Samsung Music Frame - Milking a Great Idea

These days it's rare to witness a truly original idea in tech.

Or at least, sometimes it seems the moment somebody has one, everybody else is doing it too.

That's why I was so surprised to see Samsung's Frame TVs go virtually unchallenged in the marketplace until just this year.

By recognising the fact that not everyone thinks having a huge telly as the centrepiece of their living room is the height of interior decor, Samsung cornered the market in TVs that don't look like TVs.

The key here, of course, was that while it was a simple idea, it was also expertly executed.

The Frame TV has been popular, especially in New Zealand, not just because it can look like a piece of art when you're not using it but also because it's a really great, full-featured TV when you are.

But this is not a TV review.

The Music Frame also looks like a picture in a frame. But in this case, that's because it is.

The piece of art on display is not a screen... it's an actual piece of art. Each music Frame comes with a couple of choices in the box but of course there's nothing stopping you using your own. The front panel simply pulls off revealing a high quality, reusable matte with a sturdy backing that allows you to slide different pictures in and out. There are also corner mounts included in the box that can be affixed to a larger "Art Panel" - this displays artworks 13-inches by 13-inches without a matte around the edges - although I don't seem to be able to find a local supplier for this option.

But let's not get distracted, because, just like the Frame TV, the Music Frame is not really about the art - whatever you decide that to be. This is also a bloody good speaker.

It comes with both a substantial stand and an equally robust wall-mount in the box. That's because it's quite heavy - 4.6kg to be exact. Now I don't know about you but in my experience, a heavy speaker often means a quality speaker. A solid build is more likely to accomodate a big, rich, powerful sound with less chance of distortion or rattle. That certainly seems to be the case here.

Setup is through the Samsung SmartThings app, where you can connect it to your Wi-Fi network, update the firmware and link with your Amazon Alexa and Spotify accounts. Oddly, you don't seem to be able to link any other streaming services directly - not even Amazon Music, which seems strange given you can use Alexa to control the device.

That being said, you can connect a source device any number of ways; bluetooth, Apple Airplay or even as a Google Chromecast.

It's all a bit overwhelming actually - as are the settings available on the SmartThings app. You can adjust the EQ to your preference but then there's a Sound Mode option, with the choices of Standard, Music or Adaptive Sound+. Oh, and there's also a SpaceFit toggle. How could I forget that?

The problem - and I guess it's a nice problem to have - is there's just so many ways to use this speaker. 
Including pairing it with your TV.

Believe it or not, because the Music Frame is so powerful and has excellent bass response, it's actually not a half bad soundbar - although with no HDMI port you only have the option to connect wirelessly or via optical cable. But if you want real magic, grab yourself a late model Samsung TV with the Q-Symphony feature.

I talked a bit about this in last week's Samsung S95D OLED review; Q-Symphony lets you add any combination of Samsung speakers, soundbars and subwoofers to the TV's own, built-in speaker system to create the ultimate, surround-sound home theatre listening experience. This isn't just room-filling audio, it'll reach absolutely every corner.

That's where the aforementioned features like Adaptive Sound+ and SpaceFit really come into their own, intelligently analysing the content being played and matching it to the room it's being played in.

And you don't need to be watching a Marvel blockbuster to appreciate it. Right now I've grouped two Music Frames together and I'm listening to the live version of John Mayer's "Why, Georgia." The effect of this expertly performed and recorded track played through these speakers instantly transports me to the Nokia Theatre, L.A. in 2007. The space, the crowd, the live feel - all reproduced exquisitely.

Oddly, grouping two Music Frames together like this doesn't create a stereo pair, yet when you add them to a Samsung TV's Q-Symphony setup, you can designate them left and right or even use them as rear surrounds.

At their initial NZ$750 asking price, that would have added up to a fairly extravagant home stereo but the Music Frame is currently available on the Samsung website for just NZ$479 - which I consider a bargain considering what it's capable of.

See? So many ways to enjoy this speaker. And it doesn't even look like a speaker.

If you love your Frame TV because of its ability to morph into a beautiful piece of art, pairing it with a couple of Music Frames seems like a bit of a no-brainer.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Music Frame (HW-LS60D).

JBL Soundgear Frames - Surprisingly Not Terrible

The whole point of new technology is to push the barriers. To have crazy ideas and see if you can make them work.

Not that long ago, the idea of a folding phone screen seemed fanciful - an intriguing concept but not physically practical or even possible. Yet now they're everywhere.

We've seen a lot of this sort of tech daydreaming around eyeglasses. With a form factor already established to be comfortable, portable and unobtrusive, could we add a camera, perhaps? Recording what we see as we see it. Or let's go a step further. Augmented Reality. Surely it'll catch on eventually? Aren't a pair of glasses the perfect AR displays, just waiting for content?

Well, it turns out to date, most consumers thought both those ideas were terrible.

