Reviews – Page 11

Nuheara IQstream TV review

REVIEW – As I’ve gotten older, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. Maybe my parents yelling at me to turn my music down when I was younger was for a good reason. Too late now! Anyway, while watching TV with my family, I tend to crank up the volume causing others to (not so) nicely ask me to turn it down. It’s like my parents yelling all over again. If this sounds familiar to you, there may be a solution—the Nuheara IQstream TV.

What is it?

The Nuheara IQstream TV is a small table-top device that connects to your TV audio out port. Once connected, the TV’s volume can be independently adjusted for Nuheara’s IQbuds BOOST earphones using the IQbuds smartphone app. So, no matter how low or how high the volume for the TV is set, the volume setting for the IQbuds BOOST can be as low or high as the wearer desires without disturbing anyone close by.

Specs

aptX Bluetooth
Bluetooth range: 90 ft.
Compatible earphones: IQbuds BOOST
Digital Input: Mini-Toslink
Analog Input: Mini plug
Sounder output: mini plug to RCA
Ports: Combo optical/analog in, combo optical/analog out and USB
Weight: 3.2 oz.

In the box

USB cable for connection to power
SPDIF to mini-TOSLINK cable for digital audio
3.5mm to 3.5mmcable for analog audio
3.5mm to Stereo RCA cable
TOSLINK to mini-TOSLINK dongle

(TOSLINK is also known as SPDIF)

Design and features

The Nuheara IQstream TV is basically a one-trick pony. At less than an inch tall, it’s small enough to fit under any flat-screen TV. Yet for such a small package, it packs a bit of a punch, delivering quality audio at a volume that should satisfy anyone.

IQstream TV comes with all the wiring you should need as long as you can find USB power (a powered USB port on a tv will do) and audio out sources. The IQstream TV has three ports at the rear—audio in, audio out and USB. The audio in and out ports are both digital and analog. Included is an adapter if your digital port is not the mini plug shape. This means that the IQstream TV can use the far better digital signal if your source uses TOSLINK (SPDIF). But if your audio source is old school, those same ports can handle analog mini plug or RCA-mini plug connections—cables included. Because of its light weight, the base of the unit has a non-slip rubberized surface that helps keep it in place on a tv stand.

There are different setups for the IQstream TV. The most common is a direct connection from the audio out port on the back of your TV (if there is one) to the audio in port on the IQstream TV. Just my luck that this didn’t work for me—usually. Sometimes it did and sometimes not. I would get no audio even though a solid blue light indicating that the IQstream TV was streaming.

After repeated emails to Nuheara support and getting nowhere (not their fault), I decided to connect the IQstream TV to the audio out port of my cable box rather than the tv. Voila—it worked! Who knew that if you have cable TV, that the audio out on the TV would not work? I didn’t know that. The manual doesn’t deal with a cable box connection.

A word about Nuheara’s support. They were knowledgable. They were attentive. They were supportive. They’re in Australia. So, since the time zone is about 12 hours difference, it would take a day for each question to be asked and answered. It took a while to get anywhere. I kept wishing there was a support phone number to call, but no. There is an online chat on the Nuheara site, but it wasn’t available when I had my questions.

The IQstream TV also has an audio out port for connecting to a sound bar. The idea for this is so the IQstream TV can be a pass-through for one audio port at the source. Since I do not own a soundbar, I haven’t tried this method.

Once the IQstream TV’s connection woes were fixed, everything worked great! There was no Bluetooth lag in the audio, so syncing was never an issue. Only if I turned down the IQbuds BOOST earphones and turned up the TV, did I notice a slight echo effect.

The Nuheara IQbuds smartphone app is required to use the IQstream TV. The app may need to be updated to see the IQstream TV. Once paired, you can control volume and how much outside noise you want to allow. That way, a normal conversation can be had without removing the buds.

Because I use the proprietary Nuheara’s IQbuds BOOST earphones, audio quality is quite good, so music, dialog and sound effects ring true. Stereo separation is great—as long as the audio source is stereo. In other words, what is broadcast or played is what you hear.

Note that the IQstream TV only works with the IQbuds BOOST earphones and nothing else—not even the Nuheara’s original IQ earphones. So you should already own the IQbuds BOOST earphones or will need to purchase them for the IQstream TV to work. This will be a huge dealbreaker for many. The IQbuds BOOST earphones retail for $500, so it’s a major purchase. However, the IQbuds BOOST earphones are not your typical earphones. They can test your hearing and adjust themselves accordingly. It’s pretty amazing audio tech. You can read my review here.

