Archive for the ‘audioVisual’ Category
Friday, December 24th, 2021
The second-generation Google Nest Hub (S$139) goes beyond being a speaker and display to monitoring your sleep with Sleep Sensing to help you get a better night’s sleep.
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is available online for S$139 on Google Store, as well as Courts, Challenger, and Shopee.
I’ve been using the first generation Google Nest Hub at home for years, and it’s brought hours of entertainment to the family.
The second-generation Google Nest Hub reprises many of these same functionalities.
Unboxing the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen).
It is a speaker/display to stream music/videos from music services such as Spotify and YouTube Music, and shows from Netflix and Disney+ etc; or to cast music/videos from the smartphone.
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Tags:Google, hub, Nest, reviews, speakers displays, tech4xmas, tech4xmas 2021
Posted in Accessories, Android, Audio, audioVisual, Gadgets, gadgets, Google, Home, Monitors, newArrivals, Opinion, Prices, Review, reviews, speakers, Specifications, Unbox | 3 Comments »
Saturday, December 18th, 2021
tech4xmas: If you’re looking for an affordable pair of earbuds with good sound quality that’s synonymous with Sony, the no-frills WF-C500 true wireless earbuds will make a good Christmas gift.
The Sony WF-C500 earbuds offers good audio quality at an affordable price.
The WF-C500 offers good value-for-money in terms of sound quality but at the expense of features that are found in other earbuds of similar price range or higher.
At an affordable S$139, the WF-C500 has had to forego frills like noise cancellation, transparency mode, wireless charging and automatic pausing when you remove one or both earbuds.
The earbuds are IPX4 rated so they’re splash resistant.
Freshly unboxed Sony WF-C500 True Wireless Earbuds.
Battery life is reasonable at 10 hours with full charge, plus an additional 10 hours from the pill-shaped charging case.
This is plenty long for me although it’s common for charging cases to provide twice the full charge of their earbuds.
I like that a quick charge of 10 minutes gave me a full hour of mileage.
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Tags:AV, earbuds, reviews, Sony, tech4xmas, tech4xmas 2021
Posted in Accessories, Audio, audioVisual, earphones, Entertainment, Gadgets, gadgets, Prices, Review, reviews, Sony, Specifications | 2 Comments »
Thursday, December 16th, 2021
In this two-part guest commentary, Carrie Browen and Kevin Kershner from Keysight Technologies share their insights into the future of high speed in-vehicle display and sensor connections.
A conceptual diagram of a zone-based in vehicle network architecture. Image: Keysight Technologies.
It is no secret the pace of innovation in the automotive industry is exploding.
If the last 20 years have been linear in the development of electrification, the last two to three years have been exponential.
Bandwidth Requirements
To get a better understanding of the bandwidth requirements, remember that the approximate bit rate of a video stream can be calculated as follows.
- Frame Size = Resolution x Color Depth
- Bit Rate = Frame Size x Frame rate
So, for an ADAS camera capturing a 1080p image, with a color depth of 24-bits and transmitting at 30fps, the bit rate to be supported equals:
- Frame Size = 1920 x 1080 x 24 = 49,766,400
- Bit Rate = 49,766,400 x 30 = 1,493 Mbps
It used to be that a car was a means of getting from A to B.
Now, we can safely say that is not true for the vehicles of today and certainly not for the new vehicles of tomorrow.
Just about every new car on the market has a backup camera, park assist, and blind spot monitoring.
Some offer a 360-degree view.
Other features offer real-time traffic updates, cellular connection to potential hazards, other road users, vehicles, or pedestrians.
There are features that can detect if a driver is distracted or tired.
Meanwhile, the people in the car are often unaware of driving conditions, while they enjoy infotainment systems.
These features are delivered through a mixture of sensors, cameras, and networks.
As demands go up, next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) require camera and radar systems with increasingly high resolution.
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Tags:insights, Keysight, opinions, SerDes, Tech Focus, technology, vehTech
Posted in audioVisual, Brief, Cameras, Internet of Things, IoT, Keysight, Motoring, Opinion, Tech Focus | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021
tech4xmas 2021: The Q Series Quantum Edition (QE) Pro series are the flagship Android TVs by Singapore brand PRISM+. I tried the Q65-QE Pro and found that it indeed offered excellent value-for-money. Quality that’s almost as good as the flagship of established brands – but at a fraction of the price.
The PRISM+ Q65-QE Pro standing pretty in front of my Samsung 55-inch TV. The image quality isn’t far behind but the price is like half. Super value-for-money.
Appearance-wise, the Q65-QE Pro looks really smart with almost no bezel on three edges – left, right and top sides.
Along the bottom of the TV is a 1-cm bezel as well as the brand logo and LED status light on a thin extension below the centre of that bezel.
PRISM+ Q Series QE Pro TVs
PRISM+ makes three sizes for the Q Series QE Pro 4K UHD Android TVs.
- 86-inch: S$2,999
- 65-inch: S$1,199
- 55-inch: S$999
Apart from their different sizes and price tags, all three TVs share the same specifications.
