Fractal Design is one of the most established brands with a reputation for feature-rich and top-notch chassis that are really easy on the budget. Just like the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG, it comes with a tempered glass panel and we got ourselves the gunmetal color which looks really great and perfectly aesthetic.

This is the company’s latest Define R6 mid tower ATX case which we’ll be reviewing for you to give you an idea of how it works, its features, and if it’s something worth considering.

Fractal Design’s flagship chassis opens up a brand new design and style era for the FS. It’s really a very enticing and attractive chassis that displays excellent aluminum elements, power supply compartment for keeping your PSU, tempered glass, hidden SSD and drive cages, and it also lets you mount even the most extravagant 520-millimeter liquid cooling solutions around.

The Define R6 USB-C TG does all of that while providing excellent airflow as it simultaneously keeps the noise down.

Here, you can see that the company is back with a lot of cooling options; plus, they added a really cool and classy-looking design, aesthetics, and a really adequate size that’s enough to house most motherboards that are out today.

The chassis is designed with liquid cooling and airflow in mind to adequately serve even the most performance-oriented PC’s around. You’ll surely get all excited about its style, storage, the USB 3.0 options, as well as the built-in fan hub.

Before we get deeper into the Define R6 USB-C TG, let’s go ahead and first check out what’s inside the box.

Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG Review- What’s in the Box?

When we received our Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG, it literally came in this huge, simple, cardboard package that looks quite like a home appliance if you’re someone who has no idea about these products.

Back to the box, the front displays an illustration of the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG while the company’s name can be seen on the upper left corner of the box. The model’s name is on the upper right while below the illustration, you will see “tempered glass edition” written there.

The company also included their official website just in case you’d need to check out some details and information there. One the sides and the back of the package, there are various details about the device that you can quickly go through before unboxing.

Inside, you will find the Define R6 USB-C TG itself, together with the user manual and accessory box that includes all the necessary items and accessories for installation.

The Product

Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG Review

Out of the box, the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG is a really impressive and stunning chassis. And because of its design, it would be difficult to get your eyes off it. It’s obvious that it continues to retain a lot of its great aesthetics which we already loved on the earlier Define chassis.

But the thing is, having a considerable side panel made of tempered glass goes a really long way; and with that, gives the Define R6 a really slick, quality and high-end look. But what’s really clever about its design is that it does not sport any thumbscrews on its side panel for the present glass.

It makes use of a push peg mounting system, with just two screws located at the rear to secure and fix it in place. This gives it a cleaner and more appealing exterior compared to other similar products that are available today.

For its Moduvent top panel style, Fractal Design made sure to make it look super slick and classy. By default, the Define R6 USB-C TG is a sealed and fully soundproof panel; however, you’ll be able to completely open this and leave the mesh ventilation portion in place to have extra airflow for the unit.

Of course, you’ll still need to remove its cover if you plan to mount radiators at the top. But really, the choice is all yours and it depends on your preferences.

If you just look at the front panel, it would be a bit tricky to distinguish the Define R6 USB-C TG from its predecessors. This is because it still sports the trademark solid and sturdy front-door panel which is made using a nice aluminum finish.

The 5.2-in drive support has been dropped to a single bay; however, it is available if you ever need this for a fan controller or optical drive. Though what’s great about the Define R6 USB-C TG is that it also has the new PWM fan hub included.

The most visible changes to the style of the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG is its side panel tempered glass. This actually makes a lot of sense since it has been the biggest and most popular industry trend since the past couple of years.

Fractal Design functions a bit differently compared to other brands elsewhere, yet they made this chassis with a pop-in style that makes screws an optional element. The cases under the Define series were already really clean, classy, and simple when it comes to its exterior, and the implementation of the side panel made of glass perfectly fits this aesthetic.

Behind the adequately insulated door panel, you will find a pair of 140-millimeter intake fans that have a removable filter there. It also features a single 5.25-inch drive bay which is definitely great too. The top I / O provides you with the basics: a 3.5-millimeter audio, 2 pairs of 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports, plus the power / reset buttons.

Along the back, you will see a number of other differences the Define R6 USB-C TG has compared to the Define R5. This current chassis comes with a pair of upright PCI-e slots for substitute GPU mounting. You’ll also find a button on the upper left portion which functions as the release for the latest 3rd Gen “Modu-Vent” upper vent panel.

The panel lifts up then out with ease; plus, it can also be altered from a solid to an open panel with a max filter.

When it comes to the bottom part of the case, it continues to offer a full filter, and the case is fixed on a total of 4 rubber-tipped feet. For its looks, it’s really quite nice with the tempered glass combined with the gunmetal color that we chose.

Plus, the HDD and PSU compartments make it even better. With its glass side panel, you’ll get to check on your hardware while not really having to bother with any of the plastic see-through window.

Interior

Let’s talk about its interior. With its side panel dislodged, you’ll finally get to take a look at this really clean and neat looking interior of the chassis. It makes use of a dividing wall right on the front to help conceal the front ventilation, cooling, and storage mounts.

This will provide you with a nicer and cleaner overall finish. It’s really nice since it also comes with a removable panel, so if you choose to open the chassis, you can certainly do this as well.

Further improving the clean finish is the Define R6’s integrated PSU shroud; and not only that, it also comes with a lot of ventilation to ensure proper cooling for the system despite being a tightly-sealed chassis.

All cables will be hidden so you can expect a really neat and organized look which is something that we really want when it comes to building our rig. Plus, it also comes with a big routing grommet located at the back of the chassis that’s for your motherboard’s cables as well.

There’s an extra fan included and it makes for a perfect addition to the Define R6 USB-C TG since its black finish adds more visual appeal to the product. There’s a lot of room behind the wall, with drive mounts made of metal that you can easily remove whenever you’ll need additional space.

At the back, you’ll notice that the rear section of the Define R6 USB-C TG is probably the cleanest we’ve seen since its drive mounts fit from a single side to avoid compromising the front-cooling support. It also allows full-height radiators no matter the number of hard drives you have installed.

When it comes to the cooling for cable routing, it’s just as tidy and neat; this is all thanks to the fan’s hub. By utilizing this, you’ll have lesser cables running towards the motherboard, thus, keeping everything neat, clean, and organized which leaves your system looking cool.

If you’re planning to mount additional 2.5-inch drives, you’ll get to benefit from the stealth mounts that are available. We really liked that these are very nicely designed, even if you won’t really get to see them once you set the panel back in its place.

Product Features

New and Improved Design

The Define R6’s innovative design is the company’s latest and largest step in the renowned Define Series. It features scratch-resistant tempered glass and a bolt-free mounting system for you to enjoy a flawless view and total ease of access. There are also optional thumbscrews included for additional security when you transport the chassis. Aside from those, the Define R6 comes with dampened steel panels that encase a completely redesigned interior.

Added Storage

The interior of the Define R6 comes with additional storage capability, nine fan mounts, 420-millimeter radiator support, and a PWM fan hub. This makes the case the best choice for building your ideal water loop.

Moduvent Technology

The enhanced third-generation Moduvent Technology allows easy alteration from metal-clad sound dampened top panel to filtered multi-fan ventilation with high airflow. The new Define R6 improved its timeless elegant form and silent modular operation with these new features to meet the needs and requisites of the most demanding hardware enthusiasts.

Modular Storage Plate

The Modular Storage Plates allows you to simply convert between Open Layout or Standard Layout. Open Layout is for extreme water cooling support and clear airflow paths, while the Standard Layout is for maximizing storage capacity.

Specifications

The Define R6 USB-C TG has a total of 6 universal drive brackets, 2 dedicated 2.5-inch drive brackets, and a removable dedicated 5.25-inch drive bracket. There are 7 + 2 vertical expansion slots and is compatible with ATX, ITX, mATX, and BATX (of up to 285 millimeters wide) motherboards; also, it makes use of the ATX power supply type.

Front ports that are available for the Define R6 USB-C TG include the audio I / O, 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C. For the mounts, there are a total of 9 fan mounts; it makes use of a 3 x 120 millimeter or 2 x 140 millimeter front fan while the rear is 1 x 120 / 140 millimeters. For the bottom fan, it is  2 x 120 / 140 millimeters.

The bottom fan and PSU have dust filters while its front radiator is 120 / 240 / 360 millimeters. The standard layout of the top fan is 3 x 120 or 2 x 140, and its open layout is 3 x 120 / 140 millimeters. The top radiator’s standard layout is 120 / 240 / 140 / 360 millimeters and its open layout is 120 / 240 / 360 millimeters. For its rear, it is a 120 millimeter radiator while the bottom radiator is 120 / 240 millimeters.

The maximum PSU length is 300 millimeters while the GPU’s maximum length is at 440 millimeters with the mounted front fan. For the standard layout, its total width for graphics cards that are longer than 300 millimeters is 155 millimeters with the power connectors. Maximum height of the CPU cooler is 185 millimeters while its cable routing space is 185 millimeters. Cable routing space is 23 millimeters while captive thumbscrews are the SSD and HDD brackets.

For the Define R6 USB-C TG’s dimensions, it is 543 x 233 x 465 millimeters (L x W x H). Without the feet, the Define R6’s dimensions are 535 x 233 x 448 millimeters. Its’ total weight is 12.4 kilograms.

Using the Product

We had to see if the Define R6 USB-C TG’s performance and installation process would be great, so you can easily figure out if this is something you’d want for building your rig. Let’s start off with its installation.

When it comes to the installation process of the Define R6, we can say that it’s really easy and straightforward. And for the most part, it was really easy to work with which is really great. It doesn’t matter if you choose to install this first since it will work and function adequately in the end.

Establishing an excellent cable job was also very quick on the Define R6 USB-C TG. These are all properly positioned for routing cables, whether they’re from your hard drive or power supply, also, it sports the right rubber grommets for the vibration and looks dampening. These rubber grommets are clipped and fixed in place to keep them secure at all times.

One of the great things about the chassis is its outstanding air intake mixed with extremely low noise levels. The fans function smoothly without noise, and you have to trust us when it comes to this, since we’re quite picky when it comes to PCs and parts making noise.

So overall, the noise is low and we really liked that about the Define R6 USB-C TG. The chassis also has really great temperature, so we can say that Fractal Design really did a good job with their Define R6 USB-C TG, making a winner that’s one of the best ATX cases available in the market right now.

We’re giving it two thumbs up and we highly recommend this chassis if you’re planning to build your own rig.

Conclusion

Most chassis brands today are jumping into the RGB and tempered glass for aesthetics, which has been the trend since 2017. This is the main difference of Fractal Design; the company did not follow the trend since you can use RGB components and add LED strips if you want these designs for your build. We think that it’s refreshing to see the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG with its basic yet elegant design.

What we really like with this chassis is that two SSDs can be hidden at the back side tray of the motherboard, but they can also be mounted in front at the PSU cover depending on your preference.

All in all, the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG is a feature-packed chassis with an attractive and stylish design. It can house huge graphics cards, power supplies, as well as a lot of SSDs and HDDs. The cable routing is excellent and it also comes with sound dampening materials and a fan HUB which proves that the R6 is truly a high-quality product.

With all of these features, we think that this is a great choice of PC case for your build. If you’re looking for a stylish chassis that can store almost all types of components, we highly recommend the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG for around $249 AUD from your local computer retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-27

5.0Overall Score

The post Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C TG Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

BenQ is one of the companies that produces a large number of PC monitors that range from budget to high-end models that are designed specifically for the pros.

Today, we’re going to focus on one of the gaming monitor’s from BenQ which is the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor. It is a 31.5-inch device that we’ve tried and tested for a couple of weeks to see if it’s a good device for a life of entertainment and enjoyment.

It looks great and has a great build, but does it perform just as well as its appearance? We’ll fill you in with all the necessary information about the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor and see if it’s something worth investing in.

BenQ EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor Review – What’s in the Box?

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor came to us in a huge cardboard package. All of the monitor’s features are clearly listed on the front portion, as well as on the sides of the package. When inspecting the front, you will see the Ex Series Curved Monitor written there, followed by the device’s model number and its 1800-R curvature beneath this.

On the sides of the package, you’ll find a couple of basic information regarding the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor such as the 32-inch monitor size, the model number, and all its features such as eye care, HDR, QHD 2560 x 1440, Low Blue Light Technology, Brightness Intelligence Plus, as well as the AMD Free Sync 2. BenQ also included the high quality cables that are thick and really nice to see.

As for the components within the box, these are all properly and separately packed to keep everything secure inside the package. Inside, you will find the 32-inch monitor that comes with the base / stand that’s pre-attached, a 1.8 meter power cord, two HDMI 2.0 cables, a USB Type C cable, and a quick start instructional guide including documentation on the CD ROM.

The company also included a cover which can be utilized to conceal all the cables that are placed behind the monitor. Aside from this, the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor comes in two well-protected and sturdy high density foams that act as shock absorbers, as well as plastic wraps to prevent any instances of accidental damages during transit.

Furthermore, the packaging is excellent, so we received the gaming monitor in perfect condition. BenQ definitely did a good job with their packaging so we’re already giving them a thumbs up for this.

The Product

BenQ EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor Review

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor sports a 31.5-inch panel in a 16:9 layout which makes for a pretty bold and huge physical presence. When we speak of the aesthetics, the EX3203R from BenQ is somewhat restrained by the standards of gaming peripherals.

But with its slim and sleek bezels along the sides of the LCD panel, plus a classy silver stand, it sure is a stunning affair that gives off a rather expensive feel to it.

Incidentally, the panel is a VA instead of an IPS which helps in color saturation and contrast. And quite interestingly, it works well when it comes to pixel response and viewing angles.

With that said, the company has equipped the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor with a refresh capability of 144Hz, as well as claims 4ms response capabilities, hence, its quick performance. This also supports the latest 2nd generation of AMD’s Free-Sync adaptive fresh technology which enhances support for wider color gamuts and HDR to the feature set of Free-Sync.

When it comes to its connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports available, and also a Display-Port which help guarantee that most of the bases that you have are covered. What makes this EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor even better is that it includes the USB C connectivity, allowing you to use single-cable connections for everything: from the image signal to its peripherals; it’s also possible for charging your laptops which makes it really convenient. It’s generally a very good port to have when it comes to future proofing as well.

The OSD and panel of the EX3203R  is easy to navigate and the buttons can be f underneath the monitor’s frame. The buttons are snappy yet easy to press so you can easily navigate from one option to another. The OSD menu shows four settings: Picture mode, Brightness mode, Contrast mode, and Customizations mode.

In Picture mode, you can choose between preset options but if you want, you can choose to customize your own profile. Brightness and Contrast modes are self-explanatory. For customization mode, this is where you will spend most of your time tweaking your monitor’s display. This is where you will find additional settings such as Display, Picture, Picture Advanced, Audio, and System.

