WHICH RING IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

It's the age-old question; do I really need the top-of-the-line? Or is there another option that will fulfil my requirements?

Often we can be tempted into paying more for features we're unlikely to use. But as I've suggested before, when it comes to home security, you probably don't want to be cutting too many corners. Saving a couple of hundred bucks now could cost you thousands later.

Luckily, Ring only makes quality products - but there's nothing wrong with a bit of comparison shopping...

By now, I think most of us can spot a Ring Video Doorbell without looking too hard. The distinctive, modern, durable design is becoming more and more commonplace at entranceways in New Zealand and around the world.

The original design has now been upgraded significantly and the second generation is definitely worth consideration alongside the Video Doorbell 3 Plus I reviewed back in early June.

I'm usually pretty blown by what's included in the box with any new Ring product, whether it's a video doorbell or a security camera. Not so much this time. Yes, you still get the special screwdriver, some mounting screws, a drill bit and a tiny little level but there are no alternate face plates or wedge and corner kits for tricky mounting situations. With the 2nd-Gen Video Doorbell, these things are optional extras.

As for the mounting plate itself, I have to admit, I was very confused at first when I discovered it was already attached to the doorbell. This meant un-attaching it to screw it into the wall and I struggled to find any directions to do this, either in the box or online - in fact, for a while I wasn't even sure it was the mounting plate and not just a permanent part of the doorbell unit itself. In the end, I figured it out by reverse-engineering the mounting instructions. Turns out it just clips on and un-clips off. Perhaps some kind of instruction sticker might have saved me some grief.

This is all a bit unusual for Ring, because I've always been very impressed with how easy their devices are to install and set up. To be fair, once I managed to detach that plate, everything else was very straight-forward and I had the Video Doorbell up and running in minutes.

One big upgrade on the new generation seems to be better Wi-Fi connectivity - not only was setup seamless and efficient but I've found notifications come through to my connected devices almost instantly and the connection between my Alexa Echo Show 8 and the Video Doorbell is more reliable than ever. This is the beauty of an Alexa-enabled device like this; not only can I ask Alexa to show me my front door, with the Ring skill enabled, any Echo speakers in the house become door chimes and devices like the Echo Show 8 will show a live feed from the doorbell as soon as it's pressed.

At that point, you can choose to talk to your visitor as well - audio quality has been improved since the original device as has video definition, up to 1080p from 720p. Night vision is also very clear and you can also modify which zones are monitored and which aren't, just like you can with the Video Doorbell 3 Plus.

Of course, all these features are accessible from your smart phone too, meaning you can give the courier instructions on where to leave that package even if you're not home when she arrives.

Operationally, the Video Doorbell works brilliantly - it picks up any movement you program it to, ignoring anything that isn't a person if that's your preference. My main bugbear, and it's the same with any Ring product unfortunately, is having to pay a subscription to store your video recordings after the initial 30 day trial period. These devices are well priced but they're not super cheap and the option to record to your own cloud storage or a local memory card would definitely make them a more attractive proposition.

There are two main differences between this device and the more expensive Video Doorbell 3 Plus; firstly, there's no pre-roll option on this one. Pre-roll is a new feature Ring introduced this year that records a lower-quality five second video of what happens before motion is detected or the doorbell is pressed. If that doesn't sound like a deal-breaker to you the next question you need to ask yourself is, "Can I work a screwdriver?"

That's because unlike other Ring models, the battery here is built-in. That means you have to remove the whole unit to charge it up - which will also leave your door unmonitored for the several hours it takes to charge. If you're replacing an existing hard-wired doorbell, none of that matters as the Video Doorbell can be connected to the mains supply instead.

If you're willing to make those two compromises, then you may as well save yourself a hundred bucks or so and go with the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen). It looks great, offers superb connectivity and delivers clear, wide angle video in all light conditions. There aren't a lot of extras thrown in but sometimes you just don't need the extras.

Click here for more information about the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation).

