MY SOUNDBAR DECISION JUST GOT EASIER

So many soundbars.

The functionality has grown exponentially. Well, the claims of functionality have certainly exploded anyway.

These days the humble soundbar seems to be able to simulate any multi-speaker surround sound system available. Apparently.

How good can one bar really be? Or maybe we should lower our expectations. You know, just a little...

The Sony HT-X8500 definitely falls in the under-promise/over-deliver camp.

There's something almost retro about the look of it; the rounded corners, the textured surface of the leather-like casing... even the contrasting trim on the base of the device - for some reason there's a more organic feel to the HT-X8500 than a lot of those other, anonymously black and boring bars.

The look of it isn't the only retro element here, you could argue operation of the HT-X8500 is kind of old-fashioned too - but only in a good way.

Take the setup process for example. Plug it in. Done. That's literally it. There's no app. It doesn't connect to your WiFi. There's a power cord, an HDMI cable, or if you want to get really tricky, you could use an optical lead instead. Of all the devices I've reviewed this year, this one was probably up and running quicker than any other.

This is not to suggest a lack of options or sound settings. There are plenty and you'll find all of them right in front of you on the remote. These days it's very unusual to have so many preset configurations available from designated buttons on the remote. Usually we're presented with some kind of jog-wheel or up/down/left/right controller to scroll through myriad options on a screen. Not here.

Apart from anything else - there is no screen.

I’m used to setting up a sound system with one EQ I'm happy with to generally cover off all the things I’m watching, but with the slim, lightsaber-like Sony remote, it's so easy to switch from one setting to another I've had to adjust my mindset. For example, you can just change from Cinema to News EQ's with the push of a button. If you're finding there's so much soundtrack you can't hear the dialogue, just give the Voice button a press.

In many ways, super convenient but I wouldn’t want to lose the remote!

I'm not totally convinced about the lack of any kind of display, other than a combination of LED’s on the top of the soundbar itself. You basically have to memorise each combination of lights to know if it’s doing the thing you think it’s doing. Here's what I mean; there's a Night Mode button, which automatically tones things down a bit if you're still watching telly after everyone else has gone to bed. But how do you know if you've activated it or not? Easy. If Night Mode is on, the HDMI and BLUETOOTH indicators will light for two seconds. If it's off, the Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X indicators light up instead. Got it? No, me either.

Okay then, how about adjusting the bass settings? Easy. There are three levels to choose from - Normal, Strong and Light. You'll know which one you've selected because the HDMI and BLUETOOTH indicators have just lit up for two seconds. Which of the three settings is that for? Sorry, can't remember.

If you're going to be fiddling with this stuff on a regular basis, I'd definitely recommend keeping your instruction manual handy for reference.

Of course, the best way to know if you've set things up correctly is by listening. You know, with your ears. Although options like Multiplex Broadcast Sound and DTS:X may sound a bit overwhelming, always remember; you don't have to use them. In fact, unless what you're watching supports these sorts of features, they probably won't make any difference anyway.

What you absolutely will notice with the HT-X8500 is its sheer power. This is one of the new breed of soundbars with a subwoofer built-in. There are generous aural cavities at each end to let those big, low-end frequencies roll around and you can certainly tweak a decent boom out of this box. So much so I tend to leave the bass setting at its default level to prevent it taking over the whole soundscape and making things sound a bit muddy.

So the bass abilities definitely have me impressed. What about the HT-X8500's other "rockstar" feature - the Vertical Surround Engine?

Sony claims this new technology is able to simulate a 3D-like 7.1.2 sound environment. How this is even remotely possible out of just two speakers and a dual-subwoofer is up for debate. However, damn if this thing doesn't sound amazing - especially if you're sitting in or near the prime viewing zone, directly in front of your TV. I don't know how "vertical" things really seem, or how you'd ever measure that, but the HT-X8500 is definitely capable of distinct stereo separation and pushing out clear dialogue over music and sound effects. The result is convincingly more immersive than anything you'll get out of your TV's built-in speakers alone - it's not even a close contest.

If you're hoping to run a multitude of devices through your soundbar, the HT-X8500 is probably not the device to do it. There are only two HDMI ports, one being the eARC option. Obviously you can connect via bluetooth and streaming music from your phone or tablet sounds great.

The lack of ports doesn't bother me in the slightest as I'm sure the vast majority of consumers purchase a soundbar to play the noises their telly makes and for no other reason whatsoever. The HT-X850 does that effortlessly, with decent enough surround sound and excellent bass, without having to purchase and connect a separate subwoofer. Being able to switch easily from setting to setting with a big selection of dedicated buttons on the remote basically makes this a soundbar for dummies and I have no problem with that at all.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Sony HT-X8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar.

THE BOOM REALLY IS WONDERFUL

I can get really stubborn about certain bits of tech.

Especially stuff everybody else is already into. I think it's partly because I'm a devout non-conformist and partly because I'm a bit of a jerk.

Whatever the reason, I've always had the irrational and completely unfounded belief that if everybody's doing it, there must be something else around the corner that's way better and that's what I'm going to use.

Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, this stupid attitude makes me look a bit cool. Like when I had an mp3 player before anybody even knew what they were.

Most times, I just look like an arrogant idiot, like when everybody was using Facebook for about nine years before I'd even set up my own page.

I guess it sort of caught on after all.

