LABFREQ - Digital Lifestyle Curators

November 17, 2023December 13, 2023

Top E-Bikes of 2023

Cycling is one of the most extensive forms of cardio, with mountain bikes at the top of the list of workout methods. E-Bikes, or electric bikes – tackle this task easily while adding the convenience of a moped-like battery-powered motor that adds pedal assist for a near-effortless commuting alternative.

Many are beginning to enjoy the benefits of getting around on an e-bike, with many people using it as their main mode of transportation.

We’ve done our research and compiled a list of the top e-Bike models and companies that capture the adventurous lifestyle of motorcycling in their brand and following.

Class 1 e-bikes

The e-bikes in this category usually stick to the tried-and-true design of traditional Cycling bikes, where the rider only uses Pedal Assist. In this class the top speed you can achieve on your e-bike is 20 mph before the motor shuts off. In this class, you are granted access to the same roads and trails that are available to non-motorized bicycles. Although some of the bikes in this category can be unlocked by contacting the manufacturer, they ship out of the box locked to this Class speed to meet local laws and regulations regarding motorized vehicles.

Helm City

The Helm City is arguably the most bike-looking e-bike available, with a removable battery that looks like a slender water bottle – the City by Helm is an e-bike that will blend in with the sleekest acoustic mountain bikes. It’s also an e-bike that comes with a throttle, so technically it’s not a Class 1 e-bike. It’s lightweight (38 lbs) and sleek looks place it in the Class 1 category.

Cowboy 4/4 ST

Cowboy’s 4th iteration of their sleek e-bike has a dedicated cockpit for your smartphone, an inconspicuous battery with a integrated brake light, and advanced anti-theft tracking.

VanMoof S5

The Vanmoof S5

Urtopia Chord

The Chord by Urtopia looks like it’s shaping up to be one of the smartest e-bike’s on the market. One of the lightest (46 lbs) e-bikes with the longest range (75 miles) and smart features that will put your smartphone to shame.

Euphree

The City Robin X by Euphree

Velotric Thunder 1

Class 2 e-bikes:

The e-bikes in this category gives the rider access to both Pedal Assist and a throttle. Typically Class 2 e-bikes can achieve a top speed of 20mph and can be ridden where traditional bikes are allowed to (bike trails, etc.) – although terrains that are more suitable for off-road is best as the power of the throttle can damage the turf on bike trails.

The EBC Model J

The Model J by the Electric Bike Company is the bike of your dreams

While the Electric Bike Company is a pioneer in electric bike manufacturing, the Model J is the newest bike added to their extensive lineup of awesome e-bikes. With the ability to be equipped with 3 batteries that add a whopping 195 mile range per charge, the Model J is the e-bike of an urban commuter’s dreams.

Super73 R-Brooklyn (R-Adventure Series)

Super73 is one of the most recognized brands making electric bikes, The R-Adventure Series is Super73’s flagship model and features Full suspension, improved weight distribution, and longer seats which makes it a comfortable option for Urban Commuting. The 73 R-Brooklyn (pictured below) features the powerful Rugged-series drive system, a new LED headlight and LZRD tires for city and street racing.

The 73 R-Brooklyn in the Blu Tang Colorway

Spark Cycleworks Bandit

Class 3 e-Bikes

QuietKat Jeep Rubicon e-bike

The Rubicon is an electric motorbike by QuietKat made in partnership with Jeep – which takes their Jeep e-Bike and adds up to 42% more range. QuietKat is one of the leading companies making E-Bikes, and their motorbike styled e-bike is arguably some of the most durable and reliable on the market.

Volcon Brat

C3Strom Astro Pro

The Astro Pro is an electric motorbike by C3strom – which takes their C3strom Astro and adds a bigger battery. Their motorbike styled e-bike is sleek and stylish.

Onyx CTY2

The Onyx CTY2 | 60V is the latest refresh of the successful CTY e-Bike from Onyx.

Ride 1Up Revv1

Tenways AGO X

The AGO X by Tenways is an urban all-rounder e-bike built for any type of terrain.

Himiway Cobra Pro

Honorable Mentions

Juiced Crosscurrent X

Juiced Bikes is another have an extensive line up, The Crosscurrent X is one of the most full-featured E-Bikes available today.

