Tech - LABFREQ

July 25, 2021April 17, 2023

Mobovi Ticwatch Pro 3 GPS Review

The Ticwatch Pro 3 isn’t the watch that I’d imagine would end up at the top of my favorite smartwatch list, but it has. The unassuming, seemingly average FTSN-screened wristwatch brings a twist – not only to WearOS devices – but the smartwatch landscape as a whole.

Out the Box

The Ticwatch Pro box and packaging is rather standard, packed with the essentials and nothing more: the watch, a proprietary magnetic charging clip, a power brick, the user guide, and a few marketing materials upselling Mobvoi’s products. The box itself does a great job selling you on the specs of the device.

On the Wrist

The 454×454 AMOLED display is immersed in a watch case that measures out to 47 x 48 x 12.2 mm, which gives the Ticwatch Pro 3 a masculine build and one more suitable for big wrists. The AMOLED display is covered by a low-powered, secondary FSTN screen that’s always on. The Dual display, assisted by the Snapdragon Wear 4100, gets around three days consistently, while putting the device in Essential Mode gives you up to 45 days with the FSTN screen only.

The watch itself has a stainless steel chassis, with the back side (that’s pressed up against your skin when wearing) made of polycarbonate (plastic). In daily usage, the back makes it more comfortable, complemented by the Silicon band. Orange stitching outlines the watchband, giving the device a more premium look without sacrificing comfort.

WearOS Shines on the Ticwatch

After using the Ticwatch Pro for a few weeks , it becomes obvious that under-powered devices with outdated processors were the culprit behind the rad rep the WearOS has. The once clunky, slow UI is now snappy, responsive and glitch-free. Granted, the Mobvoi Launcher has navigation sensibilities that the ‘curved tab’ style grid of the stock UI – which you would turn back in in settings if that’s yours thing.

Display	1.4” Retina AMOLED 454 x 454 + FSTN display + Low-Power backlit LCD Always-on display
Processor	Snapdragon Wear 4100
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
NFC	Google Pay-enabled
Sensors	Gyroscope, Accelerator, Barometer, Heart-Rate Sensor
Audio	Loudspeaker, Microphone
Navigation	GPS+Beidou+Glonass+Galileo+QZSS
Waterproof	IP68 and pool swimming suitable
Storage	8GB ROM, 1GB RAM Memory

Health and Fitness features

Mobvoi has a fitness suite of apps that are as extensive as any. Granted, they’re one-task ponies, features are broken down by app opposed to the suite like approach of Apple and Samsung Health. TicHealth is the central hub for checking on your profile stats, and brings all the data from TicPulse (heart rate), TicSleep, TicOxygen (blood oxygen,TicBreathe, TicHearing and TicExcercise all into one central location. Google Fit is present, rounding out the fitness and workout abilites.

1000+ Watch Faces

The beauty of the AMOLED display is really brought to life by the variety of Watch Faces Mobvoi has on offer, and the it really adds personality to the Ticwatch Pro 3.

Conclusion

What Mobovi has engineered is nothing short of commendable, to say the least. The Ticwatch Pro 3 has single-handedly broken the cycle of WearOS devices being bested by the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch due to ecosystem cohesiveness and smooth response time. Mobvoi has also given is flagship wearable unique features and a quality build that competes with the big dogs, at a price that manages to undercut them.

For anyone looking for a full-featured smartwatch that improves the expectations set by prior WearOS devices, the TicWatch Pro 3 is currently the undisputed king.

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021

Ableton Live 11 : the definitive review

Audio and MIDI Comping, MPE support, and Max for Live included from Live Intro and up. Has Ableton become the go all-in-one DAW?

Shame it has taken the Labfreq review team this long to publish a review on Ableton’s music production masterpiece. Created by a team of DJ, Musicians, and developers out of Berlin, Live is a software sequencer and digital audio workstation (DAW). It’s designed for live performance and remixing of songs, but it can also be used to record music, control stage lighting, visual effects, and much more.

Ableton Live has the tools and quality of any other professional level DAWs, but the unique feature of Ableton is the ability to run sequences in non-linear mode, allowing you to make live changes on a prepared material. Having been around for a decade or so, it’s reached the 11th iteration of the program – so let’s dive straight in and see what Live’s all about.

