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Eight smartphones get CES 2021 Innovation Awards

The Consumer Technology Association, the CES organizer, has announced the CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honorees. Devices, platforms, and technologies across 28 categories were highlighted for bringing “outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.”

The category Mobile Devices saw eight smartphones – we have a gaming phone, LG’s swivel phone, a foldable, but also a few that are more about value for money than outright innovation:

Asus ROG Phone 3 & Asus ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad
LG Wing
LG Velvet 5G
TCL 10 5G UW
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G / Note20 Ultra 5G
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
OnePlus 8 ProThe “elite panel of industry experts,” consisting of 89 people has praised the Galaxy A51 5G “at a great value”, while the OnePlus 8 Pro was called a “leading mobile smartphone”.

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 was awarded for its thermal solution, premium sound, and the “simple yet futuristic game-centric design,” along with the ROG 3 Kunai Gamepad, removes the borders between mobile and console gaming.

The TCL 10 5G UW, available at only one carrier in the United States deserved its award thanks to its unusual camera design and apparently the ability to have a fancy name for every basic feature – the 6.53” Full HD+ NXTVISION display, the Super Bluetooth audio sharing capabilities and the versatile NXTVISION 48 MP AI-powered triple rear camera.

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New Neo QLED TVs for Samsung at CES 2021 with Mini LED backlight

Samsung makes its move too thank you to a new backlight source, called Quantum Mini LED. It is a matrix of LEDs in which the individual elements occupy 1 / 40 of a Conventional LED, with the possibility therefore of having a greater density of LEDs and to manage the backlight levels of its new QLED 8K TVs more precisely (QN 900 A) and 4K (QN 90 A )

by Roberto Colombo published 07 January 2021 , at 12: 34 in the Audio Video channel

Samsung QLED 8K 4K

MiniLED will certainly be one of the words that will accompany us in the coming months / years in the TV field. Following LG’s announcement, Samsung is also making its move thanks to a new source of backlight , named Quantum Mini LED . It is a matrix of LEDs in which the individual elements occupy 1 / 40 of a Conventional LED, with the possibility therefore of having a greater density of LED and to manage in a more precise and granular backlight levels of the different zones.

To manage the Mini LED matrix we find the technology Quantum Matrix driven by the processor Neo Quantum , optimized to manage the luminance scale at 12 bit with 4096 levels , in particular to improve the contrast rendering when playing HDR content. Samsung introduces its new Neo QLED display technology in its flagship models 8K (QN 900 A) and 4K ( QN 90 A).

On an aesthetic level, the televisions adopt the new Infinity One Design , which further reduces the frame, until it almost completely disappears and which also reduces the dimensions of the ‘black box’ for managing the TV, the Slim One Connect Box , which integrates much of the electronics of the TV, including inputs and outputs, and which now slims to find space more easily.

In the audio field, one of the trends to make the viewing experience more engaging is to use virtualization to better tune the sound to the movement of the images on the display: Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Pro uses AI-based software to match the sound with the movement of objects on the screen, while SpaceFit Sound analyzes the environment where the TV is installed to produce impactful sound tailored to the room where the TV is installed.

Televisions are increasingly the center of home entertainment, including videogames, and Samsung adds some functions dedicated to the gamer audience. The first is support FreeSync Premium Pro , the second is represented by the Super Ultrawide mode GameView , which offers the possibility to play both in 21: 9 both a 32 : 9 and get a wider field of view.

The Covid Pandemic – 19 has profoundly changed habits globally and TVs aim to play their role in the new normal as well. On the one hand, it is possible to use the large TV screen for video calls, including group calls: with Google Duo you can use your smartphone to start a video call on your TV. Just connect a webcam via USB or an even more advanced smart camera that follows your movements.

Not only video calls with friends and relatives, but also Smart Working : the PC on TV function of Samsung devices allows you to connect a PC to the TV, allowing you to work and study from home through the TV screen. Simply install the Easy Connection app on your computer and log into your Samsung account to automatically connect your TV to your PC and work directly from the living room. Just connect the PC, a mouse and a keyboard, with the possibility of accessing MS Office as well 365 via the TV’s web browser to view, create and edit documents.

Samsung has also found success in recent years with its designer TVs, designed to be objects as well. of furniture. Now Samsung The Frame 2021 doubles and is offered in two different customizable styles – Modern and Beveled – and in five color options, to match the different environments even better.

In his previews of the products that will be unveiled at CES 2021 and of which we will have more details in the coming days, Samsung also talked about the green goals for the future , with interesting news. The first is the disappearance of the polystyrene from the packaging of the televisions , which will be totally in cardboard (even inside ) and therefore more easily recyclable: in addition, customers can follow the instructions attached to give new life to cardboard inserts and packaging, creating furniture and toys .

News also for the remote control , which will integrate a solar cell and can be recharged also via USB , so saying goodbye to disposable batteries : Samsung estimates that this move could help eliminate the gap of 99 millions of AAA batteries in seven years.

Amazon pledges two billion dollars for housing promotion in the US

The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, is following the example of other large US tech companies and announcing a multi-billion dollar package of measures for affordable housing. Overall, the company promises to provide around $ 2 billion in funding for affordable housing in its key U.S. locations.

Funding in the form of loans According to the announcement by Amazon, the funds should be affordable in the form of loans and grants Preserve and promote housing in Puget Sound, near Seattle, and in the cities of Arlington and Nashville. Amazon names households with earnings between 30 and 80 percent as the target group for the measures of averaged income. The company has a strong presence in the three regions. The rental prices have recently increased significantly more than the incomes of the local population.

In the first step, Amazon 339 is awarding 9 million US dollars in Loans and 42 million US dollars in direct grants to the Washington Housing Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of housing families with low to middle incomes can also afford. In addition, 161, $ 5 million in loans and 24 million US Dollars in grants to the real estate developer “King County Housing Authority”, which operates in Washington State.

