Get Onto Wi-Fi 6 NOW!

Do you know if you're on Wi-Fi 6?

It's a kind of complicated question. Although you might have the latest router with Wi-Fi 6 written all over the box, unless the device you're connecting to it is also Wi-Fi 6 capable, you won't reap any of the benefits.

Likewise, you might have a zoopy-doopy new laptop - or maybe there's a fancy phone wrapped up, waiting for you under the tree - but if you're still logging onto to the same Wi-Fi network you set up three years ago, you probably won't notice much of an improvement in your connection.

It's no surprise D-Link has solutions at every step of the Wi-Fi 6 equation.

The DIR-X3260 is a good starting point. If you're thinking you've seen this AX3200 gigabit router before, that's because it looks pretty much the same as many of the previous D-Link routers. Basic black, not overly large but due to the four external antennae, you'll need a reasonable amount of clear shelf-space on which to set it up.

My mum was round the other day, saw the DIR-X3260 I'd just installed and said, "What's that Dalek-looking thing?" Admittedly, D-Link's tendency towards a certain sci-fi, spacecraftish aesthetic possibly isn't for everyone. This is no anonymous white cylinder keeping a low profile amongst the rest of your ornaments. I was just impressed mum knew what a Dalek was.

For anyone who's been down the D-Link router route before, the setup process will also seem familiar - if not identical. It's an easy-peasy operation, guided step by step using the D-Link Wi-Fi app. As this is a mesh-enabled device, you'll be presented with the option of setting it up as the primary router or simply adding it to your existing network as another, stronger access point. As usual, I find the app a little frustrating as it forces you to wait for arbitrary, pre-determined periods while the device reboots and reconnects, when often these things happen much faster. This is just me moaning - I'm really only talking about a few extra seconds here and there.

Once you're up and running you can use the app to turn off the status LED's on the front of the device which is something I've become obsessed with over the years and I get very annoyed if it's not an option.

Then you have full access to the faster and more reliable Wi-Fi 6 abilities the DIR-X3260 has to offer - not to mention functions like OFDMA which prioritises which IoT devices in your home need what bandwidth when. Smart Steering is also a help - especially in apartment buildings or crowded neighbourhoods - it'll look for a clear wireless band to keep you connected without interference and snarl-ups.

Of course, you can also keep things hardwired via the four gigabit ethernet LAN ports too.

So now you've transformed your fuddy-duddy old home network into a shiny, new Wi-Fi 6 one, what if, like me, you have a perfectly good laptop that just happens to be two or three years old, pre-dating the Wi-Fi 6 revolution? D-Link has an answer for that too.

That's where the DWA-X1850 comes in. It's an AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 dongle about the size of a large USB stick and yes, it'd also be a fantastic solution if you're wanting to use a desktop PC somewhere without an ethernet access point.

Setup takes just a few seconds - simply plug in the adapter, browse to it like you would any other USB flash drive and run the setup application. The install literally took 10 seconds. My Wi-Fi connection disconnected briefly then reconnected automatically. There's even a USB extension cable and stand if you don't have easy access to an available slot on your PC.

The results I experienced were rather remarkable. By using the DWA-X1850 adapter to connect to the DIR-X3260 router, my laptop went from download speeds of between 6-10Mbps to about 180Mbps. Colour me impressed.

I can't really say much more than that; numbers don't lie. If you're getting frustrated with laggy Wi-Fi connectivity from your laptop or PC, even though it may only be a couple of years old, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 might be the solution - and if you already have a router like the DIR-X3260, at only NZ$179.99, the DWA-X1850 adaptor makes for a pretty cheap upgrade.

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DIR-X3260 EXO AX3200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router.

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DWA-X1850 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 USB Adapter.

Kick Off Your Party Season with a Boom

Is it just me or are the speakers getting bigger?

I feel like bluetooth speakers used to be little things shaped like tin cans or oversized grapefruit. Fine for a bit of portable music when you're out and about but you wouldn't really dance to it.

Now that's all changed. Just as many of us are finally getting our freedom back, it might be time for a party. Or two. It might be time to pump up the volume. All the way up.

A party like that might require a little more than a tin can or a grapefruit.

The JBL Partybox 710 is the biggest speaker I've reviewed to date.

You know wheelie bins? It's about the size and shape of a wheelie bin. In fact, I wonder if the JBL design team was inspired by the humble wheelie bin - after all, I've certainly seen roadies use wheelie bins to cart various bits of P.A. paraphernalia around at concerts and events.

So perhaps it's no coincidence this wheelie bin of a speaker would probably fit right in at one of those venues. 

The Partybox 710 is nothing if not versatile - For starters, it's an uber powerful bluetooth speaker that'll have Noise Control around in minutes if you decide to blast it at full noise. You're dealing with 800 watts of JBL "Original Pro Sound" firing from dual 2.5-inch tweeters and a pair of 8-inch woofers. Sonically this may not be the most technically accurate device you've ever pumped your favourite Debussy prelude through but when it comes to big bass punch you can feel... really feel... from down the street... they've pretty much nailed it here.

