Samsung Galaxy Served Three Ways: Part III

Well this has been fun.

I don't think I've ever tried to review three different devices all at the same time before but I guess that's kind of the point of an ecosystem like the Samsung Galaxy range. Each device is an absolute marvel on its own but when teamed up with other gadgets from the same generation things get exponentially more interesting.

That's never been more true than when I tried out the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

If you were unimpressed by the small, yet significant upgrades to the Z Flip4 and Watch5, the Buds2 Pro have really come to the party with a total redesign shakeup.

Okay, admittedly the charging case is still pretty much the same shape and size. It still charges via USB-C or wirelessly. But now it comes in black, white or Bora Purple. Yes, that means the buds themselves are also Bora Purple, Samsung's current signature colour to match the purple Z Flip4.

Whichever colour you choose, the differences don't stop there.

The Buds2 Pro are dramatically smaller and are shaped quite differently to their predecessors. Samsung obviously heard the criticism of the original Buds Pros' tendency to bobble out when exercising vigorously or dancing stupidly and decided to do something about it. A good fit has fast become my number one consideration when it comes to earbuds as these days features like sound quality and reliable connectivity should be a minimum expectation.

There's still a choice of different sized tips if you think your ear-holes are particularly petite or outrageously cavernous but as usual, I appear to be a boring old medium. The good news is, thanks to the new shape and the fact they're lighter and way smaller, the buds don't budge.

The news on fit gets even better if you're one of those people who usually can't tolerate the air-tight seal of noise-cancelling buds and therefore resort to a noisy open-fit instead. There are now extra vents to prevent that sensation of pressure many people find too uncomfortable. These are easily the best-feeling buds I've ever inserted. Full-stop.

That new vent-tech is also part of the secret behind the Buds2 Pro's enhanced wind flow technology - I've experienced very little wind noise while out and about, even on the breeziest days.

Which brings us to the Active Noise Cancelling. As I've found with most Samsung Buds in recent years, this works very well - whether you're trying to eliminate office hubbub, commuter traffic or the other dumb music that isn't yours at the gym. As usual, ANC can be turned off and on or you can choose Ambient mode and let outside noise or conversation in - activated automatically if you choose via Voice Detect.

The capacitive touch controls are fully customisable via the Wear app and under the "Lab" (beta) settings you can even assign functions to the very edges of the buds. This is a little fraught on these new buds though; being 15% smaller there's not much surface area for my stubby fingers to access anyway - the chances of me isolating just the edge to play, pause or answer are low, so I've left that function switched off. As it is, I accidentally pause or unpause every time I take them out. This doesn't really matter as they automatically pause once back in the case anyway.

Another feature I'm pretty excited about is the Intelligent 360 Audio. The enhanced head tracking technology means the sound seems to come from the source device - or if your gaming or watching TV when you turn your head, the sound stays where it is, just like it would if it were playing from physical speakers. Unlike similar technology from other manufacturers, this works regardless of the source audio - it doesn't have to be recorded in a particular format. Some brands even charge a subscription for this stuff. With Samsung it's included - not an optional extra.

The two-way speakers, dedicated woofer and separate tweeter combine to provide the clearest, most authentic sound of any Samsung buds yet. "Poster Child" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers positively bounces along, driven by Flea's ever-present bass work which you can emphasise even further via the equaliser in the Wear app.

Kiwi band the Dead Flowers channel an Oasis-style Brit pop guitar jangle on "Dorothy Rae" and the Buds2 Pro give it all the space it needs to soar over the phasey vocals and expansive drum fills. This is 24-bit Hi-Fi in all its glory - at last the wireless listening experience is an uncompromised one.

Battery life is also good; up to five hours with ANC on and another 18 hours charge in the case.

In fact, it's very difficult to fault these earbuds in any way. There's seamless switching between paired devices and with SmartThings Find they're even quite hard to lose.

Not that you'd want to. These are my new favourite buds. Now I know you think I'm always saying, "These are my new favourite buds," but that's because the buds keep getting better and these ones have definitely got better - in many, many ways.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Served Three Ways: Part II

Welcome back to my deep dive into the middle of the Samsung ecosystem.

This week I'm trying to get the most out of three different Galaxy devices by using them all at the same time.

I've already worked through the pros (many) and cons (hardly any) of the new Z Flip4, the foldable phone guaranteed to turn heads next time you slap it down on that cafe table. But as I'm sure you're aware, Samsung Galaxies aren't just phones, there's a whole universe to immerse yourself in.

Not least of which is the Galaxy Watch5.

I've been reviewing, loving and wearing Samsung watches since... well since there were Samsung watches. So if you've read any of my previous smartwatch reviews you'll know I consider the Samsungs to be sitting at the very top of the pile - especially for Android users and if you already use a Samsung handset then frankly, it's a no-brainer.