Image maintenance of the tech companies Similar initiatives have already been launched by other major US companies such as Apple, Google’s parent company Alphabet and Microsoft. These commitments are not least a means of image cultivation – the corporations are often criticized for their relatively low tax levies and, with their high-paid employees, are considered to be one of the main causes of the housing crises in the vicinity of US tech strongholds such as Silicon Valley.

(ndi)

heise + | Workshop: Designing logos and business cards with Affinity Designer

We show the basic functions of Affinity Designer and explain what to look for when preparing for printing. Many tips also apply to other programs.

Workshop: Designing logos and business cards with Affinity Designer 1 Create and set up a document 2 Get to know the user interface Sketch 3 ideas and import them Draw up 4 shapes and adjust them Construct, adapt and combine shapes, colors and gradients ArtBoards, set text, icons Mock-up, export for print, drawing pen Article in Mac & i 13 / 2020 read With the tidy interface and the seamless integration of vector and pixel editing, Affinity Designer has won many fans, the program is available for macOS, Windows and iPadOS. For the low price of 55 Euro you get all the essential tools as well as a number of well thought-out options that the Simplify the workflow.

We show you how you can design logos and business cards with Affinity Designer and prepare them for output, most of the tips can also be transferred to other programs.

Affinity Designer offers all the necessary tools for designing logos and business cards for little money. More complex shapes such as gears can be created with little effort. Using drawing surfaces you can record different variants and designs in a single document. Thanks to the good interaction of all Affinity products, Affinity Photo, for example, can help out with functions that Affinity Designer does not know. 1 Create and set up a document Regardless of whether it is stuck on a car, in the head of the website or in a brochure: A logo should be used across all media look identical. It is therefore advisable to develop logos or other graphics with the smallest color space: CMYK. If you were to use RGB or special colors, it could happen that the colors of the logo after converting to CMYK – for example when printing – look completely different, mostly dirty.

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Log in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Workshop: Designing logos and business cards with Affinity Designer 1 Create and set up a document 2 Get to know the user interface Sketch and import 3 ideas Draw up 4 shapes and adjust them Construct, adapt and combine shapes, colors and gradients ArtBoards, set text, icons Mock-up, export for print, drawing pen Article in Mac & i 13 / 2020 read

heise + | Use desktop virtualization under Linux easily and reliably

With a virtual machine, Windows can be used on a Linux PC or the latest distribution can be tried out without destroying the main system.

(Image: Sven Hauth)

Easy and reliable use of desktop virtualization under Linux Requirements Quick start with Gnome Boxes Guest extensions for comfortable use Full control with Virt-Manager Article in c’t 2 / 2021 read Virtualization is common on servers to To set up a flexible, portable and fail-safe infrastructure: a tricky piece of software ores ughs one or more so-called virtual machines (VMs) by partly emulating all the resources that make up a computer and partly cutting off the host system. In such a VM, another operating system can be installed, which runs completely independently and isolated from the host. The same can also be used well on a desktop computer. With suitable processor expansions and smart solutions in the virtualization software, a virtual machine runs almost as fast as real hardware. Connected devices can be extended from the host system to the guest systems. And for all of this you don’t even need root rights or special authorizations.

There are various reasons for using virtual machines on a desktop system or a notebook. The Linux cover story from 2020 (see dossier) reported quite a few readers who would like to switch completely to Linux, but there is still the one absolutely necessary Windows software. Too often, the Wine runtime environment doesn’t help either. Dual boot, on the other hand, is cumbersome and annoying, since restarting takes time and nerves and not all data is available in the other system. Instead, simply starting Windows in a program window or even briefly waking up from deep sleep is much more convenient. Even copy & paste between the host and guest system usually works without any problems. With the help of snapshots, the status of a system can be saved and reset in the event of failures and messed up installations.

A virtual machine is also useful if software only runs under Windows 7 or older. Since Microsoft no longer closes any gaps there, its use is extremely problematic in terms of security. In order to use the oldie software with peace of mind, simply cut off network or internet access to the VM. If internet access is necessary for the software, you should urgently seek an alternative or an update.

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Register and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Easy and reliable use of desktop virtualization under Linux Requirements Quick start with Gnome Boxes Guest extensions for comfortable use Full control with Virt-Manager Article in c’t 2 / 2021 read

TechStage | Top 10: The Best Mobile Mini Photo Printers 2021

Testing Tests overview Smartphone Huawei P Smart 2021: Budget model with room for improvement Asus Zenfone 7 Pro: Turbo smartphone with flip camera Samsung Galaxy Xcover Pro in the test: hard but slow Oneplus Nord N 10 5G in the test: Galloped in price Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1.5 displays and gimbal cam Smartwatch Oppo Watch in the test: Great AMOLED Smartwatch from 240 € Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with long-running battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 14 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Multiroom Ikea Symfonisk in the test: Sonos speakers under 100 Euro Bose Portable Home Speaker in the test: battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast : Yamaha multiroom in the test Denon Heos in the test: versatile multiroom system Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Keyfinder Tile Slim (2017): Key finder in credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! key finder Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and key Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder in the test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth Keyfinder in the test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without Registration requirement Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1- Inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular action cam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: Good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Review: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card with 64 GByte Android Sonos Move in the test : The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 85 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 05 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery, small price Sony Xperia 10: Smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Adviser Advisor overview Purchase advice The right cordless screwdriver for the home workshop Bargain: Which Fire TV stick from 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Buying advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Guide: Air conditioning and fan against the Heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co . are not shops Switch off Android notifications from annoying apps This is how it works: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Does the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderma and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV racers What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with flexible display: What’s in it for me? Overview of smartphone processors: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Numbers with the NFC Mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Adviser Top 10: The best mobile mini photo printers 2021 Start Place 1 Place 2 Place 3 4th place 5th place Place 6 Place 7 Place 8 Place 9 Place 10 Conclusion Comments by Matthias // 05. 01. 2020 16: 49 Clock

Mini Photo Printer are small, cost 50 to 130 Euro and print photos anywhere thanks to the battery. In this top – 10 – List we show the ten best – including a few exotic ones.

