Home 2018 September

Jabra Engage 75 stereo headset review

REVIEW – I’ve had office headsets before, but that was over 20 years ago. Today we’ve got desk phones, smartphones, desktop computers… the list goes on. The Jabra Engage 75 is a professional wireless headset system designed to work with all of these devices in a unified package.

What is it?

The Jabra Engage 75 is a wireless headset that provides simultaneous connections to up to five devices. It can connect to desk phone, softphone, analog phone, and two Bluetooth devices.

Hardware specs

Battery Timer: 13 hours
Wireless Range: 150 meters / 490 feet
Connect up to: 5 devices

What’s in the box?

The kit comes with the headset, base, phone cord, USB cable, power supply and quick start guide.

Design and features

This particular model has two ear cups. It will produce stereo audio if you’re connected to such a source such as playing music back from your phone.


The cups do fold back as part of the swiveling design.

On the bottom of one of the cups is the dock connector.

The silver disk in the center is the pick up/hang up button. Two tiny bumps control volume.

The tip of the microphone hides a tiny “busy” LED to let others know you’re in on a call. There’s a hidden mute button as well. This mutes your outgoing audio.

Setup

The back of the base is pretty well labeled. I was able to connect my desktop phone, my Mac Mini, and my iPhone (bluetooth).

This particular model has a touch-sensitive screen with a display which made setup a snap.

A setup wizard walks you through the setup. You can always re-do the setup if you want.

Install the Jabra Firmware Updater (Mac version shown here) to check for firmware updates. In this screenshot, the firmware is being updated.

Performance

I made a few test recordings to see what the headset sounded like in my office (not a recording booth) compared to the Apple AirPods (wireless ear buds) and the basic wired headphones you get with every iPhone.


To me, the wired earbud that comes with the phone sounds the clearest, but this is a wired device. The Apple AirPods are wireless but sound less clear. The Jabra sounds perfectly serviceable and is wireless, in addition to being quite comfortable.

What I like

I was able to connect my desktop computer (USB), iPhone (Bluetooth) and desk phone. Super comfortable to wear!

What needs to be improved

Expensive, but this is really for a professional office environment where cordless security is paramount. Don’t forget, you still need to lift the handset off the desk phone unless you have a dedicated handset jack, or an electronic lifter.

Final thoughts

The Jabra Engage 75 has really solved my headset clutter. I now have just one device to take calls as well as listening to my desktop or iPhone audio.

Price: $420
Where to buy: Jabra and Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Jabra.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Jabra Engage 75 stereo headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Add a touch of elegance to your Apple Watch with an Alcantara band

NEWS – Since Apple has discontinued their Edition versions of the Apple Watch, there’s only the Hermes bands and faces to add a couture look to the Watch.  But what if you could have a band made of the same material used to line Louis Vuitton bags or for covering the steering wheels in some Porsches, BMW M cars, and Lamborghinis?  Yep, turns out that the suede-like Alcantara fabric (or Ultrasuede, as it was called when the synthetic microfiber fabric was invented back in the 1970s) can be used for Watch bands, too.

The Alcantara Watch Band is handcrafted in Italy of original Italian Alcantara.  It has a metal buckle,color-matched stitching, and an Italian Rubberized Leather backing.  It’s a unisex design, sized to fit the 42mm Watch.  As offered by Fancy, the band featured here is available in red Alcantara, with your choice of white, yellow, red, or black metal hardware inserts to attach it to the Apple Watch.  However, the 42mm band is also available in brown,  indigo blue, and sapphire blue for $169.  A blue version for the 38mm Apple Watch is available for $159.   All bands come with a storage case and two tools. They ship from Italy and are available at the Fancy website.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Add a touch of elegance to your Apple Watch with an Alcantara band originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2018 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

BenQ PD3200U 4K Monitor review


REVIEW – As a photographer and videographer, editing videos including 4K videos and editing photographs are integral parts of my work. Also, viewing both in “true” color makes my editing process easier and more accurate. As a huge BenQ monitor fan, I have been looking forward to the opportunity to test and review a 4K BenQ monitor. Here is a summary of my experience.

What is it:

The BenQ PD3200U is a 32″ 16:9 4K IPS Monitor with enhanced color accuracy. It is 100% Rec 709 and the sRGB color space supports Darkroom, CAD/CAM, and Animation display modes. It has a built-in KVM switch that allows you to control two different computers from this single display with a single mouse and keyboard. It also features DualView mode to display content in different viewing modes side by side and BenQ has included a Hotkey Puck that simplifies switching between modes. The HotKey Puck is also programmable so that it can be used to quickly adjust the displays settings.

What’s in the box



The monitor comes in a large brown shipping carton that is well padded inside to perfectly protect the contents.

