Smartphone maker BLU on Thursday announced a new model under its BOLD brand. Priced $350, the N2 marks the first in the handset line in nearly three years.
The BOLD N2 is unlocked with support for T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks and features a modest amount of hardware for the money.
Key details include a 6.6-inch full HD curved-edge display, a 64-meagpixel quad-camera system, and a 4200mAh battery. Under the hood are an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
The BOLD N2 runs Android 11 at launch; however, the phone maker promises two years of security updates.
Like its predecessor, the N1, the BOLD N2 has a more elegant looking design. The phone is comprised of a metal housing and a textured leather on the back side. Dubbed “Cyprus Teal” it’s more of a darker green color.
Other noteworthy features include an in-display fingerprint reader, a pair of front-facing cameras, a number of AI and camera settings, and a 4200mAh battery with 30W quick charging.
The BOLD N2 will sell for $350 on Amazon but BLU/BOLD is offering a “flash launch deal” where early adopters can pick it up for $100 off, or $250.
It may have taken nearly three years, but BOLD is back with a new handset. The summer of 2022 finds the Blu sub-brand introducing its N2, a $350 phone with a solid assortment of mid-range hardware.
EDITOR NOTE: A flash launch sale puts the price at just $250 for the phone. It’s a limited time offer but one that you won’t want to miss.
Much like it did with its predecessor, the N1, BOLD’s approach is more of a premium experience than what Blu typically offers. While the first generation employed metal and glass, this time around its highlights are a thin metal housing and textured Cyprus Teal leather.
Design: Initial Impressions
Just as with the N1, I could tell that the N2 was more of an upscale and deliberate design from the moment I looked at it. It’s thin, clean and curved in the right areas.
The leather is an interesting choice, and it’s one that I find pretty fascinating. How will it wear over time? Will it develop a patina or unique feel as oils and dirt slowly have their way it? I like the dark teal color and would be in no hurry to cover it up.
If I am being forthcoming, I would like to see a different color offered for the leather back of the phone. I mean why not go “bold” and give us something bright and eye-catching? The teal is more sophisticated and business-like. Give me something on the opposite end of the spectrum like Electric Mango.
The frame of the BOLD N2 seems to dance somewhere between a silver and seafoam with the “Cyprus Teal” feeling more of a dark marine. They complement each other nicely.
Speaking of which, included in the box are earphones, a USB Type-C charger, silicon protective case, sticker, and a USB-C adapter for the earphones.
The screen has a curved glass that tapers to the middle of the side edges of the phone; the volume and power button are located on the right side of the display. The SIM card slot is found below the screen next to the charging port.
The front-facing camera is actually two sensors, one being a 16-megapixel and the other being a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The pair sit side-by-side in the top left edge of the screen. It’s not often that you find two cameras on the front so that’s certainly an interesting choice.
Around back is the 64-megapixel main camera with three others aligned below; also present are a 2-megapixel depth sensor, 5-megapixel wide-angle (115-degree), and 2-megapixel macro lens.
Hardware and Specs
The BOLD N2 does a decent job of balancing mid-range hardware with an attractive finish that’s usually reserved for devices with a higher price tag. The term “premium” is thrown around quite often and usually means glass, metal, or heavier or unique materials.
As we often see with BLU handsets, the BOLD N2 looks like a more expensive phone. Here, though, it’s a little more obvious. It’s curvier and slim, and the leather goes a long way to class things up.
Internally, the N2 is right in line with the specifications that a moderately sophisticated user might want in a device. It’s nestled neatly between that “first time user” experience and the junior flagship space occupied by the Pixel 6a.
The Octa-Core MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor is bolstered by 8GB RAM with storage capacity coming in at 256GB. Performance-wise, I’ve had plenty of luck with this sort of package in other devices so I don’t imagine any long-term issues for the N2.
The 4200mAh battery, while pretty ample, surprised me as we’ve seen a growing number of phones closer to 5,000mAh. Still, it’s more than enough to get typical users through a day or more without worrying about a charge.
Speaking of which, the battery does support 30W quick charging but it does not allow for wireless charging.
I’m torn when it comes to curved displays on phones. I tend to appreciate it more when the handset has a smaller screen and kind of hate it when devices get closer to 7-inches. The BOLD N2 has a 6.6-inch (1080 x 2340 pixel) screen with Gorilla Glass 5 that feels good in hand. I’ve not had any issues with unregistered swipes or phantom touches in my first week with the handset.
