Are Browser Extensions Slowing You Down?

There are a few different reasons why your browser might be starting up or loading pages more slowly than usual – you have three million tabs open right now, don’t you? But browsers out of the box should work pretty well across machines. If you use a bunch of extensions, however, you’re changing the memory/CPU footprint of your browser and possibly how it interacts with webpages. This can often be a culprit in browser slowdowns, so it’s one of those things you should check if your browser has suddenly started moving with all the speed and grace of a slightly concussed sloth. How can extensions… Read more

Tail it global range GPS trackers review

REVIEW – We all have “stuff” that we like to keep track of, from our backpacks full of expensive computer gear, to our luggage and even our pets. We’ve reviewed a variety of tracker devices here on The Gadgeteer over the years, but most of those tracking fobs are only useful when they are within Bluetooth range of your phone. What if you want to keep track of something that is a few miles away or even across the country. That’s where a GPS tracking device like the Tail-it Tracker comes in handy. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

Tail-it trackers are credit card and smaller sized tracking devices that have a built-in GPS and cellular SIM card that allow them to be used anywhere, not just within range of your phone.

What’s in the box?

The image above contains the contents of the Tail it+ and Tail it Pet packages.

  • Tail it+ or Tail it Pet tracker module
  • Pre-installed SIM card
  • Screwdriver
  • USB charging cable
  • Tail it Pet also comes with a silicone case that can be attached to the pet’s collar

Design and features

There are five styles of the Tail it devices but we were sent the Tail it+ and the Tail it Pet. There’s the Tail it+ shown above on the left which is a black soft-touch plastic credit card sized device.

It that has a USB-C charging port on one side and a small oval button that doubles as a status LED on top.

Note that the Tail it+ can charge wirelessly too. Just place it on a Qi charging pad and you’re good to go.

Then there’s the Tail it Pet which is a much smaller device that charges with a proprietary magnetic USB charger and also an oval power switch/LED status light on top.

Tracking using the Tail it app



To use the Tail it devices, you have to activate the SIM cards and then install the Tail it app on your mobile device. The app’s interface is a basic dashboard where you can see the tracker’s battery status and last seen details. Clicking each device will then allow you to call, share, or delete the device.

The Call feature is confusing. It’s really meant for the GPS watch version of the Tail it Kids which gives the parent a method of calling the watch in an emergency situation. But for the Tail it+ and Tail it Pet, tapping Call just makes your smartphone call what looks like an international number which then results in a busy signal.

The Sharing feature will let the people you give permission to also be able to see where the tracker is at any given time.


The app will also allow you to turn the LED light on the tracker and turn a sound alert on which causes it to make a high pitched beep.

Both of these features can help you locate the tracker when you’re in close range.




Tail it devices use GPS and WiFi to determine the tracker’s location. GPS accuracy is within 5m or 16.4 ft and WiFi accuracy is within 50m or 164 ft. The fallback method that is used when GPS and WiFi is not available is LBS and it’s only accurate within 2km (6561.68 ft) which won’t help that much if you’re trying to find a lost item or pet.

The Multi-LBS system collects data from more than 3 GSM base stations and calculates accurate placement by analyzing, direction and ephemeris from satellites.

The app provides a map or satellite view of the Tail it device and gives you the option to turn on live tracking for emergency situations. Note that live tracking will cause the device’s battery to drain quickly because it updates the location every 5 seconds.

During my time testing the Tail it trackers, I would have to say that if I needed to locate a lost item, I would not want to rely on the Tail it app to help me find the item because the accuracy of the location even when using GPS was been pretty bad 80% the time and really bad a the rest of the time. It would also take the app a few minutes to update locations and many times it would say the update failed.

Even if the accuracy was good, it would still mean that the item could be within a range of 16 ft in the best of situations. I guess as long as the item you’re trying to find is pretty large, you’d be fine, but most of the time I used it, it didn’t show the tracker remotely close to where it really was.


