Lotus Wheel - How's Your Back?

Every now and then I like to try a gadget that isn't strictly a "tech" device but is still tech-adjacent.

I've had a bad back as long as I can remember. So I guess that qualifies as chronic pain. Once it got so bad I spent a lot of money on a specialist who told me it was probably all due to a childhood injury I sustained when a fell off a piece of playground equipment.

Whatever the original cause, a lot of other stuff has happened to me over the years that certainly hasn't helped. Decades of terrible posture for a start. Dislocating one shoulder, then breaking the other ten years later wasn't fun either.

Then, on top of it all, I sit around hunched over keyboards and sound desks all day.

That last bit probably sounds familiar to most people. Even just standing or sitting, scrolling on your phone tends to make you curl over like a brittle, dried-up leaf.

Then, no matter how much you stretch and exercise, that tension just seems to get worse - almost as if it's compounding every day.

Because of my banged-up shoulders, I've now been diagnosed with a nerve condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which means I have to take nightly medication just so I can sleep.

Bummer. What to do?

The Lotus Wheel isn't a magic back pain bullet but I do believe it's definitely helping.

To say there's no tech involved in the design of the Lotus Wheel isn't true, of course. Although the wheel itself doesn't have any moving parts, it's not just a random assemblage of plastic and rubber either. I'd like to tell you exactly what it's made of but to be honest, even though the Lotus Wheel 3-Pack arrives in a nice box, there's no packaging (good) and very little information.

There is a little eleven-page leaflet that tells you "All You Need To Know." That includes how to use the three wheels to help relieve back pain and tension and suggests other uses like correcting posture, deep stretching and rolling for muscle recovery.

While that may be all I "need" to know, it's not all I "want" to know. For example; how long should I use the Lotus Wheel for? How many times should I roll up and down on it and should I use it more than once a day? Seriously, what are the rules here?

So I visited the Lotus Wheel website and while it's a very uncluttered site that expands slightly on what was in the leaflet, despite a few user reviews there's not much more to be found - however, after a bit more clicking I did discover the "supreme comfort foam padding" is 10mm thick and the ABS plastic core can hold up to 200kgs (phew).

I was expecting a few instructional demo videos but no, just the three Lotus Wheels; a 33cm Gentle option, a 27cm Firm one and a 17cm model for Deep Tissue. You can choose between black or green inners and the 3-pack with one of each size is only NZ$149.00 - which I think is a steal for any kind of gym equipment - especially something that seems to be as well-manufactured as these are.

So... 

I figured the only thing left to do was to give them a go, starting with the largest wheel to minimise the pressure over a bigger surface area. 

As far as basic operation goes, it really is just that; basic. You sit on the floor with the wheel behind you, then lie back onto it, rolling it up and down your spine - except... that's not strictly accurate because each wheel has a "Spinal Groove" to minimise pressure on your backbone itself. Instead, it's the muscles either side that get the real workout, although there's no doubt your spine opens up right away - even on the very first roll.

Everyone in my household has immediately achieved a few satisfying clickety-clacks with very little effort and I'm amazed how I seem to be able to get that kind of relief every time I use it. I also quickly identified exactly which part of my back harbours the most tension and it's that bit I focus on the most.

Although the "All You Need To Know" leaflet recommends starting with the large Lotus Wheel and eventually working your way down, I'm not a particularly patient patient, so I cracked straight on (pun intended).

There's no doubt the smaller you go, the more intense the pressure - that's just basic physics - but the great thing about the smallest, 17cm wheel is you can give your neck a good roll with it, even if it's just against the wall.

As I type this, I'm also using it behind my back against my office chair to assist with my usually-terrible posture.

The Lotus Wheels can also be used for other stretches like traditional foam rollers and like those rollers, you can target sore and fatigued muscles in other parts of your body as well.

But if you have a back you like to crack, this is the targeted device especially for you. It turns out, that leaflet really was all I needed to know - how many times and how often I use it is up to me. There's a nagging voice in the back of my head that says maybe I should have consulted my healthcare professional before using something like this and indeed, those very words are printed on the Lotus Wheel leaflet but... whatevs.

And it turns out I was just being a crusty old boomer looking for vids on the website. Why would they be there when they can be posted on the @thelotuswheel Insta page?

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Lotus Wheel.

D-Link M30 Aquila Pro AI Add-On Point - And Another Thing...

Today's review isn't really a review.  That's because it's only been a couple of months since I first tried the D-Link Aquila Pro AI mesh system and nothing's really changed since then.

Except... It's possible you went out and bought yourself a couple of Aquila Pro AI routers and discovered that although they cover a very large area, your area's even larger and you still have a couple of dark spots you're not quite getting to.

What's more likely is you haven't done anything and you're still sitting there frustrated with your home Wi-Fi performance not knowing quite what to do about it.

At least, that's what the Commerce Commission's RealSpeed report suggested earlier this month. The commission found that many consumers were paying top dollar for "Ultra-Fast" fibre plans but were being let down by slow or outdated routers, effectively having their powerful plans choked off and slowed down at the first hurdle, before any devices could even connect to their home network.

Either way, once again D-link has come to the rescue.

Just to quickly recap, a mesh router system like D-Link Aquila Pro AI lets you set up a home Wi-Fi network with multiple routers, all using the same SSID (or network name) and password so you can remain seamlessly connected, everywhere around the house.

