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Do you really need a gaming phone?

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Smartphones are great for so many things. They help us stay abreast of the latest events, keep in touch with our loved ones, and even manage our finances. They’re also great for entertainment, with music and video streaming services giving us access to almost every piece of content ever made. More people are using their devices for gaming too, taking advantage of the portability to enjoy everything from AAA (major company) titles to quick games we enjoy on the go. Casino games are also hugely popular on mobile devices, especially because sites like oddschecker have made it easy to find all of the latest bonuses for players to take advantage of. 

As more gamers started playing games on their smartphones, the companies that have spend decades manufacturing PC hardware for gamers have moved into the mobile market. 

In doing so, they’ve brought many of the same concepts, including the desire for power, quality graphics, enhanced cooling, and ergonomics. If you look at a dedicated gaming phone, you’ll also notice most of the design choices have been copied and pasted right from the giant towers hardware PC players buy. 

But is any of this necessary or is it just a marketing trick by companies looking to keep selling expensive hardware?

Can Gaming Phones Play More Games?

A gaming PC justifies its heft price tag because it has the hardware to run all of the games you could want to throw at it. It’ll run far more titles than your grandma’s five-year-old laptop and it’ll run everything else better.

The reason for this is that AAA computer games are incredibly resource-intensive. To get the photo-quality graphics, realistic physics, and challenging AI-controlled opponents, you need a lot of hardware to run all the complex calculations in real time. 

This isn’t necessarily true for smartphones though. A budget laptop is going to struggle to play many of the games available in the Steam marketplace simply because it doesn’t have the graphics processing power required. However, almost all smartphones sold in advanced economies today will be capable of handling every title in the Google Play Store. 

The same is true when you compare a modern gaming phone to devices from a few years ago. A five-year-old Android device like the OnePlus 5 would still handle the latest mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile, but a gaming PC of a similar age would quickly get out of breath when trying to handle Call of Duty: Vanguard. 

Can Gaming Phones Run Games Better?

Gaming phones may not have much of an advantage in terms of the number of games that they can play, but do they at least offer benefits in the way of quality? 

There are some quantifiable metrics like load times, framerates, and whether you can use higher levels of graphics settings. In these cases, gaming phones may offer a benefit but it depends on what device you’re comparing it to and which title(s) you choose to try. 

Any such benefits are going to be marginal. This is because the CPU and GPU contained in gaming phones are very similar to those found in flagships. For example, the Asus ROG Phone 5, which was released in March 2021, uses a Snapdragon 888 5G chipset and comes with 8, 12, and 16 GB options for memory. 

In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra which was released two months earlier used the same 888 chipset and had 12 GB of memory. They both also used the Adreno 660 GPU, giving them equal performance here too. 

For this reason, any perceived benefits of loading times and reduced lag may be more down to the placebo effect than anything measurable, but in that case, it may not matter if the player is happy. 

Do Gaming Phones Make Graphics Look Better?

So we’ve established that gaming phones will typically have the same graphics processors as similarly-priced flagship smartphones, but that isn’t the only factor that can influence how good (or bad) the images shown to the user look. 

Part of the job is taken up by the display itself. The bigger the resolution, the more detail the player will get to see; the faster the refresh rate, the smoother the movements will appear; and the higher the brightness, the more vivid the graphics will appear. 

We can, again, drill down into the numbers here to see if there will be any difference in the hardware’s capability. In this case, the ROG Phone actually performs worse than the Galaxy S21 Ultra. 

Asus’ gaming phone boasts an AMOLED HDR10+ display with a resolution of 1080 x 2448 pixels and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. In comparison, Samsung’s flagship has an AMOLED HDR10+ screen with a larger resolution of 1440 x 3200 and a 1,500 nits. 

The Galaxy’s screen is also physically larger, has a higher pixel density, and fills more of the phone’s body. The only place where it falls down in comparison is the refresh rate which is 120 Hz instead of 144. But even that isn’t a huge difference and is one that most users wouldn’t notice. 

Do Gaming Phones Make Playing Easier?

This is where gaming phones may come into their own. For many years, gaming hardware manufacturers have been investing a lot of money into designing products that are ergonomic. 

This makes them more comfortable to use, especially during long gaming sessions, but it also helps to make gaming easier. Hotkeys let you perform actions quicker by moving the buttons to within reach or shrinking the number of presses required. 