Features
MediaTek Dimensity 810 ARM Cortex A76 Octa-Core 2.4GHz 6nm Processor
Antutu Benchmark Score 393,468
6.6” Full HD+ AMOLED 1080×2340 Infinity Dot Curved Display
Given that Android 13 is about to formally debut any day, I was a bit bummed to see the BOLD N2 running Android 11. I’m not sure how the decision was made but I hope that Android 12 arrives in short order. For one, it would help signal to the consumer that this is a more upscale brand.
To be fair, most of the people I know don’t know which version of software runs their phone. Furthermore, they don’t know the differences in various releases. And really, things have become more cosmetic over time.
I’m anxious to see how BOLD handles its major software updates and security patches. Most phone makers are sticking their neck out and making promises in this area. I’ve learned from BOLD that it pledges “at least two years of Android security updates.” Does that mean we’ll get Android 12 or 13? Time will tell.
As far as the user experience goes, it’s business as usual for BOLD (and BLU). That is to say the software is a largely stock Android build on the surface. There’s no extra layer or skin to make the look different or flashy.
My review unit came with a handful of extra apps loaded on it, some of which I suspect would have been installed sooner or later. Titles include Pandora, Solitaire, TikTok, Dancing Road, and Woodoku.
There is also an app loaded called NewsPop which is a news hub for a range of topics. It’s helpful and customizable, but it’s also removable. You’ll also find a widget on the home screen when swiping to the left panel. Additionally, you can swap the widget out for a smaller version.
The Games app is more of a portal to find additional games. It’s a nice way of discovering new titles if you’re a game player and it also serves as a folder of sorts to locate and launch games on your device. This, too, can be removed if it’s not something you’d use.
I appreciate some of the additional settings found in the phone under the Intelligent Assistance. If you want to make the phone a little bit more personalized, check out the options here.
Camera
To me, the benchmark for a phone’s camera experience is the way Google treats it with the Pixel phones. It’s lean, intuitive, and smart. And the devices take amazing shots without effort.
The BOLD N2 does a great job of capturing pictures with a wide array of options. Not only are there multiple cameras to work with, but there are also plenty of settings such as AI, HDR and filters.
If you like to play around with your camera, capturing fun and interesting pictures or videos, the N2 has a well-stocked toolbox. Look for panoramic, time lapse, slow motion, macro, pro, beauty, and other modes.
There’s an option to take pictures at 128-megapixel but I didn’t find it worth the effort. It slows down the capture rate a bit as pics are in excess of 40MB a piece and the overall result is not that distinguishable from other resolutions.
It doesn’t take long to master the camera and get a feel for its capabilities. There’s nothing happening here that feels like it’s in the way of the user. If you like to quickly open a camera and snap pics, you’ll enjoy what’s on offer.
Image quality has been as good as I expect, especially when viewing them on a mobile device. Without doing any post-processing or editing the pictures have been worthy of sharing on social media or sending to friends.
I did notice that some results seemed to be a little overexposed when viewing on a computer. And, depending on how you back your pictures up, you might want to keep the original quality in place. Some of my pictures were noisier than I’d like when backing up using “storage saving” under Google Photos.
The various shooting modes meet my needs with portrait and HDR my go-to for a lot of pictures. The depth of field and color have treated me well, including the front-facing camera. I don’t often take a selfie but the portrait mode does a remarkable job.
Performance
I’ve only had the BOLD N2 for about ten days so I cannot attest to long-term performance. With that said, I’ve enjoyed adding more and more apps and games to the phone, making it more “me”.
In the past I would find myself reluctant to throw my main SIM card into a review unit because I didn’t want to find out the hard way how underpowered of an experience it might be. Or to learn that the camera just didn’t want to do what I needed it to do. That’s not so much of a problem in 2022, especially when dealing with mid-range devices.
The BOLD N2 is everything I expect my handset to be. It’s snappy to unlock, easy to navigate and interact with, and doesn’t aggravate me. Both the facial recognition and in-display fingerprint reader have performed well thus far. In fact, it feels quicker than what I get from my Google Pixel 6.
Battery is more than reasonable and besides, I’m usually around a charger most of my day. To me, 30W charging is is still plenty fast. I have become more fond of wireless charging but I still prefer to plug in whenever possible. But, were wireless charging included in the N2, it would have been icing on an already tasty cake.
I’ve come to love 120Hz (and higher) refresh rates for some of the games I play. Likewise, scrolling of texts and videos are also just a bit better when you’ve got something like that at work.
