Invoxia Voice Bridge review – CNET
The Good The Voice Bridge lets you access your landline from a mobile phone. The box is simple and compact, and there are no fees beyond the cost of the hardware.
The Bad Android support is still in beta. Setup can take some time, despite plug-and-play promises. No Wi-Fi means long cables if your phone jack isn’t near your router. It doesn’t play so nicely with answering machines, so be sure to answer calls quickly.
The Bottom Line The Voice Bridge does one thing — forward calls to and from your landline — but it does it pretty well.
If you’ve heard of Invoxia before, it’s likely because of Triby, the company’s fridge-friendly speaker that was the first non-Amazon device with built-in Alexa voice support. But now the French company is back with Voice Bridge, a tiny networking box that accesses your landline from any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. (You may see the Voice Bridge sold under the name “Swissvoice,” a brand that Invoxia acquired in 2013.) The hardware costs $99 or £79, but — unlike some similar services — there’s no recurring subscription fee. The Voice Bridge doesn’t appear to be available in Australia, but the US price converts to about AU$130.
Like a lot of other telephone accessories, Voice Bridge lives in the VoIP space — voice over internet protocol — but not in the traditional sense. Usually, a VoIP service replaces a traditional landline, instead routing phone calls over the web. Invoxia’s approach is to live alongside an existing landline, and forward those calls to an iOS device. (Android support is in beta.) More uniquely, the Voice Bridge can also allow you to remotely make calls from your mobile device using the landline number. That means, in theory, you could call from an iPhone in Europe via your US-based landline to another US-based number, and avoid any international long distance charges.
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Jacob Krol/CNET
Those are some very niche features, and — if you’re already using applications like Skype, WhatsApp or Google Voice — you can already make calls worldwide ranging from free to cheap. But for those who actually want to route mobile calls through their landline number, the Voice Bridge delivers. And it doesn’t cost you anything beyond the one-time hardware purchase.
Using Voice Bridge IRL
In addition to the Voice Bridge hardware (measuring 3.13 inches square, 0.8 inch tall; 7.95cm square, 2cm tall), you get a telephone cable, an ethernet cable and a power adapter (with several interchangeable international plugs included). The Voice Bridge doesn’t support Wi-Fi, but since it’s just a box you plug in and forget about, we’re not holding that against it. You will need to make sure your router and phone jack are within close proximity, however.
Sony’s hi-res turntable and software make it easy to go digital
Vinyl has seen a resurgence lately, with sales growth for this format outpacing digital. To stay on top of that trend, Sony refreshed its record player lineup to include the not-so-memorably named PS-HX500. Though it cuts a familiar figure, resembling many minimalist-style turntables, it was built with a 21st century purpose: to make quality digital copies of your treasured discs. That’s important for long-time collectors, of course, but also newer vinyl enthusiasts, who will also want to convert their discs into a high-resolution digital format as painlessly as possible.
As record enthusiasts will tell you, the love of vinyl is about the physical product, artwork and warm sound. Even so, this gives you the option of enjoying your tracks beyond just your home-listening zone. Besides, a digital archive is useful as either a backup of your rare records or a gradual transition to virtual media. (It’s also the format used by most modern DJs.) At $600, the PS-HX500 costs more than competing players, but the addition of an onboard analog-to-digital converter (ADC) helps justify the premium. In addition, the bundled software, though limited and a tad annoying to use, makes the seemingly endless task of real-time recording easier to stomach.
The PS-HX500 is pretty much ready to go right out of the box. You just need to put the platter, belt drive and record mat in place, add the tonearm weight and dial in the antiskate. For output, you can connect to your computer via USB, your stereo system or speaker using RCA (as phono or line-in) or even both at the same time — which can help you preview if you’re recording. The turntable also comes with a premounted Audio-Technica cartridge with a diamond-tipped stylus, so unless you want to swap in your own, you’re good to go there as well.
The power and speed controls are bundled together in a single dial on the front left, as you might expect, and can accommodate speeds of 33 and 45 RPM (rotations per minute). If you’re into vintage 78s, then, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
As far as design, there’s not much going on here. The device looks like most other casual-listening, non-DJ category turntables out there. There’s a straight tonearm with a built-in headshell and the base is made from sturdy-feeling composite wood. There’s a set of stout little legs with rounded, seemingly gel-filled feet, providing some give to kill unwanted vibrations. As usual, there’s also a standard lever for raising the needle off the vinyl without sending it skittering across the platter with your big, clumsy hands.
Unless you’re looking for high-end audiophile gear, this turntable should meet your expectations, with much of the sound output beyond the needle depending on the system you hook it up to. Really, the most interesting feature is the ability to record records to digital files over USB using the built-in ADC. Obviously, you could pick up an external analog-to-digital converter, various turntables and software (like Audacity), but that’s more things to include in your setup. For those without the time or knowledge to put together the right elements, the simplicity of this package is appealing.
Sony Hi-Res Audio Recorder settings.
I have mixed feelings about Sony’s Hi-Res Audio Recorder software. On the one hand, it has a simple, uncluttered interface, but that means you won’t get much in the way of granular or customizable settings. If you dig in, all you’ll find are audio export options and temporary file storage. File types include Sony’s Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and PCM. The DSD format is supposed to offer one of the most accurate representations of an analog waveform, but it’s only compatible with a limited selection of apps and hardware. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is another, more common digital approximation of the original analog waveform and is exported as a WAV file. Because I didn’t have any DSD-compatible options on hand, I stuck with the common WAV format for outputting.
Once your turntable is connected to a computer via USB, you fire up the (downloadable) app and click the record button to get things started. You won’t get any audio monitoring until you do this unless you’re playing audio over RCA in addition to USB. It’s also worth mentioning that the Hi-Res Audio Recorder software is proprietary and will work only with Sony’s turntable.
