Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks - Small Device. Many Uses

I have two main pet peeves when it comes to tech. If you've read a few of my reviews you've probably picked up on what they are; firstly - little lights. I hate little lights, blinking, red, green, yellow, blue or otherwise. I don't need a light to tell me if something is on or off. I know if it's on or off because it works or it doesn't. If you insist on having little lights, at least give me the option to turn them off if I don't want them.

Second peeve - and this is a biggie - laptop cameras. Laptops cost a lot of money. In fact, most laptops cost a lot more than your average smartphone. So why are their cameras usually so much worse than those on your average smartphone? It's 2022. We don't leave the house anymore. We need to put our best face forward to the world. Give us a decent camera.

As it turns out, there's an easy alternative - especially for Apple users.

You may not be aware the latest version of MacOS gives you the ability to choose your iPhone as your default camera - you don't even have to set anything up, thanks to a feature called Continuity Camera it'll just appear in your list of cameras when recording a QuckTime movie, FaceTiming or joining an online video call. You can even use your iPhone's microphone if you like. (This works both wirelessly and if the phone is plugged in, by the way)

The trouble is, your iPhone is in your pocket. Or sitting on the desk. To use it as a webcam, you need it front and centre, at the top of your screen. That's where the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks comes in.

It might be the most innocuous-looking accessory I've ever tried, yet it might also end up being one of the most useful.

When you first remove it from the box, it appears to be a simple, rubberised disc. On closer inspection, once you turn it over, you'll discover two fold-out attachments; First, a fairly standard ring grip - much like many people already use to help keep hold of their handsets with one hand or to prop their phone up for watching video or gaming. 

The second attachment is much smaller - a very narrow ledge. 

The whole thing is MagSafe compatible, so it easily attaches and detaches from any iPhone, gen-12 or later. That pop-out ledge then allows you to attach your phone to the top of your MacBook screen in exactly the position required for all your video needs. This means you're no longer restricted to the built-in camera and you don't need a separate, external webcam either.

Outstanding.

The inclusion of the ring grip is a real bonus. I've never been a fan of this kind of attachment before as it required either a dedicated ring grip case, sticking a ring grip attachment to your existing case or even worse; directly onto your phone. Thanks to MagSafe, this convenient holder/kickstand isn't a bulky, permanent addition - it's just something you can slip on and off as required.

And that could very well be the end of my review. A durable, well-designed, MagSafe accessory that performs its main task effectively, with an absolute minimum of fuss. Fantastic.

But wait, there's more.

The problem with the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is it's only for Mac Notebooks. Right? Well...

While it's true the little fold-out ledge is only wide enough to fit on the top of a MacBook display, Continuity Camera works on iMacs too. What I've discovered is the fold-out ring grip is also stable enough to hold your iPhone in place at the top of the much thicker iMac display.

Bonus.

But wait...

Not only does the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks fit nice and securely on Mac Notebooks but it'll also hold your iPhone pretty snugly in place on most other laptop screens too. What's the point of that? Windows PCs don't have the Continuity Camera feature. They often have really crappy cameras though, so it'd sure be great to use that awesome iPhone camera instead.

And you can.

There are many apps out there to enable this functionality - some of them giving you the option to fine-tune your image, even swapping between different lenses. I've tested this out with an app called Camo - you just need to open it on both your laptop and your phone and you're good to go.

See how versatile this little Belkin mount can be?

Oh, but wait...

What if you don't have an iPhone? Although you might have a phone with an equally brilliant camera (or perhaps even better) no MagSafe means no go. Right?

Actually, I love MagSafe so much I decided I wanted it on any phone I use - and over the course of a year of tech reviews I might end up using ten different handsets or more. Most of them won't be iPhones. Luckily, I've discovered you can buy separate magnetic rings you can stick on the back of any phone (or preferably its case), essentially converting into an unofficial MagSafe device.

So yes, I've attached an Android phone to a Windows laptop using the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks. Worked brilliantly.

Do I need to get a life? Maybe. Is the Belkin iPhone Mount brilliant? Definitely.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 for Business - Probably the Best There Is

This year I've spent a lot of time comparing devices to their previous generations and wondering how much they've really improved.

As a result, (and I've written about this a bit recently) I've concluded that tech journalists spend too much time doing the comparison thing. I'm confident in saying only a very small percentage of the population rushes out and buys every new gadget the moment it's released - especially for big-ticket items like computers and TVs. Yes, I'm aware some people do do that - even with cars - but not most people.

But this fact is all too easy to forget when you get to play with each and every model, each and every year.

The really weird thing about this is too often reviewers mark devices down when they haven't been upgraded enough from their previous model - even when that previous model was amazing.

It's something I was all too aware of when I unboxed the latest Microsoft Surface Laptop.

I must start by pointing out I've been sent the very tippy-top of the Surface Laptop pile for this review; the 15-inch Laptop 5 for Business - that means an OS upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, an insane 32GB of RAM and a very generous 1TB of internal storage. A device this specced-up doesn't come cheap - this version of the Surface Laptop 5 will set you back NZ$4,609.00. If that made you do a double-take, remember there are a lot of other possible configurations that'll probably still get the job done for you - that's because whichever Laptop 5 you choose, it'll be powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor.

