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Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod review

When you shop for a new smartphone, do you base your decision on how good the camera is? It’s a determining factor for me. I wouldn’t consider buying a phone that has a sub par camera because my phone is my main camera. That’s why I’ve been fascinated with camera accessories like clip on lenses that might improve my images and when Motorola and Hasselblad created the True Zoom camera Moto Mod, it perked my interest and I was happy to get the chance to try one out for a few days. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Hasselblad True Zoom is a Moto Mod for Motorola Moto Z smartphones that turn the Moto Z into a true pocket camera with a zoom lens.

This quick review isn’t going to be super technical because I’m not a professional photographer and I don’t know all the ends and outs of lenses and camera gear. I just am a casual photo snapper who mainly uses automatic mode to snap a few images every day. But I am always interested in making those images look better with the least amount of effort.

You probably already know what Moto Mods are by now, but just in case you don’t, they are magnetic attachments for Motorola Moto Z phones that offer extra functions and customizations. There are decorative covers for the back of the phone, Bluetooth speakers, projectors, gaming controllers, and more.

The Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod shown above on the left has electrical contacts that match up with contacts on the back of a Moto Z phone to create an electrical connection. The mod is also magnetic which allows it to attach to the back of the phone without clips or latches.

At first glance, the True Zoom looks like a point-and-shoot camera. But upon closer inspection, you will notice that it doesn’t have a viewfinder, a display or a memory card slot. That’s where the Moto Z comes in.

The True Zoom snaps securely to the back of the Moto Z to turn it into a full fledged 12MP camera with 10x optical zoom, a xenon flash, shutter button, and zooming mechanism.

What’s in the box?
Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod
Protective carrying case
User guide

Camera specs
Sensor type: BSI CMOS
Sensor size: 1/2.3-inch
Pixel size: 1.55 um
Aperture: f3.5-6.5
Zoom: 10x optical/4x digital
Focal length: 4.5-45 mm (25-250mm 35mm equivalent)
Macro: 5cm @1x – 1.5m @10x
Image stabilization Still: OIS Video: EIS
ISO equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Dimensions: 152.3 x 72.9 x 9.0 – 15.1 mm
Weight: 145g

The True Zoom doesn’t need to be charged as it gets all the power it needs directly from the phone it’s attached to. It also doesn’t need its own software because it uses the built in camera app. So all you need to do is snap it on the back of the Moto Z and you’re ready to shoot.

The True Zoom Moto Mod adds considerable thickness to the very thin Moto Z2 Play Android smartphone that was included with the True Zoom for my evaluation. It’s a bulky mod and as such, it’s not something that you would leave attached to your phone all the time.

The True Zoom lives up to its name because it does indeed have a built in lens that zooms from 4.5-45 mm (25-250mm 35mm equivalent).

The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod has a small power button on top and a larger shutter button with a spring loaded collar around it that is used to zoom the lens in and out.

Just like true cameras, you can press the shutter half way to focus and then all the way to snap the image.

The mod also offers a nice grip that adds even more to the pocket camera feel when you’re using it.

Let’s check out some images to see if the True Zoom makes a noticeable difference shooting images compared to capturing the same images with just the Moto Z2 Play.

Example images

I tried to frame the comparison shots as closely as I could and snapped them one after the other. So I would take a picture with the Moto Z2 Play and then put the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod on the back and shoot the same image in that order. Also, all shots are taken without a tripod.

All images can be clicked to see the original full size photo.


Indoor shot with bright backlight. Both were taken with no zoom applied.


Both images above were taken without any zoom applied. They are similar except that I think the True Zoom captures colors that look more natural compared to the Moto Z2 Play’s image on the left which has too much green/yellow tint to it.


Both images have zoom applied and we start to notice that the True Zoom is sharper than the digital zoomed image from the Moto Z2 Play without the moto mod attached. The color tinge on the Moto picture is still noticeable.


More zoom applied to both. Both are blurry when you view the full sized image but the True Zoom pic looks considerably better in small sized web images.


Max zoom applied to both. The Moto Z2 Play image looks very blurry compared to the True Zoom pic. But if you click to see the full sized image, the True Zoom is also a little blurry. That could be because the picture was taken without a tripod which probably should be used with 10X zoomed pics. A threaded tripod socket on the True Zoom would be a nice feature that is lacking.


The yellow mailbox in the True Zoom image looks better than the Moto Z2 Play’s image because the color on the top curve of the mailbox is smoother and not over exposed like in the Moto Z2 image.


Again, the True Zoom’s image looks better when you compare the two Android figures.




When it comes to indoor low light pics, the Moto Z2 Play’s image without flash is brighter than the True Zoom’s image.