Whether on a children’s birthday party, a family celebration, an event or for letters to grandma and the photo wall at home: pictures from the photo printer are in great demand, as they usually only allow digital data to be touched. Photo printers become really flexible when they are still mobile and compact. Zinc photo printers are the most common. But some exotic species are also shaking up the market.

We have tested twelve mobile photo printers, the list is constantly growing. In the comparison test 2019: We compare them with mobile photo printers. We collect the comparison test and all individual tests on the photo printer topic page. This list of the best sorts the ten best models and helps with the purchase decision at a glance.

Product Huawei CV 80 Canon Selphy QX 05 Canon Zoemini HP Sprocket Plus Polaroid Zip Prynt Pocket Instax Mini Link Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 Canon Selphy CP 1300 Mbrush (Princube) Peripage A6 TechStage Note 1 1 1 2 4 5 2 2 1 2 2 Print quality Well Well Well Satisfying Well Satisfying Very good Very good Very good Sufficient Inadequate Printing method zinc Thermosublimation zinc zinc zinc zinc OLED exposure OLED exposure Thermal sublimation Inkjet B / W thermal paper Processing Very good Well Very good Very good Very good Inadequate Sufficient Very good Well Very good Well Weight in g 189 445 160 204 186 162 244 312 860 162 155 Display – – – – – – – – ✔ – – Images per battery charge approx. 15 – 20 approx. 15 – 20 approx . 15 – 20 approx. 15 – 20 approx. 15 – 20 approx. 15 – 20 up to 100 approx. 160 approx. 30 – 40 lots N / A Compatibility Android / iOS Android / iOS Android / iOS Android / iOS Android / iOS iOS Android / iOS Android / iOS / Camera Android / iOS / Camera Android / iOS / Windows / Mac OS Android / iOS Connectivity Bluetooth WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluet ooth Lightning port Bluetooth WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS WLAN / USB stick / SD card WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS Bluetooth Image size in cm 5 × 7.6 6.8 × 6.8 5 × 7.6 5.8 x 8.7 5 × 7.6 5 × 7.6 8.6 × 5.4 6.2 x 6.2 10 x 15 1.4 × 130 5.7 × XX Pictures self-adhesive ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – – – / ✔ – – / ✔ Price in euros (as of Jan. 21) 90 120 110 — 123 — 105 170 115 (+ 50 for battery) 113 37 Picture price in euros (as of: Oct. 18) approx. 0, 50 approx. 0, 80 approx. 0, 50 approx. 0, 50 approx. 0, 50 approx. 0, 50 approx. 0, 70 approx. 0, 80 approx. 0, 20 low nearly nothing 1st place: Huawei CV 80 The Huawei CV 80 Mini photo printer is the best zinc printer we have tested so far. Not only does it look very chic, it is superbly made and extremely compact. It has a really good app with all the important functions, which convinces with very good user guidance. The quality of the printed images is surprisingly good and better than other zinc photo printers.

What made us decide to use the Huawei CV 80 to sit on the throne, is its low price of 90 Euro. We think it’s great that the Huawei CV 80 equal 49 pieces of photo paper are enclosed, which are good 20 cost Euro and are compatible with all zinc printers that use the same photo format.

Review Huawei CV 80

2nd place: Canon Selphy CP 1300 The Canon Selphy CP 1300 is the largest photo printer we have tested and only deserves that to a limited extent “Mini” rating. It fits easily in backpacks, not even in large trouser pockets. At least he’s clearly mobile, comes but with an optional battery, which then increases the total weight to 1290 g increased.

He uses thermal sublimation as a printing process. The CP 1300 when printing from a wax foil cartridge supplied with the photo paper, individual color foils roll over the in four steps Picture. The image quality is very good, comparable to the instant printers in Müller, Rossmann, DM and Co. The individual prints are cheap compared to the competition, so they cost 108 Printouts only good 20 Euro.

Test report Canon Selphy CP 1300

3rd place: Canon Zoemini The Canon Zoemini is very compact and small. It also looks superbly processed. Only the clearly visible fingerprints on the black version bothers us in the test. The Zoemini uses the zinc printing process. Its image quality is above average for this printing technology and the app is impressive and easy to use. It even offers some more or less useful augmented reality functions: placing sunglasses & Co. over faces works well. Contrastingly, “funny” facial contortions produce creepy results. All in all, the Canon Zoemini is a very good fun printer for parties and events.

Test report Canon Zoemini

4th place: Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 looks futuristic on the outside and is a real eye-catcher. It is exceptionally well made. In contrast to its widely used Bluetooth colleagues, it uses WLAN as the connection standard. That makes the connection to the smartphone a bit more cumbersome. Allegedly one battery charge is enough for up to 160 Printouts. With our about 20 test prints we could not suck the battery empty.

The printing process used here is OLED exposure. The pictures come out of the printer very quickly, after which it takes a few more minutes, equivalent to the iconic Polaroids, until the picture shines in full color. The image quality is good, but it always looks like there’s a retro filter over it. The waterproof plastic material of the prints is great. They feel valuable like no other photo printer. Unfortunately they are with about 80 Cent per printout expensive.

Test report Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3

5th place: Canon Selphy QX 10 The Canon Selphy sets like the CP 3000 from the same manufacturer on thermal sublimation as a printing process. Here, too, the image moves out and back in several times during printing to apply the various layers. Unfortunately the QX offers 10 not the outstanding print quality of the CP 3000. Even so, the image quality is good and better than that of the zinc printer.