Because Samsung has been doing this almost a decade, there's a maturity to the design language - especially when it comes to the software experience - and others are still stumbling to catch up. As a result, improving on the Galaxy Watch4 must have been a challenge.

Watch4 was the first example of Google's much hyped, revamped Wear OS - Samsung built its own One UI Watch over the top and the result was something that looked pretty familiar to Samsung's previous Tizen experience while granting access to the vastly wider range of content offered by a world of more Google-centric app developers.

After using the Watch5 for a couple of weeks, I'd have to suggest the user experience isn't vastly different to that of its predecessor. The most obvious difference between them is also the most obvious physical difference; the rotating bezel controller - the famous rotating bezel controller - is goneburger.

Now before you decide to riot in the streets over this, remember there have been other Galaxy watches without the physical bezel - most recently the Galaxy Watch Active 2. This was actually a very popular device and probably proved to Samsung the bezel controller wasn't actually compulsory. The fact is, they've still retained the rotating bezel gesture as a method of navigating the Watch5 - only now it's virtual. 

Obviously this doesn't work quite so well at the pool or in the shower but it certainly isn't the end of the world. What you get instead of a metal bezel is an edge-to-edge Sapphire crystal display. Samsung claims this is 1.6 times harder than the previous watch face and I certainly haven't managed to ding it yet. Not even slightly.

Less conspicuous is the new sensor tech. The 3-in-1 BioActive sensor is shaped to maximise its surface area, supposedly providing more accurate readings than ever. To be honest, when it comes to health tracking I've never been overly concerned with accuracy (within reason) as I feel consistency is more important. If you're training or trying to improve fitness, seeing your stats improve over time is the key.

Unfortunately, the ECG functionality of the Watch5 is yet to be activated in this region - the Watch4 also had this capability and it also hasn't been switched on yet. What's going on here Samsung? Other smartwatches can do this in New Zealand so why not yours?

There's also a new temperature sensor built into the Watch5 which doesn't work yet either. At least that feature is yet to be activated anywhere in the world. Hopefully we'll have access to it soon. It promises to provide a lot of useful information - especially when it comes monitoring possible illnesses, not to mention more accurate menstrual tracking.

So we can't really make too much noise about the new sensor tech - not yet anyway. But it's worth re-pointing out some of the useful stuff Samsung watches have been doing for a few generations now - Samsung's fitness tracking is comprehensive and accurate. You can access guided workouts via the Samsung Health app and there's even a new feature that lets you export and import saved exercise routes, so you can share your favourites with other Samsung users.

Sleep tracking is a biggie. No other device I've reviewed delves quite as deeply into my sleep habits as Galaxy Watch5 does - not only can it tell the difference between deep, light and REM sleep, it measures blood oxygen continuously and even does snore detection - although it hasn't detected me snoring lately so I'm not sure that gibes with other witness accounts. Certainly the other stats all stack up and somehow I managed an overall sleep score of 78 last night, despite the depressing fact I was only asleep for a total of 4 hours and 47 minutes. If you're bad at sleeping, Samsung Health can literally coach you to a better night's rest - although I have to ignore many of the recommendations because that's just how it is when you work in breakfast radio.

Watch5 has a bigger, faster charging battery than Watch4 - which is also very helpful if you plan on wearing it to bed. I find I can usually charge it back to 100% in the time it takes me to read a couple of chapters of my book. We're still not talking enough battery life for much more than a day or two but it's a significant improvement nonetheless.

Especially given how much you can really do with this device - control your music or podcasts, either stored locally or on your phone. Use the SmartThings app to convert the Watch5 into a remote for your compatible IoT devices - possibly even your TV. My favourite trick? Camera Controller for your phone - particularly in concert with the new foldables. It's all very well being able to shoot selfies using the Z Flip4's primary camera (with it half-folded you don't even need a tripod, it'll just sit on any flat surface). But how do you take the shot if you're too far away to touch the phone? The Camera Controller app lets you snap off pics from a distance - starting and stopping video too. You can even preview the shot right there on your wrist. Come on, that's pretty cool.

So is the Galaxy Watch5 really going to rock your world? If you're already wearing a Watch4, perhaps not. Both versions are available in 40mm and 44mm choices, in similar colours (although the larger version has swapped out the green option for a "sapphire" one) and most of the new software tweaks will appear as an update for last year's model. If a better, faster-charging battery is a must have for you, then by all means upgrade. Yes, there's been a sensor update, including the addition of a temperature sensor but given what we've seen with ECG functionality in in New Zealand, who knows when that'll be activated?

