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Nyrius ORION streaming device review


REVIEW – Devices with wireless capability have become an assumed feature in today’s technology word. However, some wireless capabilities present more challenges than others. The ability to transmit audio and video wirelessly from source to a display has usually been offered with a large price tag attached to it. The Nyrius ORION streaming device promises the same capability but with a reasonable price tag. Let’s see what it delivers.

What is it?

The Nyrius ORION streaming device is a component package consisting of a transmitter and receiver and offers 1080P HD wireless transmission of video and any associated audio between the two components up to a 40′ range within line of sight.

What’s in the box


1 x Digital Wireless HD Transmitter
2 x External IR Remote Extender
1 x Digital Wireless HD Receiver
2 x AC Power Adapters
1 x 5ft HDMI Cable
2 x Screws/Screw Anchors
1 x Instruction Manual

Design and features

Specifications

Supported Video Resolution: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p (will support 4K content that has been downscaled to 1080p by source device)
3D Compatible: Yes
Audio Formats Supported: PCM 2CH, Dolby 5.1
Transmitter Ports: HDMI input, HDMI Loop-Through (Output), Micro USB (for power), 2.5mm Jack (for IR Emitter)
Receiver Ports: HDMI Output, Micro USB (for power), 3.5mm Jack (for IR Emitter)
Wireless Range: 40ft (streaming line of sight results in maximum range)
Transmission Frequency: 802.11 a, b, g, n; 5.8GHz (Band 1 & 4)
System Latency: Less than 500ms (average 150ms)
IR Frequency: 30-60 KHz
Wireless Technology: ORION GigaXtreme
Source Compatibility: Any source containing an HDMI output port
Display Compatibility: Any high-definition television or projector with HDMI input
Wall Mountable: Yes, Transmitter and Receiver have built-in keyhole slots
Multiple Receivers: Yes, Maximum of 4
Adapter Compatibility: Nyrius does not recommend using Digital to Analog Adapters with their Orion products. However, HDMI to mini-HDMI/micro-HDMI adapters are compatible
TX/RX Channel: 1 TX / 4 RX

This system consists of one Transmitter and one Receiver device that accept HDMI connectivity. They are identical in size, and measure approximately 3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ x 1″. On the connectivity side of the receiver as shown below there is the HDMI Out port, an IR In port and a micro USB AC adapter port. The HDMI Out connects to an external display.


On the Transmitter as shown below, there is the HDMI In port, the HDMI Out port, an IR Out port, and a micro USB AC adapter power port. The HDMI In port is used to connect the source device to the transmitter and the HDMI Out allows for the direct connection to another monitor/device. This is a loop-through feature.


Both components have the pairing button as seen below that you press to make the connection between them.

Performance

The connection of these devices was straightforward and easy, and within a couple of minutes, I was transmitting wirelessly between my laptop and an external monitor.



When the Receiver is connected to the output display, the screen below is displayed as it awaits a signal from the Transmitter.


The LED indicator on each component lights steady white when the 2 are successfully connected and blinks red when they are not.

There is a slight lag between the source video and the remote display and there tends to be a bit more lag the further away from the source you are. Overall, it works quite well especially within the 20′ to 30′ range that I was able to perform my tests. I tried it on streaming devices, a PC laptop, and a MacBook.

If you are streaming from a media source that is in a different room than your display and you are receiving the audio/video signal with no problem, the IR extender feature allows you to control your streaming/media device like a streaming box from the display, by simply pointing the media device remote and the IR Extender and using the remote as you would when in front of your media/streaming device.

What I like

  • Size of Transmitter and Receiver
  • Operational range
  • Eas of set up and connectivity
  • Consistent connectivity

What can be improved

  • In terms of its specification and what it promises to do, it works as intended.

Final thoughts

The Nyrius ORION streaming device seems to be perfect for sitting on your couch with a laptop or even another streaming device and watching the content on a larger display without having to run wires between the source and the display. The fact that it is able to do so while displaying content at 1080P HD is also a nice feature. While there is a bit of lag, it is not noticeable if the output display is not compared to the input via another display that is connected to the source or the loop-through port, so this is really not an issue. The Nyrius Orion certainly has its niche, and for the features, the price, and how it performed during my tests, it is a good value.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Nyrius website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nyrius.

