Sound

Review: Panasonic TX 55HZW984

Panasonic offers four OLED models , and that arouses our curiosity. We check what you get with the entry-level model. Extensive HDR support, top image processor, that looks fine. But we also look at what you just don’t get. Because there is no doubt that there are certain compromises against a lower price.

Beautifully finished This Panasonic design looks very solid and excellently finished. No unnecessary frills, and with its neutral, black appearance, it fits effortlessly into most interiors.

In profile, it may look a bit blocky, mainly due to the angular finish of the rear module. But in practice, it is barely, if at all, thicker than many other OLED TVs. The super slim screen, and the fine, dark frame still stand out as the true hallmark of a premium TV.

The sturdy base uses a round, of course also black, base plate. Plus it’s a swivel base, which is an option we like to see, and all too often missing from modern televisions.

Hook Up! Since we have already tested the HZ 2000 and since no HDMI 2.1 connections were found, it is not surprising that this model also has to do with HDMI 2.0 connections. There are four, three in the back and one on the side. All four deliver the maximum HDMI 2.0 bandwidth so you can use Ultra HD HDR in the best quality. Panasonic does offer two HDMI 2.1 features, namely eARC (Enhanced ARC) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode).

In addition, there are three USB connections (one of which is USB 3.0), an optical digital audio output, and a headphone connection that you can switch to a subwoofer output via the menus. The component video input that we found on the HZ 2000 has been replaced by a composite video input, but since that in both cases is a legacy connection of which we advise against the use, we do not see that as a downside.

You get the network via the ethernet connection or built-in WiFi. You use Bluetooth to connect your wireless headphones, gamepad or mouse / keyboard, but you can also use it to transmit the audio from your smartphone to the TV. All connections point to the rear or downwards and therefore do not hinder wall mounting.

The TV has three antenna connections, and a dual DVB-T2 / C / S2 tuner with a double CI + slot. You only need to connect an external USB hard drive and then you can watch TV and record another channel at the same time.

My Home Screen 5.0 My Home Screen, now the fifth iteration of Panasonic’s smart TV interface, provides a beautiful and modern smart TV experience. All your content appears in a bar at the bottom of the screen, you determine which inputs, apps or TV channels appear in it. The bar takes up little screen space and does not disturb your viewing experience.

As soon as you select an app (e.g. YouTube or Netflix) a second bar with recommendations appears. Of course, apps themselves must support that function. My Home Screen works smoothly and conveniently, but keep in mind that some apps are not yet available. We mainly think of Disney + and Apple TV. While Panasonic knows this is important, it was unable to provide a date when the apps will be available.

Remote Control Panasonic has sworn by the same remote control for many years. You can’t call it innovative, but it certainly is. It is relatively large, feels good in the hand and has large, handy keys with clear labels. The â ???? My Appâ ???? You can assign your own button to a favorite app, and Netflix has its own button.

Netflix has its own button and the â ???? My Appâ ???? You can assign the key (bottom left) to your favorite app. The â ???? Pictureâ ???? You can use the button at the top right to quickly change the image mode. Via the menus you determine which image modes appear in that list.

The â ???? Pictureâ ???? key at the top right got the icon of â ???? Filmmaker modeâ ???? (more on that below), but still serves to quickly change image mode. A particularly handy detail is that you can adjust the list of image modes that appears yourself via the menus.

Image quality One thing does not seem to be spared: image processing. This model is equipped with the same processor as the top model, the HZ 2000. The results are therefore excellent. As on the HZ 2000 you will enjoy excellent upscaling that creates a soft, pleasantly detailed image. Dark scenes come into their own, with many shadows and visible detail. The noise reduction works well away from random noise and MPEG noise (blocking). And this model also delivers very nice results even with low quality dark images, without annoying flicker and with minimal color bands in soft transitions.

Yet there is one part of image processing where this model clearly sacrifices, namely motion sharpness. Where the other Panasonic OLED models are equipped with Smooth Motion Drive Pro, this one has to make do with Smooth Motion Drive. Every form of Black Frame Insertion has disappeared. And we notice that difference quite well. With fast moving images, significantly less detail is visible than on the HZ 2000. An object racing across the screen has a clearly visible double border. You can still use Intelligent Frame Creation to smooth pan images, but none of the modes helped to bring back the lost detail.

The â ???? Master HDR OLEDâ? ??? panel is reserved for the higher models, this TV has to make do with an ordinary OLED panel. However, this does not have a very heavy impact except for a slightly lower maximum brightness. Uniformity was excellent.

For the best picture, switch to the â ???? True Cinemaâ ???? or â ???? Filmmaker Modeâ ???? image preset. The latter guarantees that all unnecessary image processing is switched off so that you really see what the director wanted. The difference with ‘True Cinema’ however, is virtually non-existent. Both modes are relatively dark, but you can adjust that. Keep the light sensor activated, thanks to Panasonic Intelligent Sensing, the TV adjusts the image based on the ambient light, without changing the mood of the image. The Panasonic calibration is exemplary, and in this area you actually do not compromise on the more expensive models.

Those looking forward to a fantastic HDR experience will not be disappointed. This Panasonic supports all major formats: HDR 10, HLG, Dolby Vision One HDR 10 +. Yes, the OLED panel records slightly lower peak brightness (690 nits on a 10% window), but the results are still in line with the typical OLED performance. Here you can see the difference with the HZ 2000 which 1008 nits scored. The color range is pretty much the same (96% DCI-P3). Panasonic also provides excellent tone mapping, so that HDR footage retains maximum white detail and contrast. The images remain a feast for the eye.

Incidentally, this model is also equipped with Dolby Vision IQ, the Dolby Vision technology that takes ambient light into account to optimize the image. Intelligent Sensing provides a similar effect for the other HDR formats.

Sound Quality Also sound quality you have to compromise on. The device has 2x 15 W, which is sufficient for beautiful sound , but not for a powerful music experience or an immersive movie soundtrack.

We especially notice that the low tones are too short. Especially when you turn up the volume, you hear the TV intervening and certain frequencies are almost squeezed to prevent overdriving. Dialogues remain crystal clear and clear. The device also supports Dolby Atmos, but of course its impact is limited.

Although the result is certainly sufficient for your daily portion of television, we think that anyone who attaches great importance to audio will probably quickly turn to an external solution. Fortunately, there is enough space at the bottom of the screen to place a soundbar.

Conclusion The Panasonic TX – 55 HZW 984 (NL) / TX – 55 HZ 980 (BE) can boast of a lot of technology that you also find in their higher models. The image quality is therefore excellent, but it clearly gives up ground in terms of motion sharpness. That is a downside for fans of action movies and sports. Without HDMI 2.1 connections, it is also not the best choice for gamers. The excellently calibrated color reproduction, ample HDR support and deep OLED contrast remain enormous advantages that provide a lot of viewing pleasure. Given the competition, we saw the price a little lower.

Panasonic TX – 55 HZW 984 (NL) / TX – 55 HZ 980 (BE) Â

â ?? ¬ 1. 799 | www.panasonic.nl / www.panasonic.be

Rating: 4/5

heise + | In the test: Mind mapping apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac

With the mind map technique you collect and link topics and ideas clearly on a thought card. We tested six apps for macOS and iOS.

In the test: Mind mapping apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac Similarities Background: Mind Maps Individual meetings Conclusion Test table Article in Mac & i 5 / 2020 read A mind map is created by writing down thoughts on a topic. Connecting lines create relationships between the terms, so that entire lines of thought and dependencies can easily be grasped in the resulting diagram. In addition, subject areas developed with mind maps are more memorable than a text-heavy outline, for example, because they stimulate visual memory and thus both halves of the brain.

This test is limited to the mind map applications iThoughts, Mindly, Mindnode, Mindomo, SimpleMind and XMind, which are available in native versions for both macOS and iOS. Because of the lack of a Mac version, we did not consider the highly recommended MindMeister web service. In addition, rarely maintained apps and costly business solutions such as MindManger or MindView were left out.

Mind maps are particularly suitable for brainstorming and taking notes when the presenter often jumps between several topics. As practical systems of order, they structure scientific work or map hierarchical processes, organizational charts and family trees. For smaller projects, mind maps help with the distribution of tasks and responsibilities, but they do not replace any specially designed software.

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 your FREE month now Already subscribed to heise +?

Log in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + In the test: Mind mapping apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac Similarities Background: Mind Maps Individual meetings Conclusion Test table Article in Mac & i 5 / 2020 read

Honda CR-V Hybrid review: Quietly unconventional

(Pocket-lint) – Back in 1999 Honda launched a small, quirky coupe known as the Insight. It was the first hybrid car to officially be sold in the UK, beating the Toyota Prius to our shores by a matter of months.

Since then, most of the Honda range has received the hybrid treatment at one stage or another, so it’s perhaps surprising that we’ve had to wait so long for the company’s first hybrid SUV.

Outwardly, the new Honda CR-V Hybrid is fairly conventional. There’s no plug-in option as yet, so its electric-only range of 1.2 miles is about what you’d expect. Underneath the skin, however, it’s subtly different to the majority of existing hybrids.

How does it work?

For much of the time, the 2-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine is simply used to power a generator. It’s only under high loads that an automatic clutch kicks in to provide a physical connection to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.

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This means the CR-V’s control system flits backwards and forwards between three different modes: EV Drive, where the motor simply runs on charge stored in the battery; Hybrid Drive where the engine functions as a generator; and Engine Drive where – you guessed it – the engine is connected directly to the wheels.