Back in February, I was impressed with D-Link's Aquila Pro AI devices, although at that time I'd only had access to the M30 2-pack. Even so, this was plenty of coverage for my large, two-storey, four-bedroom home. 

This was due partly to the large number of internal antennae in each device (5 in fact) and the more spherical coverage pattern created by the Aquila Pro AI's distinctive stingray-like shape. Most conventional routers do okay at pushing their signal out sideways and to a certain extent, down - but they often struggle with height. For example, many Wi-Fi users run into problems in upstairs bedrooms if their sole router is plugged in back down behind the TV on the ground floor.

Supposedly, D-Link has created a much more versatile device here, producing a more even, ball-shaped coverage area from each Aquila router.

However, the beauty of a system like this is you can keep adding on and to be completely honest, while two routers covered all my rooms easily, I do have a number of security cameras installed outside and it's often a challenge to get a reliable feed from some of the more ambitiously situated ones.

So I thought it would be well worth adding a third Aquila Pro to the mix - and as I've already mentioned, they're available as single add-ons, or in packs of two or three.

If you are one of those people the Commerce Commission is concerned with though, perhaps the main reason you're accessing this webpage via a slow, outdated router is you're worried you don't have the tech know-how to set up a mesh system like this on your own.

Let me assure you, you can do it. Which is why I filmed the little video at the bottom of this article to demonstrate just how straightforward the D-Link setup process is. The main trick is to make sure you download the right D-Link app - as I complained in my previous Aquila Pro AI review, it makes no sense to have three or four different apps that all do essentially the same thing, just because you keep bringing out new products.

That aside, once you have downloaded the app - the Aquila Pro AI app that is - the rest is child's play. Just follow the instructions, don't skip any steps and you should have your new mesh network set up in just a few minutes... Especially given the add-on devices pair themselves automatically. Oops... Hope I didn't ruin the end of the video!

The point is, don't let technophobia keep you from fast, reliable Wi-Fi coverage at your place - or even outside your place. D-Link's new M30 Aquila Pro AI devices look good and work even better, promising speeds of up to 2400Mbps, which should be plenty for everyone. Although, if you really want to fire things up, D-Link has just brought out its M60 range of Aquila Pro AI routers - they're even faster... But that's a whole other story...

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link M30 Aquila Pro AI Add-On Point.

Click here for the full Commerce Commission RealSpeed report.

Apple MacBook Air with M3 - No Compromise. Only Good Stuff

As a relatively late adopter when it comes to Apple Macs, I've only really had intimate experience with those powered by Apple Silicon - the M-series chips that took over where Intel left off.

I was impressed with the no-fuss, elegant performance of the M1 iMac I reviewed in 2021. Then I was positively blown away by the sheer power and faultless reliability of the M2 MacBook Pro last year... to the point I was seriously wondering what more Apple could do to improve my daily computing experience.

When I had the opportunity to test-drive this year's MacBook Air, obviously I jumped at the chance - albeit preparing myself for the inevitable step down from Pro to Air. To be honest, I'm still trying to find that step.

My uninterrupted enjoyment of the MacBook Air (M3) began with the setup. Every time I set up a new iPhone, I'm completely wowed by how comprehensive the transfer process is from my old phone to the new one. Apps, settings, accounts and logins all magically appear on the new device with very few exceptions. If anything, this process is even more streamlined for MacBooks.

Unfortunately, because I'd been sent the MacBook Air to review, it was time to return the M2 MacBook Pro I've been using for the last year or so. That meant initialising a transfer operation - very straightforward assuming both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Migrating my files and settings from the Pro to Air prompted a window to appear suggesting the process could take several hours but like magic, this estimate quickly reduced before my eyes.

Then I noticed a small prompt at the bottom of the window suggesting the transfer could be sped up even more if I connected the two computers with a Thunderbolt cable. Luckily, I had a Thunderbolt 4 cord on hand and I decided to give it a go. Despite the migration having already started via Wi-Fi, it quickly detected the new connection and the transfer accelerated even more - at some points reaching speeds over 1GBps. The was all done in under half-an-hour.

At this point I was quite gobsmacked to discover how completely my previous Pro configuration had been cloned across to the new MacBook Air; every app, every setting - even personalised preferences within apps copied over, with only a few automated prompts for login credentials here and there. I have never had such a seamless migration experience before - and I've set up a lot of computers over the years.

Physically, the MacBook Air also impresses. Living up to its name, the Air is lighter and thinner than the Pro (and most other laptops for that matter) and comes in four colours; Silver, Space Grey, Starlight and a new Midnight, complete with a specially anodised surface to reduce fingerprints. I'm not sure why this isn't done with the other colours - perhaps being lighter, the fingerprint issue isn't as obvious.

My review device is Starlight - which is a subtle gold-almost-but-not-quite-silver colour. The entry-level MacBook Air with M3 chip, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is NZ$2,399.00, but with just a couple of key tweaks, my one quickly pushes through the $3k mark by upgrading to 16GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD.

You can go right up to 24GB/2TB if you want and of course this year the big news is there's now a 15-inch version, which is obviously a lot more appealing to the digital creators out there.

However, before you decide to step up to the larger model, you should know Apple has made another significant upgrade to the 2024 MacBook Air; it can now run two external monitors, not just one. The catch is you have to have the lid closed to do it, so you'll also need an external keyboard and mouse but if it's maximum screen real-estate you desire, two big matching monitors would be the way to go.