The Asus ROG Phone range really excels in this area. It has the charging port placed on the side and not the bottom, making it easier to hold the phone while it’s plugged in. It also features several hotkey buttons that can be programmed for each game, speeding up your reaction time when it really counts. 

So if you play enough games for this to make a difference to you, then you may find that buying one of these gaming phones could be worthwhile. However, if you’re only buying for performance, you may be better just choosing a new flagship.

GoCube 2×2 is a smaller, lighter, and unique approach to Rubik’s Cube

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If you’re a fan of puzzles and time wasters, you’ve probably spent time with a Rubik’s Cube somewhere along the way. And why not? It’s one of the most popular products of its kind, having sold more than 350 million units since its launch nearly fifty years ago.

We previously reviewed a connected, or smart, version of the gaming cube and found it to be a fun approach to the casual puzzler. Not only is it a great way to learn the various strategies behind the cube, it’s also an interesting way to improve your skills.

More recently we have a chance to look at a new approach to the GoCube in the form of the GoCube 2×2. Priced just $50, it brings about a unique twist to the cube.

Instead of having three rows and columns to contend with, this one is two rows and columns. And while you might think it should be considerably easier to solve, it’s still quite challenging.

Much like the original GoCube, this cube pairs with a mobile app to help walk you through solving the puzzle. Using internal sensors, it can track and measure what’s going on. Indeed, the app shows a virtual version of the real-world counterpart and can help guide you through the twists and turns needed to complete the cube.

It’s not just about cheating your way to solving things; the app can also track how efficient you are at solving things. Are you getting better at the GoCube 2×2? Does it take you more moves to complete it or might you be able to knock it out in quicker time?

Similar to the standard GoCube, this one is easy to operate with smooth and quiet movements. That is to say it doesn’t feel at all like a “knock-off” approach to the original Rubik’s Cube.

GoCube 2x2x gamifies things, too. When not solving it and playing in the traditional manner, you can play Cubeysizer which converts your twists and turns into music. Simon is the classic game of follow the leader as you try to copy the moves made in the app.

Feeling confident in how well you can knock out the GoCube? Why not see how you stack against the global leaderboard?

If you’re looking for something new and fun to take with you on road trips, or to fiddle with at the desk, you should give the GoCube 2×2 a look. It’s more deceiving than it looks and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it.

You can learn more about the GoCube 2×2 at the manufacturer’s website where it is available to purchase for about $50. It can also be found at Amazon where it’s currently listed at the same price.

POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT arrive as overstuffed mid-range phones

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Xiaomi sub-brand POCO is back at it with a pair of new budget-conscious phones for a global audience. The POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT are priced like mid-range handsets but feature specifications typically found in more expensive devices.

POCO F4

The POCO F4 closely resembles the Xiaomi Redmi K40S and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor with 6GB LPDDR RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage. A 8GB/256GB variant is also being made available.

The phone comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display at 2400 x 1800 pixel resolution and 120HZ refresh rate. In terms of battery, it boasts a 4,500mAh power source with 67W fast charging.

The rear houses a 64-megapixel main camera with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 2-megapixel macro camera. Of note, the primary shooter has optical image stabilization (OIS), a feature not common for handsets at this price. Around front is a 20-megapixel selfie camera.

The POCO F4, which runs Android 12 with MIUI 13, has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and comes with support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and NFC.

POCO X4 GT

A little bit more well-rounded of a device, the POCO X4 GT has a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display at 2460 x 1080 resolution with up to 144Hz refresh rate.

Under the hood are a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage. Also offered is a version with 256GB storage capacity. The battery comes in at 5,080mAh and also supports the 67W fast charging.

The camera situation is similar with a 64-megapixel primary unit complemented by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 2-megapixel macro shooter. The front also has the 20-megapixel camera.

Other specifications include Android 12-based MIUI 13, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Availability

The new POCO phones will be offered in parts of Asia, Europe, and the UK starting June 27. The Poco F4 (6GB RAM/128GB) starts at €399; the 8GB RAM/256GB variant will cost €449. This shakes out to about $420 USD and $525 USD, respectively. The Poco X4 GT (8GB RAM/128GB) will cost €379 (~$400USD), with the 8GB RAM/256GB option to cost €429 (~$450 USD).

Stellar Converter for OST review, pricing and features

EZVIZ DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is a solid low-cost option

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The video doorbell space has been a fun one to watch over the last few years. Whereas it was largely Ring’s game to lose a few years back, the market has quickly expanded to include the likes of Google (Nest), Arlo, Toucan, Simplisafe, Wyze, and others.

