DirecTV Now review – CNET
The Good DirecTV Now has most of the live channels offered by your local cable provider, without hidden fees or contracts or extra equipment (no satellite dish required). The $35/month introductory price for 100 channels is an amazing value. You can add HBO or Cinemax for just $5/month each.
The Bad That $35 price will expire eventually, and the basic package prices are much less appealing. No CBS, and live ABC, Fox and NBC only available in a handful of major cities. No cloud DVR (for now), so you can’t schedule recordings. Roku compatibility is coming, but not available yet.
The Bottom Line For cable cord-cutters and the cut-curious who prioritize live TV over on-demand access, DirecTV Now is a very good value.
Starting at $35/month
$35 per month for 100 channels. That’s what DirecTV Now delivers today. If that was all you needed to know, you could stop reading right now, cancel your cable or satellite service, subscribe and start saving.
Alas, it’s more complex than that.
For starters, you’ll need a compatible device and a fast-enough Internet connection. Those aren’t big hurdles for a lot of people (compatible devices, if you don’t already have one, start at just $35), but the main issue is that TV and Internet are often bundled together, and canceling your cable subscription could mean paying more for “just Internet,” nullifying some of that precious savings.
Then you’ll have to consider channels and features. DirecTV Now has most channels you’re used to with traditional cable, but it’s missing CBS. (Full disclosure: CNET is owned by CBS). Other local channels (ABC, Fox and NBC) are only available live in a few major cities, and your favorite team’s sports network might not be available at all. NFL football games (on NBC, Fox and ESPN) are effectively blacked out on non-Verizon mobile devices, although you can watch them on TVs and PCs.
Unlike cable TV and competing service PlayStation Vue, there’s no DVR (yet) so you can’t record programs to watch later or skip commercials. You’ll have to depend on the service’s on-demand offerings for non-Live shows, and while DirecTV claims they’re substantial, they’re not comprehensive.
DirecTV Now gives 100 channels for $35 (pictures)
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Finally there’s the biggest caveat: That $35/month price is an introductory offer, only good for a “limited time.” DirecTV isn’t saying when the offer expires. Even after it does, however, people who subscribed for that price won’t lose any channels. In other words, early subscribers are grandfathered into that price and can keep the 100+ channel package for $35/month, as long as they don’t cancel. If you decide to cancel and then resubscribe, you’ll have to pay the standard prices — which aren’t that much better than the competition, or much savings over a typical cable or satellite package.
But it’s not all bad news. One big advantage of DirecTV Now is that AT&T subscribers who stream DirecTV Now on their phones won’t have the data count against their monthly cap. You can also run two independent simultaneous streams on a single DirecTV Now account. And, like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue, there are absolutely no contracts, so you can cancel any time.
Aside from the introductory price, all those aforementioned caveats and conditions are fairly common in the brave new world of “Multichannel live TV over the Internet.” DirecTV Now is a very important new addition to that world, and in many ways (especially sheer number of channels) it surpasses competitors like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue. I still like Vue better overall, mainly because of its cloud DVR and its access to CBS, and Sling is much cheaper, but DirecTV Now holds its own. If you’re interested, it’s worth talking advantage of the free 7-day trial.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
The basics: What you need to know
Before we get too deep into it, here’s the basics on DirecTV Now, including how it’s different from TV you may know, pricing, device support and other important stuff.
- It’s separate from DirecTV, the satellite service, but both are owned by AT&T
- Subscribers can watch numerous live TV channels using their Internet connection
- Prices range from $35 to $70 per month, depending on channels (see below)
- A channel package that normally costs $60 per month is discounted to $35 for a limited time
- One you download the app or visit the web site, you can watch on a TV, a mobile device like a phone or tablet, or a computer
- To watch on a TV, you’ll need an Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, an Apple TV, a Chromecast (Android at launch; iOS in 2017), or a Google Cast-enabled TV (like LeEco or Vizio SmartCast TVs)
- To watch on a computer, you can use Internet Explorer, Chrome or Safari web browsers
- You can also watch on any any iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet
- Roku, Amazon Fire tablet and additional Smart TV support is coming in 2017
- Subscribers to AT&T’s cell phone service can watch without using their mobile data; Subscribers to other services use mobile data as normal
- There’s a free 7-day trial available
- There’s no contract or early termination fee, so you can cancel at any time
- It’s available as of November 30
- It’s only available in the United States
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At launch the service works with mobile phones and computers, as well as these TV devices.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The channels: Lots and lots of live TV
DirecTV Now offers more live channels than competitors Sling TV and PlayStation Vue, and almost as many as a typical cable package. The big exception is CBS. That broadcast network is not available on DirecTV Now (and neither is CBS-owned premium channel Showtime). That said, there’s an easy workaround: To get CBS, you could subscribe to CBS All Access ($6/month) or use an antenna to receive the local broadcast for free. The standalone Showtime app costs $11/month.
Check out the article below for the full channel breakdown.
DirecTV Now vs. Sling TV vs. Playstation Vue: Channel lineups compared
Another big exception has to do with where you live. To watch other broadcast networks, namely ABC, Fox and NBC you’ll need to live in or near certain major cities–and coverage isn’t great right now. Unless you live in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or San Jose you won’t get all three networks, and many major cities get only one. If you don’t live in one of those markets, shows from those networks will be available on demand with a 24 hour delay. Check out the chart below for details.
DirecTV Now local network availability (ABC, Fox, NBC)
The arrangement is similar to PlayStation Vue, although that service covers more cities and does CBS (and charges extra for people who live in those major markets). For its part Sling TV only offers ABC in a handful of select markets, and it costs another $5/month.
DirecTV Now has four basic channel packages. Here’s how they stack up.
