphones.

Now I own them. Let me explain. I recently talked to someone that had a pair and they were telling me how great they were for talking on the phone. I have been using my Bluetooth earpiece quite a bit lately, and I’ve been growing increasingly annoyed at how it fits in my ear, and how non-portable it is because of its construction.

Then along came a $35 rewards certificate for a local box store which took the edge off of the price tag, and pushed me into the “I’ll give them a try” category. Several weeks of waiting for them to be in stock only re-enforced my suspicions that these just might be a good thing.

What is it?

Apple’s AirPods are more than just headphones – they’re more than just wireless headphones. As the Apple tagline says, they’re “Wireless. Effortless. Magical.”. I’ve often criticized Apple for putting form over function, but they have really hit the mark with the AirPods. From the moment you open the box, quality is what you feel, see and hear.

What’s in the box?

Consistency is one thing Apple does well, and if you’ve ever unboxed an Apple product, the AirPods will bring you no surprises. When you open the box you’ll find the typical packet of product papers and quick setup instructions, charging case, AirPods, and a lightning charging cable – no extra fluff.

Design and features

This is where the AirPods excel. Setup is as simple as holding the charging case near your unlocked phone and opening the case. Your phone or device (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models with iOS 10 or later) will simply display a message asking if you want to connect, tap connect and you’re done. That’s it.

The AirPods are always connected, and automatically turn on and off via optical sensors and a motion accelerometer. A double-tap on the AirPod will invoke Siri or answer a call. There are also other options in the settings for configuring what the double-tap does such as Siri, next track, previous track, Play/Pause, and off. The left and right AirPod can be configured separately.

The AirPods feature 5 hours of battery life on one charge, and with the charging case you’ll have 24-hour battery life. Just 15 minutes in the charging case will give your AirPods 3 hours of listening time.

What I like

My previous Bluetooth earpiece took around 5 seconds or longer to power on and switch the audio from the phone to the earpiece, during which I would miss much of the audio from the call. With the AirPods, I simply put it in my ear and the audio instantly transfers to the AirPod, and I don’t miss anything the caller is saying.

Just like Apple says, they’re effortless. The compact charging case, with its smooth rounded edges fits nicely in my pocket, protects the AirPods when I’m not using them, and provides plenty of charge for the entire day.

I drove around the other day listening to the radio while running map directions on my phone. I was able to hear the directions without having to mute the car radio. I often run around with my phone in my cargo pants pocket, and with the AirPod in my ear, I can hear incoming calls and texts that I would normally miss in loud environments.

What needs to be improved

There’s really only one thing that I think could improve the AirPods and that’s more gesture control. A programmable triple-tap gesture would be handy for launching the music app or the phone app. Being really picky and having large fingers, I would say that they could be a little bit easier to remove from the charging case.

Final thoughts

I’m really impressed that Apple has been able to put such great features and electronics in such a small product. I’m not an audiophile, so I can’t comment on how good the audio is compared to other really good headphones. I can say that I like the audio from these, it’s definitely better than the wired headphones that come with the iPhone.

Price: $159.00
Where to buy: Apple Store
Source: The AirPods for this review were purchased with our own funds.

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Apple AirPods review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 1, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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MOS Pack backpack and accessories review

Recently, I’ve been testing more backpacks than slings and courier bags. One reason is that I prefer this style when traveling, but it’s also due to my new job. I need to be able to take a laptop home, no matter what else I may have brought into the office. We’re having work done in our office that gets pretty loud, and recently, we’ve also had some weather-related requests for us to work from home, so I’ve had to carry home the work laptop as well as my daily driver iPad. The latest entrant into the backpack field is from MOS, a company whose first hit product was a Magnetic Organization System (MOS). This product is still on the market, but they have expanded their offerings with the MOS Pack and the MOS Nest. I was sent these items – the Pack in Black and the Nest in Blue, both with Orange interiors. An added bonus was their Reach power cord, in White, which not only includes two USB ports but also integrates with the Pack for on-the-go charging.

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

What is it?