1 x BenQ PD3200U Monitor
1 x Monitor Stand
1 x Monitor Base
1 x AC Power Cord
1 x Video Cable: DVI-D Dual Link
1 x Video Cable: DisplayPort cable
1 x USB Cable
1 x Hotkey Puck
1 x CD Rom Driver/Manual CD
1 x Quick Start Guide

Design and features

Specifications:
Size: 32″
Screen Area: 27.9 x 15.7″ / 70.8 x 39.9 cm
Native Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Maximum Brightness: 350 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 20,000,000:1
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Bit Depth / Color Support: 8-Bit+FRC (1.07 Billion Colors)
Look-Up Table: 10-Bit
Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
Response Time: 4 ms
Viewing Angle Horizontal: 178°, Vertical: 178°
Connectivity: 1 x 3.5 mm Input/Output ,1 x 3.5 mm Output, 4 x USB Type-A (USB 3.0) Output, 2 x DisplayPort 1.2 Input, 1 x HDMI 2.0
HDCP Support: Version 2.2
Built-In Speakers: 2 x 5 W
Height Adjustment: 5.9″ / 15 cm
Rotation Adjustment: 90°
Swivel Adjustment: 90° (-45 to 45°)
Tilt Adjustment: -5 to 20°
Mounting-Hole Pattern: 100 x 100 mm
Dimensions: (W x H x D) 29.1 x 19.4 x 9.2″ / 74.0 x 49.2 x 23.4 mm (With Stand), 29.1 x 17.2 x 2.6″ / 74.0 x 43.6 x 6.6 mm (Without Stand)
Weight: 18.7 lb / 8.5 kg

When you look at the front of this 32″ monitor, it looks sleek and impressive even with the small bezel around the edges. The back is vented and the stand “clicks in” to the back for a nice, clean look.

When you first remove the monitor from the box and lay it flat to assemble it, there is a Vesa square mount that allows you to simply “click in” the stand for a perfect and secure fit. The button that you see below the Vesa square is used to release the stand from the monitor.

The included stand has a pass-through hole for the cables, a sliding mechanism for you to adjust the height of the monitor, and a metal interface for the base.


The base of the monitor has a receiver that connects with the stand’s metal interface as indicated above, and there is a wingnut type screw that is used to connect the two.

Connectivity

This monitor has many available connections. Starting with the controls, on the front of the monitor as shown below and starting from left to right on the bottom bezel, there is the light sensor/Eco sensor that is in the middle, the five control buttons and the power button.


The following table shows the functions for the five control buttons from left to right.

If you are facing the back of the monitor, the following are the controls from left to right at the bottom of the back of the monitor.

In the first picture:  Hotkey Puck socket, USB 3.0 ports (downstream; connecting to USB devices), USB 3.0 port (upstream 2; connecting to the PC), USB 3.0 port (upstream 1; connecting to the PC) and the Audio Line In.

In the second picture: The AC power input jack and the AC power switch.


Again facing the back of the monitor, there are ports on the left side of the back section of the monitor that has the vents and that connects to the stand.

From top to bottom as shown below: DVI-D socket, HDMI socket, DisplayPort socket, and Mini DisplayPort socket.


When facing the back of the monitor, on the left edge of the front section of the display housing, there are the following ports:

From top to bottom: SD card slot, 2 x USB 3.0 ports (downstream; connecting to USB devices), and the Headphone jack.


The picture below shows the included Hotkey Puck that simplifies switching between modes. It is also programmable so that it can be used to quickly adjust the displays settings.

The following is BenQ’s control chart for the HotKey Puck.

Performance

First and foremost, this is a well-built monitor with a hefty base and stand for maximum stability. Assembly was relatively easy with a bit of patience needed when aligning the screw hole and wingnut screw to connect the base to the stand. When I turned on this monitor I was immediately blown away by the color accuracy and brightness and vividness levels that for me were perfect right out of the box. I did have my calibration tools at the ready, but I did not need to calibrate the monitor to use any of my editing software or otherwise. I connected my monitor using a DisplayPort cable to my Workstation, and I was able to free up a couple of ports on one of the 3 USB hubs that I use by connecting the keyboard and mouse to the monitor. This is a great convenience for me since when they were connected to my powered hubs, it would sometimes be a “pain” when I would lose power and forget to power up the hubs when I regained power. While I tested the SD card slot which works like my other card slots, I still use the SD card module on my Lexar Workflow Hub for daily use because it is easier than reaching to the side of the monitor to use the built-in card slot. However, it is a nice convenience when I just want to pop in a client’s SD card for a moment to grab some files. The functionality of the USB ports is also great. If you connect a USB cable between the computer and the monitor using the upstream USB port, you can transmit data between the computer and any USB devices connected to the downstream ports on the monitor. This works for USB flash drives and other USB drives that are USB or externally powered. The HotKey Puck is really very convenient for using the On Screen Display menus. It takes a bit of getting used to, and I am still playing around with it and trying to get used to it. It is very responsive with very little lag between pressing the button and the on-screen response.