DirecTV Now packages
| Monthly price | Introductory price | Number of channels | Highlights |
| $35 | N/A | 60+ | ABC, Fox, NBC (where available), most basic cable channels |
| $50 | N/A | 80+ | Adds select regional sports networks, ESPN News, more |
| $60 | $35 | 100+ | Adds NBA TV, NHL Network, FXM, Sundance TV, more |
| $70 | N/A | 120+ | Adds 8 Starz/Encore channels, Boomerang, El Rey, more |
The big deal here is the introductory offer of $35 per month for the 100-channel “Go Big” package. During the introductory period there’s basically no reason to subscribe to the two smaller packages, and very little reason to pay double for the full monty “Gotta Have It” package. Even after that deal expires, the cheapest tier of DirecTV Now has more channels than the basic tiers of Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
Another big deal is the ability to add HBO or Cinemax for just $5 extra (each) to any package. That’s a substantial discount ($10) off the normal premium channel rate. Unlike a service like HBO Go however, not every episode of every HBO series is included on-demand. For example, “Game of Thrones” only has one episode from season 6, and many episodes are missing from other seasons.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
You can use your DirecTV Now login credentials to sign in (authenticate) the HBO Go app, however, and gain access to the full library of shows that way. Other TV everywhere apps that will work with DirecTV Now at launch are Max Go, Watch ABC, Watch Disney Channel, Watch Disney Jr., Watch Disney XD, Watch Freeform and Watch ESPN. DirecTV Now says it’s planning to add more in the future (Vue, by comparison, authenticates with more than 60 apps).
2017 Honda CR-V review – Roadshow
The Good The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is pretty peppy, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on EX trim lines and above.
The Bad It’s a capable and good-looking vehicle, but it’s still not terribly exciting to drive.
The Bottom Line The 2017 Honda CR-V promises to be a big seller for Honda. Its sophisticated looks, zippy engine and myriad features give it a jump on the competition.
Instead of joining pals on an impromptu trip to Mexico to watch the Baja 1000 after the Los Angeles Auto Show, I was sick, cruising in the 2017 Honda CR-V to the only place I knew would make me feel better: Mom’s house.
Notice that even in profile, the 2017 CR-V has more artfully sculpted bodywork.
Honda
If you’ve ever tried to negotiate traffic while sick, you’ll understand my pain. The miles tend to creep by ever so slowly as you gingerly move from gas to brake and back again. But I had a secret weapon this time. This new CR-V arrived with low-speed adaptive cruise control. I just let the car do the work while I concentrated on not throwing up, looking forward to Mom taking care of me in the comfort of my childhood bedroom.
This is what driver-assistance technology is made for.
The CR-V has been one of America’s best-selling SUVs for the past twenty years. Look around, and you’re sure to see more than one of the four-million units sold since its debut in 1997.
Now in its fifth generation, Honda has given us a brand-new CR-V, and none too soon, as the previous model was looking, well, a bit long in the tooth.
All new, all the time
Just looking at the 2017 CR-V, with its distinctive new rear fascia, sharply flared fenders and a sculpted hood, is a delight. The fifth generation gets available LED lights all around, a longer wheelbase and larger wheels. Design is subjective, but the new additions add up to a much sleeker and more sophisticated design than the outgoing generation.
Total cargo space is up, too.
Honda
A crossover is only as good as its cargo area, and here Honda introduces a nifty new feature. A kick-operated power tailgate is available, and it has a user-defined height feature, so if you’re vertically challenged or maybe your garage has a low ceiling, you can program the tailgate to open at lower than maximum height.
Inside, the CR-V boasts not only more legroom for rear passengers, it has a whopping 10 inches of additional linear cargo space with the rear seats folded down. Total cargo is up to 75.8 cubic feet, an increase from 70.9 in the 2016 model. That beats the pants off the current Mazda CX-5 and just edges out the Toyota RAV4.
Pros and cons: Our quick verdict on Google’s Daydream View
If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into virtual reality, your best bet is to start with an inexpensive mobile headset. And of the ones that are available (there are a lot, actually), your best bet might just be Google’s new Daydream View headset. It undercuts the Samsung Gear VR on price, and is also more comfortable to wear, thanks to its cloth-covered housing. Still, you might want to wait if at all possible. Google’s Daydream VR platform doesn’t have many apps at the moment, but that will change. The View headset is also only compatible with Google’s Pixel phones for now, but more Daydream-ready phones are on the way. Once those apps and compatible handsets arrive, though, the View will be the mobile VR headset to beat.
Fotokite Phi Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Meet the final Fotokite Phi.
Fotokite
Most camera drones rely on GPS and a system of sensors to make them easier and safer to fly. The Fotokite Phi just uses a string.
That’s an oversimplification, but not by much. The Phi is tethered by either an 8- or 30-meter leash (26 or 100 feet) connected to a reel. The leash reel has its own processor and sensors letting you control the Phi by pressing and holding a button and moving the leash in the direction you want it to go. There’s no fear of it flying away from you or drifting into something or someone, and there are no complicated controls to learn.
The design struck a chord with crowdfunders, racking up $413,495 from backers on Indiegogo back in September of last year. It was originally expected to ship early this year, but sourcing and production issues delayed that until now. The Phi is available for a limited time at a price of $249 and, as best as I can tell from the brief time I spent with it, it is everything Fotokite promised.
Phi’s folding design makes travel easy.
Fotokite
Made to be ultraportable, the Phi folds down and fits entirely inside a tube roughly the size of a whisky bottle and with a GoPro camera and battery it weighs just 400 grams (14 ounces). To get it ready to fly, you fold down the arms and twist a lock on top. It currently works with the Hero3/3+, Hero4 and Hero5 Session cameras and you can start and stop video and snap photos straight from the reel.
Holding the quad from the bottom, you give it a quick twist with your wrist (similar to twisting in a light bulb) and the props spin up. Then you simply let go and let out some leash. The Phi responds to tension from the line, so all it takes to raise and lower or rotate it into position is rolling or twisting your hand in the direction you want it to go.
Fotokite
Flight time from its removable, rechargeable battery is about 13 minutes. Although you do get a warning when battery life is running low, the Phi will quickly land itself before the battery is completely drained. The same happens if the tether is cut, so you never have to worry about it flying off on its own. Its propellers are softer and spin at a lower speed than other drones, too, which adds to its safety.
The Fotokite Phi might not have the range and capabilities of a typical radio-controlled quadcopter, but my guess is you’ll be able to fly it in more places, particularly where a typical drone might not be allowed. And if you already have a GoPro camera, the investment is pretty low.
