Inateck Bluetooth Earphones review
When certain brands commercially take over a market space, it becomes easy for consumers to overlook underdogs who sometimes offer a better value. However, the cheaper option doesn’t always win out. Sometimes too many compromises are made in the attempt.
When I received Inateck’s in-ear Bluetooth headphones, I was interested to see how it did in this respect. Inateck isn’t a household name. But where others are charging a pretty penny for a good pair of Bluetooth earphones, Inateck is offering a quality pair for a fraction of that cost.
But do they actually hold up? Let’s find out.
Design
Inateck’s approach with this pair of in-ears is a unique one. Unique in both a good and a bad way. Let’s start with the good.
I would say the standout feature in the design is via the clever use of magnets. Both ear pieces are magnetically attracted. Therefore, when you’re not using them, they conveniently clip together for clean handling.
While it’s not a huge deal, I found magnetic connection to be a nice touch. The ear pieces stay together when you’re on the move and it feels thought out. You can even connect the ends together and wear the earphones like a necklace.
Inateck designed the earpieces like halves of one symmetric piece. The uniformity displays a sense of quality, which is also complimented by the choice in materials. The earpieces are made of a glossy plastic, which has a nice sheen. Where the cord is attached is a soft-touch, rubbery plastic. It all feels nice to the touch and not cheap.
The sound outputs from a stem that extends from the earpiece. It’s a somewhat odd design. I’m guessing the the acoustics is done within the plastic bubble, and the earpieces handle the electronics.
The remote housing is more of your typical, hard plastic affair (probably to save weight). It runs down about 3 inches from the right earpiece. There’s a volume buttons on one side and a button on the other side for the on/off and pairing functions. A small blue/red light tells the user what state the device is in: pairing mode (flashing between blue and red), playing (occasional blue flash), charging (constant red), or about to run out of battery (occasional red flash).
The entire cord length is about 22 inches. I found the length and cord material to be ideal.
Inateck was nice enough to throw in a zipper case for transportation. I appreciated that it’s a quality case, not something flimsy just for the sake of it. There’s a mesh pocket inside for the extra eartips and any other small accessories.
Usability
Usability of these earphones are a mixed bag. With all my praise of the design, there is a drawback: the earpiece size. These earpieces are large. They’re almost comically large in comparison to wired in-ears.
I mean, it makes sense considering that there is extra technology that needs to be fitted into the earpieces to make them wireless. However, I feel like the biggest compromise with these earphones was in not doing more engineering to shrink them down further.
Don’t get me wrong, they of course work. Your mileage may vary with the fit and with the earpieces staying in place. Fortunately, they’re not heavy, so there isn’t much travel if you’re bouncing around while exercising.
The eartips are of a typical silicon design, which goes within your ear canal. While moving around, I did have trouble retaining the isolation in one of my ears. But this is the same story with any eartip. It depends on how well the inner shape of your ear accepts the tip.
With that said, I wish Inateck included three sizes of eartips. These earphones only come small and medium sizes. There would be a better success rate of a good fit with more choices.
Battery Life
Inateck’s rating for the battery life of these earphones is 8 hours. That sounded great, especially considering that 8 hours is the widely-accepted length to a workday.
In my testing, I’m happy to say that the rating is accurate. Very accurate in fact. I got about 8 hours and 15 minutes in before it cut out.
It takes 3 hours to fully charge from a depleted battery. The earphones charge via a microUSB port, located on the right earpiece. There’s a flap protecting the port for when it’s not in use.
To help save battery, there are a couple nice features. First, when the earphones stop receiving the audio signal, they automatically shut off within a couple minutes of inactivity. They also automatically shut off upon detecting a magnetic connection. This is thoughtful because when you’re done listening and clamp them together, you don’t have that extra step of powering them off.
Sound
So we’ve talked about device itself plenty, how about the audio output? Bear in mind that we’re not talking about your audiophile-grade headphones here. In that respect, the sound quality is quite good and definitely exceeds the price tag.
I found there to be emphasis on the low-end (bass response). Other than that, the other frequencies are on the same level. I didn’t find the mids to be pushed back (a tendency of a lot of headphone manufacturers to bring the bass and treble out more). Vocals are satisfying on these earphones. Treble is decent, but it doesn’t reach far with detail.