Not that there's anything wrong with the MacBook Air's own 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display - it's just as sharp, bright and clear as we've all come to expect from Apple devices like these. Sound quality is also excellent - perhaps not super loud but the four-speaker Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker array is clear and precise. (Or six speakers on the 15-inch model - complete with something called "force-cancelling woofers")

Where some people do have a problem with the design is a condition I like to call port-shortage. There are only two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports on the left-hand side and an audio jack on the right. This is something that used to drive me nuts but lately, my feelings have softened dramatically. Firstly, unlike previous Intel-powered MacBook Airs, these days there's a proprietary MagSafe 3 charging port - so you don't have to sacrifice one of your USB slots for charging purposes.

Secondly, because I like to run a lot of accessories, I'm more than comfortable using an external hub of some kind to add both USB-C and USB-A connectivity, along with card readers, LAN ethernet connectivity, cameras, mics, whatever.

Thirdly... a lot of that stuff is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Take charging for example; the MacBook Air with M3 runs for anywhere between 14-18 hours on a single charge. Nobody delivers on battery life like Apple does and with this device they've taken it even further. I don't even think about how much battery I have left anymore. There'll be enough. There always is.

A hardwired LAN connection is another nice-to-have - but this device is Wi-Fi 6E compatible which means if you've got a decent router, wireless speed and reliability won't be an issue.

And as for plugging in cameras and mics for meetings etc... You might want to check out my video below for a little demo of just how good the built-in 1080p FaceTime HD camera and triple-mic array are. This really is a professional online video conferencing tool that folds flat into your handbag or briefcase.

None of this matters if the MacBook Air doesn't perform, of course.

Well... no worries there. The M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU never flinches, no matter what I throw at it. Multiple apps and browser windows open on different screens? The MacBook Air doesn't even break a sweat. Literally. Although it doesn't have the active cooling fans of the Pro models, I simply can't seem to slow this machine down and better still, there's no fan noise.

As part of my "real" job at Newstalk ZB, I spend a lot of time editing large multi-track audio sessions in Adobe Audition. Not only does the M3 MacBook Air handle this with a smoothness and reliability I've rarely experienced before, the fast and strong Wi-Fi 6E connection means uploading and downloading my audio projects from the cloud takes less time than ever before.

Just on a practical, productivity basis, the faster speeds the MacBook Air opens apps from a standing start literally saves me time by the end of the day.

I'm not much of a gamer but even I have noticed more and more high-end gaming content has become available to Mac users over the last few years and it's no surprise. Fast chips + great displays + excellent sound + premium graphics ability all adds up to a very satisfying gaming experience indeed.

And it wouldn't be a 2024 tech release if I didn't talk about AI. The M3 chip features a 16-core Neural Engine, along with a host other of under-the-hood tweaks that make any MacBook a go-to device when it comes to on-device machine learning. This means accessing, converting and manipulating all manner of speech, text and images happens just as efficiently as everything else on this device.

If it sounds like I'm gushing it's because I'm gushing. After spending a long time using the M2-powered MacBook Pro, I wasn't expecting to enjoy the new MacBook Air this much but honestly, I'm only seeing upsides here; all the speed and power I need, unrivalled battery life and so slim and portable. I can run it with two large external monitors at my desk or just enjoy the finely-tuned built-in audio and display performance when I'm out and about. When it comes to versatility, dependability and portability, I don't think I've come across anything else quite like it.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple MacBook Air (with M3).

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen) - Not New But Still Worth a Look

Around this time last year, Amazon unveiled a couple of new Echo Devices; a revamped Echo Show 5 and an entirely new form factor, the Echo Pop.

I still haven't been hands-on with the Echo Pop yet but its low price (around NZ$85.00) meant it replaced the Echo Dot as Amazon's new entry-level smart speaker.

The fact it kind of looks like an Echo Dot sliced through the middle also caused many of us to wonder if we'd ever see a new Echo Dot ever again.

Confusingly, the most recent Dot, launched in 2022, is still on sale, in two variants - with clock and without.

Even more confusingly, many retailers are still selling the previous 4th Generation model as well - that's now four years old.

So what's going on here? And which of these speakers is right for you? If any...

Like the 4th Gen Dot before it, the more recent (but not that recent) 5th Generation Echo Dot has surprisingly impressive sound, right out of the box. Remember, these speakers are only about 10cm across and yet they both get loud enough to fill a room and offer genuine range across all frequencies - even pumping out more bass than you would think possible from a device small enough to hold in the palm or your hand.

That said, there's no question the 5th Gen does a better job than its predecessor in terms of clarity  - some people argue the 4th Gen actually goes a little louder but I'd take the less-muddy, fuller range of the 5th Gen over sheer volume any day.

What both speakers have in common is a real warmth and space to the music they play, with more acoustic artists like Ed Sheeran sounding particularly full and live.

But what I didn't know until I got my hands on the 5th Gen Dot is, you can pair these together to create a fine stereo array. I don't just mean buying two identical speakers - if, like me, you already have a 4th Gen, you can pair a 5th Gen with it and the result is astonishingly good.

This is thanks to fairly recent updates Amazon has made to the Alexa app, making it a lot easier (and more reliable) to group different Echo speakers together. In fact, you can also add other non-Echo devices into the mix, assuming they are still Alexa-enabled. When I originally played around with this multi-room functionality, I quickly became frustrated with how fiddly it was to group several speakers together and assign them to rooms, only to discover I then couldn't play different streams in different places simultaneously. Amazon has sorted all this out now, making it easier than ever to tweak what's playing out of each speaker - either in conversation with Alexa or via the Alexa app on your phone.