There’s a setting in the aforementioned Intelligent Assistance that enables “high speed refresh” which I’ve learned is 90Hz (default setting is 60Hz). Thus far I’ve not seen a significant impact on the battery. And prior to enabling it the picture was still very sharp, vibrant, and accurate.
I was surprised to learn that the phone isn’t unlocked for all GSM carriers in the US. Unlike its predecessor and others from BLU, you’ll only find compatibility with T-Mobile, Metro, and other brands that use its towers. That’s a little deflating and unexpected, and it cuts off a sizable segment of buyers.
Conclusion
I was really glad to see that BOLD was not a casualty of the pandemic and that the brand was ready to introduce a new phone. I enjoyed the N1 and looked forward to putting the N2 to work for me.
Although I’ve only had the device for a little over a week, I’m in no hurry to put it down. I feel increasingly confident in its capabilities and don’t have any anxiety over missing a candid moment with the camera.
I’d like to feel more confident in the Android versions, especially as the software gives us more control over personalization and UI customization. Were this phone to stay with Android 11 it would look and feel outdated in the next year or two.
The processor and memory are more than sufficient for my needs and that should be the case for another year or more. I can’t imagine there being anything different that I’d do with my phone in 2024 that I am not doing today. And to that end, the N2 should be still handling the duties.
I like the price point for the N2 and have no reservations in recommending the phone for most of the people in my personal circle. If you can get yours for less, you’re doing very well.
Remember, though, the BOLD N2 is not compatible with AT&T, Cricket, or any of the other carriers that use AT&T’s network. Moreover, it’s not a CDMA phone so Verizon and Sprint networks are out, too.
You can purchase learn more about the BOLD brand at the phone maker’s website. To purchase the N2 you’ll end up at Amazon where it retails for $350. BOLD, like BLU, offers flash sales and launch deals of its devices. If you act fast, you can get the BOLD N2 for just $250.
I love to outfit my home with smart speakers and displays. From day one I’ve been adding various devices to my home with Google Assistant capabilities, slowly taking up all of my power outlets.
A few years ago I added the Lenovo Smart Clock to my bedroom and have loved having it on the nightstand next to my bed. It’s a great alarm clock with a number of customizable features, a decent speaker, and a handy personal assistant.
I’ve spent the last few weeks using the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa, putting the $40 unit through its proverbial paces. How does it fare? Is it worth the asking price or should you opt for a more capable Smart Clock 2 and spend a few extra bucks?
As much as I love the original Smart Clock, I can admit that I don’t always use all of its features. Even the display, really, doesn’t matter to me all that much. I just need it to tell me the time and maybe display a graphic or two with weather. Other than that, it’s a speaker and a clock.
I was interested in the Smart Clock Essential as it seemed to address some of that. It’s not a full color screen, it’s a bit smaller, and it’s a lower price. It’s a smart clock without a bunch of frills. Cool, right? Not entirely.
My home has very little in the way of Amazon Alexa devices. Some of them have the capability but I often have it disabled or outright ignore it. I’m a Google Assistant guy though and through. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who love the Amazon ecosystem and its myriad devices and tie-ins.
Knowing that the clock would not feature Google Assistant, I was curious as to whether I’d still find it usable or worth having in the bedroom. As it turns out, I can certainly do without.
I care little about the display not being full color, or that it more closely resembles a traditional alarm clock. In fact, I sort of embrace that concept as it marries the traditional alarm clock with today’s modern aesthetics. Even though it’s an LED screen the clock resembles the LCD stuff of yesterday.
Now, to be sure, this is not a touch screen so you may have to resist the urge to swipe or tap in the first few days. Fortunately, the screen does provide quite a bit of information on it and it feels intuitive in its layout.
Setup is interesting in that you cannot just plug it in and turn it on. You’ll have to walk through the Amazon Alexa app the first time and that process takes but a few minutes. You will basically connect your phone to it and teach the Smart Clock Essential the Wi-Fi settings, and assign it to a room.
Beyond that, if you want to adjust configurations, you will need to work with the Amazon Alexa app. Things you may, or may not, tweak can include time zone, sound settings, Wi-Fi, and Do Not Disturb. And if you want to adjust more basic things like brightness, toggle Fahrenheit and Celsius, or 12/24 hour clock, that’s also in the app; however, it’s in a slightly different spot. Some features and settings can be managed via Amazon Alexa voice controls but it’s not entirely obvious as to what those are up front.