In fact, there's this weird, limited EQ setting you can access via the PARTYBOX app or the dedicated button on the top panel - it's called Bassboost and you can set it to OFF, 1 or 2. OFF is pretty damn bassy. So 2 is kind of ridic.

The cool thing about the Partybox 710 is you can get bogged down with different controls and customisations - especially within the app - but you don't have to. There are two easily accessible, large control knobs on top of the speaker, one for the light show, one for volume, play and pause. As long as you can find those and the power button, you're pretty much good to go.

The light show controller scrolls through a list of different preset options - ranging from calming static colours to seizure-inducing flashing and glowing. Like I say, you can spend hours fiddling around with these settings in the app if that's your vibe, or you can just give the knob a twist and dance on.

The volume control is about as basic as it could be and no, I haven't actually wound it all the way up because I have neighbours and pets. Let's just say this speaker goes loud. What's more, you can connect to other speakers to really do some aural damage - either via the physical Daisy Chain in/out ports or wirelessly with other compatible party speakers in this range. Frustratingly, that excludes models like last year's Partybox On-The-Go. JBL has a habit of making the connectivity of previous speakers obsolete and it's happened again here.

However, you can connect lots of other things; there are ports for USB, AUX line-in, a guitar, a keyboard and yes, even a microphone - because a party isn't a party without a full-on sing-a-long. All these inputs are concealed behind the biggest splash-proof, peel-away rubber cover I've ever seen.

But here's what I don't get; the Partybox 710 carries an IPX4 splash-proof rating. It's ruggedly constructed with protective bumpers in all the right places. You can stand it up or tip it on its side. All the pictures on the website show people dancing by the pool or singing in the spa... and yes it has wheels... but you still have to plug it in. 

It's described as being portable but at almost 28 kilos, you probably won't be carting it to the park for that picnic - especially since it needs mains supply to work. This is baffling to me - you've already made a huge speaker, why not build in a large, rechargeable battery to make it even more useful than it already is? There are two smaller Partyboxes in this range - the 110 and 310 - that are rechargeable, making the 710's tethering of mains power only all the more bewildering.

Perhaps I'm being a bit critical - after all, the majority of parties happen within reach of an extension cord.

As I mentioned, plug in a mic and you can karaoke to your heart's content. There are even echo, bass and treble controls to help make you sound like the accomplished crooner you are. Then, to bring out your inner D.J., there are also three programmable sound effects buttons. These are customised back in the PARTYBOX app from a selection of classics like Airhorn, Scratches and Crowds Cheering.

NZ$1199.95 might seem a bit steep for what is essentially an oversized bluetooth speaker with a mic input - especially one you can't unplug from the wall - but once you list off all the features, the karaoke and lighting effects in particular, you realise this really is all the sound and vision you need for a party in one box. Or one wheelie bin.

Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Partybox 710.

Entry Level OLED Might Be All You Need

It's been a very long time since I played around with a Panasonic TV.

In fact, not since I owned one. It was a 42-inch plasma and it was pretty great. The screen was big and flat and there was this new way of connecting things called HDMI. That meant I could use my sound system remote to turn the TV on and off. Crazy stuff. What a time.

Bearing in mind this was back when people still had sound systems. And DVD players. And TV aerials. Sorry kids, I realise you have no idea what I'm talking about. Trust me; 20 years ago this was all cutting-edge stuff.

After smartphones, computers and cars, the TV might be the gadget that has evolved the most over the years - who would have guessed one day we'd be hanging them on the wall?

So obviously I was interested to see just haw far Panasonic has come...

The Panasonic JZ980 is a funny looking telly - from the back. When I unboxed it I was amazed to discover it's the thinnest TV I've ever seen, not much thicker than the glass of the display itself... but only for the top two-fifths. Then it angles out to a much thicker rear housing that means this won't be an ideal option for the wall.

That's okay, because the central, circular stand is attractive enough and also low-profile enough to sit a soundbar on if that's what you're planning.

That is what you should be planning, by the way. Although Panasonic promises "3D cinematic sound" via Dolby Atmos, the built-in speaker array just doesn't deliver. Oh, it's fine. You can wind things up fairly loud. But in a reasonably large room like the one I've set it up in, without the addition of some external speakers or at least a decent soundbar, the listening experience is just a bit thin.

Which is not what you want because the picture quality is quite the opposite. From the moment I logged into Netflix to watch my next episode of Another Life, I was genuinely taken aback by the depth, richness and clarity of the 65-inch, 4K OLED display. Remember, this model is at the bottom of Panasonic's range of OLED options, yet no matter what the light conditions or style of content, I love watching this TV. From the depths of space in Another Life, to the bright, sunny pastures of the Dutton Ranch on Yellowstone, everything looks so real. I can see every line and wrinkle on Kevin Costner's face. Awesome.

And that's even when I'm streaming Yellowstone from an app on my phone via Chromecast. I don't really understand what the HCX Pro AI Processor is, but it sure does an incredible job of scaling up whatever is on screen to its maximum viewing potential.

For around three and a half-thousand bucks, this is a very good display.

