Kareo is a more recent entry than some other EHR’s, going back to 2004 with Dan Rodrigues, a family medicine physician, setting out to build a better platform.
Today, over 75,000 current providers use Kareo, and for a total of 150,000 active users. At five US locations, with 485 employees, Kareo processes $20 billion in insurance claims, and secures 80 million patient records in 45 different specialties. Kareo serves to transform a paper based medical office into a digital enterprise.
Playing to its roots, namely that it was designed by a family medicine physician, Kareo focuses its efforts on independent practices, and not large hospitals and institutions. Even now it is managed by a team of doctors, with an emphasis on ease of use.
At the core of any EHR is the EMR, and at the center of that is electronic charting, a burdensome task to clinicians, that weighs down the flow of patients in a busy office. Kareo is set up to make it simpler, and faster to create these notes, and get back to patient care. This is also supported by a robust Patient Portal, to share important medical and billing information with patients at any time- for secure communication, which automatically integrates into the electronic chart.
We also like the support for e-prescribing, and automated marketing from the front office.
(Image credit: Kareo)
Telemedicine is an emerging technology, allowing physicians to conduct visits remotely with video and voice for a sort of “Virtual housecall.” Done correctly, this is fully reimbursed by private payers. Kareo is on the forefront of technology as its Kareo Telemedicine module provides the tools for this type of visit. These include a text to a patient to confirm the appointment, the patient filling in insurance info prior to the visit, and help with billing after the visit.
Workflow also gets enhanced. The Agenda Overview serves as a to-do list, which keeps track of items that need to be completed each day. The staff is also supported, with functions to upload documents, and transmit secure messages.
Billing is another core mission of Kareo, and is ICD-10 compliant. There is a module that supports electronic superbills that can be created with just a few clicks. The billing is entirely paperless, with electronic charting and billing, and charges can be directly entered into Kareo. Tools are also provided to help create “Clean claims,” that get paid faster, and with less rejections, thereby enhancing the practice’s cash flow.
Drawbacks
Kareo does have some shortcomings, although less than some other platforms. One issue found is that while the administration of a vaccine in the office automatically brings up an automatic template for ancillary info to be entered, such as the lot and expiration date of the vaccine, this does not come up for other medications administered in the office. This should be streamlined to include any and all medications given in the office setting, and not just for vaccines.
Another gripe focuses on the ICD-10 code. Clinicians have been often confused with these codes, which grew to include approximately four times the codes of the former ICD-9 system. When choosing a code in Kareo, the most often used codes are not highlighted, or brought to the top. Nor do they automatically populate based on the clinician’s note, but rather the clinician is forced to wade through a multitude of codes just to locate the one that applies to their encounter.
Users also have an issue with updates. Kareo needs to be more transparent on what is getting updated, as end users don’t get a change log, and are not sure what features were updated. They also complain that the updates could be done more frequently.
Finally, users complain about sending medical records out to another provider is not a smooth process. For example, Kareo is lacking the feature to request records from a certain date range, and rather the records need to be selected manually.
(Image credit: Kareo)
Pricing
What is too commonplace in this industry, the pricing is opaque, and not upfront. It requires company contact to get any idea of the costs, making it burdensome to cross shop EHR vendors.
Annoyingly, when we filled out the information requested in order to obtain the pricing, and clicked on the “Get Pricing,” button, we again did not get a price, and only a canned response that “Someone from Kareo will be in touch soon to schedule a meeting. We look forward to helping you build a customized solution for your practice.” We found it takes too many steps to not get a price without a phone call, and we hypothesize a sales pitch.
Elsewhere, we gleaned that the starting price for Kareo is reportedly $80 (£63) per user per month.
There is a free demo, but no free trial.
(Image credit: Kareo)
Support
Initial setup and onboarding gets handled via “Free 1-1 Success Coaching.” This serves as a single point of contact for a successful transition, to make sure enough support is provided to get things underway.
Afterwards, we only found a single option for support - an 800 number. We did not find any hours of operation, nor did we find chat, email, fax or a support portal. We also looked for some self help content, such as a webinar, ebook, or online articles, but did not find these either.
Kareo works as a SaaS through a web browser, with storage in the cloud. There is also software for installation on a computer platform, although only Windows, and not Mac. Similarly, a single mobile platform is supported, iOS, leaving out users of the Android platform. A key advantage of a SaaS is that the software updates happen on the back end, and not at the physician’s practice.
Final verdict
Kareo is an EHR built by physicians to streamline the workflow of a busy outpatient practice. Highs include electronic superbills, the telemedicine module for virtual housecalls, and the well done Patient Portal. Kareo’s misses focus on the difficulty in obtaining pricing, the challenges with entering non-vaccine office medications, the single support option, and the need for a changelog of updates. For practices focused on outpatient, primary care, Kareo is a modern, and clean choice for clinicians.
• Original review date: November 2019
• Launch price: $999 (£999, AU$1,699)
• More modern Surface devices are much more successful
Update – September 2024: In many ways, the Surface Pro X was ahead of its time. When it launched in 2019 it was notable for coming with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, based on Arm technology, rather than the Intel hardware previous Surfaces came with. Unfortunately, back then, support for Arm hardware within Windows wasn't very good, and that meant the Surface Pro X felt underpowered and over priced, especially as many popular Windows 11 apps couldn't run on the device. These days, however, Arm-based Windows laptops are much more popular, thanks to Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative, which has seen the company, along with the likes of Asus, HP and Dell, release laptops like the Surface Pro 11 and Dell XPS 13 (2024), that come with Arm-based chips with specialist NPUs (Neural Processing Units) that are designed to perform AI tasks. While the Surface Pro X ended up being a noble failure, many of these new Copilot+ PCs are truly excellent devices, and many have started to appear on our best laptops of 2024 list.
Original review follows.
Two Minute Review
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is an undoubtedly stellar looking and feeling tablet. Microsoft’s newest attempt at an ARM-based Surface Pro device could have been impressive as well. It even boasts Microsoft’s first-ever original processor, the SQ1, which it co-developed with Qualcomm.
However, it unfortunately falls short of expectations. We’re more than a little let down by a few key Pro X design choices. Particularly, this tablet/laptop hybrid doesn’t have an audio jack, and its battery life, while decent, is subpar compared to predecessors and contemporaries. And, that’s without getting into the pricing.
At first glance, the Surface Pro X's price tag might seem rather appealing, especially next to some of its rivals. However, in reality, it's simply too pricey for the level of performance you’re getting. All told, we find the Surface Pro X hard to recommend for most people.
All Surface Pro X models include Microsoft’s Qualcomm Snapdragon-based processor and the 13-inch PixelSense touch display. (Image credit: Future)
Spec Sheet
Here is the Surface Pro X configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: 3.0GHz Microsoft SQ1 (based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx; octa-core) Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 680 GPU RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x (2,133MHz) Screen: 13-inch 2,880 x 1,920 (267 ppi) PixelSense display (3:2; 450 nits) Storage: 256GB SSD Ports: 2 x USB-C 3.1; Surface Connect port; nano SIM slot Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac); Bluetooth 5.0; Snapdragon X24 LTE modem Cameras: 5.0MP webcam (1080p video; Windows Hello); 10.0MP rear camera (1080p/4K video; autofocus) Weight: 1.7 pounds ( 774g) Size: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287x 208 x 7.3 mm; W x D x H)
Price and availability
The price of entry into Microsoft’s future-gazing Surface Pro X is $999 (£999, AU$1,699) – that gets you 8GB of memory (RAM) and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). You can double the storage, which ups the price to $1,299 (£1,269, AU$2,149), and double the RAM (16GB) with a 512GB SSD, which costs $1,799 (£1,819, AU$2,899).