Hidden cameras? No thanks. A virtual world getting in the way of the real one? Nup, not ready for that just yet.

Then JBL came along with a third suggestion...

The best thing about the JBL Soundgear Frames is they pretty much just look like a cool pair of sunglasses. Well, I think they look cool anyway.

Available in both a round or a square style, in a choice of Amber, Pearl or Onyx, the only hint most onlookers would have that these aren't just another pair of sunnies is the small JBL logo halfway along each arm.

But a really close inspection (and I mean, you'd have to get quite rudely into the wearer's personal space) reveals the arms of these styley shades are jam-packed with tiny electronic audio wizardry, turning the Soundgear Frames into the most open of all, open-fit earphones.

The idea here is you'll never need to wear earbuds as well as sunglasses ever again. This will literally be music to the ears of many people who don't like wearing earbuds or who can't get them to fit. Now those people can join the rest of us, accompanying their walks, runs or cycles with their favourite playlist or podcast, no buds required.

Too good to be true? That's certainly what I assumed when I heard about them, so I was obliged to try the Soundgear Frames for myself.

I was immediately impressed with these sunglasses straight out of the box. They come with an attractive, charcoal-coloured soft case and the glasses themselves are not at all heavy or unwieldy. I was expecting an aesthetic assault of wires and exposed circuitry, especially given I'd gone with Pearl, the most transparent colour option. But in actuality, JBL has done a deft job of keeping most of that stuff out of sight, or at least on the inside of the arms where most other people won't notice it. There's nothing out of the ordinary about the front of the Frames at all - just a couple of UV A/B blocking lenses surrounded by a translucent frame (I went for square, not round) set off with a very durable-looking, yet stylishly brushed metal hinge in each corner.

I really like the look, although the Domestic Manager informs me they're way too small for my face. Unfortunately, it's true; I do have a Big Giant Head and I usually struggle to find hats that fit, let alone glasses. Hopefully, JBL might come out with an XL option in the future if this little experiment pays off for them.

I also usually wear prescription sunglasses as I'm quite shortsighted. Luckily, JBL says you can take the Soundgear Frames to your optometrist and get corrective lenses fitted. I haven't attempted this, so I'm unsure of the cost - but the Frames themselves retail for only NZ$199.95 - cheaper than many of the fashion options on display at most optometrists anyway.

You'll also find an unusual charging cable in the box - a Y-shaped cord with a USB-A plug at one end and two USB-Cs at the other. This is because the two arms need to be charged independently - there's a USB-C port subtly tucked underneath each one. You'll get approximately 8 hours playback on a full charge, which compares pretty favourably with most other wireless earbuds out there.

Pairing works pretty much the same way - the Frames turn on automatically when you unfold the arms and put them on, powering down as soon as you fold them up again. The JBL logo on each arm also doubles as your touch controls and these can be customised to a certain extent using the JBL Headphones app. The app also offers a selection of preset EQs or you can customise your own. This is worth having a play with because as although the sound produced from these sunglasses is surprisingly good... it's unusual.

"Claude Monet" by Aussie pop-rockers Thirsty Merc is usually a great example of dynamic contrast and while the voice-over guitar breakdown in the middle is clear and intense when playing on the Frames, you never really achieve the powerful highs of each chorus when the rest of the band comes crashing in.

Likewise, on a track like ELO's "Standing In the Rain," there's a lot going on - including a full orchestra. The Soundgear Frames do a nice job of creating stereo separation and accurately picking out different components of the track but again, there's just nowhere near enough raw power to really appreciate the scale of the production.

More acoustic artists like Ed Sheeran and Mitch James fare much better - not too much drum and bass required but despite JBL's claims of "grooving to R & B" or "upbeat EDM" - I don't think the bass drops would get anyone dancing with their hands in the air here.

While none of this would satisfy any hardcore hi-fi enthusiasts out there, funnily enough for me, it's not so important because I usually listen to podcasts, not music. For talk-based audio, the slightly underpowered soundscape the Frames produces is perfectly adequate.

The upshot of all this is yes, the Soundgear Frames are a great option for anyone who wants to listen to music at the beach, on the run, on the bike - wherever - without any risk of buds falling out, or any of the discomfort many people complain of when wearing earbuds. The sound quality is far from perfect but it's even further away from bad and that's probably good enough for a large chunk of the market. 

By the way, I just checked with both my daughters and I can confirm my face is definitely too fat for these glasses. Oh well.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Soundgear Frames.

Samsung S95D - The OLED for Any Light

Over the last year or so I've had to change my views on a few things to do with TVs.

Firstly, ironically, sound.

Ever since TVs became flat, we all just sort of accepted they wouldn't sound very good anymore. As a result, we hungrily snatched up the soundbars and other external sound systems AV-makers offered us to help solve an issue they'd created themselves.