However...

If you're an Android user still wearing an older smartwatch, or perhaps you haven't even experienced the benefits of using a smartwatch at all, you'll struggle to find one with a more comprehensive package of features than the Galaxy Watch5. Remember, Samsung has been doing this for almost a decade.

And that's before you get to the all-new Watch5 Pro... but that's a whole other review.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Watch5.

Upsizing Your Monitor

Hi, your helpful WFH Upgrade Guide here again.

If you're still spending time working from home you need to know it's no longer acceptable to be locked down to a laptop.

Don't get me wrong, I love laptops. Laptops are great. Well, some are certainly greater than others but obviously many of us need a mobile computing solution and laptops are great for that.

What I'm saying is, working from home is not a mobile situation. Even if you've embarked on a bold, new, hybrid worklife and you're in the office some days and home others, you're not doing yourself any favours by peering into a tiny screen and typing on a cramped keyboard for hours on end.

That doesn't necessarily mean you need to bin your laptop in favour of a whole new desktop setup - in fact, I'd suggest the opposite. If there's a way to convert your laptop into a desktop computer, moving your virtual worklife around becomes even easier and more seamless.

Also, when all the work is done, no matter how whizzy your laptop is, nobody really wants to game on a 13-inch screen.

BenQ has a couple of primo monitor upgrades for you to consider, the MOBIUZ EX2710U and EX3210U.

To begin with, if you've never experienced working with a 27-inch plus sized screen, do yourself a favour; find one and try it out. I've been playing around with both these 27 and 32-inch displays for a couple of weeks now and it's been blissful. While I usually use a 24-inch display with a smaller secondary screen off to the side, the jump in size to 27 or even 32 inches means I don't need that second display at all.

If you weren't aware, Windows 11 has a convenient layout feature that lets you divide your open windows into even shares of the screen - thirds, quarters etc - and this means I can easily arrange different browser windows side by side, just as I would with my two smaller screens. There's more than enough space.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The BenQ MOBIUZ gaming monitors are surprisingly easy to set up. They're packed securely in their boxes complete with their stands, remotes and an impressive selection of high quality cables.

Assembling and attaching the stand is a completely tool-free operation and only takes a few seconds. I love the stand. It's very solid and quite hefty. It swivels 15 degrees in either direction, tilts up and down and the height adjustment is generous at 100mm. All of these operations are easily performed without any special release of clamps or loosening and tightening anything. The mounting is set at exactly the right amount of resistance to support the monitor while making adjustments effortless. I'm not totally convinced about the not-quite-red/not-quite-orange accent colour along the front of the legs but at least it's not green.

Then it's just a matter of plugging these beasts in - and there are more than enough ports to plug things into; 2 x HDMI2.1 ports, a DisplayPort1.4, a USB Type B port for upstream connectivity and 4 (yes, FOUR) USB 3.0 ports for other peripherals - perhaps a dongle for wireless mouse, keyboard, camera or headset. So that's essentially a whole USB hub you've just plugged into your PC. 

As I've already said, there are some classy cables included too - HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-to-USB Type-B - one small issue though; all those ports are frustratingly tricky to access, tucked up behind the central mount of the stand. This is not an area you'll be wanting to access on a regular basis - in an effort to keep the rear panel of the MOBIUZ monitors looking almost as good as the front, BenQ has allowed only the bare minimum of space to slide plugs in and out - even the headphone jack is hidden back there out of reach.

I'll admit it does look nice and tidy though, once you do manage to get everything plugged in - especially when you've fed all the cables through the tidy-hole in the stand and replaced the cover over the top of all those messy, messy plugs. The rear of the monitor also features four RGB LED strips - these are programmable to your preference although if your monitor is against the wall, provide only a fairly dim ambience in a darkened room.

Obviously it's round the front where the real action is though. Using the small remote control you can access quite a library of settings - for sound as well as video. There are BenQ's HDRi presets to suit either gaming, cinema or every day display modes, but of course you can dig deeper to adjust all the usual brightness, contrast and others if you like - even creating a different profile or "scenario" for each connected device. There's a unique Light Tuner option offering 20 different colour choices depending on whether your more of an FPS or RPG player - the choice really is all up to you.

Needless to say, these 4K IPS screens look great and I've been especially impressed by the anti-glare coating - there's simply no reflection ever, even with bright light from windows directly behind. Amazing.

I enjoyed watching House of the Dragon just as much as working my way through a few more levels of my Marvel's Avengers campaign. Colours are vivid and even dark areas come across well. The 144Hz refresh rate keeps things lovely and smooth and having the remote makes accessing the various settings menus a breeze.

