For some reason, smartphones are more expensive than ever.
In the last year alone, I've reviewed several handsets priced over two-thousand dollars and a couple even stretch into the $3K+ range.
So much money for something you can easily drop onto the kitchen tiles.
Crazy.
I take pretty good care of my phones - in fact I've only ever broken one, not by dropping it, but by dropping an empty coffee cup onto it. Accidents definitely happen.
If you've invested all that money in a phone, you'd be a fool not to protect it properly...
As the number one-selling smartphone case brand in the U.S., Otterbox has developed a reputation for stylish ruggedness - if that's a thing. Now widely available in New Zealand, there's a new range to match up with the new range of Samsung flagships.
You won't find much more solid protection than the Otterbox Defender Pro. In fact, I don't think I've ever come across a case as drop-proof as this one. Not only is every edge of your S20 device protected by thick, multi-layered bumpers but there's also a soft, foam-like shock absorbing pad to protect the glass back of your phone as much as possible.
Now, I'm not brave (or reckless) enough to go around dropping my phone from various different heights to test how effective the Defender Pro actually is. On the other hand, some things just feel solid, dependable - really well made. The Defender Pro is one of those things. It just seems trustworthy.
Especially given it also includes OtterArmor Microbial Defense; an extra layer of anti-microbial technology built in to ward off a host of common germs. Pretty timely in the current climate, wouldn't you say?
The other bonus feature of the Defender pro is its belt-clip holster, included in the box. Although constructed from extremely sturdy plastic, it's very easy to clip your S20 device in and out of it, thanks to the purpose-built sockets on the edges of the Defender Pro case. Despite that, once it's in, it's in - and it stays in with no chance of being accidentally knocked or popped out. Obviously, wearing your phone on your belt isn't everybody's favourite fashion statement but given the target market for a case as rugged as this is likely to include construction workers, tradies and outdoor sportspeople, I'm thinking fashion isn't necessarily top of mind.
The bonus feature (the belt-clip holster) has its own bonus feature; the clip can rotate around and click into an open position to serve as a kickstand. This means you can watch Netflix or join that Zoom meeting without getting a tired arm after five minutes. I hope whoever thought that up got the rest of the day off.
Of course, you don't have to just clip your phone onto your belt - there are probably any number of convenient things you can use as a makeshift selfie tripod now you can instantly clip your phone onto them.
I'm not going to lie, the Defender Pro, while super secure is, shall we say, a bit on the bulky side. While you may still be able to slide a Defender Pro-protected Galaxy S20 in and out of your pocket without too much difficulty, given the S20 Ultra is two sizes bigger, the Defender Pro makes an already massive phone a size and a half bigger again.
Yes, you get plenty of peace of mind - including a dinky little charging port protector to keep out dust and dirt - but the case is undeniably large, it's stiff and to be frank, I'm surprised the volume and power buttons work as well as the do through all those layers of protection.
Not to worry, if the Defender Pro is too over-the-top for your tastes, Otterbox does provide other options, like the Symmetry series.
The Symmetry case is still precisely engineered, still feels dependably durable but is much slimmer, lighter and more elegant. In fact, it would be easy to think there's not much difference between an Otterbox Symmetry case and the standard TPU case that comes in the box with your S20 phone but don't be fooled. On closer inspection you'll discover a much softer inner layer around the inside edges of the case, helping to absorb the shock of any accidental drops. The Symmetry is sturdy but still flexible enough to make getting your phone in and out a pretty straight-forward exercise.
The attention to detail with both these cases is exact - and that's what really sets them apart from the cheap alternatives you may find online. Every button, camera cutout and port access is meticulously placed. The build materials are unquestionably tough and durable and what's more, Otterbox cases come with a lifetime (seven year) guarantee. No, they aren't cheap - but your Galaxy S20 wasn't either. A decent case like this is about the best insurance you can buy.
Click here for more information on the Galaxy S20 range of Otterbox cases.
The challenges of working remotely are many and varied.
For a surprising number of people, just maintaining a half decent internet connection is the biggest obstacle of all. In an ideal world, we'd all have a zoopy-doopy gigabyte UFB connection plugged directly into our laptops. Sadly, back in reality, just over half of us are connected to fibre right now and it's still not even available for more than twenty percent of the population.