In terms of manipulating the monitor itself, BenQ offers Display Pilot Software on their website that you can download and add functionality to the monitor including switching it into portrait mode. This allows you to extend the monitor to its maximum height, tilt it the full 20 degrees that it can tilt, and then rotate it 90 degrees clockwise.  To be honest, I never use any monitor in portrait mode, and my cabling setup does not work properly when the monitor is in portrait mode. However, to demonstrate this function here is an illustration photo that I put together:
The built-in speakers are decent on this monitor with enough volume to work with ambient room noise. they are also clear sounding.

As a photographer/videographer/filmmaker, I regularly use the following programs:

  • Adobe Premiere
  • Adobe LightRoom
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Izotope Rx
  • PortraitPro Studio

Every day when I sit in front of my workstation to use one or several of these applications, it is really an enjoyable experience with this monitor. Here are some pictures of the screens that use in my various projects:


 


 


In addition, when I use this monitor for daily tasks like reading emails or internet browsing, the text is clear and the colors on the websites just seem more brilliant than my other monitors.

What I like

  • The color accuracy right out of the box
  • The number of connectivity options
  • The size of the monitor
  • The KVM capability
  • The stability and adjustability fo the monitor
  • The build quality

What can be improved

  • An easier connection of the base to the stand

Final thoughts

The BenQ PD3200U is now by far my most favorite monitor. Rarely do I say that a monitor is perfect, and I demand a lot from a monitor. The controls are responsive and the color right out of the box is simply amazing. I spend an enormous amount of time editing photos and video footage and this monitor is simply gorgeous to look at and use. Whenever I need a break, I open a YouTube 4K video of some nature footage, just so I can be completely immersed and totally block out the world around me. The underwater 4K videos look phenomenal. While we all have our own preferences, and some of us can be more critical than others, for me, this is a win!! Win!! Win!! I absolutely believe that anyone in the photography/videography industry would find this monitor to be a very good fit in their workflow and for their productivity. I can’t wait to see what BenQ comes up with next to beat this one.

Price: $899.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by BenQ.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

BenQ PD3200U 4K Monitor review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Add a pen holder to any book, notebook, or journal

NEWS – Digging around for a pencil or pen when you need to write a quick note is very frustrating.  And it’s always nice to keep your favorite pen with your journal, but you can break the spine or mess up pages if you try keep a normal pen inside the journal as if it were a bookmarker.  With the Peleg Design Clippen, you can easily keep a pen or pencil clipped to the top of a notepad or to the cover of a notebook so it’s always at the ready.

The Clippen looks like a giant paperclip.  It’s made of metal, and it measure  2.83″ x 0.74″ x 0.31″.  Unlike a normal paperclip, this one has a ridge in the front that’s perfect to slip a pen under.

The Clippen is a perfect gift for all the students, journal keepers, or paper list makers in your life.  At $8.95, it may be the perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas this year.  Get yours at Animi Causa.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: , ,

Add a pen holder to any book, notebook, or journal originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack review

REVIEW – That’s how I would describe the new Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack. After a month of testing, it just might be my favorite bag design of the year. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a 22-liter all-around backpack with a separate compartment for a 15” laptop designed for work, school, travel and play.

Hardware specs

  • 21” tall by 15” wide by 9” deep
  • 2.2 pounds
  • 22 liter capacity
  • YKK and YKK Aquaguard zips
  • Water-resistant Venture-weave polyester with leather accents

Design and features

The Bellroy Classic Plus is a smart looking bag. It’s a contemporary design that uses subtle geometry to put a grownup spin on the traditional bullet-shaped backpack form, without losing any of the function. Check out the sleek profile:

The combination of upscale materials and leather accents make this a bag that does high-end casual style right. You’ll also be able to pair it with a sports coat or business wear instead of a briefcase. It’s that good looking.

I was a huge fan of the Bellroy Tote Pack last year, and the Classic Plus continues that tradition of amazing construction. The primary material (called Venture weave) is supple with a nice texture. It imparts the same durability and water resistance as Cordura, without that rugged industrial feel. It’s a great choice to pair with the style of this bag.

The detail work is excellent, right up there with carry icons like Tom Bihn. YKK zips are used throughout, with Aquaguard zips on the external entry points for extra water resistance. You’ll find leather accents in all the right places. The supporting materials in the liners and pockets are just as good, and the finishing work throughout the bag is among the best I’ve seen. There isn’t a single detail that isn’t overbuilt, reinforced and trimmed to perfection. Check out some of the fine details:

The form factor is that of a top-loading pack, with two main compartments. Your laptop rides in the padded rear compartment, closest to your back. I’ve got a a 13” MacBook and my iPad Air in there for reference, but I’ve carried a 15” Thinkpad with no space issues:

You’ll also find a 5” by 9” flexible fabric pocket for your chargers and cables here, positioned at the top of the space for easy access. This pocket is designed so that it bellows into the main compartment, and doesn’t cramp your laptop space.

