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Julie’s gadget diary – The Huawei MateBook X Pro could actually replace my MacBook

ARTICLE – I have been using iMacs and MacBooks to do my Gadgeteer work for the past 13 years. I love the simplicity of macOS and although I use a Windows 10 laptop all day long at my day job, I’m always happy to go home and use my 12-inch MacBook. However, a few weeks ago my MB had to be admitted into the “hospital” to fix the keyboard and I was without it for 2 whole weeks. During that time I used a Windows notebook and I survived the experience quite well. So well in fact that it made me start thinking about my next notebook computer and if it will be a Windows notebook instead of another MacBook. One such Windows notebook to catch my eye lately as a potential replacement is the Huawei MateBook X Pro which I’ve had the opportunity to test drive.

I will let you know right away that if you came here to read a full review of the MateBook X Pro, that you’re going to be disappointed because this article is not a review. At least not in the traditional sense. You can read a bazillion reviews on other tech sites if that is what you’re looking for because talking about the ins and outs of hardware specs makes my eyes glaze over and might do the same for you. Nope, this article is going to be my general impressions after using this notebook for a few days to do the type of tasks that I do with my MacBook.

First of all, the Huawei MateBook X Pro is a gorgeous piece of hardware that looks and feels like a premium device. The brushed metal housing comes in either Mystic Silver or Space Gray. Hey, can they really call it that? 😉 I was sent the Space Gray version and it’s a looker. It looks like it has a blue or even purple tint to it in some light conditions. Regardless, it looks nice.

Then you open the display and wow. Super thin bezels and a gorgeous bright, vivid, crisp picture with 178-degree viewing angles. It’s a touchscreen too which I always forget about. There’s something about notebooks with touchscreens, I just can’t make myself touch the display. I guess it comes from years of knowing that doing so would leave smudges and could even harm the screens that keep me from wanting to use that feature.

This display blows my 12-inch MacBook away as far as resolution (3000 x 2000) which is a silly statement given the MateBook X Pro is 13.9-inches and my little MacBook is only 12-inches. Using the Huawei made me feel like I could easily do away with an external monitor, not that I really want to ditch my BenQ PD2710QC DesignView 27-inch Designer Monitor which I’ve been enjoying the last few months.

Besides macOS, what I love most about MacBooks are the keyboard (well at least until mine died!) and even more, the trackpad. I’ve tried several other Windows laptops over the years and the main thing that I hate about them is the trackpad. So I wasn’t expecting to like the Hauwei’s but I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy, smooth, tactile, and responsive it was. If trackpads were the main reason I’ve not switched back to a Windows computer, that excuse died when I started using the MateBook X Pro.

The backlit keyboard is also roomy and comfortable to type on. Another bonus is that it is spill proof. I wonder if that means that it is also dust proof… I’m looking at you Apple. The keys look very much like my MacBook’s keys as far as shape, color, etc. But the larger sized keys really make this keyboard a joy to type on if you’re a touch typist like I am. My fingers can absolutely fly on this notebook.

There are also two surprises hidden in the keyboard if you include the power button as part of the keyboard. The power button has a built-in fingerprint reader so you can turn on the notebook and sign in to the homescreen all with just one press.

The other surprise is hidden in the center function key above the 7 key. Press this key and a little camera pops up out of the keyboard. Nifty, but the only problem is that it’s not best angle if you have a double chin since the camera is pointing up at a very unflattering angle instead of straight at you.

Another plus is that even though the MateBook X Pro is thin and relatively lightweight at 2.93 pounds. It doesn’t skimp on ports either as there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, and a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port on the left side of the notebook.

And on the right side is a USB 3.0 type A port for all of your legacy devices like flash drives, etc. The only thing missing is a card reader and another thing to consider is that the MateBook X Pro doesn’t have a fanless design. While using it, the fan did kick on a few times which reminded me just how much I hate fan noise. So that’s something to consider.

I have really enjoyed using the MateBook X Pro and I’m a little sad to send it back to Huawei. The battery life has been stellar, the display is killer, the Dolby Atmos speaker system is top notch, and the overall build quality is excellent.

As I’ve said many times in my other gadget diary posts, I do about 90% of my work in a web browser (my current favorite is Chrome) and the rest of my work is done in Photoshop and a few other apps like AirDroid, FileZilla, DayOne, ToDoist, etc. I’m not a gamer and don’t need to edit video all that often. So it all honesty, I can do the bulk of my Gadgeteer work in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or even Linux. So for me, when it comes to choosing hardware, it comes down to things like the keyboard, the trackpad, the display, available ports, size, weight, etc. Other than the built-in fan and that it runs Windows OS, I really like this notebook. A lot.