The Pack and Nest are a set of complementary bags for twenty-first-century travel. The needs of the modern traveler (power, water bottles, cable management, carry-on requirements, attachments for rolling luggage) are all taken into account. The Nest portion of the set fits into the front pocket of the Pack and can be fitted into the seatback pocket of an airline seat or a car seat. The Reach cable has its own side pocket in the Pack, with a pass-thru to bring the outlets into the bag interior.

Hardware specs

The Pack, Nest, and Reach are sold separately, but one Reach is included with the Pack. They work really well together.

Pack:
  • Luggage Pass-through on the back for attaching to your rolling luggage handle
  • Laptop pocket fits up to most 15.6” laptops
  • Hard Shell sunglasses pouch
  • Orange lining to make it super easy to see what’s inside your backpack
  • Water resistant water bottle pocket with flyout mesh pocket
  • Reinforced top handle
  • Cooling mesh back and straps
Nest:
  • Fits in front pocket of Pack
  • Designed to “help alleviate some of the pain of flying.”
  • Room for eReader, passport, travel documents, mints, phone, pens, keys – all the things you need but don’t want to dive under the seat or pull down the overhead bin for.
  • Removable adjustable strap.
  • RFID-shielded passport pocket
  • Mesh fly-out water bottle holder
Reach:
  • Right-angle plug for fitting behind furniture
  • Two smart high-power USB ports for fast charging
  • Magnetic options for holding cables
  • Comes with several attachment options
  • Heavy-duty molded plug with finger grips

Design and features

The Pack is an airline-compliant slimline backpack with sleeves that can accommodate a 15” laptop, a 10-inch tablet, battery packs, magazines, cables and the like all at the same time. The interior is a bright safety orange, to aid finding items in the depths of it’s interior in poor airline cabin lighting. There are cable straps at various points to hold cords that are connected to the various electronics.


Down the sides of the tablet sleeve are two channels to feed USB cables from the bottom of the bag up to the top opening. There is also a pass-thru from the rear compartment to the front one, so that you can charge a phone or battery pack in one of the pockets up there. (See photo above and below.)

On the left-hand side of the outside bag, there is a two-pull zippered pouch that hides a pass-thru for the included Reach power cord. When the Reach is slipped through the reinforced hole, all of the rest of its 5-foot length cable can be folded into this pocket. (Photo above) Your laptop charger can be attached inside the pack, as can the two USB charging cables attached to your tablet and phone. During a layover, trade show, or other location with a power plug, you pull out the power cord and it charges all of your electronics without having to remove them from the bag. When your flight is called, it takes all of a minute to unplug and fold the cable up, zip it into the side of the bag, and run.

On the right (as you wear it), there is a zippered slot pocket with blue trim (blue, like water – get it?) which hides a mesh fly-out water bottle holder.

Across the space between this pocket and the power cord pocket, there is a double-layer zip pocket. One layer is reached from the top zipper that runs across the full 11.5″ width of the bag and 8″ down, but there is little depth. The other is a 4.5” wide side-loading pocket large enough for a Plus-sized iPhone. Both of these pockets are fairly slim, but phones, magazines, travel documents and the like will fit easily. There are pen loops and card slots in the larger pocket, but it is very tight and difficult to access if there is anything (such as the Nest) in the main front compartment. It’s not going to hold anything bulky like a wad of keys, your U-lock, or even a pair of gloves.

At the top, between the openings for the two main compartments, there is a 6.5” zippered opening into a hard-sided pocket designed for glasses. While it is not fleece-lined, it does have a flecked finish that will not scratch glasses. If your glasses ride in a soft-sided case or with no case, they will be well-protected in here. You could also use this for cigars, cupcakes, or anything else you didn’t want to get crushed.

At the yoke where the padded 2.75″ straps are sewn in, there is a generous haul loop of webbing, sewn under and bar-tacked for rigidity. The edges have been tucked under to make this simple piece of webbing a smooth joy to use, no matter the weight of the load.

The Nest is a half-ellipse 11” x 11” and 3” thick at the base. It tapers to 2.5″ at the apex of the arched top. Inside the bright orange interior, there is a padded sleeve for a small eReader or iPad mini or your latest novel.

