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Azulle Access3 stick PC review


REVIEW – When the chance to review the Azulle Access3 mini PC stick computer came along, I hesitated and thought that this was either going to be a real punishing review or something that surprised me – and I decided to take a chance with it.

What is it?

The Azulle Access3 is a fanless mini PC stick that connects to any HDMI compatible display. Simply add a keyboard and mouse and you have a full-blown PC in a package that measures just 5.2″x2″x.75″!

I used a Logitech K400 plus keyboard with a built-in trackpad so I could easily use it from across the room.

Hardware specs

  • Gemini Lake N4100 (1.1GHz Quad-Core Processor)
  • 4 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 32 GB storage (15.3 GB free after setup)
  • Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
  • 2 USB 3.0 ports
  • MicroSDXC card slot up to 256 GB
  • 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
  • 3.5mm Headphone jack
  • Dual Band 2.4Ghz.5.0Ghz Wifi
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Video: up to 4K @30fps

What’s in the box?

  • Azulle Access3
  • Power cable
  • 12″ HDMI extender cable
  • Quick Start Guide
  • $10 off next purchase coupon


 


Design and features

I’ve had a couple of smart TV’s, but I never really liked the user experience on them. They were either slow or had other things that I didn’t like. The apps on them weren’t as good as using a computer. I also don’t really trust their security. I also found myself needing or wanting some other app that only runs on Windows.

I’ve wanted a PC to connect to my TV, but I didn’t have any extra PC’s that I wanted to run all the time just for an occasional video or browsing session. When the review offer for the Azulle Access3 mini PC stick came along I thought that maybe this could be the solution I needed.

I must say that this thing really impressed me.



The Azulle Access3 mini PC stick felt like running any other medium powered Windows 10 laptop. In fact, when it comes to just browsing the web and watching YouTube videos, there wasn’t really any difference between it and my regular quad-core PC.

One of the things that I like is that I can travel with this device. Whether it’s taking it to a friends house or to a hotel when traveling, I can simply toss it in my bag and go. When I get there, I have all my internet bookmarks and all my pre-installed apps ready to go.

I often travel with my Surface tablet and sometimes I like to watch YouTube videos while browsing the web. This will be the perfect device for that. The device has no moving parts, which makes it much more durable to travel with.

There are many use cases for a device such as this. The two USB 3.0 ports provide a great way to connect an external drive – which for me will come in handy for backing up photos while out on the road.

Although the device is slightly limited by the internal storage capacity, that is offset by the ability to use a MicroSD card (up to 256BG) and devices connected via the USB 3.0 ports such as external drives and memory sticks.

The device can plug directly into an HDMI input or you can use the provided 12 inch HDMI extension cable if your inputs aren’t configured well enough to provide enough room for the device to plug in directly. My 32″ TV (1920×1080) did not have enough space for it to plug into a couple of the inputs, and when plugged into the side input it stuck out past the side of the TV. The extension cord kept the device neatly hidden behind the TV.

I really like the fact that Azulle included a 1-gigabit ethernet port in this device. I usually run ethernet cables to various places around my house so I have the best network connection.

The Access3 also boots very quickly, from power on to login screen was about 15 seconds.

I also connected it to my AOC 39″ 4K computer monitor that I use as my primary monitor on my main PC. Not only did it work, but it looked great! The 4K YouTube video looked great and played well. I’m really impressed that it’s able to do 4K video without a full-sized graphics card. This really makes me want to get a 4K TV for my living room now!



What I like

  • Quick Setup
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • 4K capable
  • Micro SD card slot
  • USB 3
  • Ethernet port

What needs to be improved

A little more default internal storage would be nice, although there is a 64GB version available.

Final thoughts

Considering the price of the Access3 mini PC stick, this device really delivers quite the value. Not only did it run like a regular PC, but it also did it well.

Price: $149-$339 ($219 as tested)
Where to buy: Azulle and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Azulle.

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Azulle Access3 stick PC review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Nomad’s Rugged Case gives your AirPods a classic, yet bold new look

NEWS – Nomad already makes Rugged Horween leather iPhone cases and Apple Watchbands. Now they’ve added a new case that adds style and protection to your Apple AirPods.

This Rugged Case has a minimalist two-piece construction designed to tightly fit your AirPods this keeps your AirPods thin, allowing them to retain their compact nature. It also provides additional drop and scratch protection.

The bottom of the case has a cutout for the AirPods lightning port that makes it easy for you to charge your AirPods.

Like the other pieces in the Rugged collection, it’s built using genuine Horween leather so it will develop a patina over time. Giving your AirPods a look that is uniquely yours.

The Nomad Rugged AirPod case sells for $29.95. The brown leather version is currently back-ordered on Nomad’s website with shipping on November 28th.

If you prefer black leather, you can pre-ordered it now with shipping on November 15th.

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Nomad’s Rugged Case gives your AirPods a classic, yet bold new look originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Funcl wireless headphones are for music lovers on a budget – Notable crowdfunding campaign

NEWS – If you’ve been paying attention to our review lately, you’ve noticed that we’ve been doing a lot of wireless earbud reviews. That’s because Julian and I have been on a quest to find our next favorite pair. There are a ton of different earbuds on the market, but today Funcl launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for their W1 and A1 wireless headphones.

What is it?