What I like

Simple to use
Sounds great
No audio syncing issues

What I’d change

Make it work with any earphone
Include cable box instructions in the manual

Final Thoughts

Nuheara is on to something with the IQstream TV. It’s incredibly simple to use—once it’s set up properly. It sounds great and the ability to independently control TV volume without disturbing others can be a godsend. If Nuheara can figure out a way for the IQstream TV to work with any Bluetooth earphone or offer a less expensive earbud, it could be a near perfect product.

Price: $99 US (Sometimes on sale for $69)
Where to buy: Nuheara
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Nuheara.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Audio, TV, Video

Nuheara IQstream TV review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 18, 2019 at 12:01 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Wallaroo Hat Company Seaside women’s sun hat review

REVIEW – We live in Florida. Florida is known as the sunshine state. Let me tell you, after living in Michigan for most of my life, and in my wife’s case, her entire life, the sun down here is a different kind of intense. We both wear hats nearly all the time when we are outside. Finding a good hat is essential for both comfort and the health of the skin on your head. Wallaroo Hat Company has a large offering of hats for men, women, and children that include UPV 50+ hats. These hats block more than 97.5% of the sun’s UV radiation. We were sent the Seaside hat for review. Should it be in your sights as an option for UV protection and stylish looks? Let’s get into it and find out!

What is it?

The Seaside hat is one of Wallaroo’s hats designed specifically for women that provides UPF 50+ UV protection. We were sent the natural version which is an off-white. It is also available in camel – more of a light brown, or perhaps dark tan.

Specs

Fabric: 100% microfiber with ventilated mesh
Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF): 50+ (fabric blocks 97.5% of ultraviolet rays)
Weight: 2.9oz
Crown size: 58mm
Bill width: 4″ and adjustable

Design and features

First off, the hat is incredibly soft. When I opened the box, the first thought on my mind was how soft the hat felt. The 100% microfiber construction feels great with nothing stiff or abrasive. Then, I noticed how light it is.

My trusty postal scale shows that it weighs in at a next-to-nothing 2.9 ounces. That should mean all-day comfort as almost nothing is on your head. But, that next to nothing provides a UPF rating of 50+ so only 2%-2.5% of the sun’s UV radiation will hit your noggin. With the 4″ wide brim, your ears and neck will also be protected.

Wallaroo includes a cinch cord in the hat to help you get that perfect fit.

The above photo shows the cinch cord near the label as well as the chin strap with a slider to tighten under your chin in windy conditions.

The only exterior branding is a small Wallaroo tag on the back of the hat.

Inside, we find another brand tag.

Washing instructions on the back show that hand washing in cold water is recommended.

Wallaroo promotes that they are Colorado-based but we see that the hat was made in China.

The hat ships with three tags attached.

One demonstrates how to pack your hat by rolling it so you avoid wrinkles. The second shows that they are recommended for their UPF 50+ protection by the Skin Cancer Foundation. The third has product information and also explains that 1% of company profits are donated to skin cancer research, education, and prevention in the United States. That’s an admirable mission.

Take another look at the photos above and this close-up.

We see a good amount of ventilated mesh integrated into the hat. A UV protection layer is under each mesh area. This promotes airflow to help keep you cool in the sun while still providing full UV protection.

Performance

I can like this hat all I want to but it is designed for women. Whether it is worthy of your consideration will rest solely on the opinion of my lovely wife who will be modeling and testing out the hat.

To test the hat, we went and played golf – central Florida style. That means 93 degrees, 66% humidity and a feels-like of 105 degrees. She liked wearing the hat and used words like “soft” and “comfortable”. In addition, she felt that the hat, with its extensive ventilated mesh, did a good job of helping her feel relatively cool in the blazing Florida sun.

She tried the hat in its two brim modes. You can roll the brim edge up for a sportier look, or fold it down for more extensive sun coverage and a more relaxed look. She preferred the rolled-up look, and I had to agree that she looked pretty darn cute, although I might be biased.

For excessively windy conditions, there is a chin strap, which she modeled for me as well.

I’m not sure when you would use the chin strap. In a hurricane, perhaps? After golf, we rode home in our golf cart. We live in a huge retirement community and that’s how we get around most of the time. Since it was so hot, we left the windshield folded down. I had her drive so I could shoot video of the hat’s performance in the wind. She had just put the hat on and did not even pull the cinch straps tight. Take a look at the following 10-second video.

We were cruising at about 25MPH and the hat held firm.

Here’s another view from the side. You can really get a sense of how hard the wind was blowing in our faces.

We both were quite impressed. Cinching the hat will offer even more hold, and the chin strap is there for those times when you’re skydiving or running an Indy car with no windscreen.