The Fotokite Phi is a flying camera on a string
You’ll never let go of this GoPro camera-ready foldable quadcopter while you’re capturing photos and videos.
by Joshua Goldman
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Chromecast Audio review – CNET
The Good Google’s budget audio dongle pipes music to any stereo from the most popular streaming apps on your phone. It’s simple and works well, with direct compatibility for most major music services, and even more are supported via the Chrome browser plug-in and on the Android app. And did we mention it only costs $35, £30 or AU$49? It’s the easiest way to enable multiroom music in your house. The ability to feed 24-bit/96kHz music to an external digital analog converter will please audiophiles.
The Bad Some notable music services, including iTunes, Apple Music and Amazon Music, are not supported on iPhone and iPad. In analog sound quality it’s beaten by the Fon Gramofon (which costs twice2016-11-28 03:56 PM as much). You can’t use Google Cast devices as part of a multiroom environment.
The Bottom Line The ultra-affordable Google Chromecast Audio is one of the best music-streaming devices you can buy — especially if you’re an Android user.
In 2013, Google introduced the Chromecast
, a plug-and-play dongle designed to make streaming video from a mobile device to a TV easier. In 2015, the company followed up with Chromecast Audio, which bridged audio-streaming apps to legacy audio equipment equipped with an analog or optical input.
Google’s latest audio product, the Chromecast Audio, distills everything the company has learned about content streaming into a simple, affordable device the size of a York Peppermint Patty. And Sonos, the leader in wireless, streaming whole-home audio, has reason to worry. At $35, £30 or AU$49, Chromecast Audio capably fulfills its core promises at a very affordable price, especially now that the system now (also) supports voice control.
Chromecast Audio is capable of being partnered with Google Home — the company’s new smart speaker with built-in voice assistant — as well as Google Cast speakers from other companies. You can say “OK Google, cast [song] onto [speaker name]” to play music in multiple rooms simultaneously and from multiple devices. (Check out the full list of voice commands supported by Google Home). The Chromecast Audio is part of new breed of budget wireless music adapters that are making expensive devices such as the $350 Sonos Connect obsolete. While the multiroom market is still quite volatile, with plenty of contenders vying for dominance, Google’s cheap-as-chips device has the most potential to spark a revolution. In short, the Chromecast Audio is the new wireless audio streamer to beat.
Google Chromecast Audio
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Editors’ note: This review, originally published in 2015, has since been updated to reflect firmware updates featuring multiroom and 24/96 support, as well as the ability to incorporate multiple Google Cast speakers.
A tiny puck
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
The Chromecast Audio looks like the product of an unholy marriage between a 7-inch record and a peewee hockey puck. It has “grooves” on one side and is smooth on the other, evoking a vinyl record and making for better performance on the ice, respectively. The device is simply tiny, at 2 inches in diameter and half an inch thick.
The puck has just two ports and ships with a cable to plug into each. The first is a hybrid 3.5mm/optical port and it’s partnered with a 5-inch Day-Glo-yellow 3.5mm analog cable — the same width as a standard headphone cable. The only other port on the Chromecast is a Micro-USB power port, and the device ships with a compatible cable and power adapter. It can also be powered by plugging it into any powered USB port in your system. Likewise, should you want to use the optical function, you’ll need a mini-Toslink adapter or cable (not included).
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
You’ll set up the device using the Google Home app for iOS or Android. The main work involves giving your device a name and entering the credentials for your Wi-Fi network. Chromecast Audio supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and is compatible with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. After setup, a Chromecast Audio user’s only reason to fire up the app is to find other compatible audio apps, group speakers or use the Stream Audio function (Android only).
One of the best features of Google Cast/Chromecast is multiroom support which makes it possible to group several speakers (including Google Cast speakers) via the Chromecast app together under one name. This feature lets you combine — for example — the living room, kitchen and study together for a group called “House Party”, and that would then appear as a single device you can cast to. You could make as many such groups involving different combinations of speakers as you wanted.
Be aware that while speakers with Google Cast technology exist — from LG, Sony and supposedly Denon — this is separate from Chromecast. We tested both a Sony receiver and LG Music Cast speaker, and neither speaker appeared within the Chromecast app. This means you can’t group Google Cast devices with Chromecast Audios as part of a multiroom setup, but you can still Cast to them all individually. Whether this will change in the future is anybody’s guess.
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Google Home is used to setup the Chromecast Audio
The Chromecast family
As of November 2016, Google has a next-generation video streamer, the Chromecast Ultra, which supports 4K and HDR streaming video. For $69, AU$99 or £69, Google says that the Chromecast Ultra will deliver better image quality than the current $35 Chromecast (which remains available), streaming 4K from Netflix, YouTube and Vudu at launch and from Google’s own Play TV and Movies store later this year.
Of course, to get the benefits of 4K or HDR (in either format) you’ll need a compatible TV. You’ll also need to be watching a 4K and/or HDR TV stream, which are still restricted to a just a few shows, videos and movies. Such higher-quality streams require good bandwidth — 15 megabits per second or higher for Netflix, for example — and you’ll need to subscribe to Netflix’s $12/£9/AU$15 monthly plan to get access.
Be aware that “Chromecast” is now Google’s name for its own streaming devices while “Google Cast” only applies to the technology when used by third-party devices from Sony, LG, Onkyo and so on. Both types of speakers are controlled by the Google Home app, and can be combined with the Google Home speaker. Clear as mud? Good.
Using Chromecast Audio
Google has learned from previous failed experiments like the Nexus Q amp/streamer that simplicity is king. Chromecast Audio doesn’t try to power speakers or lock you into Google’s own apps, such as Google Music. Instead, the company is working with third-party developers to add Google’s “cast” technology to their existing apps. These partnerships allow you to use Chromecast Audio to play music on your stereo straight from the Spotify app (to use just one example).
How to set up Chromecast Audio
Get started with Google’s new Chromecast Audio, a device that lets any speaker stream music over Wi-Fi.
by Lexy Savvides
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Once Chromecast Audio is set up, using the device is easy. Open up the audio app you normally use to listen to music — again, sticking with Spotify — and tap the little “cast” icon, which looks like a TV with a Wi-Fi signal on the lower left. Up pops a menu showing a list of devices you can stream to, including the Chromecast Audio you just set up. Select it and you’ll hear a little series of beeps to let you know a stream is incoming, followed by your music — which should sound a lot better coming from your home audio speakers than from the tiny speaker on your phone.
