June 2019 – Page 21

Easily Make Tor Faster with These Tips

Tor preserves your online anonymity through its unique onion routing in which your encrypted data passes through several intermediary nodes. Each node is peeled back one at a time much like an onion. None of them know anything about the origin of your data or your final destination, thus protecting your identity. There is a drawback, though. Since the traffic in Tor is routed through multiple onion relays, it can significantly reduce your browsing speed. Also, ISPs can restrict or throttle Tor traffic without prior warning. Tor FAQs say that their main focus is security and not speed. That being said, the following tips… Read more

The Five Best Journaling Apps for Windows Desktop

Do you forget half of the interesting stuff you learn? Have trouble remembering what you were doing six months ago? Want to be able to look back and have a tangible sense of progress? You may want to give journaling a shot. Even if it’s just a sentence a day, it’s a good way to remember things you learn, record your life, and track your progress. If you’re like me, though, it’s too easy to forget to log in to a website and too annoying to type things out on mobile, so you need an app right there on your desktop, reducing the steps between… Read more

Huawei P30 Pro Android Smartphone review

REVIEW – I purchased the Pixel 2 XL back in October of 2017 and liked it quite a bit. But WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity issues had me trying alternatives over and over again only to go back to the Pixel because I couldn’t find a phone I liked better enough to spend the cash. I’m happy to say that after trying the Samsung Galaxy S10+, Pixel 3 XL, Essential Phone, The iPhone X Max, and others, that I finally found a phone that I’ve stuck with… the Huawei P30 Pro. Let’s take a closer look.

What is it?

The P30 Pro is Huawei’s flagship Android smartphone.

Hardware specs

Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 980 Octa-core, 2600 MHz, ARM Cortex-A76 and ARM Cortex-A55, 64-bit, 7 nm
OS: Android (9.0 Pie), Huawei Emotion UI
Cellular: LTE (FDD): Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32
LTE (TDD): Bands 34, 38, 39, 40
UMTS: 800, 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
Data: LTE-A, HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA
GPU: Mali-G76 MP10
Screen: 6.47-inch, 19.5:9, 398 ppi (1,080 x 2,340)
RAM: 6GB/8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Bluetooth: 5.0
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, dual-band
Battery: 4,200 mAh
Cameras: 40MP + 20MP + 8MP rear + ToF / 32MP front
Dimensions: 158 x 73.4 x 8.4mm
Weight: 192g

What’s in the box?

Huawei P30 Pro
Protective case
USB charger (UK version) and USB cable
USB-C earbuds
SIM removal tool

Design and features

My first impression after taking the P30 Pro out of the box was that it reminded me a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S10+ due the curved sides of the display and sleek style. The top of the phone is all screen and there are also no buttons other than the virtual nav buttons. There isn’t even a speaker grill for your ear, but I’ll talk more about that later.

The back of the phone has a long camera bump with 3 lenses. Next to the bump is an LED flash and a ToF camera. What’s a ToF camera? This article on Pocket-lint explains it pretty well.

The left side of the phone is buttonless, while the right side has a one-piece volume button with a power button below it.

Along the top edge of the Huawei P30 Pro, you will find a microphone and an IR transmitter so that you can use the phone as a universal remote using the included Huawei Smart Remote app and your AV equipment.

On the bottom edge of the phone is the SIM card tray, another microphone, the USB-C port, and the speaker.

The SIM card tray has two sides, one side is for your regular SIM card and the other side can hold Huawei’s proprietary nanoSD card.

Display

Unlike the Huawei P20 that I reviewed last year, the P30 Pro does not come with a pre-installed screen protector which would have been a welcomed feature due to the curved edges.

The P20 Pro’s screen is bright, vibrant, crisp, and clear to my eyes. It has a small teardrop-shaped camera cutout in the top center of the display that doesn’t bother me in the least.

If you dive into the display settings, you’ll find options to turn on a blue light filter, manual adjustments for the color mode that allow you to switch between normal and vivid modes and color temperature settings of default, warm or cool settings. You can also manually choose between the screen resolution of HD+ which is 1550 x 720 or FHD+ which is 2340 x 1080. Or you can toggle Smart resolution which will automatically lower the resolution to save power.

Fingerprint reader

Several months ago I bought the Samsung Galaxy S10+ to replace my Pixel 2XL. The phone was really nice, but the reason I ended up sending it back was the in-screen fingerprint reader. It didn’t work at all for me. So when I read that the P30 Pro also had an in-screen fingerprint reader, I was pretty sure the experience wouldn’t be any different from the Samsung’s. I’m happy to say that I was wrong! The in-screen fingerprint reader on the P30 Pro is AWESOME and works 99% of the time for me which is unheard of when it comes to me and fingerprint readers.

The P30 Pro also has face recognition, so if for some reason it can’t read my thumbprint, my face unlocks the phone. I couldn’t be happier.