After clicking “record,” you’ll see a slightly annoying pop-up (one of many, actually) that asks if you’re ready to start the recording. The best way to convert a whole record is to let each side play through, pause, flip the disc and continue recording — up to 100 minutes per file. It’s an easy enough task to set markers at the start and end of each track in the waveform, simplifying the exclusion of breaks and pauses from the final export. When you’re done with all that, hit the “recording complete” button, then write to files for the final step.
Lastly, you’ll need to check off which marked sections contain tracks as opposed to blank material to be skipped. All sections are numbered in order, but if you use the “update file names” button at the bottom, it will consecutively number only the items you’ve selected. For this reason, it’s beneficial to export complete albums in a single file, so the tracks will all be in order. You want to avoid having various duplicately numbered items from multiple exports just lumped in next to each other.
The software also lets you apply the album artist field to all the track artist spots to save some data entry. You can also swap out the numeral-only file names with the track titles. Unfortunately, those options are buried in a drop-down menu at the bottom of the window, making the whole process feel a bit convoluted.
The weirdness doesn’t stop there: When saving files, the dialogue window doesn’t show a “new folder” option, but it will save albums as a unique folder or add tracks to an existing match. There are also quite a few secondary pop-ups that hinder your process, stopping you each time, asking for another click to proceed. Keyboard shortcuts are also in short supply. When you’re ready to start a new recording, Ctrl+N won’t do it; you need to head to the drop-down menu at the top. Ctrl+Z doesn’t help you backtrack in various instances, either. Failure to click the apply button after selecting the update file names option will also default to writing tracks as numerals (oddly, without a pop-up to warn you). Argh!
Ultimately, though, the recordings sound great (assuming your vinyl is in good nick), but you’ll have to wait until the audio files are saved to enjoy them at your selected quality. And if you want to edit out pops and crackles, you’ll need additional software.
Can you get the same results with a variety of other components? Sure. Both the Rega RP1 and Music Hall MMF 2.2 turntables have a similar style. They’re both priced in the $400 to $450 range, but don’t include an analog-to-digital converter. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can get an ADC for as little as $30 or so. If you’re looking to DJ, but want to have a USB output for recording, the Pioneer PLX-500 may be the way to go. If you just want a deck to play tunes and easily make digital high-resolution copies, the Sony PS-HX500 is a tempting option, those few software quirks aside. I found that although I could do all the same stuff (and more) with a multipiece setup, the turntable’s compact design, convenient setup and quality recordings make it worth the few extra bucks.
Ooma Telo review – CNET
The Good The Ooma Telo is affordable hardware that delivers basic landline-like service without monthly fees, with few compromises.
The Bad Calls and basic service is toll-free, but you still need to pay a few bucks a month in local taxes. Wi-Fi support requires you to buy an additional dongle.
The Bottom Line Ooma one-ups cable company internet phone plans with better call quality and a basic calling plan that starts at free (before taxes).
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Landlines aren’t dead — they’re just the freebies that come with your cable TV and broadband internet now. (Yes, many so-called “triple play” services are actually cheaper than if you pass on the included phone service.) But going with a third-party provider instead of your cable company’s default VoIP (voice over internet protocol) box can get you better hardware, better service and better options. That, essentially, is the pitch for the Ooma Telo.
Like other VoIP services, the Telo plugs into your broadband router and routes your calls over the internet, which allows for updated features like HD Calling (better sound quality for voice calls). You can either port your existing phone number over to Ooma or get a new number from the company.
Ooma Telo: Hands-on with the internet phone…
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The first investment is in the box itself, which costs $100. (It’s not supported outside the US and Canada, but if you plug it into a network anywhere in the world, it’ll probably work — albeit with a US number.) Then you’ll have to choose between basic or premium service. The basic service is free, but you’ll be stuck paying some state-imposed monthly fees. (It was $4 per month in New Jersey.) That gets you toll-free nationwide calling, call waiting, caller ID, 911 service, a call log history and voicemail. These last two can be accessed from Ooma’s online dashboard.
Ooma also offers a premium service for $9.99 per month, which includes several additional features, including voicemail via email, call screening, do not disturb and call forwarding. You can forward calls to an Android phone or iPhone. Ooma’s app is quite good and much more reliable than some other VoIP companions apps I’ve tried, such as the Invoxia Voice Bridge and MagicJack.
Cyclotricity Wallet review – CNET
The Good The Cyclotricity Wallet’s electric motor kicks in quickly and makes your inner-city commute a breeze.
The Bad It’s heavy, so even when it’s folded down you might struggle to carry it upstairs. The brakes and the gears could be better, too.
The Bottom Line It’s not perfect, but the Wallet is compact, easy to ride and most importantly, it’s affordable.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Electric motors have made cycling to the office a sweat-free breeze. Once you arrive at the office though, it’s still handy to fold your bike away to carry it inside. That’s where the Cyclotricity Wallet is worth a ride.
It’s a compact, city-centre bike that folds in two main places. The rear point allows the back wheel to swing forwards, while the second point lets the handlebar stem fold down on itself. Once collapsed, you can then lift the Wallet by its seat and push it along on the two conveniently-located caster wheels.
It’s a nice idea in theory, but the problem is that the bike weighs a really rather hefty 37 pounds. It’s a struggle to carry it up and down stairs, and trying to lug it onto public transport will no doubt be met with a few raised eyebrows. Still, it’s easy enough to wheel through office doors and into a sturdy lift. Also, the smaller footprint of its folded form makes it much more inconspicuous than a full-size road bike.
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Andrew Hoyle/CNET
Actually folding the bike down is something of a challenge, though. Even after multiple practice attempts, I still felt like I was wrenching apart the metal welding points when I tried to pull the handlebar stem from its socket. Maybe it’s something you’ll get used to in time.
