Product Review: Cobra iRadar

Although never having a speeding ticket - I decided it was time to purchase a radar detector. Not because it was needed, but because it was a radar detector which interfaced with iPhone. Said radar detector was the Cobra iRadar, I was sold.

After owning the unit for a week, and completing a 17-hour holiday trek from Chicago, to Houston, how did the unit perform?

Features & Design:

Priced at $129.99 retail, the iRadar unit can be considered a lower mid-range unit.  Cobra touts the unit as the most advanced “smart detection” unit on the market.

The unit itself is a sleek piano black (read: light-reflecting) unit with a single visible light to indicate Bluetooth pairing status. The included car charger also houses a USB port, which is a nice touch for a device intended to be used with a smartphone.

Performance:

Beyond basic radar alerting, a majority of the products performance is courtesy of the iRadar app. Since there is no physical display on the radar unit, all alert data is displayed within the app. While triggering an alert, a brief prompt is displayed allowing a user to mark the reading as “true” or “false”. This feedback is then geo-tagged (using the phones GPS) and sent to Cobra who maintains a record of these false alarms for better accuracy. Alerting during highway driving was spot-on. City driving however, still produced a number of false alarms for security systems and roadside speed indicators.

Other functions of the iRadar app include a digital speed readout and voltage reading for the connecting 12v outlet. While the later seems frivolous, a number of user reviews point out that the unit alerted them to various battery or alternator failures through its low voltage warning.

Conclusion:

Overall, the iRadar, and companion app are top notch, if a tad distracting. It was disappointing to see that the app still used the phones GPS while running in the background – meaning a large impact on the phones battery life.  It didn’t take long before my phone, Garmin GPS, and iRadar occupied every port in the car (including an iPod cable hanging haphazardly from the glove box).

At the completion of the trip, the iRadar unit proved to be a well-rounded performer, and an excellent value considering the added features enabled by a paired iOS device. While completely distracting in use, the iRadar is a definite recommend, only for those who appreciate the sheer novelty of having yet another connected product, to control via their iDevice.

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Review: Pioneer AppRadio

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Review: 2012 Apple TV – New Interface Preps for App Boom

Apple TV started life as a half-baked media center device in 2007, during the height of the HDTV boom. At the time, the unit shipped with HDMI, component video, optical audio, USB connectivity, and a built-in hard drive. It soon became clear that the future of media was in cloud-based streaming and not physical file ownership. During its next revision, most everything was stripped from the device – with it being repositioned as a $99 streaming only-device.

With a third revision announced during this month’s Apple press conference, the newest Apple TV is mostly the same physical hardware, with a few critical software changes that signal Apple may have finally made amends with media in the living room.

Design and Hardware:

The design of the current generation Apple TV is wholly a carry-over from the previous iteration. The unit carries a sleek black puck shape, with polished sides, and a matte top. A single white LED lights on the front to show it is alive and well. Overall the unit is a very unobtrusive addition for most any home theater.

The unit is packaged with the same uninspired aluminum Apple remote. Overall the remote itself looks great, but is not very functional, with a narrow and long shape that is awkward to hold. The remote also uses IR instead of RF and requires direct line of sight. For this reason, the Apple TV cannot be placed into a cabinet without an additional IR blaster.

A final hardware tweak involves the newer A5 processor. This gives the Apple TV roughly the same processing power as an iPhone 4S and enables 1080p video playback on the device.

Software:

All of Apple’s important changes have been made to the software and interface. With the exception of 1080p playback, all of the updated features will also be made available to owners of the previous generation Apple TV.

From within the new interface, users are greeted with a friendlier iOS-like interface. Each application, or channel is given a dedicated button on the home display. Current channel partners include YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, MLB, NHL, and Wall Street Journal, among others. After clicking into an application, the interface return to being mostly identical to the previous generation model, but it is important to note the interface change, not because it looks more appealing, but because it indicates that the interface is designed to support expanded app and/or channel support.

After clicking into one of the Apple TV channels, the interface returns to being a carry-over from the previous generation. In addition to streaming content from a “Home Sharing” enabled PC, the new Apple TV can also access your previously purchased movies, music, and TV from iCloud. This means you no longer need to keep and archive downloaded iTunes files – a big departure and welcome change in keeping with the cloud direction of media. Even podcasts can be marked as “favorites”, so they are bookmarked and streamed directly from Apple’s servers – without the need to sync and download physical files.

If unfamiliar with the previous generation model – the Apple TV can retains the ability to serve as a “AirPlay” destination for video and audio. From an iOS device, such as an iPad – the unit can also support display mirroring, if you would like to conquer Angry Birds on the big screen. This screen mirroring support is also expected in the next generation of OS X on the desktop – making Apple hardware in the living room an even more cohesive setup.