While BenQ has also put a similar amount of effort into its built-in treVolo sound system, I found the results here came up a little short. Again you can choose different presets for different kinds of games and viewing experiences and some of the 3D effects are actually pretty convincing. But as with most built-in sound systems on most displays, there's a lack of sheer power. Bass isn't really the booming force I'd prefer for explosions and dance beats and to be honest, I'd just like a bit more volume. It's enough... but if you're serious about a fully immersive, surround sound experience, some kind of external speaker setup is probably the way to go.

The same can't be said for the built-in microphone though. At first, I didn't even realise there was a mic - you have to dig into the settings a bit to turn it on which is a shame as the quality is impressive. You have the option of omni or more directional pickup and it really does sound crystal clear - a great option for online meetings and video calls - pity there isn't a camera built-in too.

As you can tell, I love both these screens - of course the 32-inch EX3210U is my favourite although it's almost too big for my desk! Which is why it's my favourite. Please, work-from-homers, I'm begging you; try a bigger screen. It's not just a matter of making your games look cooler, your productivity will go up, I guarantee it. Leave your laptop closed and plug it into one of these. You won't regret it.

    

Click here for more information on the BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U 4K 32-inch gaming monitor.

Click here for more information on the BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U 4K 32-inch gaming monitor.

Or just buy one here...

Feeling Lucky... and Smart

Who doesn't love games night?

Whether it's a new game or a classic favourite, there's something about a bit of old-school family fun - maybe cards, maybe board games, maybe some other game of chance.

There'll be laughter, there'll be cheating, there'll be arguments - probably because of the cheating - but most importantly, by the end of the night everybody usually agrees that was better than watching another episode of whatever it is you're currently streaming.

The only problem is, some of those games aren't particularly portable - even games that use a flat board and don't have many playing pieces seem to come in a massive box more often than not.

It'd be great to be able to squeeze them all into one little bag.

From the people who brought you the GoCube - the smart cube that connected to your phone so you could learn to solve it in world-beating times - comes GoDice; basically the same principle but with dice.

As with the GoCube, the fun with GoDice starts before you even take them out of the packaging, which is a cardboard container that almost resembles some kind of geometric puzzle itself. Each sleeve removed or flap unfolded reveals another compartment.

Eventually you're presented with a square tube (if you can have a square tube) which is just as clever; It consists of a clear container for the six different coloured dice, with a twist cap on one end to get them out. This all magnetises onto the charging pack which we'll come to shortly. The point is, every little bit of the GoDice experience is innovative and original - if you're anything like me you'll be hooked before you even start playing. There's also a soft carry pouch and a perspex stand for your phone or tablet to sit in.

The concept is extremely straight-forward; with bluetooth-connected dice suddenly a long list of games are brought into the 21st century - you no longer have to keep score if your iPad can do it for you. In practice, I can only imagine how complicated it must be to develop the technology packed into each individual die - not just the inertial measurement unit to track orientation and position, but RGB LED lighting, bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a "supercapacitor" for power.

This last feature is perhaps the most cunning, so let's start with how you charge the GoDice up. On the "five" side of each die, you'll notice tiny terminals set into the dots - you place this face onto the charger, pressing down slightly. The top of the charger lights up blue, then the dice flashes green when fully charged. Oh, by the way - that only takes about 10-15 seconds. How crazy is that? That part's easy. There's a small frustration in that the charging pack itself is powered by two AAA batteries. Yes, actual, conventional batteries. They're not included and you'll need a screwdriver to install them. This seems very odd to me given how rechargeable the dice are - why is the charging pack not just a lithium battery charged via USB? Who knows. Doesn't really matter.

There is actually a USB charging accessory available if it becomes a major issue for you.

Once all the dice have flashed green, it's literally time to let the games begin. You'll need the GoDice app either on your phone or more preferably, a tablet or iPad. The app still works on both Android or iPhone, it's just a much better experience with the extra screen real estate of a bigger device.

There's a fairly standard account setup for a login then you're walked through the pairing process - which really isn't much of a process - basically just rolling the dice a few times seems to be all that's required. When you first see your physical dice replicated exactly on screen, it's pretty freaky.

Then you have access to at least thirteen different games - with more being added over time. These include traditional options like Yatzy and Ludo Clash (presumably slightly altered titles for licensing reasons) Backgammon and Farkle. There are other games I've never seen or played before - utilising the power of your tablet to take the interactive possibilities of dice games to new heights.

Bomb Master is a maths-under-time-pressure game while Ship Captain Crew is a trivia challenge. There's truly something for all ages and abilities here and although it's a cliché; hours of amusement.

