Reviews – Page 124

Ecovacs WINBOT X window cleaning robot review

REVIEW – Let’s just get this out of the way right now – When it comes to cleaning, I’m lazy. I like a clean house, but I really don’t want to be the one that cleans it. That’s why I love my Neato Botvacs, so I don’t have to vacuum the floors. Lately, I’ve been on a quest to find a robot to clean my windows. I’ve already Albohes Z5 Robot Window Washer robot which did little to nothing to improve the cleanliness of the windows. When Ecovacs asked if I wanted to review their WINBOT X window cleaning robot, I told them about my previous attempt and that I wasn’t sure window cleaning robots were to the level that I think they need to be yet. They still sent me one to test out, so let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Ecovacs WINBOT X is a battery-powered window cleaning robot that will clean a window automatically or by using a handheld remote control.

What’s in the box?

WINBOT X
Safety pod
Power adapter
Remote control (with batteries)
Cleaning solution
Cleaning pads x4
Finishing cloth
Manual

Design and features

The WINBOT X is made of white plastic. On the top of the cleaner is a large power button on the handle, an LED status LED, and socket for the Safety Pod tether.

On the front and back edges are bumpers which help the robot find the edges of the window frame as it’s traveling back and forth across the window as it’s cleaning it.

The bottom of the WINBOT X has two sets of driving treads, the suction fan in the center, power button and status LEDs, and the cleaning pad around the edges.

The cleaner comes with four cleaning pads which can be washed and reused.

The pads attach to the bottom of the WINBOT X and are held in place with Velcro.

To use the WINBOT X, you first have to charge the main unit for 2.5 hours which will allow for up to 50 minutes of cleaning time. The Safety Pod is powered by regular alkaline batteries which come pre-installed. The Safety Pod is a suction cup that makes sure that the WINBOT X does not cause an injury if it happened to fall from a high window by providing an 8.2ft tether. The WINBOT X will not even suction to a window without the Safety Pod first being attached.

Once the WINBOT X is fully charged, you can connect the Safety Pod to it by inserting the cable into the jack on the WINBOT X and locking it in place. Then you flip the power switch on the bottom of the Safety Pod and stick it to the window and turn on the WINBOT X using the power button on the handle. The status LED on the WINBOT X will glow green if the Safety Pod is correctly attached. Then you squirt the cleaning solution on the cleaning pads and hold the WINBOT X against the window, press the power button, and the fans will turn on and create enough suction to hold it to the glass.

See it in action

Clean or not

The Ecovacs WINBOT X can be used on windows that are at a minimum of 19.7 x 19.7 inches and with a frame no narrower than 0.2 inches.

I did my testing on a large window which you have already seen in the video above and it started out with smudges, some dirt, dust, spots, etc. on it like most exterior windows, but it wasn’t filthy as I had already cleaned it using the other window washing robot a few weeks ago which was followed up by a manual human (me) cleaning session.

The WINBOT X will choose whether to clean in up/down swipes or side to side swipes. You can also use to remote to move it around manually and can also press the deep clean button which will clean first in up/down and then inside to side so it goes over the window twice.

I cleaned the outside and the inside of the window. I had to wait until the sun started setting before I could really see if the WINBOT X had really made a difference and I’m sorry to say that it didn’t. You can see the results yourself by clicking on the image above. You can see the spots and streaks that were left after the cleaning sessions.

I even let the WINBOT X run a 2nd time using the deep clean setting and couldn’t tell much of a difference after it completed the cleaning session. The water spots were still there as were some of the smudges and streaks. Did it clean off dust and some dirt? Yes, but not enough to really say “wow, those windows are clean!” I’ll have to say that the result was a minimal improvement.

What I like

Comes with cleaning solution
Cleaning pads are reusable
Battery powered

What needs to be improved?

Better scrubbing/polishing action
Price

Final thoughts

I’m swiftly coming to the conclusion that an effective window washing robot may not be available yet. Until a window cleaning robot can actually scrub the window to clean off the crud, it’s not going to be a robot that I think is worth using/buying. I’m not giving up hope, but my hope is quickly dimming and the reality is setting in that the best window washer may be me and not a robot.