The Display menu lets you choose from Input and PIP / PIB (picture-in-picture / picture-in-picture). PIP / PIB can be used for separating the screen into two parts; this allows you to view images from various signals. Input, on the other hand, will display whether you use DP, HDMI, or USB Type-C connectivity.

For picture section, you can adjust the screen’s brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpness, color temperature, reset color, and AMA. Most of these settings can be left as is but if ever you find yourself making a lot of modifications, you can easily reset everything to default.

Picture Advanced settings lets you tweak picture mode, low blue light, dynamic contrast, super resolution, color vibrance, display mode, overscan, HDMI RGB PC range, adjust by duration, B.I.+, and HDMI RGB PC range. Dynamic Contrast is for setting the monitor to automatically adjust picture brightness and detail. Super Resolution increases the pixel density of low-resolution content. Enabling HDR locks some of these settings and these cannot be tweaked until you deactivate HDR mode.

The system section is where you can tweak a variety of settings such as OSD settings, Input, Custom Keys 1 to 3, Configuration, DDC / CI, Auto-Switch, USB C Configuration, USB C Auto Switch, HDMI Auto Switch, Resolution Notice, Auto Power Off, Information, and Reset All.

The information option shows some basic information about the EX3203R such as the monitor model, HDR, input mode, refresh rate, and resolution.

Product Features

Hyper Realistic Video Quality + Display HDR 400

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor features one of the leading HDR technologies in this type of device, offering you improved contrast and brightness that adds outstanding details plus vividness to any HDR video content. The EX3203R from BenQ has successfully passed the first certification for HDR, guaranteeing optimal performance everytime.

The VESA Display HDR certification is the very first public qualifying testing protocol in the whole world. It is made to test the performance of HDR  monitors to ensure everyone that certified displays can perfectly render HDR content with stunning brightness & contrast, clearer dark details, deeper blacks, as well as true color tones for excellent gaming and video quality.

QHD Resolution Provides Ultra Clear & Vivid Images

With about twice as much pixel density of the FHD, the QFH’s 2560 x 1440 resolution can expose image details in high quality and extreme sharpness to further improve your gaming and visual enjoyment

Opt Clarity for Ultra Fine Details

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor brings HDR together with the Brightness Intelligence Plus to easily soften or brighten areas while simultaneously keeping the darker details crystal clear even if you’re in a dimly lit environment. So by mixing the HDR with the B.I. + mode, all the details will be clearly visible while also protecting your eyes while video streaming or gaming.

Massive Screen Size with Stunningly Beautiful Curvature

As the device surpasses today’s mainstream gaming monitors, the EX320R’s immersive 31.5-inch display easily captures your attention and with its 1800R curvature.

Slim Bezel Edge-to-Edge Display to Surround your Vision

The combination of ultra-slim bezels that have edge-to-edge panels allows multiple EX3203R to seamlessly connect and surround your vision. With that, you can experience a new perspective with no limits.

Multi-Platform Universal Connectivity

In addition to the USB Type-C port, the EX3203R  is fully equipped with multiple Display Port, USB 3.1, and HDMI ports. The gaming monitor hosts multimedia content from various sources that range from Blu-rays, gaming consoles, set-top boxes, as well as smart devices.

Less Eye Strain in All Lighting Environments

With BenQ’s Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology or B.I.+ Tech, the EX3203R detects color temperature and ambient brightness and automatically modifies the monitor’s display settings with soothing warm white for comfort and cool white for long periods of use.

Low Blue Light Technology

This feature is made for filtering harmful blue light out for eye fatigue and irritation to be reduced. You can easily switch to one out of four preset Low Blue Light modes from the OSD hotkey; the options include Web-surfing, Multimedia, Reading, and Office.

Eye Care Technology

BenQ developed Eye Care for the company’s products to help relieve eye fatigue and enhance eye comfort while viewing. This promotes better eye health and an enjoyable viewing experience while keeping high-quality display, color accuracy, and resolution.

Flicker-Free Technology

The EX3203R is designed with the Flicker-Free Technology to diminish screen flickering to efficiently lessen eye fatigue. This also results in less headaches caused by prolonged screen time. A lot of studies have shown that the blue light from computer monitors can harm the eyes, cause sleep disorders and eye conditions such as macular degeneration.

Specifications

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor is a 2.2 HDCP device that has a screen size of 31.5 and a VA panel type. It’s a nice monitor that sports a LED backlight technology plus a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 which is really good. Max brightness is at 400 while its native contrast is 3000 : 1.

Response time of the gaming monitor is 4ms (GtG) while its refresh rate is at 144Hz. The device’s aspect ratio measures 16:9, 16.7 million display colors are available, while the color gamut is a total of 90% DCI – P3. The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor’s display area in millimeters is about 697.34 x 392.26 with a curvature of 1800R and PPI of 93. DCR or dynamic contrast ratio is 20 million : 1, plus with a color bit of 8-bit.

For its dimensions and weight, the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor measures 536 x 12.69 x 223.87 millimeters (H x W x D), while its net and gross weight are 8.1 and 13.4 grams. Tilt down / up is -5° – 20° and height adjustment is 60 millimeters.

The power voltage rating that the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor uses is 100 to 240 Volts via adapter. Its power consumption, when switched on, has no ECO mode while power consumption based on Energy Star has no EPA. For the device’s connectivity, it uses two HDMI 2.0 and it comes with the Display-Port and USB Type C ports.

Using the Product

We had a lot of expectations with this EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor from BenQ, and we were able to try this device for some weeks to see just how well it performs. Before we begin describing our entire experience with its performance, we’re going to start off by saying that the EX3203R is really a delight and joy to use.

When we speak of its angles and positioning, it’s really great. Since it’s curved, the view you will see on your screen is perfect even from different angles.

It is true that you won’t be staying or sitting at weird angles just to play and view your monitor, but it’s really good to know that despite having to shift in the middle of the game for any given reason, you’ll still have a perfect view without losing any form of fidelity.

Let’s talk about the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor’s color quality. One additional benefit of this is that the device’s colors are well-maintained, and that the overall quality is excellent no matter where you look at the screen.

For its image quality, the colors were great and its overall image quality was simply perfect. We tried checking out the wider landscape images to some really close detailed views; and when we checked on the PC, the image details displayed were all beautiful and rather breathtaking.

There were no instances of smudging, blurring, or even jaggedness on the edge of the image. In addition to this, the monitor is able to cover an expanded color gamut that amounts to more than 90% of the DCI P3 color space, making the colors more vivid and richer.

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor is able to accept the HDR-10 signal of compatible content. This is all thanks to the expanded color gamut, as well as the peak brightness of 400 nits, giving you better and more immersive viewing with enhanced details.

This gaming monitor from BenQ also immediately detects ambient lighting to properly adjust the screen. This specific feature adds more value for all out-of-the-box users who would prefer avoiding any instances of modifying the backlight in the days or evenings.

The EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor from BenQ is able to achieve this via sensor that’s integrated in a knob located on the device’s lower bezel. So with that, remember to avoid covering that specific area of the gaming monitor.

About ghosting and quick response times, the EX3203R did not show any instances of ghosting; even when pixels switched from dark to light, ghosting on the monitor was basically non-existent. In our white to black tests, the response time was still quick with just 12 milliseconds; and during these instances, we still did not experience any forms of ghosting which is great.

We even tried out the EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor while playing some quick-paced games, and that’s when we noticed the advantage of the high-refresh rate. This helps the total performance of the EX3203R while its response time was great at 4ms which is quick enough for regular and casual gamers. All in all, we’re giving two thumbs up for this gaming monitor’s performance and quality.

Conclusion

To conclude, the BenQ EX3203R is a great monitor. Its display was crisp, clear, and had great detail in all the games, programs, and movies we tested. Each color was vibrant and the viewing angles that the curved screen provides will guarantee an excellently immersive view even when you shuffle around.

All tasks have been handled well; plus, its design, versatility, and overall picture quality, together with its reasonable price, makes it a great choice for a gaming monitor.

If you’re a casual gamer who needs a large HDR gaming monitor, the BenQ EX3203R is the best choice for you. It’s excellent for gamers who are looking for high refresh rates and adaptive sync support.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the BenQ EX3203R for around $849 AUD from your local retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

BenQ EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-27

5.0Overall Score

The post BenQ EX3203R Curved Gaming Monitor Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Fractal Design is a company that has been around for some time now, and are mostly known for their long-lived and famed Define cases. Given their continuous aim to improving and enhancing their current products, it’s obvious why they’ve become a really popular brand in the market.

Not only with cases, but the company expanded and catered to other products such as power devices, plus liquid coolers with the Kelvin collection of expandable all in one liquid coolers from a couple of years ago. But as time passed, the company continues to bring better and more efficient expandable liquid coolers to the market.

Products that are loaded with more features come with an aggressive price. With that, Fractal Design came up with their Celsius series which is designed to be a competitor in the growing liquid-cooling market.

Today, we’re going to cover the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler which has a huge 360-millimeter radiator that has a built-in fan hub and concealed wiring. Not only that, but it also has a pump offering PWM and Auto modes for improved speed control. If you think that this is something you’d need for your PC, then continue reading our Celsius S36 review to see if it’s really something worth investing in. Let’s take a look without delaying further.

Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler Review – What’s in the Box?

When we got our hands on the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler, we saw that the product was delivered in a box that had quite a lot of features listed in front. You’ll see the name of the company there, that it’s Ryzen compatible, a few notions to liquid-cooling aspect & its extreme performance.

At the center of the package, you’ll see a huge image of the device, while to its right, you’ll see the name of the model written. The device sports the Dynamic x2 PWM fans and comes with a 5-year warranty.

When you look at the back portion of the box, you’ll find a thorough explanation of the differences between the fan control’s dual modes. Auto mode takes care of everything while PWM allows the motherboard to take control of things.

On the right portion, you will see the head unit where the company notes the sleeved-tubing and concealed cable, sound dampening material, utilization of durable metal fittings, and the fact that it makes use of the newest generation of cold and pump plate technology. The other end of the box features the dimensional renderings. Below the images, you will find a list of the socket compatibility for your reference.

When it comes to the top portion of the box, you will see that it is also filled with a lot of useful information. Here, you will find a list of all the features of the product that are written in different languages to cover all other markets other than the United States.

At the bottom of the box, there are more details about the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler. You will find descriptive information on the Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM fans, the built-in fan hub, as well as the loop’s expandability.

Once you open the package, you’ll get to easily slide out the inner container that divides, as well as protects each portion of the device. The recycled inner packaging is made of cardboard, and it moves the radiator away from the head unit.

The Product

Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler Review

Let’s begin with the fans of the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler. You get three Fractal Design Dynamic X2 PWM fans, each measuring 120 millimeters. These offer a wide speed adjustment range from 500 to 2000 RPM, which operates silently under light loads and it executes maximum airflow under heavy loads.

When you flip the CPU cooler around, you will find the aluminum radiator. It is a basic Asetek measuring 30 x 360 x 120 millimeters and is capable of attaching six 120-millimeter high performance fans. What makes this a unique radiator is that it makes use of the standard G ¼-inch connectors.

These metal fittings allows you to easily include another radiator, a waterblock to keep GPU’s cool, a reservoir, as well as a secondary pump, as it offers more compatibility and .

At the CPU cooling pump / block, you will find a base that is completely made of copper. One wire is for the pump that can be found in that block, and it leads to the cooling block. Thermal paste is applied on this area too. The top portion of the block is small and flat. When you rotate the round rubber ring, you can enable PWM mode and automated mode.

The FPI or fins per inch count is around 21 which is common for most AIOs in today’s market. To make most of it, you will need high static pressure fans or high RPM fans. When it comes to the fan hub is another unique feature of the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler with its cable that goes to the pump.

The cable is hidden by the sleeve on its tubing which is a great way to make your system look neat. The company used tight braid covering not only for aesthetics, it also keeps the power cable protected. The braided cable also features a rubber cap to prevent this from bending near the pump.  When you look closely at the leftmost section of the header, you will see four-wire cable exiting the inlet tubing, connecting to the motherboard.

Now for the design of the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler, it’s quite different compared to other coolers in the market. Aside from the hidden cable from the radiator, you can slightly turn its plastic outer ring; this lets you choose between automatic or PWM fan control.

Product Features

Cutting-Edge Technology

Advanced technology and excellent materials for sound dampening is used for the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler, as well as the products under the Celsius series. With that, the CPU cooler is able to deliver utmost cooling performance while producing less noise.

Automatic Mode

A smart auto-mode that is temperature-controlled adjusts the speed of the fan and pump in real-time for the best balance of silence and high-performance cooling. As for the PWM mode, this can provide precision manual tuning no matter how you use your system.

PWM Fans and Hub

With the Fractal Design Dynamic X2 PWM fans, the cooler offers a wide range of speed adjustment from 500 to 2,000 RPM to ensure near-silent operation whether under light or heavy loads. A fan hub is also present with a concealed cable routing to make installation simpler, cleaner, and easier.

Standard G ¼-inch thread

Radiator fittings make use of the basic Fractal Design Dynamic X2 PWM fans to make standard do-it-yourself components highly compatible and expandable. You can easily add and include a GPU block of your choice to remove noisy graphics card fans so your game audio will be the only audible sound

Specifications

To make the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler stand out, the company included the nifty G-¼ connectors. Not only that, but its fan and pump makes use of the 5th generation cold plate technology while also having the pre-applied high-thermal conductivity thermal paste.

Its fan is the Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM type with a rotational speed of 500 to 2000 RPM, and 1950 to 3150 for the pump. Fan bearing is the LLS bearing while the pump has a ceramic shaft and bearing. At full speed, the acoustic noise reaches 32.2 dBA for the fan and 20.0 dBA for the pump.

For its maximum airflow, the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler reaches 87.6 CFM, maximum static pressure is 2.30mm H20. For both the fan and pump, it has 12 Volts DC for its input voltage and its max input current is 0.2A. If we’re speaking of the device without fans, then the input current is 0.15A. The MTBF goes over 100,000 hours.

The radiation has the G ¼-inch port threads while the fan screw threads are UNC 6 – 32. Its dimensions are 403 x 123 x 30 millimeters. Fractal Design, as mentioned earlier, included a 5-year warranty for the device, though keep in mind that upon the Celsius unit’s expansion, only the individual elements of the Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler will be covered.

Using the Product

The installation of the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler is a quick and easy task. You’ll have to remove the motherboard from the chassis unless your PC case has a mainboard cutout for CPU cooling. The first step is preparing and applying backplate which is lined up and installed at the motherboard’s backside. All you have to do is to push it through that section.

