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xFryo XS2 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds review


REVIEW – It is now 2019, and I am happy to continue my enjoyable challenge of finding the “perfect” earbuds for my taste. in 2018, I enjoyed the battle of the contenders, and this year I believe with the continuous evolution of technology, that there will be new earbuds that will “wow” me beyond my imagination. Let’s start the year off with the xFryo XS2 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds.

What is it?

The xFryo XS2 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds are lightweight, and like all others, they are designed for listening to music and conducting phone calls. As with most earbuds, they should be compatible with most Bluetooth equipped mobile devices.

What’s in the box


1 x xFryo XS2 Earbuds
1 x Micro USB Cable
3 x Ear Tips
1 x User Guide
1 x Warranty Leaflet

Design and features

Specifications

  • Measurements: 6.25″L x 1″W x .75″H
  • 2-in-1 Wireless Earbuds And Charging Tube
  • IP67 Certified Dust-proof And Waterproof Technology
  • V4.2 + EDR Bluetooth Technology With 10 Meter Wireless Range
  • CVC 6.0 Noise Cancellation
  • Rechargeable 850 MAh Capacity Power Bank
  • Music / Talk Time: 5 Hours
  • Charging Time: 2 Hours
  • Standby Time: 300 Hours

Features

  • Materials: Aluminum Alloy, Silicone
  • Aluminum Alloy Shell
  • Lightweight and Portable
  • Answer, Reject, and Redial Calls
  • Pause And Play Music
  • Built-In Microphone
  • Dual-Port Charging Tube With USB And Micro USB Ports
  • Patented Aluminum Polishing

The earbuds are what I would call medium sized, but they sit firmly and securely in your ears. The charging case is black with gold plated inserts and the earbuds connect to each end of the case.



There are rubberized waterproof covers on each side of the charging case that protect the ports/electronics. As shown below, on one side there is a rubberized cover that is marked “In”. Under the cover is the micro USB charging port.


On the other side of the charging case there is an “On” button, and underneath the rubberized cover, there is a standard USB port that can be used to charge devices, like cell phones. etc via the built-in power bank.


Performance

The first thing I did was to fully charge the case and earbuds. While being charged, there is a blue LED on the case that blinks.

Once fully charged, the LED remains a solid blue and when unplugged but charging the earbuds it is a solid red.

After I fully charged the earbuds I took them out of the charging case, I powered them on and they automatically synced with each other. They immediately showed up ion the Bluetooth device list on my smartphone. Pairing was quick and easy and they were ready for listening to music and of course conducting phone calls. These earbuds function well and hold their charge for a long time. Using them approximately 90 minutes each day for 5 days weekly, I only recharge the case once weekly.

I tested them by listening to several genres that I usually listen to including Contemporary Jazz, Easy Listening, The Classics, Gospel, etc., and I enjoyed the sound across all of the genres. The sound is quite good and well balanced for the lows, mids, and highs. Once listening to a quality track, there was no real discernable distortion in any frequency range, and there is a built-in volume limiter to add to the quality of the listening experience.

I also tested these on phone call functions and was pleased that they worked very well for both parties on the call. I usually encounter issues with using earbuds for phone calls where I cannot hear the other party or they cannot hear me. These earbuds worked well.

I also like the built-in option to charge my phone or similar device via the built-in power bank using the USB out port on the charging case.

What I like

  • The design and attractive style of the charging case
  • The build quality of the charging case
  • The built-in Power Bank feature

What can be improved

  • The inclusion of more ear tips of various sizes

Final thoughts

When I first saw the xFryo XS2 I really got a good first impression. Since then, I have really grown to like these earbuds. I am very pleased that despite what seems like a risk, the earbuds remain firmly in place when in the charging dock. They also stay in place in my ears and really provide a pleasurable listening experience. As I review more earbuds it is becoming very hard to rank them in my list of the best earbuds for me. I would say that these earbuds likely tie for 3rd place in my growing list of the top 5. Nicely done!!

Price: $125 (you can get 10% OFF sitewide by using the following this link, or by entering the following discount code at checkout: GADGETEER10
Where to buy: xFryo website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by xFryo.

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xFryo XS2 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 17, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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Squeeze in a workout in just about any space with the Treadly ultra-thin treadmill

NEWS – If you live in a small home or apartment and thought it was impossible to own a treadmill, think again. Treadly is an ultra-thin compact treadmill that allows you to walk or jog in just about any space. It’s easy to pull out when you want to workout then slides away under a bed or couch when you’re done.

