AnalieNYC.com - Part 6

Hands on With the Microsoft Surface Studio and Surface Dial

Yesterday was the big Microsoft Event. While some things leaked such as a keyboard and a new all-in-one (AIO) computer, many of us were not ready for the new Surface Studio. It looked great in the livestream and even from afar. But once you get close to the Surface Studio, that’s when you can appreciate its true beauty. Clearly the Surface Studio isn’t your basic all-in-one computer. With a base price of $2,999 (going up as high as $4,100), it’s definitely marketed toward creative professionals (visual artists and writers) who would make the most out of this machine. Check out the specs below

Microsoft Surface Studio Specs

Display: 28 inch PixelSense Display /4500 x 3000 resolution / 192 ppi / 3:2 aspect ratio
Cameras: 5 Megapixel Windows Hello front facing camera
Processor / RAM: i5 | i7 / – 8GB | 16GB (2GB GPU) | 32GB RAM (4GB GPU)
Memory: 1TB / 2TB (Only with i7 / 32GB RAM model)
Connectivity : USB 3.0 (4 ports) / SD Card slot / mini Display Port / Xbox Wireless /3.5mm headphone jack
OS: Windows 10 Pro
Features: 10 point multi-touch / Includes Surface Pen / Works with Surface Dial / Zero Gravity Hinge

I had the chance to get some hands-on time with the Surface Studio. The screen (which in nearly bezeless by the way) is captivating and I can see how one can clearly get immersed in work. I tried using it at various tilt angles and there was no shaking at the base of the Surface Studio. As many of you know I am a fan of the Surface Pen. Sometimes an accessory like a pen makes getting things done pretty easy. Microsoft introduced the Surface Dial. The Surface Dial works as an accessory to the Surface Studio. You can use it on the screen. Uses a magnet to stay on and haptic / click feedback for actions. From my time using the Dial on the Studio I saw how it allowed you to change the paint color and strokes when using the Sketchable app. I’m sure it does more (with other programs such as Adobe Creative Suite) and will get more features in time. I also found out you can use the Surface Dial on the Surface Pro 3 and Pro 4 as an accessory, just not on the screen. Wondering if an update can change that in time.

Microsoft Surface Studio – Xbox Wireless – Full setup

Microsoft Surface Studio – Wireless keyboard –

Microsoft Surface Studio – Xbox Wireless –

Microsoft Surface Studio – Xbox Wireless 2-

Microsoft Surface Studio – Surface Dial-

Microsoft Surface Studio – Wireless mouse

You can preorder the Surface Studio and the Surface Dial online. There will be limited amounts of Surface Studio units, so decide quickly. I suggest going to a Microsoft store and checking out the surface Studio in person. Pictures and video don’t do the Studio justice. The price isn’t justifiable for everyone. But I’d love to see what creatives can do with it.

You can learn more about the Surface Studio, Surface Dial, and new Surface Book at microsoftstore.com

This review is made possible by my affiliation with TechWeLike. You will see many of my reviews there as well.

Check out Google’s Pop-up in Soho New York

A couple of days ago I had the chance to check out Google’s Pop up shop. It’s in Soho, New York. Today the shop opens up to the public. While it’s a shop, it’s not a place to buy things; but more to experience them. You can check out all the new “Made by Google” devices and services that were announced about 2 weeks ago.

The pop-up shop will be open through the holidays and is located on 96 Spring Street. You won’t be able to purchase items at the store. The Google pop-up shop is open from Monday – Sunday 10 AM – 8 PM.

Google’s new Pixel smartphone, Daydream View VR, Google Home, and Chromecast Ultra are all setup with mini demo areas. You can test out the new Chromecast Ultra (streaming device) in a small living room. You can demo Google Home using Google Assistant in a kitchen. I had the chance to see dinosaurs come to life with Google’s Daydream VR. Many are interested in seeing Google’s new Pixel smartphone. There’s a very dark room where you can test out the Pixel camera’s low light capabilities. You can see the specs of the Pixel below.