But just lately, thanks to some incredible advances in audio engineering, not only have they managed to cram heaps of speakers into some painfully thin spaces, they've also figured out how to bounce the sound of walls and ceilings to recreate a virtual home theatre listening experience. Thus, the last few tellies I've reviewed have all sounded great.

The second thing I've had to reassess is the choice between OLED and other panel technologies.

For some time it's been generally accepted that OLED screens offer a more dynamic contrast, thanks to pixels turning completely black when switched off. However, when compared with backlit panels, pure OLED displays tended to struggle in bright conditions.

Well, again, the last few OLEDs I've tried have lifted the level of brightness to a point where that's no longer a valid argument - and the latest effort from Samsung goes a step further still.

The S95D is Samsung's premium OLED offering, available in 55, 65 and 77-inch options.

Like all flagship Samsung TVs in recent memory, the TV itself is just a thin, flat panel on a stand, connected to a separate One Connect control box by a single cable. I'm still mystified why other manufacturers have yet to mimic this ingenious form-factor as it makes these TVs unquestionably the most attractive on the market.

While you have the option of attaching the One Connect box to the stand itself, I prefer to hide it away in a cupboard, out of sight. Because Samsung sent me the smaller, 55-inch model this year, the minimalist design really is quite breathtaking.

Unfortunately, I'm used to a 65-inch panel at least and I must admit, when I first set the S95D up, I found the clutter of the Tizen OS home screen quite confronting. The fairly wide menu bar down the lefthand side combined with a top row of viewing recommendations I never asked for is exactly the kind of visual pollution I could do without.

The recommendations seem to be entirely linked to content available on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung's own curated streaming app of over three-hundred free channels. That's all well and good if you specifically bought this TV to avoid paying subscriptions to the more common streaming services but personally, I didn't. So those recommendations are a waste of space.

The next row down is more useful; the apps you've installed displayed in the order of your choice.

And below that, more recommendations but this time, based on the content available on the apps above. Way better

This year, Samsung continues to offer some nice little added extras. The Philips Hue app is still pricey, but will allow you to sync content with Hue smart bulbs and lighting strips without having to pass through an external box. And the Xbox app, which gives you access to games via Microsoft's Game Pass service, gets better and better every time I use it.

It helps that the S95D is run by an impressively powerful chip; the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor. A bit of a mouthful but as the name suggests, you get a lot of neural networks devoted to complex operations like upscaling, AI calibration and gaming - at up to 4K 144Hz.

The solar-powered remote control is also still a favourite of mine - and still an option other TV makers have been too slow to adopt.

But of course, as usual, it's the picture quality that really matters. Man this puppy pops. The brightness Samsung has achieved with its OLED HDR Pro technology literally has to be seen to be believed - all the while maintaining a true-to-life colour palette as certified by PANTONE. 

I've often commented on a sense of depth when reviewing recent Samsung flagships and this is no accident. Something called the Real Depth Enhancer emphasises the contrast on foreground action and objects, which is apparently a lot like what the human eye does.

All these things add up to a sublime viewing experience, made even better by OLED Glare Free, a new technology that reduces reflections from external light sources to almost nothing - something I've tried to demonstrate in the video below. If you've ever struggled to watch dwarves arguing about Rings of Power down a dark mine in the middle of the day like I have, the S95D is an absolute godsend.

Then you add great sound to the mix.

I'm not going to claim the S95D's built-in speakers are the best I've heard from a TV this year - that's partly because being a smaller, 55-inch device, there's not as much room for a feature like OTS+ to follow the action around the screen. However, this year Q-Symphony has never been more appealing. Q-Symphony lets you combine the TV's built-in speaker array with an external Samsung soundbar or sound system. This means you get the best of both worlds, not an either/or situation.

Enter the Music Frame, Samsung's audio version of its very successful line of Frame TVs that turn into works of art when you're not actively using them. I'll talk more about the Music Frame in a future review but in the meantime, thanks to Q-Symphony, you can use a Music Frame as a soundbar for your TV. Or you can use two, for better stereo separation. Or you can set up two as rear speakers for true surround sound. Or you can use a combination of TV speakers, soundbar AND Music Frames. This could be a simple way to achieve the wireless surround-sound home theatre you've always dreamed of.

Regardless of how you listen to it, if you watch a lot of TV in a sunny room, this is the OLED that's up to the task. You get all of Samsung's clever flagship tricks, yet none of the glare.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung S95D.

Sony WF-C510 - Tiny Is Terriffic

I think I'm having an existential earbuds-based crisis.

I used to think there were all sorts of important criteria to consider when choosing a pair of earbuds. Things like sound quality, battery life, wireless charging, connectivity, customisable controls etc...

But just recently, something has changed.

Suddenly, all I care about is how well they fit.

That's because most buds I try these days sound pretty good and most have decent battery life. And yet, even after all these years, I constantly come up against earbuds that won't stay in.