Unfortunately, I've been a bit like that with the Boom boom. Now I've seen the error of my ways...

Something happened to bluetooth speakers. Almost overnight, they went from being tinny, low-powered sound boxes of last resort to being genuinely decent.

Ultimate Ears had a lot to do with that. Suddenly I was seeing those trademark oversized plus and minus volume controls everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Inside. Outside. The pool. The beach. People were taking these things to the beach!

The Ultimate Ears Boom became the first choice for rehearsals in dance studios. If there was a bunch of people and a Boom, there was a party - or the beginnings of one anyway. And there was always a Boom. They were everywhere.

So of course, I didn't want one. What did those sheep know about decent sound reproduction anyway?

Classic glennzb.

Now there's a new Boom in town, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.

So I thought, okay, let's give it a go. See what all the fuss is about...

I've been such an idiot.

The familiar compact, cannonball design is back, similar but not exactly the same as the original.

The Wonderboom 2 now carries an IP67 rating making it dust-proof and waterproof. It'll survive being submerged in a metre of water for up to 30 minutes. That means it'll definitely last through a long shower sing-a-long.

While it looks more or less the same, the fabric covering is now a two-tone affair with contrasting flecks running through it. Version 2 is drop-proof (not that I've been brave enough to test this too much) which provides peace of mind if you're using the new hard-wearing, stretchy hanging-loop to attach it to your bike. Or your scooter. Or your hang glider. Or whatever.

Setting up the Wonderboom 2 is less complicated than a lot of other speakers as there's no app involved. Okay, sure that means a little less functionality, but the payoff is you just turn it on and pair it. I was looking to extend my speaker coverage out to my deck and it connected so easily to my Amazon Echo. Like no problems at all. Like seamlessly.

Right away I was impressed by the sound quality. The thing Ultimate Ears seems to be able to do so well is separating big bass from the higher frequencies for a powerful yet clear and detailed listening experience.

The Wonderboom 2 now features an Outdoor Boost button on the base. Pushing this seems to cut out some of the bass and pump up the top end. The result definitely makes the music travel further and seem louder, although I prefer the sheer thump-thump of the remarkable bass response offered by the default setting. It really seems remarkable how powerful such a compact device can sound.

The range of the Wonderboom 2 blows me away too. Often bluetooth appliances like these stutter and drop out if there's the slightest hint of physical or electrical interference between the source device and the speaker but I found I could carry the Wonderboom 2 all over my section while gardening and the hits just kept on coming with no interruption at all.

The 13 hour battery life is another step up from the original Wonderboom, although it's still only a microUSB cable you'll find in the box - I thought we were all on USB Type-C by now? Nevertheless, 13 hours should get you through most parties I would have thought, even the really serious soirees.

At an RRP of $169.90, the Wonderboom 2 is almost cheap enough to grab a second one so you can give the true wireless stereo function a go - almost. Luckily there are plenty of specials around at the moment and you can even buy them in a convenient twin-pack.

Yes there's a glut of bluetooth speaker options around these days, but after finally using one from Ultimate Ears, I have to admit; the Wonderboom 2 is pretty ultimate.


Click here for more information on the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.

NOTHING MEEK ABOUT THIS MOUSE

A mouse is a mouse is a mouse. Right?

A couple of buttons, maybe a scroll wheel... as long as it works on most surfaces, isn't that all you really need?

Well, yes. I think that actually is true... Pointing and clicking is not complicated, we've been doing it for decades and if it ain't broke...

But you can drink water from the tap. Or you can filter it, pour it into a tall glass and add ice. Maybe even a slice of cucumber.

The Logitech MX Master 3 is that tall glass of water...

The MX Master 3 takes ergonomic design to a whole new level. Not only is it tall and curved to fit naturally beneath my gnarled clasp, all buttons and the two scroll wheels are within very easy reach and the entire upper surface is slightly textured and rubberised to ensure a secure grip and precise control.

And I do mean precise. Both scroll wheels are made from machined steel which not only looks classy but gives their operation an amazingly sturdy and responsive feel, which is ironic, given they're not actually connected to anything. Logitech has come up with something called MagSpeed Electromagnetic scrolling - that's right, it's all done with magnets, virtually eliminating wear and tear. One push of the central button toggles between the conventional, line-by-line "clicky" scroll, to a more free-wheeling click-free mode, whichever you prefer. What's more, a flick of the main wheel can skip you immediately to the bottom (or back to the top) of the page, at a mere thousand lines a second.

Oh, when I say "clicky," I mean the feel, not the sound. There is no sound. The MX Master 3 works silently.

While we're on precision, you can pretty much throw your mousepad away. The MX Master 3 offers 4000DPI sensor resolution on pretty much any surface, even glass. This means it's well worth making a bit of space for in your laptop bag, because it'll work anywhere. It's not really flat enough to fit in a tablet sleeve, but make it fit. It's worth it.

In fact, you can pair the MX Master 3 with three different devices simultaneously. Switching between those devices is as simple as toggling between them with the selector button on the bottom of the mouse. The MX Master 3 includes a USB dongle for plug and play setup, but I'm pretty sure I've lost it already as there's no way of storing it on the mouse itself. Not to worry though, as it's reliably bluetooth compatible anyway. That's how I've been using it for weeks.