In my experience, Bluetooth headphones tend to cause veiling (less clarity) in the overall sound. These earphones aren’t exempt from that, but it’s definitely acceptable.
Final Thoughts
I was pretty satisfied with Inateck’s Bluetooth earphone offering. Are they perfect? No. But are they a good value? Definitely.
If you’re looking for an affordable pair of wireless in-ears and want to push the bang of your buck, you should check these out. In my opinion, the sound quality significantly exceeds their price tag, and the battery lasts a long while. Yes, they’re on the large side, but compromise has to be made somewhere.
You can find these earphones on Amazon
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Review: ‘Anchor’ Offers Simple Apple Watch Charging, but With Drawbacks
Native Union’s Apple Watch charging solution, dubbed the “Anchor,” is definitely winning in one category: its simplicity. The new accessory is neither a stand nor a dock, but more of a pad designed to nestle an Apple Watch charger and act as a dedicated area for users to rest their Apple Watches on to give them power. It’s a stripped-down approach that makes the Anchor endearing, but ultimately also keeps it from becoming a front-runner in the budget-minded Apple Watch charging solution market.
Design
The Anchor is crafted in two separate parts, with a non-slip silicone acting as the base for a weighted zinc alloy for resting the Apple Watch on. The two halves come apart for installation, which is a simple process thanks to the ease with which the silicone base forms around Apple’s inductive charging puck. It’ll also be a breeze for those who travel frequently, since the Anchor’s small footprint and minuscule weight (3.2 ounces) should be easily accommodated in a travel bag.
Due to its flat build, it should be mentioned that the Anchor’s small size is a bit deceptive initially, as its 2-or-so inches become anywhere between 10 to 12 inches (depending on Band size) once the Apple Watch lays on the dock. And given its design, the Anchor doesn’t elevate the Apple Watch above and away from a desk’s clutter while being charged — as many other docks successfully achieve — instead tending to add to any clutter.
Design wise, there’s not much else to say about the Anchor. With a small stature and rudimentary — but functional — design, it should make most owners of the Apple wearable happy. In particular, those who find the large size of some other docks to be a burden, or believe the bigger stands take away from the Apple Watch as its own centerpiece may appreciate the Anchor.
Read more 
Barnes & Noble announces Readouts: A new way to experience content
We sadly have seen Barnes & Noble close many of its brick and mortar stores, but that doesn’t mean they have gone away. Times have changed from the times I used to hangout at Barnes and Noble and browse books and magazines before I made a purchase. We now consume more and more digital content as we see paper books and newspapers become obsolete.
That doesn’t mean B&N isn’t keeping up with the times though. They recently announced Readouts which is a new way to experience content in bite-sized pieces. With so many books to choose from, a digital library can be daunting to sort through and B&N is helping solve that problem with Readouts on the Nook digital experience.
B&N Readouts leverages Barnes & Noble’s vast content catalog and deep
bookseller knowledge to deliver a daily selection of addictive and
compelling quick reads that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere on all NOOK
by Samsung devices, through Free NOOK Reading Apps for Android and iOS
devices, and at BN.com/readouts.
Readouts offers free one to five minute book excerpts and full articles from popular periodicals which are tailored to your own interests. This should help improve your selections and hopefully improve customer satisfaction. It should definitely make sorting through thousands of books less daunting.
If you want to learn more, head on over to B&N Readouts. I still miss bookstores though and hope they make a comeback in the future.
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FIFA wants to have a wearable tech standard for soccer teams
The past few months haven’t been kind to FIFA, football’s governing body, after news broke that its top officials were being investigated for corruption crimes. But the organization isn’t letting those legal woes get in the way of improving the sport’s future. Next month FIFA and the International Association Football Board (IFAB), which is responsible for determining the rules of soccer football, will host meetings to develop a wearable standard for the game. In a nutshell, the idea behind this initiative is to have all professional teams using the same data-tracking technologies for training purposes. Down the line, these could make their way to live matches, to help doctors and coaches on the sidelines. Since there isn’t a unified system right now, each club is allowed to work with any method they choose, so the goal is to develop a solution that works equally for everybody across the FIFA network.