KING OF TABLETS

Before you buy that new laptop, just quickly ask yourself; are you sure you're not a tablet person?

Here's a little checklist...

Are you more of a browser, poster and scroller than an editor or publisher?

Do you prefer to stream your own shows when everyone else is watching that dumb series you don't like?

Is mobility important? Battery life?

Do you like the idea of a device that works like a phone but with a giant screen?

Do you like to draw?

Yup. Sounds like you might be a tablet person. So may as well get the best one...

The Galaxy Tab S7+ is Samsung's latest flagship tablet and it comes extremely close to laptop functionality while retaining all the benefits of a tablet. At the time of writing it's being bundled with the Keyboard Book Cover but even if it isn't when you read this, make sure you get one so you can enjoy all the features I'm about to discuss.

The super AMOLED display is probably the first thing that will grab your attention - initially because of its sheer size; 12.4 inches is probably about as big as I'd want to go for a tablet before things start feeling clumsy and awkward to hold with one hand. There are still significant bezels around the edges but that's kind of mandatory on a tablet otherwise you can't hold it without accidentally tapping or swiping something. 

In terms of cutting-edge display tech, a Samsung screen is usually pretty hard to beat and you definitely won't be disappointed here. You can choose between 120Hz or 60Hz refresh rates, depending on whether you're looking for sheer performance or trying to conserve a little battery life. Certainly video and gaming at the higher rate is stunning. 

In fact, when it comes to streaming on this device, you might find the experience superior to watching your telly. Not only is the screen fantastic but the sound from the AKG/Dolby Atmos-tuned quad speaker array is remarkable.

I haven't enjoyed watching anything on a screen of this size like I have watching Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool on the Galaxy Tab S7+. If you haven't seen it, I'm sure you can imagine the soundtrack is key. The stereo separation, dynamic range and general sense of audio space really is like some kind of aural magic trick. If you're considering a TV for the bedroom, this might actually do the job instead.

But there's a lot more to the Galaxy Tab S7+ than just another way to watch Netflix. It ships with an S-Pen stylus in the box. This magnetises onto the back of the tablet where it charges wirelessly as well. Like the smaller S-Pen on the recent Note 20's, Samsung has dramtically reduced latency while increasing functionality. Tools like screen capture, highlighting and over-drawing are all just a tap away. Convert handwriting to text, save notes to the cloud to be shared between devices or just draw something! The pre-installed Pen-Up app even comes with instructional draw-over videos and a library of colouring-in if you're looking for a creative way to kill some time.

The S-Pen slots securely into the back section of the Keyboard Book Cover while the lower half of that section folds out as a stand to support the Tab S7+ at whichever angle you prefer.

Meanwhile, the front, keyboard part of the cover connects magnetically to the tablet along one long edge.

Generally I'm a fan of of attaching accessories magnetically but it's not quite a perfect system here. Because both back and front halves of the case are held on magnetically, I keep pulling the back off instead of pulling the keyboard down. This is just a technique thing and I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually but it's interesting to see Samsung put all its trust in magnets while other cases still clip on instead.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the keyboard. Firstly, I love having a physical keyboard as I hate using an on-screen one and sacrificing all that display real estate in the process. I'm also impressed with the sheer number of keys - there's a whole row of function keys, a set of cursor keys, media control keys - even a screenshot key. Unfortunately, in order to fit all these keys in they've put some fairly important ones in odd places and even resized some of them. The shift and enter keys seem particularly weird and it's taken some deliberate retraining to get my fingers used to the somewhat unusual configuration.

The whole thing is crazy slim but that means there's zero travel for the keys and it also flexes and moves around quite a lot if you're an aggressive typer like me. The touchpad is responsive, accurate and clicky though so all in all, the keyboard experience is a win.

There can be no doubt this device was designed for landscape use - obviously that's how the Keyboard Book Cover works but the front-facing camera is on the long side of the tablet too. This is great - I use my phone that way when I can anyway, so I'm definitely holding the Tab S7+ sideways too. Especially now that DeX mode is so much more useful than ever.