Not only do these chips assure you of a significant increase in power, speed and performance, the much-improved graphics capability of the integrated Intel Iris Xe platform is pretty impressive too. In fact, I've been riding race after race in Moto GP 3 and absolutely loving it. Well... I've been loving the way the game runs, looks and sounds anyway. It's a very challenging game. Who knew riding high-performance motorbikes at over 200km/h was so damn tricky?

Yes, as usual, the 15-inch PixelSense touch display is a joy to behold - colourful, bright and detailed. Also as usual, the tall 3:2 aspect ratio means a lot of space for a lot of different windows. The rather unstoppable processing might of the 12th-gen Intel Core i7 in tandem with all that RAM means running many apps or processes simultaneously never causes even the slightest hiccup. Edit video, play games, stream something - do it all at the same time. The Laptop 5 for Business won't miss a beat.

The Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos sound extremely clear and accurate - this is a wonderful device to watch your favourite show on and I've also been surprised by the quality of the 720p HD front-facing camera - it does a very good job of keeping you well-lit and in-focus for all your online meetings.

My only frustration with this device is the same frustration I've always had with any Microsoft Surface; a lack of physical connectivity options; just one USB-A 3.1 port and one USB-C slot - albeit the very latest USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 version - that means very fast data transfer rates and USB-C charging if that's what you prefer over the weird and proprietary Surface Connect charger included in the box. At lease some Surfaces in the past came with card readers. I'm sorry, but if I'm shelling out four-and-a-half grand for a computer, it should have at least two of both sizes of USB ports and an HDMI slot for easy connection to an external monitor. Minimum.

That gripe aside, almost all other aspects of the Laptop 5 are simply sublime; surely one of the best-performing keyboards of any laptop - just faultless travel and response. Thanks to the height of the opposing display, the palm rests and trackpad are enormous. Unfortunately, the 15-inch Laptop 5 only comes in Platinum or Matte Black aluminium - for some reason only the smaller version is also available in Sandstone, Sage or Platinum with a soft Alcantara palm rest.

Battery life is impressive. The last year or so has seen Windows laptops make incredible strides in this department, thanks mostly to advances in chip efficiency. The Microsoft website boasts up to 17 hours of "typical usage" on a full charge, which doesn't mean anything of course because nobody knows what "typical usage" actually is. What I do know is this is without doubt one of the longest-lasting laptops I've ever used - typically or otherwise.

Not that there's anything typical about this device - other than yet again, Microsoft has crafted a truly premium laptop that does absolutely everything I've asked of it - all without breaking a sweat.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 for Business.

Apple iPad Pro (2022) - The Uber Tablet

I’ve used a lot of iPads over the years, in fact, so many I’m not even sure how many.

And that’s not counting the ones you use by accident. For example, when I checked in at a hotel the other day, that was on an iPad. Often when you’re signing your consent for a medical procedure, that’s on an iPad. Actually, the more I think of it, these days if there’s a form to be filled out, it’s usually on an iPad.

The sheer penetration of iPad into almost every walk of life, from schools, to mechanics, to building sites, to farms, to retail - even rest homes - proves Apple probably won the tablet wars before they even begun. Especially given this year’s 10th-generation “entry-level” iPad I reviewed last week not only looks fantastic but is powerful enough to edit video, play demanding games on and be used as a multi-media streaming device.

But the one iPad I’ve only ever admired from afar is the iPad Pro.

I’ve got as close as my daughter’s iPad Pro - a couple of generations old now - an indispensable tool for her professional music career. She loads her scores into it, makes any necessary annotations using Apple Pencil, then plays from the sheet music as displayed on her iPad Pro, using a bluetooth-connected foot pedal to turn the “pages”. Of course, that’s not all she uses it for but it’s a pretty clear illustration of exactly how useful a device like this can be.

The 6th-generation 2022 model is a genuine computing powerhouse. Not only does the 12.9-inch version I’m reviewing sport a truly sumptuous Liquid Retina XDR display, capable of unparalleled brightness, contrast and even a new Reference Mode for true-colour editing, the iPad Pro now runs on Apple’s M2 chip; the very latest and greatest in Apple silicon, which makes it very great indeed.

Without listing off facts and stats about “cores” the main benefit of the M2 chip is speed and power - the CPU is up to 15% faster than the previous iPad Pro, graphics performance makes a whopping 35% jump and thanks to an unbelievable 50% increase in memory bandwidth, this year’s iPad Pro can literally do everything at once. Forwards and backwards and round and round.

Another breathtaking stat is storage capacity - if you have the budget, you can choose the 2TB iPad Pro - that’s space enough for all your holiday snaps… along with those of every other person you know.

In real life terms, what does all this mean?

Well, once again, as often happens when I’m using a high-powered Apple device like this, the line between the operating system and the hardware blurs. For example, something both MacOS and iPadOS have in common these days is Stage Manager - a shortcut quickly accessible from the Control Panel. When activated, Stage Manager makes swapping from app to app more fluid by stacking other open windows on the left side of the screen for easy access. This is ostensibly a software feature, yet without the iPad Pro’s daunting processsing power and its spectacular display, this instant app-swapping experience wouldn’t be half as fun or effective.

Only the iPad Pro let’s you resize and move multiple windows around the screen just as you would on a desktop or laptop device - in some ways this action is even more intuitive on the touch-screen of a tablet.