Next step is to use four standoff screws on the backplate. You will find four holes surrounding each socket; this is where the bracket should be properly pushed in. Once that’s done, the only thing that you’re left to deal with is mounting the CPU block.

To do this, you have to position the bracket over the standoff screws, then secure these by installing the four thumbscrews. After this step, you will have to connect the fan / pump RPM wire to the dedicated FAN header. Positioning the cooler is the last step, then it’s ready for testing.

Once its power is on, water pump will be a bit audible. If your PWM / RPM settings on the motherboard are set to default, the fans will begin spinning quietly.

Now let’s see the how effective the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler is when it comes to cooling performance. At default, when not overclocked, the noise levels are absolutely low. Default fan profiles reach 34 dBA under full load.

Overall, the cooler is normally silent. We started hearing a slight buzz coming from the pump when we moved close to it, but this is not a big deal since it should not bother you if you have a closed chassis.

When it comes to noise levels, we think it’s a high-performance cooler since its silence high-end coolers. Its cooling capacity is great even for overclocking.

This cooler performs just as advertised; it kept our system cool even under heavy loads. When we overclocked our system at 5.0GHz and at extreme loads, the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler managed to easily keep the heat under control.

Conclusion

The overall looks of the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler are good; we really liked the black design which makes the fans, rad, and pump look great. Although simple, it’s easy to match this with any PC build. The cooler may also not feature fancy logos around this, plus it also doesn’t have bright, flashing LEDs. It’s subtle with sleeved tubing and cables.

For the installation of the mounting system, we think that it’s one of the easiest to install compared to other brands we’ve tried. You wouldn’t require any skill to install the kit since it’s really simple.

The Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler is a good alternative to heat pipe coolers and aside from that, its looks are good while it also performs quietly. We really appreciate the simple design of this CPU cooler since only a single wire goes from the water block to the motherboard.

Another thing we appreciated was the new PWM / automated mode, although most users are usually in favor of any cooling fan’s PWM mode. We think that this CPU cooler is best for those who is looking for a little style and silence for non-overclocked devices. All in all, the Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler is something we highly recommend if you’re looking for a premium quality CPU for an affordable price.

Where to Buy

You can pick up the Fractal Design S36 for around $189 AUD from your local computer retailer. For more information jump on over to the official product page.

Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-27

5.0Overall Score

The post Fractal Design Celsius S36 AIO CPU Cooler Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Sling TV has moved E! and Paramount Network channels from its Lifestyle Extra and Comedy Extra add-ons into its Sling Blue base service at no added cost. At $25/month, or $15/month for the first three months with Sling TV’s new customer promotion, Sling Blue is the most affordable way to watch live and on-demand programming from both E! and Paramount.

“While other streaming providers are removing quality programming and raising prices, we’ve added two popular entertainment channels to Sling Blue without inflating costs for our customers,” said Dana McLeod, vice president of programming at Sling TV. “We are committed to providing the best content at the best price. There’s never been a better time to be a Slinger.”

E! and Paramount Network, previously in Lifestyle Extra ($5/month) and Comedy Extra ($5/month), respectively, are immediately available to Sling Blue subscribers. New customers can sign up for a Sling Blue subscription at www.sling.com. Sling Orange customers can still access Paramount Network by adding Comedy Extra ($5/month) to their account.

E!, a leader in entertainment news and programming, delivers the best of pop culture and lifestyle content with shows like “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Botched,” “Very Cavallari,” “E! News,” “Live from the Red Carpet” and “The People’s Choice Awards.” Paramount Network provides bold original scripted and unscripted series for its audiences as a premium entertainment hub, featuring shows like “Yellowstone,” “Lip Sync Battle” and “Bar Rescue.” E! and Paramount Network include live regularly-scheduled programming as well as hundreds of on-demand titles.

Sling Blue includes a wide variety of entertainment channels, including Bravo, HGTV, Discovery, TLC and more. For a full list of offerings, visit www.sling.com.

About Sling TV
Sling TV L.L.C. provides over-the-top television services, including general market, Latino and International live and on-demand programming. Sling TV is America’s number one live TV streaming service, based on the number of subscribers publicly reported as of Feb. 13, 2019. It is available on smart televisions, tablets, game consoles, computers, smartphones and other streaming devices. Sling TV offers two domestic streaming services that collectively include more than 150 channels and programming content from Disney/ESPN (Sling Orange/single-stream only), Fox (Sling Blue/multi-stream), NBC (Sling Blue/multi-stream), NFL Network (Sling Blue/multi-stream), AMC, A&E, AXS, Discovery, Scripps, Turner, Viacom, NBA TV, NHL Network, Pac-12 Networks, GSN, Hallmark, SHOWTIME, STARZ and EPIX . On select devices, Sling TV offers returning customers access to free content, à la carte channels and services, plus transactional live events and movies on-demand, without requiring a base subscription. Additionally, Sling TV offers a suite of standalone and add-on Spanish-language services and packages tailored to English-dominant, bilingual and Spanish-dominant U.S. households. Sling TV provides more than 640 channels in 22 languages across multiple devices to U.S. households. Visit www.sling.com.

The post Sling TV Welcomes E! and Paramount Network appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Logitech today announced that its board of directors has accepted the decision of executive, Marcel Stolk, to resign as a member of Logitech’s Group Management Team. His resignation from the Group Management Team will be effective as of March 31, 2019.

Marcel Stolk joined Logitech in 1991 and held a series of roles at the Company until his departure in 2005. He returned in 2011 and since then has led Logitech’s Europe, Middle East & Africa region, and the Company’s Creativity & Productivity business. He currently holds the roles of executive chairman, Logitech Europe S.A. and senior vice president for business model innovation.

“Marcel has given Logitech more than twenty years of his talent, strategic insights, friendship and loyalty,” said Bracken Darrell, Logitech president and chief executive officer. “We’re grateful for his dedication and impact and wish him well as he goes on to pursue new opportunities. We will miss him, yet we know he’ll be with us in spirit as we pursue our vision of Logitech, the multi-brand, multi-category design company.”

The post Logitech Announces Resignation of Senior Vice President appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

The Evil Controllers’ modified gamepads for Playstation 4 or Xbox One feature a cool addition of useful buttons right on its grips. Aside from this, the controllers also come with a lot of other options for customizations which makes it perfect for anyone and everyone who loves personalizing their gaming controllers.

With these controllers, there is really an outstanding world waiting for you and every other console gamer out there, who’s searching for more and better management over their gaming experience.

Evil Controllers is one company that produces controllers that are modded specifically for the Xbox One and the Playstation 4. They provide everyone with a plethora of options that one can choose from. Just recently, we discovered the magic and efficiency of modded controllers. And by the addition of buttons or paddles at the back of these controllers, these sure have a huge impact on how all your games are played.

So today, we’re going to check out the Evil Controllers PS4 and XBox One controllers. We’re going to see if these perform well, if they are really useful and more effective for gaming, and if their performance is good enough to actually invest in these accessories.

First up, let’s check out what’s inside the box.

Evil Controllers PS4 and Xbox One Controller Review

Whats in the Boxes?

The Evil Controllers – PS4

This Evil Controller for the PS4 has the Sony Stock Blue faceplate that’s really nice and appealing to the eyes. Its buttons and the analog sticks are black which goes perfectly with the blue shade. When you flip the controller over, you’ll see that the body’s color is a nice clean white, specifically the Stock White backplate. You’ll also find the shift paddles present, which also sports a nice black color just like the rest of the buttons on the device.

The controller sports a tactile D-pad while its left and right thumbstick comes with a standard tension of 80 grams. The controller sports the Evil Sticks measuring 11 millimeters; these are actually really nice since the sticks help improve the accuracy of your gaming. Both the d-pads and buttons are stock versions.

Aside from giving you an edge, modded controllers just like this one creates a more comfortable and useful gaming experience that you’ll truly enjoy. Some MMO’s need their gamers to utilize a claw grip which will contort their hands to easily reach the buttons.

Having additional paddles lets you hotkey your preferred commands while simultaneously using the standard grip. You won’t have to stretch to run through the whole rotation which will improve your gameplay. Also, there are other benefits to this for 1st person shooters. Once the additional controls become second-nature, your gaming experience will sure have an exceptional impact especially when it comes to performance.

Performance

When it comes to the performance of the PS4 Evil Shift controller, the buttons can be easily remapped in just a snap; and with all the profiles that you can save to the device, you’ll get to have a variety of favored setups to easily switch from depending on what game you’re currently playing. The paddles found at the back of the Evil Shifts are adequately small; plus, they are positioned at the right area so you won’t accidentally press on these while gaming. We’re really happy since Evil Controllers didn’t sacrifice any of the comfort on the grip their controllers have. And even if we played for longer hours, we didn’t feel any pain or discomfort while executing controls.

Another cool thing about the design and build of the controller is that it is also made for competitive eSports, so it was able to handle all the presses and clicks that we executed during our gaming tests. The Evil Shift PS4 controller is also very light, which is quite surprising especially when you compare this to your standard DualShock4 controller which is, in our opinion, really good. Though it does have a different feel to it compared to your standard PS4 controller, but it still has a nice and quality feel to it, and it also provides that comfortable grip that we really have to stress on. All in all, it performed well and we give the Evil Shift PS4 controller from Evil Controllers a double thumbs-up.

The Evil Controllers – XBOX ONE

The custom controller builder of Evil provides different types of visual customizations. And since we’ve received ours, the chances of altering the colors of the button’s face has been included, as well as the ability to add customized texts to the device. You’ll  get to choose customized shells for the back, front, the side, plus, you  can also find various battery covers.

Its faceplate has a nice Soft Touch Purple shade while the grip options is the default white color. It comes with stock ABXY buttons, as well as stock D-pads. For its thumbstick tension, it provides a standard tension of 80 grams in total and its LED options are stock as well.

The final noticeable tweak in the visuals would be the ability to alter the light on the device to various colors that depends on your tastes. We opted to stick to the standard lighting while adding this Urban Winter shell. Thing is, the list of options are vast if you decide to go all out. Generally, this is a stock controller for the XBOX One and has been integrated with a ton of tweaks inside and out of the device.

Another good thing about the controller is that it comes with a standard 90-day warranty for every order. The warranty covers all the firmware updates, parts, and the labor.

Performance

This controller for the XBOX has very easy remapping functions compared to the other controllers that we’ve used. It’s as simple and easy as pressing on the back button, plus the paddle button that you wish to remap. The controller’s power light will flash which indicates that you need to choose a button you plan to map to that specific paddle. Once you press this, the power light will once again flash and that means you’re all set for gaming.

Features of the Evil Controllers PS4 and Xbox One Controller

Pro Gaming Features: SHIFT Paddles

The paddles of these controllers can perform any functions and its design is made to be used by all the four fingers at the same time. Its shift paddles are set beneath the controller where you can easily and naturally rest your hands while still keeping the comfort. This lessens the learning curve since you’ll be able to hold the device with ease while using all these buttons.

The revolutionary paddle system also lets you, no matter what your hand size is, use them with utmost comfort. And since these paddles are fixed right at the top of the activation buttons, it makes the paddles all the more responsive compared to the hinged designs of other controllers that are out in the market. Also, this only means that the lags you usually experience with other controllers won’t affect this Evil Shift PS4 and Xbox One controllers.

Additionally, you’ll get to remap these paddles to suit your preferences. You just need to hold the share button until the lights at the front starts flashing; once that happens, press the button you want to reassign then you’re done. Remember that the lights in front will flash twice to tell you that the reassignment was a success. Honestly, it’s a real piece of cake so you don’t need to have any technical skills or knowledge just to do this.

SHIFT Preference: Remapping Any Type of Input

You can remap any input using this controller to any Shift. It takes less than 3 seconds to remap without any tools required. What’s cool is that you can save up to a total of 15

custom layouts for your gaming.

Sensitive Buttons + All Mod Options

With the controller, you’ll be able to press inputs much faster than your usual buttons. The buttons usually travel about 0.3 millimeters before it initiates command.

When it comes to the All Mod option, it improves the software of your controller to mod gameplay. The featured mods include Adjustable Rapid Fire, Tactical Rapid Fire, Drop Shot, Auto Aim, Fast Reload, Auto Run, Auto Scope, Fast Build, Auto Spot, Weapon Hotkeys, and a lot more. The controller is compatible with games like Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, GTA, Battlefield, and more.

For its warranty, it comes with a standard 90-day warranty which covers all parts, firmware updates, and labor.

Mod Options

These controllers come with a variety of mod options and these include the following:

Auto Scope

Auto Scope can be used for Call of Duty – WWII, Call of Duty – Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty4 – Mordern Warfare, Titanfall 2, and other games. Here, you can immediately steady and balance your aim when activating the Auto Scope mode. With this, you’ll be able to make confident shots and hit your targets with more efficiency and reliability.

Rapid Fire

With this Rapid Fire mod, you’ll be able to boost the rate of fire of weapons like pistols and semi-automatics. Conveniently unload your magazine faster than the enemy and start shooting for the win. Rapid Fire is compatible with APEX Legends, Black Ops 4, Battlefield V, Call of Duty, Star Wars – BATTLEFRONT II, and more.

Adjustable Rapid Fire

What’s really cool is that you also have the Adjustable Rapid Fire mod which creates a preferred and more adequate rate of fire for any kind of in-game weapon. Perfect for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon – Wildlands, Call of Duty – Advanced Warfare, and Fallout 4.

Auto Run

This can be used for APEX Legends, Star Wars – BATTLEFRONT II, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon – Wildlands. As for the Auto Run mod, running and gunning will be smooth and seamless, just like a cruise control while gaming. You’ll definitely enjoy this specific mod since it will make your gameplay easier and more fluid with this gaming improver. Not only will it make your gaming moments better, but it will also extend the life of your PS4 or XBOX One controllers’ thumbsticks which is great.

Tactical Rapid Fire

This time, it’s the Tactical Rapid Fire mod which will be a whole new level of added thrill when using semi-auto weapons. Enjoy shooting at the enemies and firing at the speed of your choose from both the XBOX One and PS4 controller triggers. Plus, utilize all the 20 custom profiles that are available to make your gaming experience more exciting. It’s compatible with Fallout 4, Tom Clancy’s Rainbowsix | Siege, Black Ops 4, Battlefield V.

Akimbo Rapid Fire

There’s also the Akimbo Rapid Fire which boosts the rate of firing on both triggers while simultaneously dual-wielding your main weapon for attacking. Best for Call of Duty – Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty – Advanced Warfare, Battlefield 1, and more.