This isn’t the time or place to argue Google Assistant versus Amazon Alexa so I won’t get into that. Suffice it to say, it does have a microphone and can take your commands. In my testing I found the mic to be accurate from a variety of angles and distances in the bedroom.
In a related note, there is a physical mute button on the back of the alarm clock. If you’re not planning to use Alexa here, or don’t like the idea of something that could potentially listen to you, simply toggle it and you’re good.
The buttons at the top of the device are pronounced, easy to identify, and responsive. You can quickly locate them while lying in bed and pressing without looking.
One area where the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa shines is the speaker. It’s louder than expected, and does a pretty decent job of providing a balanced audio. I don’t often play music but the clock’s speaker works great for those times when I’m putting laundry away, cleaning the house, etc.
I would have liked to see the inclusion of a USB port on the back of the unit. Given this uses one of the outlets on my night stand, it would be nice if I could plug a device in and piggyback the charge. It wouldn’t have to be fast charge or anything special, just functional.
I do appreciate that the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa comes with a nice long power cord. I was able to plug it into a lesser-used outlet, freeing up the one closer to my night stand.
I don’t like having to work with the app as much as I do, or did at the start. Setup was a bit more contrived than I would have wanted.
As for a clock that largely sits idly by, passively displaying the time and temperature, it does a great job. And when you pair a phone to it for Bluetooth music, it delivers the goods. But truth be told, there are other alarm clocks out there priced around half of this which offer most of what we get here. And that’s good enough for most people.
To ask for more from this speaker would contradict the “Essential” aspect of the product. It’s a good option if your house has a lot of Amazon Alexa tech in place but it’s a little too pricey for an otherwise standalone experience.
Lenovo has a few options in the Smart Clock 2 line that currently come in around $40-$60 and I would recommend spending the extra money.
Samsung on Wednesday announced the next generation of its foldable smartphones with the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Tapped with an August 26 launch, they’ll be offered at all major carriers in the US.
The pair of folding phones look similar to their predecessors but have upgrades and refinements to make them more powerful and generally stronger.
For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, the best in the chipmaker’s line. Moreover, they have slimmer hinges and are constructed from Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus glass with IPX8 water resistance.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
Lighter and more compact than the Galaxy Z Fold3, the new model upgrades the main camera to 50-megapixels with a 10-megapixel telephoto to complement. Also present is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold4 is powered by Android 12L and Samsung One UI which makes it more optimized for folding displays and larger devices. It allow for situations such as opening apps with two instances side-by-side; a taskbar can be found floating at the bottom of the main screen.
The 7.6-inch main display is brighter than its predecessor as well as 45% stronger. Moreover, the in-display camera is better hidden, too.
Other notable features include at least 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, wireless charging and power sharing, S Pen compatibility, and 5G support.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
The Galaxy Z Flip4, as compared to the previous model, has slightly slimmer bezels around the main screen, a larger battery at 3,700mAh, and faster (14%) charging.
Key features include a pair of 12-megapixel rear cameras, a 120Hz refresh rate for the display, wireless charging and battery sharing, and at least 128GB storage.
Flex Mode, which when the device is folded in half, provides a split-screen interface for additional apps, including video calling and third-party titles.
Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 will be available on August 26 with prices starting at $1,800 for the 256GB model. A 521GB and 1TB option will also be offered. Colors for this generation include Graygreen, Beige, Phantom Black, and Burgundy (a samsung.com exclusive).
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 will be priced $1,000 for the 8GB/128GB base model; 256GB and 512GB versions will also available. Colors here include Bora Purple, Pink Gold, Graphite, and Blue. A Bespoke Edition will sold on samsung.com where customers can purchase one with mix-matched frames and colors.
All major wireless providers are expected to carry the two phones and most, if not all, will have their own promotions around the devices.
Samsung’s deal sees the phone maker offering a free storage upgrade and free for those who preorder either handset. Additionally, the Z Fold 4 will come with a $100 credit for Samsung.
One of the newest avenues for Google’s empire has been television. While it’s already seen an odd progression that Google is notorious for, the latest reboot with Google TV is slowly making it to other devices. One such device is the MeCool KD3 TV Stick. We’ve spent a month with this streaming dongle and came away with mixed emotions.
Design
If you’ve owned a Fire TV Stick or a Roku Stick, this will look very familiar with the KD3. You will unopen the box to find a self-enclosed embedded unit with an HDMI being the lone output. The only other port is a micro-USB for powering the KD3.