Just as an example, in the images above you can see the purple circles which are the locations that the Tail it app says the trackers are located and the red dots are where they are really located. I guess that accuracy would be fine if you were trying to find a dog or a cat, but for a backpack or something smaller, not so much.

Battery life

The Tail it+ has a standby time of 8 weeks per full charge and the Tail it Pet has a standby battery life of 2 weeks on a full charge.

What I like

  • Can track globally
  • Simple to use

What needs to be improved

  • The app does not provide any geo-fencing features to alert you when the tracker has gone out of a pre-defined zone
  • Location feature provides inconsistent location results
  • Can’t get a history of movement
  • Won’t work in remote locations where there isn’t cell coverage or WiFi

Final thoughts

The best thing about the Tail it tracking devices is that they can be used globally but the worst thing about the Tail it tracking devices is that the location accuracy isn’t… well… accurate and it takes entirely too long to update locations through the app if they even work. If they can improve the accuracy and update speed, these trackers could be very useful but as is, I can’t recommend them.

Price: $99.00 for either version. This does not include the monthly subscription which is $4.99 per device if paid for 1yr in advance or $5.99 for a month at a time
Where to buy: Tail it
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tail it.

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Tail it global range GPS trackers review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2019 at 12:00 pm.

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How to Enable Dynamic Transparency Ubuntu

With the release of GNOME 3.22, the developers removed dynamic transparency from the top bar. In the past, GNOME’s top bar on Ubuntu was mostly transparent until a window touched it. It made the desktop environment, especially on distributions like Ubuntu, cleaner and much less cluttered, making it a favorite among users. That’s a real shame, too, because there don’t appear to be any concrete plans to bring it back. Thankfully, GNOME extension developers sprung into action to bring back dynamic transparency. So, getting it back on Ubuntu 19.04 is a breeze. Related: 10 Great-Looking Gnome Shell Themes Install the Firefox Extension To… Read more

The WFan Wearable Portable Fan makes it easy to stay breezy

NEWS – Now that the weather is heating up we’ll all be looking for ways to keep cool. Ceiling fans, window fans, tower fans, and even handheld fans are all popular choices. But what about two fans you can wear around your neck. The WFan Wearable Portable Fan fits around your neck, giving you a hands-free way to keep your cool this summer.

There are two 3 speed fan heads that each have five blades. Flexible arms allow you to easily position the breeze to hit right where you need it. 

The fan is lightweight, quietly powerful and uses a rechargeable lithium battery that will last for over 300 uses.

Because the fan rests on your neck hands-free, it’s perfect to use while walking the dog, working in the yard, at a ballgame or anywhere you need a refreshing breeze.

The WFan Wearable Portable Fan sells for $34.95 and comes in 5 different colors. Gray, white, red, navy, and black. You can check it out on The Grommet.

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The WFan Wearable Portable Fan makes it easy to stay breezy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Posted by / June 13, 2019 / Tagged with / Posted in News

Jabra Elite 85h wireless noise-cancelling headphones review

REVIEW – Over-the-ear headphones have grown on me over the past few years. I have preferred sport-centric earbuds due to their portability and ability to survive sweaty, nasty workouts. But I have come to appreciate the comfort, sound quality, and added features that over-the-ear headphones bring to the table. My current go-to earbuds are the Jabra Elite Active 65t’s that I carry with me most of the time. So, when Jabra announced their new Elite 85h active noise-cancelling wireless over-the-ear headphones, I raised my hand and volunteered to check them out, hoping they live up to their smaller sibling.

What is it?

The Elite 85h’s are Jabra’s first active noise cancellation (ANC) over-the-ear headphones, engineered to compete with the likes of Bose, Sony, B&O, etc. Their design is comfortable and compact, meant to go with you throughout your day and world travels while providing a top tier listening experience.

What’s in the box?

