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Mobvoi TicPods Free wireless earbuds review

REVIEW – My personal quest to find my next favorite pair of Bluetooth headphones continues with the Mobvoi TicPod Free wireless earbuds which are reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods. The TicPods Free was an incredibly successful Indiegogo campaign that earned 2.8 million! Let’s check them out.

What is it?

The TicPod Free earbuds are Bluetooth earbuds that are completely wireless without a cable that connects the left and right earbuds to each other.

Hardware specs

Connectivity – Bluetooth 4.2
Speaker – 92dB +/- 3dB SPL
Noise cancellation – Yes
Battery life with case – 18 hours
Battery life on single charge – 4 hours
Fast charging – Yes 1.5hr
Water resistance rating – IPX5

What’s in the box?

TicPods Free Bluetooth earbuds
Extra set of ear tips
Charging case and lanyard
micro USB charging cable

Design and features

I’ve never tried Apple’s Airpods, but the TicPods Free earbuds certainly share a similar design with  “stems” that point down from your ears. The TicPods Free earbuds are a little more adventurous than Airpods because they come in a lava red color in addition to navy blue and white versions. As you can see, Mobvoi sent me the red version.

The earbuds feel solid and feature replaceable ear tips and a touch-enabled stem. Each earbud is clearly marked so you’ll know which ear it goes in. There are also two electrical contacts on each earbud stem for charging purposes.

The TicPods Free comes with a handy storage/charging case. Magnets hold the earbuds in place and as soon as you flip open the case’s cover, the earbuds will automatically power on and reconnect to the previously paired device. When you place the earbuds back in the case, they will power off, disconnect from the paired device, and charge. The case itself has a built-in battery which charges with the included micro USB cable. The earbuds will recharge within 1.5hrs after being placed in the case.

Fit and comfort

I’m happy to report that the TicPods Free is the most comfortable pair of earbuds that I’ve tested so far. The left bud fits perfect, but the right one is a little more fiddly. But that’s just me and my ears. Everyone will have a different fit and feel due to individual ear shapes. But for me, I can wear the TicPods Free for hours on end with no ear fatigue which is a big deal since most earbuds become painful for me within minutes of wearing them.

I can’t comment on how well these earbuds will stay in your ears if you wear them during workouts or while running. I used them while doing my workouts, but I don’t jump up and down a lot. That said, they didn’t fall out during the movements I did do.

The small ear tips do provide noise isolation which you may or may not like.

Touch controls

There’s good news here too. I usually hate touch controls on wireless earbuds because they require me to tap harder and harder to get the gesture to be recognized and as a result, my ear starts hurting from all that pounding. That’s not the case with the TicPods Free. The double tap to answer/end a call or advance to the next song works great as does the slide up and down gesture to adjust volume. Then there’s the tap and hold on the left bud stem to play/pause and on the right stem, the same gesture initiates voice assistant (Google or Siri). If you do the same gesture on either earbud while in a call, the call will be rejected.

I really love that I can leave my phone in my pocket or across the room and still be able to change tracks and adjust volume.

Audio quality for music and calls

More good news! Audio quality on the TicPods Free is awesome. I tested the earbuds with Spotify, Amazon music and other streaming services, and was very happy with the audio quality of the music. Even bass lines sound better than so many other Bluetooth earbuds that I’ve tested.

In calls, the TicPod Free earbuds sounded fine on my side of the conversation, but on the opposite side of the call, I was told that I sounded a bit muffled but no so more than when I’ve tested other Bluetooth earbuds. Note that due to their in-ear noise isolation style fit, you’ll hear your own voice in your head as you talk.

Multiple device usage?

From what I can tell, you can only pair with one device at a time.

One earbud usage?

There’s a feature built into these earbuds which will automatically pause music if you remove one of the earbuds from your ear and will resume when you put the earbud back in your ear. While this feature is nice, I often like to use only the left earbud to listen to music when I’m at work so that I can hear things that are going on around me and I can talk to people if they walk up to my desk. I didn’t think I’d be able to do that with these earbuds but I found that it is possible to use the right earbud individually, but not the left earbud. From the Mobvoi website:

The microphone is located on the right earbud, which functions as the master control earbud. How it works is that phone calls/music will be transferred from your phone to the right earbud, and then from the right earbud to the left earbud. So you can leave the left earbud in the charging case, close the case, and continue to listen to calls/music using just your right earbud.

You might be wondering why the right earbud is the “master earbud”. It’s because the right earbud is the one that has the microphone for calls and using the voice assistant.