FLX Babymaker II

FLX’s Babymaker II and Weapon X cover both ends of the spectrum for riders

Zoomo

Dirwin

The Dirwin Pacer Commuter e-bike has a 500w/1000w peak Bafang motor, 300lbs max load, and 25mph Max Speed.

July 22, 2023June 3, 2024

HP soars amongst Chromebooks with the Dragonfly Pro

When the Dragonfly Pro first arrived, I was excited for the prospect of Cloud Gaming on Chromebooks. And between the Play Store and Linux, there should be a ton of options for content creation, document editing and such. Little did I know that Google was still offering underbaked software that was still playing catch up to the premium hardware shopping with ChromeOS on the market today. But that’s such case with the HP Dragonfly Pro.

Don’t get me wrong, ChromeOS is ready for 85% use case scenarios that people use computers today. But for those people who may want access to the latest Video editing, music production and programming tools, it’s not quite there yet. There are apps that are available that can get you started, but it’s still feels a bit held back by the fact that it’s a Chromebook.

HP has basically used the same chassis in this Chromebook as the one that comes with Windows 11, which makes it one of the best laptop designs available.

You can enable Linux in the system settings, which opens up alot more functionality that the Android and Web Apps in ChromeOS doesn’t fulfill if you need it. One thing that I found disappointing is their is limited root access to Linux containers, even through terminal for installing depositories necessary for certain programs to run.

The HP Dragonfly Pro is one of the best Chromebooks on the market, and it’s price matches it’s stature.The crisp touchscreen display is sharp but reflective. The specs are respectable, but there are only two thunderbolt 4 enabled USB-C ports, so keep a hub or dongle nearby..

May 16, 2023May 29, 2023

Apple announces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad

For decades, iMacs and MacBooks have been the staple brand in Multimedia Firms, Recording Studios and Film Studios due to Apple’s superior proprietary programs. But starting 5/23, Apple brings their two most acclaimed pro apps for creatives to iPadOS, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.

Redesigned for the iPad with all touch interfaces, Apple is ready to arm the iPad with desktop-level creative tools that will almost certainly elevate their tablet to a must have in any Film or Music Studio.

First up is Final Cut Pro, a non-linear Video Editor that has been used to make some of world best video content. From Movies, Documentaries, Music Videos and more, you can create pro-level content all from your iPad.

Logic Pro, a professional music studio containing everything you can think of to create high quality music compositions and songs – is finally ready for the mobile masses. What’s so intriguing about this is, Logic Pro is the reason so many people have came to the conclusion that MacBooks and iMacs are must have staples of recording studios round the world.

Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro will be available Tuesday May 23rd – for a subscription. While the first month is free, both apps will cost $4.99 a month/$49 a year. For more details clink the link above.

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April 20, 2023April 20, 2023

The Model J, from the Electric Bike Company has an $1199 introductory price and massive range

The Electric Bike Company, has more models than the late High Hefner and as more customizations than Android smartphones – has added a new bike to their extensive collection.

The Model J (J stands for Journey), a super-73 inspired e-bike comes with a 28 mph max speed (reprogrammable), up to a 195 mile range, and it comes equipped with Pedal Assist and Throttle.

The Electric Bike Company has the longest e-bike coverage guarantee on the market with a 10 year warranty (5 year for battery), with a full-stop assembly and paint shop located in the USA, so you can rest easy knowing your purchase will be backed by a team that confidently stands behind their product.

There are an huge amount of options to design your e-bike exactly how you want it to look, thanks to the Color Customizer platform available on the Electric Bike Company website.

Customize your e-bike to your liking by with

For more info, be sure to visit EBC’s website to take advantage of the introductory offer of $1199 (pre-order), which goes up to $1499 once it officially goes on sale.

April 18, 2023April 30, 2023

Google Pixel Watch Review

Can Google revive the Android Wear platform with the first iteration of the Pixel Watch? Does it have what it takes to stand toe-to-toe with the Apple/Galaxy Watches, Garmin’s and Fitbits of the world? Let’s take the water drop smartwatch with the pebble design for a flick of the wrist to find out.

Specs and Features

While the Pixel Watch doesn’t revolutionize the wearable market with any unique features that aren’t already available, it does excel in the design department.