Treadly only weighs 64 pounds and measures a petite 55-inches long and 25-inches wide. More incredibly it’s almost impossibly thin (3.8-inches).

As you might imagine its compact design does present a couple of drawbacks. It has a weight limit of 220 lbs and can only be used on hard surfaces, no rugs or carpets.

Unlike traditional treadmills Treadly doesn’t use buttons, instead Infrared stepping technology tracks your foot position on the belt to start, stop, and adjust speed.

A foldable handrail provides safety and stability for faster paces. Treadly can reach a top speed of 5 mph when the handrail is in the up position and 3.8 mph when the handrail is down. So it’s perfect for light jogging or just getting your steps in.

And Treadly’s compact motor is quiet at a nearly inaudible 6 decibels.

Treadly even makes it easy to keep track of your time, steps and distance with an easy to read touch-free LCD display.

You can purchase Treadly for $999 in your choice of steel gray or rose pink from treadly.co.

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Squeeze in a workout in just about any space with the Treadly ultra-thin treadmill originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 17, 2019 at 8:30 am.

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Cuisinart bread maker, Mavin TWS earbuds, Roborock vacuum, and more – Weekly round up

NEWS – Gadgeteers, you know the drill. Get a beverage, your favorite snacks, and then assume a comfortable position in a comfy chair and browse this list of everything we posted this week. I’m sure there’s something you missed, so have at it!

REVIEWS

NEWS

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Cuisinart bread maker, Mavin TWS earbuds, Roborock vacuum, and more – Weekly round up originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 16, 2019 at 5:02 pm.

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Mouse where you want with the Cherry MW 8 Advanced optical mouse

NEWS – Mousing is sometimes a hit or miss proposition, depending on where you rest your mouse.  Some colors, or even worse, glass, with a complete lack of color or contrast, can confound many optical mice.  Cherry aims to end that problem with the Cherry MW 8 Advanced optical LED laser mouse.

Sporting a metal surface and mouse wheel and anodized aluminum shell with rubber sides, the mouse has a build quality that should last. Optical resolution can be set to 600, 1,000, 1,600 or 3,200 dpi, allowing for precise cursor movement, even on 4K monitors. Six buttons and a scroll wheel allow for versatility in mousing functions.

The mouse is powered via its internal lithium 550 mAh battery that should allow for several weeks of pointing and clicking between charges.  Charging is done with the included USB cord. The mouse can be used while charging.  The micro USB charge port is in the front of the mouse, essentially making the MW 8 Advanced mimic a corded mouse while charging.

The MW 8 Advanced can connect to your PC via the included 2.4 GHz USB receiver or Bluetooth 4.0.  It can switch between the two allowing for easy movement between two different PCs.

Cherry introduced the MW 8 Advanced in Europe late in 2018. It should be available very soon in the US for a suggested retail price of $50. Head over to Cherry’s site for more details.

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Mouse where you want with the Cherry MW 8 Advanced optical mouse originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 16, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Xiaomi Roborock E20 robot vacuum cleaner review


REVIEW – The floors in my home are carpeted with Berber carpet with the exception of the kitchen and bathrooms which are tiled. We vacuum every day, and for the past few years, we have been using the Dyson V6. The Dyson works quite well, but over time I have grown tired of this chore which I usually do at night when I return home from work, and when the kids are in bed and can no longer make a mess, at least until they wake up next the next morning. Recently, I was offered the opportunity to test and review the Xiaomi Roborock E20 Vacuum Cleaner and I readily accepted. Here is my summary!!

What is it?

The Xiaomi Roborock E20 Vacuum Cleaner is an efficient vacuum with built-in Artificial Intelligence. It works quickly and efficiently with 1800Pa of suction power and uses a dual-gyro system, and motion tracking sensors to create a high-efficiency cleaning path for every room. There are 13 onboard sensors to provide drop avoidance, anti-collision, trap prevention, self-charging, and resumption. It is able to vacuum and mop and with the use of the relevant app it can be controlled to start, stop, schedule, customize, charge, spot clean, check accessory status, and control movement direction. It is able to switch/increase its suction power automatically when it transitions from wood floors to carpet, and if it runs low on power it returns to its dock to recharge then resumes where it left off. It communicates with the app via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and has a 2600mAh lithium battery for a long-lasting charge.