I don't know about you but one thing I find to be a real drag when it comes to board games is keeping score - especially for something like Yatzy, where if you don't have the printed score sheets to remind you what you're trying to throw for, you may as well forget it. With GoDice, that simply isn't an issue. Need to check the rules? They're just a swipe away.

This is amazing news for those of you into role playing games - with the addition of Go's optional RPG shells, you can convert your six-sided dice into polyhedral ones. By using the GORPG calculator in the GoDice app, you'll never have to worry about those complicated calculations again.

The true value here is twofold; GoDice is portable and versatile. The last board game I bought set me back fifty dollars. I can't just stick it in my pocket and it's only one game. GoDice goes anywhere and it's more than a dozen games in one cool little box. On top of all that it might even be educational! (Don't tell the kids though, that'd ruin everything)

    

    

Click here for more information on GoDice by Particula.

How to Vacuum Your Dog

Meet Jerry...

He's a miniature labraspoodle, he's a year old and he's a lot furrier than he used to be.

In saying that, he's certainly not as shaggy as some dogs and he's definitely not as big as most of them. However, he still gets a bit knotty in places and as for his ears... well, just look them. Ridiculous. Cute. But ridiculous.

I'm not much into grooming. And I don't just mean the dog. Faffing around with brushes, scissors and clippers is not my style. And again, I don't just mean the dog.

Jerry gets a shower if he gets too grubby or smelly but that's about the extent of it. Although lately, his extra furriness has meant extra knots and yes, from time to time we've had to get the brush out.

Is there an easier way? Is there a more fun way? Is there a crazier way? As usual, Dyson has both asked and answered all those questions in the affirmative.

Let's not get carried away here; Dyson has not developed a whole new machine you can feed a dirty dog into and it emerges spick-and-span at the other end. Not yet, anyway. There is a new Pet Groom Tool though.

It comes in a three-piece kit; for NZ$139.00 you get the Pet Groom Tool, an extension hose and an adapter to connect it all to your compatible handheld Dyson vacuum - which means basically any stick Dyson from the V7 right through to the most recent V15 Detect.

The Pet Groom Tool is a pretty useful gadget before you even connect it to the vacuum. And that's exactly how Dyson suggests you use it at first, in order to get your medium or long-haired best friend used to the idea. You may be surprised to discover some animals won't necessarily take kindly to being vacuumed - not initially anyway - so Dyson has produced a helpful "Getting to Know You" video to walk you through some helpful tips so you don't completely freak your pet out first time you come near it with this thing.

Certainly my guy was a little nervous about the Pet Groom Tool when he first saw it. But then, he gets nervous when he sees another dog on TV and will often try to find it when it goes off screen by looking behind the telly. He's actually really smart. I swear.

Which is probably why the second time I tried brushing him with the Groom Tool, he literally rolled over onto his back so I could give his tum-tum a good going over. As I said, this still works very well by itself - the 364 angled bristles pop out as you push the back of the tool down with your thumb. They then flex to dig down deeper into your dog's coat to grab any bits and pieces and loose hairs.

By simply releasing your thumb, the bristles retract back into the head leaving behind any fur and dirt you brushed off. This is easily disposed of - even more easily disposed of once you attach your Dyson and get some suction going.

As much of a fan of the grooming tool Jerry had quickly become, he was definitely much less enamoured with the noise of the vacuum. Luckily, the extension hose stretches out to a metre or more meaning you can keep the noise of the vacuum well away from your doggo.

This does tend to become a three-handed exercise though - especially if your dog isn't prepared to just sit there motionless while you do some really weird stuff to it - so it's probably a good idea to have another person around to help keep him in place.

The results are quite brilliant. A smooth, gleaming coat in a matter of minutes. Okay, I admit Jerry is a fairly small job but still, it beats shelling out at least $70 for a professional grooming session every time he gets a bit knotted up.

Unfortunately, you can't use your Dyson to vacuum a wet dog. This shouldn't come as a surprise - Dysons aren't wet'n'dry devices and that obviously doesn't change just because you've plugged the grooming tool into it. That said, it's a bit of a shame as from what I can tell, the leading cause of knotty-dog-syndrome is taking him for a wet walk. Jerry loves nothing more than leaping through a patch of long grass - even rain-soaked long grass. Inevitably the result is a damp, matted mess - especially on his legs and belly. Ideally I'd be able to fire up the Dyson the moment we clambered in the front door, sucking up any dirt and debris and maybe drying him off at the same time. Perhaps the Dyson engineers are already working on a wet version of this kit? If so, consider this my pre-order.

For the meantime, I'll just have to wait for Jerry to dry off then put this simple and yet brilliant accessory to work. Genius Dyson design does it again; shaggy dog mystery solved.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson Pet Grooming Kit.