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	32GB ROM, 2GB RAM Memory

The Pixel Ecosystem

While I think Google does a good job making sure the Pixel Watch isn’t short of any features that are expected from a high-end wearable, it does seems a bit disjointed in the fitness area. The Fitbit app is now integrated into Google’s ecosystem, but it remains separate from their own fitness/health app – Google Fit.

The Pixel Watch has around the same thickness as the Apple Watch 7.

Conclusion

While I personally think Google did a great job with the Pixel Watch for a first try, the battery life could be better, and the one size fits all mantra could have be sidestepped for a bigger size 40mm+ size option. Google Fit and Fitbit could use tighter integration, although to be fair – Apple does use three apps also (Watch, Health and Fitness). For the second iteration, I would like to see better battery life, a bigger size option (or just release a Pro/Ultra version). But I do think the Pixel Watch is a wearable to keep a look out for, and consider when you shopping for a wearable that works with Android. Then should be your first choice

April 16, 2023April 23, 2023

Dell brings new innovative designs to their XPS Series

Dell (27% global market) has been one of the world’s top OEM brands for the past few decades, exchanging the #1 spot with HP (25% market share) and Lenovo (25.5%) . They have a model for everyone, the Inspirion series has everyday users covered – while Latitude to Precision model targets students to businesses, the more LED-centric G-series and Alienware sub-brand has the gamers on lock. But we’re here to showcase Dell’s most premium model line-up that offers the best tech available – the XPS Series.

Dell reserves the most stylish designs and innovations for the XPS line up, bringing together cutting-edge engineering and features to the iconic series that stands toe to toe and even exceeds what the competition has to offer. With three form factors that cover every tier of user, the XPS Plus, XPS 2-in-1, and XPS 13 – Dell has something for every type of power user.

XPS Plus 13

The Dell XPS Plus is the top end XPS of 2022/23, offering cutting-edge technologies, exceptional build quality, unique materials and a powerful feature set that’s sure to set trends for years to come.

From the InfinityEdge display, capacitive touch function row, seamless glass trackpad, to the improved thermals with up to 55% more airflow, the XPS Plus is a definite contender for Ultrabook of the year.

The XPS 2-in-1 (left) and the XPS Plus (right) round out Dell’s premium XPS series

Dell XPS 13

The XPS 13 is the latest version of Dell’s top-selling, high end Ultrabook. It’s been critically acclaimed as the best Windows laptop money can buy for years by the biggest media publications. The 2022 model stands toe to toe with the best Apple, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo hardware in the market, and it’s the laptop that keeps Dell’s name amongst the tech industries best OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

It’s sleek design, comfortable ergonomics, and uncompromising power make it a pioneer in the Ultrabook category of laptops, and cements Dell’s demand amongst executives and creative professionals.

XPS 2-in-1

The Dell 2-in-1 is a tablet with a complete ecosystem of accessories that immediately makes it a serious contender for the iPad/Surface Pro Killer title.

With an attractive all-metal and glass design, a full-sized stylus that magnetically attaches to the tablet, full-on detachable keyboard and trackpad folio case, and full on Windows 11 with Dell’s suite of custom apps – the XPS 2-in-1 is an attractive package for visual artists and writers.

We’ll be reviewing the trio of XPS devices over the next few weeks, so be on the lookout for our official reviews of the XPS Plus, XPS 2-in-1, and the XPS 13 right here on LBFQ.

March 29, 2023March 28, 2023

Razer Edge 5G Review

Gamer-centric computer brand Razer is throwing their hat into the mobile gaming market with their first mobile gaming device, the Razer Edge. It comes in two flavors, a Wi-Fi variant more widely available – and the Verizon exclusive 5G model. In this review we’re going to take a look at the Razer Edge 5G.

It’s an inconspicuous looking tablet, that could easily be mistaken for a smartphone, but there are no telephony capability (text and calling features) on the device. One hint that the device isnt a phone is that there are no cameras on the back, which is even rare for a tablet.

But the back is sleek and smooth, with only a Razer logo on the back.