There is a but... although I'm not sure how much you're going to care about it. Panasonic has decided to come up with its own operating system. In my experience of reviewing a range of gadgets over the years, this is never a good idea. Minus a few notable exceptions, there's a reason the majority of smart TV's use Android TV (which has now evolved into Google TV) - it works and people like it. For Android phone users in particular, it's a familiar interface and there's a tremendous amount of content created for it. 

When I fired up the JZ980 to discover just a handful of apps, I have admit, my heart sank a little. Don't panic, all the trusty favourites are there; there are even dedicated shortcut buttons on the remote for Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. There's also a shortcut button labelled "My App" - which can be customised to launch the app of your choice. Not that there's much choice.

Push the Market button and you might expect a never-ending library of other options; streaming apps from around the world, browsers, media players - perhaps even access to media servers like Plex. But no. TVNZ On Demand? Yes. ThreeNow? No. Disney Plus? Yes. Apple TV+? Only just added this week - and that's promising because it indicates Panasonic's OS is still a work in progress and there might be more to come.

The HDMI, AV and USB ports are all rather difficult to access, tucked away at the back and even at the bottom of the back. Not that I'm sure why there are so many USB ports (3 in total) as the only reason I could see to use them was to save recordings from live TV. I certainly couldn't play any of the movies I have saved on my external hard drive. There's also no way to connect to the JZ980 wirelessly - just because it now has the Apple TV+ app doesn't mean you can AirPlay to it. There's also no built-in Chromecast - but there's nothing stopping you plugging one in of course.

There are an incredible number of settings you can fiddle with if you really want to - from picture and sound tweaks right down to choosing if you want Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision banners to appear when your content supports those. What really made me chuckle was the font on the settings menu is still exactly the same as on my trusty Panasonic Plasma from all those years ago.

The important thing is, and I still note it to myself after using this TV for several weeks, the picture is standout. Every time I get a bit frustrated with the user interface or the lack of app content, it all goes away once I start watching something, because that's how good this OLED screen is. And at the end of the day, isn't the picture what TV is really all about?

Click here for more information on the Panasonic JZ980 OLED TV.

My Old Favourite - Updated

There's no denying the rate of technological advances over the last few decades has been explosive.

So many inventions, developments and modifications it would be impossible to list them all. Most of these things have been created to make our lives better - and I'm sure that has happened.

However, in many ways life has become more complicated and even stressful - perhaps inadvertently - due to the pressure of learning new technologies and being forced to quickly adapt to cultural shifts like social media and the rise and rise of the smart phone.

But if there's one single thing that's brought me more joy and satisfaction than almost any other gadget over the years, it's the eBook.

I'm aware this can be a bit of a polarising stance to take; not since the vinyl VS CD debate have so many acolytes of the old ways clung desperately to their ancient, analogue technology in lieu of embracing the long list of advantages offered by the new, digital alternative.

Technically, the record-lovers kind of won their battle - after all, it's hard to argue vinyl doesn't provide better sound quality and let's face it, people are still buying records.

But today I'm happy to continue the fight for eReaders over physical books. In fact, these days there really is no argument at all.

It's been 14 years since Amazon launched the first Kindle - a lifetime by tech standards. Now the latest iteration, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition takes that original concept and zhuzhes it up a bit with some of the latest techy tricks.

According to Ohio author, Jennifer Wilber, the idea of reading books on a screen has actually been around since the 1930's, although we didn't see a commercially available eReader in the form we are now familiar with until just before the turn of the millennium.

The trouble with those early models - and especially the Kindle - is they were almost perfect right from the start. From the moment E Ink Corporation successfully developed a digital screen that looked just like paper, as opposed of a blinding light that illuminates the whole room, eBooks became a reality. A commercially viable reality.

Even back then you could store hundreds, if not thousands of books on the devices available. Thanks to the ink screen, battery life was already excellent and if all you were really wanting to do is read a book, there wasn't much to improve when it comes to the user interface.

Yet a decade or two later, Amazon has indeed made a few tweaks that have enhanced my eReading experience even further.

To begin with, the 6.8-inch display is more customisable than ever - and I'm not just talking adaptive brightness control. You can adjust the warmth of the display - changing the levels on a schedule of your choosing, or just let the Paperwhite Signature do it for you automatically. There's even a Dark Mode option - perhaps not appealing to the ink-on-paper purists but for someone like me who uses Dark Mode on any device I can, I appreciate the continuity.

The Signature now offers a crazy amount of storage for an eReader - 32GB. You'd never need that much if you read eBooks alone - not in a lifetime. In fact, I've never come close to filling up a Kindle - not when you can easily delete a book once you've read it. However, if you're into graphic novels or audio books, that's another story. The Signature can pair with bluetooth earbuds, headphones and speakers which might be up your alley if you're more of a listener than a reader.

But probably the big headline with this edition of the Kindle is its battery life and charging abilities. Previous Kindles still used microUSB charging cables, limiting both data transfer and charging speeds. Now we've got a nice, reversible USB-C port - finally matching pretty much every other device I own. 

What's more exciting for me is the Signature is now compatible with Qi wireless chargers. I've read other reviews claiming this to be a bit of a gimmick but those people obviously don't regularly use wireless chargers like I do. Given I have one on my bedside table, it's only natural for me to just pop my Kindle down on it to charge up. Where's the gimmick in that?