Price: $449.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Ecovacs.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cleaning, Robot

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Edge of Belgravia Gallatine Knife Set review

REVIEW – Today, Bob is slaying vegetables with the Gallatine Knife Set from Edge of Belgravia. It’s a set of award-winning cutlery that features a stunning avant-garde design. But there’s more to the story… these blades are made for cooking, and do that job extremely well. Trust me on this: when you see these babies you’ll want to go hunt down some dragons. For safety’s sake, however, we’re going to stay in the kitchen. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a 7-piece knife set and cutting block that adds some style to your kitchen while you’re dispatching produce, breads, and proteins.

Hardware specs

The Knives:

All steel construction
3cr14 Stainless Steel
HRC 53 hardness rating
17.5 degree bevel for single-edges knives, 35 degrees total for double-edged knives

The Knife Block:

Accommodates up to 11 knives.
11.2” by 9.2” x 6.3”
2.55 pounds

What’s in the box?

I’m testing the 7 piece knife set and Black Diamond Knife Block bundle. In addition to the knife block, the following knives are included in the package:

7.5″ Slicing Knife
7.5″ Chef Knife
7.5″ Bread Knife
6″ Chef Knife
5″ Deba Knife
4″ Paring Knife
6″ Fish Filleting Knife

Design and features

Oh, my… just look at these beauties. The single-piece construction, black finishing, and elegantly contoured profiles make a for a knife set that wins all of the style points. But looks aren’t the only thing going for these blades, as we’ll see shortly.

Let’s start with the build. The Edge of Belgravia Gallatine Knife Set utilizes single-piece stainless steel construction, with a black coating on the Gallatine set. The handle is consistent across all the knives, with a diamond shape that tapers towards the base:

The grip is notched towards the bolster, which is beveled and transitions smoothly into the blade. The nice thing about this design is that it easily accommodates a “pistol grip” (where you wrap your hand around the handle), or a “pinch grip” where you pinch the bolster with your thumb and pointer finger:

The blade shape and style vary based on the knife. The 7.5″ chef’s knife, the 6″ chef’s knife, and the 4″ paring knife use an identical shape, with a 17.5 degree blade angle on each side for a total of a 35 degree blade angle. Like a Japanese-style knife, the blade is thin for optimal maneuvering & slicing:

A 7.5″ slicer and a 7.5″ bread knife are also included in the 7 piece set. The slicer uses a thicker wedge-shaped blade, with grantons along the length of the blade to reduce friction when cutting proteins. The bread knife is sharpened on one side, thin like the chef’s knives, and is serrated with large teeth. Closeups below:

Next up are the wild cards in the set. The 6″ fish filleting knife is a double-edged design, with a thin shape appropriate for working with our oceanic friends. It’s similar to the chef’s knives in terms of thickness. The deba is a very different beast. It’s a short wide blade, sharpened on one side, that forms a thick wedge for the cutting angle.

Finally, we have the Black Diamond knife block that’s included in the bundle. This cool-looking piece of geometry is designed to hold to 11 knives. It’s is made from a beefy coated plastic (I think) that’s looks to be stable & durable as well as rocking looks that complement the knife set.

Performance

The Edge of Belgravia Gallatine knife set is a dream to use. The blades are all well-sharpened out of the box. The balance is really interesting, incorporating a nice heft in the handle (like a German knife), with a lean & lightweight blade (like a Japanese knife). The balance is weighted towards the ergonomic handle, making the knives feel very agile in your hand but retaining the confidence you feel with heavier blades. You won’t get tired of lengthy prep sessions with these knives. They just feel great to use.

I really like the handle design and construction. Despite the fact that there’s no grip material, the grip design feels is solid and composed. I’ve been working with these knives for a month, and never had a concern that they were going to slip (even with wet/slick hands). I can switch between grip styles easily depending on what I’m up to. The one-piece construction also leaves no places on the knife for bacteria or water to collect.

After a month of daily use, I will say that there are some designs in the set I liked better than others. Let’s walk through the collection.