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Nyrius ORION streaming device review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Loop personal WiFi display review


REVIEW – For a long time, I have been into digital picture frames, and other devices that can play/show high definition video and photos independently. While all of these functions can be easily handled by a tablet, I like affordable devices that I can leave on shelves around my studio or at the corner of my desk and have them showcase some of my work. I already have the large screen monitor on my wall, but a smaller device for my desk would be nice. The Loop seems to offer something interesting that might fit my needs, so let’s see.

What is it?

The Loop is a communication display device that allows you to view and share video, photos, and video chat with anyone with another Loop, anywhere in the world.

What’s in the box


1 x Loop
1 x AC Adapter
1 x Quick Start Guide

Design and features

On the front of the Loop, there is the display screen with a bezel around it that is approximately .5″. The Touch top that is on the top side of the device does not have any visible marks or indication. There is a camera in the center of the bezel at the top of the screen.


At the back of the Loop, there is a carrying handle and the AC jack.


At the bottom of the Loop is the sleep/power button. The micro USB port beside it is not currently used.


On the right side of the Loop, there is the scroll knob and the channel knob below it.


On the left side of the Loop, there is the speaker, the volume up/down buttons and an SD card reader.

Performance

Specifications

Dimensions
Height 7.2 inches / 182 mm
Width 9.5 inches / 240mm
Depth 3.0 in / 78mm
Weight 2.5lbs / 1134 grams

Storage Capacity
Loop comes with 4GB of on-device storage will be expandable in the future.

Display
9.7” inches diagonal
1024×768 pixels
IPS technology
Intelligent dimming

Inputs
Scroll knob
Channel knob
Touch top
Volume buttons

Camera
5 megapixels
70-degree field of view
f2.8 aperture

Audio
50mm speaker

Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n); dual-band (2.4GHz and 5 GHz)
Bluetooth 4.1

Features
Private photo and video sharing
Video chat
Streaming pictures and video
Social media and cloud storage integration
Voice control (coming soon)
Intelligent dimming (coming soon)
Bluetooth speaker playback (coming soon)
SD card reader (coming soon)

Integrations
iOS Photos
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Dropbox (coming soon)
Flickr (coming soon)
Google Photos (coming soon)

Supported formats
All photos and videos that are taken on an iOS device

Image formats supported: .bmp, .gif, .jpeg, .png, .webp
Video formats supported: H.264 AVC – 3GPP (.3gp), MPEG-4 (.mp4), MPEG-TS (.ts, AAC audio only). H.265 HEVC
MPEG-4 (.mp4). MPEG-4 SP – 3GPP (.3gp). VP8 – WebM (.webm), Matroska (.mkv). VP9 –
WebM (.webm), Matroska (.mkv).

Power and Battery
Built-in battery for up to 4 hours of playback
Power adapter for always-on use in the home

Warranty
1 year limited warranty

Requirements
Loop account
Internet connection for continued photo/video updates
Loop iOS app for setting up Loop and adding new content

Android app coming soon

Once you connect the power supply to the Loop and download the app, the setup is easy. You create an account and get right to creating your channels. I created separate channels for my Instagram channel, my kids’ photos, and YouTube videos by selecting the type of pictures I want to see on the display. Once you select the desired channel, the Loop displays the pictures like a slideshow or the videos. It shows all of my Instagram pictures and all of the pictures of my kids/family that I add from my iPhone. I tried the video chat feature between the app on my phone and the Loop and it was nice and clear both in audio and video. As I understand it, you can chat either between the app and the loop or two Loops. You can set up multiple Loops on one account and control them all and share content acting as an Administrator, or you can set up the Loops on separate accounts and then invite each Loop to connect and to share content. A nice feature of this device is that if you have a parent or family far away, you can set up the device to their wifi remotely, and they can see the content you add. This can obviously include family photos and videos, etc.

From the Loop, you can press and hold the scroll knob and the volume button up to 5 seconds to bring up the settings menu, and perform specific functions as seen in the photo below.

App

The screenshots of the app below show the various categories and capabilities of the app and device, as well as some of the available customizable settings.