The printed area of the self-adhesive pictures in the Polaroid look is a maximum of 6.8 × 6.8 centimeters. The photo paper always includes a roll of colored film. The printer itself is with 115 Euros not overly expensive, but the pictures do. They each cost 70 Cent.

Test report Canon Selphy QX 10

Place 6: Instax Mini Link The Instax Mini Link uses the same OLED process as the Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3. Correspondingly, the roughly 70 Cent expensive pictures from the printer very quickly and then need some time to fully expose. The picture quality is good, a retro effect can also be seen here. With one battery charge up to 100 pictures be in there. With our 20 We did not reach the battery limit for test prints.

The We didn’t like weird app. The appearance of the Instax Mini Link takes getting used to and is somewhat reminiscent of a hard case – including creaking.

Test report Fujifilm Instax Mini Link

7th place: Mbrush (Princube) The mbrush, identical to the Princube, is a real exotic. He uses an enclosed HP for printing 50 XL ink cartridge. To create an image, the user pulls the mbrush over a surface. A 10 mm wide print strip that can produce a large picture with several strokes on paper. This works quite well after a little practice, but does not produce consistently high print quality. Among other things, the selected surface is decisive for them. Paper, cardboard, plastic, and wood work well. Here the material absorbs the printing ink well. If these materials are coated, the ink cannot penetrate, which leads to a washed-out printed image. Since the ink in the supplied cartridge is water-soluble, the print image smears even with light touch. Printing on skin works rather poorly than right – despite the supplied attachment for the print head, which increases the distance a little.

Nevertheless, the mbrush is fun. It is a very satisfying feeling to glide over a surface with it and to leave behind a colorful stripe of motif. We don’t like the uninspired software and the cumbersome control via WLAN. The quick drying of the print head is also annoying.

Test report Mbrush (Princube)

Place 8: Peripage A6 The Peripage A6 is only partially suitable as a photo printer. Its black and white display is simply too bad for that. He uses thermal paper as is often the case with receipts. Still, it’s really fun. Because the small, self-adhesive notes come out of the printer in a flash and are suitable for all sorts of nonsense. They are also dirt cheap. Ordered from the China shop, a meter of printing paper costs only a few cents.

Test report Peripage A6

9th place: HP Sprocket Plus The HP Sprocket Plus prints in the zinc process , but his pictures are a bit larger than those of the other printers. In most cases, the image quality is okay. It shows details clearly, color gradients can lead to the formation of clusters. It also shows partially clear stripes, especially in light areas of the picture, which probably come from the rollers over which the printout moves when it comes out. Overall, the printer is a bit too expensive; buyers spend less money on other zinc printers. A photo costs about 45 Cent.

Test report HP Sprocket Plus

Place 10: Polaroid Zip Too bad, Polaroid, that was nothing. Even if the Polaroid Zip makes a decent impression at first glance thanks to its good and compact workmanship. Even the image quality plays a role in the zinc printer’s front field. But the app completely spoils the fun. It apparently randomly distorts photos, has problems with portrait images, is hungry for data, offers some features that simply don’t work and regularly crashes. Here Polaroid has saved in the wrong place.

Test report Polaroid Zip

Conclusion The Huawei CV 80 has hardly any weaknesses and is still the most affordable. The Canon Selphy CP 1290 prints on the most beautiful and his pictures are quite cheap. But it is unwieldy. But we can also recommend the OLED printers from Instax, especially because of their extremely charming printouts.

We have the most important mobile photo printers in the comparison test 2020: Ten mobile photo printer facing. We collect the comparison test and all individual tests on the photo printer topic page.

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Leaderboard Photo printer Up to 7 GByte: Monthly cancellable mobile phone tariffs up to 10 € Minecraft RTX: It works so well with cheap RTX cards

heise + | E-scooter Ninebot Max G30D with long range in the test

Already at the sight of the XXL carton from the Ninebot Max G 30 D it quickly becomes clear that the e-scooter with road approval in Germany is not a lightweight. The vehicle brings stately 19, 5 kilograms on the scales. This is primarily due to the large battery with a capacity of 15. 300 mAh to blame.

Range king In the test were at temperatures between 5 and 10 ° C and a 75 Kilogram heavy driver around 45 Kilometers of the promised 65 kilometers inside. Still a considerable figure. No street-legal vehicle can keep up with the competition. Under these cool conditions, with other e-scooters, with luck, you can reach half of the calculated kilometers. Anyone who attaches great importance to range comes to the Max G 30 D not over.

If you charge the battery with its 551 Wh completely, that takes around 360 minutes. At an electricity price of 29 Cent per kilowatt hour beats a charge with around 0, 16 euros to book. So you pay a ridiculous 0 per kilometer with the range determined here in the test, 004 Euro.

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Mammoth project: Federal government wants to modernize 130,000 computer workstations

With the “Federal IT Consolidation” initiative, the Federal Government intends to 73 Bringing ministries up to scratch, at least from a technical perspective. Said initiative has existed since 2015 and should now come into effect six years later. The starting shot will be given in April 2021. According to the government, the completion of the timing for the implementation of the 69 Projects an important milestone has been reached. The “Sequence Plan BKB” was published on 10. December 2020 by the responsible steering committee within the framework of the 49. IT council meeting decided unanimously.

The overall responsibility for implementing the federal IT operational consolidation now rests with the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). In addition, the BKB project was commissioned to create a new sequence plan. The aim of the project is to bring together server-side IT solutions from the authorities on standardized servers at the Federal Information Technology Center (ITZBund). The authority projects planned in the BKB project concern around 130. 000 jobs and 30. 000 Server. It is important to create the technical and organizational prerequisites in each individual authority that are necessary for a successful consolidation.

The current planning provides that all activities up to the year 2028 be completed successfully. The implementation takes place in a total of four waves. However, it remains to be seen whether this will succeed. Although the plans mentioned sound quite good on paper, the complexity is likely to lead to problems that will take up additional time. Even if the planning took around five years, not all special cases can be considered in advance.