With the app you can also stream the same music to more than one Chromecast Audio in your home simultaneously. To do that you click the little Settings icon on any speaker and press “Group Speaker.” Add as many Audios as want and then name it anything you like. When you fire up a Chromecast-compatible app it will now recognize that group as a single speaker you can cast to. Multiroom made easy!
Music apps that work (and some that don’t)
Think of the popular services you’d want to stream over your stereo, and the Chromecast Audio can do most of them. Using an Android phone, we tested Spotify, Rdio, Pandora, Google Play Music, DS Audio (which streams home music collections from Synology servers), NPR One, Rocket Player and TuneIn, and all worked fine. Google says that Deezer, Plex and Rhapsody are also supported, but we didn’t try those. Check out Google’s full list here.
Note that there are at least two big names missing from that list. The apps for Apple
Music and Amazon Music don’t currently support Chromecast Audio. There is a workaround for the latter, two in fact: the Chrome browser (on Windows and Mac machines) and the Chromecast app on Android.
On a Chrome browser, just download the Google Chromecast extension, which allows you to cast audio from any Web source at the touch of a button. We tried it with Tidal, SoundCloud and YouTube, and it worked perfectly fine.
Google Pixel review: a technical deep dive
I hope you have enjoyed our reviews of the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, however since this is the first time that a phone has had the words “Phone by Google” engraved on it, I think it is worth taking another look at the Google Pixel, not to look at the user experience (which we have already covered) but to take a look at the technology, the geeky stuff, that Google has put into these devices.
To do this I am going to delve a bit deeper into the display, the SoC, the battery, the camera and the software of the Google Pixel. I will be using the smaller Google Pixel for my tests, however a lot of what I cover will also be applicable to the larger Pixel XL. Want to know more? Let’s go.
Specifications
A quick look at the table below will reveal just how much tech has gone into the Pixel and Pixel XL. Hopefully we can expand on this list of specifications a bit and get to understand the significance of some of these items:
| Display | 5.0-inch AMOLED 1920 x 1080 441ppi Fingerprint- and smudge-resistant oleophobic coating Gorilla Glass 4 |
5.5-inch AMOLED 2560 x 1440 534ppi Fingerprint- and smudge-resistant oleophobic coating Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.15Ghz + 1.6Ghz, 64Bit Quad-Core |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.15Ghz + 1.6Ghz, 64Bit Quad-Core |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 530 |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4 |
4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 32/128GB | 32/128GB |
| MicroSD | No | No |
| Cameras | 12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0, 1.55μm large pixels, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), Laser Detection Autofocus (LDAF), 4K (30fps) video capture, HD 240fps (8x), Full HD 120fps (4x) slow motion video, broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual-LED flash
8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture, 1.4 µm pixels, Full HD video capture (30fps) |
12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0, 1.55μm large pixels, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), Laser Detection Autofocus (LDAF), 4K (30fps) video capture, HD 240fps (8x), Full HD 120fps (4x) slow motion video, broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual-LED flash
8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture, 1.4 µm pixels, Full HD video capture (30fps) |
| Battery | Non-removable 2,770mAh Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging |
Non-removable 3,450mAh Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging |
| Media | Single bottom-firing speaker Adaptive audio amplifier 3 microphones (2 front, 1 rear) with noise cancellation |
Single bottom-firing speaker Adaptive audio amplifier 3 microphones (2 front, 1 rear) with noise cancellation |
| Wireless and location | 4G LTE with 3x Carrier aggregation Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz) Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS and GLONASS Digital compass |
4G LTE with 3x Carrier aggregation Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz) Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS and GLONASS Digital compass |
| Network | World-wide network/carrier compatibility with:1 GSM: Quad-band GSM UMTS/WCDMA : B 1/2/4/5/8 CDMA: BC0/BC1/BC10 TDS-CDMA: N/A FDD LTE: B 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28/29/30 TDD LTE: B 41 LTE 2xCA: B2+B2, B2+B4, B2+B5, B2+B12, B2+B13, B2+B17, B2+B29, B2+B30, B4+B4, B4+B5, B4+B7, B4+B12, B4+B13, B4+B17, B4+B29, B4+B30, B5+B30, B7+B7, B12+B30, B25+B25, B29+B30, B41+B41 LTE 3xCA: B2+B2+B12, B2+B2+B13, B2+B4+B4, B2+B4+B5, B2+B4+B12, B2+B4+B13, B2+B4+B29, B2+B5+B30, B2+B12+B30, B2+B29+B30, B4+B4+B12, B4+B4+B13, B4+B5+B30, B4+ B7+ B12, B4+B12+B30, B4+B29+B30, B41+B41+B41 Pixel is an unlocked phone and works on major carrier networks. |
World-wide network/carrier compatibility with:1 GSM: Quad-band GSM UMTS/WCDMA : B 1/2/4/5/8 CDMA: BC0/BC1/BC10 TDS-CDMA: N/A FDD LTE: B 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28/29/30 TDD LTE: B 41 LTE 2xCA: B2+B2, B2+B4, B2+B5, B2+B12, B2+B13, B2+B17, B2+B29, B2+B30, B4+B4, B4+B5, B4+B7, B4+B12, B4+B13, B4+B17, B4+B29, B4+B30, B5+B30, B7+B7, B12+B30, B25+B25, B29+B30, B41+B41 LTE 3xCA: B2+B2+B12, B2+B2+B13, B2+B4+B4, B2+B4+B5, B2+B4+B12, B2+B4+B13, B2+B4+B29, B2+B5+B30, B2+B12+B30, B2+B29+B30, B4+B4+B12, B4+B4+B13, B4+B5+B30, B4+ B7+ B12, B4+B12+B30, B4+B29+B30, B41+B41+B41 Pixel is an unlocked phone and works on major carrier networks. |
| Ports | USB Type-C Nano SIM 3.5mm audio jack USB 3.0 data transfer |
USB Type-C Nano SIM 3.5mm audio jack USB 3.0 data transfer |
| Sensors | Pixel Imprint Accelerometer/Gyroscope Magnetometer Barometer Proximity sensor/Ambient Light Sensor Hall sensor Android Sensor Hub |
Pixel Imprint Accelerometer/Gyroscope Magnetometer Barometer Proximity sensor/Ambient Light Sensor Hall sensor Android Sensor Hub |
| Other | RGB LED notification light | RGB LED notification light |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Water resistance | IP53 | IP53 |
| Software | Android 7.1 Nougat | Android 7.1 Nougat |
| Colors | Very Silver, Quite Black, Really Blue (Limited Edition) | Very Silver, Quite Black, Really Blue (Limited Edition) |
| Dimensions and weight | 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6mm 143g |
154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6mm 168g |
Display
The Pixel comes with a 5 inch Full HD AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, while the XL has a 5.5 inch Quad HD AMOLED display also protected by Gorilla Glass. There is no doubt that the displays on both Pixel devices are first class and are a pleasure to use. Looking at some of the tech, we noted in our full review that the display on the XL has a slightly cooler color temperature of 7859 Kelvin, which essentially means the screen has a blue tint. When the display is set to the standard mode (rather than the default adaptive mode), the colors are warmer at 7131k.