More importantly, Amazon claims up to 10 weeks reading on a single charge. This is impossible to confirm obviously, as there far too many variables; how long do you read for each day? In the dark or in bright sunshine? Do you listen to audio books via bluetooth accessories? All I know is I've been using the Signature for about two-and-a-half weeks now and I'm still on 78%. The upshot is, this thing will definitely last through your holiday.

And being IPX8 rated, it'll survive an accidental dunking in the pool on that holiday too

My one gripe with the device is the same one I've always had with Kindles - to buy new books online, directly from the Signature Edition, you can only access the Kindle Store. Yes, those books will automatically sync with your other Kindle devices (or the Kindle app) but if you have books and documents from other sources in other formats, you'll have to use third party software to sideload them in and they won't sync. It's almost as though Amazon would prefer you to sign up for a subscription instead. Go figure.

At least there's a cool range of cases available.

Is the Signature Edition worth upgrading to? Depends how old your current eReader is. The bump in storage, the boost in battery life and the versatility of wireless or USB-C charging are compelling features for me. The tweaks to display brightness etc. perhaps not so significant. At NZ$319.00 it might be a bit steep to replace something that's already working pretty well. 

On the other hand, if you're still lugging actual, O.G. books around, this could be the device that finally converts you.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.

The Speaker That Goes Up To Eleven

The rise and rise of the bluetooth speaker hasn't all been good news.

Many of us have made serious compromises just for the convenience of a wireless, portable sound solution.

Often the speakers available, while relatively cheap, are small, under-powered and don't have the battery life required for prolonged use outdoors, away from mains supply.

Most frustratingly of all, somewhere along the way we accepted inferior sound quality, just so we could take our speaker to the beach or the park.

Well at last, there are some better options out there, proving portable doesn't have to be horrible.

SOUNDBOKS claims to be the world's first bluetooth performance speaker. If, like me, you're not entirely sure what a "performance bluetooth speaker" is... there's a bit of a story behind it.

I'm sure we've all found ourselves in that classic situation; you're at the Rokslide music festival in Denmark (kind of like a Danish Glastonbury) and you want to keep the party going all night long. For the whole week. In the rain. Ah, good times.

So if you happen to be three particular high school friends you simply set about creating your own speaker, purpose-built for the job. It'll have to be portable. It'll have to have a big battery. It'll have to be weather-proof. And it'll have to be loud. Very, very, very loud.

Given SOUNDBOKS speakers are now owned by over 50,000 people in 40 countries around the world, I'm thinking those three high school mates got the formula about right.

The SOUNDBOKS looks exactly like a speaker - in the most boring way possible. If you were playing Pictionary and had to draw the word, "Speaker" for your team, you'd probably try to come up with something like this; a black, rectangular box with handles on the side and a big grille on the front. At a glance you'd be forgiven for assuming it's just another guitar amp or an anonymous piece of concert P.A. equipment.

Remember, this is about performance - it's not a beauty contest.

On closer inspection you'll discover a few extra touches that help make this an incredibly durable piece of kit - especially given its size, measuring over 60cm tall and weighing in at a hefty 15 kilos. First, each corner is protected with a large, solid ball of silicone - ensuring maximum protection for both the corners of the SOUNDBOKS and whatever you've set it down on - upright, sideways, it won't matter.

The top is flat, featureless and ideal for resting a beer on. Or two.

And the front grille is dent-proof. Kick it if you want. It won't mind. But your foot might.

The electronic bits are claimed to be "splash-proof." I think this must be some kind of Danish understatement as their Kiwi ambassador, world champion freeskier, Nico Porteous takes his SOUNDBOKS up the slopes so he has some decent sounds to train to. Those are snowy slopes, by the way. He just won a silver medal in the half-pipe competition at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It was minus 22 degrees.

SOUNDBOKS even sells a specially designed backpack accessory should you want to carry a large, bulky, 15kg speaker up a mountain yourself. Are these people mentally unstable? Perhaps. But in a good way.

The "loud" part of the equation is an unmitigated success. The SOUNDBOKS will crank up to 126 decibels. If you're not sure just how loud that is, jet engines at a hundred feet away are 140dB. Live concerts are usually around the mid 120's (well, the good ones anyway) while chainsaws only put out a mere 110dB. According to Yale University, pain starts at approximately 125 decibels so... user discretion is advised?

Needless to say, if you're looking to wake the neighbours, this is the speaker to do it with. Embarrassingly, I have to admit I was actually to scared to listen to my SOUNDBOKS at full volume. But then, I wasn't up a mountain in Colorado or in the middle of a paddock in Denmark. I was just outside, building a path along the side of my house. As I enjoyed the rich, sheer grunt of classic rock tracks from Led Zep, the Who and T-Rex blasting all over the garden (and the neighbourhood) I realised what a brilliant addition the SOUNDBOKS would be to any construction site or factory floor.