It would be nice if Huawei notebooks were available for people to see in person here in the US in stores like Best Buy because I bet they’d sell a lot more of them if people could touch and feel them. It can be scary to spend over $1000 on a computer without actually seeing one in person, but from the short time that I’ve spent with the Huawei MateBook X Pro, I am smitten with it. It’s a premium notebook that is on my short list of options when the time comes for me to upgrade.

When it comes to price, the MateBook X Pro starts at $1,199.99 which gets you the Intel Core i5 8th gen 1.60GHz CPU, 256GB SSD, and 8GB of memory. If you want to fully load it with an Intel Core i7 8th gen 1.80GHz CPU, 256GB SSD and 16GB of memory, that will set you back $1,499.99. Either configuration is less expensive than a 13-inch MacBook so if Windows OS is your preference, this notebook offers a great value and a real bang for your buck and should be considered if you’re needing to upgrade, buy a laptop for a kid going off to college, etc.

You can read all the specs and info about the Huawei MateBook X Pro on Huawei’s site and you can buy one from Newegg or Microsoft.com

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Julie’s gadget diary – The Huawei MateBook X Pro could actually replace my MacBook originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 4:10 pm.

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Updated type experience coming to Adobe InDesign CC and Illustrator CC

NEWS – Anyone who has used the latest Adobe Creative Cloud versions of InDesign or Illustrator has probably noticed that font selection is a little unwieldy. I use InDesign every day and whenever I’m looking for a specific sort of typeface to use, like a nice handwritten font, I find myself squinting at the tiny font sample next to the name. But fear not, Adobe has heard your cries!

In the upcoming version of InDesign and Illustrator, a vastly improved type menu will allow for customized sample display text and integrated access to the 9,000 TypeKit fonts that are included with a Creative Cloud subscription. You will be able to browse this font library in the app and quickly preview your chosen text in any font of your choice.

Check out the video on Adobe’s blog for a closer look. I’m very much looking forward to this small but potent improvement!

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Updated type experience coming to Adobe InDesign CC and Illustrator CC originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 2:19 pm.

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The Lightning Bug will give you the bug to capture amazing lightning shots!


NEWS – Some time ago, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to review the MIOPS Smart device, which allows me to photograph water drops, and other events triggered by sound, or movement or lightning. While I have used the MIOPS Smart exclusively for water drop photography, I have been thinking about trying it with lightning which is not an easy task. As I continue my planning for the lightning test, I started to wonder if there is a similar device that is designed specifically for lightning as opposed to multiple types of events. My hope was that such a device would make the setup and process easier.

Just recently I came across just such a dedicated lightning capture device call the Lightning Bug. This device claims to provide specific functions and features to allow you the required and desired customization aimed at capturing the best lightning photos. Its features include 26 levels of sensitivity for control in any type of lightning situation (LED Bar Graph built-in), the ability to adjust frames per second from 1 to 10, and a simple 3-button control of all functions via a water-resistant soft-touch panel.

This device is compatible with a large number of various brands and models of cameras. You can see the compatibility list here.

If you would like more information on the Lightning Bug, or you would like to purchase one, you can head over to the MK Controls website or Amazon to pick one up for $179. This price includes the compatible cable for your camera.

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The Lightning Bug will give you the bug to capture amazing lightning shots! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Vena 6Netic Magnetic Smartphone Bike Mount review

REVIEW – My husband and I have always been bicycle riders.  Back in the day, we used to do the MS Bike to the Beach here in Texas where we rode 150 miles over 2 days for Multiple Sclerosis.  Since then we have notbeen the true roadies we once were.  We have started to ride the numerous bike paths that they have finally built here in the San Antonio, Texas area.  In an effort to make himself use his bicycle more, my husband expressed a desire to be able to mount his IPhone to his bicycle’s handlebar so that he may use his bike as a method to easily get more Pokemon.  Yes, he is a die-hard fan of the game.  We have gone through several different mounts and not found one that is really stable and easy to use.  So when I got the chance to review the Vena Magnetic Bike Mount I jumped at it.  Let’s see how it worked out.

What is it?

The Vena 6Netic Smartphone Bike mount is a bike mount that uses two different methods to keep your phone safe and secure on your bicycle.  It uses a six magnet phone mount and a rubber strap system to securely hold your phone in place.

What’s in the box?