This seems also to be true for the Pixel. In terms of color accuracy the display on the Pixel tends to be skewed towards blue when it is displaying green. Notice the top set of vertical points on the graph below, they are left of the pure green target line. The reds, blues and purples however are quite accurate, but not strictly uniform when it comes to the various brightness levels.
Talking of brightness levels the Pixel’s display has a maximum of 410 nits. That is what you get when the display is on auto brightness and you shine a torch into the light sensor. If you switch to manual mode and crank it up to 100% then the brightness is marginally less at 406 nits. 50% is 208 nits and as you can see from the graph below the brightness profile is quite uniform:
The System-on-a-Chip (SoC) in the Pixel and Pixel XL is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. The 821 is the successor to the Snapdragon 820, Qualcomm’s popular SoC which is found in lots of Android devices including some variants of the Samsung Galaxy S7, the LG V20 and the OnePlus 3. The 821 tweaks the design of the 820 to improve power efficiency while increasing performance.
At the heart of the Snapdragon 821 are the quad-core Kryo CPU and the Adreno 530 GPU. Plus there are loads of other bits and pieces including Qualcomm’s Hexagon 680 DSP and the X12 LTE Cat 12/13 modem. You can see from the specification table above that the Pixel supports and impressive number of 2G, 3G and 4G network frequencies.
The Snapdragon 820 could be clocked at a maximum of 2.2GHz, however the 821 has been designed to go as high as 2.4GHz. Qualcomm isn’t too forth coming about the architecture of the CPU, however Google has published information which says that the Snapdragon 821 in the Pixel uses 4 Kryo CPU cores, two clocked at 2.15GHz and two at 1.6GHz. The 821’s quad-core setup is what is called Heterogeneous Multi-Processing (HMP).
In general, the quad-core processors found in desktops and laptops have a set of cores which are all equal in terms of their performance and power consumption. In a HMP SoC, not all the cores are equal (hence, heterogeneous). In the Snapdragon 821 the 2.15GHz cores are tuned for performance while the 1.6GHz are tuned for efficiency. When tasks are run on the 1.6GHz cores they use less power, they drain the battery less, however they may run a little slower. When tasks are run on the 2.15GHz cores, they finish sooner but they use more power to do so. Here is where it gets complicated. A task that finishes quicker but uses more peak power to do so, may actually use less energy as it completed the task in a short amount of time. However a task which uses less peak power may use more energy as it took longer to complete.
The ideal situation is where the smaller cores run tasks which don’t use much power but need to run for a long time (like handling the CPU aspects of streaming video). As you can imagine the hardware and software combination needed to make HMP work well is complicated. ARM has done a lot of work in this area with its big.LITTLE system including contributing code to the Linux kernel. As such ARM is quite open about its HMP efforts, however Qualcomm is less so. If you want to know more about big.LITTLE then please read how the Samsung Galaxy S6 uses its octa-core processor.
When it comes to performance the Snapdragon 821 is a beast! Here is a table of some common benchmarks scores for the Pixel:
| AnTuTu | 141092 |
| Geekbench 4 (single core) | 1500 |
| Geekbench 4 (multi core) | 4139 |
| Sling Shot using ES 3.1 | 2583 |
| Quadrant | 31389 |
| Basemark OS II | 2331 |
To put those numbers into some context, the Pixel scores higher on AnTuTu than the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Huawei Mate 9. However it scores lower than the Mate 9 for both Geekbench and Basemark OS II.
I also tested the Pixel with my own set of custom benchmarks which I have used to test various SoCs in the past including the Kirin 950. The first of my custom benchmarks tests the CPU without using the GPU. It calculates 100 SHA1 hashes on 4K of data and then does some other CPU stuff, I call it “Hashes, bubble sorts, tables and primes. The Pixel gets the best score from any Android phone I have tested!
The second benchmark uses a 2D physics engine to simulate water being poured into a container. Two drops of water are added every frame and the app is designed to run at 60 frames per second. The benchmark measures how many droplets are actually processed and how many are missed. The Pixel scored 10178, which is a good score, but it isn’t the best. The current record holder is the Kirin 960 in the Mate 9, which scores the maximum of 10800.
My third benchmark is written in Unity3D. It is a terrain flyover that yields a frame per second score for a pre-programmed pass over the rendered world. The Pixel scored 37.3 fps, which is again the best score to date.
Battery
The Pixel comes with a 2,770 mAh battery while the Pixel XL has a 3,450 mAh unit. According to Google that means the Pixel has a 3G talk time of up to 26 hours. Josh, Lanh and Nirave found that during day to day usage you can expect around 5 hours of screen on time. According to my testing with a mixed usage of web surfing, gaming and watching video will give you 5hr 13mins of screen on time, which matches what Josh et al saw.
Google claim that you can get 13 hours of video watching out of the Pixel, but the search giant doesn’t say how bright the display is during the tests. However it does say that “uses that involve an active display will use battery more quickly.” So I guess the brightness level for those tests are low (and fixed). I tested how long the phone can play a looped video from local storage with the display at 47% (i.e. 200 nits). The result was an impressive 10.5 hours!