There is a web loop handle across the top that allows you to draw it out of the front pocket of the Pack or the seat back pocket of an airline chair. There are two 1” D-rings on either end of the zipper that can hold the generous 50” x 1.5″ webbing strap, in case you want to make this your around-town bag. The D-rings, clips, and adjustment buckle are heavy-duty black enameled metal. Like the rest of the ensemble, “Flat” is the name of the game with the Nest, so if you have cameras, lenses, or binoculars to tote, they better be compact versions. There is a zippered pocket for your passport and credit cards, plus an elastic-topped pocket for a phone, battery pack or similarly shaped object. There’s even a cable pass-thru for your earbuds or charging cable from the Reach while you’re carrying the whole collection together. The main pocket can hold a full-sized iPad, but that means there is no padding for it, and little else can be carried. Your 3-1-1 items or meds will fit with ease, though. A slash pocket on the back for travel documents, maps, or receipts covers the entire rear side but stops short of the bottom (just as the padded tablet pocket does). There’s also a water bottle mesh fly-out zipped into a protective interior pocket, so your water bottle won’t leak into the interior.

What I Like

  • Integrated charging with included power cord.
  • Channels and ties for power cords.
  • Quality materials and workmanship.

What needs to be improved

  • Tolerances are very tight for all compartments.
  • With Nest installed, little can be placed in front compartment.
  • Cannot fit standard iPad into Nest padded pocket.

Final thoughts

I really, really wanted to love this pack. It has all the cool ideas I have thought of over the years of traveling with technology: integrated, easy charging, channels for cable management, accommodation for both a full-sized laptop and a standard-sized iPad. But no accommodation seems to have been made for things like a set of noise-canceling headphones, or a rain jacket, or anything else larger than a hard-backed novel. While shooting most of the photos accompanying this article, my Lovely Bride (and current hand model) noted several times that she would never be able to use this for travel because of the tightness of the compartments. Sure, it’s a catch-22: you want a thin backpack, and you want it to be spacious. No one has built a Tardis pack yet that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Mary Poppins should get right on that.
If you’re only traveling with very flat items, and need the recharging capabilities of this bag, I can’t recommend it highly enough, though. Just be aware that if you want to carry along a crushable straw hat, over-the-ear headphones, or a pair of walking shoes, you’re going to face a significant packing challenge, and probably wind up leaving something behind.

Price:
Pack $124.95 – currently on sale for $89.95
Nest $39.95 – currently on sale for $29.95
Reach $24.95

Where to buy: MOS and Amazon

Source: The sample of this product was provided by MOS.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro review

So far, 2018 has been a gut punch for Huawei. Huawei is the 2nd largest phone maker in the world, and they were all set to finally make their big splash here in the US, but then AT&T pulled out of a partnership deal and then US intelligence agencies sent out a warning that Americans should not buy phones from Huawei (and ZTE) because of fears that these Chinese companies are a cybersecurity threat for stealing information. To answer this, Huawei says:

“Huawei is aware of a range of U.S. government activities seemingly aimed at inhibiting Huawei’s business in the U.S. market.  Huawei is trusted by governments and customers in 170 countries worldwide and poses no greater cybersecurity risk than any ICT vendor, sharing as we do common global supply chains and production capabilities. We are committed to openness and transparency in everything we do. Ultimately, Huawei will continue to develop its global business through a significant commitment to innovation and R&D and to delivering technology that helps our customers succeed in all markets that value the innovation and value it delivers.”

At the time of this writing, there hasn’t been any hard evidence to back up the government’s claims that Huawei or ZTE are spying on us. I’m not going to tell you to buy or not buy Huawei phones and I’m not going to talk politics either because that’s not what we do here on The Gadgeteer. I’m just here to review this phone. So let’s get started.

What is it?

The Mate 10 Pro is Chinese technology giant Huawei’s latest flagship Android smartphone with the build quality and features that have been set to compete with other high-end phones from Apple,  Samsung, etc.