EZVIZ, no stranger to home security and cameras, has a Wi-Fi Video Doorbell that provides a fairly robust suite of features with a surprisingly low price tag. If you’re on the hunt for a smart doorbell or one with video capabilities, consider checking out the EZVIZ DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell.

The DB1C offers dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity which means it will connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This makes setup incredibly easy.

With a microSD card slot, the EZVIZ DB1C can capture and store video files locally, making it so that you don’t have to pay for a cloud storage account. However, if you’d like, there are options available for that, too.

  • $5.99/month or $59.99/year – Access seven days of video history per camera
  • $10.99/month or $109.99/year – Access 30 days of video history per camera

Should you have more than one EZVIZ unit, you have a few similar options for up to four cameras.

  • $8.99/month or $89.99/year – Access seven days of video history for up to four cameras
  • $15.99/month or $159.99/year – Access seven days of video history for up to four cameras

The camera has a 1,536 x 1,536 pixel resolution and can capture Ultra HD video at 15 frames per second (fps). The DB1C uses three infrared LEDs for night vision up to 16 feet of black and white video and it has a 170-degree vertical field of view.

The DB1C supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistant commands and can integrate with a variety of third-party devices using IFTTT.

The mobile app features a dashboard for controls and settings, including watching a live stream with pause and mute. Each time something is captured it is stored with a thumbnail for quick identification.

Tucked inside the app are options for status and IR lights, notifications and alarms, Wi-Fi settings, cloud storage, motion detection, schedules, and more.

You may want to play around with human shape detection and image change detection; sometimes we would find it captured rain or larger bugs and give us false positive. Then again, I’d rather catch stuff that isn’t critical instead of missing things.

In my testing I found the EZVIZ DB1C to capture bright video with high-resolution images during the day. Likewise, at night it recorded crisp clips in black and white. Notifications came immediately, giving me real-time two-way audio with those at my front door.

You can learn more about the EZVIZ DB1C at the manufacturer’s website; it’s available to purchase through Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers for about $110.

Logitech MX Mechanical Mini Keyboard Review

Recently, Logitech announced their new MX Mechanical keyboards with the focus of blending a bit of gaming keyboard experience with maximized workflow.

Both the MX Mechanical and the Mechanical Mini are available with three different switch options: Tactile Quiet (Brown), Linear (Red), and Clicky (Blue). This mechanical keyboard duo has plenty of features that I find essential to a premium experience with your computer no matter who you are.

Featuring a wireless connection with up to three devices at one time,  smart backlighting, low-profile keycaps, and unique customizability, the MX Mechanical keyboards are totally solid wireless options. You can purchase the full-size option at Logitech’s website for $169.99, or if you prefer to free up some desk space, the Mechanical Mini is also available for $149.99.

via Logitech

First Impression

With limited desk space, I opted for the MX Mechanical Mini. When it first arrived I immediately took note of the weight. For such a small ‘75%’ keyboard, it’s quite hefty; this is common with mechanical keyboards.

You definitely won’t have to worry about the keyboard sliding around on your desk while using it thanks to this weight and the friction pads on the underside. It feels really sturdy and robust like many mechanical keyboards do.

Given the MX Mechanical Mini is a pretty small keyboard it’s one of my favorite setups so far. It has all of the keys that I need and Logitech has done an awesome job of keeping the profile compact. It doesn’t take up any needed space on my desk, and thanks to the low-profile keys with low travel, it’s super comfortable. You can lay the board down flat, or raise the legs underneath for a 19mm pitch.

In the realm of aesthetics, I think it’s a pretty simple but sleek design. It features two-tone keycaps in varying gray shades as well as customizable backlighting that can sense the movement of your hands to fade in and out when necessary.

The MX Mechanical Mini will, without a doubt, improve the looks of your setup if you prefer the simple, clean design. And not to mention, while wireless mechanical keyboards are a pretty rare consideration, getting rid of that cable was definitely something that I appreciate.

Switches and Customization

From the factory, Logitech offers both the MX Mechanical and the Mini with three different switches. If you’re not familiar with the different switches of mechanical keyboards, here’s a quick rundown of those available.