Logitech Create for iPad Pro (9.7 inch) review – CNET
The Good The Logitech Create has backlit keys, a Pencil-holding loop, connects via the iPad Pro’s Smart Connector so it doesn’t need recharging, and costs less than Apple’s Smart Keyboard.
The Bad The case feels a little bulky. There’s only one keyboard angle. The case works well when typing, but feels awkward as an everyday case for reading or movie-watching.
The Bottom Line The Logitech Create might be the best way to get productive on a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, but only consider this case if you’re ready to use your iPad in laptop mode most of the time.
The iPad has always been a few steps away from being something like a laptop replacement for me. That gap seems to hover like a carrot on a short stick.
It’s not a fault of the hardware, the iPad Pro, especially the 9.7-inch version, is fantastically built. Its accessories are pretty nice, too. Logitech’s new Create keyboard case aims to make a streamlined backlit keyboard-plus-case that works with the side Smart Connector and works well enough to be an everyday tool.
I like Apple’s own Smart Keyboard for its small size, but it’s super-expensive, a bit floppy, and only covers the front of the iPad. The Create costs less ($130, £109, AU$200), has a better keyboard (but with little gaps where dust could sneak under the keys, unlike the one-piece Apple keyboard), and even has a little Pencil-holding loop in the back. Typing on it feels pretty great…but I like typing on Apple’s, too.
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Typing on the keyboard feels great, and it’s backlit.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Logitech’s keyboard has an extra row of shortcuts keys, something Apple’s lacks. The backlight automatically turns on when I start typing, but doesn’t stay on for more than a handful of seconds. The key layout feels a little more cramped than an 11-inch laptop, but it’s better than the similarly-sized one on the Chromebook Flip. It’s easy to type fast on it.
HP x4500 review – CNET
The Good The HP x4500’s sloping surface and large thumb rest hold your hand in a natural position for all-day comfort. The small wireless receiver offers the ease of plug-and-play, and the laser sensor has razor-sharp precision across most surfaces.
The Bad It’s not quite as good as some cheaper competitors. The mouse is contoured for right-handed users only.
The Bottom Line The HP x4500 is a reliable and comfortable mouse, but it’s just not quite as good as some rival models you can buy for less.
Let’s face it: buying a new mouse for your computer is something even less than an impulse purchase. You want to spend as little time as possible doing research for this purchase, so I’ll give it to you straight. The only three reasons to buy the HP X4500 are if (1) you just need a basic three-button wireless mouse; (2) you’re right-handed; and (3) you have an aversion to the many better Logitech and Microsoft mice available.
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For shoppers on a budget with simplicity at the top of their list, the HP x4500 is a reliable mouse that cradles your hand with all-day comfort.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The allure of the x4500 isn’t its contoured platform or the razor-sharp laser sensor. It’s actually the bargain price tag. You can get it online right now for less than $25 in the US, £21 in the UK and AU$40 in Australia.
The x4500 keeps it simple with standard left and right clickers on top and a notched scroll wheel in the middle that also works as a third button. If you’re looking for a faster way to access application shortcuts, the Logitech M510 is a tinkerer’s dream with seven buttons and a budget price tag.
LG WT1801HVA review – CNET
The Good LG’s $1,150 WT1801HVA top-load washing machine has a next-gen front-mounted display panel that looks great and is very easy to use.
The Bad This washer didn’t impress when it came to stain removal and its Smart Diagnosis troubleshooting app needs some work.
The Bottom Line LG’s WT1801HVA will add style to your laundry room, but won’t necessarily clean better than your current washer.
With a different design layout than most of today’s top-load washers, LG’s $1,150 WT1801HVA is a truly innovative machine. Leading the charge against tired, outdated top-loaders of generations past, this modern update is very welcome.
The problem is that the WT1801HVA isn’t a great performer. While it was fairly gentle on clothes during our wear and tear tests, it didn’t do as well with the whole stain-removal thing — especially compared with its Kenmore 29133 competition. This doesn’t mean you should rule out the WT1801HVA, but be sure to weigh this washer against some other options before you make a final decision.
Take a closer look at LG’s WT1801HVA washer
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A different kind of top-loader
LG’s WT1801HVA doesn’t look like your standard top-load washer. With front-mounted controls that more closely resemble a front-load machine, the WT1801HVA is a bit of a trendsetter in terms of layout. That snazzy front-mounted, touchpad display is also missing the standard cleaning cycle knob you see on most models today. I like this style departure, especially because the display panel buttons are responsive without being overly sensitive. It does look similar to Samsung’s second-gen Activewash model, although that display panel is still located behind the cleaning drum. Either way, I hope to see modern display like these on more top-load washers.
This attractive graphite-steel-wrapped washer has solid specs, too. Take a look at the comparison chart below to see how it stacks up to the competition:
Comparing washing machines
| LG WT1801HVA | Kenmore 29133 | GE GTW860SPJMC |
| $1,150 | $1,100 | $1,200 |
| Graphite steel, white (for $1,050) | Metallic, white (model #29132 for $1,180) | Metallic, white (for $1,100) |
| 4.9 cubic feet | 5.3 cubic feet | 5.1 cubic feet |
| 12 | 9 | 13 |
| 135 kWh/year | 259 kWh/year | 152 kWh/year |
| 15 gallons | 17.7 gallons | 12.3 gallons |
| 27 x 40.2 x 28.4 inches | 27.5 x 42 x 27.9 inches | 28 x 44.5 x 29 inches |
| 10-year, limited | 1-year, limited | 1-year, limited |
| 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz |
| Yes, Android and iPhone | No | Yes, Android and iPhone |
With an estimated yearly energy usage of 135 kilowatt hours (kWh), a high-efficiency 15-gallon water usage average, 12 cleaning cycles and integration with LG’s Smart Diagnosis tech (more on that in a bit), the WT1801HVA doesn’t skimp on options. The one drawback is its cubic-foot capacity: 4.9 cubic feet is plenty big enough for regular laundry needs, but both the Kenmore 29133 and GE’s GTW860SPJMC offer 5+-cubic-foot capacities.