The point is, I've paired a Gen 4 Dot with a Gen 5 one and suddenly I have a whole new stereo sound system. My new Echo Dot is a Dot-with-Clock version and the LED display is a significant upgrade over the previous generation. The more "dotty" display doesn't just do numbers now, it will show information like artist names and track titles while they're playing.

The newer Dot has a more powerful chip and also includes a temperature sensor, which means you can automate your aircon to switch on if the room gets too hot or cold. There's also better compatibility with more smart home devices so all in all, the 2022 Dot is quite a step up.

In many respects, both dots really are quite similar - they even use identical power supplies and have the same configuration of rubberised buttons on top - although the 5th generation Dot's buttons are a lighter colour.

The only advantage Gen 4 has over Gen 5 is its 3.5mm AUX input - the newer Dot doesn't have this so if you're determined to hard-wire your source device, you'll have to stay back in 2020.

As for the Echo Pop, I can only speculate as I haven't had hands-on experience. What I do know is it uses the same chip as the 5th Generation Dot but it doesn't have the same sensors built in. So, not only can it not tell you the temperature, you can't just tap it to pause the music. There isn't a Pop-with-Clock version either, so you'll need a Dot if you want to see the time, not just ask Alexa what it is.

Have I been any help at all? Or have I just made things more confusing? All I know is as I sit here listening to Pink Floyd blasting out in crystal-clear stereo, I'm glad at least one tech company has found a way to make devices more compatible, not less. 

    

Click here for more information on the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen).

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro - Great... But Has Anything Really Changed?

Way back in April of 2021, I wrote... "How is the Video Doorbell (2020 Release) different from the Video Doorbell Elite? And why is there a Video Doorbell 3 Plus and a Video Doorbell 4?"

I was talking about Ring's identity crisis - a seemingly endless selection of video doorbells, all more or less the same to look at, with a slight variation in features.

Well, three years have passed since then so...

I'm somewhat resigned to revealing the latest collection of words in a different combination; may I present the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro. So you should be able to spot the difference there if you're really concentrating; this is the "Pro" model but it now comes with a battery.

You can still wire the device in if you're replacing an existing, mains-powered doorbell and as usual, Ring has included plenty of hardware in the box to help you hook up the terminals.

But the obvious advantage of now being battery-powered is you can mount the Video Doorbell Pro anywhere. My front door is metal, so I'd prefer not to drill holes in it unless absolutely necessary. Thanks to the doorbell's new portability, I have installed it on the adjacent wall instead. There's also an angled mounting wedge in the box and I've made use of this so I can keep an eye on the front path as well as the entranceway.

This is a great option if you do want to put the device right on your door though - no wires required. Or perhaps it makes more sense to have a security camera like this at your front gate instead? As long as you're within range of your home Wi-Fi network, you're in business.

If you've had Ring doorbells before, or even if you've only seen them out and about, you may be surprised to see this one looks pretty much exactly the same. What surprised me more was, even after three years, it basically IS the same. Well... like I say, there are a lot of different models with a lot of different features. What separates the Battery Video Doorbell Pro is it brings all of those features into one device and adds a dash of colour.

After previously introducing the option for colour night vision videos at a resolution of up to 1536p, Ring has now colourised its "Pre-roll" video preview feature. This option is actually quite unique to Ring and is a compelling reason to choose the Battery Video Doorbell Pro over any other. "Pre-roll" means your saved videos - whether they're fired off by the motion sensor or a press of the doorbell button - include a few seconds' footage from before that event. So, if some dirtbag sprints up to your doorstep to nick your parcel and dashes away again, you have a much better chance of catching their ugly mug on camera. For some reason, before the Battery Video Doorbell Pro came along, this pre-roll footage was only black-and-white. Now it's colour and crystal clear.

Other great (but not new) features include Bird's Eye View, which combines historical satellite imagery of your property with Ring's advanced radar detection to show you an overhead impression of any visitor's route up to or away from your front door. You also get the options of Quick Replies, Package Alerts, 3D Motion Detection and Two-Way Talk with enhanced audio.

But as always, there's a catch. Many of these features are only available if you subscribe to one of the Ring Protect Plans. The Basic Protect Plan will cost you NZ$4.95 a month but if you want to cover more than one Ring device, you'll need to fork out NZ$15 a month. (Or $150 for an annual discount) Like any successful pusher, Ring gives you a month free when you first set up your device to get you well and truly hooked. Then all of a sudden if you want to record and save any video, payment is required. 

Am I just sounding a bit cheap? After all, five bucks a month isn't the end of the world. Perhaps I wouldn't feel so aggrieved if the Battery Video Doorbell Pro didn't cost so much to begin with - $NZ369.00 isn't exactly chump change. And should receiving rich notifications (thumbnail previews) on your phone or smartwatch really be a premium extra? 

All I know is there are other video doorbells and cameras out there that let you store your videos locally on SD cards or will even keep your vids in the cloud for free.

That aside, with all its features activated, there's a very good chance the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro is the best example of its kind on the market today. It plays very nicely with other Amazon devices, like the Alexa-enabled Echo Show smart speakers and the new Echo Hub - and obviously, you can add other Ring products like security lights and cameras or perhaps a Wi-Fi-connected chime.

