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NEWS – You know what time it is, it’s time to kick back and catch up with your favorite gadget news and review site. To make it easy, I’ve created a list with all the articles, reviews, and news lists from the past seven days. Enjoy!
Filed in categories: News
Tagged: weekly roundup
Saddleback iPhone case, Trayvax knife campaign, Airthings Radon sensor, and more – Weekly roundup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2019 at 4:40 pm.
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REVIEW – I’ve used Jaybird earbuds on and off for the past couple of years as I’ve found them to be comfortable to wear and make my music sound good while I’m working out. The Jaybird earbuds that I’ve used during that time have all been Bluetooth earbuds that have a cable between each bud. But now I’ve gotten a chance to test the new Jaybird RUN XT True Wireless Sport Headphones. Let’s see if the RUN XTs become my new favorites.
Jaybird RUN XT True Wireless Sport Headphones are exactly what you think they are. They are Bluetooth earbuds that don’t have any wires between each earbud.
The RUN XTs store in a grey plastic charging case that has a latch with a green LED and another green LED on either side that shows the battery charging status. All three LEDs flash green while the buds (and the case) are charging and glow steady when fully charged.
The earbuds charge with a micro USB cable. I don’t get it, why aren’t more companies using USB-C now?
Press the button on the storage charging case and the lid pops open to reveal the RUN XT earbuds.
The earbuds have their own designated slot that has 5 springy electrical contacts for charging the earbuds.
The earbuds themselves look similar to many other wireless earbuds on the market right now. They have ear tips and optional ear fins so you can customize the fit.
Like all earbuds, fit and comfort is going to depend on the shape of your ears. What I might find comfortable could be very uncomfortable for someone else.
I found the Jaybird RUN XTs to be my third most comfortable earbuds that I’ve tested in the last few months. I can wear them for an hour or so before I need to remove them to give my ears a rest. I must have really small ears because even with the smallest ear tips and ear fins, I still feel some pressure after a while.
I will say that the earbuds do not fall out of my ears and I was able to work out with them. Keep in mind that I run or jump while working out, but I do move around and have my head down during some exercises, so there is an opportunity for them to fall out if the fit wasn’t good.
Speaking of workouts, the Jaybird RUN XTs are IPX7 rated which means that they can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes. So it’s safe to say that they are sweatproof and waterproof.
Each RUN XT earbud has one large button on the outside with a small status LED on the edge. It may look like there’s a smaller button on the side but that’s just the Left/Right earbud “post” that helps position the ear fins.
The button on each earbud has multiple functions which means you’ll have to memorize which button does what. For example, pressing the left button will activate Siri or Google assistant while pressing the right button will play/pause music or answer/end a call. Double pressing the right earbud will skip forward in a song or decline a call and holding either button for 3 seconds will power the buds on or off. Holding for 6 seconds will initiate pairing from the off state.
I’ve never liked physical buttons on earbuds. I always feel like I’m cramming the earbud into my brain when I have to press the buttons.
If you’re just planning to use the Jaybird RUN XT earbuds to listen to streaming music from your phone or laptop, you’ll be pretty happy with the sound quality which I would say is above average because you can customize the sound with the Jaybird app. You can choose from a selection of presets or you can create your own to match your favorite style of music.
I like to listen to all types of music from pop to country, R&B, rock, and even some classical now and then. So I was pretty happy with these earbuds.
They do a really good job of isolating you from outside sounds because they fit snugly in your ears. I think that helps with songs that have thumpy bass lines. Some songs I enjoyed testing to with these earbuds include:
Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus
Without Me by Halsey
Sunflower by Post Malone
Burning Man Dierks Bentley
Listening to music with these wireless earbuds is enjoyable but if you like to watch YouTube, the Jaybird RUN XT earbuds will really annoy you. They have noticeable audio to video sync issues that make you feel like you’re watching an old kung fu movie with bad dubbing. I didn’t notice this when using the earbuds with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Hulu. I asked Jaybird about this and here’s the response that I received:
We allow for a small amount of latency when watching video using Jaybird RUN XT. To ensure a premium music and sound experience and to guarantee the left and right earbud are always in sync, we introduce a small latency.
Ummm… ok… That makes no sense to me… Also, a quick Google will bring up results of user complaints about audio/video syncing that go back to the previous version of Jaybird RUN earbuds. Sorry Jaybird, but that’s just not cool.
Not much to say here. Using the Jaybird RUN XT earbuds to make and receive calls will be comparable to using other Bluetooth earbuds. Talking with them in your ears will make your voice echo in your head a little bit. Also, the call audio only comes through the right earbud.
The earbuds will have about 4hrs of play time per full charge and the charging case will provide an additional 8hrs of recharge/play time for a total of 12hrs before you need to recharge the case and buds again.
Removing the earbuds from the case will automatically turn them on and putting them back in the case will turn them off after about 20-30 seconds.
When it’s all said and done the Jaybird RUN XT True Wireless Sport Headphones are not going to become my new favorites. They sound pretty good when listening to music, but the lag while watching YouTube videos kills it for me as does the fact that they aren’t TWS as in you can’t listen with each one independently. For example, if you open the case, and just put the left earbud in your ear, you can’t close the case with the right earbud still in the case. If you do, the Bluetooth connection ends. I also find the RUN XTs to be considerably overpriced. I’ve been a fan of Jaybird earbuds for a few years, but I’m sorry to say that this pair has been a disappointment.