Now that I think of it, I've only charged it once in all that time - when I first took it out of the box. It charges via a conveniently located USB Type-C port at the front of the device. This means you can happily keep using the MX Master 3 while you're charging it. If you need to. Which I haven't yet. Even after running it for many hours a day for several weeks. The Logitech website claims 70 days use on a full charge and from what I've seen, there's no reason to dispute it. If you do go flat, quick charging gets you another three hours from just a one-minute top-up. Incredible.

Perhaps the most powerful feature of the MX Master 3 is the companion Logitech Options app. This is so much more than just a way to monitor battery life and adjust your pointer speed. Not only can you can customise the functions for each button and scroll wheel, you can change what they do for each app you use. This is a major boost for anybody editing audio or video, or using any other software that requires a lot of jogging or zooming.

Then there's Flow. This makes working with two computers at once a breeze. All you need to access both devices with one mouse is the Logitech App installed on each machine and ensure they're connected to the same WiFi.  Using a single controller on adjacent PC's takes a bit of getting used to as it can take a few seconds to pick out where the cursor is when you swap from screen to screen. Also, it's a bit too easy to accidentally jump off the screen you're working on when you're navigating around the edges. But it works. It really works. You can even drag and drop files between two devices simply because you've enabled the MX Master 3 on both of them and they're on the same WiFi network. Genius.

This is one of those rare devices I find hard to criticise, simply because there's basically nothing wrong with it. Except maybe... The power button. It's tiny and fiddly and feels like it's going to break off every time you use it. Why is Logitech so afraid to install a decent power button? The switch on the Craft Advanced Keyboard is no better, which is bamboozling given it too is an otherwise faultless piece of hardware.

Admittedly, I've been using the Craft for months and months and the on/off switch is still working faultlessly. But still.

Yes, if the only thing I can complain about is the power switch being a bit small for my liking, you know the MX Master 3 is a well designed, powerful accessory. The battery life is off the hook, the customisation settings are pretty much limitless and being able to drag and drop files between two PC's is just plain cool.

This is not a budget device, but you couldn't ask for more features for the money.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech MX Master 3.

NOTHING HOLLOW ABOUT THIS ECHO

If there's been one bit of tech that's genuinely changed my life this year, it's the smart speaker.

And of course, in saying that, I don't really mean just one bit of tech at all.

That's because a decent smart speaker is your portal into the world of all IoT devices, granting you access to the infinite possibilities created by connecting everything to the Net.

Yes, you can control your lights or security system from your phone, but it's so much more satisfying to do it by simply saying it. Nothing makes you feel more like you're living in the future than being able to turn on your TV just by asking Alexa to do it.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of all this smartness is now Alexa isn't just smart, she sounds fantastic too...

There's something about a nice, solid, heavy speaker. Although you can see right through it, the Amazon Echo Studio definitely has a bit of beef to it. I remember my first real stereo system, I inherited it from my brother. (He didn't die... he just moved away and left it behind) Not only did it have an actual turntable and the ability to play chrome cassettes (please don't say, "What are chrome cassettes?" I feel old enough as it is) but it had wooden speakers. Well, wooden speaker boxes anyway and not actual wood, but particle board with a seriously tacky woodgrain veneer, but you get the point. These were speakers with heft, with a rich, full sound.

In short, so, so analogue.

A lot of cheap plastic and flashing lights have gone under the bridge since then and in many ways I feel like I've been chasing that warm, full, real audio experience to this day.

The lesson: good speakers are hard to find so if you find one, hang onto it.

The Amazon Echo Studio is a good speaker.

Apart from being bigger and heavier, the Echo Studio isn't dramatically different in appearance to the latest generation Echo. Same subtle fabric covering, no unnecessary flashing lights or displays, the usual four (and only four) control buttons on the top. The obvious difference, apart from the size, is the large slot at the base that lets you see right through the speaker.

Of course, this isn't just to make the Echo Studio look cool, the space has been specifically designed to help the downward-firing, 5.25" sub-woofer do its thumpy thing. And the result is lovely. One of the biggest challenges for small form smart speakers is generating a rich, but not overpowering bass response. The Echo Studio achieves this effortlessly. Using the Alexa app, you can adjust the EQ settings to wind the bass up even more if you need to.

Other than making the Echo Studio sound full and powerful itself, what this extra performance in the lower-range frequencies then offers is an enhanced listening experience from any other Echo speakers in the vicinity. As I've pointed out in earlier reviews, one of the most useful features of Amazon Echo speakers is how easy it is to set up multi-room audio. In my case, that also means multi-speaker audio in the same large room. Right now, you can pick up an Echo Dot for under $50, so you can fill every corner with perfectly synced audio, teamed with non-directional bass support from the Echo Studio. Just such an elegant audio solution.

In saying that, the Echo Studio is well capable of filling a whole room all by itself. There's a lot more going on inside than just the woofer. There's a front-facing tweeter, left and right mid-range speakers and an upward firing cone as well. The Studio is pumping out sound in all directions, tuning itself to whatever space you've put it in thanks to a combination of Dolby Atmos technology and an impressively sensitive array of far-field microphones.

If you're worried about just how sensitive those mics are, you can always just turn them off with a simple button push.

By now, I think we're all pretty aware of Alexa's wide range of skills and functions and indeed, I've previously gone into her ever-expanding set of special abilities at some length. Here, I really want to focus on how good the Echo Studio sounds.