Oh, and I'm way too old and uncool to care about how they look.

Then, every now and again - maybe once or twice a year - I unbox something that's so well designed, it gets five stars from the moment I power it on.

In fact, the Sony WF-C510 earbuds had me the moment I put them in - before I even started listening.

At first I thought there'd been a mistake. The case was so small and light I wondered if maybe they'd forgotten to put the earbuds in but no, they're just that small. Sony claims to have been collating data about ear shape since introducing its first in-ear headphones in 1982. Now, I know all ears are different but you have to admit, 42 years-worth of data has to count for something and in my case, it was a perfect fit.

Not only is it a snug and secure fit, because the WF-C510 buds are so small and light, it's a super-comfy fit as well. This means you can wear them for hours and hours without any discomfort.

Of course, being so small, I naturally assumed the battery life would be average at best. I couldn't have assumed more incorrectly. Sony claims up to eleven hours continuous use on full charge with another eleven hours in the case. When I first read that, I thought it must have been a typo. If memory serves, I've never tried any other buds capable of reaching double figures when it comes to continuous playback. Eleven is literally off the charts.

So is it true?

Here's the thing... I don't know yet. You can do a lot with the Sony Headphones app; change and customise EQs, analyse your ear shape, assign different controls to each button - and importantly, track your activity. So I know for a fact I've been using the WF-C510 buds for eight days now, totalling 14 hours and 2 minutes.

On a single charge.

The app also shows both buds are still at 100% (and I've been using them for over an hour already today) while the case is now down to, wait for it, 50%.

So, by my calculations, I'm going to blow through that 22 hour combined total easily.

Which definitely softens the blow of my one disappointment with the WF-C510 - no wireless charging. The case is USB-C only. Even I have to concede if I'm only charging it every fortnight or so, who cares?

Oh, did I mention the price? RRP: NZ$149.95 - right down the bottom end of the scale for a pair of premium earbuds.

So you would assume there's no Active Noise Cancelling here. Which is true. Well... sort of. Because these buds fit so well, the Passive Noise Cancellation is actually better than the ANC I've experienced on many other (much more expensive) earbuds. Which is why instead of ANC, Sony has gone with AMS instead - Ambient Sound Mode.

So rather than turning ANC on to block traffic and other noise, you activate AMS when you want to hear the outside world.

Admittedly, this means there is no Adaptive Sound Control, automatically changing the level of ANC to suit your environment but I'm an all-or-nothing guy when it comes to noise cancelling so that's a compromise I can definitely live with.

You still get options for 360 Reality spatial audio and DSEE to help reconstruct the fidelity of compressed files.

This all adds up to a very satisfying listening experience indeed.

Six60's hit "Don't Give It Up" begins with exposed vocals over a simple, booming bass riff and somehow, it does indeed boom on these minuscule buds.

"South of the Border" by Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello is another fine example of the WF-C510 providing crystal-clear vocals over a precise-yet-powerful bass and rhythm section.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse separate the guitars left and right on "Down By the River" and yet again, the small size of these buds defies physics by creating plenty of space while also, somehow, making Young's voice sound... quite nice.

Because there isn't much surface area to the WF-C510 form-factor, it's a relief they're controlled by physical buttons on each bud - capacitive touch controls would mean accidental plays and pauses every time you put them in or took them out. I was also pleased to discover I could turn AMS on and off with a single press on one bud, while playing and pausing on the other. The only control quirk is volume - rather than a long press of either bud it relies on multiple presses (ie; more than three). This takes a bit to get used to - but at least volume controls are there. That's not always the case.

I can't finish up without mentioning the range, which is not something I always pay much attention to but in this case I thought it was worth pointing out I can leave my phone on my bedside table and still get crystal-clear reception while making a coffee two rooms away on the other side of the house. Pretty impressive.

So the WF-510 sound great, have fantastic passive noise cancellation, unprecedented battery life and above all else, they fit beautifully.

And yes, another advantage of being so small is (although I don't care) they look fabulous - hardly even noticeable from some angles. Available in blue, yellow, white and black, the smallest things I've reviewed this year may just be the best.

    

Click here for more information on the Sony WF-510.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell - Cheap. Easy. Good

When it comes to causing product line confusion, Ring has a lot to answer for.

I've commented on this before; they have a lot of different doorbells and it's not always immediately apparent what differentiates one from another.

And that's before you get to the chimes, security cameras and floodlights.

Luckily for you, I'm here to help.

Today's example is quite different in some ways, yet it has enough in common with other Ring products we've featured before to make it well worth your consideration.

The Ring Battery Video Doorbell stands out from other Ring Battery Doorbells because it doesn't actually have a battery.

See? I told you I'd make things less confusing.