Here’s a list of the WT1801HVA’s cleaning cycles:
- Cotton/Normal
- Bulky/Bedding
- Perm. Press/Casual
In other washer news:
- How to buy a washing machine: The CNET washing machine buying guide
- How we test washing machines
- This giant washer dominates its top-load competition
- Speed Wash
- Delicates
- Tub Clean
- Sanitary
- Allergiene
- Heavy Duty
- Bright Whites
- Wool
- Towels
Software stuff
Screenshot by CNET
So let’s talk about that LG Smart Diagnosis troubleshooting feature. The idea is that you can press a button on your washer, and your smartphone’s microphone will listen to a “tone transmission” that sounds like old-school dial-up internet. From there, Smart Diagnosis will tell you if something’s wrong with your washer and try to determine what the exact issue is.
This feature worked well for me on the WT1801HVA, but it’s a little tricky to figure out which app to use. That’s because there’s an LG Laundry and DW app, an LG Smart ThinQ app and a LG SDS app (all available for both Android and iPhone). To complicate things further, an LG rep told me Smart Diagnosis is “available on all LG washers,” but not every LG washer is Wi-Fi-enabled (the WT1801HVA doesn’t have Wi-Fi). So which app do you use? Unfortunately, LG doesn’t make that clear on the WT1801HVA’s dedicated page or anywhere else that I could find.
BlackBerry DTEK50 review
BlackBerry launched their first Android smartphone ever last year, and while there were a lot of people who were eagerly awaiting its launch, the Priv fell short of expectations. Granted, there were some good things going for it, but a lackluster camera and premium pricing meant that their first effort wasn’t exactly a smash hit.
- BlackBerry PRIV review
- BlackBerry DTEK50 hands on
Now, BlackBerry is back with their second attempt, and what BlackBerry is touting as the most secure smartphone in the world. What else does this device have to offer, and is security enough of a selling point to make this phone worth buying? We find out, in this in-depth BlackBerry DTEK50 review!
Buy the BlackBerry DTEK50 now
Design
When looking at the BlackBerry DTEK50, you will find that this device appears to be eerily similar to another phone that we’ve seen before, but not to worry, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The design of the DTEK50 is actually based on the same TCL reference design that Alacatel used with the Ido 4, making them pretty much identical.
Everything from the curves at the top and bottom, the rounded corners, flat sides, and the dual front-facing and rear-facing speaker setup is found with the DTEK50, and the only distinguishable design element that separates this from the Idol 4 is on the back. Instead of a glass backing that is available with the latter, the DTEK50 features a textured material with a silicone-like feel.
This difference actually works in favor of the BlackBerry smartphone, with it not attracting fingerprints, and allowing for a lot of grip. The general shape of the DTEK50 is reminiscent of the Nexus 4, especially when looking at it from the front, so I’m definitely a fan of the design. It’s simple, clean, and easy to use with one hand, thanks to the thin side bezels and small top and bottom chin.
Taking a look around the device, the SIM and microSD card slot is on the right side, and the headphone jack and microUSB port are at the top and bottom respectively. The volume rocker is also on the right, and below it is a large circular button that you would expect is the power button. Instead, it is what BlackBerry is calling the “convenience key.” This is a completely programmable button that can be used for a variety of functions, like composing a text, controlling the LED flash, toggling Wi-Fi, or opening any app.
The power button is located on the upper left side of the phone, and that is actually my biggest gripe with the design of the DTEK50. Unless you use the phone with your left hand, it can be quite awkward and difficult to reach the power button, and will certainly take some getting used to. Thankfully, the phone does come with a double tap to wake and sleep feature, and even though it may not work as well, and can be quite slow at times, it’s still better than having to reach for the power button all the time. The convenience key can be used to lock the device, but unfortunately cannot wake it.
Display
The BlackBerry DTEK50 comes with a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, with a Full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 424 ppi. It’s not a display that is going to amaze, but you certainly won’t have any complaints either. It gets bright enough to see outdoors, has decent viewing angles, and offers a good amount of color and contrast, without being oversaturated. 1080p is more than enough at this display size, and reading text, watching videos, and playing games are all enjoyable on this screen.
Performance
Under the hood, the DTEK50 comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 405 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. This processing package is pretty standard fare when it comes to mid-range smartphones in 2016, but the performance is a little bit of a mixed bag. With normal, everyday use, the smartphone works perfectly well.
The touch responsiveness is good, and opening, closing, and switching between apps doesn’t result in any problems, even if there is an occasional stutter here and there. While gaming, however, is where you will notice a lot of hiccups. Games are very playable for the most part, but load times can be pretty long, and there tends to be a lot of choppiness and lag when playing a game as basic as Pokemon Go.
This issue is even more pronounced if there are a lot of graphical elements on the screen at the same time. Games like CSR Racing 2 have to render graphics at a much lower resolution, and also limit some in-game functionality in order to run smoothly, which is a little disappointing. If you’re big into mobile gaming, the DTEK50 won’t make the cut, but for everything else, this phone will certainly get the job done.
Hardware
You only get 16 GB of on-board storage with the DTEK50, but the device does offer expandable storage via microSD card up to 256 GB, so if you are looking to download a lot of apps and games, you will definitely need to pick up a microSD card.