All Surface Pro X models include Microsoft’s Qualcomm Snapdragon-based, 3.0GHz SQ1 system-on-a-chip (SoC) processor, as well as the 13-inch, 2,880 x 1,920-pixel (267 pixels per inch) PixelSense touch display in the signature 3:2 aspect ratio.
You already know the kicker, don’t you? That’s right, these prices do not include the Type Cover with the stowable and automatically charging Surface Slim Pen. That will cost you an additional $269 (£259, AU$429).
This means that the cheapest version of the complete Surface Pro X experience will cost you $1,269 in the US to start. That’s for the bare minimum of acceptable memory and storage these days, meanwhile a Surface Pro 7 goes for nearly $150 less and will get you a much stronger Intel Core i5 (Ice Lake) processor.
While the Surface Pro X is certainly an expensive device, it's price starts to look a little more tempting when compared to its chief rival: the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. That starts at $999 (£999, AU$1,699) for half as much storage (64GB), with a similarly-sharp display and just one USB-C port.
Its keyboard accessory costs an exorbitant $199 (£199, AU$299), while the tablet’s Apple Pencil goes for another $129 (£119, AU$199). All told, that’s $1,329 in the US to get a comparable experience to the complete Surface Pro X.
So, unless you have a very specific use case that only the Surface Pro X can solve, there are a number of far more powerful, versatile and feature-rich (even thin-and-light) laptops out there for similar prices – just check out our best 2-in-1 laptops and best tablets with keyboards buying guides for some brilliant alternatives.
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The Surface Pro X feels just as pleasing and accurate to doodle and draw with. (Image credit: Future)
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The Surface Pro X simply trims and rounds out the classic yet dated Surface Pro design. (Image credit: Future)
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The new Type Cover is comfortable and impressively accurate for a keyboard cover. (Image credit: Future)
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The tablet feels impressively light, and slips easily into almost any bag – even with the Type Cover attached. (Image credit: Future)
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The stylus is now flatter than before in order to accommodate the new storing and charging functions. (Image credit: Future)
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The Surface Pro X has gained not one, but two USB-C ports. (Image credit: Future)
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The Surface Pro X has gained not one, but two USB-C ports. (Image credit: Future)
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The Surface Pro X has a 13-inch 2,880 x 1,920-pixel PixelSense touch display. (Image credit: Future)
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The stylus is now flatter than before in order to accommodate the new storing and charging functions. (Image credit: Future)
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The new Type Cover bounces under key presses more noticeably than before. (Image credit: Future)
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The Surface Pro X looks and feels thinner, lighter and better than previous Surface Pro models. (Image credit: Future)
Design
The Surface Pro X simply trims and rounds out the classic yet dated Surface Pro design, bringing down its thinness and weight even further. Specifically, the Pro X measures 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (287 x 208 x 7.3mm) and weighs 1.7 pounds (774g).
The tablet feels impressively light, and slips easily into almost any bag – even with the Type Cover attached. Microsoft has also eliminated the hard angles of the classic Surface Pro design, giving the Pro X a much more rounded and modern look and feel that's closer to that of a smartphone.
We appreciate these subtle design changes that make the Surface Pro X feel more like an iPhone XR than a Windows tablet – which is a compliment.
There’s just one color option for the Surface Pro X: a matte black aluminum finish paired with a black Type Cover that drops the Alcantara fabric, and that’s unfortunate. This is certainly a sleek and unassuming look, to be sure, so it’s not all that bad.
However, we have one massive problem with the Surface Pro X design. While it has gained not one, but two USB-C ports, there is no headphone jack on the tablet. This is essentially a $1,300 Windows laptop (after all, Microsoft claims that this tablet can replace your laptop) with no 3.5mm audio support.
We know that the iPad Pro has also dropped the headphone jack, and folks didn’t break a sweat over that. However, no one in their right mind seriously expects a laptop experience from an iPad, while that’s exactly what we’ve been trained to expect from a Surface Pro. This is a major detraction in our book, and should be rectified in any followup device that Microsoft produces.
As for typing on the new Type Cover, it’s plenty comfortable and impressively accurate for a keyboard cover, though it does bounce under key presses more noticeably than before. We also appreciate the ergonomic angle staying with the new stowaway barrel for the Surface Pen Slim.
While we’re at it, let’s discuss the Surface Pen Slim. The stylus is now flatter than before in order to accommodate the new storing and charging functions. However, it feels just as pleasing and accurate to doodle and draw with. All of the standard pressure sensitivity is present, and the display's palm rejection is still spot-on.
As for that display, it is a 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a 2,880 x 1,920 resolution (267 pixels per inch) and a 3:2 aspect ratio. This is a simply gorgeous screen with excellent color, and it's also impressively bright at 450 nits.
Honestly, we’re left a little puzzled by the Surface Pro X design. It certainly looks and feels thinner, lighter and better than previous Surface Pro models. However, it dropped the headphone jack to achieve that thinness, and that’s a really tough pill to swallow.
The Surface Pro X has gained not one, but two USB-C ports. (Image credit: Future)
Performance
We’re getting similar vibes from the Surface Pro X’s power profile that we are from its design: some big sacrifices were made in the name of thinness, lightness and lasting power. Here’s the kicker: the latter point doesn’t even see a huge improvement.
PCMark 8 Home: Unable to run 3DMark: Unable to run Geekbench 4 (Single-Core): 3,563; (Multi-Core): 11,769 Cinebench: Unable to run PCMark 8 Battery Life: Unable to run TechRadar Battery Life Test: 7 hours and 54 minutes
Unfortunately, because of the ARM-based SoC, we were only able to run Geekbench and our video-based battery rundown test on the Surface Pro X. That’s at least enough for us to compare it against its number one rival, the iPad Pro.
So, how does Qualcomm’s 7-nanometer SoC compare against the Apple A12X Bionic? Well, it gets trounced, to be frank. We’ve seen the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro achieve numbers 40% to 50% higher than the Surface Pro X in the Geekbench 4 single- and- multi-core tests.
Granted, these are two different operating systems (OS), but both processors were designed specifically to perform within their respective OSes, so that explanation doesn’t fly these days.
While day-to-day tasks, like checking your emails, browsing the web and creating documents in Microsoft Office, ran pretty well on the Surface Pro X, trying to do anything more strenuous than that could cause problems. You might get away with editing photos and other images on this tablet via Photoshop, but that’s about it.
The Surface Pro X battery life is undoubtedly long. (Image credit: Future)
Battery life
Microsoft promises up to 13 hours of mixed usage time for the Surface Pro X, touted as one of the tablet’s most appealing features due to its new ARM-based silicon. Well, we’re sad to say that this hasn’t panned out in our testing.
The Surface Pro X did last longer than the Surface Pro 7 (6 hours and 2 minutes) in our video rundown battery test, but the older Surface Pro 6 (8 hours and 45 minutes) lasted nearly an hour longer than this version.
This is more than likely due to the even sharper display within the Surface Pro X than its two predecessors, not to mention brand new silicon compared to the umpteenth iteration of the 14nm Intel processor in the Surface Pro 6.
In the end, while the Surface Pro X battery life is undoubtedly long, it’s just not as long as Microsoft’s Pro 6, which holds the crown for longest lasting Surface Pro tablet to date.