The paring knife is nimble and makes quick work of smaller jobs (like coring a pepper). The handle works great here, allowing for dextrous work around tight corners:

Same for the chef’s knives. I really like the balance and grip on these when you’re doing the big work like slicing, chopping & dicing. The thin blades slide easily through all kinds of produce and proteins. Here are some shots of me carving up a collection of peppers, onions and celery for Gumbo. They make quick work of your standard kitchen tasks:

Both sizes performed equally well. I lean towards the 7.5″ chef’s knife, because I like a larger blade. The handling and balance is similar in both sizes, though:

The bread knife is also nice and sharp, but your satisfaction with this blade will depend on your personal preference. The long teeth do more damage to crusts, resulting in a slightly more ragged edge & extra crumbs on your cuts. I tend to prefer a bread knife that has a less aggressive edge, which also benefits delicate work like cutting tomatoes:

The slicer is a mixed bag for me. It’s got a significantly wider angle on that wedge-shaped blade than the chef’s knives, so it wants to push away from your cut. If you’re cutting soft proteins you won’t notice it, but I found myself having a tough time getting clean, even slices from tougher proteins like a cooked steak or pork loin. I used it to portion out raw chicken for my Gumbo, however, and it cut like a dream:

I’m not familiar with using a Deba knife, so this was a new experience for me. Because it is a one-sided wedge-shaped blade, it really wants to push the cut away from that angle. That means that getting clean slicing or even mincing with this blade is a no-go. I do recognize that a Deba is a bit of a specialty weapon designed primarily for descaling fish… you’ll want to be aware of how to use it properly if you choose this set. The thick blade and short, wide shape make it ideal for breaking down a turkey, however! Here I am trimming extra bits off a bird, but I also used it to get in and separate the legs from the body on this meal.

I’ll note that I did not do any fish during my time with these blades, but I found the fish filleting knife to be useful for lots of delicate slicing operations.

Finally, let’s discuss the Diamond Knife Block. I really like the weight and material of the block for stability and durability, and it doesn’t seem to be picking up any nicks or scratches as I am tossing my knives into it. All good there. The design does not accommodate 11 thick handled knives cleanly, however. I had to alternate them in the block to get them all to go:

You also have to watch the way you place your knives in the block with a full set. The slots get slightly smaller as you go down the line, and shorter knives need to go towards the front of the block as they tend to angle backward. This means that some knives may be touching if everything is loaded up, as you see below:

Blade length can also be an issue. Check out how the slicer pokes out of the back end of the stand. It actually works fine here, but a longer blade would be scratching your countertop:

The solution to this problem with the set is simple: remove one blade. I keep the bread slicer in a sheath in my drawer, and everything lines up nice and pretty. And looks amazing on the counter!

One last note: I’m not sure how that black coating is going to work when I go to sharpen these blades. I’m going to have to do some research on that one. They’ve held their edge well so far, but I’ll keep you updated when the time comes.

Before we go, let’s talk a little bit about the value here. I’m normally a fan of buying individual knives and building a set to meet your needs. I think there’s good value here either way you go based on the quality of the knives. Individual knives price out between $15 and $37. The knife block itself retails for about $100. You can pick up the whole 7-piece kit (including the block) on their web site right now for $234, and partial sets are available at a range of prices. For an avant-garde (and award winning) design that works as good as it looks in practice, I think this is a good price.

What I like

Quality construction in both the knives and knife block
Excellent grip and control, even with wet hands
Great balance and nimble handling that inspires confidence in the kitchen
Solid, stable, durable knife block
Killer modern design

What needs to be improved

Knife block won’t fit all styles of blades, so check your measurements
Thick, wedge-shaped slicer is not ideal for denser proteins
Deba knife is fun to play with, but doesn’t have that much practical use

Final thoughts

The Edge of Belgravia Gallatine Knife Set and Diamond Knife Block have earned a permanent place in my kitchen with functional usability that goes beyond their good looks. They handle extremely well, are easy to clean, and perform just about every required task with grace and style. Some of the specialty knives could use some refinement, but not so much that they detract from the overall excellence of the set. The gorgeous & functional knife block puts a cap on the collection.