All are bezel-less Quantum IPS panels with 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution offering 1.07 billion colours, running the latest Android TV OS 10.0 with Google Play Store, and 3 years onsite full warranty.
Features include Active HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTS TruSurround, Digital TV, and in-built Chromecast Google Assistant for hands-free voice control.
The TVs are also bundled with free subscriptions with meWATCH (12 mths) and Viu (3 mths).
Connectivity is excellent with 3 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 2.0, Composite AV, Optical Audio (SPDIF) out, RF in, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet LAN, and Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz).
Excluding the stand, the panel measures 1447 x 827 x 85 mm with a weight of 19.9kg
Including the stand which is very stable, the TV measures 1447 x 904 x 290 mm, with a weight of 20.15kg.
The TV can also be mounted on the wall with a mounting measuring 400 x 200mm.
Picture quality-wise, Dolby Vision’s HDR technology provides good natural colours, with better tone definition, contrast management and greater detail.
The IPS panel accords a wide viewing angle (178 degrees), while the Quantum Color backlit technology of the series further enhances overall brightness and contrast, as well as greater colour volume and accuracy than similarly priced TVs.
Compared to its predecessors (Q-series), the Q65-QE definitely offers a wider colour gamut and higher dynamic range.
In fact, I find the image quality quite almost as good as my own Samsung 55” TV, which is priced roughly twice the Q65-QE Pro.
Audio wise, I find the 2 x 10W output adequate – I don’t think an external soundbar is necessary, except perhaps to boost the bass.
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Tags:4K, Android, appliances, new arrivals, PRISM+, reviews, Singapore, Smart TVs, tech4xmas, tech4xmas 2021, TVs, UHD
Posted in Android, App, Appliances, audioVisual, Entertainment, Gadgets, gadgets, Home, Opinion, Prices, PRISM+, Review, Specifications, TUCU, TV | 6 Comments »
Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
An e-reader makes a fantastic Christmas present for an avid reader. I’ve gotten my wife the latest Rakuten Kobo Sage for this year’s X’mas. For those who prefer a slightly smaller form-factor (and lower price-tag), the Kobo Libra 2 is also an excellent e-reader.
The Rakuten Kobo Sage (left) and Kobo Libra 2 are both waterproof to IPX8 rating so you can safely read by the pool and in the bath. In this photo, the new Dark Mode is enabled on the Kobo Sage. Notice that the text is clearly legible even under bright sunlight.
The Kobo Sage (S$399.90) and Kobo Libra 2 (S$289.90) are the two latest e-readers that Rakuten Kobo launched in October.
The Kobo Sage is slightly cheaper than Amazon’s flagship Kindle Oasis, while the Kobo Libra 2 is similarly priced to the latest Kindle Paperwhite.
Christmas prezzies for the wife and son who are avid readers. The 8″ Kobo Sage (left, in Dark Mode) and 7″ Kobo Libra 2 (with an audiobook) in their sleepcovers which protects them and doubles up as a stand.
The 8-inch Kobo Sage is the new flagship of Kobo’s e-reader line-up, taking over the baton from the Kobo Forma (S$349.90) which is still available.
Check out other tech4xmas gift ideas that I’ve curated for this year’s Christmas here.
The 7-inch Kobo Libra 2 is the new version that succeeds the Libra H2O that my wife has been using, with great satisfaction, for the past year – it was her Christmas present for last X’mas.
So what are the key improvements of the two new e-readers?
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Tags:e-readers, eBooks, Kobo, Rakuten, reading, reviews, Singapore, tech4xmas, tech4xmas 2021, trends
Posted in Accessories, audioVisual, e-readers, Gadgets, gadgets, Kobo, Opinion, Prices, Review, Specifications, tablets | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021
Nanoleaf Lines comprises short, backlit, colour-changing LED light bars connected with hexagonal joints and pasted onto the wall or ceiling to provide mood lighting. Prices below.
Nanoleaf Lines provides mood lighting for the home, entertainment, and hybrid workspaces.
The new Nanoleaf Lines comprises short, backlit, colour-changing LED light bars connected with hexagonal joints and pasted onto the wall or ceiling to provide mood lighting.
Each set of Nanoleaf Lines is controlled by a controller which connects to a phone app via Wi-Fi.
More details below from the press release.
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Tags:appliances, decor, Home, LED, lights, Nanoleaf, new arrivals
Posted in Accessories, Appliances, audioVisual, Decor, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Gaming, Home, Launch, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Specifications | 3 Comments »
Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
The AGON 4 Series comes in three different sizes: 24.5-inch, 27-inch and 31.5-inch and is targeted at professional and enthusiast gamers. Prices below.
The new AGON 4 series gaming monitor has received industry acclaim achieving the Red Dot Design Award.
The AGON 4 Series expands AOC’s flagship AGON Pro lineup of gaming monitors.
The AGON 4 Series uses fast IPS panels and offers a 1.0ms response time (GTG), VESA Display HDR certification, logo projection and lighting effects.
More details below from the press release.