DeX is Samsung's desktop display - the flagship handsets can now do it wirelessly onto larger displays but of course, the Galaxy Tab S7+ is a larger display, so it does DeX mode to itself. In fact, there's a dedicated DeX button, firing up the Windows-like desktop in seconds. Many more apps have now been optimised for DeX use and by going with the more experimental DeX Labs option, you can resize most other apps for multi-window use too. Just like on a laptop or PC, you can open as many different windows as you like, copying and pasting from one app to another as you please. The Tab S7+ never skips a beat, the Snapdragon 865 processor absolutely scything through any task at hand.

Camera performance is basically off the charts. I doubt you've ever used a tablet with camera specs like this, I certainly haven't. The experience is far more like using a high-end phone than dealing with the below-par shooters to be found on most laptops and tablets. Your next work-from-home video staff meeting never looked so good!

I've also been impressed by the Super Fast charging - often devices with a large battery take an equally large time to top up but the Tab S7+ juices up its enourmous 10090mAh cell very efficiently.

This year Samsung has stepped up efforts to get all its devices working together seamlessly in one ecosystem. The convenience of being able to answer and reply to texts and calls from my phone on the Tab S7+ is very useful and I love being able to swap my Galaxy Buds+ between phone and tablet with just a single touch of the screen.

Power, tick. Productivity, tick. Portability, tick. Sound and vision, big, big, BIG tick. If the Galaxy Tab S7+ was just a tablet, it would be truly awesome. But add the multifunctional S-Pen and the very full-featured Keyboard Book Cover and there's not much you can't do.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is also available in a 5G model and smaller S7 versions.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+.

MAXING OUT YOUR MESH

Okay, so you're back working at home. Or maybe you're back at work. Or maybe a bit of both. Complicated times for everyone.

Even if you're not working from home, let's be honest, we're all spending a lot more time there... and undoubtedly a lot more time online. Streaming, browsing, gaming, scrolling... chances are you're going to be plugged into the web again tonight.

So make things easy on yourself. Whole home Wi-Fi is now more straight-forward then ever before...

Wait. Didn't we do this already? Lockdown Part I. Back in May. Remember?

Well, yes... D-Link did have a convenient, two-piece mesh Wi-Fi solution available earlier in the year which worked very well and proved popular.

But sometimes two just isn't enough.

Now there's the COVR-1103; three easily configured mesh modules in one box.

I'm not going to try and convince you there's anything different about this kit from the one we looked at earlier in the year... other than there's more. And when it comes to Wi-Fi coverage, there's nothing better than more.

Just as a quick reminder, each COVR-1100 unit is an inconspicuous, white cube with a single, tiny LED on top that can be disabled after setup. They're small enough to sit just about anywhere without being noticed - shelves, side tables, benchtops - wherever.

Also, these units can be switched from router to bridge mode, offering you a wireless connection between devices if that's what you need. There's an ethernet port on each unit so you can hardwire things like TV's or desktops. But the main point of the exercise is ensuring every smart device in your home has the strong, reliable Wi-Fi access it deserves.

That's the beauty of D-Link's COVR system - even if three access points don't quite blanket your whole house (we're talking about 464sqm of coverage here though, so they probably will) you can just keep adding more COVR-1100's to fill in any dead spots.

A word of advice though; walls, metal, electrical appliances... these things are all working against you so make sure your primary unit (the one that's actually physically connected to your modem) is as central as possible. Although most Wi-Fi enabled devices will have no issue staying connected as you move from one unit's range to another's, if a remote unit is too far away from the primary one, its connection might drop in and out. This means your phone or tablet can get confused between which thing it's trying to communicate with and that's when video will stop streaming, music will cut out or downloads will be interrupted. During my testing I found Apple devices were particularly prone to this kind of signal confusion but it was quickly solved with a slight repositioning of my remote stations.