What we like

Super light and soft
Attractive design
Very good fit and hold, even in windy conditions
Great UV protection

What we’d change

A way to store the chin strap, perhaps a pocket in the inside top of the hat, would be nice

Final thoughts

We were both very impressed with the Wallaroo Seaside hat. My wife went golfing again the next morning when the temps were in the high 80s and the feels like temps were again well over 100 degrees. When she came home, she again commented on the softness and comfort of the hat and how well it shielded her from the sun and helped keep her cool. With its great fit, great comfort and terrific UV protection, it is a perfect hat for our Florida active lifestyle.

Price: $50
Where to buy: Direct from Wallaroo and Amazon along with many other retailers.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Wallaroo Hat Company.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Clothing

Wallaroo Hat Company Seaside women’s sun hat review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 18, 2019 at 9:45 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Govee Wifi Smart Outdoor LED String Light review

REVIEW – This is my second opportunity to review a Govee product, with my most recent review being their smart LED strip lighting that I used behind my TV. This time, I’m getting to show off the Wifi Smart Outdoor LED String Lights! As much as a fan as I was about the strip lighting, I will say it upfront that I really love these string lights!

What is it?

These are a 6 bulb, remote controlled, LED string light that is rated for outdoor use.

What’s in the box?

String Lights
Remote Control
Instruction Book & Govee brochure

Design and features

These lights are on a 24′ long string with 6 total bulbs. There is a standard electrical plug. Each bulb can be controlled individually, selected lights can be controlled together or all lights can be controlled at once via the Govee app – which was easy to set up this additional unit into my existing setup of lights from Govee. While it can be controlled via the app, the unit also comes with a remote control that comes in very handy. Since these are multi-color LED’s you can adjust the lights to any tone or color that you choose that best fits your situation or preference. Additionally, since it is rated for outdoor use, they can be kept up year-round as well.

Setup

Simply remove from the box, plugin and string them up as you desire. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the app to get it completely set up for Wifi use.

Performance

These lights put off a surprising intensity of light for their size and space between each bulb. They illuminate our back patio well, although I will be buying a second strand to connect to it in order to get the rest of the way around our railing. We use these nightly when we let our dogs out for the evening and they provide enough light that we can see them wherever they are at in the back yard as well as on evenings that we are out eating dinner or enjoying some wine. The remote and app make them easy to turn on/off as well as make any color adjustments that we would like. Finally, there is a setting that will allow the lights to “dance” to music that is being played so if you like that sort of thing while having a party, these lights are perfect for you!

What I like

Bright illuminating bulbs – that are still adjustable to lower brightness levels as needed.
Easy install and set-up
Can daisy-chain these together with additional units (up to 4 total) to accommodate larger areas.

What I Would Change

24′ and 6 bulbs sound like a lot, but once installed, it does feel a little short – I would like a couple more bulbs and maybe 30′ for optimal usage – but since you can chain 4 together, this detraction is negated a bit.
Price feels a little bit high at $50 per strand in my opinion, but the quality and functionality are there to balance out the price.

Final thoughts

Overall, I’m two thumbs on these lights, Govee is really doing a great job on these lights and I really like the ease of changing the colors, brightness and various modes/scenes that are pre-programmed in the smartphone app. And as I stated above, we will definitely be adding a second string to get it completely around the patio. For those looking for a quality outdoor LED lighting solution, I’d definitely recommend picking up a string or two or three of these lights!

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon (20% OFF code: HUC6522O + extra 20% Coupon on Amazon page expires: 08/20/2019 11:59 PM)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Govee.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: LED lighting

Govee Wifi Smart Outdoor LED String Light review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 18, 2019 at 8:36 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

GameSir G6 Mobile Gaming iPhone Touchroller review

REVIEW – Love mobile gaming but hate the virtual controls? GameSir might have just the solution for you with their G6 iPhone Touchroller (an amalgam of Touchscreen and Controller). Does it score a victory royale or an epic fail? Read on!

What is it?

The GameSir G6 Touchroller is a hybrid game controller developed specifically for mobile games. It combines the advantages of an actual analog controller and touch screen control, so you can use the left controller to move or jump while focusing on the precise aiming on the right touch screen. It is only compatible with iPhone.

Maybe nabbing that victory royale on iOS will be a bit easier.

What’s in the box?