Hardware specifications

Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970
Octa-core CPU (4 x Cortex A73 2.36 GHz+4 x Cortex A53 1.8 GHz)+i7 co-processor, Mali-G72 MP12 GPU
NPU: Neural Network Processing Unit
Operating System: Android 8
Memory: 6 GB RAM+128 GB ROM
Display: 6in 2160 x 1080 pixels, 402 ppi OLED Display
Network: Carrier unlocked 4G LTE TDD: B39
4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B14/B18/B20/B28/B29/B30/B66
LAA Band: B46
3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8
2G GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8 (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Camera (rear): 20 MP Monochrome+12 MP RGB, f/1.6
Camera (front): 8 MP FF, f/2.0
Connectivity:
Bluetooth: BT4.2, support BLE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4 G/5 G, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support
DisplayPort 1.2
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS/Glonass/BDS
Battery: 4000 mAh
Dimensions: 154.2mm X 74.5mm X 7.9mm
Weight: 178 grams
Water and Dust Resistant IP67 under IEC standard 60529

What’s in the box?

  • Mate 10 Pro smartphone
  • USB-C Earphones
  • AC Charger
  • USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
  • Flexible Clear Case
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Eject tool

Design and features

When I first opened the box and saw the pretty Midnight Blue phone, I was like ooooh, it’s so pretty! For those of you who are adverse to color, the Mate 10 Pro is also available in Diamond Black and Titanium Gray.

The front of the phone is all screen except for narrow bezels along the top and bottom edges. At the top edge is a front firing speaker that has an ambient light sensor on one side and the front-facing camera on the other side. To the left of the ambient light sensor is a tiny status LED that lights up when the phone is charging and when notifications come in.

The back of the phone has dual camera Leica lenses, an LED flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

The phone’s back is made of glass with a finish that is slick and shiny. That means that it’s a magnet for fingerprints and smudges and is slippery as heck. But in what is a first for modern smartphones, I was surprised to find that the Mate 10 Pro ships with a clear silicone case included in the box. That’s a nice touch as you will be able to protect your shiny new phone as soon as you take it out of the box.

Another equally nice touch is a pre-installed screen protector. Again, I was surprised that Huawei included this with the phone, but it’s a welcome “freebie”. Especially since it’s been installed perfectly with no bubbles or dust to be seen.

On the left side of the phone, you’ll find the SIM card slot, but it doesn’t have an area for a micro SD card.

On the opposite side, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker button. Both buttons are nicely raised so you can find them with your finger and both have excellent tactile feedback. Like the Essential Phone PH-1, the power button is located below the volume button instead of above it, but unlike the Essential, I didn’t find that I had any problems pressing the wrong button.

The top edge of the phone has a speaker and an IR blaster so that you can use your phone as a universal remote control for your TV and other equipment.

On the bottom edge, you’ll find more microphones, a USB Type-C charging port and a downward firing speaker.

The Mate 10 Pro looks and feels like what you would expect from a high-end flagship phone. It’s solidly made with rounded sides and a smooth rounded back for a comfortable feel. The Mate 10 Pro had no problems surviving my rigorous Gadgeteer squeeze test without rattling, flexing, or creaking.

Display

The Mate 10 Pro’s 6-inch OLED display is lovely to look at. It’s bright, crisp, and clear. Unlike other screens like the one on my Pixel 2 XL, the screen doesn’t have a blue tint when you look at it from any angle other than straight on. Even with the brightness level set to 50%, the Mate 10 Pro’s screen is really comfortable to view.

I mentioned earlier about the status LED and the screen protector. The image above shows both. Yes, that tiny yellow dot at the top is the LED.

Fingerprint reader

For those of you who like to read my phone reviews, you might remember that I’m always complaining about fingerprint scanners because they almost never work for me. I say almost because the Pixel 2 XL’s fingerprint scanner is the first one to work for me 99% of the time. All other phones work for the first day after I set up my fingerprint and then they stop until I reprogram it. Then it stops again within a day. Rinse and repeat. Guess what though? The Huawei works for me too and I would say that it might work even better and faster than the Pixel 2’s! It seems to unlock as soon as my finger gets close to the scanner.