Inside the box, you will get the included remote, power adapter and cable, HDMI extender, and an OTG storage splitter cable (more on that later). Most of these are everyday staples available to get started with any streamer.
Performance
The initial performance of the MeCool KD3 is more than acceptable considering the AmLogic Quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. I prematurely thought the 2GB of memory would be the main concern, but this was relieved pretty early on. While it’s not a racecar, most transitions move smoothly.
The issue that almost immediately arose is the lack of internal storage. With only 8GB, this runs out after most people download their favorite streaming apps. For me, after Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max were downloaded, I was unable to install Peacock.
While this is not new, the Google Chromecast suffers the same issue. This really makes these options a struggle. The lack of internal storage is not easily solved and will rear its ugly head almost in the first 24 hours for most users.
The solution MeCool has to settle on recommending is an OTG cable. For those that may not know, this is an Android-specific cable that allows both power and external storage through a single port. With the included one in the box, you can add a USB storage device to the MeCool KD3.
Once you add a USB device, you will get a menu option to set up for the MeCool KD3 as internal storage. Apps can be added to the external device during this process as well. Afterward, the USB acts as if it was internally a part of the KD3 extending the displayed storage.
I like that the OTG cable was included in my box, but if this isn’t an open confession to not having enough storage from the factory, I don’t know what is. I will lay most of the blame on Google for this issue, however. Companies like MeCool are simply following the certified specs set by the Google TV hardware team. Either way, it’s a blatant fall in both Google TV devices we’ve reviewed.
Software
The new refresh for TV streaming Google has created with Google TV vs Android TV is subtle but improved. You now get a much snappier and well-thought UI on the MeCool KD3 TV Stick. Google TV moves through transitions well and the recommendation software seems even better than when I used Google’s official hardware.
Other than that, both previous Google TV and Android TV users will find the interface comfortably familiar.
Price
This might be a bigger issue than the internal storage for MeCool. At almost $70, this is a full $20 more than the official Chromecast with Google TV. And that hardware can often be found for as low as $35 from time to time. MeCool will have to heavily discount the KD3 TV Stick to compete in my mind.
Conclusion
MeCool has a win in the fact that they are the latest partner to offer the updated Google TV software, but I’m not sure that just being on the market is good enough. With the same internal storage limitations, and a higher price than the Google Chromecast with Google TV it’s a hard sale.
If you do want to give the MeCool KD3 TV Stick a shot please hit the links below.
Computer advancements have been the most talked about “thing,” and it is rightly so if we focus on the revenue generated by computing that currently amounts to $291.10 billion U.S. dollars. This exponential and renowned market is expected to grow leaps and bounds at a CAGR of 1.41% from 2022 – 2026.
The unstoppable and rigorous technological advancement and demand gave birth to Turing Pi 2, which is a savior for IT professionals. A 4-node mini ITX cluster board, Turing Pi 2 comprises built-in Ethernet that ensures the user is not disconnected from the work and the world at any point in time.
It was not surprising to note that Turing Pi 2 created a disruption in the market on its launch on Kickstarter in June 2022. Never witnessed before, this modular, scalable, and energy-efficient product saw more than 7 thousand backers on Kickstarter’s crowdfunding platform servers. The server witnessed the continual demand and was unable to process incoming transactions for twenty minutes. Yes, the community of IT professionals and enthusiasts were ready beforehand to pre-order the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer. Thus, the wave of incoming transactions resulted in the shutting off of the platform altogether.
The Kickstarter platform saw the threshold of $64 thousand being met in less than three minutes. Surpassing its goals, $500k was achieved in sixty minutes, and $1 million in 12 hours. Now, the Kickstarter campaign is changing the entire game with the third stretch goal. The innovative Turing Pi RK1 compute modules are ready to meet the world by the end of 2022. The highly efficient 8-core ARM Rockchip RK3588 processors and 32GB of RAM integrated into every module provide an edge to Turing Pi 2.
Turing Pi 2 and Turing Pi RK1 will together deliver a new solution to fulfill the upcoming demands in effortlessly expandable ARM servers.
If this isn’t groundbreaking, we wonder what is?
Serving the trustworthy and new users of the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer, the product unites a range of computing modules into a single cluster server. Yes, the functions are parallel to a cloud server; however, it is excessively compact, noiseless, and energy efficient in contrast to its competitors in the marketplace. Focused on delivering a perfect balance between applicability, productivity, and convenience, Turing Pi 2 supports Raspberry Pi CM4, and Turing RK1 compute modules. These modules are designed for general computing and Nvidia Jetson boards for machine learning and GPU-powered applications.