Using flash, the True Zoom’s image looks better. Check out the window in both images and notice how you can see the trees in the True Zoom’s picture (FYI: this is a basement window).

Note: you can shoot in RAW format with the True Zoom.

Using the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod was easy for the most part because all I had to do was place it on the back of the phone and launch the camera app. No other special changes are needed. But I did notice a few issues.

The camera app seemed to crash on a semi-regular basis while the True Zoom was connected to the phone. I also noticed that sometimes the lens would extend when I would pull the phone with the attached mod out of my pocket because it was easy to press one of the buttons on the mod which sometimes (but not always) cause the mod to activate and wake the phone.

Final thoughts

I like the idea of the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod, but when it comes down to the images improvements over a Moto Z without the True Zoom, I wasn’t overly impressed especially with non-zoomed images. I’d personally only carry this mod with me when I knew I’d be taking a lot of telephoto (zoomed) shots. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother using it due to the added bulk. There’s also the price which puts this accessory in the “I’d like to have this but I don’t want to pay this much for it” category for most people.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $249.99
Manufacturer: Hasselblad / Motorola
Retailer: Verizon Wireless
Requirements:
  • Moto Z family of smartphones
Pros:
  • Easily snaps on the back
  • No charging necessary
  • 10 X zoom
Cons:
  • Bulky
  • Expensive
  • Camera app crashes regularly
  • Lacks a tripod socket

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Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm.

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Syllable D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones review

I am writing this review on a train while heading into the City of Philadelphia for a business meeting. I also happen to be listening to one of my favorite podcasts on my new favorite headphones: the Syllable D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones. I’ve been using these for a month, and I am a big fan of their sound quality and overall design. Are they the right headphones for you? Let’s have a look at the details…

Design and Construction

The Syllable D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones are a one-piece, necklace-style design that consists of four parts: the ear pods, a control pod, and a cord that connects everything together. I’ll walk you through the key components, then tie it all together.

The primary component of the design is the two post-style ear pods, which contain all the hardware bits for the headphones. Each pod is about 1-3/8″ by 3/8″ by 1/4″, with the earbuds positioned at a 120-degree angle so that the pods themselves don’t rub against your ear when in position. There’s also a crescent-shaped bit of rubber on each earbud that tucks in under the whorl of your ear when in a position that anchors the earbuds in place. 

The control pod is set in the connecting cord and hangs a few inches below your right ear. You’ll find three control buttons set into this pod, arranged in order from top (closest to your ear) to bottom: volume up, a multifunction button, and volume down. The buttons are raised and well-spaced with good tactile feedback, promoting intuitive operation when you’re running about. You’ll also find the charging port here, sealed behind a rubber tab when not in use. There’s also a tiny LED status indicator light on the control pod (more on that below). The necklace-style chord itself is 23 inches long from earbud-to-earbud, including the control pod.

Construction of the Syllable D300L is very good. It’s designed for use during exercise, so the whole setup is designed to be water resistant. The ear pods themselves are solidly assembled with no moving parts, and all seams are sealed and/or rubberized to promote water resistance. It’s a solid build, so it will take some pulling, dropping, or being thrown in your gym bag without worrying about pieces breaking. I don’t think I would test it by stomping on it, but I’ve used it for a month of abuse without any cracks or fails in the construction.

The complete package includes several different sized ear nodules and crescents so that you can find a fit that works based on the size/shape of your ear. You’ll also find a USB charging chord, with a micro USB end that fits into the charging port on the control pod. I’ve been using my iPhone or iPod power pack as the charging base, and this works just fine… just don’t lose that power chord unless you have another USB-to-micro USB cable. You also get a little felt drawstring bag to keep everything together.

In Use

The Syllable D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones use Bluetooth 4.2, which is great for use across a broad range of devices. Pairing is fast and easy. Turn on the device via the multifunction button, then push and hold the button for three seconds. The LED will blink red and blue to indicate discovery mode, at which time you can pair it with your device. Once paired the device retains a memory of previous pairings, so it automatically reconnects to the last used device if it’s in range. There are also audio tones that indicate successful pairing so that you can just turn it on and listen for confirmation that you’re connected while wearing the headphones. The earphones also have a range of up to 10 meters from the device, which is convenient if you’re roaming about the office or your gym (provided that your device is safe!).