When it comes to the look and feel, I can’t complain about the P30 Pro. Although I don’t care about curved screens, it hasn’t caused me any issues. This phone is well made with a solid feel and premium look and feel. I can’t crush it when I do my Gadgeteer squeeze test, so I think it’s built to last.

I even dropped from about 3ft onto the concrete floor in my garage this week and it survived with only two scuffed corners – I didn’t have it in a case at the time. My bad. The next day I put the free case that shipped with the phone back on it.

Camera

The Huawei P30 Pro has a unique camera setup. On top is the 20MP ultra wide angle lens with a 40MP SuperSpectrum camera below that, and a horizontally placed 8MP periscope telephoto lens at the bottom. Next to that trio of cameras is an LED flash with the tiny ToF camera below that. The ToF camera helps with portrait mode pics.

Zoom!

The 5x zoom on this camera is pretty impressive. Check out the pics above which I took a couple of weeks ago during a vacation to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Note that if you zoom in to the max, that it’s pretty tough to find your subject when you’re zoomed in that far and details definitely suffer. A tripod is really needed if you plan to use the zoom feature.

Wide angle

Night

32GB selfie cam

Everyday shots look great!

Just like the P20, I love the P30 Pro’s camera. Some might say that the colors are a little too vibrant especially when you use it in HDR mode, but I think the pictures look great.

Audio quality

You would think that as a flagship phone, that Huawei would have gone all out of the audio capabilities of this phone. So you might be surprised that the P30 Pro does not have stereo speakers. It only has one downward firing speaker that is located on the bottom right edge.

If you’re looking for the speaker earpiece for calls, you’re not going to find one because the speaker is actually under the display just like the fingerprint reader.

Is the lack of stereo and a traditional speaker grill for your phone a big problem? Nope, not really. Ok, maybe just a little bit when it comes to calls. But for the main speaker, I rarely listen to music through a phone’s speaker, so wired or Bluetooth earbuds are no problem. But for calls, I do notice that even at maximum volume, that I sometimes wish the sound was louder. Usually, this is when I’m in a noisy environment. If I’m home, there’s no issue.

Software and user interface

Like the P20, the P30 Pro ships with Huawei’s own interface skin that’s called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different from stock, but it adds extra features like the ability to take screenshots by knocking twice on the screen with your knuckle. You can also knock once and then draw an S to take a scrolling screenshot for really long pages. There’s even a built-in tool to record a screencast.

One thing I don’t like about Huawei is that they include their own versions of the stock Android apps like a browser, app gallery, compass, calendar, clock, calculator, etc. I don’t use any of these apps because I prefer Google’s versions. So it’s annoying that I can’t uninstall them.

Carrying over from the P20, there’s a cool feature that allows the P30 Pro to easily connect to a monitor or projector if you have a USB-C HDMI, VGA, DVI dock adapter. Just plug it in and it will let you choose if you want to mirror the phone display or use a full-screen user interface on the larger screen. In full-screen mode, it’s like the Samsung DEX Station without paying for the extra hardware. It worked great with my BenQ PD2710QC DesignView 27-inch Designer Monitor.

The user interface in full-screen mode is easy to use just like Windows or MacOS and it reinforces my dream of one day using my phone as my one and only computer.

As an added feature, when the P30 is connected to a monitor or projector, the phone’s screen will turn into a touchpad that you can use to move the cursor around on the screen. Otherwise, you’ll have to use your finger or a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.

Using the Huawei P90 Pro for phone calls

I didn’t have any issues making and receiving calls on the T-mobile network with this phone. Even when I’m in my office (basement) of my house, the phone holds a signal and I’ve yet to have it drop a call.

As far as call audio quality, the volume level on the receiver’s side has been fine. On my side, I’ve wished for a little more volume, especially when trying to hear the other side of the conversation when I’m in a noisy environment.

Overall performance and battery life using the Huawei P30 Pro for day to day tasks

During a typical day, I use my phone to make and receive calls (shocker!). Make and receive text messages, play a rousing game or two of Words With Friends, check my email, send emails, read books, surf, listen to music through Bluetooth earbuds, take pictures for reviews that I’m working on, and occasionally watch a video on YouTube. For all those tasks, the P30 Pro performs wonderfully. Apps open quickly, webpages load quickly, everything works at the speed I’ve come to expect from a smartphone.

When it comes to battery life, the Huawei P30 Pro can easily get me through the day and when I need to top it off before going to bed (I don’t leave my phone plugged in overnight), it recharges quickly either by plugging it directly into power with a USB-C cable, or charging it wirelessly on a wireless charger like the Satechi Aluminum Type-C PD & QC Wireless Charger.