But here's the thing, having all that power in reserve is a bit like that suped-up, highly-tuned engine in a sports car - even when you're just driving around town everything works better. Acceleration is smoother and more responsive and should you need to pass that campervan up the hill, it simply won't be an issue. That's exactly how I felt listening to the SOUNDBOKS at home; knowing it was capable of blasting every frequency at the level of a jet engine, it certainly absolutely purrs along at two or three on the volume dial. (Yes, there's an actual dial and yes, it really does go up to eleven)

There's nothing complicated about operating the SOUNDBOKS, it pairs pretty much like any other bluetooth speaker. There's also a fantastic companion app that allows you to fiddle around with EQ's and mix any other AUX sources, mics and instruments you might want to plug in.

But the swappable battery might just be the real star of the show here. You can charge it while operating the SOUNDBOKS on mains power and it will run the speaker for up to 40 hours. Literally an entire weekend. Hang on, the Rokslide Festval lasts all week though. No worries - just buy a backup battery and have it on hand to swap out if you need to. Crazy.

The SOUNDBOKS team has thought of everything - including the TeamUp function which lets you connect up to five SOUNDBOKS speakers together. Hell, at that point, you've basically got your own music festival.

At NZ$1899.00, this might be the most expensive bluetooth speaker I've ever reviewed but it also might be the toughest, the longest lasting and it's undoubtedly the loudest. If you want to be outstanding in your field, (yes, that is a dad joke) SOUNDBOKS is the speaker for you.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the SOUNDBOKS Performance Bluetooth Speaker.

Making the Cut for Christmas

Remember home-made presents?

Your mum always told you they meant so much more than things bought from the shop.

She was lying of course - but it helped create those nice, warm fuzzies we all crave around the holidays. I mean, who wouldn't want a photo-frame constructed from coloured paper, glitter, spare bits of Lego and a few blobs of playdough?

Admittedly, as a dad, I do appreciate a D.I.Y. card - not just because they're cute and funny but it means pocket money I've paid hasn't been wasted on a $7.50 card from the bookshop.

So...

What if you could add a personal touch and come up with something that actually looks professional that you wouldn't mind other people seeing?

Until a couple of weeks ago I'd never heard of Cricut and I didn't even realise devices like these existed. Cricut makes a whole range of machines that look a bit like printers but are actually cutting tools designed to create stickers, signs, cards and other things that would be simply impossible to produce using a pair of scissors, a craft knife and a packet of felt pens.

The Cricut Joy seemed like the obvious starting point on my crafty Cricut journey.

Smaller than a block of cheese, the Cricut Joy takes up hardly any desk space - although depending on your project, you may need to allow a bit of clear area at the back for things to feed through the device. Given the complexity of the tasks it can perform, there's virtually no setup required. Plug it in and it powers up, with a single LED showing to let you know it's switched on.

That's really all it takes for you to begin creating your own home-crafting masterpieces from your smartphone, using the Cricut Joy app.

There are a few sample materials included in the box so you can try out the various functions, with the app prompting you to try out a small vinyl sticker first. This worked perfectly, first time and resulted in a tiny "Create" sticker, which I was able to successfully extract from its backing paper and stick onto something else. 

This process was aided by the essential "Weeding Tool" - an accessory I was sent along with a spatula and scraper in conjunction with the Cricut Joy itself. The weeding tool looks exactly like that thing dentists use to prise nasty bits off your teeth - and it kind of serves the same purpose here; getting into all the tiniest corners you've cut out to provide you with the tidiest result possible.

Emboldened by my success in producing a "Create" sticker, I set about the seasonally appropriate task of coming up with a bespoke Christmas card for my colleagues, Mike and Kate.

That's where it all went horribly wrong.

There are several ways to get something from your head into the Cricut Joy for production; there are a number of apps out there, other than the specific Cricut Joy mobile app itself. There are templates, suggestions and full designs you can use to create anything; banners, signs, clothes, covers, mugs and decorations of all kinds - hell, you can even decorate your own Cricut machine if you want.

The options seem to be endless. In fact, they might literally be endless. I'll certainly never get to the end of them.

But there are limitations and I quickly ran into the first of them.

Cricut sent me a pack of blank greeting cards with holographic inserts. The idea is you cut out pictures and words on the front to see the shiny coloured card underneath. This was perfect; I wanted Christmas cards after all and sure enough, I didn't have to look very hard to find a whole selection of Christmas card designs on offer.

I chose my favourite, followed the animated instructions on the app, stuck my blank card onto the cutting map (included) and fed it into the machine. And then this happened...

Not quite the result I was looking for.

It didn't take me long to realise my mistake - although Cricut had sent me a lot of stuff to try out; tools, cards, sticky vinyl in different lengths and colours - I hadn't been sent the greeting card cutting mat. Cutting mats are basically thick lengths of very tough card with a special sticky surface. When you're cutting things like paper and cardboard, the cutting mat holds it in place when you feed it into the machine. In order to successfully craft a greeting card however, you need a special mat with an extra layer of sticky plastic to hold the fold of the card in place.

Didn't stop me trying though...

It's actually surprisingly difficult to jam the Cicut Joy up. But there's nothing you can't do if you're determined enough. This is high quality, extensive reviewing and it turns out even if you do get jammed, the old turn-it-off and turn-it-back-on-again trick works every time.