Gaming is another area that has leapt forward immensely, thanks to the upgrade in processing and graphics. Many critics take potshots at the relatively limited Apple Arcade games library but it’s expanding exponentially all the time and I’ve had no trouble finding something to keep me amused and challenged. After pairing a bluetooth controller I’ve wasted quite a bit of time embarking on various Modern Combat 5 missions - the app loads quickly and gameplay is fluid and immersive, thanks in no small part to the enormous 12.9-inch display and the surprisingly effective quad-speaker audio array.

In fact, whether you’re gaming, streaming or editing, the audio-visual experience on offer is unrivalled by any other tablet I’ve tried.

This is my main problem with the iPad Pro, it’s so good, it’s addictive. I just want to keep using it. For everything.

This is made even more pleasurable with the addition of some of the best accessories I’ve ever come across. Although the all-new, two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio I featured in last week’s iPad (10th-gen) review is not yet available for iPad Pro, there’s a fine selection of other cases, including the basic Smart Folio, the more useful Smart Keyboard Folio and my ultimate favourite accessory of all-time; the Magic Keyboard.

I first encountered this absolutely genius bit of kit while reviewing the iPad Air - by simply magnetising the iPad Pro onto the Magic Keyboard, the transformation from tablet into unstoppable laptop is complete. A trackpad, a floating display, USB-C pass-through charging and a full-sized keyboard (almost identical to the one on my iMac) instantly at your disposal.

Bleeding-edge tech like this doesn’t come cheap, unfortunately. The matching Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is an eye-watering NZ$709.00. Worth it though, as it completely eliminates the need for owning a laptop as well as the tablet.

The other almost-essential add-on is the Apple Pencil (2nd-generation). I’ve used this a bit before but pairing it with the iPad Pro adds a whole other dimension - literally. Using 3D modelling apps like SketchUp becomes so much more precise when controlled with Apple Pencil. More and more apps are introducing more and more Apple Pencil-optimised features to the table - to be honest, the options on offer in Adobe Fresco are so comprehensive and diverse, it’s a bit daunting. You can even import your favourite brushes from other painting apps.

What I’m learning fast is iPad Pro is a gateway to infinite creativity - certainly I was able to film, import and edit media for the video at the end of this review effortlessly and quickly.

Because the iPad Pro feels so limitless in its powers, any small frustration seems magnified - even more annoying than it would be on a lesser machine. Case in point; the position of the front-facing camera. As I’ve made clear, my preference with a tablet has always been to use it in landscape mode. Now even more so, thanks to the incredible addition of accessories like the Magic Keyboard. So it seems truly bizarre Apple has elected to leave the selfie-cam on the short side, instead of moving it to the top edge (in landscape mode) like it has with the recently launched iPad (10th-generation).

I have two major issues with the camera being left where it is; firstly, you simply never look into it when you’re on a video call or you’re recording a selfie-movie. This problem is exacerbated even further on the larger, 12.9-inch model I’m reviewing - with a display that big it’s a hell of a long way from the middle of the screen over to the left-hand side. Even utilising the clever AI effects of Centre Stage to keep my face in the middle of the shot, everyone I’m meeting with must think I’ve got something far more interesting to look at over their shoulders. 

The second issue I could never have predicted; because that wrongly-placed selfie-cam can do Face ID, you’re saved the inconvenience of typing in your password every time you install an app from the App Store… except… to confirm your app download or purchase you must double-click the power button which, in landscape mode, is on the top left-hand side - meaning your hand covers the camera to click it - meaning the camera is obscured - meaning Face ID won’t work. Either the button or the camera is in the wrong place. Let’s be real here; it’s the camera.

Other than that, the technical camera performance is pretty standout - especially for a tablet. There’s a full phone-like camera array on the back, featuring a 12MP wide-angle primary shooter, a 10MP ultra-wide lens and even a True Tone flash to enhance low-light performance. This hardware, combined with the awesome power of the M2 chip means ProRes imagery is now at your fingertips. Now you can snap off very high-quality footage and edit on the fly - zooming, cutting and clipping post-shooting without losing the amazing colour and sharpness on offer. There are five (yes, five) built-in mics available too - giving you the ability to record in genuine theatre-like surround sound.

I think you get the idea. The iPad Pro is one of those power tools that gives you the freedom to say, “Right, this is what I want to make,” without having to worry if it’s technically possible. Thanks to the iPad Pro’s unique combination of industry-leading chip technology, truly innovative accessories, increasingly user-friendly OS experience and just exquisitely engineered hardware, I’ve yet to find a task it can’t perform. Sort that camera position out and it’d be a perfect 10.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the iPad Pro (2022).

JBL Quantum TWS - Lag-Free Listening In a Bud

Have I ever mentioned how many earbuds I've reviewed over the years?

Oh, I have? Only about a million times? That's because there are about a MILLION EARBUDS out there.

I used to be able to single out my favourites because of their superior fit and noise cancelling abilities but something has changed in 2022; I'm finding more and more earbuds now fit properly and active noise cancellation has got really good, really fast.

So come on, tech world. What've you got next? Why should I choose your earbuds over someone else's? And don't say because they come in red... although that'd definitely get my attention.