The 6″ deep main compartment is accessed by dual zips that, rather than set parallel to the vertical profile, are set at a reverse angle. This not only creates an interesting style element, but it also makes it easier to get into the depths of the space. There’s an  elastic pocket at the base that will take an oversized water bottle (I have a Contigo bottle in there in the pic):

On the inside front panel of the main compartment is a multipurpose storage pocket that also uses a bit of design magic to optimize the space. Here’s a look at the pocket from the inside of the bag:

Now check this out. See that shelf from the external view? That internal pocket bellows outward so that you can load it up without encroaching on the main compartment. Very clever. It also adds a bit of flair to the contemporary look:

You’ve also got two concealed external pockets for your quick-grab items, hidden behind concealed zips built into the seams of the bag. A horizontal zip at the top of the bag (behind the laptop zip) reveals a 10” by 2” flexible mesh pocket, suitable for a phone or other small stuff. Note that it’s anchored to the rear panel of the main compartment under the hood, so that doesn’t get in your way when rummaging in the bag:

The second external compartment is on the front face of the bag, accessed by a vertical zip. This 4” by 12” pocket includes a ring that could be used for your keys or an attachment point for organizer pouches. This pocket is also on the left side of the front panel, so it doesn’t compete with the internal water bottle pocket if you’re packed out.

The carry rig is really comfortable. A slender back pad runs the length of the back of the bag, and includes an extra bit of lower padding for lumbar support.

Wide, thinly padded shoulder straps are contoured to hug your body. You’ll also find locking collars to manage those extra strappy bits on the adjustment straps. The addition of a sternum strap helps stabilize your load and employ a unique magnetic clip design for easy connection and removal. Once it is clipped, it stays until you unlock it.

The Bellroy Classic Plus is rated at a 22 liter capacity, which seems about right based on my normal loadout. We’ll talk more about that in the next section.

Performance

The Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack is a finely-tuned bag that’s dialed in for the daily commuter. If you regularly carry a laptop and the assortment of office essentials, you’re going to love the simplicity and usability of this bag. Everything is easy to get to if you’re running into meetings or the coffee shop, and the slim profile is great for running lean. As I mentioned before, the grownup style of the bag makes it ideal as a briefcase replacement.

As far as capacity goes… it’s just about right for a daypack with a bit of room for extras. The Classic Plus makes optimal use of every square inch of the bag with some really innovative design. The whole build, however, is tight and compact. This is not the kind of bag that can accommodate your gym sneakers or a six-pack you snagged on the way home along with rest of your work stuff. The pocket for a hydration bottle (or even a bottle of wine!) is nicely tucked inside the bag for that streamlined look, but it will eat up a lot of usable space. The layout is so well executed, however, that I am OK with foregoing the extra capacity for the streamlined style and excellent usability. If you’re carrying your world on your back every day, this probably isn’t the best choice for you.

I should note that, while the bag is extremely comfortable to carry, there’s no back channel to promote air circulation. Heat can build up back there on a warm day. The padding on the back and the straps are also smooth; while this does mean that you’re not dealing with that scratchy mesh weave found on many packs, the shoulder straps can slip if you don’t use the sternum strap. These were both minor issues in my testing, but important to note as you are considering this bag.

I also see this bag as an excellent traveling companion or day-tripper. It is sized perfectly for under-seat stowage and looks good enough that you can use it for business meetings in addition to sightseeing trips at your destination.

There’s another aspect of this bag that merits serious consideration: the value. Style-oriented bags can get expensive pretty quickly. The Bellroy Classic Plus gets you high-end style, innovative design, and superb construction for under $200. That’s really impressive.

What I like

  • Top-tier construction and materials
  • Contemporary styling
  • Excellent layout and usability
  • Extremely comfortable for all-day carry
  • Sized just about perfect for a daypack and carry on

What needs to be improved

  • The layout favors organized packing, which may not work for some users
  • Back panel can get sweaty on warm days
  • Shoulder straps can slip a bit without using the sternum strap

Final thoughts

Bellroy has become one of my favorite carry brands, and the Classic Plus Backpack is another winner. There’s a lot to love here as a work bag, a day-tripper, or a travel companion. In my opinion, it’s also a relative bargain at a $179 price point. Given the quality of the bag, you’re getting huge value for the dollar. If you’re looking for an upgrade to that bargain backpack you’ve been hauling around, this is one that should be on your short list.

Price: $179.00
Where to buy:Bellroy web site and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Bellroy.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Bellroy Classic Plus Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.