Battery life

Each earbud has an 85mAh battery and a full charge will provide up to 4hrs of play time. The fast charging case has a 700mAh battery which will provide up to 18hrs of battery life.

What I like

  • Comfortable
  • Fast charging
  • Fast pairing
  • Above average audio quality
  • Easy to use touch controls
  • Auto pauses audio when removed from ear(s)

What needs to be improved

  • Can’t use just the left earbud
  • Only comes with one extra pair of ear tips
  • Doesn’t have multi-device pairing capability

Final thoughts

Drumroll please… I’m happy to report that the Mobvoi TicPods Free wireless earbuds have earned the award of becoming my current favorite pair of completely wireless earbuds. They tick all the boxes for me. They are comfortable to wear for hours at a time, they have easy to use touch controls, they sound great, and they charge in their own case when they aren’t being used. I highly recommend these earbuds.

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mobvoi.

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Mobvoi TicPods Free wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2018 at 11:30 am.

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6 Gadgets you should have in your car for winter emergencies

ARTICLE – Winter is just around the corner, and most people can’t completely avoid driving in the treacherous conditions that typically characterize the season.

In addition to being extra cautious behind the wheel, it’s wise to invest in these six winter-ready gadgets.

1. The Trac-Grabber

There’s nothing quite like the heart-sinking sound of car wheels spinning in the snow because the vehicle is stuck. Trac-Grabber is a portable traction device that helps a car wheel get the grip it needs to move freely again. It has straps and a block of material that grips the snow. A user loops the Trac-Grabber straps around an affected wheel, then secures them.

Then, they get in the car and try to drive out of the spot where the vehicle is stuck. In some cases, it’s necessary to repeat the process for all wheels. An included Trac-Grabber pouch allows for quickly stashing the accessory in a console or seat pocket until the next use.

2. The Zone Tech Heated Ice Scraper

Many people already have the hard plastic ice scrapers in their cars during the winter, but this product goes beyond what those accessories offer. It plugs into a car’s outlet to heat up and has a cord that’s over 12 feet long. The gadget also features an LED light that makes it easier to see the surface of the windshield and find the areas with the most buildup even in the dark.

3. The STABILicers Original Maxx Cleats

Ice and snow make it difficult to stand or walk outside without slipping. Then, it’s challenging to assess the extent of the winter weather emergency while on the road. These easy-to-use cleats strap onto boots and give snow-gripping capability via the studs extending through the forefoot to the heel. The replaceable cleats also make these accessories a good value for multi-year use.

4. A Portable Air Compressor

A flat tire disrupts a road trip at any time, but especially when you’re subjected to harsh winter conditions. A portable air compressor allows inflating the tire quickly and resuming the journey instead of spending time shivering in the driver’s seat while waiting for roadside assistance.

People should look for portable air compressors with tanks no smaller than three gallons. Also, the compressor should ideally offer 0.5 CFM and 90 PSI, so it’s smart for buyers to read the product specs before finalizing their purchases. The CFM is cubic feet per minute, and it represents the air output or flow level of the compressor. The PSI is pounds per square inch, and it’s a measure of force given by the compressor.

Some portable air compressors come with carrying bags, making them easy to pack into the car before a trip or keep in the vehicle until needed.

5. The Resqme Quick Car Escape Tool

Seatbelts and door locks are designed to keep people safe, but sometimes they malfunction, leaving individuals trapped. Some people wonder if they should drive with their doors unlocked to prevent a door lock malfunction. However, experts say that even when people don’t engage the locks, the impact of a crash could make the door not work as expected.

Being trapped in a car is dangerous at any time, but the risk of severe consequences goes up if a person is in a collision during subzero temperatures. The Resqme Quick Car Escape tool fits on a keyring and has attachments that break window glass and cut through seatbelts. The effective yet compact design also means it won’t get in the way of a house key or other things on a keyring.

6. A Heated Travel Blanket

Once the thermometer plunges below zero, it’s possible to suffer from frostbite after only minutes of exposure. The risk is still present at higher temperatures too, especially when people don’t prepare for the weather. A blanket carried in a car is a multipurpose item because a person could kneel on it while inspecting the underside of a vehicle, use it for a pillow while waiting for rescue and, of course, rely on it for warmth.

A heated travel blanket is even better, provided that the car’s 12-volt outlet still works during an emergency. Some blankets come with cords long enough to reach the back seat and are wide enough to cover two adults. Besides the potential threat to one’s well-being for not being ready for the cold, frigid temperatures make waiting for help substantially unpleasant. A user-friendly blanket offers practicality and comfort.