Drop Shot

APEX Legends, Call of Duty – WWII, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon – Wildlands are some games that the Drop Shot mod is compatible with. With Drop Shot, you can easily drop on enemy fire. Prevent your opponents from taking you out when you take advantage of environmental terrain.

Weapon Hotkey

Weapon Hotkey competitively enhances your gaming for Fortnite. Here, you can make two out of four paddles perform as hotkeys for choosing weapons 1 and 5. Simply press a designated hotkey paddle and the controller will always choose the best weapon for you. It works like a keyboard by providing additional button inputs.

Button Remapping

This is another mod used for Fortnite. Remapping lets you spontaneously reprogram the paddles to any button in real time. It’s easy to use and it also works for a wide variety of games.

Fast Build

This is one of the three mod features for Fortnite. When Fast Build is active, the controller’s paddles will create structures for you. This mod option automatically enters and exit build mode. Each of the paddles will be assigned to various structures and you can customize these on the go.

Tactical Rapid Fire

With Tactical Rapid Fire, you can make your gaming experience more thrilling with the semi-automatic weapons when out-shooting your opponents. Choose your preferred speed from the triggers of your PS4 and XBOX One controller to make use of twenty custom profiles. It’s compatible with Battlefield V, Call of Duty – Infinite Warfare, Playerunknown’s BATTLEGROUNDS, and more.

The Build

Conclusion

Grasping the Evil Shift controller from Evil Controller only gives an instant impression that there is something more than just its cool-looking exterior. Taking a look at the top portion already displays a ton of subtle adjustments that can make a whole lot of differences when milliseconds matter.

The company has been creating excellent modified devices for so many years, and when we’re speaking of competitive gaming, the difference between defeat and victory only matters in a split second. So with that, you can be sure that the Shift hits all the perfect controls and moves that will guarantee a higher chance of winning in any game.

Honestly, our Evil Controllers PS4 and XBOX ONE controllers are a true dream come true. Though we were quite hesitant about them at first since we didn’t want to accidentally click on unnecessary buttons while in the middle of a game, we were wrong because holding the controller was perfect and none of us ended up pressing randomly on buttons so it was all good.

Plus, there are a couple of us who aren’t really that coordinated, so we were quite worried about not becoming comfortable enough when it comes to using four additional fingers while gaming. But after the tests, we realized that not only did the reprogrammable paddles enhance our gaming performance, but playing games became easier and more comfortable which was great.

So all in all, the PS4 and XBOX One controllers from Evil Controllers are great, and we highly recommend these devices to you and every gamer out there.

Where to Buy

If you want to customize your own PS4 and XBOX controllers, you can do this at Evil Controllers’ official website.

Evil Controllers PS4 and Xbox One Controller Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-29

5.0Overall Score

The post Evil Controllers PS4 and Xbox One Controller Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

In its most significant launch in the home entertainment segment to date, Epson has now unveiled its new 4K PRO-UHD projector technology, which combines stunning levels of brightness, colour and detail to deliver an exceptional 4K experience for both the professionally installed home theatre and DIY home entertainment enthusiast alike at a very compelling price point.

4K PRO-UHD is an umbrella term Epson have coined that comprises a suite of three key technologies developed to power their latest generation of projectors, starting with the just-launched EH-TW8400, EH-TW9400 and EH-TW9400W. In fact, according to Epson, it’s more of a philosophy that encompasses achieving the best possible combination of image brightness, colour and detail.

Whilst not native 4K (the 4K PRO-UHD range uses an advanced new version of Epson’s proprietary and highly-acclaimed pixel shifting technology¹) the new range eschews software processing and instead deploys a combination of dedicated high power hardware processors – one each for resolution enhancement, HDR and image processing. This allows the projector to always perform to the very best of its ability, without sharing resources or processing power and without interruption to signal or image quality. This detailed attention to all the components that comprise a high quality 4K cinema experience – brightness, colour and detail – means 4K PRO-UHD is capable of projecting a more impressive image than native 4K projectors do in many respects and, with the new models starting at just $4,099, they are much more affordable than their native 4K counterparts too.

First, Epson 4K PRO-UHD achieves brilliant brightness thanks to HDR10 (High Dynamic Range 10) and 100% balanced colour brightness. The range was specifically designed so that movies can be shown the way they were meant to be seen — on the big screen, with no rainbow effect creating an exceptionally immersive viewing experience. An even brighter, higher quality, HDR experience also allows the projectors to used outside of a dedicated home theatre room.

Second, the crisp colour that is a hallmark of 4K PRO-UHD is a function of the core 3LCD panel technology that powers all Epson projectors – whereby each primary colour has its own, dedicated LCD panel – and an exceptionally wide colour gamut. In fact, 4K PRO-UHD can display the full DCI-P3 colour gamut, which is the colour standard used in commercial cinema.

4K PRO-UHD also delivers dramatic detail by employing a new, accelerated version of its pixel shifting technology, dedicated hardware 12-bit digital signal processing and an advanced aspheric glass lens system. Together these elements and the powerful processors behind them faithfully reproduce the source material the way it was intended to be shown.

Put simply Epson’s new 4K PRO-UHD home theatre projectors offer much more than simple 4K resolution with their brilliant brightness, crisp colours and dramatic detail. In turn they are able to produce images of amazing clarity, accuracy and vibrancy that need to be seen to be believed.

The EH-TW8400 is HDR10 compliant to take advantage of HDR content while delivering equal colour and white brightness. It can also display the full DCI-P3 colour gamut in Digital Cinema Mode, an extreme level of colour performance that is 50% wider than typical 1-Chip Rec. 709 projectors.

Epson EH-TW8400 series key features include:

• 1920x1080x2 resolution
• 10 bit (12-bit digital colour processing)
• Improved pixel-shifting precision for 4K enhancement
• 2600 lumens – colour and white brightness
• Up to 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
• HDR10 compatibility
• 15 glass element 2.1x zoom lens
• Powered zoom, focus, and lens shift
• Powered lens memory
• Switchable auto-iris
• Frame interpolation
• 100″ screen 3.0 – 6.3 metre projection distance
• No colour wheel, so no rainbow artefacts
• 2-year projector warranty

The EH-TW9400 offers all of the above and more with enhanced features and specifications. Its sibling, the EH-TW9400W (where the W stands for wireless) enjoys the same specs and lets you enjoy amazing images without running HDMI connections directly to the projector.

The EH-TW9400 and EH-TW9400W’s HDR and rich black contrast, full 10-bit colour processing, 1,200,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2600 Lumens of high white and colour light deliver an extraordinary range of colour and detail in both bright and dark scenes.

There’s also a significant wide lens shift of ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal and 2.1:1 zoom with powered adjustment to help with easy installation and a very impressive 5,000 hours of lamp life to round off what is clearly a very exciting package.

Epson EH-TW9400 and EH-TW9400W key features include:

• 1920x1080x2 resolution
• 4K streaming via Wireless HDMI^TM(EH-TW9400W only)
• 10 bit (12-bit digital colour processing)
• HDR support: HDR10 and Hybrid Log Gamma
• 4K/60p HDR with 18 Gbps support
• Powered lens shift: vertical and horizontal
• Powered zoom and focus
• High contrast ratio 1,200,000:1
• 3LCD Technology
• 100″ screen 3.0 – 6.3 metre projection distance
• ISF certified
• Anamorphic lens support
• 3-year projector and lamp warranty

Pricing and availability

The new 4K PRO-UHD projector range is available now from epson.com.au and all authorised Epson retailers and resellers across Australia for the RRP of:

EH-TW8400 – RRP $4,099.00

EH-TW9400 – RRP $4,799.00

EH-TW9400W – RRP $4,999.00

For more information on the Epson’s new 4K PRO-UHD projector range go to: www.epson.com.au/4KPROUHD

The post Epson Launches New 4k Pro-UHD Projector Technology appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

A FUJIFILM broadcast lens, its new two-axial rotatable lenses projector and its new security system have all won an iF DESIGN AWARD 2019 for Discipline Product presented by iF International Forum Design.

Created in 1953, the iF Design Award is recognised around the world as one of the most prestigious awards for innovative industrial product design excellence. Products are evaluated based on a wide range of criteria, including factors such as practicability, workmanship, consideration of environmental standards, degree of elaboration and innovation, functionality, usability, safety, aesthetics, and universal design. This year’s winners were selected from more than 6,375 entries from 52 countries by a 67-member jury comprised of experts from around the world.

The three winning products include the new FUJIFILM SX800 security system.

This is world best anti-vibration surveillance system, integrated with a camera featuring a long-throw lens. Major hindrances for outdoor surveillance include strong wind, high altitude, and heat haze. The SX800 can mitigate such hindrances and ensure visibility. Existing surveillance cameras are box shaped, but FUJIFILM minimised and redesigned the barrel shape. Thus, the installation becomes easier, and the design becomes more stylish. They applied black anodised aluminium extrusion on the body to show off its world-class profile, and covered the housing with resin. This improves the appearance and allows people to install it without touching the housing edge.

The second award winner was the FUJIFILM PROJECTOR Z5000. This is the world’s first projector with two-axial rotatable lenses. The lens can face up, down, to the front, rear, left and right to project images in multiple directions. It can project images without moving the main unit; on a wall, screen, the ceiling and floor.

It also can switch between vertical and horizontal display. With the high-performance FUJINON ultra-short throw lens, it can project bright and clear images on a 100-inch screen from a distance of 75cm. Pursuing sophistication, FUJIFILM gave it design of rounded corners and a compact body. The projector is most suitable for large-screen digital signage and spatial design projection at museums.

FUJIFILM’s third award winner was the FUJINON UA46 Series lens. This portable super telephoto 4K broadcast lens boasts the world’s highest 46x zoom. Drone aerial shots are popular, but this meets the needs of professionals who like super telephoto shooting while remaining at the scene with realistic sensation.

This 358mm-long small lens barrel realised such shootings at 570mm focal length and 2.8m M.O.D. The advanced large aperture ultra-high-precision aspherical lens controls maximally the resolution at image edges and the distortion due to the ultra-wide lens. High-resolution shooting works in all zoom ranges. It features high visibility of notation and better operability in scenes with vibrations.

The post FUJIFILM Wins iF Design Awards appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

There are many things to stay on track with when you’re a student. Composing essays, staying in contact with group members, and studying only represent a tip of the iceberg. While it seems like a lot to handle, you aren’t completely on your own. There are a lot of things that are able to help you out. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best ones you won’t want to miss.

Essay Writing Services and Tutoring

During your time as a student, plenty of writing assignments will be thrown your way throughout college. These can pile up fast or even just be difficult to handle from the start. Luckily, there are services that can help with this.

Essay writing service EssayPro can help writers in a few different ways. It works as a service that writes essays as well as helps with editing. It isn’t limited to a single style either. Users can choose from a variety of styles, lengths, and set deadlines. This can be a lifesaver when that big final paper is due at the end of the semester.

Of course, if you’re having academic trouble outside of writing composition, there are solutions there too. Almost all campuses offer tutoring programs or tutoring is available from other students. These services can be a real asset to any student taking on a particularly frustrating or intensive course. Between essay writing services and tutoring, you’re sure to keep your GPA high.

Portable or External Hard Drive

Anyone who keeps an abundance of files on their computer should have an external hard drive for a few reasons.

For one, you can use it to back up the memory of a computer or laptop. This way, in the event that these devices break or malfunction, the user doesn’t have to worry about losing a semester’s worth of notes.

Another good reason to purchase an external hard drive is that system space on computers do have a limit. While this limit isn’t typically reached, if that happens, it’s helpful to have added space you can access at any time.

External hard drives aren’t necessarily one size fits all. You’ll want to take a close look at the features of an external hard drive to ensure you pick the best choice for your situation.

Editing Software

Jumping back to written assignments, there is a variety of editing software that can help authors proofread work before turning it in. One such program is Grammarly, which goes beyond standard spellcheck and helps users with intricacies in grammatical errors and wording.

Hemingway App is another program that can be incredibly helpful. On their website, you can enter your writing assignment. Then, they’ll flag problems which aren’t always thought of when writing. For instance, long and complicated sentences, adverb use, and passive voice.

Portable Charger

Electronics are at the forefront of education right now. Many professors use interactive apps during lectures, for one. Pupils also often jot down notes electronically.

The biggest drawback to this is that these devices that everyone uses don’t run on indefinite battery life. This is compounded to the reality that you aren’t always going to be sitting next to an outlet.

This is where a portable charger comes into play. These can be charged when you are at an outlet – overnight, for example – and used later to charge your mobile device. This can be a great choice for the student on the go who needs to stay connected at all times.

Conclusion

Student life can get overwhelming quickly. That’s why it’s so crucial to utilize the tools available to you. With these resources, you will make getting through classes and working on assigned material much easier!

The post Gadgets and Services That Help Students appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Today, you will meet the bigger, bolder, and better Drobo 8D that is able to support 16 volumes that can go up to 128 Terabytes, plus a total storage pool of 256 Terabytes. The Drobo 8D is designed to meet every needs for data intensive workflow; and with the presence of the lighting speed Thunderbolt 3, the Drobo 8D is one of the fastest and directly attached Drobo device that has ever been made. T

he Drobo 8D comes with the Drobo Accelerator Bay, and also, this is the only Drobo device that has the brand new and IVM or Intelligent Volume Management technology.

Today, we are going to talk about this storage device from Drobo, and we’ll check out if it’s something really worth investing in, and if it’s something that performs and functions just as excellently as what Drobo claims it to be.

Let’s start off by checking what’s inside the box.

Drobo 8D Review

The Product

The entrance or opening panel of the Drobo 8D sports a clean and simple design that you might end up looking past it. But once you switch on the device, green lights will appear which add a bit more style to the device. This area is a rectangular magnetized panel that is properly ventilated on all edges; plus, there are also option slots for LEDs that are positioned inside.

The Drobo 8D sports a really sleek and glossy design and the company has actually been sporting this specific style for more than a decade. Each of the featured bays displays LED lights without being too complicated with its layout.

Let us begin with the rear portion first, since this area is where the most dramatic and big changes have occurred. If you’re familiar with the Drobo products, you will notice that they have always sported the same appearance, up front; and the most vital aspect of this area is the pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports that are present. These are generally 40-Gbps ports that can daisy chain 4k monitors.

The device comes with one 20Gbps Thunderbolt 3 cable which is necessary for ~ 1.5 GB/s of data throughput. While this specific cable offers a good margin that is higher than the expected ~ 1.1 GB/s, its display passthrough will most likely need an increased bandwidth cable on each side of the Drobo 8D.