Camera






With Leica lenses, you would expect the Mate 10 Pro’s camera to be impressive and it doesn’t disappoint. This phone is a capable shooter. It’s blazing fast at capturing impromptu shots with a double click of the volume down button. It even shows off how fast it is by displaying the speed it took to wake and snap a picture, which if you’re curious is less than a second every time I’ve tried it.

I’m not going to pretend to be a professional photographer, but from the pictures I’ve taken with this phone, I’ve found that the colors seem true to life and sharp, even in low light. It’s even really good at taking macro shots.

Audio quality

Although you probably won’t want to listen to your favorite tunes through the phone’s speakers, you won’t be put off by their audio quality if you do. Music and other media audio sound really good. Audio quality is even better if you use the included 3.5mm to USB Type-C adapter with your favorite wired headphones.

Using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro for phone calls

During my 2 weeks using the Mate 10 Pro, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls with this phone on the T-mobile network and have felt that the volume level on both sides of the conversation has been just fine.

Software and user interface

The Mate 10 Pro ships with Android v8.0 and Huawei’s own skin over stock Android that’s called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different, but it does add extra features like the ability to take screenshots by knocking twice on the screen with your knuckle. You can also knock once and then draw an S to take a scrolling screenshot for really long pages. There’s even a built-in tool to record a screencast.


Other features included in the EMUI includes a special button that you can add anywhere on the screen that improves one-handed use. Tapping the button goes back to the home screen, and holding the button and sliding to the right goes to the previous app while holding the button and sliding to the left pulls up all the open apps.

The are other gestures that you can use to show apps in a split-screen view and you can launch apps by drawing a letter with your knuckle.

The phone even has its own very basic built-in assistant called Emy that you can use to make and answer calls.

I like some of the gestures, especially the screenshot gestures, but one thing I don’t like about the Mate 10 Pro is the software bundle. Instead of sticking with stock Google apps for the core set of programs like contacts, calculator, messages, calendar, etc, Huawei has included their own versions of these apps. Blah… I’m not saying their versions of these core apps are bad, but they are a waste of space for me because I like to stick with stock Google apps. Even more disappointing is that you can’t uninstall or hide the Huawei apps from the app list.

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro does have another trick up its sleeve. You can connect it to a large screen via HDMI and experience a desktop computer look and feel that reminds me of the Samsung DeX Station without having to buy a special dock. All you’ll need is an HDMI cable with a USB Type-C connector on the other end or a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter. I already had a cable and an adapter, so all I had to do was connect the Type-C connector to the Mate 10 Pro and the other end to my Hisense 65″ TV.

The large screen TV shows a full-screen Android desktop with a taskbar at the bottom and icons on the left side. Can’t you see the icons on the left side? Yeah, me neither. That’s the problem. A problem that I wasn’t able to resolve by changing the resolution on the phone or the format of the TV. Actually, switching the TV to 4:3 format, did allow me to see part of the icons, but ick. This feature would be really cool – if it worked. *I’ll update the review when I hear back from  Huawei if there’s a fix for this problem*

Overall performance and battery life using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro for day to day tasks

This phone has a 4000mAh battery that keeps it running for a full day of medium to heavy use, with lots of juice to spare. I never saw a low battery warning and when I did recharge, it was topped off very quickly due to Huawei’s SuperCharge technology which gives you a full day of power on a 20-minute charge.

What I like

  • Comes with a case and pre-installed screen protector
  • Terrific camera that’s blazing fast
  • Great battery life
  • Unlocked for use on GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T

What needs to be improved

  • Bloatware
  • No wireless charging even though the phone has a glass back

Final thoughts

I wasn’t expecting to like the Huawei as much as I do. Except for wireless charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot, this phone has pretty much every other feature you’d expect in a premium phone. The Mate 10 Pro is a quality phone and it’s a shame that it probably won’t get a lot of traction here in the US due to government warnings not to buy it and the fact that none of the major carriers are going to sell it. However, you can buy one from online shops like Amazon and Best Buy.

Price: $799.99
Where to buy: Amazon and Best Buy
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Huawei.