Very difficult to work from home without the internet.
But, who needs cables anyway?...
It might not look like much but the DWR-956 from D-Link could be the guaranteed connection that keeps your business online.
In most ways, the DWR-956 operates like any other router, except it has a slot for a sim card as well. The best thing about that is you can choose to run the router over a hard-wired ethernet connection or via 4G LTE mobile data. Better still, whichever method you choose, you can set the other option as a default back-up if your preferred connection falls over - this happens automatically, in a matter of a few seconds without the need for any manual setting change or reboot. Strangely, the slot is for a standard-sized sim, which might be a bit of an issue for anyone wanting to use the micro or nano-sim out of their phones. You can buy a sim adapter if need be but if you're looking to use the DWR-956 on 4G full time, you'll probably be ordering a new sim specifically for it anyway - now's as good a time as any with good deals available on high/unlimited data plans due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Which brings us to the usefulness of such a device at a time like this; with all meetings and more business than ever happening online, being able to connect all your smart office tools through one router, wherever you are is definitely a bonus. There are four gigabyte ethernet ports available, meaning TV's, printers and desktops can plug straight in. The simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi means less congestion even with multiple devices connected. Although the box only claims "Small Home" coverage, I've found no issues staying connected throughout my two-storey, four-bedroom house. There's even an RJ11 port to connect a VOIP phone - this really is a comprehensive internet solution, without a land-based connection, if that's what's required.
D-Link promises the DWR-956 is "easy to set up and use" - I've found that to be true in most ways but not altogether the case. Yes, there is a reasonably straight-forward browser-based wizard that walks you through the steps to set up your own Wi-Fi network and I had no issues connecting to my UFB connection or getting my sim up and running. However, there were a few settings that weren't quite so automatic.
For instance, changing your default connection to or from ethernet and mobile data is a bit fiddly, although the "Failover" mode seems to kick in with no issue as long as you've taken the time to set up both connection types. The main problem with the browser-based interface is there are far too many options - one or two misguided clicks can take you down a settings rabbit hole you had no intention of going anywhere near; very dangerous for someone who likes to tweak things like I do. Given the last few D-Link devices I've reviewed have been extra-easy to set-up via mobile app, going back to this web-based labyrinth of pull-down menus seems like a bit of a step backwards. Take my advice; if you're not a hundred-percent sure what a particular setting is for, leave it alone - otherwise you might be in for a factory reset and you'll have to start the whole process all over again.
I don't want to overpromise what the DWR-956 is capable of delivering when connected via 4G - obviously that's going depend largely on how good the coverage is in your area. For me, I've been clocking up download speeds of around the 30Mbps mark as opposed to 80Mbps+ via my UFB connection - and that's only on 3G. Not sure why I couldn't seem to pick up 4G in my neighbourhood, but even at those speeds, most things worked pretty well. Obviously, this not going to be an ideal solution for serious online gamers or a large home with multiple users streaming HD video simultaneously but I had no issues using Netflix and the like.
Unfortunately, the DWR-956 doesn't offer 5G connectivity, but given most areas where 5G is available so far are also likely to be areas that are fully UFB connected, it's probably not much of an issue right now.
This is a very compact device and the external antennae rotate easily out of the way (or screw off completely) making it extremely portable. If necessary, you can move your whole office from place to place without having to reconnect any of your gadgets - just plug it in and your own network is fired up and ready to go in mere minutes.
To me, the peace of mind Failover Mode offers is the main attraction of a device like the DWR-956. With so many of us working or studying from home right now, protecting your internet connection is pretty damn important. Combine that functionality with all the features you'd expect from a decent router and you have a winning formula to see you through tough times online.
Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DWR-956 4G LTE Wi-Fi router.
We've never seen people accessing the web from home like we're seeing right now.
The major Internet Service Providers are all reporting massive surges in residential online activity. Traditional peak times have been turned upside down. The roads may be empty but the information super-highway is chocka.
Working from home is basically the new norm, many businesses only able to stay in business thanks to a collection of hurriedly accumulated bits and pieces, plugged into each other and connected to the net.
The problem with an ad hoc, thrown-together arrangement like this is there's not always the opportunity to do the usual due-diligence. Unfortunately, in your haste to figure out how to do a staff meeting by remote control, cyber security might have been the last thing on your mind.