As we've seen before, JBL doesn't make the earbuds decision easier due to its own, overwhelming range, which is now one pair bigger, with the addition of the Quantum TWS.

From the outside of the charging case, there's no reason to think these are all that different to any other JBL buds but open the lid and you'll notice three items inside, not just a pair.

The Quantum TWS earbuds themselves are a reasonably conventional combination of sealed-ear fit (with a selection of tips included in the box) and an external stem, primarily for directional mic positioning. there's a premium feel to the build quality and the silver and black JBL logo is not too flashy.

I've found the fit to be extremely comfortable and secure. The IPX4 splash resistance rating means these are a good choice for exercise as well as extended gaming sessions... which brings us to that third item in the case; a compact USB-C 2.4Ghz wireless dongle.

Yes, a genuine point of difference.

While the Quantum TWS earbuds boast the latest, low-latency bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, low-latency still doesn't mean no-latency. So, just like other reliable cord-free gaming accessories, JBL has introduced 2.4Ghz wireless into the equation to ensure what you see is exactly what you hear - exactly when you should.

This isn't just a crucial element in growing your successful semi-pro gaming career. It also eliminates the frustration of out-of-sync dialogue when bingeing your favourite psycho-drama.

The fortunate side-effect of this unique dual-source approach is the instant you unplug the dongle, you're back on bluetooth, effectively swapping devices in a mere moment.

Either way, the sound quality from these little beauties is rather impressive - certainly in terms of sheer power, anyway. The drivers measure a whopping 10mm - almost twice the diameter of most other true wireless earbuds I've used. This means they can be wound up very loud with an incredible amount of bass for a form-factor this small.

"Only Human" by Jason Mraz has just the most seductive bassline - the live version even more so. Thanks to JBL's typical over-emphasis on bass reproduction, this track is like treacle in my ears. That's a good thing, by the way.

However, on a track like the studio demo of Crowded House's "Oblivion," the kick drum is actually too prominent, pretty much drowning out everything else. Of course, to a large degree this can be remedied by fiddling around with the EQ in the JBL Headphones app - but who wants to do that for every track?

So musically, the Quantums perform well - especially when things get bassy - without taking out any personal prizes.

But remember, these are not designed primarily for music. These are "gaming earbuds." And sure enough, when it comes to the surround-sound effects of a first-person shooter or a well-mixed blockbuster movie, the Quantum TWS buds really come into their own.

Quite apart from the fact we've all but eliminated any lag with the addition of the 2,4Ghz wireless dongle, if you've plugged it into a Windows PC or laptop, you can download the JBL Quantum Engine desktop app to fine-tune your audio experience. Not only can you update firmware, monitor battery life and adjust volume, most importantly you can access the JBL QuantumSURROUND setting - a 7:1 spatial listening experience that somehow works almost as well in these tiny buds as it does in JBL's high-end Quantum over-ear headsets. The sense of space, direction and distance is actually kind of freaky. This is all in order to prevent you from being snuck up on by enemy combatants or overtaken in a surprise final-lap manoeuvre while playing Moto GP 3.

There are a whole bunch of beamforming mics built in too, so whether you're taking a call or calling in air-support, you should be clearly heard either way.

By reducing the full Quantum gaming experience down into two earbuds and a dongle, JBL has made it more portable than ever. The charging case has a slot for the dongle too and is no bigger than most other cases like it. Unfortunately, I will have to take marks off for the lack of wireless charging. I've become quite accustomed to plonking my earbuds down on a convenient Qi charging pad whenever I'm not using them - having to hunt around for a spare USB-C charger is certainly a first-world problem I can do without.

At around two hours from empty, charge time is also a little slow and five hours listening time with ANC on is good but not great. I suppose if you're gaming for longer than five hours in a row you've probably got issues more pressing than having to recharge your earbuds.

I know at the top I said everybody seems to be doing a good job of ANC these days but it's still worth mentioning I've been suitably impressed with the noise cancellation on the Quantum TWS as well. This not only means a more pleasurable commute, blocking out traffic, train or bus sounds but a more focussed gaming experience too - it's much easier to ignore your flatmates when you can't actually hear them.

While onboard controls are limited to short, long or multiple presses on the outside of either bud, at least these are quite customisable via the JBL Headphones app. I've got volume programmed on the left bud, play/pause on the right. But ANC and voice assistants are available too.

All in all, I'm thoroughly smitten with JBL's latest effort. Although they may not be my absolute first choice for music appreciation sessions, when it comes to video and gaming, the dongle definitely makes all the difference.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Quantum TWS true wireless noise cancelling gaming earbuds.

Apple iPad (10th generation) - This New iPad Really Is New

I feel like 2022 has been a big year for Apple, in terms of the sheer number of devices they’ve released. Starting off with green versions of last year’s iPhones, there’s been a steady flow of new apple devices throughout - from AirPods to Watches to Macs and yes, obviously more phones.

You’d think this would have kept the Apple acolytes, the ever-faithful, surprised and delighted all year long. And yet, some fans - and especially the critics - have been quick to point out which devices are not really new, but mere iterative upgrades.

Historically I’ve been no great fan of Apple products over any other, yet I’ve felt obliged, time and time again, to point out the fact most consumers do not consume every single generation of every single device - certainly not like we privileged few in the tech media. When you actually do get to trial every update as it’s updated, often there’s a certain speed-blur to the process that can make one gadget merge into another.