The Surface Pro X boasts a gorgeous screen with excellent color and 450 nits of brightness. (Image credit: Future)
Software and features
As with every Surface that has preceded it, the Surface Pro X isn’t feature-rich nor are there many key pieces of software to discuss – in fact, many apps aren’t supported at all, due to the underlying processor architecture – which has its ups and downs. The major benefit here is that there is basically no bloatware on this tablet at all, as it’s sold directly by Microsoft.
Another gain is the Windows Hello facial recognition, using the tablet’s infrared camera next to its webcam, and is as quick and accurate as before. Just as they have before, we can open the tablet from its Type Cover and it’s already logged us into Windows 10. Talk about instant-on performance.
That said, this Surface in particular has the added benefit of optional LTE connectivity through a nanoSIM slot. This makes for an always-connected device, but will cost additional cash on a monthly basis. It’s up to you whether this feature is worthwhile, but we’ll keep on tethering on our laptops via our iPhone.
We’re getting similar vibes from the Surface Pro X’s power profile that we are from its design. (Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want the thinnest, lightest Surface yet If portability is your chief concern in buying a new laptop, then consider the Pro X for sure. This is the thinnest, lightest Surface to date, making the ultimate Surface Pro for frequent travelers and others who simply appreciate these kinds of devices.
You want LTE baked into a laptop
If you absolutely must have instant LTE connectivity from a tablet and are willing to pay extra for that, then the Surface Pro X might be for you. This turns the Pro X into a more smartphone-like experience in that it is truly always connected, but it’s also additional cash.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the most powerful Surface Pro Despite Microsoft’s team up with Qualcomm for its unique SQ1 processor, we’re not seeing better numbers from this tablet versus the Surface Pro 7. That’s a real shame, but again the focus here is portability.
You want the longest lasting Surface Pro In spite of Microsoft’s promises, the Pro X is not the longest lasting tablet of this year (much less last year). We chalk this up to the upgraded display resolution and new silicon that isn’t as widely tested or established.
• Original review date: November 2019
• Launch price: $1,249 / £1,299.99
• Official price now: around $699 / £649
Update: November 2024. Launched way back in 2017, the Nikon D7500 is by no means a cutting-edge camera. That said, if you prefer the handling of a DSLR and want an enthusiast-grade stills camera with solid specs, the D7500 represents fantastic value in 2024. In fact, we rate it as the top-value all-rounder in our list of the best DSLR cameras. Its excellent 20.9MP sensor and powerful 51-point AF system still stack up well today, even if its single SD card slot and slow Live View focusing show its age. We also rate its battery life and sturdy build quality. The D7500 is often on sale and we think you’ll still be hard-pushed to find a better DSLR camera for the money.
If you still prefer DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, there are some real bargains to be found among higher-end APS-C models from a few years ago – and the Nikon D7500 is a great example.
When it launched in April 2017, the D7500 was premium, enthusiast-level DSLR that borrowed a lot from what was then Nikon's flagship DX-format camera, the Nikon D500. It sat below the latter and above the D7200, which has now been discontinued.
So what does it still bring to the table? Well, the D7500 remains a fine choice for shooting sports and action, thanks to its 8fps burst shooting and generous buffer. Impressively for an enthusiast-level DSLR of its time, it also shoots 4K video at 30fps. And with weather-sealing and chunky handling, DSLR fans will right at home with the D7500's reassuringly weighty frame.
Of course, there are also excellent mirrorless cameras available for the D7500's new price tag, including the new Nikon Z50. But if it's the handling, battery life and optical viewfinder of a DSLR you're looking for, then the D7500 now offers excellent value for money.
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Features
APS-C CMOS sensor, 20.9MP
3.2-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 922,000 dots
4K video capture
One of the biggest shake-ups the Nikon D7500 brought was its change of sensor. While both the D7100 and D7200 sported 24MP chips (as, for that matter, did the entry-level D3400 and D5600), here Nikon opted to use the slightly lower-resolution 20.9MP sensor from the D500, which, as in that camera, is teamed with Nikon's EXPEED 5 image processor.
As on the D500, omitting the low-pass filter has enabled Nikon to eke out that bit more detail from the 20.9MP sensor
As on the D500, omitting the low-pass filter enabled Nikon to eke out that bit more detail from the 20.9MP sensor, and while it may seem quite a sacrifice to lose almost 4MP compared to the D7200's 24.2MP, the minor drop in resolution does have advantages, particularly when it comes to sensitivity.
Compared to the D7200’s ISO range of 100-25,600, the D7500’s 100-51,200 standard offers an extra stop of flexibility, but it’s the expanded range that impresses. There’s a low setting of ISO 50, while the upper ceiling is a staggering ISO 1,640,000. The reality is that these upper sensitivities are likely to be pretty much unusable, but the benefits will be felt further down the sensitivity range, and if the new camera performs like the D500 it should impress in this regard.
While both the D7100 and D7200 sported 3.2-inch displays that sat flush with the camera body, the D7500 has a 3.2-inch tilt-angle touchscreen display with a 922,000-dot resolution (the D500 has a 2,359,000-dot resolution). There’s also an eye-level pentaprism optical viewfinder that offers 100% coverage.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
We were pleased to see 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) video capture arrive on the D7500, at 30, 25 and 24p for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. As usual there are lower-resolution video modes, and Full HD footage can be shot in 60p for slow-motion playback. In addition, 4K UHD timelapse movies can be created in-camera, and there's electronic Vibration Reduction to reduce the impact of camera shake when shooting movies hand-held.
The D7500 also offers simultaneous 4K UHD output – to card, and uncompressed via HDMI – as well as a headphone and microphone jack for pro-level audio recording and monitoring.
Speaking of cards, the D7500 only features a single SD card slot, not two, as on the D7200, which will no doubt be a disappointment for some potential buyers.
As we’ve seen with the D500, D3400 and D5600, the D7500 sports Nikon's SnapBridge technology, enabling the camera to stay permanently linked to a smart device over a low-power Bluetooth connection (or via Wi-Fi). This means that after the initial connection has been made images can be transferred automatically to your phone whenever you shoot.
The Nikon D7500 is 5% lighter than the now discontinued D7200 (and 16% lighter than the D500), and tips the scales at a modest 640g / 1lb 6.6oz. Despite this minor weight saving though, it feels reassuringly solid in the hand.
Compared to the D7200 the handgrip is that bit deeper, and this, combined with the soft-texture coatings on the front and rear of the grip, ensures that the D7500 feels secure and comfortable in the hand.
The D7500 is chunky enough that when we held the camera our little finger didn't slip off the bottom of the grip, which is just as well as those who want even better purchase and a more comfortable vertical shooting experience will be disappointed to hear that currently there isn't an optional vertical grip available.
Like the discontinued D7200, the D7500 is weather-proofed, so you'll be able to keep shooting when the elements turn against you. Interestingly, the magnesium alloy panels in the D7200's construction disappeared, and were replaced by a single monocoque construction in an effort to save weight, although despite this apparently retrograde step it still feels like a well-made piece of kit for the price – it certainly doesn't feel plasticky.
There have also been some tweaks to the Nikon D7500's button placement.
On the top plate the metering mode button has disappeared, to be replaced by a dedicated ISO button, as we saw on the D500. Its position has shifted slightly to be closer to the exposure compensation control, making it easier to reach when the camera is raised to your eye.
Moving round the back of the D7500, the general control layout is virtually identical to its predecessor. Metering mode now takes the spot vacated by the ISO control, while the 'info' and 'i' buttons have swapped sides.