You can get more information on Google’ Pop-Up Shop HERE

Google Pixel 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

Dark Room where you test out Pixel camera

Alcatel Idol 4S Review – A Great Unlocked Phone

We saw the release of a lot of great unlocked phones in 2015. In 2016 the unlocked phone game has stepped up a lot. I say this after spending some time with the Alcatel Idol 4S. This is my full review of the unlocked phone trying to change things in a sea of great phones. As usual check out the specs below:

Alcatel Idol 4S Specs

Display: 5.5″ / 1440 x 2560 (534 ppi)
Cameras: 16 MP rear-facing camera / 8 megapixel front-facing camera
Processor / RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 / 3 GB RAM
Memory: 32 GB / Internal Memory (with expansion slot)
Battery: 3,000 mah /
Connectivity : Bluetooth 4.2 / Wi-Fi / Nano SIM / micro USB / Headphone Jack
OS: Android Marshmallow 6.0.1
Features: Comes with VR headset / Boom Key / Fingerprint Scanner

Design and Build

The Idol 4S has a nice build actually. The glass back and metal looks of that of a luxurious phone ($600 or more) and it feels nice too. The phone is light, thin but doesn’t feel cheap. The build is similar to many bar phones. A nice quah-HD screen. On the right border you have the boom key (middle) and the volume rocker. On the left border you have the power / standby button. The headphone jack is on top, and the micro-USB charging port on the bottom. The front-facing camera is above the screen to the right. The back has the rear-camera. Under it you have the fingerprint scanner.

Experience

Display and Software

I can’t complain about the phone on the Idol 4S. For the price you’re definitely getting a beautiful screen. The image is crisp and bright. It does pretty well in bright daylight. The software isn’t overbearing on Android Marshmallow. There are no carrier bloatware apps either since the Idol 4S in an unlocked device. The power button being out of the way is pretty good on the design part since you can wake the phone on a double tap or unlock by using the fingerprint scanner. It’s nice to not worry about pressing the power button by mistake. Although I do wish the volume rocker was set just a tad lower.

Features

Boom Key

The boom key does different things depending on which app you’re using. When listening to music you will get a boost in bass. You will also get some voice clarity when pressing the boom key during a call. When pressing the boom key on the homescreen the phone will give you a weather demo. It’s pretty cute but I don’t see the home key as essential.

Fingerprint Scanner

The fingerrprint scanner is located in the back of the Idol 4S, right under the camera. It’s not as fast as other fingerprint scanners out there but it gets the job done. It scanned and unlocked 90% of the time for me. But I always make sure to scan at least 3 or 4 prints to be on the safe side.

Camera

The camera is good. I’d say it’s a step beyond decent. Like with many other cameras you will get awesome pictures outdoors with tons of natural lighting. But even then the pictures come out a bit saturated. Sometimes the pictures look like there’s a filter placed over them. Even on the selfies the color was a little off, but I guess it will look good when uploaded to social media. The good thing is that the front-facing camera is wide-angled for group selfies.

Alcatel Idol 4S Camera Sample (Selfie Camera)

Alcatel VR

One of the selling points of the Idol 4S is the fact that it comes in a dope VR bundle. A somewhat of a plug and play experience, the VR goggles that come with the Idol 4S are a great way to introduce someone to the world of VR on a budget. There are a couple of apps such as Littllstar that give you a feed a VR content for you to watch. You will get content from cahnnels such as Nat Geo, Discovery, Volvo and even MLB which is pretty dope. I suggest charging the phone up as much as you can before using as using VR kills battery life quickly and yes, the device will get very warm.