Setup is so, so simple. In fact, I've discovered it's even easier than D-Link leads you to believe. When I first reviewed the COVR-1102 two-pack, I complained about how the app made you wait too long between steps - the devices seemed to be paired minutes before the app would allow you to move to the next step. I've now proved that is definitely the case. So don't use the app. The app is great for configuring your internet connection and Wi-Fi network name and password - but you only have to do that for the primary unit. That information is automatically mirrored onto any new unit you add. The most efficient way to do this is by simply connecting the new station to the primary one via ethernet cable and switching it on. The LED on top starts red, flashes orange for a bit then turns solid white in about a minute. Then you can unplug the ethernet cable and you're done. No app or browser-based setup required.

Now remember, although you now have a strong Wi-Fi signal all through the house, anything connected to it is still eventually running back through the same primary unit, connected to your modem. While this may sound like a potential chokepoint, I really haven't found that to be the case. There's a lot of smart-steering technology going on to ensure each connected device gets served with as much internet as it requires, when it needs it. Make no mistake, there are other routers with more capacity and higher speeds but I've got two teenagers, a Domestic Manager and me streaming, working, gaming and scrolling hard-out and I haven't run into any issues yet.

What the D-Link Wi-Fi app does do is make it extremely easy to manage your new mesh network - you can set parental controls for specific devices, create a guest network, change your password or just turn off those tiny LEDs. The COVR units are even Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled, although I've never felt the need to talk to my router.

Whether you're trying to connect a large home or small workplace, the COVR-1103 is certainly a budget-friendly, adaptable and above all, straight-forward way to do it. Especially now I've learned how to set it up without the app!

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link COVR-1103 seamless mesh Wi-Fi system.

THE LATEST BEST WATCH

Samsung has been making smartwatches for a very long time now.

Unfortunately for them, they got very good at it quite early on and it must be quite a challenge to improve a device that already looks great and works well.

Fortunately for me, I've been able to try most of them and I'm definitely a fan.

So it seems only logical I should put the latest version through its paces...

At first I was kind of reluctant to put the Samsung Galaxy Watch3 through too many paces because it looks so damn fantastic. Admittedly, not a massive departure from the overall design of the original Galaxy Watch but there are tweaks and refinements to be found everywhere. The casing - in either Mystic Black or Mystic Silver - is more rounded, the connections to the strap are finer, the buttons are now round and the bezel (yes, the rotating bezel is back!) is thinner yet more "clicky" than before. The Watch3 also comes in Mystic Bronze with a pink strap - but only in the smaller, 41mm version. As I've been using the 45mm model, I won't be commenting on the differences between the two - there are a few but mostly pretty minor ones.

Perhaps the most striking enhancement is the Galaxy Watch3 now comes with a genuine leather band with contrasting stitching. There are pros and cons here - the strap looks so good... yet it's obviously not most people's first choice when working out. There's no alternative included in the box although any standard 22mm band will fit. I accidentally wore the Galaxy Watch3 in the garden the other day without swapping out the strap with a more durable one. Luckily, when I came inside after a couple of hours' tree-planting, the marks on it were dirt, not scuffs and they wiped off. Underneath was a different story - there was quite a sweat stain soaked into the leather. It eventually dried out but I certainly wouldn't choose this strap for exercise.

Which is a shame, as there are many new Samsung Health features to get excited about. This is Samsung's fitness app, an app that's become very comprehensive indeed. Unlike the fitness ecosystems with other phone/watch combos, Samsung Health can be installed on any smart phone and the Galaxy Watch3 can be paired with any phone too - yes, Android or iPhone. This means you can track all your progress in great detail.

I've been using Endomondo, a third-party app to monitor my workouts for years, primarily due to the sheer number of different kinds of exercise it will track. Now I'm having a second look at Samsung Health. Not only will it track everything from running and swimming to arm curls and yoga but there's so much information stored from every workout. The GPS tracking looks to be bang on and is displayed on a shareable map. All the usual stats are there - splits, pace, elevation etc. and a new one that'll appeal to the more serious runners; cadence.