First is the brown switch which is a ‘tactile quiet’ option that Logitech advertises as their most silent keyboard switch ever. It provides a tactile feedback bump and reactive key reset to highlight that mechanical feel while keeping noise down.

Next up is the blue switch. If you want that ultra tactile and clicky experience, this is the choice for you. This switch is very common with mechanical keyboards so if you’ve had one in the past then the blue switch is likely to give you that familiar experience at the cost of some slight annoyance to those nearby.

Finally, the red switch provides you with minimal spring resistance and shortened travel so that typing will feel more fluid and less reactive with a more linear feedback pattern. It won’t be as quiet as the brown switch but definitely reduces the noise from the blue switch. I think it’s a great middle ground option between brown and blue.

In addition to customization of the mechanical side of things, the MX Mechanical keyboards are compatible with Logi Options+ software so that you can refine the backlighting style or set up things like connected devices and the function of your F-keys. You can also check the battery level of the keyboard, and upon setup of the software you will be given a guided tour of your connected device. 

via Logitech

Functionality and Flow

I think one of the key things that Logitech is focusing on with these new products is the workflow aspect of the device. If you have a setup that involves multiple devices like a PC and a laptop or tablet, then I am fairly certain your new favorite feature of your keyboard will be its ‘Easy-Switch’ keys.

The MX Mechanical keyboards come with three keys that allow you to instantaneously switch between up to three paired devices at one time. I am able to use the Logi Bolt USB receiver to connect with my PC while connecting to my laptop through regular bluetooth.

With the press of two keys, the Easy-Switch feature gives you quick access to any three connected devices to maximize efficiency. Why take your hands off the keyboard to switch over to your laptop if you can make use of that extra screen without moving an inch? 

The MX Mechanical Mini also has a couple of additional functions on the F-keys in the top row for added flexibility and overall functionality of the keyboard. From the top row of the board you can change the backlighting brightness, use text-to-speech, quickly access emojis, take a screenshot, mute/unmute your microphone, perform a search, and control media playback.

In my experience, the Mini keyboard still contains every feature that I commonly use and I don’t have to sacrifice desk space for this functionality. 

Overall

In total honesty, the MX Mechanical Mini is one of my favorite keyboards yet. Even the mini keyboard has super great functionality while retaining a compact size and low-profile design. The aesthetics are simple and clean, and the smart backlighting is a cool and unique feature that I’ve never seen before.

It’s truly impressive that Logitech manages to pack all of this into a 75% mechanical keyboard. The brown switches are a solid option but if I could do it again I may decide to give the red switches a go.

I do find it to be a little bit on the expensive end, but $150 is by no means a ridiculous price for the level of quality, aesthetics, customizability, and practicality that you’ll get from the MX Mechanical keyboards. 

Why every organization should invest in a lead nurturing service

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Developing and implementing a well-organized lead nurturing strategy can significantly improve your marketing efforts and take your campaigns to the next level, resulting in improved revenue, customer retention, brand loyalty, and more.

Lead nurturing is a technique that allows enterprises to establish and maintain meaningful connections with their target audiences at every stage of the sales funnel. This method refers to putting all your efforts into customer-centric communication and focusing on their needs.

The goal is to discover what your customers want and present valuable information in a personalized way to reinforce customer connections, raise brand recognition and establish the highest level of trust between your brand and your audience.

Lead nurturing strategies allow businesses to increase customer engagement through building meaningful relationships with both potential prospects and loyal customers. Let’s talk about how lead nurturing can benefit a business organization today.

Increased customer engagement

Many companies hope to improve their marketing efforts by sending generic promotional sales emails. However, those emails won’t appeal to everyone in their target audience, let alone result in improved customer engagement.

The best way to engage with your customers is to provide them with real brand value and relevant information that matches their interests.

Lead nurturing allows you to find out what makes your customers tick and then provide it to them by creating personalized content according to their specific preferences. That’s how effective lead nurturing campaigns help businesses increase customer engagement without breaking a budget.

Improved sales

Since every marketing campaign aims to improve sales, lead nurturing can help to accomplish that goal by preparing your target audience for sales. Instead of burying your audience under the mountain of generic marketing messages, you should allow them to make their own decisions.

Provide them with relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information about your products/services to get them on board with your marketing efforts and develop a meaningful, trustworthy connection.

Lead nurturing allows you to send a clear brand message that will resonate with your target audience and provide them with real brand value.