But it’s always important to remember how that gadget will appear to a “normal” person - perhaps someone upgrading after three or four years of trusty service or even a total newbie to the brand.

To those people, I can’t deny almost every Apple thing that comes along is a pretty cool thing indeed - even if it still looks and feels a bit like last year’s thing.

However, I’m writing this review on a thing that has evolved in many, many ways.

The good old iPad, surely still the leader, the no-brainer go-to when it comes to tablets. The 2022 (or 10th generation) iPad arrived on the scene with little fanfare. It didn’t get a dedicated, Tim Cook-hosted launch event - just a few social media posts, lumped in with its high-performance, bigger sibling; the iPad Pro.

And yet, of all the Apple devices to come out in 2022, the humble iPad might be the most upgraded of them all.

Let’s start with the eye-popping range of colours; blue, pink, yellow and silver - all of a candy-like, metallic finish that really brings some fun to the often staid world of tech. I’ve been sent a yellow iPad for review and it’s proved devisive - some insist it’s actually gold, some have vowed they won’t even touch it because of the colour. While not my first choice (why isn’t there a red one???) I don’t mind a touch of sun on the back of my computer.

Calling it a computer wasn’t a slip, by the way. This is the first “entry-level” iPad I’ve used that’s passed my ultimate tablet test; can I use it like a laptop? As I’ve already said, I’m typing this review on it right now. I edited (and even filmed some of) the video at the bottom of this article using this iPad. I uploaded all the photos from my cloud storage into this piece, on this iPad. There’s no doubt, the 10th generation marks a definite coming of age here.

There are a lot of little reasons the iPad has suddenly made this giant leap - starting with a very little one indeed; the charging port. With the change from the Apple-only lightning to the much more universal (and in some parts of the world, legally obligated) USB-C connection, suddenly that’s one less cable I need. Battery life has always been a standout feature for the iPad over its competitors, now charging and connectivity has become so much more straight-forward. In days gone by, Apple hasn’t had a great rep when it comes to playing with non-Apple devices. That little USB-C port now means things like thumb drives and external monitors are only a plug-and-play away.

Another major breakthrough is the disappearance of the home button. The fingerprint sensor is now under the edge-mounted power button and the bezels are now uniformly narrow all the way around the Liquid Retina display - which means a significant increase in size from 10.2 to 10.9-inches without having to make the iPad itself any larger.

The changes just keep coming with the 12MP front-facing selfie-cam moving from the short edge to the long edge. That’s right team, Apple has finally conceded most people video conference in landscape, so having the camera way over on the side makes no sense at all. This means you can now look your boss straight in the eye when you tell her how much you really hate meetings.

But perhaps the single most laptoppy thing about the 10th-gen iPad is the Smart Connector on the opposite (bottom) edge. Sure, you can still opt for a Smart Folio case if you like - perhaps in matching yellow (or blue or pink or silver). But thanks to those magnetic Smart Connector terminals, you now have the option of the Magic Keyboard Folio; the first time the basic iPad has had a keyboard case with a trackpad.

Not only is the keyboard on this accessory rock solid, boasting wonderfully clicky keys with definitive travel, there are function keys, just like on a Mac, for things like controlling media and adjusting brightness. The trackpad is equally responsive and accurate but essentially, the back half of the Magic Keyboard Folio (yes, it literally comes in two halves) folds out as a supporting stand (much like a certain competitor tablet is famous for). This is truly what lets you use this iPad as a laptop - either on a desk, on the couch or sitting up in bed. If you’re just watching video - or perhaps gaming with a controller - whip the keyboard off and use the iPad as a standalone display.

This is a truly revolutionary accessory - especially for Apple - but it does come at a cost. Is paying NZ$529.00 to convert your NZ$899.00 iPad into a laptop worth it? You can buy an M1 MacBook Air for NZ$1,749.00. And just to confuse things further, the iPad I’m reviewing is the 256GB, 5G version - that retails at $1499.00.

Did I mention the iPad Pro? Oh, that’s the next review.

While we’re talking add-ons, let’s add on an Apple Pencil. This is where things get super confusing. The iPad (10th generation) is still only compatible with the FIRST GENERATION Apple Pencil. This is the stylus that used to charge directly from previous iPads by plugging into their lightning ports. See the issue? Enter the lightning-to-USB-C adapter. This means you can use the USB-C charging cable for the Apple Pencil too. Told you it was confusing. At least it means you’re not wandering around with a long, pointy pencil sticking out of the bottom of your iPad anymore.

The final major iPad upgrade is its brain. the A14 Bionic chip boasts a 6-core CPU, 4-core graphics and a 16-core Neural Engine. Don’t worry, I don’t really know what any of those things are either. What it means is more power and silky smooth operation - whether editing video or gaming. Although the A14 is not even close to being Apple’s latest and most advanced processor, it still outperforms most of what the competition has to offer, especially in a specifically optimised device like the iPad. Editing, gaming, sketching, streaming, multi-window and multi-tasking all happens instantly with no issues at all. This is an extremely reliable and responsive device.

Oh, by the way; this iPad even sounds great - the landscape stereo speakers do a pretty convincing job of separating out home-theatre effects while I’m watching my latest episode of Severance on Apple TV+.