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The rear display is a touch slimmer than the D500's when you pull it out and away from the body. It can be tilted downwards and upwards, and while touchscreens are now commonplace on mirrorless cameras, it was great to see one arrive on a Nikon DSLR when we reviewed the D7500 in 2017.
There's obviously tap-to-focus control (you can also tap the area of the screen where you want to focus and trigger the shutter at the same time), while the touchscreen makes reviewing images that much quicker too – you can swipe through photos and pinch-zoom images. The menus can also be navigated via the touchscreen, which was a first for a Nikon DSLR.
The drop in screen resolution, to 922,000 dots from the D7200's 1,299,000, seemed a bit of a backward step however – that was even lower than the D5600's 1,037,000-dot resolution, but in our time with the camera it didn't seem to impact on the user experience, with a decent amount of clarity and good color rendition.
Autofocus
51-point AF, 15 cross-type AF points
Group-Area AF added
Auto AF Fine Tune
While the Nikon D7500 borrows a lot from the D500, it doesn’t get the same sophisticated 153-point AF system the D500 enjoys. Instead, it gets an uprated version of the 51-point AF system that was in the D7200.
This system was getting a little long in the tooth even back in 2017, but it’s a tried and tested one that’s still work well. Fifteen of the 51 AF points are the more sensitive cross-type variety, which offer greater precision and accuracy, while the coverage can be configured down to 21 and nine points if you wish.
This AF system was getting a little long in the tooth even when the D7500 arrived, but it’s a tried and tested one
The D7500’s AF system received a Group-Area AF mode, which we first saw on the D810. This enhances subject detection and tracking, with the D7500 constantly monitoring five different AF fields, and improves focus acquisition and background isolation.
When using with 3D tracking, the D7500 does an excellent job of following subjects through the frame
Another subtle difference from the system in its predecessor was that the AF system hooked up to a different metering sensor, which is used to aid image recognition when focusing. While the D7200 used the older 2016-pixel RGB sensor, the D7500 enjoys the same 180,000-pixel RGB sensor as the D500, which when combined with the decent coverage of AF points across the frame delivers reliable AF tracking performance.
Away from 3D tracking, and the D7500's Dynamic AF mode (using 9, 21 or 51 AF points) is again, very good
Like both the D500 and the D5, the D7500 has the Auto AF Fine Tune feature, which when in Live View enables users to automatically calibrate autofocus with specific lenses if required.
Despite the Live View AF not being quite as fast as rivals, it still does a decent job
Autofocus in Live View can be a bit of a clunky experience with many Nikon DSLRs, but it's a bit more refined on the D7500. It's not a match for Canon's excellent Dual Pixel AF system that we've seen in cameras for years, but focusing is better than we've experienced with a lot of other Nikon bodies, while the ability to tap-focus using the touchscreen speeds things up greatly.
With a raft of mirrorless cameras, such as the Fujifilm X-T3, overshadowing the 6fps burst shooting performance of the now discontinued D7200, it was no surprise to see the Nikon D7500 offering 8fps.
Helped by the new EXPEED 5 image processor, the D7500 can shoot a burst of 50 raw files before the buffer needs to clear – quite an improvement over the D7200’s 18 raw files at 6fps, and impressive for a non-professional DSLR.
The D7500's metering system performs very well
As we've touched upon, the D7500 inherited the D5 and D500’s 180,000-pixel RGB sensor, which handles metering and white balance, as well as informing the automatic scene recognition system to help improve autofocusing with better subject detection.
As expected the metering system performs very well, consistently delivering spot-on exposures, while the Auto White Balance does a solid job too.
There's a new battery as well – the EN-EL15a is good for 950 shots before it needs charging. That's still streets ahead of most mirrorless cameras, for which you'd need two or more batteries to even think of getting that kind of endurance, but it's actually down 150 shots from the D7200's 1,100-shot battery life – undoubtably one of the trade-offs for having the more powerful EXPEED 5 image processor on board here.
Image quality
ISO100-51,200, expandable to 50-1,640,000
Impressive dynamic range
Excellent noise performance
With the same sensor as the fabulous D500 at the heart of things, the results from the Nikon D7500 are predictably excellent.
It may have slightly less pixels than more affordable DX Nikon DSLRs, but unless you're going to spend most of your time shooting at ISO 100, the minor drop in resolution is a compromise worth making.
Don't be put off by the D7500 having 'only' a 20.9MP resolution – there's still plenty of detail
This is underlined when you look at images through the ISO range. Shots taken at the lower end of the sensitivity range display excellent levels of detail, but the camera really starts to shine as you bump up the ISO setting.
While detail does suffer a touch at ISO 6400, results stand up remarkably well. Increase the sensitivity a further stop to ISO 12,800, and while there's now a hint of chroma (color) noise in shots, results are still very good.
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The Auto White Balance is very good, while colors have a nice punch
As you'd expect, luminance (grain-like) noise becomes more pronounced at ISO25,600 and ISO51,200, but the results are still some of the best we've seen from a camera at these sensitivities.
Once you go beyond the realm of the camera's native sensitivities, things do tail off. That said, results at Hi1 (ISO 102,400) are actually pretty good for such a high value, but banding starts to creep into images shot at Hi2 (ISO 204,800); we'd caution against using anything higher, as results can look pretty murky and suffer from a severe lack of detail.
Dynamic range is also very impressive. It's possible to recover shadow detail in a shot that's been underexposed by some five stops – even six at a push – and still end up with a very satisfactory shot.
At the time of its launch, the Nikon D7500 represented the biggest revamp we'd seen in the series since the D7000 replaced the D90 back in 2010. It was an impressive little brother to the pro-level D500, which also remains on sale today.
With its price tag continuing to plummet, the D7500 remains an impressive performer, despite the mirrorless revolution that's taken place since it arrived in 2017. DSLRs still have traditional advantages over mirrorless cameras, such as battery life and handling, and if those are important to you, then it's a compelling option at the price.
While its 51-point AF system might sound a little dated, it is tried-and-tested and the D7500 does also 8fps burst shooting among some other tempting features. These include 4K video capture, a tilt-angle touchscreen display and that great combination of the 20.9MP sensor and EXPEED 5 image processing engine, in a body that's considerably smaller than the D500.
With the latter still going for a pro-level premium, the D7500 is an enthusiast-level DSLR with few rivals at its price point.
Competition
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Nikon D500
The D500 is still Nikon's top-of-the-range DX-format DSLR, and a camera that the D7500 borrows a lot of features from, including the 20.9MP sensor. Pay the (considerable) extra though and you get even better AF performance, thanks to a brilliant 153-point AF system that'll cope with pretty much anything. Marry that to a camera that can shoot 10fps for 200 shots and a rock-solid build, and you have what is still one of the best DSLRs out there.
Nikon's now discontinued D7200 was always a firm favorite amongst enthusiast photographers, and it's easy to see why. Packing in a brilliant sensor that was complemented by impressive specs, there was little not to like. The D7500 is the better camera overall, but it's still worth seeking out second-hand or refurbished D7200s if your budget's a bit tight.
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Canon EOS 80D
Perhaps the biggest non-Nikon rival to the D7500 is Canon's EOS 80D. This has now been succeeded by the Canon 90D, but it remains a hugely capable enthusiast DSLR that has similarly seen big price cuts. It's edged out by the D7500 when it comes to performance, but if you're going to be shooting a lot with the rear display, you may be tempted by the EOS 80D's rear vari-angle screen and brilliant Dual Pixel AF.