Price: $234 for the full kit, with varying pricing for smaller sets
Where to buy: Check out the Edge of Belgravia web site, or their page on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Edge of Belgravia

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cooking, Home and Kitchen

Edge of Belgravia Gallatine Knife Set review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Focal Elegia Headphone review

REVIEW – When I was given the chance to review Focal’s new Elegia headphone, my first thought was to compare it to the slightly more expensive Elear headphone I reviewed earlier this year. The reason was simple: The Elegia is a closed-back design—good for personal listening in public places. The open-back Elear is best for private listening while alone, since those around you will be able to hear your music. The price difference was $100 between them and I thought it would make a fair comparison. I’m not so sure anymore.

What is it?

The Elegia is the latest in a line of uber-expensive headphones from French audio company Focal. It’s their first high-end closed-back design.

Specs

Type: Circum-aural (around the ear) closed back headphones
Impedance: 35 Ohms
Frequency response: 5 Hz-23 kHz
Speaker driver: 1.57″ ‘M’-shape Aluminium/ Magnesium dome
Weight: 0.95 lbs
Cable provided: 3.94 feet asymmetric cable (3.5 mm TRS jack).
Stereo jack adapter: .25″
Hard-shell carry case: 10″ x 9″ x 5″ (250 x 240 x 120 mm)

Design and features

When Focal entered the headphone market, they started with affordable (for them) models that sounded great and appealed to different tastes. However, subsequent headphones have moved up in both build and audio quality with prices to match. For instance, Focal’s Utopia headphone sells for an eye-watering $4,000! The Elegia is $900, so it’s affordable—all things being relative.

So what does a $900 headphone get you that a $200 headphone won’t? Let’s see, a more solid build, premium materials, handmade (in France), better audio (more on this later) and the Focal name. If you’re unfamiliar with Focal, go online and look at their unique home speakers. $120,000/pair—yes, you read that right.

The Elegia headphone features extremely comfortable leather-wrapped microfiber headband and soft suede-like microfiber ear cups. Despite being a bit hefty in weight, they can be worn for a few hours with no issues. The headphone is built on an aluminum frame that feels solid. One caveat is the ear cups are plastic—although I could not detect any squeaks or loose-fitting parts.

The ear cups feature what Focal calls an “M”-shape inverted dome speaker design. This speaker is angled towards the ear as opposed to being flat on the head as are most headphones. It’s like room speakers being in front of you instead of being positioned at your left and right sides. This approach provides a more realistic soundstage. It’s a subtle, but noticeable effect.

Elegia’s cloth-wrapped cable is thick and splits apart with a mini plug connector for each ear cup. Because the Elegia can be used for commuting, Focal chose to include a mini plug as the main audio connector instead of the larger .25″ plug found on the Elear. Even with this welcome revision, I would be forever nervous about wearing such expensive headphones on a commuter train or subway. The included zippered case is quite nice and with a formed interior and rich-looking cloth exterior. Note that the Elegia headphones do not fold, so the case is a bit large to easily fit inside a crowded backpack.

However, if you do choose to the Elegia headphones for either commuting or office, you will be rewarded with accurate, yet friendly-sounding music, no matter the genre. When I say friendly, that means that listening is fun. Some headphones are so accurate that music becomes more about how it sounds rather than how it feels. The Elegia headphones allow you to get involved in the music. The Elegia is also easy to drive at only 35 Ohms, making it work great straight from an iPhone—external amp not necessary.

From its sinister howling to artificially filtered narration intro, you just knew that David Bowie’s 1974 classic “Diamond Dogs” would not be like anything else released in the heady 70s. This dystopian album featured Rolling Stone’s-styled guitar overlaid on a funky beat. The album becomes less harsh (the recording quality is not that great) and—dare I say—pleasant when heard on the Elegia headphones. On other headphones, the horns used can border on harsh, but not here. Bass is a bit lacking, but again, it’s the recording and not the headphones.