I could go on… and I will, when I review the new iPad Pro in a week or so. Meanwhile, rest assured the 2022 iPad has definitely evolved - it’s now almost a different beast entirely.

(Please note: the USB-C to Apple Pencil accessory is not included with the iPad - it was in the box with the other accessories)

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPad.

BenQ GV30 - Project Absolutely Anywhere

Why aren't we all using projectors instead of TVs?

Surely the prospect of a giant display at a reasonable price is a no-brainer?

Except...

You still need some pretty specific requirements for the room you put a projector in. In fact, you probably need to build the entire room around the projector, just to make sure it's in exactly the right place. Oh, and it has to be dark. Super dark. Probably best to just watch at night.

Other than that, the perfect solution.

BenQ has other ideas...

The BenQ GV30 might get the prize for the cutest-looking device I've reviewed all year. It's a portable projector but it doesn't really look like a projector at all. If it was completely round it'd be about the size and shape of a small cake tin on its edge. 

The circular speaker grilles on each side and the leather carry-loop on the top give it the appearance of a bluetooth speaker - which you can use it for - but we'll come to that soon enough. An attractive carry-case is included with plenty of room for the GV30, its power supply and any other cables you might want to bring with you.

There's a rather cunning magnetic stand for the GV30 to sit in, enabling you to point it at any angle, depending on what you're wanting to project onto. You'll also find a standard photographic mounting screw socket on the base so you can set the GV30 up on a stand or flip it upside down and suspend it from the ceiling.

As you can tell already, this is an incredibly versatile wee gadget and we haven't even switched it on yet.

Before we do, there's a slightly fiddly bit of setting up which is a very odd process I've encountered with previous BenQ projectors; connecting and installing the separate QS01 Android TV dongle. I still don't understand why this isn't simply built into the projector itself but for some unknown reason, you're required to prise the left-hand speaker grille off with a special tool, (included) plug the dongle in, clip it in place and reattach the side panel. So weird.

You can then fire the GV30 up, sign into your Google account and any of the pre-installed apps and download any others - like TVNZ+, ThreeNow, Disney+ or Neon. Unfortunately - and again I don't really have a good explanation for it - you can't install Netflix or Apple TV+. This is made all the more strange by the fact you can both Chromecast and AirPlay to the GV30. What's weirder still is you don't seem to be able to cast directly from either the Netflix or AppleTV+ apps - although you can from browser windows streaming that content. Hey, don't stress about it too much - you can always just plug in an external streaming device like an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Chromecast with Google TV.

That's because there's a full-sized HDMI port, as well as a USB-C slot. So it's a cinch to use the GV30 as an external monitor for your PC, laptop or console too. That's right folks, have massive gaming display, will travel.

Other than the unexplained app limitation, the GV30's only other major shortfall is display resolution - at just 720P you might miss the crystal clarity offered by increasingly more available 4K devices - especially if you're using the projector to beam an image over 60-inches in size or bigger.

However, you might also find the benefits far outweigh those minor drawbacks. As I've discovered with other BenQ projectors, the GV30's ability to auto-focus and auto-keystone is pretty much magical. This is what makes it so easy to take anywhere and project onto anything; walls, ceilings, sheets, curtains - as long as the ambient light conditions aren't too glaring, this projector is good to go. Despite clocking in at the low end of the HD scale, the picture is still bright, clear and colourful.

And truly portable - the fully charged battery will last for up to 150 minutes of video viewing and almost twice as long if you're using the GV30 as a buetooth speaker.

So why would you use a projector as a bluetooth speaker? Because that's how good the sound is on this thing. Not only does it get reasonably loud but there's plenty of bass. This makes both parties and blockbuster movies sound way better than I was expecting.

For a little machine, it's jam-packed with settings you can tweak to maximise your viewing experience - there are different presets for gaming or movies and if you're not satisfied with the Auto-Focus and Vertical Keystone function, you can of course take manual control.

Speaking of which, the remote is pretty user-friendly, with plenty of practical shortcuts for instant access to things like input selection, projector settings and a dedicated button for Prime Video. You can also use your phone as a remote if you prefer (which might be a good idea if you're out and about with the projector; one less thing to lose!)

The GV30 may not be the projector to replace your TV forever but if you're somewhere your TV can't go (so, basically anywhere other than the room it's in) this is a very easy way to access big-screen entertainment with virtually no setup at all.

    

Click here for more information on the BenQ GV30 portable mini projector.

Apple TV 4K (2022) - All Your Entertainment in One Box

It's starting to feel like 2022 was the year of the streaming device, with quite a list of newly upgraded options now available to be plugged into an available HDMI port on your telly.

The main point of difference for most of these devices over their respective predecessors is picture quality; a bump up from HD to 4K or perhaps an upgrade to HDR10+ and/or Dolby Vision. Without getting too bogged-down in technicalities, these enhanced image technologies basically mean brighter, more vivid, clearer video - which is definitely noticeable, particularly on screens 55-inches and above.

It must be pointed out, that bump in picture quality is only available if your TV is capable of it too - no device you plug into your telly is going to magically upgrade its display performance. However, believe it or not, many of these external boxes and dongles can actually make your TV smarter.