What I like

  • The display resolution
  • The ability to add channels and therefore add selective content to have at your fingertips
  • The build quality
  • The audio quality
  • The video chat capability

What can be improved

  • Touch Screen capability added as opposed to Touch top even though the design is focused on preventing smudges on the screen
  • The price
  • The size (Thickness)
  • If wifi is disconnected because of a reboot of the router, the Loop does not always reconnect automatically

Final thoughts

In my opinion, the Loop device is an interesting device since it allows you to gather quite a bit of online content in one place and at your fingertips, all according to your preference. It also offers the video chat capability that can be set up and given to someone else in a remote location to chat or to share content. It is well built and the display resolution is great. However, I am very “torn” between recommending the purchase of this device versus a device like a 9.7″ iPad for $329. While the Loop does all that it is designed to do quite well, so do many tablets. While the access to the content that you pre-setup on the Loop is specific and quick, the tablet offers the same content availability and much more. I think that the choice to purchase this device would be based on very specific needs and capabilities, and so I will pass on a recommendation and just say that if this works for you, then buy it.

Price: $249 (Includes current promotion for 15% off)
Where to buy: Loop website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Loop.

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Loop personal WiFi display review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 30, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Vizio debuts three new Dolby Atmos soundbars starting at $499

NEWS – On Tuesday Vizio announced pricing and availability on its 2018 Dolby Atmos soundbars.

The 36-inch 5.1.2 model is the first to hit the market with a price tag of $499.99. The sound system features a total of eight speakers. Five in the soundbar itself (3-front firing and 2-up-firing), two rear satellite speakers, and a wireless subwoofer.

The two larger 46-inch soundbars will be available later this year, presumably just in time for the holidays. They include the 3.1.2 model without rear speakers ($799.99), and the flagship 5.1.4 model ($999.99).

The 5.1.4 system boasts four dedicated up-firing speakers. Two in the front and two more in the rear satellite speakers, for a grand total of 10 speakers.

What is Dolby Atmos?

Simply put with Dolby Atmos, sound moves around you in three-dimensional space, so you feel like you’re inside the action. It uses an object-based system to make it sound like the action is not only happening in front and behind you but, above you as well.

The Vizio Home Theater sound systems are Dolby Vision compatible and support 4K, HDR10, and other HDR standard content.

Along with Dolby Atmos, the soundbars will include Wi-Fi connectivity with Google Chromecast Built-in and Google Assistant integration with voice-control. All three soundbars will also feature two HDMI 2.0 ports (one-input/one-output).

I own a 46-inch Vizio 5.1 soundbar, and I love it, so I’m eager to see what they can do with the Dolby Atmos technology. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to wait until later this year to find out.

Vizio’s 36-inch 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar is available today. For a list of retailers and to learn more about these new soundbars go to Vizio’s website.

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Vizio debuts three new Dolby Atmos soundbars starting at $499 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Bowers & Wilkins introduces an improved line of affordable speakers

ARTICLE – In June, I was invited to Boston for a press introduction of the new Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series of speakers. The June weather was unusually cool with nights in the mid-60s—a welcome change from the humid 90s of my home in Central Florida. 

Sight of the famous Boston Massacre

For those who aren’t familiar with B&W, they are a British audio company who specialize in high-end speakers, headphones and AirPlay/Bluetooth speakers. While B&W’s line of headphones has grabbed the most attention, it’s the speakers—the 800, 700 and 600 Series—that really define who B&W are. When a new or upgraded line is introduced, people notice. The newest 600 Series is considered B&W’s more affordable speaker line, but they are definitely not budget speakers.

Upon arriving at the B&W office, our small group of audio tech writers and reporters were treated to a catered lunch before the presentation and listening sessions. Chief Revenue Officer Richard Campbell and Senior Product Manager Andy Kerr introduced the new 600 line by reciting the history of the numbered speaker series. They talked about a commitment to continued innovation evidenced by hiring 40% more engineers and opening a new research facility. Further innovations include upgraded cabinet materials, improved hardware and software and a new European partnership with Philips branded televisions.

Kerr spoke about the new 600 Series benefitting from trickle-down components—utilizing components borrowed from the more expensive 700 and 800 Series—such as a continuum cone midrange driver and decoupled double dome tweeter. “The 600 Series aims to be the best sounding loudspeaker range in its class.” said Kerr. All 600 Series speaker cabinets come in either matte black or satin white.

