Having the appropriate lighting in a work environment is very important for productivity. BenQ has a desk lamp made to work while we work on screens (monitors and tablets). And while there are many lamps in all different price ranges, not all work the same. I had the chance to check out the BenQ E-Reading Lamp for a few weeks.
Setup and Design
The E-Reading desk lamp is supposed to help you have a properly lit environment for working. As a person with an eye condition, proper lighting is everything for me. The round base of the E-Reading desk lamp is very, very heavy. It’s over eight inches in diameter. You feel the quality of this lamp all around, especially in the base unit. When you mount the arm of the lamp onto the base, it’s solid as well. There is a pin on the base you slide the lamp arm onto. Once you do that, you screw it to ensure the mount. No flimsiness or droop from the lamp.
The base won’t slide around either. If the base takes too much space on your desk you can use the clamp to mount the lamp onto. The clamp is not included and you would have to buy it separately.
The cord is wrapped in fabric and is very thick. The fabric is the color of the lamp cover. In my case, the fabric is gold. The power supply is a separate piece the fabric cord plugs into (via jack).
With three adjustable points on the arm, there are many ways to angle the light. You can straighten out the arm completely or angle it for preferred lighting. You can get it very low to focus on a certain area of the workspace or higher up to get more coverage.
On the lamp head is where you have the controls. You will find a knob on the lamp head itself, and a metal ring at the end of the lamp head. The ring controls the power. The knob controls lighting temperature and brightness. The ring has an “ambient light” setting to help you when working with screens. It adjusts the lighting so there is no glare on the screen.
The design of the lamp is very modern looking. It’s one of the first things, guests notice on my desk. Besides the lamp-head being large, the gold cover and chrome ring are noticeable.
Experience
As I stated earlier, I have a minor eye condition which makes it difficult for me to work long hours with bright lights over me and in front of me. This is why I prefer, lamps in general. It’s more manageable. But working in low light can sometimes hinder my productivity. I can say that the adjustable lighting makes all the difference since some days I need softer lighting and other days I need stronger lighting. You get used to the to the knob shortly after. The colors range from very warm (2700 Kelvin) to cool (5700 Kelvin). I love that it powers on and off with a light tap of the chrome ring. The only minor issue is the knob being above the lighting. It would be easier to control the lighting from the base instead of reaching up and over the lamp.
Pricing and Availability
The original price of the BenQ E was rather high at $250, but since then it has lowered to around $189 (depending on the color). Even at the price of $170 it may seem too high, but you can’t beat the quality. You can buy the BenQ e-Reading lamp on Amazon.com
Who is the BenQ e-Reading Lamp For?
I would recommend this lamp to everyone. The e-Reading lamp can turn so bright that you can turn off all of the lights in the room and still work with just the lamp on. I think it’s great for both the office, home office space, and definitely dorm room. You have various levels of brightness to fit your needs. Learn more about the BenQ e-Reading lamp on Amazon.com
I never thought I would be using a BlackBerry in this day and age. But here we are, and I am using the BlackBerry KEYone in 2017. BlackBerry has a special place, because it was the original phone to work and socialize. BBM was one of the main ways to communicate and the red and white star was the notification badge. The KEYone is a Blackberry that runs Android and has a physical keyboard. Look at the specs and read on for my experience.
This is a shining point for the KEYone. When you see it, you know it’s a BlackBerry. That keyboard layout is instantly recognizable, especially since no other phones have built-in keyboards. On the front, you have the 4.5″ screen. Below the screen, you have the capacitive touch Android buttons, and under them, you have the physical Qwerty keyboard (without a separate number row). It’s just four rows.
Above the screen, you have the 8-megapixel front facing camera, and to its right is the notification light. On the right border, you have the volume button and under it, the convenience key. On the left border, you have the power/standby button. You have the USB-C charging port on the bottom. On top, you have the headphone jack, and SIM/ microSD card slots. The textured back houses the 12-megapixel camera.
Overall the design is serious-looking. This is a phone I would put with the “adulting” category. It’s proper and professional, yet it’s sleek and modern (especially compared to previous Blackberry phones). The KEYone is a phone that looks like it means business!