Even the live recording of Neil Young performing “Cinnamon Girl” on “Weld” becomes pleasurable with these headphones. The sheer power of this song comes through loud and nasty-sounding complete with all kinds of distortion from a towering wall of amplifiers. Soundstage is non-existent on this recording, but who cares? Just crank it up and the Elegia headphones will transport you to the front row.

The beauty of Johann Strauss’ “The Blue Danube” from the “2001-A Space Odyssey” soundtrack is reproduced with exceptional clarity. The Elegia headphones are able to capture the piece’s wide dynamic range combined with the orchestra’a emotion-filled playing and reproduce it to perfection. I could listen to this over and over.

Despite how enamored I am with the Elegia headphones, here is where I have misgivings. First, I just think open-backed headphones—such as the Focal Elear—sound more real with their enhanced soundstage and spacial quaity than a closed-back ever can. I understand that the open-backed approach sometimes is not appropriate, but if I had $900 to spend on headphones, I would choose the Elear, pocket the difference and use it to purchase a cheap pair of headphones for commuting. Plus there is another good reason to consider the Elear over the Elegia. The Elear has been marked down from $1000 to $700, which leads me to believe it’s either being discontinued or replaced with another model. Time will tell, but that kind of price drop can’t be ignored.

Understand that audio products are subject to the law of diminishing returns—meaning that the higher the price, the smaller the improvements. So the difference between $50 and $250 headphones is much greater than the difference between $250 and $500 headphones. However, the $200 difference between the $900 Elegia and $700 Elear crack—if not break—this law.

What I like

The Elegia is one of the best sounding headphones available—at $900, they had better be.

What needs to be improved

Nothing to note.

Final Thoughts

Since the Elegia and Elear were so close in price, it appeared that the only difference was that one was open and the other closed. If you have the money and want a more personal experience, you can’t go wrong with the Elegia headphone. However, if you want the most from your headphone, don’t need to block out background noise and don’t mind saving $200, I recommend trying out the Elear instead. Having said that, I’m going to miss the Elegia headphone (and the Elear sent for comparison) when they are returned to Focal.

Note: Since the Elear’s price dropped from $1000 to $700, it leads me to believe it’s either being discontinued or replaced with another model. Time will tell.

Price: $899 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The samples for this product were provided by Focal.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Headphones

Focal Elegia Headphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Yuema Biometric Handgun Safe review

REVIEW – If you are going to keep a handgun in your house, and you have kids, it is essential to keep the gun safely locked away. This is also important to prevent theft. However, many handgun owners have a gun for personal protection, and therefore want to also have quick access in case of emergencies. There are numerous gun safes on the market that provide both secure storage and quick access for personal protection, and most of these use some kind of electronic access. I keep my Glock 22 in a GunVault Mini-Vault safe that has a four button code to open, but the electronic access quit working a while back (my fault …. I let the batteries stay in too long and they corroded and leaked) forcing me to rely on the key. When the Yuema gun safe with biometric fingerprint sensor technology was offered to the Gadgeteer to review, I was eager to see how the fingerprint sensor worked compared to my GunVault safe and if it would be a good replacement and possibly an upgrade.

After using this safe, I think that it is a fairly well made safe with adequate performance. The biometric fingerprint scanner worked in terms of preventing access but was not reliable enough for me to want to use it for quick access (I would use the keypad to enter the code instead). Also, the internal space was constricted due to the electronics in the top so it is important to note that this may not work as well for a larger gun and it was harder to get access to the gun without scraping your knuckles.

What is It?

The Yuema gun safe is a locked steel box designed to safely store and prevent access to handguns or other small valuable items. It provides electronic access using a biometric fingerprint scanner as well as a four button keypad used to enter a four digit code. The electronic access can be set up to allow access with either the fingerprint scanner or the keypad, or it can be set to require both the fingerprint scanner and the keypad.