The Dyson Airwrap is a high-end multi-styler that can be used to create curls, waves, and bouncy blow drys. Tapping into the current vogue for 'healthy' hair styling, the Airwrap avoids extreme heat, instead employing something called the Coanda effect to bend and shape the hair as it dries it into place.
The Airwrap blew the beauty world away when it launched in 2018, and combined with the success of the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (now updated to become the Dyson Supersonic Nural) to cement this brand as a force to be reckoned with in the haircare world.
The original Airwrap had a few flaws, but most of these were addressed in a revised version released in 2022. The current Airwrap comes bundled with more accessories to enable it to create a wider range of hairstyles, as well as new bi-directional barrels. The original Airwrap was good, but this now feels like a fully realized product – albeit still a frighteningly expensive one.
I've been using mine for a year now, and, as someone who doesn't take much joy in hairstyling, it's been a real game-changer. It's not quite perfect, but overall it delivers on what it promises: a swift, less damaging and easier way to achieve salon results from the comfort of your home. Its more recent attachments have diversified the range of hair types it can effectively work with, but there's still room for improvement if you've got Type 4 hair.
Note, different versions of the Airwrap come with different attachments (Image credit: Dyson)
Using traditional curling tongs can be time-consuming and damaging to your hair, but the Dyson Airwrap makes curling your hair a breeze (literally), and over time has left my hair looking far healthier than when I've previously used ceramic stylers. It dries your hair quickly (rivaling the best hair dryers on the market), it's incredibly light, and the design looks and feels luxurious.
But (and it's a big but), the Airwrap styler is incredibly expensive, at around five times the price of many other hair curlers on the market. If you want the best of the best, you'll have to spend big, and it's a testament to how good it is that the Airwrap remains incredibly popular despite its exorbitant price tag. Since its release, many Airwrap dupes have popped up on the market, but none quite compete in terms of build quality, design and raw power. That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson Airwrap review.
There are two main configurations in which you can buy the Dyson Airwrap; the Complete (which comes with a broader array of attachments) or the Origin (which comes with fewer and isn't available in the US.)
The Dyson Airwrap Complete is available to buy for $599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849.99, and offers a selection of variants depending on your hair type. In the US, the variants are Straight+Wavy or Curly+Coily, in the UK it's Long Volumise and Short and Coarse, and Australia simply has the Long Complete and the Origin in circulation as of writing.
Such a lofty list price is going to put it out of the reach of many, and even the cheaper variants are an investment. For comparison, most other hair curlers on the market cost between $50 / £30 / AU$75 and $200 / £150 / AU$300.
You can also buy further attachments through Dyson, priced at $40 / £30 / AU$99 each, and these will all be backwards-compatible with the original Airwrap as well as existing models in circulation.
Value for money score: 3 out of 5
Dyson Airwrap review: design
As you would expect from a device of this price, the design and presentation of the Airwrap is pretty much impeccable. It comes in a leather-effect storage case in a variety of colors, depending on which model you choose, and looks attractive enough to make you want to leave it out instead of tucking it away in your cupboard when not in use.
The Styler itself consists of a cylinder, around 10 inches long, with a band around the top where the different attachments slot in. At the bottom you have a removable filter and a power cable to connect it to the mains. Towards the top of the Styler you'll find the control buttons; an on/off button, heat controls, and buttons that control the speed of the airflow. On the rear is the lock switch, which you'll toggle to release attachments.
It's controlled via sliding switches on the handle (Image credit: Future)
The Dyson Airwrap Complete package comes with a number of different attachments, which vary depending on which configuration you get. My review model has a soft smoothing brush, firm smoothing brush, round volumizing brush, Coanda smoothing dryer and both the 30mm and 40mm barrels.
Now onto the Airwrap barrels themselves. The first iteration of the Airwrap came with four of these, and you'd have to manually swap over barrels to create curls going in different directions. The 2022 Airwrap was engineered so that the same barrel can be used to create clockwise or counterclockwise curls – a significant upgrade that drastically improves the user experience and has storage benefits too. On each of the barrels, you'll find an arrow that indicates which direction the hair will wrap around it when the styler is on.
How it works
While the blow dryer and brush attachments are pretty self explanatory, the Airwrap barrels and smoothing dryer use an interesting natural phenomenon called the 'Coanda' effect to curl your hair. The Coanda effect causes high speed air to follow the contours of a surface in a similar manner to a liquid – a phenomenon also used to high effect in motor racing.
This effect "attracts, wraps, and curls the hair around the barrel", which means you need only hold your hair close to the styler for the air to whip it around the barrel and create a curl. Aside from making it easier to curl your hair without having to manually wrap your hair around the barrel, it means your hair doesn't come into contact with a very hot surface like it would with a traditional curling iron.
The 2022 version has bi-directional barrels (Image credit: Future)
Heat styling can often leave your hair feeling frizzy and dry, and can even lead to breakage if you use heat regularly, particularly if you have fine hair or tightly coiled Type 4 hair.
Dyson says that the Airwrap Styler "measures airflow temperature over 40 times a second and regulates heat, to ensure it always stays below 150C / 302F.” For comparison, it's not unusual for traditional curlers to reach 200C / 392F.
A quick note if you have a particularly jet-setting lifestyle: the Airwrap is not the best for travel overseas, because you can only use it in countries with the same electrical voltage as the country you purchased your device in. A particularly rude awakening for me when I lugged mine to the US from the UK and it refused to turn on.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Dyson Airwrap review: performance
It's important to note that the Airwrap will have different effects on different types of hair. My hair is thick, porous and just below shoulder length, but I've also tried it on more wiry hair as well as type 2A wavy hair. I don't generally use any styling products or hairspray, but I do shield my hair with a heat-protecting spray to help lessen any damage.
One of the first things I noticed about the Airwrap was how light it is; if you regularly use hair dryers you'll probably be well acquainted with the arm ache that occurs even after using them for short periods of time. Dyson advises that you use the Airwrap on damp rather than soaking wet locks (that's actually the 'official' advice for any hair dryer), but as I've got pretty porous hair that can take an absolute age to dry, I tend to rough-dry my hair using a combination of the round brush and the soft smoothing brush to help it along.
It takes a little practice to get the hang of using the Airwrap, but overall, I'm very impressed by how quickly it dries my hair, and I'm frequently pleased with how much volume I'm able to achieve. The process is quite simple, but the styler can feel a little unwieldy at first as it's so different from using a normal hairdryer. While working on one section of hair, the hot air can sometimes blow the rest of your hair into a frizzy mess, so it's worth taking the time to get the rest of your hair out of the way, and section properly.
My review model in its storage case (Image credit: Future)
When it comes to the Airwrap barrels, it's impressively easy to achieve bouncy curls thanks to the Coanda effect. As mentioned earlier, it does take a little practice to get the technique right, and Dyson has some helpful demo videos on its YouTube channel if you need some guidance.
In short, though, you simply lift up a section of your damp hair about one inch wide (and here it really must be damp, not wet, otherwise it won't work properly), and hold the Airwrap curling barrel a few inches up from the end of the strand. Then, watch in amazement as the hair begins to coil itself up and around the barrel, moving it towards your head to encourage the whole strand to curl.
The Coanda effect causes the hair to wrap around the barrels as it dries (Image credit: Dyson)
From there, it's just a case of holding the curl until the hair is dry, and then pushing the temperature switch up to deliver a 'cold shot' to the hair – this helps to set the style and can make the curl look shinier.