Surpassing beyond expectations, the Turing Pi 2 provides HDMI, USB, Ethernet, SATA, and mPCIe connectivity to ease the process and augment work progress. The mini ITX form allows the usage of old-school cases with the provision of being charged by any type of desktop power supply. The onboard management controller is instilled with open-source firmware, allowing the setting-up and utilization of the cluster an effortless experience.
Computing, homeland, cloud apps self-hosting, education and prototyping, home and business automation, software deployment, media streaming, processing, machine learning, and software deployment are a variety of applications supported by Turing Pi 2.
Currently, the Turing Pi 2 cluster computer is sold for $219 and is the number one choice of users. Turing Pi 2 fanatics can pre-order the product now as the shipping commences in September 2022.
Growing with continual success, Turing Pi 2 is a winner in the industry. Delivering functionalities similar to cloud servers but with elite services, this cluster computer provides a perfect balance in all segments imperative to the users. Supporting Raspberry Pi CM4, Turing RK1 compute modules, Nvidia Jetson boards, and GPU-powered applications, Turing Pi 2 is changing the game with its incredible features and services.
Noise cancellation headphones are nothing new to the tech space. These devices have been around for quite some time now, and we’ve seen plenty of brands with plenty of options.
Phiaton recently released its 900 Legacy headphones, and I am here to tell you this is a brand you should consider.
Design
The design of the 900 Legacy headphones is self-proclaiming. The industrial look and feel are very traditional with over-the-head bands and padded foam earcups. The band can be expanded to find that perfect fit for your head size.
The cups are well padded and have a comfortable fit even for long periods of use. At the bottom of each cup, you’ll find some inputs and buttons. On the left earpiece, the Phiaton 900 Legacy has a USB-C charge port, power button, and ANC (active noise cancellation) button.
This left side also contains a capacitive panel on the outside of the earpiece. These controls can be used to impact the volume by swiping up and down. You can also skip back and forth on tracks by a swipe towards the front or back of the panel.
You can double-tap the capacitive area to pause or resume playback. However, the more intuitive and creative way to do this might be just taking the headphones off your head. The Phiaton 900 Legacy includes a proximity sensor that stops and resumes your audio simply by the movement.
The right side is a little more devoid of options. Here you will find a single 3.5mm jack for an auxiliary input cable. Otherwise, the right portion of the headphones doesn’t have much going on.
Performance
The audio quality of the 900 Legacy is surprisingly good. This headphone has a great balance of mid and highs. More subdued tracks like acoustics or podcasts really shine thru these earpieces. You get a very crisp playback.
Bass is good but sometimes does overpower the other elements. Many might find this a positive, it does hinder the experience in my mind a bit. It’s not enough to make you disappointed in the Phiaton 900 Legacy though. The audio is very good overall.
It’s also worth noting that the 900 Legacy supports multipoint Bluetooth connections. This allows you to seamlessly move between devices without having to manually disconnect the headphones each time.
If you want to move from your PC playback watching YouTube, to your phone simply choose the Phiaton in your phone settings. No need to disconnect the PC first.
Battery
Endurance is excellent on the Phiaton 900 Legacy. The company rates these headphones at 43 hours of playback with the noise cancellation turned on. We found in our testing to actually exceed this mark. I clocked the total hours and finally depleted the 900 Legacy at just over 44 total hours.
Noise Cancellation
The active noise isolation of the Phiaton 900 Legacy is superb. Even with the ANC turned completely off the padded cups do a decent job of blocking out basic environmental noise. You can rotate thru the different ANC profiles by pressing the button on the left ear.
These profiles include ON/OFF and ambient mode. With it fully turned on, the Phiatons make outside noises seem like a faint murmur. I was impressed by how this stacks up with the $250 headphones. Ambient mode falls between the OFF position and full ANC. With this mode active, you get some frequencies such as conversation levels allowed into the array but still block more harsh noises.
Conclusion
The Phiaton 900 Legacy wireless headphones can hold their own with any competitor on the market. For $250 these pack a great balance of robust musical playback and active noise cancellation features. Add in the over-the-top battery life and you’ve got a real winner.
If you are interested in the Phiaton 900 Legacy headphones, hit the link below to purchase one of your very own.
Shopping for a smartphone doesn’t have to be a difficult endeavor but we sometimes make it out to be one, don’t we?
Which phone is the right one for your needs? What if you’re working with a limited budget? What if you’re switching service providers and don’t know what’s available?