Specs

External Dimensions: 12″ L x 9″ W x 5.3″ H
Internal Dimensions: 11″ L x 7.8″ W x 3″ H
Weight: 9.8 lbs
Material of Construction: Welded cold rolled steel (Q235A)
Material Thickness: 16 gauge
Access Methods:
- Biometric Fingerprint Scanner
- Four digit code
- Both fingerprint scanner and four digit code
- Manual Key
Biometric scanner can be programmed for up to 30 different fingerprints
Power: 4 x 1.5V AA (Mfr does not recommend rechargeable or lithium batteries)
Spring loaded door
Interior sides and bottom covered with PPS foam
Internal LED for illumination
Six mounting holes for permanent attachment

What’s in the Box

Yuema Gun Safe Model SZ-01
Two masonry anchors
Two coach screws with washers
Two access keys
Wrench
Accessories bag
Four anti-slip stickers
Instruction Manual
Biometric scanner “Attention” card
Free target offer card

Design and Features

The Yuema SZ-01 safe is quite rugged and is made of coated carbon steel with welded joints, which is typical for any well-made gun safe. The steel used is Q235A (a Chinese specification roughly equivalent to ASTM A36 structural steel – the kind of steel used in bridges and buildings). The electronic access pad is located on the top of the safe and contains a fingerprint scanner, four buttons (numbered 1 through 4) that are used to enter a four-digit access code and to set other options, two LED indicator lights (green and red), and a covered manual lock for key access.

The safe is coated with a black “electrostatic” coating on all exterior surfaces.

The hinged door is spring loaded so it will open with the safe in any orientation.

The interior is lined on the sides and bottom with foam (made from PPS). The top surface is not lined with foam and contains the reset button, an LED for interior illumination, and the battery compartment which holds 4 AA batteries.

The bottom of the safe contains several holes that can be used with the provided hardware to permanently attach the safe to a wall or a piece of furniture.

One item to note is that with the safe closed, there is a gap between the door and the side, as can be seen in the photo above with the internal LED illuminated. Most safes are designed with a lip inside the safe at the opening to prevent any access to the internal contents with the door closed.

Use

It is necessary to program the safe to choose a four-digit access code and to record fingerprints for any individuals who are to have access to the safe.

Programming fingerprints is quite simple. First, you press and release the reset button inside the safe. The green LED on the top of the safe will flash and a short beep will be heard. You then place your finger on the scanner four times in succession, with a green LED flash and short beep after each press. After the fourth press, the green LED will flash with a long beep, which confirms that the fingerprint has been successfully programmed. Up to 30 fingerprints can be stored.

To open the safe with the fingerprint scanner, all that is required is to touch your finger to the scanner, after which the green LED will flash followed by a short beep to indicate that your fingerprint is being scanned. If the fingerprint scan is successfully registered, after holding your finger there for about 2 seconds, you will then get a long beep and a green LED flash to indicate that it recognized the fingerprint. Otherwise, you will get three short beeps and both green and red LEDs will flash which means that it did not recognize the fingerprint. If it recognizes your fingerprint, the door will automatically spring open. And if it doesn’t, it won’t, obviously. Also, note that the door takes about two seconds to open.

Programming the four-digit code is also very simple. First, you long press the “1” button until the green LED comes on. Then you enter the previous four-digit access code, after which you will get a green LED light and a long beep. Then you enter your chosen new four-digit code twice, after which you get a green LED light and a long beep, indicating the code was successfully changed. The system is only capable of remembering one four-digit code. One minor hitch … when you do this for the first time, you might wonder what the factory original four-digit code is since manual does not tell you this. I played a hunch and used 1-2-3-4, and it worked.

To open the safe using the code, simply enter the code and the safe will give you a green light and long beep and the door will open. If you enter the wrong code, you will get a red LED and five short beeps and the door will not open. Also, the user manual states that the system will lock for one minute after a failed attempt and will not allow you to open the safe. However, I was able to enter the wrong code and then enter the correct code right away and the safe opened. I even tried entering ten incorrect codes in succession, and I was able to still open the safe on the eleventh try with the correct code.