I found heart rate monitoring to be good - but you have to be wearing the Watch3 a notch tighter while working out to get a really consistent reading. You can now also measure your blood oxygen levels too - this is a great way to keep an eye on any developing health concerns, especially if you suffer from asthma or other cardiovascular conditions.

Blood pressure, VO2 max and ECG readings are also on the way once Samsung has approval from the relevant health authorities. This is a very capable fitness device indeed.

There's even an option to download guided workouts in the Samsung Health app, cast them to a compatible smart TV and you'll see the info from your Galaxy Watch3 displayed live on screen. Nifty. Especially when access to a gym is a bit hit or miss depending on lockdowns these days.

Of course, the true beauty of this watch is not just its beauty, or its fitness functionality but how genuinely smart a smartwatch it is. As I said at the top, Samsung has been doing this a long time. The rotating bezel has been universally praised as one of the most user-friendly methods of navigating from the main display to incoming notifications and a host of useful widgets. The Galaxy Watch3 runs Spotify, makes and receives calls, shows your calendar... you can even run Powerpoint presentations. It runs faster and smoother than before and the screen is brighter and clearer than ever - especially outdoors where I've always struggled a bit with the original Galaxy Watch.

In terms of battery life, there doesn't seem to be any dramatic improvement here, although my typical usage means I take my watch off every night so as long as it makes it through a full day I'm happy. The Galaxy Watch3 will last at least  a day and half with all the sensors and connections running at full tilt. A small, magnetic, wireless charging puck is included in the box and it also charges reasonably quickly using the reverse charging option on devices like the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20's.

Of course, if you're into sleep tracking - something else the Galaxy Watch3 does a fine job of - you'll have to find another time to charge it up. The best charging news possible, as far as I'm concerned anyway, is you can now turn off that annoying charging display that's been lighting up my bedside table for the last year or so. Finally.

There's some bad news though. Samsung's native Email app seems to have completely disappeared. That's not to say you won't still be able to receive and reply to Email notifications, like you can from any app on your phone. However, it's no longer available as a standalone app on the Watch3 itself. This means you can't read the full text from long messages or review all the emails in your inbox. What's even more worrying is Microsoft Outlook is available as a dedicated Watch3 app. Okay - maybe it's not worrying if you prefer Outlook over Samsung Email but I don't. It's a sure sign the growing relationship between Samsung and Microsoft is leading to the end of Samsung Email altogether. Very annoying for me because until Outlook offers a split-screen view in its mobile app, I'm using something else.

Is one missing app any reason not to buy the Galaxy Watch3? Of course not, don't be ridiculous. Especially when, as I've pointed out, I can still reply and interact with my preferred email app far more comprehensively than I'd be able to on most other smartwatches. In fact, that's pretty much true for every aspect of the device. No other watch connects to more phones, has more functionality and looks this good.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Watch3.

SMALL AND MIGHTY

In just a few months I've gone from never having even touched a Huawei laptop to being absolutely enamoured with them.

Not so long ago I reviewed the Matebook X Pro and was quite frankly blown away. It was powerful, feature-packed, with a fantastic build quality and a wonderful display.

So what happens when you take all that and make it a bit smaller?...

If you're thinking, "Wait... Haven't I seen that somewhere before?" the answer is you have and you haven't. At first glance and with no reference points to judge scale, you could be forgiven for confusing this picture of the Huawei Matebook 13 with images of the Matebook X Pro. I can assure you, the smaller model is a couple of centimetres more narrow.

But here's the thing; I've used both devices and I'm really struggling to detect the Matebook 13's limitations.

The main reason for this is the differences between Huawei's flagship notebook and this pared-down version are not really performance-related. Both devices combine Intel's 10thGen i7-10510U processor, a generous 16GB of RAM with a combination of Intel's integrated graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX250 card. So in essence, the brains are the same. Not only does that latest CPU and hefty RAM combo keep things running smoothly and quickly but Huawei's ability to auto-switch between graphics cards conserves battery and allows the raw computing power to be diverted to where it's needed most.