The Seattle Sounders, for instance, use systems from Catapult and Omegawave. This allows the team to monitor a variety of health and fitness elements from players, such as energy output, endurance, nutrition, sleep patterns and levels of fatigue. As SportTechie notes, the key for technologies being presented to FIFA is that they have “preventative medical benefits and will not pose danger to athletes.” It’ll be interesting to hear what kind of pitches the football overlords receive from wearable companies next month, and whether or not FIFA is going to be able to meet every club’s needs. Because Real Salt Lake and Manchester United are likely to have different views on how they track data.
[Image credits: AFP/Getty Images]
Via: Wearable.com
Source: Sport Techie
Playdate: Trying out Steam Machines and Valve’s new controller
For years, Valve’s been teasing us with the promise of a new kind of gaming device: a PC that lives in your entertainment center, outperforms traditional consoles and has more games available for it than you can count. Now it’s finally here: I have a Steam Machine in my house, and I’m going to share it with you. Join me and Tim Seppala as we put the Alienware Steam Machine, its Linux-based SteamOS and the Valve Steam Controller through their paces. The fun starts right here in this post, on Twitch.tv/joystiq and on the Engadget gaming homepage at 6PM ET (3PM PT).
http://www.twitch.tv/joystiq/embedWatch live video from Joystiq on www.twitch.tv
Yves Behar on designing beautiful, functional products
Engadget caught up with world-renowned product designer and co-founder of August, a leader in home security products, Yves Behar at Wednesday’s Smart Lock event. I picked his brain about his ever-evolving creative process, how consumer tastes have influenced it and how to build a smart home device that stands out from the crowd.
How has your approach to designing consumer products changed over the past two years since you began working on August locks?
Well my approach to designing consumer products, and especially technology products, over the past two to three years has changed tremendously. We see products coming that are on the body, the wearables, and we see products coming into the home. That’s completely different that designing some plastic, techy gadgets. These are products that need to be designed to look great, to feel great, to be good quality and made from beautiful materials. They need to be something that everybody wants, not just the tech person installing it.
And how have changing consumer needs influenced your designs over that same period?
From the consumer side, what we’re really seeing is that people want essential functionality and they want it integrated into an ecosystem that makes sense. They don’t want to bounce around between apps or products to make something work. They’re looking for things to be resolved for them. They want to be able to get into their house, send keys to people, know who’s at the door. That they want everything to be integrated, I think, is the big difference.
Finally, how do you make a product more intuitive and approachable as the smart home/Internet of Things becomes increasingly crowded?
There are already a lot of technology companies out there and there’s going to be more and more of them so the difference will be how well you design your product, how great the experience is, how well you are able to bring in partners and businesses that increase the excitement and everyday use of your product. I believe that today technology is design. Just having the tech doesn’t make a big difference, it’s how you design it to fit in people’s everyday lives.
Pebble Time smartwatch apps are getting voice dictation
If you’re a Pebble Time owner and would like to respond to emails or texts without pulling out your phone, we’ve got good news. Starting today, Android users can employ the Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel to reply to those messages using their voice. The feature is scheduled to arrive on the Pebble Time Round on November 8th. What’s more, the wearable company has teamed up with Nuance for the voice-driven tools and the duo is releasing a Dictation API for third-party developers to build apps for both iOS and Android. The functionality is limited to emails and text messages for now, but we’ll be interested to see if more voice commands arrive in the future.
Via: The Verge
Source: Nuance
Upcoming Google Play Store makeover will separate entertainment from apps
The Google Play Store has gone through a number of redesigns over the years, and it’s about to get another. Kirill Grouchnikov, user interface engineer at Google, has just published a few screenshots on Google+, giving us a good look at what we can expect to see in the next big redesign of the Google Play Store.
Take a look at the image attached below. As you can see, Google has added in what appears to be a new splash screen, similar to what the company has been including in most recent versions of its most popular applications. Looking beyond that small addition, we’re seeing a mostly redesigned landing page. Currently, the Play Store separates Apps, Games, Movies & TV, Music, Books and Newsstand into separate categories. In this new version, though, the Play Store will feature just two main categories – Apps & Games and Entertainment.