Addressing the pain points of your customers

Lead nurturing is essentially about understanding how to enhance your sales and marketing process. While automating as many aspects of your marketing operations as possible is one way to do it, it all comes down to gathering data on your customers’ preferences.

That’s why marketing automation lead nurturing is among the highest priorities for modern-day business organizations. The key to building brand loyalty is to gradually educate your customers about your business and the solutions you offer.

The more you communicate with your audience, the more you discover what type of information they’re looking for. Those insights can help you provide your customers with products and services that address their real-life problems and specific pain points.

Increased brand awareness

Every lead nurturing effort you make brings your brand closer to your consumers and helps you increase brand awareness. However, you must prioritize your consumers’ needs to reach that point and turn every customer journey into a customer-centric experience. That’s what separates your brand from the competition.

Lead nurturing campaign types

Now that you have some basic understanding of how useful lead nurturing is, let’s discuss the types of campaigns that can help you strategize content according to your consumers’ preferences.

Educational campaign

Educational campaigns are the most effective method of converting potential prospects to paying customers. Since prospects aren’t ready to buy yet, you can garner their interest by providing information about how your solutions can help them improve their everyday lives.

Engagement campaign

The focus of an engagement campaign is on driving more customer interactions before and after they complete a specific action, such as buying a product or registering for a newsletter.

Product and service campaign

The goal of product and service campaigns is to educate your consumers on the specific features of your products and services and motivate them to learn more about your brand and business.

Re-engagement campaign

There are many situations where even the most loyal customers fall silent at some point.

Re-engagement campaigns serve the purpose of reconnecting your brand with those customers.

Promotional campaign

Promotional campaigns are about offering special prices, bonus offers, and discounts to the most loyal customers to drive quick sales.

Welcome campaign

Welcoming new prospects is the best way to show your brand in the best light and guide new customers through the onboarding process.

Welcome campaigns include sending emails with clear call-to-action tasks to help newcomers navigate your products or services and ensure they become loyal customers.

Conclusion

Lead nurturing is critical to providing your target audience with exceptional, unified, cross-channel experiences. Since modern-day customers expect the highest level of personalization in your marketing approach, the last thing they want is to see their email and social media inboxes cluttered with promotional emails and annoying generic sales messages.

Coordination and personalization are vital steps to your marketing and sales outreach. If you want to beat your competitors and attract more customers, you need to focus on providing your audience with real brand value and truly relevant information that matches their needs and preferences.

Master & Dynamic MW75 Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones review

Master & Dynamic makes some of the best looking and best built headphones in the game. And when it comes to sound quality, its products rival most comers. But, as one might expect, headphones such as these do not come cheap.

The MW75 Active Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones, announced today, are the latest in the luxury brand’s portfolio.

Available in a variety of color options (Gunmetal/Black Leather, Silver Metal/Grey/Leather, Silver Metal/Brown Leather, and Black Metal/Black Leather), the MW75 have all the hallmarks of the Master & Dynamic brand. They look quite similar to other models in the lineup yet a closer look reveals there are some interesting changes.

via Master & Dynamic

I’ve had a pair of these around the office for a few weeks and have been sitting anxiously on my thoughts. But now that the embargo has lifted, I’m ready to share my review of the Master & Dynamic MW75 Wireless Headphones.

Design

First and foremost, these are a gorgeous pair of headphones that come with a protective hard shell carrying case. When not being used I’m torn between tucking them away to keep safe and putting them on full display.

The pair that I received are the Gunmetal and Black Leather option. They’re minimal and modern looking yet still call to mind the over-ear cans that my dad might have used in the 8-track era.

The ear cups are incredibly light but feel durable and ready for the long haul. Soft leather, lambskin, and memory foam ensure that the MW75 embrace the ears and head in a comforting and comfortable way. I’ve spent hours with these at a time and the idea of ear fatigue or pressure at the temples doesn’t even enter into thought.

The headphones come with a USB-C-to-3.5mm audio cable and a USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable. Additionally, you get a USB-A charging cable adapter, a 1/4-inch headphone jack adapter, and an airplane adapter in the box. All of these extras have a home inside of the carrying case so they’re not flopping about loosely.

Features

The headphones have three active noise-canceling (ANC) modes to work with each working better for different levels of ambient world noise. Similarly, there is are two options for ambient listening depending on how aware you want to be of the people and sounds around.