As has always been the case with the Ring home security range, I'm really torn with my overall verdict. There's no doubt the sheer number of features the Battery Video Doorbell Pro has to offer is impressive. The fact Ring has taken its flagship doorbell and made it way more versatile by putting a battery in it is also impressive. That Ring has dramatically improved battery life in the process is perhaps the most impressive thing of all. My same old conflict is over the Ring Protect subscription - as good as this device is, it isn't much without the "subscription-only" features and I simply don't like being held to ransom that way.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro.

Amazon Echo Hub - One Small Step In the Right Direction

So here's my problem... and it's about the most first-world problem you could imagine. Due to my incurable tech addiction, I have a lot of gadgets.

I have security cameras. I have video doorbells. (Yes, more than one doorbell. Don't judge me.) I have lights. I have motion sensors. I have way too many smart speakers and I even have gadgets to tell me if it's raining and which direction the wind is blowing from.

I know, you're wondering how that is a problem? Sounds pretty cool. And it definitely is. If you're me. If you're living in the same house as me, perhaps not so cool.

Imagine not knowing how to turn on a light or make music play in your own home. Pretty frustrating. You'd probably be pretty annoyed at the guy who set all that up.

The real problem is, there still isn't one virtual assistant to rule them all.

The good news is, we're getting close. The Amazon Echo Hub is nearly the answer to all my smart home issues. Nearly.

Unfortunately, the tech industry got things a bit arse-about-face when it started producing IoT devices like smart lights and Wi-Fi connected speakers. Rather than all the big manufacturers agreeing on a universal protocol to control all smart devices wirelessly - think bluetooth for headphones and computer accessories or Wi-Fi for routers - several big names went off on several different directions.

While each big brand would have loved it if their customers stuck to one ecosystem, it was never going to happen. Just because Amazon makes speakers and owns companies that produce security cameras and smart plugs, that doesn't necessarily mean the Alexa-enabled product is always the best one in its specific category.

Some devices use Matter to talk to each other. Some use Zigbee or Thread. Some connect directly to your router over Wi-Fi. Some have their own unique hub that then connects to your home network wirelessly or via an ethernet access point.

Actually, I'm starting to see why my family hates me so much. I know which virtual assistant to ask if I want the air-con to turn on because I set it up. They're completely in the dark. Quite literally.

That's what the Echo Hub aims to tidy up. In many ways, it works a lot like the existing Amazon Echo Show devices of various sizes but the Echo Hub doesn't have the powerful speaker attached for streaming music or a camera to make video calls with. Instead, you get a compact, slim 8-inch display with an interactive home screen set up to give you (and the rest of the family) easy access to all your smart devices.

Well, that's the theory anyway.

The Echo Hub is boxed up with its own USB-C power supply, a fairly long cable, some screws and a wall bracket. It'll be quite inconspicuous on most walls, assuming the power point isn't too far away. If an ethernet access point is closer, Power-Over-Ethernet is also an option. If, like me, you prefer to set the Echo Hub up on a shelf or table, there are third-party stands available, like the one pictured from Sanus.

If you've ever set up an Amazon Echo smart speaker before, initialising the Echo Hub will be a familiar experience. You'll need to use the touch screen to enter your Wi-Fi password, location and Amazon account information, which these days seems like a bit of a drag. Presumably, if you've chosen this device, you already have the Alexa app set up on your phone. Surely some kind of NFC tap-and-go setup or perhaps a QR code would be a more efficient way to sync your Alexa preferences but no, you'll be left tapping and swiping both the Hub's display and the app on your phone to get everything running the way you want.

In saying that, the Alexa experience has improved dramatically over the last year or two. You can choose from a wide selection of voices and accents - both male and female. Alexa doesn't have to be Alexa anymore - the wake word can be "Computer", "Amazon" or even "Echo" and one setup option I particularly appreciated was choosing a preferred speaker to stream music on. That's because while the Echo Hub does have its own built-in speakers, they're not particularly loud or bassy. So Amazon makes it easy to designate any other Alexa-enabled speaker as the default player - as long as it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

They were probably hoping you'd go with another Echo - perhaps even a pair of Echo Dots like the 5th generation one they sent me along with the Hub for this review. But a compatible device like the amazing JBL Authentics 500 will work just as well and the sound quality is sublime.

Because there's no camera, the Echo Hub has a motion sensor to detect when someone comes within operating range. At this point, whichever screen you've set to run when the device is idle - in my case, a photo slideshow with a small clock in the corner - gives way to a new kind of home page.

As you would expect, the home screen on the Echo Hub features shortcuts to all your connected, compatible devices - although the configuration is quite different to what you may have seen on previous Echo Show devices.

Apart from the usually reliable voice activation, the Hub's reinvented home screen gives you at least three other ways to access your lights, cameras, air-con etc... There's a shortcut to your routines (automations you create using the Alexa app to do things like turn on lights when sensors detect motion). There's a list of the rooms you've set up so you can quickly access devices by their location. And there's a row of shortcuts to different types of devices along the bottom of the screen. Finally, there's a library of widgets you can add to the home screen - these range from productivity tools like calendars and weather forecasts to games and information tiles. My favourite is the Cameras widget. It displays a thumbnail view from up to six cameras and then lets you show a live feed of any of them with a single tap.