Sadly, hackers, fraudsters and troll farmers are still in business and all this extra internet traffic is too tempting for them to ignore. Trouble is, in many cases business-level online security has now been seriously compromised and is only as strong as any given staff-member's home router settings.
If that staff member needs better WiFi connectivity at home anyway, it might be a good idea to sort that and beef up security in one fell swoop...
We've talked about the D-Link COVR 2022 seamless mesh WiFi system before but it's well worth revisiting given the current, extraordinary climate. Especially because now the COVR 2022 kit is secured by McAfee.
Although I've featured several systems with router-level security, the obvious advantage to using something like this for your work-from-home setup is you're basically McAfee protected from the moment you turn it on.
That means McAfee's Secure Home Platform is accessing its cloud-based Global Threat Intelligence database to actively scan your home network for any vulnerabilities, including IoT threat detection - everything from security cameras to TVs become virtually hacker-proof. You can assign each connected device to a specific person on the network. Then you can customise those profiles accordingly. It's very easy to set schedules to control when people or devices are or aren't allowed to access the network, or to filter the kind of content available.
With kids schooling from home while you're working, it's going to be a challenge to monitor their internet usage - it can be tempting for them to stray down inappropriate cyber-rabbit-holes when they should be doing online lessons or assignments. McAfee's app makes supervising this a heck of a lot easier, just by checking a few boxes. There are age-appropriate templates to choose from, each of which you can customise with an impressive list of options. If you've turned something off your young user thinks they legitimately need access to, they can request a change. But perhaps most useful of all is the ability to pause or allow internet access altogether. No more excuses for turning up late to meal times.
Five years of that comprehensive protection is included free with the COVR 2022 kit.
And at the risk of sounding like a TV infomercial, that's not all.
Once you've registered your McAfee account, you'll also be able to install McAfee LiveSafe on an unlimited number of devices for two years free. That all adds up to hundreds of dollars of online safety included in the price of the COVR 2022 mesh WiFi system.
Which is still a great system by the way. The attractive base units (I know they're attractive, because the Domestic Manager has told me they actually look quite nice) offer dependable, uninterrupted, whole-house WiFi using the same network address (SSID). If you've been dealing with the hassle of swapping from one network to another using a more traditional extender, you've got to give a mesh system like this a go. You won't look back.
The COVR 2022 is fast and powerful too - this is because the base units communicate with each other via their own, dedicated 5GHz band, with separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels for all other devices to connect to. Smart steering means more high-demand gadgets (TV, gaming) get priority over things that don't need as much bandwidth.
The point is, it's a quick, user-friendly solution when it comes time to turn your home into a place of online business as well; you get better whole-house connectivity with all that added McAfee security to keep your business dealings secure and your kids safe.
Set-up really is very straight-forward, using the D-Link WiFi app. You don't need to know anything about MU-MIMO, WAN, LAN or Tri-Band connectivity, all you need to be able to do is download the app and follow the instructions.
These crazy times are stressful enough without exposing yourself, your kids and most importantly, your business to the ever expanding collection of online bandits out there. Now D-Link has built McAfee's protection into the point of connection, it's one less thing for you to worry about.
Click here for more information on the D-Link COVR 2022 seamless mesh WiFi system.
Once in a while I find myself reviewing a device with genuine "wow" factor.
Personally, the way I measure that isn't from my own impression but from the reactions of other people when they see me using it.
The latest little laptop from Dell definitely has "wow" factor. I know this, because people literally keep saying, "Wow. That's cool!"...
Yes, when I unboxed the Dell XPS 13 9300, even my cat wanted to know what the fuss was about. Who could blame her? Strikingly elegant from the outside in machined aluminium, a classy, matte finish that doesn't show fingerprints. Even more distinctive once opened, especially in arctic white, with the eye-catching woven glass-fibre palm rest.
The build quality here is genuinely first rate - despite how slim and light the device is, everything feels reassuringly solid, from the stability of the hinge mechanism to the rock-hard Corning Gorilla Glass 6 edge-to-edge touch panel.