Of course, in reality, it does have a battery but unlike other Rings, this time it's built-in. The only real disadvantage to this all-in-one form factor is you can't simply swap out the battery for a spare one when it goes flat,

Instead, you have to remove the whole device from its mount to recharge it, leaving you without a doorbell in the meantime.

On the up-side, the built-in battery lasts much longer than before and Ring has come up with an ingenious push-pin system to remove the Battery Video Doorbell from its mount. One push with the supplied tool and the doorbell comes free. Then, once fully charged, it's even easier to push back into place with a single click.

In fact, installing the mounting plate only takes a minute or so, using the four self-tapping screws provided.

The Battery Video Doorbell comes in two attractive finishes; Satin Nickel - which is a neutral, silvery colour - and Venetian Bronze - a dark brown which would be more suitable for black or other darker walls or doors. Quick note; because there's no removable battery, there's also no removable faceplate - so you'll be stuck with whichever colour you choose.

I've talked you through the setup process using the Ring app before. As you'd expect, every step is clearly laid out, in some cases with accompanying diagrams or even videos. I reckon most people would have the Battery Video Doorbell up and running in under five minutes.

As with other Ring doorbells and cameras, you have the option of creating customised monitoring zones so you can exclude certain areas - a public footpath perhaps.

The 1440 x 1440p video is clear - and in colour, even at night. Ring describes it as Head-To-Toe video, because the 150° lens is wide-angled both horizontally and vertically. There is quite a bit of fish-eye distortion at the edges but at least you won't miss anything.

Especially if you opt for the Ring Protect subscription. I've complained about this in plenty of previous reviews so I won't moan too much this time around - I just think having to pay to record your videos is a bit stink. However, the plans start at just NZ$4.50 a month and that gets you 180 days of cloud storage, rich notifications - so you can see a preview on your phone or smartwatch - and the option of People Only Mode; so you'll only get notified when the doorbell sees people, not cars or pets. You can also choose to receive Package Alerts so you know if valuable online orders have been left on your doorstep.

As a more budget-friendly option, there are some tricks the Battery Video Doorbell can't perform, unlike its more expensive siblings. If you want the option of Bids-Eye-View, 3D Motion Detection or Pre-Roll recording, you'll have to consider a more premium model.

Still, there are plenty of other great features even without a subscription. I've found the alerts and notifications seem to come through faster than ever with this latest Ring device and there's also no lag at all when making use of the Two-Way Talk functionality. This was particularly useful for me yesterday when a delivery arrived while I was still driving home. I was able to give the courier detailed instructions on where to stash the package all through the Ring app. He heard me, I heard him. Nothing got stolen. Brilliant.

You can even set up pre-selected Quick-Replies, pretty much answering the door for you. This includes asking visitors to leave a message you can listen to later, effectively turning your Battery Video Doorbell into an answering machine.

All for just NZ$169.00, which I think is pretty good value for this amount of innovative tech.

Oh, and by the way... Although this is a battery doorbell you can still do a wired connection if you prefer. See? Not confusing at all.

    

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

Nanoleaf Blocks - A New Dimension In Smart Lighting

When Nanoleaf launched its first range of light panels in 2016, many of us, especially the geeks among us, could see they were onto a winner.

By that stage, RGB lighting for gaming rigs and accessories was already a thing and it didn't take a genius to figure out there'd be a receptive market if you took that same kind of customisable lighting and attached it to the walls, plugged it into lamps and eventually, stuck it to the ceiling.

Combined with the on-demand ability to change theme at a simple button press - or even a voice command - Nanoleaf's various shapes, bulbs and strips began popping up everywhere.

Then, as more and more people started integrating more and more IoT devices into their homes, Nanoleaf was right there too - responding to automated routines to turn on, off or change colour.

I still have a set of Hexagons in the garage that's set to light up whenever the Domestic Manager gets home. That's because she usually spends the next five minutes sitting in her car checking her phone, then the light on the garage door opener goes out and she can't see anymore. Thanks to Nanoleaf, we've fixed that. Ain't technology grand?

But perhaps the most important thing about setting up and using Nanoleaf products is, it's fun.

And now they've made it more fun.

Nanoleaf Blocks are pretty self explanatory; essentially the square light panels we've seen before but now... with depth. About 29mm of depth, to be precise.

Not only does this make your bespoke smart-panel installation look more appealing - especially from an angle - but it also opens the door to a whole new range of accessories and add-ons that wouldn't have been practical with the previously flat shapes.

I'm reviewing the Blocks Combo XL Smarter kit here, which means four large squares, four small squares, a light pegboard, two pegboard hooks and a shelf.

The kit also includes a swag of hardware for installation including numerous mounting plates, stick-on tapes, a power supply, a control panel and just enough rigid linkers to join everything together electronically.

If you haven't had a play with Nanoleaf Shapes before, the rigid linkers click into place at the back of each panel, connecting them in whatever configuration you choose. This overall layout is then automatically detected so different coloured themes can be applied using the Nanoleaf app, or via any other smart-home ecosystem. And I mean all of them; Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Google Home - even Razer Chroma (for all you hard-core gamers).