One of the best aspects of the DTEK50, as is also the case with the Idol 4, is the speaker setup of the device. You get dual front-facing speakers as well as dual rear-facing speakers, and the sound quality is pretty good. They get plenty loud, and the audio doesn’t sound tinny, or become distorted at the highest volumes. Since the speakers are also mirrored on the back, and you can put the phone face up or down without any deterioration in sound quality. The only issue with these speakers is that because of the tiny machined holes, they are very prone to getting dirty and trapping dust.
On the battery side, the DTEK50 comes with a 2,610 mAh unit, which is rather small when compared to other similar smartphones that are available. As such, battery life proves to be a weak point for this device. You can get a full day of battery life with light usage, but if you are someone who likes to play games, watch videos, and check social media often, the phone will unfortunately not last a day.
With similar usage, I needed to charge the device after just 7 or 8 hours. You do get Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 support, so it doesn’t take long to get back to a full charge, but if you are on the move often, picking up a battery pack may be a good idea.
Camera
The BlackBerry DTEK50 comes with a 13 MP rear camera, with a f/2.0 aperture, phase detection auto focus, and a dual LED flash, along with an 8 MP front-facing shooter, with a f/2.2 aperture.
As far as the camera app is concerned, it is quite simplistic, with not a lot of bells and whistles. You don’t get any extra shooting modes beyond the standard video, photo, panorama, but it does have a bunch of live filters built in. There is also a HDR Auto mode, and a built-in manual mode for controlling the focus, white balance, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure.
To get a great looking photo with this camera, the lighting conditions have to be perfect, but even then, there is a noticeable lack of sharpness and detail when zooming in. The color reproduction is good though, when shooting outdoors or in well-lit areas.
However, in low-light conditions is where the image quality really deteriorates. The camera constantly hunts for focus, making it very difficult to take a photo, and when you do take a shot, they’re usually very noisy with a lot of artifacts, and the images just look soft and muddy.
The front-facing 8 MP isn’t particularly noteworthy either. You can take some decent selfies with it, and the notification LED can also double as a front-facing flash to help you get slightly better results in low-light situations, but the results are still typically not that great.
Software
The big selling point of the DTEK50 isn’t the design, the camera, or the specifications. It’s all about the software, and the security that comes along with it. The majority of the security comes from the DTEK application, which is also what gives this phone its name. DTEK will show you the security status of the device, and this can change over time the more you use the phone. With DTEK, all your data is encrypted, and you can control the permissions of individual apps and what they’re allowed to access, so you never have to worry about apps having access to things that you don’t want it to.
There’s also a factory reset protection, so in the event that someone steals your phone and factory resets it, they still won’t be able to use the phone without knowing your Google account info. Whether it really is the most secure smartphone in the world is pretty tough to say, but BlackBerry is promising that they will be very quick to release security patch updates as soon as they are available.
The rest of the software is a very stock-like Android 6.0 Marshmallow experience, with a lot of Blackberry’s software enhancements on top, many of which were seen with the Priv last year. It comes with BBM installed by default, which is something I personally don’t use, but could be ideal for those who still love communicating via BBM.
However, I do like a lot of the features from BlackBerry, and many of them are actually pretty useful. You have the productivity tab, which you can access by swiping from the right, to see your current calendar events, emails, tasks, and your most recent contacts.
My favorite feature of the lot definitely has to be the BlackBerry Hub. If you aren’t familiar with it, the BlackBerry Hub is your one stop shop for virtually all your notifications. It aggregates your BBMs, text messages, emails, phone calls, and social media, all in one place, making them very easy to check. It does have some issues, such as Gmail not rendering properly through the Hub, but for the most part it does what it is suppose to do extremely well.
You can also swipe up from the bottom, similar to how you would access Google Now before, but here, you get access to three app shortcuts, which are set to BlackBerry Search, the dialer, and the Hub, by default. You can change them to whatever you want though.
BlackBerry gives you a lot of room for tweaking and customization, and something that I really enjoy is the fact that you can use third party icon packs to customize the default launcher. If you’re a fan of widgets, the Pop Up widgets is another very useful feature. Basically, any app that you have that supports a widget will display 3 dots beneath it, and all you have to do is swipe up to open the widget. It’s a really elegant solution to using widgets without having them take up any space on your home screens.
Of course, you can’t talk about a BlackBerry without talking about keyboards. The DTEK50 is an all touch screen device, so it obviously doesn’t have a physical keyboard, but it does come with BlackBerry’s own software keyboard. It’s accurate and easy to type on, and I like that the predictive text allows you to swipe up on a letter to quickly complete a word.
BlackBerry’s software isn’t perfect, and it does have some minor quirks, like the way the app drawer looks when the apps are sorted alphabetically. They’re not only sorted alphabetically, but it’s also sectioned out by the letter, and visually just doesn’t look very appealing. Overall though, I’m a fan of the software package, and their features add a lot of value, without making the experience feel boated, or taking away from the stock Android experience.
Specifications
| Display | 5.2-inch IPS LCD display 1080p, 424 ppi |
| Processor | 1.5 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 Adreno 405 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB expandable via microSD card up to 256 GB |
| Camera | 13 MP rear camera, f/2.0 aperture, dual LED flash 8 MP front-facing camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS microUSB 2.0 |
| Battery | 2,610 mAh |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 147 x 72.5 x 7.4 mm 135 grams |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The BlackBerry DTEK50 will be priced at $300 in the US, and will be available unlocked, and can be used with AT&T and T-Mobile.
There you have it for this in-depth look at the BlackBerry DTEK50! $300 is relatively cheap, especially if you want a smartphone that prioritizes security. If that is the case, you’re probably not going to find a better deal.
However, as far as phones go, there are a few better options out there that offer a lot more for similar prices, like the OnePlus 3, the Moto G4 Plus, and the Axon 7. If you do store a lot of sensitive information on your phone, the DTEK50’s top notch security will be well worth the investment, but if there is one major flaw, it is that BlackBerry didn’t make it a better phone all around.
