Author: Beau

The Future of the Gaming Mouse is now.. I Mean Soon

Are you ready to experience total wireless freedom with the Razer Mamba HyperFlux. Backed by the new Razer HyperFlux Wireless Power Technology, you get an ultra-lightweight, wireless gaming mouse that runs indefinitely* with wireless power from the included Razer Firefly HyperFlux mouse mat.

Show Me, Tell Me

The Mamba HyperFlux is a wireless mouse that features 16,000 DPI and uses the 2.4GHz frequency band, thus providing gamers with a strong signal. As for the Firefly HyperFlux, this is the mouse mat that you can use the Mamba HyperFlux on, which means that it charges the mouse as you use it, thus you can be reassured you’ll never run out of juice. If this sounds familiar, it is because we’ve seen similar products from Logitech and more recently, Corsair. Razer’s HyperFlux technology uses the mouse pad to create a magnetic field that constantly powers the mouse. Unlike competitors, which use their powered mats to charge a mouse battery, Razer has forgone a battery altogether, resulting in an extremely lightweight mouse. It’s just 0.2 pounds.

Hands On

For those of us that have gotten to put a hand on this next generation gaming tech, I can say we are all very impressed. My initial reaction was the classic “shut up and take my money”. Due the battery being, well..non existent, weight is added to devices to give it swift and precise control. It moves quick and precisely accurate. The look and design is really tight, everything is black except for some bright, colorful light. This will be my next mouse.

Razer will be selling the Mamba and Firefly as a combo which is priced at $250 and will be available in Q1 2018 worldwide.

February 11, 2018
Xbox One X is a 4k Beast
The Xbox one X is the world’s most powerful gaming console. With 40% more power than any other console, experience immersive true 4K gaming. Games play better on Xbox One X. This is the Xbox One enhanced for true 4k gaming.

The Great
- 4k gaming and content
- 4k native content and High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Digital 5.1,
  TrueHD with Atmos
- Liquid Cooled
- Plays the best games of the past, present and future
- Stream and record clips in 4K resolution at 60FPS
- Built-in Blu-ray player
The Not
- Xbox Gold subscription required $69
- 1TB HDD fills up fast
The Conclusion

The X Box One X is one of a kind. You will feel fully immersed in the game as you play. With 4K resolution, the colors are brighter, whites appear whiter, blacks appear blacker with great contrast. and you can see differences in detail that truly bring the image and experience to life. The console will revert to a still brilliant 1080p if you don’t have a 4K resolution. If you have a high end HD or 4k TV and are not sure yet if you should get it, just do it, you won’t regret it.

I got very excited watching the Microsoft Xbox E3 2017 press Release, They said the Xbox One X is ‘the most powerful console’ Microsoft ever made, like a monster in the gaming world. I also happened to be needed a new game console, since my day one Xbox One seems to be unexplainably hosing up. As an avid life long casual gamer, I’ve been waiting for the Xbox One X system to be released every since news of its inception. When offered an opportunity to test out the system, I quickly jumped on the opportunity.

Tech Upgrades

I’m really impressed and surprised at how much power Microsoft has managed to squeeze into the Xbox One X’s small case. The Xbox One X boast a new processor bulking up its power out put. They used the Scorpio Engine with 6 Teraflops, 326GB/s of Memory Bandwidth and advanced, custom silico. Unquestionably is the world’s most powerful console gaming processor. That’s nearly two teraflops more than the PS4 Pro, a faster CPU, and 3GB more of overall RAM. The Xbox One X comfortably outperforms the PS4 Pro. On hardware alone, it’s smaller, more powerful, and even includes a 4K Blu-ray player over its PS4 Pro rival.

4k Gaming

The Xbox One X has the power and the peripherals to provide the best gaming experience, but you need the right games. Most games made for the Xbox One are designed for 1080p TVs, which have a quarter of the pixels found on a new 4K TV. The Xbox One X is more than four times faster than the original Xbox One, so it’s capable of 4K gaming.Some games like Forza Motorsport 7 will offer the best of all worlds: 4K, HDR, and 60fps. Its still early and the ultimate content will follow. You can tell by the “games and apps” menu that lets you sort by “Xbox One X Enhanced Games.” Doing this doesn’t tell you exactly how each game you have installed is enhanced, but at least Microsoft leaves players without a doubt that, yes, your game has (or has not) been patched with Xbox One X in mind.