Also at the rear portion, you will find the 2.5-inch SSD accelerator bay; and because it is a single bay without redundancy, the SSD only works as a read cache that mainly aids with the random read performance.

When getting deeper into the Drobo 8D, you will find a 1.6 GHz quad core Marvell ARM CPU which is generally more than capable of shifting bits around at adequate speed. It’s also worth noting that the huge form factor of this 8-bay unit allows the utilization of an internal power supply. The Thunderbolt 3 ports can also feed 15 Watts back to the linked system, specifically your laptop. It isn’t enough to fast charge, but it’s good enough to keep the charge level which is good anyway.

Aside from the performance of this device, the big and notable change is an enhanced Drobo volume format supporting the max volume size of 128 Terabytes. Large volume sizes are vital here since Drobo prefers setting provisioned volumes that are as large as possible. This is so adding capacity and drives don’t require any further changes at an OS level.

BeyondRAID

Designed using the award-winning BeyondRAID technology, the 8D is able to protect all of your important data against dual or single disk drive failures. You can add drives, hot-swap, and update these in real time for proper storage expansion without any downtime.

If you’re low on space, the lights in front of the device guide you. You just need to add a drive on one of the empty bays, or simply remove the smaller drive and replace it with a bigger one. In addition to this, Smart Volumes automatically use the necessary capacity from a common storage pool; plus, these are also thinly-provisioned volumes.

This technology from Drobo solves the essential issues that classic RAID can’t. Established on the foundation of the older RAID, BeyondRAID includes a layer of virtualization that selects the right protection algorithm according to the availability of data needs at any given time. Since the technology functions at a block level, it is able to write blocks of data and information that alternates between the RAID levels of protection.

What’s interesting about this feature is that BeyondRAID can also switch from one dual disk redundancy via the Drobo Dashboard. This guarantees an enterprise-level data protection whenever you need this. If your drive fails, Drobo will immediately re-layout your information and data to the remaining drives. After, it will be returned to a protected state without any user interaction needed.

DroboCare

DroboCare is more than just your regular hardware warranty since it gives you more security and peace of mind. If there is an issue that occurs, the company will immediately provide you with a replacement device and even pay for the shipping fee, both ways. Another nice thing about DroboCare is that phone support is available, 24/7. Their services and assistance will begin once you purchase then activate the DroboCare.

It comes with a collection of great features, and here are the following:

Speedy Assistance at all Times

The products from Drobo are all engineered with the highest standards, but of course, there are instances when things go wrong. This is when the DroboCare kicks into gear. Unlike your regular type of warranty, DroboCare will replace your failed unit in a snap, so you will receive it in just a couple of days.

Migration Assistance

If you ever purchase a new product from Drobo, the company provides you with migration assistance from older Drobo products while still being covered by the 90-day DroboCare. Extended migration help is also given to users who purchase a one-year support plan from the company.

Migration Kit

As part of DroboCare, you will be given adequate assistance when it comes to transferring data once problems occur. The company will send you a Migration Kit so you can safely relocate and transfer your data while Drobo works on restoring your device. The Migration Kit that they will provide consists of the Drobo that is filled with cables and HDDs for connectivity.

Trust DroboCare

DroboCare is available for any Drobo devices as long as they are covered under the regular warranty. Just add DroboCare to the standard warranty before its expiration date, and you can sit back, relax, and know that you’ll always have genuine protection from the date you purchased your device.

Drive Savers Data Recovery Plan

Drobo has partnered with Drive Savers to give all of your Drobo storage devices with a free 1st 90-day Data Recovery Plan just in case you encounter accidental file or data loss. It will keep you prepared at all times from sudden occurrences of floods, fire, or multiple hardware issues and failures if ever dual-disk redundancy was not chosen.

You just need to sign up at www.driversavers.com/drobo within 15 days of your purchase of the Drobo 8D then you’re all set.

Product Features

SSD Acceleration Boosts Performance
A lot of storage arrays utilize either all SSDs or hard drives. But with the Drobo 8D, it is able to provide you with the best of both worlds. This is possibly by properly combining hard drives and SSDs to provide you and every user with performance and capacity.

The Drobo 8D also gives you the option to implement Hot Data Caching via the Drobo Accelerator Bay which can be found on the rear slot. Making use of an SSD gives you access to the latest read data to give you extremely fast speed.

It improves the performance of different applications like Adobe Lightroom and even Final Cut from Apple. The SSDs can also be used for the Drobo 8D’s front bays to get Data-Aware Tiering that allows for transactional data to shift to the SSD. This guarantees that both the write and reads are boosted.

The Power of Thunderbolt 3

The storage array of Drobo 8D provides extremely fast Thunderbolt 3 connections that is not only fast, but is also backwards compatible. It boosts your performance especially when transfering huge volumes of data; and with dual ports, the Drobo 8D is able to link up to a total of 6 Thunderbolt devices or even 5 different devices, plus a monitor right at the end of the chain. Additionally, it also supports one 5k or even two 4k displays with the Thunderbolt dock.

Power Protecting Your Important Data
In addition to the protection for drive failure, Drobo also safeguards against possible data loss during instances like a power outage. For every device produced by Drobo, they include the battery-backup technology for protecting date in the cache or memory.

When there’s a sudden power disruption, the Drobo 8D moves any data that is in-flight to the onboard flash that is located in your device. This is to protect then move data to your disk drives once you have power restored. This does not only guarantee that all important files and information are safe, but your battery also automatically recharges itself and is made to last for the life of the Drobo 8D.

The Perfect Pair – Time Machine and Drobo

The Time Machine from Apple was designed for making backing up files a quick, simple and painless task. Pairing the Time Machine with your Drobo 8D improves data protection by making sure that all information is safe when accidental hard drive failures occur.

Manage the Amount of Storage that Time Machine Uses

The guidelines of Apple are setting up the storage space for Time Machine at 2x the size of Mac’s hard drive. Users of Time Machine know that it will eventually utilize all available disk space without having an easy and convenient way of stopping it.

With Drobo 8D, you will be able to control and manage the maximum storage space that is available for the Time Machine backups via the Drobo Dashboard. Once you install the Drobo, the dashboard will prompt to see if you prefer creating a dedicated storage volume for Time Machine, letting you set the number of this volume.

Specifications

For the Drobo 8D’s connectivity, there are two Thunderbolt 3 ports that are available where the second port is made specifically for daisy chaining Thunderbolt devices. This includes a 5k or two 4k displays.

When it comes to the expansions and drives, it is able to accommodate up to eight 3.5-inch SATA hard disk drives or even SSDs (solid state drives) which are sold separately. The Drobo 8D features a 2.5-inch SSD found in the Drobo Accelerator Bay which is necessary for increased and improved performance. Again, this is sold separately.

Another great thing about this device is that the drives from any manufacturer, spindle speed, capacity, and / or cache can be utilized; plus, you also don’t need any tools or carriers for this. Lastly, the Drobo 8D is expandable simply by adding hot-swapping drives or standard drives with the bigger ones.

If you’re unsure about this, you can conveniently use the company’s Capacity Calculator found on their official site. This is to help you estimate and determine the available storage in different configurations.

Using the Product

We noticed that Drobo has bounced about quite a bit for the past five years, but one thing remains true and the same – quality, which is something that the new Drobo 8D can be really proud of. With this all new platform, we got a combination of plastic bits on the ends and a metal chassis which is really great.

So we’re really loving the exterior so that’s a thumbs up for the Drobo 8D. Another nice aspect of the device is its front drive panel which is attached magnetically, allowing anyone who prefers a refined and sleek aesthetic to just run with it. Also, it’s great for those who opt for something that’s more industrial to leave within the box.

When we talk about the real speed, we were getting around 781 MB/s read which was fantastic and as for the write speed we were getting around 387 MB/s.

Anyway, we were able to experience the impressive speeds that the Drobo 8D has to offer; plus, it also provided enhanced speeds, as well as bigger volume support that is coupled with proven robustness and simplicity. The impressive features are all tempered by the Thunderbolt 3 support but it only currently exists on the Mac which would have been better if it were also present on Windows.

Moving forward, the Drobo 8D dashboard is really clean and we highly appreciate what the company did for this. And in fact, having the same platform for so many years, as well as across so many platforms, only makes it very much easier for everyone to build-in with your portfolio since data needs to expand. S

o even with minor changes such as the integration of intelligent volume management, as well as app caching stays snappy and quick throughout the menus; plus, it is also easy and seamless to navigate to get all your tasks done.

So overall, the Drobo 8D was a real great performer and everything went smoothly, seamlessly, and we didn’t encounter any issues with it. This is a great device for anyone who needs additional space for their business or personal needs so with that, we highly recommend this Drobo 8D storage device to you.

Software

The Drobo Dashboard is the latest management application of the company that lets you acquire status on, as well as configure each one of your Drobos in a single window. The Drobo Dashboard instantly discovers the available Drobos on your network so you can easily click through for status, capacity, and other important information.

If you’re using the newest version, then you will be able to see that the Drobo Copy task is now running in the background, and you’ll be able to construct email alerts to better and efficiently monitor your Drobos.

When speaking of the interface, it hasn’t really changed all too much over the past years; so when you launch the Drobo Dashboard, it will display all the connected Drobos to your PC; also, it scans your network for iSCSI Drobos and file sharing. The Drobo’s front panel is the main user interface while the Drobo Dashboard allows you to see in front panel, every Drobo that you have from a remote location.

Once your unit is detected, it will appear right in the center, and on the left portion, you will be able to navigate through the settings. When you check that side panel, you will have the 8D’s status there.

For starters, when utilizing your Mac to access the Drobo 8D, you can simply utilize the software to do more tasks than just access your folders and files. You can utilize this to monitor and manage general storage, power use, system values, control hardware applications, as well as establish bespoke properties and notifications.

You can choose to set it up in your Mac Disk Utility application to turn this into a brainless storage drive that manages its own RAID. However, you will surely get a whole lot more out of the Drobo 8D because of its helpful and intuitive dashboard interface that can somehow be compared to the ones found on the Netgear and WD NAS software.

What’s new to the product line of Drobo is their IVM or Intelligent Volume Management technology which is present on the Drobo 8D. The technology is a combination of flexible manual volume setup with the ease and convenience of the company’s legendary automation. This allows for the proper segregation of file systems as the customer needs have dictated.

The Drobo 8D allows for the establishment of up to a total of 16 volumes with a maximum volume size of 128 Terabytes, plus a 256 Terabyte for the storage pool. Yet these volumes need to live on a dependable and efficient RAID-protected storage pool; now, this is where the the Beyond Raid from Drobo comes in. In the tools menu, you will be able to shutdown, rename, or even restart the unit. Below, you can format the drives or reset it along with flipping the device into dual-redundancy mode.

Another great feature of the software is that it features helpful tips and directions on each of the screen, so they are available to you whenever you need them. You will also get to access documentations and information; plus, you can also register your device from within the Drobo Dashboard. And if you ever need it, you will be able to make a diagnostic file to resolve various issues with the support team of Drobo.

Conclusion

We made it clear that although this is a brand that rarely releases units, basically 5 to 10 years apart in some instances, it’s a very solid and reliable company that is able to provide excellent and high quality products when it does. Drobo has a business model that is outstandingly rigid, and in all honesty, this Drobo 8D is one product that is just that.

Honestly, it’s really difficult to fault this device since it remarkably stands out well from all its competition. So if you are in search for a powerful, fast, easy, customizable, and affordable storage device with integrated RAID, then we have to suggest the Drobo 8D to you.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Drobo 8D from a variety of authorized dealers around the world. Check out Drobo’s store locator to see all the stores where you can buy this product.

Drobo 8D Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-04-02

4.6Overall Score

The post Drobo 8D Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

ASUS have announced VG278QR, VG258QR and VG248QG, three certified NVIDIA^® G-SYNC™ Compatible gaming monitors that deliver an excellent variable refresh rate (VRR) experience on NVIDIA GeForce^®GTX 10-Series, GeForce GTX 16-Series and GeForce RTX 20-Series graphics cards. Coming in 27-inch, 24.5-inch and 24-inch sizes, these three new gaming monitors activate their VRR features automatically, making them ideal weapons for fast-paced shooting games, like Fortnite, Apex Legends™, Overwatch^®, PUBG, CS:GO and Call of Duty^®. These latest gaming monitors follow the announcement of five other G-SYNC Compatible gaming monitors — ROG Strix XG258Q, XG248Q, MG278Q, VG278Q and VG258Q — at CES 2019 and demonstrate the strong partnership between ASUS and NVIDIA.

As a leader in the gaming monitor market, ASUS is driven to deliver the best experiences to gamers. ASUS was the first company to introduce an NVIDIA G-SYNC monitor with the launch of ROG Swift PG278Q in 2014, and the ROG Swift series has continued since then to be recognized as the world’s best gaming monitors. Since the launch of the G-SYNC Compatible program, ASUS has worked closely with NVIDIA to enlarge the G-SYNC ecosystem. ASUS is currently the only company subjecting monitors to a two-stage certification process that entails in-house testing and subsequent validation by NVIDIA to guarantee compatibility with thousands of graphics cards. Eight ASUS monitors spanning a variety of screen sizes and resolutions have achieved full compliance, giving consumers more freedom to upgrade existing systems or team components for new builds.

ASUS VG278QR, VG258QR and VG248QG

Designed for intense, fast-paced games, the 27-inch VG278QR, 24.5-inch VG258QR and 24-inch VG248QG gaming monitors feature FHD resolution coupled with an ultrafast 0.5ms[i] response time and blazing 165Hz refresh rate to provide super-smooth gameplay. They also feature ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology to make objects in motion look even sharper, so gameplay is more fluid and responsive.

ASUS VG248QG, VG258QR and VG278QR all support gamer-centric features, such as ASUS GamePlus to enhance the in-game experience and GameVisual to provide various pre-set display modes that optimize visuals for different types of games.

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ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) have announced ROG Strix Scope, the mechanical gaming keyboard with Xccurate Design – an extra-wide Ctrl key for enhanced precision on FPS battlefields.

The Control (Ctrl) key is crucial to success in modern first-person-shooter games. With this in mind the ROG R&D team carefully examined the play style of FPS gamers, applying their findings to create a Ctrl key that’s more than 2X wider than traditional Ctrl keys as well as a shortened left Windows key that’s designed to be less of a target.

For gamers wanting to switch things up a bit, the all-black look of Strix Scope can be punctuated by four silver-colored caps for the vital WASD key group. Included with Strix Scope, these alternative caps create a striking contrast to the rest of the keys – a standout look that benefits both form and function. A special keycap-puller tool is also bundled for easy removal and customization of the most-used keys.