Summary:

If looking only at the surface level, or analysing changes in hardware, the new Apple TV would look to be an update for updates sake. But it is quite pleasing to see the number of changes made to the software that make the device a much more logical choice for the living room.

Unlike systems like the Boxee Box, the Apple TV also does not include USB ports, or the number of channel partners. Where the new Apple TV makes most sense is if you already buy a majority of your content in iTunes. For this block of people, you are able to forgo traditional channels for podcast streaming from an even larger list of providers – as well as streaming every TV show, Movie, and song ever purchased through iTunes. If you are still a holdout for subscription services such as HBO Go and Hulu+, I would not be too concerned – as the revised interface on the Apple TV all but confirms that these additional sources are being planned.

Since the Apple TV software update is available to previous generation owners – this group of shoppers need not apply. For any other shopper who has purchased content in iTunes, owns a Mac, or is simply looking for an easy, low cost streaming device to get on-demand content to their HDTV, the revised Apple TV is definitely worth the $99 purchase price, and if hunches on the interface redesign are correct – an expanded app library and pending SDK could make the Apple TV the streaming device to beat.

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Blackberry Playbook Review: ‘It’s not an iPad’

It’s been roughly a year since the Blackberry Playbook saw the light of day. At the time of release, the unit had top-notch hardware, a fancy new operating system, and an iPad mimicking $499 starting price. Fast forward a year, and the units can be had as low as $199 at the local bargain bin. But even at fire sale prices, should consumers care?

Hardware: Like most hardware at the Blackberry high-end, the Playbook has a premium feel that bests most of its direct competition. The unit packs a 7” IPS display, as well as cameras front and back. The screen has excellent color and viewing angles, while the rear camera at 5MP, records full 1080P video. Viewing the recorded video from a PC, or television, shows excellent color and detail on par with a mid range point-and-shoot.

Other hardware highlights include a 1Ghz dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, dual mics for stereo recording, stereo speakers, and micro-HDMI out. Engadget’s tests peg battery life on the device at 7 hrs. For those keeping score, these hardware specs, sans the lesser quality display, match pretty closely those of the New iPad.

Software: The Playbook runs it own “Playbook OS”, which is based on QNX. With a 2012 update to version 2 of the software, Blackberry added the ability to run Android apps on the device. Doing this however is not easy, and proves useless for a typical consumer.

Navigating the device is a pleasure using the devices card interface; the Playbook draws heavily from HP WebOS in that regard. Users can slide and swipe to toggle between and close out apps. Multitasking on the device was a dream and a much better experience than both iOS and Android.

Visiting the Playbook App Store unfortunately is where the experience begins to come apart. The store has a number of high quality applications and games, but only a fraction of those on competing platforms. Customers looking to use Instagram, Hulu+, or Kindle amonghundreds of others, need not apply. Casual users and gamers should feel quite at home on the device. The game selection on the device was a bright spot – with searches for Angry Birds returning every possible iteration.

Verdict: Even a year later, the Blackberry Playbook has excellent hardware, an outstanding interface, and for the casual user, is an overall excellent value at $199. Unfortunately for Blackberry, it doesn’t matter much the quality of hardware, since it continues lack the breadth of applications that other platforms support. It is easiest to summarize the Playbook in saying that ‘it’s not an iPad’, or ‘it’s not the one my friends have’.

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Review: Olympus “Pen Mini” E-PM1

Four years after partnering with Panasonic to create the micro four-thirds spec, Olympus has expanded its offerings into an entire range. Today, Olympus’ line of compact micro four-thirds cameras are deemed the “PEN” line. A play on words for the cameras’ small size. The smallest of this series is the “PEN Mini”, also known as the Olympus E-PM1.

The E-PM1 looks to hit the sweet spot for micro four-thirds cameras. It includes the same image sensor of the more high-end PEN models, but removes a number of manual controls and a few nice to have items, such as a tilting LCD. This allows the camera to sell for a current retail price of $399, placing it at bottom end of the micro four-thirds segment.

Hardware: Without sacrificing build quality, the E-PM1 ships in a plastic body. This allows the camera to be offered in a number of colors including Pink, White, Silver, Brown, and the requisite Black. The included 14-42mm kit lens is also suitably compact. Although it uses a collapsible barrel for the lens, have no delusions of fitting the camera in any reasonably sized pockets.

Touring the remainder of the camera body, most all controls have been striped away. There is no mode dial, or other advanced shooting controls. Users are however allowed a convenient movie record button and a multi-function click wheel that allows quick access to flash, burst modes and exposure controls. All other functions are now relocated to an intuitive menu system.