What do you think about the BlackBerry DTEK50 and would you buy one? Is smartphone security as important to you as say, things like the camera, display or battery? Let us know your views in the comments below!
Buy the BlackBerry DTEK50 now
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016) review – CNET
The Good The Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 comes with all the trimmings — a slim metal chassis, backflipping touchscreen, speedy solid state drive and accurate touchpad — for hundreds less than you’d expect. A face-recognizing camera, rare for any laptop, is icing on the cake.
The Bad The glossy touchscreen creates distracting reflections, and a poorly-placed power button is easy to press by accident. Uninspired design, heavier than competing laptops and battery life is slightly below average.
The Bottom Line Whether you need a 13-inch portable or a 15-inch workhorse, the Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 offers unheard-of value for money. You can invest in an external battery pack to extend its battery life.
I’m going to save you a lot of time. Do you like how this laptop looks? Does it meet your tight budget? Then buy it. Buy it and never look back.
I’ve never said that about a laptop before, but the Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 series is truly exceptional. For just $750, these 13- and 15-inch laptops don’t merely punch above their price bracket, they do it without removing any of the features you’d want and expect from a PC in 2016.
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The Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1, in 13- and 15-inch models.
Josh Miller/CNET
Where Dell excels
To reach a sub-$800 price, PC manufacturers typically cut a lot of corners. This Dell doesn’t.
- While manufacturers are usually happy to sell you a plastic laptop by adding a thin veneer of metal up top, this Dell is metal all the way around.
- While some vendors stuff a crappy low-resolution LCD panel into their cheaper computers — or maybe one with terrible viewing angles — both the 13- and 15-inch Dell come standard with a crisp 1,920×1,080-pixel IPS touchscreen display that’s completely competent.
- While some cheaper laptops start with a slower Intel Core M processor, Dell goes tried and true here with a current-gen Core i5 chip.
- While some of the very best laptops pretend to give you a deal by sticking you with a paltry 4GB of memory or 128GB of solid state storage and charge extra for more, this Dell comes standard with 8GB and 256GB modules that won’t bog down your system.
- While some laptop manufacturers forget about having a decent backlit keyboard and touchpad in their never-ending quest for thinness, the Dell is well above average on both counts. No issue with scrolling or pinch to zoom, which is rare for Windows laptops.
- And while some laptops have drastically different specs, ports and prices if you opt for a version with a larger screen, the 13- and 15-inch Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 are practically identical. (Only the 17-inch version is different — we’ll review it separately in the weeks to come.)
But Dell’s new laptop isn’t merely competent for less money, it goes above and beyond. This $750 computer is one of the very few with a Windows Hello face-recognizing camera, and it’s one of my favorite new features in years.
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This infrared camera lets you log into Windows with your face. Watch our video to see how.
Josh Miller/CNET
The camera lets you securely log into Windows with your face just by looking at the screen. Just train the computer to recognize your face (Start -> “Set up face sign-in”) and there’ll be no need to type passwords when you log into Windows. Because the infrared camera can see in 3D, it can’t easily be fooled by a picture of a face: Only the real deal.
It’s a shame the camera’s a little sluggish to start up — way slower than the one we tested in Toshiba’s pricier Radius 12 late last year — but it’s still faster than typing a password. I use it constantly.
The only notable flaws
The Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 has two weak points. The first is the terribly-placed power button on the front right edge of the machine. I’m still trying to train myself not to accidentally put the computer to sleep when I pick up this PC.
The second is battery life. I only saw about 6 hours from the 13- and 15-inch models in our standard video streaming playback test, and roughly 4-5 hours of real work. That’s not great for a thin-and-light laptop — in our tests, the best usually muster 8-10 hours of streaming video playback on a charge.
BlackBerry DTEK50 review: Cheap, secure and better than expected
BlackBerry’s first Android phone was a curious, ambitious machine, so it’s funny that the company’s second turned out to be so … practical. The $299 DTEK50 is affordable from the get-go, lacks a physical keyboard and was basically tailor-made for corporations to buy in bulk. Seriously: BlackBerry has been pretty candid about the fact that this is a “fleet” device, a supersecure phone it hopes will attract companies trying to trick out their mobile workforce. BlackBerry is trying to pitch this to regular people too, though, and in the process, it’s hurling the DTEK into a crowded, crazy-competitive pool of midrange phones. Spoiler alert: It’s probably not for you.
Hardware
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you already know BlackBerry didn’t design the DTEK50 by itself. Instead, the company chose a reference design from TCL — the folks behind the Alcatel brand — that offered the level of performance it was after. That decision was… divisive, to say the least. CEO John Chen has long said that BlackBerry would stay in the hardware game as long as there was money in it, and by customizing an existing design, the company just saved heaps of money on product development. The flipside is that the finished device doesn’t really feel like a BlackBerry.
I’ll be the first to admit that sounds a little silly, but still, I was a little worried when I first heard the news. BlackBerry has historically taken pride in designing its devices, from pint-size beauties like the Pearl series to last year’s delightfully bonkers Priv. Pulling an existing design off a shelf and adding BlackBerry accents like a logo and a textured rubber back didn’t sit right with me at first, even though the company maintains it’s a pretty common practice.
Ultimately, though, it’s safe to say that these concerns only really matter to mobile wonks like me. Once I got down from my high horse, I was met with a device that’s respectably well built and even sort of handsome (in an understated sort of way). The company also says the DTEK50 is the thinnest BlackBerry ever, which helps explain the mediocre 2,610mAh battery squeezed in there. I’ll dig into that a little later; for now, just know that the DTEK50 manages to be very light without ever feeling cheap. Nice work, TCL.