What's more, because Nanoleaf Blocks can act as a Thread border router, eventually it will make your smart home network stronger, improving IoT connectivity.

I've certainly been impressed at how quickly these new panels respond to my spoken commands, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below. (Once I remember how to talk to Siri, that is)

The physical control panel lets you toggle through different themes and colours too, some static, some dynamic and you can set the panels to respond to sound and music as well - always a crowd-pleaser. Although not included in the Combo XL pack, you can also purchase Textured Squares which claim to offer, "a 3D multi-faceted design."

Of course, being thicker means the Blocks are quite a bit heavier than previous shapes so the mounting system is a little different. It's still a combination of two-sided tape and plastic mounting plates but these plates are now in a cross-shape that stretches right to the edge of each panel.

Nanoleaf also insists if you're adding the Light Pegboard or Shelf, these need to be screwed in, not just taped-up. This is because they're rated to support up to 1.5kg for the shelf and 3kg for the pegboard. In fact, the pegboard itself is considerably more weighty, due to the fact the hole-festooned cover is made of metal. While this makes it nice and durable when hanging up things like headphones or gaming controllers, I'm sure Nanoleaf could have found something just as tough and a bit lighter.

Either way, I decided to risk it and 24 hours later my tape-only installation is still hanging in there. This is good news because although I asked for planning permission from the Domestic Manager before putting my random arrangement of blocks up on the wall, you never know when the interior design approval might be revoked. That's why it's always safer to have done as little permanent damage to the paintwork as possible.

Although you can use the Nanoleaf app to try out different configurations before you hang your blocks, I still found it quite a challenge installing them. Like all the best puzzle games, because each block needs to be connected to the others by a Rigid Linker, you need to think about which order you're going to put them up and it's very satisfying if you get it right first time. I didn't. But I can imagine it would've been very satisfying if I had.

Luckily, you can simply unclip each panel from its mounting plate once you've stuck it all up. This means you can swap different types of panels around and add others later.

What's more, because they all use the same kind of linking system, if you own previous models of Nanoleaf Shapes, you can add some flat ones to the Blocks for even more variety.

As I said at the top, I've always found Nanoleaf products to be a lot of fun but there's something about playing with actual blocks that speaks directly to my inner child. They click together. They light up. They respond to music. Come on, tell me that doesn't sound like a great time.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Nanoleaf Blocks Combo XL Smarter Kit.

GoPro HERO13 Black - Action Through a New Lens

So I'm in the middle of Mt. Albert Domain, pretty much at the summit of the volcanic cone itself.

I have the dog with me because why would I waste an opportunity like this... especially if it leads to another exciting instalment of Extreme Dog-Walking?

That's right; it's GoPro time again.

I'm not sure there's anything very earth-shattering to say about the new HERO13 Black itself. It looks very similar to the last few generations; large touch display on the back, colour preview window on the front, quick launch button on top and power/mode button on the side.

No real shakeup there.

The usual improvements have been made. The HERO13 Black will now survive even hotter and colder temperature extremes. The battery is bigger and lasts longer. You can replace the battery compartment door with a magnetic charging mod and you know how I love me a bit of wireless charging.

You can now record slow motion bursts in three different resolutions, taking things to an insane level of detail. That includes 5.3K - only GoPro does that. Have you ever heard of HLG HDR? Nope, me neither. But film professionals know what it is and the new camera can do it. (Pretty sure it has something to do with better colour and detail in low light situations)

GoPro has brought back GPS capability with the HERO13 Black so you can add location and speed graphics and the Wi-Fi protocol has stepped up to Wi-Fi 6 - this makes quite a difference when taking advantage of the Auto-Upload to the Cloud function - more on that later.

In an effort to make mounting, unmounting and swapping out accessories even easier than it already was, GoPro has now added a magnetic mounting system to the universal 1/4-20 mounting thread and its more brand-specific folding-fingers option. This pretty much eliminates the need to waste time screwing and unscrewing cameras to move them from mount to mount, or in my case, from chest harness to dog harness. You simply squeeze the new magnetic mount to release and then just click it into place when you need it again. As is usually the case with GoPro accessories, it's a brilliant piece of design and virtually indestructible.

But there's one extremely compelling reason to upgrade your GoPro in 2024; the introduction of HB-Series Lenses.

My "Legit (Review) Kit" included the Ultra Wide Lens Mod, Macro Lens Mod and four ND Filters. There's also an Anamorphic Lens Mod option but unfortunately it won't be available till next year.

What makes these new lens mods so unique is the HERO13 Black automatically detects which one you've attached without any adjustment required from the user. Swapping the lenses out takes mere seconds, although it did take me a few goes to get used to the press and twist technique. Each type of lens comes in its own rubberised case. Once you remove the cap you're left holding the lens with the rubber body of the case. This means you can grip it more easily and prevents you touching the lens directly with potentially sweaty, muddy or wet fingers.