The most difficult thing to get your head (or hair, as the case may be) around is the direction you need to curl your hair in. This arrow should be pointing away from your face when you look into your mirror, for face-framing curls.
One of the calling cards of the Airwrap is that is uses a relatively low heat to style your hair, and I definitely noticed the difference between using the styler (which Dyson says won't go over 150C / 302F) and traditional curling tongs that typically reach 200C / 392F or more. (Since the launch of the Airwrap, Dyson has tried to create lower-heat straightener options in the form of the Airstrait and Coralle.)
The Airwrap comes with a range of attachments to create different styles (Image credit: Dyson)
My hair looks shiny and healthy, and after a year of using it I've genuinely noticed an overall improvement in my hair health – and I've never encountered the burning smells that often come with using heated styler tools on the hair. Using a lower heat to style your hair also has the added benefit of preserving your hair's color if it's dyed, meaning you won't need to dye it as often to maintain a rich, vibrant hue.
Even though I've been impressed with the results, I definitely feel the Airwrap is better suited to longer hairstyles, particularly when it comes to the curling barrels – but that's why most regions now stock a version with shorter barrels, to help those with hair shorter than shoulder-length encourage their hair to wrap around effectively.
Reviews from those with tightly coiled Type 4 hair have been mixed as well, but with the release of new attachments this has improved somewhat. While some users were impressed with how quickly the Airwrap dried their hair, others noted that they would still need to use straighteners or curling tongs afterwards to achieve their desired style.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should I buy a Dyson Airwrap?
Buy it if...
You care about heat damage The Airwrap's USP is that it creates curls and waves without the extreme heat used on most stylers, which means healthier, less frazzled locks in the long run. View Deal
You regularly style your hair The Airwrap isn't cheap, so it might only be worth the investment if you really care about hair styling, and regularly make the effort. Here's where the lower-heat benefits will make a difference, too. View Deal
You have long, wavy/straight hair My own experiences, and other customer reviews, suggest you'll get the best results with the Airwrap if you have long, straight or wavy hair.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You have coily or short hair Othercustomer reviews suggest that the Airwrap isn't well suited for use on tight curls, while those with short hair will struggle to make the most of the curl barrels.View Deal
You need something for travel My own Airwrap refused to switch on when I took it overseas, so jet-setters might need to rethink.View Deal
You're on a budget The sky-high price tag will put the Airwrap out of reach of many people. There are a number of Airwrap alternativeson the market, but be aware that none can really match up to the real thing. View Deal
Athenahealth is a US based company, started back in 1997, and combined with Virence Health in 2019. At the center of their services is a cloud-based electronic medical record service, known as athenaClinicals (with a quirky spelling that includes a lowercase first letter, and the capital letter in the middle). There is also an emphasis on networking for both exchange of patient information, and benchmarking of outcomes. AthenaHealth’s EHR solution is part of a larger ecosystem of services that includes Patient Engagement, Telehealth, Population Health and more.
The athenaClinicals EHR component has plenty of features to support clinician’s workflow. This includes functions such as appointment scheduling, billing, compliance tracking, charting and e-prescribing. Entering data is performed, in addition to the usual typing via a keyboard, via voice recognition - powered by Nuance, including on a mobile device - although handwriting recognition is not offered. To keep this affordable, it is also certified for meaningful use (which can provide a financial incentive), and is fully HIPAA certified.
There is also support for a patient portal, as well as scheduling of patient appointments. Through this portal, patients can schedule their appointments, get access to practice forms, and pay their co-pays online. This then integrates with the automatic messaging tool, that then sends out automated reminders to patients for their appointments, and bills. Alerts are also messaged for test results that the patient can access in the patient portal. This level of automation is ideal for reducing staff time, and appeals to younger patients that are more likely to engage via this type of experience.
E-prescribing is an area where athenaClinicals shows its evolution and flexibility. E-prescribing is the important process of electronically transmitting prescriptions from prescribers to the patient’s pharmacies. With the current opioid crisis, many states now have instituted, and in some cases require, that prescribers check the database of prescriptions that the patient has received prior to entering the prescription. This state level database is known as a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and not only does the prescriber in some regions have to check the database for other restricted prescriptions before , which can take some minutes each time, but also that the PDMP was reviewed as part of the prescribing process. Furthermore, this process needs to be documented, a laborious process s the database is logged into, the patient is located, the information is reviewed, and then printed out to be separately scanned into the patient’s EHR. Well, with athenaClinicals this entire process is now streamlined, so the EHR now directly integrates with the PDMP, with the patient’s prior drug information instantly available to the clinician, and equally important that this whole process gets documented in real time- a major timesaver from the previous fragmented process.
There is also support for pediatric use, with support for vaccine management, and custom bundles.
In addition to direct clinical use, athenaClinicals also ties into administrative functions. This includes components that support medical billing, inventory management and physician management. There is also integration with accounting, and with policy management.
Finally, the athenaOne mobile app allows for access to the EHR from anywhere. A shortcoming is that it is only available for iOS, both iPad and iPhone, as we did not find it in the Google Play store.
Drawbacks
No EHR is perfect, and athenaClinicals has its share of shortcomings. For example, some users complain that while the support is quite robust on the initial setup, that subsequently it can take significantly longer to get assistance, and it is not as readily available as on site. This can impact some more advanced tasks, such as clinicians creating templates for notes, and if not done at the outset, the support for this is lacking.
Billing is another service offered through the EHR, and it can certainly be an attractive savings proposition to any practice (and especially a solo practice) to eliminate their costly biller. However, this is not a realistic promise, with practices complaining about too aggressive statements being sent out by athenaClinicals to their patients that turn folks off, little experience with Medicaid billing, and overpriced fees, particularly with lower volume practices that get charged higher percentage collection rates. Another annoyance is the requirement for a physician practice to be limited to certain banks that AthenaHealth approves to receive their payments, and also a delay of a few days for the funds to be received into the account.
Furthermore, users indicate that onboarding is too difficult, and are disappointed at the level of support offered.
(Image credit: Athenahealth)
Pricing
The pricing for athenaClinicals, similar to other EHR products, is not available on the website. While this makes it a challenge to comparison shop between competing solutions, at least Athenahealth makes it simple as they do provide a link prominently on their website to “Schedule a 1:1 meeting,” to facilitate obtaining the custom pricing. It is indicated that there are no upfront costs, nor monthly premiums, but rather the pricing is based on a percentage of collections.
While there is no free trial, a free demo is offered.
(Image credit: Athenahealth)
Support
There is a phone number listed, with the phrase to “Call anytime,” but it is not specified if this is for sales, support, or both. The other options for support are limited to only online self help. We found possibilities for training which includes options for webinars, case studies, and whitepapers.
The supported platforms gain access via a web browser. This is the simplest in this day and age, as just about every computer and device with a web browser can then gain access to athenaClinicals, without the need to install the software directly to your desktop. Additionally, no data gets stored locally, as athenaClinicals is a SaaS, with all data hosted in ‘The Cloud.’ Finally, as detailed above, there is an iOS app as well.
Final verdict
Athenahealth offers a robust platform for an EHR, with many useful features. It focuses more on the physician practice market than on larger institutions, with useful features for e-prescribing with PDMP, clinic note writing and accounting. While integrated billing has particular attraction for smaller physician practices that generally do not have a dedicated billing department, the shortcomings should give these practices pause before adopting this platform. On balance, Athenahealth, with their athenaClinicals EHR platform offers a comprehensive and balanced solution to both the clinical, and the business side of a physician practice.