The Final Thought

This isn’t the next gen system we need, its the console we deserve. You’re not just getting the Xbox One version with more pixels and a grimy suite of dated visual niggles, It is the monster promised. The only thing to consider is you need a high end 4k TV to make any difference over the One S.
February 11, 2018
The Fire TV 4K, If Prime Is Right
Amazon Fire TV with ultra 4K let’s watch live TV and sports through your TV with subscriptions to Hulu, Netflix, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV, or connect an HD antenna to your TV to get free broadcast networks like NBC and PBS. It Simply plugs into an HDTV streams in minutes.

The Good
- High quality vivid 4K Ultra HD up to 60 fps,
- Alexa enabled voice remote
- Free broadcast TV
- Fast performance with solid Wi-Fi streaming.
The Bad
- No support for Dolby Vision.
- Some big streaming services not available
- No phone casting
- Amazon Prime is effectively a must
The Conclusion

The new Amazon Fire TV is the an awesome Ultra HD box for Amazon Prime subscribers without the capabilities built in their 4K TV. For everyone else it’s pretty much just an average streamer. It’s quick and responsive, but the Amazon branding ensures you won’t get the full use without Prime.

Video Quality

The headline feature here is the ability to output video in Ultra HD 4K at 60fps, and in high dynamic range. The previous version could do 4K but only up to 30fps, because it had an HDMI 1.4 connection and that’s all it could do. The new version has HDMI 2.0.HDR support comes in HDR10 flavour. That’s the open standard everyone has adopted. There’s no Dolby Vision, a rival format using dynamic metadata to optimise the picture scene by scene. That’s something the Apple TV 4K has for justifying its higher price tag.Streaming 4K UHD/HDR video via 5GHz band WiFi works flawlessly, and with minimum initial buffering. The picture quality, with this TV’s OLED display, is astonishing.

The Interface

The interface is clear and easy to use, and thanks to the boosted hardware inside the Fire TV it feels smooth when in use as well. I do not like that I have no way to explicitly browse content that streams for free via my Prime membership. Add in that Amazon has intentionally chosen not to include flagging on the thumbnails that identifies which content is Prime and which is not. Fire TV has introduced a regression in this regard by requiring users to click on a thumbnail before they can find out if something is pay-per-view or free.

Alexa in the TV

So I haven’t figured out how to make Alexa clean my house like Cinderella…yet. But I’m working on it. In the meantime, I have figured out that she is much more than a glorified alarm clock or DJ. Although, you should know that alarms are “not currently supported on this device,” like they are on the Echo. This is a more basic version of Alexa. It doesn’t have her full functionality. You can, however, use the new Fire TV for shopping.owever, the best part is definitely Alexa and the voice activated remote. You can say things like, “Alexa, show me comedic movies.” It will take you to a list of comedies. You can access anything on the box, such as games and apps, but it is also a virtual search engine. You can ask, “What is the overnight weather forecast for San Diego, CA?”

Final Thought

Despite the cumbersome interface, the Fire TV with 4K is in my opinion the second best streaming device out in the market especially now that it has Alexa and a payment option.For $70 you get a virtually hands free streaming device (if you have an echo and smart hub), which none of its competitors have,combined with a Prime membership it’s a great entertainment solution.
February 10, 2018
Apple TV in 4K
Apple TV 4K is a high quality smart video system that connects your TV to life. It makes all your favorite TV shows and movies even more amazing. Videos play in stunning detail with picture quality that’s more true to life. Enjoy content from iTunes and apps like Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN — or use the Siri Remote to find just what you want.