After selecting the Apps & Games tab, it looks like you’ll be able to select from multiple different subcategories, such as Top Charts, Games, Categories, Family and more. Under the Entertainment tab, you’ll be able to choose from Movies & TV, Music, Books and Newsstand.
What’s more, the new version of the Play Store will also have support for “right-to-left flow of information for all RTL languages supported by the platform.” Take a look at the screenshots below for a better look:
Beyond that, there aren’t too many other details regarding the next big redesign. Grouchnikov says the update is coming sometime soon, but we aren’t sure of a specific timeframe. So, just based off what you’ve seen so far, what are your thoughts? Are you already scouring the web for the APK, or are you more a fan of the current Play Store design? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Redditor pimps his Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Depending on your region and the carrier you use, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comes in your choice of Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, and White Pearl. But if you’re the DIYer type, there’s another option: clear.
Over at Reddit, a user by the name of Skarface08 posted up some pics of a custom Galaxy Note 5 with a clear back, as well as some basic steps on how to replicate the job. Basically, the look was achieved by removing the color film found behind the phone’s glass back. Sounds simple enough, but keep in mind that the back of the Galaxy Note 5 isn’t removable.
Thankfully, removing the back isn’t as hard as it might sound. There are no difficult fasteners or special screws to deal with here, and the only tools required to get to the back are a razor blade, suction cup, and a heat gun. In the Redditor’s own words, removing the back entails the following basic steps:
You first have to heat it up. I use a Ecoheat gun that gets it really hot, the use a suction cup to pry the back off. After that you let it cool off a bit and take off all the film with a razor blade. Then i just stuck it back on the phone because there was already adhesive on the actual device.
A safer route to customization: Best Galaxy Note 5 cases
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Skarface08 does caution that you want to keep constantly moving the heat gun and that you shouldn’t concentrate too long on one spot to prevent any possible heat damage. It is also worth noting this process only applies to the back, and so you might get a clear rear, but the front won’t have the same look. The Redditor says that even if you removed all the film from the front somehow, all you’d see is a bunch of adhesive and it wouldn’t have the same effect as the back.
Regardless, we have to admit this looks pretty sexy, at least if you’re into that industrial, exposed-parts look – which many of us are. It’s also probably possible to find other materials that could be inserted in place of the color film, for those that want to customize their phone but aren’t necessarily into the clear look. How well that would look? It’s hard to say.
Galaxy Note 5 in video
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Before you decide to try opening up the Note 5 for yourself, keep in mind this is a sure-fire way to destroy your warranty and that things can go wrong if you make a mistake during the removal process. For those that are bold enough to go forward with it, you can find many more tips on how to best perform the ‘procedure’ over at Reddit.
‘Goosebumps: Night of Scares’ launches on the Play Store, help put the monsters back where they belong
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Back near the end of September we let you guys know that there was a Goosebumps game based on the new movie with Jack Black headed our way. The game is a collaboration between Cosmic Forces, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Scholastic to bring the movie action and story line to our mobile devices.
Developed with Free Range Games, Goosebumps: Night of Scares features Jack Black voicing the role of R.L. Stine, characters from the film, as well as the wider universe of monsters and stories created by R.L. Stine. The Goosebumps game takes players through R.L. Stine’s haunted house from the film, each room more frightening than the last, as players collect pages from R.L. Stine’s books while trying to survive the night in a deadly game of hide-n-seek.
Users can play Goosebumps: Night of Scares three different ways: through movement, using the touch screen, or by combining their phones with a compatible VR headset for a highly immersive 3D virtual reality experience, a first for any Goosebumps game.
The title also includes a “Share your Scare” feature that will be available for download on Halloween which will use your smartphone or tablets camera to capture players “Jump Scares” for sharing with their friends.
If you want to get your scare on then feel free to grab Goosebumps: Night of Scares for Android on the Play Store or iOS on the App Store. It is also available on the Amazon App Store too.
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AIVAnet 