StarTech USB-C Video Adapters with Presentation Mode Review

As a frequent business meeting presenter, I have a variety of device-to-display adapters in my travel bag.  And this collection continues to evolve over time when newer technology such as USB-C video output becomes more prevalent.  Keeping up with this trend, StarTech offers a line of USB-C video adapters and provided VGA and HDMI versions to review.  Additionally, as a product differentiator, StarTech adds a “Presentation Mode” feature to make your meetings smoother and more convenient.  After testing the adapters at home, I’ve also had the opportunity to test in real world situations on a long business trip.  Let’s see how they do…

MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS

StarTech provides a unique feature called “Presentation Mode”.  When “Presentation Mode” is switched on, your device is prevented from entering a sleep or screen saver state.  With this feature, the user no longer has to toggle off these sleep or screen saver states through your OS.

USB-C to VGA Adapter
USB-C 24 pin male to VGA 15 pin female
Supported resolutions @ up to 60Hz

  • 1024×768
  • 1280×720
  • 1920×1080
  • 1920×1200
  • 2048×1280

USB-C to HDMI Adapter
USB-C 24 pin to HDMI 19 pin female
7.1 surround sound
Supported resolutions up to 60Hz

  • 1024×768
  • 1280×720
  • 1920×1080
  • 1920×1200
  • 2560×1440
  • 2560×1600
  • 3840×2160

UNBOXING

Both adapters come in cardboard packaging, which I personally find as a welcome respite from products housed in hard plastic packages.  The interior cardboard packaging secures the adapters and includes a small paper quick start guide.

PRODUCT IMPRESSIONS

Both adapters are approximately 7 1/2″ long from end to end.  The USB end is a 5″ length of 3/16″ cable that is flexible, yet stiff enough to stay in whatever position you want to bend it in up to 90 degrees.  The cable feels sufficiently protected with a 1/4″ stiff plastic strain relief at both the USB and video ends.  The video port end is enclosed in a 1 1/2″ x 2″ plastic housing that also includes the “Performance Mode” toggle switch.  The entire adapter is a matte black sheen with a small StarTech.com logo on the housing.  It is absent of any gaudy colors or logos, which I find appropriate for a business meeting setting which these adapters seem intended for.

TEST EQUIPMENT

For this review, two different devices were used that represent my likely personal usage scenarios:

Cube I7 Book Tablet PC referred to as the “Cube Tablet”

  • USB-C port for video output
  • Capable of 4K 60 Hz video output

Nokia Lumia 950XL  referred to as the “Lumia”

  • USB-C port for video output
  • Full screen app mode using Windows Phone Continuum

Different displays were used depending on the adapter and situation:

  • Dell S2309 2048×1152 monitor to test the VGA adapter
  • Dell S2817Q monitor with 4K resolution and 60Hz frame rate to test the advertised HDMI adapter capabilities
  • VGA and HDMI projectors from various businesses and companies, model numbers unknown
  • TVs with HDMI input from various hotels, model numbers unknown

TESTING

The following scenarios will be tested with the StarTech adapters:

  • Both devices will be tested with both monitors.
  • A variety of monitors, projectors, and TVs will be tested dependent on my business trip environments.
  • Video playback and Microsoft Office will be used to judge presentation quality.
  • The “Presentation Mode” will be tested with both devices having their screen savers/timeouts enabled.
  • Additionally, the Lumia with Windows Mobile 10 has the Continuum feature which allows the use of a connected monitor to enable a desktop-like experience.

Both adapters were brought on a recent multi-destination business trip to test in real world presentation situations.

INSTALLATION AND USAGE

Using either StarTech adapter is just a matter of inserting the USB-C plug into the device and inserting the video cable into the HDMI or VGA port.

I also tried a variety of HDMI and VGA cables I personally had on hand, and they all fit well on the adapters.  On the Lumia, the USB-C plug fit well and felt secure.  On the cube tablet, the USB-C plug felt looser than what I would have liked, but that is more of an issue with tablet port as other USB-C cables felt just as insecure.

The Cube tablet also initially had issues recognizing the device but this turned out to be an issue with Windows 10.  The solution was to go into the Device Manager and right click on the Properties option of the USB Root Hub.  On the Power Management tab, disabling the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” allowed Windows to recognize the adapter.

VGA ADAPTER IMPRESSIONS

Cube tablet

Upon device discovery, Windows by default replicated the display.  The Dell VGA monitor has the same 1920×1020 resolution, so everything scaled perfectly.  The output came out clear with no perceptible lag.  The adapter worked in all situations of my trip which included hardware such as projectors, computer monitors and even hotel TVs with VGA inputs.  I was successfully able to show a Powerpoint presentation at a business that only had a VGA projector.