We've Never Been More at Risk

If you thought the world was a dangerous and scary place right now, let me assure you, the cyber world is even worse.

Just when you felt you were getting a handle on the various threats to your virtual safety - viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing etc. - there seems to be something new (and more sinister) every day.

Based on Norton's threat telemetry from April to June this year, its Consumer Safety Pulse Report shows it warded off 4,851,389 threats in those three months. That's not a global figure - that's just here in little, old New Zealand.

One of the latest trends? Identity theft via social media.

Previously I've alerted you to the exponential rise in fake login pages; threat actors spoofing real sites so convincingly you're fooled into entering your username and password before you even suspect something is amiss.

Now those fun-loving criminals have lifted their game another level. For example, if you were notified you'd been locked out of your social media account due to copyright restrictions, surely you'd follow the helpful instructions to reactivate your online presence, right? In fact, that sounds pretty urgent. You'd better get straight on it.

Before you click that link, enter your details or worst of all, download the essential "recovery tools"... Maybe have a look at some genuine protection from one of the biggest names in cyber security.

I've been using the Norton 360 suite of security tools for a while now and I've never felt more protected. Now Norton has added a comprehensive new feature to that package to provide even more peace-of-mind. The forthcoming Norton 360 Advanced still offers virus, malware, spyware and ransomware protection, a customiseable and fast VPN for online privacy, cloud storage for essential backups and parental controls to protect younger family members but now the "Advanced" icing on the cake is Identity Advisor Plus.

This is essentially a whole extra security toolbox, specifically aimed at protecting your personal online info and should the worst happen, getting it back from the bad guys and limiting any damage they can do in the interim.

Norton has been in the business of data protection for over four decades - which is a lot longer than I've had any data that needed protecting. In recent years it's become quite the cyber security powerhouse - acquiring other brands like Avira and Germany's BullGuard. Right now, Norton is also in the process of merging with Avast - this means it can add all those technologies to its own to provide a fairly impregnable barrier around its customers' devices, online privacy and now their identities.

In New Zealand we haven't seen quite the same surge of identity theft experienced in a country like the U.S. where so much hinges on an individual's social security number. That's changing quickly though - as I've already quoted from Norton's own Pulse report, the cybercrims have also been busy combining different technologies to create ever more complex and convincing scams and threats.

Just the other day I received a text from the IRD prompting me to respond to a missed communication concerning my tax return. I was busy doing several other things at the time and duly clicked the link to find out how I'd misinterpreted my tax obligations yet again. It wasn't until I landed on my bank's login page I suddenly realised what was happening. Obviously this wasn't my bank's login page and it wasn't a text from the IRD. But that's how quickly you can grant someone in a scam factory on the other side of the world access to your most essential online info.

Now, as a Norton 360 Advanced user, I have access to 24/7 support (with a real person) via phone or chat if I suspect my identity has been flushed down the dark web toilet. 

Of course, it may have already happened without me knowing. That's why when you set up your Identity Theft Protection, you add your credit cards, drivers license details, social media accounts and so forth. Then Norton constantly monitors the dark web on your behalf to ensure none of those details have slipped through and are being traded on the black market.

Thankfully, so far the only notifications I've received have been concerning my Twitter account - a bit of welcome over-caution from Norton as it turns out. Most of these red flags start with an email like this...

When I open Norton 360 Advanced and check the details, this is what I get...

Sounds pretty bad; someone has broken into my account and turned me into an international arms dealer? When I inspect the post in question however, it turns out to be a link to one of my reviews. Amazing how many tech gadgets look like weapons. Well, they do to Norton anyway. So that was a relief - both because it showed me the identity monitoring was definitely working and also because I hadn't actually been hacked. I also received this slightly different alert...

Again, just Norton being extra cautious. Someone had commented on my post using :-( to express their dissatisfaction with their internet speeds. Hardly a terrorist threat. Then I got a warning about a potential hacked account communicating with me - following a post I made in 2015. Again, this was just a humorous exchange with a colleague about hacking but you can't say Norton isn't being thorough.

As I've said, if any of these warnings had alerted me to a genuine case of compromised details, I'd then be able to contact Norton for identity restoration support. I'd be assigned my own dedicated specialist who'd walk me through any and all of the steps required to put things right. There's even identity theft insurance included in the 360 Advanced subscription - up to $58k's worth of cover for financial loss and legal fees should things turn really sour.

But I'm confident they won't. My subscription takes care of up to five devices and is currently protecting my phone, my iMac, my Windows laptop and my daughter's MacBook. Norton's various tools keep working quietly away in the background, using a minimal level of my devices' resources while maintaining constant protection - even storing passwords and suggesting new ones as required.