Perhaps the best example of this is the new Apple TV 4K.

Let me admit right from the outset, this is my first time using Apple TV and I realise many people are old hands - although perhaps not right back to the first generation device in 2007. (I don’t recall that being widely available in New Zealand) As a newbie, please excuse me if I’m covering old ground in this review, although you might be a newbie too, so it’s worth highlighting all the main features, even if some are not 2022 additions.

While this year’s model is the smallest yet, less than 10cm square, it’s still a box - not a stick, so it still connects via a separate HDMI cable, rather than plugging directly into your TV. That’s fine, except Apple doesn’t include an HDMI cable in the box - something to consider if you don’t happen to have a spare one lying around. Given both the 64GB Wi-Fi-only and 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet versions are two of the most expensive streaming devices on offer (the 128GB version I’m reviewing here sells for NZ$319.00) it seems a bit stingy not to include all the hardware to make it work. There’s no ethernet cable either - but at least there’s a power lead.

And that might be my only complaint about the new Apple TV 4K. Because once you plug it in and turn it on, it’s good. Really good.

I’ve set up many devices like these over the years but in Apple’s usual style, initialising the Apple TV is so easy and intuitive, it’s very nearly automatic - assuming you have an iPhone and an existing Apple ID anyway. I’d be surprised if many non-iPhoners have considered using this device but they’re definitely allowed - you just have to do the setup manually instead.

For those of us lucky enough to have iPhone access, entering logins and passwords can be done via your handset, rather than having to navigate around the on-screen keyboard using the remote control.

Ah, the Siri Remote - what an absolute pleasure to hold and use. To be honest, I’m no fan of controlling your TV via virtual assistant - especially if there are other people in the room, rather awkward. But the side-mounted Siri button is only one great thing about the remote.

For starters, like all things Apple, it’s an exquisite piece of engineering; a compact, one-piece aluminium body that almost feels like an iPhone when you’re holding it. The buttons are large and clicky and all within easy reach of your thumb. There’s a very welcome dedicated play/pause button and the click-wheel isn’t just a click-wheel; it’s a click-pad too. This allows for more sensitive, gesture-based navigation which means extra controls, like a circular gesture to jog video streams forward and back.

The Siri remote requires no batteries; just a very occasional charge via USB-C.

Did I mention you can use your iPhone as a remote too? Of course you can. This is Apple after all - it’s an ecosystem.

That means subscriptions to services like Apple TV+ and Apple Music are instantly accessible but more importantly, you can quickly pair with other devices like AirPods and Apple Watch - the later comes in very useful should you decide to make the most of the comprehensive Apple Fitness+ suite of home workouts. I’ve tried these and they’re way better than I thought they’d be. I assumed it’d just be a fairly generic library of pre-recorded exercise classes but the app experience feels much more intuitive and immersive than that.

In my case I was quickly able to pair my watch then choose a whole programme centred around back strengthening - that means a combination of several different routines from a variety of instructors to form each workout; from weights to Pilates to yoga, all with the option of adding in the latest hit music. The subscription is expensive - but nowhere near as expensive as joining a gym.

Apple Fitness+ is just one of the icons you’re presented with on the very stripped-down Apple TV home page. Of all the smart TV and streaming device operating systems I’ve encountered, there’s no question this is the most streamlined. No bloat. No ads. No unnecessary suggestions from apps and services you don’t own or aren’t subscribed to.

Just a very iPhone-like grid of icons, although you can group several apps together in one folder if you like. There’s a row of five favourites at the top and depending on the app, you’ll see a content preview when you hover over each one, although exactly what that preview contains varies from app to app. Apple TV+ and TVNZ+ show featured new releases, while Plex and Netflix bring up thumbnails of what you’re currently watching.

Thanks to the awesome power of the new Apple TV’s A15 Bionic chip, apps load instantly. In fact everything is so fluid and smooth I can’t imagine ever going back to the somewhat stilted and clunky operation of my smart TV’s own native user interface.

So you have one of the most powerful processors around, combined with 128GB of internal storage… sounds like a good excuse to build up a gaming library to me.

Apple Arcade offers hundreds of games for easy download and for a reasonable subscription you can take your pick, effectively converting your Apple TV 4K into quite a slick gaming console, just by pairing a bluetooth controller.

I’ve been wasting quite a bit of time “researching” some of these games - Lego Brawls and Lego Star Wars Castaways are just damn funny. Sonic Racing and SpongeBob SquarePants Patty Pursuit provide some welcome cartoonish mindlessness, while the Pathless is a more challenging RPG that’s also more time-consuming. (I probably would have published this review last week if I hadn’t got so sidetracked playing games like these)

As I’ve mentioned several times already, like any Apple device, perhaps the TV’s greatest strength is its ability to play well with others - be that mirroring content seamlessly from iPhone, iPad or Mac or accessing your paired HomeKit devices - speakers, cameras, lights, whatever.

I feel like I haven’t talked much about the most important thing of all; picture and sound. Well they’re great. Of course they’re great. Even the choice of screensavers are ultra-high-res works of art. Everything absolutely pops, both visually and aurally. This truly is the ultimate AV experience - wrapped up in a very small box.

Click here for more information and pricing on Apple TV 4K (2022).