In principle, an authority project is carried out within a period of three calendar years. A project begins with a three-month initialization phase. The preparatory phase is valid after a maximum of 10 months complete. This is followed by a two-year implementation phase. Thus the government project ends at the latest after a term of 36 months .

LG is preparing a 48-inch TV with a flexible OLED screen and a function that allows you to emit sound without speakers

At the upcoming CES 2021, LG will show its latest 48 – an inch smart TV that will work both for players and for fans of series. All thanks to the possibility of adjusting the curvature of the OLED screen in relation to the intended use. The fact that the paper-thin display will be able to work in several modes is not all that a novelty from the South Korean manufacturer’s stable will offer. It turns out that the equipment will also receive the support of CSO technology, thanks to which the TV will be able to emit sound without the need for traditional speakers. Sony uses a similar solution. What else do we know about the title TV just before the official presentation?

During the upcoming CES 2021 company LG will present a curved smart TV with 48 – inch OLED screen. The display can be bent to adjust the form to the displayed content.

We test the Xiaomi Mi Box 4K, NVIDIA Shield and Apple TV 4K

LG Display boasts that during the Consumer Electronics Show 2021 will show 48 – inch OLED screen, for which we will be able to decide on the form of the fold. Gamers will appreciate the ability to curve the TV, while movie and TV series enthusiasts will enjoy the projection on the flat screen. The manufacturer ensures that the painting will be of the same quality regardless of its form. It is worth mentioning that we will get a refresh rate of 120 Hz, VRR support and a response time of 0.1 ms.

Samsung Q7FN – we are testing the new QLED TV 4K HDR with Ambient Mode

Another interesting feature of this TV set will be CSO (Crystal Sound OLED). It is a solution that allows you to emit sound without using traditional speakers. The producer claims that this will allow a better reception of the scenes with the actors’ statements presented on the screen. The whole thing will be realized thanks to the imperceptible vibrations of the display. It sounds a bit futuristic, but it works similarly with OLED TVs from Sony. We will know the rest of the details only after the announcement at CES 2021.

Source: LG

heise + | Maximize Lego Mindstorms EV3 with Linux: Build R2D2 clone with live stream

If you equip the smart brick EV3 from Lego with a Linux system, you get many new functions – such as a video live stream from a robot’s point of view.

Maximize Lego Mindstorms EV3 with Linux: Build R2D2 clone with live stream Preparations Build the EV3D4 robot Install video software The EV3 project With the programmable brick EV3 from Lego, children and adult play children can use different machines build and automate processes. From Lego printers to robots that recognize objects with the help of AI to mini-looms. In short: The EV3 makes the stupid plastic bricks smart and opens up new digital possibilities in the analog Lego world.

You can also equip the EV3 with a full-fledged Linux system and thus use many functions that the software from Lego doesn’t even provide it. The original software for creating programs for the EV3 is well done, but if you want to use your computer to the full or if you don’t use a Windows or Mac computer, you can start the intelligent module natively with Linux and enjoy all the freedom. In addition, you can bring your children closer to the Linux world in a playful way.

In this article we will show you all the steps you need to take to create a clone of the Star from your EV3 and the associated robot kit -Tinker Wars-Droid R2D2. You can control it via a web interface and follow its live images from a camera at the same time. Linux newcomers should also be able to implement the project, but experience with Linux does not hurt, of course. The project was created under Linux, so we will only briefly discuss the necessary software under Windows.

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Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Maximize Lego Mindstorms EV3 with Linux: Build R2D2 clone with live stream Preparations Build the EV3D4 robot Install video software The EV3 project

Sport Open Earbuds: Bose shows earphones for athletes

With the Sport Open Earbuds, Bose has introduced new earphones for athletes. The earphones should leave the ear canal free and allow the wearer to continue to perceive ambient noise. The earphones are held in place by large brackets.

In contrast to comparable products, Bose does not use bone conduction, but a technology called “Open Audio” . Bose already used this technology in its Frames headphone sunglasses. The headphones built into it direct the sound precisely into the wearer’s ears so that outside people cannot overhear. Calls are made via integrated microphones.

No charging case Like normal earphones, the Sport Open Earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.1 the playback device. The battery life indicates Bose with 8 hours. An accompanying carrying case comes without an integrated battery, so it cannot charge the earphones. Instead, buyers have to plug the open earbuds into the supplied charging station.

So far, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds have only been offered in the USA, where they 200 cost US dollars. It is unclear whether they will come to Germany.

(dahe)

CES: Samsung shows TVs with mini and micro LEDs

The new brand name Neo QLED includes the expected televisions with mini LEDs in the locally dimmable backlight. First, the technology in the 8K TVs comes from the QN 900 A series and the 4K -TVs from the QN 90 A series are used. Experience has shown that it will gradually migrate to the cheaper model series.

Thanks to the tiny LEDs, the backlight of the TV displays can be very finely adjusted to the picture content in many zones – like many dimmable ones Zones, Samsung traditionally does not reveal; We have to submit that in future tests.

Quantum Matrix Samsung calls the whole Quantum Matrix technology: The Quantum Mini-LEDs used are therefore only 1 / 40 set as high as the previous light emitting diodes. You no longer wear a lens cap, but are covered with a thin diffusing film. This allows them to be joined closer together. Light-focusing layers over the LED matrix are supposed to prevent blooming, i.e. the outshining of light areas into actually dark parts of the image. So far, this has been an obvious weakness of LCD TVs compared to OLEDs. The resolution is 12 bit, so 4096 Generate brightness gradations.

Like the previous 8k TV, the high-end displays are housed in a housing that is flat from the front and back and has an extremely narrow bezel. New is the Attachable One Connect Box, a visibly slimmer box with all connections for the display.