Experience
This experience has been a unique one since it’s the first time I’ve been using a physical keyboard in so long. I didn’t try out the BlackBerry Priv for too long, so I’m coming back to this after a long time. The feeling is a weird one, as using a keyboard felt old and new at once. Having to relearn this “skill” was weird and frustrating at first, but once I got used to it, typing on the keyboard felt strangely familiar. It was like coming full circle after a very long time. I know there are people who never left BlackBerry because of the keyboard. I definitely don’t type as fast as I did during BlackBerry’s prime in the phone game. The KEYone fits comfortably in hand due to the rounded edges. It has a good weight suitable for using the physical keyboard.
Features
Physical Keyboard
Okay, let’s go with the main differentiating feature here, the keyboard. BlackBerry’s reliable keyboard is one of the reasons they were one of the most reliable phones. The keyboard doesn’t disappoint now either. It’s sturdy, clicky enough. And it’s still a familiar feel. That wave of nostalgia you get every time you whip out the KEYone doesn’t fade. You start remembering how to type without looking again, and it just feels cool. This is where the phone’s thick build is useful. It helps balance out the weight of holding and typing at the same time. Flick typing is still here and it helps you choose words by “flicking’ upward. Alcatel / TCL made the most use of the keyboard by embedding the fingerprint scanner in the space bar and allowing you to use it as a trackpad.
Convenience Key
The convenience key is obviously very… convenient. I didn’t use it as much as I thought I would since you can program keys from the keyboard as shortcuts to open up certain apps. I, of course, kept it simple; using “i” to open the Instagram app, “h” for hangouts. I do wish the power button was where the convenience key is. It’s a lot easier for me to reach.
Fingerprint Scanner
Like I said before, I love the fact the fingerprint scanner is embedded into the spacebar. It works quickly almost all the time. Typing a pin code on the physical keyboard is a bit difficult. I have the option of “enter pin to start Android” on, and typing numbers is pretty annoying.
Camera
Not a big show here, but any phone in 2017 can take good pictures. With the KEYone 12 megapixel rear camera, you will have to keep a steady hand. Most shots come out clear with a nice attention to color. I like that you can use the spacebar to capture.
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Night time – Low Light – Bryant Park
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Indoor lighting
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Cooper Union New York
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Madison Square Garden
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Selfie camera
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – low light
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone – Burger and Lobster
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Taken With BlackBerry KEYone smartphone –
Battery Life
As usual, the battery life is subject to the on-screen time and overall use of the phone The huge battery on the KEYone paired with what’s now considered a “normal” or “small” screen, makes for great battery life. The KEYone means business, and it does the job of lasting all day. There is no wireless charging on the KEYone, but the Quick-Charge 3.0 is always great.
Pricing and Availability
I reviewed an unlocked version of the KEYone. Verizon didn’t work on it since it’s GSM. When using on T-Mobile service, it worked great in New York. You can go to Blackberrymobile.com and purchase a GSM or CDMA (Verizon) version of the KEYone through Amazon or Best Buy. Sprint recently confirmed they will start carrying the KEYOne July 14th.
Overall
If you don’t mind having a phone with a screen under 5 inches and miss having a physical keyboard, the KEYone is the perfect combination of Android and a sturdy keyboard. Other phones have had keyboard accessories, but it’s definitely not the same. I enjoyed the BlackBerry KeyOne more the BlackBerry Passport and the Priv (just the feel of typing). If you’ve never let go of the BlackBerry brand, you won’t be disappointed with the KEYone. While the camera isn’t spectacular, you get great battery life and an almost pure Android experience. The touch sensitive keyboard and embedded scanner help make the most out of the keyboard. The KEYone means business. This phone has everything BlackBerry fans are looking for; the BlackBerry feel with the many wonderful options of Android.
BlackBerry KeyOne Review – USB-C Port – Analie Cruz
The Plantronics BackBeat 500 were announced just in time for Spring weather in New York. As you guys know I always have a pair of (usually wireless) headphones on me. I have the lime green and grey color way of the BackBeat 500s.
These headphones have the casual look. The plain matte grey plastic build pops with lime green leatherette ear cushions and headband. You can see the “R” and “L” in each of the earpads. These have a younger urban styling to them. You can see that some inspiration came from Plantronics gaming headsets. If you want more subtle looking headphones, you can get the all-black version of these.