We will update this article with a complete review shortly…

The Instruments

Conclusion

Pending…

July 20, 2021April 20, 2023

Thinkpad X1 Nano Review

Lenovo is constantly updating and refining their Thinkpads – updating the household models’ feature set with security-centric, innovative features every update. This year is no exception, but they’ve also expanded the lineup by adding a few new additions to the brand, and here we’re taking a look at one of those devices – the featherweight-heavyweight, Thinkpad X1 Nano.

Build & Feel

The X1 Nano has a well-engineered, refined look that defies its 1st Gen lifecycle – taking the Carbon Fiber and Magnesium build from the Thinkpad X1 Carbon and somehow making it lighter and thinner without losing any of the durability of the latter. The bright and colorful 13″ 2K matte display is equipped with Dolby Vision, has great viewing angles, good color reproduction, and its anti-glare coating is second to none.

Specifications

The specifications section is the most boring of them all, so we’re going to get straight to it and spare you the boredom. The X1 Nano is as powerful an Ultrabook as you can get, powerful enough for everything but the most graphics-extensive games and 8K video editing sessions.

Display	13.0″ 2K (2160 x 1350) IPS, anti-glare with Dolby Vision™, 450 nits, 100% sRGB
Processor	11^th Generation Intel^® Core™ i7-1180G7 Processor with vPro™ (2.20 GHz, up to 4.60 GHz with Turbo Boost, 4 Cores, 8 Threads, 12 MB Cache)
Memory	16GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz (Soldered)
Storage	Up to 1TB PCIe SSD
Graphics	Integrated Intel^® Iris^® X^e Graphics
Security	Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) 2.0 Human-presence detection with Windows Hello & IR camera Match-on-chip fingerprint reader Webcam privacy cover
Audio	Dolby Atmos^® Speaker System 4 x 360-degree mics
Camera	Hybrid infrared (IR) / 720p HD with webcam privacy cover Optional: Hybrid infrared (IR) / 720p HD with webcam privacy shutter and Human Presence Detection
Connectivity	Optional: WWAN LTE 5G / LTE 4G CAT9* WLAN: WiFi 6 AX201 802.11AX (2 x 2) Bluetooth^® 5.2 with vPro™ On vPro™ Processors
Ports/Slots	2 x USB4 Thunderbolt™ 4 (Power Delivery) Headphone / mic combo
Keyboard	Spill-resistant Backlit with white LED lighting Call-control keys (F9-F11)

Standout Features

The Thinkpad X1 Nano is Lenovo’s first ThinkPad laptop to use the Intel^® Evo™ platform, which promises to deliver “a powerhouse combination of performance, responsiveness, battery life, and stunning visuals” not previously available in Ultrabooks. There’s not much that you can’t do with the X1 Nano, as long as the task doesn’t require a dedicated graphics card.

All the signature Thinkpad features are here: Trackpoint center button navigation, the webcam privacy shutter, Custom Thinkpad BIOS with advanced security features and spill-resistant backlit keyboard.

Conclusion

While the X1 Nano treads dangerously close to the Thinkpad X1 Carbon in its offering and feature set, it DOES manage to be lighter (at least 0.8 pounds) and inherently more powerful thanks to the Intel Evo platform. How long will that stay the case remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – Lenovo is securing the Thinkpad X1 line-up as the premier brand for business staff, executives, and managers; All while expanding its appeal to Creatives and tech-centric student Millenials.

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.

September 18, 2020February 18, 2021

Lenovo Chromebook Duet Review:

Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet detachable 2-n-1 is the perfect mix of tablet and laptop all in one. The Duet can be used as a stylish sleek tablet or transformed into a portable laptop for on the go. Whether you are a student or a buyer the affordability, functionality and versatility will fascinate all users. Ideally the Chromebook duet is geared toward a person who likes to have options.With it being priced at $249, this device is super affordable that definitely packs a lot of power in such small package.

What is the Build:

The portable 10.1” screen switches from tablet to laptop in seconds with the detachable keyboard. Being that the price starts at $279 it’s ideal for anyone on a budget. Not to mention it’s amazingly fast boot up time requires no need for any other laptop. The Chromebook definitely outranks others by far, its device offers 4gb of RAM along with 64-128gb. I’m able to do a significant amount work and have all my entertainment needs right in the palm of my hands. Having 11-13 hours of battery life gets me through a whole entire 9 to 5 work day without needing to be charged. For such a small device.