The Great
- Best streaming video available to compatible 4K
- Greatest remote on the market
- Fantastic Siri voice capability
- Mirror mode from IOS devices
- TvOS is smooth, intuitive and interactive.
- Sleek interface looks great in 4K
- Can control your Homekit devices
The Not
- Expensive compared to competition
- No 4K YouTube
- No Dolby Atmos
- Non-4K owners no real advantage over the previous model
- Occasional lag while switching apps
The Conclusion

If you have the dough and live in the apple eco-system I highly suggest in picking one up.. It is so choice.

The Picture Quality

In three words. Breathtaking, Amazing, Perfection. The 4K gives you a crisper picture using four times more pixels than standard HD and (HDR) delivers brighter, more realistic colors and greater detail. The colors are amazing and the crisp lines make it far better than regular HD. I use iTunes as my main source of purchasing video and Older movies I had purchased such as The Princess Bride, or the James Bond movies have started showing up as 4K content. Combined with the newly available tvOS settings to match content frame rate, and HDR settings, older movies are much improved especially when HDR is captured. The black levels and popping colors of older film movies, along with the loss of frame conversion judder can result in a nearly transformative viewing experience. On the downside, telling the TV to switch display mode does result in a frustrating couple seconds of black screen as playback begins.

The Remote

It’s small, intuitive, and so easily lost. The remote has rechargeable battery last forever, so much so that many don’t realize it’s rechargeable, they think it’s just gone bad after a year. The Apple TV 4K remote has also been subtly redesigned: there’s a white ridge around the menu button now, which makes the thing far easier to pick up correctly in the dark, and there’s a new three-axis gyroscope in it for better motion tracking. It’s still very sensitive and the touchpad is still frustrating. I manage to overshoot constantly.

The Final Thought

Apple has smashed the best streaming video quality available today, Dolby HDR, with the slickest, most intuitive, completely refined, and elegant feel. Add in Siri and Total iOS it’s destroys any streamer around. If you just bought an expensive 4K HDR TV, accept no substitutes. I mean the price of stepping up to an Apple TV seem like your only true option.

While is quality is so superb there are some caveats. Apple TV doesn’t support Atmos and it doesn’t support YouTube in 4K HDR and it doesn’t have Disney or Marvel movies in 4K HDR and it makes some 1080p content look funky.
February 10, 2018
Intel’s Vault SmartGlasses Are A Modern Tech Breakthrough

Intel’s Vault glasses, are fashionable every day smart-glasses that projects information onto your retina as you go about your day. Intel has made glasses that somebody can put on and gets value without any of the negative impact of technology on their head.

Smartglasses..Not This Again.

While smart glasses are pretty far from a new invention. In the past, smart-glasses all come with bulky and invasive equipment attached. Cameras, added appendages, and microphones all making it look like nerdy, unsightly, stylish head gear . Intel’s new Vault glasses however, change the game with a streamline design and fashionable functional look. The glasses look exactly like regular eyeglasses and are available in various prescription lenses. Does this mean no more unwanted stares, dorky uncomfortable glasses that are a constant conversation focus. Yes it does.

Not Spy Glasses?

Intel’s Vault glasses are a whole new concept, they are not “Spy glasses”. No Creep camera, no button to push, no gesture area to swipe, no glowing LCD screen, no weird arm floating in front of the lens, no speaker, and no microphone. They look just like eyeglasses. They function like your prescription eyeglasses but you see a stream of information on what looks like a screen. That is no screen though, it’s actually being projected onto your retina. All of the Vaunt’s electronics are confined to a small area right above the ear. They respond to commands given via head nods.

The glasses are weighing in at just 2 ounces, very light , but that doesn’t mean it’s light on possibilities . The Vaunt packs a Mike Tyson like tech power punch with a processor, accelerometer, Bluetooth, and a compass. They have a laser that projects a tiny image directly onto the corner of your retina. This image acts as a screen, showing you notifications from your phone, news updates, directions, or daily reminders.