The left earcup has a rubber exterior with “back”, “play/ pause”, and “forward” buttons going across. On the border of the left ear cup you have the 3.5mm jack and microUSB charging port. It also has the volume buttons. The right ear cup has the power on/ bluetooth pair toggle button. It also has a button to activate your voice assistant (Siri / Google Assistant).
Experience and Features
Comfort
The BackBeat 500 don’t have a lot of cushioning on the earpads. They have just enough. You can wear these for a couple of hours without being uncomfortable. But these are not as comfortable as the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 over-ear headphones. The band doesn’t pressure my head too much which is a good thing. After a while though I felt a bit of pressure. As for toting them around the BackBeat 500 don’t fold in so make sure to have some extra room in your bag to put them away. I’d use the bag also as I suspect matte plastic might dull out over time and scratches and nicks will show.
Sound
I expected decent sound from the 40mm drivers since I loved them on the BackBeat Pro 2 headphones. For the price-point and size the 500s delivered. They have a great balanced sound and actually a little more bass than I expected. I welcome the bass boost. It gives enough bass without making overdoing it.
Since the 500s are on-ear headphones you won’t get perfect noise isolation, but good enough. What I did enjoy about these headphones is that I can use them at high volume and others won’t hear the music, it barely bleeds.
Connectivity
These headphones connect to two devices at once. Yay! Multipoint bluetooth should definitely be a thing by now. Who doesn’t have two (or more) devices to pair to? I can watch and listen to content on my computer and not worry about missing a call.
Battery Life
Plantronics has always been a killer in the game when it comes to battery life. The BackBeat 500 are no different. These headphones have the deep sleep mode. When not in use, they preserve battery life. I use the headphones for about two hours a day. I charge the headphones once a week and I’m usually good to go. I actually went away for a few days and left the 500s on. I got back on and was able to use them. The deep sleep mode saved the battery life.
Pricing and Availability
You definitely won’t be breaking the bank with the BackBeat 500. You can get them on amazon.com or plantronics.com for about $80. Great wireless sound for less than $100? Dope!
Overall
The BackBeat 500 headphones are great entry-level, bluetooth on-ear headphones. For $80 you get decent sound, sturdy-enough build, connectivity, and amazing Plantronics-styled battery life. If you’re willing to shell out some more bucks, you can go with the BackBeat Sense, which offer the OpenMic feature (listen to your surroundings through the headphones) and the smart sensor technology that pauses and plays your music based on you wearing and removing your headphones.
If these features aren’t important to you, the BackBeat 500 headphones will do.
I’ve been using the Google Pixel XL for a while now. With so many decent Android flagship devices is hard to say anything that makes a phone really good or really bad about them
Google Pixel and Pixel XL Specs
Display: 5” / 5.5″ /441 ppi / 534 (Pixel XL) Cameras: 12 Mp rear-facing camera / 8 megapixel front-facing camera Processor / RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821/ 4GB RAM Memory: 32 GB / 128 GB Internal Memory (no expansion slot) Battery: 2,770 mah nonremovable / 3,450 mah (Pixel XL Connectivity : Bluetooth 4.1 / Wi-Fi / Nano SIM / USB-C / Headphone Jack OS: Android Nougat 7.0 Features: Google Assistant / Pixel Imprint / Quick Charge
Design and build
The phone feels solid. No removable battery the panel is flat and smooth. To smooth actually. The Pixel XL is super slippery. I was afraid to use it without a case the first week. The Pixel is so thin I feel it would be disastrous at the first drop.
There are no buttons on the front panel. You have the 5.5 inch display and the 8 megapixel selfie camera. ON the right border you have the patterned power on / standby button and lower on the border the volume rocker.
The Pixel looks very simple. On the back you have the fingerprint scanner and 13 megapixel camera with flash (no camera bump – Woot). No bells and whistles in the design. The blue color was out fast so black or white were the only options.
The phone is sitter slippery. Pop a case on it quickly. You can check out some cases here. The display is nice to look at. It has the QHD case many flagships carried in 2016 / 2017. The overall design of the Google Pixel / Pixel XL is a bit more luxurious and can hold its own in a line-up of many beautifully designed flagships.