If you are wondering how much the brightness level affects battery life, well so did I! I re-run my video test, this time with the display at 100%, that’s over 400 nits. The result was an equally impressive 8.5 hours. So upping the brightness can cost you as much as two hours of screen on time for easy tasks like video.
As for charging, you can charge the Pixel from < 5% to 100% in just over 1hr 40 mins, while to get to 50% takes less than half an hour and to get to 80% takes an hour. If you are in a mad rush then you can get 25% charge in just under 15 minutes! As with all quick charge system, the initial charging is much quicker than the final phase above 80%. For example the Pixel uses half of the charging time to go from 70% to 100%.
Camera
The specifications of the camera on the Pixel are excellent: 12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0 and 1.55μm large pixels. There is Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) as well as Laser Detection Autofocus (LDAF). It can record 4K @ 30fps and HD @ 240fps. On the front is an 8MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture and 1.4 µm pixels.
So I thought it would be interesting to see how the Pixel compares to a DSLR! So I took four pictures in controlled conditions (with a lightbox) to see how each one fared. My DSLR is a Canon EOS 700D. As you can see from the pictures below the 700D makes better pictures in good light. The colors are truer, there is more color depth and nuance. However for the close up of the Tardis door I would say that the Pixel did a much better job than the Canon. The text is clearer and there is less stippling. Also in low-light I would also say that the Pixel won. The EOS picture didn’t come out quite right because it is out of focus and maybe with more work I could have made it better.
Software
The Pixel and Pixel XL run Android 7.1 Nougat which brings with it a number of new features including Google’s new Pixel Launcher and the Google Assistant. The former is an incremental update to the standard Google Now Launcher which does away with the app drawer by making the installed apps available by swiping up from the bottom. The latter is Google’s new AI-based voice assistant, the same one in Google Allo, but now available throughout the whole Android interface.
In terms of storage and RAM, fresh out of the box the Pixel uses about 6.5GB of internal storage for Android and the default apps etc., which means there is around 23GB of free space. Both the Pixel and Pixel XL come with 4GB of RAM and from a fresh boot the phones uses around 1.3GB of RAM. During my testing (which was mainly running benchmarks, taking photos, playing videos etc.) I haven’t seen the average RAM usage go over 2GB.
Besides these two big ticket items there are lots of smaller changes including launcher shortcuts, a new storage manager called Smart Storage, GIF support in the Google Keyboard, and improved VR thread scheduling:
- App Shortcuts – These allow users to access key actions within an app directly from the launcher. You just long-press an app’s launcher icon to reveal the app’s shortcuts, then tap on a shortcut to jump to the associated action.
- GIF support in the Google Keyboard – Android 7.1 supports the new Commit Content API, which provides a universal way for keyboards to send images and other rich content directly to a text editor in an app.
- Smart Storage – If an app requires more space than is currently available, it can use the Smart Storage page to let the user delete unneeded apps and content to free up sufficient space.
- Improved VR thread scheduling – Android 7.1 provides new features to improve VR thread scheduling. Apps can now designate one thread as a VR thread. While the app is in VR mode, the system will schedule that thread more aggressively to minimize latency.
Wrap-up
There are many non-technical factors to choosing your next Android smartphone including price, availability, branding and long term support. However if we push those to the side for the moment at just look at the tech, it is clear that the Pixel and Pixel XL are leading edge devices. Here we find AMOLED displays and not LCD, plus the XL sports QHD resolution.
The SoC is the best Qualcomm has to offer today and the benchmarks show that it is the best in its field (in the majority of cases). You also have excellent cellular support with the X12 modem. On top of that you have a good camera, an above average battery, an option for 128GB of internal storage and the latest version of Android.
What we don’t have is an SD card slot, wireless charging, optical image stabilization, front facing speakers or proper waterproofing (like IP67). So while everything that the Pixel does include is top of the range, it might be what it doesn’t include that could be the deciding factor for you! Let me know what you think in the comments below!
Pros and cons: Our quick verdict on Google Home
It was only a matter of time before Google came out with something to compete with the Amazon Echo: After all, Google too has deep experience with both voice commands and search. Indeed, one of the things we like best about the new Google Home hub is how it responds to conversational inquiries — and how Google’s vast knowledge graph allow it to be genuinely helpful. What’s more, the $129 device has a lower profile than the Echo, making for a more discreet design. It also has a surprisingly good speaker, and being able to just tell it what music you want to hear is a killer feature.
We already like it, then, but we’ll like it even more when the device supports more third-party services, the way the Echo does. Right now, for instance, you can’t book restaurant reservations through OpenTable or buy movie tickets on Fandango. Such features are coming eventually, though, and when the do, they device will be much more useful.
This is Nougat on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
When major versions of Android are announced, it normally takes third-party OEMs a few months to update their devices with the latest version. Motorola and LG are normally two of the first manufacturers to release updates to their devices, while others, such as HTC and Samsung, tend to lag behind a bit.
This year, though, Samsung began rolling out a beta version of Android 7.0 Nougat to its flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge devices before many other manufacturers could. If you’re lucky enough to own one of these devices and are wondering what to expect, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at Android 7.0 Nougat (beta) on the Galaxy S7 Edge.
Don’t miss:
Android 7.0 Nougat review: an Android version for Android fans
October 21, 2016
First thing’s first – want to test out Android Nougat on your S7 or S7 Edge? You can! Just make sure you have an active Samsung account and the Galaxy Beta Program app installed (it can be downloaded through Samsung’s Galaxy Apps store). Alternatively, users can download the Samsung Members app which is available in the Google Play Store or Galaxy Apps depending on the region. Once you’re signed up, just wait for a software update to arrive for your device. That’s it. Once the update is complete, your device will be running the latest version of Android.
Before we get into what’s new in Nougat, let’s first talk about something many users are curious about:
Just how stable is Android 7.0 (beta) on the Galaxy S7 Edge?
Very. Unlike the experience you’d get with other software preview programs, this build (NRD90M to be exact) is extremely stable. Personally, I’ve found day-to-day performance to be a breeze, and I haven’t experienced much lag at all.
With that said, if you do opt to test it out, don’t be surprised if an app crashes here or there.