So good in fact, apparently you can even use it as a soundbar. There's an optical mini-jack port to connect with, or if you happen to be running a Fire TV Cube, Fire TV or Fire TV Stick (which would be pretty unusual in New Zealand, but possible) you can use the Echo Studio to stream the soundtrack from your video wirelessly. I haven't been able to try this as I don't have Fire TV or a mini-optical cable, but if what I've heard from my music streaming experience is anything to go by, I'm sure it's pretty awesome.

The Echo Studio really does live up to its claims of an immersive, three-dimensional aural experience, especially if you're using a high definition service like Amazon Music HD, which plays at twice the bitrate of standard streaming apps. This is not the cheapest smart speaker around, but it's far from being the most expensive either. It looks great, sounds incredible and brings with it all the Alexa options we've come to know and love, making it fantastic bang for buck.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Studio.

IS THAT SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR?

There's a lot of tech out there. Competition is fierce. "Owning" a particular category is rare. As soon as one brand starts to dominate there are usually six others snapping at its heels, competing on price or design or just being better.

But if I asked you who makes the best security camera for your front door, if Ring isn't the first name that springs to mind, I bet it's right up there.

Now Ring brings us the Door View Cam, just as effective and easy to use as other Ring cameras but this device is specifically designed to replace your existing peephole or door viewer. Of course, even if you don't already have a hole in your door there's nothing stopping you drilling your own.

As usual, Ring really pushes the boat out when it comes to supplying all the bits and pieces you'll need for installation. There's even an adapter for larger holes to ensure a nice, snug fit. Setting this camera up is a little bit more fiddly than other camera installs you may have attempted in the past - and not just because you have to remove your existing peephole/door viewer first. It's a two-piece design, with the camera outside and the battery compartment safely inside the door. The two halves are connected by the physical door viewer itself. Once installed, this works just like any normal peephole, allowing you a fish-eye view of your entranceway with no electronics required. There's even a little slidey door you can cover it up with if you want to.

When you install the Door View Cam, you need to feed a flat connector-strip through the hole as well. This has obviously gone badly for some people in the past as there's a spare one included in the box. (Only joking, I assume the spare is for a re-install if you decide to move your Door View Cam to another door. Or another house)

If this all sounds a bit daunting, don't be put off for a moment, as the Ring app walks you through each step so you can't go wrong. For me, the only really frustrating part was charging up the battery. You do this via the supplied microUSB lead and any standard USB charger, but it took ages. My advice would be to not get too excited about using your Door View Cam the second it's installed as you might need to leave the battery charging overnight.

The payoff, of course, is that fully charged battery pack lasts for ages. What's more, a spare one will only set you back $55 if you're worried about your Door View Cam being out of commission when you eventually do have to charge it.

Once you slide the battery pack into place, you're ready to connect the Door View Cam to your WiFi network, again guided step-by-step using the Ring app. This is where the fun truly begins, especially if you run an Alexa-enabled household like I do. There are a lot of options.

The Door View Cam can send you notifications if it detects motion, if someone rings the bell, or even if someone just knocks on the door. Or all three. There's obviously a chime on the doorbell itself, although I've found this a little hard to hear when I'm upstairs with music playing - even with the chime set at full volume. This is easily solved with the addition of an extra chime plugged in somewhere upstairs.

What separates the Ring Door View Cam from other home security cameras is its customisation settings. It's very easy to adjust how sensitive the motion and knock detection is, pretty much eliminating any unwanted notifications to your nominated devices. In fact, you can even use the Door View Cam if your entrance faces a busy path or street - it'll take all that into account.

But back to my helpful assistant, Alexa. She'll detect the Door View Cam once its connected to your home WiFi network, then you can access it if you have an Alexa smart screen device like the Amazon Echo Show. So... doorbell rings... "Alexa, show me the front door..." you'll see a live stream of your visitors.

Obviously you can do the same thing via your smart phone too. The advantage here being you can access the Door View Cam from anywhere - that includes two-way communication so you can ask the courier to leave that package behind the pot plant.

The picture quality is excellent, day or night with a wide-angle view that captures a surprising amount, not just side-to-side but up and down as well. You can even adjust HDR settings to compensate for bright daylight conditions. Yes, there's plenty to tweak.

Frustratingly, you can also access and share recorded videos and images but only if you pay a monthly subscription. Luckily, you get to try this for 30 days free when you first install the device so you can find out if this is something you need to invest in. The other thing I wish I could get Alexa to do is show the live feed from the Door View Cam automatically, whenever the doorbell is pressed. It's just such an effort to have to ask her to do it first. (Now that I've written it down, I'm not sure that even qualifies as a first world problem!)

In short, the Door View Cam is another full-featured, reliable Ring product that's easy to install and covers all the bases. If you've ever had a package go missing, you already know it's worth the investment.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Ring Door View Cam.

YOUR LINK TO EVERYTHING

I still haven't bought a soundbar.

"What kind of tech nerd are you?" you may well ask.

It's practically 2020 and I'm still sitting here listening to my telly through its own speakers. How quaint.

Where's the space? The effects? The boom?

In short, what have I been waiting for?

The JBL Link Bar is the first soundbar I've really considered laying down cold hard cash for. The reason? All the other things it does instead of just being a soundbar.