What’s in the box


1 x Xiaomi Roborock E20 Vacuum Cleaner
1 x Dock Charger
1 x AC Power Cord
1 x Waterproof Docking Pad
2 x Mopping Pads
1 x Water Tank
1 x Brush Cleaning Tool
2 x Vacuum Filters
1 x Quick Start Guide

Design and features

Features
Methodical cleaning: Dual-gyroscopes and high-precision optical tracking sensors allow E20 to clean methodically around a room, starting around the edge then the areas in between.
Intelligent systems: A full suite of sensors gives E20 the intelligence to effectively tackle complicated environments without falling off ledges, getting stuck, or running out of power.
Tangle Free: All brushes and wheels are designed to be tangle free, eliminating the need to open E20 robotic mop for cleaning. An included cleaning accessory can be used to remove hair from the outside of the cleaner making it perfect for picking up after your pets.
Obstacle crossing: Able to clamber up over obstacles as high as 0.8in, E20 easily handles thresholds, thin carpets, and other low barriers.
Carpet boost: When a carpet is detected, suction is increased to maximum to pull up deeply lodged dirt. Once off the carpet, normal suction returns.
Washable Filter: A high-efficiency E11 filter captures 99.2% of dust and allergens, down to just 0.3 microns. Its washable design extends its life and reduces replacement frequency.
Holiday Mode: In this mode, the LED indicator will dim, functions that have nothing to do with charging such as cleaning, recharging and remote control via wifi will be disabled, and the cleaner will enter low power consumption mode to maintain optimal battery performance.



Specifications


When you open up the cover on the top of the vacuum, you find the removable dust canister.


On the removable dust canister, there is a removable filter that attaches to the canister and prevents dust and debris for entering the suction chamber of the vacuum. The filters are actually washable and they provide two so that you can use the second while the first dries.


On the surface of the vacuum, there are 3 touch buttons. From left to right they are the spot cleaning button, the clean/on/off button and the recharge button. To reset the WiFi, you press and hold the spot cleaning and recharge buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. The knob that is seen above the 3 touch control buttons is the omnidirectional recharge sensor.


If you look carefully at the picture below, you will see a small LED in the upper right-hand corner of the canister compartment. This LED is the WIFI indicator.


On the circular sides of the vacuum, there are two visible grilles. In the picture shown below, the grille on the left is the speaker, and on the right is the air outlet.


Underneath the vacuum, there is the main brush and suction port in the center, an extended 3-prong brush off to the side that allows the vacuum to brush square corners and to move dust into the path of its suction port, and the 3 wheels that it uses to maneuver. The diagram below the photo shows the details.



The picture below shows the docking mat that attaches to the charging dock. The vacuum rests on this mat when charging and when docked. The second row of pictures below shows the charging dock and the AC port located on its side.


Performance

This vacuum was basically a plug and play exercise, and it works very well. Initially, I did not find any clear instructions regarding the app, but I soon figured that I needed to download the Xiaomi Mi Home app which seems to recognize and control all AI devices within the Xiaomi device family. The Vacuums mapping ability is great and I am pretty sure that it does a better job of coverage than I do when using a handheld vacuum. I  like the options to regulate the suctioning power and that even when it is at full power, its noise level is much lower than a conventional vacuum. Here is a short video of it performing. I included the ambient sounds for reference.

The following are some of the screens from the app:



For more information, click here to view the manual.

What I like

  • The size
  • The built-in technology
  • The overall vacuuming performance
  • Its ability to know when it has finished vacuuming or when it is low on power and automatically return to its base
  • The versatility that makes it adaptable to multiple surfaces
  • The app and its ability to control the vacuum for anywhere

What can be improved

  • Since there are no clear instructions regarding the app, maybe they can add QR Codes for IOS and Android to their manual
  • I don’t know. Maybe it can learn to bring me dinner?
  • Possibly makes me lazy? (lol)

Final thoughts

Initially, I was very excited to test and review this robot vacuum, but I was really not sure what to expect. I was unsure of its ability to really vacuum effectively in regards to sucking up dist and debris, and if it could do a good job of properly vacuuming the entire area. I have to say the I am more than pleased with this vacuum and so much so that my Dyson now resides in the closet and has been reassigned to cleaning furniture and other items/areas that the robot vacuum can’t. I give this vacuum two thumbs up and then some!!! Well done!!

Price: $329.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Roborock.

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Xiaomi Roborock E20 robot vacuum cleaner review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 16, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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