The Yuema safe has two modes of operation. The default mode is to allow the safe to be opened using either a fingerprint sensor or the four-digit code. However, additional security can be provided by setting the safe to double-open mode which requires both a fingerprint and a four-digit code to gain access. Simply pushing the “4” button twice and then short pressing the reset button sets double-open mode. Repeating this turns the mode off and restores operation to the default mode.

It is also possible to mute the beeps by long pressing the “2” button for five seconds. Repeating this will restore the sounds.

When the batteries get low, the red LED will illuminate constantly. This is an indicator that it is time to replace the batteries. If the batteries get too low, it will not be possible to open the safe using either the fingerprint scanner or the four-digit code. It will be necessary to use the manual key access in this case, which is why it is very important not to lose the keys (or store them inside the safe).

If necessary, the factory default settings can be restored and all programmed fingerprints and the access code erased by long pressing the reset button inside the safe until the green light stops flashing and a long beep occurs.

The internal LED will illuminate for approximately 15 seconds after the correct code and/or fingerprint is entered. The LED is actually white, not blue as it appears in the photo above.

Performance

For the most part, the electronic access functioned exactly as described in the user manual, with a couple of notable exceptions.

First, it was a common occurrence for the biometric sensor to not recognize the fingerprint. It seemed like this happened more often than not for the first fingerprint I programmed (my right index finger). However, it seemed a little less frequent for other fingers and after I reprogrammed my right index finger. It seemed to depend somewhat on which finger I used and where the safe was located. It was easier to use the biometric sensor if the safe was on a table and I was standing above it. However, if the safe was under our bed (as shown in the photo above), it was much more difficult to find the safe’s biometric sensor, place my finger on it, and then get the sensor to successfully recognize my fingerprint. Is this a bad thing? I guess it depends. I was not able to open the safe with any fingerprint that was not programmed, so this isn’t a security issue. However, if I had to get access to my gun in a hurry while the safe was under the bed, I probably would just enter the code before even trying the biometric sensor.

Secondly, as stated above, the electronics are supposed to lock out (temporarily) if an incorrect code is entered. That might have been a useful safety feature if it worked, but it didn’t. Maybe this wouldn’t be a desirable feature for someone who is more concerned about quick access. However, with a four-digit code and four buttons, there are only 256 possible combinations, so it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility for a persistent youngster to try every code to get it to open.

In terms of space and access, the Yuema has more internal space than the GunVault, which didn’t matter to me because my Glock easily fit in either safe. Of greater concern is the smaller internal height in the Yuema compared to the GunVault. The Yuema specifications state that the internal height is 3″, but you actually have less than that at the opening due to the location of the door hinges (it is more like 2-5/8″). The smaller GunVault safe actually has more height above the door (about 2-13/16″), plus the top is covered with foam. The loss of this 3/16″ and the fact that there isn’t any foam on the top of the Yuema means that you’ll be scraping your knuckles on the top when you put your hand in the safe. I have averaged sized hands which scraped the top of the safe, so if your hands are larger, you’ll have an even more difficult time accessing your gun. And if the gun itself is larger, it would be even worse.

Also, the Yuema has a larger latch on the door than the GunVault. I found that every time I pulled my gun out of the safe, in addition to scraping my knuckles on the top, my thumb would hit the latch. If I was careful and removed the gun slowly, I could avoid this. However, if I was in a hurry, my hand would likely get a little scraped and banged up.

What I like

Very rugged / all welded steel construction
Biometric fingerprint access for added security
Ability to use biometric + keypad access for even more security

What needs to be improved

Fingerprint access was not reliable enough to rely on for quick access
Opening was too small and the internal top surface was not padded
Door latch was too large and it was difficult to maneuver the gun around it
Gaps on the sides of the door need to be closed up
Lockout (when incorrect code is entered) didn’t work

Final Thoughts

The Yuema model SZ-01 Biometric Gun Safe performed well and works as advertised for the most part. It is well built and very rugged and will provide adequate protection for your handgun or other valuables. The electronics worked pretty well and I am convinced that it would provide adequate security to keep valuables safe and prevent access to a handgun. However, compared to other brands on the market, it doesn’t outshine them, especially in the area that is important to many gun owners – quick access. The biometric fingerprint scanner was not reliable enough for me to want to use it if there was an emergency. Also, the opening is too small and the latch is too large meaning that hand scrapes are inevitable.