Then I had an epiphany - could I design my own card? Instead of using a greeting card template, perhaps I could just flatten the card out and treat it like one single sheet.

It worked. Sure, I got it wrong another three or four times but I got there in the end. Very satisfying, in a slightly deranged, obsessive way.

The point is, I broke the golden rule; when all else fails, follow the instructions. The Cricut Joy is a simply amazing piece of technology, as long as you use the right materials and follow the right steps. This means your consumables bill can add up pretty quickly - sticky vinyl doesn't grow on trees you know. But if you're a craftier person than me, this could definitely be your next hobby - there really is no end to the list of labels, stickers, signs and designs you can create.

The machine itself is so well put together and doing things like changing out the cutting blade for a fine-tipped pen is effortless. Yes, the Cricut Joy can definitely draw as well as cut - and it writes a lot more neatly than I do, that's for sure.

If there's someone in your life who loves making things, loves clever gadgets or just loves sticky labels, the Cricut Joy could be a wonderful Christmas gift. Just a small word of advice; if you get them the greeting card pack, please make sure you throw in the cutting mat as well.

Click here for more information on the Cricut Joy.

Switching Things Up

If you're currently dissatisfied with your home internet speeds, I've discussed before, at length, the importance of identifying any potential choke-points.

Presumably, you've started with the obvious ones; like your actual plan.

Up to 100Mbps may have seemed like a lot when you first changed over to fibre but let's really think about how your typical household usage may have evolved in the last year or so...

If you've got someone streaming, someone gaming, someone posting and of course most importantly, someone on a video chat for work - that's a lot of someones fighting for their share of that 100Mbps.

Which may not even be 100Mbps of course. Read the fine print. Depending on exactly how your plan is set up, your speeds might be throttled down at peak times or after you've used a certain amount of data.

Still feeling good about that up to 100Mbps?

Luckily, even here in little old New Zealand, Hyperfibre is now quite widely available, with some ISP's like Orcon even offering speeds of 8000Mbps. Insane? Yes. Cool though? Very.

But it's what happens once the internet gets into your house that can really make all the difference.

We've talked routers till I'm blue in the face. Definitely not all created equal and research is essential to ensure your ISP isn't just fobbing you off with a free one that could cut you off at the knees, performance-wise.

I've also tried a lot of different repeaters and extenders over the years, to ensure great Wi-Fi coverage in every corner of my home but here again, those Wi-Fi access points are only as useful as the signal they're being fed.

Even hardwired ethernet cabling throughout your home may not be the ultimate answer - depending on how many devices are connecting at once.

And that's where the final piece of the puzzle fits in. The switch.

You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy the benefits of installing a device like the D-Link DMS-106XT. Although it definitely looks like something a gamer would choose to compliment their mechanical keyboard and RGB mouse.

The DMS-106XT is one of the most battle-ready feeling devices I've encountered from the D-Link stable, extremely solid and exquisitely finished off in its unusual metal housing. It's sci-fi-looking enough to satisfy nerdy gadget-heads like me, without any weird appendages to make it unattractive to people with actual taste - like spouses and mothers. It's compact too - imperative given it might well end up being tucked away in some junction box somewhere.

If you haven't used a switch before you may not have realised they exist. They're kind of like the multiboards we plug all our appliances into in the kitchen or behind the TV cabinet - except for the internet. If you've ever wanted to hardwire your smart TV, your set-top box and your gaming console but only had one ethernet port to plug them all into, a switch can make that possible.

If you work in a large office, you may have seen the industrial versions of these devices - more likely managed switches with dozens of ports to deal with the octopus arms of ethernet cabling from all over the building.

Conversely, the DMS-106XT is unmanaged, meaning there's basically no setup required whatsoever. Simply plug in the power adapter, a line to your router and then up to five other devices and you should be good to go.

The exciting thing about this particular switch is its capacity; five 2.5Gbps ports and an ultra-fast 10Gbps connection, the latter most useful for Home Media Servers or other NAS (Network-Attached Storage) devices where a fast exchange of big data files is essential. This is a massive (and I mean massive) improvement over what you'll see from other, cheaper switches with basic gigabit capacity. These entry-level switches tend to cause the very choke-point I warned against at the top of the article.

But not the DMS-106XT - quite the opposite.

I have great high-speed fibre coming into my house but up until now I was running several devices, including my TV, through the primary hub for my mesh Wi-Fi network. This was simply because that mesh router has extra ethernet ports built into it. But by the time everyone else was connected to the Wi-Fi - and that includes smart speakers and security cameras - dropouts and long load times were fairly common as my Wi-Fi router struggled to prioritise the workload.

Those issues have all gone away since installing the DMS-106XT. Now my TV, set-top box and even my smart lights don't have to go anywhere near my Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet and meanwhile, I've noticed a significant bump in speeds on devices that are connected via Wi-Fi.

This is aided even further by activating Turbo Mode - with a flick of the switch, connected devices are given priority depending on which port they're connected to. According to D-Link this can result in an extra 40 percent speed boost.