Price: $179.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Jaybird.
Filed in categories: Reviews
Tagged: Bluetooth earbuds
Jaybird Run XT True Wireless Sport Headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2019 at 10:00 am.
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REVIEW – After having a not-so-good experience with another brand of action camera, I decided to give the VanTop Moment 4K action camera a try. Was it a painful experience? Read on to find out!
The VanTop Moment 4K action camera is, as it sounds, a 4k action camera that has a form factor much like other action cameras, at a much more affordable price. It features a Sony sensor, which is highly regarded when it comes to cameras.
The VanTop Moment 4 4K action camera has a Sony 20MP true depth sensor. It features 4K/24fps video recording and 20mp image capturing. The high quality 170 degree lens provides for a wide angle view.
The 2.4 inch IPS touch screen provides for a real-time view of what you are shooting and makes the operation of the camera much easier than other products that don’t have a touch screen. This is what I consider as perhaps one of the “must have” features when it comes to cameras like these. Changing the settings and reviewing clips is so much easier using the touch screen as compared to other cameras that have a limited number of buttons. The camera only has two buttons, the Power/Mode button and the Shutter/Select button.
Two 1050mAh batteries provide for up to 70 minutes of video recording in 4K (per battery). The camera comes with a 32GB micro-sd card, and the specs say it supports cards up to 64GB (although the manual says 128GB).
Electronic image stabilization (EIS) provides for smoother video and photo capture during sports shooting and low light photo taking.
The 2.4ghz wireless remote is a very nice touch for a product at this price point and can be used to start and stop recording during extreme sports activities, although it is not waterproof. There are two buttons on the remote, one for taking a photo, and one for starting and stopping the video recording. Quite a nice feature! Alternatively, you can use the camera’s WiFi connection to configure and control it via the “Camking” smartphone app. The smartphone app can be used to transfer photos and video to your mobile device.
The VanTop Moment 4 4K action camera features multiple modes for both video and photos such as:
With the waterproof case, the camera is water-resistant up to 100ft (30 meters) but is not designed for touch screen use so when in use you have to use the two buttons to change settings, which can be a bit frustrating.
Ports on the camera include the micro-sd card slot, micro-usb charging, and a micro HDMI port. This brings up one of the things I don’t like and that is that the ports are right next to the tripod socket, which requires the removal of any accessory screwed into the bottom in order to access the ports. This makes it almost useless as a car dash cam. The same goes for the battery and SD card.
Although the camera has settings for wide, medium, and narrow fields of view, the medium and narrow modes show a drastic loss of quality in the image without much difference in the field of view.
The slow-motion mode looks as though it records at 720p 120fps and then saves the video to playback at 30fps making it easier to use the video without processing it later.
The photo mode might be useful for some people, but overall I found the image quality of the photos to be very poor.
As a nice little bonus, the camera came with a nice little backpack that folds up into itself. Although I would probably not carry around the camera in it, I will toss it in my truck in case I ever need a little pack.
Sample video, Slow Motion video, and Time Lapse video.
Overall I think I’ll get some good use of this camera. I plan to use it to film some of my photography outings where there’s always a chance it will end up in the sand or the lake.
Price: $79.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VanTop.
Filed in categories: Reviews
Tagged: Action Camera
VanTop Moment 4 4K Sports Action Camera review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2019 at 9:00 am.
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NEWS – The Thyrm PyroVault Lighter Armor does what it says on the tin. The PyroVault is a rugged housing that accepts most Zippo-style inserts (either liquid fuel or butane).
The PyroVault is constructed from rugged, heat-resistant, reinforced polymer with an o-ring seal. The seal works to keep dirt and moisture out of the lighter mechanism, while simultaneously reducing the evaporation of liquid fuel from the lighter. The design includes a spring-loaded cap which is secured with an easy open latch. To help you keep track of your lighter, the Pyrovault includes both a lanyard loop in the latch housing and a MOLLE-compatible clip on the back side of the housing.
While the housing does include an o-ring, the PyroVault is not rated for prolonged submersion or diving, so you won’t be able to light up a celebratory stogie during your cave diving excursion.
Thyrm does note that some butane torch inserts which use their own spring mechanisms to open and close the butane value will not work in the PyroVault since the inserts’ own springs are not used to open and close the housing.
They Thyrm PyroVault is available in rescue (orange), urban gray, black, olive drab (green), and flat dark earth (dark tan).
The PyroVault’s physical specifications are
Weight: 3.25 oz (without insert or fuel)
Dimensions: 7″ x 5″ x 0.86″
The PyroVault is designed and manufactured in the United States and retails for $29.99 without an insert. Additional details may be found at the manufacturer’s website www.thyrm.com and you can buy one from Amazon.
Filed in categories: News
Tagged: EDC, Pocket Gear
Up-armor your lighter with the Thyrm PyroVault Lighter Armor originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2019 at 8:00 am.
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