It takes but a few moments of playing around in the M&D Connect mobile app to configure settings to your likeness. It’s also here where you can toggle a couple of equalizer settings. Referred to as Sound Profiles, the changes are immediate and very noticeable.

The right earcup houses a multifunction button for playback, track navigation, call management, and your voice assistant. You’ll get different actions based on how many times you press the button or hold it down.

The left earcup has the Power/Pairing button and an ANC button but it only toggles between ANC and Ambient Listening modes. The third option, which is to turn off both, is done via the app.

The MW75 pack an internal battery that’s good enough to last upwards of 32 hours per charge, or around 28 with ANC enabled. While I never drained these completely from a full charge, I feel confident in saying that those claims should be accurate.

One of the features I appreciate is the on-head detection which can automatically pause music when you take them off your head. There’s no need to fumble to find a button or reach for your phone; simply take them off and you’re good. On a related note, the app also lets you configure how much time passes before shutting off to preserve battery.

Charging is done via USB-C (right earcup) and takes very little time. According to Master & Dynamic just 15 minutes of charging can add another six hours of playback.

Sound

Having reviewed a number of Master & Dynamic headphones over the years, I had an idea as to what was in store for me with the MW75. Suffice it to say, these do not disappoint in the area of audio quality.

Thanks to 40mm beryllium dynamic drivers and support for AAC, AptX Adaptive, and SBC Bluetooth codecs, there’s a lot of horsepower and tech to deliver excellent sound.

Whether listening to bass-heavy music, podcasts, classical, or pop music, these have a wide soundscape and a warm sound. Typically I’ll throw on Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ for a full listen to get a sense of the clarity and detail in a pair of headphones or earbuds. There’s an awful lot of layering and nuance in that album and the MW75 headphones bear that out.

I appreciate being able to adjust the equalizer or sound profile now with Master & Dynamic products. It’s not as if they didn’t use to sound great with the catch-all setting the variations can really highlight and punctuate music. I’ve yet to run into a dull or flat sound, even with spoken word stuff like audiobooks. There’s always a bit of additional presence that, if that makes sense.

Progressive house, trance, synthwave, and other forms of electronic dance music really shine with a punchiness that never treads too heavily. On the opposite end, piano and strings like that of Max Richter or Nils Frahm make you feel like you’re front and center for a personal concert.

Understanding that the M&D Connect app isn’t all that old, there is still room to grow. A fully customizable equalizer would be a welcome addition for some users who really like to fine tune things.

I did find that the ANC feature was less than perfect, and it sometimes created a bit of a “hiss” or white noise. Even in a quiet office with only a YouTube video playing in the back, I found that sound was able to bleed in. It’s not terrible and some people may not notice it, but when dealing with something as pricy as these, you cannot overlook it in a review.

Conclusion

I often refer to my M&D headphones as “dad” headphones. That is to say, these are the type of product that don’t get loaned around the house and always end up back where they belong when not in use. They’re treated like gold. That would definitely be the case here as they’ve got the looks and sound that few in my household might appreciate.

Let’s be honest here, the $600 price tag is going to be rather divisive. Some will look at that and immediately turn away, opting for something a fraction of the cost. I can’t fault someone for having that line of thought. In fact, I used to have it myself.

Having multiple years passed now since I’ve reviewed select Master & Dynamic headphones, I can personally attest that they are built for long-term usability. Take care of them and they’ll be there for you longer than most cell phones. Plus, they never degrade in quality.

I truly love the look and feel of these headphones. The sound quality is among the best I’ve had the experience of testing. These are premium in every sense of the word. But this time around it also includes the price.

Overall I find these to be more expensive than I expected and, as such, harder to justify to prospective buyers. Were they $500 it would be an easy recommendation.

There’s a lot to love here but there’s a price to pay. If you’re a brand loyalist and looking to keep pace, I might suggest waiting for a holiday promotion to save a few bucks. Master & Dynamic often discounts its products around holidays and school season so if you can wait until late summer, you might be doing very well for the MD75s.

Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse review

With the recent launch of the MX Master 3S mouse, Logitech expands its Master Series lineup of keyboards and computer mice.

The 3S is a wireless mouse with a focus on blending precision, workflow, and a premium feel underneath an ergonomic shape. It features ultra-quiet clicks, an 8K DPI precision optical sensor, the MagSpeed Electromagnetic scroll-wheel, two programmable thumb buttons, and a thumb wheel for horizontal scrolling.