That 13.4-inch screen really is something else. So unbelievably thin, yet with the most narrow bezels I've ever seen on a laptop. It truly deserves its InfinityEdge moniker, even the slightly wider bottom bezel is pretty much hidden by the offset hinge design. The touch operation is accurate and responsive but what has impressed me most is how non-reflective the screen now is, making the 9300 so much more usable in bright, outdoor or backlit conditions.
Colour, definition and clarity are wonderful. The 16:10 aspect ratio makes both media consumption and desktop productivity feel significantly less cramped than the 3:2 or 16:9 displays found on most other devices.
Because of those almost non-existent bezels, the whole laptop seems more like a much smaller, 11-inch notebook. That's not to say things feel cramped at all; like the screen, the keyboard also stretches right to the very edge. There's plenty of space for plenty of keys, including dedicated Home and End keys. Due to the taller aspect ratio of the screen, the corresponding lower half of the laptop has surprisingly ample palm rests (both UV and stain resistant) and a nice, big trackpad. There are three backlight settings to suit your preferences and there's also a power key that doubles as fingerprint reader for secure login. The sensor works very reliably and extremely quickly with one small drawback - the key is positioned where you'd find the Delete key on most other keyboards. This means I've accidentally turned the screen off a few times when I've been in the middle of typing something up. I'm sure I'll get used to it.
Especially given logging on and off is fast and efficient, either via that fingerprint reader or using the 720p Windows Hello camera for face unlock. The webcam is far from the best quality camera I've used on a laptop or tablet but it's perfectly adequate for video chats and most importantly of all, like most things on the 9300, it's tiny, taking up no extra space whatsoever on the top bezel.
The bottom-mounted, side-firing speakers are loud, rich and powerful, creating a fairly accurate listening environment for most media, although lacking full-on bass boom if you're watching something with a lot of explosions or listening to some EDM. There's a very comprehensive suite of both Dell and Intel sound and vision apps to tweak things the way you want. In fact, the sheer volume of pre-installed support software is probably a bit over-the-top; there are apps for updates, performance, device registrations, tips and tutorials... but it's not like you have to use them if you don't want to.
The configuration of XPS 13 9300 I'm using to write this on is pretty high end, to say the least. The 10th-gen IntelCore i7 CPU is teamed up with 16GB of RAM and a substantial (and fast) 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. The integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics capabilities have now reached the point where anyone but the most fanatical gamers will be satisfied with the performance. To date, nothing I've thrown at this device has caused it to stutter, lag or even hiccup. Audio and video editing, streaming, gaming... everything performs admirably, which is of course what you should expect from a $4000+ laptop.
Some people complain about the lack of connectivity options; there are just two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a microSD card reader and a headphone jack. But bear in mind, Thunderbolt means versatility - charging, external displays, fast transfer speeds - and there's a Type-C to USB-A adapter in the box. These days, so many of my peripherals connect wirelessly, either via WiFi or bluetooth, my lack-of-port-anxiety levels have definitely plummeted.
What I will complain about - and it's perhaps my only complaint - is battery life. I know it takes a lot of power to run a 4K display and I know there are all kinds of things I can do to the settings to conserve battery consumption but here's the thing; I don't want to. If I've paid over four grand for my laptop I want my 4K and I want it to last all day. Unfortunately, while I do get several hours use from a full charge, I certainly wouldn't risk being out on the road without the 9300's power adapter. Even more unfortunately, it does not charge particularly quickly, although I appreciate the flexibility of having Thunderbolt ports on both sides so the cable is always out of the way, wherever you need to plug in.
Given none of us are about to embark on much long-haul travel any time soon, that kind of extended-life battery use is perhaps less of a concern at the present time. Oh well.
I've been using the XPS 13 9300 for a while now. In fact, I keep trying to find more excuses to use it. That's because the more I use it, the more I like it. It has more than enough processing and graphics power for anything I need. The display is perhaps the best I've seen on a laptop to date and the design touches like woven white glass-fibre palm rests are just so damn cool. Taking all that awesomeness into account, I can definitely forgive the average (not actually bad) battery performance.
Overall, the 9300 feels like a reliable, high-performance, future-proofed device that looks pretty classy with it. Small in size, but big on "Wow!"
Click here for more information and pricing on the Dell XPS 13 9300 laptop.