As I say, this high-end setup is the same for both the X Pro and the Matebook 13 and because the demands from the Matebook 13's display aren't as great, potentially the smaller device may even perform more powerfully. I've certainly encountered no shortfalls no matter what I've thrown at it; audio editing, streaming, multi-tasking - you name it.

So about that display... While it's true the Matebook 13 sports an IPS LCD screen as opposed to the X Pro's LTPS version, the difference in resolution and brightness is pretty hard to pick up. Is there really much of a gap between the 2K and 3K FullView displays? Not that I can tell. Both offer ten-point touch capability, both let you screenshot with a three-finger swipe and most importantly of all, as far as I'm concerned anyway, both have a 3:2 aspect ratio. I've decided this is definitely my preferred shape for a laptop screen as it just seems to provide so much more desktop area to place different windows onto. Touch-wise, I've found the display to be super accurate and combined with the wide, responsive and clicky touchpad, I haven't felt the need to plug in a mouse, even when editing.

Watching Netflix and other video is great - not only is the picture quality excellent but the dual speaker array performs well too. Unlike the X Pro, there are only two speakers, not four but audio is clear, fairly loud and the stereo separation is top notch. I'm not suggesting this would be my preferred device for listening to my favourite Spotify playlist - not through the speakers anyway. But in terms of binge-watching a few episodes of Ozark in bed, awesome.

The twin microphone array on the Matebook 13 doesn't quite match up to the quad system on the X Pro either. Video calls are absolutely fine without blowing anybody away with sound and video clarity - although thanks to the 2x2 MIMO dual WiFi antennae, connectivity is extremely reliable.

There are two other fantastic features the Matebook 13 shares with the X Pro; the power button fingerprint reader and Huawei Share. While we're all used to securing our smartphones with a fingerprint, it's a relatively new feature on laptops. The great thing about the sensor on this device is it works straight away; even though the laptop still takes a few seconds to boot up, it reads your fingerprint the moment you push the power button so you don't have to log in again, instantly bypassing the welcome screen. So cool.

Huawei Share is even cooler. This is the feature that enables you to mirror your Huawei phone on the Matebook 13's screen with a single tap. This doesn't require an internet connection as it uses NFC instead. Not only can you keep an eye on notifications from your phone but you can swipe files and photos between both devices wirelessly. It's like a magic trick.

I can't stress enough how well this laptop runs. There's basically no bloatware pre-installed, only the PC Manager app which does a brilliantly quiet job of keeping all your drivers up to date. The edge-to-edge keyboard has good travel and isn't at all cramped given the small size of the device and the bezels around the screen, while not quite as invisible as those of the X Pro, are still pretty skinny for a laptop. This is a powerful computer with excellent battery-life, small enough to fit in any briefcase, satchel or schoolbag - even handbags. And because it charges via USB-C, you can use the same charger for your phone as well.

I'd prefer to see a standard USB-A port alongside the two USB-C's but I guess you can't have everything. That's why they invented docks and adapters I guess.

One port short; that's basically my only gripe with this little beauty. It's a joy to use and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Click here for more information on the Huawei Matebook 13 2020.

MORE THAN JUST PRETTY LIGHTS

Personally, RGB is not my thing.

I've said it many times before but like the grumpy old man I am, I'm happy to repeat it; I'm not a fan of flashing lights. If there's an option to dim a display, I'll take it. If I can turn LED's off, I will.

You know how kids are useless at switching off the lights in rooms they're not in anymore? Yup, I'm that guy who follows them around the house turning them all off again - usually while muttering under my breath.

However, like most people, I do have a favourite colour. So if there's an option to customise something in a hue of my choice, I'll take it.

I also realise if you're going to the trouble of building your own PC, you probably want to trick it out a bit...