Strix Scope’s F12 key has its own unique secondary function, doubling as Stealth. This is a one-touch shortcut that hides all running apps and mute all audio for instant privacy or peace.

All keycaps are designed to take full advantage of the ASUS Aura RGB backlighting that’s built in to Strix Scope, with secondary legends that are carefully placed to also be easily visible. The F5-F12 keys even have front-side illumination, so both media controls and F-key legends are clearly lit. The Quick Toggle Switch allows gamers to flip quickly between these two control modes.

An aluminum faceplate lends Strix Scope everyday resilience and is finished with a striking slash aesthetic for a little touch of style. The keyboard also includes Armoury II, enhanced driver-based software that offers more extensive controls while using less system resources. An intuitive UI makes it easy for gamers to tune Strix Scope to suit the game or gameplay style – enabling them to create profiles, customize colors and lighting effects, map keys, record macros and more. It’s even possible to track hardware stats during gameplay for data analysis.

The outstanding design and innovation that went into the creation of Strix Scope has already been recognized and awarded, with the product winning the prestigious 2019 iF Product Design Award in the Computer Accessory category. The iF Product Design Awards spans multiple disciplines and attracts many thousands of entries from dozens of nations every year – so Strix Scope fought off strong international competition to secure its victory.

Cherry MX RGB switches for gamer-delighting feel and response

Strix Scope is constructed with Cherry MX RGB switches to deliver the precise mechanical feel preferred by gamers and enthusiasts alike. These premium-quality switches are manufactured in Germany and are renowned for delivering optimal actuation and responsiveness with every keystroke. The keyboard is fully compatible with Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, Black, Silent Red and Speed Silver switches[1], offering gamers the freedom to configure Strix Scope to play exactly the way they like – from smooth, quiet, linear actuation to tactile clicks.

“Gamers have come to love the feel, optimal actuation and responsiveness of mechanical keystrokes”, said Michael Schmid, Head of MX Technology Marketing at Cherry GmbH. “Cherry MX switches are the obvious trusted choice to use in the new high-end ROG Strix Scope keyboard, with a choice of six different switch types. ROG has always gamers in mind and develops products accordingly. For Strix Scope, innovative features like the enlarged Xccurate Design Ctrl key were made with FPS players in mind. This is the kind of attention to detail that Cherry loves – and why we’re excited to celebrate the arrival of Strix Scope.”

Aura RGB illumination on every key for infinite lighting possibilities

No modern gaming keyboard is complete without eye-catching lighting, so Strix Scope features per-key ASUS Aura RGB LEDs, plus an illuminated ROG logo. Compatibility with the Aura Sync ecosystem makes it easy for gamers to harmonize Strix Scope’s light shows with other Aura Sync-enabled components, both from ASUS and partner manufacturers.

The keyboard also has a built-in memory to store up to six custom illumination profiles, which can be configured to correspond to different applications – providing custom layouts and lighting effects that are tailored for a particular game or activity.

The evolution of ROG Strix Scope

Avid ROG followers may have noted that Strix Scope was previously revealed as Strix CTRL during CES^® 2019. This product-development codename was subsequently changed and finalized as Strix Scope to clearly express a key battlefield benefit of the extended Xccurate Design Ctrl key.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ROG Strix Scope will be available from end of May 2019 in Australia through National Retailers at the estimated launch price of AUD$249.00

The post ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Strix Scope appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

ASUS, the leading IT Company in server systems, server motherboards, workstations and workstation motherboards have announced support for the new 2nd Generation Intel^® Xeon^® Scalable processors across all server product lineups. The latest Intel platform delivers a 1.33X average performance improvement in power consumption and clock speed over previous-generation processors with popular applications and benchmarks. As a select Intel partner, ASUS offers breakthrough performance with the latest Intel Optane™ DC persistent memory with an over 88% gain in input/output operations per second (IOPS) compared with the same configuration in SSD. This new processor platform also introduces Intel Deep Learning Boost technology for enhanced deep learning capabilities. With this new technology, ASUS servers achieved a 3.1X performance improvement in the ResNet-50 and SSD VGG-16 models, fully demonstrating the inference capability of the new platform.

Support up to 6 channel DDR4 2933, Intel DL Boost and Intel Optane™ DC persistent memory

All ASUS server series are optimized to fully leverage 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and future technologies including Intel Optane DC persistent memory and Intel Deep Learning Boost technology to enable more efficient AI (artificial intelligence) acceleration, including the GPU-optimized ESC 8000 and 4000 series, high-performance RS720, 700, 540, 520, and 500 series, Z11 series server motherboard and WS C621 workstation motherboard. With the latest 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Platinum processor, ASUS servers deliver a 1.21X performance improvement in Linpack, a 1.83X performance improvement in Stream Triad, and an incredible 17X improvement in AI and deep learning inference over previous-generation processors.

To address rapidly emerging data-intensive applications, including in-memory analytics, databases, content delivery networks (CDN), and high-performance computing (HPC), ASUS servers adopt the latest Intel Optane™ DC persistent memory technology to transform critical data workloads faster and deliver much improved serviceability with higher virtual machine and container density. Intel Optane™ DC persistent memory is an innovative memory technology that delivers a unique combination of affordable large capacity and persistence (non-volatility). Compared with the previous generation, the latest ASUS servers offer a 1.8X IOPS improvement under virtualization workloads while maintaining the same operating costs. Better IOPS means more efficiency and improved quality when running virtualization in business environments.

Exclusive Thermal Radar technology

ASUS Thermal Radar 2.0 is the market-leading thermal control technology and is deployed perfectly on the latest ASUS servers featuring 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Featuring two innovative intelligent detection technologies and multi-fan zone design, ASUS Thermal Radar 2.0 places different sensors on the CPU, GPU, DIMM, HDD and in other areas to collect localized heating information to designate dedicated fan flow automatically to reduce consumption of overall fan capacity. Additionally, the multi-fan zone design enables multiple fan curves for different zones to reduce operating time and cost required for manual adjustments and effectively enhances system reliability and thermal efficiency.

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Exterity and Sony have announced that they have been working closely together to achieve seamless integration between Exterity’s ArtioGuest® interactive guest experience portal and the latest Sony BRAVIA® professional TVs, which have Chromecast support built in.

The latest Sony professional TVs benefit from built-in Chromecast functionality, enabling users to easily share content from subscription services, such as Netflix or YouTube, from their mobile device directly to the Sony screen. This removes the need for a Chromecast dongle and other external 3^rd party devices and services, simplifying ongoing support and maintenance. ArtioGuest, with its direct access to the Sony built-in Chromecast functionality, securely connects Sony TVs, Chromecast services and the guest’s mobile device, while protecting the user’s personal data.

This latest collaboration is part of an ongoing partnership as the two brands strive to offer first-class service to hotel operators and their guests.

Commenting on the new integration, Jamie Hind, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at Exterity said, “ArtioGuest is the basis for us moving more into accommodation across Asia Pacific across a number of sectors including hotels, cruise ships, healthcare and aged care; it’s a diverse industry for us and we have the flexibility to address both shared and differing requirements. Discerning, tech-savvy travellers expect a ‘better than home’ in-room technology experience, so it’s been exciting to work with Sony to integrate ArtioGuest with the built-in Chromecast feature of their hospitality TVs.”

Daniel Hancox, Sony Professional Solutions Australia & New Zealand, Group Manager – Business & Institutional Solutions said; “Since announcing our partnership last year, we’ve jointly been focusing on the hospitality market, based around the strength of the product solutions we both have, and seeing how we are exceeding the expectations of end users by what we’re presenting together. This includes Chromecast onboard in our Sony BRAVIA professional range, which enables guests to bring what they’re used to at home into the hotel room and cast seamlessly to the TV. It represents a big leap forward in terms of technology from where it is today – it’s where the future lies and what our customers are demanding.”

The post Sony TVs Extend Exterity Partnership With Built-in Chromecast Support appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

We’ve tried and tested a ton of earphones that are out in the market, so today, we are going to focus on the Elite Active 65T from Jabra. These were labeled as the best and true wireless earphones at the moment, and of course, we just had to see if these claims are true.

Jabra also states that the Elite Active 65T not only produces excellent sounds, but also offers solid battery life and excellent feature sets. Aside from this, the company also added a really nice sweat-proofing feature to allow outdoor enthusiasts and workout addicts to fully enjoy their activities without having to worry about ruining their Elite Active 65T.

With all the great features, Jabra seems to be outdoing the industry leaders such as Apple and their AirPods. But have they really?

Today, we’re going to see if the Elite Active 65T is better than the best fully wireless headphones out in the market, and if it performs just as perfectly as the company claims them to.

Jabra Elite Active 65t Review – What’s in the Box?

Just like what we’ve expected from Jabra, the packaging of the Elite Active 65T is clean and simple, yet very efficient. Its grey and yellow theme looks appealingly great and it’s somewhat eye-catching in its own way.

From the minute you unbox the device, you will get that sense of enjoyment and delight because you know that you’ve spent your money well. The first part of the box is all yellow, it features the name of the company right at the center and that’s about it. You’ll need to slide off this portion of the box to see the package itself.

Here, you will have a mostly grey container with hints of yellow for highlights. In front, you will find an image of the earphones while Jabra is written on the upper left corner of the box. Along the edges in a lengthwise manner, you will see the name of the device there which is the Elite Active 65T. Below the image, there are a few details about the device such as its main features.

Inside, you will find the earphones together with a carrying case that also works as a battery bank for the device. Also included in the package are three differently-sized ear tips that go along with your Elite Active 65T, as well as the micro USB cable for charging the case.

The Product

Jabra Elite Active 65t Review

The Jabra Elite Active 65T’s earbuds are sleek, small, and non-obtrusive. Compared to the AirPods from Apple which are really noticeable even at further distances due to its white stem protruding down the ear, the Elite Active 65T will be unnoticeable which is great. These sport circular buds with small arms and a slightly protruding tip that helps the device fit more snuggly and comfortably in your ears.

The Elite Active 65T looks really sleek and classy, while its left earbud sports notches indicating where you should press to repeat or skip your tracks. The buds of the earphones fit perfectly in the charging case to keep the device whenever you won’t use them. It also prevents you from losing or misplacing them.

This charging case is basically the same little box that came from the original device. It also comes with the micro USB charging port and LED charge indicator found at the bottom; plus, there’s also a flip top lid that revealed nicely molded cutouts for both charging and storing. This lid is sealed tight which is really good and secure.

The Elite Active 65T supports ambient noise reduction as well as wind noise protection, having the 4 mic’s system as well. Jabra included an accelerometer for tracking performance and fitness with the built-in motion sensor which is really useful.

For the size of its speaker, it measures 6.0 x 5.1 millimeters. It has a sensitivity of 103 dBSPL @ 1kHz / 1mW, impedance of 16 ohm ± 15% @ 1kHz, with a maximum input power of 8 mW. For the speaker frequency range, it reaches from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

When it comes to the microphone of the Elite Active 65T, Jabra used the 4 x MEMS type with a sensitivity of -38 dBV / Pa and bandwidth of 100 Hz – 8 kHz. Frequency ranges from 100 Hz  to 10 kHz.

Product Features

Power Up your Performance

With just a single charge, you can get up to 5 hours of solid battery life with the included pocket-sized charging case of the Elite Active 65T. With this feature, all your needs will be met once you wear these earphones until you take them off.

Simple and User-Friendly Voice Command

The Elite Active 65T from Jabra allows you to immediately link to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. This will let you quickly gather all the data that you need, whether it’s finding the nearest events, setting up appointments, or having a couple of messages read to you. And with the presence of the Bluetooth 5.0, you can readily link the earphones to your smartphones with perfect convenience.

Built for Active Lifestyles

The Jabra Elite Active 65T has an IP56 rating, plus a 2-year warranty against dust and sweat. So wherever the day takes you and no matter what activity you engage in, nothing will get in the way of you enjoying your activities, calls, and music.

The Perfect Match to your Jabra Headphones

Personalize the way you use and enjoy the Elite Active 65T: you can select your voice assistant, modify the amount of nearby noise you want, customize music profiles, track your charge, and a lot more. The application is continuously evolving and developing to provide you with newer and better features to further improve your headphones and listening experience.

Proven Connectivity

With the 3rd Gen true wireless stability of Jabra, it helps decrease the music and call drop outs. You won’t have to deal with wires getting in the way, and you have no reason to not enjoy uninterrupted music and conversations.

Using the Product

The Jabra Elite Active 65T are completely wireless earphones which only means that you won’t have to deal with the bothersome wires to link segments that fit your ears. The device easily connects through Bluetooth which is really convenient.

We like how Jabra put emphasis on the frequency spectrum of the device. There’s enough detail to hear all sounds and instruments, everything sounded even, natural, and clear. Everything was crisp, clear, and the bass was just right without overpowering the other instruments.

We loved how the vocals sounded which gave us a rather addictive level of crisp and richness which was really good. Combine that with the excellent bass response, and you’re faced with a pair of nice-looking earphones that are great for music from any genre.

For Bluetooth connection, it was perfect. Since the Elite Active 65T offers us with Bluetooth 5.0. With this, we had faultless and notable performance from the device and we can say that it’s even better than aptX.

We were able to connect and pair them easily, so even while we were walking around, leaving our smartphone behind, we didn’t experience or even notice any issues and drops until we reached about 45 feet. All in all, the Elite Active 65T performed excellently, and we’re giving this two thumbs-up for it.

Software

Each pair of wireless earbuds needs a matching software and for the Elite Active 65t, it is the Sound+ App which is available for both Android and iOS. It has a simple interface that is responsive and easy to use.

The software lets you control Focus and HearThrough modes, apply EQ, display the earphones’ battery life, as well as manage other multiple devices. Here, you can also find a digital copy of the user guide which you can access when needed.

In the Activity tab, a step counter is present and this works excellently for working out.

You can also set your earbuds to automatically pause when you pull any of your earbuds out of your ear and have it resume when you put the earbud back on. Aside from that, you can skip tracks by simply holding the volume up and down buttons on the left.

Wait for a beep before you let go of the button, then the track skips – volume up goes forward and volume down goes back. For hands-free use, you can choose from Siri and Alexa as your voice assistant.

Conclusion

The Jabra Elite Active 65T are earphones that are completely sweat-resistant and are truly wireless devices. These are made with comfort in mind, so you can use these earphones no matter how long you want.

They do not only look great, but they sound excellent too; plus, the Elite Active 65T performs reliably and are great for making calls. You get microphones on each earpiece which makes the device even better.

The earphones’ excellent sound quality and efficiency adds up to the already notable features of the device. And with its build, you can do anything you want without worrying about the device breaking due to sweat and the like.