While the Advanced version of Norton 360 is yet to be launched in New Zealand, it's imminent so look out for it. Meanwhile, the rest of Norton's comprehensive protection options are available on the Norton website. Just make sure you go to the real website...

    

Click here for more information on Norton 360 and other Norton products and services.

Versatility In a Very Small Package

After getting off to a bit of a slow start in the projector game, I've quickly come to really love them.

I used to think they were expensive for what they were but now that many of them offer full smart TV capabilities, when compared to the price of a physical TV, the screen-size you can achieve is an absolute bargain.

These days a half-decent projector will provide a wall-sized image of just about anything you'd watch on a conventional TV; video, streaming services, gaming... you name it.

There are a couple of major drawbacks though. Firstly, most high-quality projectors are big and heavy. Secondly, they're often really noisy too.

If that's what's been holding you back, have I got something new for you...

The Samsung Freestyle is a lot of things but it definitely isn't big or heavy. In fact it's probably only about the size, shape and weight of a large can of pet food - except way better looking. This is certainly no unwieldy giant box and you might think you can just move it around all over the place, easily shifting it from room to room or even take it with you when you leave the house. And you'd be right.

Thanks to its unique form-factor and versatile swivel stand (I'll be using the word "versatile" a lot in this review, by the way) the Freestyle can literally be placed anywhere; coffee table, shelf or even just on the bed. Why would you want to put it on the bed? I'll get to that in a minute.

The power supply required is 50W/20V USB-PD... and yes that means if you have a portable power bank capable of delivering at least that much juice, the Freestyle is just as portable. Take it camping and beam your shows on the wall of your tent if you want.

Setup is... well, there's not really any setup. While other projectors often require quite a bit of noodling around with their keystone and focus settings to achieve a good, clear image, the Freestyle takes care of all that for you. While you can adjust these things manually, I haven't managed to do a better job than the device does itself on auto-mode. You can project an image up to 100-inches in crystal clarity - you don't even need a particularly white wall; the freestyle measures how off-white the surface is and will adjust the colour-scheme accordingly. Did I mention how versatile it is?

Perhaps what's most crazy about this device is it's essentially a 2022 Samsung smart TV as well. Controlled with an ultra-slim, rechargeable remote, the Freestyle's home screen looks pretty much like that of any other late-model Samsung telly. As such, you can add all your favourite apps; Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, TVNZ+ - all the plusses - even apps like Plex and Spotify. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, the whole streaming world is at your feet... or on your wall or ceiling.

Speaking of Spotify, you may even want to consider making this your go-to smart speaker. I wasn't really expecting much from the built-in speaker system but I was wrong, wrong, wrong. The 5W omni-directional 360-degree sound is a piece of audio engineering genius. Samsung describes the aural experience as "immersive" and that sums it up precisely. Even though sometimes you'll be using the Freestyle to project from behind you, somehow it throws the sound around in a way that doesn't break the illusion of having the images in front of you. It's pretty clever. While there is a bit of fan noise, it's hardly noticeable compared to other projectors I've encountered.

Still, you can't beat a proper soundbar - or preferably even a full surround system. Luckily the Freestyle has a micro-HDMI port so you can plug one in. While I've come across mini-HDMI ports on things like laptops before, I've never encountered this even smaller option. A quick trip to PB Tech and my new eight-dollar HDMI-to-microHDMI cable meant I could now boost my soundscape accordingly.

Of course, that's not the only thing you can plug in. While you can mirror your phone with an NFC tap via Samsung's SmartThings app, if you prefer Chromecast (or a similar dongle) that will obviously connect with the right adapter or cable too.

As will your console or laptop. Giant-sized gaming on my bedroom wall? Yes please!

Back to bed though. What's the problem with watching TV in bed? Having to prop yourself up to see it, right? By plonking the Freestyle actually on your bed (or at least on your bedside table) you can beam your shows and movies directly onto the ceiling above you. No, don't get up. I insist.

Being a 2022 Samsung TV in disguise, you also get ambient mode - the screensaver option that turns other Samsung screens into works of art or photo frames when not in use. The Freestyle brings a few extra ambient tricks to the table though; maybe you'd like to beam a cosy fire on the wall? A neon cityscape for your cocktail party? How 'bout some kaleidoscopic mood-lighting on the ceiling? Done.

So. Damn. Versatile.

The only thing this thing doesn't do is daylight. While the LED projection system is rated at 550 LED Lumen - that's still not really bright enough for a lunchtime showing of the latest episode of whatever it is you're currently bingeing - but that's why they invented curtains and blinds, right?

I feel like I've reeled off at least half-a-dozen different ways you can use the Freestyle and I keep thinking up new ones every day. It isn't the brightest, clearest, most powerful projector ever produced but its easy setup, excellent sound, full range of smart TV abilities and its extreme portability definitely earn it the prize for versatility. There, I said it. Again.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Freestyle.