Unfortunately, as with previous Echo devices, it still takes a few seconds for the live feed to appear and sometimes, it just doesn't. When it works, it's fantastic and I've added Amazon's own Ring cameras and doorbells, along with cameras from D-Link and Google Nest. There's also the option to show a grid view of four live cameras simultaneously but again, this only worked sporadically, usually with three of the four showing and a fourth remaining blank.

I'm not sure if these glitches are because the chip running the Echo Hub is a bit underpowered or it's merely a software issue and future updates to the device or even the cameras will streamline things a bit. I know it's not my Wi-Fi network. Let me assure you citizens, my network is strong.

And sadly, this seems to be the remaining challenge of a unified smart home; these devices are still not talking to each other quite as well as I would like. There's no doubt the Echo Hub does a better job of bringing everything together than any other device I've tried to date and my feeling is things will continue to improve over time. The combination of Thread, Matter and Amazon's own Sidewalk means the more of such devices you add to your network, the stronger it should become. But perhaps the Echo Hub's greatest strength is the way it has instantly removed the mystery from controlling my wide array of smart gadgets - for the most part, it no longer matters if it's a Google thing, a Samsung thing, or even a Xiaomi thing or a Philips Hue thing - all those things are now displayed on an easily accessible screen anyone can use, and that's good news in my house anyway.

 

    

Click here for more information on the Amazon Echo Hub.

Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit - Hard to See. A Pleasure to Hear

We're all content creators now, aren't we?

Even if it's just a video for your family and friends showing them around the resort you're staying at on holiday, you still want it to be good.

What if you're a travel agent and you need to use that video to impress your customers?

What if you want to stream that video to the world?

Sure, it needs to look good - that comes down to what kind of camera you're using - but how will it sound? No point yakking away if all your words will be blown away before they get recorded. 

There are plenty of podcasting mics on the market but that's not going to be much help when you're out and about and besides, there's nothing very natural about having to share the shot with a big, fat microphone.

That's why Shure now brings you quite the opposite.

Although Shure has a long history of delivering audio excellence and while I've definitely used Shure products over the years, I've never reviewed something from Shure until now. So in terms of a good first impression, I don't think I could do much better than the MoveMic Two Receiver Kit. 

The kit is essentially made up of four main components; two MoveMic lavalier microphones, their charging case and the MoveMic Receiver - which I'll get to soon enough.

Starting with the MoveMics themselves though, they're absolutely tiny. It's kind of ironic, given the microphone Shure is probably most famous for is that groovy, oversized, Unidyne design artists like Elvis were famous for caressing in one hand while they sang. The MoveMics couldn't be more different, with their durable construction, firm springloaded clip and wireless charging case.

Shure promises about eight hours use on a full charge, which is impressive enough. You'll get another two full charges from the case which is not much bigger than the charging case for most true wireless earbuds. In fact, using the MoveMics is a very similar experience to using earbuds; as long as you put the case on to charge when not in use, you should never be caught short.

These mics really are very inconspicuous. I've used wireless theatre mics before and while they're smaller still - usually able to be disguised in your hair, worked into your costume or sometimes just taped to your face, that sort of microphone still needs to be wired into a mic pack stashed away somewhere else on your person - usually in a pocket or often just stuffed down the back of your underwear.

Shure's little MoveMics are entirely self-contained and can be clipped anywhere; collars, pockets - even on hats or jewellery.

The great thing about this pack is there's a MoveMic for you and one for your guest, which they can clip on easily themselves - no socially awkward and potentially inappropriate frisking required.

Once charged it's a simple matter of pairing them with your phone via the Shure Motiv Video app (Android or iOS). There's also an audio-only Motiv app but that seems a bit redundant unless all you want to do is make sound recordings.

The catch here is you can't pair your MoveMics with your phone directly - you must use one of the Motiv apps - but the good news is, Motiv Video is a very good mobile camera app, with a list of features you're unlike to find on your phone's default camera interface.

Not only can you adjust gain levels, EQ and compression for each mic individually, you can also alter sample rates, video resolution and yes, there's a noise-reduction toggle which is so crucial when you're recording outdoors.

In the video below, I've done a little demonstration of just how superior the MoveMic audio quality is compared to the default, built-in mic on my phone. I think you'll be impressed. Fortunately, the MoveMics are rated IPX4 for splash resistance, so you can take them out in the elements without too much worry.

There are preset EQs for speech or singing, or you can leave it flat and create your own. 

Motiv Video even lets you stream directly to Facebook Live. Alternatively, you can set up a live stream on a different platform and just punch in the link to connect.

But for real flexibility, you need the Motive Receiver. This is about the same shape and size of a small digital action camera but instead of a lens, it has a wee colour display so you navigate through the various pairing and settings menus. The receiver is attached to a universal fitting so you can mount it on a DSLR camera and you can connect via USB-C or AUX cable.

This means the Shure MoveMics can become your next podcasting mic, with the Receiver plugged into your computer. Plug it into your phone for use with any recording app. Plug it into your camera for an instant audio boost to your next vlog. Maybe even plug it into an amp or a sound desk for that big presentation or performance.

The MoveMic Receiver offers you most, if not all of the features and tweaks you'll find on the app and the handy thing is, any customisations you make will stay with the paired mics, no matter which device you plug the receiver into.

The whole package results in a highly professional end-product and you'll easily hear the difference it makes in the video below. What's more, given the MoveMics easily clip on, your hands are then free to gesture, demonstrate or maybe even play an instrument - I keep thinking of different ways you could use the MoveMic Two Receiver Kit every day.

