Apple has taken some heat recently for its privacy efforts. While they still say they consider privacy to be a top priority to them, there are practices, such as allowing third parties access to Siri recordings, a practice that has since been discontinued, that cause people to question its direction. This news will cause consumers to further question the company’s focus. Apple has provided “hacker-specific” versions of the iPhone to companies to use as research to discover flaws in iOS but feels one company in particular, Corellium, went too far in selling virtual copies of iOS and are suing them for… Read more
You may have been using Facebook for quite sometime now and think there is nothing that can surprise you. But how deep have you investigated to be absolutely sure that Facebook has nothing to offer you? Since Facebook has a lot to offer when it comes to features, it’s easy to miss useful features that have bee staring at you in the face all this time. Below you can discover some of the other Facebook features you had no idea existed. Related: How to Download Facebook Videos to Your iPhone 1. See Who’s Been Accessing Your Facebook Account Have you been noticing some weird activity… Read more
REVIEW – As I’ve gotten older, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. Maybe my parents yelling at me to turn my music down when I was younger was for a good reason. Too late now! Anyway, while watching TV with my family, I tend to crank up the volume causing others to (not so) nicely ask me to turn it down. It’s like my parents yelling all over again. If this sounds familiar to you, there may be a solution—the Nuheara IQstream TV.
What is it?
The Nuheara IQstream TV is a small table-top device that connects to your TV audio out port. Once connected, the TV’s volume can be independently adjusted for Nuheara’s IQbuds BOOST earphones using the IQbuds smartphone app. So, no matter how low or how high the volume for the TV is set, the volume setting for the IQbuds BOOST can be as low or high as the wearer desires without disturbing anyone close by.
Specs
aptX Bluetooth
Bluetooth range: 90 ft.
Compatible earphones: IQbuds BOOST
Digital Input: Mini-Toslink
Analog Input: Mini plug
Sounder output: mini plug to RCA
Ports: Combo optical/analog in, combo optical/analog out and USB
Weight: 3.2 oz.
In the box
USB cable for connection to power
SPDIF to mini-TOSLINK cable for digital audio
3.5mm to 3.5mmcablefor analog audio
3.5mm to Stereo RCA cable
TOSLINK to mini-TOSLINK dongle
(TOSLINK is also known as SPDIF)
Design and features
The Nuheara IQstream TV is basically a one-trick pony. At less than an inch tall, it’s small enough to fit under any flat-screen TV. Yet for such a small package, it packs a bit of a punch, delivering quality audio at a volume that should satisfy anyone.
IQstream TV comes with all the wiring you should need as long as you can find USB power (a powered USB port on a tv will do) and audio out sources. The IQstream TV has three ports at the rear—audio in, audio out and USB. The audio in and out ports are both digital and analog. Included is an adapter if your digital port is not the mini plug shape. This means that the IQstream TV can use the far better digital signal if your source uses TOSLINK (SPDIF). But if your audio source is old school, those same ports can handle analog mini plug or RCA-mini plug connections—cables included. Because of its light weight, the base of the unit has a non-slip rubberized surface that helps keep it in place on a tv stand.
There are different setups for the IQstream TV. The most common is a direct connection from the audio out port on the back of your TV (if there is one) to the audio in port on the IQstream TV. Just my luck that this didn’t work for me—usually. Sometimes it did and sometimes not. I would get no audio even though a solid blue light indicating that the IQstream TV was streaming.
After repeated emails to Nuheara support and getting nowhere (not their fault), I decided to connect the IQstream TV to the audio out port of my cable box rather than the tv. Voila—it worked! Who knew that if you have cable TV, that the audio out on the TV would not work? I didn’t know that. The manual doesn’t deal with a cable box connection.
A word about Nuheara’s support. They were knowledgable. They were attentive. They were supportive. They’re in Australia. So, since the time zone is about 12 hours difference, it would take a day for each question to be asked and answered. It took a while to get anywhere. I kept wishing there was a support phone number to call, but no. There is an online chat on the Nuheara site, but it wasn’t available when I had my questions.
The IQstream TV also has an audio out port for connecting to a sound bar. The idea for this is so the IQstream TV can be a pass-through for one audio port at the source. Since I do not own a soundbar, I haven’t tried this method.
Once the IQstream TV’s connection woes were fixed, everything worked great! There was no Bluetooth lag in the audio, so syncing was never an issue. Only if I turned down the IQbuds BOOST earphones and turned up the TV, did I notice a slight echo effect.
The Nuheara IQbuds smartphone app is required to use the IQstream TV. The app may need to be updated to see the IQstream TV. Once paired, you can control volume and how much outside noise you want to allow. That way, a normal conversation can be had without removing the buds.
Because I use the proprietary Nuheara’s IQbuds BOOST earphones, audio quality is quite good, so music, dialog and sound effects ring true. Stereo separation is great—as long as the audio source is stereo. In other words, what is broadcast or played is what you hear.
Note that the IQstream TV only works with the IQbuds BOOST earphones and nothing else—not even the Nuheara’s original IQ earphones. So you should already own the IQbuds BOOST earphones or will need to purchase them for the IQstream TV to work. This will be a huge dealbreaker for many. The IQbuds BOOST earphones retail for $500, so it’s a major purchase. However, the IQbuds BOOST earphones are not your typical earphones. They can test your hearing and adjust themselves accordingly. It’s pretty amazing audio tech. You can read my review here.