All of this will provide you with a complete sense of functionality and it undeniably adds a certain elegance to the flow of your workspace at the office or at home.

With a Bluetooth connection or the Logi Bolt Receiver you can be connected wirelessly to up to three devices at one time. One thing I didn’t expect to see was a port at the top of the mouse for a USB-C cable. Logitech states that their USB-C quick charging can provide up to three hours of use with one minute of charging, and 70 days of work on a full charge.

The Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse is available in graphite, black, and pale gray for $99 on the Logitech website.

First Impression

At first glance, the MX Master 3S is a really good-looking mouse. A wireless mouse, it cleans up your workspace and gives you more freedom. The actual shell of the mouse is plastic, but your hand will rest on a unique feeling smooth silicon surface that is complemented well by the aluminum accents on the rest of the mouse’s design.

Built from rather nice materials, the 3S is a fairly hefty mouse, weighing in at 141 grams. It is by no means a gaming mouse, so weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have depending on user preference.

Personally, I really love the feel of this mouse in general. The silicon surface is smooth, comfortable, and grippy. The electromagnetic scroll wheel feels awesome and the buttons are definitely ultra-quiet, as advertised. Getting rid of that wire is definitely worth an upgrade if you appreciate some cleanliness in your office space.

via Logitech

Workflow Upgrades

One of the most important features on this mouse is of course the wireless capability. If you don’t already have a wireless mouse, the 3S will be a great addition to your arsenal. Cutting that cord allows you to set up your desk in ways that weren’t previously possible. 

In addition, Logitech has come up with an awesome feature that allows you to connect with three devices at once, switching between them with just a press of a button.

A change I would like to see with this feature is a different placement of said button. Currently it is found on the bottom of the mice with this feature, but I think it would add yet another layer of efficiency if the button could be reached without even having to lift the mouse.

The Logitech MagSpeed Electromagnetic wheel allows you to scroll through up to 1,000 lines at a time and stop at an instant with extreme precision. Personally, I find it to be one of the smoothest feeling scroll wheels, so if that’s how you prefer it, then the 3S should definitely be on your list.

The 3S also comes with a thumb wheel which allows you to efficiently scroll horizontally through excel spreadsheets and such. It’s honestly a rare feature that may be niche yet it is super useful.

One thing to note as always with wireless mice is that you are likely to feel a bit of input lag after switching from a wired mouse. As far as wireless mice go, the response feels pretty snappy but it’s not going to give you the reaction speed that a wired mouse would. If you’re going to be competitively gaming, you should look into wired options.

Customization

The 3S features two programmable buttons with a tactile feel within reach of your thumb so that you can set additional functions for whatever you please. In addition, you can control the DPI in increments of 50 from as low as 200 and as high as 8,000 DPI.

Logitech’s optional software Logi Options+ is compatible with the mouse to make it easier to fine tune your experience and fit all of your needs when using the MX Master 3S. With all of this in mind, I think the 3S is a great all-around mouse for working from home or the office, online shopping, or just about anything you might think of. It has at least one feature for everyone out there looking to maximize their efficiency on the computer or laptop.

via Logitech

Overview

I’ll keep this short. For $99, the Logitech MX Master 3S is a great option from the Master Series.

It has great looks, some super unique features like the thumb-wheel and the multi-point Bluetooth connection, and it feels great too. The build quality is everything you can expect from Logitech and the shape is an ergonomic feel that will allow for lasting comfort throughout your workday.

With the magnetic wheel and 8,000 DPI optical sensor, you’ll find all of the precision you need. Using the compatible Logi Options+ software, you can make the mouse fit your style and necessities no matter the environment.

AT&T Prepaid offering plan with 16GB data for just $25, but there’s a catch

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AT&T Prepaid on Friday announced a new promotion that’s really tough to beat. Available for a limited time, the new option lets customers sign up for unlimited talk and text with 16GB of high speed data for just $25 per month for 12 months.

So what’s the catch? It’s not too bad, really. For starters, you’ll have to prepay for the plan all at once. That is to say you’ll pay $300 up front, essentially spreading things out to $25 each month.

Typically, AT&T Prepaid gives subscribers 8GB of data per month so this is more or less a double data promo.

The plan includes the following features:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited text to over 230 countries
  • Mobile hotspot
  • Fraud call and spam blocking
  • Canada and Mexico coverage

The deal is only available until October 14, 2022.

To learn more about the promotion, head to AT&T Prepaid’s website.