Specs	Razer Edge 5G
Screen	6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display (1080 x 2400 Pixels) with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 20:9 Aspect Ratio, 144Hz Refresh Rate, HDR10+
OS	Android 12
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon G3X Gen 1
CPU	Octa Core CPU 1x Cortex-A78 @ 3.0GHz , 3x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz & 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
GPU	Mali-G77 MC9
RAM	8GB
Rear Camera	None
Front Camera	5 Megapixels,1080p @60fps
Storage	128GB (UFS 3.1)
SD Card	Yes, up to 2TB
SIM Card	eSIM with 5G
Cellular	5G (Sub6,mmWave),LTE,UTMS, Global LTE, and LTE Cat 22 Networks
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E
NFC	Yes
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2
Infrared	Yes
Positioning	GPS with A-GPS (dual band), GLONASS, GALILEO, and BeiDou
OTG USB	Yes
USB Port	USB-C
Sound	2-Way speakers with 2 digital microphones Verizon Adaptive Sound 3.5mm headphone jack via controller
FM Radio	No
Security Sensors	None
Battery	5000 mAh Li-Po Battery (Non-removable)
Material	Glass Front and Back with Polycarbonate coated Aluminum Frame (IP53 Splash and Dust Resistance)
Dimensions	260 x 85 x 11 mm
Weight	264 g (tablet only) 401g (with controller attached)
Colors	Meteorite Gray, Moonlight White, and Celestial Blue
Launch Date	February 18, 2023
Price	$399 (6GB + 128GB) – $499 (8GB RAM + 128GB) Razer Store

Gaming

The Razer Edge has no shortage of gaming options, with the Google Play Games, EA Play, Parsec, and XBox platforms content accessible from the Razer Nexus app. All games downloaded from any of the aforementioned platforms show up here. There’s also settings to tweak the controller settings, like button layout and haptic feedback.

Gaming feels as seamless and console-like as the Nintendo Switch, with the added ability to use your tablet like a full-on Android device outside of your Gaming sessions. And while the Razor Edge has nothing comparable to the Nintendo ecosystem on the Switch, all of the prior mentioned Platforms available on Razer’s gaming console makes it hard to miss the restrictive OS on the Switch.

There are other competitors closer to Razer’s product than Nintendo – Logitech and Valve’s gaming devices come to mind. But the build and separate controller makes it a more sleek and lighter device that the current options in the market.

Conclusion

While it definitely does what it’s marketed to do really well, disconnected from the Razer Kishi Pro controller bundled, the tablet is a dull affair. With no back camera, a selfie camera placed so you can only take pics in landscape orientation, and a compact size that makes it smaller than a Galaxy s23 Ultra – and it’s a moot tablet.

For version 2, Razer should make a stronger effort to implement exclusive features or even map out the hardware spec a bit more. As of now, without anything to make it stand out in a highly competitive industry – the Razer Edge comes off like a prototype concept. The Kishi Pro controller (that isn’t sold separately at the time of this article) is a great product on its own – maybe wait until it can be bought separately and use it with the smartphone you currently have.

March 28, 2023March 28, 2023

Top 5 Audio Brands of 2023

There are many AEMs (Audio Equipment Manufacturers) who make products that are decent enough to market as the best, at times the plethora of options can be overwhelming to the average consumer.

This is where we come in handy, where we break down the top 5 brands behind some of the best quality Headphones, Earphones, Microphones and more into a cohesive list.

5. Blue/Logitech

Blue Microphones merged with Logitech a few years ago, bringing their audio expertise and quality microphone lineup to the popular electronic accessory maker.

Blue’s Yeti line-up of Streaming USB Microphones are popular amongst game streamers and podcasters, but they’ve been major players in the pro audio market for years with their XLR mics. The $3999 Blue Bottle Flagship Tube Mic is a studio mainstay.

4. Samson

Samson has an extensive USB microphone lineup

Samson is another reliable audio brand, whose USB microphones are usually on display and in stock at local stores like Best Buy or Target. They’ve been in the game since XLR’s were the only way to go, with their CO1, CO2, and CO2 Condenser mics being must have studio staples.

3. Audient

Audient is a audio brand out of the UK, with 20+years of expertise under their belts. They make everything from Audio Interfaces, Mixers, Microphones and more with a history of developing analog gear. Their no slouches in the digital workspace though, with their EVO Start Recording Bundle being quite mobile AND packed with Android,iOS, MacOS an Windows compatibility.

2. Rode

The Rodecaster Pro II is one the most versatile Audio Production Studios on the market today.