Lumia

The Lumia does not output via VGA in Continuum mode, so no impressions could be made in this instance.

HDMI ADAPTER IMPRESSIONS

Cube Tablet

Again, upon device discovery, Windows by default replicated the display with no issues.  Switching to “extended display mode” took better advantage of displays with additional real estate and resolutions.  In a variety of situations on my trip, the adapter had no issues connecting to projectors, computer monitors, and hotel TVs.

The adapter advertises the ability to transmit 4K at 60Hz, which the Cube Tablet is capable of outputting.  To test the entire hardware toolchain, I acquired a 4K test image commonly used to test AV equipment.  The image consists of a series of pixel wide lines and gaps that can only be discerned in a 4K display.  In this case, I can confirm that the adapter transmits the 4K image properly.

To test the 60 Hz adapter capability, a 60 Hz video supplied from StarTech was used.  Without having any sort of metric tool to test for frame rate, I resorted to a subjective test by playing the same video back and forth between a work laptop (with only 30 Hz output capability) and the Cube Tablet.  So while I can’t completely confirm output frame rates, subjectively I could perceive a far smoother viewing experience with the Cube Tablet at 60 Hz.

Lumia

After the HDMI adapter was inserted into the Lumia, the Continuum app was activated and “wired dock” mode was selected.  The Lumia immediately recognized the adapter and a Windows Mobile full-screen display mode presented itself on the Dell HDMI monitor.  I was successfully able to connect with a variety of computer monitors, projectors, and hotel TVs on my trip.  In all cases, the display was clear and responsive, and I was able to show Powerpoint presentations and work on Microsoft Office applications without any issues.

PRESENTATION MODE IMPRESSIONS

The “Presentation Mode” feature is physically enabled on or off with a small sliding toggle switch next to the video port end of the adapter. When the switch is set to ‘on’, StarTech states that the adapter sends out ‘small cursor movements’ to prevent your operating system from sensing user inactivity.  Since the USB-C port on both my devices also accept input devices like keyboards or mice, “Presentation Mode” sounds like a clever way of tricking the device to stay active.

For this portion of testing, I initially set the “Presentation Mode” to ‘off’ to confirm that the screen and monitor go blank after 5 minutes of inactivity.  Then the switch was set to ‘on’ and left my devices sitting idle for an hour and the displays continued to stay on.

For both the VGA and HDMI adapters using the Cube Tablet, “Presentation Mode” worked as advertised.

Additionally, for the Lumia, one of my current annoyances with Continuum is that the screen will lock after 5 minutes of inactivity and there does not appear to be a way to disable or lengthen this timeout in the software.  The Microsoft helpdesk and other Windows Phone forums have many posts seeking solutions to no avail.  So it was interesting to see if this adapter would work on the Lumia.  With presentation mode switched to ‘off’, the screen timeout occurred as usual.  However, switching to ‘on’ effectively prevented the screen from timing out and I was extremely happy to finally have a solution to this issue.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If I were shopping for a video adapter, I would have to admit the “Presentation Mode” feature isn’t something I would have immediately sought out.  However, I found that having a physical “Presentation Mode” hardware switch was very convenient.  And it beats having to go into your device settings to fish around with your power and display modes every time.  So for my usage scenario, as a frequent business meeting presenter, the Startech adapters have found a permanent place in my presentation gear bag.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by StarTech.  For more info visit their site and Amazon to check prices.

 

Product Information

Price: $47.99 (VGA), $45.99 (HDMI)
Manufacturer: StarTech
Retailer: Amazon

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV, Reviews

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StarTech USB-C Video Adapters with Presentation Mode Review originally appeared on on March 24, 2017 at 8:02 am.

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See people moving around inside your home without using security cameras

Most home security systems involve setting up cameras and a variety of sensors like motion detectors, door and window opening/closing sensors, temperature sensors and more. The Xandem system is more like something straight from a Mission Impossible style movie. Xandem uses a gateway and a set of modules to create a mesh network that puts a security blanket over your home that can detect when people are moving around inside it.

Xandem offers Home and Pro systems. The Pro systems are more for commercial installations while the Home system has been designed for… homes. Both systems can be purchased with modules that plug into standard wall outlets or are hardwired.

You can buy systems with 6, 10 or 15 modules. Of course, the more modules you need, the more the system will cost. Luckily, the mesh created by the modules can go through walls and furniture.

After you set up the gateway device and plug in all the modules you can then use the web client to draw the floor plan of your home. The client will also let you create alarms that will fire based on certain criteria and can notify you or others via email. The system can also be programmed to sound a siren or activate lights to scare away an intruder.

According to the FAQ on Xandem’s site, tracking is accurate to within 5-10 feet for most installations and can be adjusted to disregard small pets.