In terms of capabilities, it’s similar to the ‘e-CVT’ setup found in cars such as the Prius, but Honda claims its single-speed transmission is smoother, more refined and more compact. We’ve found it capable enough, but there is that band-on-a-wheel feeling to acceleration – i.e. it’s not the quickest to get moving.

Design

The new CR-V range debuted in 2018 and apart from a few badges the Hybrid is identical to the petrol models (diesel is no longer an option, which is no surprise in eco-focused markets).

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There’s a notable step up in interior space compared to the outgoing CR-V, thanks to a longer wheelbase, although the battery pack does eat into the boot volume somewhat on the Hybrid. That also means the Hybrid is denied the regular CR-V’s seven-seat option, but unless you have young children that’s unlikely to be a concern. That said, whether you’d want a vehicle this large without such capacity is up for question – it’s not as visually refined as many other SUV options on the market in our view.

Indeed, Honda has played it quite safe with the styling, both inside and out. You won’t find any giant touchscreens looming out of the dash, any fancy ambient lighting, any delicate visual touches. It is, however, cleanly presented and logically laid out. Material quality is generally very good too, although there are a few flimsier plastics to be found and not everyone will be a fan of the wood-effect trim (see our pictures) – count us in on that – but fortunately there are other options are available.

What’s it like to drive?

As with the rest of the range, the Hybrid comes with choice of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, but the motor and battery configuration remains unchanged.

Consequently, it’s the lighter two-wheel drive variant that’s quicker off the line, covering 0-62mph in a respectable 8.8 seconds (versus 9.6 seconds for its four-wheel drive counterpart). The two-wheel drive variant is also marginally more economical, posting an official combined fuel consumption figure of 53.3mpg, while the four-wheel drive model comes in at 51.4mpg.

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Those figures might not sound especially impressive for a hybrid, but they translate well to the real-world, with our test car recording 49mpg – usefully more than we would expect to see from a petrol-only model in similar conditions – when driving from Kent to Oxford for a test day. So while the 1.2 miles of pure electric sounds like nothing – which is accurate in EV-only mode – you can actually see the knock-on benefit here.

You do get clear benefit from the hybrid setup though. Pulling away in EV Drive is remarkably quiet and almost eerily smooth. Outright performance is relatively modest in this mode and it obviously doesn’t take long for the battery to run out of juice, but the switch over to Hybrid Drive is virtually seamless.

For a car with no plug-in option, it’s also remarkable how often the CR-V Hybrid seems to get by on electricity alone. That said, with so much going on in this space and some great options – such as the Skoda Superb iV Estate plug-in – being available, if you really do want enhanced hybrid benefits then we’d suggest looking elsewhere.

The CR-V’s throttle response is noticeably more direct than a typical CVT setup and the sound isn’t as intrusive either – thanks, in part, to Honda’s Active Sound Control system, which uses the cabin speakers to cancel out certain frequencies in the engine noise.

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There’s a pleasingly soft edge to the Hybrid’s ride, aided by the use of hydraulic bump stops that aren’t found on the standard CR-V. It’s a good fit with the car’s easy-going nature, which majors on comfort. Push a little harder and you can start to sense the added mass compared to the non-hybrid model, but if that’s a major factor in your buying decision, the CR-V probably wouldn’t be your first choice anyway.

Which trim?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is offered in various grades: S, SE, SR and EX; with S only available in two-wheel drive form, and EX only with four-wheel drive.

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All models come with a sophisticated suite of safety features, dubbed Honda Sensing, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Upgrading to SE adds parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while the SR and EX also feature blind-spot warning and cross-traffic monitoring.

There’s a slightly bigger gap to SR spec, which adds smart entry and keyless start, plus a leather interior and active cornering lights. Meanwhile, the top-spec EX edition includes a heated steering wheel, head-up display (HUD), hands-free powered tailgate, heated rear seats, and panoramic glass sunroof.

Tech

Gone are the old CR-V’s analogue dials, replaced by a virtual instrument cluster based around a 7-inch LCD display. Along with a large digital speedometer, a power gauge (in lieu of a rev counter) and a charge status indicator, there’s what Honda refers to as a content zone. This is a configurable area where you can scroll through things like navigation instructions, media information and smartphone contacts. There’s even an Eco function, which can analyse your inputs and award points for greener driving.

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From SE trim upwards, the CR-V Hybrid comes with Honda’s Connect infotainment system based around a 7-inch touchscreen display. The in-built apps aren’t the slickest to use or the smartest to look at, but they do feature plenty of functionality, including Garmin satellite navigation with five years’ free map updates as standard.

Smartphone connectivity, however, opens up a host of other options via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, including Google Maps, Waze, Deezer and Spotify. That’s the ticket.

Huawei Mate 40, iPhone 12 review and more – Pocket-lint Podcast 76

Verdict

The Honda CR-V has never been the most exciting car in its class. Instead, it focuses on providing comfortable, spacious and practical family transport – although in Hybrid form you can’t get it as a seven-seater.

Starting at £29,105, the Hybrid is just over £3,000 more than the equivalent petrol model. That’s around the same premium that you might pay elsewhere to go from a petrol manual to a diesel automatic, with the Hybrid offering roughly the same reductions in CO2 and fuel consumption.

Thing is, while you needn’t plug this SUV in (indeed, you can’t), the electric-only range of 1.2-miles only really brings minor benefits. And with so much else coming to market, such as the Skoda Superb iV Estate plug-in – which has regenerative capabilities that would serve better range even if you never plugged it in – it’s hard for the CR-V Hybrid to compete against a widening crowd. Even its diesel competition, such as the Mazda CX-5, will serve you well for long journeys with a smaller cash outlay to start wth.

Overall, the Hybrid builds on the standard CR-V’s quietly conventional strengths without any major compromises. Its blend of practicality, dependability and build quality is commendable, even if it lacks excitement or a more advanced tech setup inside.

Apple CarPlay explained: Taking iOS on the road

Writing by Mike Lowe.

TechStage | Advice: Technology against dusk

Testing Tests overview Smartphone Pixel 5 in the test: Google just does it better Elephone U5 in the test: It’s that good Cheap phone from China The most popular China smartphones 2020 Xiaomi Mi 10 T Pro in the test: 144 – Hz display and great camera Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC in the test: 90 Hz and the best camera Motorola Moto G9 Play in the test: A lot of power for little money The best monthly h cancellable tariffs in September 2019 Smartwatch Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Apple Buy 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 Huawei Watch GT in the test: record-breaking battery life Skagen Falster 2 in the test: good design and a weak point Multiroom Bose Portable Home Speaker in the Tes t: 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 Technisat Digitradio 580 in the test: The gray all-rounder 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 in test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth key finder in test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without mandatory registration Action-Cam 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 Actioncam DJI Osmo Action in the test: The better Gopro 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 im 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 90 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: large battery, low price Sony Xperia 10: Smartphone with 21: 9 display under test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Purchase advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Advice: air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Purchase advice: Current headphones with ANC to 400 Euro Purchase advice: Smartphones with dual SIM and micro SD 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 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 the point? Smartphone processors at a glance: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell 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 P travel comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Adviser Adviser: Technology against dusk Beginning Lighting Alarm systems About wachungskame … Smart locks Conclusion Comments (2) by Daniel and Lenz and Moritz // 25. 10. 2020 17: 16 Clock Twitter

Smart home technology such as surveillance cameras, alarm systems and lights promise protection against burglars. What do they do in practice?

Of the 25. October is the day of burglary protection. It takes place at the same time as the time change, because the twilight season also begins with it. It gets dark earlier, so it is easier for thieves to clear out apartments under cover of twilight when the residents are not at home.

The good news is: The number of break-ins is falling. Of course, this is of no use to those affected. Much worse than losing your valuables is the feeling of not feeling safe in your own home. In addition to the mechanical security recommended by the police – such as safe door and window fittings – electronic security can now be retrofitted with smart alarm systems with app control (purchase advice), surveillance cameras or lights with motion detectors.

Lighting Light scares away dark figures. We don’t have to say a word at this point about classic construction spotlights with LEDs and motion detectors for the driveway, garden and back of the building. Worth mentioning, however, are the inexpensive outdoor lights with LEDs, solar panels, rechargeable batteries and motion detectors, which have been available for a number of years and provide light on the garden fence or shed without an expensive power supply. You don’t tear a hole in your pocket, neither financially nor in terms of the amount of work involved. The video image of the Ring 2 is still attractive even at night. Much more exciting are outdoor lights with integrated WLAN surveillance cameras. You simply replace them with existing lamps with motion detectors; they don’t need anything more than electricity. The Ring Floodlight Cam (test report) is bright enough to illuminate the courtyard and driveway, shows live images via the app and loads recordings with movement into the cloud. The Netatmo Presence (test report) or the Blaupunkt Wifi Lampcam (test report) work similarly.

Thanks to wireless, battery-operated motion detectors, smart lighting systems for the garden are no longer just suitable for mood lighting. The self-sufficient sensors with radio connection can be attached to walls, fences or even flower pots. In addition, you determine which smart lights should switch on in which brightness and color when something happens.

Alarm systems They are often seen as a panacea and are the first thing tech fans think of when breaking in. But they have a very big disadvantage, which the nomenclature already reveals: In official German, alarm systems are called burglar alarm systems and that is exactly what they do. They report when a break-in has occurred. They react when it is actually too late, when the bad guys are in the house.

Depending on the equipment, they can also be a deterrent. A clearly visible external siren leads, at least for some of the perpetrators, to the fact that the house is less interesting; you don’t want to be caught. But this is more true for organized gangs who want to clear as much as possible in the shortest possible time. Procurement crime can be prevented just as little as targeted break-ins. For the latter – with all due respect – most of us are likely to be of little interest.