How Does it Look?

It features a two color combo of grey and light blue. While the tablet stand itself, consist of material that is a marbled grey color. The screen measures out to be 10.1” according to Lenovo. While watching The Netflix original “Work It” on the screen, I noticed crisp color productions and sharp screen images. Tablet mode offers wonderful entertainment right at your finger tips. Not only does the image have exceptional quality. With the detachable keyboard, the display screen has quite the eye catching display visuals. For such a small device I was not expecting the quality to be on par with other major laptop brands, but I was proven wrong. The Chromebook Duet in my eyes has been one of the best portable devices I’ve ever used. I choose to use it over my laptop any-day.

Is it Affordable?

The best part about it is being priced at just $249, there is no way you could pass up getting this amazing portable Chromebook. As a student that’s on budget I’m able to get all my task done and still enjoy watching the latest movies and TV shows whenever I want all thanks to Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet. It is absolutely worth spending $249 on trust me when I say “don’t hesitate just buy it”. You won’t regret buying it for yourself. Wait till you see how much you’ll love using it, you’ll never want to use a bulky heavy laptop ever again.

Overall, Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is an exceptional device everyone should invest in getting one, no matter what it is you do. All I need is my headphones and I’ll be good for the whole day using this device. It’s definitely ideal for on the go and small enough to fit easily into backpacks,purses, or just to carry around in the palm of your hands.

August 26, 2020June 8, 2021

Apple Macbook Air (13-inch, 2017) Review

In 2017, Apple upgraded their MacBook Air. The 13-inch laptop offers the sleek and beautiful design that is Apple. Apple’s MacBook Air has been around for nearly a decade now, which debuted their first release of MacBook Air back in 2008. Apple’s 2017 version has exceptional functionality with a very slim aluminum build that feels smooth to the touch. It’s definitely worth mentioning that the MacBook Air is known to be “the best lightweight and powerful laptop in the market.” Today we’re going see if indeed the MacBook Air is truly the best.

Display:

Lets begin with the 13.3-inch widescreen display. It also includes LED-backlit glossy display with support for millions of colors. The 1440 x 900 pixel is pretty decent if you like me decide to stream the latest Netflix series or catch up on YouTube with a bigger screen than my personal device. The high quality and vibrant colors were sufficient enough that it allowed me to enjoy using my MacBook much more. However, while working on my laptop throughout the day I did notice that some words and images didn’t appear to be as sharp.

Price:

The MacBook Air price starts at $849-$999. Compared to other Macbook Air’s the 2017 model is the cheapest one. For 8GB of Ram you can buy additional add-ons as desired. Most of the models can be purchased straight from Apple’s Website. Though If you’re one to look around at different pricing a better option is to purchase through third parties to save a little extra money for your pockets.

Design:

Apple’s Macbook Air has become the laptop you will see being used by everyone worldwide. Whether you’re a college student or work in an office the Air has proven to be a fan favorite. Before 2018, Apple never changed the Air simply put that it still looked amazing. Back in 2015 the Macbook Air only featured the color “silver.” Fast forward 2 years later Apple has kept the “silver” color. Although MacBook had decided to keep the iconic aluminum body which dates back to the early 2000-2010 design.

Software/Apps

Apples MacOS BigSur features new and old apps such as iMessage, Notes, FaceTime used for free video calling, and Photo-booth; The new iPad-esque UI re-design brings MacOS in line with the look and feel of Apple’s mobile OS.

Apple includes pre-installed apps like Keynotes, Pages, and Numbers for users that want to stay loyal to Apple. Note that with the new macOS Big Sur also feature widgets displays located at the right hand corner of the screen. On the other hand users are able to download apps of ones liking if Apples apps are not up to satisfaction.

Wrap Up:

Overall the MacBook Air 2017 is a high quality built laptop. Its design is sleek and classic which is a step up from its previous model. Now is it considered to be the “best” the simple answer is no. Apple’s MacBook Air 2017 has a lot to offer for its price range. The system is exceptionally well to use for just about any scenario whether it be for work, school, browsing, even in some cases chatting. For those who prefer MacOS over Windows this is the cheapest model to purchase. Especially with a 10 hour battery life the MacBook Air 2017 even after all these years is still worthy of mentioning and buying. It’s an excellent portable lightweight laptop for anyone that enjoys an easier, more worry-free computer experience.