What I like
Simple to use
Sounds great
No audio syncing issues
What I’d change
Make it work with any earphone
Include cable box instructions in the manual
Final Thoughts
Nuheara is on to something with the IQstream TV. It’s incredibly simple to use—once it’s set up properly. It sounds great and the ability to independently control TV volume without disturbing others can be a godsend. If Nuheara can figure out a way for the IQstream TV to work with any Bluetooth earphone or offer a less expensive earbud, it could be a near perfect product.
Price: $99 US (Sometimes on sale for $69) Where to buy: Nuheara Source: The sample for this product was provided by Nuheara.
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A Dynamic DNS (also known as DDNS or DynDNS) is a service for mapping Internet domain names to a computer with dynamic IP addresses. Most computers connect to a router via DHCP, which means the router randomly assigns an IP address for your computer. This also means that your computer’s IP address is ever-changing, and this makes it difficult to connect from the outside world. Dynamic DNS solves this issue by constantly updating its DNS service with your latest IP address. If you are looking to run a home network, here, in no particular order, are some of the best free Dynamic DNS providers. 1…. Read more
REVIEW – We live in Florida. Florida is known as the sunshine state. Let me tell you, after living in Michigan for most of my life, and in my wife’s case, her entire life, the sun down here is a different kind of intense. We both wear hats nearly all the time when we are outside. Finding a good hat is essential for both comfort and the health of the skin on your head. Wallaroo Hat Company has a large offering of hats for men, women, and children that include UPV 50+ hats. These hats block more than 97.5% of the sun’s UV radiation. We were sent the Seaside hat for review. Should it be in your sights as an option for UV protection and stylish looks? Let’s get into it and find out!
What is it?
The Seaside hat is one of Wallaroo’s hats designed specifically for women that provides UPF 50+ UV protection. We were sent the natural version which is an off-white. It is also available in camel – more of a light brown, or perhaps dark tan.
First off, the hat is incredibly soft. When I opened the box, the first thought on my mind was how soft the hat felt. The 100% microfiber construction feels great with nothing stiff or abrasive. Then, I noticed how light it is.
My trusty postal scale shows that it weighs in at a next-to-nothing 2.9 ounces. That should mean all-day comfort as almost nothing is on your head. But, that next to nothing provides a UPF rating of 50+ so only 2%-2.5% of the sun’s UV radiation will hit your noggin. With the 4″ wide brim, your ears and neck will also be protected.
Wallaroo includes a cinch cord in the hat to help you get that perfect fit.
The above photo shows the cinch cord near the label as well as the chin strap with a slider to tighten under your chin in windy conditions.
The only exterior branding is a small Wallaroo tag on the back of the hat.
Inside, we find another brand tag.
Washing instructions on the back show that hand washing in cold water is recommended.
Wallaroo promotes that they are Colorado-based but we see that the hat was made in China.
The hat ships with three tags attached.
One demonstrates how to pack your hat by rolling it so you avoid wrinkles. The second shows that they are recommended for their UPF 50+ protection by the Skin Cancer Foundation. The third has product information and also explains that 1% of company profits are donated to skin cancer research, education, and prevention in the United States. That’s an admirable mission.
Take another look at the photos above and this close-up.
We see a good amount of ventilated mesh integrated into the hat. A UV protection layer is under each mesh area. This promotes airflow to help keep you cool in the sun while still providing full UV protection.
Performance
I can like this hat all I want to but it is designed for women. Whether it is worthy of your consideration will rest solely on the opinion of my lovely wife who will be modeling and testing out the hat.
To test the hat, we went and played golf – central Florida style. That means 93 degrees, 66% humidity and a feels-like of 105 degrees. She liked wearing the hat and used words like “soft” and “comfortable”. In addition, she felt that the hat, with its extensive ventilated mesh, did a good job of helping her feel relatively cool in the blazing Florida sun.
She tried the hat in its two brim modes. You can roll the brim edge up for a sportier look, or fold it down for more extensive sun coverage and a more relaxed look. She preferred the rolled-up look, and I had to agree that she looked pretty darn cute, although I might be biased.
For excessively windy conditions, there is a chin strap, which she modeled for me as well.
I’m not sure when you would use the chin strap. In a hurricane, perhaps? After golf, we rode home in our golf cart. We live in a huge retirement community and that’s how we get around most of the time. Since it was so hot, we left the windshield folded down. I had her drive so I could shoot video of the hat’s performance in the wind. She had just put the hat on and did not even pull the cinch straps tight. Take a look at the following 10-second video.
We were cruising at about 25MPH and the hat held firm.
Here’s another view from the side. You can really get a sense of how hard the wind was blowing in our faces.
We both were quite impressed. Cinching the hat will offer even more hold, and the chin strap is there for those times when you’re skydiving or running an Indy car with no windscreen.
What we like
Super light and soft
Attractive design
Very good fit and hold, even in windy conditions
Great UV protection
What we’d change
A way to store the chin strap, perhaps a pocket in the inside top of the hat, would be nice
Final thoughts
We were both very impressed with the Wallaroo Seaside hat. My wife went golfing again the next morning when the temps were in the high 80s and the feels like temps were again well over 100 degrees. When she came home, she again commented on the softness and comfort of the hat and how well it shielded her from the sun and helped keep her cool. With its great fit, great comfort and terrific UV protection, it is a perfect hat for our Florida active lifestyle.
Price: $50 Where to buy: Direct from Wallaroo and Amazon along with many other retailers. Source: The sample of this product was provided by Wallaroo Hat Company.
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