By this stage it must sound like I have a major problem with soundbars and that's not exactly so. I've just never really seen the point. When it comes to home theatre, I'm a bit old-school. Ideally I'm looking for a surround-sound experience with decent bass boom. If there's an explosion happening on screen, I don't just want to see it, I want to feel it.

I have definitely reviewed some excellent soundbars over recent years and every time a new one comes out the claims of what they can do become more and more ambitious. These days they're supposed to be able to sense the size and shape of the room and beam various soundstreams in every direction to simulate what us old geezers used to do by wiring in two front speakers, two rear speakers and a subwoofer. I know, I know; calm down, grandad.

Certainly with enough well directed speakers built in, that feeling of space can definitely be achieved. But to really feel like you're inside the action, I've found you need to add a subwoofer at the very least, which is probably why so many soundbars come bundled with one in the same package.

Well, things have changed.

The JBL Link Bar has a greatly improved dynamic range, especially at the lower end of the scale. While technically there's no subwoofer built in, there are passive radiators at each end of the device to let those booming soundwaves rumble around and you'll definitely get way more bottom end out of those explosions and dance beats than you would out of any basic television speaker array.

Unfortunately, there's not much ability to tweak the EQ to your personal preference. There are four preset sound modes, Standard, Voice, Movie and Music but I pretty much kept it on Movie the whole time as that's the mode that spreads the sound out into the room most effectively. Apart from volume (obviously) there's only one other sound control, bass. Turn it up or down to your liking. The good news here is, turning it up turns it up quite a bit. The bad news is, because you can't boost the highs or mids as well, if you run the bass high, it tends to dominate and muddy the overall mix slightly.

There's still the option to pair a separate subwoofer if you want to. In fact, there's a heap of inputs on the Link Bar; three HDMI sockets additional to the HDMI ARC socket that'll ensure you can control the device with your TV remote or vice versa. There's also an optical port and a standard 3.5mm aux plugin. That's before you get to the bluetooth connectivity which allows you to stream from phones, tablets, laptops and also lets you connect a keyboard and mouse.

Why would you want to do that? Because of the Link Bar's greatest trick; it has Android TV built in. Yes the remote can navigate you around the Android TV user interface, but it's certainly easier to scroll and point with a bluetooth mouse and logging into your streaming accounts is so long-winded without a physical keyboard. If you haven't used Android TV before, think of it as a way to access all the streaming apps you have on your phone, without your phone. Common apps like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify are all pre-installed and you can log into your Google Play account to download others. Lightbox and TVNZ On Demand are there but Neon and Sky Go aren't. Maybe they'll turn up eventually. You won't find anything like the selection of apps you can install on an Android phone, as not all apps are optimised for your TV's large display. It is possible to sideload other Android apk's from a file manager although there's no guarantee these will work. 

I'm a massive fan of Android TV because I'm a massive fan of streaming content and doing it this way means you're cutting a step out of the equation (your phone) which always helps eliminate buffering and stalling. The Link Bar can connect via WiFi or ethernet and I actually had no issues using apps like Netflix either way.

So essentially, the Link Bar can turn any TV into a very smart TV, just by plugging it in.

But it gets smarter. The Link Bar has Google Assistant built in too. Whether or not you're getting used to talking to your devices to make them work, Google Assistant has been the big improver when it comes to voice activation. The far-field microphones in the Link Bar are impressively sensitive and if you're not too embarrassed to talk to your TV, you can render the physical remote almost redundant. Which may be why it's probably the worst feature of the Link Bar. The remote feels cheap and plasticky and weirdly has dedicated buttons for things like Netflix and Google Assistant, but not for basic operations like play and pause. There is a directional control wheel in the middle but the whole thing just feels a bit clunky to me.

Oh, did I mention Chromecast? Yup, that's built in too. You can see how the Link Bar is really more of a one-stop media centre than just a fancy speaker.

Priced under $700, admittedly you might be able to find another soundbar out there that sounds a bit better for slightly less but there's no way you'll get all the other features thrown in. When you take into account Google Assistant, Android TV, Chromecast and an impressive number of input options, the JBL Link Bar seems like amazing value for money.

I might actually have to buy one!



Click here for more information on the JBL Link Bar.

MY RANSOM RECOVERY: ONE YEAR ON

Remember that time cyber criminals encrypted my entire PC and I had to pay hundreds in Bitcoin to get access to my stuff?

Well I do.

Like it was yesterday.

It really sucked. Big time. I don't ever want it to happen again and since then I've taken a lot of precautions to make sure it doesn't.

Now Norton has brought all those cyber safety measures together in one convenient package...

Sadly, times have changed dramatically from when downloading and installing a free antivirus program would protect you from all the evils awaiting you on the internet. In fact, these days, more often than not, you're more likely to invite those evils in by trying to install "free" software.

Norton 360 Premium is far from free, but it's certainly a very complete package for its price. Take it from the guy who got brutally hacked; a hundred bucks or so isn't much to pay to save yourself some major stress. At the "Premium" level, you can protect up to 5 devices; that includes PC's, iOS devices, smart phones and tablets.

You'll also get 100GB of cloud storage to back up your most valuable and sensitive files. This is a significant upgrade over what more entry-level products offer - you can fit a lot of photos, audio and documents in 100GB. This is a nice little insurance policy not just against crims corrupting your stuff, but just basic hardware failure too. If your computer happens to blow up for some reason, your backup is ready and waiting for you to download on another machine.