  • Elite 85h ANC wireless headset
  • Carrying case
  • Audio cable
  • USB C charging cable
  • Flight adapter

Hardware specs

General
  • Main unit dimensions (LxWxH): 195 x 82 x 225 mm
  • Weight (headphones): 296g
  • Operating temperature: -5° C to 45° C
  • Materials used (outside): Fabric, leatherette (PU), PC/ABS,PC/ABS with metallic paint, PBT, SUS with PVD(MIN part), PC
  • USB cable length: 30 cm
  • Audio cable length: 120 cm
  • Warranty: 2-year warranty against water and dust
Audio
  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Digital Hybrid ANC uses 4 of the device’s 8 microphones
  • Passive Noise Cancellation: Yes
  • Noise reduction on outgoing voice signal: Yes, advanced call technology uses 6 of the device’s 8 microphones
  • Wind Noise protection: Yes
  • Voice Assistant access: Yes, one-touch access
  • Adaptive audio with SmartSound: Yes
  • Number of microphones: 8 microphones
Connectivity
  • Connection: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-c, 3.5mm jack
  • Supported Bluetooth profiles: HSP v1.2 , HFP v1.7, A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, PBAP v1.1, SPP v1.2
  • Operating range: Up to 10m (33ft)
  • Paired devices: Up to 8.
  • Multi-Connect: Two devices can be connected at one time.
  • Auto pause music: Yes
Battery
  • Music & Talk time: Up to 41 hours (with ANC off) / Up to 36 hours (with ANC on)
  • Sleep mode: Yes
  • Standby time: >1 year (auto power off after 72 hours)
  • Charging time: 2.5 hours (with dedicated 500mA USB wall charger)
  • Battery after 15 min charging: Up to 5 hours (with dedicated 500mA USB wall charger)
  • Charging plug: USB-C

Design and features

As I mentioned, the Elite 85h’s are Jabra’s first ANC over-the-ear headphones but this is far from their first rodeo in term of bringing music or phone calls to your ears. The 85h’s include an impressive list of features and baked-in technologies including an 8 microphone array, 36 hours of battery life (w/ANC on), hands-free Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri support, 40mm custom-engineered drivers, SmartSound customization technology to name just some of the capabilities of these headphones.

The Jabra Elite 85h has eight microphones in total: four dedicated for calls, two for the Digital Hybrid ANC, and two for SmartSound. In combination, six (of the eight) microphones are used in the Elite’s advanced call technology and four microphones for their SmartSound adaptive noise-canceling.

The Elite 85h charges via USB-C (cable included) and has a fast-charge feature with 15 minutes of charging that provides 5 hours of playback. In addition to the USB-C power port, the only other port on the headphones is a 3.5mm jack for hard connecting the headphones (via included cable) to your device.

There is a dedicated button for accessing Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa and muting the mics during a call on the bottom of the left ear cup. And another on the opposite side that toggles between noise-canceling ON, “Hear-Through” mode, and ANC off. The up & down volume and select/answer buttons are located on the exterior of the right ear cup. All the 85h’s controls are intuitive and easy to use.

The Elite 85h’s are water-resistant with a nano-coating to protect them from sweat and dust.

Setup

Like most Bluetooth headsets these days, Jabra makes connecting the Elite 85h’s to your smart device simple and easy. Once you pull the headphones out of the box and twist the ear cups 90 degrees for the first time they immediately go into pairing mode. Simply select them in your Bluetooth menu and you’re good to go.

Once paired, you should download the Jabra+ app to fully customize your listening experience. The app enables you to tweak the headphones to your liking. There are various situation profiles that give you a great deal of management and control over how your headphones sound and operate depending on conditions.

Performance

The bottom line is these headphones sound excellent. They have great precision with very good clarity, depth, and spatial definition. Everything I listened to had noticeable separation at all levels with a solid, yet not over done bass response giving a nicely balanced listening experience. While I played with the Jabra+ app for this review, I preferred the sound settings Jabra had right out of the box. According to Jabra, “SmartSound automatically analyzes your sound environment and applies your personalized sound settings, to give you the best calls and music experience, every time”.