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Tags:AGON, AOC, gaming, monitors, new arrivals, Singapore
Posted in Announce, audioVisual, Entertainment, Gadgets, gadgets, Gaming, Gaming, Monitors, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Thursday, October 21st, 2021
Retailing at S$49, Redmi Buds 3 is available now through official Xiaomi stores on Lazada and Shopee, Authorised Xiaomi Stores and other official retailers in Singapore.
A single charge provides up to 5 hours of listening time and while the charging case can give up to 20 hours.
The Redmi Buds 3 has a half in-ear design and weighs only 4.5g, offering more comfort for long time usage.
The earbuds support fast charging – a single 10-minute charge provides 90 minutes of use.
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Tags:AV, earbuds, new arrivals, Redmi, Singapore, Xiaomi
Posted in Accessories, Announce, Audio, audioVisual, Availability, earphones, Entertainment, Gadgets, gadgets, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Redmi, Specifications, Xiaomi | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 18th, 2021
In its October 2021 Fall event from Apple Park, Apple has introduced the new M1 Pro & M1 Max chips, a new MacBook Pro based on the new chips, as well as new AirPods. Prices below.
Apple’s October 2021 Fall Event
The M1 Pro and M1 Max are the most powerful chips Apple has ever built.
Powering the new MacBook Pro, the new chips feature up to a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 64GB of unified memory, ProRes acceleration, and “industry-leading” power efficiency.
“M1 has transformed our most popular systems with incredible performance, custom technologies, and industry-leading power efficiency. No one has ever applied a system-on-a-chip design to a pro system until today with M1 Pro and M1 Max. With massive gains in CPU and GPU performance, up to six times the memory bandwidth, a new media engine with ProRes accelerators, and other advanced technologies, M1 Pro and M1 Max take Apple silicon even further, and are unlike anything else in a pro notebook,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies.
The new MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max offers “extraordinary performance and battery life, and features the world’s best notebook display”.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro model starts at S$2,999, and S$2,769 for education; the 16-inch MacBook Pro model starts at S$3,749, and S$3,449 for education.
Apple has also updated Final Cut Pro 10.6 (S$448.98) and Logic Pro 10.7 (S$288.98) with new features and better performances on the MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max.
The updates are free for existing users, while new users can purchase the software from the Mac App Store.
The new AirPods (3rd generation) feature spatial audio and longer battery life and will be available for S$269.
AirPods (2nd generation) will have a new price tag at S$199, while the AirPods Pro now come with MagSafe Charging Case at the current price of S$379.
More details about the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips below from the press release.
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Tags:AirPods, Apple, chips, computers, earbuds, events, launch, MacBook, new arrivals
Posted in Accessories, Announce, App, Apple, Apps, Audio, audioVisual, earphones, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Launch, MacBook, newArrivals, Notebooks, notebooks, Press Release, Prices, Software, Specifications, Tech news, Tickers | 2 Comments »
Monday, September 6th, 2021
Having had to #WorkFromHome for the past year, I decided to liven up the garden with a Philips Hue Lightstrip (Outdoor). It was a fun little project that was quick and easy to set up.
I got myself the 5m version of the Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip.
The Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip is a flexible, weatherproof LED strip that can be bent and shaped to produce your own lighting designs and mood in your garden or patio.
You can also use it indoors although there is a cheaper version (Lightstrip Plus) for indoor usage that’s not weatherproof..
Philips Hue Lightstrip Outdoors (5m)
The Lightstrip comes with a 2-year warranty.
I like that it is weatherproof given the wet and sunny weather in Singapore.
Power consumption is low (37.5W) even though it can put out 1650 lumens.
The rated lifespan is around 10 years (25,000 hrs).
Dimensions: 487 (L) x 1.1 (W) x 2 (H) cm
With its diffused glow, the lightstrip can be used for direct or indirect lighting, and is able to display 16 million colour and 50 shades of gray all shades of white to create your personalised desired effect.
In the box is the lightstrip itself, the weatherproof power supply for plugging into the mains outdoors, as well as clips and screws to fasten the lightstrip onto the ground or wall based on the design you want to shape it to.
The lightstrip itself is quite flexible so if you’re just laying the lightstrip on the ground, I found that I could shape it without using any clips.
The lightstrip comes in 2m (S$209) and 5m (S$339) versions and is part of the Philips Hue line of intelligent lighting products for the home.
#t4tTUCU: Philips Hue Outdoors Lightstrip from Signify – freshly unboxed. Time to add some fun and snazzy (or calm and relaxing) ambience to the garden.
Note that, in order to maximise the use of the lightstrip, you’ll need to have a Philips Hue Bridge (S$89), which is sold separately.
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Tags:deco, Home, Hue, IoT, lifestyle, lighting, lightstrip, Philips, Signify, smart home
Posted in Accessories, Appliances, audioVisual, Decor, Gadgets, gadgets, Home, Internet of Things, IoT, Opinion, Outdoors, Philips, Prices, Review, reviews, Signify, Specifications | 6 Comments »