GameSir G6 Mobile Gaming Touchroller
Micro-USB Cable
User Manual

Hardware specs

Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 5.0
Working Platforms: iOS 9.0 or later only
Compatible Mobile Phone Size: length less than 6.57 in.
Battery Capacity: built-in 240mAh rechargeable Lithium battery
Working Time: 70₈₀ hours
Charging Time: 2₃ hours
Charging Voltage: 3.7V_5V
Connectivity: Micro-USB (for charging)
Up to 3 million keystroke trigger lifespan

The left side has two shoulder buttons, a joystick, 4 buttons configured in a d-pad shape, and two additional buttons.

Design and features

The GameSir G6 Touchroller is a bit of an odd cookie.

Mobile game controllers aren’t a new concept and have been around for a few years in many iterations and sizes. I have a SteelSeries Nimbus that I break out to use with my iPhone every once in a while, offering a wireless control solution very similar to a PlayStation controller. GameSir’s G6 Touchroller tries to make the best of both worlds: external controllers and smart on-screen control schemes.

I’ll elaborate. If you’ve played Fortnite or PUBG or any good modern mobile game, chances are you’ve used the default touchscreen control interface. You know. All those little semi-transparent virtual buttons on the top, bottom and sides of the screen.

A lot of the major iOS game releases that rely on virtual controls are smartly positioned so your thumbs, while also holding on to your phone, can easily reach all the buttons necessary to play the game. It’s not a perfect setup, but it works in a pinch because it’s a mobile device, and the developer is doing the best they can.

Now, most games are controlled in the same way, with the left thumb moving your character and the right thumb performing actions like aiming, jumping and firing. So for most virtual controls, the on-screen movement is handled with a virtual joystick. This remains one of the most obnoxious methods of controlling your character… it’s just plain hard to get it right, since there are no physical borders for your thumb sliding around on the screen. It’s easy to move your thumb right off the edge of that virtual space, bringing your character to a halt.

The right thumb doesn’t have much of a problem, though, once it gains the muscle memory of knowing where to tap on the screen to perform an action. In most cases, it’s quite good.

The right side has only one shoulder button.

This is exactly the problem the Touchroller attempts to fix. It gives your left thumb the more traditional control setup of a console gaming system, while keeping your right thumb free to use the touch controls that are inherently good in many iOS games.

Getting the phone mounted in place is simple. The right side of the Touchroller extends to accommodate even the largest iPhone, the Max model. Just extend the side and slide your phone. There is a strong spring and grippy pads that keep the phone firmly in place.

This bit extends out and automatically springs back to hold the phone tightly in place.

I tested several games with the Touchroller… Fortnite (which I probably don’t have to explain), Grimvalor, a side-scrolling platformer, and Death Road to Canada, which controls sort of like an old-school isometric beat-em-up. All of these games feature virtual joysticks and buttons.

Each of these games recognized the controller immediately upon launch, although it took a lot of trial and error to see what buttons on the controller did what, but once I got used to the layout, I was up and running with much tighter control.

The joystick, probably the best feature, is smooth, and comparable to a gaming console. The buttons have a nice clickiness to them, especially the shoulder buttons, which feel more triggery, having a bit more travel than the face buttons. And there are plenty, provided you can figure out what they all do. They are programmable, as well, but that’s something I’ll address in the Weird Issue section.

Overall, the Touchroller feels good in my hands. I like that my hands don’t cover up as much of the screen, too. It’s more comfortable to hold for long stretches, and the phone never felt like it was going to pop out.

Let’s get to the oddities…

Some Weird Issues

One problem I ran into was with the initial setup. Pairing the Touchroller via Bluetooth was easy, but there’s an extra step detailed in the tiny instruction booklet that states “Press Y+power buttons simultaneously, the LED mode indicator light will flash pink and then remain lit.” You need to do this after pairing, so it’s almost like it needs to pair twice. Fortunately, you only have to do this once, but it’s a strange very important extra step.

This isn’t quite GameSir’s fault, but since the surface that the phone rests on is flat, the obnoxious camera bump on my XR made it sit a little off. Since the grips on the right side have such a low profile, using the Touchroller works better without a case on your phone.

Another oddity with this Touchroller is in the proprietary software. Using the G-Crux app, you are able to download control settings for specific games, or, if one does not exist, you can upload a screenshot into the app and map the controller buttons on top of the virtual controls, programming the physical buttons to correspond with the game’s controls. It’s pretty in-depth, and I imagine that once you get through mapping those buttons, it’ll work fine from that point, but I did not have the patience to try that.

Fortunately, you can search for what I’m assuming are user-made game controls and download them in the app. It’s a lot of setup. The games that I tested just sort of “worked.” I say sort of because even though they controlled well, there were buttons that went unused that could have been mapped to other virtual buttons. I didn’t feel the need to try to mess with that.