Quality sounds, great build, and sweat-resistant, if you’re someone searching for wireless Bluetooth earphones that work great, then we highly suggest the Elite Active 65T from Jabra for you.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Jabra Elite Active 65t for around $329 AUD from over at the official product page.

The post Jabra Elite Active 65t Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Streaming has without doubt transformed the gaming industry in a huge way and it looks set to continue to do so as time progresses. While many of us may be more aware of streaming when it comes to music and platforms like Spotify or video streaming services such as Netflix, video game streaming is coming up fast on the outside and could soon take over as the most popular form of streaming in existence.

Video gaming has and still is one of the world’s most popular and best loved forms of entertainment but over the last 5-10 years, watching other people play video games has rapidly grown in popularity. It is over the last 5 years where the popularity has snowballed, with millions of people logging on to platforms such as Twitch and YouTube to watch their favourite streamers play the most popular video games around.

The streaming craze has already changed gaming and there looks to be more changes afoot for one of the industry’s biggest ever revolutions. One of the biggest impacts streaming has is that it allows game developers to get their content out there. When streamers play games and people tune in, developers not only benefit from the advertising of their game, but they can also collect useful feedback too. This feedback can then be used to develop patches or content drops, improving the game based on what the community wants.

Streaming can also help to promote different genres of games, with platforms such as Twitch now having categories which cover the likes of poker, slots and casino games. Poker tournaments have been regular broadcast on television, and now everyone can tune into Twitch to watch them live, while also having the ability to watch others play the latest slots and casino games too. In fact, this could even lead to traditional games like bingo getting in on the action. So that it is not unimaginable for mFortune Bingo and other renowned brands to be streaming bingo tournaments in the very near future.

We’ve also witnessed the rise of eSports, something which has been accelerated and grown thanks to streaming. While we may have been interested in competitive gaming in the past, there’s even more interest now that leagues, tournaments and events are broadcast live for viewers across streaming platforms. And this in turn has seen interest in eSports boom, with more and more video game titles being created with competitive gaming in mind.

Video games such as Fortnite were created while streaming was in full swing, and it was no doubt developed with an eye on the eSports market. Twitch streamers such as Ninja, who broadcasts live to tens of thousands regularly, also managed to generate huge interest in Fortnite as a video game too, proving just how important streaming has become to the gaming industry.

A final part of streaming which should also be considered as a game changer revolves around being able to play games via a cloud service or using a server. This means that thanks to the huge improvements made where internet speeds are concerned, there will come a time when lugging consoles around will no longer be required, with the Netflix of gaming said to be the future of the industry.

The post How Streaming Will Change Gaming Forever appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

When it comes to personal storage, it covers a plethora of outstanding solutions coming from your regular portable drives via the latest Thunderbolt or USB devices, to your standard multiple bay devices that are found in the NAS and DAS markets. With the growing need for storage in today’s generation, a lot of people are searching for the best, and most cost-efficient solutions where anyone can readily store media content like videos, music, images, and other important data.

Filegear is one of the best and most efficient form factor solutions that aims and focuses on taking great care of all your needs and requisites for personal storage. Built and established from the ground and up, Filegear definitely knows how to let you easily access stored files from any place via their wide array of applications.

Adding to this, One Plus and Filegear One supports USB 3.0 storages together with Secure Digital. One Plus brings in a new addition to their collection of devices, the 2.5-inch SATA support with a USB Type-C enclosure that is expandable.But what sets the Filegear One Plus apart from the rest would be its features like file replication, automatic organization, and de-duplication to name a few.

What’s even better is that Filegear will let you easily share all important files just by conveniently sending a link from the application, or via QR Code with an advanced security assistance that lets you add an expiration date or password. Is it a good device that will suit your needs and requisites? Are the features and its performance just as good as what Filegear claims it to be?

Today, we’ll be checking out on the One Plus from Filegear and we’re going to learn more about this product. So sit back, relax, and continue browsing through our review. We’re going to start off with what’s inside the package.

Filegear One Plus Review – What’s in the Box?

When we got our hands on the device, it came in a simple looking box that was clean and basically just that. There were no real markings on the package except for the logo of Filegear. There isn’t much to see on the box’s exterior, so we went on to check out the contents inside.

When you open the box, you will immediately see the One Plus tucked in its own area to keep it secure even in transit. It’s also covered by a protective cover to avoid any unnecessary scratches. It’s also great that the company decided to use thick and durable foam to surround the device, keeping the edges safe as well.

Aside from the device, other items that you’ll find in the package includes the stackable drive enclosure (just remember that the drive isn’t included here), an Ethernet cable, the power supply, a quick start guide, and the VESA mounting hardware.

The Product

Filegear One Plus Review

The Filegear One Plus offers the MiniPC or NUX form factor, the black box with a blue color way and the logo right on top. When you power up the unit, a blue LED ring will light up and illuminate the exhaust located along the enclosure’s edges.

The right portion of the enclosure houses the micro SD, power, and the USB ports; for the back portion, it provides you with the power input to the left which is followed by the USB Type C and Type A. Aside from these, you’ll also get the HDMI, 3.5 millimeter audio output, and the micro SD.

For the One Plus from Filegear, the two units are separated via a special kind of locking mechanism. The connection between this would be the USB Type C, and this unit also supports the 2.5-inch drives HDD or SSD. One thing to take note of here is that you will not lose any VESA compatibilities even when the drive bay is attached.

Product Features

Delivers the Best Performance

Filegear One Plus makes use of Intel chips for an IO and processing performance that is better by 8 times compared to the common ARM-based devices.

Easy to Expand

Plug your External Hard Drives into any available port – USB 2.0 or 3.0, and for File Gear One Plus, you can also plug in USB Type C.

Modular Drive Bay

Filegear One Plus comes with a stackable drive bay that allows you to install any slimline 2.5-inch HDD or SSD for extremely fast speed rates and less clutter.

Vesa Wall Mount

The Filegar One Plus includes mounting hardware which lets you attach the device behind your monitor or to a wall.

Integrated File Organization

Music, videos, and photos are automatically categorized so you can browse easily. Filegear indexes metadata from each file to make it easy for you to find and organize files with powerful searching capabilities.

Security and Privacy

Since all of your files and drives are under your control, you will know where these can be located and who can access these. All forms of communication are end-to-end encrypted with the use of SSL.

Auto Deduplication

Exact copies of files are automatically removed to give you additional space on your drives. Integrated tools are also present to help you consolidate multiple copies of your files in single collections

AI Tagging

Filegear One Plus uses Artificial intelligence which is designed for recognizing scenes and items in your photos Descripting tags get added to make your files easy to search.

File Replication

With Filegear, your files automatically have a backup across multiple drives to make sure that everything is safe even if one drive fails.

Metadata can be Modified

You can add or edit GPS coordinates, time and date information, location details, landmarks, tags, etc.

Built-in Media Players

Media players that come with the Filegear One Plus lets you enjoy movies, music, viewing PDF files directly from the browser or Filegear. No downloads are needed since you can enjoy streamed music and videos.

No Monthly Fees

Your drives and hardware are yours so you don’t have to pay cloud service fees or rent your data back.

Specifications

The Filegear One Plus makes use of the Celeron J-3455 which is a CPU that is common in a lot of the larger NAS devices such as the 918+ and DS-718 from Synology.

The One Plus is paired with a memory that is 4GB in size, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, 802.11AC, and the Type C support together with the micro SD. The device comes with a stackable drive bay with a 2.5-inch SATA support. Aside from these, it also comes with a one-year warranty for convenience.

Using the Product

Setting up the Filegear One Plus is simple. All you have to do is create an account on their website so you can verify this after. When you go through hardware setup, plug the Ethernet and power to the Filegear unit. Give a few minutes for booting up and hitting the website again to log in. From there, you should see your device in the list, then click on it to begin set up.

Simply select the drive and add it to your storage pool. If you have existing files on your drive that you added to Filegear, it will ask you to import those files. You can also choose to not import these and just format the drive in the menu after you finish setting this up.

Once the files are imported, you will be linked to the company’s apps for set up on your mobile phone, along with the support and user guide. Once the setup is done, you will see the dashboard. From there, you will find several menus: a full sidebar on the left to sort your icons and files across the top for media types.

The folder menu allows for access to the actual media while switching to a fly type with the icons to show you a sorted view of your media. Filegear makes use of two apps – the utility app for diagnostic & firmware updates, and Filegear for media access.

The Filegear One Plus gave us a really great set of features; plus, it also offered us an ecosystem that everyone, even home users, would consider excellent.

As we previously mentioned, Filegear includes the auto categorization for images & videos; plus, it also has the ability to duplicate files located on separate drives linked to the device. This will guarantee that you won’t lose any data in any instances of failures; also, if you have a couple of drives that contain random files or images, you can easily import these to the Filegear One Plus and have it deduplicated, removing all of the same copies using its bit by bit detection which is really neat.

For its build quality, as well as its performance, the One Plus is definitely good. The enclosure is made from durable plastic which makes it a lightweight product, but at the same time, is really secure and efficient. Don’t worry though, since the included hard drive bay with the installed drive helps maintain its position when you place this on the desk. When it comes to the connectivity options, these amazingly rival the much bigger devices with USB 2.0, 3.0, and Type C that are available with Gigabit, HDMI, and WiFi.

All in all, it was able to perform excellently, so we’re giving the Filegear One Plus two thumbs up.

Conclusion

After all the tests we did, we found that the One Plus from Filegear can be a really fantastic and efficient product. It is also straightforward to set up, is user-friendly, and extremely fast. Actually, it’s much faster compared to other NAS boxes that we’ve ever tried here. When it comes to watching films to play on our laptop or smartphone, everything was smooth and we didn’t encounter any buffering which is great.

We’ve had this unit for some time now, and we’ve already grown to love the One Plus. It works well, no issues were experienced, and it’s just a finely-built device that you’d really enjoy. We’re also looking forward to Filegear’s plans of including additional file server features, so we’re really curious how the platform improves over the next months.

Where to Buy

The Filegear One Plus storage solution, this can be purchased from the company’s official website.

The post Filegear One Plus Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

When it comes to Corsair, people automatically think of RAM, gaming headsets such as the Void Pro, as well as keyboards. Yet aside from these devices, the company also produces gaming chairs – something that is quite a surprise to a lot of people. If you’re one of the people who didn’t know about this, you do now.

Corsair has released their second gaming chair which is the T2 Road Warrior, and it is something that will definitely cause a stir in the world of gaming support. This is all thanks to the many levels of reclining and tilt comfort.

But is it really as good as the company claims it to be? If you want to learn more about the product, then we’ve got you covered. Today, we’ll be talking about this T2 Road Warrior gaming seat from Corsair.

Corsair T2 Road Warrior Review – What’s in the Box?

The T2 Road Warrior from Corsair came to us in a huge and rather hefty box. The branding is there to help reinforce this for shipping. The top of the package displays both the logos for T2 and Corsair. For the sides of the package, these display a simple image of the chair while a huge portion of the side is taken up by another logo of T2.

Once you open the package, the first thing that will greet you is a manual right at the top of an inner foam packaging. It’s actually quite a substantial manual and is also properly bound. It features the specifications, features, and the most important would be the assembly instructions which are written in several different languages.

Beneath the top foam cover, you will find the T2 Road Warriors pieces which are all wrapped nicely and neatly in heavy plastic. Aside from this, the parts are also stacked together carefully to keep things nice, neat, and organized. The seat back of the T2 Road Warrior is placed at the top while the main seat is under it; for the pillows and the base pieces, all of these are underneath.

The big aluminum base is set at the bottom portion of the box and is of course, well-protected to avoid damages. There is also an included box for the little parts to connect the seat.

Now inside this little box, you will find the skate style casters, pneumatic lift cylinder, a few covers, and some spare hardware. We really appreciated that the company included at least one of each kind of fastener for the chair including the trim plugs. Really, we wish other manufacturers would do this too since it’s really convenient for all. A couple of washers and bolts don’t cost too much at a scale, and it does make life a whole lot easier, especially if you end up losing one in the long run.

Finally, you’ll get to see the T2 Road Warrior gaming seat. We got the black & yellow colored one, and all we can say that it looks really neat and awesome.

The Product

Corsair T2 Road Warrior Review

The T2 Road Warrior from Corsair appears to be like a low-key type of chair that is best for longer gaming moments; when all you want to do is to just sit back and relax to enjoy the whole afternoon for gaming. The T2 Road Warrior is a gaming seat that has been designed with sheer comfort in mind. It has a wide seat, a solid steel frame, as well as a nice tall back, allowing it to support up to a total of 136 kilograms.

This gaming seat also comes with an 85-millimeter height adjustment, and this is all thanks to its Class 4 gas-lift mechanism, lumbar pillows, and an adjustable neck. Speaking of its pillows it is wrapped in a nice, soft, and comfortable microfiber fabric that you can easily shift up or down at the back.

It also has a perforated PU leather seat for the cushion and the back to keep you feeling nice and comfortable, while still looking really cool. More importantly, its armrests can be moved to different directions, either up or down, just to get the proper height.

If you want it to perfectly fit your body type, you can either shift this left, right, or forward and backward depending on how you enjoy playing your games: bolting upright at your table or lying back in a more relaxed manner.

One thing that you should always remember when it comes to the T2 Road Warrior is that you will need to make sure that the red cap at the top of the gas lift is removed; and if you read the manual, you’ll see it there. If you miss out on doing this and just position the seat chair on its gas lift, you will no longer get to adjust the chair’s vertical height.

Out of the box, the T2 Road Warrior from Corsair has an excellent look and feel to it, as well as a great build which is great. For its seating portion, it’s also very finely-built; and what’s great is that even after using it for over a week, it still looks great despite getting quite a beating when others get overly excited during game time.

For the seat back portion, it’s also perfectly constructed. The part is embossed with the company’s logo but they made sure that it doesn’t come off as something that’s too in-your-face. We can say that it’s a slightly large and embroidered logo of Corsair so that anyone looking at the chair from behind will immediately know what brand the T2 Road Warrior is.

For the armrests, these are great and perfectly positioned though they’re still the standard pieces in the industry today. They’re comfortable because of the cushions, and we really had no issues with them being too stiff or hard on the elbows when we’re leaning on them during game time.

These also move up & down, side to side, as well as twisting in and out for more movement. Also, its seat back hardware is completely covered, and it’s nice that the company included a bolt cover plug for its sides to give it a nice and smooth finish.

Corsair made a good choice of using an aluminum base for the chair since the previous gaming chair that they introduced the T1, got a lot of raised brows because of its plastic base. It has a nice solid touch to it which gives it a stronger and more durable body.