Get Prepared for Winter Auto Emergencies

Some people who anticipate crises happening while driving won’t ever need to use the tools they buy.

However, circumstances could change in seconds during an otherwise uneventful journey. That’s why it’s essential to stock up on these gadgets and anticipate winter’s ferocity.

Image by Chris Peeters

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6 Gadgets you should have in your car for winter emergencies originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2018 at 10:30 am.

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Tile Mate and Tile Pro Bluetooth trackers review


REVIEW – Tile’s family of Bluetooth trackers make it easy to find your important items. I was hesitant to try them because I’ve never had very consistent behavior with Bluetooth tracking devices but read on to find out how the newly updated Tile Bluetooth trackers worked.

What is it?

The Tile Pro and Mate Bluetooth trackers are a small device that you attach to your important items and make it easy to find or track them via your smartphone. Tile sent me one of each, so I gave them a go.

What’s in the box?

  • Tile Tracker
  • Getting started sheet
  • Warranty Information

Design and features


I normally don’t lose things because I tend to always leave them in one of two or three locations. However, when I do lose them or someone moves them I panic because I normally go right to the “it’s stolen” scenario in my head.

The Tile Pro and Tile Mate trackers are great little Bluetooth trackers that do exactly what they say, and they do it well.

 

The Tile Pro is a metal framed tracker with a range of 300ft (90m) and also has a louder speaker, whereas the Tile Mate is plastic with a range of 150ft (45m). The Tile Pro comes in black or white whereas the Tile Mate comes in white. They use replaceable CR2032 and CR1632 batteries respectively.

The smartphone app is available for both iPhone and Android. Once you install the app, you sign up for a Tile account via Facebook or Email. The app is simple but does everything you need it to do.



Setup is easy, simply follow the steps in the app to connect to a new Tile.



I placed the Tile Mate on my key ring and the Tile Pro on my camera bag. I was able to attach it to the tripod pocket, which not only keeps it somewhat outside of the bag and easier to hear but also makes it more difficult for someone to find. My office is in my basement and I have used it several times to determine that my camera bag was in my office and not left in my truck.


Simply put, the Tile app never failed to locate my Tiles each and every time I tried to locate them. Even from all the way across my house and from the upstairs to the downstairs. I’ve honestly never had a Bluetooth device work so well.

The app will also tell you how many other Tile users are near you. This could come in useful if you lose an item. When your Tile is out of the range of your phone’s Bluetooth, it will have a “Notify when found” option instead of the normal “Find” option that rings your Tile. When this option is enabled, when any Tile user comes within range of your Tile device, it notifies you of the device’s location. This works seamlessly and without the other user’s knowledge or interaction.

Another nice feature of the Tile devices is that you can double-click the button on the Tile device to locate your phone. Your phone will even ring when on silent mode.

There is also the ability to set up a “Left Behind Alert” that will alert you when you leave home without an item.

What I like

  • It simply works as advertised
  • Replaceable battery
  • Discounts when purchasing packs
  • No maintenance, it just works
  • Find your phone feature

What needs to be improved

  • I didn’t really find anything that I thought could be improved with the Tile products.

Final thoughts

It’s refreshing to review a product that simply works just as it should. Tile also offers great discounts when you purchase packs of Tiles, saving up to 40% when you purchase a 4-pack (Pro 4 for $100, Mate 4 for $60). Check out the Tile website for all of their products and discounts.

Price: $35 Pro, $25 Mate
Where to buy: Tile and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tile.

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Tile Mate and Tile Pro Bluetooth trackers review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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Lighten up with the YaYwallet

NEWS – This ultra-slim wallet is barely bigger than the credit and ID cards it’s designed to carry.  The YaYwallets are made of durable polyester woven elastic.  The smooth edges are double-stitched for strength with bonded, fray-resistant nylon thread for smooth edges that protect your pockets or bag.  The wallet is designed to take up only a small amount of room in your pocket or every day kit while holding up to 10 cards.

The YaYwallet is available in a leaf print, multi dot print, or in solid black.

YaYwallets are available for $9.99 at The Container Store.

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Lighten up with the YaYwallet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 11, 2018 at 8:23 am.

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Folding straws, backpacks, Bluetooth earbuds, and more – Weekly roundup

Hey Gadgeteers, it’s time to make sure you didn’t miss any of our excellent content this week. Here’s a handy list of all of our articles, reviews and news from the past seven days. Enjoy!

ARTICLES

REVIEWS

NEWS

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Folding straws, backpacks, Bluetooth earbuds, and more – Weekly roundup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2018 at 4:30 pm.

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