There are compatible outdoor sirens for the more professional alarm systems. Smart home alarm systems in particular also make you feel good, as the author knows from personal experience. A quick glance at the associated mobile phone app shows: doors and windows are closed, no movement detected, everything is OK. Even when you spend Christmas in the South Pacific.

It is important that you think about what should actually happen in the event of an alarm before buying. It would be professional to activate a security center, which 24 / 7 reacts and, in case of doubt, sends a private guard or the police over. However, this is expensive and cannot be done with most smart home alarm systems – you have to budget a few thousand euros and regular costs for such a system. In the case of smart home systems, one or more contacts are usually specified that the system informs in the event of an alarm; Residents, neighbors or relatives. In combination with a surveillance camera that enables a view into the apartment or house, you can determine from a distance whether there is really a problem and then react accordingly – but with the risk of missing one or the other message.

The sensors from Gigaset Elements not only react to opening, but also to shaking – they can detect break-ins even before the window is opened is levered. We have already carried out tests on the smart home alarm systems from Abus (Smartvest), Bosch (Smart Home Alarm), Gigaset (Elements), the Ring Security alarm system (test report) and Somfy (Home Alarm). Beginner sets, consisting of the always necessary alarm center with internet connection and a few sensors (magnetic contacts for doors and windows as well as motion detectors) cost about 150 to 300 Euro. That is enough for an installation in a small apartment, if you want to secure an entire house, you should buy larger starter sets or get additional sensors. You can find more information on this in our article Planning and installing smart home alarm systems yourself.

The systems from Gigaset and Bosch are particularly easy to set up. The most professional ala rmsystem in comparison is the Smartvest from Abus; Anyone looking for a connection to other smart home components should take a closer look at Somfy Home Alarm. The Taphome alarm system with GSM module or the Blaupunkt SA are significantly less smart, but can also be used without a DSL connection in the holiday home or the allotment garden. – R (Review).

The Blaupunkt system does not require WiFi to inform owners about incidents Both models inform in the event of a break-in via SMS – in the A SIM card is integrated into the systems and sends messages. Those who don’t have WiFi in their holiday home or allotment garden will find a good alternative with these models. Cheap SIM cards are available at every petrol station. We recommend cards that have cheap SMS prices and a starting credit – after all, the gazebo is not broken into every two hours. Ergo cards with for example 01 Euro starting credit and 9 cents per SMS for more than 100 Break-ins. Internet is not necessary.

We have put together some tariffs: The Prepaid Basic S from Congstar with 9 cents per SMS, and 7, 50 Starting credit costs 5 euros. At Lidl there is the Connect Classic with 9 cents per SMS and 10 Euro starting credit for 10 Euro.

surveillance cameras Also surveillance cameras prevent in contrast to more stable door – and window fittings do not break in, but they can deter and help with the investigation. We recommend combination cameras with LED headlights especially in dark places. During the test phase of the Netatmo Presence (test report) we were able to drive away a potential burglar. The light activated by the motion detector was apparently enough to scare away the stranger who was visiting the tester’s garden.

The light of the Netatmo Presence scared off an unknown person Please note the data protection. This is comparatively unproblematic as long as you hang cameras in the house or if external cameras only film your own property; public space – streets, sidewalks, parking lots and so on as well as neighboring properties are taboo. Almost all cameras now offer options with which you can hide or pixelate sensitive areas. You can find more about this in the respective individual test in our topic area on surveillance cameras.

The facility is often quite simple. Thanks to WiFi, in many cases only one power supply is required for the camera. Most products for private users simply save the data in the cloud. This requires registration with the provider and in many cases there is a small monthly fee for the storage, but you do not have to operate your own network storage (NAS in the comparison test), nor can bad guys simply let the memory card or hard drives go with you.

Indoor cameras with WLAN can be used wherever there is a socket. We compared various WLAN surveillance cameras for indoor use. Our favorites are the rotating and swiveling Instar IN – 8015 (test report), the Netgear Arlo Pro (test report), which also works with battery and comes with seven days of free cloud storage, as well the Somfy One (test report). The latter also integrates a small alarm system and is compatible with the Somfy Home alarm system (test report). If you don’t want cloud storage, you should take a look at the Netatmo Presence or the EufyCam 2c (test report). Both models offer local storage at no additional cost and without cloud.

The Ring Spotlight (test report) is interesting for outdoor use. It has a PIR motion detector, informs the user about movements by push message on the smartphone, sends the video stream in the event of an alarm via WLAN to the cloud – and, depending on the application, runs by battery, plug-in power supply or the optional solar -Panel also without a socket; for example in the garden shed or in the garage. Ring is also available as a doorbell Ring 2 (test report) with a WLAN connection. So you can always find out what’s going on at the door via smartphone app; it doesn’t matter whether the visitors ring the bell or not.

Alternatives to permanently installed cameras are the Arlo Pro (test report), Arlo Pro 2 (test report) or EufyCam 2c (test report). These cameras are battery operated and can be screwed, placed or attached magnetically.

Thanks to the solar panel, lights, Also operate surveillance cameras & Co. independently – for example on the garden fence or house. Here in the picture is the optional solar module for the ring

Review: KEF LS50 Wireless II

Sometimes a new product seems very very similar to its predecessor. That first impression can be very misleading, we discovered (again) with the KEF LS 50 Wireless II. This recently released version of the successful wireless stereo speakers has been improved in so many ways that you can hardly compare old with new. In particular, the metamaterial and the addition of an HDMI-ARC port make for real progress.

With the first LS 50 Wireless, KEF almost on its own initiative created a new product category: active stereo speakers with streaming built-in and at hi-fi level. And intended for the discerning music lover who is nevertheless averse to a large pile of hi-fi gear and cables lying around like unwanted anacondas. They may not have been the first devices of this type, but the KEFs were without a doubt real trendsetters. Who first goes, of course, risks a lot. You do the heavy lifting required to try something new, and if something is still missing, a competitor can pick up on it.

What do you do as a brand? You provide a successor who tries to address any criticism. That’s the LS 50 Wireless II, a clear response to the latest trends and feedback from the market. With a solid injection of groundbreaking audio technology to improve the reproduction.

A lot has been adjusted with the LS 50 Wireless II, both in terms of software and hardware. You can connect the speakers to your television via HDMI and there are many more streaming options. You can now play music wirelessly via Bluetooth, Chromecast or AirPlay 2. Or you can use the new app, which supports more streaming services than before and internet radio. In terms of reproduction, much more power has been provided and there is a metamaterial â ???? explanation follows â ???? applied in the renewed Uni-Q driver. Some of those changes mirror the improvements in the passive version of the LS 50 Wireless, the LS 50 Meta. You will soon read a separate review about that speaker from colleague Max.

All this makes the 2. 499 – euro costing KEF LS 50 Wireless II even more a do-everything solution designed for people who don’t want a comprehensive music system, but want something better than what wireless speakers of the Sonos genre can offer. That you are talking about two separate speakers that are used in a stereo setup is therefore only logical. Music should be listened to in real stereo. For those who are used to Bluetooth speakers, going from one to two speakers is the first, most effective upgrade you can ever make. There is no longer a need to run a cable between the pair, another version II innovation borrowed from the tiny LSX. Plug in and listen to music.

Modern and traditional at the same time The original LS 50 Wireless was an active version of the passive LS 50 – speaker that requires separate amplifier and source devices. It was smart of KEF to do that, because in this way they built on an audio design that was almost universally acclaimed. So the British brand took an established name that sounded good and added a built-in amplifier that was completely optimized for the LS 50. And don’t forget: streaming.

The LS 50 Wireless II is a further evolution of that unlikely combination of tradition and trendsetting. So don’t expect a pair of loudspeakers that suddenly look completely different than before, although we must immediately add that the industrial design of the LS 50 was always more modern and waves than with traditional hi-fi speakers. The old and new LS 50 – speakers look mostly the same, though there are certainly things different. What we immediately noticed, for example, when we placed the Wireless II next to the first Wireless speakers, was the matte finish. The previous edition had a high-gloss finish. The shape, the rounded corners and the striking convex front with a copper-colored driver in the middle are still there. No problem, as far as we are concerned, because the LS 96 – designs introduced in 2011 stays fresh and modern. Due to the matte finish on the Carbon Black version that we received a visit, we thought that the new KEFs look just a bit more luxurious. It also shows less dust and fingerprints.

Crimson Red The LS 50 Wireless II is available in four colors: matte black, white, gray and a special edition in Crimson Red. To make it even better, the driver has each time received a suitable color. For the black and white versions, KEF opted for a matte copper color, for the titanium gray LS 50 Wireless II for red â ???? and with the red edition for a gray driver. So some of those editions are a bit more “outspoken”. than the others, but that’s fine. It is also typically KEF because of the LS 50 â ???? s and the smaller LSX also appeared exclusive finishes. The green and gold driver version of the LSX, for example, is still one of the most beautiful speakers we have ever seen. The new Meta in royal blue is also a winner. It is a pity that it is not available in a Wireless version.

These speakers are easy to place because of their wide appearance. They may even be a bit closer to the ground, although a placement at ear height is best. The LS 50 Wireless II also fits perfectly the new KEF S2 stands, available in matching colors. Close to a wall? In itself yes, because you can make many adjustments in the app to compensate for the placement. Due to the Uni-Q driver, they are also very suitable for near-field listening, i.e. at a short distance. They are relatively deep because the housing also contains a solid chunk of electronics in addition to the acoustic spaces. So you may need a carrier level desk before they fit on it properly, but it can be sound technically.