Obviously the most important element of the Norton 360 Premium package is still the real-time online security. These days that means a lot more than just an antivirus program, although of course that's still a big part of it. In fact, time and again, NortonLifeLock comes out with fantastic ratings when its Norton cyber safety precautions are put to the test. Suspicious files are locked down before they can do any damage and anti-spyware/malware measures are just as effective. There are now browser extensions and plugins offered from the Norton 360 app itself. These help prevent you navigating to those parts of the internet that are best left undisturbed. I'm slightly confused about why there's the option to make Norton your default home page too - that seems a little over-the-top. Although, I suppose if your browser has been hijacked at any stage, it might be nice to have a bit of a reset.

There's even the choice to use Norton SafeSearch as your default search engine, making it even less likely you'll click on something dodgy, given those links won't even be presented as options.

If any of these measures seem too heavy handed, they're all opt-in - you can choose to use these options or not when you install the program.

Just a wee note on the installation process; while it's very straight-forward for first-time Norton users, I found it extremely complicated to replace my existing Norton subscription with the new, more comprehensive 360 package. In most cases I had to completely uninstall my existing Norton products before the apps would recognise the updated subscription credentials. I don't know why it can't be more streamlined with the new program just overwriting the old one. My cynical suspicion is NortonLifeLock would prefer existing users to use the "auto-renew" option for their subscriptions, as this is sometimes more pricey than buying a new version of the same product on special. Just a bit of a pain if you already have Norton installed on five different devices already, to have to uninstall then reinstall on every single one.

That means doing the VPN program separately too - not sure why this isn't just another feature bundled in with the main 360 app. Again, a little more streamlining would make things slightly less complicated. That's not to say I don't thoroughly recommend using Norton Secure VPN which is included in the 360 Premium package - it's a great way to keep yourself anonymous and secure online and I've found it doesn't slow my streaming or download speeds much at all. A VPN like this is essential if you regularly connect to public WiFi networks, especially if you perform sensitive operations like online banking or other business transactions from your device. When using a public network, you can never be sure who's watching, but Secure VPN ensures nobody can see you.

When it comes to online safety, the one piece of advice we're given more often than any other is, change your password. It's a hassle, but having a collection of different passwords for different logins just makes sense. Norton 360 Premium includes a password manager to take care of that for you. This works pretty much the same as any other one, but better to have it than not.

The SafeCam utility alerts you if anyone tries to access your PC's webcam without your permission, which definitely beats the old, put-a-sticking-plaster-over-it trick.

And finally, for parental piece-of-mind, you can set up access controls for each member of your family with a few simple clicks. This is mostly about accessing age-appropriate content on their registered devices. Another easy-to-use feature adding up to what is a very comprehensive package indeed.

This is more or less a one-stop-shop to keep you and your whole family protected and it's hugely effective. There's only one problem... and I don't think it's one NortonLifeLock can easily solve.  Even though the Premium version of Norton 360 protects up to 5 devices, it can't protect you when you log on to a device you don't own. As our lives become more and more cloud-based, more mobile, we find ourselves signing in and out of our accounts on other people's portals all the time. You can only hope they've taken the same levels of precaution as you have on your machines.

Certainly Norton 360 Premium would be a good start.


Click here for more information and pricing on Norton 360 Premium.

WHAT ELSE HUAWEI HAS...

There's no arguing it's been a tough year for Huawei... or has it?

Obviously it's not ideal for the U.S. government to ban you from doing business with American companies like Google, just to score political points in an international trade dispute.

But in spite of all that, Huawei's profits are still up. It's still selling a lot of handsets. It's still one of the most innovative mobile technology brands in the world. And I don't just mean phones...

We've seen a few watches from Huawei in recent years and they've all been solid performers without really setting my world on fire. So I was keen to find out what the Huawei Watch GT 2 has to offer that the original didn't. I was also intrigued by the FreeBuds 3 - Huawei's entry into the still limited market of noise cancelling wireless earbuds.

I've tried many "true wireless" earbuds now, some sound incredible, some pretty average. Some fit perfectly, others are constantly trying to worm their way out of my ears and onto the floor. Some look super styley, some look way too 1970's sci-fi.

Not many offer active noise cancelling - not yet anyway. It takes a lot of complicated tech to sample all the outside noise and reverse it so you don't hear it. If you can then squeeze that tech into a couple of tiny earbuds, you're doing well.

If anybody was going to get it right, I'd back Huawei to do it. I'm consistently amazed by how fast and powerful its handsets are, so when I learned there was also a Kirin processor driving the intelligent noise cancelling in the FreeBuds 3, I was pretty confident they'd come up with the goods.

Right away, these earbuds scream class - before you even take them out of the case, which is a gleaming, curvy, elegant piece of design all on its own. It charges via USB Type-C or wirelessly - either on any Qi standard charging pad or straight from a phone with reverse charging capabilities. (This is a feature Huawei mysteriously introduced on some of its recent flagships - now you know why)

The Huawei website boasts up to 20 hours of playback time charging from the case, 4 hours on the go from the earbuds themselves. These numbers are laboratory conditions numbers, but it's certainly up there. What has really impressed me is how fast the FreeBuds 3 charge - just an hour in the case will pretty much get them back to 100%. The case itself charges in about the same time. Obviously, charging wirelessly will always take longer but it's great to have the versatility of that option.