Speaking of charging, the P30 Pro supports reverse charging which allows you to use the phone as a wireless charger for another device that supports wireless charging. Just put the P30 Pro face down and it becomes a wireless charging pad.

What I like

Camera
Battery life
Fingerprint reader
Wireless charging
A clear case is included in the box

What needs to be improved

In screen speaker for calls could be improved as far as volume
No micro SD card slot
Mono speaker
Not officially available in the US

Final thoughts

After trying several phones over the past 2 years, it’s the Huawei P30 Pro that has taken the spot as my daily driver. It has every feature I want in a flagship smartphone. It has a nice display, excellent fingerprint reader, wireless charging, great battery life, a fullscreen desktop mode when connected to a monitor, and an excellent camera. There’s only one downside to this phone and it’s the fact that it’s not officially supported here in the US. That didn’t stop me from buying one though and I’m happy that I did.

Price: $909.00 from Amazon
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The Huawei P30 Pro for this review was purchased with my own funds.

Filed in categories: Featured Items, Reviews

Tagged: Android, huawei, Smartphone

Huawei P30 Pro Android Smartphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2019 at 7:04 pm.

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Humble Book Bundle: Programming by Packt

Just about anything you may want to do in the area of programming you can learn with this book bundle. As an even better incentive, you can pay very little when you buy the Humble Book Bundle: Programming by Packt. You’ll pay as little as $1 for books that explain C++ programming, Java 11, python programming, Go, and more. You’ll get instruction and hands-on training in several areas. Buy the bundle and receive only the books you really need to become more well-rounded in programming knowledge. When you purchase the instructional books you’re most interested in, the price you pay will include some of the… Read more

EGO 21″ Self-Propelled Peak Power electric lawn mower review

REVIEW – Since EGO sent me their Power+ 530 CFM blower, I’ve become a fan of EGO and more importantly, an advocate for clean battery-powered lawn equipment. I’m no tree hugger, but I do appreciate the advantages of yard tools that use no gas, have no fumes and are even quieter! You don’t appreciate the genius of cordless tools until you use one. EGO has now incorporated battery powered tech in the new EGO 21″ Self-Propelled mower with Peak Power.

What is it?

The EGO 21″ Self-Propelled mower with Peak Power is a dual-battery mower that rivals any home gas powered mower. Its two batteries allow for longer run times with increased efficiency. It features push button starting, is self-propelled with speed control, uses any EGO battery and is water resistant if caught in the rain while mowing.

Specs

21″ Deck
Brushless motor
Weather Resistant (ipx4)
LED Headlights
Mulching, bagging, side discharge functions
3 position handle heights
One handed height adjustment
Maximum cutting height: 4 inches
Minimum cutting height: 1 ½ inches
Grass bag capacity: 2 bushels
Rear wheel size: 9 inches
5 year warranty

Design and features

The EGO 21″ Self-Propelled mower’s lightweight outer shell may be made of plastic, but it’s high-grade, tough and water resistant. The handle folds down and the mower can be stored upright taking up less valuable garage space.

The motor that drives the EGO mower is brushless. Why is this important? The oversimplified explanation is that brushed motors use carbon (which wears with age) and brushless units use magnets to generate power resulting in less generated heat and more efficiency.

All wiring on the mower is protected by plastic tubing. My Honda doesn’t even have this feature.

Three methods of grass discharge are available: Side, rear (with bag) and mulching. I only use rear bagging if I have a thick area of grass that leaves clumps. Otherwise, I always use the mulch setting. Attaching the rear bag is simple: just lift the rear flap and place the bag into the slots. Side discharge is technically rear discharge with a curved attachment directing grass to the side. It’s an awkward solution at best.

One cool feature on the EGO mower is useless to me: headlights! The lights come in handy if you get caught mowing as the sun sets and want to finish before dark. Unfortunately, this is useless where I live in Central Florida because dusk is when the bugs come out to feed on flesh.

Setting up the EGO mower could not have been easier. There’s really nothing to do except unfold and lock down the handles, plug the rear discharge with the included attachment (if using mulch mode) and insert the two included 56-Volt 5.0Ah batteries. That’s it. There are further adjustments to be made, but those are set after you’ve been mowing to see what works best.

You will want to adjust the mowing height. Again, it’s easy to do. The EGO mower has one lever that raises and lowers the mower. This is so much easier than adjusting each wheel independently as on my trusty Honda gas mower. The handle can be lowered and raised depending on your height. I’m average height and the regular setting works fine. There’s also a speed lever for determining how fast the self-propelled function will go. This setting is a bit touchy. Even though the lever covers a wide range of speed, the middle part alone can go from “too slow for my walking speed” to “ludicrous mode.” I would have preferred more fine-tuning over a wider range.