Once in place, all the lenses are, of course, water, dust and shock-proof.

Let's go through them.

The Ultra Wide is pretty self-explanatory. If you thought GoPro already did a pretty great job of getting everything in shot, wait till you try this out. You get a little bit of fish-eye distortion at the edges but in this case I think that's a deliberate effect. You'll see an example of what it does in the videos below, once we make it to the top of the hill. The Ultra Wide also adds the option of a 1:1 aspect ratio, which means any way can be up in post production and also makes for some nice still shots.

The Macro Mod is fun to use because it offers variable focus with its rotating lens ring. As I demonstrate in the first couple of dog shots in my videos, sometimes the action happens right up next to you. The Macro Lens can get you four times closer, even creating a slight bokeh (blurred) effect in the background if you're feeling artsy.

Speaking of which, if you want to get really cinematic, it's worth having a play with the four-piece ND Filter pack. As a total amateur, I had know idea what a neutral density filter was or why I'd need to choose between ND4, ND8, ND16 or ND32. Luckily, thanks to its auto-sensing abilities, the HERO13 Black figures out if the light is right for the filter you've chosen and if not, will suggest you go up or down with a helpful arrow on the screen.

So what do these ND lenses actually do? The idea is to create a sense of movement and speed, both in photos and vids. Because GoPros are so good at generating smooth, clear, wide-angled footage, sometimes the viewer can be fooled into thinking you weren't travelling all that fast or the terrain/ocean/track wasn't all that rough. The right ND filter leaves the main action crystal clear while blurring the edges, in much the same way we do with our natural eye mods. I tried to capture this effect when the dog went through the gate and close to boulders but I don't think he (or I) was really moving at terminal velocity.

I've got to say, I can't wait to try the Anamorphic Lens and it's a shame I have to wait until 2025 and couldn't feature it here. It offers the widest Field of View on any GoPro to date and means you can even shoot in the movie-theatre-style 21:9 aspect ratio, with no distortion at the edges whatsoever. This larger, curved, rectangular mod also produces those eye-catching lens-flare moments when the sun, headlights or other bright flashes hit the lens at certain angles. Imagine how the dog will look when I shoot him with that!

Our trek up the (long extinct) volcano turned out to be a lot more exciting than I'd bargained for, as I mention in the second video below. Good to know when you drop an entire case of ND filters down a slippery bank, they'll survive the fall safe and sound in their case. Just a shame I wasn't still filming when I rolled down the hill after them.

It turned out to be a great test. Although I ended up covered in mud, leaves and managed to stick my hand in a pile of... other stuff, I was still able to change lenses quickly and cleanly without getting any dust or dirt where it shouldn't be.

When I got home, I plugged the HERO13 Black in and let it auto-upload to the cloud, as I've demonstrated in previous GoPro reviews. Then, when I opened the Quik app, I had access to an AI-generated highlights video - which you can tweak - but I've left in its original state for you to watch here.

Obviously, I'd prefer to add titles and some of my commentary while removing shots with no dog or ones where my fat fingers were in the way. If I'd been more careful with when I started and stopped the camera, this AI-vid would have pretty much done the trick.

Instead, I used the Quick app on my iPhone to make this "Director's Cut..."

Remember, that was all done on my phone, titles, sound mix, the lot.

The new battery life, Wi-Fi boost and software tweaks are great but they were expected.

The magnetic mounting system is a revolution. So easy. So effective.

But the lens mods really steal the show here, making cinematic film techniques accessible to the masses. And idiots who fall down slippery banks.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the GoPro HERO13 Black.

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro - At Last, Music to My Ears

Fit, fit, fit.

The more earbuds I try (and as I always say, I probably review more earbuds than any other type of device) the more I'm convinced a good fit is the single most important feature.

Oh sure, some people might argue sound quality is actually the priority and I guess, yes, if you're going to the trouble of sticking something in your ears to make noises, then they should probably make nice noises - but I'd argue your earbuds won't ever sound good if they don't fit properly anyway.

Some people choose comfort over performance and prefer a more open fit that rests on or near their ears. Those people are obviously wrong.

A nice, snug, in-ear seal provides better sound - particularly when it comes to bass response - and also does half the job of noise cancellation before you even need to activate ANC.

And yet, many manufacturers keep tweaking the form factor of their bud - perhaps none more so than Samsung.

Samsung's earlier efforts in the True Wireless area were quite bulky things, and were even equipped with their own internal storage so you could load music onto the buds themselves and use them independently of a phone. Crazy times indeed.

Over the years, the shape became more refined, more subtle and at one point, weirdly bean-like - all in the name of a better, more comfortable, more secure fit.