The Neo Quantum processor is supposed to convert lower resolutions and moderate streaming quality to the respective display resolution optimize. Samsung has also announced improvements in terms of sound; For example, Space Fit Sound should automatically optimize the sound to the position of the audience.

Samsung First-Look-Event CES 2021 (8 pictures) The Neo QLED TVs from the QN series 900 A and QN 90 A are in the elegant Infinity housing with extremely narrow frames. (Image: Samsung)

The TV for the home office Samsung knows about the influence that Corona has on people’s lives – especially since TV -Sales have not decreased due to the pandemic. This is why smart TV should support users at home in the future: The smart trainer should keep viewers fit in front of the TV. Via a connected webcam, an avatar can give tips on how to move correctly during exercises. The workout app then shows the results of the physical training.

Samsung also wants to make it easier to watch videos together. Google Duo is now also supported by the Tizen operating system on TVs. So far, the video app for group streaming with a webcam on TVs only works on smart TVs with the Android operating system and some streaming sticks. Samsung also promises improved voice guidance and gesture control of the TV with the connected webcam.

Micro-LED TVs Tens of millions of tiny light-emitting diodes are in the classy micro-LED TVs. Samsung has not yet announced price and sizes.

(Image: Samsung)

“Any Shape, Any Size “This is how Samsung advertises its micro-LED TVs. The TVs consist of several modules – which was the case with the 2018 first introduced LED TV “The Wall “was the case. According to Samsung, the current displays contain up to 24 millions of tiny Light-emitting diodes that were developed together with Samsung’s semiconductor division. Of course, Samsung couldn’t resist the swipe at OLEDs, the inorganic RGB LEDs show no burn-in and their luminosity and thus the colors remain consistently high for a long time – Samsung promises 100. 000 hours. Samsung has not yet said how many modules an LED TV for the living room consists of. As usual, the price should be quite high.

The speakers were integrated into the LED panels, Samsung calls this Arena Sound. The sound therefore comes from the screen itself, which is intended to increase immersion. Sony and soon also LG are pursuing something similar with their OLED TVs with integrated actuators. The frame around the LED wall is extremely narrow. You can connect up to four sources at the same time and bring them to the screen.

Everything eco Samsung chose “going green” as a hook for its first-look event, presented remote controls with solar cells instead of batteries and announced more compact cardboard packaging. These should be used by buyers for upcycling, for example to build furniture out of the solid cardboard.

In view of the steadily increasing screen diagonals, one must at least question the eco-effect of TVs – the larger the screen, the higher the power consumption of the TV. HDR functions also require ever higher luminance levels and thus more energy. At least built-in ambient light sensors help to keep the power consumption in check.

(uk)

TechStage | Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 in the test: waterproof and hard

Testing Tests overview Smartphone Huawei P Smart 2021: Budget model with room for improvement Asus Zenfone 7 Pro: Turbo smartphone with flip camera Samsung Galaxy Xcover Pro in the test: hard but slow Oneplus Nord N 10 5G in the test : Gallop in price Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: Perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1 , 5 displays and gimbal cam Smartwatch Oppo Watch in the test : Great AMOLED Smartwatch from 240 € Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Multiroom Ikea Symfonisk in the test: Sonos loudspeakers under 100 Euro Bose Portable Home Speaker in the test: battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: versatile Multiroom system Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): key finder in Credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and keys Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder under test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth key finder under test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without mandatory registration Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular action cam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: Good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card with 64 GByte Android Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 87 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: big one Battery, low price Sony Xperia 10: smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice The right cordless screwdriver for the home workshop Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick from 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Buying advice water cooling: High -End PCs cool better Adviser: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Turn off Android notifications from annoying apps Here’s how: New Android keyboard Install L now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Does the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderma and mobile medicine: The doctors apps are coming! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV racers What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s in it for me? Overview of smartphone processors: everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst mobile phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Test Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 in the test: waterproof and hard start design Display Camera Equipment Battery Price Conclusion Comments from Stefan // 06. 01. 2021 15: 00 Clock

There are not many outdoor smartphones , with tablets the selection continues to shrink. One of the few models is the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3, which looks like an oversized first-generation Note smartphone.

Around 500 The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 costs at the time of the test, but it looks with his removable back and the whole design look like an oversized Samsung Galaxy Note – and that is now almost 10 Year old. The reason is clear: The Tab Active 3 wants to be a real outdoor tablet and is according to military standard MIL-STD – 810 H against falls from up to 1.5 meters and against penetrating water and dust according to IP 68 – hardly any other tablet offers that. There does not seem to be a sufficient market for this, which is why Samsung primarily offers the device as an Enterprise Edition and wants to appeal to companies and companies with it. Is the extraordinary tablet still worthwhile for private individuals?

Design It has already been indicated: The Samsung Galaxy looks modern Tab Active 3 certainly not off. It comes to the customer with a wide frame all around the display, offers hardware buttons for the Android control back, home screen and the app switcher and also a sloppy back made of simple plastic, which is held on the device with many small plastic lugs – completely as before 10 years. All of this doesn’t seem high quality, but there are good reasons. The wide edges protect against fall damage, especially in combination with the plastic cover included in the scope of delivery. The hardware buttons instead of the onscreen buttons guarantee basic operation even with dirty hands or hands in gloves, and the back can be removed so that the battery underneath can be replaced. It would probably all be possible in a more stylish way, but here Samsung clearly focuses on practicality. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the case itself, it takes a lot of brute force to finally fit the tablet into it.

Even without a cover, the plastic frame of the device is additionally thickened against bumps, especially at the corners of the device, and does not look particularly high quality overall. The back made of black plastic is slightly grooved. This way it is spared fingerprints, but still relatively slippery. It also sounds slightly hollow when you knock on it – that doesn’t make a high-quality impression. This increases when you remove the back of the case. It is held in place by numerous plastic noses that seem to be torn from the body of the tablet one after the other during this process. That sounds almost scary and doesn’t seem like it will last long. Experience has shown that it does, however, models like the Samsung Galaxy S5 had similar backs with internal rubber lips for water resistance, and they didn’t break off after the fifth use.