I now definitely have all the speed I need, all the time. But perhaps even more importantly is the increased reliability of my whole network. No more cameras disconnecting themselves or smart speakers losing touch with streaming services.

I can do without the LED indicators showing which ports are in use or the RGB light strip that pulses like a rainbow when Turbo Mode is activated but thankfully, those lights can all be turned off with the push of a button. I get that some people want all the pretty lights... I'm just not those people.

$NZ449.99 is certainly a hefty price-tag but I can assure you this is a durable, attractive, well made device that delivers on its promise of dramatic speed increases to all connected devices. For anyone who has ever shouted in frustration at their clogged-up home network, this is an effective and dead simple way to clear it out.

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DMS-106XT 6-Port 2.5G Gaming & Media Switch.

Some of Us Actually Want to Be Watched

It's no secret I love tech.

That means I'm prepared to go a long way to make the most of a new innovation.

I've spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours setting up gadgets, learning how to use them and trying my best to incorporate them into my everyday life.

One type of device that's definitely made my day easier is the smart speaker. Do they do exactly what I want every time I ask?

Not yet. But man it's fun trying to get them to...

Obviously the most notable thing about the Echo Show 10 is its rotating display - but before we get to its motion-tracking abilities, it's worth pointing out the screen is really big. In fact, it's a 10.1-inch display with good clarity and colour. This means it's actually not terrible for watching streaming services like Prime Video and Netflix. Once you've linked your account, you can simply ask Alexa to play whatever programme you're in the middle of and it will start playing the show right where you left off.

A decent, large display also makes for one half of a quality video call. The other half comes down to how good your camera is.

For too long, Amazon Echo Show devices have been woefully under-resourced when it comes to camera quality. The Show 10 tips all that on its head. The 13MP camera finally brings genuine video-call capability to this device, aided even further by its clever tracking abilities. Not only will the Show 10's screen snap to face directly towards you when you call Alexa's name, it usually does a reasonable job of tracking where you are in the room.

This means however you've set up your home screen - whether to show off your wedding photos or just give you news updates - you'll be able to look up and take it in at a glance, wherever you are.

On the one hand, I guess the Echo Show 10 takes up more shelf/table/bench space than ever before - after all, you've got that big display swinging around almost 360-degrees. But again, that's not mandatory. When setting up the Show 10, you get to adjust its range of rotation to your preference. If you've placed it close to a wall, there's no point in having it swing all the way around just because it's tracked someone walking out of the room.

A few people (and a lot of critics) have found this functionality to be rather "creepy." I totally get it; no-one likes the idea of any kind of tech following and reacting to their slightest move. However, this version of the Echo Show seems to be dramatically more responsive than its predecessors and if that's due to its "active listening" abilities, then I'm right on board.

Just like all the other big tech manufacturers, Amazon makes a lot of very detailed promises about privacy and encryption. It's also easy enough to deactivate functions like motion tracking and there's even a physical shutter you can slide over the camera. Do I trust any those companies keep those privacy promises? Not especially - but I care about the ability to play the song I want by the artist I requested much more, so I can definitely live with a bit of creepy tracking.

In saying that, how rewarding your listening experience will be varies wildly depending on which streaming service you've made your default provider. I'm not talking about sound quality here - I'm confident you'll have no complaints in this department. The Amazon Echo Studio is still one of the best sounding smart speakers I've ever used and given the base of the Echo Show 10 looks strikingly similar to the Studio, I wasn't surprised to find it performs almost as impressively, audio-wise. It's big enough to generate warm, roomy bass and the dual, front-firing tweeters cover off the rest of the soundscape admirably. Don't worry; the speaker doesn't rotate, only the screen - so you won't get any weird, sweeping sound effects as you move about.

No, the listening experience I meant is about usability. Yes, I can now ask Alexa to play Apple Music (assuming I've linked my subscription through the app) but I can't use most of the more specific commands like my favourite; "Play Something I'd Like." Spotify fares much better, although recently I discovered you could no longer create a "station" of your own based on a particular artist or song - even though you can still do this using the Spotify app. I'm assuming a lot of these more user-friendly tricks have been reserved for use with Amazon's own music streaming service, in the hope you'll shell out for another subscription there. As yet, I've resisted, so I don't know that for sure.

I hate to think about the IP disputes involved in all these companies sharing even the small amount of functionality they do. What a shame we can't just all get together and share the best bits of everyone's tech in one smart home hub. With the addition of Netflix and Apple Music, the Echo Show 10 certainly comes close.

Especially given it can connect to and control the vast majority of other IoT devices - now utilising Amazon's Sidewalk networking (if you agree at setup) to create a connection between devices like security cameras and doorbells that is stronger and more reliable than ever. The feeds from those cams look great on that big screen, by the way.

In terms of voice recognition and accurately following instructions, I'm not as satisfied as I used to be with Alexa. My theory is this is due to the sheer number of third-party devices and services the Echo family can connect to - making Alexa a kind of techy Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Sadly this means even after all this time, there's still a fair amount of repeating yourself or being more specific to get Alexa to do exactly what you want. At least now, thanks to the rotating, motion-sensing display, Alexa is looking at you while you talk to her - and that's a pretty clever wee trick.