But we never had stems. Until now.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are perhaps the most striking devices Samsung has launched in 2024. That's saying something. We've seen amazing TVs, new tablets and heaps of phones... including the foldable Galaxy Z Flip6 and Galaxy Z Fold6. And yet, none of these have been completely redesigned like the Galaxy Buds3 Pro have.

Whether you're a fan of buds-with-stems or not, Samsung has decided their flagship buds now come with stems - sorry - not stems, "BLADES." Not sure how many people like the idea of putting blades in their ears but to be fair, they're not cylindrical, they have a triangular profile which rests a flat side against each earlobe for stability.

Up until now I wasn't really sure if I was a stem/blade guy or not. Previously I'd always favoured the buds-only style because I thought it looked more subtle. I'd prefer if people didn't even notice I was wearing earbuds at all. You know? Like a secret agent.

In the past, more often than not, buds with stems meant an open-fit design too. And as we've already firmly established, that's just wrong.

But once many brands moved towards what I call a hybrid-stem design - stems and sealed tips combined - I started to change my tune. There's no arguing the more points of contact the buds have with your ears, the more evenly the weight is distributed, the more comfortable they are and the longer you can wear them for.

Samsung has absolutely nailed this combination on its first attempt. The Buds3 Pro may be the most comfortable AND the most secure fit I've tried to date. There are three sizes of soft ear tips included in the box, all with an oval-rather-than-circular design, which everyone seems to agree, matches up better with the majority of earholes out there.

There are more advantages to stems/blades than drawbacks, it seems. You get better, more directional mic performance for phone calls - that's kind of obvious. The blade is also a much more practical place to put your on-board controls, which is exactly what Samsung has done.

While recent Galaxy Buds were definitely small and subtle, because you controlled them by touch, it was pretty much impossible to put them in or take them out without accidentally playing, pausing or skipping tracks. Now play/pause happens with a deliberate pinch of the blade. Volume is an intuitive swipe up or down and ANC can be toggled on or off with a long pinch. This is all customisable and none of it will be fired off by mistake. A massive improvement.

Samsung would also like you to believe the blades look really cool. So much so they each have an LED strip that can light up down the middle. Have I ever mentioned that I hate silly little lights? I have? I still don't really understand what the lights are for or how they work. I think it might be something to do with battery level. Maybe volume? Who knows? Who cares? It's not like I can see them when I'm wearing the buds anyway and for that reason, it doesn't really bother me.

As we're all aware, 2024 is the year of compulsory AI and so Samsung has obliged by squeezing plenty Galaxy AI into the Buds3 Pro too.

Apparently, we've got Galaxy AI to thank for improved, customised sound performance as well as some of the best Active Noise Cancelling I've come across. ANC can be set to adjust automatically to your environment or if you're like me, you just wind it up to max and block everything out all the time.

In terms of overall sound performance the Buds3 Pro aren't just good, they're great.

Lucid 3 is a Kiwi band known for it's excellent production and dominating, sweeping bass lines. Their song "Wheel" is a fine example and the Buds3 Pro really do it justice; fat, warm bass and distinct stereo effects.

I'm always impressed when something as small as an earbud can produce a genuine sense of space. This is crucial when it comes to bringing surround-sound and 360° effects to life. And thanks to the latest Bluetooth 5.4 codec, when the Buds3 Pro are paired with a flagship Samsung Galaxy handset, you'll achieve legit hi-res playback.

There's a long list of technical reasons why these are Samsung's best-sounding buds yet - does the phrase, "enhanced 2-way speakers with planar tweeters" mean anything to you? Don't worry, I had to Google it too. Let's just say whether it's the acoustic blues of Amos Lee's "Skipping Stone," or the relentless, driving rock of "Ain't Gonna Get" by the Baby Animals, the sound is big, accurate and addictive.

These are perhaps the most full featured earbuds I've tried... Thanks to Galaxy AI they'll even translate for you, almost in real time like the legendary Babel Fish of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fame. I tested this out with a Russian sci-fi series on Netflix. It was interesting.

The Russian dialogue was subtitled as, "Good morning, Georgy. It's time to wake up. The world belongs to those who get up early."

But thanks to Galaxy AI, what I heard was, "Good afternoon, Georgy Nikolaevich, It's time to stand aside, Siri's foreheads are served."

Is there a way both versions could be right? Anyway, the Buds3 Pro are potentially a very useful travel tool indeed.

Added extras aside, I've worn too many earbuds that just don't stay in. The Buds3 Pro definitely do, they carry an IP57 water-resistance rating and they have good battery life, so they're an excellent choice for exercise and that includes long runs or bike-rides. Thanks to Adaptive Noise Control, Ambient Sound and Siren Detect, you'll probably even hear that firetruck coming up behind you before it runs you over.

These are easily the best earbuds I've tried this year and maybe ever. Even with the stupid lights.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.