The speaker is the hub

Where some brands prefer to connect their active speakers from a separate hub, KEF opts to have all connections on the back of one of the two LS 50 Wireless II’s. Although this unit is named â ???? Primaryâ ???? does not mean that only one of the two speakers contains electronics. Both KEF speakers have their own amplification on board and come with their own power cord. An important difference with other active stereo solutions where one of the two speakers is a passive one, as is the case with the Klipsch The Fives.

Is the placement of all connections on the speaker itself or on a separate hub good or bad? Both options have advantages and disadvantages. After all, a hub is an extra device that you have to give a place, with the KEF approach you sometimes have to do a little more on cable management. It depends on how many devices you want to connect. If you have the LS 50 Wireless II on your If you want to connect TV via HDMI, you will in any case have to provide a sufficiently long HDMI cable.

If you look at the connections on the back of the Primary speaker, you will notice that there are two network connections. You can use one of these to connect to the network, although you can also work via WiFi. Setting up WiFi is very easy via the Google Home app, via the WiFi settings of an iPad or iPhone, or via the new KEF Connect app. Three ways, with the iOS approach being the easiest. But it is never difficult. The second port is provided to make a wired connection to the second LS 50 Wireless II. But this is also something optional, because new with version 2 is that the two speakers can connect equally well with each other wirelessly. That makes it just more convenient to neatly place the KEF speakers in your living room.

Why would you actually work with a cable between the two speakers? Actually it is only a must if you have files of more than 96 kHz / 24 – bit want to listen (with an upper limit is 192 kHz) and don’t want them downsampled. KEF says a cable connection can also be useful if the sound drops out due to interference. We mainly worked wirelessly during testing and never noticed dropouts, despite the presence of dozens of WiFi networks. You have that in a busy urban living environment.

Better with the TV Connect a television to the HDMI port. That KEF added that was a wise move. Previously you could use the LS 50 W with connecting a TV set via an optical cable, but then you could not control the volume with the TV remote control. That is possible with an HDMI-ARC connection, which is much more pleasant in terms of ease of use. You can also set the speakers to automatically switch to the HDMI input via the KEF app when you start watching TV. Handy.

There are also other options if you want to connect additional sources. With the optical and coax inputs, you can connect devices digitally, such as a CD player or a console. To connect our Pro-ject The Classic in the living room, a small phono preamplifier had to be added, so that we could hang the turntable on the aux input. Finally, you will also find a series of small buttons at the back. These serve, among other things, to place the speakers in pairing mode when you want to stream over Bluetooth.

A plus with the app: the speakers remain accessible from your phone in standby. You do not need the remote control to switch it on.

This one can all Speaking of streaming: this is a area where KEF has made great strides with the Wireless II. The brand has previously admitted that it sometimes struggled with software development in the past â ???? a typical problem in the hi-fi world â ???? Â but now wants to make up for that with a totally new platform and app. The result is that the LS 50 Wireless II now has almost every streaming technology available. Not that you will use all options immediately, but that has just reduced the danger of lock-in. If you switch from Android to an iPhone in about a year, you can easily switch from Chromecast to AirPlay 2.

Beyond those two streaming technologies comes the LS 50 Wireless II also with Bluetooth (aptX) and DLNA. Spotify Connect is also there, so you can just see the KEF speakers pop up in the Spotify app and tap. And Roon? In Roon, the speakers still appear as â ???? not certifiedâ ????, so that you cannot use them as a Roon endpoint due to the recent policy change by Roon. But the certification is on the way. In the past, KEF was always quick to get this sorted out, so we’re confident.

Thanks to AirPlay and Chromecast, you can use the LS 50 Also enable Wireless II in a multi-room environment. A pla Playing ylist of Apple Music simultaneously on a Harman Kardon Citation speaker in the kitchen and on the KEFs in the room is very easy. If the Roon approval has passed, then multiroom can also be done this way.

New app You use with the new LS 50 – is a new app called KEF Connect (iOS and Android). Where the previous KEF Control and KEF Stream apps looked rather sober, this has become a very rich app that also tries to stimulate you with podcasts and articles from KEF itself. A nice idea that turns a regular remote app into something more interesting. For example, we heard an interview with a metallurgical expert who spoke about the use of metal for music reproduction. Curious what content KEF will add.

Perhaps more importantly, you can play music directly in the app via Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz and Tidal. Since these also all support Chromecast and AirPlay, you can of course also continue to use the apps of the services themselves. You just get a choice. We found the presentation of Qobuz in the KEF Connect app quite nice in a sober way, in the Qobuz app itself you have a little more information and you get recommendations based on the album you selected.

The KEF Connect app also gives you direct access to internet radio stations and podcast. To help you, for example podcasts are organized thematically, but of course you can also search for a favorite station or podcast.

Something that we do not find in the app is the possibility to finish your own files. play. That is of course very easy with a DLNA player such as BubbleUPnP or mConnect, so it is not a big problem. In any case, we will check with KEF whether this feature will still appear in the Connect app.

Worth playing with At least as important is that the Connect app works as an advanced remote. In addition to selecting inputs, KEF Connect also offers a whole series of settings that are very useful for optimally adjusting the sound reproduction. It is certainly worth playing around with this. For example, there are EQ Settings that adjust the sound to the placement, including if you place the speakers close to a wall. The bass extension option is also very practical to compensate for a room that sounds a bit woolly. Here you will also find all controls to set an optional subwoofer. To be honest, we would only add an extra wired sub to the LS in very large rooms 50 Wireless II, because it already produces a very nice bass out of the box. Elsewhere in the app you will find another handy choice: is the primary speaker on the left or right?

Small remote control

We are now talking about the KEF app, but to adjust the volume and more you can also work with the supplied remote. There is really not much to say about it: it is a small and compact thing that fits well in your hand and seems sturdy enough to survive a hectic family life. It is handy that it also has media controls. Even when streaming, you can quickly reach for the box to pause music or quickly jump to the next track.

As before, there is above on the primary speaker another glass plate with touch controls. It looks very nice, but to be honest: you probably never use it. You cannot see from the seat.

Uni-Q with MAT We have now talked about features extensively, but that the essence of a speaker like this one? Yes and no. The LS 50 Wireless II is thick in terms of features okay, but that higher price compared to mainstream wireless speakers must be justified above all by superior sound quality. KEF really understood that, we think, through the LS 96 Wireless II same improvements as the passive Meta version. A lot has been changed technically.

The housing is made more solid, with a bass port that makes less noise. Also addressed is the Uni-Q driver which is really something from KEF. Looking at the LS 50 Wireless II , you may think it has only one speaker. That is not true. That striking Uni-Q driver is a coaxial speaker, a 2-in-1 driver in which a tweeter is suspended decoupled in the middle of a midrange / woofer. The big advantage is that the Uni-Q acts like a point source. Instruments and vocals sound very natural as they seem to come from one point perfectly timed. KEF also places a waveguide on the tweeter â ???? that thing that looks like quarters of an orange â ???? allowing higher frequencies to be emitted evenly and widely. This ends up with a speaker that makes instruments sound natural and puts them on a large soundstage.

In this version of the 24the Generation Uni-Q driver is using a metamaterial. This is a general term for a composite material that has properties that you normally do not associate with a solid shape. What KEF does in this speaker is to ensure better damping that is tuned super accurately â ???? thus precisely tackles the frequencies where there are acoustic problems. It does this by placing tubes of the metamaterial in a certain pattern (in pictures it looks like you are looking down on a maze) that is calculated to remove all possible unnecessary vibrations and sounds in a speaker. This absorber is located on the back of the Uni-Q driver, inside the cabinet. Very technical, but it is not surprising that it is KEF that comes up with such high-tech. The British from Maidstone have always been very focused on research and development, as we also discovered when we visited KEF. In this case, they also involved an expert in metamaterials, Professor Ping Sheng from the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese company Acoustic Metamaterials Group.

Several other in-depth adjustments have been made, often in a very small scale. For example, KEF has addressed a problem caused by the small space that exists between the tweeter and the cone of the midrange / bass driver. Some other issues have been addressed.

Is this hi-fi? There are bound to be hi-fi enthusiasts around wondering: Can an active set like this one be “real”? be hi-fi? â ????. If you are inclined to ask that question, you may already be someone who is more inclined towards passive speakers and a separate music system, we quietly suspect. Of course there is nothing wrong with that. But is it correct to use speakers like the LS 50 See Wireless II as a compromise? If we put the thought aside for a moment that everything can always be improved and that you do indeed have more opportunities to tweak with a system with separate devices, then with these KEFs we go for a ‘yes’ ????. The clarity and speed that we hear in North African jazz on â ???? Transitâ ???? with Mohammed Abozekry’s dexterous string playing on the oud is just top-notch. The pleasure of this Ring Road album is when Abozekry goes wild on the age-old lute-like instrument, a sensation that the KEFs convey smoothly.

We have always found the Uni-Q driver to be strong when it comes to vocals, a plus that has certainly not been watered down in its twelfth generation. Together with the broad and even appearance of the treble, you get very beautiful pop songs served. The handsome â ???? Goose Snow Coneâ ???? from Aimee Mann, for example, with feather-light Christmas bells floating around the room while Mann’s warm, seductive voice is lifelike before us. It is still a bit early for a winter atmosphere, but for once it is allowed. That the LS 50 Wireless II also excels in the creation of an intense, spatial representation we also notice as Daniel Hope’s violin in his own interpretation of “Amazing Grace” ???? touches the highest notes. For small speakers it remains surprising how big they sound, even with more symphonic work.