The earbuds themselves are also glossy and have a premium feel. It's hard to ignore the similarity in form factor to Apple's Airpods, although in New Zealand, you can only get the FreeBuds 3 in black. There are advantages and disadvantages to this hanging-stem style of bud. The major pro is universal fit - these will sit comfortably and securely in just about any ear large or small. They're well balanced and feel practically weightless. The big negative to an open fit design is just that; no tight seal makes it harder to produce good bass response and any passive noise cancelling is pretty much out the window.

That's where Huawei's "Intelligent Noise Cancelling" comes in. In order to set up the FreeBuds 3, there's a companion app called AI Life. This lets you tweak exactly how much noise cancelling you want to introduce into the mix. This is much more useful than a simple on or off, because if you go too aggressive with it, there's definitely an audible hiss as well - not so noticeable with loud music, much more so if you're just listening to a podcast.

Other than that, the app doesn't offer a great deal of customisation. You can choose which functions double tapping each earbud controls; play/pause, answer calls, activate voice assistant - but no volume control. You'll have to access that from your source device.

Obviously, everything works a bit more seamlessly if you team the FreeBuds 3 with a Huawei phone. In fact, you'll get an on-screen pop-up as soon as you open the case to help you pair them. In saying that, I had no issues connecting to a variety of other devices, although depending on the bluetooth codecs available on any given phone, some definitely played louder than others. The trick here is to toggle the Media Volume Sync in your phone's advanced bluetooth controls.

I've found sound quality to be nice and clear - accurate with an unbelievable amount of bass punch, despite the lack of a tight seal.

Call quality is really good - that's another major advantage to those hanging stems; you've got mics actually pointed towards your mouth hole. But that's not the only way Huawei has made phone calls a priority. There's a built-in bone sensor and a design feature called the Aerodynamic Mic Duct, both of which combine with the A1 Kirin chipset to keep background and wind noise to an absolute minimum. If you spend a lot of time taking and making calls on the move, I'm thinking these might be the perfect earbuds for you.

Meanwhile, I've been wearing the Huawei Watch GT 2 the whole time and I'm loving it.

It's only been a few months since the original Watch GT was launched here and yes, I liked it but it was a little limited - more like a classy-looking fitness tracker than a genuine smart watch.

I've worn my fair share of smart watches over the years and while the Huawei Watch GT 2 may still not be the most full-featured I've tried, it's perhaps the best looking, the lightest and has amazing battery life. It's waterproof and has built-in GPS.

Track your exercise, your sleep, your stress, get notifications, take calls and control your music.

Actually, maybe it is pretty full featured!

It certainly looks fantastic. Usually when I turn up wearing a new smart watch, Domestic Manager actively avoids looking at so she doesn't have to tell me how horrible she thinks it is. Not with the Watch GT 2 though - she loves it. It's lighter and slightly slimmer than the first GT, even the bezel is more curved and streamlined.

I'd like to see a bigger range of faces to choose from and presumably there will be more to come eventually.

Fitness tracking is accurate and versatile, with easy-to-read displays. That now includes indoor and open-water swim tracking with 5ATM water resistance. You can even receive motivational workout updates from the watch speaker itself, something I didn't realise till I was on my first run and the Watch GT 2 loudly announced my pace and heart-rate to some random passersby as I clocked up my first kilometre.

Music can be easily transferred from phone to watch if you want to pair with bluetooth earbuds directly, but what I was most pleased to see on the Watch GT 2 is the inclusion of a media controller. This works well as long as you leave the companion Health app running in the background on your phone. I find this remote control for my music and podcasts indispensable, especially in the car and around the house.

You can now make and take calls on the GT 2 too. While this may sound like a nerdy, wannabe spy kind of feature, don't knock it till you've tried it. Talking to your wrist is actually a lot easier than finding your phone in the bottom of your handbag or trying to prise it out of your pocket.

There's also a slightly curious stress-tracking app, which requires initial calibration by answering a serious of psychometric questions. I'm not sure what this actually measures, but there's a deep breathing app to go with it if you don't like the numbers.

There's no doubt this is an outstanding performer in terms of battery life. Huawei's website claims up to two weeks' use on a single charge. I tend to use most of the more power intensive features, but even then I only have charge it via the included magnetic charging disc about once a week. That alone makes this watch one of the most useful and versatile I've tried.



Click here for more information on the Huawei FreeBuds 3.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Huawei Watch GT 2.

glennzb's 2019 GADGET GIFT GUIDE

Okay, okay... I know I'm a bit late with this but the truth is, I've had a surge of tech flooding in at the last minute to sort through and I wanted to make sure I was giving you the full picture.

This year, it's not just about phones and bluetooth speakers.

Although, there are plenty of phones and bluetooth speakers...

1: THE AMAZON ECHO RANGE

Amazon speakers can be grouped together to play the same thing simultaneously. While I've used similar linking functions with other bluetooth speakers, nothing has ever allowed me to customise the experience like the Amazon Alexa app does. In fact, the versatility offered by using several Alexa-enabled speakers together is only limited by your personal requirements.

There was a time this kind of whole-house hi-fi coverage would cost thousands to install and then you'd need a degree in audio design to make it work properly. Now you can do it yourself for just a few hundred bucks and it'll take you mere minutes to set up.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo (3rd generation).

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock.