Rode has been riding the wave of dominance since their all-in-one systems invigorated public interest. The awesome RodeCaster Pro II, a follow-up to their renowned Rodecaster series – has every few contenders in the Streaming and Podcasting space; but its equally at home in a recording studio or News Agency.

1. JLab

JLab is the newest company on this list, but one that is rising fast as a respected audio brand. They are known for their wireless earbuds and headphones, as you might have seen the brands logo in your local dept. store – but what many people aren’t aware of us they also make webcams, USB Microphones like the Epic Talk , and the Studio Pro Over-Ear Studio monitors. JLab is quickly becoming known for making products at very reasonable very reasonable prices while retaining high quality control and quality output.

This rounds up out list of our top five Audio Brands (Hardware) for 2023, but we also have software, and entertainment categories to cover – so stay tuned!

March 14, 2023March 28, 2023

Motorola Edge + (2022) Review

Motorola released the Edge + February 2022, and a quick search online for reviews shows it was received fairly by consumers and the media alike – even if its marketing campaigns weren’t as grandeur as some of the competition. Equipped with the most powerful SOC of 2022 in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Edge + comes in 8GB/256, 12GB/256GB, 8GB/512GB, and 12GB/512GB capacities.

It released with a flagship price tag at $999, which is one of the reasons Apple and Samsung flagships overshadowed the device, but now you can get the Edge + 2022 at a whopping half off the retail price – bringing it down to $499.

We wouldn’t fib about something like this, so in case the sale ends soon here’s the receipts

Being I’m quite a stickler for the best bargain, I just had to invest in a device with true flagship caliber specs – AND had the compatible cellular bands of Dish Network’s Boost Infinite brand – as does the Motorola Edge Plus. So let’s get into our Motorola Edge + 2022 review.

Specs

Specs	Motorola Edge + (2022)
Screen	6.67-inch P-OLED Display (2400 x 1080 Pixels, 393 ppi) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 20:9 Aspect Ratio, 144Hz Refresh Rate, HDR10+, and punch-hole
OS	Android 12 with My UI
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SM8450 (4nm)
CPU	Octa Core CPU 1x Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz , 3x Cortex-A710 @ 2.5GHz & 4x Cortex-A510 @ 1.8GHz
GPU	Adreno 730
RAM	8GB LPDDR5
Rear Camera	Triple Cameras: 50MP Main Camera (f/1.8 Aperture, 1/1.52″ sensor, OIS,PDAF) 50MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2 Aperture, 1/4″ sensor, 120˚ FoV) 2MP Depth (f/2.4 Aperture, 1/5″ sensor, Autofocus) -Dual-tone LED Flash -Up to 8K@24fps , 4K@60fps,FHD@960fps Video Recording
Front Camera	60 Megapixels (f/2.5 Aperture, 1/3.06″ sensor
Storage	512
SD Card	None
SIM Card	Nano SIM
Cellular	5G, 4G LTE (with VoLTE), 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE & GPRS Networks
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E
NFC	Yes
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2
Infrared	Yes
Positioning	GPS with A-GPS (dual band), GLONASS, GALILEO, and BeiDou
OTG USB	Yes
USB Port	USB-C
Sound	Hi-Res Audio with Dolby Atmos and Dual Speakers USB Type-C Audio Output
FM Radio	No
Security Sensors	Face Recognition & Fingerprint Sensor (side mounted)
Battery	4800 mAh Li-Po Battery (Non-removable) 67W Fast Charging (Turbo, 100% in 36 minutes
Material	Glass Front and Back with Polycarbonate Frame (IP52 Splash and Dust Resistance)
Dimensions	163 x 75.9 x 8.79 mm
Weight	6.91 oz (196.0 g)
Colors	Cosmos Blue, Stardust White
Launch Date	Feb. 24, 2022
Price	$499 (8GB + 512GB) Motorola

Features

Screenshot Gallery

February 20, 2023February 26, 2023

Vimage Review: an app that lets you add motion and video to photo

Vimage is an interesting app. It’s not exactly a video editor, but the types of edits it allows you to make to photos add video like motion to pictures in a unique way.

Make your images pop with motion editing in Vimage.

Vimage give you the ability to add 3D animation to photos.

Cinematography is Vimage’s forte, combining complex effects like animating the sky or movement to water in your images, allowing you to create truly stunning visuals in the process.