Lenovo is adding the ThinkBook to its ever-expanding lineup of laptop models, alongside the ThinkPad. The latest is the upgraded ThinkBook 16p Gen2 – a powerful business-oriented laptop equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics.
Build and Feel
-Pending-
Specifications
Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800H Processor (3.20 GHz, up to 4.40 GHz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
Display
16.0″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS, anti-glare with Dolby Vision™, 400 nits
Memory
16 GB DDR4 3200MHz
Battery
Up to 6.9 hours 71Wh (MM2018) Rapid Charge technology
Storage
Up to 1 TB PCIe SSD
Graphics
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 6GB VRAM Laptop GPU with Max-Q, listed boost clock 1282MHz, maximum graphics power 75W, NVIDIA Max-Q Technologies: Dynamic Boost 2.0, Resizable BAR support Security
Security
Firmware-based Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) Touch fingerprint reader integrated with power button Webcam privacy shutter Windows Hello (with optional IR camera) SecureBIO
Audio
2 x 2W speakers Audio EFX by Harman Dual-array microphones
Connectivity
802.11AX (2 x 2) Bluetooth® 5.2
Camera
720p HD & IR camera with webcam privacy shutter
Ports
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 SD card reader Headphone / mic combo Power-in
PreInstalled Software
Lenovo Vantage McAfee® LiveSafe™ trial Microsoft Office Trial
One of the more low-key studio secrets, REAPER is a bare-bones DAW with so many hidden abilities it’s considered a swiss-army-knife of audio production software. It’s unassuming, bland UI may appear off-putting – but don’t judge a DAW by its color.
For those not familiar, REAPER is an acronym for Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording. And it’s one of those no-frills programs where Cuckos the company behind it doesn’t try to spellbind you with sound libraries and plug-ins hidden behind souped-up marketing talk.
REAPER splash screen on launch
Nonetheless, Reaper is a complete digital audio workstation – offering audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering. It’s used in commercial and home studios, broadcast, location recording, education, science and research, sound design, game development, etc.
While the company behind REAPER may not be prone to partnerships with other brands to bundle instruments, effects, or sound content – the DAW is compatible with all third-party plug-ins and formats.
Internally, REAPER only has three instruments available. The first and most extensive is SamplOmatic 5000, which handles samples. The second is ReaSynth – which can handle sound fonts. That’s it. If you want to use REAPER for music production/sound design – you’d want to invest in a third-party instrument and effects collection.
On the plus side, REAPER is budget-friendly – offering a simple licensing structure where you can purchase the program for $60 discounted license or $225 commercial license for companies. The only requirements there are to qualify for the discounted license is being an educational or non-profit organization, or an individual using REAPER only for your personal use. The $225 commercial license is for individuals and businesses using REAPER commercially and earning more than $20,000 annually.
SamplOmatic5000
ReaSynth
ReaSynthDr
Another plus is that REAPER is one of the few DAWs that are not only available for macOS and Windows – but Linux as well. We tested REAPER on a System76 laptop running PopOS, and it runs as smoothly as it does on Macs and Windows devices. The thing about companies like Cuckos building their DAW to be compatible with Linux, it truly opens the possibilities for recording studios to embrace open source – as DAW and music production programs is underdeveloped on Linux.
REAPER running on Linux
REAPER’s Extra Features
One thing that I consider an advantage of REAPER is the way it handles audio files. It has an Acid-engine like algorithm where audio files becomes elastic under the tempo of a project. You can set a project to the tempo of an imported audio file, if the BPM is embedded into the metadata of the file.
There is also an extensive Project Rendering Window where Metadata can be added to an export of a project and embedded into the file – including Album Art.
A few other features are the ability to use audio and MIDI within the same track. Also the ability to route audio and MIDI to any other track, allowing for some truly creative results. It also comes with a nice theme engine, and users can even customize REAPER to their own satisfaction.
Conclusion
To some things up, the closest thing that comes to mind when using REAPER – is Sony’s ACID Pro DAW. The ability to handle audio files and create loops. But the way REAPER does things is a lot more agile, flexible and powerful than the latter. It’s very stable as well, having not crashed once during our review process. While REAPER might not be the best out-of-the-box solution for an EDM or Hip-Hop producer who needs a plethora of tools in their arsenal. But for bands who want multitrack recording multiple real world instruments simultaneously, harmonizing choirs or vocal groups – you may find yourself at home.