Final Thoughts

Intel has succeeded its goal to make wearable tech glasses without having a smartphone on your face. All of the Vaunt’s electronics are confined to a small area right above the ear. They respond to commands given via head nods,Everything from the ground up is designed to make the technology disappear. This all sounds great until you realize it’s a laser in your eye ball. How safe can a freakin laser to our retina be? Well the trust people at the FDA say it’s 100 percent safe to stare into this kind of laser for extended periods of time. Apparently this is such a low powered laser it’s at very bottom end of a class one laser. Good enough for me, where is the release form, I’ll sign it I’ll sign it right now. Release date or pricing has not been released yet.

February 10, 2018
Googles DayDream Veiw Stands Out
Meet Daydream View, the first Daydream-ready headset and controller for experiencing high quality, mobile virtual reality. Explore new worlds, kick back in your personal Virtual Reality cinema, and play games that put you in the center of the action. Drop in any Daydream-ready phone, such as Pixel, to start exploring

The Great
- It’s inexpensive
- Great remote design
- Fabric and flashy color design
- Enhanced optics to widen the field of view
- It’s comfortable even on extended use
The Not
- Not many apps, games, content yet
- More Daydream phones are coming, but aren’t here yet
- The Devices gets real hot while using and slows down
- It only works with Google Pixel and Moto z
- Light bleeds
- The strap placement is problematic
The Conclusion
View is the best mobile headset I’ve ever used. It’s a molded shell that accommodates a mobile phone, with a one-handed control scheme — in this case, a small bundled remote with limited motion tracking capabilities. It gets better the more you learn to use it. Endless fun, needs more apps. Limited content is the big downside.

I’m Gonna Enjoy This

All tech specs and not picking aside I am going to have some fun with this. VR brings out so many feels for me. It’s a child like wonder and excitement that only the future can bring, where will I go what will I do…until I get nauseated then it’s back to reality.

Look and Feel

I love the fabric design, it’s fun and fitting. It’s allows it to me more forgiving leading to enhancing comfort. It’s easy to wear and it’s not irritating or having me make adjustments constantly.

Hookup, Setup

Hooking up a phone to the Daydream View is also simpler than using any other headset I’ve seen. You just need to open up the front latch, drop the phone in with the screen facing the lenses and then close everything up and secure it with an elastic band on the top. Pretty self explanatory, no real curve balls here.

There is a remote control with makes the VR experience much more immersive. The remote’s layout really simple, the touchpad on top, there is an app-specific OK button in the middle, at the bottom a home button, volume controls are on the sides right where they should be. All of this also makes it a breeze to use while you’re in the VR. Great remote design

The VR

I’m gonna say the actual VR Is not perfect. Like all VR 360 degree videos and other VR software it really transports you away to a whole different dimension. The problem and where there is room for improvement is light bleed and the strap that keeps the phone secure in the headset. It is placed directly over the power button on my phone causing the phone to shut off if I am not careful. Yeah, its happened twice, I continuously stretched the strap to avoid it but it’s tedious and breaks up the experience. Now, this is is cool for watching movies, you essentially turn the tiny screen on your phone into a personal IMAX screen.. I’m also not getting sick, Google makes Daydream from getting you nauseous by ensuring both phones and apps meet a certain quality standard.

The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating app. In VR it has you visualizing in real time how the economy is fairing. You take the touchpad to rotate a holographic table which turns each majorly traded company’s share price into a 3D bar graph. I could see regular traders using this on the commuter train for a quick, generic update of info but when a developer turns it in to something tailored to their specific portfolios, could be revolutionary.

In The End, The Final Thought

These feel great, and the textile finish feels really natural. The controller is super intuitive and easy to use. While not impressed with boring content available, that’s developer related and will improve with time. The VR is great and I love watching movies on it, if my phone makes it through with out overheating. Worth the price if you have a Pixel or Moto Z. Must better option then Samsung’s gear.
February 10, 2018
How Cool, Wireless Apple AirPods!
Now Apple give us the wireless AirPods. Simple Bluetooth enabled wireless earphones but the design of the AirPods is defined by the geometry of the ear. Which makes them more comfortable for more people than any other earbud-style headphones. The speakers inside have been engineered to maximize sound output and minimize sound loss.