2: 360PRO WATERFLOSSER

Who doesn't want that extra clean feeling this holiday season?

You can put a shining white smile on someone's face Christmas morning, literally.

At just $149, the 360PRO seems like amazing value for money, especially given its solid build quality and stylish design. It's definitely a lot more fun than wrapping a length of dental floss around your fingers every night before bed. I'm not sure how much more kissable I am, but I feel more kissable and that's got to count for something.


Click here for more information and pricing on the 360PRO Waterflosser.

3: SONY WF-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Don't be fooled, these aren't actually headphones, they're earbuds.

They're light, look amazing, sound grunty and actually do block noise.

These are the truly wireless earbuds that truly tick all the boxes and as such, they also truly tick the premium price tag box. However, if they really are the best, maybe they're worth it.


Click here for more information and pricing on the WF-1000XM3 wireless noise cancelling headphones.




4: JABRA ELITE 85h

These actually are headphones. I've worn them on several trips for many hours at a time and they've simply made my life better.

What the Jabra Elite 85h may lack in brand recognition, it more than makes up for with its long list of features - with the most customisable Active Noise Cancelling system I've come across yet. If you're prepared to hand over hundreds for a premium headset, definitely add this one to your list to try.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Jabra Elite 85h wireless noise cancelling headphones.




5: SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+

Samsung has been doing this for a decade now and they know what they're doing. The S10+ is powerful, easy to use, has a fantastic 5-lens camera array and even charges its own accessories like the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watch. 

Back in March, I called it the best phone money can buy. Since then, handsets like the Note 10 and Galaxy Fold have launched, both offering even more features but for a price.

The S10+ strikes the balance between usefulness and extravagance.


Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S10+


However, if flagship prices don't quite fit into your Christmas budget...


6: HUAWEI NOVA 5T

This is absolutely an A-grade smart phone experience for $699. The nova 5T looks stunning, offers an impressive range of multi-lens, AI-assisted camera options and it has processing power to burn, resulting in a super-fast and silky-smooth user experience. 

Unless you've decided you can't live without wireless charging, or you definitely need your phone to be waterproof, you must at least pick up a nova 5T and give it a try.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Huawei nova 5T.




7: JBL LINK BAR

If you've been on the fence about beefing up your telly's audio performance with a sound bar, climb off it now because the JBL Link is so much more than just a bar.

It's also a Chromecast, an Android TV and does Google Assistant from across the other side of the room.

Oh, and it sounds pretty good too. Before you rush out and buy a subwoofer to pair with your TV, give this a go first. The bass punch is quite impressive.

Click here for more information on the JBL Link Bar.



8: HP ELITE DRAGONFLY

Okay, you're probably not going to blow three grand just on a Christmas present, no matter how much you like the person. But if you need a new laptop, the HP Elite Dragonfly 2-in-1 convertible could be the perfect pressie to yourself.

This thing is a true powerhouse, with all the built-in security and connectivity features you could ask for.

It weighs less than a kilo, has all-day/all-night battery life and it's a really cool shade of blue.

Admittedly, the Dragonfly hasn't actually gone on sale here yet, but I've had a good go on one and it definitely lives up to the hype. You can register your interest following the link below...


Click here for more information on the HP Elite Dragonfly.



9: D-LINK DSP-W118 SMART PLUG

Now this is a more reasonably priced gift. And its my favourite kind of present too - something you might not buy for yourself but you'd probably use if somebody gave you one

My bedside and garage lights are just two examples of how useful the DSP-W118 smart plug can be. Cookers, heaters, coffee machines... just a few more things that become a lot smarter once they can be activated remotely or on a schedule. Or maybe you just want to save a little power by turning everything off at night, automatically.

Basically, if you ever had a switch you wish you didn't have to reach for, the DSP-W118 will take care of it for you. A bit lazy? Maybe. Clever? Definitely



Click here for more information and pricing on the DSP-W118 mydlink Mini WiFi Smart Plug.



10: SUREFEED MICROCHIP PET FEEDER CONNECT


Some people like to buy their pets Christmas presents too.

If your puss keeps having its din-dins nicked by another cat, this contraption keeps it sealed up tight, tracking exactly what your little precious eats and when.

It is of course, a pretty damn expensive cat bowl - about eleven bags of cat food's worth, by my rough calculations - but it does everything it promises and does it very well. If your pet's dietary habits are causing you concern, or you just want to keep a lid on things, the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect is a great option.


Click here for more information and pricing on the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect.

11: HUAWEI WATCH GT 2

I've worn my fair share of smart watches over the years and while the Huawei Watch GT 2 may not be the most full-featured I've tried, it's perhaps the best looking, the lightest and has amazing battery life. It's waterproof and has built-in GPS.

Track your exercise, your sleep, your stress, get notifications, take calls and control your music.

Actually, maybe it is pretty full featured!


Click here for more information and pricing on the Huawei Watch GT 2.



12: DYSON SUPERSONIC AND DYSON AIRWRAP

These are the only entries on my list I haven't personally reviewed... but only because I don't have hair.

I've talked to people who do have hair and they've told me these things are next level.
If you've ever damaged your hair by overheating it while drying or styling, if it's too noisy or just takes too long, the Dyson design team has you sorted.

Apparently.

Let's just say I'm pretty sure if you give one of these to the person with hair in your life, they'll be pretty excited.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson range of hair care technology.