The casters of the T2 Road Warrior aren’t really casters, but are rollerblade-like wheels. If you are someone who moves around a lot while in your chair, then these types of wheels will be a huge advantage over the classic casters.

Product Features

Finished with Comfort and Style

This T2 Road Warrior gaming chair has two-layer color accents – black and yellow which is a perfect match for your setup. It also has a seat back and cushion that are made of perforated PU leather to make it more breathable and comfortable.

Designed with Comfort

The T2 Road Warrior provides the best support for the most important areas of your body. It comes with lumbar pillows and an adjustable neck.

For Long Gaming Sessions

This gaming chair features a tall back, a wide seat, as well as two-layer custom color accents to give you the comfort, style, and endurance for long hours of gaming.

4D Armrests

The 4D armrests of the Corsair T2 Road Warrior can be adjusted and moved in any direction. Lower or raise the height, slide forward or backwards, and even left or right. You can also swivel this to any location you want. You can complete the customization to place the armrests exactly where you want them to be.

Smooth Operator

The T2 Road Warrior features rollerblade style wheels which allow you to move your chair effortlessly on any surface without marking your flooring.

Lay Back and Relax

Have a moment to relax before your next gaming challenge by adjusting the seat tilt angle to 17 degrees. The chair has a fully 170-degree fully reclining seat back so you can find the best angle for your posture.

Adjust your Level

Easily adjust your height with the 85-millimeter movement range, and you can stay there with a Class 4 steel gas lift.

Steel Skeleton Construction

The T2 Road Warrior features a solid steel skeleton frame that runs from the chair base and back to keep this strong and durable until the upcoming years.

Specifications

The T2 Road Warrior from Corsair makes use of polyurethane foam for its seat that has a density of about 50 kg/m³.  The seating surface is made using PU leather while the seat back uses 3D PVC leather; for the seat frame, it’s made of metal and its base is made of aluminum.

It’s great that the seat makes use of a Class 4 gas lift and a type 4D armrest, allowing for better movement and flexibility. It’s total weight capacity can handle up to 126 kilograms and its net weight is 24.5 kilograms in total. All in all, it comes with a 2-year warranty for convenience.

For the T2 Road Warrior’s dimensions, it has the tilt angle of 0 to 17° with an adjustable back angle of 90 to 170°. The seat has a max height of 60 centimeters while it can go as low as 51.5 centimeters. For movement, you’ll have a total range of 85 millimeters.

Your arms will be comfortable no matter what since the maximum arm height is 38 centimeters while the lowest it can get is 28 centimeters. The backrest has a good height at 88 centimeters with a width of 50 centimeters which is perfect for your any shoulder size. The seat is wide enough at 50 x 56 centimeters so you won’t have to worry about falling off or the like; and lastly, the wheels are sturdy and durable enough at 75 millimeters.

Using the Product

Wide base chairs are often highly durable since these are more capable of supporting extra weight than usual; plus, you also don’t have to worry about maximum capacity and wear & tear due to overuse. The Corsair T2 Road Warrior is solid so you don’t have to worry about its overall durability. Its steel skeleton is extremely strong and it runs all the way up to the up to the chair’s head.

We tried using the T2 Road Warrior and we can say that it feels absolutely great and comfortable. You can adjust its height, the armrests, and even the angle of its reclining seat back.

When we were seated, we had a great experience since the chair completely supported our back and bottom. We had no issues while sitting for long hours since we felt completely comfortable.

Another great thing about the T2 Road Warrior are its wheels. It’s not only silent, but it also doesn’t damage your flooring and rolls with minimum effort.

After trying to use this, we saw that the chair was not designed just to draw attention with its looks, but it was made for everyone’s comfort. The deep seat design and its tall back helped relax and stimulate the nerves on our back for total comfort.

Its extra-wide seat provides comfort so even big and tall gamers will not feel any discomfort when using this chair. We also loved how breathable it is due to the mesh-like cushions that are made from PU leather.

Conclusion

We were surprised to see that Corsair’s T2 Road Warrior is absolutely comfortable even if its build is firm and sturdy since most gaming seats are not like this. We also appreciate the stylish design since it’s not just the common plain black chair you’d commonly find in the market.

The T2 Road Warrior is definitely  a great option for people who want a gaming chair with more space, firm cushion, as well as high-end style. If you’re looking for a gaming chair that offers a premium fit and finish, the Corsair T2 Road Warrior is the best choice for you.

Where to Buy

If you want to purchase your own Corsair T2 Road Warrior gaming chair, you can purchase this from the company’s official website.

Corsair T2 Road Warrior Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-04-17

5.0Overall Score

The post Corsair T2 Road Warrior Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Voice assistance is a new trend in the market. AI is capturing the whole world. All these voice control devices are driven by agent software called “Virtual assistant” or “voice assistant”. Voice assistants listen to your instructions, and they can handle any tasks. Though we make fun of Siri, it is considered to be one of the best voice assistants in the market compared to other voice assistant services.

You may always be wondering how they do it. There is a vast data centre behind the internet. It analyses what we say and gives result even though the response is not correct always. There are different voice assistants such as Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant. They all have various features and they even  have some negative features too. Therefore you can try installing each of them and check for their pros and cons. After that, you can disable them if you do not like it.

Here, you can find a brief comparison between Cortana, Siri and Google Assistant:

SIRI

In contrast to other virtual assistants, Siri has been the most developed one in recent years. It is one of the noteworthy digital right hands that can deal with various features of iOS gadgets on Apple TV and MAC book. Any iOS user would love siri over other virtual assistants.

CORTANA

Microsoft presented it as a digital assistant in the year 2014. Microsoft wants this assistant to be incorporated in all other community along with its community. This app can deal with getting weather details, controlling calendars, and you can even take dictation through email, but there are major issues with cortana if you compare it with other two virtual assistants. Thus, if you want to disable it, click here to know how.

Google Assistant

It is a google app that we can use and readily available for each and every one. It is available in every gadget starting from the laptop, mobile phone and computer. Google is the most used browser across the world, and therefore the virtual assistant is accessible through any device. This assistant is nowhere in comparison to Google when it comes to popularity. Google Voice Assistant is the future in digital assistant software.

There are different functions in different spaces:

General Knowledge

Google Assistant is useful in answering general knowledge. They have answers to all the questions that you ask over this assistant. No other virtual assistant is capable of doing this except a limited number of items.

Messaging

All three digital assistants have this function of messaging inbuilt in them. It has become effortless to type and send messages through these assistants.

Music

They are pathetic in terms of music assistant. They are not at all good at it, but if you want to compare them, google assistant is better than other software agents. It needs you to utilize youtube and google music for any music assistant.

Food ordering and reservation at restaurants

All these digital assistants are capable of finding the eateries nearby, and they are good at giving suggestions about what is best in town. We tend to use these assistants to find restaurants, look for reviews, look for the best one in town and to look for the best food available. Although Google Assistant is not that accurate when you compare it with SIRI and Cortana digital assistant, but still, it’s useful.

Directions

SIRI is the champ when it comes to giving instructions. This is what we use whether we are looking for any place or location. We also use routes that are available Cortana and Google Assistant at times.

First task or voice recognition is one of the other functions that are available in these virtual assistants. These are all details that can help you to get the best of a virtual assistant. Go through the article and install as per your need or disable them if you do not need them.

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Today, we’re focusing on the updated version of the Jaybird Run Wireless earphones, and this is the Run XT. There are updates to its design and some other features, but despite that, this pair of awesome earphones still remains the same. The company wanted to mix the highly comfortable, premium, fit, and quality material from the first generation of earbuds with headphones that are more durable and waterproof.

With that, Jaybird released their Run XT headphones, making it a completely waterproof and sweat proof device. This is something great for anyone who loves listening to music while engaging in strenuous and active tasks like hiking, working out, and the like. These are rated IPX-7 and Jaybird guarantees that the Run XT is built to perform.

Let’s see if there are noteworthy features present on this version, and if it’s something that you’d want to invest in to have effective, premium, and waterproof earphones.

Jaybird Run XT Review – What’s in the Box?

The box of the Run XT sports a simple yet classy theme which is really pleasing and appealing to the eyes. The front has an image of the device, the name of the model on the upper left corner, some other details about it, as well as the company’s name and logo on the lower left part.

On the sides are other general details of the product, while the back displays more information about it, as well as its features. All the information written on the box’s exterior are basic details, so once you’re done checking those out, you can go ahead and see what’s inside the package.

We received the Run XT with the black flash color, and it looks really neat and slick which is something we really liked. Jaybird packed the device nicely and neatly, since the earphones is set in its own area to prevent it from moving about inside the box while in transit.

Aside from the earphones itself, other items that are found in the package includes the ear fins (1 / 2 / 3 / 4), rounded ear tips (sm / md), oval ear tips (sm / md), the charging case, the charging cable, and an instructional guide.

The Product

Jaybird Run XT Review

The Run XT from Jaybird is kept in a plastic charging case that sports a nice sleek and classy shade. It comes with a latch featuring a green LED light and another LED on either side which displays the charging status of the device’s battery. All the three LED lights flash green when the case and earphones are charging; once fully charged, the light glows in a steadier pace.

The device charges using a micro USB cable, and when it comes to its charging case, it has a nice compact oval shape with a firm snap shut lid on it. The charging case also comes with a micro USB port on its rear panel for the charging cable that’s included in the package.

For starters, the Run XT earphones are highly customizable from its size to sound. There are a total of four different fin shapes included, and these can just slide into your ear’s upper concha. Aside from this, four tips are also present, and these can perfectly fit in any notch which is great. What makes this even better is that everything is very easy to switch out, making it really convenient, comfortable, and user-friendly.

The fins are built-in using a silicone oblong piece that fits perfectly along the earbuds. An certain opening in the fin piece that has a label for its size, guarantees the right installation for the earbuds. There are also a total of four different sizes for the silicone tips that are available, and these will help you find the perfect fit for your ears.

The buttons found on each ear controls a variety of functions. The one on the left activates the phone’s voice assistant with just one press; the one on the right works as the play & pause button, while it also functions as the answer and for ending calls. Skipping tracks or declining calls is also possible, but you’d need to press on the button twice to activate this.

For powering down the earpieces, you’d need to press any of the two buttons for three seconds.

Product Features

Truly Wireless

The Jaybird Run XT is a pair of high-performance, wireless earbuds. It combines extreme comfort, a lightweight design, premium sound,  and improved Bluetooth performance, made especially for passionate runners.

Designed for Performance

With its IPX-7 rating, the Jaybird Run XT is completely waterproof and sweatproof. This makes it reliable even in the most intense workout conditions. Whether it’s under heavy rain, being rinsed, or even when it’s being submerged up to 1 meter.

Personalized Sound Experience

The audio of the Jaybird is clear and crisp no matter what genre of music you play. With the EQ in the Jaybird app, you can also customize your audio.

Absolute Comfort

The earbuds come with assorted sizes of interchangeable tips and fins for you to ensure its security when you workout.

12 Hours of Power

The rechargeable battery comes with four hours of playtime with eight hours of recharging in its case.

Specifications

The Jaybird Run XT has a passive noise isolation feature and an impedance of 16 Ohm. Its speakers have a sensitivity of 103 + / – 2dB at 1KHz, while its maximum output with a level limit is 12mW RMS. The Run XT makes use of the 16-bit stereo audio format with a <5% for total harmonic distortion.

These earphones also sports the Bluetooth SBC implementation and also has a 20Hz – 20kHz response bandwidth; also, the device sports the 4.1 Bluetooth, has a 6-millimeter driver, while its frequency band is a total of 2.4GHz.

You’ll need a total of 2 hours to charge the device but for quick charging, you’d only need five minutes to get an hour of playtime. Speaking of playtime, you’ll get a total of 4 hours or more when you fully charge the device. Its input power is DC 5V 1-A and uses a 3.8V Lithium Ion battery, while its energy Voltage in Watt hours / battery is 0.3WH.

Lastly, the microphone of this Run XT from Jaybird is the MEMs omni directional mic that has a sensitivity of -38dB x / – 3dB.

Using the Product

When you install the Jaybird App, you can change the functions of the Run XT’s buttons. Aside from that, you can customize the settings of your audio via the equalizer, manage the earbuds, as well as choose or share playlists. Spotify is integrated which is great especially for subscribers who are looking for playlists for working out. Recently, Jaybird included some recommended podcasts so you can also find some that are related to exercising.

The app provides how-to instructions, fit guides, and support. If you lose things easily, you can also use the app’s “Find My Buds” function, which shows the last known location of your Jaybird Run XT.

The battery life of the Run XT from Jaybird is true as the company claims: it does give you a total of four hours of playtime on full charge, and you’ll really get an extra eight hours or more from its included charging case. We, of course, tried the five minute charge time to see if it really does give you an hour of music playback, and quite surprisingly, we got over an hour which is pretty neat.

For its little energy docks, these are conveniently lightweight just like the buds. It’s great that you can do an on-the-go recharge when you’re on a backcountry trip, traveling via plane, or if you just don’t have any access to power outlets and need to charge.

Everything went smoothly and its Bluetooth connection is surprisingly more powerful compared to what has been advertised. We were able to walk away from the phone and everything was fine; the only time when the music would drop was when we walked more than fifteen feet away from the device.

We loved that Jaybird addressed the most common issues for active music listeners who use wireless earphones: they managed to design the device to fit perfectly in your ears that they stay in place while moving about even during rigorous activities. Not only are the earplugs comfortable, but they’re streamlined as well. They were waterproof indeed, and no matter how much we sweat while using it, it still worked perfectly fine.

The microphone of the Run XT was also excellent. When we utilized the Voice Memos application on a smartphone, we were able to easily understand every word recorded and everything came out clean, crisp, and audible. With that, the Jaybird Run XT was a great set of wireless earphones and it performed notably, so we gave it two thumbs up for excellent performance and an outstanding build.

Conclusion

The Jaybird Run XT is the upgraded version of the previous Jaybird Run; these two are similar pairs of earbuds in terms of versatility and noise isolation. Both models are also designed for sports since they feature a breathable design and fins for stability when worn.

We really appreciate the Run XT. These do not only fit securely in our ears, but it also never felt loose even while working out and running for a long period of time. Its sound was consistently good and it seemed to have lasted more than four hours. Its charging case also provides additional charge for your battery which is sufficient for additional 8 hours of playtime.

Even after long hours of listening to music with this pair of earbuds, it felt really comfortable. The Jaybird Run XT may not be one of the cheapest pair available, but we highly recommend it due to its looks, construction, and audio quality.

Where to Buy

The Jaybird Run XT can be purchased from the company’s official website.

Jaybird Run XT Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-04-29

4.5Overall Score

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