The Great
- Wireless
- Truly terrific sound
- Compact caring case
- Easy to use and connect
- Auto shifts between mono and stereo
The Not
- $159 is little high
- One-size-fits-all design
- No in line remote
The Conclusion

I am absolutely shocked at how rich and punchy these sound. They are small, easy to use, instantly connected and viably wireless. They are the complete earphone solution. If I could get a little more battery life, Id be in Elysium.

The Fit

Unlike traditional, circular earbuds, the design of the new Apple EarPods is defined by the geometry of the ear. Which makes them more comfortable for more people than any other earbud-style headphone. They fit perfect, the most comfortable Ive used, that all I can ask. They are one sized fits all so fit may vary by person

The Sound

Im overly impressed with the sound. The speakers inside Apple Air Pods have been engineered to minimize sound loss and maximize sound output. So you get high-quality audio that’s just as impressive as what you’d hear from any of the more expensive headphones. Its very rich, booming sounds on the low and the highs have a nice balance and pop. My opinion, they are louder then the Bose, and crisper then Beats and the quality is second to none.

The Day to Day

The caring case makes this whole process easier. They charge in the case so they only time they are out the case they are in my ear. With Siri I have voice control abilities that function for most of my use. Batteries last me almost through the day, it would be nice to have just a little more life but its not an issue or a deal breaker. I really like how they do only connect to one thing at once even if you are sitting with your apple watch mac and phone and iPad there all at once and the Bluetooth connection doesn’t chop or change around. My only gripe is the volume control, you shouldn’t have to rely on Siri to do that.

Final Thought

I was very skeptical to buy the Air Pods. But they are absolutely fabulous headphones. Comparing them to the other headphones I have owned, Beats, Skull and Bose. They look beautiful, the sound is stellar, the use is easy and they are super comfortable for me , but everyone’s ears are different. If you find the wired headphones comfortable, then you are going to love them. Thank you, Apple, for another extraordinary product!
February 10, 2018
Upgrading to the Apple Watch 3
The Apple Watch 3 is the latest in the watch line from Apple. Its a watch that allows you to stay connected when you’re away from your phone, making calls and send texts with just your watch. It has the ability to stream millions of songs with Apple Music and track your activities, heart rate, and calories burned right from your wrist.

The Great
- Good smartwatch battery life
- LTE connectivity
- Water resistant
- Apple Music compatable
- Improved exercise tracking
- Snappier performance
- Apple Pay is convenient and really easy
The Not
- LTE connection drains battery significantly
- Wait time for Apple Music streaming is a bit excessive
- LTE roaming is not available
- Siri is a little spotty
The Conclusion

The Apple Watch is the best and only viable smartwatch on the market, everything else is unnecessary or a liability. The upgrades are useful and implemented well on the 3. LTE adds a much needed connection allowing the watch to function with out your iPhone. Being water resistant is another crucial upgrade. Overall the watch was a great addition to your apple eco-system and the enhancements play well.

I Upgraded

So I’ve used the series one for two and a half years now, and at no point have a thought I’ve need to replace it. Then due to an unfortunate band malfunction my beloved Apple Watch and I have parted ways. No fear I have $500 in my pocket so I can swing by any number of retailers and have a new one in just a few mins. Now to be clear I use my watch daily, I find it has improved my ability to stay connected with my calls, messages, appointments and emails while significantly reducing my iPhone screen time. Adding in the activity, heart rate monitoring and breathing reminders its an integral part of my day to day and I can say it improves my quality of life. Not many tech gadgets can claim this.

The Improvements

The Apple Watch is now in its third iteration, and while it may appear that not much has changed on the surface, there have been some developments under the hood. Its now water resistant. I live in a coastal town, I am swimming, boating, surfing on a daily bases 9 months out of the year. Being able to take my watch in the water is a need and I am not sure how I made it for two and a half year with out this ability. The series 2 has this but it is perfected in the 3, and its got a really cool red dot on the dial so everyone can see I am fancy, bonus.