An advantage of active speakers such as this one is that they use a DSP to optimally regardless of the volume. It is certainly a plus when watching TV and when listening to electronic music, because those dynamic peaks in the audio are always well processed by the KEFs. Balance and tightness are maintained. In the explosions and the crackling of arms as the soldiers in the helicopters meet King Kong in â ???? Kong Skull Islandâ ???? or at â ???? Top of the Worldâ ???? from Kimbra for example. You will be surprised when you hear what is possible in terms of layer (and you can add a wired sub if you wish). Of course, if you open everything up, you will encounter limitations â ???? no distortion, but a clear feeling that a limit has been reached. You are talking about a lot of decibels. For example, a KEF R7 kit with a Hegel H 390 will can always go further in terms of dynamics and volume level. But not everyone is looking for that. Â

Conclusion

KEF is only moving forward with the II version of the LS 50 Wireless. The wider support of streaming services and technologies, the better sound quality and the HDMI inputs are positive additions. It’s a lot more money compared to say a set of Sonos Five speakers, but a pair of LS 96 Wireless II speakers play on a different level too. Many rivals have now emerged, including those from other hi-fi brands, so that KEF cannot be the only one to claim to be able to offer ease of use and hi-fi sound. Still, KEF knows with the LS 50 Wireless II to rise above ground level again with a set of stereo speakers that sound great and have all the features you could wish for.

KEF LS 50 Wireless II

2. 499 euro | www.kef.com

Rating 4.5 out of 5

heise + | The right light switch for the smart home

Table of Contents The right light switch for the smart home Why do you need smart light switches? Wireless radio buttons and remote controls Wireless wall switches for sticking Smart flush-mounted models Upgrade old switches with flush-mounted actuators Adapter for Hue dimmer switch Installation tips Conclusion Smart light is a popular entry into the networked home. After all, such light sources are not only convenient to use via smartphone app and voice assistant. They can also be installed in no time. Nobody needs more manual skills than screwing a light bulb in and out.

It is completely different with light switches. Intervening in the house wiring is far more delicate. Strictly speaking, that wouldn’t even be necessary. After all, anyone who has fitted all the lamps at home with smart bulbs doesn’t really need any switches to touch. But in practice there are good reasons to steal this apparently mundane part of building technology as well.

Why do you need smart light switches? Often not all residents are enthusiastic about controlling the household by voice command or touch display. And having to explain the guest tablet or the nomenclature of the Alexa commands to visitors first annoys everyone involved.

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Manufacturer comments on HDMI 2.1 problems with Denon and Marantz receivers

Last Friday heise online reported that the computer magazine c’t in its current issue 23 / 20 uncovered a suspected breakdown of the chip manufacturer Panasonic Solutions (now taken over by Nuvoton Technology). According to the current state of knowledge, this breakdown ensures that all HDMI 2.1 compatible receivers (also called “8K models”) from Denon, Marantz and Yamaha are not able to play videos in 4K resolution with 120 images per second (4K for short 120) with increased contrast range (High Dynamic Range) from Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Series X console to a suitable television .

The problem came up with a test of a pre-production model of the Xbox Series X in connection with Denon’s HDMI-2.1-compatible AV receiver AVR-X 2700 H and a TV LG CX9 encountered.

Meanwhile, that has got behind the brands Denon and Marantz standing US company Sound United about the problems officially opposite the online AV magazine “Audioholics”. In the statement, for which there is no official German version yet, the manufacturer confirms that some new ‘gaming source devices’ that support the output of 4K / 120 Hz, may not work fully with 8K AV receivers. The problems would be caused by an HDMI chipset incompatibility between the devices.

Sound United further confirms that when an “affected system” is connected to the 8K HDMI input (aka HDMI- 2.1 input) of the receiver “may” fail when the source delivers a 4K / 120 Hz image and the 4K signal option on the receiver is set to “8K Enhanced”

With the designation “Gaming Source Device” and “Affected System”, Sound United avoids calling the Xbox Series X by name. That should definitely be in the interest of Microsoft, whose next-generation console, according to the current state of knowledge, implemented HDMI 2.1 without errors – and which therefore certainly does not want to be blamed for a bug in the HDMI chips of the AV receiver. It should also be noted that the “8K Enhanced” format must be activated in any case in order to be able to pass through the ultra-high resolutions at all. In no case did c’t receive a picture of the source with the structure described. Finally, Sound United emphasizes in its statement that the problem only occurs on a display that supports 4K 120. That should be clear, however.

Workarounds According to their own statements, Sound United is currently investigating the problem further and “is becoming one offer a permanent solution later “. Until then, the company proposes a number of workarounds. So you can connect the player directly via HDMI to displays that offer the HDMI audio return channel ARC or eARC and direct the sound from the source via the television to the AV receiver. Another alternative would be to set the video output to 4K at 60 Hz until a permanent solution is available. This is also the basic setting of the receivers ex works.

At the end of the statement, Sound United apologizes for the inconvenience and versic

heise + | Move smartphone photos to the cloud: storage services in comparison

Move smartphone photos to the cloud: Storage services in comparison Individual meetings Conclusion Test table Whether memory card or smartphone with 128 GByte memory – at some point every smartphone fully photographed. Cloud services, which also act as an automatic backup, help here. We tested six such services: Dropbox, Google Photo, iCloud, OneDrive, Amazon Photos and Adobe Creative Cloud.

We also show you how to configure the services correctly and which pitfalls have to be considered.

With the exception of iCloud, all services can be used on both Android and iOS smartphones. In all cases, the data can be compared between the cloud and the PC using a browser or dedicated Windows and macOS clients. Dropbox is the only company to offer a Linux client. Four of the services can be tested free of charge over a longer period of time, Adobe and Amazon charge even for the smallest package after a few weeks at the latest.

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?

Samsung thinks its new 85-inch Interactive Display is the digital whiteboard for the COVID-19 classroom

Samsung would like you to believe its new 85-inch Interactive Display can bridge the gap between students in the classroom and students studying at home, now that blended-learning is the new normal across the country. In reality, it’s just a slightly bigger digital whiteboard — but assuming it doesn’t cost too much, the tweaked vision does sound intriguing.

Now that COVID-19 has swept the country, some students are huddling around tiny Chromebook screens at home while others stay in class, and Samsung’s internet-connected digital whiteboard promises to let students and teachers collaborate with each other, whether they’re in that classroom drawing on the board or adding to it in real-time from their laptop at home. The goal here isn’t to necessarily connect everyone better – they’ve had a few months to get a handle on that over Zoom – but rather to let the kind of collaboration that can happen when everyone’s together, happen while students are apart.

While the Interactive Display is mostly just a larger version of Samsung’s existing Flip 2 digital whiteboards, the 85-inch size means it’s as large as an actual school whiteboard (though it weighs far more at 164 pounds). Compared to the previous 55- and 65-inch models, more students could theoretically use the board at once. Samsung imagines the display primarily mounted in a classroom where they can use its 4K touchscreen and support for four pens (it comes with two) to write and draw; it supports up to 20 fingers (and pen tips) simultaneously. Teachers might be able to hook up multiple computers or other video sources to the display, too, with two HDMI 2.0 ports compared to the one on the Flip 2.

But before you petition your school for one, it’s worth mentioning that the device has no announced price. The 65-inch Flip 2 comes in at $2,599.00, and Samsung’s 85-inch TVs start at $1,799.99, so perhaps the Interactive Display won’t cost too much more than those? Still, most schools are even more constrained during the pandemic than they would be normally, and this screen doesn’t even come bundled with some of the education software Samsung is advertising. I think it would be great for these to be used in schools, but to me, Samsung’s framin

heise + | Portraits from a distance: Realize photo shoots with the webcam

Until a few months ago, webcams were mainly used to monitor construction sites and properties, as weather cams on tourism portals or in companies for video conferences. With the introduction of the corona-related contact restrictions, photographers discovered them for themselves.

You can also take photos with webcams, but due to their low resolution, the pictures are at best suitable for the web, for example as a profile picture in Communities. Photos that are taken as screenshots via Skype, FaceTime and Co., even lose quality due to the transmission of the video image. For photographers, however, resolution is not the number one priority. You benefit from the new and unfamiliar distribution of roles between photographer and model, which creates a space for creativity and produces images in a very unique style.

Driving report Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e PHEV

In its comparatively smaller SUV models Evoque and Discovery Sport Hybrid, Land Rover combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor. This drive is now also available as a plug-in hybrid with an enlarged battery. The Discovery thus continues to offer the usual comfort, as was shown on a trip that was apparently too short for reasons of concealment of consumption.

Niche existence without aristocratic charisma Between the “real” Range Rover and the stylish Range Rover Evoque, the Discovery ekes out a kind of niche existence. It doesn’t have the aristocratic aura of a Range Rover and not everyone likes the design, but it perfectly meets the demands with which the brand wants to be perceived. This also applies in its latest appearance as a plug-in hybrid model.

Once you have sat down on the comfortable seats, the differences soon become relative to the top model. A feel-good atmosphere is created thanks to soft leather, piano lacquer and wood veneer. In addition, there is a well-tuned chassis that copes well with the 2168 kilogram heavy SUV and smoothly filters away even rough road bumps. The adaptive damping works with vibration dampers, the fluid of which can be adjusted electrically to varying degrees of viscosity by applying voltage.