There's a new Echo Spot in town! Following the quiet discontinuation of the original Echo Spot from 2019, Amazon has rejuvinated the product with an all-new design, some clever features and improved hardware.
- Josephine Watson, Managing Editor of Lifestyle, 27/12/2024
Amazon first launched the original Echo smart speaker in 2014, but since then its Echo range has expanded to include the high-end Echo Plus, the screen-packing Echo Show and the teeny, tiny Echo Dot. There are now Echo devices to suit every mood, every room and every budget. But one of our firm favorites is still the Echo Spot.
That's because it has everything we could want from a smart speaker: cute looks, portable design and a video screen, which means it looks just as at home on your desk, your kitchen counter and your bedside table.
The Spot doesn't quite have the monopoly on compact smart displays as it used to, though. The new Echo Show 5 apes the rectangular shape of the larger Echo Show, but with a 5.5-inch screen around the size of a smartphone. At a lower price tag, too, it can be hard to justify the Spot in its stead – though if you're sold on its cute and quirky appearance, this is likely the model you'll want.
The best things about the Amazon Echo range in general apply to the Echo Spot too, including a decent price tag, heaps of functionality, and a voice interface easy enough for complete tech beginners to get a hold of. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the Echos have become essentials in a smart home setup over the last five years.
The new Echo Studio may be best suited to audiophiles who want to blast their tunes, and the Echo Show is probably best in the kitchen, allowing cooks to watch recipe videos on YouTube – but the Amazon Echo Spot is the sort of device that can fit in just about anywhere.
Of course this is all subjective, and depends on how your home is set up, but if you do want our styling as well as our tech recommendations, then the Echo Spot is ideal for sticking next to your bed, much like the recently launched Echo Dot with Clock.
But enough about its looks. Let's explore how the Echo Spot is to use, whether its circular screen is useful day-to-day and how well its audio quality shapes up against its rivals.
With features and performance, Amazon's Echo Spot is much, more more than a smart alarm clock – even if that's the impression it gives off. For a lot of Echo Spot owners, chunky alarm clock may become the device's default use, but you'll find it's a lot more versatile than that.
In fact, the Amazon Echo Spot carves out its own niche in the Echo line up, and that's to its credit. The gadget's neatly curved shell does more than enough to make up for some of the design failings of its siblings.
So where the big, bulky and brash Amazon Echo Show tends to take over any area you put it in, for example, thanks to its black slab look and large screen, the Echo Spot is much more refined in its compact, circular design.
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Amazon Echo Spot review
The Echo Spot is proof that the best way to do a desk-based video device is to forgo the TV-lite look, and just go with something that's compact and well designed instead. Tech companies, please take note.
If you had to place this in context in the Echo line-up, it's a cross between an Echo Dot and a smaller version of the Amazon Echo Show – the rectangular video-driven gadget that looks a lot like a miniature TV.
This is no Echo Dot replacement, though: the price puts it out of contention for that, and it's also a lot more versatile. To say it's a Dot with a screen would be doing it a disservice (sorry, Dot, we love you really).
Size-wise, it's about the equivalent of a mango. Sure, mangoes may not be the most scientific way to measure things, but at least it gives you an indication that it’s a pretty compact device with a curved back and screen that's angled up, making it easy to view.
The Amazon Echo Spot is a great-looking device, certainly something you won't mind having on show in your home... unlike the, er, original Show, which we always felt like tucking away on the kitchen counter.
Amazon Echo Spot: features and setup
The Echo Spot unit we reviewed was black but there's also a white one available. The screen is relatively small at 2.5 inches, with a 480 x 480 pixel resolution.
On the top of the screen there's space for a camera and on the top of the Echo Spot as a whole there are three buttons, which all sit flush against the surface for a really streamlined look.
Anyone familiar with the Echo range will know what they are: volume up, volume down, and a mic mute button – that last one disables the camera too, so it's the button to press for a little added privacy.
Plus, there are four small pin-prick holes too, housing the four-array mics that listen out for the wake word and for you barking commands at Alexa.
Amazon Echo Spot review
On the back of the Echo Spot you have the standard Amazon branding, a slot for power and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The speaker grill for the Echo Spot is right at the base of the device, which makes it invisible when viewing the device face-on. Bluetooth functionality is also available for streaming audio to or from another device.
Setup is similar to other Echo devices, except for this one you can type in your Wi-Fi details straight on the screen instead of going through the Alexa app, thanks to that handy built-in display.
Admittedly, it's a little bit fiddly putting in your details that way (it asks for your Amazon account password too) but the whole process should take less than five minutes. Then your Amazon Echo Spot is really ready to go.
Amazon Echo Spot review
Once your Echo Spot is up and running, you have the option to watch Amazon's promo video, which tells you what you can do with the device and gets you started. It's not a masterpiece, but it's worth sitting through so you get an idea about what you've just bought.
Then you get that warm chime sound, which means Alexa is online and ready to take orders. Once this appears it's a good time to read our best Amazon Alexa skills article, as well as follow the prompts that come up on the screen to find out what your new Echo Spot can do.
Swipe right on the screen at any time to bring up a whole load of Alexa commands you can use, which is a really nice way to learn what to do with the digital assistant. If you're looking for some fun and silly extras, give our Alexa Easter Eggs list a try, too.
Amazon Echo Spot review
These prompts can be turned off in the Spot's settings, and it's here in the settings where you can toggle home cards on and off as well (little blurbs of information that come up on the home screen).
You can have the home screen include your messages, weather, notifications, upcoming events, reminders, drop ins and trending topics.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Amazon Echo Spot: performance
What you get from the Amazon Echo Spot in terms of performance depends on what you actually use it for. Like the rest of the Echo range, the smart Echo Spot is extremely versatile – in fact it may be the most versatile of the lot.
If you do use it as an alarm clock, then it's got everything you need. There are a myriad of clock faces to choose from on the Echo Spot, both analog and digital, and they're mainly color-based – so you have the choice of things like Tangerine, Onyx, Bold Teal, Modern Fuschia and Copper (there are a couple of themed ones thrown in too).
We really liked the Record face, so give that a whirl, and there's an owl one available as well if you prefer something a bit more natural.
The Echo Spot also has a night mode, which is really handy and works well: put this on and it will dim the screen for the hours that you choose.
The Echo Spot can wake you with a song or a radio station. For the latter, made possible by the TuneIn skill, you need to say "Alexa, wake me up to [radio station] at [time]."
You can also read your messages on the screen and make calls. This is a new-ish addition to the Alexa smart commands in the UK that's been in the US for some time now.
When we used the Echo Spot on our desk, it made us veer more towards the video functionality of the device. You can use the Amazon smart speaker to get your daily briefings, so BBC News (for example) will show you its briefing in video form.
Image Credit: TechRadar
At first, trying to watch a 16:9 video on a small, round screen looks a little strange, but Amazon has given the Echo Spot the option to 'zoom' the picture to fit the round shape. This probably wouldn't work on a larger display but we preferred using this mode on the Echo Spot.
Image Credit: TechRadar
The round screen is also perfect for room-to-room calling. This is functionality that Alexa has been able to do for a while and it works really well, turning the Spot smart speaker into an intercom of sorts.
Ask Alexa to drop into another Echo Spot speaker, and a face pops up on the screen so you can have a chat, much like FaceTime.
You can also 'drop in' on people in your phone book (if you and they allow it). This works really well on the Echo Spot – there's a blurred image for 10 seconds or so, just in case you need to make yourself decent, and then the screen appears clear.