The tweeter is covered by a steel mesh with an open pattern that allows unrestricted audio while also protecting the tweeter’s delicate diaphragm. The continuum cone speaker replaces the older kevlar design. Kerr explained that the newer speaker is quicker to recover from audio vibrations resulting in more accurate reproduction.The new 600 Series speakers continue B&W’s newer and simpler naming system. The 603 floor standing speaker is the largest of the series. It has the decoupled double dome tweeter, an FST midrange driver using the continuum cone, plus dual paper-cone bass drivers.

The smaller 606 is designed for either stand or bookshelf use. It delivers clarity and tonal purity with a bass extension by combining the decoupled double dome tweeter and the 6.5 in. continuum cone.

The compact bookshelf 607 speaker is the smallest in the 600 Series. It features a rear-firing bass response from its main 5-inch continuum cone mid/bass driver. I was particularly interested in this speaker because it’s the most affordable in the line and I wanted to review a speaker that a “normal” person (non-audiophile) might purchase. It strikes me as a great way to introduce a potential customer to a higher—yet affordable—level of audio. Look for a review soon.

After the presentation, we were escorted into a listening room featuring the previous versions of 600 Series speakers. After speaking a bit, Kerr played an eclectic selection of music. He would carefully explain what to listen for from each piece and note the differences and improvements between the older and newer 600 speakers. Once the music was played, engineers would quickly replace the previous speakers with the newer versions. This was done with each 600 Series model. The music was sourced from a MacBook using an external digital audio converter (DAC).

After hearing both the older and new 600 Series speakers, I could notice a difference. The newer speakers had just a bit of extra clarity. However, to my ears, the difference was subtle at best. If I had heard one speaker on one day and the other on the next day, I doubt I would have been able to tell the difference. That does not say that the new 600 Series isn’t that much better. But it does say that the older 600 Series speakers were that good to begin with and hard to improve upon. Even though the differences were not striking—they were noticeable on some recordings more so than others. Vocals were a bit more intimate or lifelike sounding. Melanie De Blasio’s slow and sultry voice on “With All My Love” became uncomfortably emotional sounding because, with my eyes closed, it sounded like she was in the room playing just for you. John Lee Hooker’s blues/boogie “Send me Your Pillow” had his guitar playing pushed to a volume level matching his vocals. The part in the song where Hooker unexpectedly mutes the strings making his guitar behave more like a percussive instrument raised the hair on my arms. I liked what I was hearing!

After the music presentation ended, we entered a home theater room with movie clips set up to show off the newer 600 Series speakers along with a new HTM6 center channel speaker paired with two B&W subwoofers added for extra bass whoomp. Even watching various movie scenes with all the sound effects going on, the added center channel brought out the vocals quite well. While it was an impressive experience, any improvement in audio quality from the newer 600 Series speakers was lost in the movies’ audio. It was an aural onslaught that drowned out any subtlety that one can appreciate from listening to music in a quiet room. But it still sounded great.

Of course, the term affordable is a subjective one. The new 600 Series speaker have a bit of a price bump from the previous version, but are still the least expensive speakers in B&Ws current lineup. The 607 speakers will sell for $600/pair; the slightly larger 606 will be $800/pair and the floorstanding 603’s will go for a much higher $1,800/pair.  The center channel HTM6 is selling for $599. All prices are US.

Lastly (and just for fun), we were treated to three factory Bowers & Wilkins auto sound systems in a Volvo, McLaren supercar, and BMW.

All were quite impressive, but I think the Volvo was the most successful at visually integrating the speakers into the interior design. They all sounded terrific, but I fear the engine growl from the McLaren would compete with music playing over the B&W—or any other—speakers. The cars were stationary, so we couldn’t test for road noise.

As the day wound down, I got a ride back to the airport. I had prior commitments, so I, unfortunately, missed a seafood dinner that night. 

I’ve reviewed and been impressed with many Bowers and Wilkin’s products, such as the P3, P5, and P7 headphones as well as the Zeppelin Wireless and T7 Bluetooth speakers. I still use and love the P5 Wireless headphone—it’s just a wonderful all-around headphone that delivers great sound and is uber convenient and comfortable. Now that I’ve been introduced to their 600 Series speakers, I’m looking forward to testing them with my home stereo system to hear any improvement I hope they provide. Look for my review soon.

Visit Bowers & Wilkins for more information.