Battery

The battery life on the Idol 4S isn’t spectacular but it’s not bad either. If you’re watching content on the go (without VR) expect to charge the phone after 2-3 hours of use. Of course when using the VR the battery life will go down drastically and

Pricing and Availability

What’s great about the Idol 4S is that it is unlocked. You can get it from alcatelonetouch.us and it comes with a few things. Besides the phone (which includes the charger of course), you get the VR goggles, an Incipio case, JBL headphones and a tempered glass screen protector. You have a choice of 5 different Incipio cases.

Overall

For everything you get for $400 it’s a steal for a decent performing phone. You won’t break the bank trying to enjoy some VR entertainment, which let’s be honest won’t be too much. I am all for getting a case and screen protector with your phone ASAP. I wish more companies gave the option of ordering all of the items together.

This review is made possible by my affiliation with TechWeLike. You will see many of my reviews there as well.

Bose SoundSport Wireless Earbuds Review

Everyone has gone wireless, including Bose. Earlier this year, the Bose SoundSport wireless earbuds (along with a few other headphones) were announced . I’ve been using the SoundSport Wireless for a couple of months now and here’s what I think about them:

Design and Build

From far the SoundSport Wireless look like your typical wireless earbuds. I was sent the black color to review. The ear tips (StayHear tips) don’t go all the way in your ear. They have ear tips to help you keep the buds in place. The 3 button mic and volume controls are located closer to the right earbud. The power button is on the right earbud along with indicator lights. At first look and feel of the earbuds, it looks like they will be difficult to keep in your ear, given the size and placement. As bulky as they look, the headphones aren’t heavy. The earbuds are very bulky (made of plastic) and visible when you’re wearing them. They stick out of your ear

Experience

I love wireless earbuds, and this build is my favorite kind so far. I am not a huge fan of over ear clips and I’ve yet to try truly wireless earbuds this year. I take my time looking for the right ear tip sizes. It’s key in getting good noise isolation as well as keeping the headphones in when working out. The StayHear+ tips Headphones have reached a point where we can ask for both comfort, and quality sound. When it comes to Bose you definitely expect quality sound as well.

Pairing the headphones is pretty easy (hold down the power button until the woman says “ready to pair”). The woman also lets you know what devices you’re paired to. You can pair the SoundSport Wireless to 2 devices at once.

While some people had SoundSports that malfunctioned due to extreme moisture, I never had a problem with the headphones shorting out on me or making pop/ clicky noises. Bose took care of the situation by updating and exchanging the headphones.

Sound

No surprise here, but you definitely get Bose quality sound in the SoundSport Wireless. It’s very natural sounding. There is a lot of clarity. You can tell that Bose also wants to give you some bass rhythm without it taking over the track. While it does an okay job of noise isolation, I’ve had headphones that do it better. You will definitely hear noise around you (maybe it’s intentional?)

Comfort

Like I said earlier, these headphones are lighter than they look. The earbuds do protrude a little too much out of your ear, but they don’t weigh you down. The StayHear tips are actually comfortable since they don’t go deep into your ear. There’s no tightness or pressure from the earbuds, which really helps when you’re on the dreadful treadmill for over 35 minutes. Bose also provides a clip to keep the cable from flopping around as you run. The clip attaches to the top of the back of your shirt. It’s the first time I’ve seen that on wireless headphones.

Battery Life

The SoundSport Wireless have great battery life. They charge via microUSB. You can charge them in a charging case, and charge the case as well. 15 minutes of charging through the case, gives you up to an hour of music If the SoundSport Wireless die out you can charge them on the go. The case also serves as more durable protection than the bag it comes in.
They have great standby time too. I charge the headphones every 3-5 (depending how active I am), but I use them at least a couple of hours a day.

Pricing and Availability

The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones go for $149. Given the Bose brand, you expect the headphones to be in this price range. You can buy them from Bose.com

Overall

I see these becoming the go-to for many who are willing to shell out the cash for it. They are comfortable both for casual use and at the gym. I do wish they were a bit better at noise cancellation. But good sound, battery life, and lots of comfort make the SoundSport Wireless a top pick for gym headphones.