Like the Echo Dot there's an integrated speaker and we were surprised with how good it sounds, considering the speaker's compact size.
Unlike the Echo Dot, which is only really passable for things like voice, the Amazon Echo Spot had a nice sound to it. You will probably want to hook it up to a better speaker system via Bluetooth or aux if you're an audiophile, but if it's on your bedside table, then you won't complain about the sound.
Image Credit: TechRadar
If you listen to something with Amazon Music, then you also get the added bonus of having lyrics come up on the screen.
This can get addictive, watching the lyrics flow – and when it comes to swear words, we can confirm that Alexa kindly stars them out so your eyes aren't unduly offended.
Another way Amazon wants you to use the Echo Spot is as a smart cam monitor.
We saw a demo where you could get a smart cam video link up on the screen – from a compatible smart cam – where it was streaming from a nursery. The stream on the demo was clear and bright.
Unfortunately, our current setup at home is Hive and at the time of this review, the Hive View wasn't compatible (but might be soon).
In theory, this is a fantastic idea, especially if you have the camera set up in a nursery as we do. It will also work with a number of smart home brands, including Netgear Arlo, Logitech, Nest and smart doorbell manufacturer Ring (now owned by Amazon of course).
Image Credit: TechRadar
When it came to using the Echo Spot in the kitchen, we found it great to watch something on Amazon Prime while cooking our food. It synced really well with our Prime Video account and knew which episode of Red Oaks we were watching.
Having the ability to call up recipes and times and actually see them on the screen was a real boon, too – the ability to have multiple timers running at once really helped when cooking a roast dinner.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Again, this is functionality you can have on other Echo devices but having it at-a-glance on the screen is great and means you don't have to whip your phone out for this sort of stuff.
The Alexa digital assistant continues to get smarter across all these Echo devices too, including the Echo Spot. Vague requests can now be directed to the appropriate skill, so you don't have to remember the exact wording every time.
Another recent update means Alexa can more naturally understand what you're blabbing on about. It can also now keep listening and keep responding to questions even if you don't say "Alexa" each time.
Amazon Echo Spot: final verdict
The Amazon Echo Spot does everything the Echo Show does, but it all feels better in this smaller form factor. The design is great – it's available in black and white – and we can easily see the Spot being used in the bedroom, kitchen or even on a desk. In fact, you may want it in all of these places.
That's the thing with the Amazon Echo Spot – much like other Echo smart speakers, Amazon wants you to have a multitude of them in your home so you always have access to video chat and Alexa no matter where you are.
But the added screen enhances the look of the Spot and opens up the possibilities for it being much more than just a smart speaker – even if it Amazon hasn't nailed the video capability as of yet. The lower price of the Echo Show 5, too, makes the Spot harder to justify, but it has enough design charms to keep it in the runnings.
Capsule is a reliable and useful toolkit for any corporation. Founded in 2009, Capsule is a UK-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that promises to help you maintain close customer relationships and maximize sales opportunities, all with minimal user input.
The founders of Capsule felt that CRMs were either too difficult to use or too simplistic. That’s why the core aim of Capsule is to make it easy for users to access advanced CRM features through well-thought-out design. In this Capsule CRM review, you’ll see why this is one of the best CRMs in terms of price, usability, and features.
Plans and Pricing
There are three Capsule packages on offer, ranging in price from $0 to $36 per user per month. Paid plans come with a free 30-day free trial period, so there are plenty of ways to see if Capsule is the right tool for you before committing to a monthly payment.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
The free version of the Capsule CRM comes with a minuscule 10MB of storage. This means it’s not a valid option for managing actual customer relationships as you’ll only be able to access a small amount of data. Instead, you should think of the base Capsule plan as an extended free trial.
Most organizations will find that the mid-tier $18 per month per user Professional plan fits their needs best. With it, you’ll get 10GB of storage for every account and the ability to manage 50,000 contacts. That should be enough room even for enterprise-scale businesses. The Professional package also gives you access to better security features with Google sign-in and two-factor authentication.
Finally, there’s the top-end Teams plan which costs $36 per month for every user. It comes with 20GB user storage space and room for 100,000 contacts. But the best thing about the Teams package is that it includes Advanced Sales Reporting features. Through these, you can get insights that reveal where bottlenecks are occurring in your sales operations, allowing you to identify areas for improvement.
Features
Keeping track of all the information you need to know about your clients and partners can be a seriously daunting challenge. Capsule presents a great solution to this problem with the Contact Management Software that is at the core of the Capsule CRM.
Capsule’s contact software doesn’t just let you save contacts and share them with colleagues. It also allows you to store a complete record of all interactions you have with a client, and to add notes to email records so you never miss a detail when following up.
You can even create contact-specific tasks to complete for individual contacts. This ties in neatly with Capsule’s other powerful task management features. Through these, you can create a comprehensive task calendar for your business, with custom color coding, details, and repeat settings.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
But the most advanced Capsule task management feature is task ‘tracking’. With this, you can schedule tasks in relation to each other. For example, you can set things up so that an email follow-up task is automatically set for five days after an email send task is marked as complete.
Advanced Sales Analysis
Sales analytics is another cornerstone of the Capsule platform. This platform will crunch your operation’s sales numbers, revealing valuable insights like where your sales pipeline is leaking, your average time per sale, and the number of opportunities won or lost by each team.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
What’s more, Capsule stands out for its ability to integrate with household name applications that you probably already use in another critical part of your business operations.
For example, Capsule can use your Zendesk account to provide support desk service through your website. You can also sync Capsule contacts and tasks to your Google address book and calendar.
Interface and In Use
Capsule’s interface is extremely intuitive, so even employees who’ve never worked with a CRM before should feel at home immediately.
Take the customer relationship window, for example. Here, all the relevant contact information you need to see is available at a glance on the left-hand side of the screen while sales pipeline data and contact histories are just a click and a scroll away. Effectively, all the information you could need about a client is right there, but there’s no risk of the user being overwhelmed by unnecessary data.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
Another trick that Capsule uses to make relationship management easy is to leave 6 key shortcut icons at the top of every capsule screen. These include links to home, people, and case pages, meaning that you can quickly find essential information no matter what you were doing before.
Using Capsule On Your Mobile
There’s a good chance that you or your colleagues might need to interact with your business clients and partners while on the move. To help you do that, Capsule has developed a mobile app that can be installed on iOS and Android devices.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
Almost all desktop program features are supported in the mobile application too. There are also several tools that are particularly suited for content management on the move: you can start calls, draft emails and open contact location maps directly from the app.
Support
If you encounter a problem with a particular Capsule function, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to solve it yourself via the comprehensive guidance available in the Capsule Support Center. Also, the Capsule system has averaged a 99.99% uptime rate, so the chances are you won’t have any reason to request assistance from its technical support staff.
(Image credit: Capsule CRM)
However, if you do need extra help for any reason, you can send the Capsule support team an email. They reply quickly, as long as you’re getting in touch during UK business hours.
The Competition
Capsule is user-friendly and has plenty of advanced features when it comes to task tracking and contact management. However, it’s not the most adept platform for handling mass marketing. If you want a CRM that’s better for working with large email lists rather than managing deep client relationships, you should consider Salesforce which is a CRM in the same pricing bracket as Capsule.
Final Verdict
Don’t let Capsule’s clean and intuitive interface fool you. This tool isn’t just for beginners; it’s a reliable and helpful platform that could help you to uncover inefficiencies in your organization’s sale processes and forge closer relationships with your clients and partners.