LTE

The big draw for the Series 3 is the option of LTE connectivity. This means greater independence from your paired iPhone, and always-on connectivity wherever you get network coverage. This gives me the ability to stream music from my watch when I am not with my phone, another nice perk. Although I quickly discovered the LTE Series 3’s limitations when I left my iPhone at home. I started the day with a nice bike ride, during which I streamed my bike ride playlist that starts off with Queen’s “Bicycle” and continues with equally enjoyable tracks the entire 43 minutes of my ride. When I returned home to eat breakfast, I checked my watch battery. It had drained to 60 percent after running every battery-sucking feature simultaneously. I was able to squeeze through the by not relying on it too heavily on the watch.

Now I do have to say outside of using the LTE to stream music to my Bluetooth headset, the Apple Watch 3 battery life completely blows the series one out of the water, which means I can go almost 3 days without a charge, and even use the Apple Watch to track my sleep. Another bonus.

I did find out that LTE roaming is not a thing on the watch. This means that if you are not on your carriers cell tower you dont have connection. Not that big of a deal for I use Verizon, but for you Sprint and Tmobile users a much bigger deal, and I would have to assume the 3 third party carriers are out of luck completely.

In Short

It’s an absolutely justifiable upgrade for me and all of us who already own a previous series Apple Watch. While you likely don’t need LTE, it can be helpful if you want the freedom to leave your iPhone at home or in a car while working out. The Apple Watch 3 is noticeably faster than the series one, which means I use apps and features that took too long to reliably use on the older model. Siri is now talking to you, which is nice when you want to quickly command the digital assistant and keep on doing what you want.
February 10, 2018
SmartPhone Spotlight: Android Pixel 2
Google has Introduced the new Google Pixel 2 XL Its the latest in Googles flagship line the Pixel. The Pixel XL 2 is the Larger 6 inch model of the Pixel releases. It is being hailed by Google as the worlds premier Android smartphone with the most amazing camera ever seen in a phone. The Pixel 2 features a smart camera that takes beautiful photos in any light, a fast-charging battery and the Google Assistant built-in.The Pixel 2 is available through Verizon, the Google Store, Project Fi and Best Buy. Comes in three colors: Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White.

The Great
- Fast charging
- Water resistant
- Truly amazing camera
- Smart software that will only get better
- Great battery life,
The Not
- Out of date design
- Squeeze feature is a miss
- No QI wireless Charging
- No headphone jack
The Conclusion

Despite some release issues with the display, speaker, and some units shipping without an operating system on-board, there is no liability with the Pixel XL 2. All in all, it’s just another run of the mill Android with barely indistinguishable features. Sure the Pixel 2 is a magnificent phone for Android traditionalists and casual admirers alike and yes the Camera is Cool, the rest is just ehh.

The First 13 Mins

I’ve been looking at the google Pixel 2 for a few months now. I’ve been contemplating making the android jump all the while thinking this is the android phone for me. 13 mins later I’m switching back to my iPhone X. This is the same thing that happens every time I move sim cards from one platform to the next. Now for clarity’s sake 13 mins is not a bad showing. The current record for any android device to holster my sim stands at two hours and twenty one mins. That was the Motorola Backflip. So here is my 13 min review of the Pixel XL 2

Its got some positives on paper that stood out among the field. First the Pixel 2 is water-resistant, shower selfies are a big part of my game. It’s got this Squeeze the phone to open Google Assistant and tell it what to do function that could grow to be a default muscled memory function and further my dependency on the AI bots. You can still launch the Assistant by saying “OK, Google” or long-pressing the home button, and you can also squeeze the Pixel 2’s sides to silence your ringing phone, but that’s it. I didn’t end up using the squeeze feature all that much, and it would really be most useful to squeeze launch the camera.