The box itself could not be any plainer.  There was no outside writing on it to even describe what was in the box.  However, everything inside was well packed and protected.   Inside the box I found:

  • The mount itself
  • A long bolt with a plastic screw head and nut that is used to attach the mount to the bike
  • Two different colored rubber strap systems (red and black)
  • Instructions on a single sheet of paper
  • A GoPro screw you can use to mount a GoPro camera to the front of the mount
  • Two rubber pads used to hold the mount on the bicycle handlebars
  • Two metal plates – one with 3m tape on one side and one plain
  • Sticker from Vena

Design and Features

The picture below has the GoPro mount highlighted on the bicycle mount itself.  I do not own a GoPro so since I could not use it, I removed it from the mount.  This was easy to do with two small Phillips screws at the back of the mount.  The Vena website states that you can even mount some compatible headlights using this particular mount.

The next picture below shows you what my husband’s bike handlebars look like.  He has a Specialized Sirrus which we bought last year.  The handlebars are unusual in that they start off fat in the center by the stem and then go down to normal size when you get to the handlebars.  This has presented us with issues when trying out other bike mounts.  I would place the mount as close to the stem as possible and tighten down, but inevitably the mount would start slipping down the handlebar.   A lot of this had to do with the mounts tightening down using just a basic screw that I had to tighten down with a screwdriver.  Many of the mounts were awkward to mount and made tightening the mount really hard to do.   The Vena mount with its large hand screw made mounting really simple.

The next picture below shows the mount completely open where it would go around the handlebar.  I have just placed the two rubber grip strips inside the mount.  This was very easy to do and they mounted with the 3M tape that was already attached to one side of the rubber.  A lot of mounts will just give you a rubber strip you have to manually hold in place while you tighten down the mount.  Having these stuck in place made mounting very easy.

The next two pictures show how I mounted the rubber strap to the main mount.  The picture on the left is showing the back side of the mount.  This is the side that would be facing out towards the street in front of you.  You can see the two screw holes where I removed the GoPro mount.   The picture on the right is the side of the mount that would be facing the rider.  I simply slid the magnet holder up and it popped off the mount.  You are looking at the back side of the magnet on the right of the mount.  I then slid the rubber strap over the magnet mount then clipped the magnet back in place.   There were two identical circles in the rubber strap so I just picked on and left the larger part of the strap system sticking out of the top of the mount.  The instructions were not very helpful in showing how to mount this rubber strap.

In the picture below you can now see the mount on the bicycle.  The knob on the right lets you adjust the angle in which the phone is viewed.

The next two pictures show you how the mount looks with my husband’s iPhone 7s installed.  Something to note, I wonder if you had an iPhone X with no bezels if the rubber straps would interfere with phone usage?  I took one of the metal plates and placed it inside the phone case between the phone and the case.  I could not even tell it was there once mounted.  I then place the phone on the mount where it was held in place by the magnet.  Finally, I pulled the rubber straps out and around each corner of the phone.  Let’s just say that phone is going nowhere.   I literally picked the bike up and bounced it several times on the tires in an effort to dislodge the phone and it never budged.    Time, of course, will tell if the mount itself will slip on the handlebars, but at least my husband will be able to hand tighten it out on the trail.

What I like

I love how easy it was to mount this smartphone holder on to the bicycle.  Just being able to have a nice sturdy plastic screw head to be able to hand tighten down the mount without any tools was awesome.  I also loved how they gave you the capability to easily change the angle at which you view the phone.  Finally not having to manually hold a rubber strip in place while trying to tighten down the mount was also a big plus.  So far the mount has held steady over a couple of rides with no issues.

What can be improved

The only concern I would have is what I mentioned before about the rubber straps going over a screen instead of just bezels like on the iPhone 7.  I wonder if the touch screen would think the straps are fingers touching the screen.  Maybe someone who has used a similar mount can comment on this.  They also could improve their instructions so they could show exactly how the rubber strap should go on the mount.

Price: $16.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Vena.

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Vena 6Netic Magnetic Smartphone Bike Mount review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 10:59 am.

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Sony Introduces the 500 Million Limited Edition PS4 Pro

NEWS: As a thank you to Playstation fans for hitting 500 million systems sold, Sony is releasing a beautiful translucent blue 500 Million Limited Edition PS4 Pro. Each system will have a copper plate accent on the front, and Limited Edition serial number etched in. There will also be a few extra special units with serial numbers that commemorate important events in the history of PlayStation.

The 500 Million Limited Edition PS4 Pro system will sell for $499.99 in the US, or you can grab the Limited Edition DualShock 4 standalone for $64.99. The Limited Edition gold wireless headset will also be sold separately at $99.99.Quantities are limited to limited to 50,000 units worldwide, so let us know in the comments if you grab one on August 24th when they will be released! You can read more over at the Playstation blog.

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Sony Introduces the 500 Million Limited Edition PS4 Pro originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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