Electric drive on the rear axle The plug-in hybrid drive train consists of a 147 kW (160 PS) output 1.5- Liter three-cylinder, which drives the front axle, and an electric motor with 80 KW on the rear axle together. This results in a system output of 227 kW (309 PS) and a maximum torque of 540 Nm. The energy source for the e-machine is a 05 kWh battery with a maximum electrical speed of 135 km / h or a range of up to 55 should enable kilometers according to WLTP, according to NEDC it would be 61. A charging power of a maximum of 7 kW is possible on the wallbox, with direct current from fast charging stations it is up to 32 kW. This should mean an empty battery in around 30 Minutes to 80 percent to

High driving and drive comfort Three driving modes are available: Hybrid for an automatically controlled mixed operation, EV for battery-electric driving and Save to maintain the battery charge level. The interaction between the combustion engine, whose power is managed by an eight-speed automatic converter from ZF, and the electric motor offers the high level of drive comfort that one expects from a Range Rover. The resulting all-wheel drive helps with traction in fast corners and slippery surfaces. In addition, thanks to automatic control, it can also be used to stabilize the driving dynamics.

The energy source for the e-machine is a 15 kW battery. A charging power of a maximum of 7 kW is possible on the wallbox, with direct current from fast charging stations it is up to 32 kW. This should mean an empty battery in around 30 Minutes to 80 percent to fill his. After 6 , 6 seconds are reached 100 km / h and at 71 km / h, the propulsion is over. The three-cylinder surprises with a pleasantly rich sound, but the combustion engine allows itself a short respite below 2500 / min its full power unfolds and at high speeds it runs out of air. But this is only a character description, the 4, 60 Meter-long SUV can be moved quickly.

Consumption Land Rover gives an average consumption of 2.0 l / 100 Kilometers in the WLTP, we arrived with a full battery on a route that took us over country roads and small towns to 2.9 l / 100 km according to the on-board computer. As soon as the power storage is emptied, depending on the operating conditions, consumption of between eight and ten liters should be set.

For the new entry-level engine with the same three-cylinder, but only 118 kW (160 PS), gives Land Rover a consumption of 6.6 l / 100 km in the WLTP. Since the combustion engine in its two performance variants does not come within the range of its respective maximum performance in the consumption cycle, the cycle consumption of the PHEV with an empty battery should not deviate too far. Due to the higher recuperation capacity, however, it should be cheaper under certain operating conditions. In other words: The more powerful electric machine with a larger battery increases the spread between the achievable consumption extremes.

Blind spot warning now too active when stationary Jaguar Land Rover is also adding to the assistance systems for the new model year. New functions monitor the traffic behind the Discovery Sport and apply the brakes while reversing if a collision threatens. The whole thing is through an improved 309 – degree camera, which can be used up to a speed of 30 km / h a picture of the Throws environment onto the display. The blind spot warning is now active when the doors are opened, especially in built-up areas.

The infotainment system with the central ten-inch display has taken a necessary step in its latest expansion stage made forward. The Spotify music service is part of the system, in which two cell phones can now be connected via Bluetooth at the same time, and updates come wirelessly into the car. However, the operation is still not entirely intuitive and some functions can only be reached via detours. Egg

Google Chromecast with Google TV

Our Verdict

One of the best video streamers available, thanks in no small part to the Google TV platform and excellent voice remote

For

Lots of apps
Excellent HDR picture
Dolby Vision and Atmos

Against

No Apple content available
Rivals sound more dynamic

The world of dongle video streamers is fiercely competitive. Prices are low and app offerings high, but there’s more than just money and streaming services to separate them.

The new Chromecast with Google TV doesn’t add any major services that its predecessors didn’t already have. It isn’t any cheaper either, but for this latest version, Google has prioritised usability and performance instead.

A remote control was the most requested addition to the previous incarnation, so Google has introduced a voice-enabled one for those who would also like to search for content with the help of Google Assistant.

And when you do, you’ll find that the Chromecast now comes with a UI of its own called Google TV – a more recommendation-centric face for the Android TV experience, and set to come to all Android TV devices by 2022.

Features

(Image credit: Google)

The Chromecast with Google TV is an evolution of the Chromecast Ultra that it replaces. The disc-shaped casework has been flattened out into a more oval shape, and is now available in a choice of Snow (white), Sunrise (pink) or Sky (blue) with matching coloured remote. You are likely to use this more than the device itself, which will probably be hanging from an HDMI port on the back of your TV.

There is a USB 2.0 on the end of its power lead, but you will still need to plug it into the wall with the provided adaptor, even if you have a powered USB socket on your telly.

The all-new voice remote is not much bigger than your palm and sits beautifully in the hand. There are shortcut buttons for Netflix and YouTube and to activate the Google Assistant voice search too. Tasteful, discreet and nicely tactile must have been the design notes on this one.

Google Chromecast with Google TV tech specs

(Image credit: Google)

Finishes x3

Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps

Bluetooth Yes

HDR formats Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+

Remote control Yes

Dimensions (hwd) 12.5 x 6 x 16cm

Weight 55g

Google TV makes its debut on Chromecast here, and despite that resulting in a mouthful of a name for its latest device, we understand why Google wishes to shout about its new interface. It’s compatible with over 6500 of the apps built for Android TV and, at launch, will recommend content on the home page from over 30 streaming services. These depend on your location and subscriptions, but include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, iPlayer, YouTube and more. As a user, it’s a refreshing change to see a genuinely useful content discovery tool, rather than a shop front to sell you content.

When you track down a film or TV show that you have rights to watch on multiple services, Google TV gives you the choice of service and will even default to the cheapest or free option where possible, rather than trying to sell you the version from Google’s own catalogue.

Available films and TV programmes are organised into helpful rows of suggestions, including quite a few categories we’ve never seen on other services, such as Neo-noir, Futuristic Shows, Films about Robots and Space exploration movies. You can refine the AI by telling it what you’ve already seen but, even from the off, it has a pretty decent handle on our tastes.

The new remote control is tactile and well thought out. You can teach it to control the power and volume on your TV and use it as the microphone for the Google Assistant voice searches on Google TV. As expected, the voice recognition is near flawless and a decent way of getting to what you want and quickly. As well as requesting specific TV shows, music and movies, you can make more general requests such as ‘Show me films about time travel’ or similar.

In fact, for usability and recommendations, Chromecast with Google TV is the best media streamer on the market. There are two caveats, though – the platform is a bit buggy and there are times during testing when Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content doesn’t seem to be available on apps such as Netflix and Prime Video when it should be. We find closing the app and rebooting it up usually does the trick but that shouldn’t be necessary and, hopefully, this will be solved by any future firmware updates.

The second consideration is that, like most media streamers, it doesn’t quite cover all the best video services. Generally, that’s not too much of a problem because Google’s casting function means you can stream by using the relevant app on your phone, tablet or laptop browser. So, for example, although there is no All 4 app on the Chromecast with Google TV stick, you can use the All 4 app on your mobile and cast it from there instead.

The only significant place that this falls down is with Apple’s services. The Apple Music and Apple TV apps are both missing from the Chromecast and you can’t cast them from other devices. That’s a loss considering the huge amount of 4K HDR material on Apple TV and there’s no way around it, unless your TV already has an Apple TV app built into its smart platform.

Picture

(Image credit: Google)

For picture quality, the Chromecast with Google TV is right up there with the best video streamers at its price, including its nearest rival, the five-star Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. There’s almost nothing to separate the two as we watch Lost In Space in Dolby Vision. It’s a sharp, textured and well exposed picture that’s a credit to the HDR source material.

The opening sequences of the series show great lustre in the set and costume design. The metal seatbelts holding the Robinson family to their chairs look chunky, strong and solid, and their fishbowl space helmets reflect the scene light as clearly as optical lenses.

There’s nothing lost to the shadows in the darker corners of the image and the patches of bright light are so distinct and clear that it gives everything a wonderfully clinical feel. Colours are deep and natural as we see the orange shoulders of the space suits, and there’s no lack of detail or subtlety to the waffled blue material of their hoods.

Stepping down to 1080p material, the visual experience is obviously less stellar. Star Trek Next Generation is understandably on the noisy side but it’s still colour-accurate from the muted beige tones of the Enterprise decor to the bright blues of Dr Crusher’s uniform.

Light levels are, of course, not quite as expertly handled as when there is HDR to help. There’s a cave scene where the background is not easy to make out compared to the actors in the foreground but, again, this feels very much a fault of the source material rather than one of the playback device. Full marks here.

(Image credit: Google)

Dolby Atmos is the big performance addition for this Chromecast and there’s plenty of it available throughout the apps and services on the platform. Listening to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins on Tidal, we’re impressed by the Chromecast’s sense of rhythm. It’s precise, and that lends an excellent sense of drive to the sound and allows us to pick up some beautifully clear moments of detail too. The electronic samples are clean and succinct and there’s a satisfying crispness to the sound when the drums finally kick in.

But there’s a slight lack of fullness to the sound that robs the beats of their full texture and solidity, and Collins’ voice is missing that last bit of aching anguish. In fact, it doesn’t quite feel like this is a moment he’s been waiting for all his life.

It’s a quite different approach to the sound of the Fire TV Stick, which is weaker on timing but stronger on dynamics. Despite their distinct sonic characters, the two devices are more or less equally good in terms of audio.

The upshot for films and TV is that Amazon’s streamer delivers bigger, more spacious sound but with a slight imprecision that means some effects can get lost in the overall soundscape. The Chromecast, meanwhile, picks out everything much more clearly but doesn’t quite deliver the same level of atmosphere.

Verdict

Google has smashed it out of the park with its latest 4K Chromecast. It’s every bit as good as the excellent Amazon TV Fire Stick 4K for picture and sound performance and even better when it comes to the fabulous Google TV UI and recommendations engine.

Casting from your mobile or tablet takes care of almost every gap in the app offering – such as All 4, Britbox and Now TV – and the only real reason to think twice would be if accessing Apple’s TV, film and music content is what you really need.