Panasonic LZ2000 - Near Perfect Pairing of Sound and Vision

I'm starting to learn to be more patient with tech.

For years I've lamented the lack of quality sound built into modern TVs. For a long time now, it seems the wider (yet slimmer) televisions became, the worst their speaker performance got until eventually the requirement for an additional soundbar (if not a whole, external home theatre system) became pretty much compulsory.

Sure, the picture standard kept improving, from HD to 4K to 8K, plasma to LED to OLED... but I began to wonder why the manufacturers bothered to build speakers into their TV's at all. Who wants tinny, tiny sound to go with a huge, multi-faceted picture?

Turned out, I just had to wait a bit. I should have known Panasonic would figure it out.

The Panasonic LZ2000 range comes in 55, 65 and whopping 77-inch options. When extracting my 65-inch review set from its box, I was immediately struck by how much more bulky it is when compared to other, similar-performing screens in this price range. The main reason for this is speakers.

You see, the LZ2000 isn't just about premium picture quality, Panasonic also wanted to deliver truly immersive sound as well, to create a complete home cinema experience right out of the box. You can't miss the forward-facing speaker unit which is essentially a preinstalled soundbar, running along the entire length of the bottom edge of the screen.

The Technics-tuned upward-firing speaker array is also pretty in-your-face - nestled just behind the top-centre of the display. There are also side-mounted drivers and a woofer too - adding up to a very impressive 160W sound system, capable of delivering a wide range of audio configurations, including Dolby Atmos and Panasonic's own 360-degree Soundscape Pro.

Not that this is an unwieldy or unattractive TV once set up on its ingenious swivel stand - this lets you tilt the LZ2000 around to your preferred angle while remaining completely stable. Even with that built-in soundbar along the bottom, from the front the screen appears super-slim - you can't see any sign of the speakers and other I/O panels at all. This is partly due to the fact ports like the HDMI and USB connections are well and truly tucked away - rather difficult to access in fact. This is not a telly you want to be regularly plugging and unplugging things into.

I have to take issue with some other reviewers' claims the bezels are unnoticeable. I noticed them. I notice them every time I watch the LZ2000. They're certainly slim but they're not the slimmest I've seen (or haven't seen) and I feel obliged to point out this is not one of those tellies you install because you won't see the edges of it when you're watching it.

However, once you turn the LZ2000 on, you'll forget all that pretty quickly because the viewing experience is absolutely sumptuous. The colours are so rich, the lines are so sharp and clear and the picture is so bright, you almost feel like you can step right into it. I've streamed content, I've watched locally stored video files and I've played games - everything looks incredible, especially from sources capable of HDR10+ and DolbyVision.

And as I've pointed out already, finally there's a complete speaker array to match - most surprising is the full and powerful performance of the 20W woofer. Whether it's the slightly creepy yet insanely busy theme tune to The White Lotus, or the droney thrum, thrum, thrum of the Peripheral soundtrack and its many and varied special effects, the LZ2000 sound system doesn't just complement its extraordinarily vivid video performance, it enhances it even more. The only time I've heard any distortion or rattle is when I have the volume up super loud and the noise gets super deep - I've included an example of this in the video below. Who knew Billie Eilish (or more specifically, the incredibly low bass sounds provided by producer/brother Finneas) would be the ultimate test for subwoofer performance?

As I've remarked in previous Panasonic TV reviews, I find it amusing they still haven't changed the settings font since my first Panasonic plasma screen from around the turn of the century. It looks oddly retro and computery and there certainly are a lot of settings to play with here - perhaps a few too many. There are any number of ways to change the picture and sound, both manually and automatically. On top of all that, there's also a dedicated Gaming Control Board app to tweak things like refresh rates and lag times even more. For most users, I'd suspect this is all a bit overwhelming (it is for me) and many might be put off by just how much tweaking you can do once you dig into the menu.

In stark contrast, the user interface is rather spartan - pretty much just a bunch of icons floating across the bottom of the screen. The OS is probably the LZ2000's weakest point - there are only a limited number of apps available, although all the popular local streaming services are there and I was certainly relieved to find my favourite TV app, Plex, already preinstalled.

As for the remote control... not spartan. The opposite of spartan. The most un-spartan thing I've ever come across. It's truly enormous with more buttons on it than you could ever hope to use. It's literally too long to fit on the shelf where I normally keep my remotes and while it's nice to have dedicated shortcuts for apps like Netflix, YouTube, PrimeVideo and Disney+, I'm not sure I need a "List" button or a "Guide" button. Even Play and Pause are two separate buttons - good luck remembering which one is which in the dark.

The customisable "MyApp" button is useful though - I've programmed this to bring up the Gaming Control Board for instant access.

Of course, if you're like me, once you've set up the TV you might default to an external streaming device such as Chromecast with Google TV or an Apple TV box - they have nice, normal small remotes and can be set to control basic functions on the LZ2000 like on/off and volume.

If you're in the market for a truly high-end OLED display, with truly - and I can't emphasise this enough - truly impressive built-in sound quality, I can confidently recommend the LZ2000 as a prime option.

However, if you already have a decent external sound system, this is complete overkill. Not to worry, Panasonic has another option; the LZ1500 - same awe-inspiring picture, just without the bombastic audio.

Click here for more information on the Panasonic TH-65LZ2000Z.