The Elite 85h’s have Bluetooth 5.0, enabling it to be paired with up to 8 devices and actively connected to two devices at once. The headphones switched back and forth between my iPhone and iPad seamlessly. Their range is very good, I can leave my iPhone at one end of the house and be in the far end, rooms away with no connectivity issues.

The active noise-canceling is solid and gets the job done but is not quite as effective as the equivalent Bose and B&O headphones. They did a good job blocking out road, plane, and wind noise but I could definitely hear the kid making noise or dog barking in the background occasionally. Where the Bose and B&O’s filter out that sort of noise a little better.

That said, call quality is very good. The way Jabra has engineered the multiple microphone array makes for an excellent call experience on both sides of the conversation. It was as if the people I was talking to were right next to me.

The Elite 85h’s battery life has some pretty long legs as well, with up to 36 hours of uses with active noise-canceling enabled and up to 41 hours with ANC off. They can go around the world and then some without needing a recharge.

The Elite 85h have automatic ear detection that pauses playback when the headphones are removed and resumes after placing them back over your ears.

Build Quality

The build quality of the Elite 85h’s is very good as well, made from fabric, leatherette (PU), and PC/ABS with metallic paint. The main casing is constructed from a dense plastic that holds up well to use and folding/unfolding as you would hope/expect. I have yet to discover any marks or scuffs on the plastic casing from about a month of use.

The exterior of the ear cups and headband have a densely woven fabric covering that doesn’t get dirty all that easily. Though I did get flour on them that took a while to clean off/get out of the material but it did eventually.

The headband is lined with a padded leatherette making for a soft, comfortable ride.

The ear cups are made from the same leatherette material as the headband.

Comfort

As I mentioned, the Elite 85h ANC headphones are very comfortable and can easily be worn for hours at a time (though my ears do occasionally get overly warm). The ear cups are soft, form-fitting, and large enough for most ears. These headphones are average sized for this tier of active noise-canceling wireless headphones and weigh in at two-thirds of a pound. Both sides of the headphones can be extended for larger heads.

Portability

The Elite 85h’s are designed to be portable, engineered to twist and fold in upon themselves for minimal volume for their size. I think that Jabra has done a more than solid job pulling this off.

I was initially a bit hesitant taking them in and out of their case, not wanting to damage them. But Jabra has used metal internal components to strengthen key points that take the most wear and tear.

Here you can see the Bose and Jabra travel/storage cases compared. They both take up approximately the same volume with the Jabra case made from slightly tougher material.

Pictured left to right: Bose QuietComfort 35 II, Jabra Elite 85h, Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9, and Shinola Canfield headphones. When you consider size, weight, toughness, and portability/foldability the Jabra is the best of the lot.

I find the Jabra 85h more comfortable and better engineered than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. The Bose just feel more flimsy and breakable when compared to the 85h’s. But to be fair, my wife (who is pretty rough on her tech gear) has been using the Bose for approximately a year and they’re still going strong.

What I like

  • Well-built design
  • Comfortable
  • Excellent sound, call quality, and battery life
  • Portable
  • USB-C charging
  • Water-resistant nano-coating
  • Auto ear detection
  • Bluetooth 5 and multi-connect
  • Dedicated one-button access to Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri

What needs to be improved

  • Active noise-canceling could be more pronounced
  • My ears get hot with extended use

The Elite 85h’s are available in Black, Titanium Black, Navy, and Gold Beige. Jabra backs these headphones with a 2-year warranty against moisture/sweat and dust.

Final thoughts

I really like the Elite 85h wireless active noise-canceling headphones. Jabra has done a great job creating an ANC headset that competes in a pretty crowded tech-space. Their sound experience, build quality, comfort, and engineering are all excellent. I also prefer their hardier form factor, design, and portability to other headphones I have tried. Their impressive battery life and comfort make them a better option when compared to earbuds on long flights or all day @the office.

Price: $299.99
Where to buy: Best Buy
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Jabra.

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Jabra Elite 85h wireless noise-cancelling headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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