The Funcl W1 and A1 wireless headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 completely wireless earbuds that feature water resistance, touch controls, aptX Hi-Fi sound (A1), and very affordable pricing. The W1s are only $19 and the A1s are $49 if you use the special link at the end of this article.




Why is it cool?

Funcl sent me a pair of the W1 and A1 wireless headphones to test drive and I have been impressed by their W1 pair of $19 wireless earbuds sound like, how well they fit in my ears, 4.5hr play time per charge and they come with a little charging case that provides up to 18hrs of playback time.

The A1’s sound even better because they have aptX. They are lightweight and comfortable and can play for up to 6.5 hrs per charge and the small case that comes with them will recharge them for up to 24 hrs total playback time. Another feature of the A1s is the low latency so you don’t have to worry about audio and video syncing issues if you enjoy watching video on your mobile devices.

Where can I find more info?

The Funcl wireless headphones campaign which started today and ends in a month and they have already hit 75% of their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a pair of Funcl wireless headphones starting at $19 for the W1 and $49 instead of $54 for the A1’s if you use the secret perk link below. After the Funcl wireless headphones, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2018. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

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Funcl wireless headphones are for music lovers on a budget – Notable crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 13, 2018 at 5:12 pm.

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Kensington Expert Mouse review


REVIEW – Each day, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer and apart from daily work at my job and from just surfing the net, I spend hours at a time editing photos and/or videos. Over the years, I have opted to use a trackball mouse and I am always looking for one that is better than the one I am using at that time. When I got the opportunity to try the Kensington Expert Mouse, I was delighted. Here we go!!

What is it?

The Kensington Expert Mouse is a wireless trackball mouse that is designed to connect via Bluetooth or via the included wireless dongle. It performs all expected mouse functions.

What’s in the box



1 x Kensington Expert Mouse
2 x AA Batteries
1 x Palm Rest
1 x Instruction Manual
1 x Wireless Dongle

Design and features

Features:

    • Wireless connection via Bluetooth 4.0 LE or USB nano receiver
    • TrackballWorks software lets you customize all 4 buttons, adjust cursor speed
    • DiamondEye optical tracking technology for premium cursor control and accuracy
    • Scroll Ring to scan up and down pages with ease
    • Large ball designed as a perfect sphere to provide exceptional precision
    • Detachable wrist rest supports hand and wrist for ergonomic comfort
    • Ambidextrous design works equally well for both right-handed and left-handed users
    • Auto-sleep helps conserve AA battery life

Specifications:

  • Compatibility: Chrome OS 44 and above, macOS 10.8, macOS 10.9, macOS X 10.10 or above, macOS X 10.11, macOS Sierra 10.12, macOS 10.13 or above, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
  • Controls: Customizable Buttons, Scroll ring
  • Sensor: Optical
  • Trackball Diameter: 55(mm)
  • USB Receiver Size: Nano
  • Wireless Type: 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  • Period of Warranty: 3 years

This trackball mouse has a nice large ball, and inside of the base, there are strategically placed contacts for fluid movement. The red ball and the finish of the base are both attractive. The entire mouse is lightweight but well built.



At the bottom of the base of the mouse, there is a battery compartment and 2 selection buttons.


The selection button on the left is for power on/off and the one on the right toggles the connection preference between the included wireless dongle and Bluetooth. At the right side of the battery is a slot for storing the dongle.



The picture below shows the trackball with the palm rest connected.

Performance

This trackball mouse performs very well, with easy Bluetooth pairing or the dongle, and is very easy to use. Since I am a fan of the trackball type mouse, I really enjoy using it. The large ball makes navigation very easy, and the removable palm rest makes using the mouse for a long time very comfortable. The TrackballWorks software makes customization very simple.
Here are some screenshots from the software:




For more information on the software customization, click here.

What I like

  • The easy setup
  • The size of the trackball
  • The nice overall performance
  • The option for use via Bluetooth or the dongle
  • The palm rest

What can be improved

  • For what the muse is designed to do and how it is designed to work, I can’t think of anything that can be improved, at least in my opinion and for my workflow.

Final thoughts

As I mentioned earlier in this review, I was already a fan of the trackball mouse prior to trying this model. While this mouse does come in a wired and wireless model, the wireless model is my preference. This mouse does everything that I want and need in a trackball mouse including the requirement of being comfortable to use for long periods of time when I am editing photos or videos. Kensington gets two thumbs up from me for the Expert Mouse.

Price: $70.89
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: This sample was provided by Kensington.

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Kensington Expert Mouse review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 13, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Own the wireless charging tray endorsed by Oprah herself

NEWS – The Courant Catch:3 is a wireless charging station with a tray to hold your other EDC pocket stuff that is on Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things list this year.  You can see why it’s on the list:  it’s useful, and it’s beautiful!

The Catch:3 is made of premium pebble-grain Italian leather and high-grade matte aluminum alloy.  It has a Qi-certified 3-coil wireless charger that can charge through most cases up to 3mm thick and an additional USB-A output for charging another device.

It comes with a nylon-braided covered USB-C charging cable and a power adapter (for use in the USA only). It measures 11″ x 8″ x 0.6″, and the charging tray is weighted to prevent slipping.  The Catch:3 has Qi, CE, FCC, and ROHS certifications.  It provides 5W/7.5W/10W fast wireless charging output.

Courant offers the Catch:3 in bone, ash, or black leather for $175.  Purchase at the Courant website.

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Own the wireless charging tray endorsed by Oprah herself originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 13, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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