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Bowers & Wilkins introduces an improved line of affordable speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 20, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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AirTame HDMI display enabler review

Given that we’re all probably carrying around more video and photo data than graced the entire planet 20 years ago, I’m sure we’ve all been somewhere and wanted to show a group of more than 2 people a great shot. Perhaps you’ve wanted to actually present to a group, and you only had a phone with a pdf and a TV, and no cable to connect them. The folks at AirTame have seen your plight and have concocted a solution, in the form of an HDMI dongle that needs no setup other than with your phone or another device. It fits in the space of your earbuds, but it has a lot more hidden superpowers than this….

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The AirTame is a black dongle 3”x1.5”x.5” with an HDMI plug on one end. It looks like an HDMI thumb drive. On one of the sides, there is a microUSB port for power, and opposite the plug, there is a small button to power it on. When it’s connected and powered on, your device’s images show up on your HDMI display. Once it’s on your wireless or Ethernet network, however, it is also available to be seen by full computers (Mac, Windows, Linux) or ChromeOS. These devices can share full screen live screens.

What’s in the box?

AirTame device
USB-A< ->microUSB power cable (1m)
USB power brick with plugs for US, UK, and EU (US only is shown above.)
7.5” HDMI extension cable

Design and features

The AirTame is easy to set up, easy to carry along, and easy to use. I’ll cover the setup below. Once it’s set up, there’s little to do. As long as you are connected to the same network, you can send PDF and JPG files to any HDMI source from your iOS or Android device, using their app. If the files are on your device, you give the AirTame app permission to read them, and you’re off to the races. If you want to store them in a DropBox account, the design is there to allow you to access that account. (During testing, I ran into a snag with changes that are happening with the DropBox app, but I feel sure this will be worked through in due course. The solution is to open the PDF in your device’s PDF reader, and “Open In” AirTame. This will copy the document to the Files section of the AirTame app, where it can be accessed and displayed.)
For computers and ChromeBooks, the dongle is much more powerful. You can do full-screen sharing. You can use the app to find any AirTame on your network, and send your video to it. This is fantastic for tech support, training, or viewing remote computers (servers, network monitors, etc.).

Setup

Setup is simple. Connect to an HDMI port on your display of choice and connect the AirTame to power using a microUSB cable. These things can be problematic, however, due to the placement of the display, or other cables that are already in place. There is an extension cord in case the HDMI of your display won’t allow the wide and long AirTame to attach directly. In many conference rooms and boardrooms, you may need to invest in a gender changer, since the only option available may be an HDMI plug, rather than a port. Other than private displays, I can’t remember the last time I had access to the port itself.
AirTame’s idea, however, is to have organizations put one of these devices on every HDMI screen in an organization. The pricing model changes rapidly from 1-3 to 4-9 and more than 10. Being able to remotely log in to any display in your company or campus and show your screen can make for quick resolution of issues where groups need to be shown something. (Audio can be turned on or off.)

Performance

I found the performance to be acceptable. Since video files are not supported with iOS/Android devices, the display rate isn’t going to be a problem. Bringing up a multi-page PDF document allows a PowerPoint / Keynote-like screen on your device where you see the current and next thumbnails, rather than the full screen being the current image. If you export your slide deck to PDF, you’ll only lose the animations and sound/video links, but those have lost favor of late. (Clicking the green button in the multi-page PDF document below leads to a screen-by-screen slide deck presentation.)


For computers, there is a bit of a lag over Wifi. (The company offers ethernet adapters that will allow direct connection to a router, which will speed up screen motion and video display. I was not sent this to test.) It’s not really that bad unless you’re trying to show video or any other high-frame-rate media.

What I Like

  • Very easy setup and installation
  • Fast, clear display
  • Supports virtually all platforms

What needs to be improved

  • Device gets hot after 30 minutes or so
  • Limited file formats supported on iOS/Android
  • Would benefit from a battery that lasted 15-20 minutes for traveling users

Final thoughts

Presenting to a large screen seems to be the modern curse, and I see no end to it in our current businesses. Presenting from something other than a full computer, however, is quite nice, and this device covers the basics of getting an image before a group with little to no roadblocks. If you need sound, animations, active video display (for training or visualization of content), this device paired with any modern computer will most likely fill the bill. If you can be happy with images and PDFs from your handheld, this is a worthy consideration.

Price: $299.00 (quantity discounts available)
Where to buy: Manufacturer website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by AirTame.

The post AirTame HDMI display enabler review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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AirTame HDMI display enabler review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 29, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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