While the workmanship is quite convincing overall and all keys can be operated properly thanks to the reasonable key travel and pressure point, we do not like the layout of the keys. Samsung not only installs power and volume buttons on the right, but also a dedicated camera button that is highlighted in red. However, Samsung positions the generally laudable additional key in the middle and, despite the size of the 8-inch model, just reachable with the thumb, while the much more important power key is out of reach above it. Accordingly, users of the tough tablet have to put up with the fact that when they try to put the device into sleep mode, at least initially, they have to activate the camera (or the calendar if the device is pressed for a long time). It’s just a matter of getting used to, but the manufacturer could have done better.

All pictures of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 in the test (27 Pictures) Display This measures 8 inches for better protection The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3’s display is laminated with plastic instead of glass. This is currently more or less the smallest size for a tablet, which makes the device more or less manageable. The resolution is 1920 × 1200 pixels and accordingly 283 ppi (pixel per inch). That is significantly more than many of the mostly cheap 8-inch models have to offer. The highlight is the option to operate the screen with a stylus. In addition, the increased sensitivity of the touchscreen allows operation with gloves. A robust and waterproof stylus, which otherwise works like the stylus from the significantly more expensive Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 + (test report), is included in the scope of delivery and can be inserted into the protective cover that is also included – practical!

Otherwise, the screen convinces with decent data. Colors and contrasts are sufficiently pronounced, the brightness is measured just under 500 cd / m2 – In connection with the good viewing angles, this is enough for good readability even outdoors. The presentation is also sharp enough. There is hardly anything to complain about on the screen, even if it is more than 60 Hz refresh rate does not exist.

Camera Cameras in a tablet are almost always neglected by the manufacturers, exceptions are often only high-end models such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 + (test report). Even there, they are usually still weaker in direct comparison to top smartphones. It is therefore not surprising that the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is no exception. A glance at the equipment list shows that the cameras were not the focus of development: There is a 13 – Megapixel camera, front an equivalent with 5 megapixels – that’s far from high-end away. The image quality of both optics is sufficient for video chats and to clarify certain ideas when planning a project, but nobody will want to take their vacation photos seriously with them. Overall, the camera quality is roughly on the level of decent 240-Euro -Smartphones: Sufficient during the day, more or less bad in poor light.

Nice weather camera in the tough tablet Furnishing The built-in Exynos 9810 already came in the top models of the penultimate generation, so used in the Samsung Galaxy S9 (test report), accordingly it is no longer completely fresh. However, it still delivers sufficient performance, and the chip is also impressive for the upper middle class. Together with 4 GB of RAM, it ensures mostly smooth operation in everyday life and the performance is sufficient in most cases even when playing games. Only real high-end titles require the graphics to be screwed down – here you can tell the age of the former top chip. The internal memory is 64 GByte, the version also available with 128 GByte is not sold in this country. Thanks to the possibility of expansion by up to 500 GByte via micro SD card should probably be in the most cases suffice.

Wifi 6 is already on board, LTE, however, only in the equipment variant, which is subject to a surcharge. The then also offers telephone functionality via VoIP and GSM network. Otherwise, with Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and GPS, all essential technologies are on board. The reliable and fast fingerprint sensor is integrated into the mechanical home button. The built-in mono speaker is powerful, but sounds a bit lacking in bass. Practical: The tough tablet has pogo pins on the long left side, which the device can use to charge in landscape format – for example in corresponding keyboards.

The Galaxy Tab Active 3 largely offers the same stylus features as the much more expensive one Galaxy Tab S7 + This is particularly worthwhile if the tablet becomes a PC replacement using Dex functionality. With the Tab Active 3, this only works with an external display connected (via USB C) or Bluetooth, also for keyboard and mouse. If this is available, the Android tablet becomes a surprisingly productive office device thanks to the PC-like user interface. In addition to the outdoor capability, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 scores above all with the stylus and the appropriate software, as with other Note models. It allows you to easily write and digitize handwritten notes, and you can also write short reminders on the screen that is switched off with the Tab Active 3. Android 10 is now available for the model, and the manufacturer promises at least two more major updates. The security patch for our model is from November at the time of testing 2020 and is therefore sufficiently current.

Battery pack 5000 mAh – some smartphones already offer that much, so that’s not unusual or even good for a tablet. Rather, the unique selling point is another feature: the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 can be exchanged – without tools. There is thus the possibility of doubling the runtime with a few simple steps and manageable expenses. This shouldn’t be absolutely necessary for most users, because in PCmark’s battery test the device lasts for 8.5 hours at 200 cd / m2. In most cases, this should easily last until the evening. Then the tablet wants to be on the “leash” again for a good 2 hours, it cannot charge wirelessly.

Price The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is only available in black. In this country, a distinction is only made between versions with and without LTE. The 10. The 1-inch version is called the Galaxy Tab Active 3 Pro and, in addition to a larger display, includes a different chipset, a larger battery and a higher-resolution front camera.

Conclusion Looking at the technology of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3, the price is still (early January 2021 ) round 440 and 500 Euro too high. There are sometimes much better equipped tablets, such as a Huawei Matepad Pro (test report) or an iPad 10. 2 of the 8th generation. You shouldn’t take them with you in the rain or on a hiking tour in the Alps (for whatever reason) – you can do that with the Tab Active 3. In addition, a full-fledged stylus is included with the Samsung model, at least with the Apple product the surcharge.

Apart from that, the active tablet offers decent performance, good display, sufficient memory and great DEX functionality in everyday life. In addition to the stylus and the resilience of the device, the special highlight is the exchangeable battery – or more precisely: the possibility of simply exchanging it, even if you still have to buy an additional battery separately. If you are looking for such features, you cannot avoid the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3.