There’s another minor issue I have with the self-propelled function. The accelerator is a lever on the right side of the handle bar that’s controlled by your thumb or four fingers. You squeeze it sideways to operate. That’s easy to do (if a bit odd feeling), but when I come upon an obstacle and forget to let go of the accelerator, there is so much power in the wheels wanting to go, go, go, that the rear of the mower will start hopping until I let go of the lever. Granted, it’s me not doing it right, but I can’t help but feel that a better design might help this.

My lawn situation requires the need for the self-propelled function. I have a large back yard and I will never own a mower I have to manually push. The speed adjust lever can be used on-the-fly as you’re walking, but I found it works a bit better if the speed is adjusted as you stop for a turn before proceeding. I also have to continually play with the lever depending on grass thickness and if I am going uphill or mowing on flat ground. Note that the self-propel function will work without the mower even running—as long as a battery is inserted. This is very convenient if you need to take the mower to another part of the yard or over concrete and don’t want the mower blade spinning.

EGO has managed to make mowing much easier. For instance, before using my Honda gas mower, I would have to check the gas level. Then I would check the oil dipstick (I once seized the motor of an almost new Toro mower by not checking the oil—lesson learned). Then I had to remove and shake out the air filter. Then I pulled the string hoping the motor would catch—it’s a Honda, so it usually did. Then I would have to press button 1, then button 2 and then pull the safety bar to get the blade to spin. Get the picture?

With the EGO, I insert the batteries (if they aren’t already inserted). Then I pull the safety bar and push the big, green button. No gas. No oil. No filters. No carburetor. No fumes. It’s mind-blowing when you think about it. But wait, that’s not all. The EGO mower is much quieter than the Honda ever was. You can have a normal conversation while the EGO is running. Hearing protection is not needed while mowing. Actually, I still wear earphones while mowing, because I’m addicted to audio books, but I digress.

The Ego mower also feels as powerful as the Honda. It cuts through just about any grass—damp or dry—except when it doesn’t. Let me explain. While the mower seldom refuses to cut, I managed to cause it to shut down when mowing too-tall grass in the morning. In Florida’s humidity, grass is usually wet (not damp) in the morning hours. This wet grass would clump under the mower and causing it to stall. I would have to turn it on its side to clean it out before it would restart. There’s both bad and good news here. The bad news is that the EGO won’t plow through wet grass—to be fair, the Honda won’t either. The good news is that I can just turn the mower over and scrape it clean. Turn a gas mower on its side and you run the risk of flooding the engine or starting a fire if it’s too hot. Once the underside was scraped, the EGO started right up. No fuss, no muss.

Mowing through “normal” grass with self-propelled activated is a breeze. The mower is light and easily maneuverable. My back yard is over an acre and I wanted to see if the extended range of having two batteries would allow me to mow the yard without the batteries dying. Sadly, the mower stopped before I could finish. However, my yard is much larger than a typical suburban yard, so this mower should mow most yards with power to spare. Also, the EGO mower came really close to finishing. I just had a small section left to do. It was impressive because I didn’t expect to get as far as I did.

Note that the EGO 21″ Self-Propelled mower with Peak Power ships with two 56-Volt 5.0Ah batteries. If they had been EGO’s 56-Volt 7.5Ah batteries, I could have completed the yard with no recharging.

I got about an hour and 20 minutes life from a single charge to both batteries. Battery life is dependent on different factors, like if the grass is high and thick, wet or dry or even how much the self-propelled mode is used. Unfortunately, there’s no battery life indicator on the batteries, so when mowing, the battery is lit green until it’s spent—then it turns red. Not very useful. However, EGO has a new battery available with a built-in fuel gauge. This newer battery did not ship with the mower.

Each included 5.0Ah battery completely recharges in about 40 minutes with EGO’s included rapid charger, which charges in half the time of EGO’s regular charger. A single recharged battery would have been enough for me to finish the back yard, so at most, I would have been delayed 40 minutes. Lemonade break, anyone?

The EGO 21″ Self-Propelled mower with Peak Power is expensive. But when you consider EGO’s long warranty and factor in the cost of gas, oil, upkeep as well as the price of a good gas mower, EGO’s price looks more justified.

What I like

Extremely easy to use
Mows as well as a gas mower
Long-life batteries
Quiet
Long warranty
Easy storage

What needs to be improved

Expensive
Self-propelled setting could be fine-tuned
Side discharge is awkward

Final Thoughts

I could go on and on about how much fun it is to use the EGO mower, but I won’t because it’s not. Mowing is still mowing and in Florida’s summer heat and humidity, it’s still a chore. However … EGO has turned something I dread doing into almost—but not quite—a pleasure. To me, that’s a big, big win.

Price: $749 US
Where to buy: Home Depot
Source: The samples for this product were provided by EGO.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: gardening, Outdoor Gear

EGO 21″ Self-Propelled Peak Power electric lawn mower review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2019 at 1:04 pm.

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