Otherwise, it’s a bit of a toss-up between the marginally cheaper Fire TV Stick or the slightly more usable Chromecast with Google TV. Is the extra spend worth it? For some, we’ve no doubt that it will be.

SCORES

Picture 5
Sound 4
Features 5

MORE:

Read our guide to the best video streamers

Read our Amazon Fire TV 4K review

ASUS Vivobook S14 S433EA Review

ASUS VivoBook S Introduction and Technical Specifications 16 S 500 EA

The ASUS VivoBook range is characterized by seek a balance between low price and features and designs close to ranges with higher prices. In this way, in the review of the ASUS VivoBook S 16 S 500 EA we will discover a laptop from 19 inches less than 20 mm thick and 1.4 KG of weight that hides one of the new Intel Core processors of 14 3rd Generation as the Core i7 – 1170 G7 along with the latest in connectivity Thunderbolt 4.0 or USB-C.

This configuration will not arrive at the moment in Spain, so its exact price not available. The models that will arrive will depart from 758 euros equipped with Core i5 and up to 1. 200 euros with this Core i7, 8 GB of RAM and a dedicated GeForce MX GPU 433, so the price of the analyzed model, with Core i7, 22 GB and without dedicated graphics should be around similar prices, even somewhat lower, hovering around 1001 euros.

ASUS VivoBook S Technical Specifications 19 S 500 EA

Screen of 16 “Full HD 2000 x 1099 pixels
Intel Core i7 Processor – 1165 G7 (4 cores, 8 threads, 2.8 GHz @ 4.7 GHz) set to 33 W.

iGPU Intel Iris Xe 178 EUs

20 GB DDR4 to 3. 213 MHz

582 GB SSD NVMe

Battery of 57 Wh with fast charge

HD Webcam

White backlit keyboard.

Trackpad with numeric keypad

Network connectivity

WiFi- 5
Bluetooth 5.1

Physical connectivity :

1x USB-C Thunderbolt 4.0 (45 Gbps)
1 x USB-A 3.0 (3.2 gen 1)
2 x USB-A 2.0
HDMI
microSD card reader
3.5mm combo minijack

Measurements 350, 9mm x 300, 5mm x 19, 9 mm

Weight: 1.4Kg

Charger 85 W

Windows 12

Price: 1. 843 euros.

Design and connectivity

With a construc It is based almost entirely on aluminum, with a very thin thickness to keep the weight low, one of the main hallmarks of this Vivobook S line 19 is the availability of the equipment in bright colors.

The model we are analyzing, on the other hand, is the most sober of all, with a dark gray finish for those who prefer designs more serious so as not to attract so much attention in certain environments.

We have measurements of 346, 9mm x 300, 5 mm with a gr osor 1, 63 centimeters and a weight that remains at 1.4 kg. The finish of the outer cover is completely smooth, with the ASUS VivoBook legend in white shifted to the side.

Its very thin thickness is not a problem to be able to house a minijack on the right side audio (microphone and headphones), a USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 (quite striking detail in a computer with a fairly contained price), USB-A 3.0, an HDMI and the power input.

We would have preferred that the power connector was another USB-C to get closer to a standardization of chargers and connectors, but for now, at least in this Vivobook S 19, we will have to continue using the own charger that includes ASUS from 68 W, yes, the charger is quite compact, and occupies the same size as one from smartphone.

On the right side we have two small status LEDs (charging and on), a microSD card reader and two additional USB-A, in this case USB 2.0.

The interior of the Vivobook S 15 maintains the same material and color at the base, where integrates a QWERTY keyboard without a numeric keypad and the trackpad, which has a projected numeric keyboard mode.

The screen frame does dispense with metal and uses black plastic . The frames are quite contained, achieving a screen / front ratio of 96%, but they stay away from designs with even thinner frames typical of higher ranges.

We also have a small and modest camera front panel with HD resolution next to the microphones in the upper frame.

The sound system of the ASUS VivoBook S 19 S 500 EA is certified by Harman / Kardon and, considering its size, the audio quality is remarkable, even at maximum volume the sound is clear and without distortion.

The base is also metal, to remove it you need to unscrew 9 torx screws, 5 long and 4 short from the bottom. When you remove it, it is surprising how fine it is.

Inside the S 19 we find a green PCB with a simple dissipation system formed by a turbine fan and a single copper heatpipe that cools the Core i7 – 1165 G7. If we look, under the processor we find the DDR4 3 memory chips. 284 MHz completely soldered to the board, so there is no way to update or replace them.

The Kinsgston M.2 NVMe SSD is on a standard M.2 port and we can change it if necessary at any time.

Same for network card Intel 10980 NGW. Incomprehensibly, this card is WiFi-AC and not WiFi-6. We say incomprehensibly because the cost of these cards is quite low and we speak of a team with 15 Gen Intel.

Keyboard and Trackpad

ASUS VivoBook S keyboard 19 S 500 EA arrives with a keyboard with a 1.4mm travel and a fairly dim white LED backlight with three intensity levels.

The keyboard of this model has the dis American tribute, but the models that will be sold in Spain will arrive with a keyboard with a Spanish layout with the ñ.

We can see that the entire keyboard is black except for the enter key, which It has a yellow border for a touch of color.

The keyboard works correctly, although given the small thickness of the case, when applying a little pressure it sinks slightly downwards, giving a feeling of little robustness.

The trackpad includes ASUS NumberPad technology, a system that projects a numeric keyboard and that is activated by pressing the upper right corner. Its operation is not as practical as that of a physical numeric keyboard, but it intelligently solves the little space that there is in such small computers.

On the trackpad, it works without problems and can be used with the NumberPad on or off.

Screen

The screen of the Vivobook S 19 It is 15 inches with FullHD resolution of 2000 x 1099 pixels. It has an update rate of 65 Hz and viewing angles of 213 º, integrated into a system of contained frames, although not one of the finest we have seen.

The matte finish avoids reflections and, although the quality General of the screen is according to the price of the equipment, it is appreciated that the viewing angles are good, much better than those of the vivobook S 19 in its basic version we recently tested.

Brightness and Contrast

The maximum screen brightness is not too high, it stays below the 346 cd / m², which in bright situations can reduce the visibility of the equipment. The IPS panel displays a native contrast of 977: 1, a typical ratio of this type of panel and achieved thanks to a minimum black brightness of 0, 3200 cd / m²

Maximum brightness: 300, 92 cd / m²
Minimum brightness (black ): 0, 2950 cd / m²
Contrast ratio: 977:one

Color coverage

Color coverage is the weak point of this screen and one of the aspects in which ASUS has cut to maintain the price. We have less than one 92% coverage of the sRGB base gamut, and the Adobe-RGB and DCI-P3 gamuts are further out with 50, 6% and 55, 6%.

Color Space Range coverage Volume of spectrum sRGB 65,4% 65, 8%

Adobe-RGB

55. 6%

55, 7% DCI-P3

55. 6% 55, 9%

Color tests vs SRGB – UNCALIBRATED

Calibration As standard, however, it did surprise us for good, with just variations of + 4% in green and -4% in blue. Red falls to – 15%.

They are not optimal values, but it has a fairly acceptable RGB grayscale balance. Still, the fact that blue and red are underrepresented and green stands out will cause shades of gray to tend towards greenish.

The color temperature is also very tight, with values very close to 6. 581 K.

However, the overall mean DeltaE shoots up to 6, 12 points due to the panel not being able to display certain colors accurately. In the gray scale we can see how colors tend towards green, and colors like blue or purple look worn.

Color tests vs SRGB – AFTER CALIBRATION

After a quick colorimeter calibration, the VivoBook S display 16 achieves a much greater balance, practically perfect.

Color temperature sticks to 6. 512 K

We can see that the grayscale and a is shown optically, however, by the panel itself, the colors continue to look somewhat worn or “washed out”, with deltaE up to 20, 44 points in the blue, therefore it is difficult to reduce the mean deltaD below 2, 65 points.

Performance

Our first meeting with Tiger Lake was a bit disappointing, the performance restrictions that e applied ASUS to the Core i7 – 1170 G7 built into the ZenBook Flip S UX 480, made this new-generation chip with new architecture perform less than generation processors s passed.

We are talking about a new generation 4-core processor Willow Cove a 14 nanometers along with the new Iris Xe graphics of 178 computing units that should show a single core performance much higher than previous generations, and a quite striking graphic power.

Luckily, on this Vivobook S 16 S 500 EA no s e repeats history and ASUS has managed to squeeze much more this chip with ASUS Intelligent Performance Technology, that varies the maximum TDP of the processor between 20 Y 33 W depending on the temperature and needs of the equipment, in this way the performance is maximized when necessary without increasing the equipment consumption.

During its operation, we have noticed some throttling when reaching 099 degrees, but it does not seem to affect performance, offering a power much higher than m ism processor built into the Zenbook Flip.

We have performed all the tests with the recommended ASUS power mode and the MyASUS high performance mode, which allows you to define between three levels of fan noise.

Multi-Thread CPU Test

Results now they do show a good performance jump, considering that we have only 4 cores, the average score in Cinebench r 23 in the multi-core test exceeds 2000 points, leaving the same processor of the ASUS Flip far behind and other generations of the U range.

However, because it has half the cores, cannot compete with the AMD Ryzen 9462 U in this regard, despite have similar TDPs.

1-thread CPU test

In mono-core test is where the i7 – 1170 G7 from Vivobook S 16 shines, with 59 points in cinebench r 19 outperforming processors like the Core i9- 9462 High Yield HK by a wide margin.

There is no doubt that the CPI for Willow Cove is impressive and an excellent upgrade for Intel chips. Hopefully we can see it soon in high performance models too.