Unlike last year’s premium Priv, we’re working with a midrange list of specifications: an octa-core Snapdragon 617 chipset with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 405 GPU. Alas, there’s no physical keyboard this time; you’ll be typing your messages on a 5.2-inch, 1080p IPS LCD touchscreen. Flanking the display is a surprisingly capable pair of stereo speakers, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and a notification LED up top. But don’t get too excited, BlackBerry loyalists: It only blinks white. Meanwhile, the DTEK50’s backside is home to a 13-megapixel camera (with phase-detection autofocus, no less) and a two-tone LED flash.
For a phone that’s so focused on security, it’s a little odd that the DTEK50 doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. The reason is purely practical: BlackBerry had to keep costs down. That’s probably also why the DTEK50 comes with only 16GB of internal storage. (Thankfully, you can add up to 2TB of storage by way of a microSD card slot.)
What we got instead of said scanner is a convenience key that sits below the volume rocker on the phone’s right edge. The premise is simple, enough: You can set it to launch apps or perform specific actions like calling someone or turning on the flashlight. Alas, the convenience key isn’t always very convenient. It won’t work while the phone is locked — something its distant relative, the Idol 4S, does just fine — and you can’t use it to snap a quick photo or take screenshots. More important, that key sits where most phones have their power buttons, and it took me an entire week to get used to that tricky placement. (If you’d rather not reset your muscle memory, you can make the convenience key unlock the phone too.)
Display and sound
The Priv’s fancy, curved AMOLED panel obviously wasn’t going to make the jump into a midrange phone, but — surprise, surprise — the 5.2-inch LCD we got on the DTEK50 is pretty damned good. It runs at 1080p (that’s a pixel density of 424 ppi, if you didn’t feel like doing the math), making for plenty of crisp text and visuals. It lacks the sort of punchy colors and deep blacks we got from the Priv, but who cares? They’re accurate, and the screen and scratch-resistant glass covering it are laminated together, so viewing angles are great. (If the color temperature doesn’t do it for you out of the box, you can tweak it in the device’s settings.)
In fact, the only time the DTEK50’s display seems to fall short is when you look at it next to other devices that cost about the same. ZTE’s Axon 7 will cost only $100 more when it launches in the US in September, and it features a beautiful Quad HD screen. Would it have been nice to get a higher-res screen on the DTEK50? Sure. Would it have made any sense, considering BlackBerry is trying to sell these en masse to businesses? Not even a little.
The audio quality another pleasant surprise, given that BlackBerry has never paid much attention to it in the past. I always feel a little twinge of giddiness when a phone I’m reviewing has stereo speakers, and the DTEK50’s offer crisp highs and decent channel separation for immersive sound. Even better, the speaker setup is replicated on the phone’s back so the jams won’t stop even when the DTEK50 is lying face down. Still, they’re far from perfect: Most songs I tried sounded hollow. What’s more, the DTEK’s maximum volume isn’t terribly loud, though it’ll do fine for podcasts and YouTube videos. The DTEK50 also comes with Waves’ MaxxAudio tuner, but your mileage may vary. The app’s presets usually succeeded in making my songs sound different, but not necessarily better.
Software and security
Now that the company is willing to almost completely outsource hardware design and production, BlackBerry’s soul boils down to two things: software and security. Unless it nails both of those things, then, there’s little reason to buy into the company’s vision. As far as the former goes, there’s no point in hiding it: I dig BlackBerry’s take. Things haven’t changed dramatically since the Priv’s days — the company didn’t mess with Android 6.0.1 itself. Most of the same tricks are back and they still focus on getting things done fast.
Swiping up from the bottom of the screen, for instance, brings up shortcuts to the dialer, the Device Search app and BlackBerry’s Hub. Long story short, the hub acts as a one-stop shop for your messages, be they emails, BBMs, texts, Facebook messages or Viber pings. I typically prefer the rush of pseudo-productivity that comes with jumping in and out of multiple apps, but it didn’t take long to appreciate having a single place to triage all the stuff that flew into my inbox. (As a bonus, you can now download this app from the Play Store and use it on other Android devices too.)
Meanwhile, peer closely enough at the screen and you’ll see the edge of a tab all the way on the right. Swiping on that opens the Productivity tab, where you’ll find a rundown of the day’s calendar events, unread messages, tasks that need completing and favorite contacts (you know, just because). Just like Samsung’s Edge UX, it’s easy to forget the feature even exists, but it’s handy when you do remember it’s there.
If that wasn’t enough swiping, you can view an app’s widgets in a pop-up window (as opposed to finding room for them on your home screens) by swiping up on them. It’s a neat touch that gives you extra context without having to fully open the app, but I never really use widgets in the first place. That swiping continues when you use BlackBerry’s software keyboard. Fan that I am of Google’s in-house keyboard, I love what BlackBerry has come up with: It’s perfectly sized, it’s precise and swiping up on word suggestions to complete messages is actually pretty fun. It’s easily one of the finest keyboards available on an Android phone, which is only natural considering the company that made it. Curiously, though, one of the BlackBerry’s neatest software touches didn’t make the leap here: You can no longer set a Picture Password, which is puzzling because it worked fine on the Priv.
Obviously, the DTEK50’s biggest selling point is security, and I haven’t dwelled on it until now is because it’s almost completely invisible to the person using the phone. You can’t tell that a hardware root of trust was baked into the phone during manufacturing, just like you can’t tell the phone is fully encrypted by default. The only real reminder that the DTEK50 is more locked down than most is the namesake DTEK app, which offers an at-a-glance look at how secure the phone is. But here’s the rub: DTEK is what you make of it. You’ll get a rating and a checklist of things that are or aren’t going well on the phone upon launch, but after you take basic precautions like setting up a PIN, the app mostly just says everything is excellent.