Software: The menu system on the Olympus PEN line of camera warrants special mention. The camera menus on this device are visually pleasing and highly intuitive. In fact, it may be a deciding reason for why a number of users purchase this model. The menu is split into 6 menus stacked vertically. These menus allows access to Art filters, Scene, Manual, and Auto modes. The stylish menu system retains fast access to full manual controls, without confusing the user with a glut of feature options that are likely never used. If Apple were to design a digital camera, it would likely strike a pose similar to the Pen E-PM1.

Performance: Performance for most micro four-thirds camera will typically depend on your reference point. If you are upgrading from a compact model – most everyone will be please with the step up in quality. Low light performance is most improved due in part to the large sensor that can collect more light during these shots. If stepping down from a traditional SRL for portability, you will find the E-PM1 a bag of compromise. While photos are clear, there is little control of JPEG processing, so sharpness does not match that of most SRL’s.

Within the micro four-thirds segment, the E-PM1 has many competitors in its price range, these include offerings from Panasonic, Sony, and Nikon among others. What makes things more favorable for the Olympus is largely how compatible they have made the device. Since it follows the micro four-thirds spec, it can share lenses with Panasonic models, as well as a host of third party lenses and adapters. The camera for better or worse, also includes in-body image stabilization, which means that images are stabilized even when shooting with a pancake lens that typically does not include stabilization hardware. Video recording on the device was also a standout, but for less flattering reasons. The E-PM1 suffers heavily from rolling shutter while recording video. When shooting with the camera stationary, the video was crisp and saturated. Moving the body of the camera in any way while filming however will trigger “wobbling”, or “jiggling” of the video due to the in-body stabilization. This performance problem is typical of cameras with in-body stabilization, but the effect on the E-PM1 are particularly noticeably.

Verdict: Overall, the E-PM1 is an excellent shooter, with a compact body, and a highly compatibly design. Its menu system is easily the best of any camera I have used and should please upgrading compact users – as well as casual SRL shooters. While the simplified control system and video recording hiccups mean hardcore photographers need not apply – the E-PM1 excels in most other categories and is recommended for the other 95% of the population who has not had years of muscle memory trained for hardware controls.

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Nexus 7: Jellybean shines on fast but poorly built hardware

Announced only two months ago at Google’s IO developer conference, the Nexus 7 is Google’s take on a pure tablet experience. Backed and sold direct from Google itself. With the initial production run of the tablet going to the few thousand in attendance, the population has now begun receiving preorders for the much-anticipated tablet.

Hardware: Priced at a lowest tier $199, the Nexus 7 is one of the cheapest tablets on the market. For this price, users are confined to 8BG storage, and must pay $249 is the additional storage in the step-up model is needed. It is important to note that the $199 model does not look to be available at retial outlets, such as Sam’s Club, and can only be orders from the Google Play Store online. Beyond storage capacity, both version share all other internals, which include a quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and 1GB RAM. This pairing of processor and RAM has garnered the Nexus 7 rave initial reviews for being one of the fastest tablets on the market in any price class. Gaming and application performance are among the best among any Android devices, tablet or phone.

From the outside, users will interface with the tablet’s 7″ IPS display with excellent viewing angles and color saturation. Only a single camera on the front is includes at 1.2MP, it is one of a few areas that Google and vendor Asus cut corners in achieving the rock bottom price. Video quality on the camera is mediocre should be used for photos in emergencies only. Additional cost cutting measures include the axing of a removable battery and SD card slot. Luckily other essentials such as bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi are left intact – a requirement for a number of popular applications, including those published by Google.

The housing of the Nexus 7 feels good in hand and is made of a lightweight rubberized plastic. Unfortunately, it only took a few days before I notice the bezel had begun to separate from the body ever so slightly. It doesn’t hinder the use of the tablet, and is barely noticeable – but it looks to be a common issue, as quick web search shows other reporting similar issues.

Software: Although the Nexus 7 offers powerful hardware at a low price, the software on the unit is arguably the main attraction. The unit shipped as the only device running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which includes number of new enhancements for performance and usability. ‘Project Butter’ was the term coined by Google for the efforts placed to smooth the interface of the operating system. Graphics transition, menu overlays and other visuals are now buttery smooth and go a long way to make users forget any buggy or poor performing Android experience they may have had in the past.

Google ‘Now’ deserves special mention also, as Google’s response to Apple’s Siri. Although Google Now does not allow users to dictate calendar entries and a few other niceties that Siri provides – the system excels in other areas, including location based notifications and services. An example of this is the forecast, sports score, and public transit times the system will provide when accessed. These information displays require no manual entry, instead the device will monitors user behavior – and stores information such as predicted home and work addresses. Search Google for Oakland Raider’s scores recently? These may soon appear within your Google Now dashboard the next time you access the service.