First up, PNY XLR8 RGB RAM is still RAM. Yes, we'll get to the RGB features shortly but you're going to be hard pressed to pick up high-performance memory like this for much cheaper. At just $148.99 for the pair of 8GB modules I was sent to review, you're well on your way to a pretty decent rig for not much money. The really good news is, it works.

Strangely enough - and impressively, although I usually run a 32GB RAM configuration in my desktop, I actually didn't notice much of a drop-off in performance with the 16GB of XLR8 in its place, if any. This is of course down to the fact performance factors like sheer speed aren't just due to memory but what your CPU, graphics card and in fact, your motherboard itself are capable of. Luckily, while the XLR8 modules are capable of 3200MHz, they're backwards capable down to 2133MHz so should be compatible with a wide range of systems.

I certainly didn't have any issue firing it up with my several years-old rig... well, not once I remembered which two RAM slots I was meant to be fitting them into, anyway. I knew you were supposed to install pairs like this into either the two odd slots or the two even slots on your motherboard. What I'd forgotten was my motherboard has configured those odd and even slots next to each other, 1-3 then 2-4. Took me ages to figure out why my PC was only showing 8GB of RAM every time I booted up. Bit of grandad advice for you; get your reading glasses out and double-check which slots are labelled as which.

If you're still labouring along with a basic 4GB (or even 8GB) setup, I really recommend you stop putting it off and upgrade now. Your boot times will improve, apps will launch faster and of course multi-tasking and gaming will be dramatically more powerful and reliable. Don't be afraid, popping out your existing RAM module and replacing it with a shinier, newer, bigger one is the single easiest thing you can do to mod your desktop hardware.

In saying that, the modules themselves are quite large - partly due to the aluminium heat spreaders and partly because of the significant LED panels at the top. If you're already cramped for space inside your desktop case (maybe you're running some kind of mini-tower or something) installing these things is going to be pretty fiddly. Luckily for me, my cabinet is pretty standard and has a nice big window in the side which is handy, given XLR8 RGB RAM can make everything look so pretty.

The aforementioned light panels on the memory modules are bigger and brighter than any I've tried before and can certainly illuminate your whole rig, even if you don't have other RGB components like graphics cards, fans or cables. The weird thing about the XLR8 RGB's is PNY hasn't come up with any software to mod them with. Instead, they seem to be compatible with everyone else's. That might be an exaggeration but because I have a Gigabyte motherboard I tried Gigabyte Fusion 2.0 and it detected the new RAM right off the bat. Fusion 2.0 is a simple but easy-to-use app for syncing RGB options to my preference.

My preference is not flashing on and off. It's not cycling through all the colours of the rainbow either. Fusion 2.0 can do all that. But my preference is red. Just red. On all the time. It can do that too.

Turns out there are plenty of other RGB customisation apps out there - I tried ASUSAura and that worked just as well. If you have an RGB graphics card, you've probably already got some software to tweak your colour scheme and it seems like it'll probably work with these RAM modules without too much fuss.

So if you thought it was going to be complicated to bring some of that flashy, gamer flair to your existing desktop, or if you're putting a PC together from the ground up and you're looking for an economical memory option, check out XLR8 RGB... just remember to put them in the right slots.

Click here for more information and pricing on PNY XLR8 RGB desktop gaming RAM.

GET THEM CODING

It's a fact that can't be disputed. The job market has moved on. The landscape has tilted dramatically. Not just between last century and this one. Not just over the last decade.

Even since last year, everything has changed.

Many of the occupations that make the world work today weren't invented when I left school and that's a trend that looks set to continue. So the question is; what do we teach our kids? How do we teach our kids?

Technology is obviously now key in the majority of industries and if you can adapt to new systems and ideas, you're well placed to succeed when it comes to facing the challenges of the future.

This is why many education experts have placed such an emphasis on learning to code - if you are able to manipulate the very building blocks innovation is based on, your destiny is surely in your own hands.