But The Camera

Ok folks, this camera is nice. Its better then nice, it is fantastic. In a perfect world everyone would have this camera on them at all times. I cant say this enough, it has a remarkably impressive camera that can handle all kinds of problematic conditions like low light, shadows and brightly lit backgrounds, Although Portrait Mode doesn’t work as smoothly as its competitors’ dual camera. Brilliant in low light crisp, clear, and breathtaking, great smooth videos, and cool AR stickers including the exclusive Star Wars set. With the Pixel XL 2 you also get from Google free, unlimited original-quality storage for all of your photos and videos in Google Photos. Yes, top notch camera, take a look for yourself.

The Design

The design is noticeably average, nothing particular or special and defiantly not spectacular. It does allow for front-facing speakers, which makes for an impressive sound quality on the scale of phone speakers. Still, the Pixel 2’s bulky bezels make it look out of tech style almost retro to the era of 2012 in comparison of other top phones.

In the end it is what it is another big android with a good camera, which is only as good as the next android that is coming very soon.
February 10, 2018
Apple HomePod Plays?
Apple HomePod is a Siri enabled smart speaker with Apple-engineered audio technology and advanced software to deliver the highest-fidelity sound throughout the room, anywhere it’s placed. Apple has built the high-excursion woofer with a custom amplifier to play a wide range of deep, rich bass. HomePod is wrapped in a seamless mesh fabric designed for both aesthetic and acoustic performance. Available in white and space gray for $349.

The Great
- Siri is superior to Amazons Alexa and the Google Assistant’s conversation abilities.
- Fantastic bass and tremendous sound quality through out all music genres.
- Apple music play compatible
- Compact, solid and attractive
- Automatically balances its sound position to get the best out of your music
The Not
- Apple-only audio services when using voice commands
- Multi-room audio and stereo pairing, aren’t available yet
- Siri and HomeKit are inferior to Amazons Alexa and the Google Assistant’s compatibility.
Conclusion

Sound is the best of the best, unmatched, elegant and inspiring. With the capabilities of adding multi-speakers that will listen to each other and balance the sound through out an area you’ve got a revolutionary sound system. Voice controlled by Siri gives you all the functionality you will need, if you are in the Apple eco-system this is the speaker you must have.

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Its Here!

On February 9, Apple will launch the HomePod, its first smart speaker. I’ve been looking forward to the home pod since the introduction of Siri at the iPhone 4s’s launch. I thought to myself I could just shout out a song I want to hear and have it play and sound good. This the day I have anticipated and waited for has arrived. So let’s play.

Setup

Amazingly easy to unbox and get going with no set up, you know how I hate set- ups. With its High-excursion woofer and array of seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier matched with the 6 microphones, the HomePod balances and radiates sound beautifully. Its like giving your home an amphitheater like plethora of sound. I compared the sound side by side with a single Sonos One speaker and the edge undoubtably goes to the HomePod. Yep its nice.

More than a Speaker

It’s got Siri, yeah, we all know her. She knows us. She does he job as well as any digital assistant, Amazons Alexa and Google home speaks are equally as adequate. My advice to all tech purchasers these days is to pick an assistant and build your devices around her. The boom of the AI assistant isn’t going to slow or plateau anytime soon, and you will want your devices to have the best possible relationship. The dysfunctional familes of this century will be fueled by the clashing of competing tech giants all attempting to control every aspect of your home. They all have their strength and weakness, lets take a look at the top 3 and compare.

I’ve asked each of the digital assistants a variety of 15 questions on basic and general knowledge. All 3 did an adequate-to-impressive job, generally giving viable, quick answers with pertinent information, though they all sometimes gave erroneous answers on Jordan’s’ height and the where abouts of the Hubble space craft, and it only gave Jon Hamm a 8 on a handsomeness scale of 10.

Final Thought

The reality is the HomePod is the best main street smart speaker you can buy, with adequate AI and Siri functionality, impeccably amazing sound integrates as a perfect peripheral device for all apple products… Its exactly what you would expect, I mean really what did you expect. Its Nice, so ask yourself 3 questions, Do you have $349? Do you have an IOS or multiple IOS devices? Have you subscribed to apple music? If you answered yes to all three there is a link at the bottom of the page just for you.. Stay tuned next time I’m going to test the HomePods durability or destructibility.
February 8, 2018