The Biggest Show Around

Getting smart is a complicated business.

By now many of us have quite a collection of smart devices in our homes; lights, cameras, TVs, action!

Controlling them all from a central point is useful but often that means your phone - not as useful for any other people in your house - especially if you (and your phone) aren't home.

So time for something even smarter. Is a smart speaker all you need? Or do you want the added functionality (and touch screen abilities) of a smart display as well?

If it is a screen you're after... in fact, if a smart display is the main thing you're after, Amazon has been coming up with a few different options for a while. However, the latest is a little bit different again - and not just because of its size.

The Amazon Echo Show 15 isn't just striking because of its 15-inch screen. In fact, the display is technically even bigger - 15.6-inches to be exact - which certainly sets it apart from other smart screens. Along with that big jump in size (the previous largest Echo was the Echo Show 10) Amazon has also introduced a whole new form-factor.

The Echo Show 15 looks much more like the digital photo frames of the past - perhaps you still own one? These devices seemed like a great idea pre-smartphone, when we were taking heaps of pictures with digital cameras but didn't really have a convenient way to look at them. The idea was you loaded your favourite pics onto the frame's internal storage, or perhaps a USB stick or memory card you could insert somewhere. Then the digital photo frame would scroll through your pics until you got sick of them and decided to load some more.

I call this a device of the past but that's not really fair given you can still purchase digital photo frames today - although I'm not sure who buys them. These days of course, many are Wi-Fi connected and can even be updated remotely - so yes, I suppose in a way, the Echo Show 15 intersects with that product category.

Echo Shows have always had the ability to play a selection of your photos, direct from the cloud. The difference with the 15-inch model is it no longer looks like a speaker with a screen attached - it's now literally just another picture frame - one you can mount on the wall with the included bracket or stand on a bench, table or shelf with the help of an optional accessory.

In fact, there's no question the designers were focussed on wall-mounting this device - even the way the power cord plugs into its concealed cavity ensures it fits flush with the wall, either in a portrait or landscape orientation - which is something the other Shows definitely can't do.

Just because the Show 15 is now all-display, doesn't actually mean it isn't a speaker as well. However, the speaker side of the equation has now been completely hidden away, with the grilles hardly noticeable on each side. That said, if sound quality is your primary concern, this is not the Echo device for you. Compared to options like the Echo Studio or Echo Show 10, many tracks sound rather tinny and thin on the Show 15. This is simply due to smaller, less powerful drivers and not as many of them; compromises obviously had to be made to keep the device to a certain shape and size.

Always bear in mind Echo smart speakers can be grouped together - if you want to boost your soundscape there's nothing stopping you filling your house with sound-only Echoes to be controlled by the Show 15 - especially given they're some of the best-value-for-money speakers out there.

The Show 15's unique shape and size has obvious advantages of course - and not just the ability to display your photo library with stunning clarity, colour and brightness. There's more than enough space to add Amazon's new widgets. Similar to those you might find on a phone or tablet's home screen, there's now a choice of functional tabs you can arrange to your preference; shopping list, weather, access to connected smart devices - even sticky notes to name a few. Right now the selection is pretty limited but I imagine it will grow exponentially in time.

One of my favourite "useful" things to do with a smart display like this is monitor my video doorbell - when someone rings it their image immediately appears on screen and I can tell them I'm on my way down to let them in. Again, a bigger screen means this kind o functionality is more functional than ever.

Below the few physical control buttons, there's also a small camera in the top left corner of the frame (in landscape) for video calling, although oddly it's a worse quality camera than those on the Shows 8 and 10. When I quizzed an Amazon representative about this he explained video-calling was unlikely to be the primary use-case for this device - especially if it's fixed permanently to a wall somewhere which is a fair point. Alternatively, the Echo Show 10 actually rotates to face its display towards you at all times, wherever you are in the room. Again, if video calling is your most important thing, choose that one instead. 

And I guess that's the whole point of the exercise here; Amazon isn't necessarily trying to be all things to all people with the Echo Show 15. Instead, this is a photo frame you can control your entire smart home with - perhaps a digital focal point for the whole family. As such, you can create individual profiles for each member of the household - the Show 15 will recognise either your face or voice and customise its onscreen content accordingly. Everyone can create their own widget layout, access their own photos and curate their own music suggestions.

You know those fridges with the screens in the doors? Or those TVs that look like paintings when they're switched off? This is the Alexa version of that. Or to put it another way (to quote the Domestic Manager), "It's a speaker that doesn't look like a speaker. I like this one."

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Show 15.