One last big caveat. With the launch iOS 13 literally a little over a month away, which promises compatibility with Xbox and PS4 controllers (I know right?!), it’s tough to recommend picking up an iPhone-specific controller if you’ve got a spare game system controller laying around. I’d wait to see how that pans out. Personally, I can’t wait to give that a try, because to me the PS4 controller is bonkers good.

What I like

makes controlling most games much easier
easier to hold the phone for long stretches

What I’d change

Initial setup and customization for specific games can be confusing
I found myself missing the right joystick in some FPS games
PS4 and Xbox controllers will soon be supported (sorry MFi manufacturers)

Final thoughts

Overall, I do like the G6 Touchroller, mostly because the games that I tested it with seem well-suited for it. Most modern games that use touch controls have the buttons smartly mapped onto the screen, and the addition of a physical stick and shoulder buttons to these touch controls enhances the controls a lot more than I would have thought.

Price: $42.99
Where to buy: GameSir’s website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by GameSir.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Gaming Gear, iPhone accessory

GameSir G6 Mobile Gaming iPhone Touchroller review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The Dairy Custom Phone Case review

REVIEW – Looking for something unique in your next phone case? The Dairy may have you covered. They offer a whole range of unique case designs from artists around the world. And if you want to bring your own design like I did here, they’ll print it for you with a proprietary 3D printing process that embeds the design in the shell. It’s pretty neat. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a snap-on phone case that can be purchased with different unique designs, or you can bring your own.

Hardware specs

The Dairy has two styles of case, called Snap and Armored. The Snap case is a simple polycarbonate shell. Mine is the Armored case, which adds a TPU sleeve beneath the shell for extra protection.

Whether you choose a design from the site or bring your own, The Dairy uses a patented 3D printing technology to embed the design in the layers of polycarbonate for high resolution image quality and long-lasting endurance.

Design and features

I’m an artist and designer, so the products from The Dairy intrigued me right off the bat. They contract with artists and graphic designers around the world to create all kinds of interesting designs that you just don’t see on the street. Browse their web site and you’ll find everything from unique floral prints to graphic patterns and statement pieces.

Now if you prefer to create your own design, they offer a customization option that allows you to do your own thing. A set of pre-designed colors and backgrounds are available, to which you can add customized text. A preview mode and easy-to-use interface allows you to quickly tweak the design to your specifications.

But the thing that really intrigued me here was I could take one of my own designs and have it printed. So I uploaded one of my illustrations for testing using that “upload image” option to make it the background on the phone. I could have added text if I wanted, but I did the design to stand on it’s own. Check it out:

Here’s the really interesting thing about their printing process: this isn’t a sticker, or some sort of laser-printed top layer. It’s printed with a proprietary photo-quality 3D technology that embeds the artwork in the polycarbonate case. That means it won’t fade or scratch away over time. The result was truly stunning. You’ll see in the pictures below how the process captured every nuance and detail of my original illustration.

Now, all of this artsy goodness wouldn’t do without a phone case that actually works well, and The Dairy delivers here. Mine is the Armored case, which incorporates a TPU jacket with the polycarbonate sleeve for extra impact protection. Here’s a shot of that internal jacket:

The finished case is machined precisely for my iPhone XS Max. Here’s a shot showing the bottom ports:

The phone itself snaps snugly into place with a bit of an edge to protect the phone’s perimeter.

You’ll see that every port has that extra TPU jacketing too. Here’s the camera port:

The volume buttons are accommodated with TPU overlays that are integrated into the case, while the sound on/off switch is exposed. Functionality is crisp and precise right out of the box.

Here’s a super close-up of the printed work. I do my stuff in Procreate with a lot of digital painting & airbrushing effects. Check out how every shade and brush stroke is captured! You’ll get the same quality from the pre made designs or custom pieces. It’s really well finished.

Here’s the other cool bit: my finished custom phone case came in at a final price of $55. That’s pretty crazy given the quality of the finished piece!

What I like

Excellent quality and finishing.
Great selection of designs by artists worldwide.
Ability to customize with a simple online interface, including your own images or artwork.

What I’d change

Nothing that I see so far.

Final thoughts

I’ve been beating this case mercilessly for a month now, and I’m not seeing any obvious mars or scars. There are some scratches here and there (I did take it to the beach for a week), but nothing has negatively impacted the glossy finish. It’s really impressive for a simple iPhone case, especially one that you can rock with a unique design that represents your personal style. Highly recommended.

Price: Prices start at about $30 USD depending on phone style. My iPhone XS Max Armored case retails for about $55 USD.
Where to buy: Visit The Dairy Web Site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by The Dairy.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers

The Dairy Custom Phone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2019 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.