So let's play...

The Osmo Coding Starter Kit breaks coding down to its most accessible elements and teaches those concepts to 5-10 year-olds through three different games, Coding Awbie, Coding Jam and Coding Duo.

If you haven't encountered one of Osmo's interactive educational games before, they use the Osmo Base to incorporate physical objects, drawings and actions into the action on your iPad screen. Osmo describes this as "healthy screen time," as it combines elements of the virtual world with those in the "real" one. The Osmo Base is one of those genius examples of design that's so perfect because it's so simple. There are two pieces that stack together when not in use; the base itself which will accommodate pretty much any iPad from the iPad 2 onwards and the reflector cap which is literally just a mirror that fits over your iPad camera to turn your table-top into a gaming workspace.

There's a wide selection of games available, some of which require no further specialised equipment than a pen and paper. You can literally create virtual features on screen by drawing them on the desk or table in front of you. This is fun, creative and addictive but the Coding Starter Kit takes things to a whole new level.

The kit includes the Osmo Base and 31 coding blocks that fit snugly into a stackable storage container. There isn't really any setup involved other than sitting your iPad in the stand and sliding the reflector on top. The stand is just high enough to leave your iPad plugged in to charge - just. Although there's a space for the charging able it does need to bend sharply for everything to sit flush with the table-top and I worry this could lead to cable damage with prolonged use over time. 

Once you download and open the Osmo World app, you can create a profile easily enough by following the step by step instructions. You can also create a parent/teacher account instead, enabling you to track the progress of your kids or students.

Then it's time to let the coding begin.

Coding Awbie is designed to be the entry-level training ground of the three games you can download to use with this kit. By laying down a combination of action and number tiles in front of the iPad, you can move your monster avatar or "Awbie" through a maze of hazards and obstacles. Initially you'll be prompted with plenty of visual tips and prompts but things get more complicated and challenging quite quickly.

You soon learn the more tiles you can put down at once, the faster your progress towards the various goals and rewards in the game. Many of the action tiles have a rotating direction arrow attached. I found this stiff to turn with my fat fingers at first but it soon loosened up with a bit of use and I was away.

Of course, without even realising it, by creating these sequences in a logical, concise order, you're actually writing programs - programming your monster to follow your instructions. Once your Awbie has munched his fill of stawberries, you can then move on to Coding Jam.

This intermediate-level game is all about combining different audio elements to make music, so rather than steering a monster around a maze, you're telling a band of monsters what to play and when. The game makes you practice before you go into "The Studio" so you can familarise yourself with the different instruments, sounds and rhythms available. Once in the studio, you can create your own little song and even produce a music video to go with it. Again, this is all controlled with the supplied action tiles, perhaps the most important one being the "Rest" tile - not just a crucial musical skill but an important programming one too; it's just as critical for a computer to be told when not to do something as it is to be given an action.

As usual, there are points and prizes to be earned, levels to be upped and once you've become the world's next great record producer, you're probably more than ready to take on Coding Duo, the ultimate test of your new-found coding prowess.

There's a bit more of a narrative to this final installment, the idea being you need to team up with a partner (Awbie and Mo) to go and rescue a collection of Hoppets. This means coordinating two programs at once to achieve a single objective - or two simultaneous objectives. You can play this by yourself or work together with a friend, further developing that most important programming skill of all; collaboration.

While the connection between placing a few plastic tiles on the table with typing pages and pages of code probably won't be particularly obvious to the 5-10 year-olds this suite of games was designed for, I have no doubt the logical processes involved are invaluable skills well worth being ingrained at an early age. These games are fun, tactile and yes, sometimes quite challenging. I'm not convinced you couldn't achieve a similar result with a screen-only app but as part of Osmo's overall philosophy of combining the physical and virtual worlds, I kind of get it.

Most importantly, it doesn't feel like a lesson, it feels like a game and for people like me, that's the best kind of learning.

Click here for more information on the Osmo Coding Starter Kit.