With smart speakers and Smart displays set to join Smart TVs, smart doorbells, smart thermometers, and smart light bulbs in the quest to make your residence a smart home; Lenovo’s released the Smart Clock 2 as a control center for those who desire to bring it all together with the Google Home app.
An significant upgrade from the first iteration, the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is an unassuming yet convenient addition to a smart home.
The Smart Clock 2 comes with a wireless charging dock, for a overnight charge, or a quick top-up before you head out to start your day. It has a 3.97 inch IPS display, with an 400*800 resolution. The clock has an gray, thick-fabric interwoven around the body, and a night light around the base. Two buttons at the top for Volume (- +), and there is also a dedicated button on the back to enable/disable the built-in microphone. The charging dock has an USB port to charge your smartphone/watch, etc.
Controlling the Smart Clock 2 is done in the Google Home app, and once it’s set up all actions can be executed with voice command and the Google Assistant.
Routines, are a powerful addition to a home, should you decide that you want to integrate lights, thermostats, and cameras – you can control it all from the Smart Clock. We won’t go into too much detail on how this works here, as we’ve covered it extensively in our review of the Smart Clock Essential.
The Lenovo Smart Clock 2, like the Original – and even the Smart Clock Essential – has changed my perception of the usefulness of smart devices in the IoT (Internet of Things) market. It’s useful for many of the trivial things we do daily, and one-way technology could help increase our downtime away from our smartphone screens. It’s a smart clock with a full color IPS display, audio loud enough for music streaming and clear and crisp enough for audiobooks and podcasts. It’s also armed with Google Assistant, making a random internet search or smart home automation a question or command away. The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is one of – if not the best Smart Clock available today.
The Pixel 6 represents the beginning of a new horizon for the Android ecosystem. Up until now, Google allowed smartphone manufacturers the freedom to create their own flavor of the OS since it came to market.
All that has changed with the Pixel 6, which touts Google’s very own 1st gen Tensor SoC chip – and their Machine Learning and AI computational prowess. Let’s take closer look into 3 reasons why I feel the Pixel 6 is the beginning of the end of the iPhone and Galaxies Duopoly is the US.
That tradition still continues until today, with Google taking a open-source approach to licensing Android, they have always tried to present a streamlined option in their Pixel brand of smartphones. Although limitations on in-house engineering and a dependence on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors held them back from competing toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPhone and their in-house A-series mobile processors
1. Really Smart Phone Features
There are features exclusive to the Pixel 6 that are actually quite useful. Direct My Call, detects when you are calling a toll-free number where Google Assistant takes over the call and transcribes the words of an automated system in a messaging interface and allowing you to take over the call once a live agent is on the phone. A similar feature, Call Screen – gives you the option to let Assistant screen calls from numbers that aren’t saved in your contacts.
Pixel 6’s Call Screen
It hasn’t been announced if these features will eventually be on other Android smartphones through Google Assistant, but there is a big possibility once newer exclusives are added to the Pixel through feature drops.
2.Enhanced Google App Ecosystem
Google Assistant, Chrome, Drive, Duo,l Gmail, Keep Notes, Maps, Recorder, Search, YouTube… the list goes on. As Google continues to optimize apps in the Pixel ecosystem with Tensor-powered ML and AI abilities, these features are almost certain to be added to apps that are available on other Android devices – and maybe even the iPhone.
Some Pixel-Exclusive features like the Magic Eraser in Google Photos have been proven to work in other Android devices when sideloaded, meaning that it’s possible if Google decides to flip the switch on universal Android availability.
Google Photos’ Magic Eraser feature is a Game Changer.
3. Longer Android Update Support
The typical update schedule for Android smartphones varies, depending on the tier of the device and the manufacturing OEM. Samsung and OnePlus are two of the quicker companies to update their devices when a new version of Android is available. Other companies, not so much. As the owners of Android, no other company matches Google’s update schedule for the Pixel. Google has the opportunity to match Apple’s 5 year minimum iPhone support commitment – now that the Pixel 6 has it’s own in-house SoC. This should cause a trickle effect, prompting the other OEMs to step their update game up, starting with collectively pressuring Qualcomm to support their Snapdragon processors longer.
These are just 3 reasons why the Pixel 6 will change the Android ecosystem for the better. Feel free to leave your comments and let me know what do you think?