If that is too expensive for you, you should take a look at our purchase advice: How much tablet is really necessary. It is particularly cheap with Amazon tablets such as the Fire HD 8 Plus (test report). In this article we show how users can get Google services on Fire tablets without much effort.

Permalink: https://techstage.de/-5005055

heise + | Liability for interference: Cloudflare must prevent access to illegal links

Liability for interference: Cloudflare must prevent access to illegal links Universal Music Group against Cloudflare in court Neutral business model Article in c’t 2 / 2009 read Since there have been sufficiently powerful connections, the Internet has also been used for the illegal distribution of copyrighted music. Laws, jurisprudence and technical detection methods, which have been refined over and over again, have made some pirate practices unattractive over time. Gone are the days of simple download websites with locations where the operators are threatened with legal access.

Even once booming file sharing networks via peer-to-peer systems are largely history. But in the age of cloud computing and globally distributed network resources, music pirates are finding concepts that mean new territory for courts. This applies to the use of content delivery networks (CDN) such as Cloudflare.

The 2009 provides its contract customers with all sorts of services related to their offers on the network. Cloudflare products can use distributed caching to keep direct traffic away from customer servers by acting as a reverse or mirror proxy. You can redirect access to the Domain Name System (DNS) with your own DNS resolvers and thus disguise the identity of the site operator. They provide web providers with protection against hacker attacks and at the same time can significantly accelerate data traffic.

Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent, critically sound c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9, 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief start FREE month Start the FREE month now Heise + already subscribed?

JBL Charge 4 review: Portable yet powerful

(Pocket-lint) – JBL is one of the strongest contenders in the portable Bluetooth speaker market, with its Charge range asking questions of well established rivals such as the Ultimate Ears Boom 3.

The late-2019 entry to the series, the JBL Charge 4, increases a little in size over its predecessor. Its intent: to deliver bold sound and battery life that’ll last on and on. Its passive radiators also mean bags of bass – well beyond what you’d expect from a little cylindrical speaker such as this.

Design

Dimensions: 220 x 95 x 93mm / Weight: 960g
Ports: USB-C charging, 3.5mm in, USB-A out
Durable fabric and rubberised design
Physical control buttons up top
IPX7 waterproofing

To look at, however, we’re not exactly in love with the JBL Charge 4. It looks fine enough, but it’s hardly standout in a world occupied by so many fancier-looking alternatives. We don’t know, maybe it’s the weird translucent rubberised edging, maybe it’s the camo green paint work of our review sample and the distracting orange badge that’s front an centre.

Pocket-lint

Either way, those rugged looks are backed up by genuine rugged construction. With IPX7 waterproofing you could lob this speaker in a puddle or pool and not fret. Which you might think shows the intent of this speaker’s use – in an outdoors setting – but its molded foot actually sees it sit best on a table really.

Up top are the various controls – the centre for on/off and Bluetooth pairing, along with volume, play/pause and multi-speaker pairing. These are easy to use, emit clear sounds when searching for a device and we’ve found the Bluetooth signal to be strong throughout use.

Around the back, hidden behind a cover – necessary to assure the waterproofing – is where you’ll find the ports. There’s a USB so you can plug in a device, such as your phone, to draw the power from the speaker – which is one of the features version 4 adds over its predecessor. There’s a wired 3.5mm jack if you don’t want to use Bluetooth too.

Pocket-lint

There’s also a USB-C port used for charging. But while this comes with a cable in the box, there’s no plug. Which is a problem because the Charge 4 needs ample power delivered to recharge. Plug into a laptop and it’s no good. Plug into those 5V USB sockets that you get on some plug sockets and, again, no dice. Recharging also takes a rather long time, at over four hours.

That’s because the on-board battery is rather large, able to push its way through up to 20 hours of playback – a 25 per cent boost over its predecessor. At middling volume there’s no problem to get that far, but crank the output up and it’ll be a little less. Still, that’s very good innings for a portable speaker – and good job, as we suspect you won’t be able to recharge it from most portable powerbanks.

Frequency response: 60Hz – 20,000Hz
Dual passive radiators to boost bass
7,500mAh battery – 20hrs playback
Bluetooth 4.2 wireless
JBL Connect+ app

Despite its cylindrical shape, the JBL Charge 4 doesn’t output sound equally through 360 degrees like some of its competition. There’s still a wide-angle output, though, ensuring you’ll get decent quality throughout the room.

Pocket-lint

And the sound is really rather large. For a speaker as small as this it hits all the right notes, low to high, creating a soundstage that demands attention.

The volume ‘jumps’ between each stage are a bit dramatic though, there’s not the dynamic subtlety here that you can find in the competition. The sound, however, is rather dynamic – able to crank out bass with impact, without it drowning out measured mids and highs.

The bass is massaged by those twin passive radiators – one at each end of the tube – that you’ll see vibrating gleefully when the low-end is in effect. JBL claims a low-end minimum of 60Hz, which isn’t as technically low as you’ll find in some speaker setups, but most tracks aren’t going to delve into much that’s lower on the frequency scale anyway.

Pocket-lint

There’s also the JBL Connect+ app available, should you wish to pair your JBL speaker with another for using in stereo mode, or pair it with yet more (up to 100, apparently, which we’re sure nobody has ever done).

Best speakers for PC gamers 2021: All the sound and RGB lighting you could ever need

Verdict

No, it’s not the prettiest Bluetooth speaker out there. But it is very portable, rugged, waterproof, has epic battery life, and sound that’ll blow your socks off – especially considering its small scale. All that makes it easy to recommend the JBL Charge 4.

Also consider

Pocket-lint

Ultimate Ears Boom 3

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The design is tidier and the sound output is through 360-degrees, which makes Ultimate Ears’ Boom series among the ultimates in the portable Bluetooth speaker category.

Read our review

Writing by Mike Lowe.