The 6 module system runs $430, and the 10 and 15 module systems are priced at $495 and $595 respectively. The systems come with one free year of Xandem’s cloud service. After the year is up, you don’t have to renew if you don’t want to as the system will work without the cloud service. You’ll just lose certain remote functionality.

DIY geeks will be happy to learn that Xandem provides API info so you can program your own apps to interact with the system.

For more info visit Xandem.com.

Filed in categories: Home and Kitchen, News

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See people moving around inside your home without using security cameras originally appeared on on March 23, 2017 at 5:06 pm.

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Sandman 4 Port USB Charging Alarm Clock review

How many of you wake to sounds from your smartphone, charging on or near your bed? How many of you still have a clock in your bedroom for timekeeping (not for decoration)? These two questions will determine your interest in the latest gadget to cross my review desk: the Sandman Alarm Clock.

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


We all sleep, and most of us are cursed with the necessity of having to be awakened at a specific time. For this, most of us use some sort of alarm clock or alarm app. While we’re sleeping, most Gadgeteers also plug in their phone, tablet, watch, or another device for charging. The result has made for a lot of tangled confusion on and under nightstands the world over. A company called Palo Alto Innovations has developed something to tame some of this with the Sandman alarm clock. They sent one to me for testing, and I’ve done so with great enthusiasm. (Anything that includes me sleeping is met with great joy.)


The clock itself resembles any of the thousands of LED clocks you’ve seen over the years: black plastic face with large numerals and small dots nearby to indicate alarm status and AM/PM. There are buttons to allow you to change the time, set the alarm, etc., on the back. There’s also a built in backup battery in case of power outage. The Sandman, however, features a multi-level brightness adjustment on the display, which means you’ll actually have a dark room to sleep in once more. (My youngest actually puts an index card over her current clock to dim the display.)


The other secret superpower this clock brings to market is four USB charging ports across the back. No longer do you have to flail about under the bed and nightstand for that cable to plug in your device(s) at the bedside. In fact, since it’s right there on the nightstand, using a short cable or one with several tips makes lots of sense.


With these features, what’s not to like, right? Well, a few things. First, the buttons have no way to lock. So, in the middle of the night, you reach to turn the clock around and read it, and you’ve grabbed the button to change the time. Or you’ve turned off the alarm if you grab the other side. Second, setting the alarm takes a lot of twiddling to get the hang of. With only three buttons, you’d think they could have made some other location for them, or built up a collar around them to make it more difficult to change or add a lock button. And holding the snooze bar while holding one of the buttons on another plane means this is never a one-handed operation.


The sound is loud enough to wake me, but I’d like to change the sound or make it louder on those days I’m going to need some added encouragement to rise. These things should be easy enough to add for the next version, but without them, the addition of USB ports is not quite enough to make me change from my current clock.
How has what you keep on your nightstand changed in the last 10 years? How about the last 15? That question brings into sharp relief the changes brought about by cell phones, iPods, smartphones, and our move from needing clock radios to using phones to wake us. This could be an interesting social science study, actually. Let’s discuss it in the comments.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Palo Alto Innovation. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $44.99
Manufacturer: Palo Alto Innovation
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • AC outlet
Pros:
  • Variable brightness levels
  • USB port allows charging up to 4 gadgets
  • Backup battery
Cons:
  • Time and alarm status are easily changed when picking up clock
  • No control over alarm sound or volume level
  • Fiddly controls for setting alarm and time

Filed in categories: Reviews, Watches and Clocks

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Sandman 4 Port USB Charging Alarm Clock review originally appeared on on March 23, 2017 at 12:23 pm.

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Android Wear 2.0 Vapor smartwatch coming from Misfit this summer

We’ve been covering Misfit fitness tracking wearable devices since the original Misfit Shine that I reviewed back in 2013. Misfit trackers have evolved since the Shine and in the next few months, we’ll be seeing a brand new device from Misfit that looks like their most ambitious activity tracking wearable so far. The Misfit Vapor is a true touchscreen smartwatch powered by the Android Wear 2.0 operating system. 

First announced at CES 2017 in January, the Vapor was called the best smartwatch and best fitness gadget of 2017.

The Vapor smartwatch has a lot going for it. It has a 1.39” full round 326 PPI AMOLED display, is water resistant up to 50 meters, so you can swim and shower with it. It has a built-in optical heart rate monitor, and GPS so you won’t need to carry your phone with you when you’re out on a run or walk.

Don’t think that the Vapor is all workout and no play. because it also can be used as a stand-alone music player and you can install hundreds of Android Wear apps on the watch to really make it your own.

Priced at $199, the Misfit Vapor will be compatible with phones running Android 4.3 or iOS 9 or higher. For more details visit Misfit’s Vapor page and be sure to sign up to get notified as soon as they become available this summer.