Price: $79.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Yuema Lock.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Safety, Storage, weapon

Yuema Biometric Handgun Safe review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 26, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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HyperX Cloud MIX wired gaming headset with Bluetooth review

REVIEW – If you have kids and you haven’t been hiding under a rock, your child has probably been playing one of those “battle royale” type games, such as Fortnite or PUBG. My now 12-year-old son is no different. Since dad here is a bit of a microphone dork, I wanted to check out this wired/wireless headset with the detachable mic, the HyperX Cloud MIX Wired Gaming Headset with Bluetooth.

What is it?

The HyperX Cloud MIX is a gaming headset that can be used with a standard wired connection or with Bluetooth with a 20-hour battery runtime. The microphone boom is detachable.

Hardware specs

Headphone
Driver: Custom dynamic, 40mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Circumaural, Closed back
Frequency response: 10Hz–40,000Hz
Impedance: 40 Ω
Sound pressure level: 100dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: < 2%
Weight: 260g
Weight with mic: 275g
Cable length: Detachable Headset Cable: 1.3m
PC extension cable: 2m
USB charging cable: 0.5m
Connection Type: Detachable Headset Cable: 3.5mm plug (4 pole)
PC extension cable: 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs

Boom Microphone
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Noise-cancelling
Frequency response: 50Hz-18,000 Hz
Sensitivity: -42dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)

Built-in Microphone
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Omni-directional
Frequency response: 50Hz-8,000 Hz
Sensitivity: -33dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)

Bluetooth: 20 hours
Bluetooth Version: 4.2
Wireless Range: Up to 10 meters

What’s in the box?

The headset includes the flexible, detachable boom mic, a 3.5mm audio cable with inline remote, PC audio breakout cable, microUSB charging cable, and a cloth storage bag. The cables are braided and feel fancy.
Detaching the boom microphone makes for easier traveling.

Design and features

The headband is padded in this leather-like material. It’s very soft.

The earpads are also covered in this material. I found that wearing glasses posed no discomfort. The ear cup is just under 2-1/2 inches high on the inside.On one ear cup is the volume control, LED indicator, power button, and microUSB charging port.

The other side has the oval boom microphone connector, wired audio connector (3.5mm), and hidden on the side is a multifunction Bluetooth button, which can be used to play/pause, take phone calls, or skip tracks.Here’s the boom microphone plugged in, and the supplied 3.5mm cord connected as well. The “headphone” cable tag is still attached. It can be removed if you like.

A close-up view of the wired inline remote. There’s a microphone mute slider and a very hard to photograph volume dial on the side.

Setup

The LED indicator glows red when charging via microUSB.

To via Bluetooth, press and hold the power button (when off) until the LED flashes red/blue. Follow your wireless device’s pairing instructions (computer, smartphone) for the rest.

Performance

I found the headphones sounded just fine, which they should at this price. The closed-back design probably helps with that part. I was more concerned about how the microphone performed. Was it any better than say, using the microphone built into your laptop?

To test this, I recorded myself reading a recipe with and without the headset- while my son nagged “DAD!” in the background. Realistic test, right? I recorded this in our dining room with no special acoustical treatment whatsoever.

The first sample: No headset. Just the laptop microphone.

Next, the HyperX headset with the built-in microphone. No boom mic.

Finally, the HyperX headset with the flexible boom mic.

The boom microphone makes a huge difference in ignoring outside noise.

What I like

Very comfortable, nice sounding audio. Flexible boom microphone really helps pick up your voice while minimizing noise. Subdued appearance.

What needs to be improved

My son discovered that you can at least pair a second device (his phone) but the instructions aren’t clear about it.

Final thoughts

If you like flashy, portable headphones, this may not be for you.

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Best Buy
Source: The sample of this product was provided by company HyperX.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth headset, Gaming Gear

HyperX Cloud MIX wired gaming headset with Bluetooth review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2018 at 9:51 am.

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