Google Pixel XL Review – Display in light – Cruz
Experience
There really aren’t any bells and whistles on the Pixel XL. The display and software are so nice. So crispy and clear. You can double-tap to wake the screen (that came after an update), but it’s not always on. It only turns on when there is a notification. The bright and crispy screen is not ideal for night-time use. Thankfully with an update there is a night-light feature to take the blue screen off.
I often use wireless headphones, but for those you like their wired headphones, you do have a headphones jack to plug into. When watching content sans any type of headphones you’re stuck with just one speaker. You might even block the speaker if you hold the phone a certain way. Definitely not the Pixel XL’s strong point.
It’s not even water-resistant. Many of you know I take serious care of my gadgets so for the most part the water-resistant feature doesn’t affect me. But there are people who are looking for this quality in 2016. Since it’s Google’s first attempt at handling software and hardware, I hope the second generation Pixel adds this feature.
The phone usually runs smoothly without a glitch. But there were a few days where the Pixel wouldn’t react to the touch or even the scanning of my finger. It would freeze on the homescreen which was super annoying and caused many “WTF!” moments.
Features
Google Assistant
Debuting with Android 7.1 software, the Pixel XL came with Google Assistant built-in. Think of having all of Google’s answers at your fingertips. You activate it by saying “OK Google”. You can even unlock your Pixel by saying the phrase as well. The activation works even when the screen is off or when using apps. There has been a few times, when a Google Pixel commercial has activated my phone. It gets simple questions such as “What is the weather tomorrow?”, pretty well. I also asked it to find me “an open taco spot by me” and it came up with some good suggestions.
You can set it up to control your smarthome devices (it works with Philips Hue, SmartThings, WeMo, Nest and Honeywell). It gets most questions. I asked the Google Assistant what is the Unisphere, and it gave me a quick description from Wikipedia along with the link. I also asked her about an actor on the show “A Different World” and it gave me the proper name. When I asked who was at the top of the billboard charts, she gave me a link to Billboard Top lists.
Camera
When Google announced the Pixel had the highest rated camera, (according to DxOMark) I was skeptical given the previous Nexus line’s cameras. But I started using the Pixel camera and I was hooked. Even though I think it’s rather difficult to take a bad picture with any phone released since or after 2015, I was very pleased to see you can take great pictures with nearly no effort.
The camera app opens quickly with a double click of the power button. It almost instantly auto-focuses to snap a picture. I do wish the shutter was a little faster. I’ve missed a shot or had a couple of blurry “moving” pictures. I do wish it had optical image stabilization (OIS)The pictures have a “natural look”. Rarely do you see over-saturation, or bad exposure; yet you still get lots of detail. “Lens Blur”, where you get the Bokeh effect, is one of my favorite features. It’s not always easy to capture. You can check out some of the pics in the slide show and some more HERE.
Battery
The embedded 3.450 mah battery has been amazing. Even after several weeks of use and all types of apps, the Pixel XL lasted a full day. This includes my daily use of many social media apps, tons of picture-taking, and of course chatting.
Google Daydream VR Headset
Google Pixel XL Review – Daydream View VR
Google also announced their Daydream VR headset. While VR has become popular in theory. There are more apps available and lots of YouTube 360 video content; I can’t use it for more than 30 minutes continuously. It’s not only because it tires my eyes and I get dizzy, but also because the phone overheats a lot. Feeling that heat in your face. It definitely does kill your battery as you would expect but luckily the Pixel XL has a large battery to take on the job. At the affordable price tag of $79, the Daydream VR headset is an affordable way to introduce yourself to VR world.
Pricing and Availability
It’s still a bit difficult to find the limited edition “Really Blue” color. It has been out of stock since launch. The Pixel and Pixel XL pricing is a lot higher than Google’s previous Nexus line. The smaller size (5 inch display) Pixel starts at $649 and the Pixel XL starts at $749 from the Google Play Store ( You can finance these payments from $649 or $27.04/month for 24 months with Google Store Financing*). You can also get it from Verizon Wireless. The Pixel line is no longer the affordable “Pure Android” line of phones. You can also get the Pixel XL from Verizon Wireless. Verizon also carries the Daydream VR headset as well
Overall
The camera and battery life make the Pixel XL a go for me. As a person who walks around snappin’ pics and chatting all day; these features are essential. I am hoping for a price drop in the near future so others can enjoy pure Android.