We field questions all the time friends, family members, readers and listeners. One of the most common topics is helping to determine which phone is the best one for them.
When dealing with the topic of which is the best phone at a particular carrier we often look at a number of things, including price, hardware specifications, version of software, and age.
Between these details we pare down the selection into a couple of options, typically spanning three levels: entry level, mid-range, and flagship. On occasion we’ll also find that a carrier offers a specialty or niches experience, too, such as folding, gaming, and productivity-based phones.
Below you’ll find our selection for the best phones available at Visible as of summer 2022. Note that these are not the top devices across the lineup; these are aimed at specific user types or budgets.
We invite you to subscribe to our podcast where we highlight a wide range of wireless service providers and their respective phone selection. Moreover, we can also help you to get a better understanding of the MVNOs and carriers available in the US.
Perfect for smaller budgets, first time users, and those with minimal needs
Samsung Galaxy A03s
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to get a phone with all-day battery and a big screen. This one’s a solid performer that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is.
Some of our favorite features are the HD+ display, side-mounted fingerprint reader, headphone jack, and external memory card slot. It doesn’t have 5G connectivity but that might not matter to the target user. $160.
Google Pixel 6
You simply can’t go wrong with an Android phone that comes from Google itself. It’s fast, secure, and super smart stuff, and is the best representation of what a handset’s capabilities.
Google’s Tensor chip is among the best performing processors on the market and brings about all sorts of great AI features. The multi-camera experience boasts Magic Eraser, Motion Blur, Real Tone, and one of the best Portrait Modes around.
There’s a lot of solid hardware under the hood, too, including a Titan security chip, plenty of memory and storage, and wireless charging. $600.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The tip of the spear for Samsung phones in 2022, this is the biggest and boldest version of the flagship line. You’ll get a massive screen that’s easy on the eyes and works with the included S Pen digital stylus, a tremendous 108-megapixel camera system, and tons of power.
The 5000mAh battery is generous, charges incredibly fast, and supports wireless power sharing. The One UI software built atop Android 12 is one of the best user experiences around. $1,200.
Looking for something else?
While these are our picks for the best Android phones available at Visible, we understand that budgets and needs are different for everyone.
Take a look around and you’ll see other options available. And don’t forget, you can likely bring your current phone or purchase one direct from a device manufacturer, too.
AM Bank Chairman Marwan Kheireddine acknowledges Lebanon is currently facing challenges. These include addressing how some activists are calling for bankrupting local banks because they are angry that their deposits have been blocked. However, the financial expert doesn’t agree with this idea.
“In Lebanon, like in other developed countries, for example, the United States, there is a deposit guarantee institution that is owned by the state that protects depositors up to 75 million Lebanese pounds, which today is about $3,000,” Marwan Kheireddine says, “So essentially, if you bankrupt the banks, like a lot of activists are saying, out of anger, you actually end up hurting depositors, in that those banks, under liquidation, will never be able to repay the deposits back their fair value.”
In turn, Marwan Kheireddine says each depositor will be guaranteed by the National Deposit Insurance Corporation of Lebanon, an amount that is equal to, or slightly above, $3,000 — and that is a paltry amount compared to the $100 billion currently on deposit with all Lebanese banks, which are owned by all the Lebanese. “So I am totally against bankrupting banks, mainly to ensure that depositors, in the long run, end up getting more of their deposits as opposed to less,” he says.
Food Insecurity Is Also Playing a Role in Lebanon’s Latest Struggles
Al Jazeera reported last year that nearly 80% of Lebanon is living below the poverty line and many citizens have been surviving on bread and tea. The Arabic media outlet also reports that locals are hoping to fix the broken infrastructure and revive industries again in Lebanon.
A UNICEF survey states that four in 10 Lebanese youth used funds for education to instead purchase basic food, medicine, and other daily necessities — and three in 10 stopped their education altogether.
Ettie Higgins, a UNICEF Lebanon representative also says in a press release that Lebanon’s youth are especially deprived of support. “Investments are needed to ensure that financial concerns do not prevent them from getting the education and skills they need to eventually find decent work and contribute to the stability and prosperity of Lebanon,” she adds.
As the Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to brew, Marwan Kheireddine says its impact on Lebanon, as well as many other countries, is undeniable.