It’s when you dig a little further that DTEK’s value really becomes apparent — it outlines which apps have access to certain parts of the phone and counts up how many times those apps try to gain access. As of this writing, for instance, Facebook Messenger has tapped into my device’s contacts nearly 500 times. In certain cases, you can even see where you were when an app tried to gain access. More important, permissions can easily be revoked and apps can be quickly uninstalled from within DTEK, making it yet another one-stop shop for functions that would normally be buried in settings menus.
Camera
I wasn’t expecting much from the DTEK50’s 13-megapixel camera. After all, BlackBerry hasn’t had the best track record with imaging performance, and on at least one occasion it didn’t bother with a camera at all. It turns out that fretting was for nothing: The DTEK50 won’t win any photography awards, but both its main and front-facing cameras were respectable performers. That main sensor around back has a f/2.0 aperture lens and a phase-detection autofocus system; too bad it lacks the optical image-stabilization offered on last year’s Priv.
Even so, my photos contained plenty of detail, with nicely balanced colors in good lighting conditions. Don’t expect too much from the DTEK50 in low light; you’ll see grain and soft edges everywhere (even after the phone applies it multiframe low-light enhancements). I really shouldn’t have been surprised at the DTEK50’s performance here — midrange phones have become more impressive on all fronts, cameras included. That said, I still preferred the photos I took with the similarly priced Moto G4 Plus, which packs a 16-megapixel sensor and an additional laser auto-focus module.
BlackBerry still gets some credit for piecing together a good camera app, though. A shutter button lives on the right edge of the screen, with a handy exposure slider, mode selector and a panel of photo filter effects nearby for easy access. More serious photographers will get some mileage out of the included manual mode, which allows for finer control over focus, white balance, shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO. It’s not the most polished camera app, but it’s enough to get the job done.
Performance and battery life
This is where things start to get hairy. The octa-core Snapdragon 617 (with four 1.5GHz cores and four 1.2GHz cores) is a well-known chipset at this point and has landed starring roles in phones like the fourth-generation Moto G line and the HTC One A9. For the most part, that combination of CPU cores and 3GB of RAM keep the DTEK50 running without issue. It’s certainly not flagship level, but launching apps, multitasking and generally just getting things done generally aren’t a problem. Graphically intense games sometimes threw the DTEK50 for a bit of a loop, but I could usually log plenty of time in Asphalt 8 with the visual settings cranked up before noticing any slowdown.
Once in a while, though, the phone would start to stutter, even during pretty basic tasks, before eventually returning to normal. I didn’t see hiccups this frequently while playing with other 617-powered devices, though that’s not to say they were immune to the occasional slowdown. I could usually clear things up by closing all running apps, and I suspect at least sometimes the problem was caused by using the DTEK50 out in the summer heat. Thankfully, these issues didn’t crop up every day, and with any luck a post-launch software patch will help smooth things out a bit.
HTC One A9
AndEBench
5,758
16,371
7,505
7,570
Vellamo 3.0
2,741
2,819
3,461
2,585
3DMark IS Unlimited
9,529
9,851
19,200
9,076
GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen (fps)
N/A
6.6
15
6.6
CF-Bench
59,170
60,998
56,206
61,789
The battery, meanwhile, has been awfully hit-or-miss. BlackBerry and TCL fitted the phone with a 2,610mAh nonremovable cell that typically saw me through a full workday and then some before giving up the ghost. That’s about 14 hours of pretty consistent, mixed use — my days involve lots of phone calls, emails, Slack messages and card-slinging in Hearthstone, for the record. That’s in line with what we’ve seen from other midrange phones, which makes the DTEK50’s lackluster performance in our standard video rundown test so surprising. The phone looped a 720p video with screen brightness set to 50 percent and WiFi connected for just under eight hours, putting it well below the LG G5 (with a similar size battery) and either of this year’s new Moto Gs. In fairness, that’s not exactly a natural use case — I don’t know many people who’d watch videos on their phones for eight hours straight — but it’s still sort of a let-down.
The competition
BlackBerry clearly wants to sell tons of DTEK50s to businesses, and among corporate buyers, the company’s storied brand and devotion to security might give the phone an edge. The thing is, BlackBerry is trying to sell these to regular people too, and on that front, the DTEK50 faces a much tougher fight. Consider this year’s Moto G Plus, an enhanced version of the fourth-generation Moto G that launched alongside it. For $299, you’ll get a phone with the same Snapdragon chipset as the DTEK50 but with more RAM (4GB), more storage out of the box (64GB), a better camera (16 megapixels), a fingerprint sensor and an almost-stock version of Android. Motorola’s tight focus has wavered a bit — there are more Moto models now than ever — but the brand can still put out an excellent cheap phone.
The problem is, you could do so much better if you’d be willing to spend just a little more cash. ZTE’s Axon 7 and the OnePlus 3 can be had for as little as $399, and they offer full-on flagship performance in impeccably built bodies. None of these options offer the same level of hardened security as the DTEK50, but if you’re dead-set on a BlackBerry, you could find a Priv online for around $300. It might be a little older, but the Snapdragon 808 chip inside it is still no slouch, and you’ll get a great physical keyboard, to boot.
Wrap-up
It’s been more than a week, and it’s still hard to judge the DTEK50. As a ploy to appeal to those crucial business customers, it’s brilliant. For them, the DTEK50 is a solid, not-very-expensive option with the security chops to put IT paranoiacs at ease. As a phone for regular people, though, the DTEK50 is a much a tougher sell. Make no mistake: The DTEK50 is a perfectly good handset, and I’ll always appreciate BlackBerry for trying to keep security in the front of people’s minds. Still, it takes more than that to make a smartphone great, and BlackBerry’s approach won’t be for everyone. Unless you’re a BlackBerry loyalist or you take your security very, very seriously, you’re better off setting your sights elsewhere.
AIVAnet 