 

    

Click here for more information on the Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit.

HP Envy Move - All In One, Anywhere You Like

As technology has become more and more miniaturised, all-in-one desktop PCs are now more the norm than the exception. Unless you've decided on a mini-PC to make the most of an existing monitor perhaps, having your whole computer built into the display itself just makes all kinds of sense.

Apart from the obvious space-saving advantages, if you're plugging fewer things into other things, you tend to get a more efficient and reliable performance.

But why bother with a desktop PC at all? Surely a laptop would suffice? And then you're no longer chained to a desk - you can take your work - or your entertainment - with you wherever you go.

However, the desktop setup still always has one crucial advantage; display size. Who knows? Maybe there are 24-inch laptops out there... but I've never seen one.

Now HP has come up with the next best thing.

The Envy Move is a great-looking PC. The body is a modern off-white colour and it features a matching fabric-covered speaker bar across the bottom of its ample, 23.8-inch, QHD touch display.

The screen itself is one of the first ways the Envy Move sets itself apart; most PC/Monitor combos don't offer a touch screen and I can't think of many (if any) other all-in-ones that do either.

Part of the reason the Envy Move does is because this is a computer designed to be used all around the house - sometimes with a keyboard, sometimes not. Yes, this all-in-one has its own battery so you can unplug it and take it anywhere.

Admittedly, we're not talking laptop-like all-day battery life here, after all, this is a very large, bright display to keep powered up. In saying that, I've been pleasantly surprised to discover HP's promise of "up to 4 hours" use was no idle boast - more of an understatement.

The overall design has a robust durability that also surprised me. There's a large, comfortable handle to carry this 4.1kg device which which flops down tidily out of the way when not being used. The handle actually magnetises to the back casing to guarantee it won't be a nuisance when you don't need it.

But the kickstand feet are the truly innovative components here. When you set the Envy Move down on any flat surface, the two feet swivel around into place automatically, providing very stable support for such a big screen. It takes a while to get used to how secure everything feels but I soon came to trust I wasn't going to knock the whole thing over just by tapping and swiping the touch display. You can even tilt the screen to face up to you more ergonomically.

Then, as soon as you pick it up, those clever little feet swivel back out of the way, so they won't catch on anything while you're carrying the Envy Move around.

Unfortunately, there are limitations to this design - the feet won't pop out if you set the computer down on thick carpet for example. However, I've found all I have to do is twist the feet out manually and the Envy Move will sit on the carpet quite happily.

Another unique feature is the fabric pocket on the rear to stow the keyboard when you're not using it. HP has really thought out every aspect of this breakthrough design and nothing about it feels experimental or sketchy.

If the Envy Move has a weakness, it's definitely the keyboard. The typing experience is mushy and unresponsive - I'm not the world's greatest typist but when using this keyboard I was constantly missing the second letter in double-letter words and would rarely make it through a sentence without having to go back and rearrange some characters.

Mysteriously, it's not really a full keyboard either - no number pad, no Home or End keys and very small cursor keys. No backlighting or flip-down feet for a more ergonomic angle either. It's all a bit of a mystery because I usually find HP keyboards to be excellent. It's not like there isn't enough space in the rear carry pouch for a longer keyboard with more keys - this is a big device remember?

Perhaps compromises were made to accommodate the built-in trackpad - which I will admit is excellent. It's accurate and very forgiving when it comes to right and left clicking.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from pairing a different keyboard and mouse via bluetooth or perhaps a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. To be honest, I found the included keyboard so frustrating, that's exactly what I ended up doing.

The Envy Move is powered by a 13th-gen Intel Core i5-1335U chip - not the most powerful available but none too shabby either. This is combined with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. None of that adds up to being some kind of desktop publishing powerhouse or gaming juggernaut but I can assure you, the Envy Move hasn't failed me yet.

I've browsed, streamed and yes, even gamed a little and although this is not a machine capable of ultra-high frame rates, I thought Bikini Bottom looked fantastic as Spongebob, Patrick and I battled for supremacy over relentless rampant robots.

In fact, everything looks good on this display, from 3D animated games to the latest releases from Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus and all the other plusses. It all sounds good too, thanks to the Bang & Olufsen-tuned speaker array - a much bigger and bassier soundscape than you'll experience from most other laptops, that's for sure.

I have mixed feelings about the Envy Move's online meeting abilities - mostly because of user error. You'll see a sample of video filmed with the built-in camera and mic at the end of the video below. While I'm reasonably impressed with the video quality - better than average at 5MP and up to 1440p - you'll hear the sound is a bit off, my voice weirdly compressed and clipped.

It was only after the fact I discovered some secret settings hidden away in the pre-installed myHP app. I had the mic set to conference mode and the noise cancellation toggled on - neither "enhancement" all that conducive to a single-host video shot close-up in a quiet room. Sure enough, once I turned those features off, I came through clear as a bell.

I actually quite like the myHP app - it lets you access all kinds of cool tweaks including a separate Video Control app with advanced options like autoframing, backlight compensation and even the ability to live stream, shooting with two cameras simultaneously. However, sometimes you can have too many options as I discovered with the sound settings. I guess in this case I should have left everything on default.

That's the thing with this device, it's a very versatile, accessible family computer that just works, straight out of the box.