Filed in categories: Health, Fitness, Sports, News

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Android Wear 2.0 Vapor smartwatch coming from Misfit this summer originally appeared on on March 23, 2017 at 10:48 am.

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Mpow Bluetooth Over-the-Ear Bluetooth Headphones review

These Mpow Bluetooth headphones are a decent, moderately priced option for people who prefer traditional over-the-ear headphones versus earbuds. They are stylish, portable and offer the choice of a wired connection as well as Bluetooth.

In the box:

  • Mpow Bluetooth Headset
  • 3.5mm Audio Cable
  • USB Charging Cable
  • Packing Bag
  • User Manual

Specifications:

  • Bluetooth Version: 4.0
  • Range: 33 feet (10 meters)
  • Talking Time: Around 15 hours
  • Playback Time: Around 13 hours
  • Charging Time: 4 hours
  • Charging Voltage: 5V
  • Battery Capacity: 420mAh

Design:

It is very obvious that Mpow mimicked the design of the more expensive Beats Studio Wireless headphones when designing this unit. It has similar curves and angles to the Beats and a shiny black plastic exterior with plastic silver inlays over cups.

I did appreciate the small but clear indicators on the inside of the headband denoting the left and right cups.

Comfort:

The inside of the headband is matte red plastic with a very thin “memory-protein material” cushion for the top of your head and the same “material” on the cups for your ears. The cups are oval and quite narrow so these may cause discomfort for users with larger ears. The headphones were very uncomfortable for me after about thirty minutes of continued use. The headband has seven notches for adjustment, but even with that range I experienced some pressure on top of my head and ears. My ears also felt very warm after a short time.

Use:

Following the included instructions I was able to connect via Bluetooth to both my Android Nexus 5X and Apple laptop very easily. Setup is aided by a female voice which tells you when the headphones are powered on or off, when in pairing mode and when you’ve reached the maximum volume.

The controls are on the outside of the right cup and are a little difficult to access when you are wearing the headphones. You have to feel around a bit for the buttons and the clicks on the controls are very loud and require some pressure. The controls include volume up and down, next and previous track, power, play/pause, and call. The buttons don’t light up and are marked in very light grey on the black headphones, so they are difficult to see. The only lit area of the controls is a small ring around the center play/call button which blinks blue when powered or red and blue when pairing.

You can also connect the headphones to your device with an included male-to-male 3.5mm audio cable and an audio port on the bottom of the left cup. It is nice to have the option to use these as wired headphones, but once connected by wire neither the controls nor the microphone work. The sound quality of the wired connection and Bluetooth connection was the same in my testing. The bass was a little light on most tracks and on higher volumes the sound suffered from slight distortion and a loss of clarity. There were occasional dropouts in sound when connected through Bluetooth.

There is significant sound leak at all volumes. You would not be able to use these in an office environment or in public without annoying those around you. This is most likely because these headphones are designed to be passive noise isolating, as opposed to having active noise cancellation. Passive noise isolation simply means that once you have the headphones on and are listening to content, you can’t hear any outside noises. Active noise cancellation counteracts outside noises by creating an inverted waveform to cancel out the noise waveforms and requires extra power.

For phone calls or chatting via computer, there is a small microphone hole on the lower right cup, but maybe because of the design, my voice was muffled on all calls. The sound quality of the caller was fine, but I would not use these as my main headphones for calls or chatting on my computer.

Storage:

The headphones fold at hinges just above the cups for storage in the included case. When fully opened, the cups lock into place with a satisfying click.

Power:

The headphones charge via a micro USB port on the outside of the right cup with included USB cable. The unit takes about four hours to attain a full charge. In my tests, the battery life for playback was right along with Mpow’s specifications, about 12-13 hours. This amount of playback time is great for a set of headphones you plan on using a lot during the day.

Final thoughts:

The Mpow Bluetooth over-the-ear headphones aren’t a great piece of audio equipment by any measure, but for the price, portability and option of a wired or Bluetooth connection, they are a good back-up set to have around.

The sample for this review was provided by Mpow. Please visit their website or Amazon to order.

 

 

Product Information

Price: $36.69
Manufacturer: Mpow
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Bluetooth Version 4.0
Pros:
  • Moderately priced
  • Bluetooth and wired connection
  • Included carrying bag
  • Passive Noise Cancellation
Cons:
  • Significant sound leak at every volume level
  • Cheap plastic build
  • Poor sound quality at higher volumes
  • Controls difficult to use when wearing
  • Uncomfortable after prolonged use

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV, Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged:

Mpow Bluetooth Over-the-Ear Bluetooth Headphones review originally appeared on on March 23, 2017 at 7:08 am.

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