- Samsung Galaxy S7 review
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review
Now let’s talk about what changes Nougat brings to the table. To start, let’s focus on improvements in the user interface:
UI improvements galore
Nougat on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge brings along with it a good amount of improvements and tweaks throughout the user interface. New animations, a completely revamped settings menu, and a new font are just some of the things you’ll notice right off the bat.
Samsung has been changing the way it approaches its TouchWiz interface for years now, and we’re seeing even more changes to the interface with Nougat. Everything is cleaner, simpler, and much more easy to use, which is a huge step up from TouchWiz in years past.
Pulling down the notification shade for the first time, you’ll notice a lightly-colored row of quick settings below the date and time. Pulling down once more will open the quick settings menu, which is now completely customizable. Why is this good news? If, for example, you don’t want to keep a rarely-used quick settings tile (like Smart View or Ultra Power Saving Mode) front and center, you can now remove it.
Blue Light Filter
Ever since the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung has been working hard to bring a number of features found in the Note 7’s Grace UX to the S7 lineup. One of the most useful features Samsung was able to bring over to the S7 line is the new blue light filter. In case you’re unfamiliar, blue light filters reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen, which allows for less eye strain particularly at night.
You can toggle the blue light filter on and off by tapping the quick settings tile. A long-press of the quick settings tile will take you to the blue light filter settings, where you can change the opacity and set which time you’d like it to turn on or off. You have the option to set a custom schedule for the filter, or it can turn on and off automatically with the sunset and sunrise.
Revamped settings menu
Gone are the days of giant, confusing settings icons.
One other stark change with Nougat is a revamped settings menu. The entire menu is now in list format, which makes the menu much easier to navigate. Each category is listed in bold font with a short description of what you’ll find in that category. For instance, under the Display category, you’ll find “brightness, blue light filter, font” settings and more.
One other notable addition to the settings menu: if you’re looking for a particular setting but can’t seem to find it, you’ll get little suggestions at the bottom of each settings page that will help point you in the right direction. If you’re in the Display category, for instance, and can’t seem to find what you’re looking for, you can find a small prompt at the bottom of the settings page with suggestions. Simply tap on one of those suggestions to jump right to that page.
SamsungOne
You might also notice the font looks a bit different. That’s because the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are now using the company’s SamsungOne font, which was unveiled back in June 2016. Samsung says SamsungOne isn’t just a font; it’s a family of scripts that covers 26 writing systems, more than 400 languages and over 25,000 glyphs. Overall, the font seems clean, legible and Samsung-y. For reference, check out the image of Google’s Roboto font compared to SamsungOne:
New animations
The S7 Edge’s user interface has been quite snappy overall, and that’s thanks to the new animations Samsung threw in with Nougat. Below we’ve attached a short video showing these new animations in action:
Device Maintenance
Samsung also included a new Device Maintenance tool, which can be found in the device’s settings menu. What does it do, exactly? If your phone is running slowly, draining battery too quickly or experiencing any other normal smartphone problems, this new tool will help find the culprit. Once you open it up, it’ll automatically begin running a test. Your device will then be given a performance score out of 100. You can choose the Optimize now button which will fix the errors, or tap on the separate categories at the bottom of the screen to get more granular information.
In my experience, this new Device Maintenance tool has done a good job at finding the obvious things. Most of the time it will offer up suggestions to close background apps, clear cached data, or some other semi-obvious outlier. This feature won’t be for everyone, but it’s there if you need it.
Also, if you need help remembering to clear these things out regularly to help with device performance, you can add a Device Maintenance shortcut to your home screen.
Performance Mode
Since none of us use our phones in the same way, Samsung has added in a few new modes that will cater to those who spend more time gaming, watching videos, and more. Your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge should be in Normal mode by default, but you can easily switch to a different mode that will better suit your needs by heading to the Device Maintenance app and tapping on Performance Mode.
Depending on which mode you select, your phone’s settings will change to better cater to that profile. For instance, choosing Entertainment mode will result in your display increasing to 100% brightness, your screen resolution increasing to WQHD, and your video enhancer and UHQ upscaler being turned on.
New display settings
Samsung is giving users the option to scale down their displays to a lower resolution
With Android 7.0 Nougat, Samsung is giving users the option to scale down their displays to a lower resolution. Under the Display portion of the settings menu, you can opt for the full WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution, or bring it down to FHD (1920 x 1080) or HD (1280 x 720). This feature first debuted on the Galaxy Note 7, which offered users more screen resolution options as part of the phone’s Power Saving Mode.
It’s worth noting that the latest Android 7.0 beta scales down the display to 1080p by default, so you’ll need to manually change it back to Quad HD if you’d like to take full advantage of the high resolution display.
See also:
Latest Nougat beta for the Galaxy S7 defaults to 1080p display
5 days ago
Improvements to Always On Display
Last but not least, Samsung included some improvements to the Always On Display that makes it a little more functional.
Samsung’s Always On Display has been one of the most customizable implementations among Android manufacturers, though it’s been pretty useless if you need to actually interact with anything on your screen. Previous versions of the Always On Display would show when your phone receives a new notification, but there was no easy way to jump to that notification if you wanted.
Now Samsung’s Always On Display can jump right to a notification with a simple double-tap. It took a pretty long time for this feature to arrive, but I’m really thankful it’s finally here.
Other Nougat goodness
There’s a lot more where that came from. Samsung packed a lot of good stuff in this update, some of which we’ve already talked about in our Android 7.0 Nougat review. With Android Nougat, you’ll see improvements to multi-window and the ability to quickly switch between apps with a double tap of your recent apps key. You’ll also be able to directly reply from notifications without jumping into the app, as well as take advantage of bundled notifications.
Overall, I’ve been enjoying Android 7.0 Nougat on the Galaxy S7 Edge. Not only has Samsung brought its users a solid, feature-rich beta experience, but the company is building this version with user feedback. It’ll be interesting to see what features make it into the final, consumer-ready version of Nougat, and what features are left out.
Are you liking what you see so far with Nougat on the S7 and S7 Edge? Be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Choetech USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter review – CNET
The Good Relatively cheap. Adds HDMI and USB 3.0 ports to any USB-C port. Its USB-C port can be used for both pass-through charging and data transfers.
The Bad It’s bulky and has only one USB 3.0 port.