“It’s had a tremendous negative impact on the Lebanese economy, mostly because we import about 85% of our consumable goods, and we’ve been hit by two major world crises, one after the other — COVID being No. 1 — which have impacted us,” Marwan Kheireddine says. “The Ukrainian crisis has increased the price of foodstuffs significantly. Energy prices have increased. Food prices have increased and the fact that there are worldwide shortages has made more people go after a limited number of goods, so it has increased their price. Add all of that to the fact that Lebanon consumes about 85% imported products and it gives you a bad scenario.”
Marwan Kheireddine Explains How Cryptocurrency Could Affect Lebanon’s Future
Marwan Kheireddine says he also sees a path for cryptocurrency to take in Lebanon’s move to improve its economic situation — but one major thing would have to happen. “There’s obviously a role that crypto can play in Lebanon, and the Lebanese have been known to be leaders when it comes to embracing new technological advances and new payment methodologies,” Marwan Kheireddine explains. “However, in my mind, there’s little chance for crypto to take a significant control in Lebanon’s economy, unless Lebanon’s economy opens back up to the world.”
Marwan Kheireddine says Lebanon’s economy is closed off and its government is in default. “We are unable to move funds freely through the financial system, so in my mind, although a lot of the Lebanese deal with crypto, they do not deal with crypto in any impactful form on the local economy,” Marwan Kheireddine says. “It’s essentially dealing in crypto outside the economy. Someone might have a portfolio, they might be in for the profit or they might be in to use a crypto as a payment methodology, but it is not directed at the Lebanese economy or the local economy. Mostly the Lebanese and Lebanon has a huge expat community. There are more Lebanese outside Lebanon than in Lebanon. But in my opinion, to see crypto have an impact on the local economy, the local economy needs to open up to the world first.”
Anker’s sub-brand Nebula has been producing quality projectors for several years now. We are big fans of the Capsule lineup so we were excited when it came time to check out the top tier of the projection line.
Anker was kind enough to allow us several weeks with the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4k; let’s dive into if it’s worth the investment.
Design
The Nebula Cosmos Laser is a tank. Plain and simple. It’s portable in that it has a handle but this thing is not something you want to tote around for long. The overall package is the size of a midsize cooler to me. It’s exceptionally well built, and can be moved around but is not self-powered.
The 2,400 Lumens lens is by far the business end of the unit. The laser-powered lighting offers a much better, and longer-lasting option, than traditional lamp projectors. There’s a cool red ring that really makes the lens housing pop, too. Around this is a more squared array of sensors used to help judge picture depth and auto-focus.
This autofocus keystone is digital and auto zooms the image to the correct size for depth and tries to also align the image to a level position. The sensors also account that you may not want a laser pointed directly into your eye. Anker has built in a motion sensor that dims the beams when the Cosmos Laser 4K detects a person.
Each side is flanked by speaker grills. This allows the 10-Watt dual speakers and two 5-Watt tweeters to fill most environments without the need for another audio connection. If you do want to add another input, both 3.5mm auxiliary and Bluetooth connections are available on the Cosmos.
Connections
A projector does nothing on its own without the correct inputs. On the rear of the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K you will find a power input, full HDMI, USB-A, and the aforementioned 3.5mm jack. These are essential for any alternative inputs not included in the box outside of the power port.
However, Anker has included its own solution to your media solutions. Above this other input array is a trap door that opens to a two-cabled system. Matching this micro-USB and mini-HDMI to the Anker branded dongle in the box gives you full access to Android TV from Google. It’s an interesting take on not having this component soldered into the Nebula itself.
Performance
Android TV runs great on the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K. Much like any other dongle, the included one and its remote function as expected. You have full access to the Google Play Store for all your apps. The dongle comes preinstalled with a few like Netflix and Hulu straight out of the packaging.
I’ve used the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K in my den, bonus room, and outdoors. My bonus room is one of the dimmest locations in my home and was great there with the lights turned out. Even in my living room with a ton of natural lights, was very good.
I was even more impressed with the outdoor performance. In the past, other lamp projectors have struggled with autofocus due to the mixed lighting even after dark. Even though you may have no daylight, there’s a ton of “noise” from other homes, street lights, and cars in my neighborhood. The Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K did well above average.
The sound is also well done here. The Nebula Cosmos is pretty solid indoors, especially in a small to medium-sized room. My Nebula Capsule always struggled out on my patio, but the Cosmos Laser 4K was much better in filling that open space with the internal speakers.
Conclusion
Anker has taken the projector game to the next level with the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K. Even at $2,200, I think the Cosmos competes with other, more expensive options on the market. You get a total package projector in a portable design.