The Echo Show 10 is perhaps the most elegant combination of smart speaker and smart display yet - both elements are of extremely high quality and that's why I think it's probably worthy of its NZ$439.00 price-tag. If you're someone who likes to follow recipes while up to your elbows in flour, or perhaps you're learning an instrument via a video tutorioral you need to stop and start hands-free - then the Echo Show 10 might just prove indispensable. 

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd gen).

Belkin Makes a Stand... Or Two

Do you have a charger? 

Of course you do. You have a phone right? You must have a charger.

Oh, you forgot it? Yeah, I left mine at home too. Wait! What's that one? Oh... different phone? Different cable? Wrong voltage? Right. Oh well.

We've probably got enough charge left to shoot this anyway, it's only short.

I'll just balance my phone on this book. On top of this box. Which is on top of the stool. Which is on the bench.

Actually, hand me that tin of baked beans, I'll lean it against that.

Hang on, it's not facing quite the right way.

We'll have to start again.

Belkin makes a lot of cool stuff but when it comes to chargers and mounts, it's no wonder so many people choose Belkin first. There's a reputation there; versatility, reliability, durability. And sometimes these things, these very essential things, even look quite cool too.

Case in point; the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless MagSafe Charger.

Squint and use a bit of imagination and it kind of looks like an upside down U.S.S. Enterprise. And I'm talking from the original TV show. It doesn't get much more kitsch and retro than that. Okay, it comes in black too, which doesn't look anything like as Star Trekky but whatevs - the point is if you're sick and tired of finding three different power points for three different chargers for three different Apple devices, this might just be the answer.

If you have an iPhone 12 or 13 (any model of those two generations) you're probably aware of its MagSafe capabilities. If not, there are range of accessories, from cases to car mounts that just stick onto your phone using the mystery of magnets. The Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger is one of those accessories, suspending your iPhone in mid-air as if by magic. There's also a magnetic charger for Apple Watch and even a space on the base for your AirPods - although this last option will actually charge most Qi-enabled phones and earbuds cases.

The Belkin designers have put a lot of thought into this stand - with the iPhone mount and Apple Watch mount set at slightly different angles for optimum bedside table viewing. I also appreciate how the MagSafe iPhone mount is just magnetic enough to securely hold your handset in place, while not holding on so strongly you accidentally take the whole stand with you when you pick it up. (Yep, that often happens with another charger I've used) 

This is aided by the fact the base of the stand is quite heavily weighted - in fact, the whole device feels very solid. Very premium quality.

As an official MagSafe charger, the Belkin stand can top up your phone pretty quickly at up to 15W - a big upgrade over more conventional, generic Qi chargers.

I do have a complaint though. There's a small LED indicator to show you when your AirPods are in the correct position to charge. This is no good for light-sensitive sleepers and ideally there'd be a way to deactivate it without resorting to a piece of insulation tape.

This 3-in-1 charging stand is also kind of bulky and due to its weighty base, not particularly portable. So not the best option for travel or charging on the go. But as a desktop or bedside accessory, pretty funky and damn useful.

A bit like Belkin's Magnetic Phone Mount with Face Tracking.

We've all lost years off our lives - and sometimes our entire phone - when trying desperately to balance our handset in just the right place for a selfie or video - or even a live-stream. Yes there are clamps and tripods and other solutions out there but these aren't always elegant or close to hand. What's more, just because you have a steady mount, that doesn't mean you're in the shot.

If that sounds familiar, this Belkin Magnetic Phone Mount might just be your perfect accessory. As usual, the key here is design, design, design. They've thought of everything.

For starters, attaching your phone is a doddle - once again, thanks to MagSafe. Just stick it on, grab it off. No clamps required. Pairing the device is also pretty foolproof - there's an app but it couldn't be more stripped down. In just a couple of steps you'll be all paired up and then you can choose to use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter or just your own camera app to create your first piece of auto-tracking video mastery.

But here's the really clever bit; you can choose to use either your selfie cam or the superior shooting qualities of the rear-facing camera array. And on the Pro or Pro Max versions of the iPhone 12 and 13, those are very good cameras indeed. Unlike other mounts and stands, you can use that rear camera safe in the knowledge the face-tracking will keep you in shot - even when you move around.

You can mount your phone in either portrait or landscape and you can adjust the vertical angle accordingly. There's even a screw-hole in the base so you can attach it to a tripod if you need to. It's light, it's compact and there's just a single button for powering on and pairing. It actually couldn't be simpler.

On the downside, it doesn't charge your phone while attached. In fact, it doesn't plug in at all. The mount runs on three AA batteries, which seems kind of old-school - but at least it keeps things nice and portable.

The great thing both these stands have in common is they do exactly what they promise, with no fuss but a certain amount of style. What's more, considering how clever it is, I reckon the Face-Tracking Mount is incredible buying at just NZ$89.95 (or even less if you shop around).

 

 

     

 

Click here for more information and pricing on the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe.

 

Click here for more information and pricing on the Belkin Magnetic Phone Mount with Face Tracking.