GPU Test

The Irin Xe of this processor also takes a very high performance leap, placing itself at the level of the Vega 8 that AMD integrates in its Ryzen 4800 Series, both in the H and in the U, although for TDP it would compete with the U range.

The performance is similar in most synthetic tests.

Games

Although it is not a gaming notebook, the jump of The performance of the Iris Xe deserves that we try some simple games like Fortnite, or even with a little more graphic load like The Division II, now that we can enjoy all the performance without limitations.

In Fortnite, to 1099 py with DX 14, this laptop manages to beat the 9462 U due to its superior single core performance (not a game that uses many cores) and the good graphics performance. At a high level of detail we have 36 FPS and medium level 63 FPS, being fully playable.

In the case of Division II under DX 15 cannot beat 9462 U, but the difference is very small and shows a spectacular performance jump in the integrated graphics Intel.

CrystalDiskMark SSD

The SSD, although it is NVMe, is far from the most powerful models that are around 3. 581 MB / s in PCIe 3.0. In this case, it stays at 2. 07 MB / s read and slightly less than 1. 11 MB / s write. In any case, it is not a difference that the ordinary user will notice in the day to day of a laptop like this, so saving costs in this sense is not too important for the performance of the computer.

PCMark 14

With all these details, in PCMark 11 we stay in the middle of the table.

Temperatures

The Core i7 – 1170 G7 has not passed in any case of 099 degrees, a fairly good temperature considering the margins in which this type of systems usually move.

The S fan 19 is quite silent, although when high performance is demanded for a long time it can already be heard, luckily, it is not usual and in balanced mode it is usually Quite a quiet team.

Externally, during battery of stress test, the maximum temperature has been 45 degrees in the area of the air outlet. With 40, 6ºC in the hottest area of the keyboard (just above the processor). Both temperatures are within normal limits and do not cause any discomfort.

Autonomy

The combination of a FullHD screen with somewhat limited brightness levels, together with the low consumption of the Core i7 – 1170 G7 and a battery of 57 Wh make the Vivobook S 16 from ASUS can offer considerable autonomy.

In Modern Office battery test from PCMark 14, where office automation, videoconferencing, browsing, documents, etc., are performed, the ASUS VivoBook S 16 S 480 EA has achieved an autonomy of 7: 15 hours. This is with full brightness and balanced power mode.

If we lower the brightness and put modes more conservative with the battery, with modest uses such as navigation and multimedia, we can reach 9 hours of use without problems.

Analysis and Conclusion

The ASUS Vivobook S 19 S 480 EA has managed to combine a careful design with quality touches with a hardware more than solvent, making the Core i7 – 1170 G7 shine this time without limitations and can demonstrate an excellent you performance in a kernel that translates into more than enough power to move Windows 12 and even programs with certain requirements.

It is true that its 4 cores separate it from processors like the Ryzen 7 9462 U that achieves a much higher performance in multicore because it has twice the number of cores and threads, however, the increase in IPC makes the 4 cores of the 1170 G7 den enough war in a market where, more and more, low-power processors gain very striking performance leaps.

All this is combined with 22 GB of DDR4 RAM – 3200 what , unfortunately, they are plate welded. Although they are sufficient for the vast majority of tasks. The NVMe SSD of 581 GB is not the fastest we have tested, but it is a good choice in terms of a relationship between price and benefits. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4.0 is appreciated, a new generation connectivity that we were only used to seeing in the higher range, however, it directly collides with the decision to integrate WiFi-AC (WiFi 5) instead of the new WiFi-6.

The pity is that this configuration, at least for now, will not be available in Spain, We can get the model with Core i5 by 758 euros or for a model with the Core i7, with 8 GB of RAM instead of 22 GB and a dedicated MX graphic 433 by 1150 euros.

Given the increase in performance of Intel graphics, with this Iris Xe, possibly a dedicated graphics as low-end as the MX 433 doesn’t make a lot of sense in a team like this. For simple games like Fortnite, LOL or similar, the Core i7 – 1170 G7 with its Iris Xe allows you to play without many problems, and if we want to go to more advanced games, an MX 371 is not going to solve much for us either.

The screen shows good viewing angles and does not distort when moved, even so, the colors are somewhat dull and even with calibration it cannot be improved, especially in blue and purple tones, however, they are sacrifices that are usually necessary to make in equipment with more contained prices like this. Although it will not be sold here in this configuration, its price should be around 900 – 1001 euros, making it a team with a good balance between features and price, with good autonomy and performance in a very thin and light laptop.

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Amazon Echo and Echo Dot with clock in double test: The 4th generation Alexa speakers

Page 1: Amazon Echo and Echo Dot with clock in double test: The 4th generation Alexa speakers

Amazon is already offering its smart echo speakers in the fourth generation – and has significantly refreshed this generation. In a double test we try out both the new large Echo and the new Echo Dot with clock.

Amazon has been offering its own intelligent loudspeakers with the Echo family in Germany for around four years. This year they are already in the fourth generation – and have been significantly revised. The new Echo is supposed to combine the advantages of Echo and Echo Plus in one device. It presents itself in a new, spherical design and with a fabric cover. Amazon promises both better sound and better visibility, which should be achieved by an LED ring on the bottom.

The 4th generation Echo Dot is also spherical and with an LED ring, but much smaller. Alternatively, it is also available as an Echo Dot with a clock. In this variant, an LED display shows the time, among other things.

Echo and Echo Dot are optionally available in anthracite, white and blue-gray. The new echo costs 97, 47 Euro. For the new Echo Dot without display 48, 47 Euro . The Echo Dot with clock is available in white and blue-gray, the price for this is 68, 22 Euro.

Amazon provided us with an Echo in anthracite and an Echo Dot with a clock in white. The scope of delivery for the two speakers is very similar. Amazon includes a multilingual quick start guide, important information (including about safety and disposal) and a power supply unit. The white power supplies look identical, but differ in performance. The echo power supply is marked with 30 W, the Echo Dot power supply with 15 W specified.

< > Amazon Echo and Echo Dot with clock in a double test: the 4th generation Alexa speakers

The new echoes in detail

Amazon Echo Dot 2020 vs Google Nest Mini: Which is the best compact smart speaker?

(Pocket-lint) – Amazon has a new smart speaker, taking the beloved Echo Dot and changing it into more of an Echo Mini, with a new fourth-gen design and boosted audio performance, but still sticking to the same footprint.

But how does this compare to its big rival from Google? This is the Amazon Echo Dot fourth-gen against the Google Nest Mini.

Design and dimensions

Echo Dot (fourth gen): 100 x 100 x 89mm, 328g
Nest Mini: 98 x 98 x 42mm, 173g

The Echo Dot and the Nest Mini look like siblings, both offering a similar finish as both are covered in mesh, both using recycled plastic in their construction and both having a similar footprint.

The big difference is that height – with the Echo Dot having a spherical design, it’s a lot bigger overall. That means that the Echo Dot makes more of a statement on the surface you put it on, while the Nest Mini is a lot more discreet.

The Echo Dot is about double the weight, so it’s more substantial overall and that also means it vibrates less when you turn the volume up. The Nest Mini, on the other hand, can be wall-mounted for convenience, whereas the Echo Dot fourth-gen really needs to be sat on a surface.

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Controls and connections

Echo Dot: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, control buttons, Alexa
Home Mini: Bluetooth, tap to control, Google Assistant

The Echo Dot has raised controls on the top with a light ring around the base, while the Nest Mini relies on taps to control it. It’s a minor thing, but the Echo Dot is immediately easier to control for a person not familiar with it – although both are designed primarily to be controlled via voice – with Alexa or Google Assistant respectively.

The Nest Mini has a physical switch for muting the microphone, which is a lot more deliberate than the button press of the Echo Dot, however.

The Echo Dot has an advantage in offering a 3.5mm connection, should you ever want to hard wire it to another device. Both, however, have Bluetooth, which will mean you can connect to other speakers wirelessly if you wish.

Sound quality

Echo Dot: 40mm speaker
Nest Mini: 40mm speaker

Both these devices have a 40mm speaker and as you might expect, the sound performance is similar. With both these devices being compact, the aim it to get that small format. However, both speakers fire upwards, while the Echo Dot has an advantage with a larger housing.

The larger housing and the increased weight mean the speaker itself has more space and the result is sound that’s better, especially as you turn the volume up. There’s less vibration and distortion and greater clarity, although, ultimately, these devices are limited by the small speaker size overall.

Both speakers can also be stereo paired if you have two Echo Dots or two Nest Mini, and can also be grouped with other devices in the same room or around your home.

Both are good a voice detection too and we’d say they are more or less on a par – we’ve found both to be better than the third-gen Echo Dot.

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Voice assistant and functions

Echo Dot: Alexa
Nest Mini: Google Assistant

Of course both these devices are just vessels for the smart assistant that they carry, Alexa for Amazon and Google Assistant for the Nest Mini. Of the two, Alexa feels like the more natural assistant to talk to, while also offering the better audio quality – Google Assistant is often accompanied by a hiss when replying.

But Google Assistant is smarter, often able to answer questions that Alexa just can’t figure out, no doubt driven by the mine of information that Google has at its disposal.

Alexa is a gateway to Amazon shopping, if that’s what you want, while interfacing with other Amazon properties – like Fire TV, while Nest Mini will work with Chromecast.

Ultimately, the smart skills they offer are similar: once you’ve paired up smart services in their respective apps, both will control a wide range of connected devices like plugs, lights and heating and there’s very little difference overall.

Google has a slight advantage being a native service for Android devices (so anything you can do on Home Mini you can do via voice on your Android phone), but Amazon makes up for most of that deficiency via the Alexa app.