It even has one more trick; you can use it as an external monitor for other computers and consoles. There's an HDMI input on the bottom right-hand corner and you can easily switch from PC to Monitor mode by pushing the button just above it. Sadly, there's no universal VESA mount option on the back to raise this up as part of a multiscreen, desktop array - but then, bolting down something named "Move" would be a bit silly now, wouldn't it?

The NZ$2,699.00 price tag feels about right to me. I'd happily hand over about that much for a more conventional all-in-one that performs as smoothly as this does, with these kinds of specs. But the fact you can use it in so many different ways, in every room of the house makes it very good value indeed. 

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the HP Envy Move.

Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe - Minimal Footprint. Maximum Charge

Of all the tech innovations I've seen evolve over the years, I think wireless charging might just about be the coolest. Being able to transfer power from one device to another without physically connecting them seems so damn sci-fi - even today.

Then Apple took a good idea and made it great - as Apple often does - with the introduction of its MagSafe accessories.

Think about it; you already had the magic of charging with no cables, then you add the magic of sticking one thing to another using magnets. That's double the magic!

And because Apple generally executes this kind of magic expertly and to the highest standard, I became instantly addicted to MagSafe as soon as I tried it.

I have a MagSafe charger on my desk, a MagSafe charging cradle in my car and a MagSafe charger on my bedside table.

This created its own issue - as a tech reviewer, I'm often using phones that aren't iPhones as my primary handset. Luckily, third-party accessory manufacturers have caught on and you can now buy MagSafe-compatible cases for most popular phones, Apple or not.

However, there's always room for improvement and the most recent generations of iPhone and Apple Watch have upgraded their wireless charging capacity. To make the most of this, you'll need an accessory like the latest charger from Twelve South.

The HiRise 3 Deluxe, like a host of similar chargers, lets you power up three devices simultaneously; typically a phone, an Apple Watch and a pair of earbuds. I say, "typically," because while the wireless charging pad at the back of the device is best suited for an AirPods case (or indeed any other kind of earbuds with wireless capacity), there's nothing stopping you setting a second handset down there instead.

That second phone will only charge at 7.5W, while the handset on the primary MagSafe charger will charge twice as fast - at 15W. This is as good as it gets when it comes to wireless charging an iPhone - but as I've already mentioned, with the right case you can charge other phones on this magnetic stand too.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Apple Watch charging disc - for some reason smartwatch makers don't seem to play nicely with others, even in 2024. I don't know why every brand of smartwatch requires its own, specific charger but at least the latest Apple Watches charge a bit faster. However, those Apple Watches will only fast charge on a 5W charger like this one. Not all chargers, especially older ones, charge at this speed and it's almost impossible to tell them apart. Fun, right?

So if you're lucky enough to own the latest generations of iPhone Pro, Apple Watch and AirPods, this is the all-in-one charger that will get all three devices topped up at maximum speed. In order to do that though, it requires more power from the wall adapter than most standard USB bricks provide, so interestingly, Twelve South has gone with its own 36W adapter. This restricts things a little because you'll need to take the power adapter with you if you're travelling with the charger and it'll be a real pain if you lose it.

I'm not sure the HiRise 3 Deluxe is your ultimate travel companion anyway. Although the Apple Watch charger folds down flat into the base, the primary phone charger is up on a fairly tall stand and there doesn't seem to be any way to collapse this or even unscrew it. In saying that, the full range of international wall-socket configurations is included in the box so if you do pack it in your suitcase there'll be an option to fit any plug you're confronted with.

Not an issue for me though, as my HiRise 3 Deluxe isn't leaving my bedside table and there are several reasons why it has become my new favourite nighttime companion. Firstly, the front-to-back design of the charger means it takes up very little space on my nightstand - in fact, the base of the HiRise 3 Deluxe is smaller than an iPhone Pro Max if it was just sitting there charging by itself.

It also looks and feels as deluxe as its name implies, with everything except that confounded Apple Watch charging disc covered in soft vegan leather. Not only does this give a premium appearance but it's practical too, preventing any scratches on those shiny, glass-backed handsets.

The primary MagSafe charging disc also tilts through a range of 35° which means you should be able to face it directly at you - whether you're using the charger at your desk or down on a lower bedside table. This is more important than ever now iPhones feature StandBy Mode - the custom always-on display that triggers automatically when you attach an iPhone to a MagSafe charger in landscape profile. This way your phone becomes a calendar, photo frame, bedside clock or any of a growing list of other useful, widescreen widgets.

But the absolutely best thing about the HiRise 3 Deluxe is what it doesn't have; no annoying little status LED to tell you if it's powered on or charging. I've never understood these silly lights - you know if your device is charging because it's charging and with MagSafe, you're never in any doubt because your phone sits in the exactly right place every time. Nobody wants unnecessary illumination on their bedside table in the dark of night and it seems with this device, Twelve South has done the right thing and left the lights off.

I admit, NZ$279.95 is a lot to pay for a charger - in fact, it's a premium. But this is a truly premium device. I've been using wireless chargers for a long time now and one thing I've learned is you can do a lot of damage with cheap, unofficial knock-offs. Worse still, you might not be charging your devices as efficiently as possible. The HiRise 3 has been specifically designed to make the most of the latest and greatest Apple has to offer; faster wireless charging and both StandBy Mode and and Nightstand Mode for your iPhone and Apple Watch respectively. Best of all, you'll still have space on your bedside table for a lamp and your favourite book.

    

Click here for more information on the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe.