Tre Scranton - LABFREQ

July 4, 2021July 5, 2021

Librem 5 Review : a Tinkerer’s Dream Gadget

Intro

Reviewing the Librem 5 – while intriguing, was not a simple task.

When I first received the smartphone, it was two months before it’s mass production units were ready for shipping out to the masses – and there were a whole slew of software features that hadn’t yet been implemented. It’s set of Cameras weren’t yet active, and neither was the OpenPGP card slot.

Developer’s were behind their feature roadmap schedule, mostly due to suppliers lambasting Purism with delays set into motion by a shortage of components and parts needed to bring their ambitious smartphone project to life. Which naturally affected shipping times, resulting in a few early backers having to wait longer than expected. If this was a device aimed at the masses for general use, Androids and iPhones of the world – the life of the Librem 5 would have ended before it started. But it’s not your typical mobile device.

The Librem 5 is a smartphone by Purism, a computer company that already makes Laptops, Mini PCs and Servers – running a Linux based operating system called PureOS. It’s built around an open-source philosophy protecting users’ digital rights with a focus on privacy. It has three kill switches on the side, to insure your devices bluetooth, WIfi and Cellular connections are off – and temporarily severed – when you expect them to be.

Specs

Processor	NXP® i.MX 8M Quad core Cortex A53, 64bit ARM @max 1.5GHz
GPU	Vivante GC7000Lite
Screen	5.7″ IPS TFT 720×1440
Memory	3GB RAM
Storage	32GB Internal Storage with SD Card Slot
Battery	4500 mAh Replaceable Lithium
WLAN	Redpine Signals RS9116: 802.11 abgn 2.4GHz/5GHz
GPS	TESEO LIV3 multiconstellation GNSS receiver
DAC	Wolfson Media WM8962
3.5mm Jack	Yes (stereo out and mono microphone in)
USB	USB C: USB 3.0 data, PowerDelivery (Dual-Role Port), video out (DisplayPort)
Kill Switches	3 – WiFi, Cellular, Microphone/Cameras (all 3 will turn off GPS)

Display

The 5.7 inch display has a resolution of 720p, and while it’s put to shame by 90% of all Modern Androids, it’s basically the same screen sharpness as all but the very latest iPhones. In other words, it’s fine. The screen has deep blacks, vivid colors and wide contrast – it scales nicely on bigger screens, and it’s powerful enough to run the phones’ display simultaneously.

Battery

Battery life is the Achilles heel on this smartphone, giving an average of 2 to 4 hours battery life – depending on the program(s) running – even background apps. During my testing, the Librem 5 simply has horrible staying power while idle. It improved incrementally with OS updates – but the differences were minor.

Ecosystem

The Librem 5 has access to nearly all desktop programs that you can install on any Linux Computer. From the terminal, sudo apt-get install will get you pretty much any Linux app on the smartphone. Since PureOS is the exact desktop operating system that you’d find on Purism’s Librem 14 and Librem Mini, connecting the device to a monitor or t.v , keyboard and mouse turns the L5 to a pocket computer – albeit somewhat-limited by it’s processing power. Purism also built a graphical phone interface called phosh that gives any desktop app a dynamic, touch-based UI – granted support for phosh is enabled .The PureOS Store, curates apps that are phosh compatible, so you know right off the bat what programs have maximum compatibility with mobile devices.

Audacity, Inkscape, LMMS, GIMP, VLS, all install on the Librem 5, and they all run pretty smooth once the device is connected to a monitor – none of the apps in this sentence is optimized for mobile sized displays. Just keep in mind, the Librem 5 uses ARM architechure by NXP.

Conclusion

With nearly half of the population of the world owning a smartphone today, mobile computing has become the default way for people to interface with the internet. This means that nearly one out of two people general means of bring online is a smartphone. It’s safe to say the mobile computer market has enough room for a third alternative to Android and iOS. It’s a daunting task, an uphill battle – but if there is any existing platform that can offer that much needed variety – it’s a Linux-based one. The Librem 5 comes really close to being that third option in it’s first iteration, but slightly misses the mark due to issues with overall build quality (the back battery cover just wont stay on!), and software inconsistencies. It’s improved drastically in the two months I’ve been reviewing it, but Android and iOS – which both have had a decade plus of development and refinement to be fair – are both just a bit too full-featured and polished to lose any but the most tech-savvy user demographic. For electricians, technology enthusiasts, developers, tinkerers – you might want to give the Librem 5 a look.

February 28, 2021April 17, 2023

Black Unity Apple Watch 6 (28-day review)

Commendable gesture by the one of the most popular tech brands, or ingenious marketing move?

Apple started off February by throwing a curveball out of left field no-one saw coming – a tribute to Black History Month with the Black Unity Apple Watch series 6. If you didn’t know by now – I’m a Black person of West African descent – Nigerian-Ghanian/ American to be specific. Nevertheless, I’m what you would call an FBA – Foundational Black American – my mom and dad, along with their parents’ parents, were born in the USA. Needless to say, I thought this was great initially. “Finally, a product I can wear that l allows me to embrace my culture, that’s forward-thinking and modern. A smartwatch at that”, I thought.

Then it hit me – “Man, this is really good marketing. So good – it almost feels opportunistic.” Eventually, I checked my pessimism. As an Af-Am man, who’s used to seeing our culture being exploited and misappropriated – I have a tendency to be guarded and apprehensive. So I bit the bullet and bought the Black Unity AW series 6.

What’s in the box?

The Black Unity Apple Watch 6 (Right) and the Milanese Band (left) which doesn’t come included – because – well, variety is the spice of life .

The Black Unity Apple Watch 6 comes with the Black Unity Sport Band, the Black Unity watch face pre-installed, with ‘Black Unity’ laser-etched into the back crystal of the watch casing – in custom Red, Black, and Green Apple Watch packaging. Everything else included, is as expected of the latest smartwatch by Apple – so essentially, it’s the Apple Watch Series 6 through and through.

It has the same specifications and build quality as the original Apple Watch Series 6 – a smooth, unibody build with a digital crown on the right side and a single button below it, the same aluminum case made of “100 percent recycled aerospace-grade alloy’, same Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display that over 30% larger than the series 5, same S6 processor with 32GB of internal storage. For the full rundown, check the spec table below:

Display	Always-On Retina LTPO OLED Ion-X glass display, 1000 nits
Processor	S6 Sip with 64-bit dual-core processor
Wireless	W3 wireless chip, LTE and UTMS, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
NFC	U1 Chip (Ultra Wideband)
Sensors	Blood oxygen sensor, Electrical Heart Sensor and 3rd Gen Optical heart sensor, ECG, emergency SOS and fall detection
Audio	Loud Speaker, built-in mic
Navigation	GPS/GNSS, compass, always-on altimeter
Waterproof	Water-resistant 50 meters
Storage	32GB

For a more inconspicuous look, switch the bands up and no-one would even know it’s a BU AW 6.

How does it work? – Daily Usage

Aside from being a smartwatch that tells the time and allows you to make and receive calls/texts, the Apple Watch has the most complete ecosystem of any wearable available on the market today. the App Store literally has more apps from notable brands than the Amazon Appstore has for Kindle Fire tablets. That’s insane. Fox News, CNN, ESPN, YouTube Music, The Weather Channel – all have official apps. So does Pandora, iHeart Radio, Starbucks, and Audible. Granted, some are companion apps to their iPhone counterparts. But, most are standalone apps that can be used on the watch alone – if you’re into that sort of thing.

Fitness

The fitness features are what I was most looking forward to – making the most of my workouts while obtaining my Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach certification. Testing the Apple Watch as a virtual health and fitness assistant is what I was most excited for.

The Fitness App contains three rings to help you achieve your fitness goals – one red ring for movement, a green ring for exercise, and a cyan/blue ring for standing. Once you set your fitness goals, you can complete to rings by achieving your tasks: mines was set to 810 calories for Move, 30 minutes of Exercise, and 12 Hours of Standing. As you can see, today hasn’t been what I would call an active day for me:

The health sensors more or less work as you would expect from other wearables, with the EKG and Blood Blood Oxygen being the latest and greatest additions to the AW 6s capabilities. Fall detection remains a defining feature – and one that has been touted to have saved many lives once activated.

Fitness+: Apple’s latest lunge at Subscription services

Apple’s Fitness app expands into video workout and personal training territory with Fitness+. It’s a subscription-based wellness service that offers classes on Dance, Rowing, Cycling, Treadmill, Core, Yoga, and more. Your heart rate, calories burned, and more vital signs show in real-time next to your workout on the iPhone,iPad, or even the Apple Watch. It could prove to be useful during this pandemic were in – where safe access to gym spaces is scarce.

Conclusion

The Apple Watch Series 6 is simply the most advanced smartwatch on the market. It could do better in the battery life department, where other wearables like the Fitbit Sense offer up to 6 days. But it’s one of the best smartwatches available, only rivaled by the Galaxy Watch 3 as far as smartwatch features are concerned. Still, its plethora of exclusive features and vast app ecosystem makes the Apple Watch Series 6 the wearable to beat. And if you get the GPS+Cellular version, you don’t even have to own an iPhone – as long as someone in your household does (to set it up for the first time) – you can even rock the Apple Watch Series 6 with an Android! And for someone like me who loves supporting causes that are beneficial to my well-being – the Black Unity Apple Watch is a win-win.

February 18, 2021March 17, 2022

5 Best Alternate Search Browsers for Daily Use

The harsh reality of using “free services” from Big Tech

Has Tech entities become so intrusive into our digital lives, that we need to re-consider our computing habits?

The somewhat good

Looking for an alternative search browser? With all of the new information available that reveals the tracking and spying nature of electronic devices and services offered by big tech companies, there is a surge of interest occurring amongst the more savvy computer users. Many are realizing that all the benefits that come with the customized feeds on Facebook, news articles on Google or detailed routes on Google Maps – come with huge trade offs on user privacy. Often times these “free services” come at the expense of you becoming the product, with your data being sold to the advertisers.

While there are a few companies that strive to ensure you have access to secure computing, there are basic practices one must consider to be certain your browsing and search queries stay private. Many people use popular search engines like Google and Bing for addresses to restaurants, public landmarks and vacation sites. This information is then categorized in a “digital dossier” and attached to user accounts, which companies utilize two-fold. One way Big Tech uses this info, is to serve the user curated personalized content suited to an individual’s personal interests. The other is this selling this information to the highest bidder for advertising purposes.

The not so good

Your likes and dislikes, preferred foods, spritual beliefs, political ideologies and more (Google Search); Your line of work and casual interests (Downloads from App Store, Play Store, etc.); And even your place of residence, work location, your children’s daycare and/or school location, even your daily routes (Apple/Google Maps). While modern technology offers a convenience never seen before today through the cohesive “ecosystems” offered by Big Tech; It doesn’t take a colorful imagination to see how these Technologies can go awry.

Even researchers using popular search engines are at disadvantage, due to huge corporations burying facts under complex algorithms for business, political, and National Security instances.. For example in ‘Baidu Sensors the Internet in China – so do Microsoft, Google and Apple’ article on Wired (link below) it stated, “Chinese tech companies such as search engine Baidu and social media platform Tencent block Tiananmen-related posts and pages to comply with the country’s authoritarian internet rules. Some US companies do their bit, too. Apple and Microsoft censor information in China as a condition of accessing the country’s lucrative but circumscribed population of more than 800 million netizens.”⁽¹⁾

The Alternatives

Brave – is a web browser that ‘blocks ads and trackers that slow you down and invade your privacy’. Touts itself as being up to 3X faster than Chrome – and awards users for browsing.

Duck Duck Go – Probably the most popular option on this list, Duck Duck Go is an anonymous search engine that focuses on reducing tracking.

Ecosia – The environmental-centric search engine, Ecosia uses their profit to plant trees

Startpage -Startpage’s site subtitle is “the world’s most private search engine”. It promises Un-profiled search results, no trackers or cookies, and no saving, sharing, or selling your data.

Tor – The Tor Engine, is a browser that features Multi-Layered Encryption, using advanced techniques that make it difficult for users to be fingerprinted based on browser and device information. Endorsed by Edward Snowden, Tor is used by journalists and activist worldwide to ensure secure communications.

While these services are available through web browsers on any device, you can maximize your privacy and security by purchasing ethical computing products by companies like Purism – who use open source, auditable software and Operating Systems. The Librem 14 is laptop powerful enough to serve as a desktop replacement; Librem 5 is a secure, privacy focused smartphone that’s a viable alternative to the mobile duopoly (iPhone and Android); While the Librem Mini and Librem Server cover the spectrum of ethical computing – from home media center to business cloud infrastructure. System76 is another noteworthy brand that is worth considering if you want to ensure you have modular equipment with auditable source code.

Overseas business practices aside, Apple’s devices are the most popular products that are known to prioritize user privacy and digital rights, although it can be argued that the OS and software can’t be audited like Open Source products can. Also, with the recent issues surrounding Apple’s iCloud service ⁽²⁾, it can be argued that entities holding more sensitive information – like governments, security agencies and private businesses – can no longer afford to have their sensitive data stored on a third-party cloud infrastructure. Maybe it’s time for individuals to consider the alternatives as well.

References:

February 8, 2021April 6, 2023

System 76 Lemur Pro Review

Quick Question:

Have you ever seen a laptop that came with Linux* pre-installed available in a retail store?Or even widely available online for that matter? A few popular PC brands offer a model or two, but those often come as variations of Window’s devices (and even then have minimal driver support). In comes a US computer maker by the name of System 76, with ambitious goals of changing the status quo with a full catalog of Desktops, Laptops, and more. We were lucky to get our hands on one over at our review lab: the Lemur Pro 14” ultrabook.

The Lemur Pro was designed as a featherweight yet powerful device that’s optimized for optimal battery life -providing wire and worry-free work on the go. It can be configured to come with up to 40GB of DDR4 RAM and 4TB of NVMe storage. Like all of System 76s’ devices, it also comes with System 76’s own Open firmware with coreboot, providing an auditable full stack open-source platform for those who desire such assurance. It also runs System 76’s very own flavor of Linux called PopOS.

The Lemur Pro runs on PopOS, also by System 76.

Unboxing

System 76 ships it’s laptops in unassuming white boxes with the companies’ logo emblazoned on the top lid, symmetrically placed at the center. It’s when you open the package and you’re greeted with a quasi-graffiti-geek-chic design that looks like it’s fresh out of a Star Wars meets Parliament Funkadelic mash up. I fell in love at first sight. This is the type of personality and anti-corporate flavor that I applaud in electronic gadget packaging.

Build Quality

The build of the Lemur is well built, with no unusual creaks and snaps when handling the device and it doesn’t easily bend – although the hinge does seem a bit flimsy. The 14- inch matte display is bright, sharp and has great viewing angles. Where I was left disappointed, was when one of the speakers blew out as I began testing recording sessions and adjusting audio latency with JACK.

Most of the material of the build is Polycarbonate, and is durable and resilient to dings and cracks. It also has a blingy resin mixed into the material that causes the laptop to twinkle in the light. I think it adds flair to an otherwise unitarian design.

The lid of the Lemur Pro, in all it’s shimmery goodness.

Specifications

Operating System	Pop!_OS 20.04 LTS (64-bit) with full disk-encryption
Firmware	System76 Open Firmware (coreboot, EDK2, System76 Firmware Apps) System76 Open Source Embedded Controller Firmware
Processor	4.9 GHz i7-10510U (1.8 up to 4.9 GHz – 8MB Cache – 4 Cores – 8 Threads) (Up to 11th Gen Intel® Core i7-1165G7: Up to 4.70 GHz – 12MB Cache – 4 Cores – 8 Threads)
RAM	24 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz (8GB+16GB) (Up to 40 GB DDR4 @ 3200 MHz)
Primary SSD	500 GB NVMe Seq Read: 2100 MB/s, Seq Write: 1500 MB/s
2nd SSD	1 TB NVMe Seq Read: 3,500 MB/s, Seq Write: 3,300 MB/s
Expansion	1× USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1× USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C / Thunderbolt™ 4, MicroSD Card Reader
Networking	Intel® Dual Band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
Video Ports	HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-C w/ DisplayPort 1.4
Audio	Stereo Speakers, 1× Headphone/Microphone Combo
Camera	1.0M 720p HD Webcam
Security	Kensington® Lock
Dimensions	12.64″ × 8.5″ × 0.61″ (32.1 × 21.6 × 1.55 cm)
Weight	2.4 lbs (1.09kg)

For it’s size and weight, you’d be forgiven if you took the Lemur for some type of disposable Chromebook – but it’s no slouch. I installed and ran every compatible multimedia program available, from graphic design and music production to video editing – and the Lemur Pro ran any project in every app without so much as a stumble. I also ran Steam games flawlessly, though there’s not many AAA games available for the Linux platform. The power and capability is there if you need it – but there’s no dedicated graphics, as the graphics card is integrated. As far as creative tasks are concerned, I was able to run Bitwig Studio, Reaper, Davinci Resolve, and a host of Windows programs using app called Crossover. We’ll cover that process in a creative workshop for those who’d dare embark on the adventure of creative workflows using Linux.

Conclusion

All in all, System 76 has managed to succeed in what so many other companies before them has failed to do: offer an easy to use, open-source laptop running their own Linux distro – without losing any of the power and customization Linux is known for. As far as the Lemur Pro goes, it’s definitely a powerful ultrabook with long battery life and a decent, upgradable build. Had it not been for the right speaker going out, I would have received a minimum of 4 stars in every category. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing what System 76 does with their hardware in the near future.

October 20, 2020March 1, 2021

Smart Clock Essential Review

The second iteration of Lenovo’s Smart Clock has hit retail shelves nationwide. Does it tick all the right boxes or is it all hype?

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 a smart clock as a bedside control center for those who desire to bring it all together with the Google Home app.

The Smart Clock Essential has a 4″ LED display, with four buttons at the top for Volume (- +), a Play/Pause button, and one designated for the alarm. there is also a dedicated button on the back to enable/disable the built-in microphone and a USB port to charge your smartphone/watch, etc.

The build quality is nice, with the poly-carbonate back and hard-woven fabric meeting seamlessly in a monochromatic rainbow of greys that complement the black LED display in an inconspicuous manner. This Smart Clock will blend and fit in beautifully anywhere in your home.

At last, you can finally have the last word

Although the four physical buttons cover the ‘essential’ features of the Smart Clock, it’s Google Assistant that’s the star of the show. The smart features come from interacting with the device with your voice, activating routines with the “Ok Google” command. You can tell the Clock to “Set an Alarm for 8 AM Tuesday” or “Play my favorite podcast on Spotify”. The possibilities are endless, and you can even create clusters of commands for the Assistant to carry out when you say keywords like “Goodnight” or “Good Morning”.

Integrate the smart clock into your setup with Google Home

Setting up the Smart Clock is fairly simple and straightforward, I downloaded the Google Home app on an iPhone and Pixel to discover the experience is identical across platforms.

The real power behind the voice controlling the Smart Clock is Routines which allow to dim the lights, set an alarm, start your security cameras and more – with a simple command like, ‘Ok Google I’m leaving home”. Really cool, neat stuff.

The Smart Clock Essentials response to “Good Morning”

Conclusion

Lenovo’s 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 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 a question away. If you pull the trigger on this purchase, you won’t be disappointed.

August 23, 2020April 18, 2023

Going Open Source: Making Music with LMMS on a Purism Laptop

Oh, yeah… it’s about to get real….

For the majority of 2020, we have been doing a lot of research at Labfreq – in regards to Big Data, user data flow, and the overall mass surveillance and monetization of our activities, interests, and browsing habits. As you know, there has been quite a bit of hoopla in the press about how Big Tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google earn their money off of horded user data to some degree or another.

While this is a deep rabbit hole that will take some time to cover, most likely over the span of several articles – and we most certainly will address the elephant in the room – User Privacy and Security is at stake. But for now I want to start off on a topic a bit more digestible to our reader base: Content Creation on Linux using Open Source software.

I have been doing a bit of grassroots R&D with a company called Purism, and their CEO Todd Weaver and CTO Kyle Rankin. While discussing how their devices – the Librem line of products – can deliver a quality experience with Top-Notch hardware running Linux without compromising user rights; The question most important to me that rose to mind was,” What type of compromise would someone who usually depends on proprietary software have to make in the name of User Rights, privacy and security?

So I set out on a mission to discover the answer, could I make the transition to Linux on Hardware endorsed by the FSF (Free Software Foundation) and give up the Pro Tools, FL Studios, and Abletons’ for good?

The Open Source LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) has 75% of the features of commerical software – for free

While I don’t quite have the answer yet – I will have at least an idea shortly – as I am currently testing out laptops from two PC manufacturers who ship laptops and desktops with their own Linux distros: System 76 and Purism – to see if that task could be achieved.

I recently published an article on Purism’s site, the 1st video in a three-part series – PureOS for Creatives. I spent a week wrapping my head around LMMS – Linux Multi Media Studio, which is music production software that is open source and available for free (on all OSes by the way), before I attempted to make a track from start to finish. If you’d like to check out the article, you can find it here. Or if you’ve had enough words for now, you can check out the video below. Stay Tuned.

July 29, 2020February 16, 2023

Steinberg Cubasis 3 Review

Steinberg, the company responsible for the concept of the Digital Audio Workstation and VST plug-in technology – has released the mobile version of its flagship product. Cubasis 3, is “a new app redesigned and developed from the ground up with all new code opposed to bringing an update of Cubasis 2”, according to the developer. Is it an all-new app, or simply an incremental update to the former version? Let’s find out.

Hear Cubasis 3 in Action – prod. by Tre’mendous

Cubasis is a “Mobile Music Creation System” which gives you an unlimited amount of audio, MIDI, and Send tracks to produce original music. It has four main views: the default Arrangement view, the Media (Where all of your audio files, projects, presets reside), Keys/Pads, and Mixer view.

The arrangement view is where the recording, performing, editing and, you guessed it – Song Arrangement takes place. All of your beat imports, MIDI parts, vocal phrases, and audio takes go here – in the default view. Any MIDI performances are played in the Keys View.

Keys View allows you to play your selected instruments and capture your performances. Cubasis has drum pads, that allow you to play percussive sounds and drum kits in a more traditional manner.

Lastly, you have the Mixer View, which allows you to get your song mixes down to perfection. And even has the ability to achieve quality masters – if you’re up for the task.

Instruments and Effects

Cubasis has a nice collection of instruments and effects, many are mobile versions of Steinberg’s desktop VSTi and VSTfx Collection. MiniSampler, MicroSonic, Micrologue, and Classic Machines – the latter as an in-app purchase that comes with 12 drum machines.

MiniSampler

The MiniSampler allows you bring in custom sounds, and set start and end cue points to create you own samples from any audio file on your device;

Microsonic

MicroSonic is a mobile take on Steinberg’s Halion Sonic virtual instrument, which features its own sample library of real-world instruments…

Micrologue

Micrologue – the mobile version of Cubase’s resident synth Retrolouge, gives you a streamlined version of the desktop virtual instrument. It’s a Polyphonic Synthesizer with two Oscillators;

Classic Machines

And Classic Machines is a collection of the most used drum machines in modern music.

The internal effects cover all of the essentials, EQ, Reverb, Delay, Compressor, Chorus, etc. Each audio track you add to your session has a channel strip in one of the four effect slots by default. The Channel Strip combines a cut filter, noise gate, compressor, and saturator which can all be bypassed in the signal line individually. There is a similar plug-in, the Master Strip, which combines a Multiband Compressor, Stereo Imager, and Loudness Maximizer to help you bring your mix closer to a final master.

Then there are plug-ins for more creative purposes, like the Micrologue ARP, and Spin FX -which gives you Dubstep, Hip-Hop, and Trap DJ style transitions and drops at the press of a button.

Conclusion

Cubasis 3 is a near-identical replica of it’s motherDAW Cubase, from the UI to the UX – minus the pop-up and dropdown menus of the Desktop interface. Standing in place of those options is a touch-friendly MediaBay with drag and drop functionality, and access to Audio Units and IAA instrument and effect expansion if you’re on iOS, though the Android version is identical with the exception of the latter.

What Steinberg has given the masses is the ability to have a Digital Audio Workstation with an interface customized for touchscreens, that’s just as useful and fully-featured as a Studio One or Pro Tools – without all of the excessive bloat and fat. It runs on the iPhone, iPad, and all but the cheapest budget Androids. It’s a nearly indispensable tool for a music producer or mix engineer with a modern smartphone and a very low bar-to-entry for aspiring artists and beatmakers. If you are a creative who likes the idea of being able to lay down an idea asap, from anywhere – that can be transferred to the “Studio” if need be – you might want to give Cubasis 3 a close look.

Alternatives:

Audio Evolution Mobile:

A fully featured mobile daw available on Android and iOS.

Read Review

FL Studio Mobile:

The  most popular beat making program has a mobile version that's every bit as addictive as it's desktop counterpart.

Read Review

July 25, 2020October 17, 2020

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G – Video Review

Samsung officially released the Galaxy A71 5G on June 19th in the U.S. With a 6.7″ AMOLED display, Snapdragon 765g, 128GB of internal storage, of RAM, and 5G connectivity – securely housed in an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3 – the A71 5G is ready for the affordable premium market. I share my thoughts on the device as how it compares against other devices released so far this year, in the video below:

The A71 5G is the first device that’s compatible with both T-Mobile’s low-band 5G spectrum and Sprint’s 2.5 mid-band 5G spectrum, offering customers optimal next-generation connectivity at a more affordable entry level price point.

Sprint/T-Mobile 5G network covers the majority of the city of Houston

Benchmarks from Geekbench, for those who are into that sort of thing.

Conclusion

The Galaxy A71 5G is a quality device that offers access to the Galaxy ecosystem at a more reasonable cost than the Galaxy S20 line. With a four camera set-up (64MP Main camera,16MP wide, 5MP Macro, and 5MP Depth), a beautiful AMOLED display with a punch hole 32MP front camera, and in-screen fingerprint scanner. Galaxy fans looking to save a few bucks with few compromises can’t go wrong with this device.

July 22, 2020July 25, 2020

LG Velvet First Look: Unboxing, Design, Dual Screen Case and more

The Velvet is the latest Android smartphone by LG, available today (July 22) at ATT for $599 USD. The 6.8″ display has refined edges that meet the ultra-slim metal frame with a curvy backside that’s unlike any design on any smartphone by LG. It rocks a Snapdragon 765g with 6GB of RAM,128GB of internal storage, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the photography front – a 16MP front camera with three lenses, a 48MP Main, 8MP Wide, and 5MP depth cameras on the back. A few extras like stereo speakers, IP68 Water and Dust resistance, MIL-STD 810G compliance, and wireless charging – makes the LG Velvet a nice option for those due to upgrade their smartphone.

I received a reviewers kit from LG, and while the device is was complimentary – I have not been paid by LG to skew my opinion and my views are 100% neutral and unbiased. If you like to learn more about the LG Velvet, check out our unboxing video below. In-depth review coming soon.

June 25, 2020October 27, 2021

Review: Lenovo Yoga C940

Lenovo’s pioneering 2-in-1 Yoga brand manages to refine a near-perfect model

The Lenovo Yoga brand is known for being the pioneer of the 2-in-1 category, offering convertible laptops with touchscreens that double as large tablets. The Lenovo Yoga C930 is the top-tier in the brand, replacing 2018’s watch strap-like hinge for a soundbar with a Dolby Atmos Speaker System. As great of a laptop as the C930 is, everything (literally) revolves around its soundbar hinge – which has to be the all-time cleverest innovation to laptops – at least where audio is concerned.

The sleek aluminum alloy shimmers off the etched Yoga branding on the lid

The entire laptop hinge is a Dolby Atmos powered 5.1 soundbar, that rotates so the subwoofers always face downward, no matter the orientation of the laptop. It’s the perfect union of style and function, the result of some pretty innovative engineering.

“Dolby Atmos delivers breathtaking, three-dimensional audio that flows above and around you with depth and precision. Combining two sets of speakers – featuring powerful down-firing woofers, custom tweeters, and unique vibration buffers that reduce unwanted noise – your audio will sound bigger, deeper, and more accurate. It’s sound you can feel.”

The Internals

Processor	Intel® 10th Generation Core™ i7-1065G7 (1.30GHz, up to 3.9GHz with Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Display Type	14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, glossy, multi-touch,400 nits
Memory	12GB LPDDR4X 3733MHz (Soldered)
Hard Drive	512GB Solid State Drive, PCIe-NVME M.2
Graphics	Integrated Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics
Camera	720pHD Camera
Security	Fingerprint Reader
Pen	Lenovo Active Pen
Keyboard	Backlit Keyboard – US English
Wireless	802.11 AC (2 x 2) & Bluetooth® 4.1

The review unit we received from Lenovo came equipped with an Core i7 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. All Yoga c930s come with security focused features like fingerprint readers and Lenovo’s Thinkshutter cover for the 2MP webcam, which is pretty much useless in all scenarios except for the most well-lit environments. On the creative side, it also conceals an active stylus in a slot right behind the screen that charges the pen when it’s stored away.

Boot up time is impressive, getting you from the Lenovo boot up logo to the log-in screen in under 10 seconds – thanks to Yogo c940 having Intel’s Project Athena certification. While it’s not quite matching Chromebook times, that’s darned close.

Battery life is impressive as well, averaging about 8 hours on performance-focused settings, and getting well over 10 with battery conservation on.

Display

(In Progress)

Our review model came with a 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, touchscreen, that can get as bright as 500 nits – which is the model to go for if you’re concerned with battery longevity. You can equip it with a 15.6″ UHD (3840 x 2160) 4K display, though the crisp and vivid visuals the Full HD display provides is more than adequate enough for all but the most demanding spec fanatics.

Conclusion

The Yoga C940 is one of the best laptops that I’ve ever used, the accurate glass trackpad and comfy keyboard are great input devices and the speakers are only rivaled by the latest Macbook Pro’s audio. The 360-degree hinge, touchscreen, and active stylus put the c940 firmly in a unique category where owning a tablet and laptop (iPad and Macbook) feel redundant. Why own a tablet and a laptop when you can have a reliable 2-in-1 with a 5.1 soundbar and active stylus included? Why buy a Wacom drawing pad, when you can just flip the keyboard back on your laptop and draw right on the screen? Sure, you can do this on a lot of laptop models today, but very few (if any) bring every aspect of media creation into one package for the creative professional.