Sound quality is excellent. I don’t claim to be an audiophile, but I have found that the earphones have a broad volume range, with great stereo sound and bass. Listening quality is excellent even at lower volumes in noisy places. I’ve been even more impressed with the quality of phone calls. People I have been on the phone with have commented on the clarity, even on a moving train and speaking in a low tone (so I don’t offend my fellow travelers… I tend to have a booming voice). The microphone does a decent job of eliminating background noise as well. I’ve taken conference calls in busy places like airports, with no distracting background noise reported by my fellow meeting participants.

As far as comfort and functionality goes, I’ve been very happy with the design. The whole arrangement seems like it would be awkward at first with all that hardware hanging off of your ears, but I found them to be pretty unobtrusive in active use. With the rubber ear buds in place, I also found it to be surprisingly comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The chord is long enough that you can wear it below your chin or flip it over to rest on the back of your neck, but it is not so long that it will get caught up in something if you’re throwing your bag on your shoulder or in the middle of a workout. I’ve also found that those rubber crescent bits on the earbuds do a very good job of keeping the pods in position when worn, and are resistant to the occasional bump or pull.

If there is one big drawback to this headset, I would say that it is the battery life. Syllable claims that the earphones have 4 hours of active use which seems accurate in my testing, but their claim of 10 hours of standby time doesn’t match up to my experience. This basically means that if you forget to charge the earphones, you’ve got 4-6 hours from the last charge until they konk out. This may not seem too bad if you’re just using them to go to the gym… unless you forgot to power down the earphones after your last visit. I found on more than one occasion I was facing a dead battery because I forgot to turn the earphones off after the last use. I have also found that I need to manage them closely during day trips, powering down periodically to conserve battery life.

Pricing and Conclusion

The Syllabus D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones really have some nice features going for them: comfortable, excellent sound quality, quality construction, and easy pairing are all highlights in the design. The relatively short battery life is a problem, however, that may not work for you depending on your desired use. If you want a good quality set of headphones for the gym or short periods of use, they are fantastic. If you need something with extended battery life, they probably won’t work for you unless you bring your own portable charging device.

Here is the other factor to consider, however: the price. You can pick these earphones up on Amazon right now for under $30, which seems to me to be an excellent value given their quality and durability. Check them out on Amazon for more information.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Syllable. Please visit the product page on Amazon for more information.

 

Product Information

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer: Syllable
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Well built & durable
  • Great sound quality
  • Excellent for phone calls (microphone quality and background noice cancellation)
Cons:
  • Short battery life requires regular charging
  • Ear pod design may be uncomfortable for some

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Syllable D300L Wireless Bluetooth Earphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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Wallflower lets you know if you’ve left your stove on

Have you ever left the house and forgotten to turn a burner off on your stove? That’s not a trivial problem as every year many house fires originate with the stove. Wallflower is a smart device that will send an alert to your phone and will sound an audible alert when you’ve left the stove on for an extended period of time.

Currently only available for electric stoves, Wallflower is an easy to install module that plugs in between the stove and the wall outlet where the stove is currently connected.

An iOS or Android app on your mobile device pairs the adapter and has remote monitoring options as well as a geofencing feature that will alert you if you leave the house with the stove still turned on.

Be aware that the Wallflower module is designed only to let you know when a burner on your stove top has been left on. It will NOT turn the burner off for you and it does not monitor the oven.

Wallflower is priced at $169.00 and is available now. You can read more about it at wallflower.com

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Wallflower lets you know if you’ve left your stove on originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Play games on your iPhone like a boss

The GoPlay Sidekick from Kanex enhances your iOS game playing experience by giving you a real controller that you can hold in your hands instead of a virtual controller on your iPhone or iPad’s screen.

The GoPlay Sidekick is small enough to put in your pocket and features a device stand that’s built into the controller’s storage case.

Certified by Apple, the Kanex GoPlay Sidekick is a portable controller that’s compatible with almost any controller-supported game in the App Store. The controller’s rechargeable battery provides 20 hours of gameplay per charge and uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.

The GoPlay Sidekick is priced at $59.95. You can read more about it at kanex.com/goplay-sidekick and order there or soon on Amazon.

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Play games on your iPhone like a boss originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Nessie the Loch Ness Monster will mark your page

The imaginative people at Animi Causa are at it again. This time with this ultra cute book marker. The Nessie Tale Bookmark is a plastic book marker that fits between the pages of your book to mark your spot in a way that no ordinary book mark can do.

Animi Causa must have a thing for Nessie because they offer several other Nessie products like the Nessie soup ladle that we told you about last year.

The Nessie Tale Bookmark is available in three colors that include green, turquoise, and purple (not shown here).

Each bookmark is $9.99 or you can buy a set of three for $17. Head over to Animi Causa for more info and to order.

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Nessie the Loch Ness Monster will mark your page originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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