Verdict: There is very little not to like about the Nexus 7. Google has released compelling hardware with software to match. As a Nexus device, the tablet is guaranteed to get the most recent versions of the Android OS during Google’s promised 18month minimum support cycle. The only reservation remaining for this polished and high performing tablet remains to be build quality. If history is to be believed, the initial production runs of the devices should quickly resolve and production woes. If willing to wait another month or so before running to stores to slide your VISA, the Nexus 7 is highly recommended.

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iPhone 5 Review: Apple finds its 4G Camry

After booking over 2 million preorders during the announcement weekend, iPhone 5 has finally arrived in store. In order to avoid the 3-6week shipping delay now scheduled for the device, I skipped the preorder all together – and visited an Apple store to purchase a unit on launch day. For me, there was no overnight wait, or dramatic to-do. Like a number of savvy shoppers, I visited the much smaller Apple store in Emeryville, CA – rather than the expected Zoo at flagships store in San Francisco, New York, and elsewhere.

Hardware:

While fondling my 16gb iPhone 5 for Verizon, I quickly realized that the hardware is the only reason to purchase this device – iOS6, and a majority of it functions will arrive to older iDevices free of charge this week. Although the device looks largely the same as previous iPhones, it now includes an LTE radio allowing much faster browsing speeds. At my home in Emeryville, I recorded an average of 25GB download speed on Verizon LTE. Next up is the screen, it has been stretched to 4 inches. This was done by adding a half inch to the height of the device, for a more widescreen display. Colors and saturation on the display are among the best. It does not look as saturated as Samsung AMOLED screens, but the color accuracy if much better. Other, more subtle changes made inside the devices include a faster A6 process, and 1GB of RAM. The camera hardware, while physically updated, remains at 8MP with the similar photo quality, that is bested only by Nokia’s ‘Pureview’ hardware.

Special mention is given to the new “lightning” port, which replaces that traditional 30pin dock connector. This means that long time iPhone users will need to buy one or more of the $30 dock adapters in order to continue using their hardware accessories. Apple also makes a point to mention that the phone is now 18% lighter. Oddly, the iPhone 5 uses different machining of the new metal back, which in practice makes the metal back material feel like lesser quality plastics in hand. The headphone jack has been moved to the bottom of the device, next to a larger, louder speaker which consumes spaced freed by the smaller lightening connector. Paired with the devices are new ‘EarPod’ headphones which feature an improved designed for better fit and better sound. A marked step up from the previous design, which was a continued sticking point among technophiles.

Software:

With iOS6, Apple adds more polish to its existing operating system. For most users, the most notable changes will be the exclusion of Google services. No YouTube, and no Google Maps. Apple instead includes its own mapping application, powered by TomTom, which finally provides turn-by-turn functionality. Although nice in theory, in practice the mapping application is less than ideal for all but the most casual users of the pervious Google Maps. Most effected will be users within larger cities- and anyone dependent on public transit. While turn-by-turn functionality is executed with polish, there is indeed no public transit or walking directions. This also means you won’t find public transit departure times and other related enhancements found in Google Maps. Apple maps also excludes a street view equivalent, which again – may only impact users in dense urban areas where signage mage be obscure or crowded. For more basic needs however, the included Maps application loads very quickly using vector maps. Although not a replacement for streetview, a ‘flyover’ function does allow interesting aerial shots. It is important to note that these aerial shots are not at all useful for actual navigation.

Other less subtle updates to the OS include redesigns for a number of built-in applications including the App store and Apple music player, additional functionality has also been added to certain built-n apps, including the stocks application which now includes both low and high temperature reports.

Running on the new A6 chip within the iPhone 5, iOS6 is extremely smooth. In my experience upgrading from an iPhone 4, most all interactions with the phone are faster and more smooth. This increase in performance can be attributed in part to LTE connectivity, which speeds apps needing access to web data. Another bonus of the longer iPhone 5 screen is the additional of a 5th row of application icons – folder of apps also get an increase in capacity from 12 to 16 icons.

Conclusion:

The iPhone has become the Toyota Camry of technology. It’s easy to use, and excellently engineered. It is the highest selling model, and sells to arguably the largest cross section of buyers. With iPhone 5, Apple has updated the hardware drastically – with the inclusion of more RAM, a bigger screen, revised headphone, LTE, larger battery, different materials, and a revised dock connector – yet manages this huge change without upsetting the millions of upgrade users who expect a very specific experience from the device. With version 5 of iPhone, Apple has entered maturity with the device. It improves on its best in class hardware, and improves on its best in class software – and without fail, is expected to continue deservedly as the best selling smartphone model worldwide.

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