The Bottom Line An affordable adapter with more useful features than most of its rivals.
If you want to get more out of your USB-C port, this adapter could be just what you need.
The adapter adds HDMI and USB 3.0 connections to a USB-C port. It’s an alternative to the $60 Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter, and at $30 it does the same thing for half the price.
USB-C dongles for your new MacBooks
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It only has one USB 3.0 port (the Satechi has two) but its included USB-C port can be used for both pass-through charging and data connection. The adapter is available in only one color, unlike the Satechi, which has matching colors with Mac notebooks. It’s also rather bulky and doesn’t feel as solid as the Satechi.
Still, it gets the job done. If you need to quickly connect your new Mac notebooks to a big screen, this is an easy recommendation.
Bragi’s ‘Headphone’ takes on Apple’s AirPods
Almost three years ago, Bragi left an indelible mark on the headphone universe. The then-unknown company launched a pair of “truly” wireless headphones on Kickstarter that not only cut every wire, but boasted a slew of fitness-tracking features, all wrapped in a superslick design.
Bragi delivered on its promise, releasing the Dash this summer, but with a few compromises. The fitness features weren’t comprehensive enough to be valuable, the microphone wasn’t great, and even basic connectivity with phones wasn’t very stable. You can’t have bleeding edge without a few cuts, though, right?
Enter “the Headphone.” These $149 buds look a lot like the Dash, but are a much simpler proposition. The Headphone drops nearly all the smart features, and the result is arguably the product Bragi should have launched originally: a solid pair of truly wireless headphones. The Dash was definitely an impressive opening act, though, and perhaps necessary to earn the company the gravitas to be taken seriously.
The very first thing I noticed about the Headphone is that the build feels cheap compared to the Dash. The Headphone comes in a light plastic case — not a cold, weighty metal one this time. There’s no battery in that case either; it just serves as a charging cradle (and case, obviously). The Dash’s smooth, touch-sensitive controls have been replaced by physical buttons on the right bud. There’s also no app connectivity with the Headphone, and no onboard storage for music. So why bother? Well, there’s at least three very good reasons: connectivity, battery life and price.
Bragi defined the truly wireless headphones category, and many competitors soon emerged. Remarkably, all of them — almost without exception — suffered some form of connectivity hiccup. This could be between the buds themselves, or between the headphones and your phone when outside (an issue with the Dash). Some cheaper products presented both problems.
With the Headphone, connectivity issues have vanished — even outside walking with your phone deep in your pocket. The Dash is very sensitive, and if you have your phone in the wrong pocket, music would suffer dropouts. With the Headphone, I’ve had the odd minor glitch while turning my head to look for traffic crossing a road, with the phone in the opposite pocket.
The audio connectivity isn’t just better than the Dash; it’s better than any “truly” wireless buds I’ve tried (Erato’s Apollo 7 and Earin, to name a few). Importantly, the Headphone’s buds never lost connection with each other either — a common problem with these products. Best of all, unlike similar headsets, Bragi didn’t use a design with something hanging out of your ears (looking at you, AirPods) to help ensure good connectivity. Like the Dash, the Headphone sits flush in your ear, making them much more inconspicuous.
One downside to the physical buttons is that they require quite a push to register a click, so you’re basically mashing the earbud into your ear each time, which can feel uncomfortable. This mashing effect happens with all three buttons on the right bud. It’s a relatively minor annoyance, as you can always use your phone to control the volume, but it’s something to get used to.
The lack of fitness features on the Headphone isn’t a problem, as there are many other ways to track activity. But I did love the ability to load music onto the Dash and leave my phone at home when going for a run. Not many truly wireless buds offer this — Samsung’s Iconx is one of the others — but it’s a feature that elevates the usefulness of wireless earbuds, especially when music streaming might not be convenient.
A feature the Headphone does have is the “transparency” mode that Bragi helped pioneer. Transparency uses the microphone to blend ambient noise around you (traffic, people talking, etc.) with your music. Handy when you don’t want to stop your music, say when buying a coffee. But also a potential lifesaver for cyclists who gotta have their tunes on the ride to work.
It’s definitely a welcome addition to the Headphone’s relatively basic feature set, but for some reason, the ambient noise doesn’t seem to be quite as audible as it is on the Dash in the same conditions. My doorbell pierces through much less on the Headphone while listening at moderate volume, and sometimes I had to remove a bud to engage in conversation, which is less common with the Dash. Perhaps Bragi reconfigured it the second time around.
More important, music sounds pretty good on the Headphone, but a caveat: Bragi’s press materials told me this might not be the audio profile that will be on retail units. The profile on the model I’m wearing right now is fairly neutral. That’s to say, it’s sounds like there’s less emphasis on the bass and the high midrange frequencies (vocals, melodies, etc.), which are commonly ramped up in consumer headphones.
Again, if we’re comparing to the Dash, I actually prefer the Dash’s audio profile. It feels a little thicker, and has more impact (and a fair bit louder). The Headphone is still a very good listen, and probably more suitable to those who listen to live/acoustic music. My noisy brand of angry dance music just doesn’t feel quite as thumping this time around, though.
The microphone, on the other hand, is less impressive. I rang a number of friends and family and didn’t tell them I was using a hands-free, and nearly everyone asked me where I was calling from in that “you-sound-different” kinda way. I recorded a few tests on my MacBook using the mic on the Headphone, and they ranged from poor to inaudible. You’ll be able to use these to make calls, but it’s not a strong suit.
It might seem like there’s a lot of things lacking in the Headphone, and to a large degree that’s true … if you compare it to the Dash. Pit the Headphone against most of the competition, and suddenly things look rosier. The general connectivity situation is a great step forward for the category. The audio quality is solid (even if the mic is lacking), and the six or so hours of battery life is pretty decent (though a shame there’s no battery in the case).
At $149, the price undercuts Earin’s lightweight buds by some $50, and is (no doubt deliberate) $10 less than Apple’s AirPods, which is perhaps the competition Bragi’s really setting its sights on. With a better battery life, decent audio and enough change to buy yourself lunch, the Headphone should appeal to those iPhone 7 owners shopping around for a wireless set. Especially if Bragi can deliver on it’s “November” ship date and beat Apple to market.
AIVAnet 